Since emergencies can happen without notice, it’s important for you to prepare and be ready for all types of situations. Proper preparation can make a difference and ensure the well-being of yourself and the people you love should an emergency happen.

There are several great ways you can be prepared. One of the best and most important is to create a home emergency kit. Home emergency kits can be created using a large plastic container or a duffle bag. The container you choose should be large enough to hold at least three days worth of supplies, yet be moveable if evacuation is necessary.

Here are some items to include when assembling your kit:

• One gallon of water per person, per day (warmer climates might require more)
• Non-perishable food, low in salt to avoid excess thirst
• Eating utensils, including a manual can opener
• First Aid Kits
• Battery powered flashlights and radios with spare batteries
• Anti-stress items such as magazines, games, crosswords, etc.
• If applicable, canned pet food and extra water
• Blankets
• Fire Extinguisher

Education is a key part of being prepared. Educate yourself and your family on proper procedures to take when an emergency does occur. Be certain that each family member knows where the emergency kit is located as well as how to use what’s inside. Following these simple tips will ensure that you and your family are prepared in case of emergency.

For more information regarding home emergency kits, visit www.ready.gov.

What Constitutes a Historic Home?

According to the National Register of Historic Places, a home is classified as a historic home through one or more of the following stipulations:

• Associated with events that have contributed to broad patterns of history.

• Associated with significant individuals in the past.

• Important artistic or architectural aspects that represent a type, period, method of construction or particular craftsman.

• Yield information on history or prehistory.

Benefits of Buying a Historic Home

Keeping this in mind, if you own or are considering buying a historic home, why would you want to spend your resources on such a massive undertaking? After all, historic homes require several inspections and continuous efforts toward preservation. Well, some individuals choose to preserve historic homes because they appreciate the home’s significance to the past or its unique architectural features. Others opt to restore and preserve historic homes because of the tax benefits involved. Check to see what tax incentives your state may offer to individuals preserving or restoring historic structures. A great place to start your researching is at the National Register of Historic Places.

For more information, contact your local agent today!

COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 4, 2008)–Real Living Inc., the first women-focused brand in real estate, announced its affiliation with Abio AHK Realty in Dallas. Abio was built upon the successful career of CEO Bettie Abio and remains among the most creative and innovative of brokerages with two offices and more than 90 agents serving the greater Dallas area. Abio’s offices, located in Turtle Creek and Canton, Texas, will now be named Real Living Abio Advantage.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 2, 2008)—Kaira Sturdivant Rouda, president of Real Living Inc., the nation’s first women-focused real estate brand, will speak at the 4th annual M2W®--Marketing To Women Conference in Chicago on May 8. Rouda will present “Home is Where the Purse is,” explaining the immense buying power women have when it comes to real estate transactions.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 6, 2008)—Real Living, the nation’s first women-focused real estate brand, will hold its annual convention and awards ceremony, Momentum, May 8-10 in Columbus, Ohio. Participants will have the opportunity to attend sessions led by esteemed real estate industry leaders, network with agents and brokers from across the country and enjoy two full days of professional development and entertainment.

Organizing your living space shouldn’t be limited to spring cleaning; it’s a year round process. Whether you’re planning on selling your home or merely giving it a face lift, there are a number of storage options to consider.

Kitchen

• Use cabinets that extend all the way to the ceiling

• Place dry goods in stackable airtight containers

• Take advantage of bare sections of the wall by installing hooks

• Make the most of your drawer space with dividers for your different kitchen utensils

• Use a four-bin to sort recycling, and place near the sink

Bedroom/Closet

• Develop the habit of placing clothes in a hamper instead of on the floor

• Once taken off, shoes should be immediately placed in the closet so they won’t be tripped over

• Take advantage of unused space under the bed

• Install shelves on the wall of your closet for additional storage space

• In the kid’s room, store toys in bins when they aren’t being used

Bathroom

• Use repurposed containers for storage

• Space is limited so look for cabinets that reach the ceiling

• Use a towel bar instead of a towel hook, a hook is more convenient but a bar allows for faster drying

• Label containers and bins to prevent hassles and overbuying

• Throw away outdated cosmetics, cleansers, and medicines

Follow this link for more maintenance tips

Memorial Day is right around the corner meaning that bathing suit season is fast approaching. Follow these pool maintenance tips to get your pool ready for the warm weather.

Bi-weekly

• Maintain pH levels at 7.2 - 7.6

• Keep chlorine levels at 1.0 - 3.0 ppm

• Empty skimmer baskets, skim the pool surface to remove debris, and clean pool tile or vinyl at water line

Weekly

• Shock the pool to restore sheen to the water while destroying germs and organic contaminants

• The next day, add a maintenance dose of algaecide

Monthly

• Take a water sample to a pool retailer to test the levels of alkalinity calcium hardness, and stabilizer

Mid-Season

• Clean your filter with filter cleaner to remove any oil or grease build-up

Follow this link for home maintenance tips