Dacia Turner

Compared to some of the states up north, Tennessee doesn't have a lot of cold winter weather to speak of. We don't have blizzards, if it snows it usually melts off the next day, and nobody I know (who is native to the south) has ever owned a snow shovel. However, despite our mild weather, there are 5 important things home owners should do to "winterize" their homes.

Make sure hoses are disconnected from outdoor faucets - this is one of the most important things to remember. Although we don't get a lot of freezing temperatures, we do have enough to cause busted pipes. My sister recently made this mistake. There was one night of below freezing temps, the next day she went out to water the dog and the hose had frozen causing water to leak into her newly built house. Luckily there was no permanent damage, but it could have causes need for major repairs.

Insulate exposed plumbing pipes

Secure crawlspace entrances - this not only helps prevent plumbing issues, but will also save you money by making your home more energy efficient.

Use weather stripping around exterior doors and caulk around windows.

If you go on vacation, set your thermostat to at least 55 degrees to prevent plumbing disasters.

There are many more things that can be done not only to protect your home from the winter, but also to save you money on your energy bills and save you from costly repairs. If you would like to know more please email dacia@exitdiverisified.com

All of my life, I have (for the most part) been a Positive Patty. No, I was never a cheerleader, but I always tried to look on the bright side of things. The glass was always half full. I tried my best to stay away from the Negative Nancy's of the world, because I realized at a young age that negativity tends to overpower positivity (not really a word but it fits). I always used to wonder WHY adults seemed so pessimistic and downright bitter about following your dreams.

If you asked a Negative Nancy why she was so down on everything, she would simply tell you she was just being a Realistic Ruby. Of course, we all know she's a Donna in Denial, but that's beside the point.

Now that I'm an adult and have been through many disappointments, it's apparent how difficult it really is to remain a Positive Patty. Family, relationships, and jobs can all take their toll, not to mention a plethora of other obstacles that life loves to throw. So how does one prevent herself from becoming a Debbie Downer?

Obviously this is not an easy question to find the answer to, and no matter WHOM you ask, you will probably get a ton of different answers. Most of the best answers I've heard were very simple and they all seem to boil down to the three "L's":

Live

Love

Laugh

Simple, right? I know, not always. But when you break it down to the basics, that's what you've got. (I will expand more on that in future posts.)

For now you might be wondering what this has to do with real estate. The fact is, buying and selling a home can be a very emotionally trying time. For example, while writing this post I received a call that one of my buyers (who is also a good friend of mine) did not win the bid on a home he had already fallen in love with. My mood went from WOO HOO to yipty freakin' do in about 30 seconds. But as an agent, it's my job to keep my clients enthusiasm up, even when they get let down, and sometimes it is not easy.

It takes work and effort to stay positive, but oftentimes even the smallest things can help. So, on the back of my business card I put a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that says "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm". It has become my motto to live by. And I'm not just being a Hot Air Hannah!!! I have my Pitiful Petunia moments, but I make sure I am always a Positive Patty for my clients. They have enough stress without me adding to it.

Just a quick update on the Bellevue Mall redevelopment proposal:Metro Council has agreed to the proposal of putting the Bellevue Public Library in the newly renovated Bellevue Mall. Foursquare Properties is now able to move forward to the next phase of redevelopment.

This is a huge triumph for the Bellevue Community. The new open air mall will have an outdoor ampitheater, public meeting space, and an indoor playground and will bring over 4,000 new jobs to the Bellevue area.

As a member of this community I'm very excited to see how this will influence the local economy and property values. Thanks so much to everyone who wrote in to support this proposal! If you would like more info please visit Bellevue Now for all of the latest updates.