Evelyn Milton, SFR, GRI

I had my day all planned out. Meeting my sellers at their Braemar Property in one of Northern Virginia's best kept secrets, Bristow; and, lunch and showings in Reston. 1 out of 3 wasn't bad thanks to Goodyear of Gainesville.

After meeting my sellers, their tenants, and a few neighbors on Laurencekirk Place, I was on my way to my next stop: Lunch! Just as I was preparing to turn on Lee Hwy, something went horribly wrong with my power steering. I could not turn right of left. At this point, I had no clue that the Goodyear of Gainesville store was directly in the shopping center across from me. It's an odd location for and automotive store and I guess I never really paid attention.

I pulled to the side of the road and phoned my roadside assistance. The tow truck arrived in 15 minutes! Wow! That's unheard of. The driver was very polite and honest. I told him what the problem was and mentioned 4 auto repair shops I found in my GPS while waiting. I was so pleased that he told me that Goodyear of Gainesville was right there! He could have taken me anywhere considering he's paid by the mile. What great service!

Once inside Goodyear of Gainesville, I was overtaken by the servicemen and their traditional "IBM" look with black dress slacks, white dress shirts, and ties! Their professional attitudes complimented their dress very well. Their hours of operation also impressed me. I was so concerned that they would be closing soon and I would have to leave my truck. What a relief to know that they are open until 9:00PM on Saturdays!

Richard was first to assist me and I explained to him what happened. He explained to me that because of the wait and customers ahead of me, it would be quite a while (4-5 hours) before they could diagnose/troubleshoot the problem. Understanding, I consented and headed across the parking lot for Panera. :-)

In the midst of enjoying a frozen mocha and rescheduling appointments, I received a shocking call. Chris from Goodyear of Gainesville had a diagnosis and estimate for my vehicle! I was expecting that call at least 3-4 hours later. I told him to go ahead and perform the work.

A few hours later, I received another call. My truck was ready for pick-up. It was 15 minutes after I expected the call for the initial diagnosis! I underestimated Goodyear of Gainesville. I was back on the road before I knew it.....waaaaay before I expected.

Already flabbergasted and grateful for the service I'd received throughout my ordeal, Goodyear of Gainesville shocked me again: 1. The price was very fair and reasonable and; 2. They gave me the part that caused the trouble and had to be replaced without me asking for it. That's just what they do!

Thanks to the awesome team at Goodyear of Gainesville for turning my day of unfortunate events into a day of fortunate finds!

I have noticed a lot of HUD REO foreclosure contracts coming across my desk lately. The majority of my buyers are anxious to see these properties. One of the most frequently asked questions about HUD REO Foreclosures is, "What do we do about the repairs that HUD says are necessary to the property?" The answer depends on how HUD has labeled this house.

Below are the four categories that HUD uses, next to each sales type. I've given a brief description of what that means for you, the buyer. The properties are marketed and sold based on the condition of the property at the time of listing.

INSURABLE- the HUD REO Foreclosure meets FHA's minimum property requirements in its current condition- no repairs are necessary prior to closing.

INSURABLE WITH CONDITIONS- The HUD REO Foreclosure requires repairs and must be satisfied to meet FHA's minimum property requirements prior to closing.

INSURABLE WITH REPAIR ESCROWS- The HUD REO Foreclosure needs repairs less than $5,000 as determined by the appraiser to have the property meet FHA's minimum property requirements must be established. May include 110% of estimated repairs in the mortgaged amount. Generally all repairs are to be completed within 90 days of closing.

UNINSURABLE- The HUD REO Foreclosures needs repairs greater than $5,000 as determined by the appraiser in order for the property to meet FHA's minimum property requirements are only available with 203k financing.

This is a lot of information. Further explanation can be found on HUD's website at www.hud.gov. Or, you can call or email me anytime with questions.

I believe this is just the beginning of seeing HUD REO Foreclosures back on the market. Certified by the National Association of Realtors as a Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (SFR), I would love to help you with your HUD REO transaction and any other purchase or sale!

The Montgomery County rental assistance program has come to the aid of another family. The most frightening phone call a real estate agent can ever receive is "Hi, I'm being abused and my children and I need to move now. Will you help me find a home?" Unfortunately, those calls are coming all too frequently.

Past statistics show that domestic violence is at its highest when the economy is at its lowest. Job layoffs, bills, and lack of living essentials have been know to trigger depression, anger, and even suicide in many people. The problem worsens when those emotions are taken out on innocent family members and turns violent.

Residents of Montgomery County that find themselves in an unsafe living environment should contact the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. (If you are in immediate danger, always dial 911 or contact your local law enforcement). The process at the Department of Health and Human Services involves a transparent explanation, application, and assignment of a social worker. After these steps are complete, the Montgomery County rental assistance program requires that you have proof of safe and affordable housing tailored to your needs before disbursement of funds. A signed lease agreement works best. The amount of funds disbursed varies from case to case and can be used towards security deposits or rent.

The great thing about the Montgomery County rental assistance program is their quick turnaround. My client was eligible to move into her new home within one week of contacting the county. While residents can find housing on their own, my client expressed a great deal of gratitude and thanks for having a real estate agent locate her new home and provide a smooth transaction and in this case, transition.

To all Department of Health and Human Service employees and county officials that play a part in keeping our residents safe, thank you. Your hard work does not go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated. The windows of opportunity you create are unlimited.

If you are not a resident of Montgomery County Maryland and are in need of housing assistance, contact your local Department of Health and Human Services office. They should be able to provide you with tools and resources specific to your situation.

Over the past few weeks, I've had to "alzheimer proof" my home to keep my dad safe. When my mom passed suddenly and them living literally 1000 miles from me, it just made sense to bring him back home with me.

Child proofing your home and alzheimer proofing is relatively similar. The major difference is keeping your loved one with alzheimer's comfortable and not taking everything away from them. It's important to encourage them to be independent and allow them to feel a sense of purpose. This helps in preventing depression, sadness, and anxiety.

I thought the tough part of moving Daddy would be getting him to leave his "Sweet Home Alabama" where he's lived all of his life. Ha! Was I wrong. The tough part began when I moved my 80 year old Daddy to my "bachelorette pad" in the big city. He was all over the place! Still having full motor skills, I soon found that Daddy living with me was like having a toddler. I attacked my alzheimer proof plan with that in mind.

With the sudden move and living alone, the first and major alzheimer proof I had to tackle was Daddy wandering away from home. Statistics show that seniors wander within a 3 mile radius of where they were. A 3 mile radius in the city is a lot of space. After the first 2 incidents of him waking before dawn, dressing, and leaving out, I realized that the best way to alzheimer proof this problem was to take his shoes when he's in the house and put them away. My dad is very particular about having shoes on and being fully dressed all day. Taking his shoes away eliminated the problem of him leaving out. Instead, he began to wake me and ask for his shoes which gave me an opportunity to settle him down. The best part is, I didn't have to place dangerous security latches on the doors which would prevent him from getting out in an emergency if I was not home or worse, unconscious.

Here's a few other alzheimer proofs that have helped me:

• Store any small household items that may be confusing to use or dangerous in cabinets with child-proof latches. The latches don't always work because our loved ones are still adults but I've found that they can deter them from opening them.
• Signs! In addition to my RE/Max "for sale" signs, I've also printed and placed in clear jacket protectors signs for my dad...for things that are ok and not ok. For example "Snacks kept here;" "Please do not open;" "Emergency Exit." If I have to leave the house for an extended period, I place this sign on my doors: "Evie's at work" or "Evie's at the store." Being that his short term memory is bad, I've seen him read certain signs 3 or 4 times in an hour and say "Oh, that's right" with a smile.
• I haven't done this but I know some people who have. In addition to baby monitors, if you have a large house, ADT offers a great video security system that is so affordable it's shocking! I met with the ADT rep to have one installed in Alabama prior to making a decision on moving Daddy with me. The system is state-of the-art and accessible from any internet connection.
• Register your loved one at your local police precinct. This was a suggestion that one of my client's gave me that has 25+ years on the force. Thanks Bob! Letting your local law enforcement officer's know about the situation is a great preventative measure. If they do wander off, the police already have a current photo and description on file. And, if they wander and you're unaware, officers that regularly patrol the area may recognize them and know that your loved one isn't supposed to be alone.
• Inform your neighbors. With new neighborhoods going up by the thousands, and life being so busy, many don't take the time to get to know their neighbors. Get to know your neighbors and ask for their assistance. You would be surprised how many people are willing to help. Your HOA or community meetings are a perfect time to mention. It's also a great way to meet people in your community.
• Purchase a digital clock that displays the date, day, and time. The auto-set ones are the best and can assist in keeping your loved one aware.
• Allow them to participate. My Daddy loves to help. I believe it makes him sad if I tell him something is too heavy or he can't do that. So, I let him help with household chores such as folding laundry, sweeping, washing dishes and other light activities. It makes him feel useful and is a great time for bonding! Keeping your loved one's mind occupied and focused on a task is a big part of alzheimer proofing your home.
• Take a trip to Walmart or Target and browse through their pharmacy sections. They have so many useful devices for personal care. My favorite is the bed rail that slides under the mattress. It gives my dad support in getting in and out of bed. Most of these devices have little or no assembly, simple to install, and are easily stored in your home.

Caring for a loved one with alzheimer's demands a lot. I hope that these tips help you as they've helped me. I would be happy to share others!