Kristen Wahl

As the current president's term draws to a close, I thought it would be a fitting time to take a look at some of my favorite Bushisms that emerged over the past 8 years.

You don't have to like the guy, but you have to admit... he's pretty hilarious!

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." - September 2000, explaining his energy policies at an event in Michigan.

"Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?" - January 2000, during a campaign event in South Carolina.

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." - Aug. 5, 2004, at the signing ceremony for a defense spending bill.

"We look forward to hearing your vision, so we can more better do our job."- Sept. 20, 2005, in Gulfport, Miss.

"I can't wait to join you in the joy of welcoming neighbors back into neighborhoods, and small businesses up and running, and cutting those ribbons that somebody is creating new jobs."- Sept. 5, 2005, when Bush met with residents of Poplarville, Miss., in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

"These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved." - June 11, 2007, in Sofia, Bulgaria.

"The fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there's jobs at the machine-making place." - May 27, 2008, in Mesa, Ariz.

"And they have no disregard for human life." - July 15, 2008, at the White House. Bush was referring to enemy fighters in Afghanistan.

"This thaw - took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw." - Oct. 20, 2008, in Alexandria, La., as he discussed the economy and frozen credit markets.

And my personal favorite...

"Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country."

Goodbye, George. W. The late night talk show hosts will surely miss you!

Moving day is a confusing time. If you're selling your home, you have to schedule the moving truck, make sure all your belongings get on their way safely, and take the time to get the home "broom clean" for the new inhabitants. The last thing on your mind is transferring your utilities, but it's actually a critical step in the process.

Here in Rochester, Winters can be brutal. The freezing weather is tough on our homes, and none more than those without heat. That's why it's imperative to make sure your home is never left without power.

When calling the utility company in preparation for the day of closing, you may be tempted to simply ask them to shut off the utilities, but that's a bad idea. Make sure the person on the other end of the conversation understands that you want the utilities transferred to the new owners after closing, not shut off completely.

If the heat is shut off, any number of things can happen. The pipes can freeze and break, there can be flooding, etc. If these damages occur before closing, guess who's responsible... you.

However, you can head off any potential problems by making sure there isn't a gap in the utility service. It seems simple, but it can save you a ton of headaches!

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Whether you're buying or selling a home in the Rochester area, visit www.KristenWahl.com for more FREE tips!

Here in the Rochester area, it's been a snowy and cold Winter already, and according to the news it's only going to get worse. I don't know about you, but at times like this I appreciate comfort food more than ever. I especially love my Crockpot. To be able to walk in after a long, chilly day and sit down to a warm dinner is heavenly.

That's why I decided to share one of my favorite Crockpot recipes. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and I hope it warms your body and your spirit!

Crock Pot Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 large chicken, cut into serving pieces
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup Sprite or 7-Up soda
• 2-3 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon pepper (regular black or cayenne)

Directions

1. Place chicken in crock pot.
2. Mix all remaining ingredients and pour over chicken.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
4. Serve over rice or noodles.
5. You can thicken the juices after cooking with a little cornstarch.

SERVES 6

This recipe is from Mirj at www.Recipezaar.com. Recipezaar is my favorite cooking website. If you ever get a chance, check it out! Not only do they have tons of amazing recipes, but it's a great community for anyone interested in cooking or baking, too!

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If you're selling your home in the Rochester area, I'd be happy to "cook up" a great marketing plan for you! Take a look at my website at www.KristenWahl.com to learn more about the services I offer, and to find free tips for sellers!

Have you ever seen the 1986 movie The Money Pit? In it, a young couple, Walter and Anna (played by Tom Hanks and Shelley Long), purchase a seemingly gorgeous house that ends up wreaking havoc on their finances, their relationship, and their sanity.

I had seen the movie years ago, but just watched it again for the first time since starting my career in real estate. It was certainly interesting to see this movie through a Realtor's eyes! While I found it absolutely hilarious, I also couldn't resist writing down some lessons that can be learned from the couple's experiences in the wonderful world of home buying.

• Get a home inspection. If Walter and Anna had only had a licensed home inspector look at the house before they purchased it, they would have avoided a world of grief by discovering the hidden defects. Even "handy" people don't always know what to look for in a house, but inspectors do.
• Find an agent you trust. Walter and Anna decided to work with a felon, which may not have been the wisest decision. Make sure your agent is looking out for your best interests. Don't hesitate to ask for references; if they're good at what they do, they'll have plenty of satisfied clients.
• Don't overextend yourself. By begging and borrowing in order to purchase the house, Walter and Anna got in way over their heads. Don't make the same mistake. Take the time to talk to a mortgage professional before you write up a purchase offer; they can tell you how much you can reasonably afford without becoming "house poor".
• Find an honest contractor. Walter and Anna had to resort to using contractors who were less than professional, and it ended up costing them time and money. To look into a contractor's credentials, read my post, How to Avoid Dishonest Contractors, Thanks to New York State!

In this case, everything turned out fine. The contractors did a fantastic (albeit very slow) job, and the improvements created enough equity so that Walter and Anna didn't go broke after all. Luckily for you, though, you can learn from their mistakes! Heeding these simple tips can stop you from getting into your own "money pit".

Oh, and if you haven't seen the movie, make sure you do. It's hilarious!

This is the time of year for resolutions. It's the time of year I like to take a look at both my life and my business and see what's working and what isn't.

When I look back at my first few months as a blogger on Active Rain, I think it's been a great learning experience. I used my blog posts as a way of reaching others, but also as a way of reflecting on my own practices. I'm looking forward to another year as part of this supportive Active Rain community.

One thing I noticed about my blog, however, is that my "Weekly Market Report" posts seem to be getting a little redundant. There doesn't seem to be enough activity in the Western Wayne County area to warrant my reporting it every single week. It's just a lot of the same trends.

So, as the New Year begins, I'm going to back off on my market reporting slightly, and broaden it at the same time. Instead of reinventing the wheel and posting my own weekly reports, I'm going to use the data provided to me by the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors by sharing their monthly County Home Sales Statistics for Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne Counties. By doing so, you'll be able to compare the market activity in the three counties. There should also be more noticeable trends on a month-to-month basis.

It's my resolution to bring you the best market data I can through this blog, and I think this is a step in the right direction. I'll be posting the December statistics as soon as they become available. Stay tuned!