Tanya Redic, e-Pro, SFR

Don't miss the opportunity to start your spring cleaning early this year.

On March 30th form 8 am - 3 pm, Glass Recreation Center will host Spring Rummage Sale. The sale is for used items only and no baked items.

Admission is free to the public but donations will be accepted. The cost to participate is $15 per booth space (includes one table and two chairs).

Know what's on your credit report by accessing your credit report for free from all 3 credit bureaus twice a year.

Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com

Experian

www.experian.com

1-888-397-3742

Equifax

www.equifax.com

1-800-685-1111

Trans Union

www.transunion.com

1-800-888-4213

10 Must Do's for Winter Each Year:

1. Check attic insulation. A foot of blown-in or batt insulation (R-38) in the attic reduces heat transfer from heated interior space to the great outdoors. This is a do-it-yourself job. If your attic is not insulated, blow in or roll out 12 inches of loose or batt insulation. If the amount of insulation is less than 12 inches, simply roll out unfaced fiberglass batts over the existing insulation to create a heavier thermal blanket. This is a case where more is better. Make sure to leave soffit vents unobstructed.

2. Install or replace weatherstripping, if necessary. Check the rubber threshold gasket at the bottom of exterior doors and replace if worn or torn. Next, make sure the top and sides of the door are weatherstripped and fit tightly. If there are gaps, replace the weatherstripping.

3. Check exterior doors and windows for gaps. Modern windows are probably OK, but older windows may need some help. To reduce air leakage, casement windows might need some weatherstripping at the joint where fixed and movable panes meet. Old double-hung wood windows are notorious air leakers. Place pieces of narrow self-adhesive rubber weatherstripping on the bottom sides and at the joint where the top and bottom panes meet.

4. Check the outside of doors and windows for voids, and caulk any gaps you see.

5. Change the filter in the heater. In older furnaces, filters should be changed monthly. Change or service newer, more efficient filters according to the manufacturer's instructions.

6. Replace your old thermostat with a new programmable model. This allows you to regulate the heater to warm the house when you're there and to reduce the temperature when you are at work or asleep.

7. Have your heater inspected by a licensed heating and air conditioning contractor. An inspection ensures that the heater is operating safely and efficiently. In many cases an inspection can alert you as to whether the unit is at the end of its life. It's nice to have the option to replace an old heater before it quits and becomes an emergency on a cold January day.

8. Check the carbon monoxide (CO) detector. If you don't have one, get one. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that kills. An operating CO detector can prevent a tragedy. While you're at it, check the smoke detectors to ensure they're operable.

9. Clean gutters and downspouts so fallen leaves won't clog them. Make sure that downspouts discharge away from the foundation and that soil is graded away from the foundation and at least 6 inches below the siding.

10. Clean the fireplace of ashes; visually check the chimney for loose or missing mortar. Also consider having the chimney professionally inspected and swept by a licensed and bonded chimney sweep.

NEW YEAR, NEW RULES FOR BROKER APPLICANTS

When I obtained my broker license years ago, I didn't have to show any documentation of being a full time salesperson. Thank goodness that the rules have changed!

As of Jan. 1, applicants for a broker license must have four years of active experience as a licensed salesperson, up from the previous two-year requirement.

Under this new rule, which was adopted last fall by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), an applicant must document experience in each of four years out of the five-year period immediately before the application is filed, or be able to satisfy these requirements by the end of one year after the application is filed.

While an applicant has up to a year after filing an application to meet all education and experience requirements, an applicant cannot take the broker examination until all education and experience requirements have been met.

“As a result of these rule changes, consumers in the state of Texas can be more confident when working with real estate brokers in the future," said TREC Administrator Douglas Oldmixon.

"These new requirements will ensure that real estate brokers will have the broad based knowledge that comes from transactional experience.”

View the TREC press release here.