Fall Reminders

Each season I mail out a reminder check list of home maintenance items to my friends, clients and neighbors.  The following are some hints for maintaining your home during fall season.  It is important that during this season you prepare your home for the upcoming winter.  You may want to consider installing additional insulation, using weather stripping, and caulking.

1. Have furnace serviced by a qualified contractor.
2. Change furnace filter(s).
3. Replace central humidifier pad.
4. Close crawl space vents.
5. Check fireplace flue for creosote build-up and check damper for operation.
6. Check roof for damage, loose or missing shingles.  Checking flashing areas as well.
7. Clean gutters as needed.
8. Install or lower all storm windows.
9. Shut off water to outside faucets and disconnect all garden hoses.
10. Insulate any plumbing located in garage or other areas subject to freezing.
11. A third application of fertilizer for your lawn should follow in mid-October.
12. Empty or let gasoline tank on your lawnmower run dry before winter storage.
13. Take a careful look at the exterior of your house to see that it is properly protected from the elements.
14. If your family room does not seem large enough for your family and friends to watch the games on TV this fall, call me to assist you in finding you another home.

If you take time to maintain your investment, your investment will take care of you!
Call me for any real estate questions.

How To Achieve Financial Freedom

If you're like millions of Americans, you dream of the day when you will be debt free.  The economic recession has prompted many families to restrict spending in order to take control of their finances, pay down outstanding debt and make saving a priority.  In fact, the average household debt has fallen over 8.2% since it's peak in 2008.*  For many people, eliminating household debt feels unattainable; however, with the right tools, anyone can take control of their spending and begin to build wealth.

This month, I have tips on my website to help you break the cycle of debt and achieve financial freedom.  The first page outlines steps you can take to create a budget and save money.  Page two details a plan to eliminate debt from credit cards and loans in a fraction of the time it would traditionally take.  Feel free to share this information with your Family and Friends who are looking to get out of debt and improve their financial security.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact me any time via email, facebook, twitter, townepost or phone!

 *Source:  Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Quarterly Report on household Debt and Credit:  May 2011

Thank you to my clients for the amazing recognition in this Month's Indianapolis Monthly Magazine

When I received a phone call late last year from someone who identified himself as being from the Indianapolis Monthly Magazine I thought I was being pranked.  He told me I would be receiving the 2011 Five Star Real Estate Agent Overall Satisfaction Award and would be featured in Indianapolis Monthly Magazine’s April 2011 issue.  I thought, "Wow, that's a creative way to ask someone to advertise in the magazine".

Immediately, like any person might these days, I "Googled" the award to see if it was legitimate and what it really entailed.  I also put a call into FC Tucker Co., Inc. Corporate to ask what they might know about this "award" and had they also been contacted.  Lastly, I called a few friends, colleagues and members of my team to ask, "Have you heard of the Five Star Real Estate Award" and "Can you find anything on this"?

Within a few days, I received the details and concluded in a nutshell:  Yes, the award was legitimate; No, they weren't trying to solicit me to advertise in the magazine; and WOW!!!, what an amazing honor.

Turns out, when you look at the very few Realtors (about 5%) within our city who qualified for this overall satisfaction award, this was a big deal!  After all my years as a Realtor, the times I've tried to articulate my passion for Real Estate and my sincere dedication to giving the best service to my clients, this Award represented, for me, a job well done.  It's fun to sell homes and I love the business, but what it really comes down to is, "Did I do my best for the clients and are they happy with my service"?

This award “told” me that my clients (that completed the survey) and the industry representatives I’ve worked with (who were interviewed) believed I was doing a great job.  THANK YOU!

A heartfelt thank you to my Clients for the pleasure and privilege to have served you.  I’ve received recognition in the past from a variety of industry accomplishments but this means the absolute most!

For a view of my full page recognition in this month’s issue of Indianapolis Monthly Magazine and for information on how clients were contacted/surveyed and how the data was concluded, please click on this link:  Raymond Rohana featured in Indianapolis Monthly Magazine April 2011