Real Estate

Jefferson Park Senior Apartments

EXCELLENT FAIRPORT LOCATION! Now Accepting Applications

Affordable Rents - $821/mo. Includes Heat & Hot Water Discounted Cable TV • Pet Friendly - No extra fees Private Patios and Balconies Resident Activities

585-377-6115

120 Jefferson Ave., Fairport, NY

Income Restrictions Apply

STRANGE BUT TRUE By Lucie Winborne * Heavy metal band Black Sabbath’s original name was The Polka Tulk Blues Band, after the brand name of a talcum powder used by Ozzy Osbourne’s mother.

CREATE A SALE-WORTHY SHOWPLACE

The sentiment “don’t judge a book by its cover” can be applied to many situations. When it comes to selling their homes, homeowners should remember this adage as they prepare their homes for prospective buyers. Homeowners who want to make their properties stand out can take the following steps. De-personalize the home. Homeowners fi ll their spaces with family photos, heirlooms, personal interests, and other conversation pieces. Prospective buyers may not be able to see past personal belongings and may even be distracted by them. For example, buyers who have strong beliefs about animal welfare may not buy a home displaying hunting trophies. Remove personalized items where possible, replacing them with generic items. Improve the exterior. HGTV says that curb appeal is crucial to making a strong fi rst impression. A messy or lackluster landscape can turn buyers away even before they reach the front door. Mow the lawn and make sure shrubbery has been trimmed. Seasonal potted fl owers and plants can help make the house look polished. Repair cracks or damaged walkways, and consider a fresh coat of paint on trim around windows and doors. Pressure-wash siding if necessary. Put things in storage. Rent a storage unit to house items that can make a home appear cluttered. Clean out closets and cabinets, so that when buyers “snoop” during appointments or open houses they see orderly storage areas. If closets are brimming with stuff, buyers may assume the house doesn’t have enough storage space and move on. Make it light and bright. Open up all of the drapes and blinds, and turn on overhead lights so the house is well-lit. Add table lamps or other fi xtures to especially dim rooms. Create a hotel experience. Forbes suggests making bathrooms look like a spa. Stack a few pretty washcloths tied with ribbon, add some scented candles and faux plants and buy bathmats and towels in coordinating tones. Remove extraneous items from kitchen counters and replace them with vases of fl owers. In addition, set up dining spaces as if one were sitting down to a meal, and ensure appliances are sparkling clean. Use common ‘scents.’ Skip the fi sh, bacon or other aromatic meals for a few days, as such foods can leave lingering aromas. Baked goods, vanilla and cinnamon might make for more appealing scents. Making a home sell fast involves preparation and the knowledge that buyers are often greatly infl uenced by their fi rst impressions.

Fair Housing Statement

All real estate advertised in the Genesee Valley Penny Saver is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Fair Housing Enforcement Project Monroe County Legal Assistance Center 1 W. Main Street Rochester, NY 14614 (585) 325-2500 • www.lawny.org

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

PRESIDENTS’ DAY

On the third Monday in February, Americans stop to remember the contributions of the many great leaders who have served as President of the United States. Certain Presidents’ Day traditions have developed over the years, including an opportunity for shoppers to fi nd great deals on a host of items. Originally established in 1885 to recognize President George Washington, the day we now know as Presidents’ Day was then known as Washington’s Birthday and was traditionally celebrated on February 22. The holiday became known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved to the third Monday in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which enabled the nation’s workers to enjoy more threeday weekends. In addition, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act served as a way to combine the celebration of Washington’s birthday and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, which is February 12.

NOW HERE’S A TIP

By JoAnn Derson

* Store plastic wrap in the refrigerator, or even the freezer, to keep it from sticking to itself. * “Take your medication tablets on a spoonful of your favorite yogurt! Place the pills on top of yogurt and they slide down. Follow with a second spoonful and smile.” -- A Reader in Pennsylvania * Do you have a screw loose ... in your eyeglasses? This is an easy fi x. Paint the screw with a dab of clear nail polish and quickly re-screw. It works like glue. Dab the top of the screw for a little extra insurance.

* “I purchased a roll of refl ective tape to mark our basement stairs. It refl ects the light from the open doorway at the top of the stairs, and I can turn the downstairs lights off before heading up. I had some left over, so I put a strip on my dog’s collar. When I let him out at night, I can shine a fl ashlight and spot him instantly, since the tape is more visible in the night.” -- V.R. in Pennsylvania * If you’re leaving your home for a few days, make sure you don’t turn off the heater altogether. Set it at a low 55 degrees F and open up the cabinets that have pipes exposed. This way, air will circulate, and it won’t get too cold to allow the pipes to burst. Have a neighbor turn your faucets to a trickle if below-freezing weather is expected. * Wrap the metal collar of your paintbrush with masking tape before painting. Then you can peel it off and there’s no stuck-on paint.