April 2021
Lavaca’s Exclusive River Pointe Subdivision
& ME&HOME HOM O E &H
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Multi Media Sales Executive
Bethanie Starr
Design Coordinator
Misty Star
The opinions and observations expressed in River Valley Real Estate & Home are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Times Record.
FEATURES
CONTENT S
FORT SMITH BOARD OF REALTOR............................................ 3 GREATER FORT SMITH HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION.......... 4 GOOD FRIDAY............................................................................. 5 VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP............................................................ 6 4 TIPS FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS..................................... 7 WAYS TO KEEP YOU HOUSE FREE OF PET SMELLS................. 8 SHOW READY IN NO TIME.......................................................... 9 HOW TO LET GO:TIPS TO HELP DECLUTTER.......................... 10 GRAY IS HERE TO STAY............................................................. 11 HOW TO HELP THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY SURVIVE............. 13 HOW TO GET RID OF & PREVENT ANTS................................... 15 DOWNSIZING WITHOUT DRAMA................................................ 16 READY TO SELL .................................................................. 20-21
Volume 13, Number 12 River Valley Real Estate & Home, a magazine of the TImes Record published 12 times a year. © Copyright 2020 Times Record
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS MEDLOCK..................................................................................5 April 2021
KELLER WILLIAMS PLATINUM REALTY....................................8 WEST ARK TITLE....................................................................10 FIRST FINANCIAL....................................................................12 MCGRAW..................................................................................14
Lavaca’s Exclusive River Pointe Subdivision
STONESHIRE...........................................................................17 CHUCK FAWCETT................................................................18-19
Advertising information is available from Bethanie Starr (479)353-3995 or bstarr@localiq.com
RONALD RAGON.....................................................................22 GREATER FORT SMITH HOME ASSN......................................23 ARVEST....................................................................................24
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2020 NAR-DOJ AGREEMENT REGARDING MLS RULES Summary of Outcomes In accordance with the MLS system’s long-standing focus on creating an efficient, transparent marketplace for home buyers and sellers, the amount of compensation offered to buyers’ agents for each MLS listing will be made publicly available. Publicly accessible MLS data feeds will include offers of compensation, and buyers’ agents will have an affirmative obligation to provide such information to their clients for homes of interest. Relatedly, the rule changes re-affirm that MLS’s and brokerages, as always, must provide consumers all properties that fit their criteria regardless of compensation offered or the name of the listing brokerage. While NAR has long encouraged buyers’ agents to explain how they expect to be paid, typically through offers of cooperative compensation from sellers’ agents, there will be a rule that more definitively states that buyers’ agents cannot represent to their clients, that their services are free. Finally, with the seller’s prior approval, any licensed real estate agent will have access to the lockboxes of properties listed within an MLS (even if the agent does not subscribe to that MLS).
What Happens Next NAR will work with the DOJ to agree on exact rule changes within 45 days, then the Board of Directors will have to approve the new rules. The Court overseeing the settlement must formally approve the agreement, at which point the new rules will take effect. NAR will keep it’s members apprised of official rule changes as more details become available. In entering this agreement with the DOJ, NAR admits no liability, wrongdoing or truth of any allegations by the DOJ. RIVER VALLEY REAL ESTATE & HOME - APRIL 2021 | 3
NEW HOME SALES ARE NOT SLOWING DOWN BY STEPHANIE STIPINS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE GREATER FORT SMITH ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS A new year often marks the beginning of a new life chapter. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more Americansareinterestedinpurchasinghomes.According to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) latest Housing Trends Report, https://nahbnow.com/ 2021/01/covid-19-continues-to-impact-homepurchasing-plans/; survey responses show that the sh are of Americans who are considering the purchase of a home in the next 12 months increased in the fourth quarter of 2020.
dramatically. The share of prospective buyers who are buying a home for the first-time declined slightly at the end of the year, except for boomers. Among the boomer generation, the share of first-time home buyers rose from 20 percent to 25 percent in the final quarter of 2020 compared to a year earlier. Geographically, the share of adults with plans to buy a home rose in all four regions during this period, led by the Northeast (up nine points to 19 percent) and the West (up six points to 18 percent). Across regions, significantly fewer prospective buyers in the Northeast (55 percent) are 1st-timers compared to a year earlier (65 percent). The share was flat in the West and changed slightly in the Midwest and South.
The survey reports that interest among Americans who are considering purchasing a home increased by four percentage points higher than a year earlier. The change in interest represents the largest year-over-year gain in the three-year history of the survey question. The gain shows the coronavirus outbreak continues to impact More than a third (37 percent) of perspective home Americans’ propensity to want to buy homes. buyers expect that finding the right home will get easier Millennials are the generational group that stands out in in the months ahead, compared to less than a quarter their intent to buy a home. Between the fourth quarters (23 percent) a year ago. The improvement in buyers’ of 2019 and 2020, the share of millennials planning a perceptions on availability reflects the fact that more home purchase rose eight points to 27 percent. The new and existing homes were sold in 2020 than any share increased six points to 18 percent among Gen year since 2006. Xers, three points to 16 percent among Gen Z, and was For more information about home buying in the flat among baby boomers. Greater Fort Smith Area, contact, the Greater When it comes to first-time prospective home buyers’ Fort Smith Association of Home Builders, the interest among different generations shifts www.fortsmithhomebuilders.com or 479-452-6213 4 | APRIL 2021 - RIVER VALLEY REAL ESTATE & HOME
HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
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Alice Medlock Principal Broker 479-651-7221 Kelli Smith
Leigh Medlock
Lee Pixley
Tammy Howard
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Steve Pixley
479-652-5400
Gary Rowe
479-222-2323
Curtis Bledsoe Clay Shackelford 479-831-7004
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MWR 2902-214 OAK GROVE ROAD, VAN BUREN. One owner, 4-bedroom, 3.5 bath plus an office area. Cathedral ceiling & country flame fireplace insert in living room. Beautiful 8.68 acres with pond, 32x40 shop, 18x32 RV carport & 12x20 workshop with electric. Tornado shelter installed in 2013. All of this located only minutes from town. REDUCED TO $375,000
Free virtual summer camps for kids By Melissa Erickson
counselors.
More Content Now
V
irtual camps can’t watch your kids for you, but they offer fun, interactive activities that will keep them occupied. Here are a few free virtual camps can keep a child’s mind active and — hopefully — a parent’s stress level under control.
CAMP WONDEROPOLIS camp.wonderopolis.org Learn why are bowling shoes slippery, how a species becomes endangered and more with Camp Wonderopolis, an online learning destination that focuses on STEM- and literacy-building content and activities. Designed for children of all ages, Camp Wonderopolis can help kids build vocabulary, science knowledge, reading comprehension, critical thinking and other literacy skills. Parents and educators can even sign up as camp
GIRLS WHO CODE girlswhocode.com Enjoy a supportive sisterhood while learning computer science skills with the two-week Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program for girls and nonbinary students in the ninth to 11th grades. The camp is an opportunity to get a look at the tech world through guest speakers and virtual classrooms. Participants will learn to code with projects using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
VARSITY TUTORS varsitytutors.com From June through August Varsity Tutors offers weeklong virtual summer camps for ages 5 to 18 in fun and educational subjects ranging from math bootcamp to origami for beginners, test prep to podcasting. The easy-to-search
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website narrows choices by age and subject.
CAMP PBS KIDS PBS.org/parents/summer Camp PBS KIDS makes summer an opportunity to learn with ideas, tips, games, activities, reading lists and printables focused around different themes and featuring some familiar characters such as Daniel Tiger and Buddy Tyrannosaurus.
CAMP KINDA campkinda.org Camp Kinda is a virtual summer experience designed to keep kids in grades K through 8 engaged, curious and having fun at home. Sign up to receive three to four hours’ worth of activities each day that are connected to a weekly theme such as unlocking the mysteries of history or the world’s craziest sports.
4
By HomeFinder.com A little extra research can help you make an educated decision when it comes to purchasing your first home. Class is now in session.
for first-time home buyers
PIXABAY.COM
TIPS
Start saving now
Balance emotion and logic
If you’re just beginning the home buying process, you may want to consider dedicating more funds to your future down payment. It’s a good idea to consider your price range in advance, so you can accurately estimate how much you will need to squirrel away for the down payment. Work with a licensed financial professional to get the best advice for your unique situation. Assignment: Open a separate savings account and start allocating a dedicated monthly amount to this“New Home Fund.” Extra credit: Create a detailed plan to help you save your goal amount. Figure out how much money per month you will have to set aside in order to reach your estimated down payment price, and how long it will take you to hit your desired number.
Don’t let your enthusiasm for a specific home blind you to harsher realities, such as the need for drastic renovations, an inconvenient location or a lack of specific necessities. Assignment: Create a“Must Have”list and a“Nice to Have” list for home shopping, and bring it with you to every showing. Include items that are important to you, such as“commute length,” “no stairs”or“appliances included”. An ultra-specific list can save you time and prevent you from making a decision you’ll regret further down the road. Extra credit: If you really like a property bring an impartial party, like a friend or relative, to view it. They’re more likely to see the place as it is, and give you an honest assessment of whether the home features everything on your “Must Have”checklist.
Know exactly how much home you can afford The true cost of a home can be so much more than just the listing price. To calculate what you can afford, take into account mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities, the cost of upkeep, HOA dues and other expenses, such as the cost of your commute. Extra credit: Once you know how much you’re able to afford per month in housing costs, attempt a trial month. See if you can live off the remainder of your take-home pay without spending the money that would go toward housing expenses.
Have the home inspected A home inspection contingency can be added to the purchase contract for the home, which means that you will be able to cancel the sale or negotiate for repairs based on the results of your inspection. A good home inspection can reveal all kinds of potential issues with the property, and it can even kill a sale. Assignment: Research home inspectors in your area and choose the one who best fits your needs. Have your chosen inspector’s contact information ready for when you find“the one.” Extra credit: Sometimes small problems revealed in the inspection can turn out to have much larger causes. It never hurts to ask questions, order a second inspection, or dig deeper into the little things to make sure there aren’t bigger problems just below the surface. The time window for inspecting a property can be short, so if your inspector finds anything out of the ordinary that you want to investigate, act quickly.
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Gaylene Calhoun Ron Calhoun 479-965-6336 479-651-7474
2817 HWY 22 West, Charleston This Home has had a Total Make-Over from Top to Bottom! Tastefully decorated & adorned this 3 Bed, 2.5 Bath, Open Concept Liv./Din. has a Sun Porch, Large Shop w/ R.V. Storage, Beautiful Pergola & a HUGE Pavilion w/Hot tub for out-door Entertaining! Approx. 1.61 ac. Smoke free & no indoor pets. Immaculate!
REDUCED $337,000
MLS# 1037946 FS-0001387828-01
KEEP YOUR HOME FREE OF PET SMELLS Almost 2 million American households own a cat, a dog, or both. And, although data are more difficult to come by regarding the number of other pets — ferrets, birds, fish, etc. — in U.S. homes, estimates are high. Americans love their pets, as is evidenced by the staggering amount spent on them in 2017: $69.51 billion, according to the American Pet Products Association,which already shows higher expenditures for 2018. But having a home-dwelling pet does not have to equate to smelly untidiness. “Your house is not a zoo,” asserted Parents magazine in July. The publication offers ways to keep messes to a minimum: • Purchase a pet bed that can easily be laundered in the home’s washing machine and dryer, and wash on warm or hot separately at least once a week with a fragrance-free or pet-safe detergent. If bed is too large for washer, mollymaid.com suggests filling a bathtub with water and a little detergent. Also, some beds come with removable covers to make washing easier. Dry separately in a dryer or hang in a well-ventilated area or out on a clothesline. • Brush pet regularly to remove excess hair. • Vacuum upholstery and flooring often; use the “rubber glove trick” to remove excess hair from upholstery: Don a pair of rubber gloves FS-0001397947-01
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(the kind used for cleaning or dishwashing), rub any furniture that’s covered in fur, then dunk your gloved hands in water. Hair will float to the top so it can be gathered easily for disposal. • Clean crates regularly with a bleachfree cleaner; or, a DIY pet cleaner is equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water. • Wash water and food dishes (Parents recommends daily) with hot soapy water. Anyone who has an indoor cat knows that litter boxes are the worst. Parents suggests cutting down on foul odors by scooping litter at least twice daily and replacing all litter weekly. Either scrub the litter box weekly with soapy water, or use litter-box liners or a trash bag for faster cleanup. Clean other confinements — fish tanks and bird cages, for example.
SHOW-READY IN NO TIME
Quick clean-up tips for an immediate showing By Kaitlin Williams HomeFinder.com
It happens to every seller at least once:Your agent calls about some interested buyers, but they want to see the house right now.You don’t have time to do a full clean up, but you want your home to look presentable for a showing, and maybe even a successful sale. How do you clean up in time?
Bedroom • Make your bed. • Clear the clutter off the tops of your dresser and side table and stash the items in the drawers for the moment. • Rather than jamming extra items into the closet, where curious buyers are sure to look, hide those things beneath your bed.
Living room • To quickly spruce up your couch, flip the cushions to the clean side and fluff the throw pillows. Strategically placed blankets and pillows can be used to disguise or hide stains or discoloration on the sofa. • Clear your coffee table of books, magazines and papers. Stack magazines and books neatly in a pile and place under the coffee table or side table. Stash important papers and mail in a desk drawer to be sorted through later. • Have a few decorative baskets on hand to toss random items into. • Quickly vacuum the carpet. The sight of vacuum track marks on the carpet immediately evokes the idea of cleanliness. Sweep up any dirt or dust on wood floors. Feel free to deposit the dust pile beneath the rug if you’re pressed for time – we guarantee buyers won’t look under there! PHOTOS PIXABAY, TARGET
Bathroom • Quickly wipe down the sink, mirrors and toilet. If you don’t have time to wipe down the bathtub, pull the shower curtain closed and hope for the best. Gather the toiletries you keep in the bath or shower into one cluster. • Light a candle. • Keep a decorative basket on top of the toilet or beneath the sink where you can toss stray toiletries. • Hang clean towels from the towel rack, or roll them neatly for a spa-inspired look.
Kitchen • Move dirty dishes from the sink into the dishwasher. You can remove them after the showing. If your dishwasher is overflowing, hide smaller items in a big pot with a lid for the time being. • To make your kitchen smell delicious without actually baking cookies, put two capfuls of vanilla extract in an oven-proof dish and place it in the oven at 300 degrees for one hour. • Take all of the notes, pictures and magnets off your fridge. Place them in a re-sealable bag and toss them in a drawer. You can hang them back up when the visitors are gone.
Kids’ rooms • Make the bed and hide clutter in drawers if possible. Stuff plush toys into pillowcases to create a cleaner-looking bed. • Store toys in a toy chest, decorative baskets or even in a pop-up play house. • Spritz dirty areas with air freshener. • Gather up books in neat piles and place on a chair or desk.
Trunk of your car • If you truly have no time to waste, or you have some unusual items, like litter boxes or dog beds, keep them in the trunk of your car until your visitors are gone.
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Title & Closing Service Provided by
479-478-6226 479-471-7001 479-996-4949 479-675-1395 Let Let itt go: go: Tips Tip ps to to help help p you you declutter decluttter Melissa Erickson More Content Now Many Americans stuck at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic looked inward and decided it's a great time to declutter. "If you aren't using those appliances that you were saving for 'someday,' now is the time to give them the heave-ho. Someday is now," said certified professional organizer Darla DeMorrow, founder of HeartWork Organizing based in Wayne, Pennsylvania. "If you haven't learned to use that pressure cooker/stand mixer/ electric skillet/panini grill, you probably never will." Use the "80-20 rule" to cull your belongings. "About 20% of the things we own are what we love and use every day. The 80% of our possessions that we hardly touch aren't adding much to our lives except guilt and stress. Learn to identify with the 'vital few' and feel good about letting go of the 'trivial many,' as Vilfredo Pareto, the Italian economist who first coined the term, put it," said DeMorrow, author of the SORT and Succeed book series and "The Upbeat, Organized Home Office." FS-0001365098-01
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Now Open in Booneville! Come visit our new location at 17 West Main!
Gray is here to stay in
HOME DESIGNS
Decorating a home in neutral tones has long been recommended as a way to sell a home quickly. But the color gray also provides a blank canvas for homeowners who have no intention of putting their homes on the market anytime soon. Beige and white have long been go-to colors for neutral living spaces. But many interior decorators now look to gray as the neutral color of choice. Design experts advise that gray has a broad range. Gray can include everything from silver to charcoal to a dusty cloud. According to the trendsetters at Glidden Paints, gray coordinates well with other colors. Plus, the neutral appeal of gray boasts a timeless quality. Gray is not a clear-cut color that’s simply a 5050 blend of white and black. Gray has subtle nuances that can lean toward blues, greens, taupes, and more depending on the lighting and surrounding furnishings.That means that homeowners who are ready to replace their
furniture or accessories need not necessarily repaint if they’ve previously decorated in shades of gray. Individuals need only replace small items to produce a big effect in rooms where gray is dominant. Because gray is so neutral, it works with soft, calming colors in various pastels, but equally as well with bright reds, yellow and oranges, according to Scott Bodenner, a Brooklyn-based textile designer. Gray also is a predominant color in natural stones used throughout homes in entryways, bathrooms and kitchens. It can make design sense to maintain continuity throughout by dabbling in gray elsewhere. Designers have shown how gray does not have to be cold, industrial or gloomy. It can be sophisticated in just about any room of the house. More designers are now leaning toward warmer variations of gray, such as taupes and blends dubbed “greige,” that are beautiful but not as stark as pure gray
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Specializing in Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Financing Since 1935 Conventional, VA, FHA, and Rural Development Loans available.
Looking For The Perfect Home? We’re Here To Help. Give me a call or visit ffb1.com to learn more about your home loan options. I’ve helped many families finance their home purchase - how can I help you?
ETHAN ADAMSON NMLS #924274 479-459-3719
3401 Rogers Ave., Suite A | Fort Smith, AR 72903 | (479) 782-9300 | www.ffb1.com 12 | APRIL 2021 - RIVER VALLEY REAL ESTATE & HOME
How to help
monarch butterflies
Melissa Erickson More Content Now USA TODAY NETWORK
A
fter wintering in California and Mexico monarch butterflies head north during the first weeks in March and April, but year after year they do so at greatly reduced numbers. Monarchs are getting closer to extinction, but you can help support them in your own backyard. Experts estimate that monarch rch populations have drastically declined since the early 1990s for a variety of reasons. “Some call it death by a thousand cuts,” said Scott Hoffman Black, executive director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Habitat loss, insecticide use and climate change effects, including the California wildfires, are all taking their toll, he said. “It is estimated that there has been around an 80% decline in eastern monarch numbers since the 1990s when monitoring started,” Black said. Western monarch butterflies have fared much worse. “In 2015 we had over 200,000 monarchs at overwintering sites in California. This year we have less than 2,000. This is a 99.9% decline since the 1980s when we had over 4 million monarchs,” Black said. As pollinators that need similar habitats to other insect, bird and even wildlife species, monarchs are worth paying attention to because they are like the canary in the coal mine. When their numbers decline it affects other populations and,eventually, human food systems.
As a species the monarch butterfly is federally listed as “warranted but precluded,” meaning the government is currently not doing much to help them, Black said. The designation means that monarchs meet the criteria for being protected under the Endangered Species Act, but the U.S. government says that because of limited funding they need to prioritize other species, he said. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agency that manages — the agen species — is chronically listed spe underfunded and sometimes prioritization is needed. That said, with the western wit population on the verge of popu collapse, this is not a species that can wait for help,” Black said. You can make a difference “The neat thing about monarchs and other pollinators is that anyone can help. You do not need a large landscape. Start by taking the Bring Back the Pollinators pledge (xerces.org/ bring-back-thepollinators). You can join with hundreds of thousands of others who are stepping up to help all these important animals,” he said. Write your legislators and ask them to support full protection for the monarch under the Endangered Species Act. “Ask them to increase funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service so the agency can successfully protect and restore all threatened and endangered species,” Black said.
FREEPIK.COM
survive In your backyard the main three things you can do for monarchs are: • Plant native milkweed, which is a host plant that monarch butterflies lay their eggs on. • Plant nectar plants for monarchs, which they consume for energy. • Ensure that monarch habitat is protected from pesticides. There are also things to avoid doing to help monarchs. Do not plant tropical milkweed, especially in the southern United States and California. “Tropical milkweed does not go dormant in these areas and is associated with higher disease levels in monarchs, and may actually stop them from traveling on to overwintering sites,” Black said. It also doesn’t help native populations to raise and release or buy monarchs for release. “These monarchs may spread disease to wild monarchs and may not be as adapted to the long migration,” Black said.
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By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
P
esky little creatures, ants will take any opportunity to come into your home looking for food and water, and because they’re social creatures they’ll bring their ant friends, too. Just killing the ants that make your home their home isn’t enough. “Ants are very common and a big problem inside homes and businesses across the states. Obviously the winter slows their activity but in the warmer climates they stay active all year,” said Jerry Schappert, an associate certified entomologist and owner of The Bug Doctor in Ocala, Florida. In summer ants can show up in overwhelming numbers in kitchens and bathrooms searching for food and shelter. “There are quite a few species in America but only around a dozen or more that will readily infest a home” including acrobat, Argentine, big-headed, carpenter, crazy, fire, ghost, little black, odorous house, pavement, pharaoh, rover, thief and white-footed ants, Schappert said. Some are exotic, invasive nuisances without natural predators. Other local species are more desirable because they compete with destructive imported types like the red fire ant. “Some like the carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) can and will damage a home; however the Florida carpenter ant (Camponotus floridanus) is not considered destructive, although it can inhabit wood already damaged by rot or termite,” Schappert said. Ant types vary geographically. “Treatments vary as much as the ant. It’s always best to get the proper Identification first. Not doing so can mean a lot of wasted time and money,” Schappert said. For example, spraying a pharaoh ant situation almost always doubles the problem. “Part of their defense when a perceived threat hits is to split the colony. Now you have two nests. Spray again? Four,” Schappert said.
To identify an ant, try to get a good cell phone shot. “The closer and more magnified the better,” Schappert said. Email it to a local pest control company, which can help classify it. The key to keeping ants out is to make your home less open and attractive. “As a general rule if homeowners reduce conducive conditions, their chances of having ants attracted to the home is less,” said Schappert, who offered these tips: • Keep shrubbery and trees from touching the house. • Seal any obvious gaps, cracks or potential points of entry into the home. • Keep grass trimmed low if it is up against the house. • Move log piles or other materials that sit undisturbed for long periods away from the home. Garbage storage is a big attractant if kept outside but near the home as are uncleaned grills, especially if right next to the house, Schappert said. There’s a multitude of DIY products available that are safe to be used around people and pets. “Armed with the knowledge of what their ant eats, where they prefer to nest, etc., DIYers can feel reasonably confident they can win the battle with ants. Read and follow all label instructions,” Schappert said. One major problem with treating ants on your own is that people often do not read labels. “If they do, the tendency to double the mix rate or spray on all the surfaces causes a potential problem. Studies show that doubling the mix rate does not make the ant any deader,” Schappert said. Almost all ant infestations can be dealt with from the outside, except when the problem has festered too long. “That said, we approach each ant call we get from the outside in first. Works very well,” Schappert said.
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Downsizing Drama MELISSA ERICKSON MORE CONTENT NOW USA TODAY NETWORK
T
he past year has made people ask so much of their homes as people brought in work, school and exercise. It not only took a toll on the aesthetics, but also our lifestyles, said Marni Jameson, a syndicated home and lifestyle columnist with several books on downsizing.
“Measure it out. Do a floor plan. Use a tape measure to see what will fit. Space is finite; your stuff isn’t,” Jameson said.
“COVID-19 changed the way we live in our homes and what we expect from them,” Jameson said.
Downsizing can be an emotional experience. We hang onto much of our stuff for the memories. Getting rid of things can feel like cutting off an arm, Jameson said.
For people in the process of downsizing to a smaller home ,it’s best approached with an end goal in mind. “Find your motivation. Do you want to live in a smaller, lighter footprint? Are you moving from 3,000 square feet to 1,500 square feet? Do you only want to keep what you need, use or love? Having a goal in mind will help rev your engines,” Jameson said. When it comes to downsizing Jameson prefers the term “rightsizing” instead. “It’s upsizing for many people” because they will be living in their ideally sized space, she said.
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For adults who are combining two houses, decluttering is required. “Boomer-age folks are getting remarried in midlife, and they need to fit two houses into one. One house plus one house needs to equal one house. Each has to get rid of half a house,” Jameson said. Don’t fantasize that you will be able to fit in all your furniture, appliances, clothes and gadgets.
Be practical. For example, measure kitchen shelves to see how many glasses they will hold and get rid of the excess, she said.
Start the process in a place where you won’t get emotional, such as the linen closet, under the sink or the garage. “Once you start, you’ll get momentum.Then you can move on to more difficult spaces like the clothes closet, children’s rooms and photos.The photos are hard,” Jameson said. Tread lightly when it comes to the “box of feels” — the keepsakes, souvenirs and inherited treasures — because that can become “a sinkhole of sentiment,” Jameson said. “Be prepared.You don’t know what will trip your feelings,” she said. The key is to manage the stories those things evoke. “That’s what you’re connected to,” Jameson said. Sometimes it helps to choose a number when it comes to precious items, whether it’s a collection of milk glasses or fishing lures. Save one or five, take photos of the rest and let them go.
Digitize what you can: photos, old video cassettes and films, letters, certificates, CDs and DVDs, Jameson said.They can be saved in the cloud or through a service like ScanMyPhotos. com. “Instead of feeling sad about letting go of your possessions, think of how beneficial they will be for someone else,” she said. Put the dining room table that doesn’t fit on Craigslist or in the classifieds (use precaution when meeting and only accept cash). Sell your jewelry on eBay or through consignment stores and higher end items through auction houses or TheRealReal.com. Keep track of donations for tax writeoffs and use Intuit’s ItsDeductible feature (app or online) to find out what they’re worth, Jameson said. Be creative with hard-to-part with items.Turn your wedding gown into a baptismal gown or pillow, or cut off a piece of fabric and add to a scrapbook. One of Jameson’s books, “Downsizing the Family Home: A Workbook,” is a tool to help. Filled with advice and how-to checklists, it’s also a scrapbook and journal to retain family history. Downsizing may be hard, but it’s also freeing. “Most people are not remorseful.They feel great about it,” Jameson said.
MEASURE IT OUT. DO A FLOOR PLAN. USE A TAPE MEASURE TO SEE WHAT WILL FIT. SPACE IS FINITE; YOUR STUFF ISN’T.
MARNI JAMESON 16 | APRIL 2021 - RIVER VALLEY REAL ESTATE & HOME
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4720 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith 1505 East Main Street, Van Buren 9026 Mayswood Pl., Fort Smith 741 West Center, Greenwood www.chuckf aw cettr ealty.com
Evan Stringfellow Bill Coleman Brenda Love Crissy Wilkinson Aimee Montgomery Ashlee Milton Debi Rakes 918-680-0389 479-310-0305 479-420-7867 479-461-6448 479-831-8980 405-269-3944 479-739-7262
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18 | APRIL 2021 - RIVER VALLEY REAL ESTATE & HOME
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RIVER VALLEY REAL ESTATE & HOME - APRIL 2021 | 19
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
Caring for grandchildren can be joyful and exhausting, but it’s most certainly a responsibility. It’s easy to forget how to keep them safe from potentially dangerous, everyday household items like cleaning supplies.“You often think about car seat safety, gates on stairs and how to prevent drowning or burns, but what about laundry room safety or storage of products used in the kitchen?”said Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of communication, outreach and membership at the American Cleaning Institute. For those who normally don’t have children roaming the house, it can be easy to forget what necessary precautions should be in place where cleaning products are stored, including the kitchen, bathroom, garage and laundry room.
FS-0001399024-01
20 | APRIL 2021 - RIVER VALLEY REAL ESTATE & HOME
Accidents can happen quickly
PHOTOS: BIGSTOCK
“Although the laundry room is usually home to many cleaning products and can be one of the busiest spots in the house, it can easily go overlooked when it comes to safety,” Sansoni said. Almost 70% of parents with children younger than 4 said their laundry room is accessible to their children, and more than 50% said they do laundry while their children are in the same room, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Cleaning Institute, “Children are naturally curious and tend to explore with their hands and their mouths,” Sansoni said. “Accidental exposures to liquid laundry packets and other cleaning products can happen in a split-second, but can be easily prevented by practicing simple safety habits during the daily routine.” The cleaning, household and hygiene products we depend on will do their jobs safely if stored and used properly, Sansoni said. “All hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting products should be used as directed ... It is up to all of us to use them properly and store them safely to prevent unintended injuries. Staying healthy also means being safe,” he said.
Read the labels
“All hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting products should be used as directed ... It is up to all of us to use them properly and store them safely to prevent unintended injuries. Staying healthy also means being safe.” BRIAN SANSONI FS-0001399025-01
A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that about 1 in 3 adults used chemicals or disinfectants unsafely while trying to protect against COVID-19. “Clearly there’s a lot of improvement we want to see here,” Sansoni said. “When using any cleaning product, you should always read and follow the label directions for effective results and to ensure safe handling.”
Store up and out of sight One trend to avoid is storing cleaning products like laundry packets in clear containers or glass jars. “While this can be tempting and aesthetically pleasing, it is vital to keep cleaning products stored in the original packaging with labels intact, so you have that information in the event of an emergency,” Sansoni said. “Product labels are designed with easy-touse instructions and safety protocols that are quick to reference.” All cleaning products should be stored up and out of sight and reach from young children, preferably in a cabinet with doors. “If you don’t have a cabinet available, place all cleaning products in their original packaging into a larger bin and store them where those at risk won’t be able to see it,” Sansoni said. Notice important safety instructions that could be useful to poison control centers should an accident occur, Sansoni said. “Be sure to completely close and seal all cleaning products during and after use to avoid any accidental exposures,” he said. Some other helpful safety tips include: • When purchasing liquid laundry packets and household cleaners, have them bagged separately and put them away in their designated safe storage spot – out of sight and out of reach – as soon as you get home. • Have the Poison Help Line (800-222-1222) handy and call immediately if an accidental exposure occurs. • Conduct routine safety checks in the home to prevent accidents, particularly ahead of a visit from a grandchild or younger family members. For more information, check out the American Cleaning Institute’s Packets Up! campaign, cleaninginstitute.org/ liquidlaundrypacketsafety.
RIVER VALLEY REAL ESTATE & HOME - APRIL 2021 | 21
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