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Posts Tagged ‘Prudential Real Estate Columbia Mo’

Activities to Keep Your Kids From Driving You Crazy

The children are stirring because it is that time of year where they are trapped in the house.  Here are some great indoor activities to keep them busy when it is too cold to go outside.

Marshmallow Snowmen Activity

YUMMY SNOWMEN–  Take 3 marshmallows and stack them using icing in between each marshmallow to hold them together.  Use you imagination to decorate your snowmen.  Here are some of our suggestions…. Arms= pretzel sticks, Eyes= Either Red Hots or Mini M&M’s, Hair= Pull apart licorice, Brim of hat= thin cracker, Top of hat= gum drop, Buttons= raisins.  Hold of the items in place with more icing!

DECORATE WINTER GEAR– Are you kids tired of their old stockings, mittens, etc?  Give them new life (even if they have holes)!  For patches you can hot glue or stitch on fun patterned thick fabric.  The kids will love decorating their winter gear with glitter, sequins, buttons, felt, googly eyes, fabric markers, etc!

INDOOR SNOW SCENES– Give each child a piece of paper, and ask them to draw and color a scene of their idea of the “Best Snow Day Ever”.  Then give them cotton balls and glue to make the snow.  They will love pulling and stretching the cotton balls!

Check out the outdoor fun!

ICE ORNAMENT– Gather 4-5 disposable pie pans.  Fill them with water (leaving enough room that the water won’t overflow during movement).  Have the children add some of their favorite craft items in the water such as glitter, sequins, buttons, etc.  A few drops of food coloring is another great item that will dazzle up this ice ornament.  Then place some twine, fishing line, or yarn in a loop in the water to create the “hook” for the ornament.  Carefully place the pie pans in the freezer or outside if the temperatures allow for it to freeze overnight.  The next day, remove the ice from the pans and you have beautiful ornaments to hang outside (at least until they start to melt)!

PAPER SNOWFLAKES– A true classic activity.  Fold a piece of paper many times, then cut out small shapes along the edges.  Unfold, and VOILA!  A beautiful snowflake.  You can also use glue and glitter after it is unfolded to make a shinning snowflake.  You can turn these into ornaments for your tree, garland, wreaths, etc.

DRESS THE SNOWMAN– Cut out a snowman out of poster board and tape it on a wall.  Have the children make the clothing, eyes, nose, mouth, arms, etc for the snowman out of construction paper, markers, etc.  If your children are old enough, they can cut out the items otherwise help/guide your child to cut them out.  Then blind fold each child giving them a different item to “pin” or tape onto the snowman.  They will love seeing where they put each part!

Paper Snowflake Activity

If you are looking to join the Columbia Real Estate market, please feel free to call us.  Prudential Vision Properties can be reached at 573.449.6200. Prudential Vision Properties is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

What to Know About It!

As we prepare for the winter weather that is bound to happen, here is a reminder about city road maintenance. The city of Columbia covers over 60 square miles and has an estimated population of 108,500.   Which means. . . the city has over 500 miles of roads to maintain!  So please keep this in mind when we get that next BIG snow.  They are doing the best they can with the equipment they have.

If there is less than 4 inches of snow, the city will clear all primary (arterial and primary city streets such as Vandiver and Green Meadows) and secondary streets (major, heavily traveled city collector streets, school and city bus routes as well as streets leading to schools, hospitals and other critical areas such) using overtime when needed.  They will then plow and treat (using salt when needed to melt ice and cinders for traction on ice) residential roads only during normal working hours.

For a list of Primary and Secondary priority streets, you can go to the City of Columbia‘s website.

In the event there is more than 4 inches of snow, the crews will utilize overtime to clear all primary and secondary roads allowing for safe and passable driving conditions.  They will also plow and treat (using salt when needed to melt ice and cinders for traction on ice)  residential streets to the same driving conditions as primary and secondary roads.

Remember, when there is snow or ice on the roads it is important that you only venture out if needed.  This will reduce the number of accidents and congestion on the roads.   Help keep Columbia safe!

For information on preparing your vehicle for winter weather, check out our blog Don’t Get Stranded!

If you are looking to join the Columbia Real Estate market, please feel free to call us.  Prudential Vision Properties can be reached at 573.449.6200. Prudential Vision Properties is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Create the Best Tasting Turkey This Thanksgiving.

Trying to come up with something different for the ole’ bird at Thanksgiving dinner?  We have got you covered.  There are brown bag, deep fried, grilled, roasted and smoked recipes!  Try them out, then let us know what you think on our Facebook page!  Your friends and family will be blown away and coming back for more.

Allrecipes.com Deep-Fried Turkey

Food Network’s Alton Brown’s Honey Brined Smoked Turkey

Simply Recipe’s Mom’s Roasted Turkey

Martha Stewart’s Salt and Pepper Grilled Turkey

Food.com’s Kidd Kraddick’s Famous Brown Bag Turkey

If you would like to contact a Prudential Real Estate agent today, please call 573.449.6200 or email Info@PrudentialVision.com.  Prudential Vision Properties is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Find Out How Much You Are Spending To Keep Your Appliances Plugged In.

10 Tips for Those Who Have Decided to Buy

by PJ Wade

Wanting to buy a home and deciding to buy a home are two different things. The first is a desire or a dream. The second is commitment to achieve the goal. Do you want to buy, or have you decided to buy?

If you are ready to commit to success, you are determined to replace wanting to buy with deciding to buy. Here are 10 tips to help you on the path to real estate ownership.

1. Decide who will facilitate your buy: The professional team you put together can make all the difference.  Concentrate on credentials and experience. The knowledge and ability to strategize on your behalf does matter.

When to Buy Your Home

2. Decide when you will buy: Buying a home or investment property is not something to rush into, but taking a long time does not necessarily make your choice a better one. To facilitate a sound buying decision, project ahead three months at a time to see what external factors in your life and career might disrupt buying momentum, or add additional advantages to the timing

3. Decide where you will buy: Location is still the key factor in sustainable value and rate of appreciation over time. The best returns come from buying the best location you can afford. You can renovate or rebuild the structure or unit, but you cannot move the land or condominium complex. Location matters.

4. Decide which you will buy: It’s not how many properties you view that will ensure success, but whether you see the property that best suits your needs, wants, and decision making.

5. Decide what you will buy: Stay on point and avoid getting carried away. Does proximity to schools or public transportation matter? What will your home-based business require? Will an income-suite enable you to buy an even better location? Write your must-have list down and check it when you view properties and before you make an offer.

6. Decide what value you can add:Concentrate on improvements that increase functionality, affordability, comfort, and resale, not just changes in decor.

What to Pay For Your Home

7. Decide what buying will cost: Set a budget for the entire project, not just the mortgage. Your real estate professional can help prepare a full financial projection of costs.

8. Decide how you measure success: If you don’t track time and the properties you’ve seen, you may become overwhelmed with detail and confused by the continually changing real estate market. Focus is the key. Organization will ensure your success.

9. Decide what’s unique to your situation: What considerations or challenges must you take into account that may not be true for all buyers? Do you have a property to sell before you can buy? Do you have special mobility needs, or design features like higher ceilings or a detached garage that are important to your hobbies or business? Share this information with your real estate professional at the start, so they have the full picture of your needs.

10. Decide- What’s the point of buying?: This decision must come first and stay first as you go. There are many great reasons for buying real estate, but what are yours? When your point or purpose in buying is crystal clear, you can weigh the relative merits of the properties you view, and the many small decisions that must be made on the way to the first big step: Have you decided to make an offer?

Published: August 9, 2011