New OKC Housing Center to Provide Shelter to the Homeless

In this time of economic unrest, many people have found themselves without a roof over their head, or even a bed to sleep in. In some worst cases, these unfortunates suffer from mental, physical, or emotional sickness with absolutely no access to treatment.

The Homeless Alliance is hoping to provide for medically vulnerable homeless people through a housing development set to open this year. The complex will be able to offer shelter to the homeless and care to those who are suffering from untreated medical conditions.

The proposed facility for the homeless will be located within the organization’s WestTown Resource Center. It will have 20 dormitory-style rooms and will help keep residents near social services and medical care.

According to the organization, the new facility is built with a goal of providing the utmost care to homeless people who are medically vulnerable. There will be various benefits available including medical care, case management and legal assistance.

The new homeless center is said to cost around $1.35 million. $670,000 of the $1.35 million comes from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

OKC Dentists Fight to Reduce Candy Consumption this Halloween

It may be toys during Christmas that makes kids scream with excitement, but for Halloween, it’s all about candy! Halloween’s trick-or-treat is a tradition that everyone loves, most especially children. However, right after all the house-hopping fun, it’s toothaches and stomachaches for these little ones. Eating all the candy you can put your hands on is not practical or healthy, especially given that children can easily empty their goodie bags in one night.

If you want your kids to only eat a reasonable amount of candy,but not totally dispose the remaining sweets in the garbage, then you can simply sell them to local dentists and orthodontists in Oklahoma City who may be buying them.

Select dentists and orthodontists are creating an effort to help parents reduce their kid’s candy consumption while also benefiting the American troops abroad. By buying the candies sold to them by kids and their parents, they can send the candies to the heroes fighting for the country oversees.

The effort put on by the local dentists is part of a national campaign aiming to reduce candy consumption and promote health. Several dentists will be buying candy from trick-or-treaters for $1 per 1 pound of candy. Then these candies will be repacked and sent to troops located outside the country through Operation Gratitude in California.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

 

A Cozy Home Does theTrick in Real Estate

In the real estate world, home staging is crucial to selling a home. Home staging is a very particular type of decorating that includes the right balance between cleanliness and marketability of the home. One important factor is to be sure you do not give off a vibe that is too perfect because then it comes off as untouchable and may make it difficult for a potential home buyer to visualize themselves there. Many buyers admit that they do get intimidated by model homes that appear to be so fancy that they become unrelatable to their daily living.

Therefore, the key to attracting more potential buyers is to stage your home into a comfortable and cozy environment, where they can visualize their families living. When staging, keep things as neutral as possible, so you home will appeal to any client type, regardless of their decorating style. Do careful experimentation with the arrangement of colors and shapes. For example, homes with a modern design often have a colder and sleeker feel, but they can be made cozy by adding some bright colored pillows, a cozy coffee table, and a vintage table lamp.

A perfect way to create a cozier home is to add natural elements. Add real wooden furniture, such as mahogany, rattan, and bamboo. Add fresh flowers in vases to tables throughout the rooms to make things happy and inviting. Even place small potted succulents in your kitchen window sill.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Edmond Unveils Newest Public Art

The City of Edmond boasts a plethora of public arts, creating a huge attraction to visitors. Public sculptures that have rich history and significance to the city are located in many public areas for both the locals and the tourists to enjoy. Aside from being a tourist attraction, these works of art also add beauty to their settings.

Just outside of the newly constructed Mitch Park YMCA and the Edmond Competitive Pool, the newest public sculpture in Edmond was unveiled. The “West Edmond Oil Field” was brought to life by Jim Franklin. The statue was a project of the City of Edmond in partnership with the Edmond Parks Foundation.

The “West Edmond Oil Field” sculpture offers a brief history of one of the most productive fields in the world. The West Edmond Field has produced more than 7 million barrels of oil and has generated more jobs for Oklahoman’s, especially the veterans of the Edmond. In 1944, the field was in it’s prime, churning out half of the state’s total oil production.

Now, the rich history of the field is represented by the new sculpture, which cost $105,000. Around $75,000 was raised by the foundation to support the funding of the sculpture while the remaining $30,000 shouldered by the city’s Visual Arts Commission.
With the recent public sculpture, Edmond now has a total of 151 art pieces.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Oklahoma City Raises Awareness for Construction Safety

It pays to be safe at all times, especially when building a home. Sometimes, home owners may choose to complete new additions to their home instead of hiring a contractor to do the job. While this may be fulfilling, it may also be risky and dangerous.

For this reason, Oklahoma City is raising awareness for construction safety by celebrating the month of May as Building Safety Month. This month, the city will help Oklahomans learn the rules and regulations of construction, from building permits to inspections and more.

According to David Adcock, Oklahoma City Development Center Manager, the city has 46 licensed and certified inspectors who are ensuring that every project conforms to the building standards and codes. They are inspecting both residential and commercial work involved in the building process.

To celebrate Building Safety Month, a free informative event will be held this coming Saturday. Build and Grow will be a public event hosted by Lowes that will provide demonstrations and workshops to families interested in learning more about construction and the rules set by the city. Freebies will be given to kids.

Build and Grow will be held at the Lowes off I-44 and May Avenue from 10am to 11am.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Important People You Should Have When Buying a Home

The process of buying a home involves a lot of people.  There are many things to consider when buying a home because you want to be sure that your money is not misused and that the people you are working with have your best interests at heart. What makes investing in a home more complicated is figuring out who to select as your “team” that will aid you through the process.

When choosing the right group of people to assist you in a home-buying process, you have to know who will be in charge of each particular task and what the responsibilities of each member will be. Just like with a business team, each person is in charge of a key role and is responsible for making things happen. Without their full dedication, the home-building process can become longer and more complicated than necessary.

You must talk with different qualified lenders until you find one that can provide the financing you need, and then you must provide them with personal financial information, so you can determine the price range and loan amount that you can afford.

A real estate agent is often viewed as the captain of the ship and acts as the intermediary between you and the other party (seller or buyer). If you are a buyer, it is usually the seller who pays the agent at closing, not you. A real estate agent educates you on the properties you are viewing and oversees the offer and contract transactions.

Most buyers opt to have a real estate lawyer. They are responsible for checking and reviewing the contract before you invest in the property to be sure everything is properly disclosed and that there are no loopholes through which you can be taken advantage of. They check to be sure there are no items that could surprise you with unexpected financial liability later down the road. They also determine if there are any claims against the property that might need to be taken care of by the current owner before closing.

You should also have the property checked by a home inspector before buying it. They will evaluate the major systems in the home and explain to you the things that need to be repaired. This is especially important if there are major repairs that need to be done because you can often negotiate that the seller fix some of them before closing.

A property appraiser will ensure that the property is priced fairly and that you do not pay more for a property than what it is worth. This is very important to the financing process as well because banks and lenders will only finance properties based on their true value, not necessarily what you have offered to pay for the property.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

DIY Home Winterizing

Winter; the is the coldest season of the year is upon us, and with it comes freezing rain and snow that can cause damage to parts of your home. Most homes could save hundreds of dollars by simply preparing their homes for the harsh weather by winterizing, or prepping the home for winter. For those of us here in Oklahoma, we still have a few months of winter to go, so it definitely is NOT too late!

Here are some helpful tips to get your home ready to the upcoming winter:

1. Look around the perimeter of your home for things that you don’t want outside for a long period of time such as yard tools that have been left out. Disconnect the hoses and place them in the garage.
2.  Check the exterior of your house for cracks that let heat out, making it more difficult to keep your house warm. Fill the problem cracks with a generous amount of caulking. Smooth the caulking out with your finger or a tool, but make certain to seal the crack completely as you smooth out the caulking.
3. Buy a window insulating kit that includes heavy plastic that you can attach to the window from the inside with double sided tape. While they may not be very pretty, these kits serve as additional protection for a window or they can replace storm windows if you don’t have one.
4. Clean and fix rain gutters as the accumulated leaves will stop the water from moving smoothly causing ice dams that will damage your rain gutters. Make sure the gutters are all aligned and not leaking.
5.  Clean and seal your fireplaces both top and bottom; it is recommended to use plastic sheeting while you do so to avoid mess. Make sure that the top allows heavy rain or snow to fall off the sides to keep the heat from escaping out.
6. Insulate your home to save to save energy while winterizing your home. Insulate your pipes to keep them from freezing during cold weather. Keep your attic and crawlspace to prevent cold air from seeping into your living space during the winter. Choose good quality insulation for the best results and install the insulation according to the directions.
7. Follow these tips and rest easier knowing that while the weather outside may be frightful, inside is infinitely more delightful!

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

 

Health Insurance Marketplace Opens for Oklahomans

Individuals with health insurance can find financial support with their medical expenses. It is a practical way of preparing for future health services which may not be financially feasible to obtain in a single income household. Many employees who pay for their health insurance can be fully supported by companies when emergency arises.

According to the law, Americans need to have health insurance or otherwise pay a penalty. Health insurance includes government programs as well as company health plans. The good news is that people can now start choosing plans that fits their specific needs.

Oklahomans can finally shop for the health insurance they want with the opening of the insurance marketplace on Tuesday. Five different companies have brought their health care plans to the table, offering an expansive fifty-three policy portfolio of options to choose from. This is a new government program that enables the people to pick out their own health care plan suitable to their condition and their needs.

There will be 4 levels of coverage available.  The Bronze plan will offer the least expensive packages, continuing through various levels of value to the the Platinum plan, which provides  the highest quality options to policy holders.  To choose a health care plan, applicants need to fill a form with their basic information. They can call the Department of Health and Human Services or sign up online.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Construction of Edmond’s First Designated Bicycle Lanes Nears Completion

Bike lanes in the city can help maintain safety among those who plan to use their bikes in their daily commute. Recently, many people have been shifting to healthier and simpler lifestyle options, such as utilizing bikes as forms of transportation instead of vehicles. If bikes lanes are designated in public roads, there will be a safer lane for them to stay in traffic.

Edmond, Oklahoma is supporting the emergence of a greater and safer cyclist community by the construction of its first designated bicycle lanes in the city. The bicycle lanes will be located along the University Drive between Second Street and Chowning Avenue. The existing road has been reconstructed to accommodate a two-lane road, a center turn lane and two bikes lanes on the side of the road.

Based on the current status of the construction, the highly anticipated bicycle lanes will soon be serving cyclists in the city. Construction of the bike lanes are near its completion with little work left to be done on the striping and placement of signage.

Once construction is completed, the city will celebrate its newest thoroughfare in a city-wide cycling day, on which bikers will be encouraged to christen the new road.  The celebration will be held on Nov. 3 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

How to Avoid A Clogged Drain

A clogged drain is one of a home owner’s all-too-frequent nightmares. A drainage problem is the result of an improperly used/maintained drain, which leads to gradual build-up of debris that finally clogs the pipes.

Having a clogged drainage is a terrible problem; it gives off a foul smell and the overflow of waste water could create problems by seeping into your home. This is the reason why it is considered to be a serious household emergency that needs to be dealt with immediately, so as not to cause further damage. Take a few preventative steps listed below to avoid a blocked drain:

• Avoid using chemical products. Try mixing a quarter cup of baking soda with 50 ml vinegar added to boiling water. Use this solution regularly to prevent your drain pipes from clogging.
• Remove hair regularly. Run your fingers over the hole and pull any hair out. It only takes a few invisible strands over the plughole for other hair to catch on, although it may look like there is no hair blocking the hole. You can also use a hair catcher or screen to filter hair and other particles in your shower/bath.
• Never throw grease down the drain. Grease has the tendency to harden and will cause a build up which leads to blockage in your kitchen sinks.
  
• Pour hot water down the drain. Hot water will naturally help with the prevention of sticky substances or blockages.
• Teach your children not to throw objects down the toilet. Most plumbers are called for help to fix drain pipes that has been clogged with large objects. Most of these blockages were caused by toys that were accidentally flushed by kids. Make sure there are no unnecessary objects placed close to the drain so children will not knock them over or think them “toys” to sink.
  
• Regularly clean your sink stoppers. Thoroughly wash your sink stoppers at least once a week and check to make sure your drains always flow freely.

By following these simple rules, you will help to avoid clogged drains in the future – which will save you time and stress – especially the cost of getting a plumber to come and unclog your drains.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031