Five Reasons to have Fireplace Screens

Fireplace Screens or covers are an essential feature for the hearth. They add an element of completion to the fireplace. Indoor covers are usually made of metal or glass. There are many designs available on the market. However, whatever the style, the main function of screen is practical. Below are 5 reasons why you should consider a cover for your fireplace.

1. Fireplace Protection

During warm weather periods you’re unlikely to use your fireplace. A screen comes in handy at such times. It is a good idea to keep your fireplace covered during the spring and summer. It will prevent dust and debris from gathering in the fireplace. This will save you from the heavy cleaning work that comes with an exposed fireplace. Using a cover also ensures that the fireplace works effectively when in use. Covers help to sustain the working efficiency of your fireplace. They also help maintain the hearth in good condition.

2. Cleaner Room

Rooms with a fireplace tend to get dirty quicker from fireplace materials. A fireplace cover helps to keep your room clean. Quite often, some wind will blow soot, ash and debris into the room through the chimney or windows. With a cover installed at the fireplace, you can limit the effects of wind on indoor furnishings like rugs or carpets.

3. Easier Cleaning of Fireplace

Some covers are designed to enable easier cleaning of the fireplace. A specially fitted access hole on the cover allows you to use a vacuum hose to clean. Dust, soot and ash are kept from entering into the room as you go about your fireplace cleaning. Such specially designed covers are a welcome aid in effectively managing household chores.

4. Safety

The cover acts as a shield for occupants of the room. Sparks and flying embers can easily land on room occupants enjoying the fire. A fire could start easily if sparks land on flammable material in the room. Covers do a lot to prevent embers and sparks from escaping into the room. You can enjoy your fireplace experience without worries over possible fires.

5. Protects Children

If you have young children, covers can be used as a safety measure. They are a good way of preventing children from venturing into the fireplace. Being quite adventurous, young children can easily wander into the fireplace when not in use. Some features and objects of the fireplace can harm children. A cover will help restrict your children's movements and keep them away from possible danger in the fireplace. Covers are a practical way to create a safe environment.

Contemporary Living on Lake Overholser

4 Bed 3.5 Bath 3 Car Garage 4,867 Sf with Pool - $559,000

Visit: www.4000Ramsey.com
for more professional photographs and Obeo Virtual Tours

Modern living in the Northwest Oklahoma City/Yukon area. This home was custom built in 1993 in gated Stonebridge Lake Estates. This home features beautiful lake views of Lake Overholser, walking distance to tennis courts, jogging trails, etc. Some of the features include: game room, exercise room, upper deck, wood floors, tile floors, open floor plan, updated paint, updated fixtures, remodeled master bathroom, etc. Please view Obeo Virtual Tours at www.4000Ramsey.com. Call Wyatt Poindexter for more information.

Wyatt Poindexter
Keller Williams Realty
www.WyattPoindexter.com
405-417-5466
wyatt@wyattpoindexter.com

Inexpensive Ways to Prepare Your Home For Sale

First impressions are important when trying to sell your home. Extreme changes aren’t always necessary. There are simple steps you can take to prepare your house for the market while staying within a reasonable budget. The interior plays a big role, but don’t ignore exterior modifications, such as fresh light bulbs, an attractive mailbox and welcome mat, shiny doorknobs, colorful landscaping and window boxes, to name a few.

CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN: Take all personal items, such as pictures and trophies, and box them away. Buyers want to envision the house as their own.

Remove clutter, and clean. No one wants to see dirt on the baseboards, cluttered counters or a filthy microwave. Dust the ceiling fans and stair handrails; sweep, mop, clean the toilets, etc. Mow the lawn, edge it and sweep or consider power washing the driveway, front porch and the curb. Make your flowerbeds look neat and tidy. Consider adding hanging planters and fresh mulch outside, too.

WHAT’S THAT SMELL?: Smell is a huge factor. When you open the front door, what smell wafts out? Get someone not living in your house to give you an honest opinion. Put clutter into storage, not the garage. Add vanilla-scented candles in all the rooms. This scent isn’t too overpowering and is the most neutral. Go through every closet, cabinet and drawer and pack it up or move it out if you’re not using it. Ask your Realtor to walk through and give your home a once over.

TEND TO THE DETAILS: When I entered one woman’s house, it looked nice except that the carpet was awful and the tub was really stained. You can rent a carpet machine at the grocery store. The blinds are also a big thing to clean because they hide dirt. You want the windows to be open and plenty of light shining through or at least bright interior lighting. If you have a loaf of bread or brownies baking, it really helps offer a welcoming scent, too.

FIX ‘ER UP:

1. Paint interior and touch up exterior. All neutral colors.
2. Fix minor problems such as a sticking door, leaky faucets and broken/bent mini-blinds. We always figured when we were house hunting that if the small things weren’t tended to, the big stuff probably wasn’t maintained, either.
3. Be sure to take the trash out. Maybe I’m cynical, but when house hunting, the strong scents made me leery of what smells they were trying to mask.
4. Play music. We put on some smooth jazz.
5. Consider offering a one-year homeowners warranty. It’s a nice incentive for the buyers, especially if your home is older than 15 years.
6. Display new hand towels for the bathrooms and some houseplants or fresh flowers for around the house.
7. Remove anything that has strong connotations, such as hunting trophies, campaign signs or hot-rod posters. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State items also!
8. New light fixtures are a cheap update.
9. Have laundry baskets or boxes handy for an emergency showing. I kept them in the car, and, when I had a hectic day and wasn’t ready for a showing, we went around and tossed things into the baskets and loaded them into the car to be sorted out after the showing.
10. Even if you don’t include the fridge with the house, as a homebuyer, I always check the fridge. In my opinion, it is an honest evaluation of the care taken of the house. Clean the fridge!

www.WyattPoindexer.com

Luxury Living on a Smaller Scale

OPEN HOUSE This Sunday August 16 2:00-4:00 PM

2009 AllenStyle Home just completed in July 2009. This home was built by award winning AllenStyle Homes. All of the amenities of a luxury home on a smaller scale. This is a waterfront property located in Northampton III of Edmond. Some of the features include: granite in kitchen, all bathrooms and utility, stained driveway, gas range, kitchen island, breakfast bar, eating area, office/study with view of water, 20x20 tile floors, hand scraped wood floors, fireplace, pre-wired for HDMI, barrel ceiling in entry, double vanities, whirlpool tub, covered patio, extra garage storage, security system, custom vent hood, etc. This house is truly one of a kind. Please see professional Obeo photographs and virtual tours. THIS HOME CANNOT CLOSE UNTIL OCTOBER 15TH BECAUSE IT IS ON THE PARADE OF HOMES. AllenStyle Homes can custom build for you with a 3 month completion date. Call Wyatt Poindexter for details 405-417-5466.

www.2301nw159.com

2301 NW 159th Terrace
Edmond, Oklahoma
Northampton III Addition
(NW 159th and Penn)

www.WyattPoindexter.com

Oak Tree in Edmond Looks to Rename

The new owner of Oak Tree Golf Club in Edmond says the club will reopen in July under a new name - Oak Tree National.

Oklahoma businessman Ed Evans bought Oak Tree last year and says the new name represents updates to the club that include a renovated course and a new teaching facility.

Evans says he expects the upgrades to help the members-only club become a nationally-renowned course.

He says details about the golf course's new design will be announced in July in conjunction with the grand opening of Oak Tree National.

Oak Tree was built in 1974 and hosted the 1984 U.S. Amateur, 1988 PGA Championship, 2000 PGA Club Pro Championship and the 2006 Senior PGA Championship.

Listing of the Week - NW Oklahoma City - $117,900

1625 Oxford Way - NW Oklahoma City

3 Bed 1 Bath 1,517 Square Feet. Three blocks from Nichols Hills! Extra cute home in great neighborhood on corner lot. This home has beautiful wood floors, updated paint, fixtures, bathroom, etc. Master bedroom has cozy fireplace. Large open kitchen and dining room. New roof in 2007. ONE YEAR WARRANTY INCLUDED FOR NEW BUYER. Call/email Wyatt Poindexter with Keller Williams for additional information.

View OBEO VIRTUAL TOURS AT: http://www.Obeo.com/529993

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G46F9U-o3V4

OPEN HOUSE THIS SUNDAY APRIL 19, 2009 2:00-4:00 PM

Wyatt Poindexter
Keller Williams Realty
www.WyattPoindexter.com
405-417-5466

Obeo Virtual Tours launches new Facebook Fan page

Obeo Virtual Tours has just launched a new fan page on Facebook.com!

Facebook has over 150 million members worldwide and is one of the top ten most visited websites on the Internet. Facebook allows people and businesses to connect and interact with each other in a common platform. We have created this page on Facebook to allow our clients, employees, photographers and fans of Obeo to interact more with each other and get the latest information about Obeo.

On the Obeo Facebook page, you will find:

• Brief information about Obeo.
• Recent Obeo News/Updates.
• Special promotions on a regular basis.
• Great photography examples from our Obeographer network.
• Comments and discussions about Obeo.
• A list of Facebook members who are fans of Obeo.

The Obeo fan page is located at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Obeo/52258170123

About Obeo
Since its inception in 1999 and its evolution from 360 House to Obeo in 2004, the Salt Lake City, Utah-based company has become the largest preferred supplier of full-service residential real estate online marketing products in the United States and Canada. The Latin word for “to go to” or “to encompass,” Obeo provides REALTORS®, homebuilders, land developers and property managers with customized online marketing solutions and offline sales tools. To find out more, go to www.Obeo.com.

Edmond Oklahoma Real Estate Overview

Average price per square foot for Edmond OK was $99, an increase of 4.2% compared to the same period last year. The median sales price for homes in Edmond OK for Nov 08 to Jan 09 was $165,000 based on 220 home sales. Compared to the same period one year ago, the median home sales price increased 0%, or $0, and the number of home sales decreased 32.7%.

There are currently 1,478 resale and new homes in Edmond on Trulia, including 34 open houses, as well as 3 homes in the pre-foreclosure, auction, or bank-owned stages of the foreclosure process. The average listing price for homes for sale in Edmond OK was $335,643 for the week ending Feb 11, which represents a decrease of 1%, or $3,477, compared to the prior week.

www.WyattPoindexter.com

Nichols Hills, Oklahoma Overview 2009

Nichols Hills housing prices continues to increase!

Average price per square foot for Nichols Hills OK was $185, an increase of 18.6% compared to the same period last year. The median sales price for homes in Nichols Hills OK for Nov 08 to Jan 09 was $360,000 based on 7 home sales. Compared to the same period one year ago, the median home sales price increased 2.6%, or $9,000, and the number of home sales decreased 12.5%.

There are currently 21 resale and new homes in Nichols Hills on Trulia. The average listing price for homes for sale in Nichols Hills OK was $509,349 for the week ending Feb 11, which represents a decrease of 6.9%, or $37,464, compared to the prior week.

www.Nichols-Hills.com

Great News for Home Buyers!!!

This is the greatest opportunity we have had in a long, long, time!!! Please remember: a Tax Credit is not a tax deduction. It is a dollar for dollar savings in the total income tax paid.

This provision is a direct subsidy to home buyers. Just think what this means and the opportunities it opens to us.

How big is the first time home buyers' market: about 40% of the buyers nationally!!!! What a golden opportunity for us in Oklahoma with a median house price that is low. This credit is essentially a 10% price reduction on a $80,000 house and a 5% reduction on $160,000 house.

Combine that with the lowest mortgage rates in our lifetime and the opportunity is just mind boggling.

Oklahoma City the most recession proof city in the US

Forbes magazine recently highlighted America's most recession proof cities and listed OKLAHOMA CITY as the most recession proof city in the U.S.

Forbes cites three keys to Oklahoma City's strength:

1. strong housing market
2. falling unemployment
3. strong growth in agriculture, energy and manufacturing

New Listing in Braden Park - NW Oklahoma City

7417 NW 132 St.
Oklahoma City, OK
$229,900
4 Bed
3 Bath
2,509 SF

This home is located in gated Braden Park in NW Oklahoma City. This property is on one of the largest cul-de-sac lots and backs up to community pool, tennis courts and playground. This home features: gated community, brand new carpet & paint, professional landscaping, open floor plan, high ceilings, walk in closets, pass through garage, etc. Braden Park is a prime location close to Edmond, turnpike, hospitals, malls, food, etc. Call Wyatt at 405-417-5466 for more info or your own private tour.

VISIT: www.Braden-Park.com for Obeo Virtual Tours

Wyatt Poindexter
Keller Williams Realty
www.WyattPoindexter.com