TODAY IS WORLD DISTANCE LEARNING DAY

 

Happy Monday everyone! As I was reviewing my emails this morning, one of the many (oh so many) spam emails that I got caught my eye. It was reminding me that today is World Distance Learning Day. Normally this would have been sent straight to the trash bin, it's not like it's reminding me that it's Eat Cake For Breakfast Day after all, but instead it got me thinking about the new normal that we are all living these days. The truth is, whether we like it or not, most of us are paddling this canoe in one way or another! Whether it's a virtual learning environment with our children, continuing education requirements online or just the ability to work remotely, distance learning and virtual work, which was once just a choice, has now become a necessity for many of us. 

The real estate industry is a great example of how the distance learning model is a an excellent resource that was probably under utilized until now. Prior to the pandemic, many of us completed our continuing education requirements in a classroom setting in person. Though the social aspect of seeing our peers and other professionals in our industry was great, scheduling time out of a busy day to sit in class wasn't always the easiest thing to do. The e-learning solution has allowed many of us to find time at our convenience to successfully to complete our professional education requirements as well as take part in additional classes and certifications that may have been hard to make time for in the past. 

So two thumbs up and big high fives to everyone who is navigating through distance learning right now! Embracing change isn't always easy, but sometimes it ends up being an unexpected positive! Hang in there and no matter what, just keep swimming!

New Home Construction Soared in July

New home construction has seen steady increases for the past three months and surged nearly 23% in the month of July. The Commerce Department reported that new homes were started at the highest rate since February of this year and the numbers exceeded what economists were predicting for the month. Check out this article from FloridaRealtors.com for more information on the growth of new home construction.

https://www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-articles/2020/08/july-new-home-construction-surges-226

2020 has been an "interesting" year so far (that seems like the safest description to use anyway), and somewhere in the middle of hearing about supersized killer hornets, deciding if Carole really whacked her husband, and social distancing ourselves to stay healthy, we received our 2020 Census forms in the mail.

With all of the craziness happening in our lives today, overlooking something else that requires our attention is easy to do. But the census form is important; it's actually required by law, and it only takes a few minutes to complete. And the best part is, once you're done you can check it off your to-do list for the next ten years! I wish I could do that with the laundry! So, if you haven't already done it, find your form or go to census.gov and be counted!

    INTERESTING CENSUS FACTS

• The framers of the Constitution of the United States chose population to be the basis for sharing political power, not wealth or land. Article 1, Section 2, The Constitution of the United States.

• The first census was completed in 1790 by U.S. Marshals who went door-to-door.

• New York City has been the largest U.S. city in every census, all 22 of them! The population has risen from 33,131 in 1790 to a staggering 8.2 million in 2010.

• The census is the U.S. government's largest peacetime operation. During the 2010 census, more than one million census workers counted approximately 310 million people in 120 million households. 

Sources: Census.gov, History.com

Easy Ways To Make Your Kitchen Stand Out!

With the exception of where we sleep, the kitchen is the most widely used room in our home, so it's no wonder that it's usually at the top of the importance list for potential buyers. As a seller, making simple upgrades in the areas of your home that appeal the most to buyers in your market is a great way to set your home apart from the rest.  So, knowing that kitchens are important, what can you do to make your kitchen stand out without breaking the bank?

DE-CLUTTER YOUR COUNTERS

This is the easiest, no cost way to help your kitchen's appeal. Less stuff = more counter space. It's basic math, but it can add up to a kitchen that buyers can't wait to have!

UPDATE YOUR LIGHTING

This can be as simple as replacing your bulbs with a different wattage or style of light (indoor soft vs outdoor natural), or as elaborate as replacing outdated light fixtures with updated styles and finishes. Whatever option you choose, make sure that you create an inviting space with plenty of light.

CHANGE OR ADD CABINET HARDWARE

Changing out old or worn cabinet hardware is an easy fix that can give your kitchen new life! Be sure to select styles and finishes that work well with your existing fixtures.

ADD OR UPDATE A BACK SPLASH

Back splashes are the perfect DIY project and can give your kitchen a whole new look. But don't just look at the tile options, some of the newest trends include, opaque colored glass, aluminum, copper panels and even mirrors. If you have an outdated back splash that you don't want to rip out, consider using tile paint or removable tile stickers to give your kitchen the updated look you want.

UPDATE YOUR KITCHEN FAUCET

Depending on your do-it-yourself skill level, adding a new kitchen faucet can be a simple way to add a needed pop to your kitchen. There are tons of unique styles and finishes available that will allow you to keep it simple or go full-on Gordon Ramsey. Whatever you decide on, just make sure it works well with your kitchen's style and is installed properly.

PAINTED CABINETS

Be still my heart, I love this new trend in kitchen design! That being said, I'm not sure I'd want to be the one to paint them! There's a reason I listed this kitchen upgrade last and it's because there is A LOT of room for error here! The key to beautiful painted cabinets is using the proper materials (yes, there is specific paint for cabinets) and taking the time to do the job right. When in doubt, hire a professional! The devil is truly in the details for this upgrade, but when done properly, your cabinets could be a kitchen game changer!