Mary Lynne Gibbs

December 3, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

Holiday Theft Safety Tips

As we enter into the holiday season that largely consists of shopping, cooking, traveling and giving; we need to remember that not everyone is in a charitable mood…in fact, the period immediately after Thanksgiving that extends to Christmas typically sparks a rise in burglaries and theft, according the Austin Police Department.

Roger Wade with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office went so far as saying in a post online, “Tis the season to buy gifts for friends and family and for thieves to break into your home and cars to steal them from you. Please be cautious this gift giving season and don’t give gifts to thieves.”

While identity theft is among the major concerns around this time of year with the popularity of online shopping, most of the time these identity crimes are committed by someone we know. YIKES!

However, during the holiday season OPPORTUNITY is the main objective for most burglaries and thefts.

Additionally, I think it’s interesting that regarding vehicle thefts – keys were used to steal the vehicles (keys left in vehicle, lost keys, etc.) in 53% of car thefts in Austin during the month of October 2014, according to the Austin Police Department. (To see more information about Auto Theft/Burglary of Vehicle Crime Statistics, please go to Austin Crime Stats.)

With the holiday season being a perfect occasion for thieves to raid our personal effects, we need to take extra precautions in an effort to safeguard ourselves from theft.

Please see below for a list of safety measures we can take to keep our homes and vehicles theft-free!

Lock your car doors.
Don’t leave packages in plain sight.
Be wary of strangers lurking in parking lots at stores.
Lock your house and don’t put your Christmas tree in an area that can be readily seen from the street.
Break down all boxes from your gifts and place them in a dark colored trash bag or a closed trash container to avoid burglars knowing there are new items in your residence.
Close window shades and blinds when no one is home to prevent burglars from window shopping in your home.
Close and lock all windows and doors prior to leaving your residence.
Secure all valuables from immediate view such as laptops, cellphones, wallets, etc.; if a burglar looks in and sees a laptop close to the door or window, it becomes an easy target.
Close and lock your garage, as well as any storage sheds, on your property.
Record all serial numbers of valuables so that police can have the opportunity to try to recover your property if it is stolen; if you keep your list in an electronic device, ensure you have a printed copy available in the event your device is stolen.
Call in suspicious persons and vehicles to 911 immediately, so that officers can identify the intentions of the person and/or vehicle in your neighborhood.

Keep the season a happy one by protecting your homes and vehicles from theft!!

If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate in the Austin area, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business!

November 26, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips

Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

I would like to let all of my family, friends, business associates and clients know how much I appreciate you and how blessed I feel by the joy you bring to me! I am truly fortunate and grateful for all that you do!

I am so excited that I am staying home this Thanksgiving and entertaining over 20 guests in my home. I look forward to a wonderful time spent enjoying my family and friends.

Since so many of us will be cooking and serving food throughout the day for larger crowds than usual, I thought it might be helpful to gather information on what will help keep everyone happy and healthy this Thanksgiving.

According to the USDA, the below Top 10 food safety guidelines should be followed whenever handling and cooking food.

TOP TEN FOOD SAFETY GUIDELINES:

Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling any food.
Wash food-contact surfaces (cutting boards, dishes, utensils, countertops) with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item.
Consider using one cutting board only for foods that will be cooked (such as raw meat, poultry, and seafood) and another one for those that will not (such as raw fruits and vegetables).
Do not put cooked meat or other food that is ready to eat on an unwashed plate that has held any raw eggs, meat, poultry, seafood, or their juices.
To check a turkey for safety, insert a food thermometer into the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. The turkey is safe when the temperature reaches 165°F. If the turkey is stuffed, the temperature of the stuffing should be 165°F.
Bring sauces, soups, and gravies to a rolling boil when reheating.
Refrigerate leftovers —and any type of food that should be refrigerated, including pie—within two hours.
Thaw frozen food safely in the refrigerator, under cold running water, or in the microwave—never at room temperature.
Cook food thawed in cold water or in the microwave immediately.
Leftovers should be used within three to four days, unless frozen.

May you and your family enjoy your Thanksgiving!

If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business!

**Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

November 19, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

Holiday Stress

For many, this week is full of running around trying to get work done in record time before the kids get out of school; we leave for a holiday trip or welcome family and friends into our own homes to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Regardless of what our particular holiday plans are, many may be dealing with stress due to a plethora of reasons.

Thankfully, this year I’m so blessed not to be under much stress as we are staying in town to celebrate the holiday with family and friends in our home. I’m really looking forward to this year’s Thanksgiving!

However, I know in years past my stress level may not have been as low as it is this year and that many of my friends, family, business associates and clients may not be so fortunate.

Therefore, when I recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review titled “How to Handle Stress in the Moment” by Rebecca Knight – I knew I had to share the wonderful ideas she gave for what to do when the stress is actually happening.

Knight makes a great point in the beginning about how many of the stress pointers people give are actually long-term remedies. For example, if something is stressful at this moment, one cannot:

Get more sleep immediately.
Do yoga right now.
Eat a healthier breakfast.
Write in a journal.
Figure out what causes stress in life.

These are all fabulous ideas on how to handle stress overall, but it does absolutely nothing for those dealing with a stressful situation right now.

However, through Knight’s research she found several tips that are useful in the exact moment that one might feel stress. These solutions can help anyone in their business dealings, relationships and any other stressful circumstance they might come across. The remedies include:

Think of the stress as an opportunity.
Refuse to think negatively and instead say positive declarations over and over.
Take three deep breaths where the stomach expands and contracts.
Make a list. Write down everything pertinent to the current stress to make it more manageable.
Call a friend…but, choose carefully. Make sure this person is a confidant and also someone who lends thoughtful perspective.
Keep your voice gentle, controlled and calm. Do not let your emotions escalate.

Everyone can use a little help keeping the stress at a minimum in our lives! Hope these ideas help you enjoy your family time during the Thanksgiving holiday.

To read the article I have referred to in its entirety, please go to How to Handle Stress in the Moment.

If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business!

November 12, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

Selling Your Home During the Holiday Season

Most people think that the real estate market drops off the face of the earth once summer ends and school starts. Fortunately, for a REALTOR® like me, this is just not the case. Selling your home during the holiday season is still a viable option.

The holiday season can be an exceptionally great time to buy or sell real estate and as I have seen in the past, some agents have their best production in November and December. Surprising, isn’t it?

With over 100 people moving to Austin each day, it’s not surprising that even in the holiday months, we continue to experience a high volume of real estate transactions, but major factors do not disappear just because we are enjoying a great market.

As with most real estate markets around the country the key ingredient to selling your home during the holiday season remains motivation. Everyone who is looking to buy or to list their home during this time of year is serious. They have a need to buy or sell and it’s likely they need to do so quickly.

Two other reasons to go forward with listing your home during the holiday months is that (1) there is less competition with fewer homes on the market and (2) people may need or benefit from the tax deductions that come with buying and selling real estate.

Of course, pricing your home at market value is critical to selling your home at ANY time of year. If you price your home too high, buyers will be turned off and you will have missed your best opportunity to sell for the best price, which is within the first six weeks of the home being on the market.

Additionally, curb appeal and making your home look like a model home are also still very important in again, ANY type of market or ANY time of year. Buyers do not overlook mess, clutter, garbage, dirt or untidiness. The consensus is that if you don’t keep a clean home, you probably haven’t kept your home in tip-top shape and there might be something wrong with it.

So, if you are thinking about buying or selling real estate during this holiday season, please contact me, Mary Lynne Gibbs, at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be a pleasure to earn your business.

November 5, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

11251 Pinehurst

11251 Pinehurst (MLS #5900901) – a recently updated home due to the Halloween flooding of 2013 and located in Onion Creek in South Austin – sits on the edge of a cul-de-sac and boasts a large lot with mature trees and a private oasis in the backyard.

Offered at $359,500, this three bedroom and two and a half bathroom home is quite the find.

Built in 1978, tax records show a square footage of 2226. However, this number does not include the approximately 1400 square-foot, screened-in back porch located on the back of the home, nor does it include an air conditioned/heated office space in the side-entry, two-car garage.

11251 Pinehurst is open, light, bright and airy with a lovely covered front porch to welcome residents and guests alike. Covered with a metal shingle roof, this home contains a variety of exquisite characteristics that you will be delighted to discover.

For example, a dining area just off of the front entrance leads into a sizeable living area that features a massive stacked rock fireplace flanked by built-in shelving units. This main living area has vaulted ceilings and lots of windows, which lends itself to a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Three windows located at the top of the entrance wall offer extra sunshine in the morning.

Additionally, the entire home is covered with tile flooring, some of which looks like wood planks. The flooring is definitely a sight to behold and a must see!

All three bedrooms are located off of the living room on the left side of the home. The two extra bedrooms are spacious and connected by a large Jack-and-Jill type bathroom, which also possesses a few disability features.

The master bedroom has a vaulted ceiling with a wood beam running the length of the room. This bedroom is suited for a king-sized bed, along with several more large pieces of furniture and the bathroom is absolutely magnificent! Featuring a sizeable shower area, the master bathroom contains his and her vanities, a spacious dressing area and two walk-in closets.

11251 Pinehurst boasts an eat-in kitchen with walls of white cabinets, Corian-type countertops, a convection oven, recessed lighting and an attached table countertop that seats three. The kitchen is connected with an impressive breakfast area that is currently being used as a den.

I saved the best for last! The backyard is truly an amazing outdoor retreat with a salt water pool, hot tub and gorgeous landscaping. The pool is partially covered for those who don’t want to swim in the sun and it is deep enough for a diving board. The covered patio area has space for several seating arrangements and for a dining area.

Right off of the backyard is the screened-in back porch which includes a countertop and sink-station, along with another outdoor living area and dining area – great for entertaining or just relaxing after a long day!

Other features include a sprinkler system, gas dryer connection, gas water heater, and storage building. This area is known for its great golf courses, parks, country club and tennis courts!

If you are interested in 11251 Pinehurst or buying/selling real estate in the Austin area, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business!

Mary Lynne Gibbs

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