Chance Gates' Blog

In order to develop your budget, keep all of your receipts for a month or two. That way you can get a realistic sense of where you are in your current spending.

An Easy Start

Give couches and chairs a fresh start by draping fabric over them or decorating them with pillows or a small rug.

Paint is a cheap way to change the look of a room. (Stores will re-sell paint that wasn’t quite the right color for a previous customer but you may love it!)

Buy accessories like candles on sale at the end of the season before new colors come in.

Plants are a cheap way to dress up a room. (Just don’t forget to water them!) 

Diving In

Lighting: old lamps from thrift store or yard sale. Lampshades: glue old buttons or fabric on shade. 

Frame your own photos with cheap store frames that you can repaint. 

Go for a mis-matched look for dining room table chairs and dinnerware, buying these things from thrift stores. 

Super Saver

Get more decorating on the cheap ideas through books found at your local library.

Trade furniture with a friend or relative.

Before you buy, check for what you need on listserves like Craigslist or Freecycle.

Turn thrift store finds into something new. Teacups and bowls can be come a candle or plant holder.

Make your own curtains using fabric from thrift stores or use old sheets

All the tips came from feedthepig.org

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog.  You can email me @  chance at ballard-company.com or http://www.myspace.com/chancegates

If the ground shaking doesn’t scare you away here are a few of the amenities at Sommersett.

Great Room:  Basically a place to lounge and take it easy.  Has a fireplace, wireless network and an outdoor deck that overlooks the Canyon Nine Golf Course.

Media Room:  Has a 52” flat screen complimented by a state of the art audio and video system.

Aerobics Studio: Has cardio kick boxing, body sculpting, spinning, yoga and pilates classes.

Cardio-Weight Studio:  Comes with elliptical trainers, exercise bike, treadmills and a variety of Paramount strength training equipment.

Sports Court:  Has three basketball hoops, hardwood floors, community stage and NEC projector and pull-down screen.

Kids Corner:  Was designed to entertain children ages three to six.

Teen Club: Entertaining environment for teens with video games, board games and a pool table.

Arts and Crafts Studio:  This has ceramics kiln and two potter’s wheels.

Massage:  Shea butter body wrap, salt scrub or hot stone massages.

Locker Facilities:  Include day lockers, restrooms, showers, diaper changing tables, and cedar lined saunas.

Two Pools:  One an interactive pool with a 98 foot water slide.  The other one is a three lane junior Olympic pool.

Two Spas:  An adult-only and one for the entire family.

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog.  You can email me @  chance at ballard-company.com or http://www.myspace.com/chancegates

By Heidi Stevens

RISMEDIA, June 9, 2010–(MCT)–Peter Walsh has you all figured out. You bought the melon baller because it was on sale and, heck, you like melon. You’ve held on to that 3-year-old magazine because you will make the recipe on Page 127. Some night. And those new black pumps do not look exactly like your four other pairs.

You’ve got yourself some clutter, my friend. And Walsh, best-selling author, host of TLC’s “Clean Sweep” and Oprah Winfrey’s go-to organizational expert, wants you to clear it out. Now.

“Later is the best friend of clutter,” he says. “Clutter is really just decisions delayed.”

We chatted with Walsh about tackling five common clutter zones.

THAT KITCHEN DRAWER
“Take the pizza rolling slicing thing and all those other items you bought for less than $5.99 that you just knew you’d always use and put them in a cardboard box,” says Walsh. “Whenever you use one of the items, put it back in the drawer. At the end of the month — with the exception of the turkey baster — whatever is still in the cardboard box you’ve got to ask yourself, ‘Will I ever use these?’”

THE BEDROOM CLOSET
“We wear 20 percent of our clothes 80 percent of the time,” Walsh says. Which means the vast majority of your closet is filled with — you guessed it, clutter. Walsh suggests the “reverse clothes hanger trick.”

“Take everything on a clothes hanger and turn it around back-to-front. For the next three to six months — you decide — every time you wear something hang it back the correct way after you launder it. Whatever is still hanging back-to-front, ask yourself: ‘Will I ever wear this item?’ It’s an efficient, non-traumatic way to see what you wear and what you don’t.”

YOUR SHOES
“To understand how many shoes you have, you have to release them from captivity,” he says. “Find the largest room or hallway in your house and line them up. Every pair of shoes you have. Just the visual of that can often throw people into coma.”

Sort the shoes by type — running shoes, sensible pumps, sandals and so on. Then give yourself a ratio. “Let’s say it’s 10-to-1. For every 10 you keep, get rid of one pair,” Walsh says. “Five-to-1 if you’re brave. Three-to-1 if you’re a true pioneer.”

THE CAR
“One: Get in the habit that whenever you gas up the car, in those two minutes you declutter and throw out any trash.”

“Two: Get milk crate-size containers, and put them in the way back. Whenever the kids bring something into the car — sports gear, book bags — it goes in their crate.

“Whenever you go shopping, put the groceries in the crates. Nobody leaves the car empty-handed when you get home. Everyone has to carry their crate into the house.”

THE GARAGE
“Divide your garage into clear zones: one area for gardening equipment, one area for holiday decorations, one area for luggage, one area for tools,” Walsh says. “Establishing zones is a functional way of keeping the place organized and the volume of stuff in control.

“Say the holiday decorations zone is three shelves that will hold two plastic totes each and that’s the limit for holiday decorations. Once they expand beyond six totes, you have to do some purging and discarding.”

(c) 2010, Chicago Tribune.Chance Gates does welcome any questions or comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or on any articles that may be posted.  Send your  emails  to  chance at ballard-company.com

I believe that every single event in life happens in an opportunity to choose love over fear.
Oprah Winfrey

I don’t believe in failure. It is not failure if you enjoyed the process.
Oprah Winfrey

I don’t think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good.
Oprah Winfrey

I don’t think you ever stop giving. I really don’t. I think it’s an on-going process. And it’s not just about being able to write a check. It’s being able to touch somebody’s life.
Oprah Winfrey

I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity.
Oprah Winfrey

I have a lot of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly.
Oprah Winfrey

I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes.
Oprah Winfrey

I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. And that’s how I operate my life.
Oprah Winfrey

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional; I encourage all questions and comments, on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog.

Image by Keenahn via Flickr

RISMEDIA, June 7, 2010–Once everything is unloaded, you may feel overwhelmed by the stacks of boxes surrounding you. Unpacking in an organized manner can make the transition to your new home less stressful and can save a lot of time. Try these unpacking tips, courtesy of Lowe’s.

1. Unpack Essentials First
You should have a few boxes of essentials marked to be unpacked first. These boxes should include items like toiletries, pet supplies, tools, a couple changes of clothes and so forth. Go ahead and unpack these boxes right away and distribute these essential items to their respective rooms.

2. Clean and Prep Your New Home
Though it’s tempting to dive right in and start unloading boxes, it’s a good idea to clean, prep and get organized. Here are some moving tips to help you prepare to unpack at your new home:

• It’s easier to wipe down shelves, clean windows, and mop under appliances before your belongings are in place.
• Complete any prep work. Line kitchen and bathroom shelves with paper. Consider installing closet systems in bedroom closets, if necessary. Once these jobs are done, you’ll be able to unpack more efficiently.
• Plan where to place certain items. For example, in the kitchen; put dishes and glassware in the cupboards above the dishwasher, coffee cups above the coffee pot, and so on. Deciding what goes where before unpacking will save you time in the long run.

3. Go Room by Room
Focus on one room at a time, and unpack essentials first. Though it can feel like an insurmountable task, rest assured: Your house is going to feel like home in no time!

Kitchen and Baths. In the kitchen, unpack most-used items first. Items that you won’t use immediately can be set aside to unpack at a later time. In the bathrooms, hang shower curtains, unpack toiletries and put out toilet paper and soap.

Bedrooms. In your bedrooms, have the beds set up and made with clean sheets by the first night. Unpacking your clothing and bedroom accessories can wait. Again, now is a good time to install a closet organization system.

Living Room. Unpacking the living room should be a combined effort by everyone in the household. There will be a lot of items to be placed and electronics to hook up.

Garage. Having an organized garage is important. If you haven’t set up shelves and hooks for placement of tools, yard supplies and sports equipment; do so now. Having organizational systems in place will help curb the tendency for making piles later.

4. Play Interior Designer
Place furniture so the room feels open and functional. Strive for balance by distributing heavier pieces of furniture around the room. Create a focal point or use a natural one like a fireplace.

When positioning furniture, it’s a good idea to make a sketch of the room, including desired locations of items. Erasing an armoire, rather than lifting it, could save you a trip to the chiropractor.

It takes time get settled in, but here are some quick and easy tips for making your house feel like home:

• Hang shades, blinds or curtains for instant privacy and a homey feel.
• Consider painting rooms a different color, or stenciling around an archway.
• Brighten up a room with self-adhesive wallpaper borders.
• Refinish old cabinets or add new knobs.
• Hang family photographs, mirrors and framed artwork.
• Add potted plants for extra color or to fill empty corners.

Helpful Tips for Setting Up
• As boxes are unpacked, take an inventory of everything you have to make sure nothing has been lost. If you have any broken or damaged items, make sure to keep them as evidence for insurance claims. Claims usually need to be filed within a set number of days after the move.
• Use a surge protector when setting up a computer or stereo equipment.
• As you unpack boxes, collapse them for storage or recycling.
• Start a log of home repairs and maintenance that needs to be done.
• Create a shopping list to make sure you have everything you need.

Chance Gates does welcome any questions or comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or on any articles that may be posted.  Send your  emails  to  chance at ballard-company.com

RISMEDIA, June 2, 2010–The recovering U.S. economy is prompting millions of consumers to consider buying a car this year. Summer 2010 is expected to be the busiest used car shopping season in years. Consumer confidence is rising and buyers are hitting the streets and web looking for deals on used cars. In fact, roughly half of this year’s total used car purchases will be made within the next four months.

Consumers are buying with more caution and spending wiser because of the recent economic turbulence. Sensible shoppers are searching for the best value instead of just the best price. While great used cars are for sale at reputable dealerships everywhere, Carfax reminds consumers to be ever-vigilant when out shopping. The company suggests a few things to look – and look out – for this summer.

Look for:

• Pricing. Demand for used cars slowed a bit recently, helping to lower used car prices. Visit third-party pricing sites to get retail book values and use the new Carfax History Impact to adjust those values based on the reported history.

• Certified Pre-Owned (CPO). The best value for many used car shoppers, Certified cars are the closest thing to new cars at used car prices. Most manufacturer programs, such as Honda, GM and Toyota include a Carfax Vehicle History Report and rigorous mechanical inspection with every CPO vehicle.

• Cars sold online. Sites like AutoTrader.com and  Cars.com let you expand your search area and compare vehicles to find the best deal. Use discretion when buying from online classifieds and auction sites.

• Paperwork. Have the seller provide as much documentation as possible, like registration and title documents, service receipts and proof of insurance.

Look out for:

• Open recalls. Estimates are that 30% of all recalled cars go unfixed. Check for open recalls at www.carfax.com and get more details about a specific recall at www.safercar.gov. Franchise dealers will fix open recalls for free.

• Odometer rollbacks. Digital odometers can be easier to tamper with and harder to detect. Make sure the wear and tear on the inside and outside of the car matches what the mileage reading says.

• Flood damage. Experts predict this year’s hurricane season could rival 2005, when Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma hit the U.S. More than half of the cars damaged by floods, including the most recent flooding in Tennessee, get cleaned up and returned to the road.

• Curbstoners. Illegal dealers posing as private sellers sell lots of cars either on the side of the road or through classified ads. Many of the cars have hidden problems and the seller typically disappears after the sale.

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional; I encourage all questions and comments, on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog.

Image via Wikipedia

By Stephanie Andre

RISMEDIA, May 28, 2010—Homeowners looking to sell need to make sure their homes are as prepared as possible. Home staging is key toward that preparation.

Below are 28 key ways to stage a home:

1. Less is more – remove enough so that there is some empty space in closets, on shelves, and in cabinets.
2. Remove or hide all small kitchen appliances.
3. Remove all refrigerator art, family pictures, school schedules, magnets, calendars, etc.
4. Pack up all personal photos.
5. Remove personal necessity items from bathroom and enclosed showers… shampoo, toothpaste, hairbrushes, dirty towels, etc.
6. Remove and store seasonal clothes from closets.
7. Rent a storage space. Remove all visible storage boxes from closets and garage.
8. Remove unneeded furniture to make rooms look larger.
9. Remove dated or worn furnishings and accessories. Display only updated new looking items.
10. Remember the rule, “One will do”. When accessorizing surfaces, remember that for staging purposes one item is better than two or more. One vase or clock on a fireplace mantle shows off your home better that two or three items.
11. Use mirrors generously. A mirror at the end of a long hallway makes the home look larger and relieves any cramped feeling. A mirror opposite the bathroom vanity pushes walls back and makes small bathrooms larger.
12. Paint the interior of the house and the front door.
13. Repair, paint, or wash all exterior walls, doors, and trim.
14. Power-wash exterior concrete and other hardscape to unify surface color. It will make these areas look bigger.
15. Replace worn, stained carpeting and cracked floor tiles. Be sure that any remaining carpet, drapery or upholstery holds absolutely no odors.
16. Wash the windows, inside and out. Remove unnecessary screening.
17. Arrange a minimum number of towels in bathroom racks and put out fresh soap.
18. Inside, use fresh flowers in vases. Decorate outside with planters and potted plants.
19. Remove some furniture to open up the rooms. A good rule of thumb, consider eliminating half of all furniture and accessories.
20. Decorate the patio or deck with flowerpots and enough furniture to show that it is usable living space.
21. Furnish covered porches with small outdoor tables and chairs to turn them into obvious living spaces.
22. Landscape. Keep perspective in mind. From the house, looking out, plants and vertical elements should diminish in size as they retreat from the house. This elongates sightlines and visually moves property boundaries further from the house.
23. Air the home by opening windows and doors.
24. No drips! Repair all plumbing, faucets, running toilets.
25. Clean or repair/replace worn caulking around tubs, sinks, counter tops.
26. Deep-clean entire house, oven, fireplace, garage, etc.
27. Enhance fireplace firebox with candles or decorative logs.
28. Replace or supplement existing furniture and accessories with rentals From Brook Furniture Rental to achieve a desired appearance.

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional; I encourage all questions and comments, on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog.

RISMEDIA, May 24, 2010–When you’re packing up your belongings for moving day, sometimes it’s best to leave it to the professionals – or leave it behind entirely. These moving/packing tips will help you discern what not to pack.

Items that Require Disassembly or Special Packaging
Items requiring professional disassembly and/or crating (such as slate pool tables, chandeliers, or large glass table tops) are best left to the professionals.

Heat-Sensitive Items
Do not pack heat-sensitive items like candles, CDs, computer peripherals, etc. If you must take these items to your new home, bring them with you in your climate-controlled car or truck.

Irreplaceable Papers and Objects
Don’t pack any irreplaceable items. Whether these items have significant monetary value, are financial/personal in nature, or have sentimental value, you’ll probably want to keep these items on your person or have them shipped via a trackable shipping service:
• Address books
• Financial papers
• Cameras
• Car keys
• Cash
• Computer software and disks
• Jewelry
• Letters, personal papers and diaries
• Medical records
• Photos and photo albums

Hazardous, Flammable and Spillable Items
Don’t put yourself and your family in danger. Leave hazardous items behind when you move. Ask your neighbors if they can use these items; otherwise, dispose of them properly with assistance from your recycling company or the EPA. Plan to purchase new items once you arrive at your new home.
• Flammable, corrosive or explosive items
• Lamp oil
• Aerosols
• Motor oil
• Ammonia
• Paint thinner
• Nail polish remover
• Car batteries
• Paints
• Charcoal
• Pesticides
• Charcoal lighter fluid
• Poisons
• Cleaning solvents
• Pool chemicals
• Fertilizer
• Gasoline
• Sterno
• Kerosene
• Weed killer

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional; I encourage all questions and comments, on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog.

Roy Oswalt has been pitching really well however the Huston Astros have only scored 5 runs in his last 4 losses.  The Astros are only averaging 2.7 runs per game against right handed pitching.  The San Diego Padres have won 10 of the last 15 and 5 of the last 6.  I realize that the Padres are getting a great line, bu that seems to easy.   This reminds me of when Radke pitched for the Twins.    So take the Under.

These picks are meant to be for entertainment only!

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted on this blog.  I can be reached be email at  chance at ballard-company.com or at http://www.myspace.com/chancegates

Cinco de Mayo is being celebrated by the Reno Aces with the first 1,250 fans 21 and over who purchase a Corona get a sombrero.   The Reno Aces are 9-12 just 4.5 games back of Fresno.   Early weather reports say it is going to be a beautiful day so head on out and enjoy some great baseball.

TICKETS AVAILABLE
Accessible seating can be purchased by calling the Reno Aces Ticket Office at 775-334-7000 or visiting the ticket office during business hours.

Ticket Office Hours (non game day):

Monday through Friday: 10am to 5pm Pacific Time.

Saturday: 10am to 4pm Pacific Time.

Game Day Hours: 10:00am Pacific Time to the end of the 7th inning

Please Note: A General Admission Ticket is not a physical seat. General Admission is seating in the right field berm (low back chairs are ok to bring into the park), standing in front of the standing rails around the park, and standing room in the park.

Read more at https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/Buy.a…

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog.  I can be reached by email at  chance at ballard-company.com or http://www.myspace.com/chancegates