IS GREEN  the color of the moment, mainly because it signifies an ideal that is currently popular among consumers. The latest  trend is home buyers looking for homes to be energy efficient or to be environmentally friendly, but what does that mean? There are competing standards defining what a green home should be. The basic principles driving how green is defined is that the products used in the home have to come from sustainable resources (such as bamboo, which grows rapidly). These items can be recycled, they will not be toxic to the environment, and they help reduce energy use. The argument now is how to determine if a product fits into these categories.Me my self has gone green in my home, hardwood floor, to the cleaning supplys i us, i am a member off a company called Melaleuca , ... 08/26/2008

Water Efficiency: I remember my mother doing this when i was growing up, you say what = Collecting rain water to be used for the garden is a good practice (be sure to check your state and local laws before attempting this). The term graywater refers to water from the home that can be used for watering plants, like water from washing dishes. Also, a recirculating hot water system will prevent people from letting the water run until it's warm. A tankless water heater is defined as green because it only uses energy to heat water when it is needed. Low flow heads on faucets and showers are green innovations also, we really don;t understand all off this yet but its coming.    08/26/2008

Ground Fault Circuit Interuptors DID YOU NO Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters or (GFCI)'s are Safety devices installed in bathrooms, kitchens, garage, and exterior outlets. They are designed to prevent serious damage to an operator in a damp environment.These are great in the bathroom and kitchen or around a pool. It is advised to install them in the recommended locations through out the house as they not only are an important improvement on modern technology, but it is inexpensive to do so.Do this not because off codes, but for safety off your kids or yourself.   08/26/2008

  Hello all, and what will the market look like this coming week?  Be sure to check back in at the end of the week for my special ongoing edition of the Cookeville Tennessee area housing market. I am expanding on my weekly statistics to include Putnam County AND surrounding areas in our MLS system. Note: sales only pertain to our Multiple Listing Service statistics.  Talk about a great increase in August!  The back to school rush is on and home sales in our area are on the rise!    Multi-class includes: land, residential, commercial, and multi-family   Lets take a look at this weeks stats for our Cookeville Tennessee UPPER CUMBERLAND area: NOTE: THESE STATISTICS ARE PULLED FROM THE U.C.A.R (UPPER CUMBERLAND AREA OF REALTORS(R) MLS) JULY 2008: SOLD LISTINGS - MONTH OF JULY = 160 TOTAL MU... 08/23/2008

I myself live in a historic home in Algood,Tn. I have took lots of time and effort to restore it to its orginal beauty. It took 10 months of hard work and dedication but it paid off in the long run. The previous owners did not take the time to take good care of the home and left me to do all the work. Since i had the work done my home is one of the most beautiful historic homes in Algood, Tn. With a little work and time you can make sure you dont leave the next owners of your historic home with all the work to do. As a home ages, a diligent maintenance program can help you avoid costly repairs. Here are some helpful tips: Consult with licensed electrical, plumbing and heating specialists for an initial evaluation and arrange schedules for routine maintenance. Older homes often have less... 08/21/2008

When you buy a new home in 10 years you will be ready for a change. That is when you have to decide if you want to renovate, move, build a new home or just live with what you got. There are many factors involved in your decision to renovate vs. moving to or building a new home vs. doing nothing. Some factors are emotional and some are financial. No one can really tell you what is the best choice for you, but here are some issues you may want to consider. The choice is totally yours to decide what you want to do. Whats best for your family and your bank account. Factors to considerHow much do you like the current location of your home (your neighborhood, town, etc.)? What would be the consequences of moving, both good and bad (your commute, children's schools, living farther from or clos... 08/21/2008

Check out my weekly gas buster blog for Cookeville Tennessee!  Keeping you updated on the search to find the cheapest gas in town! Well folks, here were are again.  I just filled my tank for the week and am pleased to announce another fall in gas prices.  Down from last week $3.54 a gallon for regular at McGugins on Washington Ave. is now $3.46 a gallon.  Smiles here as this is much needed for our local economy.      Kangaroo's tied for regular on Spring Street!  Good job Kangaroo!  Kroger creeps up one penny to $3.47 per gallon regular   Walmart in Cookeville creeps up 2 cents!     And falling down the pack is BP on Spring at $3.49 The cheapest heard of in the area...Raceway in Livingston, TN is now at $3.25 for regular!!! As these aren't all the gas stops in town, it will give you an ... 08/21/2008

As Realtors(r), we become very familiar with the home inspectors in our local areas as they provide an important service to our home buyers and sellers.  Home inspections are an essential part in the Real Estate business so I will make this a part of my blog to further inform the public on their services and what they do: Home Inspectors check the following aspect of your home to search out possible problems or issues with a home's componants and structure to allow the seller and the buyer to better understand what they are selling and buying.  Exterior Home Review and Exterior Componant Review Electrical System Roof Heating/Air Plumbing Attic Basement/Crawl Space Room by Room reviews This checklist is just some of the aspects the Home Inspector will check in a detailed inspection repor... 08/15/2008

Welcome to My weekly Gas buster blog!  where to find the cheapest gas in Cookeville?  check back every week to find whats the lowest I've found.  This week's spotlight is on McGugins on Washington Ave.   I just filled up yesterday 08-14-08 and at our local McGugins on Washington Ave.  Gas was at $3.54 per gallon for regular.  Now that is with 10 percent or less ethanol, but I am going to see if I can run a tank longer than without ethanol in the product.  I'll let you know the stats when I get them.  Livingston Race way was a whopping $3.40 per gallon per our Diana at the office!  Getting the best gas prices seems to be the rage, so whats the price of gas in your area? Kay Bennett, your best source for Cookeville Tn Real Estate: 08/14/2008

Our First Realty Family is comprised of over 100 agents in the Cookeville Tennessee area and has been serving our clients for 30 years!    Yes, my desk is usually like this, but I know where everything is!! An agent in our weekly meeting ask me, how I managed over 100 agents and what is my secret to success?  I said, its simple:  We all have a job to do, I believe in my agents and they are owed all of the credit because they work very hard for our company and for our community.  My job is to manage my agents, keep them informed and educated on current market conditions, provide guidance, and training for them to be the best in Real Estate Sales .  Our company's success is about providing our clients with the best and up-to-date Real Estate Services possible.   Keeping current with techn... 08/14/2008

Looking for a great restaurant in Cookeville TN?  Check our some of the local flavors and get the best taste of Cookeville! The House of Thai is a great Thai Restaurant located across from Tennessee Tech University.  Everything on the menu is great and very tasty.          Taiko is a fantastic Sushi Bar with the best sushi I have ever had!  Their miso soup is wonderful and they have a wide variety of spring rolls, nigeri, hand rolls, and etc, not to mention their "cooked" menu.           Thomas Andrews, located downtown has a menu full of down home cooking such as meatloaf, pork loin, spagetti, and all with sides of tasty vegetables.  Lunch menus are a meat and veges for about five bucks!     The Soup Kitchen is just that!  A great soup kitchen with lots of soup varieties on the menu a... 08/14/2008

For those fortunate enough to own their own homes, it is important to always look after and care for your home, because one day you might want to sell it. Renovating your home - whatever your reasons - is always a step in the right direction.  It will most certainly increase the value of your home and you can be sure to make a solid return on your investment. Remodelling your home is not an easy task - especially if you consider the fact that not everyone share the same taste and it is advisable to keep a neutral design if you are planning on selling your home in the future.   It is very important to consider the costs involved when deciding to renovate or remodel your home.  The financial capacity of the homeowner should be considered and a budget should be drawn up accordingly.  Price... 08/14/2008

Here in the Upper Cumberland we are in the middle of everything that's happening in the state! We are only a short drive to Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and the Great Smokey Mountains. Which means for the sports lover we are close to the Titans LP Field and the Vols Neyland Stadium. Right here in our own backyard we also have college level sports with the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. We also have Championship Quality Golf courses right here at home!  With 4 Championship golf courses, Cumberland County is the Golf Capital of Tennessee. There are many other golf courses in other counties though with 5 in Cookeville, 2 in Sparta, 1 in Livingston and 1 also in Monterey. There are also softball and baseball complexes in the area, Cane Creek Sports Plex and Jere Whitson Adult Softball f... 08/12/2008

August 2008 Aug 1 - Aug 3 USSSA Mens C State TournamentCane Creek SportsPlex, Cookevillehttp://www.cookeville-tn.org/ls/athletics/sportsplex Aug 1 - Sep 1 Wattenbarger Ships at the History MuseumThe Wattenbarger Ships exhibit opened earlier this summer and will be on display through the rest of the summer. Dr. James Wattenbarger constructed sailing vessels that were replicas of actual ships that sailed in the 1600s and 1700s. The History Museum staff have combined the exhibit with the 20-year anniversary of an adventure some Cookeville boys actually took aboard a ship back in 1988 from Poland to Argentina. The exhibit will feature artifacts from that trip including a flag signed by the boysThe History Museum is open Wed-Sat from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.www.cookeville-tn.org/ls Aug 2 - Aug 9 Youth... 08/12/2008

Other than dirt, hardwood is probably one of the oldest flooring materials that are still being used in homes. It is also one of the best flooring choices you can make when selecting the floors for your home. Hardwood brings warmth and glass to any room in your home in a way that other flooring materials simply cannot match. If this isn't enough to convince you however, you should also consider that hardwood is easy to maintain and clean.Another great thing about hardwood floors is that they can last a lifetime if they are properly installed and maintained. If you are a stark beginner at home improvement or do it yourself type projects, this would be a challenging first time project. However, you can install hardwood floors yourself with a little knowledge of home improvement skills. If... 08/12/2008

Its now August and for everbody that mens the hotest tempratures of the year. Global warming is making it a lot more difficult for us to keep our homes cool. Heat waves come at least once a year so be prepared for those hot sleepless nights. If you already own an air conditioner, have it checked once a year. A programmable thermostat also works very well. If you have a home cooling system, keep the outdoor central air cooling unit clean. Remove all debris and mow the lawn around the external box regularly.  Cleaning your home's air ducts will result in more fresh air entering your house. Keep the curtains or blinds closed during the day to keep the sun and reflective rays out and switch your fans on.Turning unnecessary lights off will also help to keep your home cool. If you have troubl... 08/12/2008

When you look at the outside of your house, you want to see a beautiful garden, clean windows, a sparkling pool and a neat garage.  It is not always easy to maintain the outside of your house, but remember, if you improve the image of your house outside, you will most likely increase the value of your property - which will definitely be beneficial if you want to sell your house one day.  If you want to improve your home (and its value), it is important to look at every aspect of your house.  Here are a few tips to help get you started.  Before spending hundreds or even thousands of rands on gardening and plants, make sure you start with the basics.  The roof is a major part of your house and is often neglected when it comes to home improvement.  Make sure there are no missing tiles and ... 08/12/2008

I am here to say this is the way to go . I personality own a tankless water heater. The only problem i have had with this  is sometimes you have to hit the reset button. Does anyone have a solution for that. What causes this to happen. Regular  TANK water heaters have a life expectancy of 8- 12 Years. The two key factors to a water heater are size and recoverablility. While gas and oil water heaters are more effective because they have a faster recovery rate, they have to be serviced more often. Servicing:we have very few oil water heaters in Tennessee ,while a gas water heater has to be serviced every four years, and electric water heaters have elements that occasionally burn out and have to be replaced. Please always follow  the warranty instruction , feel free to forward this mainten... 08/12/2008

Transitioning to a new area can be very stressful for one person, but especially for a family.  I found myself in that same situation a few years ago when my husband, children and I transferred here from out of state.  We made a couple of "house hunting" trips" which literally wore us out, and we were more confused each time we went back home, than before we arrived.   I can empathize with this situation now, and use my knowledge in working with buyer clients to their advantage.  Moving is a big step and one should be certain of what home they are sure of before they purchase.  Especially when they do not know the area.  First, I ask a few questions to my clients such as where in our city will you work, and how close to work do you want to live?, how close to the local school and hospit... 08/11/2008

Building your very own backyard fish pond is a great project for those who have always dreamed of having something fun in their garden. This would be an excellent addition to a beautifully kept garden.A fish pond will make the backyard one of the most favorite spots in the house. It will not only be fun for kids, but will also be a great place to entertain friends and family.However, before building a fish pond, you do need to plan for it! Just digging a giant hole in the backyard and filling it up with water does not make a fish pond. This project takes a lot of time, effort and most importantly planning especially for those who have never picked up a shovel in their lives. Here's 5 Tips To Get You Going  1. Location, location, location. The first thing that you have to do is decide wh... 08/07/2008