Would you be interested in saving $1,200 a year? You can sure this savings for a vacation or dinners out and at the same time eliminate many toxic chemicals in your home and help the environment.

Borax is a naturally occurring alkaline mineral that does not contain phosphates or chlorine and is not harmful to washing machines, plumbing or septic tanks. It has no toxic fumes and is safe for the environment, however it can irritate skin and, of course, it should not be ingested. Borax is available in the grocery store in the cleaning isle.

• Borax can be added to washing machines to pre-soak stains, or added with your regular laundry detergent to make it more effective.
• It will also clean and deodorize hand washables, cloth diapers, baby clothes, refrigerators, bathroom fixtures, garbage pails, mattress odor, even sparkle fine china.
• Deodorize your toilet by sprinkling 1/4 cup of Borax in it. Clean with your toilet brush and let stand for 30 minutes or overnight. This will also clean and deodorize the toilet brush as well.
• Mix 1/2 cup Borax wth a gallon of hot water for a cleaner and disinfectant.

You can also use Borax to get rid of fleas, ants, mold and even in the dishwasher. Need more helpful hints in using Borax, go to  http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/115/1/Handy-borax-tips.html

Ok... so you want a little more insider's details. Borax, also known as sodium borate or sodium tetraborate,  and is mined in the Mojave Desert (Boron, California), other US states, in Chile and Tibet. It can also be created synthetically from other boron compounds. The mining side of borax production isn't all that earth friendly, but compared to some other chemical compounds used around the home, it's likely lesser of the many other evils, so it's a "greener" choice. Borax used in all sorts of products - pesticides, insulation, makeup (yes ladies... it goes on your face), detergents and other cleaners. In our house we have recycled cellulose fiber for roof insulation that's been treated with Borax in order to make it flame retardant. The other side effect of this treatment is that it discourages vermin from nesting and kills insects.

This is one in a series of helpful ideas we share with you designed to save you money, increase the value of your home, and help our environment.  Win the day!

Contributed by Al & Dee Allegue
Contact Us | (228) 374-0002 | www.alndee.com
Complimentary Mississippi Gulf Coast Real Estate Search

Collecting Rainwater 

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 Did you know that during moderate rainfall, the normal sized roof on a home eliminates 160 gallons of rainwater per hour? Or that 40% of water used during dry months is used outdoors?

One 55 gallon rain barrel can fill within 2-3 hours during a normal rainfall. If you were to capture this  water, what could you use it for? You could save a few dollars and at the same time help   the environment.  Here are just some advantages of rainwater collection:                                  

• Garden and plant irrigation (rainwater is natural and without chlorine)
• Washing cars and outside equipment/furniture
• Cold water toilet flushing
• Washing clothes
• And rainwater can be purified with other processes

It's not difficult. Harvesting rainwater has been around for centuries. Here how it's done: As the rainwater flows into your gutters and downspouts, a small reservoir attached to a downspout captures and diverts the water to a barrel. That's it!

For our friends who just to have more information and see pictures of what a non-intrusive water collection system can look like (meaning you don't want a 55 gallon barrel in your back yard!), we have attached the following link http://www.cypressdesigns.com/?gclid=CJmP5ZC50JsCFVeE7Qodjj7JJg

This is one in a series of helpful ideas we share with you designed to save you money, increase the value of your home, and help our environment.  Win the day!

Contributed by Al & Dee Allegue
Contact Us | (228) 374-0002 | www.alndee.com
Complimentary Mississippi Gulf Coast Real Estate Search

My Home Didn't Sell... Now What? 

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As of lately, we're receiving numerous calls from homesellers in Biloxi, Ocean Springs, Gulfport and d'Iberville with homes for sale concerned their homes failed to sell with another real estate professional and now they're wondering what to do. The answer is not usually within them, but with the agent they entrusted.

What went wrong? Well, most people will ask business associates, family or friends to recommend someone who they've had good luck with... someone they can trust. Other sellers will watch neighborhood real estate signs to see who is listing many of the homes in the same area. Still others rely upon the reputation of the major national franchise companies. And, of course, there are the yellow pages.  All of these methods could prove to be a disaster again!

When selecting an agent, he or she should be someone that has demonstrated, in writing, their past performance selling other homes, and their marketing strategy for exposing your home to the largest possible number of prospective buyers.  Since there are always a certain number of buyers out there on the streets every day looking for homes to buy, and there are many other homes competing to attract those buyers, what is your agent going to do to bring one of those buyers into your home? What is your previous agent going to do different he or she has aready not done?

As a results, here are three of several basic questions you should be asking before you list your home again with a real estate professional:

1.  Ask For Reference From Past Sellers - before you sign another listing agreement, check out reference from past sellers. Flattering letters in a presentation book praising the agent's work is a good start... but do you think you'll see a unflattering letter in that stack? The answer should be obvious. Ask for the telephone number and name of the past three sellers and three current sellers.  Then make a couple of calls.

2. Ask For A Record Of the Agent's Marketing Strategy - How will he or she market your home with the current market conditions? Residential real estate has a long history of economic cycles. The market is either hot, improving, static or declining, and with each cycle there has to be a plan to cope with the current market.

3. Ask For The Agent Track Record - You want to know how long the agent has been working in real estate full-time, what advance designations and education in real estate do they have. Are you aware there is a designation for a Seller's Agent... that is an agent certified to work with sellers? Here is a really tuff question to ask: Of all the listing you have taken in the last six months, how many have you sold? If you never seen a two-step dance, you may see one. Check to see how many real estate companies has the agent been with in the last two years... if the reason for several changes is always money, there may be something wrong.

We've written a Special Report entitled, "My Home Didn't Sell... What Now?" detailing 25 Critical Guerrilla Marketing Strategies that need done in today's difficult market t sell a home for top dollar. If you would like to receive a free copy of this report, contact us and we'll mail or email the report to you immediately.

Contributed by Al & Dee Allegue
Contact Us | (228) 374-0002 | www.alndee.com
Complimentary Mississippi Gulf Coast Real Estate Search