Chattanooga Real Estate Blog

       5 Things to do Before Putting Your Home on the Market

A few scheduling issues this week so this week's Tuesday Morning Coffee is actually Thursday morning...Jay Robinson gives strategic tips on getting your home prepped to sell.

In this edition of Tuesday Morning Coffee Jay Robinson talks about the importance of home buyers working with an experienced Buyer's Agent to represent their best in terest in the search, contract negotiation and purchase of a home.  If you are considering a home purchase please contact Robinson Real Estate at 423-643-4000 and we will connect you with one of our expert Buyer's Agents that can assist you...

Tips for Winter Drivers

Winter is a beautiful and also potentially dangerous time of the year.  If you plan on traveling during the winter, it pays to be prepared for the unexpected.  Using common sense and developing a few simple driving habits like planning ahead, driving at a safe and legal speed, driving alert and sober and buckling up could ensure that you safely make it to your destination.  We've put together the following tips to help you stay safe and minimize the potential hazards posed by cold weather, winter storms and icy roads...

Prepare for winter driving BEFORE a storm hits:

• Have a mechanic check your car's battery, brakes, fluid levels (antifreeze, winshield washer fluid and oil,) as well as the heating and exhaust systems to ensure that your car is in good, safe working condition.
• Try to keep your gas tank full during the winter months.  Don't allow the gas to go below half a tank.  Not only will this prevent damage from freezing, you'll avoid running out of gas if you're stuck in a traffic jam in the dead of winter.
• Install snow tires or all-weather radials with adequate treads.
• An adequate supply of windshield washing liquid is critical to wash away the mud and melted snow that can severely limit visibility.
• Prepare for an emergency.  Keep blankets, flares, a sack of sand for traction, shovel, windshield scraper and brush, tool kit, towrope, booster cables and a flashlight with extra batteries in your trunk.  You should also stock your car with material for survival, such as waterproof matches to melt snow for drinking water, a first aid kit, dry clothing and a brightly colored cloth (to tie to the antenna.)

When driving under adverse winter conditions:

• Take care pulling out of streets blocked by mountains of snow.  It's often difficult to see who or what is coming.
• Back your car into the driveway so you have better vision when pulling out.
• Be aware of joggers on the street.  Often sidewalks are impassable and die-hard joggers venture onto the street for a clearer path.  Unfortunately they may not see icy spots or other hazards hidden below the slush.
• Don't turn corners too tightly.
• If your car DOES NOT have anti-lock brakes and you start skidding on the ice, try not to slam on your brakes.  Gently pump your brakes to maintain better control and prevent your wheels from locking. 
• If your car DOES have anti-lock brakes, slam on your brakes when skidding on the ice.  Pumping your brakes prevents the acti-lock system from taking over.

Traveling during a severe storm.  Travel only if necessary during a blizzard or severe storm.  If you must travel:

• Don't travel alone.  Notify someone of your estimated time of arrival as well as your primary and alternate travel routes.
• If STUCK, stay in your car and wait for help.  Run the engine and heater sparingly.  Also make sure your exhaust pipe is clear of snow and ventilate your car so that carbon monoxide fumes won't poison you.
• Keep your energy.  Eat food that provides the body with energy for producing its own heat.  Replenish your body with fludis to prevent dehydration.  Don't eat snow; it will lower your body temperature.  Melt it first.

Tips and information provided by Julie Brandao with BB&T Huffaker and Trimble.  Contact Julie Brandao for all of your insurance needs at jbrandao@bbandt.com or 423-756-0711

In today's session of Tuesday Morning Coffee Jay Robinson talks about Robinson Real Estate and how his company deals with properties in all price ranges...

Wild Horses – an unusual tune in that many remakes have been recorded over the years and unlike some songs this one has transitioned fairly well artist to artist having tremendous staying power.  What many may not know is that the original version was recorded by Gram Parsons Flying Burrito Brothers in 1970 prior to the landmark recording by The Rolling Stones on their 1971 album Sticky Fingers.  Some say that the song was actually written for Gram to sing and in large part because of his influence on the band.  The story is also told that the tune was ultimately written together by Jagger and Richards but started by Keith Richards after the birth of his son Marlon when he was torn having to leave him to go on tour.  A while later Jagger took the tune and rewrote the lyrics keeping only the main line – his version is said to be influenced by Marianne Faithfull (Jagger’s girlfriend in the sixties) – the story is shared that as she woke from a drug induced coma her first words were “wild horses couldn’t drag me away.”

There are two additional remakes that standout in my opinion…first, the version by Old and in the Way, a bluegrass supergroup in the 1970s with frontman Jerry Garcia.  Their debut album Old and in the Way was released in 1975 and in 2002 a reunion album was released, Old and in the Gray, minus original members Jerry Garcia and John Kahn.  The second, a version recorded by The Sundays may likely be one of the more currently well known versions as it faired well on mid '90s pop charts.

Having been covered multiple times over by artists from Molly Hatchett to Susan Boyle and everything in between (Neil Young, The Cranberries, Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow, Bush, Jewel,Alicia Keys, Tori Amos, and Guns N' Roses to name a few), it translates in a pleasing way across many different genres.  What version is your favorite?

In this week's edition of Tuesday Morning Coffee Jay Robinson discusses the Chattanooga real estate market and the importance of pricing your home as a commodity...

If you've not had the pleasure of experiencing the musical enjoyment that is Pete Yorn, please take a listen to this stripped down ballad, one that has a great artistic touch with a unique phonograph intro.  Yorn is one of the few artists that is able to aptly transition from studio to live performance.  As great as the studio recording of this tune is, the live version translates exceptionally well.  I have to say, Yorn is able to translate in the same vein as Neil Young and James Taylor, holding an audience through a live performance that was initially captured through studio recording.  I hope that Yorn will have the same staying power as the aforementioned artists, and the future looks bright.  He is coming off a recent hiatus, recently releasing his fourth album, "Back and Fourth" and recording a duet project with Scarlett Johansson entitled "The Break Up Album" that you may want to check out as well...