Monday, May 26, 2008

Get Your Home Ready For Summer!

Today’s Memorial Day, so enjoy your hammock, BBQ, pool or whatever relaxation that you have planned, but don’t forget to prepare your home for summer. It’s here and in someplaces moreso than others, especially being in Florida.

First and foremost, have your a/c checked to make sure that it is running properly and efficiently. Most of us already have our air conditioning units on all of the time and with July and August coming up they are going to working full throttle.

Also, make sure that you change your filters regularly and don’t buy the cheap ones. The are generally not as good as the pleated air filters and will allow dirt and debris through ultimately clogging up your coils and therefore a more costly repair than just spending a little extra of a better filter. Even if the filter states that it is good for 90 days, change it at 60 days. With the amount of dust that we have here this is necessary. You know that once you clean your home, there is already a layer of dust there. This is something that you can’t get away from in Florida.

Clean that clothes dryer vent. Yes, it is a pain and difficult for some to do. In that case, hire someone to do it. It is generally not that costly of an expense and there are several local companies that do this work. This is not only important in regard to your clothes dry running efficiently, but more importantly poses a fire hazard.

Clean the tracks of sliding glass doors. This is very simple and easy to do, but very much overlooked by many. Just vacuum up any loose debris and then wipe/wash the tracks clean. This will allow your sliding glass doors to operate more easily.

Check seals around doors and windows. With the driving rains that we get quite often, this is important to prevent water intrusion and the myriad of issues that can and will create.

Keep those leaders and gutters clear. A clogged gutter will most likely cause a rotted fascia & trim. And with the amount of rain that we hope to get, you want the rainwater to flow easily.

Let’s not forget our lawns and yards. Make sure that you treat them for pests and fertilize before it gets too rainy. Try to make sure that tree limbs are not overhanging your home. Not only is this not good with hurricane season starting shortly, but also gives insects another way into your home.

And with that in mind, make sure that you are preparing for the advent of hurricane season. Check batteries, alternate lighting and radios. Make sure that you have canned food and water on hand. We’ll go more into this in another post shortly.

This is just a small list and I’m sure that we can extend this greatly. Hope you all have a great summer and enjoy!!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

What’s Happening in Central Florida - May 21, 2008

This is a guide to a smattering of events occurring in the Orlando Central Florida area. The sections are divided into Art, Music, Theater, Author, Etc, On-Going and Plan Ahead. There is surely something for everyone.

ART

HARRIET LAKE: THE CLOSET

When: through June 22

Where: Mennello Museum of American Art

900 E. Princeton St.

Orlando

Cost: $8 adults, $7 senior, $5 students, children under 12 free

Contact: 407-246-4278

THEATER

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

What: Joseph Robinette play adapted from the C. S. Lewis novel

When: April 18 through May 25

Fridays – 7pm

Saturdays – 2 & 7pm

Sundays – 2pm

Where: Orlando Repertory Theatre

1001 E. Princeton St.

Orlando

Cost: $15 adults, $10 children 17 and younger

Contact: 407-896-7365

ORLANDO FRINGE FESTIVAL

What: 64 independent movies

When: May 15 - 26

Where: Orlando Loch Haven Park

Mills & Princeton Aves.

Orlando

Cost: Individual show admissions; Fringe Button $6

Contact: 407-648-0077

AUTHOR

JULIE COMPTON

What: book signing of Tell No Lies

When: May 24 – 2pm

Where: Borders Books & Music

600 N. Orange Ave.

Winter Park

Cost: Free

Contact: 407-647-3300

ETC

ANTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN CHEESE

What: Wine and cheese tasting

When: May 21 – 6:30pm

Where: Cheese Shop on Park

329 N. Park Ave.

Winter Park

Cost: $15 advance; $20 at the door

Contact: 407-644-7296

THE OUTER TOONS

What: musical cartoon education show

When: May 22 – 8pm

May 23 – 9pm

May 24 – 11am & 2pm

Where: Plaza Theatre

425 N. Bumby Ave.

Orlando

Cost: $10 advance; $12 at the door

Contact: 407-228-1220

ALOHA FRIDAY

What: music and Polynesian refreshments

When: May 23 – 6:30pm

Where: Royal Pacific Resort

6300 Hollywood Way

Orlando

Cost: $25

Contact: 407-503-3200

OASIS 21

What: Sci-fi convention with gaming events and guest authors

When: May 23 – 25

Where: Downtown Orlando Sheraton

60 S. Ivanhoe Blvd.

Orlando

Cost: $12 – 18 adults; $8 – 12 children; $35 three day pass

Contact: 407-376-7359

ZELLWOOD CORN FESTIVAL

When: May 24 – 25 – noon – 10pm

Where: Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival Grounds

4253 W. Ponkan Road

Zellwood

Cost: $25 – advance; $30 – at the gate; 12 & under free with a

paid adult

Contact: 407-886-0014

CRANES COMEDY

What: various comedians

When: May 27 – 7pm

Where: Cranes Roost Amphitheater

247 Cranes Roost Blvd.

Altamonte Springs

Cost: $Free

Contact: 407-571-8863

ON-GOING

OPEN MIKE POETRY

When: Wednesdays – 8pm

Where: Cup O Soul

906 W. Fairbanks Ave

Winter Park

Cost: Free

Contact: 407-647-7685

EPCOT INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL

What: 15th Annual show with the Flower Power Series nightly at

5:45, 7 & 8.

When: through June 1

Where: Epcot

10000 Buena Vista Blvd.

Lake Buena Vista

Cost: park admission - $70 adults, $60 children

PAINT THE TOWN

What: works from traditional to contemporary

When: through June 1 - 8am – 9pm

Where: Orlando City Hall Terrace Gallery

400 S. Orange Ave.

Orlando

Cost: Free

PLAN AHEAD

PLANES, TRAINS & BBQ

What: BBQ competition and train rides

When: May 31 – 10am - 6pm

Where: Wooten Park

Main St.

Tavares

Cost: $5

Contact: 352-394-8618

DINNER DATES SINGLES GALA

When: June 1 – 6pm

Where: Timacuan Golf & Country Club

550 Timacuan Blvd.

Lake Mary

Cost: $50

Contact: 407-339-3283

DATE NIGHT AT LEU GARDENS

What: outdoor screening of Maverick

When: June 6 – 8:30pm

Where: Harry P. Leu Gardens

1920 N. Forest Ave.

Orlando

Cost: $7 adults; $2 children

Contact: 407-246-2620

HORTON HEARS A WHO

What: screening of the new animated film

When: June 6 – 9pm

Where: UCF Arena

50 N. Gemini Blvd

Orlando

Cost: Free

Contact: 407-823-3070

WINEQUEST

What: tastings, dinners & seminars at area restaurants

When: June 6 - 14

Where: Grand Bohemian

325 S. Orange Ave.

Orlando

Cost: $45 – 85 per event

Contact: 407-218-4300

Help for your Outlook Email with Xobni

xobni

How many times have you found yourself searching through old emails trying to find to find some information, a phone number or even an attachment? A lot of us try to occasionally go through our inboxes to organize them through deleting unnecessary emails and sorting through others.

Well now there is an Outlook plug-in that let’s you organize your inbox. It’s called Xobni, or inbox spelled backwards. It was released a couple of weeks ago and is available as a free download. Just go to www.xobni.com.

Xobni does not appear to interfere with your Outlook it that it runs outside of it. It indexes and analyzes all of your messages. The program creates a profile for everyone you communicate with in a sidebar.

Before we go on, one of the main flaws that I note is that Xobni loses track of an email once you delete it. There is also a feature on there that gives each person a ranking depending on how much you email each other and the usefulness of this is somewhat questionable.

Now, to the good features. On the top of the sidebar, there are relationship statistics. One of the best features is that Xobni extracts phone numbers from emails, whether it be in the body of the message or the signature. When you hover over the number, you will see where it was extracted from.

The next section on the sidebar is a list of related people between the email sender and yourself. Need the name of an assistant? Each profile lists the people who are often copied in emails that are sent to you.

One of the things that I really liked is that you can open an email thread and if you want to reply or forward, you do not have to navigate away from that conversation.

Need to find an attachment? Xobni lists all of the files that you have exchanged with each other.

It also appears to have a decent search mechanism that allows you to search for people and information.

To see a video of Xobni - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amRkMds177A

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

What’s Happening in Central Florida - 5/13

This is a guide to a smattering of events occurring in the Orlando Central Florida area. The sections are divided into Art, Music, Theater, Author, Etc, On-Going and Plan Ahead. There is surely something for everyone.

ART

HARRIET LAKE: THE CLOSET

When: through June 22

Where: Mennello Museum of American Art

900 E. Princeton St.

Orlando

Cost: $8 adults, $7 senior, $5 students, children under 12 free

Contact: 407-246-4278

THEATER

ORLANDO CABARET FESTIVAL

When: May 1 - 18

Where: Mad Cow Theatre

105 S. Magnolia Ave.

Orlando

Cost: $15 – 20 evenings and weekends; $12 matinees

Contact: 407-297-8788

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

What: Joseph Robinette play adapted from the C. S. Lewis novel

When: April 18 through May 25

Fridays – 7pm

Saturdays – 2 & 7pm

Sundays – 2pm

Where: Orlando Repertory Theatre

1001 E. Princeton St.

Orlando

Cost: $15 adults, $10 children 17 and younger

Contact: 407-896-7365

ORLANDO FRINGE FESTIVAL

When: May 15 - 26

Where: Orlando Loch Haven Park

Mills & Princeton Aves.

Orlando

Cost: Individual show admissions; Fringe Button $6

Contact: 407-648-0077

ETC

FRIENDS OF THE WEKIVA RIVER

What: Benefit with speaker Wes Skiles

When: May 16 – 6:30pm

Where: Heathrow County Club

1200 Bridgewater Drive

Heathrow

Cost: $50

Contact: 407-647-7487

GREAT ORLANDO BEER FESTIVAL

When: May 17

Where: Downtown Orlando

42 W. Concord St.

Orlando

Cost: $25 advance; $35 day of the event

Contact: 321-277-5079

CHARITY CHALLENGE XXIII

What: athletic competitions to benefit local charities

When: May 17 – 10am - 7pm

Where: Florida Citrus Bowl

1610 W. Church St.

Orlando

Cost: Free

Contact: 407-849-2020

FUR BOWL

What: bowl-a-thon to benefit Animal Welfare Alliance of Cent. FL

When: May 17 – 1pm

Where: AMF Bowling Lanes

115 Wilshire Blvd.

Casselberry

Cost: Call

Contact: 407-462-2320

GRANDMA PARTY BAZAAR

What: crafts, art & entertainment from local vendors

When: May 18 – 10am to sunset

Where: Stardust Video & Coffee

1842 E. Winter Park Road

Orlando

Cost: Free

Contact: 407-623-3393

TASTE OF MAITLAND

What: food and beverage vendors from area restaurants

When: May 19 – 5:30 - 8pm

Where: Lake Lily Park

840 Lake Lily Drive

Maitland

Cost: $12 advance; $15 at the door

Contact: 407-644-0741

ANTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN CHEESE

What: Wine and cheese tasting

When: May 21 – 6:30pm

Where: Cheese Shop on Park

329 N. Park Ave.

Winter Park

Cost: $15 advance; $20 at the door

Contact: 407-644-7296


ON-GOING

OPEN MIKE POETRY

When: Wednesdays – 8pm

Where: Cup O Soul

906 W. Fairbanks Ave

Winter Park

Cost: Free

Contact: 407-647-7685

EPCOT INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL

What: 15th Annual show with the Flower Power Series nightly at

5:45, 7 & 8.

When: through June 1

Where: Epcot

10000 Buena Vista Blvd.

Lake Buena Vista

Cost: park admission - $70 adults, $60 children

PAINT THE TOWN

What: works from traditional to contemporary

When: through June 1 - 8am – 9pm

Where: Orlando City Hall Terrace Gallery

400 S. Orange Ave.

Orlando

Cost: Free

PLAN AHEAD

THE OUTER TOONS

What: musical cartoon education show

When: May 22 – 8pm

May 23 – 9pm

May 24 – 11am & 2pm

Where: Plaza Theatre

425 N. Bumby Ave.

Orlando

Cost: $10 advance; $12 at the door

Contact: 407-228-1220

OASIS 21

What: Sci-fi convention with gaming events and guest authors

When: May 23 – 25

Where: Downtown Orlando Sheraton

60 S. Ivanhoe Blvd.

Orlando

Cost: $12 – 18 adults; $8 – 12 children; $35 three day pass

Contact: 407-376-7359

ZELLWOOD CORN FESTIVAL

When: May 24 – 25 – noon – 10pm

Where: Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival Grounds

4253 W. Ponkan Road

Zellwood

Cost: $25 – advance; $30 – at the gate; 12 & under free with a

paid adult

Contact: 407-886-0014

DATE NIGHT AT LEU GARDENS

What: outdoor screening of Maverick

When: June 6 – 8:30pm

Where: Harry P. Leu Gardens

1920 N. Forest Ave.

Orlando

Cost: $7 adults; $2 children

Contact: 407-246-2620

WINEQUEST

What: tastings, dinners & seminars at area restaurants

When: June 6 - 14

Where: Grand Bohemian

325 S. Orange Ave.

Orlando

Cost: $45 – 85 per event

Contact: 407-218-4300

Winter Park, Seminole and Orange Counties, FL – Market Sales Statistics for April ‘08

winter park seminole and orange county florida 32789 and 32792

The following are the market sales statistics for Winter Park, Seminole and Orange Counties, Florida for April 2008. Winter Park is made up of the zip codes of 32789 & 32792. For purposes of this analysis we are not only splitting the data according to zip codes, but also single-family homes vs, condominiums, townhomes and villas.

32789 - Single-Family Homes

11 homes sold during the month of April.

The average sales price, which is the total sold volume divided by the number of homes sold is $858,000 with 187 days on the market.

The median sales price, which means that 50% of the homes sold for more and 50% of the homes sold for less, is $424,000.

winter park seminole and orange county florida 32789 and 32792The most expensive home sold for $2.349M and was on the market for 505 days. It was a 4 bedroom, 5½ baths, 3-car garage lakefront home in 4913sf built in 1990 on .69 acres on a chain of lakes with a circular driveway, $250K swimming pool and spa, a boat house w/hoist with no HOA.

winter park seminole and orange county florida 32789 and 32792The least expensive home sold for $187,000 after 156 days on the market. It was a 4 bedroom, 2 bath home in 1623sf built in 1952 on .17 acre with no HOA. This home was listed as a fixer-upper.

The average sales price for the same period a year earlier was $835,513 with 181 days on the market.

32789 - Condos, Townhomes & Villas

10 homes sold

The average sales price was $348,850 with 276 days on the market.

The median sales price was $132,500.

winter park seminole and orange county florida 32789 and 32792The most expensive was brand new and it sold for $1,091,250. It was a 3 bedroom, 3½ bath, 2-story townhome in 3327sf with an interior atrium, 2 balconies, granite countertops, tile floors, Wolf & Sub-Zero appliances & an elevator. The monthly maintenance is $641.24.

winter park seminole and orange county florida 32789 and 32792The least expensive sold for $102,500 and was on the market for 237 days. It was a 2 bedroom, 1½ bath 2-story townhome in 2256sf built in 1979 and renovated to include granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, new flooring, kitchen and baths. The monthly maintenance is $50.

The average sales price a year earlier was $158,450 with 134 days on the market.

32792 - Single Family Homes

13 homes sold

The average sales price was $330,715 with 120 days on the market.

The median sales price was $230,000.

winter park seminole and orange county florida 32789 and 32792The most expensive home sold for $1.39M with 307 days on the market. It was a 5 bedroom, 3½ bath, 3-car garage lakefront home with 4822sf built in 1999 on 1.8 acres with pecan flooring, fireplace, boat house and hoist, 2 laundry rooms, 20’ ceilings, etc with no HOA.

winter park seminole and orange county florida 32789 and 32792The least expensive home sold for $193,500 with 133 days on the market. It was a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home, 2-car carport pool home in 1374sf built in 1960 on .21 acre with terrazzo and tile floors, bonus room and no HOA.

The average sales price a year earlier was $266,787 with 124 days on the market.

32792 - Condos, Townhomes & Villas

10 homes sold

The average sales price was $167,446 with 219 days on the market.

The median sales price was $179,990.

winter park seminole and orange county florida 32789 and 32792The most expensive sold for $195,000 and was brand new construction. It was a 3 bedroom, 2½ bath, 1-car garage 2-story townhome with 1432sf built in 2006 with 42” cabinets, stainless steel appliances and tile in all living areas. The monthly maintenance is $125.

winter park seminole and orange county florida 32789 and 32792The least expensive condo sold for $102,500 with 124 days on the market. It was a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo in 1020sf built in 1974 which has been renovated with new wood and tile floors, appliances, kitchen, bathrooms, plumbing and electrical. The community offers a pool, tennis courts and clubhouse with a monthly maintenance of $230 plus a $27 monthly assessment.

The average sales price a year earlier was $154,538 with 98 days on the market.

Windermere, Orange County, FL – Market Sales Statistics for April ‘08

windermere orange county florida 34786

The following are the market sales statistics for Windermere, Orange County, Florida for April 2008. Windermere is made up of the zip code 34786. For purposes of this analysis we are only splitting the data according to single-family homes vs, condominiums, townhomes and villas.

34786 - Single-Family Homes

23 homes sold during the month of April.

The average sales price, which is the total sold volume divided by the number of homes sold is $657,285 with a 156 days on the market.

The median sales price, which means that 50% of the homes sold for more and 50% of the homes sold for less, is $495,000.

windermere orange county florida 34786The most expensive home sold for $2.1M and was on the market for 138 days. It was a 5 bedroom, 5½ bath 5181sf golffront home with a 3+-car garage, a heated swimming pool and spa built in 1995 on .51 acre lot in a gated community with wood floors and a library. The HOA $1404/quarter.

windermere orange county florida 34786The least expensive home sold for $190,400 after 87 days on the market. It was a bank-owned 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1814sf home with 2-car garage built in 1987 on .31 acre lot with a screen enclosed pool and fresh paint. The HOA is $200/year.

The average sales price for the same period a year earlier was $1,150,351 with 165 days on the market.

34786 - Condos, Townhomes & Villas

3 homes sold

The average sales price was $180,933 with 104 days on the market.

The median sales price was $173,000.

windermere orange county florida 34786The most expensive sold for $199,900 and was on the market for 164 days. It was a 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1455sf 3rd floor condo in an elevator building built in 2006 with tile in all living areas, 42" cabinets, and screened balcony. The community offers a pool, clubhouse, fitness center and playground with a maintenance is $324/month.

windermere orange county florida 34786The least expensive sold for $169,900 after being on the market 112 days. It was a 3 bedroom, 2½ bath 1381sf townhome built in 2006 and was listed as being in pre-foreclosure. The community offers a swimming pool with a monthly maintenance $220.67.

The average sales price a year earlier was $565,190 with 99 days on the market.

Sanford, Seminole County, FL – Market Sales Statistics for April ‘08

sanford seminole county florida 32771 and 32773

The following are the market sales statistics for Sanford, Seminole County, Florida for April 2008. Sanford is made up of the zip codes of 32773 & 32771. For purposes of this analysis we are not only splitting the data according to zip codes, but also single-family homes vs, condominiums, townhomes and villas.

32773 - Single-Family Homes

10 homes sold during the month of April.

The average sales price, which is the total sold volume divided by the number of homes sold is $180,495 with 132 days on the market.

The median sales price, which means that 50% of the homes sold for more and 50% of the homes sold for less, is $185,500.

sanford seminole county florida 32771 and 32773

The most expensive home sold for $225,450 after 139 days on the market. It was a 4 bedroom, 2½ bath, 2-car garage home in 2321sf built in 2002 in a gated community on .13 acre lot with a bonus room, tile floors and corian countertops. The community offers a swimming pool with an HOA of $194.33/semi-annually.

sanford seminole county florida 32771 and 32773

The least expensive home sold for $130,000 after 157 days on the market. It was a 3 bedroom, 1½ bath, 1-car garage home with 956sf built in 1972 on .21 acre with a deck and fenced yard, newer roof & a/c, new range, crown moulding and tile and no HOA.

The average sales price for the same period a year earlier was $227,754 with 99 days on the market.

32773 - Condos, Townhomes & Villas

5 homes sold.

The average sales price was $116,204 with 128 days on the market.

The median sales price was $110,000.

sanford seminole county florida 32771 and 32773The most expensive was brand new and it sold for $152,531. It was a 3 bedroom, 2½ bath townhome in 1415sf with tile and granite countertops. The community offers a pool with a monthly maintenance of $151.

sanford seminole county florida 32771 and 32773The least expensive sold for $73,000 and was on the market for 156 days. It was a 2 bedroom, 2 bath 3rd floor pond frontage condo with 975sf built in 1985 with new, blind, tile, paint, washer, dryer, appliances and newer a/c. The gated community offers a pool and tennis courts with a monthly maintenance of $249.

The average sales price a year earlier was $173,838 with 119 days on the market.

32771 - Single Family Homes

25 homes sold

The average sales price was $343,990 with 146 days on the market.

The median sales price was $240,990.

sanford seminole county florida 32771 and 32773The most expensive home sold for $1.55M and was on the market for 112 days. It was a 5 bedroom, 4½ bath, 3-car garage lakefront home with a guest house in 7732sf built in 1998 on 1.18 acres of land, with swimming pool and spa, boat house with hoist, boat ramp, kitchen with a stacked stone fireplace. The HOA of $450/year.

sanford seminole county florida 32771 and 32773The least expensive home was sold for $60,000 with 197 days on the market. It was a bank-owned 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with no garage in 1304sf built in 1961 on .14 acre with no HOA.

The average sales price a year earlier was $392,662 with 140 days on the market.

32771 - Condos, Townhomes & Villas

7 homes sold

The average sales price was $150,031 with 87 days on the market.

The median sales price was $144,200.

sanford seminole county florida 32771 and 32773The most expensive sold for $197,500 after 552 days on the market. It was a bank owned 3 bedroom, 2½ bath, 2-car garage 2-story townhome with 1914sf built in 2006 located in a gated community. The community offers a pool, playground and fitness center with a monthly maintenance $357.

sanford seminole county florida 32771 and 32773The least expensive sold at Absolute Auction for $104,000. It was a 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 1-car garage townhome in 1266sf built in 2002 in a gated community. The community offers a pool, clubhouse & billiards with a monthly maintenance of $216.11.

The average sales price a year earlier was $206,377 with 77 days on the market.