Large-appliance maintenance is easier than you'd think.

At their best, large appliances — dishwashers, refrigerators and washing machines — fade into the background as they perform essential daily tasks. When they break, however, their repair can quickly come to dominate your life. Good thing some basic maintenance can save you a lot of headaches down the road.

   With any major appliance, the key is keeping it clean. Those coils on the bottom and back of the fridge, when coated in grime, retard the machine's ability to get rid of heat. Sweep or vacuum around it to keep dust away.

   Make sure the plastic coating on dishwasher racks hasn't chipped away; if it has, the metal beneath could rust, damaging the rack and leaving rust on plates. If you find rust, sand the area down before applying a new layer of material or sealant. Also, mineral deposits can build up in your dishwasher's sprayer; soaking it for a few hours in white vinegar will loosen these deposits and allow the mechanism to be cleaned.

    Also, make sure your appliances' seals and gaskets — the ones that keep fridge and dishwasher doors shut tightly — aren't hardened or twisted. Replace them if they're worn. Test your fridge's seal by waving your hand slowly around the edges to see if a cool breeze is escaping.

    Check to see if the hoses connected to your washing machine are in good condition, and replace if necessary (be sure to turn the water off beforehand). Experts recommend using steel-mesh hoses, which will last longer than regular ones.

    In the end, the major appliances in your house will work smoother and longer with a little maintenance, saving you precious time — just as they were designed to do in the first place.

If you caught CNN on April 25th, they were showing how bad the housing market was doing with a seven months supply in  housing. It is true home sales are the lowest per month in several years, BUT, a seven month supply is not a bad number. In fact, 6 months is considered balanced. Less than 6 is a sellers market and more than 6 is a buyers market. To determine the market absorption, divide the number of houses on the market by the number sold in the month under study. The ONLY problem in the housing industry is the attitude of the buying and selling public, we call it consumer confidence. Rates are great, supply is great, and interest rates are still great. If you don't believe that, talk to someone who was in the housing industry in the 80's with rates of 18%. I was there, and it was a REAL challenge! The message is......buy now! Spread the word.

Membership to our website continues to grow. It is hard to believe but we have now reached 468 members!  Please be sure to visit all portions of the website and if you want information on how to get the same website or even a custom site be sure to let me know. We are proud to say that the Realty Manager website has received the official national approval by the Council of Real Estate Specialists on January 26th, 2007.

I am finding that the absolute best way to determine the temperature of the market is with market absorption pricing. This method shows if there is an over supply or under supply of homes available. It is calculated by the Realtor to help the seller and the buyer determine the temperature of the market. If you need more information on how to do this, just drop me an email. This method has helped me in my real estate practice and I highly recommend it!

Hard to believe, but we are now at 399 members and growing. Thanks to everyone who has signed up on the site. Look for new information coming in the month of March that will be of interest to our readers. Signs of a healthy real estate market are evident and properly priced homes are still selling. Thanks again for being a member. We will keep you posted on changes.