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If you've made the decision to buy a home or sell yours, the next step is hiring a Roanoke-area Realtor to represent you. After all, this is possibly the largest single transaction you'll make in your life. You need expert, professional guidance to ensure a smooth closing. 

But with hundreds of Realtors in the Roanoke Valley, how do you choose? 

Well, if you're selling, head on over to my blog post that outlines 4 questions to ask a listi...

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1 lemon, sliced
1 orange, sliced
3 tablespoons (dark) brown sugar
1 (1.5 oz ) jigger vodka (vanilla)
1 (1.5 oz ) jigger cointreau
(1.5 oz) Grand Marnier (or a little more) 1 bottle of dry red wine, chilled
(I like Villa Appalaccia Toscanello)
1 C ice cubes before serving
1/4 C orange soda 1/4 C sprite
3/4 C pineapple juice 3/4 C orange juice 1 (1.5 oz) jigger gin

Place the lemon, orange & brown sugar in a large pitcher. Pour in vodka, cointreau, gin, grand marnier, orange soda, sprite, pineapple juice & orange juice. Add fruit, ice cubes & red wine, stir well until sugar has dissolved.

Serve at your next party! I promise it will be a hit! P.S. The fruit is so yummy, eat at your own risk if it has been soaking! 

You might be surprised to learn that renovating your Roanoke-area or Smith Mountain Lake home doesn't automatically add value. The value is connected to what the changes are and whether they'll make the home more appealing to a buyer. 

In fact, what may seem like a worthwhile improvement to you could make your home more difficult to sell. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, especially if you plan to be in your home for a long time. But, before setting out on any renovation project, it pays to consider the unintended consequences. 

1) Removing walls 

Knocking down an internal wall to enlarge a room is a double-edged sword. While it may, for example, make a master bedroom more spacious and appealing, it's...

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With the number of resources available online, you can surely handle selling your home all on your own, right? The truth is that real estate is packed with nuances, regulations and terminology that you may not be aware of. Here are several reasons to work with a Roanoke Realtor to sell your residential property rather than presenting your home as For Sale by Owner.   

Your home needs to be properly prepared 

Preparation is key when it comes to successfully selling your home. When done via FSBO, you may not know

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Corn Pudding

2 cups corn (I use Green Giant canned white)
3/4 C milk
1 C sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tbsp plain flour
With mixer, beat eggs, add sugar, flour, butter, milk, add corn. Put in greased casserole. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees*. Stir after 20 mins. If it doesn't brown, turn up the heat.

*You can double if necessary

This recipe has been in my family for many years. My mom and Aunt Brenda make it a lot better than I do -- they are professionals! 

Enjoy! 

Call me if you have any questions: 540-353-0123