John Sizemore’s Blog

Most people think the area of Pinecroft and Medical Plaza Blvd (across from Memorial Hermann - The Woodlands) as “The Woodlands” since it is only a few blocks from The Woodlands mall. 

I’m aware of a new 4-story Medical building being built on the West side of this intersection.  I understand that the ever growing Sadler Clinic will be the major tenant.

I hear rumblings of more professional buildings on the drawing board for this area.  The Woodlands and Shenandoah are linked and Shenandoah is building and both communities will benefit.

Regards,

John Sizemore, Realtor
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Shenandoah is one of the communities that The Sizemore Team services, Spring, The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, and all of S.W. Montgomery County are also covered.

Today, my wedding anniversary, I wanted to recognize the most important asset I have as a Realtor - my wife. 

She listens when I have a tough day and she is forever playing the role as an editor on my marketing advertisements and web content.  I truly feel blessed with her at my side.  She plans on becoming a Realtor in 2009 and joining me in the business as an agent.

I can’t wait.  But until then, although she is in the background, she is a vital part of The Sizemore Team.

Regards,

John Sizemore, REALTOR
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Why? Why do people take out their anger on their properties?

OK - former properties. 

I saw a home last week where the former owner removed the evaporation unit for the A/C plus ripped open the walls to remove the copper wiring.  What a mess.

They probably “worked” 12 hours for $20 worth of scrap metal.

Why aren’t these people being charged with a crime?  Why aren’t more banks offering an incentive to the foreclosed parties to leave the homes in good condition?

Why does the destruction continue - what does it say about us as a nation?

I’m sick  of it already and I’ve just begun to work with HUD properties. The investors expect it but the home buyer who has to buy a HUD home in order to qualify really is in shock by the condition of some of these properties.

Regards,

John Sizemore, Realtor
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I must confess, I love technology.  Maybe it’s because of my prior career with IBM or maybe it’s because my hobbies are photography and personal computing, nevertheless my Realtor friends often ask me what I see impacting real estate in the next 12 months.

My predictions are:

1. Cell phone Text Messaging to request “flyers”. Why: Because texting is the new e-mail; and if the flyer box is empty I think today’s  I WANT IT NOW shopper is willing to Text MLS4369 to 70734 for a small charge or no charge.

2. Video used by more Realtors. Why: To me this is just on the horizon, in fact some Agents are uploading video today to YouTube or other sites. Why am I listing it here?  Because I see more MLS Systems formalizing this and allowing video on their sites or access to video from the MLS site.

3. Web feeds becoming a major difference - almost THE Major Difference between companies. Why: As more home Buyers shop for their homes from the Web (studies show it is now 80% to 90%) the feeds from a Real Estate broker, like Keller Williams, becomes increasingly important. If at the listing presentation I can tell a prospect that their home will be seen on 10 of the major web sites and my competition can’t - who do you think will get the listing?

4. Paperless transactions or “less Paper” Deals.  Why: I know better than to predict paper-free transactions but we are getting close to it.  Clients are now able to sign an electronic form on a tablet PC and starting the deal without “killing a tree”. But of my four predictions, I feel that this is the one I will miss - paper just seems to live on.

Regards,

John Sizemore, Realtor
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John and The Sizemore Team practice residential real estate in S.W. Montgomery County Texas which included Spring, The Woodlands, Conroe, Oak Ridge North, Shenandoah, and Magnolia.

My fellow Realtors:

I’ve heard there are a few ways to get rid of the odors from Cigerette smoke in a home. I need your ideas.  Do any of these 7 work on a home with a moderate smoke odor?  Are there some better ideas?

1. Replace the carpet and wash down the walls with TSP

2. Repaint after applying KILZ as a primer.  If necessary, Shellac woodwork.

3. Use Oust and scented Oils to cover up light odors

4. Coffee beans (vanilla ones are good) out for a few days, then replace them after they absorb the odor

5. Try white vinegar (the cheap kind) in small shallow bowls set around the home, then replace them every 3 days

6. A complete home cleaning kit like the one here called Vamoose (available on sale from Overstock.com)

Vamoose! Cigarette Odor Eliminator Home Kit

• Keep your home clean and fresh with this odor eliminator
• Vamoose! cleaning product designed to remove cigarette or tobacco odor
• Home cleaning equipment will provide a fresh scent to your home or office
• Kit will treat 1400-1800 square feet of space that has a moderate cigarette odor

Home kit includes:

• One (1) 1-gallon fresh scent cleaning fluid
• One (1) 32-ounce fragrance-free spray
• Six (6) towels
• Fogger
• Eye protection
• Dust mask

 7. OdoBan (availble from Walmart). I normally have my owners use this for pet odors or smelly garage smells.

Regards,

John Sizemore
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MY HURRICANE 7-STEP PREP LIST FOR SPRING & THE WOODLANDS: Part 2 

This is part 2 of the 7 of my 7-Step prep list. I have survived Hurricanes and I noticed that the guides places on the shelves of stores here don’t address our county – mostly they address the Houston Metro area including the Gulf Coast Communities. 

Our needs are a little different. This guide is written for neighborhood homes in S.W. Montgomery County that are not endangered by flooding or storm surges; homes with those characteristics require more preparation and should follow the instructions for Gulf Coast homes. 

 4.  When a storm is 3 days away, go to the store again  

   A. Order a month of Rx  

   B. Buy a large first aid kit  

   C. Buy misc. Supplies like

     - tweezers

     - sun tan lotion (SPF 12 or above)   

     - Alcohol & cotton balls

     - tooth paste

     - feminine hygiene products

     - Purell and baby wipes

   D. Buy a cheap digital camera If you don’t have one.

   E. Take photos of your home, furniture, cars & upload to a website

   F. Buy gas for your gas cans and fill your cars and keep them filled

   G. Buy a notepad so you & your family can journal                

      - during prep let everyone In the family record their thoughts

     - encourage all to write updates when weathering the storm

 5. Three days before: prepare your kitchen      

   A. By eating food from it     

   B. Freezing containers of Ice; 2 liter bottles are great for this 

 6. Two days before: prepare your house and yard              

  A. Remove anything that can blow around (<200 lbs) & bring inside       

    - chair cushions &plants                   

    - remove the swings off the swing set

    - Secure heavy secure outbuildings or dismantle and bring inside           

  B. If you have a pool, through your Lawn furniture in the pool. It will be safe under the water          

  C. Trim trees           

  D. Make sure your windows are ready to board

      - It’s fast since you have pre-cut plywood & the Ply-Lox available

      - Duct Tape to place over the seams of the plywood          

      - Duct Tape above and below the plywood covering the doors, so any water runs off   

  E. Fill all tubs for toilet for “flushing water”              

     - so you can flush once you remove the back lid of the toilet

     - flush solid waste this way until the MUD starts pumping water again

     - You will not have enough to flush your toilet except for solid waste 

 7. Day before: prepare your documents 

    - seal them in a food storage bag   

  B. Scan priceless photos to your computer and upload them to a web site  

    - seal originals in a food storage bag, don’t the front of the photos touch the plastic 

 After the storm

 One of my favorite memories of my childhood was Hurricane Donna. I was 8 and I remember how the wind  and rain caused a stream of water to enter the home and how my dad plugged the leak while my mom, brother and I mopped up the water off our oak hardwood floors. I felt proud that my dad prepared the house and my mom planned how we were going to eat and drink and live through the “monster storm”.  I felt like a pioneer and I knew I was a survivor.   

 I also remember that the storm wasn’t the worst part of the Hurricane, it was the days without power and water that was the hardest.  Without the plans we had made and the family and friends that offered there homes for water and power (and warm showers), it would have been much worse.     

 I hope this Hurricane preparation blog will help you. You should review all the hurricane preparation lists and understand that if category 2 or above Hurricane hits here, It can change our health, finances, and family for years to come.    

 Call or E-mail me if I can help you with any Real Estate need in SW Montgomery County. I specialize in residential Real Estate in Spring, The Woodlands, Conroe, Oak Ridge, Magnolia and surrounding areas.      I can be reached at my home office at 281-203-6000 or at my cell at 281-217-6367.  My Email is John.Sizemore@att.net    

 Regards, 

 John Sizemore, REALTOR
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MY HURRICANE 7-STEP PREP LIST FOR SPRING & THE WOODLANDS: Part 1

You might ask, what is a Realtor doing writing a Hurricane preparation list?  

I was born and raised in Florida – I’ve been through hurricanes and I noticed that the lists are written for our metro area - including Galveston and Gulf Coast communities.  This guide is written for neighborhood homes in S.W. Montgomery County that are not endangered by flooding or storm surges; homes with those characteristics require more preparation and should follow the instructions for Gulf Coast homes. 

1.  Go to your food store before any storm is identified

A. Buy several sizes of food storage bags

B. Buy 2 boxes of strike anywhere matches

C. Buy several 2.5 gallon or 5 gal. Drinking water containers

D. Buy canned meats that you will use if a hurricane never strikes.

E. Buy rice, ramen noodles, pasta, soups, and canned spaghetti (or Spaghetti-o).

F. Buy cleaning products like buckets and mops 

2.  Go to Lowes or Home Depot before any storm is identified

A. If you don’t have gas cans - buy at least enough for 10 gallons of gas

B. Buy a shop vac or any vacuum that can remove standing water

C. Buy an axe, or in poor health, buy a small gas powered chain saw

D. Buy a hand cranked radio/flashlight combo unit – no batteries to worry with

E. See if the store has a device that will charge your cell phones - if not, make sure you have a car charger

F. Buy ply-lox clips for 1/2 plywood. Buy 2x more than the box says

  - If you have any windows larger than 3×3 ft. then you will need 2×4s too; see the Ply-Lox directions. 

G. Have the store deliver 1/2 inch plywood and 2×4s to your home - about 1 sheet for every 1.5 windows.

  - if you order too much, sell extras to neighbors - sell or give the extra ply-lox away, keep at least 25

H. Buy duct tape (2 big rolls)

I. Buy a warning sign - the nastier the better - if a storm hits, the police may not respond to lootings.  (a lesson learned by survivors of Hurricane Andrew)

J. Get the tools to cut the plywood & fix your home after the storm

K. If you can afford to buy a generator – buy it. If you do, don’t forget:         

  - fuel and fuel containers (may be gas or diesel fuel)         

  - oil (see the generator box for the type of oil); buy several bottles         

  - buy outdoor electric cords         

  - read the directions carefully; not having the generator set up properly  It can kill your family

L. Buy hurricane lamps and battery lanterns for your home. - give the battery lanterns to the kids- don’t give candles to children or liquid fuel lamps- plan on 5 sets of batteries each - do not buy rechargeables. 

3.   Consider buying a shotgun or handgun (see 2I for why)

A. I suggest a pump shotgun with a stock that absorbs the recoil.

B. Don’t forget to buy ammo.

C. Get firearms training and practice using your weapon. 

Part 2 will follow tomorrow.

I heard this on the rado and in this hot Texas day I have to say I agree:

1. Davey Crockett - hero of the Alamo

2. Sam Houston - General who defeated the Mexican and helped give Texas their Independence. Later President of Texas and Texas Governor.

3. The guy who fixes your A/C unit when it has been out for a day or night.

I did a search today for a client of Rental homes from $1200 to $1400 in Spring, Oak Ridge North, and The Woodlands.  About 50 rental homes came up.  Most of them were nice.  Many had been refurbished and had new carpet and paint.

I believe this is a response to the number of Investors who have been buying properties to rent out.  The investors can’t get the interest rate or return in the stock market so they have turned to property.  Coupled with that the investors know that tougher mortgage requirements mean that many people will need to rent.

Call me if I can help you find a property to invest in and then rent or find a home to rent. Unlike some Realtors, I like to work Rentals.  It helps me build my client base and the Rental clients I have worked with always seem to send me referrals. I can be reached at my home office at 281-203-6000 or at my cell at 281-217-6367.  My e-mail is John.Sizemore@att.net

Regards,

John Sizemore, REALTOR
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The words “Houston, we have a problem” were made famous by the Apollo 13 crew.  But today’s real estate market and job market means that Houston, the area, doesn’t have a problem.

The press has spent the last month telling their readers nationally of our good fortune.  Articles, according to the “Houston Realtor Magazine” have been published by:

• The Washington Post (the fifth most widely read newspaper in the country)
• Chicago Tribune (the sixth most widely read newspaper)
• Newsweek (more than 3 million readers)
• the Financial Times (Europe’s Wall Street Journal)
• BusinessWeek (nearly 1 million readers)
• Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (more than 800,000 readers)

All these articles were published in the last month and all were telling of the virtues of living in Houston (or the surrounding area).  

Houston has population growth estimates in the range of an average of 75,000-100,000 people expected to move to the greater Houston area every year until 2030, some of them might be moving here sooner rather than later.

Regards,

John Sizemore, REALTOR
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The Sizemore Team services residential Real Estate needs in the Texas communities of Spring, The Woodlands, Oak Ridge North, Shenandoah, Conroe, Magnolia, and all of surrounding S.W. Montgomery County, TX.