-Tax Date change for Disaster areas in Georgia
-What's the deal with current water restrictions?
-Monte Hewett comes to your Mobile Device
-Getting Motivated to Spring Clean
-Exciting News - Monte Hewett Homes joins Atlanta Custom Realty Group
-Spring Tips for Maintenance
-Contact Us

Concerned about April 15th - Tax Day?  Resident of Dekalb and Fulton counties (see IRS website for full list) get some extra time this year.  Due to the declaration of Fulton and Dekalb counties as disaster areas (thanks to the recent tornadoes), residents can get an extension until May 19th.  Also, if you CPA's office is in those counties or you are a relief worker, you also get an extension until the May 19th deadline.

The IRS has provided this information online at http://www.irs.gov.  Click the link to read the news release from their website to avoid the April 15th deadline, waive late fees should there be a mistake, download any additional forms, and get information on claiming losses.

Please note: Monte Hewett Homes always recommends you consult a tax professional before submitting your taxes.  The information here is provided as informational only. 

Here are a few tips to help you get up off the couch this weekend and get motivated to do a little Spring Cleaning.

Listen To Music: Turn up the radio, plug in your iPod, or turn on XM Radio if you have satellite TV, music can help get you in the mood to clean. Upbeat music, can make you work faster and as a bonus you might get a little ex exercise.

Wear Real Clothes: Not your best clothes of course, but not pajamas. If you start cleaning in your sweat pants and socks, it may be more difficult to take the work seriously, and your comfy couch might draw you into it's fold!

Set a Deadline: Invite someone over for dinner or plan a small party or get-together. You'll be more motivated to clean because you have to get it done by a certain time. Make sure to give yourself enough time to actually get your cleaning done. Don't wait til the 11th hour with your guests at the doorstep! You can also use an egg timer. This works really well with kids. Try to beat your last "record" for cleaning. Kids will actually get excited trying to beat the clock.

Tour a Monte Hewett Model Home: Touring a model home, or looking at pictures of other homes in magazines can be a great motivator to clean. Although we all know few people actually live like that, model homes can help us picture a perfectly clean home and motivate us to reach for that height. For directions to our communities, visit Our Locations.

Try a New Product: Trying a new product or a new scent of a favorite product can get us more motivated to clean. This works especially well if the product is supposed to save us time or money. We're always looking for bargains in those departments. So the next time you're dreading to scrub the shower stall, take a look on your cleaning aisle for a new product that might be fun to try.

Plan a Garage Sale: Planning a garage sale can be a great way to clear out clutter. Asking some neighbors to join in can increase your "visibility" to potential bargain hunters. You’ll be more likely to get rid of things if you think you can make a little money for something else you really want. Plan to donate the leftovers to charity, without even bringing them back in the house. Even kids will be more likely to let go of items if it means they've got some "mad money." (Don't forget to advertise your sale, Craig's List is a great place for this and it's free!)

Give Yourself a Reward: This can be something you purchase..."If I finish my daily cleaning, I can buy that new book I've been wanting." Or, it can be time doing something you really enjoy..."When the master closet is reorganized, I can spend two hours at the dog park." Creating a reward for yourself when you've finished a dreaded chore can be a great motivating tool.

For the full article by Sarah Aguirre click here.

If you have a home to sell, Monte Hewett Homeowners now have the expertise they need in the sales staff of Custom Realty Group.  When it comes to buying and selling, this new Realty division will allow MHH to better serve you and your family and friends. Ask yourself, who better to help you sell and market your Monte Hewett home than the company who built it and knows it down to the very last shingle?

Our CRG agent team will list and aggressively market your home through multiple online listing services that many companies haven’t discovered yet. And we will execute it all at a reduced rate, just for you.

For more information, contact Kari Shepherd at 678-538-3151 today!  And, be sure to visit just one of our most recent listings:

http://www.4092ViningsMill.com
5/4 brick home in Smyrna, GA with gourmet kitchen, master suite with spa,
finished basement, fitness room, and wine cellar.  Special Price:  $499,900
 

Spring Maintenance Tips....

It is important to keep your home running smooth year round.  Here is a quick list of things to check in the Spring:

HVAC System Check

• Have a HVAC professional do a routine-check before the summer heat waves arrive.
• Vacuum return and/or supply air vents if they are dirty.
• Replace the furnace filter. Make future replacements as needed or directed by your furnace manufacturer. Selecting a filter with a higher Merv rating will improve your air quality.
• Reprogram your thermostat settings for Spring/Summer. Recommendations are to set the temperature no lower than 78 degrees in the summer.
• If your thermostat uses batteries now may be the time
  to replace them.

Seal Around Doors and Windows

• Add or replace worn weather-stripping around doors and windows.
• Caulk gaps where necessary.
• Replace worn door sweeps at the bottom of doors.
• Use caulking and weather-stripping around entry points for all pipes and ducts that travel through an exterior wall.

Check the Roof

• Replace loose shingles.
• Make sure the flashing around the chimney or vent pipes is watertight.
• Check the bricks and mortar and repair mortar if missing.
• Clean gutters and point downspout away from the house.
• Make sure the splash blacks at the base of the downspout are oriented correctly. The wide end of the block should be under the mouth of the downspout, while the narrow end (with the lip at the edge) leads away from
  the house.
• Trim any tree limbs that are hanging over or touching the roof.

Other Maintenance Items

• Open outdoor faucets and sprinklers.
• If you deck is over 2 years old, apply an additional coat of sealer. NOTE: If your home has a newly constructed deck, it must age (or cure) 6 months before it can be sealed for the first time.
• Check the foundation and siding for cracks or gaps. Repair as necessary.
• Prune shrubbery and add mulch to perennial flower beds.
• Change direction of ceiling fan rotation so air is blowing down during the warm months of the year.

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