Tax breaks for home owners

You often hear about the tax advantages of home ownership vs. renting. Here is a great article that explains why and how to take advantage of it. The following video will illustrate how owning a home is helping people save money.

http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/tax-deductions/homeowner-tax-benefits/?cid=eo_em_mkt_newsletter

Client Testimonials: Working Hard for my Clients

I feel grateful and happy to have helped so many awesome people buy and sell their homes and move forward towards new home-ownership goals. Assisting someone make the biggest investment, financially and emotionally, has many rewards--which make my job very fulfilling. My team has very detailed processes, so that nothing slips through the cracks; my amazing assistant works closely with me and our clients to ensure your experience is nothing but positive, comfortable and smooth. And we love to send out gift cards or theater tickets during the under contract period so that you can go celebrate the excitement of getting in to your new home :)

Closed on their new home today! 4/29/15

Here are some of what past clients, now friends, have shared on various websites, that I'd like to share, for anyone who wants to know how their experience with me will go:

• • Jason & Nan D. reviewed Robyn Buckwalter
   
  • 03/26/2015
   
  • Helped me buy a home

  She is a pleasure to work with. Enthusiastic, positive, easy to talk to and she makes you feel very comfortable. She did her homework and did her best to try and understand and find the things we were looking for in a home. I highly recommend her.

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  • Silma & Nick B. reviewed Robyn Buckwalter
   
  • 03/19/2015
   
  • Helped me sell a home

  Super positive!!! Robyn didn't let us give up. I'm very grateful for all her work and would work with her again. Thanks to her we sold and found a new home.

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  • Darla R. reviewed Robyn Buckwalter
   
  • 01/22/2015
   
  • Helped me buy a home

  Robyn was wonderful to work with !! We looked at many homes in different neighborhoods. She was not only patience, BUT helped me take notes on my likes, dislikes, and needs. She remembered every home to the last detail and made notes of my comments as we went through. I absolutely loved working with her. I highly recommend her to anyone wanting a delightful, smart, and fun realtor to work with. Thank you Robyn for helping me find just the right home, in the perfect neighborhood. I consider her a trusted friend :)

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  • D. and J. Bainbridge reviewed Robyn Buckwalter
   
  • 01/15/2015
   
  • Helped me buy a home

  Robyn helped us look for just the right house. She met with us several times and was very patient. As soon as we found the right one we quickly listed our current home with her and we had an offer in 6 days. Everything went smoothly with both transactions. I highly recommend Robyn. We would choose her again.

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  • S.K. Colton reviewed Robyn Buckwalter
   
  • 01/12/2015
   
  • Helped me buy a home

  I have worked with a few different real estate agents and Robyn is by FAR the best agent to have at your side. Many agents care only about the big sale and moving you quickly through the process and Robyn actually cares about you, what you want and what will work best for your family. She is a honest and intelligent agent that knows the area, has great contacts and will definitely meet your needs.

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  • Lucy & Mark K. reviewed Robyn Buckwalter
   
  • 01/10/2015
   
  • Helped me buy a home

  We found Robyn to be a delightful blend of professionalism and personality and highly recommend her as someone who will be there as your personal guide to a great real estate transaction. She was very helpful in getting right condo for us in the South Jordan area. Robyn is very thorough with her work, very responsive, cares more about what you want rather than getting you to just buy, she is very patient - knows her real estate market.

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  • Lakshmi S, Simhadri reviewed Robyn Buckwalter
   
  • 01/08/2015
   
  • Helped me buy a home

  Robyn is an excellent agent to work with, she will gauge your interests and will spend as much time possible to find you a right home. She is eager, enthusiastic and never backs down even if something doesn't work out.
  

  

  We love throwing as many client appreciate parties as possible throughout the year. We'd love to see your at our next Pulled Pork BBQ & Waterslide party or our next Bowling Night. How about the Stars Wars (Dec 2015) movie night?!
  

Client Appreciation Night: We Scored!

We rented out the new bowling alley in Riverton last month and invited hundreds of our past clients to come bowl on us, bring their families and friends, eat pizza and sip sodas. What a blast!! This will be an annual spring event for our team and we hope to see more of our awesome clients, now good friends, come and enjoy a night out. We really had more fun visiting with so many great people we met  through real estate. What a fabulous job--because it creates such wonderful friendships.

If you missed it, please stay tuned for our next Client Appreciate event: Annual Summer BBQ and 150 foot Slip-n-Slide!

Spring & Summer in Utah: Awesome UT Bucket List

The weather is on its way to being warm for many months; the sun is staying out later, the outdoors is calling. Whether you're new to Utah, or have lived here for many years, like I have, there are always new places to see, things to do, and outings to go on. I want to use this site as my "Utah Bucket List" and see where this takes my family this year.

Check out this great article in 24 Salt Lake on attractions throughout Utah:

Water: lakes, waterfalls, skiing, boating
Mountains: hiking, flowers
Trails & Hiking
Nature: Uintas, Southern Utah: Zions, Cedar Breaks, etc
Adventure: Ropes courses, ziplines, indoor surfing, etc

http://www.24saltlake.com/utah-is-awesome/fun-things-to-do-spring-summer-utah/

Creative Culinary Blog

Couldn't help sharing this fabulous culinary blog--which always has outstanding meals, desserts, rolls (check latest entry on Garlic Cheesy Rolls) http://www.dealstomealsblog.com/2015/01/garlic-ranch-cheddar-rolls.html

The cute creator of the blog (and the chef) lives close by and her family have some true talent in the kitchen. I've been lucky enough to try some of their homemade syrup (I love breakfast foods!) and also some of their cookies and cupcakes. Delish!

These rolls are on my list this week!

These woman lists great case lot sales, post recipes, and will send you weekly recipes for meals as a paid subscription if you like. I like all the help I can get in the kitchen when it comes to meal prep. and recipes. Thanks, ladies!

The Secret to Getting Organized: Declutter!

One of my favorite blogs, The Inspired Room, shared this as we enter a new year: 

Here’s the real secret to getting organized:

When we feel overwhelmed and think we need to get better organized, usually what we really need to do first is declutter.

The less we have, the easier it is to find what we need.

The less we have, the less time we will spend maintaining and cleaning things.

The less we have, the less money we will spend buying new things we don’t need that will end up cluttering up our closets and cabinets even more.

The less we have, the more we will enjoy what we do have.

The less we have, the less “organizing” we actually have to do.

So while it’s probably the least fun part of organizing and the most stressful, decluttering is really the most rewarding and important step of all. I have felt so much peace and a "lightness" after decluttering. It is also one of the BEST WAYS to prepare to sell your home! You will get more money and sell in quicker amount of time than a cluttered home, where corners, shelves and closet floors are jam-packed. 

HOW TO DECLUTTER:

A Bag a Day Keeps the Clutter Away…How's that for a mantra?

1. Pick whatever clutter category (sample categories I plan to use are below) you are most inspired to work on first. You don’t have to follow the monthly format, choose whatever works best for you.

2. Each category also suggests an area of the house or room to focus on, but adapt it all to suit your home and needs.

3. Tackle each area/category by filling up at least one bag per area and donating it (or dispose of trash.)

4. Keep on going every day, each month, even into the next year, eliminating the excess, until your home is clutter free! Keep up the bag per day concept (even if your bag gets much smaller!) to keep any clutter from sneaking back in. :)

5. Just say NO to more clutter coming in. You will get better at saying no to clutter as you see the results of your hard work! Be firm about it so you can break the cycle of TOO MUCH STUFF.

Here are a few decluttering tips:

1. The important thing is identifying the clutter hot spots that you need to focus on with “gazelle intensity” (a good ol’ Dave Ramsey phrase) each month– and then make it a mission to get it done! Even if you only have a few minutes a day to declutter, it all adds up.

2. To reach your organizing goals, you’ll have to commit to consistency in decluttering.  Make it your goal to get rid of as much as you can in each category, donating at least one bag of stuff at a time, can until there is NO clutter left like it. Then you can move on to the next category! Don’t worry about organizing it as you go, just get rid of stuff. Organizing can happen along the way if it makes sense, or save it for later, just try to stay focused on ridding your home of a bag of clutter a day.

3. Only keep what you actually use or need. Be ruthless and focused on the end goal, a clutter-free home and the peace that will come with knowing where everything is and having nothing in your home you don’t use or love!

4. Even if you think you *might* need something down the road, just let it go unless it’s precious to you. If it’s not precious, it’s not worth keeping for “just in case.” Only keep what you really love or actually use on a regular basis.

5. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. It might take you a year, or more, or less, depending on how far along you are in the decluttering journey already. But you will see progress!

This “Bag a Day” plan isn’t a declutter project that you start on New Years and work on for a few weeks and then quit, it is about developing the habit of finding joy in a clutter free home.

TWELVE MONTHS OF DECLUTTERING A BAG A DAY

JANUARY:

Clothes, bags, shoes, accessories {including seasonal items}, dressers, closets, nightstands, Master bedroom.

FEBRUARY:

Papers, files, calendars, office drawers, command centers. Home office.

MARCH:

Beauty products, medicine cabinets, bathroom cabinets. Bathroom.

APRIL:

Linens (towels, sheets, blankets) and cleaning supplies. Laundry room and linen closets and under sinks or anywhere you store cleaning supplies.

MAY:

Pots, pans, dishes, kitchen electronics, pantry items (spices, food, baking items), kitchen cabinets. Kitchen and Pantry.

JUNE:

Books, magazines, DVDs, electronic devices, games. Family rooms.

JULY:

Tools (yard tools, ladder, power tools, hardware, cleaning tools), project materials and supplies on garage shelves. Garage, tool bench and storage areas.

AUGUST:

Keepsakes (sentimental, photos, albums) and kids’ drawings and mementos. Closets and bookshelves, anywhere mementos are stored.

SEPTEMBER:

Other family members’ clothes and kids’ toys.  Closets, bedrooms, playrooms, school supplies.

OCTOBER:

Hobby supplies (sewing, crafts, gift wraps, gift cards, etc.). Craft cabinets or closets.

NOVEMBER:

Decorative items {seasonal, decorative, furniture, extra items you don’t need}. Wherever you store excess. Garage, Basement.

DECEMBER:

Christmas and holiday items, entertaining supplies. Basements, cupboards, garages.

Happy Decluttering! Come back and share in the comments how things are going for you, or post updates on your blog so we can see! You can share the link to a post in the comments, too, if you want to share your own journey. Thank you to The Inspired Room for inspiring myself and many others to free up space, time and energy in our daily lives & in our homes!!

A bag a day keeps the clutter away!