Valerie Dobrava

One French Fry At A Time

Valerie Dobrava — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:37:00 GMT

Recently while reading some e-mails I came across an interesting way to lose weight, not to mention change your life. In his book One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way, psychologist Robert Maurer tells how he lost weight. No, he didn't go on a fad diet, count calories or start a regimented exercise program.

So how did he do it? He simply threw away one French fry from his plate. Soon it became two, then three or four. He simply threw away a small portion of whatever he was eating. Using this method, Maurer lost 45 pounds in 18 months.

Often we have goals that are overwhelming. It might not be losing weight. Maybe you want to learn a new language, strengthen your career skills, or learn to play a musical instrument, get out of debt, write a book, build a house, or double your income. The overall goal is big but could you tackle it one step or one French fry at a time?

The article I read said, if you read about 10 minutes a day you will read an average book a month. If you write one page a day, you will have a book ready to print in six months. If you stop three negative comments a day from coming out of your mouth, in 90 days you will have saved the world from 270 negative blows.

Take some time this month to break your goals down into small steps. Start walking one step at a time toward your goal. It may be a long journey but it will be worth it. And remember, it is always easier to walk with someone. Find a friend who will encourage you to keep going.

Think of all the things you can accomplish by throwing away those French fries. You may find you see a brand new you.

Single Story For Sale in Country Club Estates

Valerie Dobrava — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:28:00 GMT

• 1,677 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story - MLS® $109,900

Country Club Estates, Grand Prairie - Pride of ownership shows in this well-maintained home in an established neighborhood! This beautiful home features Eat-In Kitchen * Stainless Steel Appliances * Media Room * Brick Fireplace * Updated Bathrooms * Lighted Art Niche * Walk-In Closet in Master Bedroom * Built-Ins * Wainscoting * Wood Privacy Fence * Much Much More! Furniture, Refrigerator, Washer and Dryer, Wine Cooler and Trampoline will be included with acceptable offer!

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Open House in Country Club Estates on Sunday

Valerie Dobrava — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:10:00 GMT

Country Club Estates, Grand Prairie - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 329 W Ferndale Lane on December 7 from 1:00 AM to 4:00 AM.

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Do You Want An Easy Button In Life?

Valerie Dobrava — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:04:00 GMT

Recently I heard an interesting story that just makes you think. A woman was watching TV with her two children and saw a commercial. In the commercial people were struggling with a difficult situation. Their challenges were everything from a dad changing a diaper to a brain surgeion doing a new procedure. Each time a big red button appeared that read "EASY". With one touch of the easy button all their problems suddenly disappeared.

Turning to her tow children, ages 7 and 15, the mother asked, "Would you like an easy button in life?" While the teenager nodded yes the seven year old said a forceful "NO". Startled, the mother asked why not? "Because then you couldn't work hard and get better at things", was the reply.

Personally, I might have voted a strong "YES". When life gets too busy and things are becoming challenges it is natural to want an easy way out. Yet, some of the best things I've learned in life have come through difficult times. Today, I'm a better spouse, parent, business person, friend and a hostess of other things because I kept going through the tough times.

Over the years I have found various ways to help walk through the hard times. One of my favorite ways is to look past the present situation and focus on the joy at the end of the trial. This has worked well, even for my son when he went to the doctor's office. I encouraged him to picture the time when we are walking out the door. Another favorite method of coping is to take one day at a time trying not to allow myself to borrow trouble. Sometimes that even included not taking life too seriously. And finally, I am learning to count the blessings of the day. There has never been a day I couldn't think of at least a dozen blessings however small.

There are no easy buttons in life but everyone has their own way of making it throughthe challenging times. Some people can even do it with a smile on their face! I'm not always the one with the smile, but I have learned, tough times don't last, they just teach me to be a better person.

Appearance is Everything

Valerie Dobrava — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:58:00 GMT

We have all heard that saying "this home has great curb appeal!" Great, the buyer is in the door but have we taken care of the inside? Here are a few minor details that can be done to help spruce up the place and help the sale of the home:

Creating a warm feeling inside your home increases its desirability. View your home with a critical eye. Clean and complete minor repairs. Keep stairways tidy and secure the handrail. Replace bent or damaged screens and window glass. Keep windows clean and neat with draperies firmly affixed and in proper working order.
Repair or replace missing or damaged tile, hardwood, vinyl and baseboards. Steam-clean or shampoo carpets. Secure loose carpeting and replace damaged areas. Be conscious of odors caused by dampness, high-traffic areas or pets.
Ample storage space increases the desirability of the home. Keep closets tidy. Discard any unnecessary items and consider storing those you do not use frequently.
Keep living areas clean and inviting. Arrange furniture to allow a spacious atmosphere. Make beds, arrange couch cushions, dust shelves, vacuum carpets and touch up walls with paint or spackling as necessary. Wallpaper should be clean and adhere smoothly to the walls. Finishing touches such as air freshener, flowers or candles add to a home's appeal.
Clear counters, drawers and cabinets of unnecessary items. Clean soap dishes, mirrors, faucets and appliances (inside and out). Store cleaning supplies and hang freshly washed towels. Be conscious of odors caused by hampers, garbage and various foods.
Store infrequently used countertop items to allow a spacious look in the kitchen and bathroom. Keep drawers and cabinets tidy and organized.
Items should be neatly stored in shelving or wall units. Allow appropriate space for the home buyer to visualize their vehicle or workbench. Consider moving excess or oversized items to mini storage.
Clear stairs and halls, store excess furniture, clear counters and stove, make closets neat, organized and half full.

DIY-Staging Tips For Sellers

Valerie Dobrava — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:42:00 GMT

Monday December 18, 2006

DIY-Staging Tips For Sellers

Do ...

Pick up recent home-decorating magazines. If you’re not up to speed on current decorating trends, magazines will help you familiarize yourself with the latest in interior design styles. Flag pages with low-cost ideas that will make homes look more in tune with today’s styles, and share these magazines and ideas with your sellers.

Give a second opinion. Explain to your seller how difficult it is for a homeowner to be objective. You can provide a second pair of eyes to help accent the best and edit the worst in the client’s home. But let the seller know to prepare for some constructive criticism. The point is to hear the shortcomings before putting the home on the market, not as feedback from prospective buyers who decide to look elsewhere. Go room-by-room with a worksheet and take notes. Depending on how much time is available for an update or a makeover, you can help the homeowner prioritize and figure out what will bring the biggest return. If possible, perform this review well before you put the house on the market.

Stage a home office if one doesn’t yet exist. They’re not a trend; they’re required for homebuyers these days. Many people now work from home part- or full-time or want a space where they can organize their life and park a computer. Find an extra bedroom, walk-in closet, or an unused corner and convert it into a home office. Make sure there are convenient connections for electricity, telephone, and cable.

Focus on living spaces. These areas are where the majority of homebuyers will spend their time. Reduce the amount of furniture and accessories in every room. Explain to sellers that less is more; buyers are looking to purchase real estate, not personal furniture and knickknacks. Place a side table and a floor lamp next to a comfortable chair as a reading corner. Move sofas and coffee tables away from walls for a designer look. Use area rugs to anchor furniture groupings on bare tile and wood floors.

Living spaces should have matching table lamps. Scale way back on family photos. Add green plants to the room. Place groupings of candles and clear glass bowls filled with natural potpourri on side and coffee tables. Substantial wicker baskets can organize magazines, remote controls, and toys.

Clean up the kitchen. The seller need not undergo a major kitchen remodel to make this room more appealing to buyers. Put away in a handy drawer all dish towels and rags. Create cleaner visual lines and open up counter space by removing recipe boxes and reducing caddies with cooking utensils, cooking machines, and cookbooks by two-thirds. For a quick update, put new hardware on cabinets. Clean off every magnet, schedule, and art project from the refrigerator. Remove throw rugs scattered around the kitchen. Clean off windowsills to open up exterior views.

Organize cabinets with clear containers. If you can’t see the back wall of a cabinet, buyers will think the kitchen doesn’t have enough storage space. (Ditto for closets.) Keep a variety of fresh fruit in a glass bowl on the counter. Edit family bulletin boards. Remove old curtains and install new wood blinds on windows.

Keep it coordinated in bedrooms and bathrooms. Often overlooked in the frenzy to get a home on the market, these spaces can make or break a home. A matching set with a bed skirt, bedspread, pillow covers, and blinds can make a big difference. So will a new shower curtain and separate liner. (The liner must be washed if mold develops.) Add complete sets of towels that coordinate with the new shower curtain. Clear all cosmetics off the vanity.

If the bathroom includes an over-the-toilet cabinet, the seller may want to consider removing it and placing a piece of artwork in its place. Stress with your sellers the importance of keeping items in the “too much information” category out of view.

A king-size bed in a small room makes the entire room seem small, so it’s best to switch it out for a smaller bed. Dressers should be cleared off. Make sure the bedroom receives the maximum natural light. Eliminate wall and door hooks for clothes, and install closet organizers in closets. Let your clients know that buyers might look under the bed, so no surprises please.

Make a great first impression. Paint the front door, polish the hardware, and illuminate the entry area and house numbers. A simple console table with a mirror over it makes a nice entranceway. Make sure this space is well-lit day or night. Place adhesive under rugs so buyers don’t trip or slide.

Don’t ...

Decorate with inexpensive silk flowers. Silk flowers that are past their time, inappropriate for the season, or inexpertly thrown together distract buyers. Throw them out.

Forget Fido’s bowl. An unhealthy-looking pet-food bowl, watering station, or litter box turns people off quickly. Plus, a message that the homeowner doesn’t take great care of his beloved pet suggests that he doesn’t look after his house, either.

Overlook window coverings. Buyers today think less is more in window fashion. They want the most light and the least embellishment on windows. That means no layered treatments with sheer panels.

Use low-wattage light bulbs. Dark, dim rooms are unappealing to homebuyers. They want to see what they might buy. Replace all burned-out bulbs and put in the highest manufacturer-recommended wattages in all fixtures.

Think that everyone loves wallpaper. Few people share the same taste in instant decorator finishes. If the wallpaper is more than three years old, take it down and paint the walls a neutral color.

Paint with commitment colors. If you’ve determined the seller needs to paint (and the seller agrees), strongly discourage bold “commitment” colors. Commitment colors are those that people either love or hate. It can be difficult for buyers to imagine their style when all they see is a room overwhelmed by a color they can’t stand.

Confuse cleaning with staging. Cleaning is what you do before staging. Everything should shimmer and shine, and don’t forget the windows.

By knowing these basic strategies, you can help your sellers understand how to invest a little time and not too much money that will pay big dividends in the interest they generate for their home.

*Source: Texas Association of Realtors, August 2006.

Single Story in Cross Timbers Sold!

Valerie Dobrava — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 06:00:00 GMT

Brick home with great curb appeal!

• 1,432 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story "Traditional" - MLS® #10663779 $109,900 -

Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie - Well-maintained one owner home in established neighborhood! This home features a large eat-in kitchen that has easy access to covered patio and beautifully landscaped backyard! Split Bedrooms * In-ground Pool * Redwood Deck * Brick Fireplace * Built-ins * Ceiling Fans * Wood Privacy Fence * Large Backyard with Lovely Landscaping * Mature Trees * Close to Major Highways and Shopping * Must See! Much Much More!

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2036 N Kirbywood Trail in Kirby Creek Village is Sold!

Valerie Dobrava — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 06:00:00 GMT

Kirby Creek Village, Grand Prairie - The single story at 2036 N Kirbywood Trail has been sold.

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