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5 Feng Shui Mistakes to Avoid
Feng shui, the ancient Chinese philosophy that looks to improve the energy flow in our homes, can help us create living spaces that promote positivity and harmony.
According to the experts at Real Simple, however, there are five common mistakes many homeowners make that go against the grain of feng shui principles. Take a look around and see if you have any of these offending situations in your home.
1. Blocked doors. In feng shui, doors are the means by which energy flows in and throughout your home. If you have a door that is unable to open a full 90 degrees due to clutter hanging behind it or a piece of furniture, remove the blockage so that your door can open fully.
2. Misdirected beds. One of the key principles of feng shui is placing your bed in a “commanding” position, one which lets us see opportunities coming toward us. With this in mind, make sure you’re able to see your bedroom door while lying in bed, without being directly in line with it—in other words, make sure your feet aren’t pointed out the door. If you can’t move your bed accordingly, strategically place a mirror from which you can see your door.
3. Beds against a wall. Make sure your headboard is against a wall, but that you have left space on either side of the bed. If you have one side of your bed entirely against a wall, this creates an imbalance of yin and yang. Just 18 inches of space will alleviate the problem.
4. Desk facing a window. While it certainly seems appealing to be able to gaze out your window as you move through your work day, in feng shui practice, facing a window while working pulls your energy toward it and away from your work. In other words, that amazing view might be more of a distraction than a benefit.
5. Desk in a bedroom. If you place your primary desk in your bedroom, you’re putting your work/life balance at risk. Seeing your desk while you’re heading to bed puts work top of mind when you should be focused on relaxing. Conversely, gazing at your bed while you’re trying to work can lure you toward sleep when you need to be plugged in and productive. If space restrictions necessitate a desk in your bedroom, put it behind a divider, like a screen or bookcase. Be sure to turn off your computer screen at night and cover it as well. This creates important visual and energetic boundaries.
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2021. All rights reserved.
10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Contractor
When it comes time to build, it is important to ensure that you have the right team for the job. Hiring a contractor may sound easy enough to do, but realistically, this is a choice that requires research, time and careful thought. Here are some questions to ask a contractor—and yourself—before selecting the right person for your next big project.
Is the contractor quick to respond? When you reach out to a contractor, leave a detailed message including your name, phone number, email address and even a short description of the project you are looking to hire for. Give them 48 hours to respond. Be sure to check voicemail and email. If they do not reach out within this timeframe, they may be too busy with other projects to take on yours
Are they accommodating? From the first meeting, you will be able to get a general idea of whether or not a contractor is right for you. Were they on time for your first meeting? Do you feel like they are rushing through the planning process? Are they open to hearing and sharing opinions and ideas? Ensure that the contractor you hire will put in the work, time and energy that your project deserves.
Do they have positive reviews? With online reviews, it is easier than ever to get an idea of how a business operates, from customer service to quality of work. Before you make the jump to hiring a contractor, check out reviews from others who have worked with them before. If you find complaints, such as a bad attitude or laziness, you may decide to go in a different direction.
Are they licensed? In order for a contractor to do the job correctly and up to code, it is vital that they are licensed. Of course, there are some people out there who choose to do the work themselves or have a friend or family member help out, but to perform electrical and plumbing work, a professional may be required. Never hire a professional, or a team, without confirming that they hold a license.
Are they insured? In addition to Worker’s Compensation, protection for laborers who are injured on the job, be sure the contractor you hire has insurance to cover any accidental damage to your property. Discuss making you a certificate holder on the policy in case their insurance expires, you will be notified and hold off work until they renew it.
How large is their team? It is important to know who will be working on your property and how many people there will be. Whether for insurance purposes or peace of mind, this is an important question to ask.
Will they be available for weekly meetings? In case of questions or concerns, talk to your contractor about setting up a recurring meeting. Anything can happen, from hitting a pipe to a necessary layout change, so it is vital to keep the lines of communication open and for both parties to be available.
What are the payment terms? For large projects, it is extremely important to have a contract. Not only does this detail the project, including a general timeline and overall cost, but also a payment structure. This keeps both parties responsible and ensures that the property owner is able to make payments and the contractor is getting paid.
What is the project time frame and can you get it in writing? Timelines of large projects can be tough. Once your contractor determines a timeline, give them a one-week grace period. Be sure to get their finish date and timeline details in writing, as this can easily go astray.
Will they come back for repairs and service? Contractors are human, which means there can be things that are missed. From light switch plates to a loose towel rack, even the smallest mistakes can be fixed. Just be sure—and get it in writing—that the contractor you hire will come back to repair or service anything that may have been missed or gone wrong. You want someone who will ensure the project is completed, and completed well.
Source: Architectural Digest
Easter Crafts
Easter is the best holiday for making crafts. There are so many colors, animals, and plants you get to celebrate! Maybe you are preparing for an Easter egg hunt or want to stuff your baskets with cute homemade knickknacks, or just go with the classic egg decorating. Either way, there are many ways you can make Easter more exciting with crafts. Here are 5 fun craft ideas to try this, Easter.
- Bunny Treat Jars
Bunny Treat jars are essentially painting mason jars with a cute bow or skirt around the top, and then stuff treats in them. All you need is an old jar with a cap, cloth, paint, marker, and treats! You can dress it up however you would like, just make sure you add treat.
- Easter Egg Tree
Christmas doesn’t have to be the only holiday with a tree. You can make a cute mini-Easter egg tree to add cute decor to your home. Go to your local store and by Styrofoam in the shape of a cone and eggs. Depending on how big you want your tree will determine how many eggs you need. You will also need paint and toothpicks. Paint your eggs and cone any color you desire, stick the toothpick into an egg and stick it into the cone. Once you have covered the cone with eggs, you have an Easter egg tree!
- Peep’s Houses
This is not your average gingerbread house; this one is for the Peeps. Simply take graham crackers, frosting, and candy as you would for a gingerbread house, and put them together. After it is dried, you can take some gummy worms or sprinkles, lay them in the bottom of the house to create a nest and set a Peep inside. You could even add some chocolate eggs!
- Easter Bunny Paper Plate
This craft is great for kids, it’s cute, fun, and simple. All you need a paper plate, chenille stems (pipe cleaners), cotton balls, googly eyes and a marker. With these supplies, you and your kids can make the cutest bunny ever!
- Paper Plate Easter Baskets
These paper plate Easter baskets are perfect for little easter gifts. You can’t give all your friends a big extravagant basketful of gifts and fancy chocolates. If you paint a paper plate, make four cuts, fold the paper plate where you made the cuts, then staple. When you’re done, pin some pipe cleaner onto the paper to make the handle. Fill your mini baskets with goody’s and give to friends!
CENTURY 21 Affiliated Named as Top Brokerage in RISMedia Power Broker Report
CENTURY 21 Affiliated, the #1 Century 21 Franchise in the world, announced today that it was named #23 on RisMedia’s Annual Power Broker Report based on transactions.
This survey ranks CENTURY 21 Affiliated as the no. 1 brokerage in Florida, Indiana and Wisconsin, the no. 2 brokerage in Michigan and the no. 3 brokerage in Illinois and Minnesota.
This year’s Power Broker Report is based on responses to RISMedia’s Power Broker Survey, distributed in early January. The Power Broker Report has long honored the incredible business feats of remarkable real estate leaders—and brokerage firms—who continue to shape our industry.
“Our real estate professionals have proven to their clients that they can provide the same great level of service as our industry changes,” said Dan Kruse, CEO & Owner of CENTURY 21 Affiliated. “We are honored to remain in the top 25 brokerages across the United States.”
CENTURY 21 Affiliated currently has 2,700+ sales associates and 120+ offices across Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. It is a full-service agency that became part of the CENTURY 21 system in 1978.
Despite a global pandemic, 2021 was a successful year for CENTURY 21 Affiliated. The franchise opened multiple new offices, continually held the CENTURY 21® record for the most homes sold by a single CENTURY 21 company, and was again named the #1 CENTURY 21 franchise in the world in units sold and AGC.
About CENTURY 21 Affiliated Real Estate LLC
CENTURY 21 Affiliated is a member of multiple listings services in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin with over 2,700 sales professionals and 120+ offices. CENTURY 21 Affiliated also specializes in worldwide relocation. At CENTURY 21 Affiliated, the customer comes first. The complete commitment to this philosophy is what has made CENTURY 21 Affiliated such a powerful force in the real estate industry. CENTURY 21 Affiliated has been ranked the number one CENTURY 21® franchise in the world for eight years in a row and had 21,818 transactions in 2021. Visit Century21Affiliated.com to learn more.
©2022 CENTURY 21 All Rights Reserved. CENTURY 21® and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.
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REAL Trends Recognizes CENTURY 21 Affiliated Among Leading Realty Firms in 2021
Madison, WI (Grassroots Newswire) 4/4/2022 — REAL Trends recently recognized CENTURY 21 Affiliated as a leading realty firm on the REAL Trends 500 list. Ranked the 23rd brokerage by sales in the United States, the REAL Trends 500 places CENTURY 21 Affiliated as the top producing CENTURY 21 franchise.
CENTURY 21 Affiliated was also named the no. 57 firm in 2021 sales volume and no. 57 in “Billionaires’ Club” by closing 5 billion dollars in sales in the last year.
The REAL Trends 500 list showcases the tremendous success of CENTURY 21 Affiliated across all six states.
“CENTURY 21 Affiliated sales professionals approach everything they do with passion and professionalism and have made the company a fixture across the United States,” said Dan Kruse, CEO of CENTURY 21 Affiliated. “We couldn’t be more proud of our Affiliated Family.”
The REAL Trends 500 remains the undisputed leader in ranking the performance of residential real estate services firms. Additionally, REAL Trends has been the trusted source for news, analysis, and information about the residential services to the residential industry since 1988.
2021 was a successful year for CENTURY 21 Affiliated. The franchise opened multiple new offices, continually held the CENTURY 21® record for the most homes sold by a single CENTURY 21 company, and was again named the #1 CENTURY 21 franchise in the world in units sold and AGC for the eighth year in a row.
About Century 21 Real Estate LLC
CENTURY 21 Affiliated is a member of multiple listings services in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin with over 2,700 sales professionals and 120+ offices. CENTURY 21 Affiliated also specializes in worldwide relocation. At CENTURY 21 Affiliated, the customer comes first. The complete commitment to this philosophy is what has made CENTURY 21 Affiliated such a powerful force in the real estate industry. CENTURY 21 Affiliated has been ranked the number one CENTURY 21® franchise in the world for two years in a row and had 21,800+ transactions in 2021. Visit Century21Affiliated.com to learn more.
©2022 CENTURY 21 All Rights Reserved. CENTURY 21® and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.
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Happy Earth Day!
Earth Day has been celebrated globally on April 22 since 1970. This date marks the birth of a movement to protect the environment and bring awareness to the growing environmental issues.
Senator Gaylord Nelson, from Wisconsin, was an advocate for environmental issues. After a massive oil spill in January 1969, Senator Nelson recruited a young activist to organize campus teach-ins on environmental issues on April 22. The young activist saw the potential for change and recruited 85 activists around the country to join her pursuits.
Earth Day inspired 20 million Americans to protest the detrimental impacts of 150 years of industrial development has had on people and the environment.
The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This led to the first ever environmental laws including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. The following years laws such as Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. These laws have protected our Earth and its living creatures, but there is still so much work to be done.
In 1990, another campaign was organized, this time, Earth Day went global. More than 200 million people from 141 countries celebrated Earth Day. This massive movement gave way to the first United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Ways you can help protect our earth
- Plant Trees
- Recycle water resources
- Use clean energy
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Buy local
- Donate to a local organization
- Give your home “green makeover” by choosing sustainable products.
- Choose Eco Friendly products
- Clean mode of transportation such as walking or biking
CENTURY 21 Affiliated Named #1 CENTURY 21® Franchise in the World for Eighth Consecutive Year
Sales Professionals and staff members from CENTURY 21 Affiliated recently attended the One21 Experience which is held annually to celebrate the brand’s growth and market momentum and to recognize the prior year’s achievements.
On March 24th, CENTURY 21 Affiliated was recognized as the #1 CENTURY 21® franchise in the world in AGC and units sold for the eighth consecutive year. CENTURY 21 Affiliated also holds the record for most transactions in one year and is the first franchise to achieve the #1 status in units and AGC.
“Again, for the eighth year in a row, CENTURY 21 Affiliated is ecstatic to be named the #1 CENTURY 21 franchise in the world,” said Dan Kruse, CEO of CENTURY 21 Affiliated. “We couldn’t have achieved this great milestone without the hard work of our agents and staff.”
Despite the global pandemic, 2021 was another successful year for CENTURY 21 Affiliated with the company opening multiple new offices, expanding their footprint across all markets, and continually holding the CENTURY 21 record for the most transactions by a single CENTURY 21 company – 21,800+ units in 2021.
CENTURY 21 Affiliated is a full-service brokerage and currently serves 100+ locations across Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota & Florida.
“Our Affiliated agents are relentless in all aspects of their profession,” said Jasen Schrock, President and Owner of CENTURY 21 Affiliated. “They deliver personalized experiences to every transaction, and we are excited to continue our exceptional service in 2022.”
Century 21 Real Estate LLC celebrated its 50th anniversary as the originators of the real estate franchise model and was ranked the #1 fastest growing franchise in 2021 by Entrepreneur Magazine.
About CENTURY 21 Affiliated
CENTURY 21 Affiliated is a member of multiple listings services in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin with over 2,700 sales professionals and 100+ offices. CENTURY 21 Affiliated also specializes in worldwide relocation. At CENTURY 21 Affiliated, the customer comes first. The complete commitment to this philosophy is what has made CENTURY 21 Affiliated such a powerful force in the real estate industry. CENTURY 21 Affiliated has been ranked the number one CENTURY 21® franchise in the world for eight years in a row and had 21,800+ transactions in 2021. Visit Century21Affiliated.com to learn more.
©2022 CENTURY 21 All Rights Reserved. CENTURY 21® and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.
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Affiliated Named as Top Madison Workplace
CENTURY 21 Affiliated is thrilled to announce they have been recognized by The Wisconsin State Journal as a Top Workplace in the Greater Madison area for 2021.
Awarded #22 in the small business category, CENTURY 21 Affiliated sits among 60 local companies and organizations that have gone above and beyond for their employees.
16,000 employees in the Madison market were surveyed by Energage. The Top Workplace survey consisted of 24 questions, of which 15 were related to company culture.
“Top Workplace is about celebrating connections; celebrating a connection we have with each other,” said Bob Helbig, Media Partnerships Director at Energage.
According to their website, Energage is a purpose-driven technology company that powers Top Workplaces, the premier employer recognition program. Analyzing data from a short, research-based employee survey, Energage identifies people-first Top Workplaces across the country, as well as regionally in partnership with 59 of the nation’s most reputable media outlets.
“We are excited to be recognized as a Top Workplace in the real estate industry,” said Dan Kruse, CEO and Owner of CENTURY 21 Affiliated. “We fondly refer to ourselves as the Affiliated Family, and this recognition could not be more representative of our culture.”
CENTURY 21 Affiliated was established in 1978 with a dream to serve the Capitol City and has grown over the last 40 years to serve 100+ communities across the United States.
About CENTURY 21 Affiliated Real Estate LLC
CENTURY 21 Affiliated is a member of multiple listings services in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin with over 2,700 sales professionals and 120+ offices. CENTURY 21 Affiliated also specializes in worldwide relocation. At CENTURY 21 Affiliated, the customer comes first. The complete commitment to this philosophy is what has made CENTURY 21 Affiliated such a powerful force in the real estate industry. CENTURY 21 Affiliated has been ranked the number one CENTURY 21® franchise in the world for eight years in a row and had 21,818 transactions in 2021. Visit Century21Affiliated.com to learn more.
©2022 CENTURY 21 All Rights Reserved. CENTURY 21® and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.
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April Fool’s Day!
To mischiefs and pranksters, April 1st is like Christmas in spring. April 1st is April Fool’s Day, a day where people pull practical jokes and pranks on friends and family. There is a lot of speculation as to how and when the holiday started, one story claims the holiday started in France as far back as 1582. On April 1st, 1582, France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. Evidently, some people didn’t know the new start of the year was January 1st and not April 1st. Supposedly, French peasants would go to homes and pretend to do a New Year’s Day call. If people fell for the prank, they were considered an April fool. Some historians believe April fools is related to the vernal equinox, because Mother Nature was said to have fooled people with the changing weather. Additionally, people pulling April Fools pranks are supposed to do so before noon on April 1st or they will welcome bad luck into their life.
Here are 10 April Fool’s day pranks
1. Make Brussels Sprouts Cake Pops. People will be quite surprised when they take their first bite!
2. Put tape under any computer mouses at the office or home. This will stop the mouse from working temporarily and completely fool your colleagues.
3. Stick a straw into a mustard or ketchup packet, put it in someone’s soda and see what happens when they drink!
4. Tape fake, roaches or bugs inside lampshade with the light on.
5. Flip the display screen on your friend or coworker’s computer. You can do this on a windows computer by pressing Ctrl, Alt, and the upward arrow key together.
6. Take a screenshot of a friend or coworker’s computer and leave the picture up so that they can’t figure out why nothing on their desktop is opening.
7. Go with a classic Jim Halpert prank from the show, The Office. Put a stapler in jello and leave it for one of your coworkers!
8. Put jellybeans in the ice dispenser so when someone goes to get a glass of ice water, they will have jellybean water instead.
9. Cover someone’s car with sticky notes.
10. Put plastic wrap on the doorway so when someone comes running through, they are in for a surprise.
CENTURY 21 Affiliated Wins Top 25 Award
CENTURY 21 Affiliated has been named a Top 25 Broker by Realogy Leads Group in recognition of its excellent performance and customer satisfaction. The award will be celebrated at the annual Realogy Advantage Network LEAD 2022 conference, held this year in Florida April 4-6.
Realogy Leads Group is a dedicated organization within Realogy Holdings Corp (NYSE: RLGY), the largest full-service residential real estate services company in the United States, focused on delivering high-quality, high-converting referrals to its affiliated brokers and agents in the Realogy Advantage Network, of which CENTURY 21 Affiliated is a member.
This prestigious annual award honors the top 25 brokers nationwide across the Realogy Advantage Network. Award criteria are based on rigorous scoring and success in a variety of performance metrics.
“CENTURY 21 Affiliated joins an exclusive group of brokers recognized as a leader in our Network,” said Robert Way, Senior Vice President of Realogy Leads Group. “This award celebrates the work, commitment and adaptability from the CENTURY 21 Affiliated team in 2021, which was an especially unique year for the real estate industry.”
“We are so proud of the entire team at CENTURY 21 Affiliated. This distinction reinforces our commitment to providing top-notch service to our customers every day,” said Dan Kruse, CEO & Owner of CENTURY 21 Affiliated. “It is an honor to receive this award from Realogy Leads Group.”
About the Realogy Advantage Network
The Realogy Advantage Network helps clients and customers realize their true real estate advantage by recruiting nationwide high-performance network of brokers and agents, recognized for exceptional customer service, from some of the most recognizable names in real estate.
About Realogy Leads Group
Realogy Leads Group is focused on delivering high-quality, high-converting referrals to Realogy affiliated brokers and agents across some of the most recognized brands in real estate. Realogy Leads Group oversees numerous national real estate programs offering consumers a distinct value proposition when completing one of the largest financial transactions of their life.
About CENTURY 21 Affiliated Real Estate LLC
CENTURY 21 Affiliated is a member of multiple listings services in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin with over 2,700 sales professionals and 120+ offices. CENTURY 21 Affiliated also specializes in worldwide relocation. At CENTURY 21 Affiliated, the customer comes first. The complete commitment to this philosophy is what has made CENTURY 21 Affiliated such a powerful force in the real estate industry. CENTURY 21 Affiliated has been ranked the number one CENTURY 21® franchise in the world for eight years in a row and had 21,818 transactions in 2021. Visit Century21Affiliated.com to learn more.
©2022 CENTURY 21 All Rights Reserved. CENTURY 21® and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.
