Holiday lights can make a beautiful addition to any home.
1.  Be sure to use only lights approved by UL (Underwriter Laboratories) which will have a tag indicating as such on the cord near the ends.
2.  No more than 3 strings of lights should be strung together.  This prevents the wires from overheating.
3.  Check all the wires before using the strand to ensure the insulation is in tact and all bulbs are seated properly.

Candles bring a touch of ambiance and often times a pleasant scent to any room.
1.  Never leave burning candles unattended!
2.  When a candle is starting to burn low, discard it.  The heat build up can cause glass candle holders to fracture and break.
3.  Be mindful of where the hot wax will be dripping as the candles burn.
4.  NEVER place candles near trees, curtains, blankets, or other flammables.

Trees are often times the highlight of the season, but can be the most dangerous as well!
1.  If you are using a real tree, keep it properly watered and use a stand that won’t tip over.
2.  Choose a tree that has fresh, green needles that are not already falling from the tree.
3.  Never block an exit with a tree.
4.  Always turn lights out before leaving home, or going to bed.

This video, provided by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) shows the importance of a properly watered tree.

• City of Buffalo Taxes are billed in two halves.  The city taxes also include your school taxes.  A bill is sent out at the beginning of July which contains stubs for both halves of your city taxes as well as your sewer rent (addressed below).  The first half of the taxes are due August 1, and the second half is due January 3.
• City of Buffalo Sewer Rent is billed once every year, and is due September 30.
• City of Buffalo User Fee is billed quarterly.  A bill is sent out at the beginning of July which contains 4 stubs, one for each quarter.  This bill covers refuse & recycling collection inside the city of Buffalo, and is based on the number of refuse & recycling totes you have assigned to your property.  These bills are due August 15, November 15, February 15, and May 15.
• City of Buffalo Water is billed quarterly, based on usage.  The cycles vary depending on the area of the city.  Water billing is outsourced to Veolia.
• Erie County Taxes are billed once yearly.  This bill is due February 15.

Here are a couple other things you should be considering, as we enter the winter season here in Buffalo:

1.  Have your furnace serviced.  Don’t just change the filter!  Have the unit cleaned, the thermocouple checked, be sure the pilot is lit, be sure the unit is operational, and have your heat exchanger checked for cracks.  A cracked heat exchanger can expel deadly carbon monoxide gas!
2.  Turn off the interior gate to any exterior faucets, and drain them.  Wrap the outside faucet with foam or insulation to protect it.
3.  Wrap hot water tanks with an insulated blanket specifically designed for hot water tanks to conserve energy.
4.  Wrap your pipes that may be prone to freezing.

Remember, being proactive now can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars in costly repairs, or even your life!

To build the kit, you’ll need a small plank of wood (4″ x 4″ or so), 10 nails of the same length, and 3 nails that are longer than the other 10, but the same size as each other.  One LONG nail should be driven in to the center of the board, and the group should be handed the remainder of the nails. This works best in groups of 3-5.  Any more than that, and space becomes too crowded, which forces people out of the group.  Give the group 10-15 minutes to pin down the solution.  Some will get it instantly, and some may not get it at all, but you’ll see leaders and followers develop almost immediately.  You’ll also start to see the introverts and extroverts of the group.

I won’t post the how to here (though it isn’t hard to find online), but here’s the final result:

Don't bump the table!

I’ve had a project that I have been “picking” at for probably a year.  And another that I’ve been working on since before I graduated college.  Neither of these projects get the attention they deserve.  I can claim that it’s because I don’t have the time, but I’d find the time if I REALLY wanted it.  I let projects sit idle because I don’t know how they will turn out.  They could be tremendous successes.  Or they could be ABSOLUTE FAILURES.  And that fear of failure is what keeps me paralyzed.

Time to reframe my mindset, and finally start pushing forward on some of the “maybe someday” projects.

I’m not sure where I got this from.  It was something I found interested and saved in a notepad file on my computer, and found today as I was looking for another document.  I don’t know the source, or who to cite, but here it is!

Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the Prof. went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups:
porcelain, plastic, glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and exquisite, telling them
to help themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the Prof. said “If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. That all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each other’s cups.”

“Now, if Life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of Life doesn’t change. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it.”

Please note:  The guidelines discussed in this article apply to the properties I handle leasing for, in the Buffalo, NY, Amherst, NY, Williamsville, NY, and Grand Island, NY areas.  There is even some flexibility on a complex to complex basis, so please keep these in mind as GENERAL guide lines.

So, what is a credit report?  A credit report is an organized list of all of a person’s credit related activities, broken down by account.  It is updated monthly with balances, late payment notices, collection accounts, hard inquiries, contact information, and much more.  Credit reports can be obtained from all 3 bureaus (Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian) at www.annualcreditreport.com once a year for free.  By pulling one bureau’s report every 4 months, credit can be checked up to 3 times per year for free.  A credit score is a number value assigned to a credit report, based on repayment history, debt to available credit ratios, length of time accounts have been open, and much more.  The process of exactly how the number is calculated is kept fairly secret, but the most recent information provided at MyFICO.com states that it is based 35% on payment history, 30% on amounts owed, 15% on the length of time credit has been established, 10% on new credit, and 10% on types of credit used.

What are the credit red flags that will impact rental ability?

Every landlord or property manager looks at things a little bit differently.  Several factors are taken in to account, some of which have nothing to do with credit!

First and foremost, having a secure job and a solid rental reference will help significantly when hunting for an apartment.  Landlords want to know that a tenant can pay not only the security deposit and first month’s rent, but also the rent EVERY month!

The overall credit score is a good place to start.  The higher a credit score, the better.  Scores range from 300-850, with about 60% of the country falling between 650 and 799.  The median score in the United States is a 723.  Improving other factors on your credit report is a great way to improve an overall score.

The number of positive and negative accounts open is an important factor to consider as well.  Generally the number of positive accounts isn’t as important as the number of negative accounts.  Positive accounts show the ability to have and manage credit appropriately, but negative accounts impact more deeply by showing the inability to handle credit.  An account would show negative if it is overdue, over limit, or has gone to collections.

The debt to available credit ratio factors in as well.  Someone with plenty of available credit will generally rank higher than someone who is near the credit limits on their accounts.  Being OVER the credit limit on an account is automatically a red flag.

When a credit report is pulled, it shows the name of the creditor, when the account was opened, the limit, the balance, the high balance, any past due amount owed, and the status of the account (current, over due, closed, etc).  These accounts will all be looked at to determine an applicant’s credit worthiness.

Seeing collection accounts on a credit report can sometimes be a red flag.  Many landlords tend to be more lenient toward medical collections, but look more strongly on utility collections, phone bill collections, cable/satellite collections, and other types of collection accounts.  A utility collection is a major red flag because a utility can’t be established in that persons name until the collection account is cleared.  Most rental applications are turned down on that basis alone.

Be proactive when discussing credit with a landlord.  Having perfect credit is nearly impossible in this economy.  However, showing that steps have been taken to improve a credit score will help significantly.  Some landlords will also be willing to overlook credit issues if the applicant is willing to pay additional rent or security deposits up front.

If an application for an apartment is denied because of credit, the landlord or property manager is required by law to mail a letter with the reason why, as well as provide contact information for the bureau which provided the credit report.  This letter can then be used to obtain a free copy of the credit report from that bureau.

Knowing what your credit looks like before you go hunting for an apartment can save you a lot of headaches in the long run.  Be ever mindful of your actions, and how they can impact you.  Doing so will help ensure you have good credit, and the ability to grab that great apartment!

The In-Rem auction is a great way to purchase property, often times for less than market value.  These properties are being sold due to unpaid water bills, or unpaid city tax bills.  Properties are sold AS IS, so being sure to complete due diligence prior to bidding is important.

Pre Auction - First of all, you can preregister for the auction to save a ton of time on auction day.  This can be done at the City of Buffalo website.  In addition, you can pull a full list of all properties being auctioned off on their website as well.  Properties may be pulled right up until the time the bidding starts, so you’ll want to go through the list and choose several properties you have interest in.  Narrow your search to specific areas of the city.  Tackling the In-Rem list as a whole is too difficult.  Once you have your “short list”, drive by each property.

Look for properties that appear to have a solid structure – both roof and walls, and as much of the foundation as you can see.  Structural issues can be incredibly expensive to repair, so take time to examine them thoroughly.  If it looks as though there is someone living in the property, you may have to have them removed once you own the property.  Speaking to neighbors can be helpful, since they will know the history of the property.

Once you have narrowed your “short list” down a little further, can the city inspectors (716-854-4949) and see if there are any outstanding violations that will need to be dealt with once you take ownership on a property.  You may be buying a LOT of headaches, so preparing yourself before hand is important!

Know what is owed! You can contact the city water department (716-847-1065) for information on unpaid water bills, and the city assessor’s office (716-854-5734) for information on unpaid city taxes.  This will give you a good approximation of what the starting bid on a property will be.

At The Auction - Once you arrive at the auction, you’ll either need to register or pick up your bid badge. (You DID preregister, right??)  Be sure to have your photo ID with you.  Remember that if you win a property, you’ll be required to put down a 20% deposit (or $500, whichever is greater).  The deposit must be made in CERTIFIED FUNDS – cash or certified check only.  NO PERSONAL CHECKS are accepted.  Keep in mind that business is business, and that other people will more than likely be bidding for the same property as you.  Try to sit up front, and away from the entrance.  The auction is fast paced and noisy, so you’ll need to focus your attention.

Pay attention, bid when your property comes up, and keep emotion out of it as much as possible. Auctions are designed around using emotion to drive the prices higher.  Keep yourself in check, and know your limits.

Post Auction - Congratulations on winning your property at auction!  Be sure to proceed quickly to pay your deposit, or your property could go back up on the block!  Keep in mind that the property isn’t officially yours at this point.  Once you have paid in full, a deed will be drawn up and recorded, and then mailed to you.  This can take several weeks once you are paid in full.  During that time, you can start working on other details such as insuring the property.  Once you get your deed, the property is yours!

Post Deed - Once you own the property, you’ll want to do a few things.  Take photos of all meter readings (gas, electric, and water) as soon as possible to protect yourself from discrepancies.  If there are squatters in the property, you’ll be forced to use the courts to remove them.  If you don’t plan to start work on the property right away, keeping it secured is important as well.  If there are violations against the property, they will need to be cleared up.

Buying property at auction can be risky, but it can also be incredibly lucrative and rewarding.  Be sure to do your due diligence to help mitigate risks before hand, and good luck!

This is a guest post written by Adrian Brijbassi, an editor from the Toronto Star who write this article on his experiences when visiting Buffalo.  You can find out more about Adrian on his website.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — “I’m a journalist and I’m writing a travel article about how to spend a weekend in Buffalo.” With those words, I had managed to disarm a U.S. border guard, a young man who immediately stepped back from my car and took a seat on the stool inside his booth. He placed a hand on his shaved head and then swiped it down across his perspiring face.

“You’re going to say good things about the city, right?” he asked without any hint of authority. It was more of a plea.

“I have every intention of being fair,” I answered.

“Have you been to Buffalo before?” He fingered through my passport but didn’t appear all that interested in it.

“Just for hockey games and a couple of concerts a long time ago.”

“What are you going to be doing?” Having collected himself, he stood and once again walked closer to the car.

“The tourism board gave me some suggestions …”

That seemed to worry him. He became more concerned with who the tourism board might be and what potentially lame itinerary they’d set up than with the line of cars waiting to cross the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge on Friday night. “So, where are you going to be staying?”

“The Mansion on Delaware,” I said, totally delighted at this point that I’d found some warmth in a situation that can often be cold and without humanity.

“Good, good, that’s a good start.” He leaned in and tapped a thumb on the roof of the car while I searched for the agenda. “What else? Where’ve they got you going?”

“Dinner at Tempo …”

“Never been there, but heard good things. What else?”

“The Albright-Knox Gallery …”

“Ok, sure. Good. And?”

“A Spirit of Buffalo cruise, Shakespeare in the Park, drinks at some bars.”

“Oh, yeah.” That last bit crossed into familiar terrain for him and he asked, “Which ones?”

“Allen Street Hardware Café …”

“Yeah, so-so, in my opinion. You’re in Allentown, good area, but you should head up to Elmwood and Forest, and try Hertel.”

“Ok.”

“There’s lots to do. I can’t think of anything else off the top of my head right now, though.”

“That’s ok. I’ve got a lot planned.”

“Buffalo doesn’t have a very good reputation.”

“I know.”

“I have to stand up for my city,” he said and handed back my passport. “Have a good time. Write something good about it.”

That ended the best conversation I’ve ever had at a border crossing and began a weekend in Buffalo full of charming encounters such as this.

Please read the rest of this article on Adrian’s website.  Article reprinted with express permission from the author.

Here are some of the highlights of this weekends festivities!

Saturday July 2:
Niagara Falls:  Fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Seneca Square at Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel, 310 Fourth St. Free. Rain date: Sunday.

Sunday July 3:
Lockport:  Parade at 6 p.m., starting at the intersection of Locust Street and Lincoln Avenue, proceeding down Locust Street and ending at Walnut Street.
Olcott/Newfane:  Fireworks over Lake Ontario at dusk. Best viewed from Lake Ontario shoreline, Krull Park and Olcott.

Monday July 4:
Buffalo:  July Fourth Celebration in the Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf. 6 p.m. to midnight.  Fireworks at dusk.
Lewiston:  Fireworks at dusk, Lewiston Plateau, near Artpark. Can be seen from Academy Park on Center Street. Rain date: Tuesday.
Lockport:  Fireworks at dusk at Outwater Park, off Glenwood Avenue and Trowbridge Street.

For a full list of fireworks and festivals, check out the Buffalo News.