Real Estate Blog - Miami Con Leche by Denise Madan

No More Chew Toys for Chewy

denisemadan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:19:39 +0000

: Chewy at the Pet Emergency Hospital

The day before New Year’s Eve I ventured to Petco to buy a few new chew toys for my Bulldogs as a belated Christmas present. My Retriever has no interest in toys at all, but when I come home from the pet store, both Chewy and T-Bo run into the kitchen to see what I have in the bags. They are like kids waiting in anticipation.

I found this large rubber looking ball with a treat in it called Star Mark Everlasting Treat Ball for Dogs. The Everlasting Treat Ball can be filled with food, Every Flavor Treats or any snack your dog enjoys and then capped with one or two Everlasting Treats . If your dog is a strong chewer, we recommend selecting the larger size. Tough, puncture resistant materials are virtually indestructable. Special design allows the Treat Ball to roll and wobble on its own. This looked like a great choice for my Bullys. Of course when I gave it to them Chewy had to be the first to check it out. He and T-Bo growled and attacked one another for about 15 minutes fighting for the toy. About half an hour later they both tired and went to their respective beds.

The next morning I come downstairs to begin my day and Chewy has thrown up several times. Light bulb did not go off. I figured he had an upset stomach, similar to the flu. By 8 a.m. I was at the Vet’s. He stayed there a good part of the day so the doctor could observe him. Later that night I picked him up and was told to feed him liquid diet for 24 hours. Boy did he hate that. I had to get a syringe and give it to him. After several attempts I stopped. He was not a happy camper.

Saturday morning I take him to the Pet Emergency Hospital because he is throwing up and have severe diarrhea. Gosh what is wrong with Chewy? Again, no light bulbs went off except in the back of my mind I saw the rubber toy minus the chew treat that is supposed to last and last. I thought it was odd that it was missing and I couldn’t find it, but never did I think Chewy had eaten it. Oh, did I mention my husband and I had to cancel our New Year’s Eve Reservation at The National Hotel on South Beach. For the first time we decided to go to the beach and check into a hotel, enjoy the evening and have spa treatments the next day. That went out the window.

Cut to the chase. By Tuesday after several rounds of x-rays and ultrasounds the hospital suggests we do emergency surgery. Something is making my dog ill. He doesn’t eat, he is in pain and just lays in the cage. I give them the go ahead and at 7 pm Chewy is having surgery. When the doctor comes out to tell me what he found he handed me a plastic bag with a large part of the chew toy. Chewy had swallowed this large piece and it got stuck in his intestines. Thank goodness the doctor didn’t have to cut any of his intestine, but Chewy has a 6 inch incision from this event. I am so thankful that he has fully recovered.

Only Two Choices, Which One Will You Go With?

denisemadan — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:50:05 +0000

Not too long ago I learned a wonderful lesson from a fellow Realtor who had referred a client to me. We had a FULL day of house hunting, as my client was relocating to Miami from New York and she only had two weeks to find a home for her family. She flew in at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning and we started our search at 9:30 (thank goodness plane was on time).

We looked at homes every 30 minutes until I took her back to the airport for a 6 pm flight. After each visit she would write what she liked and didn’t like about the home…we tried to focus more on the likes. After the second home was viewed I presented this question. “If there were only two homes for you to choose from which one would you pick?”

The house she didn’t pick got thrown away and never considered again. What a great tool I learned. I now use this method all the time and it makes house hunting process much smoother. Call me today and I will help you every step of the process.

The Importance of Homeowners Insurance

denisemadan — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:48:23 +0000

Do you have homeowners insurance? Want to save some money? By investing in the safety of your home, you may reduce your monthly premium. Many insurance companies give discounts for carbon monoxide & smoke detectors; dead bolts on your doors or adding a security system; having a fire extinguisher in your home; updating your electrical system.

I have a very knowledgable insurance agent who I would be happy to recommend so you can start saving money while feeling safer in your home. Give me a call to start the process.

What’s On Your Credit Report?

denisemadan — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:45:43 +0000

Protect Yourself with your credit report. Mistakes on credit reports which are very common can be detrimental to your ability to borrow money. Sometimes mistakes can be corrected quickly, other times it can take months with numerous phone calls and documents. Have your lender review your credit report with you. Correct the problem(s) as quickly as possible with the credit bureau.

Call me for recommendations to get your started on the road to financial stability.

How Full is Your Piggy Bank?

denisemadan — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:44:31 +0000

Before you pick up the pphone and apply for a loan, review all your financial status. Look at your credit report to ensure all your information is correct…you can get this free on line at freecreditreport.com

Be objective about your spending habits. Put a budget together to include loan payments, utilities, taxes and insurance. Don’t forget to think about taking vacations, shopping, dining out and maybe emergencies. A top notch lender can guide you with your finances. Call me today as I work with several lenders who will give you the best advice.

Mr. Clean Lives Here and So Should You

denisemadan — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:39:53 +0000

You have just listed your home and want to know what the number one complaint most buyers share with me. Gosh the home was a mess. It smelled like dog or cigarette smoke. YOU MUST present a clean house. It tells the potential buyer you care about your home. You have pride in your home. Also, it conveys subliminally to the buyer that they won’t find any major problems with the home because you care enough to keep it clean and in tip top shape.

Add a fresh coat of paint, patch the hole in the wall that you have been meaning to do, but just haven’t gotten around to it. Most of all just clean clean clean. Take out the clutter and make the house sparkle and shine. Your home will sell quicker and for more money.

Call me today to help you sell your home. Lets sit down together and make a list of all the wonderful features of your home. There are so many first time home buyers looking in todays market and we want to make sure we get as many buyers into your home as possible. I am a marketing maniac and will feature your home in hundreds of real estate websites, including my personal site, Realtor.com, RE/MAX.com, and lots of social media including Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Youtube, and my personal blog.

I am ready to help you today, so call me!

Does Your Home Need a Cosmetic Boost?

denisemadan — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:37:46 +0000

No, I’m not talking about Botox or any of the other cosmetic fillers, I am referring to homes that might need a little TLC. Many times buyers will mentally remove a wonderful home that meets most of their needs because the color of the house or rooms are UGLY to them or the house has worn carpeting, or the appliances are old. Stop. What is the saying “Beauty is Only Skin Deep” Look beyond and IMAGINE. What if this bedroom was painted a warm inviting sofe beige? Would I like the room better? Probably yes.

What is important is what we don’t see with our naked eye. That’s where a home inspector comes to the rescue. Just like everyone who helps you with the home buying process a home inspector can help you differentiate the cosmetic from the serious problems a home might have. I only work with the best home inspection companies. Call me today and I will share my list with you.

Are you smarter than a 5th grader?

denisemadan — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:35:56 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I know plenty of young children who are extremely bright for their young years. Yet, when it comes to hiring a real estate agent to help you sell your home you want someone who is EXPERIENCED and knowledgable. Someone who works full time as a Realtor, not a weekend warrior.

Thank goodness many of the Realtors who got into this business when the market was HOT are no longer working in the field of real estate. It is important you hire an agent based on their knowledge of the area, understand contracts backwards and forwards, current on all the new laws that are currently changing, are constantly furthering their education, the list is endless. Call me today and let me share my experience over the last 13 years. My knowledge will give you a STRONG advantage in the real estate market. You can bank on me.

Buyers: Who Has Your Best Interest?

denisemadan — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:35:46 +0000

Ok, you are ready to buy and you don’t have a Realtor. Who should you turn to? Many people ask their friends who just bought a home, or family members or colleagues. What if you are moving to a city and you don’t know anyone? Drive around the neighborhoods you like and see what real estate signs you see. Good chances those companies will have lots of experience in that particular neighborhood. This is a good place to start. Go on line and do some research.

You should definitely research RE/MAX as we were just voted Number 1 by JD Powers & Associates by consumers for giving the best customer service over all the other real estate companies. Pretty hard to top that confidence. I am a RE/MAX agent and would love to help you.

Take a Deep Breath

denisemadan — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:25:28 +0000

Breathe Easy

The air quality in your home can cause many health problems
including respiratory damage and aggravate allergies and asthma. Preventative
action and vigilance are the keys to keeping your air safe and clean for your
family and pets. If you live you Florida you should change your A/C filters
every month. It increases the life of your a/c and keeps the fresh air flowing.
Have your a/c checked every year to make sure your coils are clean.