Tag Archives: judi starliper

Spring Break in Knoxville

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The countdown to Spring Break has begun for Knoxville area school children. Don’t despair if a trip to the beach or Disneyworld isn’t in your plans, there are plenty of fun-filled, kid-friendly activities right here in the area.

Ijams Nature Center is a wildlife sanctuary and learning center located on 275 acres of walking trails, ponds, and fields. They offer children and family programs, and they also feature a spring break camp with each day focusing on a different theme. Campers can attend the whole week or just one day.

The Knoxville Zoo offers Camp Wild for school-aged children. Kids can enjoy a day of adventure or the full week. They will participate in activities, like a behind-the-scene tour of animal areas and creating animal-inspired works of art. The Knoxville Zoo is also a great way to spend the day making memories with your family.

The American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge features many exhibits that will capture the attention of children and adults alike. Also, this museum provides a glimpse into the history of Oak Ridge and its role in World War II.

Sir Goony’s Family Fun Center in Farragut provides a fun-filled day for kids of all ages. With miniature golf, go-karts, and paint ball, there’s something for everyone.

Tuckaleechee Caverns is a short drive to Townsend. Estimated to be 20 to 30 millions of years of old, these caves are located under the Smoky Mountains. Tour guides provide historical information about the area and about caves.

The Lost See is the site of the largest underground lake. Located in Sweetwater, the Lost See adventure allows visitors a chance to explore caverns, tour an 18th century village, and take a boat ride on the underground lake.

Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains is the perfect spot for a family picnic or an early morning bicycle ride. An early evening drive around the cove could offer a chance to spot some exiting wildlife.

Knoxville is a great place to raise a family because of the excellent school systems and the wonderful opportunities for adventure and family fun. If you are looking for a home in Knoxville, it’s best to consult with a Knoxville Realtor, like Judi Starliper, who has experience in finding families their perfect dream home.

The Benefits of an Open House

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Spring is almost upon us. The signs will begin to appear, the grass turning greener, the blooming flowers, and real estate “Open House” signs on every corner.

In this technological age where pictures of homes are on every real estate website, people sometimes wonder what the benefits are to having a Open House.

In order to sell a Knoxville home in this competitive real estate market, effective marketing of the home must occur. Basically, it’s about getting the house for sale in front of as many eyes as possible. An Open House is one of the methods to increase the number of people who view the home.

People attend Open Houses for a variety of reasons. During an Open House buyers don’t feel pressured and they can look at the home at their leisure. Also, potential buyers do not feel pressured to work with an agent or even feel obligated to leave their personal information with the agent.

Another benefit of an Open House is that potential buyers are free to ask questions about the home and the neighborhood.

Open Houses also capture extra interest and generate excitement in the area. It is a way of getting “lookers” into the house on the spur of the moment. People who are riding around are inspired to drop in and look at the home since it is open.

An Open House provides buyers an opportunity to let many people view their property at one time. This means getting it show ready once, rather than multiple times for multiple showings. Also, homeowners may keep in mind, while the Open House might not yield an offer, it could produce referrals. Someone who attended the Open House may know a friend or relative who would love the home.

If you are buying or selling your home in the Knoxville area, it’s best to use an experienced and professional Realtor, like Judi Starliper and the J-Star Team.

My Husband Doesn’t Like Valentine’s Day

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My husband has an interesting way of celebrating holidays like Valentine’s day. He doesn’t like them so he doesn’t celebrate them. My thinking is that I like them and he should celebrate them for me. That’s the difference in men and women, I guess. I decided I’d just tell him what to do. So I said I wanted some flowers, candy, a card and a dinner out. Valentine’s Day came and the anticipation was so exciting. I woke up and went to the kitchen for coffee that day. There, on the counter, was a card with a sucker taped to it, a velvet rose that you can wrap around a pole or a chair and a gift certificate for me to have dinner at Smoky Mountain Market. Now folks, that definitely was not what I had in mind.

I’m a romantic and I believe life should be like a movie. But, my life already is like a movie. I have a wonderful husband who is such a good man. He stands for all things right and good. He’s a man of honor who loves his country, takes care of his family and always tries to do the right thing. He has a smile that will “knock your socks off.” He is the best of grandfathers and is always trying to teach the boys lessons for a lifetime. Our son is a product of Steve’s Christian upbringing and my comical way of looking at life. My Valentine really makes my life Valentine’s Day every day.  But sometimes I let the commercial things get in my way of seeing that. When you have someone that makes you want to be a better person, you don’t need a card to say I love you. Instead, I need to give him a card that says, “Thank you for a lifetime of wonderful.”

**UPDATE**

After last week’s Valentine’s post, my husband happened to be in the office on Valentine’s Day. A co-worker’s husband sent her a beautiful flower arrangement, card, and gift.  Needless to say, she was excited. My husband walked into her office just at the time she was going on about what her husband had done and how sweet he was. My husband made no attempt to share in her enthusiasm. “I don’t believe in valentine’s Day and I won’t ever celebrate any commercial holiday manufactured to make people spend money!” She interrupted him and asked if he had read my Valentine’s post and he replied, “I hate it when she writes about me!” All the secretaries chimed in and said, “You need to read it because she said such great things about you.” He walked over and looked on the screen on Facebook, read it and asked to have a copy made so he could put it in his archives.

At home that night, Steve asked if I would go to dinner on Saturday night, but wouldn’t tell me where. Of course, I said yes and was so excited. I wondered if it would it be Smoky Mountain Market or something nice? The anticipation almost got the best of me. We got into the car on Saturday night and low and behold……we pulled up at Ruth’s Chris.  After we sat down, I asked Steve what he was having because I didn’t want to order something real expensive if he didn’t. He’s so frugal. To my surprise, he ordered steak and lobster which is as real surprise considering he hasn’t eaten steak in 23 years.! I took that as a sign to do the same. We ended up having a wonderful and special night out and we didn’t have to fight the crowds. Turns out, he only hates celebrating Valentine’s Day ON the day it happens!  He told the waiter, “This is my anti-Valentine”s Day dinner out.”  You have got to love the guy!!! They broke the mold when they made him.

Happy Valentine’s Day-to LOVE!

Winter Fun in Knoxville

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The technical definition of “cabin fever” is irritability or listlessness resulting from a long confinement or isolation indoors during the winter. Fortunately, with so many fun activities and events in Knoxville, those with cabin fever need not suffer any longer.

Here’s a look at Winter fun in Knoxville.

The Knoxville Ice Bears. An Ice Bears hockey game is sure to be a hit for the whole family. The games are entertaining and feature special nights like Star Wars Night, Weiner Dog Races, Miss Ice Bear competition, and several vendor and fan appreciation games. Load up the family, grab tickets to the Fanzone, and see the Ice Bears in action along with Chilly, their mascot.

University of Tennessee basketball. During February, the UT men’s and women’s basketball season heats up with conference play. So, wear your “I Back Pat” t-shirt, grab your orange pom pom, and cheer the Vols on to March Madness.

Knoxville Museum of Art. See the “After the Fall” exhibition before in ends in mid-February. Also, the museum hosts Alive after Five which features live music, a beer and wine bar, and light food. Be prepared to be wowed by the art and the entertainment at the KMA.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. This Knoxville treasure is the only museum devoted to honoring all levels of women’s basketball and the amazing stars who play and coach the sport. All members of the family will enjoy the presentations, the artifacts, and the basketball courts.

The Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge. February is Sweetheart Month at the Titanic Museum and 2012 is the Year of the Titanic. This interactive museum brings to life the stories of those who were aboard the Titanic.

Mardi Growl. In early March, the Mardi Growl is a parade for our furry, four-legged friends. There are several costume categories, so start stitching that perfect pet costume that displays your furry friend’s personality. The proceeds from the event benefit Young Williams Animal Center.

For more winter fun inspiration, check out the resources on Knoxville area Realtor Judi Starliper’s website.

Creative Fixes for Challenging Spaces

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Natural light brightens any room

Most homes have some sort of design challenge, like a small room, or a room that doesn’t get enough natural light. When listing your Knoxville home, it’s important to tackle these design challenges and make the most of the space.

Here are some design tips to improve common problems:

For a small room, furniture placement, paint color, and lighting are important.

Home staging experts suggest to scale the size of the furniture to the size of the room. This means that in a small room, large bulky sofas or chairs should be avoided. Also, furniture should never block walking pathways. Placing the furniture against the wall allows visitors a clear visual into the next room, which also helps to make a room look larger. If you don’t like the all the furniture against the wall, try placing it at an angle. This creates a diagonal line, which seems longer, thus creating the illusion of a larger space. For table suggestions in a small space, try a glass tabletop. This provides an open feeling to the space.

Natural lighting really opens up a space. Make full use of light from windows to make a small space appear larger. Sheer curtains or pulling back the drapes will bring the outside view into the room, which will make the room look more spacious. If the view is less than desirable, a hanging plant will divert the attention.

Natural light and a plant opens up this space

A common misconception is that small rooms must be painted white to appear larger. Some design experts suggest bold colors for a small space. However, if staging a home to sell, a sunny or warm shade may be the right choice.

For rooms that seem dark and cave-like, paint color should be selected wisely. Contrary to popular belief, pale paint colors do not necessarily brighten a dark room. Design experts suggest mid-tones which are the colors located on the middle of the paint sample. To brighten up dark rooms, light and neutral-colored furniture and accessories will also help. For example, if it’s a bedroom, light linens will bring pizzazz to the space.

For more tips on how to sell your Knoxville home, contact an experienced Realtor like Judi Starliper and the J-Star Team. The website offers many Buyer/Seller Tips.