Courtesy of The Dynamic Duo

Professionals Each office independently owned and operated

“Fredericton’s Dynamic Duo”

Pierre: 506.449.2310 | Cynthia: 506.260.3003 info@remaxduo.com | www.remaxduo.com

Volume 16 | Number 9

INTERIOR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS FOR FALL

Every spring we prepare our homes for the upcoming summer season and in turn each fall for the winter season. Whether you tackle these home maintenance tasks all in one weekend or spread them out over a few weeks, here is a quick list of some of the more commonly forgotten home maintenance tips for fall. • Change the direction of your ceiling fans (they should turn clockwise to circulate warm air). • Deep clean inside all appliances including your microwave, refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, etc. • Pull out all those same appliances and clean behind them, under them and in those areas you don’t want to clean, but should like the fridge coils, dryer vents and washing machine filter. • Inspect and clean windows, screens and weatherstripping to ensure no drafts will cool your home this fall and winter. • Defrost the freezer and give it a good deep clean. • Clean (or replace) the hood fan filter above your stove. • Replace the batteries and check that the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. • Replace summer gear (water toys, sunscreen, flip flops, etc.) with fall or winter gear (rainboots, gloves, touques, etc.) • Launder winter sheets and blankets to prepare for those cool nights on the horizon. By having a clean home with all the necessary winter items at hand, you’ll be able to ease into the fall and winter a little bit easier.

TWO STEP MUSHROOM PORK CHOPS WITH SWEET POTATOES

INGREDIENTS 4 well-trimmed pork chops 1 tbsp canola oil 1 can CAMPBELL’S® Condensed Low-Fat Cream of Mushroom Soup ½ cup water 2 cups sweet potato, cut in 3/4" (2 cm) chunks ½ tsp garlic powder DIRECTIONS 1. Brown pork chops well in heated oil at medium-high heat in skillet – about 4 minutes per side. 2. Add soup mixed with water and sweet potato, garlic powder, parsley flakes and oregano. 3. Simmer, covered, until pork chops are cooked through – about 10 minutes. 1 tbsp dried parsley flakes, crushed ½ tsp dried oregano leaves, crushed

RECIPE TIPS To change things up, try this recipe twist - Chops with Carrots 'n Peas. Reduce water to 1/4 cup. Add 1 cup each, matchstick-cut carrots and frozen peas with ½ tsp dried oregano leaves, crushed for the same simmering time.

Courtesy of www.cookwithcampbells.ca

Lucille Ball (1911 to 1989) who is likely most known for her iconic role in I Love Lucy, was an American actress, comedian and producer. She was a pioneer for women in the entertainment industry and was the first female to own a major studio (Desilu Productions which she started with her former husband Desi Arnaz).

THE SECRET TO STAYING YOUNG IS TO LIVE HONESTLY, EAT SLOWLY AND LIE ABOUT YOUR AGE. -Lucille Ball

ADD A RAIN CHAIN TO YOUR HOME Originating in Japan, rain chains have recently been gaining popularity in North America. Essentially, a typical plastic or aluminum rain downspout, is replaced with a rain chain for an antithetically and auditorily pleasing option to help water flow off of the roof. Rain chains carry water from the gutter down and away from the roof. They can be used in place of current downspouts or in addition to downspouts if water needs to flow into a garden or flower pot where a downspout isn't located. There are two main types of rain chains. The first includes small cups or containers placed evenly along a chain so water fills the top cup and spills over into the subsequent cups and eventually into a rain barrel, plant pot, garden or drain. The other type is a more traditional chain where water simply flows down the links instead of in cups or containers. Overall, either style is low maintenance as there isn't really the space or opportunity for leaves and other debris to collect in the small cups or along the chain. Made typically from aluminum or powder-coated metal, rain chains won't rust. However, that rustic look can be created by using copper chains and pots as they will patina over time.

Rain chains can be purchased online, in specialty garden centers or even local home improvement stores. They are also a great DIY project for those who are crafty and have access to metal or aluminum.

BACKYARD CHICKENS

Gone are the days of having to own an acreage, hobby farm or farm to raise chickens as many municipalities across the country now allow homeowners to keep hens in their backyard. If this is something you may be interested in, first consult with your local bylaws to see which guidelines you will need to follow and if there are any licenses you need to obtain. Some areas have pilot projects in progress while others have broader rules and regulations in place. If you get the green light, raising backyard chickens can not only provide eggs, but also entertainment, fertilizer, pest control and educational opportunities. On the other hand, chickens are known to be noisy and smelly, so they can pose some problems too and aren't always welcomed by neighbours. As with welcoming any other pet or livestock into your life, it's not a decision to be made lightly and takes thorough research and planning before they even set foot into your coop.

Some things to consider aside from the obvious food, shelter and veterinary care include: • how will you keep the chickens safe from predators (not just owls, racoons and coyotes, but neighbourhood cats and dogs can also attack some breeds of chickens) • how will you keep them active (yes, they need to be entertained for their overall health and happiness) • how will they spend their retirement years (chickens tend to live about eight to ten years and only lay eggs for about four or five of those - depending on breed).

JOKES

Q: Why can’t you say a joke while standing on ice? A: Because it might crack up!

Q: Why was Cinderella thrown off the basketball team? A: She ran away from the ball.

Q: What nails do carpenters hate to hit? A: Fingernails.

Q: What did the light bulb say to its mother? A: I love you watts and watts.

NUMERATOR Each oval contains a different number 1-11. Follow the clues to find the correct location of each number in the Numerator diagram. Note: 'Left' or 'Right' is from your point of view and means any location along the same horizontal line whereas 'Above' or 'Below' means any location along the same vertical line.

Clues: Number 8 is below 1 and right of 3. Number 7 is above 11 and left of 2. Number 6 is below 10 and left of 1.

Number 5 is below 9 and left of 7. Number 6 is right of 4.

Courtesy of www.puzzlechoice.com

Solution:

Demand for MLS ® listed homes in Fredericton Area softens

$290,700 residential DOWN 2.1% year-to-year

BENCHMARK PRICES

281 NEW LISTINGS

79% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO

2.2 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

ACTIVE LISTINGS 496

222 SOLD LISTINGS

Fredericton, September 2023 – The number of homes sold through the MLS ® System of the Real Estate Board of the Fredericton Area Inc. totaled 222 units in August 2023. “In a challenging market where both sales and new listings have declined year-over-year, there is a glimmer of optimism in the form of benchmark prices. Although down in most housing types, we’ve observed gains across all housing categories for a second consecutive month,” said Michele Morris, President of the Real Estate Board of the Fredericton Area Inc. “As a result of slowing sales and listings, overall inventory has remained relatively stable over the past few months, though it’s crucial to recognize that our inventory levels still stand at less than half of the 10-year average. This persistent demand-supply imbalance underscores the dynamic nature of our real estate landscape, which is why we recommend reaching out to a local REALTOR ® who can help you identify opportunities and make informed decisions amidst shifting conditions.”

The benchmark price for single-family homes was $291,200, a modest decline of 2.3% on a year-over-year basis in August. By comparison, the benchmark apartment price was $277,900, a minor increase of 2.2% from year-ago levels. There were 281 new residential listings in August 2023. This was the lowest number of new listings added in the month of August in two decades. Active residential listings numbered 496 units on the market at the end of August, declining by 17.9% from the end of August 2022. Active listings haven’t been this low in the month of August in 25 years. Months of inventory numbered 2.2 at the end of August 2023. Statistics reflect market activity in August 2023 | Source: Real Estate Board of the Fredericton Area Inc. Market values stated are of the benchmark of the city of Fredericton. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

Compliments of Cynthia & Pierre Charron, your Dynamic Duo in real estate!

Enjoy the Colours of Fall!

FrederictonsDynamicDuo

Pierre: 506.449.2310 | Cynthia: 506.260.3003

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