Living with ants is as much as a problem as living with killer bees. They are annoying and bothersome and just plain outright nasty. To see their long trail of nonsensical travel is so "Yuk." As the environment goes green and everyone is trying to cut down on electric consumption, plastic water bottles and buying electric cars, does it not make sense to kills ants the "green way."
Sometimes you feel as you just want to leave those little critters alone as they do look helpless, until one of those real nasty red ones comes your way and bites you right on the bottom of your foot. As you limp around for days on end trying to balance, you have an evil thought come into your head about how you can possibly annihilate the whole tribe.
We all can tell you of stories of ants and how they have played an important part in history. The story of King Solomon is unique as he died standing up supported by a wooden cane. He was never known to have died until the ants gnawed away at his cane and he fell. Even ants have a purpose in this life.
As to keep everything sensible and clean, here are some of the best natural remedies.
1. One of the best ways to get rid of ants is to lay talcum powder wherever you see the ants and any place you expect them to show up. It is best to use scented talcum powder. As long as they see the powder, they will disappear. But surely as there will be a sun tomorrow, they will return when they sense there is no talcum powder. So be armed with extra bottles.
2. The second best thing to use is straight vinegar. You can use raw which is better for everything, but I think that ants are not on a health diet. So being raw is more expensive, you may want to go with a generic one. You can use either apple or plain. Just place the vinegar in a squirt bottle and squirt the vinegar everywhere. On the sidewalks, doors and even the kitchen counters.
3. The third way is plain ole cinnamon. Just sprinkle it everywhere. I suggest you put some cinnamon oil in the vinegar bottle. Why not have two shots for the same squirt?
4. The fourth way is black pepper and you can sprinkle it just like the cinnamon, but if you really want to make those pesky creatures angry, mix it with some turmeric powder. Ouch, that burns!
5. There are many suggested sprays from some liquid soap and water to hydrogen peroxide and lemon. They all work, just pick the one that works best for you.
There are more that don't work as well, but why should they be listed here? These are some of the best and they work. As with all pest that invade your home and your lives, doing what is necessary for the safety of your children should be your top priority.
As a former Broker-owner I can tell you I was chosen many times strictly on referrals. When anyone is looking to find the right real estate agent I would agree this would be an excellent beginning. Look to whom your friends and neighbors recommend. I remember once I went to an open house and met a woman who hated her agent. She referred me to her friend strictly on a chance meeting.
Funny that referral brought me many other clients. Sometimes you can get a lot of business strictly by being in the right place at the right time. This happen to me more than once. Did you ever notice how people just plain don't like their agent. Why do you think that is? It is because the personal touch has gone out of real estate. When looking for the right real estate agent, look for someone who has time for you.
Your best friend is your agent:
I had some clients in Downey, California and they were so good. Their daughter had cancer and she lost her hair and then her feet. She was only ten years old, but she never gave up. She just loved her new home and it had a swimming pool. She went swimming every single day and she was a survivor. She use to go to the men's bathroom because she wore a baseball cap and she did not want to not fit in.
Real estate is a lot like that like girl with cancer, you have to be a survivor and she you have to keep swimming around till you succeed. Many times a Realtor is chosen because they are different. I went around in gym shoes and a sweatshirt when I door knocked and I use to really drawl out my accent like, "How ya'll doing today, I am a Realtor." They would look at me and just smile. Their first question to me was, "Where are you from?" I just smiled and then would laugh and I'd say, "Why ma'am I am from Kentucky." Back then I was not Muslim of course.
I got more doors opened and yes my very first listing with being different. So rule number two in choosing an agent, look for someone who could be your best friend and confidant.
More agents lose sellers because they just don't care. I would go back all the time after the sale is over and visit and "chew the fat" so to speak and of course when I was there they would tell me they were thinking of refinancing their home or buying a second home and of course they thought of me. I remember once my clients of the girl who had cancer told their friends, our Realtor is our friend and she comes to our home all the time. I was reliable.
Look for a reliable agent:
When choosing an agent, look for someone who keeps their word. If the agent says to you that they will call you at 6pm and they do not call you back, fire her. If she promises to show you home on Tuesday and then when you go for the appointment, she is not there, fire her. A Realtor is as good as her word. She needs to be a seasoned agent with many sales under her belt and she must work at a reputable company.
An agent is as good as her backing Broker. If you want to have a good agent go with one that you can find five years from now. If you work with a agent from Dog pile Rentals instead of C-21 Jervis you may regret this decision. Few real estate transactions close without some type of problem. Look for a reliable agent.
Never choose an agent based on commission:
Commission should be your last consideration. That referral I got from the woman who hated her Broker wanted me to lower my commission and to sell their home for a higher price than I suggested. I told them no thanks and proceeded for the door. The man told me, "Wait, we want you to sell our home." I told him very nicely that I would be doing you a disservice by lying to you about the price and I do not cut commissions. I left that home thinking that was the last I would see from him.
The next day I signed the listing on the property and yes it sold in three days. Go with an agent you can trust, who is reliable and who will stand their ground. Never sign a contract with a desperate agent. Desperate agents have no money for advertising, will cut corners on flyers and promoting your property also. They don't have to drive a Mercedes, but they do have to have ethics.
Friends never die:
As I look back at my many friends I had in real estate I am amazed. My husband told me once, "I wished you treated me as good as you do your clients." I did treat my clients like gold and they remembered me. I remembered when they were getting a divorce or when some died. I was always their friend and when the little girl died I went to the home to see the memorial and to pay tribute to one of God's fallen soldiers. As sad as that day was, it proved one more thing, that helping those people get that beautiful home to make the little girl's life happy before she died was more important than commission.
Look for a friend, but most of all look for a Realtor (member of the board of Realtors) not an agent. Look for a seasoned Realtor and one who has ethics not someone int he bars every night. There are millions of Realtors available and your choices are many but there are very many bad Realtors, hopefully these tips will help you chose the correct Realtor for your very next transaction.
