If you stop to think about it, there are thousands and thousands of lids and caps, to all sorts of things. You’ve got your jar lids, your bottle tops, caps on toothpaste – the list goes on and on. Personally, I can’t stand it when the lids on my jelly jars become impossible to remove because of the disgusting layer of jam that somehow makes its way to the top of the jar. Solution, of course, clean the top of the jar each time it is opened, but how many of us do that?

I’m also not a fan of the ketchup bottles in restaurants that have a thick coating of ketchup all around the rim, causing the cap to only partially close. That is really a turn-off don’t you think?

Now, as for toothpaste, I always put the lid back on the toothpaste, but will take this opportunity to confess that I generally squeeze from the middle or top of the tube, which does make my husband crazy. I think after all these years, I may just do it to irritate him, and show him I am not perfect.

Lastly, and as a real estate agent, most importantly, is the discussion of the lid on a toilet. This is the pet peeve of our family. It started with my husband’s insistence that the lid on all of our toilets be closed at all times, which he had been taught growing up with a stern father. At first, I, along with the children, rebelled, but eventually came around and now cringe whenever I see a toilet seat lid up.

So, what is proper protocol with toilets – should the lids be up or down? I assume that since the manufacturers go to the trouble of making lids for toilets, they are meant to be down. And I know, for sure, that in showing a home, regardless of the price range, I find it a huge negative to find all the toilet lids up. I provide a booklet to all of my sellers, called First Impressions, and in it I make my top suggestions for making a house ready for showings. Among those suggestions: turn all lights on, remove pets, stage rooms where necessary, do not be at home when buyers come and by all means, close your toilet lids.

We recently moved our office to a lovely location in which we have our own bathroom. In the beginning, I was finding the lid up on the toilet more often than not. So I bought a cute little sign saying, “Don’t forget to flush, close the lid, and wash your hands.” It’s still a work in progress, but we’re getting there!

I hope that any of you thinking of selling your home will take this important advice to heart because it really can make a difference.

 

I was born and raised in Tennessee – the Volunteer State, as it is appropriately nicknamed because Tennesseeans volunteered in huge numbers for the War of 1812, The Spanish/American War, and the Civil War. Tennessee is truly a state of mighty men and women who serve and have served their country well, alongside so many other brave men and women from other states. Many of these soldiers have given their lives or suffered injuries in order to protect our rights and freedoms and the rights and freedoms of others from faraway lands.

I watched my own brother, uncles, friends, and cousins volunteer for the service, many going on to fight in wars, and several giving their lives. There is one in particular I can never forget on special occasions such as Veterans Day.

It was early fall of 1968 in Tennessee, and the trees adorning the Smoky Mountains were dressed in gorgeous fall foliage in hues of orange, red, and yellow. My husband and I were both students at the University of Tennessee, and he went straight to work after classes. One evening as I was waiting for him to come home from work while busily entertaining my five-month-old, as well as my mother and brother who had stopped by for a visit. Ironically, I was speaking to my pilot brother about his helicopter training when the phone rang – it was my best friend in the world, Becky. Becky had a toddler and was expecting her second child with her husband, Benny. Sounding perfectly normal, she simply stated, “Benny is dead, Beth.” Shocked and unable to comprehend, I asked again what she meant, and the same horrible words came out of her mouth.

Benny had bravely fought in the Vietnam war as a helicopter pilot and was fortunate enough to come came back home safe and sound at the end of his tour. This particular day, he had been on a training mission with a student when the tail rotor disengaged, sending his helicopter into an unstoppable tailspin. Both Benny and his trainee were killed upon impact. These two brave, dutiful young men were gone in a flash, leaving the rest of us behind to grieve and to help the surviving family members in any way we could.

Six months later, my beautiful Goddaughter was born, without a father to see what a gift she was. Benny wasn’t around to be a husband or a dad to his toddler son, but to this day, the entire family and everyone who loved Benny honors his memory on Veterans Day and every other day of the year as well.

To all of our brave veterans, past and present, God bless you and thank you so much for your service to your country – to all of us.

 

The modern home is absolutely brimming with tools of modern technology – from wall-mounted iPads that control just about everything in the house to doorbells that allow us to see who’s calling on us from thousands of miles away.  With every device requiring a constant energy source, is it wise to install a full-house surge protector? If a sudden surge of electricity or an unexpected lightning strike were to hit your home, wouldn’t you like to know that you have protected your high-tech components and appliances from permanent damage?  

I was recently asked by clients if they should install a full-house surge protector, as they had known of two homes that had been struck by lightning and the homeowners were forced to replace almost every one of their appliances, along with the AC and heating equipment.  This got me thinking so I decided to call on the experts – our trusted electricians at Conroe Electric. I spoke to the owner, Brad Oliveri, who said that it was, indeed, now more than ever, a good idea to put a full house surge protector in your home.

Brad went on to say that these surges don’t just happen when lighting strikes, there are other events that can cause a surge that your unprotected system cannot handle.  He said that especially in the summer when equipment such as AC’s are running at full capacity, this can cause a surge or 14-18 volts putting pressure on the electrical system.  Fortunately, it is relatively inexpensive to protect your home with a full-house surge protector, with prices ranging from around $400 to $1600.

I found some good information at the site below if you are interested in pursuing a Surge Protector for your home.  If you are considering it, please put the following in your browser to read more:

http://techomebuilder.com/emagazine-articles-1/home-automation/5-things-to-know-about-whole-house-surge-protection

 

My efforts paid off with my first cookbook and throughout 1982 I worked hard to build a great business, resulting in me being named the leading agent in my office, which at the time was McGuirt and Company located on FM 1960. It wasn’t easy and required some major team effort from my wonderful family, who all pitched in with the marketing side.

In between cookbooks, we kept my name out there by putting flags in the yard of every house in our neighborhood every Fourth of July. Well actually, my family accuses me of playing the role of “air traffic controller” from the comfort of my car, chauffeuring everyone around and directing them on where to place the next flags in the summer heat.

Having done well and cultivated a great following, my second cookbook was full of client and friend recipes. I decided to title it This N That, to show that it was a mix of more of our favorite recipes, combined with new ones that we received from others.

Through the years I have learned that consistently delivering quality service on a personal level is the only way to conduct a successful business, and the best way to make yourself stand out from the rest. I have brought other great agents on board who practice the same ethics, professionalism and personal service. With personal service being so hard to find in the modern world, we take great pride in this aspect of our business.

I carried on with McGuirt and Company even when it was purchased by Merrill Lynch, who decided to try their hand in real estate in the 1980’s. Merrill Lynch was fun and they rewarded their top producers with wonderful trips, and we enjoyed quite a few of those. However, their ultimate goal was to channel real estate clients through to their brokerage service, an approach that didn’t work and resulted in them selling to Prudential.

I never felt that Prudential suited my personality, so eventually I left, followed by other top agents, and went to work in a small, boutique firm. While there, I decided to venture out on my own and eventually opened my first office on FM 1960 in 1991, followed by an office in The Woodlands in 1994. We grew until we had 55 agents on board, at which point I realized that I wanted a better balance between conducting my own business and managing my agents, as I have never lost my enthusiasm for being an active agent. So we sold to a national company in 1998, which allowed me to become the top agent in Houston for that company.

Only two years ago, I decided the time had come once again to start my own company. So I selected agents who shared my vision of quality service and personal care and launched Beth Ferester & Company. This has turned out to be the best decision I have made in my 37-year career. We now have a fantastic group of team players, each working separately on their own, but having the unwavering support of the other 18 agents.

We just opened our wonderful new office in Creekside so come see us. And in the meantime, enjoy this new recipe for Seaton Pound Cake! Blogs to come will share with you some of my secrets to buying and selling homes and introduce another new recipe each time.

SEATON POUND CAKE

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2 sticks real butter, softened
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups plain flour
½ pint whipping cream, not whipped

Cream butter and sugar using an electric mixer. With the mixer still going, add eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla. Add flour and cream alternately, stirring between. Bake in a greased Bundt pan at 325 for 1 hour 15 minutes – 1 hour 30 minutes. Let cool completely before removing from pan.

In 1981 my husband announced he was being transferred to Houston, Texas to work in the oil industry. So off we go, moving from my home state of Tennessee with four children in tow from 3-13 years old.

At that time, interest rates were at their peak at around 18%. Compare that to our current rates, and you can imagine how much more our monthly payments were in those days compared to today for the same priced homes.

Knowing immediately that our current income was going to be stretched at best, I realized it would be best to bring in extra income.

Having a great respect for the real estate agent we used in purchasing our home here, I decided to give the real estate industry a try, getting my license immediately and launching a career.

The first six months I made $900 but spent thousands getting my name out. It was not easy getting my name out because I was new to the area and new to the career. So I decided to call upon the job I’d had and loved for the prior 14 years – being a mother. Throughout those years I cleaned, I took care of the children and, of course, I cooked. And it was my love of cooking that gave me a great idea. Why not use my large array of recipes to introduce myself to the area?

So, voila – I decided to consolidate my favorite tried and tested recipes, and a few new ones as well, into a cookbook that I could share with others while also promoting myself as a Realtor. And so, my first cookbook was born – “Cooking with Interest and Appreciation.” I prepared the recipes, printed the books, and had the children assist me in delivering them throughout our neighborhood.

What followed was my first sale. Someone in the neighborhood had enjoyed the book and had contacted me to assist in the sale and purchase of their homes. More leads followed and, before I knew it, I had built a name for myself in the local area. I had to give some of the credit to the cookbook, and so decided to make it a tradition by following up yearly with thirteen additional cookbooks, featuring recipes from my growing list of past clients.

In more recent years, I have been so busy that I haven’t had time to create more cookbooks. But I was speaking to a friend recently and telling this story and they suggested that I share some of my more popular recipes in a series of blogs.

And so behold – the first of several recipes that I want to share with you. This is an old family favorite – Sauerbraten.

QUICK SAUERBRATEN

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1 ½ pounds round or sirloin steak
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 envelopes brown gravy mix
½ teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons minced onion
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons wine vinegar
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
Hot buttered egg noodles

Cut meat in 1 inch squares and brown in 1 tablespoon of hot oil. Remove meat with a slotted spoon. Add 3 cups of water to the pan, bring to boil and stir in the 2 envelopes of gravy mix. Stir in all remaining ingredients with the exception of the noodles. Mix well until you have a nice brown sauce, then add meat. Transfer to a 1 ½ quart casserole and cover. Bake in the oven at 350 for 1 ½ hours. Remove bay leaf and serve over hot noodles.

This is an exciting time of year. Kids are packing up their things and heading off to colleges near and far. As parents, we are excited for them as we wave goodbye and drive back to a noticeably emptier house, but a little bit sad for ourselves. Until we realize that their rooms are going to stay clean for at least the next few months!

For some, this is the perfect time to consider downsizing. As fervidly as we all hope that our children will never leave our nest, the transition to university usually represents the last time that our kids will live full time under our roof. But do not despair – at Beth Ferester & Company, we can help ease the pain of empty nest syndrome by assisting you in finding the perfect new nest to settle into.

For some, a patio home is the perfect choice for the post-children years. Patio homes are designed to focus on the adults of the house with a real emphasis on the master suite and the living area. Essentially, with a patio home, you find an increase in quality and a corresponding decrease in overall size. And if you really want to embrace the quiet that comes with the absence of children, an over 55 patio home community may be perfect.

Another option worth considering is a townhome. Once kids leave the nest, the ongoing maintenance of a big yard can grow wearying. Townhomes typically have smaller yards and some associations even include yard maintenance in their fees.

And if you really want to shock the kids, why not consider a move into a high-rise apartment? In The Woodlands, there are some great ones to choose from, all with easy, walking access to the best restaurants and shopping in the area. After a bit of retail and culinary therapy, you may forget you ever had kids in the first place.

But all kidding aside, if the departure of your children has you thinking that it’s time to look for a new nest, give Beth Ferester & Company a call because we would love to help you.

Building out any new space and trying to make it your own can be exciting and energizing. The part that can prove frustrating, and even a bit exhausting, is trying to make sure that the vision inside your head translates into the final product. And that is something that we are not short of here at Beth Ferester & Company – vision.

Since opening two years ago, the company has flourished and we have been so lucky that our vision was fulfilled – to assemble a truly unique group of agents who share the same drive and desire to deliver a quality service to all of our clients. In my 37 years in the business, I have never seen such a formidable group working in tandem and individually to produce a synergy and creative energy that simply cannot be found in larger companies. While some strive to gather as many agents as possible, at Beth Ferester & Company we do not want people to feel “lost in the crowd” and we benefit from having an experienced hands-on owner working in the field alongside the agents.

Such an amazing group of agents deserves an amazing working environment. Which brings me to the part about our decision to build a new office. Apart from my passion for designing and creating great spaces, we decided that a move to the center of The Woodlands would help us to serve our clients more efficiently, reaching all borders of this great town we live in.

Naturally, we chose a blank space so we could truly make it our own. So, the process began many months ago and design plans were started.

The first step was to decide on a style that would reflect our “real estate for every lifestyle” motto and also reflect our creativity in marketing. Whether working in the estate areas of The Woodlands, or with a first-time buyer, we wanted everyone to feel comfortable and understand that every home is different and every buyer is different, but that we treat all clients as if they are our only one.

Something I have always said throughout my extensive career in real estate is that every house, regardless of price, should reflect a certain casual elegance. A home that visitors will admire, but that feels warm and welcoming while still reflecting the personality and exuding the energy of those that dwell within.

As this office has finished out, I find it to be just what I wanted it to be – a reflection of the people who work inside. Agents who don’t mind rolling up their sleeves and going that extra mile, who are creative, devoted to their career, and committed to those they serve.

We would love to invite all of you to our new “digs” which will have the last touches finished around the 15th of August. Some call it modern/industrial, others Steampunk, but I assure you, it is DIFFERENT – just like the Ferester team of agents. You won’t find any others like us.

Come and enjoy an old fashioned bottle of Coke from our antique Coke machine in our café, or have a cup of espresso and take in the interesting accessories inside, then stroll through the courtyard to one of our neighboring stores or restaurants. At Beth Ferester & Company, everyone is treated like family whether you are buying or selling a home, or just wanting an update on the market.

What’s the perfect combination for your summer getaway. . . Sand and surf? Crisp mountain air and miles of hiking trails? Wining and dining? For our grandkids this summer, the perfect combination was 0709. At least that was the first in a series of perfect combinations required to unlock the clues their dad had set for them on their elaborate escape-room-style road trip.

Our son-in-law loves planning trips and starts many months in advance. Our daughter and their kids are usually consulted about destinations and activities, but this year David kept everything top secret. The kids found out why when they made their first stop in Oklahoma City for breakfast after an 8-hour overnight drive from Austin. David disappeared when the waitress brought the check, only to return a few minutes later with a mysterious file folder and a poem from The Puzzlemaster. Directing the kids back to the van, the poem offered a few clues and caused everyone to question David’s sanity. They opened the sliding doors to reveal a box wrapped in chains held together with a padlock, plus a box of seemingly random items in each child’s seat.

To say our grandkids are competitive is an understatement, so those 4 got to work right away trying to solve the mystery. After some creative thinking, and a bit of frustration, they cracked the code, opening the lock and revealing even more puzzles inside. Their first destination? Omaha, Nebraska, for an exciting and exhausting day at the zoo. Everyone had a great time in Omaha, but they were ready to hit the road again the next day. Much to everyone’s surprise, The Puzzlemaster had struck again with another locked box and complicated series of clues. The kids quickly realized they were going to be haunted by The Puzzlemaster’s antics throughout the trip!

Did you know you can get locks with letter combinations, number combinations, directional combinations, and even Morse code combinations? The Puzzlemaster used them all throughout the trip, even a pill bottle with a combination lid that held a key inside to open yet another lock. The kids searched for hints at each destination, recalled past road trips for clues, used the random items in their individual boxes, solved cryptic puzzles, and put together a custom jigsaw puzzle to discover the road map to their adventure. After Omaha they visited Chicago, St. Louis, Branson, and Eagle Rock, not to mention crossing many state lines and visiting all the state capitols they could. In the end, they drove over 3300 miles, solved too many puzzles and cracked too many codes to count, and had an amazing summer family getaway!

You may not have a Puzzlemaster or code crackers in your family, but the team at Beth Ferester & Company hopes you have all had an amazing summer. And if someone in your house is dropping clues that it’s time for a move, we’d love to help you sell your current home and find the next great home for you. We’ll try to find one that only requires a simple key to get inside.

When you’ve been in real estate for as long as I have, you come across some fantastic, and often funky, design ideas. So when I was faced with deciding on the décor for our new office in Creekside, I struggled to settle on a concept.

But, like all things we do at Beth Ferester & Company, we wanted to be unique, to stand out from the crowd. So I decided on a theme that would ensure that we do just that – Steampunk. What is Steampunk? Glad you asked.

Steampunk is a term that, in design, has come to be associated with art and fashion pieces that are a symbiotic mix of retro and futuristic technology. Imagine clocks or trains that function just like the modern-day versions, but with parts resembling those used in the 19th century, when steam was the power source for our greatest inventions.

The result is undeniably cool – an industrial look that is both sleek and clunky. With furniture, that often means functional pieces made up of old bits of upcycled junk. With art, it means whimsical creatures made of metal, with plenty of inner workings on display.

But like a lot of things in the design world, some concepts are better understood when seen in person. So please feel free to stop by our new office once we open in August, and let us show you how our distinctive office design reflects the distinctive service when you use Beth Ferester & Company.

We are just a few weeks away from moving in to our new office in Creekside!  We are so excited about the move, and especially about the great neighbors that we are going to have at 8522 Creekside Forest Drive.

Jeffrey & Company Jewelers will be our immediate neighbor.  At Jeffrey & Company, you will find a fabulous selection of unique jewelry.  And if you cannot find exactly what you are looking for, Jeffrey will design something just for you.

Just across the courtyard from us, we have great options for both lunch and dinner.  Fuddrucker’s, everyone’s favorite burger place, is located just behind us.  If you ever stop by our office during the day and cannot find us, there’s a good chance we may have stopped in there for a quick bite!  And if we have important meetings or clients to entertain, there is no better place for a dinner meeting than The Refuge Steakhouse and Bourbon Bar.  Here you can wash down a delicious wood-fired steak with some of the best Bourbon available.

With all the eating we are planning to do, we are also very excited to have F45 Training just behind us.  The studio offers specially designed 45-minute high-intensity circuit training classes.  We can’t think of a better way to start or end a busy day.

And of course, there are lots of other great neighbors, both business and individual, that we cannot wait to get to know in Creekside.  We will keep you posted and hope you will stop by to see us when we open!