Protect Your Health While Flying.

Protecting Your Health While Flying

My wife Marisoland I have the priveldege of flying just about  anywhere and often. And just In case you haven't already noticed, the airplane is a germ infested capsule filled with unseen critters just waiting to latch on to you from the moment you walk in! And it never fails, wherever we are seated, we have the snotty baby to the right, the coughing teenager in front of us and just for fun the kicking toddler behind us! After years of flying for Continental Airlines, my wife swears her body holds the key to many cures not yet discovered by science simply from having been exposed to these germs for so long. In fact, she happens to get sick less often than most and I believe it has to do with some type of resistance to these germs that her body has developed! Hmmmm...  But why learn the hard way right? Who looks forward to going on vacation only to return with a bug? Below are just a few, easy and valuable tips to take with you on your next journey... and there are no extra charges for these extra tips! Enjoy!

Last month, a female passenger who had just returned from a visit to Africa had broken out in hives and the condition had gotten progressively worse since leaving the nation of Ghana.  By the time the regional jet had arrived at Midway airport, the local airport fire department had surrounded the plane and the Centers for Disease Control had been notified of the possible contagion situation.  The plane was placed in quarantine as a result, forcing everyone on board to remain until the passenger’s condition had been monitored by medical experts.  There were unconfirmed reports that the affected passenger might have contracted Monkey Pox.

After being observed by the crew and photos of the skin rash reviewed by CDC officials, the crew and passengers were allowed to deplane.  Passengers who experienced the quarantine reported high levels of stress, worry and anxiety about their personal health and safety, but were relieved that the passenger had been cleared and that the authorities had taken the situation serious enough to verify that every person involved were safe.  It appeared that the passenger was reacting to exposure to bed bugs while in Africa.

This entire incident brings up a very interesting topic…one that is rarely discussed: contagion by airline traveler.

Watching movies like “Contagion” or “Outbreak” tend to add to the anxiety one feels when informed that exposure to a possible bacteria or virus.  While there are strains of these diseases that are extremely dangerous and virulent, luckily they are rare and authorities are usually on top of these strains with advisories and advice to protect oneself from contamination.

Still, it gives one pause to be extra vigilant when it comes to one’s personal health, especially when traveling.  There are resources available for any traveler to take advantage of, especially when traveling abroad.

The CDC has an excellent traveler’s advisory website for almost every country you might want to inquire about.  This resource can be found athttp://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.htm .

It’s also a good idea to schedule a visit to your personal physician to get needed or recommended vaccinations/boosters when traveling abroad, particularly to third world countries, where infection and disease control is minimal or non-existent.  Be mindful that some of these vaccines have short shelf lives and many clinics and medical offices must special order them in advance and may not be readily available on demand.  Check with your state’s health department for further information.

There are other things one can do to reduce your exposure on an airplane.  The most important (and sadly one that is continuously omitted by airline passengers) is washing your hands, especially after using the lavatory facilities.   I don’t recommend using hand sanitizer all the time, but having some with you while traveling has many benefits, especially when access to soap and water is not immediately available.

Another easily available resource is saline mist.  This offers two things to airline travelers.  First, airplane cabins are extremely dry as the air is processed and filtered in the ventilation systems.  Using this product will keep your nasal passages moist and allow your body’s own natural defenses to work more efficiently.  Second, saline solutions allow you to rinse your nasal passages from allergens and other nasty “bugs” that you may have inhaled.  It may sound overly simple, but studies have shown that they are quite beneficial, even on a daily basis.

As a travel professional, I never recommend airline travel if you are under-the-weather.  Airlines do reserve the right to determine whether travelers are “fit-to-fly” and if you are exhibiting signs of illness, they have the right to refuse you access to the cabin.  This policy is not often executed, but be aware that it does exist.  If you must travel and are ill, please do your fellow travelers a huge favor and take along a “surgical mask” – they are easy to obtain at most drug stores.  This will help keep your illness contained and will help lessen others’ anxiety about germs spreading to them.

                                        

                            You don't have to end your                                  

                                   vacation like this!

                                        
                             End your vacation like THIS!!!

                Or take it to the next level .. end it like THIS!!!

Before leaving on your next journey beyond the borders of the U.S., check out these other online resources for other information regarding current outbreaks, tracking of infections, and preventative measures:

• Flu Trackers: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/ 
• AirCrewHealth.com: http://aircrewhealth.com/Topics/topics.htm 
• MedicineNet.com: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=47044 
• The Harvard Medical School: Family Health Guide:http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0604c.shtml 
• 
  

Has The Housing Market Hit Bottom?

Mortgage rates moved very little last week, even with the release of the first quarter’s GDP and a
meeting of the Federal Reserve. As expected, the rate of economic growth in the US slowed during
the first quarter to 2.2%. While this rate is often considered a healthy rate, it is nowhere near high
enough to help reduce the nation’s employment issues. On a positive note, however, a sub-indicator
in the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index revealed that consumers believe jobs are
getting easier to find. The Fed’s policy announcement provided little new insight to the Fed’s thinking or future policy, but as is always the case, it left itself open to act when and if needed.
This week is a busy week for financial markets. Dominating the week’s data will be the ISM reports
and the monthly employment report. With signs that manufacturing is beginning to slow, a dip in the
ISM reports will help hold mortgage rates low. If more than 200K jobs were created last month, we
could see rates moving upward. Otherwise, rates may remain stable again for the week.

The Housing Market Has Hit Bottom?

"The crash is over," stated Mark Zandi, respected chief
economist for Moody's Analytics in an interview with
Bloomberg last week. While definitions of what characterize
the end of the housing market crisis vary widely, more and
more economists are predicting that we have finally reached
the bottom. While many are expecting sales volumes to pick
up, and inventories to dwindle, very few experts are
expecting prices to move significantly higher for many years.

If you are in the market to buy or sell your Houston Home please give us a call at 281-326-HOME or visit our website at www.davidthelocator.com. Have a great day and we look forward to assisting you with your purchasing and selling goals!

Moving to Texas? Requirements From The Texas Dept. Of Motor Vehicles:

If you are moving to Texas, chances are you will be driving, Here are the requirements for your vehicle & Texas drivers license as stated by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles:

New residents are required to do the following within 30 days of moving to Texas:

• Get a vehicle inspection
• Register and title their vehicle

New residents must have their vehicles pass inspection before having it registered and titled. After having it inspected, owners should take the following to their county tax office:

• inspection certification,
• proof of liability insurance,
• the vehicle's odometer reading if it is less than 10 years old,
• ownership document, which may be:
  • an original out-of-state title,
  • proof of registration (for non-title state),
  • current foreign/military ownership document, or
  • foreign evidence of ownership
• completed Form 130-U (if applying for registration only, without a Texas title, please attach a completed Form VTR-272), and
• the following fees:
  • registration fee,
  • title application fee of $28 or $33, depending on the county, and
  • new resident tax of $90 or proof of sales tax payment

Additional fees may also be due at the time of registration. For more information, contact your county tax office. For information about the new resident tax, contact the Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces and non-resident, full-time students attending a Texas college or university are not required to title or register their vehicles in Texas.
Driver License
New residents are required to get a Texas driver license within 90 days of moving to Texas.
For more information, read our FAQs or Put Texas in your corner^®.

Relocating To The Houston Area? Let DavidTheLocator Help You!

Are you thinking of relocating to the Houston area? Hi, my name is David J. Moore. Houston is a bustling city filled with many treasures. Spend a day in the Museum District and be inspired. From ballet, theatre and symphony companies to some of the world's finest restaurants, Houston is truly a cultural paradise. We have top of the line schools, one of the best Medical Centers in the world and we have our Houston Astros, Houston Rockets & Houston Texans. Want to go to the beach? Galveston is just a short drive away but we also enjoy Clear Lake & the Kemah Boardwalk with all of its attractions. Houston has many enjoyable qualities, which would make your relocation here the perfect place for anyone to call home. There is nothing that any person could want to do, that they could not find in Houston. 

The housing options in the Houston area are virtually limitless. Whatever your needs are my team and I are able to assist you with your relocation. We are experts in the relocation field and have been helping our valued clients for over 14 years with their relocation needs. Choices include, single-family homes, various apartments, town homes and condominiums, skyscraping high rises, to luxury homes located on some of Houston premier Golf Courses.

Alive with energy and rich in diversity, Houston texas relocation is a dynamic mix of imagination, talent and first-class attractions that makes it a world-class city. Houston is a popular international relocation destination. If you are considering moving here, or would like more information, please feel free to contact us. Visit our website at www.DavidTheLocator.com.   Or call us direct at 281-326-HOME.

We look forward to helping and working with you!

If You Have Pets, Make Sure They're Not Keeping Your Houston Home From Selling.

                                                                  


My wife and I love our two furry family members! They bring such love, joy and amusement to our home.  When people ask how many kids we have we say four... two with fur and two human! However, as a Houston Realtor that's showing property day in and day out, I can honestly tell you that with all that love also comes some issues for Houston home sellers. If you have pets, make sure they're not keeping your Houston home from selling.

Having a home in Houston (or anywhere else) with animals brings up a a series of issues that a homeowner must address carefully if they want to sell quickly and for the most money possible. Remember this, we grow used to the scent of our pets, but a home buyer will not only notice it quickly but be turned off by it as well and you want to do all you can to avoid this!!! 

With this being said, take a look at a few tips to help you take care of this potential problem easily and get your Houston home in top seller shape!

1. If it smells, it won't sell. Your pet may have the perfect manners, but that doesn't mean your home is odor-free.  Ask a friend to take the "sniff" test... but don't get offended if you don't pass. Most pet odor comes from fur and dander. Pets mark their territory by rubbing their fur on objects carpet and even your ankles and legs. Minimize pet odors by not allowing your pets to sleep on couches and carpets. Provide them with a cuddly bed of their own and reward them lavishly whenever they use it. Deodorize often, there are many products available for this at most grocery store shelves and definitely pet stores. Keep pets bathed and groomed more often than usual, so as not to add to existing pet odor.

2. Stains don't have to be permanent. There are many good products to clean pet stains. Just visit your local pet store. Pet stores sell many different great products which work beautifully. Hospital supply companies are also a great source for heavy duty stain and odor control products.

3. Vacuum daily. While your home is being marketed, vacuum the carpets daily with an odor deodorizer. You can find them in the cleaning supplies section of the grocery store. Remember to change bags more frequently than usual. Treat your home to a professional carpet cleaning. Also, open the windows and let some fresh air in. Pull back the drapes. Open vents. A closed in home will hold more odor than it should.

4.Keep pets from showings. Many buyers are suggestible. If they don't see a pet, they'll look at the home more objectively. If they spot your dog or cat, they will be alerted to look for stains and odors. Arrange to have your pet off the property for showings, and put their food dishes and toys out of sight, too. Keep cat boxes and backyard doggie loos scooped daily. If you have to board your pet to it from doing further damage or soiling new replacement fixtures, do so. You will be rewarded with a higher selling price for your home. When you are in your new home, you can welcome your pet back from its "holiday" with a favorite treat and lots of snuggles.

5.Stains and odors may have to be disclosed. In many states, stains and odors that can't be removed must be disclosed to the buyer or you may be held liable. That will automatically put you in a poor bargaining position with the buyer. If you aren't sure what the extent of your pet's damage is, you can purchase, rent or borrow a hand-held black light to shine on carpets and other fixtures. Some carpet cleaning kits include a black light for this purpose. Viewing your carpet this way will help you decide whether to clean or replace the carpet. Your agent will most likely advise you to replace the carpet. It will cost you much less money than a buyer's discount.

6. Perception is everything. If your home doesn't pass the sniff or stain test, it will adversely affect the way other agents and their buyers perceive your home. Your agent is depending upon other Realtors to show your home to their buyers. Many Realtors insist on showing only pristine homes to their clients. Once word gets around, you may find yourself with few showings which will cause the value of your home to drop.

7. Be realistic about your home's value. A home is only really worth what a buyer is willing to pay. If your home has suffered damage due to your pets, it may be devalued in the marketplace. The only cure is taking action to eliminate the problem before your home goes on the market. Listen to your Realtor and follow his/her advice about the most cost-effective ways to manage your pet's damage to the home. She or he will have suggestions and solutions that will put you right back on the marketing track.

For more information please visit us at www.DavidTheLocator.com! We are here to assist you with all of your relocation needs!