Realtor Profile: Michelle Schnell-Gammons

As a Realtor and Ball Homes Specialist, Michelle Schnell-Gammons was the Top Producer for the Louisville market. Based out of Prudential Parks & Weisberg, Michelle has been a full-time Realtor for almost 3 years. She prides herself on keeping well-informed on current market trends and going the extra mile for her clients. “The real estate market is a moving target. We as agents must be flexible and adapt with the current market and with technology in order to be knowledgeable enough to educate our sellers and meet our buyers' needs. Today's buyers and sellers are tech savvy; most of them have already done their "homework" on the internet before they contact me. As a Realtor, I have to offer them something that they don't have access to on the internet”

Michelle keeps a full schedule. She and her husband have 6 kids and things can get hectic, but she says that organization is the key to keeping her work life and personal life balanced. “I really try hard to schedule everything, including family events. Scheduling EVERYTHING and having it in front of you when you are scheduling in your client appointments helps to avoid "overbooking” yourself.” In the end, Michelle says her family is what keeps her motivated to stay focused in her career. “It's important for me to be a good role model in providing for my children so they can learn from that and continue the path for their children.”

What To Do With Fallen Leaves?

Autumn’s beautiful array of oranges, reds, yellows have given way to bare branches and tree limbs. Now that most of the leaves have fallen off the trees, it’s time to decide what you’re going to do with them. Here are a few things you can do now to insure you keep your lawn healthy through the coming winter months.

1. Get your leaves off the lawn. Even a light layer of leaves will compact under winter snows, depriving lawn grasses of light and air and encouraging the growth of snow mold and other turf diseases. You can use them now for mulch, add them to your compost or stockpile them for future use.

2. Make sure you clear all the leaves off your driveway and sidewalks. Leaves create slippery conditions for drivers and bike riders when it rains. Mounds of leaves can also clog local storm drains, creating dangerous high water conditions on roadways during a heavy downpour.

3. If you decide to use leaves for mulch, use your lawn mower to chop them into fine pieces and add them to your compost pile or flower beds. Leaves are nutrient-rich, which are perfect around newly installed plants to maintain soil warmth and permit better root growth. Spread leaves across bare soil areas to prevent erosion or apply them to established gardens after the ground has frozen to prevent frost heave and premature soil warming in early spring.

4. Participate in your local communities’ leaf service. Many cities offer a short-term service of delivering your leaves to a specific site at no charge. The site will compost the leaves for municipal use or sale to residents. This may be your best bet to keep your fall cleanup ecofriendly if the amount of leaves on your property overwhelms your ability to use them in your own landscape. Some cities offer a pick-up service, while others have a drop-off location. For information on this service in your community, visit the local government website for Lexington, Louisville, and Knoxville.

5. Use the leaves in your holiday decorations. Decorate your home with the Fall foliage by adding whole leaves to your table decorations or wall art. 

Louisville's Newest Model Home

Today's blog comes from Michelle Schnell-Gammons, a Realtor and Ball Homes Specialist with Prudential Parks & Weisburg in Louisville.

Ball Homes’ newest model home in Louisville is the Hudson Plan, which is part of the Traditions floor plans. This model home is located in the Notting Hill subdivision.  Notting Hill is located just off Shelbyville Road in Eastern Jefferson County bordering the Shelby County line, in close proximity to some of Kentucky’s beautiful horse farms.  Notting Hill features larger lots than other subdivisions and all brick homes.
  
The Hudson model is a 3,410 sq. ft. home with a soaring great room complete with a stone to ceiling fireplace with book shelves, all of which open into the kitchen, featuring a large, island and walk-in pantry. This home has a first floor guest suite, with private bath access, perfect for an out of town guest.  The second floor has an open loft area for extra TV space or relaxing, 2 other bedrooms in addition to the Grand Master Suite complete with a sitting area, 2 separate walk-in closets, large walk-in shower and a garden tub for soaking the day away. 


The model home is open Monday through Thursday from 2pm-5pm and Saturday-Sunday 1pm-5pm. Stop by the Hudson model home to speak with a Ball Homes Sales Representative today!

Trends In New Home Construction: Multigenerational Living Spaces

One of the top trends of 2012 in new home construction was the addition of multigenerational living spaces, according to the National Association of Home Builders. When building a home meant to house more than one generation, there needs to be a different design than for a traditional single-family home. Whether it's because more are children returning home after college or more parents are moving in with the family, multigenerational homes are increasing in popularity.