Nothnagle Gives to Ronald McDonald House

During the months of November and December Nothnagle's Corporate, Brighton, Irondequoit, Fairport, Brockport, and Lakeville branches collected items to donate to Ronald McDonald House. On December 15th eight representatives from Nothnagle visited Ronald's House and delivered food items, toys, gift cards and supplies. The house provides a warm and peaceful “home-away-from-home” for families traveling to the Rochester area for their child’s medical care.

The first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia in 1974. Since then, many other communities followed suit recognizing this same need in their own community. Today, there are over 260 Houses throughout the United States, and 29 countries around the world. In 1996, the Rochester Ronald McDonald House merged with the local chapter of Ronald McDonald Children's Charities. Today there is the House on Westmoreland which hosts up to 20 families at once and is run by over 300 volunteers and a small staff as well as the House within the Hospital located atop the new, state-of-the-art Pediatric Intensive care Unit at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong. The House within the Hospital is for the families of critically ill or injured children receiving treatment at the hospital.

Nothnagle's Webster Branch Donates for the Holidays

This year Nothnagle's Webster branch donated for the Holidays through the
Eastern Service Workers Association. The branch sponsored two families in November with complete food baskets and sponsored two families in December with food and gifts for all family members, one of which has 7 children. ESWA is a self-help, all-volunteer membership association located on Bay Street, made up of Monroe County's working and unemployed poor. It was founded in Rochester in 1976 by low-income service workers and their families, who banded together with concerned community residents to address survival needs and build permanent solutions to their poverty conditions. The organization benefits its members' poverty conditions with emergency food, clothing, legal advice, preventative medical care and job referrals. This assistance is available to members free of charge.

Don't take your Home off the Market During the Holidays

Many of us are incredibly busy over the holiday months trying to organize parties and dinners that the thought keeping a house in “show time” condition during the holidays may seem close to impossible. In opposition, others may feel that there will be no traffic at all, so why keep it listed?

It is understandable why so many would find it easy just to take the house off the market until the New Year. If you are too busy, then why wouldn’t potential buyers also be too busy? What if you do keep it listed and receive an offer? The thought of packing up and moving during the busiest season of the year could seem overwhelming. Don’t be discouraged and don’t forget that your Realtor is there to help in any way.

Your house definitely won’t sell if it isn’t on the market, so what is the logic in taking it off? There are actually many advantages in trying to sell your house during the holidays. Most people take off work sometime during the season. Husbands and wives have off from work, which agents like because families can view the homes together and have more time. With many motivated buyers in the marketplace, you may find you have more showings than you would if you sold your home during a busier time of the year.
Before you take your home off the market, consider the following points:
Buyers who are actively looking during the holidays are that much more serious. Agents believe the home market is no more affected at Christmas than during other "busy" periods. If that were so, the market would shut down throughout the year as families concentrate on spring weddings, June graduations, summer vacations, and autumn back-to-school activities.

Many buyers deliberately choose to shop for a home after the busy spring and summer rush. They know that it will be easier to look, and that negotiations will be less stressful.

Relocating families often don't have a choice when they can leave for their new destination. Although 68% of transferring families have children, many families have to transfer during the middle of the school year. These families are that much more motivated to get their families settled in before either the January semester begins, or to arrange for the move during spring break in March. If you sign a contract by New Year's Eve, the timing couldn't be more perfect.

When is your home ever more beautiful and inviting? During the holidays! You have cleaned and decorated, and your home looks festive and inviting. If the results are good enough for family and friends, they will surely be good enough to impress your buyers. Get family members to do a five-minute pick-up every morning to keep holiday messes to a minimum. Allowing buyers to view your home during the holidays lets them better picture their own family life in the attractive environment you have created.

Finally, if you do get a contract, you can arrange the terms to suit your needs. If moving during the holidays isn't an option, you can put in the closing date of your choice. Most people can close 30 to 60 days after a contract is written, so there is plenty of time. Possession and closings are very negotiable.

Nothnagle's Relocation, Home Services and Insurance Branches Donate to DePaul

For the last three years Nothnagle Realtor's Relocation & Home Services branches have collected donations for DePaul. DePaul is a private not-for-profit organization committed to providing quality services to the elderly, persons in recovery from a mental illness, developmental disabilities, addictions, and those with a history of homelessness.

DePaul was founded in Rochester in 1958 as a child guidance center. Formerly a not-for-profit subsidiary of the Catholic Family Center, DePaul was originally established to meet the mental health needs of children in the Diocesan School District. Today DePaul offers services in 18counties across two states, operates over 2,700 beds and serves more than 5,000 individuals.

This year, Nothnagle's Relocation, Home Services and Insurance branches are donating holiday gifts to residents in the Edgerton Square location (435 Dewey Avenue), a facility for mentally disabled adults. These donations help the Edgerton Square staff provide gifts for all of their residents. With New York State budget cuts, this facility has experienced considerable funding cut backs. They very much appreciate donations and help during the holiday gift-giving season.

Donations can be made by contacting: DePaul, 1931 Buffalo Rd, Rochester, NY 14624 at 585-426-8000. For more information, you may also contact Shirley Adams at 585-785-5580.

Help the Ontario Branch win the Red Kettle Challenge Again!

The Nothnagle Ontario office will ring the bell Saturday December 18. Defending their trophy!

Ontario Boy Scout Troop 127 is chal­lenging community and business or­ganizations and individuals to support the annual Salvation Army Red Kettle Christmas campaign this holiday season. Any and all groups and individuals are encouraged to join the fun-spirited competition. The bell ringing campaign began Thanksgiving and continues until Dec. 25. Bell ringers will be stationed at the Tops Market on Furnace Road in On­tario.

The winner of the challenge is deter­mined based on the number of people participating and their spirit and enthu­siasm as well as any unique ideas that the groups present to show their support. The amount of money raised by the individual groups is not a factor in determining the winner.

The winner of the challenge will be awarded the BSA Troop 127 Ontario Red Kettle Challenge trophy to keep in their possession until next year’s competition. The winners’ names are engraved on the trophy. The winner of the 2009 compe­tition was Nothnagle Realty of Ontario. Last year, the Troop challenge generated $4,742.50 in donations for the Salvation Army.

So far, the following groups have en­tered this year’s competition: BSA Troop 127 (past winner); Ontario Fire Compa­ny (past winner); Nothnagle Realty (cur­rent champion); Future Business Leaders of America, Wayne Central School; Girl Scout Troop 377; Lyons National Bank; and North Ontario United Methodist Church.

Anyone wishing to join the BSA Troop 127 Ontario Red Kettle Chal­lenge, as well as individuals who want to volunteer to ring the bell at Tops Market, should contact Robert E. Brewer, coordi­nator for the Troop 127 Red Kettle Chal­lenge and Salvation Army Red Kettle Coordinator for Ontario, at rbrewer@rochester.rr.com or rebntv@rit.edu or (585) 455.1745 or 315.524.5218.

Bell Ringers Needed for Holiday

The Salvation Army needs bell ring­ers in rural areas of Western New York. Volunteers are needed immediately to staff the Red Kettles between now and Christmas. Individuals, couples, families, church groups, and service organizations are encouraged to volunteer. Areas include Williamson, Lyons, Macedon, Newark, Palmyra, Sodus and Victor. To volunteer, call Rod Ballengee at (716) 498-2439.