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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2540 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Vascular Surgeons Save Legs And Feet Home Sellers Could Do Well Targeting First-Time Buyers (NAPSA)—If you’re still having trouble selling your house in this tough market, these five words have never rung truer: Think first-time home buyers. These newbies have accounted for as much as about 50 percent of all monthly home sales of late after having waited patiently—too patiently, if you’re a seller—for prices to come down to more affordable levels. (The historical average is more like 35 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors.) And if you think all they’ve been scooping up are superdistressed foreclosures, you’re wrong. “First-time buyers are skeptical of buying homes that need improvement,” Eric Mangan, of ForSaleByOwner.com, has noted. In fact, supporting that view, The Wall Street Journal reported that nearly half of brokers polled for a recent Coldwell Banker survey found that while affordability was foremost on first-timers’ minds, 81 percent said “move-in conditions” were very important, too. So how do you get those newbies to make an offer on your house? Here are three strategies: Closing Costs While a lot of the sales action has been fueled by the federal government’s tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time buyers, they’re still responsible for paying the closing costs. Offer to cover it for them before they even think to ask. Home Warranties Odds are these are renters used to calling their landlords to fix anything that goes wrong in (NAPSA)—Patients with diabetic vascular disease have increased chances to develop blockages in their arteries secondary to peripheral vascular disease (PVD). These blockages can be very serious and result in foot sores, pain in legs when walking, loss of feeling or a burning feeling in their feet or even gangrene. Slow Cooking: The Solution For Fast-Paced Family Schedules You can make your home more attractive to a first-time buyer. their apartments. Giving them a home warranty covering major issues could go a long way toward easing any of their jitters about homeownership. First Impressions Remember how we started out by saying how important move-in conditions are? Well, in a tough housing market, we’re talking more than just a fresh coat of paint or neatening rooms. In fact, experts recommend improvements such as adding a new roof to enhance the value of your home. Options like GAF’s Timberline roof shingles provide a wood-shake look without the cost or maintenance issues associated with real wood. Plus, they have a Class A fire rating (the highest rating possible) and warranties that cover high winds. They even come in colors like slate, weathered wood and charcoal, which can help boost a home’s all-important curb appeal. For more information, visit www.gaf.com. The Web site even features a Virtual Home Remodeler tool to help you get more ideas on design elements for the outside of your home. You can save food preparation time by slowing down with a slow cooker. Vascular surgeons can help protect people with peripheral vascular disease from losing their legs. Vascular surgeons are experts in treating diabetic vascular disease. They want patients to know that there are preventative measures patients can take to avoid these severe consequences of PVD. Patients should stop smoking and control their blood sugar levels, blood pressure and lipid levels with diet, exercise and medication. When blockages do develop, vascular surgeons can perform noninvasive treatments using balloon catheters (angioplasty and/or stents) or open surgical reconstruction to bypass the blockage in the arteries in order to save the patient’s leg. They do amputations when and only when all attempts at limb salvage are exhausted. To learn more about vascular disease and find a vascular specialist, visit VascularWeb.org presented by the Society for Vascular Surgery. (NAPSA)—If your family’s schedule is hectic, a quick way to get a home-cooked meal on the table is to have a slow cooker do the work for you. During the day, the moist heat in a slow cooker maximizes flavors and tenderizes less expensive cuts of meat into a delicious meal that’s ready when your family gets home. One of the drawbacks of slow cookers is that they are difficult to clean. Hours of soaking and scrubbing may be needed to remove the baked-on food. That’s no longer a problem with Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners, which make cleanup a snap. Just place a liner in the cooker, add the ingredients, cover and set the controls. By dinnertime, a hot delicious meal is ready to serve. When you’re done, just toss the disposable liner—no scrubbing or soaking required. Slow Cooker Chunky Beef Vegetable Soup 1 Reynolds Slow Cooker Liner 3 cups vegetable juice 2 cups hot water 1 pound beef for stew, cut in 1-inch cubes 8 cups frozen mixed vegetables 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 small onion, chopped 1 ⁄4 cup ketchup 3 tablespoons beef-flavor instant bouillon 1 ⁄2 teaspoon pepper Place slow cooker liner inside a 5- to 6 1⁄2 -qt. slow cooker bowl. Fit liner snugly against the bottom and sides of bowl; pull top of liner over rim of bowl. Add all ingredients; stir gently. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours until beef is tender. Carefully remove lid to allow steam to escape. Serve from lined slow cooker. Do not lift or transport liner with food inside. Cool slow cooker; remove liner and toss. Serves 8-9. Visit www.slowcookerliners.com for more recipes and tips.
