John Angell - Paragon Realtors
John Angell
A month ago, we would have laughed at the notion of making a home-made face masks, but here we are. It’s hard to tell what the future holds, but it looks like face masks are going to be a sad reality moving forward… at least for the foreseeable future.
Ideally you would use an N95 mask, which filters almost all airborne particles, but they’re in short supply to the public and they get pricey. You can make the next best thing, a home-made mask.
It should be noted here, that The Kiss Method (Keep It Simple, Stupid) applies when making a face mask. A 600-thread count pillowcase or flannel pajamas will give you around 60% protection, which is certainly better than nothing. If you have access to quilter’s cotton (I had to look that up, it’s 100% cotton used in quilting), you’ll receive roughly 80% protection. In a pinch US Surgeon General Jerome Adams states you can use an old scarf, bandanna, hand towel or even a t-shirt.
According to the CDC, your mask should:
– Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of your face
– Be secured by ties or ear loops
– Include multiple layers of fabric
– Allow for breathing without restriction (so you don’t die from suffocation…)
– Machine wash and dry-able without damage or deformity
No sew masks mean that the kids can join in making these face masks! Make it a family fun craft night. For step-by-step instructions on various ways to make your own NO SEW face masks, Click Here.
(Note: this is the 5th time I’ve revised this in the last 2 weeks. Our situation continues to change…) Last fall, we were given a 50% chance of seeing a short, 1-2 quarter period of economic contraction (consecutive quarters fitting the qualifications of a recession). Economists who suggested this didn’t know what would cause it, they just knew we were way overdue for some national/global event that would ultimately lead to people not engaging in normal commerce. I used to tell prospects that if the Dallas real estate market “adjusted”, then we’d have a lot more to worry about than the Dallas real estate market. I hate being right sometimes.
The next couple of months are going to be rough for real estate statistics. As of March 31st, real estate agents are not on the list of essential services, meaning we’re not supposed to show houses. There’s a good chance that will be lifted, because despite the necessity to quarantine, it turns out people still need to find somewhere to live, especially if their rent is expiring. All other real estate services (title companies, inspectors, appraisers, contractors) are allowed to function under social distancing guidelines.
The last 5 months were pretty terrific for the market, but that will be coming to an end soon. Look for March and April to be as slow as we’ve ever seen. In fact, I’m going to be very reluctant to ever look at NTREIS statistics for this time. People are still buying and selling, there’s no doubt about that, and virtual tours are going really rising to prominence all-of-a-sudden.
America’s financial markets are still very solid, but the longer we go on lock down, the more that’s going to be curbed. It’s a black swan event we’re experiencing, and I firmly believe we’ll recover from this far faster than the Great Recession, but the longer we stay shut down, the weaker the recovery, so let’s hope we get more solid data and are able to move from a China-style lockdown to a Japan-style social distancing and quarantining.
We’re going to be okay, everyone. Stay safe.
Real estate is about you. Your dreams, your needs, your aspirations. As your Realtor, it’s my business to always keep your needs as my top priority, and whether you’re looking to buy or sell, you will always be my focus.
Not all agents are created equal. I invite you to interview as many agents as you like, but I advise you to go with the person with whom you feel the most comfortable – the person who will keep your needs paramount.
I began helping people buy and sell homes in 2003, and I’ve been blessed with fantastic clients who have given me great referrals. I specialize primarily in East Dallas and Uptown, but I have the skill-set to help you anywhere in the DFW Metroplex.
I look forward to earning your business.