1. In home survey — A reputable moving company will
take inventory of all your belongings, including items in
storage areas like cabinets and garages. They will ask
what goes on the truck and what stays behind to
determine the bulk and weight of your move.
2. Don’t pay a large deposit — You should only pay upon
delivery. If you pay in advance, you have no control over
when you will see your belongings again.
3. Licenses — Confirm that your interstate moving
company holds a valid operating authority with the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
4. Get references — Ask your friends, family and work
colleagues. Check online resources such as
www.moving.org. Ask the mover for names of recent
customers in your area and contact them.
5. Unexpected packing costs — Watch for inflated prices
for boxes and packing materials. Make sure that labor
costs are in your estimate.
6. Beware of extra fees — Ask if there are extra charges for
the movers having to negotiate stairs and elevators,
navigate narrow streets, and other additional fees that
may apply to your situation.
7. Never sign a blank moving contract — Get everything
in writing including the estimate, extra fees, and your
pick-up and delivery dates. Read your contract and
inventory form to make sure all of your belongings are
listed.
8. Don’t accept the “guaranteed” quote — There are
three kinds of moving contracts: 1) A binding estimate
specifies in advance the precise
cost of the move based on the
services you request. 2) A
non-binding estimate is
prepared in advance to give
you a general idea of the cost
of your move, but the exact
cost is not determined until
your shipment is loaded on
the truck and weighed. 3) A
non-binding to exceed estimate
insures that the estimate is the
maximum you’ll be required
to pay for any services
rendered.
9. Report any problems —
On moving day, open
boxes and check for
damage. Note any
problems on the mover’s
bill of lading before signing it.
10. Valuation protection — Full (Replacement) Value
Protection: Under this comprehensive plan, an article that
is lost, destroyed or damaged while in your mover’s
custody will be repaired or replaced according to the
protection you have selected. Minimum Liability: The
mover assumes liability for no more than 60 cents per
pound per article.
When it’s time to move, contact me for a free guide with
Answers to Questions about Moving!
Source www.moving.com
6 Reasons Why Selling a House in the Winter May Be the Best Decision Ever
Spring is generally the most popular time of year to sell a house, with hordes of buyers looking to move into a new place before the school year begins. But if you decide to sell your home during the winter, experts say you could reap a reward in cold, hard cash.
“I have personally had my best months in real estate during the holiday season, so the idea that the markets are very tough to sell in the winter might be a myth,” says Emil Hartoonian, managing partner of The Agency in Beverly Hills, CA.
He’s not the only one who believes selling in the winter can make you a real estate winner. Read on for the top reasons why you should consider unloading when the temperatures drop.
1. Low inventory = less competition
Since spring is the most popular home-selling season, the housing market is ultracrowded with options at that time of year. And if you paid attention during Econ 101, you understand the law of supply and demand.
“Most sellers still think they need to sell in the spring, but that means there is more competition for buyers’ attention,” says Matt Van Winkle, founder of Re/Max Northwest in Seattle.
But in the winter, there are fewer homes for sale. That competition over low inventory can make winter an ideal time to sell your home.
“In the Atlanta market, January is one of the strongest months for homes to go under contract,” says Ally May of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s.
2. You get to show your home’s winter-readiness
Selling in the winter also gives you the opportunity to show that a home is designed to handle the harsh elements.
“Sellers in places like Lake Tahoe can show off features like a south-facing driveway to speed up snow melting, how snow will fall off of a roof, a short driveway that will minimize shoveling or plowing, heat tape on the north side of the roof to avoid snow accumulation, and how recently the roof and furnace have been replaced,” says Sandy Soli, regional manager at Engel & Volkers in Lake Tahoe, NV.
Plus, during winter months, homes with features like fireplaces and hot tubs are certainly more appealing.
3. New parents may be looking to upgrade
The baby boom in September may lead to more buyers later in the year. According to data from the Center for Health Statistics and the Social Security Administration, there are more birthdays in the month of September than any other time of the year. Therefore, there’s likely to be a crop of growing families looking to buy a larger house.
“Once baby is home and settled, these parents may want to start the year in a new, and more spacious, family home,” according to Melissa Temple, real estate adviser and partner at Engel & Volkers in Aspen, CO.
4. Winter brings out the serious buyers
News flash: Not everyone looking at houses intends to make a purchase. Some people are contemplating moving and may just want to see what’s on the market. Since more homes tend to go on the market in spring and fall, this is also when window shoppers are likely to be out looking.
However, these looky-loos tend to be scarce during winter months, according to Jennifer Baldinger, licensed associate real estate broker at Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s international Realty in Scarsdale, NY.
“When I have buyers looking for homes in January and February, they’re real buyers looking to make a purchase–especially if it’s a great house. They don’t want to take the chance of waiting until spring and losing out on the home,” Baldinger says.
“There may be less people at these open houses, but I would rather have 10 real buyers come through than 20 people who are just curious,” she says.
5. Year-end financial bonuses and payouts
As a seller, year-end performance reviews could mean that more people have money to spend on a home.
“End-of-year financial bonuses or workers retiring with large payouts could mean opportunities for these buyers to upgrade their living situations or for first-time buyers to enter the housing market,” according to Temple.
6. Corporate relocation
You could also encounter buyers who are relocating for a job.
“One of the biggest months for corporate relocation is January/February, so those buyers, who need to move quickly, are out in full force looking for new homes,” Baldinger says.
Relocators typically have a limited amount of time to uproot their families and, as a result, don’t have the luxury of spending a lot of time looking at properties. The kids need to get settled into school, and dealing with selling their old home can add another level of urgency and stress. So it’s likely that once they find a home that meets their requirements, these buyers will be ready to sign on the dotted line.
Source: Terri Williams | www.realtor.com
If you’re looking to buy or sell a home this holiday season, give us a call at 970-221-5995!
Easy DIY Mudroom Ideas to Organize Winter Gear
Leaving wet winter gear on the ground can be harmful to your floors and cause unsightly clutter. Here are some winter organization hacks to help your household stay dry and tidy all season long! Have you ever taken a step too close to your entryway in the winter? Unwillingly, you step into a small puddle, draining from somewhere near the mountain of snow-covered coats and shoes. We all know that feeling — there is nothing worse than a wet sock. That’s why we came up with these easy DIY Mudroom Ideas to organize your winter gear!
Store Boots Underneath a Bench
With a smallish entryway and no real back door, this homeowner had to get creative when it came to dealing with winter gear, especially boots. The solution: a combo bench and boot rack that keeps drippy footwear off the floor. The bench is perfect for changing into or out of boots, and a cloth mat catches excess water before it can hit the floor.
Use a Shoe Organizer
A simple over-the-door shoe organizer ($13 to $25) is great for storing (and organizing) hats and gloves. Get clear plastic so everyone can see what’s what at a glance. Also perfect for stashing orphaned mittens until a mate finally appears.
Create a Drainage Station
A plastic tray filled with a layer of black river rocks ($3 for 28-ounce bag at craft stores) lets boots drip dry inside without messing up floors. Got some four-legged friends? Leave space on the tray for dog booties ($12 for a pack of 12) that’ll keep paws dry and warm your heart.
Create a Rack for Tools
Got your long-handled tools stashed all jangled up in a corner of the garage? Get straightened out with a homemade tool rack. Holes for pole-type handles; slots for tools with D-ring handles. Put the rack inside your garage to keep snowshovels and ice scrapers close at hand.
Use a Bucket to Store Your De-Icer
Stash your deicing salts right where you need them – outside by your front door. A stainless steel or galvanized steel bucket ($15 to $20) and big metal scoop (60 to 85 ounce; $10) make attractive helpmates; a fat ribbon keeps everything festive.
Store Boots Upside Down
Keep messes and drips outside with a homemade boot rack. This rustic version features trimmed tree branches, complete with bark. Upright branches are screwed in place from underneath the long support. Parking your boots (or wellies, if you’re English Canadian or a Brit) upside down ensures good drainage and prevents snow and other precipitation from getting inside.
Store Summer Tires Overhead
In many parts of the country, winter weather means changing out tires – and a dilemma: What to do with your summer tires? They’re big, awkward, and heavy. This Ohio homeowner built an out-of-the-way tire rack using 2-inch-by-6-inch lumber. Metal joist hangers add strength, and the rack is suspended from screw hooks driven into ceiling joists. Don’t forget to give yourself enough room so that tires fit between the rack and ceiling when loading and unloading.
Source: www.houselogic.com
Read more…
10 Home Hacks to Prepare your House for Winter | www.lifehack.org
7 Organization Tips for Your Holiday Gear and Decorations | www.houselogic.com
Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Once autumn’s chill is in the air, we don’t think twice about swapping our tank tops for sweaters and stocking our pantry with pumpkin-spice everything. So why wouldn’t we prepare our houses for the chill, too?
Yes, that first freeze can often take us by surprise, leading to major headaches and thousands of dollars in repairs. So before you start stuffing your bookshelves with decorative gourds and planning the best Thanksgiving dinner your in-laws will ever eat, take a swing through these simple fall maintenance tasks. We promise a little prep work now will help keep your home running smoothly all season long.
1. Prep your pipes
The term ‘winterization’ is a bit of a misnomer. Yes, you’re prepping your home for winter, but the hard work needs to happen in autumn. And that’s especially true when it comes to your pipes.
DIY: “Shut off all faucets and valves, and drain any outdoor piping, like sprinkler systems, before the temperature drops,” says Jane Li, a senior project manager at Mercury Insurance. To be extra careful, Li recommends putting away any outdoor hoses and wrapping socks around outdoor faucets.
Call in the pros: If your winterization efforts uncover a leaky pipe, hire a plumber to fix the mess before the temperature drops. On average, a plumber will cost $300, but a broken pipe could run you upward of $5,000, depending on how much water damage there is. In other words, consider this money well spent.
2. Keep out the critters
Just as you’ll spend more time indoors when the weather cools, rodents and pests will seek out a warm place, too–like your home.
“Mice especially are flexible little creatures and can get through holes that aren’t much bigger than a dime,” says Karen Thompson, an editor at InsectCop.net, which researches and evaluates pest-control products and methods.
DIY: Take a tour of your property, seeking out any cracks that might let a critter sneak inside. Seal any openings with spray foam or steel wool.
“As a bonus, doing this will let you not only avoid rodents, but also ants and fleas,” Thompson says.
Call in the pros: If there’s evidence these pesky little guys have already infiltrated your space, consider bringing in a pro. An exterminator will charge between $90 and $250 for an initial consultation, and costs will scale from there depending on what you need.
3. “FALL”-proof your house
Whether you’re getting up there in years or frequently hosting elderly parents, use the fall season to prevent, um, falls.
“Falls make up almost one-third of all nonfatal injuries in America, and a little prevention can go a long way toward keeping you safe,” says Jason Biddle, who runs The Helping Home, a resource for aging in place.
DIY: Use the “FALL” mnemonic to make sure your place is slip proof:
- Floors: Scan your floors for fall risks. Look for clutter, slippery stairs, and loose rugs. Add sticky padding to prevent slips.
- Activities: What does your daily routine look like? You might need grab bars in the shower, or a second handrail by the stairs.
- Lighting: Is your home bright enough to see any potential hazards? “A well-lit home can help [you] avoid tripping on dining table legs, floor planters, and out-of-sight power cords,” Biddle says.
- Leaving: Examine your porch and outdoor paths. Are there any broken steps or overgrown shrubs that might trip you up when leaving your home?
Call in the pros: Your home might require a major aging-in-place adjustment, like installing a lift or wheelchair ramp. Costs for a motorized stairway lift start at $3,000, and a wheelchair ramp could run $1,500.
4. Remove or cover your air conditioner
Unless you live in the desert or the deep South, you probably don’t run your air conditioner during autumn. But you might be letting your system waste away if you leave it sitting out in the elements all fall and winter long, which can damage the fan and coils.
DIY: “Window units should be removed, covered, and placed in an area like the garage for safekeeping until they’re needed again,” says Richard Ciresi, who runs Aire Serv in Louisville, KY. Outdoor AC units should be properly covered.
Call in the pros: If you’ve noticed your HVAC system running sluggishly all summer, now’s a great time for an inspection, which will probably cost a little more than $300.
5. Check your fireplace
Your wood-burning fireplace has been sitting dormant for months now. Make sure it’s good to go before you light it up.
DIY: Before getting your fireplace inspected, make sure you’re not putting any living things in danger.
“Check the top of the chimney for areas where birds may have nested,” Ciresi says. But check local laws first. It might be illegal to relocate active nests. Once the birds have moved on, however, you can break up the nest freely. (Just be sure to wear gloves.)
Call in the pros: Most chimney sweeps can help break up a nest, too. Besides, you’ll be needing their help for another fall must-do: sweeping the chimney. A professional inspection and sweep will cost between $100 and $250.
6. Prep your firewood pile
Nasty pests like carpenter ants or termites love hiding out in your firewood. Don’t let them hitch a ride inside.
DIY: If you’re building a firewood pile this autumn, make sure to keep those logs at least 20 feet from your home.
“This ensures that even if the wood has pests, they are less likely to transfer from the wood to your home,” Thompson says. Firewood should also be elevated during storage, which makes it even more difficult for bugs to sneak inside the wood.
Call in the pros: If you spot termites in your firewood pile, call in the pros before hauling a single log inside. Treating a local infestation might set you back $150.
7. Switch your ceiling fans
Your ceiling fans are designed to cool you off during the summer–but they also serve a need during the chilly seasons.
DIY: “Many people don’t realize the difference made with the simple reversal of your ceiling fans,” Ciresi says. “Hot air always rises, and ceiling fans are uniquely designed to direct airflow exactly where you need it most.”
Every ceiling fan has a switch hidden on its base. When the mercury level drops, flip that switch so the fan is moving clockwise.
“This updraft allows hot air to get pushed down into your rooms,” Ciresi says. “This is especially useful in rooms with very high ceilings.”
Call in the pros: Pay attention to your home’s temperature on chilly days. Are you still cold? Consider an energy audit, which will cost about $400—but may help you save tremendously on your energy bills over the next few years.
Source: Jamie Wiebe | www.realtor.com
5 Myths Perpetuated By “Fixer-Upper” Television
The chances are good that you’ve seen “reality shows” featuring BEFORE/AFTER home renovation projects. While these popular home improvement shows have made buyers more interested in fixer-upper properties, they also have the potential to create unrealistic expectations. Consider these five common myths about “fixer-upper” properties.
Myth #1 – It’s Easy To Find A Good Fixer-Upper
This may have been true over a decade ago when home prices were rising. It seemed easy enough to sell a house for a handsome profit after a few easy updates. While there are still good investment opportunities in today’s market, it takes some time and effort to find them. If you want to bargain-hunt, understand that you will be competing with investors who likely have extensive experience and are often able to pay cash.
Myth #2 – I Can Save (Or Make) A Lot of Money
Renovation costs vary widely depending on how much work is needed, who is doing it, and other factors. Professional real estate investors suggest that the budgets quoted on home improvement shows are unrealistically low and the final resale price is overly optimistic.
This could be due to regional cost variations. However, many expenses are completely overlooked, including transaction costs (closing fees and commissions), building permits, dumpsters, insurance and other carrying costs.
It’s also possible that the “real world” cost differences stem from comparing cosmetic updates to more expensive structural issues or requirements to meet stricter building codes.
Myth #3 – Things Will Go According to Plan
Most renovation projects require strong doses of both patience and tenacity due to cost overruns, delays and unexpected repair issues. While the reality shows often include a “bad news” discovery, these “surprises” may be designed to merely inject a little drama into the story. With real life “fixer-upper” homes, things rarely go according to plan.
Myth #4 – It Won’t Take Very Long
Finding, purchasing, and moving into any home is a time-consuming process. Add a major renovation project or the need to find buyers when the project is complete extend timelines even more.
Home improvement shows give the impression that everything falls into place at lightning speed. Of course, an episode that only featured waiting on inspectors to show up, or a delayed delivery of new windows is about as interesting as watching paint dry.
Myth #5 – It Will Be Easy To Nail The Design Updates
The proliferation of home renovation websites has armed consumers with many excellent design tips. However, good home design still requires both skill and judgment, and there are a number of ways things can go wrong.
In an attempt to impose a particular style on a home, important architectural details might be inadvertently removed, such as solid wood six-panel doors or elaborate moldings. Or, the purchase of any home can go wrong by executing the updates poorly.
When you’re thinking about a home remodel project, or possibly embarking on your own “fixer-upper” investment, give me a call and let’s discuss your ideas!
Source: Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council, Inc., Newsletter, March 2018
