7 Things People Forget to Do Before They Move

You packed everything perfectly, including that dining room chandelier, the big-screen TV, the vintage ’70s “Dukes of Hazzard” T-shirt collection. You even got your dog’s medical records from the vet. But something’s keeping you awake at night as your move draws nigh. You know you forgot something.

Don’t worry, keep packing. We assembled this handy checklist of things people often forget to do—or don’t even realize they should take care of—so you can make sure you’re covered and can move and settle down in your new digs with ease.

1 month before: Cancel recurring charges

Taking care of a gym membership or other subscription services may fall by the wayside during the madness leading up to moving day. Worse, those recurring charges will keep mounting on your credit card while you’re in the throes of unpacking. Get a jump on canceling these at least a month before your last expected day of use, especially since many gyms require a 30-day notice.

Can’t get out of your contract or transfer your gym membership to a facility by your new home? Sell it through online classifieds such as GymTransfer (yes, most gyms allow this!). Don’t forget to unload any prepaid class cards, too.

On the flip side, important recurring charges on your credit card—such as mail-order medications—might be canceled if your address change hasn’t caught up with billing information. So compile a list of charges and make the effort to call these companies and give them a heads up to avoid disruption in service.

2 weeks before: Call your car insurance company

The Department of Motor Vehicles advises people in the process of moving to closely manage their car insurance during the transition, as states have varying levels of required coverage. Even if you’re staying in the same city, rates can differ from neighborhood to neighborhood. So call your insurer well before the move to find out the parameters and deadlines for updating coverage at your new address.

2 weeks before: Change your address early

Most people know the U.S. Postal Service offers an online form to quickly change an address for all of your mail, but that doesn’t mean you should wait until the last minute to fill it out.

“To make sure mail arrives at your new home in time for your life there, complete the form about two weeks before your move,” says Desmond Lim, founder of QuikForce, an on-demand website that links people with professional movers. That way “you should see the first of your forwarded mail by the time of move-in.”

1 week before: Organize your finances

Important financial tasks are often forgotten in the whirlwind of moving, says consumer finance expert Kevin Gallegos, vice president of Phoenix operations for Freedom Financial Network. Since losing track of bills among piles of boxes is all too easy, Gallegos recommends setting up systems before a move that can easily transition from old home to new. For monthly bills such as phone, rent, or mortgage, it can really help to set them up for autopay, which you can typically do through your bank or the billing company.

“This can help ensure on-time payment during a hectic time,” he says. Whatever system you choose, decide which household member will be responsible for paying which bills. And as moving often incurs unexpected costs, be sure that you’ll have enough money in designated accounts at time of payment.

1 day before: Snap pictures of your electronics

Those cables in the back of your TV and modem that keep your life wired? They don’t make sense now and will make even less sense when they are tangled in a box. A simple solution is to snap a picture of the setup before you take your electronics apart—and coil the cords and label them with masking tape, for good measure.

1 day before: Pack your plants

Do you have a special plant (maybe that hydrangea you planted for your child’s birth or your mom’s prized azaleas)? To make sure you aren’t forced to leave it behind in your rush, make a list of what plants you want to take with you and put a plant plan in place. Don’t put your shovels into the moving van until the last minute—you’ll need them to carefully dig up root balls. Buy large buckets beforehand and use them to transport each plant.

1 day before: Stock a go-to box

Jen Sandlin, an agent with Cornerstone Real Estate in Boston, reminds movers to “set aside one box for the first 24 hours” in your new home. “Pack paper towels, cleaning supplies, clean sheets, towels, paper plates and silverware, toilet paper, and maybe even a bottle of bubbly to celebrate all your hard work, picnic-style.”

Shared from:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/move/things-to-do-before-moving-out/

Holiday Party Prep Checklist

Planning a holiday is fun but should be stress-free as well. Doing just a little prep beforehand will guarantee that your party is a hit! Here are my top 10 tips.

1. Burn lots of unscented candles.

2. Create enough space for guests to hang their coats and enough hangers.

3. Display fresh flowers that have plenty of water and are perfectly groomed. (l remove lily stamens as they can stain guests clothes and noses if they get too close.)

4. Play great music—but not too loud.

5. Provide ample guest towels in the powder room.

6. Have plenty of ice and drinks, including non-alcoholic, for guest to help themselves.

7. For children, have lots of great toys and videos on hand. I love anything from Disney, National Geographic or Crayola.

8. Cameras are an absolute must. I love having pictures to remember the occasion.

9. Design place cards.

10. I always designate a friend to make introductions if I am not around.

These are my must-dos.

Shared from:  http://www.marthastewart.com/1047072/getting-ready-holidays-party-checklist

6 Basic Mortgage Rules

Whether this is your first home or fourth, really understanding your mortgage and how it works is crucial. After all, it’ll probably be the biggest loan of your life!

What IS A Mortgage?

In the most basic sense a mortgage is a loan to buy a property. The process of securing a mortgage means lender approval based on your income, credit rating and other debt.

Understand Your Fixed Costs

Before you decide what you can—or should—spend on a mortgage it’s important to take stock of your habits and your true fixed costs. Be honest with yourself when putting together your household budget, if you’re going to be miserable without your daily premium cup of coffee, then along with your student debt and car payments, consider that a fixed cost.

Be PITH Safe

According to the CHMC (Canadian Housing & Mortgage Corporation), your monthly housing costs should be less than 32% of your gross monthly income. These are considered your PITH or Principle and Interest (of your mortgage payments), Property Tax, and Heating bills.

Get A Mortgage You Can Afford

If you pass the PITH test, the second test of what you can afford mortgage-wise is that your entire monthly debt load (car payments, credit card debt, student loans, etc) should be less than 40% of your gross monthly income. The CMHC even has a handy Mortgage Affordability Calculator on their site: cmhc.ca.

Paying Off Your Mortgage

Once you’re approved for a mortgage and buy your home (congratulations!), now you have to actually start paying off the loan. There are several factors involved in this like your interest rate, payment schedule (monthly, twice a month, every two weeks, or weekly) and your amortization period, which is the amount of time you’ve selected to pay back the mortgage (usually ranging from 15-25 years).

Picking The Right Interest RateThe interest rate at which you select to pay off your mortgage varies from “fixed”—whereby the rate will NOT change for the term of the mortgage, and is generally a bit higher but considered more stable, or “variable” whereby the interest rate can fluctuate with the current state of the market.

Finally, owning a home can truly be an amazing thing. Thankfully there are many resources out there to help make the process a smooth one like mortgage brokers and financial advisors, so remember, you’re never alone through this daunting process!

Reposted from:  http://www.hgtv.ca/realestate/article/mortgage-rules/

The Ultimate Open House Prep Checklist: Bathroom Edition

It may not be the grandest room in the house, but the bathroom is one of the most important when it comes to selling your home. Buyers want as many bathrooms as they can afford, and they want them pristine. So, if you’re getting set to host an open house, it’s time to spiff yours up! Here’s exactly what you need to do to get it ready:

Clean everything. You know this already: There’s nothing worse than walking into an open house and finding mildew, scum, hair (or worse) in and around the tub, toilet, and sink. Give your bathroom the kind of deep cleaning you’d usually reserve for when the in-laws visit. Ask yourself, “What would Martha Stewart think?” No rings around the tub, no soap scum on the shower door, no beard clippings in the sink. Use a mix of vinegar and water in a spray bottle to make mirrors sparkle—it’s an old-school recipe that gets fabulous results (just remember to wipe away streaks with either newspaper or a microfiber towel).

Hide your toiletries. That means toothbrushes, contact lens kits, loose makeup containers, hairspray bottles—anything that could clutter up your countertop goes into the medicine cabinet, under the sink, or wherever it won’t be seen.

Then put out nicer ones. Now is the time to break out those triple-milled imported soaps, or a nice handsoap and lotion duo. Think hotel bathroom.

Remove prescription drugs. We can’t stress this one enough. If you have a medicine cabinet full of allergy meds, sleeping pills, or anything else your doctor may have prescribed, either lock it in a safe or take it with you when you leave during the open house.

Stock toilet paper. A well-organized bathroom has plenty of toilet paper at the ready. The person who needs it will appreciate it. Though we’re not suggesting that open house visitors use your loo.

Keep that toilet seat down. While we’re on the subject of toilets, the seat should always be down and the lid closed. Always.

Test the water pressure. During my years as a Chicago real estate broker, I saw buyers turn on the shower and the faucet and flush the toilet. They’re checking your water pressure. If it runs at a trickle, get your plumber to take a look.

Fix those drips. If your sink has a slow drip, fix it. A drip isn’t just annoying; to buyers, it’s a sign you might be letting other, bigger things go.

Make it bright. A dimly lit bathroom can make even the cleanest space appear grimy. Try installing a few natural light bulbs to give the appearance of sunshine.

Clear out the library. You may be proud of your bathroom’s collection of old Architectural Digests, New Yorkers, and Teen Vogues. But it’s time to move them to the recycling.

Show off that shower. If your shower is a showstopper, show it off! Pull back the curtain to reveal those coordinating glass tile borders or decorative mosaics you invested all that time and money in.

Fix that fan. A loud exhaust fan is a no-no. If the bathroom exhaust system is audibly exhausting, it might be cheaper to replace it than to have it repaired. Most new fans have a sound rating measured by sones. Be sure to buy one rated at 1.0 sones or less, as advised by the Home Ventilating Institute.

Say it with flowers. Heavy air fresheners can be off-putting, but a vase with fresh flowers goes a long way. Orchids, hydrangeas, and eucalyptus all add a pleasant scent to a small space—and give potential buyers a reason to smile.

Stage the tub. Whirlpool bathtubs may no longer be the sought-after luxury item they once were, but the idea of a drawn bath remains appealing. Stage your tub by placing flameless candles around it and setting a favorite book and a stack of towels nearby, all to conjure up images of “me time.” (There’s no need to fill the tub with water, though!)

Upgrade your towels. The easiest way to gussy up a bathroom is to change the towels. Invest in fluffy new ones that pop with color (especially if the walls are a neutral shade), and fold them in three parts so no edges show.

Nix the rugs. Rugs are necessary, but they’re not always the most attractive aspect of a bathroom. Leave the floor bare—it makes the space look cleaner and roomier, and gives buyers the chance to see a (we hope) nice floor. Which you swept clean, right? Right!

Reposted from:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/open-house-bathroom-checklist-2/