Get Organized for a Stress-Free Move

 

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ummer is a prime moving season for many families, especially those with young children who want to settle in their new home before the school year starts. Experts at Move.com offer several tips for making your move a seamless and stress-free experience.

1. When hiring professional movers, get written estimates from at least three licensed companies. For a few extra dollars, consider buying moving insurance. Investing in full value protection means any lost or damaged articles will be repaired or replaced.

 

2. Take photos of every room in the new home while they are vacant. Then write down every item from your current home and which room those items will go before you begin packing them.

 

3. Begin packing early, even if it’s one room or one cabinet at a time. Toss or donate any items you don’t need. And remember to fill out change-of-address notices and schedule utilities ahead of time.

 

4. If you have children or pets, consider hiring a sitter or daycare for moving day, or find a safe place for them so they’re not underfoot.

 

5. When breaking down larger items, like shelving units, into smaller pieces, put the screws, washers and other small components in a sealed baggie and label it clearly. Keep all baggies with small parts in one box and carry it with you on moving day.

 

6. Take pictures of electronic hook-ups for TVs, DVRs, home theater systems and computers before unplugging them. Print out the pictures and label them in detail, so you will be able to set up the systems properly once you are in the new home. Also keep all loose wires in separate baggies or boxes that are clearly labeled.

 

7. Dispose of any household products you no longer use, such as paints, pesticides and detergents. Contact the city’s waste disposal department for guidelines on how to dispose of them safely. For items that you plan to take with you, like laundry detergent or cleaning products, pack them in a small box within a larger box to protect against leaks and seal the boxes securely.

 

Plan ahead and start packing early, so you can enjoy the moving experience with less stress.*

*Information provided by www.crs.com

The Right Place

Many people walk into a home and just have that feeling that it is going to be the right place.  They move in get all settled then realize their neighbors don’t mix well with them, or a school isn’t close enough, a commute to work takes 30+ min because of the traffic or the house next door is going through foreclosure.  One of the top priorities to finding your perfect home is to make sure the neighborhood is what you want it to be.  The house is not the only attribute that must fit with you and your family, the neighborhood must meet your criteria as well.

 

Check  out this article by MSN Real Estate for a little info on how to find the right home and neighborhood

http://realestate.msn.com/5-big-mistakes-to-avoid-when-choosing-a-neighborhood?GT1=35006

Prep Work

Currently Quad Cities Realty is working to update one of our rentals.  Meaning new paint colors, new doors and a more modern touch and feel to the overall outside of the home.  Now going into this job we made a plan of what was to be done and what we needed to get the job done.  However, like most jobs there are always unexpected surprises that can arise.

We knew there were parts of the house that were cracked and would need to be sanded and chipped away at, although as we began there was a lot more ‘chipping’ of the paint then we thought. Sanding all day long for multiple days can be tiring! However, the main goal you have to look at will be the finished product.  Never do a job such as repainting and repairing half-way, because if you do the final product will not be what you want. Don’t stress and MAKE TIME for your projects.

The second thing to remember when remodeling is that new fresh paint colors will add drama and excitement to your home. Adding new color that is fresh and different will not only spruce up your home, but your entire neighborhood.  Now if you want to go along the same lines as your first color that is great too, but even a change in hue can add an entire new element.

Last but not least, don’t forget about the little problems that can happen along the way.  Such as a rotted wood frame, nails all over the side of the house, buying the wrong paint color etc.  Remember when you are calculating in the days that it is going to take for this project allow about two days as ‘oops days’ meaning that you hope to get everything done in the alloted time, but accidents happen so make extra time!

 

Good luck to all of you making small or large improvements! Good luck, remember we are always here to help with any questions!

6 Questions to Refinancing

Many people have been hopping onto the refinancing train recently; but how do you know if you are in the right state to refinance?  Sure a lot of people will tell you that you will be able to get ahead in your financial situation, but how can you be sure?  From MSN Real Estate and written by Amy Fontinelle of Investopedia there are six questions that you need to ask yourself before taking the plunge!

http://realestate.msn.com/6-questions-to-ask-before-you-refinance

Money Talks

Working through financial jargon with a mortgage lender can be confusing, but you can make the process easier if you clarify queries up front. Real Estate ABC and About.com offer a few tips for talking to your lender and finding what home loan best fits your needs.

     Don’t be afraid to ask about the pros and cons of each type of loan — fixed-rate loans are good if you are likely to have a lower interest rate and can pay it off quickly, while an adjustable rate mortgage will fluctuate during the term of the loan. And keep in mind that the total cost of a loan includes many fees, such as the appraisal, request for credit report, inspection reports and recording fees. Sometimes these fees are negotiable, so be sure to ask your lender if there’s room for more savings.

     Ask about the lender’s relationship with the financial institution they represent. The closing process moves quickly, and it’s important to have a lender who feels comfortable getting in touch with the financial institution and making changes for his or her client as often as needed. When determining a closing date on the property, it’s best to work with a lender who can guarantee funding and turnaround of the loan within 48 hours of signing the necessary paperwork to avoid delays.

     The most important tip? Trust your gut when choosing a lender. If at any time you’re not comfortable with the answers given, or if the lender is vague or defensive, consider looking elsewhere.

 

 

Information provided by www.crs.com

Home Safety for the Fourth

Hopefully everyone out there has a fun and SAFE Fourth of July.  For many people the Fourth is all about being with friends and family and just having a good time.  A day that celebrates our independence and freedom should not end up in tragedy for anyone.  Please remember that with all of the fun and games there needs to be precaution, especially when many people are not traveling to the mountains far away from houses or other people but are just staying home and doing firework displays in their backyard.  Here are some helpful tips that I am sure most of you are aware of, but it’s always nice to have a quick reminder!

• local laws are a must, you do not want your firework show being shutdown because of rules and regulations that were not followed.
• DO NOT attempt to make your own fireworks, you will get hurt.
• stay away from your house or neighbors houses; the last thing anyone wants is their home to start on fire because of a mishap.
• Do not let young children handle fireworks or even sparklers.
• Even if you can’t leave your local area it is always nicer to be able to find a clear area or one close to water to do a firework display.  The Lewis-Clark Valley is a great spot with open area and surrounding water.

for a look at more tips and a look at national statistics visit: http://www.fireworksafety.com/

Website

Our website is easy to use and has the latest features to make your real estate experience a beneficial one.  Remember if you have any questions at all about our website, blog or just information in general we are always logged in and ready to answer & help.  We hope you enjoy our website as much as we do.  Browse around our pages and check out our Facebook, twitter and our LinkedIn social networking sites.  They are updated daily to weekly to keep you all tuned into the buzz of real estate!

http://www.qcrhomes.com/

Final Walk-Through

Several weeks or months can pass between the day you put an offer on a house and the day you take possession of it.  In between a lot can happen that can affect the condition of the property, such as a leaky roof, a dripping faucet or stains on the carpet.  Inspection experts at YourChicagoHomeInspector.com suggest doing a  final walk-through to assess the condition of the home before you take possession of it and make sure it is in the condition you agreed on when you signed the contract.

As you walk through the home with your agent, use a checklist as a guid to make sure everything is working properly, and note any questions you might have.  Below are a few items in a typical checklist, but it also covers the roof, gutters, doors and windows, floors, basement and attic.

Plumbing- Flush all toilets and check for leaks.  Do they keep running after they flush? Run the sunk and shower faucets and check for proper drainage.  Also check for hot water and water pressure.

Electrical- Make sure the utilities are on, especially id the home has been vacant for some time.  Operate all lights, switches and ceiling fans.  Also test the smoke alarms, and run the kitchen appliances.  When you run the washer and dryer, check for leaks from the washer and make sure the dryer gets hot enough.

Heating and air conditioning Use the thermostat to operate the heating and cooling system.  Check for heat and cool air at all registers.

General- Open and close windows so they operate properly, and check for broken glass.  Look for stains on the ceiling that might indicate a leaky roof.

 

Information provided by www.crs.com

Home Appraisals

People have so many questions and ideas about just what exactly home appraisals are and how they work.  The number one fact that people need to remember is that home appraisers are NOT inspectors.  They will point out complications in the home but they are not there to inspect it for damages, appraisers are there to help you establish the market-value of your home.  They are the third-party of the buying or selling process that will try to determine the fair and right market-value of your home.  According to Realtor.com however, people must remember that the appraiser is there for the lender because, “Lenders don’t enjoy owning overpriced property any more than they relish lending money to irresponsible borrowers.”

Some factors that affect an appraisal

• Location to schools
• Location to public transportation
• busy street/quiet
• sex offenders located in the neighborhood
• foreclosures
• price of neighborhood homes
• damaged/neglected parts of the home
• high crime area
• business activity

To find out more information on what factors affect appraisals realtor.com has great and useful information for buyers and sellers.

Picture Perfect

Whether you are preparing your home for sale or simply want to spruce up your house for the summer, the experts at the Paint Quality Institute (www.paintquality.com) suggest following several simple rules to make the exterior of your home look its best.

First, prepare the surface properly.  Use a long-handled brush and soap and water to scrub the surface, then use a scraper or wire brush to remove any loose, flaky or peeling paint.  Sand down any rough edges and brush off any remaining dust and particles left behind.

Use top quality paint for your project.  For most wood and other exterior surfaces, 100 percent acrylic latex works best because it provides thicker, more durable film and easily conceals old paint color. And since acrylic latex lasts up to ten years or longer, you won’t have to repaint unless you decide to change the color scheme.

Using quality brushes and equipment for the project will make the job easier and produce a more even coat and color.  When working with latex paints, use brushes with synthetic bristles, ideally polyester.  Brushes should be springy and well-balanced, with multiple lengths of split bristles packed tightly in three-quarter to one-inch thickness on a standard four-inch brush.

You should also take care to paint the right weather conditions.  Choose a day with mild temperatures, ideally above 50 degrees Farenheit, and when the winds are light.  If you must paint on a warm day, work on the shady side of the house.

With a little common sense and self-discipline, you’ll reward yourself with a beautiful, professional-looking paint job that will last for years.

 

information provided by www.crs.com