Home Improvement Sites

Moving Checklist

Send change of address to:

• Post Office
• Charge Accounts
• Credit Card Accounts
• Friends and Relatives
• Subscriptions: Notice requires several weeks for magazines.

Notify:

• Bank: Transfer funds, arrange check cashing in new city.
• Insurance: Notify new location for coverage (life, health, fire, auto, homeowner’s.)
• Automobile: Transfer car title, car registration, car tags, driver’s license, state windshield sticker, and motor club membership.
• Utilities: Gas, light, cable TV, water, telephone get refund of any deposits made. Arrange for immediate service in new town. Arrange final reading and change of name for billing. Delivery
• People: Cancel laundry, newspaper and milk.
• School: Ask for copies or transfer of children’s records.

Ask For:

• Medical records of family and pets.
• Drug and Eye Contact or Glasses Prescriptions to be transferred.
• Doctor and Pharmacist recommendations.
• Letters of Introduction to transfer memberships.
• Pet requirements in new city.

And, don’t forget to:

• Empty freezer; plan use of foods. Defrost freezer-refrigerator. (Place charcoal to dispel odors.)
• Have appliances serviced for moving.
• Clean rugs or clothing, before moving; have them “moving-wrapped.”
• Check with your moving counselor: insurance coverage, packing and unpacking labor, arrival day, various shipping papers, method and time of expected payment.
• Plan for special care needs of infants.
• Plan garage sale

And on moving day:

• Carry currency, jewelry, documents yourself; or use registered mail.
• Plan for transporting pets. (They are poor traveling companions if unhappy.) Make sure you can be found if they become lost.
• Carry traveler’s checks for quick available funds.
• Tell close friends or relatives your route and schedule (including overnight stops). Use them as “message headquarters.”
• Double check closets, drawers, and shelves (to be sure they are empty).
• Arrange to leave keys with new tenant, owner or agent.

Mortgage Questions to Ask Your Lender

Buying and financing a home today can be overwhelming. Here are some questions to ask your lender so that you can make informed decisions.

Are both fixed-rate and adjustable mortgage loans available? What is the interest rate?

How long can I “lock-in” the financing at the current interest rate?

Is a float down lock available in case rates drop after I have locked in?

What are the other fees a lender may charge me in conjunction with my loan?

Are funds for a second mortgage available?

On adjustable loans:

• How often will the interest rate be adjusted?
• Is there a maximum limit on each rate change?
• How often will the monthly payment be adjusted?
• Is there a ceiling on payment adjustments?
• Can the term of the loan be extended?
• What is the maximum rate that can be charged over the life of the loan?
• Is there any potential for negative amortization?

Is there a pre-payment penalty clause?

This involves extra charges for paying off the loan before maturity. About 80% of all loans in the United States are paid off early.

• What is the “grace” period? How late can a monthly payment be made before a late charge is assessed
• What will happen if a payment is missed?
• If you sell your house, will the new buyer (if he/she qualifies) be able to assume your mortgage at the same interest rate?
• Do you have to pay “points” to get your new mortgage? Usually lenders charge points for the cost of giving you a mortgage loan. A “point” is 1% of the loan.
• Will the lender require mortgage insurance?
• Is the loan serviced locally or is the servicing sold?
• Ask for a written “good faith deposit”.

Choosing Your REALTOR®

With so many realtors competing for your business, how do you know which one to choose? Here are a few things to consider when choosing a realtor.

The most important decision you will make in the sale of your home is the Realtor you choose.

Some points to consider:

Find someone you feel comfortable with. If you don’t feel you can ask questions or go to your Realtor, you have the wrong Realtor.

Your Realtor should show you research to back up any recommendations. This includes information about recent sales, current listings and recent expired listings in your neighborhood.

Choose a local Realtor. He or she will know your area better than an outsider, will be seen as a source for people looking to relocate in your neighborhood, and will get better co-operation from other agents. It is likely that any amount you might save by having a friend or relative from outside the area serve as your Realtor, will be lost in their lack of knowledge about the very specific local market. Ask for references from the Realtor. He or she should be willing to give you names of previous clients.

Ask your friends and acquaintances for recommendations, but make your final choice based on your needs.

Ask the Realtor to show you what will be done to market your home. Consider the office and company support available to him or her as well as the initiative and professionalism shown by the individual.

Look for a Realtor who tells you what he or she knows from experience in the market, and not what they think you want to hear. Flattery may sometimes get the listing, but it doesn’t sell the home!

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, you can find a top local real estate agent here. Search area listings and find homes for sale, get the value of your home, find lenders and more. Let REALTORS® compete for your business! Whether you’re buying or selling, find the right REALTOR® and the right price for you, with no obligation.

Compare REALTORS First. It’s Fast and Free!

Buying a Home?

Search for real estate listings on the MLS, a Multiple Listing Service. Find homes, properties and houses for sale in your neighborhood. Or, let a professional real estate agent find the perfect home for you. REALTORS ® are privy to new homes on the market prior to being found on the Internet. Let them do a customized search for your new home today. Also, find new homes and foreclosure homes for sale.

Whether you’re buying or selling, find the right REALTOR and the right price for you.

Selling a Home?

Do you know what your home is worth? Knowing the value of your home in relation to your local real estate market and recent sales is very important. Use the FREE home valuation service to see local property values and get a free home value estimate.

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By Leon Chaddock
Before you head to the local hardware store to purchase the set of screwdrivers for your tool present to give this year, take some time to find the right gift for your loved one. Let’s face it, dad has a garage full of tools and you have no real idea as to what is out there. Do you really think you are qualified to purchase the tools that he needs? Maybe you should leave that up to him. But, if you are dead set and giving tools as a gift, think about this first.

Remember, the garage is not a place that you know well. So, ask him. What does he want? Is there some sort of specific tool that he would love to have? And, what about that latest gadget that is out there, think he would like that? Ask him what he wants. If you really don’t want to come out and ask questions like that, then hint around and send grandpa in for the killing questions.

Still not good enough? It is safe to say that most tool lovers do appreciate tools that are useful. So, if you find that a new gadget or a new type of tool is available and you know he doesn’t have it yet, grab it. But, remember, quality matters so if you are giving a gift of tools, make sure to get stuff that is going to last and provide quality service to your loved one.

Now that you realize that he has a garage full of tools, think about giving that tool gift to someone else. Hey, maybe mom needs it to do all the projects that dad hasn’t gotten to! An excellent gift for the guy or lady that has all the tools they could possibly want or need is a gift certificate so that they can buy the replacement parts that they need, materials for the next project or an organizer for all of their vast collections of tools: thanks to you!

For more information please see http://www.pro-tools-shack.co.uk