Unclutter in 10 Easy Steps – The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

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Clutter, which is defined as things that lie about untidily, is often linked to creativity or laziness whichever family you come from.  So, just how much imagination will it take to tidy up your space?  To be exact, you can make it happen in 10 easy steps.

Step # 1: Set A Schedule – It can’t be next Year!

You are much more likely to stick to a routine, whatever it may be, if you work on a schedule.  In addition, this allows you to clean when you can minimize interruptions and maximize your time.

Step # 2: Set A Goal For Each Room – Love it or Dump it!

If you can visualize what you want, you will be better able to achieve it.  By setting goals for each room, you can note the things that need changing and work toward that goal one day at a time.  There are wonderful organizations little-used items such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill.  If you can’t remember the last time you used it, then it’s probably time to get rid of it.

Step # 3: Create A Timeline

When do you hope to have your home completely free of clutter?  One week, two weeks or even a month?  Depending on your schedule and the amount of clutter that you have, it may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks before you can kick back and relax again.

Step # 4: Start Small – It’s a Big Job, But Someone Has To do it!

The clutter in your home didn’t appear overnight, and it won’t disappear overnight either.  If you start small, you will be less likely to get frustrated and give up midway through your cleanup.

Step # 5: Categorize Your Clutter – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

When cleaning, it’s important to categorize your items into groups.  By separating the items that you want to keep, toss and donate, you will be able to move through your clutter quickly and efficiently.

Step # 6: Letting Go

A good rule of thumb for uncluttering your home is to get rid of anything that you haven’t used within the past year.  If it’s still useful, consider donating it to a good cause.  Otherwise, toss it.

Step # 7: Storing Your Seasonal Apparel

When storing seasonal clothing, purchase a sturdy plastic storage bin with a lid and roll your clothes instead of folding them in an effort to maximize storage capability.  When full, snap the lid on and slide the unit into your closet.

Step # 8: Closet Organization – Use Things that Are Sturdy for Storage

Did you know that your choice of clothes hangers can greatly impact the storage capacity of your closet?  Wire hangers take up less space and can save your shirts from getting that annoying shoulder bump that often arises from the use of plastic hangers. Check out the www.containerstore.com

Step # 9: Shoes Blues

When it comes to storing shoes, many homeowners are fighting a losing battle with clutter.  How many pairs of shoes do you own?  How neatly are they stored?  If your shoe storage has you down, try purchasing clear lidded shoe boxes.  These handy creations can house each pair of shoes and can be stacked neatly in your closet.  And best of all, you can see your shoe collection without having to sift through a sea of sandals.

Step # 10: Read The Labels

If you have medicine, food or anything else with an expiration date in the home, check to make sure that the items are still good.  If the expiration date has already come and gone, throw them away.

Give Your Curb Appeal a Punch!

Whether you are looking to sell your home or just think it’s time for a new look to improve your curb appeal, here are a few simple ways to spruce up your front porch without taking a bite out of your wallet!

What to do with Concrete?

If your home has a simple concrete porch, there are a number of great ways to give it a more refined appearance that won’t involve replacing it.  One option is using concrete paint.  Available in many colors and textures, you can create the look of a more expensive stone porch at a fraction of the cost of replacing it.  Here’s a company that can do it for you.  http://concretecafe.com

Take a Picture?

Most homes have a front entry that includes a covered porch or front door entrance.    During the winter months, have your lights on a timer to give an additional welcoming touch at sun down.  Also, if your entry is “post card perfect” make a picture while the snow is on the ground.  These are great pictures for marketing and give people in the heat of summer another view of your house.

One of the easiest ways to dress up your exterior entry is to choose interesting and complementary final touches.  A new mailbox, a handmade or antique-looking street number sign, and a nice welcome mat can all make the space look more homey and finished.  If you have the space, also consider adding a few chairs and a small table, or add the nostalgia of a porch swing.

How to Negotiate the Best Car Deal

Do research online.  Decide on a fair price.  Look up Blue Book Values for the cars you are considering.  Be sure to compare apples to apples because it will make a difference in price.

For example if you want GPS or a DVD player in your car include those features in all searches.

Use other dealership offers to entice a salesman to drop the price even more. Be prepared to walk from a dealership if they won’t initially meet your price – but leave your contact information should they decide otherwise!  The prospect of a lost sale will make people more negotiable.

Facebook has many business pages for specific makes and models – email some of the owners to ask if they like their car.  Talk to local mechanics and ask what they would buy given the choice of (narrow it down to 3 different cars).

Childproofing Your Home

When it comes to decorating your home, there’s a lot more to consider than simply coordinating your window treatments with your carpet.  This is especially true if you have children in the home, which presents a whole new concern for keeping them safe and sound.

Take A Look Around

When you take a quick glance throughout your home, what do you see?  Is the home decorated for an adult or a child?  If your little one is like most, he/she has a lot of energy and isn’t afraid to use it.  To prevent a hard spill, many families replace hardwood or tile flooring with plush carpet or rugs for a little extra padding.  If your child stumbles and falls, the extra cushioning will come in handy.

Do you have any furniture with glass inserts or sharp corners, or do you see a lot of breakables throughout the home?  If so, it’s time to remove them.  You should get rid of any furniture that could be hazardous to your youngster and this includes glass top tables and anything with protruding edges.

Lots Of Locks

When you have children in the home, it’s important that you keep all cleaning products locked away in a cabinet and/or out of reach of your little ones.  If possible, consider adding an alarm that will alert you if the cabinet is opened.

Most families have a medicine cabinet, which contains either over-the-counter or prescription medication.  This area is a serious concern for children and should be locked and out of their reach.  It’s also important that all medications feature a childproof lid for added protection.

If there is an area of your home or a specific room that your child is not permitted in, place a child gate in the doorway to prevent them from sneaking in while you’re not looking.  Children are fast, but this is one way to make sure that they are also safe.

Do Not Touch

Children are curious by nature, but there are some common household items that they simply must refrain from touching.  These include a fan, paper shredder, space heater, scissors and other sharp objects that could pose a serious risk for your little one.  Make sure that these items, along with anything similar, are kept out of reach.  All electrical appliances, including hairdryers, styling products and appliances must be stored away from water and out of your child’s reach to prevent injury.

Speaking of which, all electrical outlets should be covered with outlet covers and any small items, including marbles and coins, must be picked up and kept out of your child’s reach.  Because children love to see what they can fit into their mouths, it’s important that they not be left alone near these items.

Safety At Play

When your child is outside, make sure that the environment is a safe one.  This means that your yard should be completely fenced with a locked gate to prevent him/her from wandering out into the street.  It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your child, but it’s even better to make sure that he/she is safe if you happen to glance away for a second.

 

Home Safety Tips

Your home is your haven and, as such, it should be a place where you feel safe.  If you want to protect yourself and your family, home safety should be a priority in your life.  Here are some ideas on how to deal with some of the most common concerns facing homeowners today.

Do Some Detective Work On Your Detectors

Make sure that your smoke detectors are working and have fresh batteries.  It’s important to clean them regularly to avoid a buildup of dust and dirt, which may cause them to malfunction or stop working altogether.

Make Sure That Your Security System Is Secure

If your home has a security system, make sure that nobody else has the code.  If you purchased your home with the security system in place, have the code changed as a precaution.  These days security codes are apart of the showing instructions on a house.  Don’t forget to change when you move in.

Change Your Locks

Change the locks to prevent friends, acquaintances or family members of the previous owner from entering the house without your permission or knowledge.  Sometimes you can even negotiate the price of  this into your purchase contract.

Security and Home Safety are very important.    For more information, go to www.homesafetycouncil.org/index.asp

10 Most Forgotten Items During A Move

When moving day arrives, there’s nothing quite like the nagging feeling that you’re forgetting something.

A good rule of thumb is that the last things that you use are likely to be those that are forgotten, so make sure to do a final check through the house before leaving.  As you are packing in the days leading up to the move, make a checklist of the items you need to remember to pack.  If all else fails, use the following checklist to help you retrieve 10 of the most forgotten items during a move.

Lawn Mower. Although this is not a small item that’s easy to miss, it is easy to forget your lawn mower because it’s likely to be stored in an outbuilding or other location outside of the home.

Medicine. When travelers go on vacation, their medicine is one of the most commonly forgotten items.  Therefore, it just stands to reason that it may also be easily overlooked during a move.  Because most medications are kept in a medicine cabinet, they are unobvious at a glance.

Tools. We use tools for everyday fix-it projects, but we rarely think to pack them.  Tools are important but, because they are not something that’s used on a daily basis, they are easy to miss when packing for a move.

Flashlight. When the electricity is out or you find yourself out after dark, these handy gadgets are a necessity.  Moving day, however, often finds families in the dark when it comes to realizing they have forgotten their trusty flashlight.

Bathroom Plunger. It’s not a glamorous essential, but it is a necessary one nonetheless.  Because a plunger is intentionally made to be unobvious when stored in a bathroom, it’s easy to overlook on moving day.

Coffee Maker. If you or someone in your family is a lover of caffeine, your coffee maker is a kitchen essential.  Because it’s likely to be one of the last things that you will use before leaving the home, it’s also likely to be forgotten.

Toilet Paper. Speaking of one of the last things that you will use before you leave the home, toilet paper is it.  Pack it or buy it when you get there but, either way, this is one kind of paper that you can’t afford to forget.

Car Keys. If you are using a U-Haul to take your belongings to your new home, it’s extremely easy to forget your primary or secondary set of car keys.  Do yourself a favor and make a note to take them along.

Fire-Resistant Security Box. Most families have these, but many forget them during a move.  Although most fireproof boxes are purchased to house important papers, such as deeds, titles and other essentials, they can be overlooked if they are stored in an inconspicuous place.

Bills. Believe it or not, bills are easy to forget.  Most people think about the obvious items that they can see, but it’s too easy to accidentally shuffle in some new bills with the old ones and simply discard them.  If this should happen, simply call the lender and ask for another statement or make a payment arrangement online or over the phone.

Contact me if you have questions.  Always here to help.  http://vickyhenry.com/search-mls.asp

EASY WAYS TO IMPROVE CURB APPEAL

1. Walk across the street and look at your overall landscape.

• Are shrubs trimmed neatly?  Windows and doors shouldn’t be overshadowed by overgrown bushes.

• Clear your entry, sidewalk, and plant beds of leaves and debris.

• Add a new layer of attractive mulch to all planting areas.

• Are there bare spots or weeds in the lawn?  Your local garden supplier can tell you the best way to remedy this problem.

• Hardscape (bird feeders or houses, simple water features, statuary) can add warmth and character to an otherwise drab terrain.

2.  Make your front door more appealing with a fresh coat of paint or stain and new hardware.

3.  Speaking of hardware, install new light fixtures on both sides of your door and change your old, scratched house number plates with shiny new ones.

4.  Consider shutters or awnings to dress up your windows.

5.  Well placed, low voltage landscape lighting is fairly inexpensive and will dramatically enhance your home when the sun goes down.

But most of all, live where you live.  More than ever, make your home attractive so you enjoy living there.  Out grown your home?  Find one you like and move.  Interest rates are at record lows and there’s plenty of homes to pick from.  I would just encourage you to live and be happy!  Your home is important!

Ways To Make Your House Smell Good

If you want a house to smell clean, you clean it. But what can you do to add a special touch that makes your house smell one step beyond clean? Use some common “scents,” a little know how and a lot of creativity to make your house smell fantastic.

Use Your Good Scents

Many homeowners choose to use scented candles in their home. As the candle burns, the oils melt and create a wonderful smell throughout the entire room. Not only do these smell great, but certain scents can also be relaxing. Lavender, for instance, is commonly used in aromatherapy and is believed to be a calming scent. Vanilla, strawberry, cinnamon and even chocolate are also popular among homeowners who want to add a special touch to their home.

Good Enough To Eat

If you really want to make your home smell terrific, add a bowl of fresh fruit to the dining room table. Oranges, tangerines and apples will provide a colorful centerpiece and a scent that’s simply yummy.

If you like to bake, there’s nothing better than the smell of freshly baked cookies fresh out of the oven. Of course, if you don’t feel up to baking every day, you can always use a chocolate scented candle instead.

Make Your Home Blossom

If you really want to add a terrific aroma to your home, place a vase of fresh cut flowers in your living/family room. A perfectly designed arrangement will act as a wonderful centerpiece, but will also fill the room with a wonderful smell. Roses are terrific for adding an unmistakable scent to any room, but many other flowers will prove to be just as nice.

Everyone “Nose” Potpourri

A potpourri mixture, which contains dried petals and spices, is typically placed in a bowl and used to add a wonderful scent to any room. A variety of mixtures are commonly found in any retailer’s craft section or anywhere that scented candles are sold. Potpourri is low maintenance in that it requires nothing more than being placed in a bowl and situated in the room of your choice.

Freshening Up The Air

These days, air fresheners are everywhere. Why? Quite simply, because they work. Individuals who suffer from allergies may have a difficult time with some scents and/or brands of air fresheners, so be sure to keep this in mind when shopping. Air fresheners are available in a wide variety of scents and are generally inexpensive, which makes them a nice choice for many homeowners.

Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day – Moving Tip 1

Tips To Make Your Move Easier

Moving can be a stressful time, however, there are several things that you can do to make your move a smooth one. If you know that you’re moving ahead of time, it’s a good idea to start packing as early as possible. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and, unless you have to be out in a hurry, it’s better to take your time and remember every little detail now than to find yourself with the moving blues later.

A Little Goes A Long Way

If at all possible, pace yourself when packing. It’s better to pack a little at a time and make sure that nothing is forgotten than to hurry and try to get everything done within a day or two. It’s easy to forget to have your address changed, turn off your phone, internet, water and/or cable service, so take the time to make sure every little detail is ironed out now so that you can enjoy your new home later.

Have A Moving Sale

Get rid of everything that you don’t need by having a moving sale. If you haven’t used it within a year, sell it. Otherwise, you will just end up with the same clutter in your new house as you’ve had in the one you’re leaving behind. Plus, the more you sell, the less you will have to pack and move. Not to mention, moving is expensive and there’s nothing wrong with earning a few extra bucks whenever possible.

Create A Packing List

It will help you to remember things much easier by writing them down on paper as they come to mind. A packing list can act as a shopping list, which will remind you of the things that you need to remember.

Pack Lightly

Moving day is hard enough, so don’t make it any worse by loading down your arms with too much weight. If you pack lightly, it may cost you a little more footwork, but your body will thank you at the end of the day.

Pack Smart

Because of their design, boxes are easier to carry and provide an effective way to keep everything stored safely in its place. Rather than just piling everything into the car or U-Haul and hoping for the best, take the time to pack everything carefully (especially breakables) inside of a box. What will not fit, such as furniture and other household essentials, should be tied down and placed in a moving truck. Furniture pads are also a good idea to prevent damage during the move. Make sure you label each box with the contents of each box along with the room it will go in at the new home. This will make unpacking more efficient and save you loads of time.

What is Earnest Money and How Much Good Faith is Enough?



What Is An Earnest Money Deposit?

An earnest money deposit, also known as a good faith deposit, is a specific dollar amount that a potential buyer pays to the seller in an effort to display their serious interest in a property.  It’s important to note that an earnest money deposit is not the same as a down payment.

The Purpose Of Earnest Money Deposit

An earnest money deposit is used to secure a purchase contract, which means the buyer doesn’t have to worry about the property being sold out from underneath them.  Without an agreement, the seller would be free to sell the home at anytime.  An earnest money deposit, however, secures the availability of the home as the potential buyer obtains an inspection, appraisal and financing for the purchase.

How Much Good Faith Is Enough?

So, just how much of an earnest money deposit is required?  Truthfully, it depends on a number of factors, including the home’s purchase price, your location and the standard as set by other sellers.  In most cases, the earnest money deposit is negotiable and the seller will be happy in knowing that the potential buyer is serious enough to offer their money in good faith.

How An Earnest Money Deposit Is Used

If the transaction is successful and the buyer follows through with the purchase, an earnest money deposit is most commonly refunded to the buyer or applied to closing costs.  If the buyer defaults or is unable to obtain financing, the seller often has the discretion to retain the earnest money deposit as damages or as otherwise described in the purchase agreement.

Using Your Dollars And Sense

When it comes to an earnest money deposit, it’s essential that buyers know who should receive the money and how to handle the payment.  In most cases, the deposit should be made payable and presented to a licensed real estate broker, an attorney or escrow company.  Your REALTOR® can assist in getting your earnest money deposit into the right hands.  It’s important to obtain a receipt, which should clearly outline the purpose of the deposit.  The funds will be handled in accordance with the purchase agreement and/or as agreed upon by both the buyer and seller.

For other home buying advice or assistance, go to www.vickyhenry.com and click on Buying a Home.