HOW DO FED RATE HIKES AFFECT MORTGAGES?

Eeeeek! Rates are going up … or are they?

Last week, for the first time after years of historically low rates, the Federal Reserve decided to raise short-term interest rates. For homebuyers, any rate hike often is seen a negative, but here are some reasons why this rate increase is good.

First of all, understand that the interest rate hike was NOT on mortgages. The Federal Reserve does not directly control interest rates on mortgages. What the Fed does control is the overall money supply. By raising interest rates at the Fed level on the “Federal Discount Rate,” they have begun a trickle-down effect that will begin to tighten the money supply. This makes it more expensive for commercial banks to borrow money and so decreases the amount of money available for short-term borrowing.

1. It’s a good sign

For the Federal Reserve to take such a bold step after years of low rates means that the Federal Reserve Board believes that the economy has improved enough that it can withstand an increase. Because the Federal Reserve has a mandate to achieve maximum employment rates AND keep prices relatively stable (curb inflation), raising rates means that employment levels have improved. An improved economy is a good sign that homebuyers will be able to afford to buy a home.

2. It does not directly influence mortgage rates

The discount rate does NOT directly influence mortgages. Mortgage-backed securities (bonds made up of pools of mortgages) track with the percentage yield on 10-Year U.S. Treasury bonds. Regular mortgages follow the mortgage-backed securities. While some mortgage rates increased slightly after the announcement, the bond markets have not settled on rate hikes, so the could end up either higher or lower once it becomes apparent how the economy reacts to the Federal Discount Rate increase.

3. It should be a slow increase

Because of the dual mandates of the Federal Reserve (low unemployment and stable pricing), the increases should be gradual rather than quickly increasing hikes because the Fed needs to make certain the economy is keeping pace with the increases. While it seems counter-intuitive, the Fed would like to see inflation rise slightly and this move is one way they can affect inflation in a gradual manner.

4. It might be good for your bottom line

Yes, your mortgage rates might increase a bit, but so will the interest on your savings accounts and securities. You’ll begin to see higher offerings on CDs and other interest-based income streams.

5. It’s still historically low

The current generation of homebuyers has not experienced high rates. Most millennials or Generation Xers do not remember when mortgage interest rates were in double digits and may fear the worst, but the changes in mortgage interest rates, at least for the near term, won’t increase their payments by more than their designer coffee or energy drink habits.

As always, if you have questions about the housing market, contact us. We stand ready to help you make sound decisions on the home of your dreams.

PROTECTING YOUR HOME DURING HOLIDAY TRAVEL

Plane tickets? Check

Suitcase packed? Check

Wrapped gifts packed? Check

House protected? Oooops!

If you’re planning on traveling for the holidays, don’t leave your home’s protection to chance. Coming home from a holiday trip to find your home has been broken into, or that a pipe has broken in your absence can ruin all those relaxing hours with family and friends.

While this is true for anyone, it is especially important that new homeowners take steps to safeguard their home while out of town.

Here are some of the basics:

Get a little help from your friends: Ask a friend to water plants, check on your house and pick up mail or newspapers.

If you’ve met your neighbors, you should let them know you will be away. Give them you phone number and the date you’ll get back. If you are having a friend check on your home or water plants while you’re away, let your neighbor know that too so they don’t accidently call the police on your friend.

Avoid posting to social media: In a world filled with tweets and posts that go out to the wide world, you can’t be certain that your posts of being away aren’t being viewed and monitored by thieves. Save your pictures to post after you’re back home. The memories will be just as sweet.

Lights, Curtains: All the world’s a stage…

While you’re gone, to make your home not appear empty, you might think about lighting up the rooms in the evening. This does not mean leaving the lights on in all the rooms the whole time. First off, that would seem weird, and secondly, it will give you a higher electric bill. The best course of action is to get timers and connect them to lamps. Have them set to come on and go off in each room as you would normally use that room. For example, from early evening to just prior to bed time in the living areas and in the bedrooms briefly as if you were getting ready for bed. You can find timers at many retail outlets and online for less than $10.

Regarding window coverings, keep them the way you usually do, but move electronics and other costly items out of sight.

Stop the mail: If you have mail or newspapers delivered to your home, suspend delivery while you are gone. The US Postal Service allows you to sign up online for most ZIP codes to hold your mail with the use of a credit card (for a nominal charge to prove identity).

What else should you do? If you have a neighborhood watch or community association, let them know to keep an eye on your place. Make arrangements with services to sweep leaves and snow off your walkways and driveway. Unplug appliances that have LED lights (coffee pots, microwaves, televisions, etc.) so that your electric bill isn’t huge when you get home. Lastly, if there is any chance of freezing weather, leave your furnace set to no lower than 56°F to keep your pipes from freezing. If you aren’t sure how well your pipes are insulated, open the cabinet doors below your sinks to let the warmer air circulate.

SLASH YOUR ENERGY BILL

We don’t think about our heating bill much in the summer, but this is the time to make some upgrades to your home that will see you through the winter, such as adding insulation, changing out windows for double or triple panes with low U-factors and repairing any leaks and drafts.

If energy-efficiency is at the very top of your list, however, consider a home with passive construction.

Passive building

The concept of passive building comprises specific construction principles designed to give measurable energy efficiency. There are five main principles that, using building science, offer the highest options for energy efficiency in both single-family and multi-family homes.

Scientists and builders developed the original design principles in the 1970s with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Canadian government. In the 1980s, German scientists added to that information to develop passive principles for homes in the northern European climates.

The principles are:

1. Insulation: the construction utilizes continuous insulation throughout the building’s envelope (its weather barrier, air barrier and thermal barrier).
2. The envelope is airtight, so it prevents outside air from entering and inside “conditioned” air from seeping out.
3. It utilizes high-performance windows (typically triple-paned) and doors.
4. It utilizes some form of heat- and moisture-recovery ventilation and a minimal-space air conditioning system.
5. It exploits the sun’s energy for heating purposes, but minimizes it’s impact for cooling purposes.

The super-tight insulation and design strategy balances heat emissions (from appliances and the home’s occupants) to keep the indoor temperature comfortable throughout all seasons. Continuous mechanical filtration keeps the air quality fresh and comfort. The combination of insulation and consistent low-level filtration prevents mold and mildew from establishing inside the home, making this construction-type perfect for allergy-prone family members.

Passive house certification is stringent and means the home has high R-value insulation with up to 90 percent less energy required for heat, and overall 60 to 70 percent less energy overall compared to a regular code-built home.

Flat-paneled rooftop solar systems heat the water typically to between 100 and 140 degrees, even on cloudy days. A small electrical system works as a backup if there are an unusual number of cloudy days. Some passive homes include wood heat for the very coldest days in winter.

Other features of passive building include metal roofing which, in snowy climates allows the snow to slide off, and covered porches and patios to allow for outdoor living spaces and to protect the home’s entrances from snow buildup in inclement weather.

WHAT TO ASK FOR THIS HOLIDAYS — A DOWNPAYMENT!

You’ve been saving for a downpayment and you’re almost there.

Almost!

You just need a little more money in that account and you can make an offer on your starter home. Now, your parents and grandparents want to give you a gift of money toward your new house.

Gifts for downpayments can come from a variety of sources. Mortgage lenders will let you use a cash gift toward a plethora of loan options as well. These include FHA loans, VA loans (which only need a down payment if they exceed the threshold), USDA loans, conventional loans and even jumbo loans. In fact, affording a twenty percent downpayment puts you in position for a conventional loan backed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), potentially saving you money over the life of your loan.

Before you ask for that gift, however, you need to understand how it should be wrapped! If not done properly, you might just end up with a lump of coal in your pocket.

Here’s the skinny of how it works.

When you accept a downpayment gift, you cannot just deposit it into your bank account and co-mingle it with the funds you have there. You need to follow the required process for documenting the gift so that your loan isn’t denied.

1. Write a “gift letter” that notes the following:

• The amount of the gift
• Who gave you the gift and your relationship to the giver
• A note specifying that the gift is REALLY a gift and not just a loan you’ll have to pay back in the future
• The property address you intend to buy
• The signatures of the givers and the recipients
• Don’t add anything extra to your gift letter either. Make it simple and strait forward.
• Write a separate letter for each gift

2. Keep a paper trail:

The gift should be in the form of a check in the exact dollar amount you noted in your letter. (Do not just have the money transferred to your account.)

• Make a photocopy of the check
• With the check in hand, take it to your bank (the same bank your other downpayment money is in) and deposit that check alone (nothing else in the transaction) into the account.
• Make certain you get a receipt

If you receive more than one gift, deposit each one separately and get a separate receipt for it.

When applying for your loan, give copies of the gift letters along with copies of the checks and deposit receipts to the underwriter. Your underwriter will use the letters in the effort to get your loan approved and funded.

One side note: there may be tax implications for both the givers and receivers of financial gifts. Be sure to check with your tax advisor if you have questions or to find out how a gift might affect your situation.

HACK YOUR DOWNPAYMENT

The biggest hindrance to home-ownership for most young couples is the dreaded downpayment. In fact, may couples believe that between living expenses and school loans, they’ll never be able to save up enough for a downpayment on a house or even a condominium. If making the move from renting to owning is a priority for you, you’ll need to become aggressive in your savings and spending-cuts.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Create a separate savings or money market account for your downpayment monies. Having your money in a separate account helps you avoid infringement into your nest egg when emergencies crop up. In fact, you should set aside about $1000 for emergencies outside of your downpayment savings to cover pesky things like blown tires, unexpected fines or other unforeseen drains on your money.
• Take an extra job. If you can pick up some hours in the evenings and weekends and earmark ALL of the income for your downpayment account you can boost your account considerably. On the other hand, avoid trying to make side money with a hobby unless you already own the equipment (cameras, tripods, etc., if you’re a photographer or saws, power tools and other equipment if you’re into woodworking), because you may end up spending more than you make.
• Make extreme decisions such as selling an expensive vehicle and driving a less expensive one or ridesharing for a specific period. During this time determine to socialize on a more limited basis … instead of eating out, host a potluck or BYOM barbecue.
• Evaluate memberships and subscriptions (gym membership, Netflix, cable, coffee of the month) and consider suspending them for 12 to 15 months and redirecting that money into your savings. Or, substitute Netflix for cable and movie night if you’re the type that goes out a lot.
• Make your savings fun. Create games and competition to see who can save the most. If you’re saving alone, find a friend in a similar situation and create a savings race with them.

Don’t forget to set aside a little fun money along the way. Too much austerity can cause stress and friction when you’re used to more extravagant spending habits. So, when you reach a milestone, have a dinner out, or go see a movie. Just don’t slip into retail therapy without specific limits or you’ll just be frustrated when you don’t reach your goals as soon as you planned.

SELLING? SHOULD YOU EXCHANGE THAT CARPET FOR HARDWOOD

Flooring is one of the more controversial subjects when it comes to home improvements. There are two firm camps and rarely do they meet in the middle. When you’re planning to sell your home, you may think you need to replace the carpet in order to get the best price on the market.

While only your local real estate professional can advise you on the best option for your situation, here are some thoughts for consideration:

Hardwood Flooring: Hardwood flooring has become central to modern design and many homeowners raised in wall-to-wall carpeting are easily persuaded to exchange their carpet for hardwood. Updating an older look with wood flooring might just be the key to getting your home sold. Before you do, however, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.

Visual appeal: There’s no getting around it: wood is simply beautiful. Whether you’re into dark cherry or a modern light bamboo, a wood floor can complement most décor and most tastes.

Maintenance: For many people, a modern wood floor product is easy to maintain. Usually sweeping or a light dust mop works for most cleaning. Periodically going over your floor with a damp mop using a wood safe product can pick up sticky residue or spills. In addition, they handle a lot of traffic without the “traffic patterns” that carpets pick up. Finally, if your floor gets scratched, you can have it buffed out, re-stained and coated with a clear protective coating.

Special considerations: People that suffer from allergies may find that they have fewer episodes with hardwood over carpet. Since the carpet fibers can collect pollen, animal hair and dander, dust mites and other allergens and irritants, you may find removing the carpet and replacing it with hardwood is an excellent and healthful idea.

People looking at your home with an eye to purchase it will find that hardwood holds a lot of attraction for them if they suffer from allergies or asthma.

A note of caution: If you’re considering a vinyl or other synthetic wood-look flooring, you might find you have fewer takers. Those with allergies tend to stay away from household products that can release VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which make asthma worse. Laminate products and especially those products requiring glue can be a source of VOCs. A better option is engineered wood since the surface is a layer of wood veneer over several layers of wood.

In many cases, hardwood can boost your resale value above that of carpet and yet the cost to you is relatively reasonable. According to a market data study done by USA Today, hardwood flooring is one feature people are willing to pay extra for.

If you’re considering some upgrades before you put your home on the market, take a look at replacing the flooring with real hardwood, or an engineered hardwood. Many retailers have end-of-the year specials on home upgrade products.

TIPS FOR HOME BUYERS

Finding a new home can be one of the most exciting times of your life. It’s a little like dating – the pursuit, the “getting to know you” period, the proposal (aka “offer”), and the marriage (aka “closing”). If you don’t want your relationship with a new house to crash and burn, you need to know a few things before you fall in love.

1. Know thy numbers.

You’d be surprised at how many home buyers start their new home pursuit without really knowing what they can and can’t afford. Avoid being disappointed later by getting preapproved for a mortgage before you even get started. And be sure you know the difference between being “prequalified” and “preapproved.” You can be preapproved only after a lender has reviewed all your financial information and has told you how much the bank is willing to lend to you. Being pre-approved will let sellers know you’re a serious buyer, and it will also prevent you from falling in love with a home that is financially “out of your league.”

2. Love the neighborhood, not just the house.

It’s easy to get caught up in how perfect a house is and forget that the house is only part of a bigger picture. It won’t matter how awesome the master bathroom is if you discover that the neighborhood just isn’t a good fit for you. Spend as much time researching the neighborhood as you do checking into all the nooks and crannies of the house. Regardless of whether or not you have kids, ask questions about the neighborhood’s school district since that will impact the home’s resale value. And be sure to drive through the neighborhood at various times of day to make sure you’re not missing any “deal breaker” factors.

3. Beware the lure of the lowball offer.

Even though buying a home is a financial decision that involves legal contracts, that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of emotion. If you’re tempted to make a lowball offer on a home just to see what happens, be aware that some sellers will be so offended that they won’t entertain future offers from you. It may be a business deal, but this is still their home – and that’s personal. Make an offer based on the selling price of other homes in the same neighborhood and then determine what the average price per square foot is for that area. Also, make your offer number an odd number instead of a round one. For example, an offer of $352,500 sounds like you put some thought into it based on real calculations, whereas an offer of $350,000 sounds more like a shot in the dark.

4. Get a home inspector’s “blessing.”

Some churches require engaged couples to go through a few premarital counseling sessions before they can be married in the church. Similarly, you’d be wise to seek the counsel of a qualified home inspector before you make things official with a new home. If the house has hidden baggage, a good home inspector will find it, which gives you the opportunity to decide if it’s something you’re willing to deal with or not.

By following a few simple guidelines and leading with your head instead of your heart, your destiny with a new home is much more likely to end with “happily ever after.”

5 WAYS TO HELP KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE WHILE ON VACATION

Vacation plans may have you planning on leaving your home in the near future. Don’t forget to take a few preventative measures to ensure the safety of you and your home while you are away. You’ll find that being prepared and aware of potential risks makes for a better vacation and homecoming.

5 Things To Remember When Vacationing Away From Your Home

Summer is definitely here and vacation plans may have you planning on leaving your home in the very near future. Don’t forget to take a few preventative measures to ensure the safety of you and your home while you are away. You’ll find that being prepared and aware of potential risks makes for a better vacation and homecoming.

5 Things To Remember When Vacationing Away From Your Home

• You cannot control your level of visibility entirely once you leave. If you post to social media, including Facebook and Pinterest, while on vacation you may be putting your home at risk. Sharing vacation photos are an obvious way of showing that you are away and may create an easier target for your home for thieves.
• Lock it up. From windows and doggie doors to gates and garage doors, the security of your home requires diligence on your part. Don’t let the rush of leaving for vacation make you forget to batten down the hatches throughout your home.
• Ask for some help. A trusted neighbor or friend can notify you if something looks out of place or odd while you are away. Or you can employ a house sitter for greater peace of mind. You may even find one who will water your plants, too!
• Consider installing an alarm or timed lighting system prior to your vacation. Both can deter possible intruders.
• Truly vacation while away and plan a day to get organized when you get back. Placing your mail and delivery services on hold while you are away is critical, too. 4-5 newspapers or forgotten milk bottles on your porch signal to everyone that something is amiss. Plus, having planned an extra day to recover from your travel to go through mail and grocery shop may also allow you time for the first tip mentioned… post your awesome vacation photos to social media!

FALL FILTER FIXES

Okay, some home maintenance items just don’t make the urgent list.

Changing your furnace filter doesn’t often make the cut. As we head into autumn, take a moment to check your furnace filter to get it ready for a winter workout.

Why your filter is important

A filter protects the blower on your furnace from dirt and debris. Its basic function is to keep the dirt from the air out of your furnace, but specialty filters can reduce airborne dust, remove allergens and pet hair, and improve air quality.

The filter’s location at the air in-take means that particle removal happens before air is heated and forced through your home’s vents. Since the air from your vents is clean, you may not notice that your furnace isn’t running efficiently, but a clogged it can lessen the life of your furnace. The extra wear and tear that pulling air through a dirty filter causes may lead to inadequate airflow, overheating and even complete shutdown of the system.

Ideally, you should check your filter once a month. If your system involves just a furnace, then check the filter monthly during the cold season and again in the fall just prior to cool weather returning. If you have a complete HVAC system, the filter affects your air conditioner as well. A dirty filter in the warm season can cause the air conditioner’s cooling coils to freeze up, stressing the AC system.

Here’s what to do

Experts suggest checking the filter every month and changing it at least every three. Check your owner’s manual for information on the filter’s location and the best size and type of filter to use. Determine if you have a disposable filter or a reusable filter. A disposable filter typically has a cardboard frame while a reusable one is made of plastic or metal.

• Disposable:
  —Turn off the furnace system. This means shutting it off at the fuse box, the circuit breaker or a furnace cutoff switch.
  —Remove the cover from the filter holder.
  —Remove the filter from it’s housing either inside the furnace or at the return air vent. The existing filter probably has a marker indicating the correct position to install the filter so that the airflow goes toward the furnace. Make a note of this so you can correctly install the new filter.
  —On the new filter, look for the markings that indicate the airflow direction and match them up to the correct flow direction toward your furnace.
  —Replace the cover.
• Reusable:
  —Turn off the furnace system. This means shutting it off at the fuse box, the circuit breaker or a furnace cutoff switch.
  —Remove the blower door or locate the filter in the return air vent.
  —Use either your regular vacuum or a wet/dry vacuum to remove dust from the filter. Vacuum the area around where the filter goes as well.
  —Wash the filter. You can do this outdoors using a garden hose or indoors in the bathtub or shower (although this is messier). Be sure to spray the water in the reverse direction of the airflow at the end to make certain no dust particles are left on the inside of the filter.
  —Allow the filter to dry completely before you reinstall it.
  —Check the filter for indicators of which direction should face the furnace and reinstall the filter, insuring that loops or clips are in their proper position.

If this seems like a lot to do, or if your furnace filter location is awkward, consider hiring a certified HVAC service to check, change or clean your filters for you.

If you’re planning to sell your home, keeping your furnace in great working condition contributes to its resale value.

NEW FHA LEEWAY FOR APPROVALS

Having a low FICO score usually means there is no way for you to quality for a FHA mortgage, but changes to the underwriting process August 2015 means that more borrowers may qualify. According to some analysts of the new policies, up to 100,000 new potential borrowers may now qualify if you can convince underwriters that you can make the payments.

Loans based on FICO score

Since the sub-prime meltdown, mortgage loans to borrowers with FICO scores below 660 fell below $150 billion per year overall and remain there. This lower number of loan originations, due to lenders shying away from loaning to borrowers with scores under 640 results from poor lender performance reviews for higher-than-average loan defaults.

Neighborhood Watch System

To encourage more borrowing to the subprime market, the Federal Housing Administration made enhancements to their Neighborhood Watch Early Warning System to better compare the performance of loans to borrowers with lower credit scores. The FHA hopes that more accurate assessment will improve underwriting processes to include other characteristics outside of FICO scores for determining creditworthiness.

FICO scores

The Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO), a company that provides software to calculate potential creditworthiness, developed a scoring system ranging from 300 to 850 points based on their specific formula. Access to your FICO score comes via the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion and Experion). The FICO score, based on information each credit bureau keeps about you in your credit file, includes your credit history—loans and repayment, credit card usage, etc.—the age of your credit, and the types of credit you use. Your score can differ among the three bureaus depending on the information they have in their system about you.

What’s new?

Under the new system, FHA’s system for judging lenders changes to offer a more fair metric so that lenders to communities with a higher concentration of residents with lower than average FICO scores may offer loans without the fear of penalties simply because of where they focus their loan business. Borrows falling into the potential new category include:

• Younger buyers
• First-time buyers
• Minority Loftholds
• Moderate-income working families

Potential buyers recovering from job loss during the recession when they may have gotten behind on paying bills may now have an opportunity to prove their creditworthiness despite their FICO score. These are the people with a reliable income, an ability to repay their loan and acceptable debt-to-income ratios.

While some lenders may wait to see how the new metrics will work, others may begin offering loans and programs to take advantage of the opportunity. If you’re hoping to buy a Loft in the near future, but have wounds from the recession, don’t count yourself out … shop different lenders to see if you can qualify under the new underwriting guidelines.

7 THINGS YOUR HOUSE PAINTER WISHES YOU KNEW

By Jamie Wiebe via Realtor.com

With the exception of hardened DIY-types (you know who you are!), just about all homeowners will hire painters at some point—whether to prepare their home for moving in, or for a sale, or perhaps to kick off a remodel with a new color scheme.

But homeowners tend to get nervous around painters. What if they spatter the new carpeting or shatter the china cabinet window? What if the colors you’ve painstakingly selected don’t work out?

Take a deep breath. You’ve hired a professional. Here’s how to help them do their best job.

1. Painting is art—let the pros do it

Think of painting as not just a skill, but also an art: You wouldn’t hover behind Michelangelo as he completed the Sistine Chapel, fretting the whole time, would you?

Yes, it’s true that your bathroom wall will never be one of the world’s premiere masterpieces, no matter how skilled your painter, but that doesn’t make back-seat painters any less annoying.

“Painting is something that’s more subjective than objective,” says Kevin Palmer, a painter in Simsbury, CT. “A good paint job involves a lot of artistry—besides product knowledge and great prep work, you’ve got to get a guy who seriously knows what he’s doing.”

And once you’ve found that, trust means letting painters do their job.

“People need to chill out a bit,” says Ryan Benson of Benson Painting Services in Apple Valley, MN. When customers hound, it’s “almost insulting,” he says. “Let me work.”

2. Prep can take a long time

According to Benson, at least 30% of a good-quality paint job will be prep time.

“That’s where less-qualified painters lower their bids. That’s where problems come with paint getting on things it shouldn’t be,” he says.

The differences between a rushed paint job and one done properly are enormous: paint on the walls and everything else; uncleaned walls leading to a splotchy paint job; your favorite couch ruined by a misguided spatter.

“It’s easy to not put a dropcloth down. All that stuff takes time,” Benson says.

Keep an eye out for the painters that skimp on prep—the best way to find detail-oriented contractors is to ask previous customers for a reference.

3. Make sure your home is ready to paint

Don’t leave all the prep work to the painters, though—they’ve got their hands full. Things will go much smoother if you make sure your home is truly painter-ready, and Benson estimates that this could save you up to 10% of the cost.

For interior jobs, make sure you’ve cleaned all of the awkward spots, including behind the toilet, and picked up any knickknacks that might get in the way (e.g., soap containers, loofahs, and kitchen organizers). Removing the switch plates and outlet covers from the walls also goes a long way toward speeding up painting time—and painters’ time is (your) money.

For exterior jobs, Palmer recommends trimming bushes and shrubs away from the house, leaving at least 18 inches of clearance. Making sure your gutters and downspouts are in “tiptop condition” can also speed up the painting process, he says.

4. Ask for touch-ups right away

After the paint job is finished, ask for a walk-through. Most painters should offer this regardless.

“Take all the time you want,” says Benson. “Pick us apart. We want to get it all done while we’re there. Don’t be afraid to have a list of touch-ups.”

That doesn’t mean most painters are willing to provide endless touch-ups, though—especially if it’s not a result of poor workmanship. Feel free to call back about something you noticed only when the light hit the wall in just the right spot—but if you scratched the wall while moving in your heavy dresser, be prepared to pay for a touch-up.

5. Sit on the toilet

What?

Yup, after getting your bathroom painted, sit your butt down on the toilet and stare. This is something Benson says he does after every job, because it’s a great way to catch tiny, missed spots you wouldn’t see otherwise.

“What you see in a bathroom when you’re painting it isn’t what you see when you’re sitting down,” he says. “Look around in the areas where you’re going to notice stuff.”

6. Compare the specifics of the bids

It’s tough to over-emphasize the importance of hiring painters who provide detailed bids. Deciding between two or three contractors is hard enough; it’s more so if you’re relying on pure guesswork. A bid that is “scribbled down on a napkin” is “not even comparable,” says Benson.

Look at the material costs. You don’t need to go with the painter who buys the most expensive caulk, but don’t go with the cheapest, either. Since painting is an art, materials are its medium—and cheap paint shows.

“People confuse price with value,” says Palmer. If you have to repaint your house twice as often than you would with a good job, “that’s not really a great value.”

7. Don’t be scared to ask for a discount

If you’re comparing two bids and you really love the more expensive painter—but your budget just won’t allow it—don’t hesitate to ask for a discount.

Sure, if the difference is astronomical, you and your painter might not be able to find a comfortable middle ground. But it never hurts to try.

Find original article at:

http://http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/what-your-house-painter-wishes-you-knew/?identityID=8309850&MID=2015_0828_WeeklyNL_LongSL&RID=323043802&cid=eml-2015-0828-WeeklyNL-blog_3_housepainter-blogs_trends

Prepare for Emergencies in Your Home

When you move into your new home, you may not think to revise and update your emergency plan, but natural disasters strike without warning. Avoid being caught without a plan in place at your new address. Here are steps to take to make sure you are ready the day you move in and continue staying prepared to keep your family safe.

Plan for safety and make a plan:

Sounds simple, right? Despite all of the natural disasters, fires, storms and mishaps in the news, many people do not have a plan for where to go, what to do, and how to reconnect with family members.

1. Learn what disasters affect your area and stay in the loop to receive early warning. Local city or community websites often provide information about natural disasters affecting your area. Use your community’s resources to prepare.

• WEAs: The national weather service provides free Wireless Emergency Updates (WEAs)—text message warnings and updates customized to your area. Check with your wireless carrier to make sure your device is WEA-capable and the service is enabled. Capable devices automatically receive government updates.
• Check out apps like Weather Bug and Simple Weather Alert that offer weather warnings straight to your phone or desktop.
• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for information.

2. Know where to find shelter locations and learn how to “shelter in place”: Make sure you know where in your home is the safest and what community resources you can rely on to help you if you are not able to get home. If you have children, investigate the emergency response plan at their school to double-check their safety outside the home.

• Hurricanes: While we do not experience the worst of hurricanes, turn off propane tanks and small appliances if you are ever in danger. Switch your fridge and freezer to the highest setting and secure them closed if possible (if the power goes out you’ll want the cold to last as long as possible). Close all windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If possible, board up any windows without hurricane shutters (hurricane specific items to keep in the kit discussed below).
• Tornadoes and Thunderstorms: Know where your safest underground shelter is at work and at home, i.e.: basement, storm cellar, etc. If you do not have an underground shelter, find your most protected interior room such as a closet, hallway, or bathroom.
• Floods: When you receive a flood warning, whether at home or outside, move immediately to higher ground. If you are outdoors, be aware of drainage channels, canyons, or streams nearby. They fill with water quickly and may cut off your evacuation route.
• Earthquakes: Michigan does experience earthquakes, although it is usually very subtle. However, secure furnishings, decor, and appliances to avoid damage or injury during ground movement to stay safe if there is ever a bad one.
• Safe Spots: Know the safe spots in your home—inside walls and under furniture—and areas in your home to avoid near hanging objects, windows, and mirrors.
• Self Protection: When an earthquake starts, drop to your hands and knees and move to the nearest safe spot immediately while covering your head and neck. Secure yourself and continue bracing your head and neck.
• Fire: When a fire occurs in your home, get out and stay out. Move to safety before calling 911. Create a map of your home and memorize all possible exits to escape the fire. Practice low-crawling and Stop, Drop & Roll. Select a meeting place for your family so everyone knows where to go once they get out safely.
• Evacuation Preparedness: City or community-wide evacuations can be chaotic and scary; keep yourself calm and safe by preparing ahead. Make sure your safety kit (below) is accessible in the event you need to evacuate quickly. Keep extra fuel available for your vehicle—you may not have enough warning to get to a gas station before needing to evacuate. Visit your local community website to learn the evacuation procedures and locations for your area so you know what to do. Obey evacuation orders immediately. Stalling to “see if you really need to” puts yourself and others in danger and taxes emergency personnel unduly.

CAPTURING CLUTTER

Whether you’re preparing your home to sell, or your packing up to move to your new home … clutter can be your worst enemy.

But, getting chaos under control isn’t always easy.

The problem isn’t that you lack resources.

In fact, a whole industry sprang up to help folks tackle the problem of clutter: from simple lists and organizational tools to crews of “clutter police” to tackle your disarray for you, and even reality TV shows. You can find YouTube videos like this one to help you organize your linen cabinets and this one for your socks and underwear.

The abundance of resources might just seem like more clutter. For some people, even the thought of trying to de-clutter can seem overwhelming. And looking at pictures of the perfectly organized closets, cupboards and garages of organization gurus makes them feel like failures.

If clutter is messing with your home sale or move, don’t try to become the perfectly organized maven right now. Just get the basics down so that you can move on:

• Take small bites: Remember the old adage, ” How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!” Don’t try to tackle the whole house at once. If you have children, consider starting with their toys. Look for ones they’ve outgrown and no longer play with. You don’t need to get rid of them just yet; try putting them in a clearly marked box out of sight. If your biggest challenge is your closet, pull out the clothes from the season farthest away (winter if it’s spring or summer if it’s fall) and put them in clear storage bins. That way, you can see them, but they aren’t taking up the space that your current wardrobe needs.
• Time yourself: give yourself just one hour (or less) at a time to declutter one space. Tackle the junk drawer in the kitchen (yes, we all have one) and get rid of the odd paperclips, rubber bands, loose screws and broken pencils. Once you’re done with that one task, just get on with life … don’t think you have to do it all in one day.
• Use the doubling rule: if you think it’s going to take one day to organize—plan for two. If you think you can do it in two weeks, plan for four. That way, if you get done in less time you’ll be energized rather than being disappointed that it took longer.
• Use simple strategies: When organizing a room, use one box for KEEP, one for GIVE, one for DISCARD and one for SAVE. The KEEP box is for items that need to go back into that room, so it is a temporary resting place while you sort. The GIVE box is for anything you plan to give to friends, family or charity. Use the SAVE box for items that belong in a different location or that need to be in long-term storage. As you move from room to room, you’ll resort this box and return items to their proper room. The final box—DISCARD—may be the hardest one of all. Use it for anything broken, torn, damaged or otherwise unusable: just get rid of it. One caveat: if you plan to have a garage sale, add one more box called SELL for those items. If you don’t sell the items at your garage sale, move them to the GIVE box.

If you need to know which items to declutter for your home sale, talk to us!. We know what can turn off a buyer or make your home sale take longer … so tackle those items first.