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Archive for the ‘Action Plan for Moving’ Category

5 Tips for a Successful Move

1. Make sure that your moving quote is based upon a visual survey.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when booking a move is assuming that a phone quote is guaranteed. Most of the time, the only way to obtain a binding quote is to have your household goods visually surveyed by a moving company.

2. Use a reputable mover for your move.
The American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) has established the ProMover program to provide an easy way for consumers to separate reputable professional movers from rogue operators and con artists.

3. Read all documents before signing.
Once you have been provided a written quote, make sure you read before signing. The quote should document weight, distance, and services to be rendered. If you have verbally discussed any special services make sure that those needs are reflected in the estimate.

4. Make sure you have adequate valuation coverage.
Standard coverage for interstate moves, which all carriers are required to provide, is 60 cents per pound. This amount will be inadequate if an expensive item is damaged in your move. Additional insurance can be purchased through the carrier or through your home insurance policy.

5. Schedule your move dates early
Much is being done to meet the needs of the moving public. You can improve your chances by reserving your move dates well in advance. Currently 4 – 8 weeks advance notice is advised.

If you would like to contact a Prudential Real Estate agent today, please call 573.449.6200 or email Info@PrudentialVision.com.  Prudential Vision Properties is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Your Unused Stuff.

We all have rooms, attics, basements, etc full of things that we are holding on to because one day it might become useful.

Here’s the thing….you know just as well as I that those items are not going to get used.  Well “It has sentimental value.” Here is the question to ask yourself……if it has sentimental value, why is it being hidden?  Put it out on a counter, shelf or display of some sort.

I do it too.  There are things sitting in my attic that I have not even touched since I moved into my home.  I need to come to the reality that I DO NOT NEED IT!

So instead of pitching it to go and sit in a landfill try these tips.

1) Consider renting it out.  Your power tools & equipment, sporting equipment, dvd, books, video games, etc can all get put to use and you get paid for it.  Why not make your money back on items that you use only once in awhile.  There are many online sites that allow for buy, sell, trade of items.

Here are a few:

Power tools: zilok.com, rentcycle.com

Sporting Equiqment: snapgoods.com, neighborgoods.com

Clothing: i-ella.com

DVDs, Video games, books: murfrie.com, swap.com

Backyard Garden: sharedearth.com, yardshare.com

Parking & Transportation: relayrides.com, parkatmyhouse.com

“One Man’s Trash…”: freecycle.com, ILoveFreegle.org

2) Goodwill/Salvation Army- Everyone has one that they prefer over the other.  You can take your stuff there (or better yet call them to have your stuff picked up) and they will give you a receipt you can use to write off for your taxes- contact a tax professional to verify.  First, you will want to make a list of all the items and the estimated value you could have sold them for.

3) Consignment Stores-  These stores are perfect for your gently used clothing.  You can take your clothing in and receive money back.  INSTANT GRATIFICATION!  Take that money and put it towards that vacation you have been saving up for.

You can’t afford to not look into these great options.

Do-It-Yourself: Tiling

Do-it-yourself projects are a great way to update your home and save money.  Making updates can add value to your home, but the keep is to keep your costs low.  Make sure you choose the right projects.  Some projects will present a return on your money and some projects will be solely for your pleasure.  Here is one project that is sure to ad value to your home, if done correctly.
Tiling.  This is a very popular do-it-yourself project.  Head out to your local home improvement store and it is likely you can sign up for a class to learn the basics of tiling.  There is also an abundance of how-to videos online to assist you in this project.  Here are some bullet points to aid you in this new venture.

Before

• Step 1- Measure the room.  How many square feet of tile will you be needing? Length times width.  Remember this from geometry?  If you are like me, you may need a calculator for this part. So for an example if you have a room that is 10 foot by 10 foot, you will have 100 square feet. This information will help you determine how many tiles you need to buy.
• Step 2- Select the tile you would like to use.  Be prepared to spend an entire day on this step.  There is a huge variety of tile.  Size, texture, color, function, price, type of tile, etc all effect the price of the tile.  So be sure to go in with your budget in mind. Porcelain and ceramic tile are less expensive than marble and travertine.  But, both options are durable and are made to last.  Always get a little extra because tiles can break during installation.  Plus you may want a few extra to keep for replacements down the road.
  
• Step 3- Head out to the hardware/ home improvement store for supplies.  Here are some supplies that will be helpful for laying tile.  Knee pads, chalk line, tile cutter or saw, tile nippers, mortar and bucket to mix it in, drill attachment for mixing mortar, trowel to spread mortar, tile, plastic tile spacers, grout and bucket to mix it in, trowel to apply grout, sponge to remove excess grout, sealant, and sealant application bottle.
• Step 4- Clean the area thoroughly.  You don’t want any pieces of dirt or old mortar on the floor because it will cause the floor to be uneven.
• Step 5- Develop your game plan.  Decide where you are going to start your tile, will your grout lines be perpendicular or angled, etc.
• Step 6- Lay out a chalk line to ensure an even first row.
• Step 7- Mix the mortar.
• Step 8- Laying the tile: spread only a small amount at a time; it dries quickly. Place your first tile square with the chalk line.  Press it firmly into the mortar and use a plastic spacer to get the next tile spaced perfectly.  Repeat.  You will need to make cuts at certain points.  A tile saw works best, but use what you have!
• Step 9- Remove the spacers and let the tiles set for 24 hours.  Don’t walk or move the tiles during this time.  The mortar needs time to set up.
• Step 10- Once your tiles have set for 24 hours, it’s time to grout!  Mix your grout and then trowel it between the lines.
  
• Step 11- Wait 10 minutes, then use a wet sponge wiping DIAGONALLY to clean off the excess grout.  Allow to dry for 72 hours before sealing in your grout.
• Step 12- Seal the grout.

Have faith in your abilities and you’ll have something you’ve done with a real sense of pride and ownership.

After

Keep It Green

To keep your grass lush and green this summer make sure it gets plenty of water.  And since we all know that it isn’t going to rain consistently during the summer, here are some watering suggestions to keep that yard you have worked so hard to get.

1. Water deeply – Whether watering in the summer, spring or fall, make sure you give your yard plenty of water at one time.  This will ensure the water gets down deep in the soil and encourage the grass roots to grow deeper.
2. Space out your watering – Sine you will be giving your lawn a lot of water at once, spacing your watering out will encourage the roots grow down deep into the soil for water instead of staying superficial on the surface (where they will be more likely to burn from the summer’s sun.
3. Apply wetting agents – The trick golf courses use to keep their greens thick, healthy and green are wetting agents.  This should be done by a professional and can be costly, however.
4. Pre-condition the lawn – If a time of drought is expected, start preparing your lawn by spreading out your waterings further ahead of time, rather than suddenly ending the watering.
5. Avoid fertilizers – Applying fertilizers to your lawn during a season of drought is a BIG no-no.  This could actually do more harm to your lawn than you would expect.
6. Raise the mower height – By raising the cutting height on your mower, you will be encouraging root growth in your grasses. This will help the grass stay greener longer during a drought season.
7. Increase potassium – Before the drought season begins, try changing to a fertilizer containing a higher level of potassium.  Potassium is said to encourage root growth in your grass.
8. Decrease nitrogen – Try using fertilizer with less nitrogen prior to the drought season.  Nitrogen promotes blade growth of the grass.  During dry seasons, you want your focus to be on the roots.  So the use of nitrogen fertilizers should be during the spring or non-drought seasons.
9. Change grass types – Because drought is expected to happen in the Mid-West, you may want to consider having more Fescue type turf grasses in your yard.  These grasses maintain their green qualities longer during a drought than grasses such as Kentucky or rye.
10. Natural dormancy – Don’t worry if you grass has turned brown and dry during the drought season.  You have NOT killed your grass…….most likely.   Many grasses will actually go into a dormant stage when the water levels get low.  They will revive again quickly when water levels rise in the soil. Your lawn is not actually being damaged by the drought season, it simply doesn’t look as nice.

As you can see there are things you can do to help keep your lawn greener, longer, during a drought period. Just remember, that if you can water, watering longer and less often will be better for your grass that small amounts every day.

By: Kim Coleman

Back in the days before anyone knew better—we’re talking pre-1980—much of the paint used in homes contained lead. Over time, the paint would chip or crumble and the resulting dust caused serious health issues, especially for children and pregnant women.

Lead-based paint was used both inside and outside of homes, most notably on windows, baseboards, trim and doors. Many layers of lead-based paint have been disturbed through the years during remodeling or home repair and it’s necessary for anyone selling a home to be aware of this.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a report revealing that lead can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, resulting in reduced intelligence, learning disabilities and behavioral problems.

In a study released by the Department of Health, the agency reported that about 75% of all homes built before 1978 contain some lead-based paint. Furthermore, it’s estimated that more than 38 million homes in the U.S. still contain lead paint.

So, a chief concern of anyone buying or selling a house should be to address the possibility of any lead paint in the home and it’s vital that anyone dealing with paint in older homes treat it as if it is hazardous material.

Real estate agents and their sellers are required to disclose any presence of known lead paint and lead hazards during the sale or rental of housing. The same holds true for renovation and remodeling contractors, who are required to warn customers of the hazards of lead paint.

Last year, the first federal regulation on the remodeling industry was enacted concerning this important hazard.

To ensure that all lead paint is removed safely and effectively, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting” rule governing the work of professional remodelers in homes where there is lead-based paint was published in the Federal Register on Earth Day, April 22, 2010.

The law requires that anyone who is paid to renovate a home that was built before 1978 be trained and/or certified to follow lead paint safety practices. The new rule lists prohibited work practices, including open-torch burning and using high-heat guns and high-speed equipment such as grinders and sanders unless equipped with a HEPA filter. It also requires a cleaning inspection after the work is completed.

For homeowners who are unsure about their homes, sometimes it’s easier to replace windows, doors, or woodwork than it is to remove the lead-based paint. This way, all traces of any paint will have been removed from the home.

Agents know that there’s no question that a home is worth more if they can say for certain that it contains no lead paint, so for the peace of mind of everyone involved, deal with all lead paint issues as soon as possible.

Kim Coleman can be reached at 573.864.1905. Prudential Vision Properties is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity.