How Your Home is Killing You
11th March 2008
Author: Greg Ellingson

Carbon monoxide is a well-known household threat, as are lead paint and toxic household cleaners. But one lesser known killer can cause the deaths of over a hundred times more people than carbon monoxide poisoning can. This toxin is present in varying degrees in homes all across America, and can quietly slip through the cracks in your foundation and into your basement. Like most artful poisons, it has no odor, taste, or color, and causes no noticeable symptoms until it's too late. You can get lung cancer from it at a rate that is second only to cigarette smoking. There are estimates that approximately 20,000 people die annually from this unknown threat, and what's worse is the fact that it comes from a naturally occurring event that can't be stopped. All homeowners can do is try to prevent and/or slow down its progress before it claims any more lives.




This harbinger of death is called radon. It is a radioactive gas that is created by the decay of uranium that exists in the ground below us. Soil, water, and rock formations are all sources of radon. It seeps quietly into your home, usually through cracks in the foundation, and if the area is not properly ventilated, the gas gets trapped indoors.




Radon becomes deadly when it is breathed in. Particles of the gas can attach to the inner lining of your lungs, slowly damaging the tissue, leading to cancerous tumors. If you are a smoker, your risk of getting lung cancer is increased ten-fold, as cigarettes themselves already contain Polonium-210, another source of cancer-causing radiation.




Because radon is naturally occurring, there is not much that one can do to stop it. However, there are steps that homeowners can take to prevent the gas from entering their homes.




Your first and best defense against radon poisoning is to test your home for its presence. While most of us have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in our homes, a large segment of the population has never heard of radon, or know the threat that it can pose. Homeowners can purchase a home testing kit that they can use themselves, or they can hire a qualified radon tester in their local area.




There are two types of tests for radon: short term and long term. Short term tests are performed from as little as two days, up to a few months, depending on the type used. These testing kits can give fast, accurate results. Short term tests are especially useful during the sale of a home, when time is short and a buyer needs to know that the property is safe.




Long term tests, as their name implies, take longer, but provide a better overall picture of your home's radon level. This is because radon levels can shift from day to day, and can greatly increase during periods of renovation. To learn the average levels over the course of a year, it is best to use a long term testing kit. Long term tests used in conjunction with short term tests can also be useful when selling your home, as you can easily reassure the potential buyer that your home is safe now, and poses little risk during the course of the year.




If you discover that radon levels are high, seal all cracks in the foundation immediately. This will prevent some of the radon from getting into your home. Don't allow yourself to have a false sense of security by simply sealing the openings; you should also install a vent pipe and fan, which are referred to as "sub-slab depressurization systems." These will help to prevent further radon from coming into your home, as well as disperse existing radon gas outdoors. Other methods such as soil suction can be effective as well, but be sure to hire a contractor who is licensed to install radon systems. The contractor will be able to test your home for gas levels, and be able to determine the best course of action, depending on your home's structure.




Test for radon annually or every two years to ensure the safety of your home, and remember that while your home is your haven from the rest of the world, it is not always safe.

How Many Homes Should I See?
11th March 2008
Author: M Shane

Many buyers, though especially first-time buyers, wonder how exactly to go about the home-buying process. Specifically, many wonder how many homes they should look at before deciding on one that is right for them. There isn't always one simple answer for that question, as it really depends on your needs, the specific market you are looking at, and a bit of luck as well.




In general, it is always a good idea to be familiar with the types of homes available in various areas of your market, and the price ranges they are in. Looking at homes on the internet is a good way to get started on this. While the small pictures and brief descriptions don't really tell you a lot about a home, they will give you a basic idea of what the type of home you are looking for is selling at. For example, if you are looking for a newer home with three bedrooms in a certain part of town, chances are that prices will be similar for similar product. Variability in price comes with quality, age, size, view and other factors, but looking at homes on the internet can give you an idea of what is available, and what price range that type of home is in. Realize that different parts of town can dramatically affect the price of homes.




If you aren't as sure of what you want as the example cited above, looking at homes on the internet can be especially valuable in just showing you what is available. In both instances, looking at as many homes as possible is recommended to get the best idea of what the market is like, and to decide what type of home and in what neighborhoods your would prefer buying.




Once you are sure you are ready to buy, and ideally have already been pre-qualified for a mortgage and have a good idea of the price range you are looking at, you will be ready to look at homes in person. Again using the internet as a resource, buyers can narrow down their list of homes they'd like to view. If possible, find out the address of homes you are interested and do a drive-by. Often this is enough to either pique your interest further, or help you know the home isn't what you're looking for. Remember, never disturb tenants or homeowners by going onto a property that is for sale without making an appointment with a Realtor first. A drive-by is just that, driving by the home to get a feel for the neighborhood and to see some details about the home and property that might not be obvious in any pictures of it posted online.




How many homes you look at depends, as I stated at the beginning, on what is available, as well as how motivated you are to buy now. If you are in a hurry to buy, and find a suitable home quickly, then you may actually only end up looking at a couple of homes. However, if you are taking your time to find just the right place, then chances are you will view far more homes over a more extended period of time. Remember, it is important to express all your wants and needs to your Realtor. They will help weed out the homes that are most suited to you. While Realtors will be happy to show you any and all homes you are interested in, it is prudent to keep your viewing relevant so as not to waste your or your Realtor's time.




When deciding how many homes to view in one day, realize that after seeing so many homes, they may all begin to blur into each other in your memory. The maximum number of homes that can be viewed objectively in one day is probably around 10, and even that is a lot. More than that and it may become hard to remember details about some of the homes. Taking notes on each address visited is a good way to compare homes you've viewed and keep track of details that are important to you.




Because buying a home is such an important decision, many people are hesitant to take the plunge. But if you find the perfect home for you after viewing just a few homes, don't be afraid to go ahead and buy it. The real estate market isn't like the consumer goods market where there are a dozen of the same item in the stock-room. Each home is unique, and another buyer could come along and snap up your dream home if you don't act. That said, scheduling a second viewing on another day, after you've had time to think about the home or homes you think are closest to fitting your needs, is always a good idea.




So when determining how many homes one should view, the only general rule I would give is to view until you find the right home. If you are new to buying real estate, this might take a little longer, or it might not. No one wants to buy an overpriced home, or a home with hidden problems, and many people feel like they need to shop around a bit until they understand the market. Of course, an experienced Realtor can help you avoid these pitfalls. So, in short, if you find a great home very quickly, then buy it and consider yourself lucky. If you are having a hard time finding what you want, keep looking.




EddyKicker.com is your source of information for Greenville SC real estate. Visit the site for information on Greer real estate and more.

25 Excellent Questions to Ask Potential Real Estate Agents
10th March 2008
Author: rimrocknow

Remember these 25 questions when interviewing potential real estate agents to ensure you find an agent who will represent your best interests.

One of the most important decisions you can make as a buyer is choosing the right real estate agent. Ideally, you want to find someone you trust that will represent your best interest. Everyone knows that it’s a buyer’s market right now. And a good real estate agent can help make your dream home a reality. To help with the process of interviewing realtors please consider the following sample questions.

1. Are you a full-time or part-time realtor?

2. How long have you been working in the real estate industry?

3. How long have you been representing buyers?

4. How many years have you been working in this area?

5. What professional designations do you hold?

6. What is your specialty?

7. Can you give me the phone numbers of recent buyers you’ve helped?

8. Will you provide a free consultation?

9. What is your opinion on the recent market slump?

10. With home prices dropping should I wait to buy?

11. Do you have a website? If so what is the URL?

12. Do you have a blog? If so, who writes the entries?

13. Have you heard of Zillow? Do you trust and/or work with it?

14. What is the best way to get a hold of you?

15. Do you have an assistant, team, or staff to the different parts of a transaction?

16. Can I email you questions and concerns?

17. How are calls to your office handled when you’re out?

18. Can you refer me to a good mortgage lender, appraiser, and/or inspector?

19. Why should I choose you instead of your competition?

20. Will you show me listings from other companies?

21. Will you be able to work around my schedule for showings?

22. How many other buyers are you working with at this time?

23. How do you structure your fees?

24. If I’m unhappy with your work, will I able to terminate our buyer’s agreement?

25. Are there any questions you commonly get asked that I may have missed?

The Benefits of Having a Realtor
Posted: 12-02-2006 | Views: 28
Author: David S

All you have to do is look around your town or city to see WHY you need to have a realtor. Properties are being bought and sold everyday with the benefit of market research and planning. Often times these two elements are outside the scope of a person who wishes to sell their own home. Sure, you know what kind of equity you put into your own home, but how much did that other house down the street sell for? What kind of pricing is affecting the homes around you currently? Do you know how to reach out to prospective home buyers? These questions all lend to reasons why there are benefits of having a realtor.

Benefit 1: Market Research

Realtors have the benefit of not only searching the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) for you while finding a home or property you might like, but they also are privy to any phone calls that come into the office that might be from new sellers who are wishing to sell as soon as possible without going into the MLS. As a person who is not represented by a real estate agent, you would be missing out on these deals. Agents also have the benefit of researching market analyses of different property types in the area that you are looking to buy or sell in. This is invaluable information as it would go towards how much something is definitely worth.

Benefit 2: Planning and Consultation

Realtors are the people who have gone through assisting with 100’s of home closings and home selling situations. They are the ones to consult with in understanding how to sell your home. Do you keep you animals away when you have a home showing, and how much do you clean up? What do you want to highlight and what do you want to keep in the background. These are all questions that real estate agents can assist with.

Benefit 3: They are on your side

You will never have someone as ferocious on your side to help you buy or sell a home. Realtors are commission based for their service fees, but they rely on their network of clients to bring in their next client. Without their network, they wouldn’t have anyone to represent. That being said, they will do everything possible to get what you want. Without satisfying their clients, they would have no clients!

As you can see, realtors offer quantified benefits outside of assisting in purchasing or selling your home. They understand the nuances, the paperwork, and most importantly- your needs.

Want to escape the big city and move to a small town?
Escaping crime, car alarms and a high cost of living?
Here's the Real Deal.


1. Each small town has a unique personality.

Do your research -- and don't stop with the internet. Talk
to people who live there. Ask who stays and who leaves.

2. Housing prices may surprise you.

Expecting a bargain? As retirees flood an area, prices rise,
especially if there are natural limits to expansion. If
prices are low and houses are hard to sell, the local rental
market may be tight.

3. Be prepared to be active in your new community.

Often friendships develop from belonging to groups: Chamber
of Commerce, churches, hiking -- whatever interests you.
Volunteering may be the norm.

4. Be self-sufficient.

"Be good at entertaining yourself:" that's what many small
town dwellers identify as the secret to small town
happiness.

5. Identify your "must haves" and be sure you will have
them.

Crave an occasional espresso? Fresh-baked bread? A nearby
shopping mall? Check your destination to see what's
available. Inevitably, there will be some wonderful options
you didn't expect -- and some favorites will be missing.

6. Bring an independent source of income with you.

Jobs may be scarce. If you work for a local company, you may
have trouble finding a new job if something goes wrong. And
since people know each other, you can get branded as
"difficult" more easily.

7. Be flexible.

No matter how careful your research, you will have
surprises. It may never occur to you to ask, "Do you
have..." Customs vary widely when it comes to social life,
real estate transactions, and more.

8. Stay in touch with your previous life.

Use email and phone to stay connected to friends, family,
and even big city newspapers. Encourage friends to visit. In
the long run, you will probably get comfortable faster than
if you bury your past and try to "go it alone."

9. Do not anticipate that small town dwellers will be less
sophisticated.

Many newcomers are retirees, fleeing from big city life, and
others have lived and traveled all over the world.

10. A dog helps.

Your dog will probably enjoy the fresher air, slower pace
and larger yard. Your dog's happiness will be contagious.
And a dog is the best companion for long walks in the
countryside or around town as you explore your new home.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. Author, Career Coach, Speaker

It is  just unbelievable that many novice investors are ready to invest their hard earned cash without taking time to study their investment and only rely on traditional market trends. Before you invest in real estate take time to learn all about market trend. By aligning yourself with right professional, you could avoid these following 6 common mistakes and you’ll ensure a brilliant return on your investment.

Failure to decide your time need - Cash flow, capital approval, tax advantages, loss of management, equity pay down and pride of ownership are few things which require to be addressed before you make real estate investment. A service minded real estate professional could be a marvelous asset by taking the time to assess your needs and making sure you’ve got all your bases covered.

Forgetting you are buying a business - Owning investment property carries with it an immense potential for creating capital and some potentially difficult decisions. Evictions, re-investment into the real estate property and time organization all require careful inspection.

Avoid negative cash flow - Property that eats cash every month could drain up your working capital. This would create stress, aggravation and also becomes quite painful. Predicting constant approval is enormously difficult for the unseasoned investor. A strain on your cash flow might even root you to sell the investment before the benefits of ownership are ever realized.

Failure to do a thorough inspection - You need to look under every rock! Hire an expert inspector. Ask the tenants about pest problems, structural spoil or any other reoccurring problems. Don’t miss anything! A value driven real estate expert would assist you find the right inspector and could help you avoid expensive mistakes. When investing your hard earned money be certain and use sound business judgment!

Get a bill of sale - Many types of personal property (appliances, furniture, fixtures, etc.) could be involved in a real estate investment sale. Have very detailed information on who owns what!

Charge Fair Rents - Vacancies, turnovers and rent terminators are your chief expense. Charge fair rents, treat your tenants with esteem and respond as fast as possible to their needs. It’s a lot less expensive in the long run to take care of the little problems before they become large problems.

Investment property could be one of the most pleasing aspects of your financial portfolio. Be sure to have all your ducks in same row before you invest. Do your homework! Consult with an expert real estate agent and defend yourself from the hidden troubles that could plague first time investors.


Perfect Information and sound knowledge leads even a small group of real estate investors to reach record level revenue through internet. To know more on Real Estate Investing and Real Estate Investor Websites visit http://www.realestatewebprofits.com.

Author: Rob Parker | Views: 4

The Southern Ontario area known as the “Golden Horseshoe” welcomes you to the beautiful and vibrant City of Burlington located in the western end of the greater Toronto area. Situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario between Hamilton and Toronto, Burlington also offers easy access to the Niagara Falls region within about one hour.
The effects of Lake Ontario moderate the weather around the City of Burlington, reducing extreme temperature fluctuations. The summers tend to be on the humid side, the winters cold and dry, with somewhat heavier snowfalls due to this lake effect.
This city offers residential communities that reflect a spectrum of both old and new homes, condominiums and apartments in neighbourhoods of varying size, era, and architectural design.
Variety of lifestyle is important to the residents of Burlington and the city strives to develop and offer a diverse selection of activities for the residents. Family outings, sports and cultural activities can be enjoyed throughout the city. Burlington is home to six community centres, four indoor and two outdoor pools and three splash pads. Hockey is accessed at seven ice pads throughout the city, for boys, girls and adults.
Parkland is abundant in Burlington covering an area of over 2,800 acres, including eight golf courses. Springtime fragrance in the city is heightened by the Royal Botanical Garden’s lilac collection, the largest in the world.
The Bruce Trail and Niagara Escarpment offer some of the best hiking in the world. If you’re looking for some landscapes of distinction, keep your eyes open for the five waterfalls located in the Burlington area. On King Road, north of Bayview Park you will find the mystery and wonder of a magnetic hill. There is only one other naturally occurring magnetic hill in Canada.
Although Burlington is not considered a port anymore, the marina at LaSalle Park offers recreational opportunities for those with an interest in navigating watercraft on the brisk waters of Burlington Bay and Lake Ontario. Burlington has also been developing the downtown waterfront and Spencer Smith Park as a destination for play, relaxation and celebration for local residents and visitors.
The City of Burlington is a vibrant and growing community – a wonderful place to call home.

1. Ride the Neighborhood in the Early Evening: By doing this you
will see the people who live in the area and how they live. You
will see the condition of the cars, and if any conditions exist
(loitering, loud music, etc...) which you may find objectionable.
Do this more than once, and be sure to include Friday and
Saturday nights.

2. Get a Home Inspection: Many home purchasers bypass this step
because it will cost them a couple hundred dollars. However, a
couple hundred dollars up front will let you know exactly what
you are buying and reveal any problems you might not have noticed
on your walkthrough. Real Estate Appraisers are not Home
Inspectors. Appraisers make only a casual inspection of the
property and are not trained to identify any problems other than
the obvious. Do not rely on relatives who are contractors. If
they are wrong, they probably won't have Errors and Omissions
Insurance for you to file against. Get a professional Home
Inspector.

3. Visit the Local Police Department: Police Departments know the
crime in an area better than anyone. Many will even print you a
report of the crime history of a neighborhood. Once you buy a
house, you are stuck with the neighborhood wether you like it or
not. While you are at the Police Department, if you have kids,
ask for a crime report on the school your child will be
attending.

4. Check the Sexual Offender Register: Do you want to live next
do to a child molester or rapist? Few of us do. The local
Sheriff's Department will have a list of all sexual offenders
living in the area.

5. Check with the Local Road Department: Do you want to move into
a house and later discover there are plans to run a freeway
through your living room the next year, or there are changes
planned that will turn your nice quiet cul-de-sac into a
thoroughfare?

6. Check with the Local Zoning Board: The woods next door may be
beautiful, but they may not appear so beautiful when you find out
the land is zoned for a strip club, saw mill, convenience store,
or apartments. Most cities and counties keep a wall map you can
look at and tell in a few minutes if there are any allowed land
uses you would find objectionable.

7. Obtain a Utility Cost History for the House: Most utility
companies will print out a history of the utility costs for the
property. High utility costs can be the result of an underground
water leak, a malfunctioning furnace or air conditioner unit, or
lack of proper insulation, among many other causes. None of these
are cheap to fix.

8. Talk to the Neighbors Before You Sign the Contract: Often,
neighbors will know more about the house than anyone besides the
previous owner. They will also know about the neighborhood. Tell
them you are interested in purchasing the house, and find out
what they know. This also gives you a chance to determine if you
will like your neighbors and their lifestyles.

9. Research the Former Uses of the Land and the Adjoining Land:
Was there an old gas station down the road at one time? Was there
a factory nearby years ago? Was there a town dump around the
corner back in the 1930's? All of this is important. Soil and
water contamination from a property a mile away can affect your
health and the resale value of your property. The Environmental
Protection Agency publishes a list of hazardous sites. You may be
surprised at how many are located in your area.

10. Add to the contract that the Seller will furnish to you for
your review all plans, specifications, surveys, warranties,
appraisals, or other information he has in his possession
regarding the property within a specified number of days of
signing the contract. Additionally, the contract should state
that, upon purchasing the house, these documents become your
property. You may find this information very valuable.

11. Count the Vacant Houses: A large number of vacant houses in a
neighborhood may indicate that something is happening in the
neighborhood that is undesirable. There is always some reason for
vacancies. Often, it is just the normal market functioning as it
should. But, when vacancies are excessive, it could be that the
local economy has turned down, the foreclosure rate is high, or
something more sinister is happening like gang problems in the
neighborhood. If you find a lot of vacancies you can often use
this information to negotiate a better price on the house you are
purchasing.

12. Count the For Rent and For Sale Signs: Do this for the same
reason you count the vacancies. Additionally, a high number of
rentals in a neighborhood indicate that the neighborhood is less
stable. Remember, the residents of a neighborhood makes the
neighborhood. Most renters are great people (most people are
renters), but because of the high turnover in rentals, the odds
of you having a bad neighbor during your term of ownership are
increased significantly over what it would be with homeowners as
neighbors.

There are all kinds of hidden problems you may not find about
until it is too late, unless, of course, you do your homework.
The key is information. You can not have too much. Question
anyone who might be familiar with the area or the property. Real
estate agents often know very little about the house or the
neighborhood. Sellers will usually keep their mouths shut and
reveal no more than what they legally are required to reveal. It
is up to you to do your homework.

Home Buying 101 – How to Avoid The One Syndrome
Posted: 19-01-2006 | Views: 32
Author: Brandon Cornett

When you're shopping for your first home -- of any home for that matter -- it's easy to get caught up in the excitement. And that's only natural.

Buying a new home should excite you. But you also need to be analytical and realistic about the home buying process. After all, there's a lot of money on the line.

Truth is, many buyers err on the side of emotion. In their excitement, they overlook aspects of a home or neighborhood that would normally turn them away. Next thing they know, there's a contract on the table and earnest money in the bank. In short, they succumb to "The One" Syndrome.

What is this syndrome, and how do you know if you're a victim? Here's a test:

If, during your home buying experience, you've ever pulled up to a house and blurted "This is the one!" before even getting out of the car … you've been a victim of "The One" syndrome.

There's nothing wrong with feeling good about a house based on a first impression. Truth is, first impressions say a lot about a house, so they should be part of your decision-making criteria. But you must remain objective in spite of your excitement. Here's why:

Emotion has a way of playing with our heads. A strong emotional reaction can blind you to other realities that would normally be crystal clear. In home buying terms, this means you might overlook serious flaws or disadvantages about a house as a result of your excitement.

Here are some tips to help you balance emotion with logic for a safer home buying experience.

1. Pretend you're screening the house for a friend, not for yourself. This will help you remain cool-headed and business-like throughout your visit.

2. Another take on the friend approach is to bring a friend along with you. A friend can give you an objective viewpoint and might help you remember things about a house you wouldn't otherwise recall.

3. Have a checklist before visiting each house. The list should include all the things you're looking for in a house, arranged by most to least important. Having them on paper will remind you to check the house for them -- even in a state of, shall we say, heightened emotion.

4. When you find a house you like, visit it more than once. You'll be amazed at the things you notice the second time around, after your initial excitement has worn off.

Of course, if you're in a seller's market where houses sell quickly, you'll have less time for the tactics listed above. But it still pays to be objective.

Home buying brings out all kinds of emotions. That's only natural. But for something that affects your life so dramatically -- and so financially -- it pays to keep a cool head. And don't worry, you'll find "the one" soon enough.

Pre-Purchase Inspection
Posted: 03-02-2006 | Views: 59
Author: Steve Gillman

Should you do your own pre-purchase inspection? Yes and no. Yes, you should inspect a house before you write an offer on it. Then you should put an inspection contingency clause in the offer, and hire a professional inspector. Why do both?

Doing your own inspection can help you get a better deal. Each cracked window or leaky toilet you can find is a negotiating point. You see, you could just make a low offer, but a seller is more likely to accept your offer if you have reasons for it being lower. In fact, you should attach a list of your concerns to the offer, as an explanation and justification for your price.

Use a list as you walk through the house. Using a home inspection checklist keeps you from forgetting things. You don't have to know the difference between 12-gauge and 14-gauge wiring, or become an expert on all the building trades, as useful as this would be. Just use what you do know, and make a note if something looks "odd" or "smells funny." Afterwards, you can have a professional inspector take a closer look.

Pay for a professional pre-purchase inspection. Unless you really know a lot, it can save your neck financially. An acquaintance of mine just discovered that the house he made an offer on was almost beyond hope, because their was so much termite and other damage. He backed out of the deal, and considering the tens of thousands of damage he hadn't planned on, I don't think he's regretting the $300 he spent on inspections.

Do a walk-through inspection yourself, by all means. Just also put that clause in the contract allowing you to have professional inspections too. Now, how do you choose the right person to do the inspections? Carefully.

Pre-Purchase Inspection - Choosing An Inspector

For specific inspections that are customary in your area, you can rely on most reputable companies. Termite inspections are the norm here in Tucson, for example, and it's cheap to get one done by a pest control company (they hope to get the job if there are termites to be eradicated). If the roof has obvious problems, you can get a roofer to take a look and give you an itemized quote.

For general pre-purchase inspections, though, it isn't as easy to hire the right person. In many states it is relatively easy to get licensed for general home inspection. What you really want, though, is not someone that read the right books and passed a test, but an inspector with real life experience. Ideally, you want a former builder or tradesman that has real experience with everything from electrical work to roofing to plumbing and more.

You want to know what is wrong, but you also want to know what it will cost to fix these problems. Not all inspectors will have that information for you. Ask if they can give you estimates for repairing any problem they find, even if only in the form of a range of the possible cost. You may be re-negotiating the price based on his findings. You could call in contractors to get quotes on big problems, but you need to at least know which are big problems, and a good inspector should be able to tell you.

To sum up: Do your own walk-through inspection, then hire a professional. Ask about their experience. Ask if they can note estimated costs next to problems found. If you want to learn more, ask if maybe you can tag along for the inspection. Do these things and you'll have a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

9 Simple tips to protect you and your things while moving
Posted: 06-02-2006 | Views: 1
Author: Paul Wilson

Adding to the excitement or nervousness of moving is the dilemma of packing. Mankind, being pack rats, tends to gather a lot of clutter over the years --things of use, of sentimental value, gifts, brick-a brack, and family heirlooms. Some are treasured while others tolerated. When the time comes to move there are hard and heartrending decisions to make.

Determine how much you are allowed to take with you. Find out the floor space in your new home. Be practical and:

• Make a list of “must haves.”
• Arrange to put all other things in storage or have an auction or garage sale.
• Put aside things you want to give to charity.
• Disconnect, clean, and repair appliances a week before packers arrive.
• Make arrangements to transport plants and pets or find new homes for them. Most packers will not transport plants and pets. You will need to take them by car, train, or plane to your new destination.

Here are a few guidelines:

• Hire professionals to pack fine china, breakable antiques, silverware, furniture, and heavy appliances. This will save breakage costs and the consignment can be insured.

• Undertaking to handle the bulk of packing yourself, it saves money. Start with non fragile things: books, clothes, linen, shoes, as well as inexpensive kitchen ware.

 Use small boxes –no box should weigh more than say 15-20 kilos.

 Jewelry and other irreplaceable items should be handled and transported personally. Pack with bubble wrap and carry it yourself as luggage.

 Boxes must be of the ideal size and good strength. Wardrobe boxes are ideal for expensive clothing. Use padded dish boxes for packing chinaware. Use free boxes obtained from the supermarket for jeans, t-shirts, shoes, toys, and everyday non-fragile items like tea cups and coffee mugs.

 Use as buffer: old newspapers, bubble wrap, sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and towels. Every item should be wrapped individually. Fill empty paces between objects with torn paper bits so that things don’t rattle around when shifted.

 Pack plates and glass objects vertically instead of flat.

 Seal boxes using duct tape or plastic strapping used by movers.

 Mark each box clearly—put a number or code that corresponds to your master list. Paste a label with name, address, destination, and contact number. Use pre-printed labels or an indelible marker.

 Boxes containing fragile items should be marked clearly as “fragile” with an arrow showing which the “top” side is.

• Make an inventory. Include a detailed list with corresponding box number and which room it is for in the new home.

• Pack a first day box. Mark it to be opened first. Load it last. It should contain: medicines, food, baby needs, and copies of house documents, emergency numbers, soap, towels, and insecticide. Include a few sleeping bags in case of emergency.

Move economically. Make a plan or timetable. Start weeks in advance. Try and locate a plan of your new home so that you can decide what to take with you and what to store.

Most mortgages have the option to allow payments to be made on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. This option may be desirable for two reasons. The first is it can save you money as you can expect to pay off your mortgage about 4 years sooner. This can save you dramatically over the life of your mortgage. The other reason why these options are so popular is that if your employer pays you on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, you can simplify your budgeting by making the payment line up with the way you paid.

Paying extra amounts on your mortgage can make a big interest saving over time. When we select a mortgage company, privilege payments options are something that we look for. A 20% privilege payment will allow you to pay off up to $20,000 per year on a $100 000 mortgage. It is important that the privilege payment also be flexible to allow you to pay smaller payments on the mortgage and as often as you wish. An extra $1000 periodically paid on a mortgage can help you become mortgage free faster.

When you require a mortgage for more than 80% of the purchase price of a property, that mortgage must be insured by Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC) or GE Mortgage insurance. The premium charged by these company`s decreases as the down payment increases. When you finance your property at 95%, a premium of 3.75% is added to the mortgage. By increasing the down payment to 10% of the purchase price the premium can be reduced to 2.5%. If you can put down 20%, you can avoid any additional insurance fee. Depending on your situation there are ways that you can structure this financing to avoid the CMHC or GE insurance premium.

As mentioned above, when you put a 25% down payment on your purchase you can avoid the CMHC premium. More importantly the larger the down payment, the lower the amount of interest you will pay over the life of your mortgage. It is important to note that it may not be wise to stretch yourself to increase your down payment and end up borrowing on credit cards or a line of credit at a higher rate.