Swift Properties

Feature Property 11/9/2012

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 09:44:21 -0800

Address18743 Saddleback Ridge LoopCityCottonwoodSchool DistrictEvType UnitHouseOccupiedYRent Price1550Deposit1750Date Available11/26Lease Type6 Mo.

HeatingCentCoolingCentFireplaceFpFenced YardNPool SpaNonePetsConsideredGarage2Acreage5

Bedrooms3Bathrooms2.5Square Feet1785LaundryHook Ups

CommentsLovely country home on 5 acres. Split floor plan and lots of granite and tile. Crown molding throughout. Master bedroom features a large walk-in closet and a spa tub with separate shower. Central vac system too. Inside laundry room. Good space for travel trailer or boat. A garden shed too.

Click images for full size

444 E Cypress Ave, Redding, CA 96002

21.5 mi (about 28 mins)

1.Head east on E Cypress Ave towardBechelli Ln0.1 mi2.Slight right to merge onto I-5 S towardSacramento14.8 mi3.Take exit 662 for Bowman Rd towardCounty Road A170.3 mi4.Turn right onto Bowman Rd/Draper Rd

Continue to follow Bowman Rd

2.3 mi5.Turn left onto Hooker Creek Rd3.2 mi6.Turn right onto Saddleback Ridge Rd0.4 mi7.Take the 1st left onto Saddleback Ridge Loop

Destination will be on the left

0.3 mi

18743 Saddleback Ridge Loop, Cottonwood, CA 96022

Featured Property 11/2/2012

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:44:08 -0700

3468 Bechelli Unit F

Address

3468 Bechelli Unit F

City

Redding

Unit Type

Commercial

Levels

Price

695

Deposit

995

Square Feet

1022

Price Per Sq. Foot

.77

Lease Length

Mtm

Date Available

Now

Heating

Cent

Cooling

Cent

Roll Up Garage

220 Electric

Yes

Plumbed For Laundry

Comments

Unit F-G are connected so you would have two possible entrances - Great location for an accountant or billing office - lots of parking - great sign visibility. Ready now. Upstairs Unit. Water, Electric and Trash are paid.

10 Tips for Military Families Finding the Perfect Rental Home

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:20:00 -0700

Define Your Priorities

The moment you have an inkling of an upcoming move, you should start researching your proposed duty station. Talk to friends and search the Internet for information on desired areas to live surrounding the military installation. As we all know, it is dangerous to make any firm plans prior to having orders in hand, but the legwork can begin long before you have confirmation that you are moving. During your research, it is likely that it will become clear what your priorities are: location to work, desired school districts, safe neighborhood, walking distance to nearby attractions and so on. Your research will afford you the knowledge of the typical rental prices for the area and will help you set your budget. Find out what the current BAH rates are for that military base so that you can make an informed decision about how much money you have to work with and what, if any, amount you are willing to spend out-of-pocket. If you have school age children, utilize websites that grade the various individual schools and districts to get an idea of which district you would like to be located within and find the neighborhoods zoned for those schools. Once you have your priorities set it is time for the next step.

Start Early and Search Often

“The early bird gets the worm”, is particularly true when it comes to the rental market. Start searching for a rental home as soon as you are certain of your relocation, which again for military, is typically when you have orders in hand. Search sites such as MilitaryByOwner.com for rental properties near your next duty station. It is important to make a frequent practice of this, as new homes are posted on a constant basis. If you see a new home advertised that you are interested in, do not hesitate to contact the advertiser and open the lines of communication. Depending on the rental market in the area you are relocating to, homes can rent in a matter of hours, so you do not want to wait.

Utilize a Professional

If you do not have the time or energy to devote to finding your next home, then consider hiring a broker in the new area to assist you. This may involve fees, but in the end it could make the process easier and more enjoyable than trying to do it yourself. Another route is to contact a property manager near your new military base to assist you. Property managers often have the pulse on the various neighborhoods or know when homes may be coming on the market. Be sure to be specific about what you are looking for and have then send you photos and details on potential rentals. Working with a property management company, as opposed to a private owner, can often be more comfortable for tenants, so this is something to consider. Friends may not fit into the “professional” category, but they can be invaluable when you are searching for homes from afar. Nobody will have your best interest in mind like a friend will, so if you have friends near your new duty station, utilize them to help you search for the perfect home.

Be Prepared to Submit an Application

If you have found the perfect home and have set up communication with the advertiser, then the next step will likely be to submit a rental application. Most rental applications will ask for information on your previous residence, addresses, dates of occupancy, rent, or own, names of landlords and employment information. Creating a list of this past information will serve you well when trying to provide it in a timely manner.

The landlord may also request that you provide a copy of your orders, as this is a way for them to confirm that you will in fact be stationed in the area. Having this documentation at the ready is often a way to let them know how serious you are about renting their home and can give you the edge over the competition. Just be sure to protect yourself by blacking out any personal information such as a social security number.

Get Your Credit in Order

While having good credit is more of a life rule, as opposed to only when you are looking to rent, you may want to request a free credit report before you submit an application just to look at what your prospective landlord might see when they run one themselves. While you aren’t likely to improve your overall credit score on a moments notice, viewing a credit report will allow you to see if there are any erroneous or outdated marks on your credit report that you could try and clear up or at least address with the landlord upfront.

For information on repairing your credit score, be sure to read our article, “Settle Your Score: The Ins and Outs of Credit Repair”.

Be Upfront and Honest

If you are forthcoming with marks on your credit, bad references or experiences with previous landlords, or the fact that you breed pit bulls, you are establishing a relationship of trust with the landlord. Many of these factors can be overcome if you are willing to share and discuss them with the landlord. If disclosing this type of information is a deal breaker, then it is likely that this would not have been the ideal home for you. Nobody likes to be caught off guard once they have signed the lease document, so being honest from the beginning will ultimately help you in the end.

Military Clause Option

As we know, military life is anything but stable. The three-year orders you received 6 months ago have suddenly been changed and you are on the move yet again. This can send anyone into a state of panic, but particularly when you have a signed a lease agreement for an extended period. Ask the landlord if they are willing to include a military clause in the lease agreement should unforeseen circumstances arise. Landlords that are familiar with the military lifestyle will surely understand your request for this verbiage to be included in the lease. Read more about “Including a Military Clause in Your Lease Agreement”.

Provide References

References from previous landlords are going to carry the most weigh, but if you do not have an extensive rental background, then providing references from employers, neighbors, friends and even family can help the landlord gain vital information on the type of tenant you are likely to be. Give some thought ahead of time as to who you would use as a reference and you may even want to give them a call to ask their permission to provide their information on your application.

Ask for references

Now that we have discussed the various aspects of how you can put your best foot forward, it is important to look at the other side of the relationship. We have all heard the nightmare stories of the landlord that does not respond to their tenants phone calls, does not make timely repairs, has unreasonable expectations, or consistently retains security deposits upon moving out. Well guess what, previous tenants will surely be more than happy to share this information with you, if you are willing to ask. Yes, it seems strange and may even be a bit uncomfortable, but a good landlord will have no problem providing you with the contact information for their current or previous tenants. In fact, the good landlords will probably appreciate the fact that you asked. While it is often believed that the landlord has all of the control when it comes to a landlord/tenant relationship, this is hardly the truth. Landlords are banking on their tenants providing them with a monthly income and taking care of the property, so the relationship is one that should strike balance and mutual respect. For tips on how to ask your prospective landlord for references, please read our post, “Landlord Tenant Role Reversal”.

Follow Your Gut

This is the most important rule of all! Military relocations come with an enormous amount of pressure and stress and the priority of securing housing can drive anyone into frenzy. Take a deep breath and a step back and make sure that there are not any alarms going off inside of your head before you sign your name to that lease agreement. If you have something that seems out of order or alarming, try bouncing it off of someone who is not in the pressure cooker with you. Outside perspective can always help provide some clarity.

There is no better resource for advice and information than from other military members, so if you have tips to add to our list, we would love to hear from you.

We wish all military service members and their families the best of luck on their next relocation.

Monica Schaefer
MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc.

Renting 101 - Moving In? Tips for Tenants Starting a Leased Tenancy

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:21:32 -0700

1

Before Moving In - The Lease

When you sign a lease with a landlord, you are signing a legal contract which carries responsibilities and benefits for both the landlord and the tenant. Most leases are for terms of one year or more. As a result, you want to make sure you understand the lease well and ask any questions you may have before signing it. Failure to review the lease carefully or to understand it, could result in financial or other liability down the road. At a minimum, the lease should state: (1) The beginning and ending dates of the lease; (2) The name(s), address(es) and phone number(s) of the property owner or manager; (3) The amount of the security deposit (if the lease requires any); (4) The amount of last month’s rent required up front; (5) The amount of rent to be paid and when it is due; (6) Who pays utilities and other services; and (7) The legal procedure for the retention and return of the security deposit. Remember to get all promises in writing. If it’s not in writing, it never happened.

2

Illegal Lease Terms

If a lease has an illegal lease term (a provision in the lease that is against the law) it is unenforceable and you are not obligated to follow it. A landlord may also be violating the consumer protection laws for including illegal lease terms in the lease. While it is impossible to list all the possible illegal lease terms, some common ones include: (1) Utilities such as gas, oil, electricity and water: You can’t be required to pay for utilities unless there is a separate meter measuring only the use of your unit AND it’s written in the lease that the tenant is responsible for the utilities (there are special laws and regulations which apply to water/sewage charges); (2) Late payment fee – A landlord can only apply a late payment fee for late rent after 30 days; and (3) Garbage removal: A tenant can only be obligated to pay for garbage removal only if there are fewer than 3 units in the building/home.

3

Before Moving In - Statement of Condition

If your landlord accepts a security deposit from you, then s/he is required to provide you with a Statement of Conditions. This is a very important form which describes the condition of the apartment when you first move in. When you receive this Statement of Conditions, you should walk through the entire leased premises and document any damage or other conditions issues on the form. You should also take pictures of the premises in the condition you found it and save these pictures (you may need them as proof later if a dispute arises). If you do not receive a Statement of Conditions, then you should still document the damages and conditions and give it to the landlord. You may be able to find a helpful form at the Mass Legal Help website (a link is provided below). By taking these steps, your landlord cannot then hold you responsible for damage that already existed before you moved in (and try to keep your security deposit).

4

Security Deposit - It’s YOUR Money

A security deposit belongs to the tenant until such time that a landlord can lawfully deduct from it. That is why the law imposes strict requirements on how landlords must handle a tenant’s security deposit. For example, they must place the security deposit in an interest-bearing account, located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and out of the reach of creditors. When you give a landlord a security deposit, you should receive two receipts: the first when you pay your deposit and the second within thirty days of paying the deposit. The second receipt is the most important as it should provide specific information, including the name of the bank and the account number where your deposit is being held. The security deposit law imposes many other requirements and penalties for noncompliance. If a landlord does not properly comply with this law, a tenant may be entitled to recover up to three times the security deposit in damages, in certain cases.

5

Joint and Several Liability - What Does That Mean?

If there is more than one person on the lease listed as tenants, more likely than not your lease has language regarding “joint and several liability” of the tenants. It’s important that you understand what this means, particularly if you will be sharing the premises with housemates that you do not know very well. This provision means that you and your housemates will be held responsible for the rent and any damage to the unit individually as well as collectively. For example, if your housemate causes damage that you were not involved in causing, you can be held responsible. Also, if your housemate leaves before the lease expires and does not pay rent, a landlord can collect the unpaid rent from your security deposit. (So choose your housemates wisely!)

6

What Can a Landlord Legally Charge Me Before Moving In?

A landlord is limited to what s/he can charge you at the beginning of a tenancy. Under the law, a landlord can only charge for: (1) First month’s rent; (2) Last month’s rent (which is no greater than the first month’s rent); (3) A security deposit (which is no greater than the first month’s rent); and (4) Cost of a purchasing and installing a new lock and key THAT’S IT! Some landlords will try to charge application fees or “finder’s fees.” While some realtors and property managers may be able to collect these fees (because they are not the landlords), these fees are not allowed if charged by a landlord. If you have questions regarding these fees, you should speak to an attorney who may help you determine whether such fees were legally assessed.

7

General Tip During the Tenancy - Put It In Writing!

Good communication between landlords and tenants is an important part of a successful tenancy. When things go wrong, and maybe even end up in court, proving things can be a challenge, particularly if the communication was over the phone or in person. Therefore, when you give your landlord notice of a bad condition in your apartment, you should try to communicate this notice in writing. Under the law, in certain situations, you are not considered to have notified your landlord of a condition unless it is done in writing. This is especially important if your landlord is not responding to phone contact. Also, save copies of all your communication to the landlord and his/her response.

8

Conclusion

As a tenant, you have many rights in landlord/tenant disputes. If you would like further information about any of the topics discussed on this guide, or other problems with your landlord, check out MassLegalHelp.org or speak to attorney. Further, if you’re worried a landlord may try to keep your security deposit unlawfully, or has not returned your deposit within 30 days of the end of the tenancy, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Some attorneys will handle security deposit issues on a contingency-fee or mixed-fee basis, so it’s worth getting more information.

Written by: Bernadette Stark

Northampton Landlord / Tenant Lawyer

How to keep your house clean

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:35:20 -0700

Here is what I focus on every day:

1.Morning routines. I have found that having a regular morning routine works best for me. This involves at the very least: some quiet time, making the bed, taking a shower (hanging up my towel when I am done, of course!), putting on very simple makeup and getting dressed right down to my shoes. I always toss in a load of laundry as I am getting dressed. I find if I start out the day with those few things, I am ready for anything.

2.Clean sinks. I learned the Fly lady system back when my son was born. I was taking care of him and my two grade school girls and during the day I was watching my nephew who was born five weeks before my son. All that and working part-time! With four kids taking over my tiny house, I ran into frustration over having too much to handle. Fly lady to the rescue! She broke it down for me and I listened: clean and shiny sinks, always.

I follow this principle both in our bathrooms and the kitchen. Something about striving for that shiny sink keeps me from letting dirty dishes pile up in the kitchen and icky stuff like hair and spit greeting me every time I pass through the bathroom.

3.Cleaning frenzies. Since the beginning of our marriage, my husband and I have utilized what we call “cleaning frenzies” to give our home a quick clean up. A cleaning frenzy might last ten minutes or even up to an hour. But everyone participates, including the kids. We run around picking things up, putting things back, and generally tidying things up.

Sometimes we focus on one room; sometimes it is an entire house frenzy. Sometimes it is a task frenzy, like dusting or cleaning all toilets! It works like a charm to make a big impact in a short period of time. Even one “10-minute cleaning frenzy” a day keeps the frustration away.

4.Nightly kitchen clean up. Every night, almost without fail, we clean the kitchen. We put away dishes, load the final dishwasher load of the day, wipe off counters, and polish up the sink. There is nothing like waking up to a clean kitchen to make your day feel less overwhelming.

If I have my basic routines down, my home stays “clean enough” most of the time.Keeping up on things means I rarely feel overwhelmed by all that needs to be done! When my home is maintained on a daily basis, it is really easy to add in a few extra tasks now and then to really shine things up or get things organized.

But if I let my daily routines go, my house soon spirals out of control. My house isn’t perfect by any means, but I am OK with that. It is CLEAN ENOUGH! I’m sticking to my tried and true basics. No more complicated chore charts for me!

Using the Right Moving Boxes and Packing Supplies

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:53:28 -0700

When people try to cut corners on their moves, they often do so with the moving boxes: they collect them from behind grocery stores, ask liquor stores for unused boxes, or take them from the company supply room.

While they might seem like good boxes, they might not be appropriate for your move.

Many consumers incorrectly assume that any type of box and supplies will work for their move. In fact, moving boxes are specifically manufactured for household moving and the packing supplies used by professional moving companies provide the best protection for your items.

Also, professional movers use standard-sized boxes designed specifically for loading and transporting items onto a moving truck with effective use of truck space. Experienced movers can determine the type and number of boxes that will be needed to complete your move. They can also figure out how to best pack these boxes in the truck. If you use nonstandard box sizes, the movers will have to do their best to try to make things fit properly, but it won’t be as efficient if you use boxes that have industry standard sizes .

Moving boxes are manufactured using single- or double-wall corrugated cardboard. The thicker the wall of the box, the higher the Edge Crush Test (ECT) rating the moving box will have. The higher the ECT rating (shown on the flap of the box), the stronger the construction and the more items the box will be able to safely hold. The higher the ECT rating, the more expensive the box will be due to the greater density of materials used to produce the box.

Professional movers normally use moving boxes that have a minimum rating of 32 ECT (or capable of passing a 200 pound test). These ratings are industry standards and give you the assurance that boxes holding your household items are strong enough to survive the move. Boxes that have an ECT of less than 32 are not designed for moving and should be avoided.

One other quick packing tip — if you pack your own boxes, you might not be covered by your insurance in case the contents of the box are damaged. Be sure to ask your moving company.

Decorating Tips for Furnishing Small Apartments : Lighten Up With a Rug

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:40:15 -0700

“A light rug can open up your room and make it feel larger,” says Langdon. A carpet remnant that you have bound can work great. If your apartment came with stained or dark wall-to-wall carpeting, cover that up with a rug in a lighter hue.

Decorating Tips for Furnishing Small Apartments : Go Curvy

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:39:29 -0700

Because most apartments are box-like, it’s fun to add some curves. Libby Langdon, a small-space consultant on HGTV’s Small Space, Big Style, sees this trick a lot on the show. She suggests round tables, chairs with a curve and rugs that are either in shapes or adorned with shapes like spirals and dots.

“Home ownership is an excellent path to build wealth.”

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:20:02 -0700

If your goal is to build wealth, you will be much better off investing your money in the stock market than buying a home. While both stocks and housing are cyclical markets, long-term historic trends show that housing appreciates at a rate barely above inflation, while stocks tend to return an inflation-adjusted 7-10%.

In our hypothetical scenario, a renter who invested in the stock market with the $85,000 down payment plus the monthly difference between the $1,515 rent and the $2,690 home-buying costs would be over $500,000 better off after 30 years than the homebuyer, assuming 4% average appreciation.

An important thing to consider is that home prices in the United States are just now beginning to correct from an enormous unprecedented run-up in recent years. Despite what those in the business of selling real estate may insist, the correction in housing is still in the early stages. Four percent is most likely overly optimistic for most areas in the next 5-10 years. The only thing we know for sure is that double-digit gains are gone and won’t be coming back any time soon.

Also keep in mind — I mentioned it above but it bears repeating — in order to cash in on any “wealth” you build through your home you will need to sell that home and move. No, “extracting equity” does not count, since that simply results in a larger debt. Debt is not equal to Wealth.

“If you rent, you’re throwing away your money.”

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Common knowledge says that despite today’s large premium, buying a home is a “good investment”. Hey, at least you’re not “throwing away” your money, right? True, the renter in our scenario spends $1,515 every month that they will never see again. I wouldn’t exactly say it has been “thrown away” any more than money spent on any other good or service is “thrown away,” but granted, there is zero financial return on that money.

However, when you take a look at the breakdown of the homebuyer’s monthly expenses, a large amount is money that will never return, either. Insurance, property tax (less tax savings), and maintenance, add up to $517 every month that is being “thrown away.” Even worse is the amount spent on mortgage interest. Consider how much of a mortgage payment is applied toward loan interest throughout the life of a 30-year fixed loan:

Years % toward interest

0 - 5~80%

6 - 10~70%

11 - 15~60%

16 - 20~50%

21 - 25~35%

26 - 30~10%

In the first five years, approximately 80% of the mortgage payment goes toward interest. That’s an additional $1,674, for a total of $2,191 being “thrown away” every single month by the homebuyer for the first five years. Ouch! In fact, not until the homebuyer has been paying down the mortgage for over 20 years will the amount they are “throwing away” be less than the renter.

Renting VS Buying

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0700

You’ve probably heard statements like these plenty of times. On television, radio, the internet, and in casual conversation. Such sentiments are common in any discussion that involves home-buying and personal finances. It’s common knowledge that buying a home is a better financial move than renting. After all, you’re building equity instead of throwing away your money, right? Well, maybe not quite… Rather than assuming the “common knowledge” on this subject is accurate, let’s take a look for ourselves at some of the financial differences between renting and home-buying.

A Real-World Example

For the purpose of comparing renting to owning in this article, I’ll be using real-world data gathered. Although most first-time buyers tend to move from renting an apartment to buying a larger, stand-alone house, as much as I can I will compare apples to apples.

For rent, I located a 3-bed, 2.5-bath, 1,840 sqft house with an attached 2-car garage, on 0.2 acres. Monthly price: $1,495.
For purchase I found a 3-bed, 2.5-bath, 1,850 sqft house with an attached 2-car garage, on 0.22 acres. Price: $424,950.

The two homes are located within two miles of each other in similar neighborhoods, and neither is located on a busy road. We’ll assume that our hypothetical homebuyer is a married couple with $85,000 in the bank to make a 20% down payment. To calculate mortgage payments we will use a recent 30-year fixed interest rate of 6.25%.

Let’s look at how the monthly costs break down (approximately) for our hypothetical potential first-time homebuyer:

Renting Buying

Rent/Mortgage: $1,495 $2,093

Insurance: $20 $163

Property Tax: - $407

Tax Savings*: - ($327)

Maintenance: - $354

Total: $1,515 $2,690

*: (less standard deduction)

Right off the bat, you see that simply trading straight across from renting to owning results in a 78% more expensive monthly bill. That’s not exactly chump change. With even a slight upgrade from renting to buying (which most first-time buyers are prone to do), you can easily see how the total monthly costs would be more than double.

Advantages of Renting a Home Instead of Owning

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Owning a Home is Expensive

Forget about the line from real estate agents about a home being a great investment or your biggest asset. Your home is a purchase. An expensive purchase. By the time you pay interest (even though you can get a tax deduction), property taxes, maintenance costs, repair expenses, insurance and utilities, the expenses really start to add up. Even if you do sell your home for more than you paid, it may not be enough to offset the accumulated expenses associated with owning a home for decades.

Renting, on the other hand, is usually less expensive. You aren’t responsible for the repairs or maintenance costs (unless you do something you shouldn’t), renter’s insurance is much cheaper than homeowner’s insurance, and you don’t have interest or property taxes. Depending on the market you’re in, a rent payment for a decent-sized home may be a couple hundred less than a mortgage payment. Some folks like to invest the difference, hoping for a better long-term return.

Greater Flexibility

If you aren’t going to be an area for very long, the flexibility of renting might be attractive. Aside from having to sign a one year initial lease, renting offers the ability for you to pick up and leave if you need/want to. We had hoped to be in our current home for a longer period of time, but, like so much in life, it isn’t working out. We will probably have to move to a new town, and that means trying to sell this house. If we were renting right now, we could just offer 30 days’ notice to the landlord and leave when ready. And, because we don’t want to be landlords, we will probably have to take a loss on the home when we sell it.

Bottom Line

As with all things financial, what works for you is different from what works for someone else. We probably weren’t exactly ready to buy a home, and we might not rush into it in the next place we live. While we can afford to live in the house, the responsibility of it, and the expense associated with it, can be irritating at times — especially when I think that we are likely to be moving after staying in the home for less than five years.

In the end, carefully weigh the pros and cons of buying a home versus renting it. Think about what is likely to happen in the future, and whether or not the money you put into home ownership might be better used elsewhere.

Tips for Cleaning Your Room # 9

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 23:53:30 -0700

If cleaning your room is hard for you to do, you “don’t have time” or you just are too lazy to, get a friend to come over and help you with it. Then you can have fun while doing the job!

Tips for Cleaning Your Room # 8 and # 9

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 23:43:33 -0700

Remember, lighting can make a room look even cleaner. Buy a few lamps, but don’t overdo it. 1 floor lamp and 2 desk lamps are plenty, and make sure your bulb gives off a soft, white, fluorescent light.

Before you go to bed, take aside a few minutes to pick up any dirty clothing or wrappers you forgot to put away and make sure your room at least looks decent before you settle into bed.

Tips for Cleaning Your Room # 5 and # 6

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 23:56:02 -0700

Maintain. Once a week, do a simple maintenance cleaning. Dust off your desk, bookshelves, and other dusty surfaces. Vacuum and sweep your floor. Wash your sheets. Maybe clean off windows.

Break the habits that lead to filth.

This one is obvious: Putting clothes on the floor instead of in the dirty clothes hamper.Buy a basket and every time you use clothes put them in the basket. Then, every few days bring it to a washer.
Tossing a book on the floor after reading it instead of on the shelf. That’s not getting you anywhere.
Kicking off shoes onto the floor instead of putting them away. Put shoes in one certain spot.
Crumpling up a piece of paper and throwing it on the floor instead of recycling it.
Put your garbage in a garbage can, everyone. I can’t stress that enough. Don’t just throw it out the window.
Drinking something in the room and leaving the cup on the desk. Read step 3.
Throwing unwanted pillows on the floor instead of putting them in the closet. Read step 1.

Get Estimates from Movers

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 23:55:31 -0700

Unless several of your friends look like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, you’re probably going to need to hire professional movers to do the heavy lifting. But if you put off lining up movers, you might not have time to conduct research and get the best deal. So, go ahead and get that out of the way at least two months in advance. Ask your friends and relatives if they recommend any movers, call the movers in your area, compare prices and then line one up for your moving day. Besides a decent price, you should be looking for a reputable company that is licensed with your state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) and, if you’re moving out of state, licensed for interstate transport. You also want a moving company (and its workers) that are bonded and insured. If you want to be super thorough, you can even check up on the company by contacting your local Better Business Bureau.

Tips to Keep Your Room Clean # 4

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 23:46:44 -0700

Put things back where they belong. This may seem like it`s not a simple rule but if you follow it, you will never have to worry about your room being a disaster ever again. If you don’t have time, at least make a deal with yourself that you will make sure everything is picked up before you go to bed. If you want to pick it up sooner, pick things up after you use it. Or maybe, once a week you could spend about an hour or so to make sure that your room is nice and clean and organized for the next week. If this gets tiring, you will not want to have to re-clean your room, and then you won’t make a mess in the first place!

Tips To Keep Your Room Clean # 2 and # 3

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 23:42:16 -0700

Get an mp3 player,or a stereo and play music while you clean (as long as it won’t bother others). It can help distract you from the task at hand, and it can make it more fun!

Keep food out of your room. As tempting as it is to bring snacks in your room, all of those dirty dishes and wrappers can mess up a room fast. If you absolutely must eat food in your room, bring dishes back to the kitchen and throw all trash in the garbage when you are done. You may also find it helpful to have your own trash can. Make sure that there are no leftover crumbs! Crumbs can and will attract bugs like ants and cockroaches, and bugs in a room is no joke!

How to Keep Your Room Clean #1

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 23:43:23 -0700

Get into the habit of making your bed before you leave for the day. A messy bed can make an otherwise clean room look messy. This small step can inspire you to keep your room neat throughout the day. Throwing things on your bed is not making it.

10 Quick Home Maintenance Tips

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 23:56:45 -0700

Home maintenance isn’t restricted to repairs. In fact, certain tasks—when performed regularly—may actually prevent things from breaking in the first place. But when things do go wrong (and it’s inevitable that they do), we have some backup plans that you can try before you grab the phone to call for pro. Appliances and plumbing are the most frequent offenders, but they also often can be the simplest to care for. From the gutters to the living room carpet, there’s a reliable method for keeping every part of your home clean, safe, and well maintained.

MUST-DO MAINTENANCE:

The quickest fix is to not have the problem in the first place. Here’s a checklist of items every homeowner should get to regularly.

1. Test your garage door opener monthly to ensure that it reverses when it hits an obstruction or when its sensor beam is interrupted.

2. Vacuum the clothes dryer’s exhaust duct at least once a year. If the duct is plastic, replace it (it’s a fire hazard). Rigid sheet-metal ducting is best.

3. Replace furnace filters quarterly, or as recommended by the furnace manufacturer.

4. Test all GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets monthly. Press the test button and use a voltage tester to make sure the power goes off.

5. Clean leaves and debris from the condenser of a central air conditioner seasonally.

6. Once a year, vacuum the refrigerator coils underneath the appliance.

7. Have the fireplace chimney inspected and cleaned annually.

8. Inspect window and door caulking and weather stripping yearly.

9. Replace the batteries in smoke detectors yearly. And remember, even recent hard-wired smoke detectors have backup batteries that must be replaced. If you have never checked yours, do so.

2:23 || GUTTERLY SIMPLE:

Cleaning your gutters is the chore you abhor.

THE QUICK FIX
Make gutter cleaning easier—and safer (no ladder required)—with a long spray wand made from a 1/2-in.-diameter by 10-ft.-long PVC pipe. Cut two 6-in. lengths of pipe. Then use PVC cement to join these short sections and two 90-degree elbows with what is now a 9-ft.-long pipe, forming a J-shaped hook. At the short end of the hook, glue on a solid endcap. Drill three 1/8-in.- diameter holes in the cap. Glue a threaded adapter onto the opposite end of the pipe and attach a garden hose. Place the short end of the J-shaped hook inside the gutter and turn on the hose. As you walk along the house, high-pressure streams of water will rinse the gutter clean.

Read more: 10 Quick Home Maintenance Tips - Popular Mechanics