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| | Bill Duffey - Scottsdale Real Estate My Monthly Newsletter I provide a newsletter, every month,to my clients/friends, featuring articles of interest to both buyers and sellers. Just log on to this page, each month
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(I publish when final monthly statistical data becomes available.) Past newsletters are above and are worth reading. They are interesting - I write them, myself. Let me know what you think! Below, are some real estate tips: Some general information about moving, is below. I have a "moving coach" program that will take much of the pain out of your "move". Some Tips to Help Your Move-in Go Smoothly |
You've worked long and hard for thisthe day you turn the keys on the front door of your new home. Congratulationsyou've made it! Now, where do you begin? The first day - Get the pets settled: They'll be nervous with excitement and will need a comfort break immediately. Set out food and water. Let them sniff around their new surroundings. Choose a spot not too far from you to put their bedding, at least for the first few days. If you can avoid it, don't leave your pets in the new yard by themselves until you've had a few days to acquaint them with the new territory. Your presence will help your pets remain calm and will avoid runaways.
- Unpack the essentials: If you're arriving a day or more before the moving van, unpack your Waiting-for-the-Moving-Van Survival Kit. If you and your household items arrived together, unload the truck and car. Don't worry about unpacking everything the first day. The essentials for your first night are hopefully packed in an Open Me First box. You can unpack this box later today. Set it aside in a place where you can find it.
- Check the house systems: Be sure the heating and/or air conditioner work and set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. Try out the electricity, phone, and water to confirm that you have service. Also be sure that all major appliances (refrigerator, stove, water heater, washer, and dryer) are plugged in and turned on. If you have gas, check the pilot lights on the furnace, stove, water heater, and other gas appliances.
- Go grocery shopping: Get provisions for breakfast and other food that is easy to prepare, especially if you're still waiting for the moving van to bring most of your kitchen items.
- Quickly clean up: Before you start pulling everything out of boxes, take this opportunity to get the hard-to-reach areas of your home as clean as possible. For example, be sure the floors are clean before you lay out the rugs. Clean the kitchen counters and shelves so tomorrow you can begin unpacking the dishes.
- Cover the windows: If you don't have proper window coverings, use sheets to help add both privacy and security. Statistics show a higher incidence of burglaries just after residents move in. Be sure that would-be burglars can't see what items you own, or whether your home is occupied.
The first night - Unpack your Open Me First box: With a little advance planning, you can gather all of the first-night's essentials in one box for easy unpacking. These items will help keep you organized in the midst of a very hectic day.
- Get the kids settled: Show each child his or her bedroom. If you've arrived with your furniture, let the kids unpack a box of their toys or other personal items after you've set up their beds. Otherwise, unroll a sleeping bag and help them get excited about the adventure of "camping" in their new home.
- Check all the locks on the house and vehicles: Be sure you, your family and the house are secure, then take a nice, hot bath and get a good night's rest. It's been a long day!
The first week - Unpack boxes: And boxes, and more boxes. If you've moved to an apartment building, check with the building manager about when and where you can dispose of empty boxes and packing material. If you have room in a basement or garage, you might want to flatten and store boxes that are worth saving.
- Choose an "all unpacked" goal: Make a list of the order in which you'll unpack and complete other moving-in tasks. Consider throwing a small housewarming party a few weeks after you move. This will help you to set a deadline for being finished. And it will be a treat to look forward to.
- Help your pets get to know their new place: It's best if you introduce your pets to their new yard slowly. This will give them time to get used to new sights and smells, and will reduce the likelihood that they'll try to run away to their former home.
- Walk through the neighborhood with your family: Discover together the area around your new home. Begin to get familiar with the routes to the grocery store, the post office, the playground, and your children's school. Introduce yourself to some of your neighbors.
- Go with the kids to see the new school: Together you can meet their teachers and the school's principal and other office personnel. Discuss a specific plan for what each child will do after his or her first day in class, whether it's meeting you out front, joining the other children on the school bus or walking home.
- Make a list of service calls to make: If any services don't work, put these companies at the top of the list to call.
- Check the paint: Note walls to be touched-up and gather paint color samples that you can match at the store.
- Make a list of fix-it jobs and needed supplies: Check doorknobs, plumbing fixtures, bathroom caulking, and light bulbs to see whether anything needs repair or replacement.
- Make a list of change-of-address notes to send: List people you still need to let know about your change of address. Be sure all of your credit card issuers and other business contacts receive your new address. For your friends consider making a colorful postcard to send. Or better yet, make a family Web site. Include pictures of your move and your new home. Check with your Internet service provider. Many Internet companies offer room for a personal Web site for free.
Tips for handling the American Flag Standards for handling and displaying the American flag are set forth by the United States Code, written into law by Congress in 1942. This federal code does not impose penalties for improper handling or misuse of the flag, but states do have laws regarding this, and most of our fellow citizens expect the flag to be treated with respect.
The U.S. Code is more strict about some aspects of handling the flag than contemporary culture demandsit states, for example, that the flag should not be "printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard." Our society has interpreted some of the rules rather loosely because we're enthusiastic about displaying our national symbol. Nevertheless, some important rules of decorum should be followed.
Here are the basics:
Ideally, an American flag on your house should hang from a staff that angles out from the front wall, a windowsill, or balcony. It's a good idea to screw a bracket made for holding a flagstaff to the trim. Fasten it securely so it won't become soiled or damaged. Do not allow the flag to touch the ground, floor, water, or anything else beneath it. It's also appropriate to hang the flag from a horizontal staff.
Whether the flag hangs from an angled or horizontal staff, be sure the union or canton (the rectangle with the stars) is at the peak. (Hanging the flag with the union down signals extreme distress.) When our President declares the flag to be flown at half-staff, it is acceptable to hang the flag from a horizontal staff with the union down, though your neighbors may not understand why you're doing this.
When the flag is displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be at the top and to your left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be hung so that the union is on the left when you see it from the street.
The American flag is meant to be a flag; don't use it for any other purpose. For example, don't use it as drapery, ceiling decoration, or as a bed spread. And never use it as a receptacle for carrying or holding anything.
Though it is customary to fly the flag from sunrise to sunset, the U.S. Code says that "when a patriotic effect is desired," you can display it around the clock. If you do, you should illuminate it with a light.
If you display the American flag next to other flags or pennants, place it on the right side of a single flag or at the center of a group and slightly higher than the other flags. If an American flag is on the same staff as other flags, it should always be at the top. The gist is that other flags should not be in positions of greater prominence or honor.
When displayed from a car, the flagstaff should be fixed or clamped firmly to the vehicle, ideally on the right side. The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back. The same holds true for a flag displayed on a float in a parade. Don't carry the flag flat or horizontally. And, because it is not meant to be apparel, do not wear a United States flag. If you wear a lapel flag, pin it on the left side, near your heart.
Why bother with flag etiquette when you're excited about flying the Stars and Stripes? I figure that, for more than two hundred years, our country's military, firefighters, police, and other service personnel have practiced these measures faithfully, treating our flag with the highest esteem. This is one way we can meet the high standard they have set. Buying a home tips: You've found a home that's a perfect fit for your needs. Step one accomplished. Now it's time to make an offer that the seller will accept and still be fair and affordable to you. The following guidelines will help you make just the right offer. - Get pre-qualified for a home loan. You will want to supply a letter of pre-qualification with your offer along with "earnest" money to show the seller you are serious. You also should have decided on the type of loan and know how much money you have for a down payment.
- State what inspections you want done to the house or property before you agree to purchase it. They may include a general home inspection or target a specialized area such as roof, pool/spa, geologic, or environment.
- Include whom you want to pay for the inspections, termite report, and required work along with a time frame from the items to be completed.
- Include whom should pay for title insurance, escrow fees, warranties and how long you would like escrow to be.
- Place a specific time limit on the sellers to respond to your offer.
- As an extra touch you may want to include a cover letter saying how much you like their home and about your family. In a hot market this personal touch may give you the edge over other prospective buyers.
- Submit your offer, loan pre-qualification letter, and cover letter through your agent.
Remember that offers become legally binding once accepted, so it's important to be prepared and informed. In addition, you may need to be prepared for a counter offer from the seller. Being somewhat flexible on aspects of your offer may help the sale. We can discuss the specifics for your offer when you're ready.
Selling tips: Your home is for sale and you receive an offer from a potential buyer. Good for you. But make sure you take the time to review it with your agent. There are several details to look for and to agree on. Patience and a thorough examination of these documents will serve you well.
 Of course you will first want to look at the offered price and see if the buyer has included a pre-qualification or loan approval letter with the offer. These two points are important, but there are several other items that may effect your decision to accept that are not clear-cut and may need some explanation. We'll discuss these items as we go through a potential offer. They include: type of financing, financing time limit, interest ceiling, down payment, earnest money, closing costs, closing date, personal property contained in the offer, and any contingencies.
Once the offer has been reviewed in detail, you have three basic options. First, you can accept the offer as is and once it is signed you have a binding agreement with the buyer. Second, if you are satisfied with the offer on its face, but would like to adjust some points, your option is to make a counter-offer. You would then present this to the buyer for approval. The last option is to reject the offer completely.
Keep in mind; once the offer has been signed by both parties it is a binding agreement, so make sure it is what you want. As in making an offer, you may need to be flexible on some issues to make the sale.
When you are ready to sell or buy a house, we'll go through this process together and make it as simple as possible. If you have any questions on this or other real estate matters, please feel free to give me a call. NOTE: If your home or property is currently listed for sale with a licensed Real Estate Broker, this is not intended to be a solicitation of that listing. It is not our intention to solicit the listing of another real estate Company. GO TO MY CONCIERGE PAGE FOR A LIST OF VENDORS. PS: I never receive any compensation from any vendor, ever!  
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