Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

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  • How to Make a Compost Pile

    Making a compost pile in your yard yields one of the most effective and affordable tools for gardeners looking for eco-friendly alternatives to using harmful chemical fertilizers. Even better news – composting is easy. By reducing your yard and household waste, you can create the perfect, nitrogen-rich soil for thriving flower and vegetable gardens for free! So, read on for some of our favorite tips for how to make a compost pile in your yard.

    Green Compost Materials

    As you start the planning to make a compost pile in your yard, note that you will need to create a blend of biodegradable matter that falls into “green” or “brown” categories. Your kitchen is likely to be the primary source of green material, which is typically food waste like vegetable peels, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds. 

    Is all kitchen waste suitable for composting? No. Try to avoid oily foods or meat and dairy. Why? EatingWell explains: “animal products such as dairy, bones, and meat, … can attract pests,” and food like “mayonnaise, peanut butter, salad dressing or vegetable oils” can present difficulties during decomposition. Fish should not be composted either. 

    Experts are often asked if the green material that is sourced from the kitchen should only be organic. While that is a great goal, don’t feel pressured to throw out viable produce scraps just because they weren’t organic. The next time you shop, Real Simple suggests that you “look for ‘pesticide-free’ signage even more so than ‘organic’ labels.”

    Also, before you toss your banana peel or leftover store-bundled greens into the compost pile, be sure to check them over. Real Simple warns: “If you’re making the effort to compost, take extra care that scraps (fruit and veggie peels, and paper bags) are free of labels, twist ties, rubber bands, and other synthetic, non-biodegradable parts.”  

    Yard waste can also be part of your green supplies. Are you looking for a good use for your grass clippings? Keep them for your yard’s compost pile. Are you forever pulling weeds from your garden? The good news is that your compost pile will thank you for them. 

    Brown Compost Elements

    Brown compost materials include carbon-rich elements like wood chips, straw, and pieces of bark. Martha Stewart Living reveals: “Newspaper and hay make good brown matter,” but be sure to shred the newspaper so that “it doesn’t form a mat” and “avoid glossy or colored paper.” Falling autumn leaves can be one of the most readily available forms of carbon available. And the leaves are free! Martha Stewart Living offers this helpful tip for leaf-gatherers: “Since they’re abundant for a short time, … stock up once they fall and use them throughout the winter.”  

    Do you know those cardboard pizza boxes that you cannot place in your blue recycling bins? Good news! As long as you rip the boxes into small pieces, the experts at EatingWell give the thumbs up to including them as your brown compost materials. 

    A Shovel-Full of Neutral Soil

    While not absolutely necessary for starting the composting process, Martha Stewart Living does recommend having at least a small supply of neutral soil on hand. They reason that when neutral soil is added to the middle of the compost pile in your yard, it “helps to protect the compost while supplying the organisms needed for the breakdown process.” 

    Cold Composting Method

    Cold composting, also known as anaerobic composting, is often the easiest and cheapest way to begin to make a compost pile in your yard. The actual method is quite simple. As EatingWell advises: “[Anaerobic composting] involves piling the greens and browns and letting nature handle the decomposition process unaided.” While the compost pile should not smell particularly intense, there will be decay, so choose a spot away from your home and your yard’s leisure spaces, just in case. And although starting a composting pile takes relatively little time, the entire decomposition process using cold composting can take up to two years. 

    Aerobic Composting

    Aerobic composting is very similar to the cold composting approach, but it requires an infusion of oxygen into the process, which increases the internal temperature of the pile. The higher temperature then speeds up the decomposition process. While this sounds like it could be time-consuming, it really isn’t. According to EatingWell, this just “requires turning (or mixing) the materials every so often to give it exposure to oxygen.” A standard garden shovel will do the trick.  

    How to Make a Compost Pile in Your Yard

    Start by laying down a bottom layer of your brown materials. Because this forms your base, you’ll want it wide enough to support the layers above it without collapse. The next section should be from your collection of green biodegradable material. Expert gardener and herbalist Leslie Bish recommended to Real Simple that the general composting rule is to employ a “two-to-one ratio of brown to green materials” as you build the pile. When you reach what is projected to be the middle of your compost pile, shovel in a small amount of neutral soil. 

    Your yard’s compost pile should be kept damp, but you do not want it to be waterlogged. Heavy bouts of rain can not only impede decomposition but displace some of your biodegradable material. The last thing you want is for your pile to fall and spread to other areas of your yard. If you live in a region with abundant rainfall, consider putting up a protective tarp to keep the pile from being soaked. The pros at EatingWell also suggest “[adding] sawdust to dry it” as needed.  

    If it looks like your compost pile is not beginning the decomposition process after a reasonable amount of time, it might need some attention. Leslie Bish advised Real Simple that in these cases, “‘It might be too dry, or not have enough nitrogen, so add a little water with the hose and more green material.’” 

    When is the Compost Pile Ready For Use? 

    If you chose the turning (aerobic) method for maintaining your compost pile, you might have compost ready for use within six months unless you experience a sustained winter. Cold compost piles can take up to two years before they are viable as organic fertilizer. In general, Martha Stewart Living recommends not using the compost until it is “dark brown, free of recognizable ingredients, and safe to smell.” While you might be eager to start using your new soil enhancer, it is essential to wait until decomposition is finished. Otherwise, professionals warn, it could prove dangerous to your trees or garden plants.

  • Ask A Pro – Smart Roof Color Choices

    Q: We need help deciding between roof colors.

    A: The roof is never something that you want to be the focal point when people look at your home.  As boring as this may sound, neutrals or dark greys and blacks are the smart choice when choosing a roof colour.

    ~ Carson

  • Have a Spooktacular Halloween

    The following recipes and spooky craft ideas will result in one hauntingly good Halloween.

    Hauntingly Good Recipes

    • Grab your witch’s cauldron and stir up this delicious pumpkin ginger soup.
    • This tombstone taco dip is to die for. Tortilla tombstones anyone?
    • These deadly good cupcakes are easy to whip up. Bake cupcake flavors of your choosing, and once they have cooled, top them off with chocolate icing. Crush a few Oreos or chocolate cookies and sprinkle the crumbles on top of the icing to look like dirt. Next, pipe R.I.P in black icing onto the top half of a Milano cookie and stick it into the cupcake so the top part sticking out resembles a gravestone. You can also place the cookies into a brownie.
    • Eight-legged cake pops anyone? First, make a batch of cake pops and cover the outside in fine chocolate sprinkles. Then, stick eight legs out the side and top it off with two candy eyes. Creepy, crawly, delicious.
    • Make a beautiful pumpkin cake out of two bunt cakes! Bake two bunt cakes and add orange food coloring into the batter so it’s nice and vibrant when you cut into it later. Once the cakes have cooled, flip one cake upside down and ice the bottom, which is now facing up. This icing layer will help keep the two bunt cakes together. Gently place the other bunt cake on top. If it’s wobbly, you might need to use a few dowels. Then cover the entire thing in orange icing, stick a pretzel stick out of the top center for the stem, and voila, you made a pumpkin cake!
    • Creep it real with the following frighteningly delicious Halloween recipes.
    • Spooky and healthy is always an option. All you need are green apples, strawberries, peanut butter, and sunflower seeds. First, cut the apple into slices. Take each slice and cut out a sliver in the middle that will serve as the mouth. Shmear peanut butter into the sliver (the mouth) and place a thin slice of a strawberry sticking out of the bottom to look like a tongue. Use sunflower seeds to make rows of teeth and top it off with two candy eyes.
    • Trust us, you knead these spiced pumpkin doughnuts in your life.
    • Create spooky and sweet Halloween drinks that will raise your guests’ spirits.
    • Top off your cocktails with a creepy eyeball. Place a blueberry inside of a lychee, and you have the perfect Halloween cocktail.

    Deadly Décor and Party Ideas

    • No smoke machine? No problem. Take a diffuser or humidifier and carefully place it into a fake cauldron and turn it on for a smokey effect.
    • Swap out your family photos for a night and create a gallery wall of your favorite monsters. For a cohesive look consider printing them in black and white.
    • Buy a few plastic cloches at a discount store to create a few hauntingly cool displays. Place a small skeleton head in one, a few fake spiders in another, and maybe some fake eyeballs in a third.
    • Bubble, bubble, spiders, and trouble. Fill a clear glass soap dispenser with a light-colored soap and put several small plastic spiders in it to create a spooky effect.
    • Upcycle your empty tissue boxes to create spooky creatures and mischievous monsters. Transform one into Frankenstein by painting the entire thing green and topping it off with stitches and a face. Paint one orange and draw a jack-o-lantern face on the side to make a pumpkin. The kids will love gluing on googley eyes, drawing silly faces, and creating their own original creatures.
    • Fill two or three clean, sterile gloves with water, tie them up, and place them in the freezer. Leave them in until they are solid ice. Right before your guests arrive, fill your punch bowl with a delicious drink and a little bit of ice, so the liquid cools down. Take your ice hands out of the freezer, remove the glove and place your frozen creepy hands in the punch bowl for spooky ice.
    • Halloween table ideas:
      • Place a black runner down the center of the table and top it off with red rose petals, skeleton hands, and a large skull in the center.
      • Fill vases with black branches, twigs, and red roses.
      • Lay a giant skeleton along the middle of the table and fill its torso and ribcage with candy.
      • Place purple fairy lights in a clear vase to create a glowing glass centerpiece.
    • Get crafty with the kids! Let your kids stick their thumbs in orange paint and make thumbprints all over a white pumpkin. Once the paint has dried, they can paint little jack-o-lantern faces and stems onto the prints to make them all into pumpkins. You can use white paint on an orange pumpkin and paint the thumbprints to look like spooky little ghosts.
    • Buy a variety of vases at your nearby thrift store and spray paint them black. After they dry, grab a paint pen and write different potion titles on them. “Spooky Juice” “Witches Brew” “Dragons Blood”

  • Sustainable Organization with Less Plastic

    An organized home is a happy home, and it makes for less stress and more productivity. You don’t have to buy a mountain of plastic storage containers to achieve an organized space. Those outdated dinosaurs are slowly being replaced with more efficient materials that look nicer and are better for the environment. Plastic bags are also being phased out in many areas – but not everywhere – so knowing about plastic bag recycling is of the utmost importance.

  • Relocating Home? Measurements Matters and More You Need to Know

    Relocating home requires attention to detail during one of the busiest times of your life. Staying organized eliminates oversights and provides essential peace of mind during a transition. Discover why measurements matter and more necessary details to remember as you learn how to relocate efficiently.

    Measurements Matter

    Measurements significantly differ from selling to renting and buying a new place. Consider hiring a professional to inspect both premises and take official measures. Use these figures to determine whether to move your current furniture or purchase items that fit better in the new house.

    Set Up Digital and Paper Moving Files

    Moving requires endless paperwork to prove current and future residences, financial status, identification, and more. Set up a digital moving file on a site such as Google Docs, accessible on a smartphone or other Internet-connected device. In addition, have a physical moving file maintained in a safe place in case you’re in transit and can’t get online.

    The Urge to Purge

    Establish a moving date, then plan to use all consumables in the meantime. For example, eating down the food in the freezer helps save money and reduce moving costs or losses. Also, use half-filled toiletries, so you don’t have to pack them. Finally, clean up and clear out any clutter in your path. If it gets in the way or has been unused for over a year, get rid of it, so you don’t pay to move it.

    Get Time Off to Move

    Some people relocate for employment, while others make transitions for other reasons. Remember to get time off to move, so you continue to get paid while packing and relocating home. Packing and moving may take more time than expected, so prepare to take at least one week away from work.

    Prepare to Pack

    Even if you hire professional movers, there are items you want to pack personally. Visit the local liquor store for boxes and purchase a large roll of heavy-duty garbage bags for sorting and packing essentials. Also, get labels and color-coded labels to designate rooms where the items will land.

    Focus on Fragile and Valuable

    Before hiring help, focus on finding all fragile and valuable items to separate them from everything else. These things might be stored in a safety deposit box or locked cabinet until moving, including:

    • China, glassware, and silverware
    • Professional licenses, marriage and birth certificates, and other essential documents
    • Jewelry and furs
    • Coins and collectibles
    • Artwork

    Think About Logistics

    Next, consider the logistics involved in moving from one location to another. Include how to relocate vehicles, furniture, and outdoor equipment. Consider moving certain heavy items ahead of time, so you can focus on collecting the more minor things on your way out of the old house.

    Who is Your Crew?

    It takes a skilled team to relocate successfully, especially when moving out of state. Include your professional crew in the budget to ensure a smooth transition, with experts such as:

    • Real estate agent
    • Mortgage broker
    • Insurance agent
    • Attorney
    • Accountant or financial consultant
    • Moving team – whether professionals or friends, schedule ahead of time
    • Inspector
    • Handyman
    • Cleaning crew
    • Pest control company
    • Babysitting services to take care of little ones during packing and moving

    Backup and Charge Up

    The confusion of moving can lead to more significant challenges, such as a crashed hard drive during the transition. Remember to backup your computer and charge all mobile devices, so you’re always ready to access essential information online.

    Plan for a New Life

    Leaving your old life behind and planning for a new one requires hours of preparation. Make a to-do list to ensure you cover all bases, such as:

    • Applying for new professional licenses and insurance
    • Establishing an office and staff in the new location
    • Transferring medical records and prescriptions to new providers
    • Registering children for school
    • Applying for a dog license, if the state requires one
    • Registering for the new library, community centers, gym, and houses of worship
    • Applying for a driver’s license, insurance, and other personal necessities in the new place
    • Determining the location of critical sites in the new area, such as hospitals and shopping

    Pack a Moving Bag and Cooler

    Moving day is often hectic, and you should be ready to transition to your new home. Pack a moving bag with necessities such as a change of clothes, toiletries, eyeglasses or contact lenses, and food – including goodies for your furry family members! Also, put together a cooler with plenty of cold beverages and fruit to keep everyone hydrated and energized.

    Have Cash On Hand

    From tipping the moving men to ordering pizza at your new house, it helps to have plenty of cash on hand when relocating home. Plus, moving often costs more than expected, as little details arise along the journey. So keep some money and a major credit card handy to cover unanticipated costs.

    Plan for a New Life

    Take a few moments to plan for your new life and bid farewell to the old one—schedule moments to take photos of the old house and say goodbye to the neighbors. Also, tour local hot spots in your new neighborhood and greet your neighbors. Treasuring your old memories and creating new ones makes the transition easier.

    Just Breathe

    Finally, the frenetic pace of moving can take its toll on your overall well-being. Keep the stress to a minimum by taking time to just breathe for an hour each day. Meditation, stretching, reading, or simply laughing at your favorite comedy helps take you away from the fast pace to rejuvenate yourself.

    Relocating home is both exciting and overwhelming. Knowing how to relocate eliminates the stress and ensures a seamless transition to your new home. From taking measurements to making time to unwind, every step matters to start an incredible new life!

  • Designing a Multipurpose Room

    Over the last several years, homeowners and renters have increasingly reimagined their underused spaces, creating multipurpose rooms to meet the influx of new activities and work-from-home challenges. While this initial shift was born out of necessity, the idea of creating multifunctional flex spaces has only grown in popularity as people seek homes that more effectively suit their daily lives. If you want to better utilize your home, read on for our tips for creating the ideal multipurpose room.

    Transform an Underused Closet

    Depending on its size, an underused closet is brimming with possibilities as a part of a new multipurpose room. For example, a spacious closet in your bedroom or guest room could easily be transformed into a work-from-home office and an extra storage area for supplies. If the closet is shallow but long, consider dividing the space with a closed system for storage on one side and your workspace on the other. For this type of workspace, Melissa Warner Rothblum of Massucco Warner suggests to Martha Stewart Living that people add a small desk, a comfortable work chair, and additional lighting (if necessary). Rothblum also recommends integrating “’a few wall-mounted shelves for extra storage, or hang artwork to personalize the space.’”

    Is there an extra closet near your entertaining space? Consider removing the doors so that it is open to your room and create a customized bar. Marcus Mohon tells Martha Stewart Living that this can be done simply by “removing the shelves and adding a chest, cabinet, or bar cart to store your bottles and barware.” Bring in some mood lighting in the form of a pendant light, and you are ready to host your next dinner party or cocktail soiree.

    If you want your bedroom to remain an oasis but need a quiet meditation space that helps you focus, look to that empty closet (or side of the closet). “As long as your closet has a door and provides enough room to sit, Lauren Wills of Wills Design Associates says it can be converted into a mini meditation room,” in an interview with Martha Stewart Living. Redesigning the closet (or dividing a larger one) is easier than you might imagine. Wills explains the details of an ongoing project: “‘We’re removing the lower shelves and the hanging bars to make room for a small lounge chair and having a mural painted on the wall to liven things up.’” Before you know it, your bedroom will be a multipurpose retreat.

    Carve Out Multifunctional Kitchen Stations

    Has your kitchen become the center of activity in your home? With some quick rearranging and the right piece of multifunctional furniture, you can create a station in the corner of your kitchen that can easily change as your needs do. My Domaine adores the idea of adding a mini desk/kitchen counter, like one from Arbor & Co., to make a corner of a home’s kitchen or dining area into the perfect multipurpose station. Position the mini desk/counter in the corner, preferably under a window, and add a stool that can be hidden away when not used. With this simple addition, the Magazine raves, “the desk where you take Zoom calls in the morning can evolve into the countertop where you roll out the dough in the afternoon into the table where you work on a jigsaw puzzle in the evenings.”

    Design a Multipurpose Guest Room and Workout Area

    Do you have a sleeping loft or guest bedroom that rarely hosts visitors? It may be time to invest in a Murphy bed. Long the darling of small apartments, Murphy beds are making a comeback as people are converting underused sleeping spaces into much-loved multipurpose rooms. One of My Domaine’s favorite redesigns comes from Marie Flanigan Interiors who explained to the Magazine that they installed a Murphy bed into an upstairs sleeping loft “so the bed can be tucked away, opening up floor space for a workout area.”

    It’s also a terrific idea for studios where you need to create a living, dining, and sleeping space in minimal square footage. Simply put up the bed during the day and wheel over storage footstools and a fold-down table when it is time to entertain.

    Make Your Dining Room Do Double Duty

    Formal dining rooms took on new life during the pandemic, and they will likely stay the spot of more than just family dinners. While they worked well initially, you may be tired of moving paperwork and computers whenever you want to use the space for dining. If you can spend the time and money, wall-to-wall cabinetry might be the answer. Custom cabinets can house a hidden workspace with a fold-down desk or a crafts studio with a retractable worktable and plenty of shelves for supply bins. Games and puzzles also can be stored here. And if dinner parties are in your future, save one of the cabinets for specialty serving platters, dinnerware, and table linens you don’t use daily.

    If you don’t have the time or space to install wall-to-wall cabinets, consider bringing in a convertible armoire that opens to reveal a workspace with charging stations, lighting, and storage for your essential files. When the day is over, close the doors and move your chair out of the way, and the dining room can be restored for a relaxing family dinner with minimal hassle.

    Create a Hidden Laundry Room

    Are you hoping to invest in a new laundry set up in your home? If your bathroom has a spacious closet or an underused vanity area, it might be time to convert it into a multipurpose bathroom/laundry room. As you already have water running into the bathroom, this room and the kitchen are often the most accessible places to add stackable (or even side-by-side) washers and dryers. If your bathroom is large enough to accommodate the units, designers at Southern Living love the idea of installing double-louvered doors to effectively create a separate room for the appliances when they are not in use. They also advise that “keeping the bathroom and laundry spaces the same color creates cohesiveness and allows them to function as one room.”

    Transform a Large Laundry Area

    If your home is blessed with a larger laundry area than you need, this may become the perfect multipurpose room. Southern Living recommends assessing the site to determine if shelving, cabinetry, or an island or table can be added to the laundry room. One of their favorite laundry redesigns created a “well-organized multipurpose laundry room [that] designates separate areas for gift wrapping, odds and ends storage, and laundry.” Once the cubby storage was put in place, the homeowners chose “canvas cubes all in the same shade of blue [to] keep the room looking spick-and-span.” And if you do ensconce a table or island in your new laundry room, you’ll quickly find that it’s ideal not just for gift wrapping but for family craft projects, studying or working-from-home, and as a home improvement task station, when not in use for folding laundry.

    Invest in Multifunctional or Convertible Furniture

    In addition to Murphy beds, a range of furniture can make any multipurpose room more functional. Folding tables, like the Driness Drop Leaf Console to Dining Table, act beautifully as slim console tables for daily use. Plus, they can be opened and expanded to transition your living room into a dining room that seats six comfortably in seconds.

    Sleeper sofas are a quick way to transform a living room or family room into a guest bedroom. But have you seen sleeper ottomans? These wonders are ottomans with storage by day and, after a simple pull, convert to single beds by night. They are a dream invention for studios or small apartments that thrive on the creation of efficient multipurpose rooms.

    Do you love the idea of the cabinet or closet workspace but don’t have the square footage for a full-scale conversion? My Domaine is a fan of turning a part of a space into a multipurpose work/live room by opting “for a convertible piece of furniture like the Fold Down Desk sold in Staples stores.” When you can’t commit a space to a desk and cabinet system, this convertible option works wonders. The Magazine raves: “With storage space for notebooks, pens, and desk accessories, you don’t have to rummage for your supplies at 9 am to then have to break it all down and store it at 5 pm. The front is an erasable white board so you can brainstorm Monday-Friday and then update it to match your décor for when you need that space for entertaining or living your life!”

  • Homebuying 101: Goal Setting and Budgeting

    A home is often the most significant asset people own in a lifetime. The homebuying process brings together people from every background and budget. Homeownership builds wealth when you make the right decisions to avoid financial loss. Discover how goal setting and budgeting are huge in selecting the ideal dream property to suit your unique needs.

    Define Your Goals

    The first step to future success is defining your goals and memorializing them. Whether you write on a notepad or maintain a Google document, goal setting means seeing what you need to do to make it happen. Next, answer meaningful questions to establish goals, such as do you want the pride of homeownership? Are you looking to build generational wealth?

    Then consider your current job status and whether you intend to stay with the company long-term. For example, military homebuyers who move frequently have different needs than those employed at an office in the city. With home equity at a steady rise, buying is house makes sense for those who can afford it. Changing jobs or getting a flexible side gig, such as DoorDash, can help renters become buyers.

    What Does Your Budget Look Like Today?

    Now that you know why you want home ownership, it’s time to determine how much house you can afford. A mortgage pre-approval gives homebuyers financial guidelines and purchasing power. Generally, the mortgage payment should be 25 percent or less of gross income, including property taxes, mortgage insurance, and homeowner’s insurance. Plus, many homeowners need a down payment, varying from zero to twenty percent, based on the type of loan. For example, some first-time home buyers may qualify for a three percent down loan, while veterans could require a zero percent down payment. Also, credit score plays a role in the down payment necessary to get a mortgage loan.

    Find out your credit scores a year before qualifying for a mortgage to see where you stand with Equifax, TransUnion, and Experion – the three major credit bureaus. Your credit score should be at least 500 to consider applying for a loan. The better your credit score, the lower your interest rate and down payment. In addition, consider a service such as Credit Karma or Lexington Law to address past debt and dispute inconsistencies on your credit report. Plus, these services give you ongoing updates to help you track and improve your score.

    Get Rid of Debt

    Homeownership brings unexpected expenses, such as repairs and renovations. When you own the house, you need to fix everything – there’s no landlord to call! As a result, it is crucial to eliminate debt to afford a home. Also, mortgage lenders prefer candidates with a low debt-to-income ratio, offering them the best rates and terms.

    Start paying down debt ahead to ensure you’re ready to prequalify for a mortgage. Consider working with debt relief or consolidation services if you’re struggling to eliminate past bills. Another option is consulting with an accountant or financial advisor to find the proper steps to resolve debt and move forward financially.

    Save Money Everywhere

    When you’re ready to buy a house, it’s time to save money on every aspect of your life. At this point, every dollar matters – once you close escrow, you can enjoy the little luxuries again! Consider areas where you can save, such as:

    • Make breakfast and lunch at home, rather than buying out – treat yourself once a week to avoid deprivation lapses!
    • Eliminate extra services, such as cable television or a landline, and take advantage of smart devices to remain connected and informed
    • Cut coupons, find discount days at local retailers, join savings clubs, download apps, and search for discount codes online to save money everywhere and anywhere you go.
    • Dine out less frequently and start eating down the food in your freezer so you’re ready to move when the time comes.
    • Eliminate services you don’t use, such as movie sites, gaming costs, and gym memberships that could be costing more than you think – apps such as Truebill.com help
    • Look for essential items like paper towels and soap at dollar stores to save a few dollars.
    • Clean out your closets to prepare for a move, and start wearing some of your favorite old clothes rather than buying new ones – you can shop again after you own a house!

    Increase Your Income

    Overall gross income is never more critical than before qualifying for a mortgage. The higher your gross income, the more you can spend on a house. However, you want stable employment, so you can cover the mortgage once you move in. Avoid going over your head, as you can lose the asset you worked so hard to get.

    One way to increase your income is to ask your employer for a raise or promotion. Another is changing jobs, but you must show employment for at least one year before qualifying for most mortgages. Also, side gigs are an excellent way to increase your cash flow to pay down debt and save for a down payment. Sites such as Indeed.com post jobs and provide resume tools, while apps like Wonolo offer various short-term paid gigs in your area.

    Stay Focused on the Prize

    Working hard, saving money, and improving your credit score becomes tiring. After a long day at work, skipping your side gig and going out with friends is tempting – spending money you should save! Instead, stay focused on the prize to remain motivated and avoid temptation.

    Consider creating a vision board to help you stay on track. Visualizing your fantastic future as a homeowner encourages your best efforts to make it happen. For example, post photos of the types of homes you prefer to keep you moving toward the ultimate prize – owning a home.

    Give Yourself a Break

    While ongoing focus and motivation are critical to success, you also need to give yourself a break sometimes. There are many free and affordable ways to have a good time that won’t take away from your down payment savings fund. For example, the local library, community centers, and houses of worship often have low-cost entertainment to help you unwind after a long day.

    Also, you are only human and likely to make a few missteps along the way. So instead of faulting yourself for the double latte yesterday morning, forgive yourself and make coffee in a to-go cup for the rest of the week.

    Be Accountable

    Accountability is essential to determine where your money goes every day, week, month, and year. Keeping a ledger helps you track expenses. Also, services such as Mint.com can help you stay on top of your spending to make necessary adjustments.

    If you’re saving with a partner, work together to eliminate debt, increase income, and save money. Often teamwork is dream work because you encourage each other to do your best, so you can own a home soon and start building equity.

    What Do You Really Need in a Home?

    Once you feel comfortable about your goals and budget, it’s time to consider the house and neighborhood where you want to live. Often compromise is inevitable, as most buyers are unlikely to get everything they want. Also, this is the time to differentiate between necessities and luxuries.

    For example, necessities might be a three-bedroom home to accommodate a growing family. On the other hand, an inground swimming pool would be fun but would raise the house’s price and require ongoing maintenance. Make sure you can afford to keep up with luxury features in a home and stay focused on what is necessary to live comfortably.

    Work With a Dream Team for Success

    Finally, it takes a village to buy a house, and you should have the ultimate team for success. Include professionals such as a real estate agent, insurance broker, mortgage loan specialist, accountant, attorney, inspector, handyman, and cleaning crew.

    Often a respected real estate agent can refer you to a team that already works well together for the best possible outcomes. Make sure you feel comfortable with all your team members and have ongoing communication to ensure a seamless transition into your new home.

    Home buying is one of the most exciting and stressful times in your life. As you make one of the most significant decisions and investments of a lifetime, focusing on goal setting and budgeting helps you stay on track – and exceed your housing expectations!

  • Seven Ways to Eliminate Stress During a Move

    Relocating is an exciting and busy time, filled with important things to remember. However, even the best-managed homes require attention to detail during a relocation. Discover seven ways to eliminate stress during a move to enjoy your new place.

    Embrace the Changes

    Trying to keep everything as regular and routine as possible during a move is tempting. However, change is inevitable when you leave a familiar place to live in a new one. Embracing the changes helps make moving easier. For example, list the things you want to do when you relocate. Thinking about the fun stuff ahead helps you stay motivated during the tiring moving days. Also, create a small area where you can unwind and relax at the end of the day. Even if the rest of the house is in chaos, you’ll have a sanctuary to escape the stress for a while.

    Remember Self Care

    Often self-care is forgotten for weeks or months during a hectic relocation because people feel guilty taking time out when there’s so much to accomplish. However, all work and no downtime is a sure recipe for stress. Take time to exercise, which releases stress-relieving endorphins and helps you stay limber for the lifting ahead. If you can’t fit exercise into the day, take a few minutes for meditation, stretching, and deep breathing. Allow yourself an hour or two to appreciate your favorite leisure activities, such as reading, fishing, or painting. Taking a break also gives you more energy when you return to your moving responsibilities. Finally, always remember to get enough sleep every night to be rested and ready for action.

    It Takes a Village

    Relocation requires the assistance of several professionals to get through the process successfully. Always ask for help every step of the way, so you can continue to move forward. Also, have a power relocation team on-call to assist you, including an attorney, real estate agent, accountant, cleaning service, handyperson, and moving company. If you rent a moving truck, recruit your friends and family to help you – there’s always more work than you anticipate! Also, keep plenty of water and snacks handy to recharge as everyone works.

    Keep Important Documents Handy and Safe

    Relocating requires documentation to close old accounts and open new ones. Your identification and other crucial paperwork will likely be necessary countless times during relocation. Keep essential documents handy and safe so you have instant access as needed. Consider renting a safety deposit box or creating a quiet corner at home to remain organized throughout the changes.

    Make Sure Time is On Your Side

    When it comes to relocating, keeping track of time helps eliminate stress. Also, most tasks require more time than you might think before getting started. Plus, you need to account for interruptions, struggles, and other unexpected happenings. Always set aside extra time to complete moving projects so you don’t feel rushed or overwhelmed. If the work takes less time, you’ll gain a few much-needed moments to rejuvenate.

    Plan to Say Goodbye

    Saying goodbye is often difficult, but planning will eliminate stress. Make plans to see friends, family, and neighbors before your moving date. Trying to see everyone in a day or two becomes impossible, especially with countless moving tasks to tackle. Plus, making plans reduces the number of people who stop by unexpectedly and causes a break in your moving routine.

    Be Ready to Say Hello

    Moving into a new home is exciting but can also be stressful. Try to visit your community before relocating to familiarize yourself with the surroundings. Use sites such as Google Maps, Yelp, and Facebook social groups to get a feel for the area and find places you want to check out. While moving in is also hectic, slow down to introduce yourself and say hello to your new neighbors. A smile and friendly face go a long way as you assimilate into your new location.

    Relocating can be the start of a wonderful new life in another location. Knowing how to eliminate stress makes the transition easier and gives you enough energy to enjoy your new home!

  • Tips to Keep Your Life and Financial House in Order During a Relocation and Move

    Keeping up with bills and daily chores is challenging when already settled in one place. In addition, staying ahead of everything during relocation and moving can become increasingly difficult. Learn clever tips to keep your life and financial house in order as your transition to a new home.

    Life is a Switch

    Relocation is a significant life change, and you must be well-prepared for it. For example, taking care of business at your old home prepares you to move to the new one.

    Make a List and Check It Twice

    Create a moving checklist of to-do items and keep it handy throughout the move. If you maintain the list digitally, have a paper copy around if you can’t access the Internet while moving. Include everything you need to accomplish for a successful transition, including packing, transferring licenses, and paying bills at the old and new locations.

    Get Organized

    Don’t wait until the last minute to clean out and get organized. Visit the local liquor stores and grocers to get free boxes to gather items together. Organize items by room and colored labels. For example, pack kitchen items in containers with orange labels to show where they belong in your new location.

    Keep Important Documents and Items Safe

    Searching for documentation is time-consuming and frustrating during the confusion of moving. Plus, you will likely need paperwork to make a seamless transition. Keep all necessary documents and items, such as precious jewelry, in a safe place. Consider investing in a safe or locked file cabinet. Another option is to rent a safety deposit box at the bank monthly. If you rent a safety deposit box, find out the hours of access to ensure you can get what you need when you need it.

    man talking on the phone and looking at a computer screen

    Make Moving Plans

    Are you hiring a moving company or renting a truck to do it yourself? Decide how you want to move and schedule the movers and van ahead of time. If you have friends or family helping, budget for soda and snacks to keep them going through the move. Also, remember how you will move vehicles and boats, so you can schedule drivers if necessary.

    Clean Up Last

    Trying to clean as you go is often a waste of time, as everything gets messy during a move. Instead, sweep up the debris and continue packing until the rooms are cleared. It is easier to clean your old house when it’s empty. Also, an unoccupied home is typically less expensive to clean if you hire a professional cleaning service to give you a break.

    Check the Other Side

    Is your new house ready for you? Take time to check out the new place before leaving your old one. Usually, a home is delivered broom-clean and empty so that you can move your stuff in right away. If you cannot visit the new house, ask your real estate agent to check the situation to ensure everything is ready to go.

    Financial House Before Your New Home

    Getting your financial house in order before moving to a new home is crucial to your future success. Know where your money is going so you feel comfortable in your next location.

    Maintain a Financial Planner

    Financing planning is critical to a successful relocation. Work with a team of professionals to get your finances in order, including an accountant, attorney, and mortgage banker. Your real estate agent can often recommend a helpful team if you don’t currently have representation. Make sure you are pre-approved for a mortgage before shopping for your new house. Also, have your financial planning journal to stay on top of money matters. Finally, consider using an app such as Mint.com to track your finances.

    Know Current and Future Expenses

    Remember that your current expenses might not be the same as your future ones. Research the cost of essentials such as insurance, utilities, licenses, and memberships in your new neighborhood, so you are ready to pay them.

    Clear Up Unpaid Bills

    Start paying off outstanding bills a few weeks before moving. Remember there will be utilities and other expenses to cover at the new home. Try clearing up unpaid bills before you leave to avoid paying double costs once you relocate.

    Know Your Credit Score

    After relocation, you may want to apply for memberships and credit in your new neighborhood. Keep track of your credit score to ensure all bills are paid during the hectic moving days and maintain good credit for when you move. Also, it is free to request your credit reports through an app such as CreditKarma.com that can help with credit building, if necessary.

    Keep Track of Installment and Recurring Payments

    From car payments and movie services to gym memberships, most people have several installment and recurring payments to track. Be aware of the dates payments come out of your accounts to ensure you always have enough to cover expenses during the move.

    Save Money

    While saving money during a move might seem impossible, unexpected costs always arise during the journey. Therefore, save as much as possible the months before moving to have a reserve fund for emergencies.

    Job and Professional License Transfers

    Some people relocate for a job, while others must find employment in a new location. Prepare to make job transitions several weeks before moving. If you have professional licenses, find out the rules for establishing your profession in the following place and take the necessary steps, so you have no lapses in employment.

    Research the Cost of Living

    Finally, living costs in one location may not be the same as in another. Always research the general cost of living in your new house to ensure you are well-prepared to cover expenses such as insurance, utilities, and groceries. Also, use a service such as Google Maps to determine the location of important places such as banks, shopping centers, and hospitals.

    Starting Your New Life

    Once you relocate, it’s time to start your new life in another place. A few simple activities can help you feel at home in a new location.

    woman taking things out of a box

    Unpack and Donate

    Schedule time to unpack and set up the new house before returning to work. As you unpack, put aside items that no longer fit into your new life. Use a service such as Craiglist.com to sell unwanted things of value. Show you’re a community-minded person by donating the rest, including moving boxes and packing tape. Consider a site such as FreeCycle.com, where you can post free items and meet people in your new community.

    Register for School, Library, and Community Venues

    Before settling in, register for essential services such as school, library, houses of worship, and other community values. Do you work out at the gym or belong to a professional organization? Find out where to do these activities in your new neighborhood so that you can continue uninterrupted.

    Update Licenses and Insurance

    If you move out of state, you will need a new driver and professional licenses. Also, insurance policies and rates differ based on your location. Contact the insurance companies or your insurance agent to make necessary updates.

    Connect with New Services

    One of the best ways to assimilate into a new location is by connecting with service providers. Research landscapers, cleaning services, contractors, and other essential service providers to maintain your comfortable lifestyle.

    Find Local Medical Providers

    If you take medications, verify your medical records and prescriptions are transferred to a pharmacy and doctor in your new neighborhood. Also, confirm your new medical providers accept your health insurance and are taking new patients. Often it helps to visit the doctors’ offices or call them to make an educated decision. Another option is using a site such as HealthGrades.com to learn more about local medical providers.

    Dive Into Your New Community

    Moving is busy, and you can get caught up in the fast pace of relocating. Take time to breathe, meditate, stretch, and appreciate your new surroundings. Join local social media groups and visit popular gathering sites in the neighborhood, so you’re ready to be part of the action!

    A relocation and move are one of your life’s most exciting and important times. Use these tips to keep your life and financial house in order as you prepare to move into your new dream home!

  • How to Make a Relocation Checklist

    Often it feels impossible to keep track of all the details of moving to a new location. The most efficient moves start by learning how to make a relocation checklist. Now that the contracts are signed and you’re ready for a new home, it’s time to prepare. Discover smart tips to create the ultimate checklist for moving comfortably – and eliminate all the stress!

    How do I make a moving checklist?

    Whether you’re moving across town or to the other side of the country, a relocation checklist helps you stay organized. Start your checklist about two months before moving. Keep a copy in Google documents, accessible from any device or location. Also, print a few copies to have them handy during the move when you might not be accessing electronic devices.

    How do you organize relocation?

    To get organized before a big move:

    1. Start with cleaning out.
    2. Get rid of garbage, old items, and things you don’t want to haul around.
    3. Be realistic about your items because often, people purchase new ones once they move.
    4. From soiled bedding to broken lawn furniture, assess the house and yard to eliminate clutter. When everything unnecessary is gone, it’s easier to organize the rest.

    What are the first steps to relocating?

    The first steps to relocating are researching locations and assembling your professional house-hunting team. Your advisors should include a mortgage banker, accountant, real estate agent, lawyer, handyman, insurance agent, inspector, and cleaning service. Keep in mind they cannot tell you demographics or other details about your new neighborhood. So try to visit the area personally or use Google Maps to get a land layout, including hospitals, shopping, schools, libraries, and other important spots.

    How do I plan a relocation?

    Work with your professional team to plan a seamless relocation. Share your relocation plan with everyone, including friends, family, and the workplace, for a smooth transition. Also, will you hire a moving company or do it yourself? Establish a moving date to have a timeline for scheduling movers or ordering moving supplies. If you hire movers, verify the company is licensed and insured to protect yourself along the way.

    What should you not bring when moving?

    Be honest with yourself about old things around the house and yard. Also, the lighter the move, the less it costs in time, money, and labor. Think about whether moving certain items or buying new ones would be more efficient. Finally, if you haven’t used or worn it in over a year, get rid of it! Get a safe deposit box or lockbox to store essential documents, paperwork, and photos during the move.

    What should my relocation checklist look like?

    Keep your relocation checklist simple to follow throughout the process. A checklist helps you keep everything together during a time of change. Here’s an example:

    What should I do two months before moving?

    • Make a list of chores such as cleaning out the house and storage areas, tidying the yard, cleaning out the closets, and donating or selling old items.
    • Consider selling old items online through Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist or hosting a garage sale.
    • Start sorting, labeling, and boxes the items to move. This is an excellent time to decide if you want to hire movers or DIY so that you can get quotes.
    • Remember to register the children for the new school and get records sent from the current one, including necessary medical and vaccination records.
    • Consider licensing and vaccination requirements in the new neighborhood if you have pets.
    • Inventory all valuable items and get any necessary moving, homeowners, renters, and automotive insurance coverage.
    • Consider all current prescriptions and healthcare providers to get records transferred to others at your new location.
    • If you have a professional license or business, prepare to transfer your records and get established as quickly as possible in your new place.

    What should I do one month before moving?

    • Packing gets serious, so start getting plenty of packing tape, bubble wrap, and sturdy boxes to organize your items. Some moving companies perform most of the work, but you must still separate your things. Consider saving money by getting boxes from local liquor and grocery stores.
    • Establish a moving date to turn utilities, subscriptions, and alarm providers off at your old location and on at the new one. Consider using a free concierge service to save time, such as Moving.com. Also, remember to provide your new address to the post office to forward all mail directly to important companies, including banks and credit cards.
    • Make travel arrangements, whether you’re driving or taking other transportation. Also, consider how all vehicles and boats will be transported to the new location.

    What should I do seven days before moving?

    • Tackle all last-minute packing and keep essentials on hand, including measuring tape, packing tape, a rolling dolly, permanent markers, labels, and cleaning stuff.
    • Return overdue library books and anything else you borrowed in your old neighborhood. Verify memberships were transferred or established at your new place, including the gym and professional organizations.
    • Wash and pack outdoor items, such as garden furniture and lawn mowers. Consider replacing them after moving to minimize your move.
    • Face off with the fridge and clean it out for the new people. Now is a perfect time for gourmet sandwiches and ordering from your favorite local restaurant for the last time!
    • Pack a bag of essentials for each household member that includes two changes of clothes, a phone charger, toiletries, a computer, medications, water, snacks, and eyeglasses or contact lenses. And remember specialty items for little ones and pets, such as a favorite toy or blanket!
    • Clean up, everybody and everywhere! Make sure your old place is immaculate. Also, consider hiring a cleaning service, so your new residence is move-in ready. Additionally, you may need a locksmith to change the locks at your old and new homes.

    When you’re well-prepared with a checklist for moving, all you need to do is follow it for a smooth move. Now that you know how to make a comprehensive relocation checklist, you can look forward to your exciting new home!