Clean Out Your Car Like A Pro - Part 1

Many of us love to take our car in for a pampering. Getting your vehicle detailed is always a treat, but it can get very pricey. That's why there's no harm in doing it yourself every so often. It's actually very easy to clean your car's interior -- and you don't necessarily need fancy machinery to get the job done right.




Below are a few tips to getting your vehicle so clean it'll look like the pros did it for you! Follow these tricks and you'll be riding in style... super hygienic style in no time!


Give your car a thorough vacuuming and get every last corner!
Give your carpets and seats a good vacuuming and you're halfway there to a squeaky clean interior. Move the seats forward and get rid of all the junk and debris hiding underneath. Unless you're meticulous all year-round, you might be surprised by some of the items lurking down there. Candy wrappers, lost change and even electronics are just some of the things people find underneath their car seats. Don't forget to remove the mats, and vacuum all the dirt under there too.

Question for the Reader: Do you clean your car on your own?

www.HomesInTransition.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8128590

Creating a Realistic Budget - Tip 3

Budgeting -- ooh, what a scary word! If you want to frighten someone whose finances are out of control, suggest that they tally up their expenses on a piece of paper. We all understand the value of such an exercise, but when it comes to the practicality of putting a budget together, we get cold feet. Budgeting doesn't have to be so painful, when you have a systematic series of steps to follow.

Visit if Tip 1 and Tip 2 if you have not yet read it.

TRACK YOUR EXPENSES
How can you know what steps you need to take to reach your goal until you know exactly where you are right now? Most of us don't have a clue where our money goes -- credit cards and ATM's make it easy for money to just slip through our fingers. The first step is to create a list of STATIC EXPENSES -- things that cost the same amount every month, like rent and your car lease and student loan payments. Now these expenses are not completely "static" in the strictest sense of the word. You can reduce your rent or mortgage payment by finding a less expensive house -- and you could increase your loan payments to get rid of the debt faster. But for now, just itemize your regular monthly costs.

Next, you want to evaluate your VARIABLE EXPENSES -- those costs that fluctuate from month to month. Groceries, entertainment, utilities, and clothing all fall into this category. The great thing about variable expenses is that you control (at least to a certain extent) how much of your budget these items eat up. But some of these costs come in large and unexpected chunks -- like car repairs and medical bills. So you might need to go through your last 12 months' credit card and bank statements to get a clear idea of how much daily life costs you. And don't forget about those expenses that are paid only intermittently -- like insurance. Tally each expense and divide the total by 12, to give you a clearer idea of how your costs spread out over a year's time.

www.HomesInTransition.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/13766

Save Money on Eating Out

You might be living life on a budget but there is no reason you can't still enjoy eating out once in a while. Saving money while eating out takes some effort but I have some tips to help you in this endeavor:

• Eat a snack before you go out so that you don't feel a need to order a big meal. Eat an apple or some crackers and cheese an hour before you go out to effectively curb your appetite.


• Go out for breakfast, lunch or brunch. Dinner is the most expensive meal due to ingredients, staffing demands, and portions. On average it costs 25% more than lunch and 50% more than breakfast.

• Drink water with your meal. Prices on beverages are marked up significantly, sometimes 3-4 times what they would cost you in a store and sometimes even more. This holds true for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.


• Avoid appetizers and desserts. The profit margin is big for restaurants with these items which means the value is low for you.


• Share meals or bring home leftovers. The trend these days is large portions. Unfortunately the other trend is to not take home the leftovers. Bear with the potential embarrassment and take home what you cannot eat at the restaurant. It is often enough for another meal and makes for a great work lunch.


• Look for deals on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the 2 slowest days of the week for restaurants. Deals are often featured on these days to entice people to come in.


• Think about going to a food establishment where you don't have to tip. There are many good places where you pick up your own food at the counter and bus your own dishes, eliminating the need to leave a tip. Better yet, get a classy meal but take it to a park or other nice vista.


• Take advantage of any discounts you can. There are discounted meal selections for children and senior citizens. Some restaurants may even feature an early bird special that is open people of all ages.


• Restaurant coupons are always a good way to save money. Look in entertainment magazines. They not only contain coupons but many restaurants also use these publications to announce special deals. Another great source is Restaurant.com where you can search for deals and discounts at a restaurant near you using the zip code you live in or the zip code you are going to visit.

Treat yourself on occasion but be wise and stick to your budget. There are some cheap eats out there you just need to be aware of what to avoid, what to look for, and how to get the most bang for your buck.

If you found the content of this article to be interesting and useful then check out http://www.frugalsensei.com/extras/entertainment for even more ways to find entertainment on a budget. Visit The Frugal Sensei where the goal is to get you the most for the least. 

www.HomesInTransition.com

 

 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7822830

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

 

 

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Caretaker Frequently Asked Questions About Homes In Transition (Part 5)

We review some of the most common questions about the Homes In Transition program that we receive from potential caretakers.  We hope this helps you get a better sense for our service.  Be sure to check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 if you have not yet.

What kind of maintenance will be required of me as a Caretaker?

A HIT Caretaker is required to perform the minor maintenance of the property which will include the regular servicing of the HVAC systems, repairing dripping faucets, clogged drains, toilets when the water keeps running, replacing light bulbs, washing the windows as needed, batteries in smoke detectors, lawn mowing, pruning, minor sprinkler repair and the like. We expect our Caretakers to care for the home as they would their own home -- which is why prior home ownership is a highly sought attribute. Major system failures or repairs of electrical systems, plumbing behind the walls and appliances are generally not the responsibility of Caretakers. 

How long can I expect to be in a house?

On average our Caretakers are in a house about 6-7 months. However, the duration could be one month or as long as a year or more. There are many factors that determine the duration, such as: an unconventional floor plan, odd colors, location, age, price, etc... can sometimes add to the duration of the homes availability. The one thing that will definitely shorten a Caretakers occupancy is the failure (on the part of the Caretaker) to provide the necessary care and show ability of the property along with the required attitude of accommodation! A Caretaker is contractually obligated to maintain our standards and tarnishing HIT’s excellent reputation is simply not tolerated.

www.HomesInTransition.com

Vacant Homes - Tips to Cure the Most Costly Problems (Part 1)

You or your client moved into your new home.  The old home is still on the market and the action is slow.  Showings are weeks apart from each other and offers have been made yet.  Without someone monitoring the property on a daily basis, a potential disaster is looming.  That vacant home, vacant rental unit, vacant vacation home or second home are all where damaging problems can easily occur when no one is checking.

Getting a caretaker to live in the home until it sells is the most notable solution to any of these problems.  Homes In Transition is one such provider that services New Mexico.  Having a full time house sitter not only keeps someone in the house to monitor for any potential problems, they will also help sell the home faster and for more money.  Having a house looking like someone lives there, that it is not a vacant shell, turns it into a home in the mind of a buyer.

Next week we will begin to cover 5 problems that can be avoided if you or your client monitors it regularly...or if you use a caretaker service such as Homes In Transition.

www.HomesInTransition.com

Home Owner Frequently Asked Questions of Homes In Transition (Part 4)

Continuing on with our series of frequently asked questions from home owners.  Click for Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.  Let's move on to our final part of this series.


Can I choose who is placed in my house?

Because we are responsible for the placement and the successful performance of the Caretaker, we like to have control over who gets placed where. You can be sure that while we are not perfect, we have years of experience and a feel for our Caretakers and an understanding of their needs and the experience in creating the kind of relationship that is vital to a successful process. Our goal is to not create a long term relationship for you but to get your house sold and move on to the next. Nobody has the level of skill at performing this task like our very experienced Staff.

What about Utilities, Home Owner Association fees and the like?

Association fees, utilities, refuse service and other required “public service” expenses are costs that get paid for any home in our program that is occupied by a HIT Caretaker. Pest control, window cleaning, lawn maintenance, pool cleaning services, septic tank pumping, and services required to get the property in its best possible selling condition are typical of optional services that are not covered by our program without agreement to do so written into the Property Lease and Services Agreement.

In General, Utilities will be transfer from the Property Owner to the Caretaker upon the Caretakers occupancy of the property. This process is verified by the fact you will not get further bills once the property is occupied and the fact that we record the confirmation number of the service switch. When the property becomes vacant the utilities will revert back to the Property Owner. If the utility is lienable, like the water in Albuquerque, it will be paid monthly by Homes In Transition and billed to the Caretaker thus avoiding any liens at closing.

Unfortunately, some neighborhood associations charge their fee on a quarterly or even an annual basis, along with delinquency charges, if the entire bill is not paid in full and on time. HIT pays these fees on a monthly basis to the Property Owner, not the association. HIT occupies vacant houses until they sell, it is impossible to tell how long this term might be. Because we are not represented at the closing table there is no way for HIT to recover any monies paid in advance for association fees and the like. As a result, HIT does not pay any of these fees in advance of our occupancy. Rather, we pay all these types of fees in arrears much like one does for the public services that are delivered to the house.

Utility Providers have become very strict about providing service to vacant houses and in many cases are pulling meters from these houses. If the meter is pulled, there is considerable cost involved in getting new inspections and service restored. We encourage you to check with your utility provider to understand these costs if you plan on leaving your house vacant.

For more information, click here.

www.HomesInTransition.com

Home Owner Frequently Asked Questions of Homes In Transition (Part 3)

Continuing on with our series of frequently asked questions from home owners.  Click for Part 1 and Part 2.  On to Part 3.

What if I don't like the Caretakers performance?

Caretakers, like everyone else,are human and not perfect. If you or your Broker ever have a complaint, we will listen, gather all the facts from all parties involved and take decisive action to remedy the situation that day! We have ample staff to field the call, perform an emergency onsite visit of the property, if necessary, and resolve the issue quickly. If the issue cannot be resolved the Caretaker is removed from the program and the house refilled. While this situation has only occurred less than .02% of the houses that have been served thought the HIT program, the consequences of NOT using the HIT program would expose the vacant house to even greater risks that have a much higher percentage of occurrence. 

Is Anybody watching over the Caretaker?

Yes! HIT maintains a staff responsible for the regular and random inspection of every property in our program starting on day four in which we carefully review and modify the furnishing setup inside the house with our Caretaker. Weekly inspections are conducted thereafter to ensure our Caretaker understands their role and has the house show ready. We inspect the property regularly until it is sold and leaves the program.

What happens when the house is sold?

First, we cheer another success story!
The Property Owner provides HIT with notice of the closing and arrangements are made by the HIT to relocate the Caretaker. The property is cleaned and ready for the new buyer on or before the closing date specified in the notice. Because it is HIT's goal to accommodate ALL closings, under extreme cases your property can be available in as little as 30 days. The Notice process is dictated by state law by which we all must abide. Because each Caretaker in the program is highly valued and we can all appreciate the moving process, providing Caretakers the longest notice possible is always HIT's goal.

How can I be sure the house will be in good shape when the Caretaker leaves?

Our goal is to always return the property to you or the new buyer in as good or better shape as it was when enrolled into the HIT program. To ensure we get it right, we video tape the property floor to ceiling, inside and out, front curb to back wall before the Caretaker moves in. This provides as good a record as possible for both the Property Owner and the Caretaker establishing the existing condition of the house. Upon the Caretakers departure from the property, HIT performs a Move-out Inspection and reviews any suspicious areas against the video record. If there is an issue that needs to be resolved HIT's Customer Service Department mobilizes the necessary services to resolve the problem quickly and efficiently.

What happens if the Caretaker doesn't move?

Unfortunately a Caretaker is human and their performance can never be guaranteed. Since the first caretaker in 1986, there have only been 2 known cases of Caretakers not surrendering a house in time for closing. This is not to say our Caretakers are near perfect, but it does mean that HIT's professional approach and years of experience provide the broad base of knowledge to resolve these issues before they affect a closing. In a combined total inventory of houses reaching well over 2400 properties, it's a very small percentage risk. Could it be an expensive risk? sure, but compared to the level of risk and possible expense of holding the property for a longer period of time, possibly having to accept a low ball offer, having the house sold on the court house steps, having it vandalized,burned down, damaged by a major system malfunction that causes significant damage, having an unnoticed roof leak, broken water pipe or other possible situation occur without notice, the risk of having a Caretaker hold up a sale has a much lower risk factor. To further insulate the Property Owner for this acceptable risk, HIT provides a modest daily liquidated damages provision in the Property Mangement Agreement to help offset this type of unusual occurrence should it happen.

The bottom line - HIT has the experience and vast array of tools and unmatched knowledge to help prevent or mitigate this type of situation.

www.HomesInTransition.com

Home Owner Frequently Asked Questions of Homes In Transition (Part 2)

Continuing on with our series of frequently asked questions from home owners.  You can find Part 1 here.  Onto Part 2.

What is the cost of the program?

There is NO UPFRONT COST for Property Owners to use the HIT program. All applicable fees are collected after closing! 

The cost of the HIT program is $1500.00 but diminishes by $500.00 every 30 days the Caretaker occupies the house. After 90 days of our Caretakers occupancy, if the house is not sold, the fee for the HIT service diminishes to zero (no cost) and you continue to enjoy the same professional service till your property sells. If the house sells within the first 90 days of our Caretakers occupancy, the small applicable fee is collected after closing.

To illustrate the net savings, when you consider the costs to insure, maintain, secure, stage, heat, cool and maintain the landscaping for a vacant house, it's estimated to cost over $1000 per month to provide the same level of service HIT provides for the average vacant property. That's in addition to the monthly mortgage payment (holding costs) and insurance costs. Therefore excluding the mortgage and insurance costs for simplicity, if the house sells in the first 30 days (WOW!) the average net cost to use the HIT program would be only $500.00 ( $1500 - $1000) for the first month!

If the property were to sell in the first 60 days (still not bad) the cost to use the HIT service becomes less than ZERO ($1500- $2000!). The fact of the matter is that beginning the first day of our Caretakers occupancy of your once vacant house, you keep more and more money in your pocket to the tune of $1000 OR MORE per month. The fact that you are not spending this money to provide for the maintenance, security, utilities, and MARKETING of your house, means you have more money every month to put towards other better uses besides breathing life into your vacant house. Yes, we are motivated to help sell your house! We earn a little bonus from the Diminishing Fee arrangement if we do and you keep a lot more money in your pocket!

If you are bank or government institution, HIT will be happy to negotiate a service program tailored to your needs. The fact HIT can eliminate by 100% the monthly asset management / preservation costs while promoting faster sales and higher offers and provide a far more neighbor friendly option for your vacant house holdings, means a lot less RED INK!

How does having a Caretaker in my house effect my insurance?

If your house is owner occupied your coverage will only change a little bit. There is usually a slight cost adjustment for a HIT Caretaker Occupied situation (Homeowner Fire Policy). However, if your house is currently vacant and has been for the last 14 days, your property insurance could be void! The cost to obtain vacant house insurance is anywhere between 3 and 7 times more expensive than a standard Homeowner policy.

IF YOU'RE NOT SURE ABOUT YOUR CURRENT INSURANCE COVERAGE ON YOUR VACANT HOUSE PLEASE CALL YOUR AGENT NOW. Paying premiums every month DOES NOT mean you have coverage! If your agent tells you they will not insure a tenant occupied house, contact our office for an insurance agent referral that will get you the coverage you need while your house is enrolled in the HIT program.

www.HomesInTransition.com

Home Owner Frequently Asked Questions of Homes In Transition (Part1)

What is the Homes In Transition Program?

Homes In Transition (HIT) breathes life into vacant houses! HIT offers a unique program matching qualified Caretaker occupants with vacant houses which greatly improves the marketability of the property while preserving both the value of the property and the neighborhood around it. 

Why should I enroll my house in the HIT program?

• Keeps the property Insurable because it is occupied and not vacant.
• Preserves the value of the asset through regular maintenance and oversight of the property.
• Cost of the program is minimal and pays for itself after 30 days of Caretaker occupancy. (See program cost below)
• Problems get reported in real time rather than being discovered after causing major damage.
• A HIT Caretaker Occupied house competes better in the marketplace resulting in better offers and faster sales.
• Keeps the property safe and more secure.
• Keeps the neighborhood safer and preserves the image of the neighborhood.
• Brokers are more willing and able to show a HIT occupied house than a vacant or tenant occupied house.
• Use of program may keep the property from going into foreclosure.
• Owner can rest easy the property is being protected and free of unwanted visitors.
• Provides safe environment for Brokers and their buyers.
• Utilities and other regularly occurring property service expenses are paid.
• Caretaker occupants are subject to regular and random inspections of their performance and care of the property.

Who would be caring for my house?

Caretakers are individuals or families that are carefully placed into our vacant houses where they live until they sell. The Caretaker we would be placing in you or house is pre-qualified through HIT's comprehensive background check process. They are matched to the house based on their needs and the quality and quantity of their approved furnishings. Caretakers are professionals, blue collar workers, single, married, with kids and without and some have pets that we place only with your written approval. Many are referrals from Brokers that need a little time to correct some credit issues before they can buy a house - kind of like an incubator for potential buyers! They are NON smokers, and all must agree to a high level of accommodation for your Brokers selling process and marketing of the house.

64 Victor Rd (Corrales, New Mexico)

The house is currently on the market, but its seller is looking for Caretakers to stage this home while it is for sale.

64 Victor Rd
Corrales, NM 87048

Rent: $680/month
Square Feet: 3,920
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Click here for details

www.HomesInTransition.com

Vacant Homes Are Harder To Sell (Part 5)

The numbers are out there. Occupied homes sell faster and for more money than their vacant brethren. With no distractions for the eye all the little imperfections of the home are magnified. This can be a significant hindrance in all but new construction homes.

If you are just joining us now, you can click here to check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

Vacant Homes Create a Psychological Disadvantage

The owner of a home with become more desperate to sell the longer their home stays on the market.  This somewhat explains the discrepancy in price in vacant homes. The prospective buyer and their agent will know this and try to use that to negotiate a lower price, expecially when the house has been sitting empty for quite some time.

It is not always avoidable to put a vacant house on the market. If you do, be sure to take steps to make it look occupied until it sells.  This will maintain the home's condition, lower maintenance costs, especially where insurance is concerned, and insulate the seller against the apparent disadvantage during price negotiations.  All your costs incurred to keep the home looking lived in will be recouped in dollar amount received and speed of sale.

Or just use Homes In Transition and we will keep it occupied until it sells, avoiding all this hassle.

www.HomesInTransition.com

Vacant Homes Are Harder To Sell (Part 4)

The numbers are out there. Occupied homes sell faster and for more money than their vacant brethren. With no distractions for the eye all the little imperfections of the home are magnified. This can be a significant hindrance in all but new construction homes.

If you are just joining us now, you can click here to check out Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.


Maintain Curb Appeal at All Costs

After you have vacated your home you need to keep the yard maintained. This may mean doing it yourself if possible or hiring a landscaping and yard service to keep the grassed mowed and the bushes trimmed.  If your home is located where insects and pests are intrusive then you need to be sure the house is sprayed regularly while it is up for sale.  No prospective buyer will want a homes with visible pest problems.  On top of that, insects are attracted to electrical systems and their wiring.  They could potentially cause damage if left unchecked.

Swimming pools present another problem.  On a daily basis they are polluted with debris.  Keeping them clean is a must if you are going to sell your home.  While not so long ago pools were considered an amenity that enhanced a property's value, today they are often seen as an added maintenance expense.  You would hate to lose a buyer that is on the fence about the property because they stepped into the back yard and were greeted by a concrete swamp.

Stay tuned as we continue our series on tips for selling your vacant home.

www.HomesInTransition.com

Vacant Homes Are Harder To Sell (Part 1)

The numbers are out there. Occupied homes sell faster and for more money than their vacant brethren. With no distractions for the eye all the little imperfections of the home are magnified. This can be a significant hindrance in all but new construction homes.

A furnished or staged property allows the buyer to envision it as a home instead of just a house. Their imagination will allow them to more easily create the setting they desire given the visual cues already in place.

Curb appeal is another concern for an empty house. If the property is not properly cared for on the outside the setting during a drive by can be enough to turn off all but the most experienced of buyers. With first time home buyers still making up a large portion of all home buyers, that is a risky endeavor.

Next week we will expand on this premise and go into more detail on concerns and solutions.

www.HomesInTransition.com