Movers Reveal: 5 of the Dumbest Mistakes They’ve Seen People Make

We all do seriously inane things when we’re moving. The first time I moved into an apartment alone, I decided I could save 400 bucks by doing it all myself. And I would have, too, if I hadn’t dropped a desk on my bare toe right at the start (that’s right, folks—I was also moving in flip-flops). In the end, not only did I not save that cash, but the whole thing cost me about $600 in medical bills.

Maybe you’ll have better luck (or common sense). But here’s the thing: When you’re moving, it’s surprisingly easy to make dumb and costly mistakes. Just ask these moving companies, who’ve seen the good, the bad, and the stupid.

1. Forgetting to pack

“Clients aren’t always prepared. It literally happens daily. You would be surprised if you knew how many clients we have found still asleep when we rang the doorbell. Recently, we received a call from a potential client on a Friday afternoon for the following Monday. They said they’d have everything packed and ready to go. We knew better, but we booked the move and showed up Monday. And yes, not one single box was packed.”—Derek Mills, co-founder of Square Cow Movers in central Texas

If you leave anything until the last minute, you’re setting yourself up for disaster.

“It adds exponentially to the stress level for the client and movers,” Mills says. And when you’re under stress, something is bound to go wrong. Save yourself the headache, and be totally prepared the night before.

2. Packing in the least efficient way possible

“One customer of ours attempted to save money by packing all of their belongings in plastic bags. Think about an entire kitchen’s worth of dishes and stemware in Hefty bags. Not good! Another customer loaded their dresser drawers and armoire with books, photos and other assorted sundries.”—Aaron Steed, CEO and founder of Meathead Movers in California

The smarter way: If you properly wrap your belongings, you’ll not only keep them from breaking, but you’ll keep your sanity intact as well.

“Take note: Boxes and protective material like bubble wrap and newsprint are the most effective means of carrying, transporting, and protecting one’s personal items,” Steed says. But don’t attempt to use furniture to store heavy items: The furniture can break under the stress. Empty those drawers, and pack the contents in boxes.

3. Bringing the drama

“About two years ago, one of our movers showed up to load a truck for a woman who had booked a move well in advance. The day of the move, we show up to load her truck, and it wasn’t there. No one was there to answer the door and no one returned our phone calls.

“After we wait for 20 minutes, hoping for a callback, she opens the front door and she’s heavily intoxicated. She then asked us to drive her to a truck rental agency, which we did. After we secured her truck and finished loading all her items, her husband comes home and begins physically and verbally panicking because he claimed the things we loaded were all his! This resulted in a lengthy yelling match, with one telling us to load certain items and the other telling us to unload the same items—simultaneously. Nothing got moved that day.”—Mike Glanz, CEO of HireAHelper

The smarter way: If the movers have to hang around while you sort things out, you’ll likely be charged. Instead, get the personal stuff out of the way long before they show up … and we don’t just mean personal belongings.

4. Shipping a fully packed car

“A mistake customers routinely make [when transporting their car in an interstate move] is packing their vehicles with personal items. People sometimes get the idea they can use their car as a giant suitcase, and this will not work. Auto transporters are only licensed to carry automobiles, not freight. Also, these carriers have to go through weight stations going across the country. If they are overweight, they will get fined and can pass that fine down to the customer with the packed car.”—Brett Deinum, manager at AAcrossUSA Auto Transport

The smarter way: You can’t use your car as a way to transport your boxes, but that doesn’t mean you have to clean it out entirely, either.

“We have found that most carriers will let the customer get away with around 50 pounds of personal items secured in the vehicle,” Deinum says.

5. Not taping both ends of your boxes

“One situation that comes to mind happens quite often, but I remember this one move in particular because of the scale. The client we were moving went to great lengths to excessively tape the tops of their hundreds of boxes … but completely forgot to tape the bottoms. Of course, as soon as the first boxes were picked up, the bottoms opened up, and all the contents unloaded onto the floor. The associate moving the boxes simply turned them over and put the contents back in, hundreds of times. And we all know, time is money!”—Ashley Thibodeaux Herbert, COO of Bart’s Office Moving, Inc. in New Orleans, LA

The smarter way: Movers will be happy to fix your boxes for you, but it’ll cost you. Save yourself money, and test-lift a few boxes before the movers get there. And for goodness sake, tape up all of the sides!

Source: Realtor.com, Angela Colley
http://www.realtor.com/advice/move/dumbest-mistakes-movers-see/?iid=rdc_news_hp_carousel_theLatest

Important Things To Know About Home Inspections

If you're hiring someone to inspect the home you want to buy, or you're a seller trying to find out if there are any hidden problems that need fixing before you put your home on the market, here are five things you need to know:

1. You can choose your home inspector.

Your real estate professional can recommend an inspector, or you can find one on your own. Members of the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc. (NAHI), must complete an approved home inspector training program, demonstrate experience and competence as a home inspector, complete a written exam, and adhere to the NAHI Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.

2. Home inspections are intended to point out adverse conditions, not cosmetic flaws.

You should attend the inspection and follow the inspector throughout the inspection so you can learn what's important and what's not. No house is perfect and an inspection on any home is bound to uncover faults. A home inspector will point out conditions that need repair and/or potential safety-related concerns relating to the home. They won't comment on cosmetic items if they don't impair the integrity of the home. They also do not do destructive testing.

3. Home inspection reports include only the basics.

A home inspector considers hundreds of items during an average inspection. The home inspection should include the home's exterior, steps, porches, decks, chimneys, roof, windows, and doors. Inside, they will look at attics, electrical components, plumbing, central heating and air conditioning, basement/crawlspaces, and garages.

They report on the working order of items such as faucets to see if they leak, or garage doors to see if they close properly. Inspectors may point out termite damage and suggest that you get a separate pest inspection. The final written report should be concise and easy to understand.

4. Home inspectors work for the party who is paying the fee.

The NAHI Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics clearly state that members act as an unbiased third party to the real estate transaction and "will discharge the Inspector's duties with integrity and fidelity to the client." A reputable home inspector will not conduct a home inspection or prepare a home inspection report if his or her fee is contingent on untruthful conclusions.

The inspector should maintain client confidentiality and keep all report findings private, unless required by court order. That means it is your choice whether or not to share the report with others. If you're a seller, you don't have to disclose the report to buyers, but you must disclose any failure in the systems or integrity of your home.

5. Inspectors are not responsible for the condition of the home.

Inspectors don't go behind walls or under flooring, so it's possible that a serious problem can be overlooked. Keep in mind that inspectors are not party to the sales transaction, so if you buy a home where an expensive problem surfaces after the sale, you won't be able to make the inspector liable or get the inspector to pay for the damage. In fact, you may not be entitled to any compensation beyond the cost of the inspection.

As a buyer, you need the home inspection to decide if the home is in condition that you can tolerate. You can use the report to show the seller the need for a certain repair or negotiate a better price. You can also take the report to a contractor and use it to make repairs or to remodel a section of the home.

One thing you should not do when buying a home is skip having the home inspected because of cost or undue pressure by the seller. A home inspection is reasonable, it can save you money in the long run, and it's required by many lenders, particularly for FHA loans. There's a reason why buyers should beware, and a home inspection gives you the information you need to make a sound buying decision.

Source: RealtyTimes, RealtyTimes Staff
http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/buyersadvice1/item/47467-20160916-important-things-to-know-about-home-inspections

When It Comes To Buying A Home, Are You A Donald or a Hillary?

Only because it is an election year and the Democratic conversion is on this week.



WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING A HOME, ARE YOU A DONALD OR A HILLARY?

Are you bold and independent, not considering anyone's opinion but your own?

Or are you more cautious and studied, making sure your choice is accepted and appreciated?

Do you buy like a Trump or claim your home like a Clinton?

There are pros and cons to both, depending on the situation. And, there are things you can learn from each of the presidential candidates that can make you a more successful real estate buyer.

Having confidence

It's no secret that Donald Trump will say anything to anyone at any time, regardless of (and sometimes in spite of) the potential blowback. Meek the man is not. Hillary Clinton is naturally more mild-mannered and careful in her approach and in the words she chooses. Basic gender difference? A huuuuuuuuuuugely exaggerated one, if it is.

But there's a lesson here on both sides. Being too aggressive can translate to bullying, which can turn off the seller and make them not want to work with you. But not being assertive enough can cause you to fade into the background.

Buying in a competitive market

He may claim to be a careful businessman with a track record of success, but Trump is also highly competitive and has been known to act on emotion. He's likely to haul off and make an all-cash offer over asking price that buries other potential buyers in a competitive market. His determination is often, simply, to win.

"A cardinal feature of high extroversion is relentless reward-seeking," Dan P. McAdams said in a psychological profile of Trump in The Atlantic. "Prompted by the activity of dopamine circuits in the brain, highly extroverted actors are driven to pursue positive emotional experiences, whether they come in the form of social approval, fame, or wealth. Indeed, it is the pursuit itself, more so even than the actual attainment of the goal, that extroverts find so gratifying."

Sound like something you would do? The relentless pursuit might win you the home. But will it be worth it?

When there's a prime piece of property everyone wants but the seller doesn't want to let it go

Again, a Trump-like buyer may let his or her wallet do the talking. A great offer may budge a seller who was previously steadfast about staying put. And, Trump wins points because he simply never backs down. But don't forget about the impact a human touch can have. A personal appeal to the buyer with, say, a handwritten note or a thoughtful detail like a new flowerpot filled with herbs because you see that the ones she has out front have died can go a long way.

Plus, Clinton has that secret weapon: Her husband, Bill. And you can't underestimate natural charisma and the influence it can have.

"Charismatic people start conversations with all types of people and network with ease," said Dal Sohal Strategies. "They come across as confident, being both credible and approachable to those they meet. People listen to them, respect their ideas, and want their opinion."

Now, these are strategies specific to real estate, but they can work no matter what side of the deal you're on. Of course, if you have a charismatic husband with a checkered history when it comes to women, you'll obviously want to be careful who you put him in a room with.

Dealing with difficult sellers

Trump has never been known as the calm one. In fact, if there's anyone who's likely to inflame an already tense situation, it would be him. Adopting Clinton's more laid-back approach and calm demeanor could be key in situations where the seller is, say, refusing to do repairs or make concessions.

When price negotiations aren't going well

Trying to agree on a sales price is often one of the more challenging, and potentially problematic, parts of buying a home. Using profanity or browbeating/belittling the other party is probably not the preferred method of dealing with a tenuous negotiation (although it does seem to be effective in some political arenas). A softer, friendlier, more Clintonian approach and the ability to compromise might be a better option.

Because you're not as financially solvent as you'd like to be

Whether it's money that can't totally be accounted for - perhaps because of how it funded or was funneled through an eponymous foundation - or your background includes several bankruptcies and some questionable investments, you want to make sure you're putting your best financial foot forward when buying a house.

Both presidential candidates depend on donors to support their campaigns. And both have made a tremendous amount of money outside of politics - Trump in real estate and business, and Clinton partially thanks to speaking fees and book advances.

Trump has made some particular savvy real estate investments while leveraging personal contacts and tax advantages to lower his risk - a good strategy for any buyer, especially if you're short on cash.

"A 1983 profile by Marylin Bender in The New York Times described Trump's strategy," said the Washington Post. "He had an eye for what Bender called ‘good financing,' meaning that as much as possible, he'd avoid taking risks with his own wealth. Sometimes, that meant getting taxpayers to chip in. Trump has bragged about his ability to manipulate public officials into granting him tax abatements and other subsidies. Early in his career, he was buying lots across the country and improving them on 40-year mortgages from the federal government at 5.5 percent interest. Those terms meant ‘we didn't have to put up much cash,' he told Bender."

You might not be able to depend on taxpayers or donors when buying your home, or get the kind of tax assistance Trump has talked about, but there are lessons here for buyers who aren't as qualified as they'd like to be:

• Ask for financial contributions from parents
• Find down payment assistance programs where available
• Work on your credit before buying so you'll qualify for a lower interest rate
• Look for tax-advantaged situations like areas where property taxes are lower or buy a home that needs to be fixed up and use an FHA 203(k) rehabilitation loan, which often offers tax-deductible interest on the improvements

Maintaining good communication

Many agents will tell you that having good communication between all parties - REALTORS®, seller, and buyer - is the single most important factor in a successful real estate deal. That means honest, respectful discourse, which could be hard for some people (looking at you, Trumps of the world). But it also means timely and effective communication, which is more and more often handled through email - which is, umm, harder for some people than others.

Source: RealtyTimes, Jaymi Naciri
http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/buyersadvice1/item/46171-20160721-when-it-comes-to-buying-a-home-are-you-a-donald-or-a-hillary

How to Use Gift Money for a Down Payment

Coming up with the money for a down payment can be a headache for potential new home buyers. Depending on the home you want, your lender and the type of mortgage, the down payment can be a hefty sum. Some people use a gift (from parents or others) to help cover the down payment. But even if you do have a financial gift coming, you need to be careful how you use it. Check out these details about financing a down payment with a gift.

Who can gift

In order to use a gift on your down payment, lenders generally prefer the gift to come from a family member. Parents, grandparents and even siblings can usually give a gift to be used on a down payment. Neighbors, friends or third cousins twice removed generally cannot. It’s also important that the money is traceable. Experts say lenders are cautious of cash gifts so it’s a good idea for your donor to gift the money through check or a wire transfer. It is also a good idea for donors to document that they are financially able to make the gift. And if supporting documents are passed on to you along with the gift, it’s a good idea to keep them readily available.

How much you can receive

As of 2015, individuals can make a tax-free gift of up to $14,000. So, a married couple can give $28,000 to their child or $56,000 to their child and son- or daughter-in-law. Any greater amount and the donor will be required to pay gift taxes to the IRS. Depending on the type of mortgage you apply for, there will be different rules for how much of the down payment the gift can cover. For a conventional mortgage, if you put down 20% or more as a down payment, all of it can be from a gift. If you are putting down less than 20%, part must be from your own money. This amount varies from lender to lender. Additionally, you can only use the gift on primary or second homes. For FHA and VA mortgages, gifts can only be used on primary homes.

Using the money

If you want to use gift money toward a down payment, you will have to ask your mortgage lender to provide a letter for you and the donor to sign. The letter must show that the gift is indeed a gift and not a loan to be repaid at a future date. Different lenders will have slightly different rules, so it’s important to check with them on what they require.

Before making any decision on buying a home, it is important to know how much you can afford to pay monthly for your mortgage. Your credit score will play a part in determining this, since it will factor into the interest rate you’re approved for on your loan. (You can check your credit scores for free on Credit.com to see where you stand.) The down payment will be a large portion of home-buying costs and a gift from a family member can make the difference between getting the keys and having to re-sign your rental agreement. Just make sure you and the donor run the numbers and keep everything documented.

Source: Realtor.com, AJ Smith with Credit.com
http://www.realtor.com/advice/finance/how-to-use-gift-money-for-a-down-payment/