Heidi Spellman Realty’s Suggestions on Preparing For Your Move!

• As you are emptying closets etc, get 3 types of boxes to be used in the following fashion:

            # 1 – Items to be moved

            # 2 – Tag sale or throw out

            # 3 – Do not know if you want to keep or chuck something – don’t spend time on these items, worst case, take them with you and decide on the other end, when you are calmer and not under so much pressure

• Get a floor plan if you can, of the new house or draw it as best as possible on paper – floor by floor. Number the rooms on your floor plan (i.e. kitchen is #1; master bedroom is #2, etc.)
• Label boxes with the same numbers (i.e. kitchen supplies should be labeled #1, items for the master bedroom should be labeled #2). Use numbers only, further description is unnecessary, as the movers will be receiving a copy of the floor plan with an explanation of the system.
• Start collecting empty wine boxes that still have lids from the liquor store. These work great for glasses. When you use a wine box, you will not even have to wrap the glasses! You can use these same boxes for toiletries, spices, canned goods, cleaning stuff, etc. This saves tons of time!
• Make sure you know how many wardrobe boxes are included in the price that the movers “give” you, these boxes cost a fortune. Personally, Heidi used 13 for her move.  These same boxes are deep, so load the bottom of them with shoes, sweaters, towels, sheets, pillows etc.  
• Negotiate with the movers; don’t just “settle” on a price.  Absolutely interview more than one moving company.
• The big Ziploc bags, the ones that are suction bags, are fabulous for packing clothes, sweaters, and other bulky items like comforters.  These bags hold a lot.
• DO NOT trust the movers with anything that is expensive or important. Take it in the car with you or for example mark the box with the bathroom number, not, the bedroom number.       
• At the end of the day, make sure you do a total box count and do a recount at the other end.
• Definitely buy an insurance plan for the move.

 

Two Weeks Prior to Closing…

 1. Ask your agent to ask the selling agent if the buyers want to continue with the services of your landscaper, exterminator, housekeeper, and any others that you have contracted before you cancel their services.

• Contact utilities and arrange for final gas, electricity, water, and oil meter readings, etc.
• Contact utilities that you will require at your new address, including cable for the internet.
• Set-up to discontinue telephone lines and have calls forwarded to new phone number.

      (They do this free of charge)

• Cancel T.V. connection and your internet service provider.
• Redirect your mail to your new address.

 The following is a list of parties that you will want to inform regarding your change of address:

• Banks/Credit Card Companies
• DMV
• Your employer/educational facility
• Doctor & Dentist
• Attorney
• Accountant
• Department of Social Security
• Insurance Companies
• Electoral Commission
• Library
• Anywhere that you may have a membership

 

2. Cancel local arrangements such as landscaper/tree spraying service, newspaper, snow clearing services, housekeeper, and gym memberships

• Return library books and videos
• Collect any outstanding items, such as dry cleaning and shoe repair
• Have a final clean out. Hire a cleaning lady the day before closing to do refrigerator, etc

 3. File for STAR tax exemption (if applicable) immediately after you have moved into your new home.

Top 10 Energy Saver Tips for Renters!

Even if you rent an apartment, townhouse, or a home, Heidi Spellman Realty knows you can make a big difference, too! These tips will show you how to be more energy efficient and save energy, money, and reduce the risks of global warming. If there are things you can’t change on your own, share these tips and encourage your landlord to help you make a change for the better.

1. Lighting is one of the easiest places to start saving energy. Replacing your five most frequently used light fixtures or the bulbs in them with ENERGY STAR qualified lights can save more than $65 a year in energy costs. ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) provide high-quality light output, use 75% less energy, and last 6–10 times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs, saving money on energy bills and replacement costs.
   • Remember to always turn off your lights when leaving a room. Turning off just one 60-watt incandescent bulb that would otherwise burn eight hours a day can save about $15 per year!
2. Considering purchasing a room air conditioner? Consider an ENERGY STAR qualified model. They use at least 10 percent less energy than standard models.
   • In the winter, be sure to insulate room air conditioners from the outside with a tight-fitting a/c unit cover, available at your local home improvement center or hardware store. This keeps heated air from escaping outside. Alternately, you can remove the window unit in the winter months to prevent energy losses.
   • Be sure the window unit fits tightly in the window so outdoor air is not getting in.
3. If possible, install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home’s temperature settings when you’re away or sleeping.
   • When used properly, a programmable thermostat with its four temperature settings can save up to $150 a year in energy costs. Proper use means setting the thermostat at energy-saving temperatures without overriding that setting. You should also set the “hold” button at a constant energy-saving temperature when you’re away or on vacation.
4. Consumer electronics play an increasingly larger role in your home’s energy consumption, accounting for 15 percent of household electricity use. Many consumer electronics products use energy even when switched off. Electronics equipment that has earned the ENERGY STAR helps save energy when off, while maintaining features like clock displays, channel settings, and remote-control functions.
   • Unplug any battery chargers or power adapters when not in use (like your cell phone charger!).
   • Use a power strip as a central “turn off” point when you are done using equipment.
     • Even when turned off, electronic and IT equipment often use a small amount of electricity. For home office equipment, this stand-by or “phantom” power load can range from a few watts to as much as 20 or even 40 watts for each piece of equipment. Using a power strip for your computer and all peripheral equipment allows you to completely disconnect the power supply from the power source, eliminating standby power consumption.
5. A ten minute shower can use less water than a full bath.
   • With a new 2.5 gallon-per-minute (low-flow) shower head, a 10-minute shower will use about 25 gallons of water, saving you five gallons of water over a typical bath. A new showerhead also will save energy — up to $145 each year on electricity — beating out both the bath and an old-fashioned showerhead.
   • To avoid moisture problems, control humidity in your bathroom by running your ventilating fan during and 15 minutes after showers and baths.
6. Make sure all air registers are clear of furniture so that air can circulate freely. If your home has radiators, place heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and walls. In the winter, this will help heat the room instead of the wall.
7. During cold weather, take advantage of the sun’s warmth by keeping drapes open during daylight hours. To keep out the heat of the summer sun, close window shades and drapes in warm weather.
8. Save water by scraping dishes instead of rinsing them before loading in the dishwasher. Run your dishwasher with a full load and use the air-dry option if available.
   • Rinsing dirty dishes before loading your dishwasher uses a lot of water and energy. Most dishwashers today can thoroughly clean dishes that have had food scraped, rather than rinsed, off — the wash cycle and detergent take care of the rest. To make the most efficient use of your dishwasher’s energy and water consumption, run the dishwasher only when enough dirty dishes have accumulated for a full load.
9. Wash your laundry with cold water whenever possible. To save water, try to wash full loads or, if you must wash a partial load, reduce the level of water appropriately.
   • Hot water heating accounts for about 90 percent of the energy your machine uses to wash clothes — only 10 percent goes to electricity used by the washer motor. Depending on the clothes and local water quality (hardness), many homeowners can effectively do laundry exclusively with cold water, using cold water laundry detergents. Switching to cold water can save the average household more than $40 annually (with an electric water heater) and more than $30 annually (with a gas water heater).
   • Washing full loads can save you more than 3,400 gallons of water each year.
10. Don’t over dry your clothes. If your dryer has a moisture sensor that will automatically turn the machine off when clothes are done, use it to avoid over drying. Remember to clean the lint trap before every load. Dry full loads, or reduce drying time for partial loads. Learn more.
    • It’s easy to over dry your clothes, if one setting is used for various fabric types. Try to dry loads made up of similar fabrics, so the entire load dries just as the cycle ends. Many dryers come with energy-saving moisture or humidity sensors that shut off the heat when the clothes are dry. If you don’t have this feature, try to match the cycle length to the size and weight of the load. A dryer operating an extra 15 minutes per load can cost you up to $34, every year.
    • The lint trap is an important energy saver. Dryers work by moving heated air through wet clothes, evaporating and then venting water vapor outside. If the dryer cannot provide enough heat, or move air sufficiently through the clothes, they will take longer to dry, and may not dry at all. One of the easiest things you can do to increase drying efficiency is to clean the lint trap before each and every load. This step also can save you up to $34 each year.

Summer Energy Saving Tips from Heidi Spellman Realty, LLC

SUMMER ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

Heidi Spellman Realty, LLC suggests you follow these simple, cost-effective tips to stay cool and reduce summer energy bills in your home:

• Turn In. Turn On
  ENERGY STAR^® qualified room air conditioners use up to 25 percent less energy than a standard new model and up to 40 percent less energy than a model that is more than 10 years old. Look for a high Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). Units with high EERs cost less to operate. Turn in your old, room air conditioner to your local waste management facility and turn on a new ENERGY STAR air conditioner.

• Size it Right
  A properly sized air conditioner will operate more efficiently and dehumidify more effectively. An oversized unit will cycle on and off more frequently. Short cycling reduces an air conditioning system’s life, and a short cycling system will not reduce humidity effectively. Undersized equipment can reduce the efficiency of air distribution and accelerate wear on system components, leading to premature failure.

• No Dirty Business
  A dirty filter will increase energy use and can damage the air conditioner leading to early failures, so check the filter every month and replace as needed.

• Work in the Morning or Evening
  Use ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or late at night when it’s generally cooler outside. Use a microwave oven to cook, or barbecue outside, if possible.

• Chill Out in the Shade
  A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10 percent less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.

• Don’t Forget the Adoring Fans
  ENERGY STAR qualified ceiling fans can help cool a home without greatly increasing electricity use. They improve airflow and create pleasant breezes.

• Just Chill When You’re Home
  For central air conditioning, a programmable thermostat allows homeowners to automatically adjust to a more comfortable temperature when they are scheduled to be home. Homeowners can set the temperature to use less cooling when they are normally away. Residents save three percent on energy costs for each degree they turn up the thermostat from 72 degrees. ENERGY STAR window and through-the-wall room air conditioners also typically include programmable thermostats or timers.

• A Home Needs Shades Too
  Block out heat by keeping blinds or curtains closed during the day, especially on south facing windows.

• Take the Whole-House Approach
  Houses work as a system. Insulation, heating and air-conditioning, air sealing, water heating, ductwork, windows and doors all work together to determine efficiency. A Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor can perform a home energy assessment to help residents map a plan to improve a home’s energy efficiency.

• Turn It Off
  Save electricity and reduce waste heat by shutting off lights. Seldom used home electronics should actually be unplugged from the wall. Items like DVD players, VCRs and cordless phones use 40 percent of their energy while in the off position to power functions like clocks and remote controls.