5 Tips to Get Your Finances in Order and Save Money in Your New Home

By Paige Tepping

Buying a new home can be an exciting adventure, especially for first-time buyers. But the process isn’t all fun and excitement—owning a home comes with increased responsibilities and challenges that many new buyers haven’t previously faced. Before you get into the routine of day-to-day life in your new home, there are certain things that can be done to help you save a little money.

According to The Simple Dollar blog, the following tips will help homeowners save money while still living comfortably in their home.

1. Check the insulation. If your new home has an attic, make sure you take a peek around before you begin using the room for storage. It is especially important if you have an unfinished attic to check and be sure there is at least six inches of insulation around the entire room. Take the time to thoroughly inspect the insulation and replace any areas as needed.

2. Lower the temperature on your water heater. If you’re looking to save some money on your energy bill, turn your hot water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If your water heater is a few years old, you may want to think about adding an extra layer of insulation to keep the heat where it’s needed.

3. Create a home maintenance checklist. Even though you have just moved into a new home, home maintenance can’t be forgotten. Create a home maintenance checklist now and be sure to go through the list at least once a month. Include any maintenance projects you can think of—including tasks that may only need to be completed every few months. This way nothing will get overlooked and you can take preventive action which will help extend the life of your appliances.

4. Hang your clothes up to dry. While drying your clothes in the dryer is a huge convenience for many homeowners, it also eats up a lot of energy. If you’re looking to save both energy and money, invest in a clothes rack where you can hang your clothes to dry.

5. Install energy-efficient appliances. Energy-efficient appliances may cost more upfront, but in the end, they will save you plenty of money. Do your homework before heading to your local Lowe’s and be sure to go for appliances that are reliable and energy efficient.

Copyright© 2011 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission.

For all your Tulsa, OK. real estate needs, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

For Tulsa plumbing services, contact Markwayne Mullin, Mullin Plumbing, 918-258-6636 or www.mullinplumbing.com.

Need electrical service in Tulsa? Contact Larry Murray of Murray Electric, 918-835-9605 or www.murrayelectric.com.

For Heating and A/C Services in Tulsa, call Stephen Taylor, Air Assurance, 918-258-HEAT or www.airassurance.com.

For more Tulsa maintenance professionals, visit www.tulsahomecare.com.

Top 5 Ways to Make Moving Less Stressful

Moving into your brand new home is one of the happiest, most exciting moments of your life. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most stressful. The perils and pitfalls of packing up your possessions and safely moving them to another location -- whether around the corner or across state lines -- can turn this momentous occasion into a nightmare.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I, along with my team, have helped many clients over the years not just find the home of their dreams, but smoothly move into it as well. There are several important steps to take to ensure a successful move, such as these suggestions from Mayflower Transit:

Have the right supplies - Gather up cartons, bubble wrap, packing tape and newspapers before you pack your first box. That includes marking pens, so you can label each box with its contents and intended location in your new home.
Get a head start - The sooner you begin, the more stress-free you will be. Aim to fill and mark at least two or three boxes each day. While you are packing is the best time to de-clutter. Throw out or give away items you will likely not want in your new home.
Pack your own valuables - As you pack, set aside valuables or irreplaceable items such as jewelry, heirlooms or pieces of artwork that you'd feel more comfortable moving yourself. This should include important paperwork and photos.
Notify important contacts - Make a list of utilities at both locations that need to be notified of your moving date. Check off each as you make arrangements for shut-off and turn-on dates. List and contact creditors, Internet providers, and anyone else who will need your new address, including magazine and book or movie subscriptions. Don't forget to file your change of address with the post office at least a week before you move.
Prescriptions and pets - Be sure you have enough prescription medications to see you through your moving period - and be sure to transfer existing prescriptions to a pharmacy in your new area. If you have pets, make plans well ahead of time as to where to keep them during the move - and how you'll transport them to your new home.

Simple steps like the above may seem like common sense, but in the throes of such a major life experience, it's the details that often get overlooked and cause the most problems. Please e-mail our team for more moving strategies and feel free to forward this information to friends and family who may also be making the big move.

Sincerely,
Darryl Baskin

For all your Tulsa real estate information, contact Darryl Baskin , McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.homeguidetulsa.com.

For all your Tulsa moving needs, contact Mike Ellingson, Relocation LLC, 918-459-6683 or www.relocationllc.net.

For all your Tulsa area junk removal, contact David Tittle of I-Haul USA at 918-261-4008 or www.ihaulusa.com.

10 Ways to Get Rid of Mold in Your Home

Whether you’re a home buyer, homeowner, or home seller, mold poses a wide range of problems, from cosmetic issues to serious health hazards. According to the Alliance for Healthy Homes, more than 1,000 types of molds have been found in U.S. homes, and approximately 6-10 percent of the general population, and 15-50 percent of people who are genetically prone to develop allergies, are allergic to mold.

Surprisingly, some of today’s advanced building techniques unwittingly foster mold growth in the home. As buildings are increasingly designed to prevent the infiltration and exfiltration of air, the materials used lock in moisture and humidity. Older homes are at risk thanks to leaky windows and roofs that bring in even more moisture.

Finding and removing mold is of the utmost importance, whether you intend to sell your home in the near future or not. Here, from home inspection experts, Pillar To Post (www.pllartopost.com), are 10 tips for combating mold in your home:

1. Call in a home inspection professional to assess water-damaged areas.

2. Keep humidity low. Humidity levels should be under 40% in order for mold to stop its forward march.

3. Replace any carpets and furniture that have ever been significantly damaged (i.e., saturated in water), even if they look OK on the outside.

4. Carpet in a bathroom or basement is never a good idea. Remove any that exists in those areas in your home.

5. Use an air conditioner during the summer months, even if it’s set at a relatively high temperature, like 80. Use fans to circulate air.

6. Dust and clean furniture regularly, and vacuum carpets at least once a week (make sure your vacuum has a HEPA filter).

7. Provide adequate ventilation in hot areas. The kitchen and bath are two of the highest-risk rooms for mold. Install exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom.

8. When you’re shopping for house paint for big or small painting projects, ask the sales rep about mold inhibitors you can add before painting.

9. Does your central air system have a fan from the Ford Pinto era? If so, replace it with a high-performance electrostatic air filter. Your local HVAC technician can help with this.

10. Don’t neglect areas underneath the house—have a professional drain and ventilate all sub-basement areas, especially crawl spaces.

If you do find mold in your home, remove it with a store-bought anti-fungal solution, or get rid of it with a weak bleach solution—1 cup bleach in 1 gallon of water. Or, if mold exists in a larger area, call in a professional to help.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I, along with my team, have a wealth of real estate and homeownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact our team any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

For all your Tulsa Real Estate needs, contact The Baskin Real Estate Specialists of McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

For professional Tulsa, OK. mold removal, contact Roger Fisher, PCC Cleaning and Restoration, 918-641-1111 or www.pcccr.com.

For high performance air filters delivered to your door, visit www.filters4me.com.

For Tulsa Air Conditioning Service, contact Stephen Taylor, Air Assurance, 918-258-COOL or www.airassurance.com.

For wholesale flooring in Tulsa, OK. contact Jim Ecrette, Prosource Wholesale Flooring, 918-252-7711 or www.prosourcefloors.com/tulsa. Remember to ask for Darryl Baskin's wholesale pricing.

Improving Indoor Air Pollution

Indoor air pollution can pose many health risks, including: allergies, asthma, and even cancer. The average person spends about 30% of their day at work and 75% of their day indoors . These simple solutions can improve the air quality in your home:

• Avoiding smoking and the use of chemicals indoors
• Using building materials that don't emit toxins. Ask your builder for some eco-friendly building options.
• Dehumidifying in moist areas
• Ensuring adequate ventilation
• Using air filters that help reduce air pollutants
• Replacing older heating and a/c units
• Installing carbon monoxide detectors, ventilation systems, and air purifiers
  

For information on quality air filters to improve indoor air quality, contact Rick Butefish at Filters4Me.com or 918-292-8600.

To build a new Tulsa, OK home, contact Rick Oberlender of US Building Systems at 918-734-1293.

For Heating and A/C Service in Tulsa, contact Stephan Taylor, Air Assurance, 918-258-HEAT or www.airassurance.com.

Consider This Before Building Your Tulsa Home...

When building a new home, there are so many decisions to make, from the location and builder to which carpet and paint to choose. Keep the following tips in mind when you decide to build a new home.

• Location- Work with your Tulsa Area Realtor when purchasing land and building your home to make sure that the location you desire will fit your budget as well as the style and size you want in your home. Don't find out after purchasing that you can't do what you want or that the market will not handle your specific plans.
• Building- Select your builder carefully! Ask for recommendations from your Realtor, after all they work with builders everyday. Ask builders for referrals and contact them. Ask plenty of questions and don't be afraid to get more than one quote!
• Products- Once you have purchased land, selected a builder, and begun the building process, there will be many products to choose. Ask about your options and shop around in advance to make sure you get what you want at the price you want. When selecting roofing products and styles- keep in mind your budget, style of home, and the weather in your area. Remember that by adding ridge vents or using certain materials you can decrease your energy costs. When selecting flooring products- remember to check wear, stain resistance, and even product type (such as carpet, tile, or hardwood). When considering which extras you might want- Think about preventing pests before you move in. 1. Have a Sentricon HD Termite Elimination system installed up front to ensure that termites will not be a problem. 2. Consider using glass mulch in your flowerbeds. Glass mulch will not attract pests like traditional wood mulch, never washes away, and it looks great. Finally, decide if you want any home automation or home theater systems installed. It is easy to have installation done up front before walls and furnishings are in place.
• Mortgage Options- Check with your Tulsa mortgage banker to find out what mortgage options are available to you. For example, can you qualify for a VA or Rural Home Loan? Also, make sure you know your budget and how much down-payment you have. If you have less than 20% to put down, ask about loans that require less down-payment!

Want more information? Contact these professionals or visit www.tulsahomecare.com:

Home-Building in Tulsa, Oklahoma- Rick Oberlender of US Building Systems at 918-734-1293 or usbs@att.net.

Tulsa Real Estate- Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Tulsa Mortgage Needs- Steve Currington, Currington Mortgage at 918-810-0092 or www.curringtonmortgage.com.

Tulsa, OK. Roofing- Judy Smith, A-Best Roofing, 918-587-1426 or www.abestroofing.com.

Flooring Products: Jim Ecrette at ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings at 918-252-7711 or www.prosourcefloors.com/tulsa. Don't Forget to ask about Darryl Baskin's Pricing Discount!

Tulsa Area Pest Control- Mother Natures Pest and Lawn, 918-362-2000 or www.pestsecret.com.

Glass Mulch in Tulsa- Leigh Murray, Garden Glass of Oklahoma, 918-232-0210 or www.gardenglassofoklahoma.com.

Tulsa Electrical Services- Larry Murray, Murray Electric, 918-835-9605 or www.murrayelectric.com.

Tulsa Plumbing Services- Markwayne Mullin, Mullin Plumbing, 918-258-6636 or www.mullinplumbing.com.

Tulsa Home Automation Installation- Keegan Beck, KMB Enterprises, 918-527-1031 or www.kmbenterprisesllc.com.

Could a Short Sale Help You?

What is a short sale and could it help you?

Basically, a short sale is when the homeowner owes more on their home than it is worth and the lender allows the homeowner to sell the property for less than the mortgage balance. This can allow the homeowner to sell the property and avoid the foreclosure process. This also causes less damage to credit than a foreclosure.

To qualify for a short sale the homeowner must have the following issues:

1. Financial Hardship
2. Insolvency (not enough cash or assets to pay off mortgage balance)
3. Monthly Shortfall

For more information on how you can Stop Your Tulsa Foreclosure today, contact The Baskin Real Estate Specialists at 918-258-2600 or www.stopmytulsaforeclosure.com.