Last minute gifts that cost nothing but time

By Mary Farrell

 

Days are numbered for procrastinators who haven’t yet started their holiday shopping. But you don’t have to venture into the mall if you don’t want to. Instead of buying a token gift, give your friend or neighbor something that costs you little and benefits them a lot—time. Buy a nice card and insert an IOU offering to walk their dog, do some yard work or home repairs, or drive them to an appointment. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Clear the snow
Maybe you have a snow blower and your neighbor doesn’t. If you’ve already bundled up to clear your own driveway, why not do theirs as well? In Consumer Report’s snow blower tests we measure removal speed, throwing distance, surface cleaning and plow pile removal. The best snow blowers in our tests get excellent marks on all tasks, including the two-stage Cub Cadet 31AH57S, $1,500, and Cub Cadet 930SWE 31AH95SU, $1,600. Even if you clear snow the old-fashioned way, with a shovel, it’ll be appreciated. Who knows, you might even find their daily newspaper under the white stuff.

Help with home repairs
Everyone has a loose towel rod or a picture that needs hanging. Ask your gift recipient to make a short list of small repairs and pledge to spend an afternoon fixing them. At Consumer Reports, we test drills for all skill levels. Our top general use drill/driver is the Hitachi DS18DSAL, $170, followed closed by models from Makita, Ridgid,DeWalt and Panasonic. For lighter tasks, try the Hitachi DS14DSFL, $140.

Make a meal
For a single working Mom or a family with children in lots of after-school activities, a homemade meal delivered to the door is a good thing. And thanks to Chinet, you don’t even have to ask for your dish back. In the supermarket, look for Chinet’s paper bakeware, which in our tests proved to be a tough baking dish that can be used in a regular oven and then migrate to a microwave oven.

Clean the house
Some people prefer to clean before company arrives and others like to clean up after they leave. Offer to expend some elbow grease vacuuming or dusting, or washing floors or bathrooms. In our tests of vacuum cleaners, many got excellent scores for bare floors, including the top-rated Kenmore Progressive 21714 canister, $400, and the Kirby Sentria, $1,350. But it’s the carpet and pet hair tests that separate the best from the rest. For cleaning the kitchen or the bathroom, our all-purpose cleaner of choice is PineSol Original, which was the only one in our tests that didn’t leave streaks on the mirror.

Do the laundry
With all the wrinkle-free fabrics these days, steam irons don’t get the workout they once did. But after the holidays there may be tablecloths or napkins to wash, iron, and put away. In our tests of steam irons, thePanasonic NI-W950A, $220, topped all others due to its prodigious steaming rate. It was excellent on all ironing tasks, including linen tablecloths. For laundry, our top laundry detergent is Tide Ultra plus Bleach Vivid White + Bright HE.

Walk the dog
The beauty of taking care of your neighbor’s dog from time to time is you can enjoy the companionship without the vet bills. Many working families have pets that, by necessity, are cooped up in the house all day. That’s where you come in, especially if you have a flexible schedule. There’s nothing like being greeted at the door by a happy pup.

Drive to an appointment
Next time your neighbor has to go to the eye doctor or dentist, offer to drive. That way if they have an eye-blurring exam or need pain killers for that dental work, they’ll get safe passage home. Take a book or enjoy the guilty pleasure of reading the celebrity magazines in the doctor’s offices. Win-win.

Mow the lawn
Once spring arrives, this seasonal chore will be necessary again. For your neighbor, it’ll be like Christmas in April. Our top mowers are champs at mulching and mowing and we also rate how they handle. Models from Honda and Toro top the list of self-propelled mowers and our top push mower is from Cub Cadet. For larger lawns, we liked tractors from Snapper and John Deere.

--Mary H.J. Farrell

Two story wood frame home that has been recently updated with stylish interior and excellent features in Eagle River!

Just listed for $395,000

15044 Terrace Lane Eagle River, AK 99577

This spaciously designed home has recently been updated with excellent features, such as, two master suites located on the main level. The second floor boasts a large living space, as well as two bedrooms and a full bathroom. The finished attic is the perfect place for a playroom or game room and includes a bathroom, making the space even more functional. The home includes a full wrap around porch

 

We also have vacant lots available.

Brought to you by:

Les Bailey & Associates Real Estate Team

Keller Williams Alaska Group

Direct: 907-694-1234

Toll Free: 1-800-784-2912

www.LesBaileyAndAssociates.com

Peaceful Playrooms Made Possible

by Laura Leist

Most parents would agree that when you have young kids, it can feel like the entire house turns into the playroom. If you are ready to reclaim your space, and keep toys out from under your feet, it may be time for a fun-filled family activity: organizing the playroom!

As a first step, get your children on board. Explain to them the goals of your organizing project, what their role is, and that they may need to consider giving away some of the toys they no longer play with so that less-fortunate children can enjoy them. This organizing project can be an exercise in letting go and sharing. Or, if you have an enterprising child, they can set up a garage sale or sidewalk sale to sell some items to people in the neighborhood.

Next, consider the zones you would like in your playroom. A playroom should be divided into a few zones to maintain the space and make cleanup a breeze. Create a “library” zone for books, a station for arts and crafts, an open space for play, and a parking area for play strollers, trucks, etc.

Storage is the key ingredient to keeping a playroom orderly and usable. I have seen many storage styles work, but one of my favorite techniques involves shelves with cubbies, which allow you to add designated baskets and categorize play items. Fabric or wicker baskets are perfect for corralling items such as toy cars, Legos®, building blocks and other small play items. Other cubbies can be left open for books, puzzles and larger toys. Cubby storage provides more space than you might anticipate because by organizing and consolidating similar items into baskets, you will gain space for new categories and items. Baskets can be labeled with words or pictures, making cleanup easier because everything has an obvious place.

Contemporary Kids by San Diego Interior Designers & Decorators Style On a Shoestring

You can install built-in shelves with cubbies for bins and baskets that kids can access easily. I like the idea of bins on drawer tracks that kids can just dip into for their toys. If you’re not quite ready to commit an entire wall to permanent storage, consider adding single shelves within your child’s reach to free up more floor space for play. These shelves can hold baskets, bins and books.

Traditional Kids by Amsterdam Media & Bloggers Iris

Open bins are a highly functional option because kids can see the contents without having to pull baskets down from shelves. They are especially great for smaller, less independent children who need easy access to their toys. These can be found in a variety of styles and can be stacked to create a more dedicated storage system. Toy trunks are great for smaller children and can be used for things like dress-up clothes and larger plush toys. If you choose to have a toy trunk, avoid using it as your single storage solution. Limit the items in a toy trunk to one or two categories that can be easily maintained. As your child grows, toy trunks can be repurposed as storage for school art projects and mementos.

If you don’t have a separate playroom, but have a family room that doubles as play space, you may want to dedicate shelf space to toy bins or the inside of a storage bench or ottoman. A freestanding storage bench offers more than just comfy seating; it doubles as a space to store games, toys, books, and art supplies. Some benches have lids that open to reveal storage space, but you can also find benches with cubby space for baskets to match the décor of your family room.

Picture via kidspacestuff.com

At the end of the day, play spaces are meant to be enjoyed, even If it means creating a big mess. As long as you have the right storage solutions for cleanup time, your children can continue to enjoy their toys and their imaginations.

Warmly,

Laura Leist, CPO
Organizing with Laura

How To Depersonalize Your Home For Sale

Making the decision to sell your home begins a journey of a thousand steps. From hiring a real estate agent to getting the home ready for the market, there is a lot to do.

 

Luckily, homeowners have a tool belt full of items that make the job easier. The most powerful tool of them all is decorating – better known as staging. Done right, staging your home will help it sell faster and for more money.

Before you hire a decorator, or decide to do it yourself, you’ll need an appropriate backdrop – a clean, uncluttered space. Otherwise, staging the home is like putting lipstick on a pig.

Why De-clutter?

There are several reasons homeowners should clear their homes of the clutter accumulated from daily living. First, clutter makes people anxious.

The results of a nine-year long UCLA study show that there is “real psychological stress associated with clutter.”

The last thing you want a potential buyer to feel is stress or anxiety when touring your home.

Since most clutter in a home is a collection of personal items, depersonalizing the home goes hand-in-hand with clearing clutter. Sure, all those personal items are what makes your house a home, but too many of them may hinder its sale.

Buyers need to be able to imagine what it would be like living in your home, surrounded by their belongings. Your stuff detracts from their ability to do that.

Depersonalizing: What’s Involved?

Depersonalizing is the act of removing most items of a personal nature. Family photographs, souvenirs, collections, DVD and CD collections and framed diplomas, degrees and awards are a few examples of items to pack up and store.

Getting Started

Since you’ll need boxes for the move, buying them now saves work later on. Buy several boxes for each room in the house, and don’t forget newspaper or other packing material to protect breakables.

The best way to go about depersonalizing the home is to do it one room at a time.

Living Room and Family Room

Since this is where families spend most of their time, these rooms will most likely take the longest. Items to remove include:

• Toy bins or boxes.

• Toys (including pet toys).

• Family photos.

• DVDs, video games and CDs.

• Excess magazines and catalogs.

• Newspapers.

• Craft items.

• Clothing.
  

Kitchen

Now we move from the most challenging room to the easiest room to depersonalize – the kitchen. The biggest clutter catcher in this room is the refrigerator. Remove the magnets, sticky note reminders, kids’ artwork and personal photographs. In fact, remove everything from the front, sides and top of the refrigerator. Unless it’s decorative, pack it all up.

Many families use the kitchen counter as a mail drop. There’s nothing particularly wrong with that, but mail is highly personal and needs to be put away, out of sight.

Bedrooms

Since bedrooms are the most personal of all the spaces in a home, they can be challenging to depersonalize. Remove family photos, of course, but you may need to go beyond that. Imagine a posh hotel room and remove anything from the bedrooms that you wouldn’t find in one.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms tend to become cluttered with personal products. While it isn’t necessary to pack these items up, it is crucial that they be put out of sight in cupboards and drawers.

Don’t forget the shower stall or bathtub. Buyers will pull back the shower curtain. Would you want to be greeted by pumice stones, shampoo bottles or kids’ water toys? Again, think of a posh hotel bathroom and try to imitate that look.

Home Office

The home office is typically one of the most cluttered rooms in the home and also a hot selling feature, so it’s important to create a vignette that appeals to the target market for the home.

Attack the walls first, taking down awards, diplomas and degrees, and photos.

Clear the desk of mail, work papers and professional journals and magazines.

As you work on depersonalizing each room in the home, don’t just throw the items in the boxes. Wrap and pack for the move and then take the boxes to a storage facility.

Don’t forget to organize what’s left in the room – it puts you one step closer to staging the home.

Just Listed! An income-generating home with breathtaking mountain views in Eagle River!

111528 Borealis Street Eagle River, AK 99577

Income property! This home has a 3 bed unit up with mountain views. Downstairs is a 2 bed unit and is perfect for renting out if you live in the owners unit or for extended family stays.... There is a huge over sized garage, additional parking and private laundry for each unit. The lot has mature apple trees and perennials throughout. This is not a drive by, get inside and see all the potential.

Price: $312,500

• Phone#: 907-694-1234
• Income Property
• Property Type: Multi Family; Style: Multi-Level.
• Bedrooms: 5; Total Baths: 3; Garage: 1, attached
• Year Built: 1957; Sq. Feet: 2,536;
• Heat: Baseboard; Lot Size: 0.17 acre; Views: Mountains
• Shed 
• See a quick tour of this property!
• Features-MultiFamily: CO Detector(s); Tenant Storage; Washer/Dryer HkUp; Paved Driveway; Laminate Flooring; Shed; Vaulted Ceiling

 

 

We also have vacant lots available.

 

Brought to you by:

Les Bailey & Associates Real Estate Team

Keller Williams Alaska Group

Direct: 907-694-1234

Toll Free: 1-800-784-2912

www.LesBaileyAndAssociates.com

Tips for Moving Your Valuables

by RealEstate.com Guest Contributor

 

When preparing to move, the thought of packing overwhelms just about everyone. Whether you decide to pack up your belongings by yourself or hire a moving company to do the job, the entire process can be a headache. But it doesn’t need to turn into heartbreak. Here are a few tips to follow to make sure your valuables don’t get lost or damaged during the move.

Keep Important Valuables With You at All Times

It’s nice to pack up as many things as possible in order to travel lightly, but if you’ll be moving a family heirloom, you might want to think twice before relinquishing it to a moving company.

There are a handful of items you should consider keeping by your side throughout the move. Try to maintain possession of birth certificates, passports and other forms of ID, prescription medications, valuable pieces of jewelry, any

one-of-a-kind or irreplaceable items like photos and sentimental things, smartphones, laptops, and any important documents you may need to close on your home.

Take Inventory and Get Insurance

You should always take inventory of your belongings before you move. Documenting every little thing you own isn’t realistic, but making a list of your more significant possessions and taking photographs of those items in their original condition can be very helpful should something go wrong.

Anything that goes on a moving truck needs to be covered by insurance. Check your homeowners insurance policy to see if it covers a move. If not, many moving companies offer additional insurance you can purchase. Just remember that it will be easier to make a claim against insurance if you took the time to itemize and document the original state of your items.

Use the Right Boxes

 

Did you know that there are boxes specially made to transport flat-screen TVs? They have padding to keep the screen safe. There are also special wardrobe boxes designed to pack your hanging clothes. And there are even specialty boxes for stemware, which can be particularly difficult to pack.

 

Take the time to find the right packing materials and don’t skimp. Even though you may wince at spending $20 on one box, think of it as an investment – a little cost upfront can save you a lot of expense on the back end by avoiding unnecessary damage!

How to Pack Dishes & Artwork

Pack dishes with numerous layers of paper, and stand them in the box on their side rather than flat-side down. By packing them this way, there’s a smaller chance that they will break if something accidentally bumps the side of the box. When packing mirrors, artwork, or anything else under glass, use masking tape (or painter’s tape) to apply an X across the glass surface. The tape will help keep the glass from shattering; you may have seen this technique used on storefront windows during hurricane preparations.

Boxing Basics: The Right Way to Box

Common sense will tell you that when you’re packing items into a box, the heavier items belong on the bottom. But don’t forget to apply that same logic when stacking fully packed boxes. Heavier boxes should always be at the bottom of the pile.

To avoid unnecessary shifting of your fragile things, gently shake your boxes as you pack them to make sure the items are not moving. If there’s movement, add more packing materials. Be sure to tape the top of each box instead of just folding in the box tops.

Lastly, make sure you pack all the boxes to the top so they don’t cave in when something is stacked on top!

Decoding Mortgage Terms | Realty 101

Here are some interesting terms with definition that may come in handy just in case you want to buy or sell a property in the future.