Noise Control

For many homeowners, the days of hearing the neighbor’s radio through paper-thin walls are gone.  But noise can still be a problem, even under your own roof.  Lower the decibel level in your abode with some ideas from TLC.

First, find out how sound travels in your home with one simple step.  Turn off the lights in one room while leaving the rest of the lights on in surrounding rooms and look for any light that’s peeking through the walls.  If light can travel through, so can sound.  Use acoustical caulk, available from most hardware stores, to seal off these hidden cracks between walls, ceilings and floors.  Put carpet or rugs on higher-level rooms to reduce the noise travelling to lower floors.

To help reduce noise in other rooms, in-wall insulation can help, but it requires cutting holes in the walls.  For an easier fix, buy wall coverings that have soundproofing capabilities and repaint them to match your décor, or hang noise-control curtains in the room.  The most time- and cost-intensive fix – but also one of the most effective – is to replace standard windows with double-paned ones, which will greatly reduce the noise.

Don’t forget the outdoors.  Block off sounds from the street by placing heavy shrubbery and evergreens with large leaves near doors and windows.  And consider ornamental fountains for a more welcoming sound.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country

Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com

(360) 400-3475

17 Tips for Packing Like a Pro

Moving to a new home can be stressful, to say the least. Make it easy on yourself by planning far in advance and making sure you’ve covered all the bases.

1. Plan ahead by organizing and budgeting. Develop a master “to do” list so you won’t forget something critical on moving day, and create an estimate of moving costs.

2. Sort and get rid of things you no longer want or need. Have a garage sale, donate to a charity, or recycle.

3. But don’t throw out everything. If your inclination is to just toss it, you're probably right. However, it's possible to go overboard in the heat of the moment. Ask yourself how frequently you use an item and how you’d feel if you no longer had it. That will eliminate regrets after the move.

4. Pack similar items together. Put toys with toys, kitchen utensils with kitchen utensils. It will make your life easier when it's time to unpack.

5. Decide what, if anything, you plan to move on your own. Precious items such as family photos, valuable breakables, or must-haves during the move should probably stay with you. Don't forget to keep a "necessities" bag with tissues, snacks, and other items you'll need that day. 

6. Remember, most movers won’t take plants. If you don't want to leave them behind, you should plan on moving them yourself.

7. Use the right box for the item. Loose items are prone to breakage.

8. Put heavy items in small boxes so they’re easier to lift. Keep the weight of each box under 50 pounds, if possible.

9. Don’t over-pack boxes. It increases the likelihood that items inside the box will break.

10. Wrap every fragile item separately and pad bottom and sides of boxes. If necessary, purchase bubble-wrap or other packing materials from moving stores.

11. Label every box on all sides. You never know how they’ll be stacked and you don’t want to have to move other boxes aside to find out what’s there.

12. Use color-coded labels to indicate which room each item should go in. Color-code a floor plan for your new house to help movers.

13. Keep your moving documents together in a file. Include important phone numbers, driver’s name, and moving van number. Also keep your address book handy. 

14. Print out a map and directions for movers. Make several copies, and highlight the route. Include your cell phone number on the map. You don’t want movers to get lost! Also make copies for friends or family who are lending a hand on moving day.

15. Back up your computer files before moving your computer. Keep the backup in a safe place, preferably at an off-site location.

16. Inspect each box and all furniture for damage as soon as it arrives.

17. Make arrangements for small children and pets. Moving can be stressful and emotional. Kids can help organize their things and pack boxes ahead of time, but, if possible, it might be best to spare them from the moving-day madness.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country

Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com

(360) 400-3475

8 Super-Secret Hiding Places for Holiday Presents

After you’ve fought the crowds for the best bargains, you’ll face another dilemma: Where to hide all those presents?

Whether you’ve got a nosy spouse or a curious kid, you need a good hiding place to squirrel away those gifts until you find time to get them wrapped and under the tree. Here are some ideas:

1. Borrow a friend’s house.  Swap storage spaces with a trusted friend or neighbor, and you won’t spoil any surprises.  This is particularly useful if you’re buying someone a big present like a bicycle or a car – you might talk a neighbor into letting you borrow space in their garage until Christmas morning.

2. Pop the trunk.  This won’t work if you have an SUV or hatchback, but if you’ve got a car with a trunk that’s closed off from the backseat, it’s a primo place to hide gifts.  Small children will never get in there.

3. Make your office work for you.  If your office is a safe, secure place, squirrel some presents there.  This is only an option if you work out of your home though – home offices are prime targets for prying eyes.

4. Take stock of kitchen pots.  Got a huge stock pot?  Unless you’re planning to make a giant vat of soup anytime soon, the stock pot can hold a load of small gifts, and chances are your family will never think to look there.

5. Make use of your underwear drawer.  Small presents can easily fit there.  Your spouse probably won’t hesitate to look there, but your kids might stop short of rifling through your skivvies.  (We hope).

6. Crack the crawling space.  If you don’t mind a little dirt and some creepy-crawlies, the crawl space can hold some sizable presents.  Don’t store anything there for too long, though – unless your crawl space is insulated.  Moisture and temperature changes could damage items.  Plastic toys are okay to keep outside; electronics should be stored inside.

7. Rent a storage space.  If you’ve got a ton of presents to hide, you’ll need to look outside your house.  Some storage units offer one-month-minimum specials for as low as $25.  Check the storage units inyour area for deals.

8. Go for the cleaning supply closet.  Worst-case scenario: your kids might find presents there, but they’d also find the cleaning supplies, which means they might actually clean something.  Now that would be a Christmas miracle.

Where do you hide holiday presents?

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country

Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com

(360) 400-3475

6 Ways to Save Money on Gas

To ease the pain at the pump, follow these easy tips.

1. Don’t tailgate.  By keeping your distance from the car in front of you, you can take your foot off the gas pedal to slow down instead of slamming on your brakes.

Gas Savings: Driving aggressively lowers your gas mileage by 33% on the highway and 5% around town. (Seattle Times, April 16, 2011)

2. Drive the speed limit.  Stay within the posted speed limits, and your vehicle will sip fuel instead of gulp it.

Gas Savings:  Speeding along at 75mph, as opposed to 65mph, can increase fuel consumption by 25%. (US Federal Trade Commission)

Close your windows when you’re on the highway.  While air conditioning reduces fuel efficiency, you’ll create more drag on your car with the windows open.  However, when you’re cruising around town, turn off the AC and run the fan instead.

3. Reduce weight.  Remove anything you don’t need from the car.  This includes ski racks in the summer, bike racks and golf clubs in the winter and luggage racks when you’re not travelling.

Gas Savings:  Extra junk in the trunk can reduce mileage by 2% or 8 cents/gallon, while sports racks can reduce mileage by 5%.  (Seattle Times, April 16,2011)

4. Keep tires properly inflated.  Look in your owner’s manual or on the side of the door to find the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle.  However, don’t over inflate them as you’ll reduce the tire grip and could cause an accident.

Gas Savings:  Underinflated tires can increase fuel consumption by 3%.  (Seattle Times, April 16, 2011)

Keep your car in top shape: change the air filter, spark plugs and fluid as advised by your owner’s manual.  While the fuel savings of a new air filter is debatable, there’s no doubt that keeping your car in good condition will improve its performance.

5. Don’t idle!  Turn your car off if you won’t be moving for more than a minute.

Gas Savings:  Idling can cost up to half  gallon of gas an hour, especially if your car has a large engine.  (Investopedia, March 2, 2011)

6. Avoid rush hour and combine your trips.  By anticipating traffic conditions and combining trips, you’ll keep your engine warm and reduce fuel consumption.

Gas Savings: Improves fuel economy by 5-10%.  (US Federal Trade Commission)

Smart Ways to Reduce Fuel Costs

-        Carpool to work:  Form a carpool with neighbors or visit ERideShare.com or CarPoolConnect.com to find a carpool near you.

-        Bike or walk if possible:  Both options are good for your health and your wallet.

-        Take public transportation:  Many automobile insurance companies offer discounts to policyholders who take public transportation to work.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country

Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com

(360) 400-3475

Your Home - Guest List

The holidays bring food, gifts, good times – and guests.  Hosting houseguests can be joyful and stressful, but you can minimize the hassle with thoughtful planning and preparation.  Consider these tips from Real Simple and Woman’s Day.

Get your house in order.  Cut out any unnecessary drama by discussing – and approving – houseguests (who, how many and for how long) with your spouse and the rest of your household well before anyone arrives on your doorstep.  Next, ensure you have adequate space for the number of guests you’ll have.  Sleeping arrangements will be different depending on your guests’ situations.  For example, young children may need to sleep in the same room as their parents, so you may want to provide a futon or air mattress.

Stock your kitchen.  Avoid the stress of creating daytime meals on the fly by stashing a few easily defrosted dishes that guests can help themselves to throughout the day, such as lasagna or baked mac ‘n’ cheese.  And be sure to set a specific dinner time so everyone can plan accordingly.  For breakfast, opt for small baskets of muffins or bagels with jellies and butter and keep a pot of hot coffee with ample supplies of cream and sugar so that guests can wake up and feed themselves at their own pace.

Don’t forget about it.  Help your guests settle in by stocking up on the often-forgotten necessities, such as toothbrushes, travel-sized toothpaste and shower products, disposable razors and make-up remover wipes.  Equip each bedroom with extra linens, and add a scented candle or two to make the rooms feel like a posh hotel.

Have fun!

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country

Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475

Your Home – Bathing Beauty

The bathroom. Big or small, it’s one of the rooms in your house that gets a lot of attention – from you, your family and friends, and potential buyers.  And as one of the most popular rooms in the house, it deserves an update every now and again.  Even if renovations aren’t in your plans, there are some easy ways to update it on a budget.  The key is to revamp focal points, such as mirrors or rugs, and then focus on unique additions.  Consider these tips from Apartment Therapy.

Start by replacing the mirror – a bathroom staple – with a more contemporary shape and style.  For big impact with minimal effort, reduce clutter on the bathroom counters by repurposing mason jars from the kitchen to hold makeup brushes and pencils, small combs or extra toothbrushes, and store makeup or other odds and ends in stylish mini baskets or ceramic pots.  To refresh the counter without replacing it, change out the fixtures and accessories like the soap dispenser and towel rack.

Pull together the entire bathroom with complementary or matching hues for bathroom essentials such as towels, washcloths and a shower curtain, or stencil an easy, colorful border around the mirror or ceiling for an added pop of color.

Treat your bathrooms like any other room in the house.  Use framed postcards, vacation photos or pressed photos to create inexpensive artwork to deck the walls.  Consider repurposing other household items to give the bathroom a welcoming vibe, such as wine racks for rolled up towels.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country

Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475

Short Sale Incentives

Get cash to sell the home you can’t afford

Since the beginning of the housing crisis, millions of homeowners have found themselves pinned in by their financial circumstances and chained to a mortgage on which they owe more than their home is worth. In the past, homeowners enduring these challenges had very few options, and most would be forced to lose their home to foreclosure.

Today, however, there are more options. The government and the banks have created a multitude of programs and foreclosure alternatives that can help people in these circumstances find a dignified solution for their problems without crippling their financial future. These options include loan modifications, refinancing, or short sales.

The most amazing development in today’s market, however, is one simple fact: Banks are now willing to give cash to homeowners to sell the home they can’t afford.

Please contact me today if you or someone you know could use my help and wants the latest information about current incentives available to distressed homeowners.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country
Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475