Category: Guest Blog Posts

Moving 101: Six Items You Should Consider Hiring Professional Help for and Why

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Moving can be a serious challenge, but you might be thinking about doing some or all of the work yourself. You can save a bit of money by moving your stuff on your own, but there are some items that are best moved by a professional. Even if you are planning on handling the bulk of the work yourself, you might want to think about hiring a moving company for help with these six items.

Heavy Appliances

Refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, and other large appliances can be difficult to move. Chances are high that you don’t have the right equipment to move them properly, and you could harm yourself or your appliances by attempting the job yourself. Professionals have all of the equipment necessary to quickly move and pack these appliances, saving you time and the chance of damaging the items.

Important Yet Fragile Items

It can be easy to break fragile items in transit, so you may want to hire a professional moving company to help with important family heirlooms, valuable items, and other fragile things. Movers have the right equipment to package these things carefully for the move, and they have insurance in the unfortunate event that something does happen to them.

Pianos

According to professionals at BC Alberta Movers, pianos can be especially difficult to move. Not only are they big and bulky, they’re also very heavy. Not packing it properly in the moving truck can also result in extensive damage that is costly to fix. In fact, some moving companies won’t even move pianos, but hiring the right company will help ensure that your piano makes it to your new home in one piece.

Vehicles

Whether you’re moving a car or an ATV, you might want to rely on a professional for help. If you don’t have the right equipment, chances are good that it will be impossible for you to move these things on your own anyway. Plus, you could damage your vehicles or hurt yourself in the process.

Lawn Equipment

Lawnmowers, weed eaters, and other lawn equipment can be cumbersome to move, but professionals know how to drain them of oil and gas and how to move them effectively and safely. They can also break easily and quickly damage other items nearby if they are not packed the right way.

Toys

Although you might be fully capable of packing toys away in a box, doing so can upset the younger members of your family. If you want to keep the emotions of moving favorite toys at bay, you can always take your kids to the park while the movers pack them away and move them.

Hiring a professional mover is a great way to make your move go more smoothly. Doing so will ensure your items are packed quickly and effectively, saving you unneeded stress.

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Things to Check for when Viewing Different Homes

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

When viewing different homes in Orlando, it’s important to look for signs of trouble. Although you’ll want to find a home that is aesthetically pleasing, you’ll also want to ensure that it doesn’t have any problems below the surface. A house should be properly inspected from basement to rooftop before you decide that you want to make it your home.

Foundation’s Condition

Cracks in the basement can indicate foundation damage. Tilted basement walls may show signs of foundation sinking due to soft ground or poor soil composition. Termites may destroy the wooden parts of a home’s lower levels. For example, the beams of a basement’s ceiling may appear to be chewed up in the presence of termites.

Water Damage

Musty smells and water stains in a basement imply the presence of mold. This is often a result of previous flooding or some sort of leak from the surrounding soil or plumbing. Mold causes various respiratory hazards and it can spread quickly in humid conditions. Colored stains on the walls of a basement indicate the previous existence of mold that can return. Water damage can also ruin some of the electrical wirings that is often installed in the lower levels of a home. Even if the water has been properly cleaned out, this could be a sign that it could easily flood again in the future.

Climate Control System

A home with a central HVAC system needs to be checked thoroughly because it provides both heating and cooling and it’s used all year long. The outdoor A/C unit should be checked along with the indoor furnace. Unusual sounds coming from the vents and ducts in an HVAC system indicate problems with the air filters, fans, and other mechanical components. The thermostat should be tested to ensure that the HVAC system responds immediately to heat up or cool a home. If there is a problem with the system, a company in Orlando can diagnose the problem and estimate how much it will cost to repair. Knowing repair costs in advance can help you determine if you are willing to buy the home “as is.”

Rise to the Rooftop

A leaky roof is a very serious issue that needs to be inspected before buying a home. Old shingles may have significant wear and tear that causes leaks to all upper levels of a house. Inside a home, a leaky roof can be detected if bulges or pockets of water are seen in the ceilings and corner walls. Roof replacement is expensive, so it’s important to negotiate this into the cost of the home.

Pest Problems

A home inspection should also look for signs of pests. Rodents, raccoons, and squirrels can make themselves comfortable in the attic or crawl space of a home. These creatures leave droppings that carry disease. Additionally, such pests can destroy the structure of a home such as insulation and wooden studs or beams. The presence of pests also indicates major openings and cracks in the exterior of a home.

There is an array of possible problems that can exist in a home. Prospective buyers should carefully consider looking at the interior and exterior of a house that’s for sale. Don’t fall in love with a home until a throughout inspection. You want to make sure that your investment will house you and your family for years.

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Reasons To Buy A Pre-selling Condo

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Condominium units are selling like hotcakes for many years now. With the many advantages of owning a condo unit, more and more people are purchasing their own either as their main property or as additional to their existing properties.

With the number of available condominium buildings with units for sale, one can say that real estate in the Philippines is booming because of the sales of these condo units. However, a typical condo buyer might get confused as to which unit to purchase. One of the most affordable condominiums for sale is one that is pre-selling.

Pre-selling condos are those that are being sold before the condominiums have been constructed. Although you cannot immediately move in or use a condo being sold for pre-selling, there are a lot of reasons why you may want to consider buying a pre-selling condo instead of one that is ready for occupancy. Below are some of these reasons.

  • More affordable. Pre-selling condos are often priced at around 30% lower than the equivalent price of a ready for occupancy condo. For those who are not in a hurry to use the condo, this is an excellent reason to get a pre-selling one instead. Most pre-selling condos have a target completion date of two to three years from the pre-selling period so if this time frame is acceptable for you, buying a pre-selling condo will provide you with a huge saving.
  • Choice of unit. Condos that are ready for occupancy often have limited units available for sale. This means that your choice of unit is limited to the ones that have not been chosen by those who bought theirs during the pre-selling period. Hence, buying a unit during the pre-selling period will provide you with more choices in terms of the location of the unit that you want.
  • Increased value after turnover. With pre-selling condominiums, the prices of the units experience a jump once the property is ready for occupancy. This means that the unit you bought at around 30% cheaper will immediately appreciate in value once the property is completed.
  • Easy to pay for. When condos are being offered during the pre-selling period, potential buyers are often given more flexible payment schemes. Downpayments can often be paid in several months without any interest which is not usually the case for condos that are ready for occupancy. Also the monthly payments themselves after the downpayment can often be stretched up to several years.

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Best Ways to Protect Your Home Against Flooding

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

When a big rainstorm hits your area, there is always the possibility of flooding. Flooding can cause extreme damage to your home that is very expensive to fix. Most home insurance policies also do not cover flood damage, and you have to buy a separate policy. That is why you have to do what it takes to protect your home against flooding. Here are some important steps in making your home floodproof.

Fix Leaks Soon

Do you have any leaks in your house? If the answer is yes, you need to cover them up immediately. If there are leaks on your roof or foundation, water can easily get inside your home and wreak havoc. Do a thorough check around the edge of the roof and gutters to check for any cracks, missing shingles or holes. Another thing you can do is add extra protection for your roof. It is definitely worth spending the extra money to protect your house from flooding. If you install a rubber roof underlayment, water is a lot less likely to get in your house.

Move Your Valuable Items to a Safe Location

It is very important to move your most valuable items to a safe location in your house that is less likely to get flooded. For example, you can move your jewelry, artwork, and photographs up in the attic. If you do this, your most valuable items will not get damaged in the event of a flood.

Close Up Cracks in Your Foundation

If there are cracks in your foundation, you have to close them up soon. You can close them up pretty nicely with masonry caulk, or hydraulic cement. If you take the time to close up cracks in your foundation, you are less likely to experience flooding problems in the basement and around the wood in the base of your home.

Clean Out Your Gutters

When was the last time you cleaned out your gutters? If it has been a while, it is time to get them cleaned. It will not take much time and will be worth the effort. The gutters are a very important part of the home’s drainage system and can reduce the chance of flooding when clear of debris.

If you follow these tips, you will be able to protect your home and possessions against flooding. If you do experience some damage after a flood, you need to call your insurance company right away. If you have a flood policy, you may get compensated for the damaged items. Be sure to take photos of the damage and make a list of the damaged or lost items. If your basement cement is water damaged you may want to call a service master cleaning professional to get residual dampness out and seal against rot.

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Five Details Not To Be Overlooked As A Property Manager And Why

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Working as a property manager can be a rewarding but challenging job. With any given property, there are special considerations and circumstances that must be taken into account. However, there are some universal details that should never be overlooked when managing a property:

Insurance

All property managers should have a comprehensive property insurance policy in place to protect themselves against lawsuits and other potential damages. For example, in the event that a resident claims to have slipped and fallen on the property as a result of poor upkeep, having an insurance company in place to handle the subsequent claim is vital. It’s also important to have insurance for any unforeseen damage that could happen to your property from fires, floods, and more.

Upkeep

Upkeep means having a dedicated maintenance staff on hand at all times to make sure that the property is clear of hazards. This includes having snow plows and salt during the winter when slip and fall accidents are most common. You should also be sure to keep the lawn looking nice and free of debris. Failure to have dedicated maintenance can result in liability, as well as turn people away from your property.

Security

Property managers never know when an emergency may occur on the premises, even when they are not there. That is why having a professional security company on hand is so important. Trust Security Services can answer to emergencies and crimes on the property as needed and restore order until the police or other officials arrive. Without a security company, chaos could ensue on property.

Rent Collection

There will inevitably be times when tenants will not pay their rent on time. To avoid a confrontation or poor customer relations, property managers should have a separate entity to handle late rent notifications and even eviction notices. Hiring a third-party company for this kind of work is advised for most property managers who wish to keep relations with tenants positive.

Screening Software

Those who apply for occupancy of a residence on the property should be thoroughly screened. This includes not only a credit screening but a reference and background check as well. Having quality software that can quickly and accurately run an applicant’s record makes the approval process easier and keeps the community safe as well.

There are numerous aspects of one’s job as a property manager that simply cannot be overlooked. By keeping these five important factors in mind, it is possible to run a safe and happy rental community while making one’s job as a property manager easier and less stressful in the process.

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