Debt Management

Today, homeowners and consumers are finding that because they have fallen behind on certain payments, their credit rating is showing the results which can prevent them from buying another home, or refinancing, or hindering their ability to do home improvements, etc. At this point many people search out ways to get back on track to repairing their credit.

A ‘Debt Management Plan’ is very popular and is a simple and effective way to pay your non-priority creditors. Your assigned counselor will calculate the amount you can afford to pay after giving consideration to your priority debts – mortgage, utilities, council tax etc., and day-to-day living expenses. Any money left is then deposited with the DMP administrator as a single monthly payment and then distributed to your non-priority creditors on your behalf. What are the benefits of this plan?

The ‘Debt Management Plan’ administrator will request reduced payments on your behalf, with your creditors. In many cases the creditors will also agree to totally freeze or reduce the amount of interest being charged on your accounts.
With the ‘Debt Management Plan’ you have:

• Assistance in dealing with your creditors
• Making payments you can afford and reducing your debt
• Having regular reviews of your circumstances and your monthly deposit amount changing to reflect your current situation.  Once the DMP administrator receives your monthly deposit, you have peace of mind in knowing that all of your creditors on the DMP will be paid.
(You can do a search on Google by typing in: Washington State Debt Counseling, or, Washington State Consumer Credit Counseling)

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Choosing An Experienced Vancouver Realtor

Here are five mistakes first time home buyer often make:

• Choosing an inexperienced Realtor. Be sure you choose an experienced Vancouver Realtor
• Lack of funds
• Not asking enough or the right questions
• Procrastination on the offer
• Taking resale value into consideration

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Home Maintenance Saves Dollars

Preventative home maintenance is not something that most homeowners like to do, or look forward to doing.  Many residents face cleaning and repairs with the same drudgery as paying bills the first of each month. Most homeowners don’t understand that a few simple upgrades and a little preventative maintenance can keep money in your pocket where it belongs. If a homeowner is planning to sell their home anytime in the near future, it’s wise to get ‘on top’ of all of the little things that need to be done around the house, over and above just cleaning.  Keep in mind that many prepares have to be determined by a professional and also many repairs need to be fixed by a professional, but many can be taken care of very simply by just being aware of the possible existence of a problem, then taking some action.

The following are some suggested areas to look into and take care of on a regular basis, whether you are going to sell you home, or stay in it for awhile: 

Plumbing Problems:
Plumbing type problems are probably the biggest headaches of all and there will be plumbing problems in all homes, old and new, and they need to be taken care of right away as they can cause damage to the home, and to the structure itself.
Check toilet valves to be sure it is not leaking, also check the flapper.  Fix any leaks in faucets in kitchen and bathrooms, and do not forget the outside valves and faucets, including the sprinkler systems. Check the laundry area also.

Heating and Cooling:
Change your thermostat from a manual to the new programmable electric type, and turn it back 2-3 degrees. Check HVAC filters and change once a year. Check HVAC belts, tighten or replace and clean ducts every couple of years by a professional.  Same is true for window type air conditioning units.
Ceiling Fans: Blades should turn counterclockwise for cool air (summer), and clockwise for winter to distribute warm air from heating units. Clean the blades regularly for optimal efficiency.

Electrical:
Make sure all light switches are in proper order and the covers are secure, same with electrical plugs in every room. Don’t have extension cords running all over the house, they can be a safety hazard and cause fires. Use the correct extension cord wire size for the appliances plugged into the cords.
Light Bulbs: Replace old incandescent bulbs with new energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs.

Structural/Floors/Doors/Windows:
Try to install insulated type drapes where ever possible, they are great insulators and can cut down on heating and air conditioning costs.

Pest Control: Schedule an inspection for termites, spiders, and anything else that crawls in attics, basements, or behind walls.

Make sure that all doors and windows are tight and have weather stripping. Replace any cracked windows right away. Check floors regularly for mildew, or cracking. Check the house foundations to be sure there is no structural damage like cracking or crumbling.

Concrete:
Fix any obvious cracks in the sidewalks and driveways. Don’t forget to check the garage and clean up grease and oil droppings regularly. Check around porches for cracks and any water damage.

Trees and Plants:
Keep trees and shrubs trimmed and neat on a regular basis.  Make sure tree roots are not expanding under the house footings, or under the garage concrete, or any walkways. Keep shrubs and trees a couple of feet away from the house walls, so you can trim behind them and it keeps the branches from rubbing against the house when the wind blows.
 
Appliances:
*Clean the coils once a year on the Refrigerator, check seals around the door.
*Washers, Dryers, Stoves, Dishwashers: Clean vents, exhaust fans, lint traps, and any place where debris or sediment deposits can build up and cause an appliance to work harder.
*If any appliances need replacing, purchase energy efficient models to save more money.
 
Bathrooms: 
Take care of mildew on a regular weekly basis. Fix leaky faucets and drains that may be leaking water out of the basin or tub. Chalk around the toilet and tub and baseboards to be sure air is not leaking from under the house and also to keep insects, ants, etc., from coming in.

Septic Systems:
Use a septic treatment regularly to reduce the rate of sludge buildup. Avoid pouring bleach and anti-bacterial soaps down the drain, as these can destroy beneficial bacteria in the system. Have the unit maintained by a professional service to prevent costly backup and overflow.
   
Good preventive maintenance will save a homeowner many dollars over the years.

You have much money invested in your home, so keeping it up and in good shape is cheaper in the long run. Simple things like using a ceiling fan to cool, and even to distribute the heat in winter can save many dollars in utility costs.

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When Will the Real Estate Market Stabalize

This is an interesting fact: Nationally about 24%  of the homes on the market had a 1% drop in price compared to  15% of the homes dropping last month. The fact is that home prices were so high by 2006 , that it will take probably in my opinion till year 2015 to get some normalcy and back to a stable market.

 Terrie Cox, PC, GRI, CRS, CDPE, ABR, e-Pro, CLHMS
#31 Agent in the USA (2010) Ranked as high as 89 in the World
 Re/Max Equity Group – Licensed Oregon & Washington

 Direct: 888-888-8284    Office: 360-699-5100  Fax: 360-699-6100

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Lots of Unclaimed Money in Washington State

Finding any unclaimed funds can be exciting for someone especially when it’s unexpected and a surprise.  Today,with the help of all the information that is available on the internet, many people are discovering that it can be exciting and very profitable to search for any funds or other assets that one may be entitled to.

For people searching for unclaimed cash in Washington State, they need to know that certain websites and state government agencies handle lost money, and the process for claims involves very specific steps that need to be followed.
Unclaimed inheritance is one of the most common forms of missing money. If a relative dies and leaves behind a life insurance policy, an unknown bank account, a final paycheck, or some other asset, then his or her heirs may not know about the unclaimed Washington State funds. The lost money must be reported by the company or bank, or agency holding it, and the amount is then transferred to the State of Washington and the Department of Revenue.  There are, of course, other types of assets and funds that go unclaimed. A person can go to the State of Washington Website and search their records, by name, to see if they might be eligible to claim the funds or assets by going through a relatively simple process.

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