Questions I Am Often Asked

So, you’ve gone through the entire process to find that perfect home at a reasonable price, and the task is finally over! What’s the next step? The move. Most people associate packing up and moving with bad memories and sometimes pure chaos. Though moving is tough, it doesn’t have to be hectic. Here are some helpful tips to make that move run smoothly:. .

· Always plan to get more boxes than you anticipate. Vary box size to accommodate small loads of books and larger loads for clothes. Don’t forget to reinforce the bottoms of the boxes with at least one strip of packing tape.

· Pack room-by-room. This keeps similar items together and will avoid confusion later when you’re moving in.

· Use towels, linens and curtains to pad boxes containing fragile items. Clearly label the boxes “FRAGILE.”

· Make a box of essentials and label it “Open me first.” Load it last so it’s easily accessible. The box should have such items as light bulbs, bathroom towels, toilet paper, a shower curtain, paper towels, cups, plastic utensils, pet foods, trash bags and sponges.

· Pack rugs last so they can be unloaded first and put down before the furniture.

· Give yourself plenty of time so you can plan, organize and keep your sanity!

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Make Finding a Home Exciting for Your Kids

When you look for a home on the Internet, let your kids participate in virtual tours of properties you’re interested in. Involving your children in the process of finding the home will take away some of their anxieties about moving and give them valuable experience when they buy their first home.

Visit OrlandoHomeStore to find homes and view virtual tours.

Cut Your Tax Bill When Selling Your Home

If you have owned and occupied your home as your principal residence for two out of the past five years, you’re eligible for the exclusion of capital gain on its sale (up to $250,000 on an individual return and $500,000 on a joint return). The savings are substantial: At the top 20 percent tax rate on long-term capital gains, the exclusion lets an individual seller keep up to $50,000 more of the proceeds, and for a married couple filing a joint return, the cash benefit can amount to $100,000

This months joke:

Question: What did the tie say to the hat?

Answer: You go on a head and I'll hang around.

Log onto OrlandoHomeStore for my current listings, then call me at 407-699-4901 for more information on your favorite properties.

Search the entire Orlando MLS

Question:How can I do some quick redecorating?

Answer:
Broken Furniture? Call a Doctor!

Furniture Medic is a nationwide service that will locate a repairman in your area who is willing to make house calls. Services include repair, refinishing and restoration of furniture and kitchen cabinets. 1-800-WE-SERVE

Arrange Furniture Before You Buy
At furniture.com you can create a Room Planner on your computer, then choose from 50,000 items to put into your virtual room. First, set the dimensions of the Room Planner to meet those of the room you’re buying for. Then get a sense of what the items you buy will look like when they’re delivered to your home

Have questions? email Risa at questions@risa.net or call her at 1-800-699-4901

January favorite links:

New Years Fun For Kids (and the Young at Heart!)

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