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Stay Healthy This Winter

Wednesday, January 31, 2024
by Tucker Robbins


Winter is a great time to binge-watch our favorite streaming series, read books we haven’t had time to read, gather with friends for dinner and game night, but it’s also a great time for letting our health regimen go by the wayside.  This opens the door for illness, and no one has time for that.  Keep yourself feeling and doing your best with this guideline! 

You and Your Home 

  • - If you didn’t get exercise equipment or a gym membership over the holidays, it doesn’t give you an excuse not to exercise.  Walking is really an easy yet important way to burn off those holiday calories.  The cooler temps help you burn more because it takes more energy to stay warm, even while hitting the sidewalk.  A win-win exercise! 
     

  • - We may not be doing a lot of perspiring, but water is still essential to our good health.  Eight 8 ounce glasses a day will keep you hydrated, and your skin will thank you, too, as water helps battle the dry, itchy skin we get in Winter. 
     

  • - Keep surfaces in your home wiped down with all-purpose cleaner and warm water.  This is better than using disinfectants, as viruses and bacteria can become resistant to these ingredients, as noted with the FDA banning triclosan, a popular antibacterial additive in hand soaps. 
     

  • - If you do get sick--stay home and rest! The more you are out and about not only makes you feel worse and lengthens your recovery, the more you spread what you have! 

 

Your Mother Was Right! 

  • - Wash your hands! Using plain soap for forty-five seconds and a warm water rinse is all you need to fight germs.  
     

  • - Cover sneezes and coughs preferable with a disposable tissue, and if that isn’t available, cover your mouth and nose in the crook of your arm. 
     

  • - Avoid shaking hands, especially if someone is sick or has been around someone who is sick. 
     

  • - Take your vitamins! A daily multivitamin at mealtime is a great way to keep you healthy and getting the nutrients you need, especially vitamin D, which goes lacking somewhat in the colder months when we aren’t spending as much time in the sunshine. 
     

  • - Go to bed! Rest is so important to your overall health, and with the longer nighttime hours, it may be easier for you to get a full 7-8 hours a night.  Your immune system works better when you’re rested up. 
     

  • - Eat your vegetables--this is a no-brainer, anyway, but leafy greens, beans, and citrus are the best for the antioxidants you need to keep your immune system strong. 

 

Even in Winter, our fast-paced lives can keep us from being diligent about staying healthy when it’s more important than the warm months. The get-togethers in close quarters, die-hards that come to work with a cold, and viruses our kids bring home from school are all standards of germ-sharing this time of year.  Taking care of yourself and your family may take a little extra effort, but you’ll be healthier and happier in the long run. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins.   

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Reasons to Consider Moving During the Winter

Wednesday, January 24, 2024
by Tucker Robbins

If you are considering selling your home and moving into another one, you may want to consider doing so during the winter time.  There are several reasons for this and those reasons are listed below for your consideration. 

  1.  If your plan is to hire a moving company to help you move then doing so in the winter can be a much cheaper time to do so.  Moving companies tend to be their busiest during the summer months, then slow down a bit in the fall and even more so during the winter months. The cheapest months to hire a moving company are typically January and February so now is the time to do so. 
  2. Another reason to consider moving during the winter time  is because storage units are typically a bit cheaper during the winter.   Many times storage facilities will become less full during the winter as folks have already moved their stuff out during the warmer months.  Also the storage companies are known for running specials during the winter to attract business. 
  3. If you choose to hire a moving company during the summertime you may find that you have a hard time hiring the one you really want because there are so many others trying to move during this time.  However, if you decide to move during the winter you are more likely to be able to hire the moving company of your choice due to less competition. 
  4. Yet another reason you might want to consider hiring a moving company during the winter  is due to the fact that the summer can get really hot and your items run a greater risk of getting destroyed by being hauled in a moving truck for a long period of time.  Things can melt, warp or just get plain hot and damp when the days get so terribly hot. 

These are just a few reasons why, if moving is in your future,  that you may want to go ahead and do it during the winter time instead of waiting until spring or summer.  

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins.   

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Saving Money for Your New Home Down Payment

Wednesday, January 17, 2024
by Tucker Robbins

 

With the new year here, many people are thinking about resolutions.  If you’re seriously considering buying a new home, you’ll definitely need to be thinking about having your down payment ready when you find the perfect house.  Follow these ideas for saving as much as you possibly can. 

 

  • - First and foremost, know your house-purchasing budget, and estimate needing 20% of that budget. 

  • - Set up a hands-off down payment high-yield savings or money market account. 

  • - Start cutting out expenses, or find ways to make extra money.  Every little bit counts. 

  • - If you plan on getting an end-of-year bonus or income tax refund, set aside that money to begin your new nest’s egg. 

  • - Sign up with your employer to deposit a portion of your pay into a down payment savings account if you’re not great at putting money into savings.  Most of the time, if you don’t see it, you don’t miss it. 

  • - Receiving gifts from family members towards your down payment require documentation so your  lender, as well as the IRS, knows where the money is coming from, and that the money doesn’t require re-payment.  More information about down payment gifts are here from The Mortgage Reports website. 

  • - Start paying off your credit card debt by paying more than the minimum payment.  Lowering and/or eliminating your card balance also lowers your interest rates, so you can start taking what you’d normally pay on credit cards and depositing it towards your down payment fund. 

  • - If you have investments in stocks or bonds, plan on liquidating those assets when it’s time to purchase your house.  Make sure you document these sales. 

  • - A pay raise at work is great, but if you happen to get one, stay on your old budget, and have the extra pay direct deposited into your down payment account. 

  • - You can always borrow from your 401k or IRA, but make sure you’re not having to pay penalties.  Talk with your account holder before you make any withdrawals. 

 

A down payment, especially at twenty percent, can look daunting.  If it just looks impossible, do your research.  There are many first-time buyer programs available, as well as lower down payment options through the USDA, the VA and state-specific programs.  Zillow has a terrific guide on low down payment guidelines and opportunities. Planning ahead and keeping your eye on your goal will get you well on the way to home ownership. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins.   

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First Time Homebuyer Courses That Make the Process a Breeze

Wednesday, January 10, 2024
by Tucker Robbins

You are reading that correctly--classes for home buyers! If you are just starting the home-purchase process, you may get overwhelmed when you find out all that is involved. Sadly, it is not as easy as finding a house, paying for it, then moving in. It is a great idea to learn all you can about the purchase process as well as being a homeowner. 

 

  • The Department of Housing and Urban Development has a list of free classes in every state, from credit counseling and home maintenance to housing for seniors. Select your state and find all that are available. 
     

  • Sign up before you have found a house you want to purchase! However, if you are purchasing your home through FHA, USDA, or other agency, you may be required to take the courses. 
     

  • Before deciding what workshop is best for you, make sure it is certified through HUD, and any credit courses are nonprofit and accredited by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies.  
     

  • Credit counseling should take place about six months before you start looking at homes so you can learn about improving your credit score and creating a budget. You want the highest credit score possible in order to receive pre-approval for a mortgage. 
     

  • HUD-approved counseling agencies usually offer one-on-one sessions so you can get a better understanding of your financial situation, as well as answers to questions you may have. 
     

  • Many workshops have more than one “instructor;” you will hear from lenders, appraisers, inspectors, and insurance agents who will discuss their roles in the home-buying process. 

  • If there is no way to save or pay a 20% down payment, taking a workshop can help you find low down payment mortgages, as well as any grants that may be available in your community. 

 

When dreaming of buying your own home, do not allow the amount of information to overwhelm you and keep you from even trying! All it takes is this first step, and you will find that a home-buyer course will show you will not be alone on the road to homeownership. Once you learn the ropes of the process, you will feel confident when you contact a RealtorⓇ to begin your search. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins.  

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Seven New Year Resolutions for Homeowners

Wednesday, January 3, 2024
by Tucker Robbins


New year, new you, right? Oh, we all seem to resolve to eat healthier, lose weight, kick dirty habits and all kinds of other things, but by the end of February, we find ourselves just trying to remember what our resolutions were, much less actually sticking to them! Homeownership is the same way--we start out with big ideas of what we’ll be doing to maintain it, then life gets in the way, and we fall short.  Get started with this guide: 

 

  • - Having an energy audit performed on your house will help you save not only energy but money, too. 
     

  • - Your dryer’s lint trap should be cleaned routinely after each load, but your vent and vent tubing should be cleaned at least annually.  Removing as much lint as you can helps dry your laundry faster and reduce the risk of fire. 
     

  • - Home security systems aren’t foolproof against hackers, and neither are smart home accessories.  Change passwords frequently, and don’t reuse passwords.  To make it even more difficult to hack, use two-factor authentication.  
     

  • - The Family Handyman has several tips for keeping the yard and yard tools in tip-top shape. 


  • - Resolve to cut the clutter in your house. While the temps are cool, and you’re spending more time inside anyway, take one room in your home per week to clean out and clean up. 
     

  • - Repair the little things that you overlook because they’re not necessarily a safety issue:  doorknobs that aren’t working, dripping faucets, or squeaky floors. Fix now to save you from something bigger happening and costing you more later. 
     

  • - Get your personal finances in order!  Commit to saving money, not only in the literal sense, but get the best rates on insurance, or consider refinancing your mortgage. NerdWallet has some great tips for building equity in your home. 
     

  • - Print out this free home checklist, and you won’t miss a thing each season! 

 

Find a good balance of taking care of home and taking care of you and your family.  Don’t spend every spare minute maintaining your home. Some projects can combine family and work time, like a big cleaning job, or yard work.  As important as it is to keep up your home, it’s important to keep up with family as well.   

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins.  
 

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Tucker Robbins
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
3838 Kennett Pike
Wilmington DE 19807
(302) 777-7744 (direct)
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