You’ve done it. You’ve signed the papers, received the keys and the house is yours. Now what? The first thing you should do is purchase new deadbolts for your doors. Every home has at least one, and sometimes up to dozen keyed points of entry. And until you change those locks, there’s no telling just how many people may have access to your home.

For example, your home’s prior owners may have shared house keys with any/all of the following people :

• Real estate agents
• Neighbors and friends
• Parents, brothers and sisters
• Home cleaning service
• Dog walkers and pet sitters

Those keys will still gain entry into your home until you change the locks. This is why your first act as a homeowner should be to replace all your home’s keyed entries with new locks and/or deadbolts. Don’t procrastinate on installation. Ideally, your locks should be changed on the same day of purchase, as close to closing’s completion as possible.

For new homeowners wondering what to do next I came across this article which list some necessary skills every homeowner should know:

1. Keep all warranty, assembly, and operating information for each appliance or item in your house neatly filed, this way when something goes down you know where to go to find a solution.

2. To locate a stud, knuckle the wall starting in a corner to compare a hollow sound to a firm sound, and then use some simple math to guide you to others as most studs are at 16 inch intervals.

3. Unclogging a drain typically will mean using a plumbing snake to pull the gunk out. Nowadays you don’t even need a plumbing wrench to separate the pipes under your sinks to find debris. Of course ensure water is off and you have plenty of towels and buckets ready, or you could use some drainage chemicals to create a small hole in the gunk and save the heavy lifting for later.

4. Know where your breaker box is and ensure each is labeled with a permanent marker. To find corresponding plug each switch controls have a friend plug a lamp in to sockets one by one. You will use this information one day.

5. Know where your main water and electrical shutoffs are, either by referring to your inspection or asking the employees when they come out to read your meters.

6. Have a list of vendors who perform every job that could possibly come up readily accessible so at any time you need help you can get it.

7. Every once and awhile your house will need routine maintenance like an oil change for a car…things like A/C units, older appliances, etc…If you always wait for it to break first it will cost you in the long run.

Hope this helps, and congratulations on your new home! 

I came across an article on Doughroller.com on various ways to save money. I hope you find some of these tips helpful.

1. Use Ebates for up to 25% cash back: Ebates is a free online coupon site that offers up to 25% cash back from top online stores like Target, eBay, Barnes & Noble, and the Gap. Registering on Ebates is free and takes just seconds. You can get more details at the Ebates website.
2. Combine your cable, internet and telephone service. Companies now offer combined services that not only cost less, but offer the convenience of a single bill. Called a Triple Play Package (Cable, Internet, and Phone), these combined service deals can save you a bundle. 
3. Slow down your internet service. I went to the slower internet service option with my cable company and saved $15 per month. And I haven’t noticed a difference when surfing the Net.
4. Improve your credit score. A good credit score can save you thousands of dollar in interest on everything from a home loan to a car loan, and from school loans to credit cards. If you’ve never focused on your credit score before, the place to start is to get your free FICO score. Once you know where you stand, you can begin to improve your score and lower your interest payments.
5. Send away for and follow up on rebates. After you buy a product with a rebate, send in the form that day. Then mark your calendar to remind yourself to follow up with the rebate company if the check hasn’t show up.
6. Buy a refurbished Mac: I’ve written about this before because it is a great way to buy not only computers, but iPods and iPhones as well. You can check out the details on how to buy a refurbished iPhone here.
7. Convert to a gas water heater. They are more efficient and will save you money in the long run.
8. Request a reduction in the interest rate for your home equity line of credit. I did and my mortgage company agreed to reduce the rate by more than 0.50%. 
9. Request a reduction in the interest rate on your credit cards. As with home equity loans, credit card companies sometimes are willing to reduce the interest rate. It can’t hurt to ask. If your credit card company won’t help you, switch to a low interest credit card or a one of several 0% APR credit cards
10. Refinance you mortgage. If you can reduce your interest rate by one percent or more, it is often beneficial to refinance. This is particularly true for those with high rates due to less than stellar credit scores. If your score has improved, you may qualify for a better rate. I would start by asking your current mortgage lender about lower rates. Here’s a table of refinance rates that is updated daily.
11. Get rid of Private Mortgage Insurance. If your down payment was less than 20%, you are probably paying PMI. Once you have a 20% cushion through reducing your debt and home appreciation (yes, prices do go up from time to time), contact your mortgage company to start the process of removing the PMI.
12. Get your books from the library. I love books and read every day. While I buy some of the books I read, most come from the library. Simply put, it’s hard to beat free.
13. Get DVDs from the library. Many libraries now have movies on DVD that can be checked out. If your library offers this service, it sure beats paying Blockbuster or Netflix.
14. Get DVDs from Red Box. If your library doesn’t offer DVDs, get your moves from Red Box. It costs just one dollar per night. You find Red Box locations here. Netflix is also a great, low cost and convenient alternative.
15. Read magazines at the library or online. Too many magazines can cost a fortune. And how many times have you bought a magazine based on the cover and been disappointed by the lack of substance. At the library you can read magazines for free. And many magazines now offer their content for free online.
16. Subscribe to magazines that are must reads. If you must have a certain magazine each month, subscribe. Subscriptions offer substantial savings over the cost at the newsstand.
17. Buy your car over the internet: Search the internet for information on the car you want and then send e-mail requests to dealers for the best price. Even if the dealer is located in another state, the cost to have the car delivered may still be worth it. I paid $500 to have a Honda Odyssey shipped 500 miles and still saved $1,000 over the best local price available.
18. Request a discount on trash service. For some reason this is a highly competitive business. If you get a better offer in the mail for trash service, call your current trash company and ask them to beat the offer. My trash service has reduced its rates twice in six months to match competing offers.
19. Never pay checking account fees. I hate bank fees. With so many free checking account plans available, there’s no reason to pay a fee. And if the bank happens to charge you one, ask them to reverse the fee or take your business to another bank.
20. Get a rewards card. There are many reward cards that pay out in cash or points that can be redeemed for travel or products. Many of these cards don’t have an annual fee. I recently traveled to my college reunion for free using points earned from a credit card. 
21. Don’t pay interest on credit cards. This is obvious, but I soon as you fail to pay off the credit card in full, the high interest payments start to eat away at your monthly budget. If the temptation to spend more than you can pay on a credit card is to great, get rid of the credit card (and ignore the previous tip!).
22. Take advantage of 0% credit card offers. I’ve saved thousands of dollars using 0% balance transfer credit cards. Again, as long as the cards won’t cause you to spend more, they can offer substantial savings. Make sure, however, that you keep an eye on the balance transfer fee, which can wipe out your savings.
23. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFLs) bulbs. These bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer. They do take some getting used to, and they won’t work in every light fixture. But use them where it makes sense and save energy and money.
24. Drive your car longer. The buy new versus used debate often overlooks the most important factor–how long you own your car. Drive it as long as you safely can for substantial savings.
25. Pay your life insurance annually. Insurance companies charge you more if you pay monthly, quarterly or semi-annually. Pay once a year and you’ll pay less.
26. Pay car insurance semi-annually. At least with my car insurance, they offer quarterly and semi-annual payment options. It costs more to pay quarterly, and twice a year is more convenient anyway.
27. Increase insurance deductibles. Most of us don’t need to be insured for all losses over $100 on our car, for example. Although we wouldn’t want to pay a $250 or even $500 deductible, we could. If that’s you, find out how much you’d save from raising your deductible. I’ve raised my deductibles on my auto insurance and home owner’s insurance and saved a considerable amount.
28. Think before submitting an insurance claim. My rule of thumb is that I won’t submit a claim on a loss that is less than twice my deductible. So for a $250 deductible on an auto loss, I’ll pay out of pocket any loss up to $500. Why? The $250 I’d receive from my insurance company is not worth the increased premiums I’m likely to pay. You may want to call your insurance agent to find out how a claim will impact your premiums before filing the claim.
29. Get rid of your home telephone. This is a great way to save money. Many don’t do it because of the 911 service, and that’s understandable. But if you’re comfortable relying on a cell phone, there’s no reason to keep a land line. If you do, consider reducing your service to the minimum and only use the phone in an emergency.
30. Consider VOiP telephone service. We use Internet phone service and have saved substantial money over Verizon service. The phone service has been very reliable, and you’d never even know the signal was being carried over the Internet. Phone Power is a great option for internet telephone service, which costs as little as $9.95 a month. Note that the Phone Power sign-up page will have an entry for a promo code. I’ve talked to the good folks at Phone Power, and they tell me there are no promo codes; they offer the best price to everybody!
31. Shut vents in unused rooms. This isn’t advisable if you have forced air heating, but shutting vents in unused rooms can save on your heating and cooling bill.
32. Eliminate some cable service. Note that I’m not recommending getting rid of cable completely, although that’s certainly a way to save money. If you must have cable, take a look at all the charges on your cable bill and consider getting rid of some of the service. Try it for a month and see if you really miss those last 500 channels.
33. Agree to limit gift giving. At Christmas our extended family and we go overboard when it comes to gift giving. Agree in advance to limit the gifts and save everybody some money.
34. Get healthy. Your health will directly impact the cost of life insurance and, in some cases, can reduce the cost of your health insurance.
35. Cancel the health club membership. Seems to contradict the previous tip, but evaluate how much you really use your health club. Less expensive options may include a gym at your work or a gym at your local parks and recreation center. Some offer pay as you go options rather than monthly fees, which can be great for those of us who aren’t as consistent in our routines as we’d like to be.
36. Pass on extended warranties. A $129 two year extension on a $300 product is just not worth it. Warranties are insurance, and we rarely need to insure such a small amount.
37. Take your lunch to work one more day a week than you do now. Eating out at lunch is fun, so I wouldn’t eliminate it completely. But taking lunch just one more day a week will keep money in your pocket.
38. Buy low cost mutual funds. This is easy to miss because the money doesn’t come out of your pocket each month. But keep an eye on the cost of the mutual funds in your 401(k) and other investments. My rule of thumb is that no fund should cost more than 1% and the combined cost for all your funds should be less than 0.50%. If you don’t believe that even a half percent can make a big difference, read this.
39. Take advantage of employer 401(k) matches. If your employer matches 401(k) contributions, do everything you can to take full advantage of that match.
40. Use flexible spending accounts. FSAs allow you to pay certain medical, dental and child care expenses using pre-tax dollars. If your not taking advantage of these accounts, you’re wasting money. Enrollment at many companies is occurring now, so check with your HR department if you have any questions about FSAs.
41. Keep tires properly inflated. It keeps you safe and costs less on gas.
42. Stop smoking. Need I say more?
43. Drink less alcohol. It costs money and adds calories.
44. Buy term life insurance. Any other life insurance product is just not worth the extra cost.
45. Buy generic over-the-counter medicines. They are exactly the same as their branded counterparts and cost less.
46. Get organized and avoid missed payments. I’ve missed a payment or two because the bill got buried beneath a stack of papers. Get organized and avoid those late payment penalties. If you do miss a payment, call your creditor and ask to have the penalty removed. They’ll usually accommodate the request, at least the first time.
47. Check the insulation in your home. Extra insulation can easily pay for itself in one or two years, and it helps save the environment, too.
48. Buy energy efficient appliances. Look for the Energy Star on appliances and consider the annual energy cost before buying. More efficient appliances cost more, but you make up the extra cost and then some over the life of the product.
49. Stay married. Yes, I did say 54 “painless” money-saving tips. Yes, I know that some marriages end because of abuse and other extreme circumstances. “Isn’t marriage about love”, you ask. Sometimes. “You don’t know my situation”, you say. True. But I lived through the emotional and financial pain of two divorces as a child, and I’ve been married to the same woman for more than 23 years, so I know plenty. Am I telling you not to get a divorce? Of course not. I am telling you that divorce will wreck your finances and your spouse’s finances. And if you want some tips on how to get your ex back, click here.
50. Check out the other great money saving tips in the comments below. And do you know some painless money-saving tips not listed here? Our goal is at least 101 painless money-saving tips, so please leave a comment or send an e-mail with your ideas.

Santa was just spotted emptying his Storage Unit of huge bags of Toys. The sleigh was full and we weren't even sure if it was going to get off of the ground, but all of the Reindeer, including Rudolph, whisked Santa away. As the sleigh lifted off some heard Santa saying; Ho, Ho, Ho,... Merrrrry Christmas...Merrrry Christmas! 

 

On this Christmas Eve, everyone of us here at West Cantrell wish each and everyone of you a very Blessed and Merry Christmas this year.  And I would also like to share another picture, which is truly the reason for the Season. The birth of our Lord and Savior. 

Congratulations to Paula Thompson Wood for winning our iPad2 + 3G Giveaway today! Thanks to all of you who "Liked us" on Facebook and keep watching for future Giveaway promotions.

 

Mistakes People Make When Renovating Houses (Commentary)
By Mark Zweig - 11/28/2011

Buying an old house, doing some work on it and reselling it is one way to make some money and exercise your creative powers.

But before you grab your circular saw and tape measure, understand what you're dealing with. A house that isn't renovated correctly can sit on the market for years. You have to make renovations that targeted buyers will want to buy. Renovators need to consider how their changes will appeal to buyers who are willing to pay for location and quality-based premiums.

Here are six common mistakes people make when remodeling old homes with the intent to sell:

• Failing to alter the existing floor plan to make it more functional. Although it can be scary, renovators sometimes need to knock down a wall or two and re-partition. A few minor changes can drastically improve the feel and livability of the space. Historical houses often have small bathrooms and kitchens. People just did not have as much stuff in the 1900s and the appliances we have today didn't exist. These homes also don't have enough closets or storage space to suit a modern family's needs. Changing the exterior entrances to the home, making sure doors are hinged so they open in the right direction and ensuring windows are in the proper location can really increase the value of a home.
• Thinking everyone wants granite countertops. Granite countertops once were expensive and exclusive. Today, they come in $129,000 subdivision houses. Renovators need to be aware there are many other options. Ceramic tile with no-drip edges and sanitary cove offers most of the same benefits, plus a wider variety of colors. Granite also has been found to emit radon gas in some cases. Tile and other materials don't off-gas and bring a nostalgic look and feel to the space.
• "Cheaping out." Cost shouldn't dictate every decision. The cost difference of using a pressboard door instead of a wooden one is about $50. You'd more than make up the difference when you sell the house. Using 4-inch instead of 6- or 8-inch baseboards, not using crown molding and installing cheaper door hinges and knobs are great ways to shave pennies off your costs, but the combination of these little details can make your house look cheap and unappealing to your target audience.
• Using modern or synthetic materials rather than traditional ones. Thinking everyone wants "low maintenance" is a major - and often wrong - assumption. Wood may cost more initially and need more care over its lifetime, but many buyers prefer to have something that's real and ages gracefully over time. Vinyl or concrete siding, aluminum or fiberglass garage doors and laminate flooring are examples of fake vs. real materials, and the wrong choice can destroy the historical character of the house. Buyers can tell the difference even if they can't articulate it.
• Making an old house's exterior look modern instead of era-appropriate. Anything that destroys the historical integrity of the home is a big detraction. Replacing the original rail systems with modern rails, tearing off shutters or stripping off other architectural details and ornamentation destroy the historic aesthetic of the home. Particularly in northwest Arkansas, I see this common mistake of builders and renovators: installing replacement windows that don't have pane dividers called muntins. It saves a few bucks, but sends off cues it's not an old house, but a modern caricature of something old.
• Always painting the exterior of an old house white. Some people have the misconception all historical properties were painted white. It was really only in the early 20th century that America started "whiting out." Earlier houses - and many later ones - were painted all colors. You need to look at the era and the type of house and do some research when picking colors. Another common practice is painting window sashes white. Why not branch out and try a different shade for the sashes? It's a subtle touch, but could make the difference in making your house stand out from the crowd - and sell.

Mark Zweig is the owner of Mark Zweig Inc., a Fayetteville-based residential redevelopment firm. He is also the founder and CEO of ZweigWhite LLC, a management consulting, research, media, publishing and training firm, as well as a professor at the University of Arkansas' Sam M. Walton College of Business. He can be reached at MZweig@MarkZweig.com.

We all love the forever popular game show "The Price is Right" where the contestants try and guess the prices of featured items in order to be a winner! In the Storage business more times than not potential customers are left confused about prices because they think all storage facilities are the same; so why are the prices so different from location to location? They are left wondering if they are getting their monies worth when they choose to rent at a particular facility. In other words, is the price they are paying the right price based on the value of what they are paying for. Most potential renters consider location, convenience, customer service, security, and yes price when looking to rent a storage space. Suprisingly they consider all of those factors in the same order in which I listed them. Price is usually last on their list of considerations. Does that mean that most potential renters are not cost concious? Not at all, they realize that you get what you pay for and value does have a price tag. Please consider the following when trying to decide where to rent.

Location           

When you are looking at potential storage facilities keep in mind that location is very important. Not only do you want a location that is covenient, but one that is in a good part of town. A location that is easy to get to, has good lighting, computerized gated access, wide driveways that are well maintained, and Resident Managers on site. Look at the buildings and see if they are well maintained. Do the gutters look full, or is there trash in the driveways. Does the facility have pest control? What is the office like? If it is dirty, has a foul odor, or is messy, then chances are the rest of the facility is in the same condition. 

Ask yourself how often do you plan on visiting your unit? If you rent a space across town simply because they offered the cheapest price, will you dread having to make that drive everytime you need to access your space? Look for a storage facility that is close to your home or office, and is easy to get to.

Convenience

Convenience encompasses many things we refer to as amenities. How easy is storing with us? We want to make your storage experience "Easy and Secure". We make the rental process quick, easy, and we don't have any hidden charges. We offer monthly leases and we don't require deposits. We ask for a move-out notice, but we don't penalize you if you forget. We give you a FREE lock when you move in, and we make sure your unit is clean, and dry. We offer many different ways for you to manage your account while you are a customer with us, and we also have a Call Center that can answer your calls after business hours. We are constantly looking for new ways to improve our customer's experience because we want to continue to be the storage leader in Little Rock. 

Customer Service

We know that without our Customers we would be out of business. We have been in the Storage business for over 20 years and we know what works, and what doesn't. When you are shopping by phone take note as to how various managers greet you when they answer the phone. Does the manager seem genuinely interested in trying to answer your questions and meet your needs, or do they just spout off a price which is followed by awkward silence that leaves you with the impression that you are apparently interupting whatever the manager was doing. Does the manager invite you come by the facility for a tour and direct you to their website for more information, or do they just give you the price and hang up. When you do visit is the storage facility, is it professionally maintained or do you have to wait for the manager to come out of their apartment where you can smell lunch cooking on the stove.  We learned years ago that this is a Retail Business, and as such we have a retail store that is selling space. We don't want to be a "mom and pop" mini storage. 

Security 

Security is often one of the most overlooked features of any Storage Facitlity. Are my things going to be safe? Ask yourself that question after you have made your decision on where to store your belongings. If the answer is not a resounding YES, you should leave immediately and look for another facilitiy until you are comfortable with the safety of your things. Do not be afraid to ask if they have ever been broken in to. Check to see if they have security gates, p.i.n. access systems, security cameras, door alarms, and what kind of locks they use or recommend. Why ask about locks? Because there is only one type of lock that we allow at our facility. The "Uncuttable Lock", and we will give you one FREE when you move in. It really is uncuttable! Is the facility fenced and well lit? Do the Climate Controlled buildings have security doors that require p.i.n. access? These are just some of the things you should consider when trying to decide if your belongings will be safe when you close the door and drive off.

Price

Hopefully after you have looked around you will realize that we offer the best value for the money. No we are not the cheapest, but we are confident that after you take a look at us you will realize that we are the only place you'll want to store your possessions. You will realize that "the Price is Right". See you soon.  

With Christmas right around the corner it’s time to start thinking about getting your decorations out of storage. Americans love to decorate for the Holidays, and with the availability of more elaborate decorations at affordable prices most people’s decoration collections have swelled considerably over the years. The problem is that as the sizes of our decoration collections have grown, the space we store the decorations in has not. And with more and more people putting out elaborate Halloween displays, it only adds to the amount of decorations that need to stored. As you begin your Holiday decorating during the next few weeks, consider where you will store your decorations this year after the Holidays are over and it is time to pack it all away for the next 11 months.   

Renting a storage space for your decorations is a great idea, and we can help. Smaller spaces are perfect for Holiday decoration storage, however if your collection is a large one we can find a size for that too. We have quite a few customers that store their Holiday decoration collections with us, and we recommend climate controlled spaces for that. It makes more sense to store your expensive decorations in a controlled environment such as a climate controlled space as opposed to a hot attic or musty basement. Attic temperatures routinely exceed 120 degrees in the summertime which may melt decorations and cause severe damage. When decorations are stored in a basement they may not be subjected to extreme temperatures, however the possibility of mold and mildew poses a very real threat which can cause your decorations to absorb foul odors or even have mold growing on them.

Don’t risk damage to your expensive decorations. Call us today at  501-868-8848 , visit us online at http://www.westcantrellstorage.com , or stop by our Showroom and let us help you choose the perfect size for your Holiday Decorations collection. You’ll be glad you did.

Win a iPad2!

Just in time for Christmas. We are giving away an Apple 16 gigabyte iPad 2 with 3G, and all you have to do is visit our Facebook page and "Like us" to be entered to win. Contest rules may be found by clicking here. 

Good luck and thanks for the "Like".   

 

We launched our You Tube channel this week. We currently have two videos uploaded, however look for more videos to be added in the next couple of months. We are currently working on the next video as I write this blog.  

To view our You Tube channel click here .

We are proud to be a supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project. These awesome men and women have sacrificed dearly for us and we want to give something back to them. Please consider joining us and donating to this worthwhile cause. You can make a one time gift, or like us you can pledge a monthly gift. Please take the time to visit the Wounded Warrior Project website by clicking here.