California Home Sales Jump 100%

California Home Sales Jump 100%

Home Improvement Q&A - Questions to Ask When Interviewing Contractors

Q: We’re ready to go to bid on potential contractors-the plans are done, all the options that we can foresee have been selected, and we have a list of recommended contractors we’re going to ask for proposals. One of our biggest concerns is that we’ll “miss something” when we interview them. What are the questions we should ask? We don’t wish to leave anything out.

A: Something I always emphasize is that no matter how many contractors you interview, you should ask each one the same questions. That applies as much to contractors as to architects, real estate professionals and anyone else to whom you will be entrusting great gobs of money.

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Moving with pets

With people moving worldwide for work, Boxers are going bicoastal and cats are clearing through customs on a daily basis. Moving isn’t just stressful for people, it’s equally stressful for pets. So when it comes to moving pets, pre-planning is very important as animals can be very sensitive to changes in their surroundings. So we went to the expert Rachel Farris, Relocation Specialist at PetRelocation.com. Farris offered three top things to keep in mind as a pet owner moving with pets.

1. Make Friends with the Travel Crate-Whether you travel by car or by air, the crate your pet travels in will be his “home” during the trip and it’s crucial that your pet feels comfortable in it ahead of time. According to Farris, “As soon as you know you’re moving, it’s a good idea to get the crate,” Farris said. “That way, you can start getting your pet used to it well in advance. This will help your pet’s stress levels on your move date.” She also pointed out that many pet stores offer crate training classes. Additionally you can try feeding your pet in the crate on a daily basis to help ease the transition.

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Is it Safe to Buy a Home in a Down Market?

Should you wait to buy in a down market?

It's scary for home buyers and sellers when markets change. Just when you think you know what's going on in real estate -- POOF -- it changes! It might help, though, to know that markets move in cycles.

Sometimes they go up, sometimes down; sometimes they are moving around in circles, but the real estate market is never so squirrelly that economists can't point to past performance as some kind of indicator of future direction. Yet, change is enough to stop some would-be buyers stone cold and cause them to fret about the consequences of buying in a down market. Is it safe? Is it smart? The answers will astonish you . . . read more about Home Buying in a Down Market.

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