Archwood Properties

As with an product or service, there are some sour lemons out there.  With summer as a hot {no pun intended} time to move, it is wise to consider these standard warnings: 

• Don’t accept a low-ball estimate
• Make sure the moving company is licensed
• Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for reports & reviews
• Insist an in-home moving estimate

However, A popular moving website Relocation.com has reported a few moving practices that aren’t well-known to consumers. 

1. The “Guaranteed” Moving Quote. Most people rightly insist on getting a “binding estimate,” which is often referred to as a “guaranteed moving quote.” This estimate ensures that the customer pays no more than the quoted amount, and can actually pay less if the estimate was too high.

That “guaranteed” quote is only good for the inventory that the moving company uses to come up with the estimate. If that inventory is wrong – whether on purpose or not – the “guaranteed moving quote” becomes void, and a new rate will need to be negotiated with the moving company (on moving day, no less).

How to Avoid the Scam: After the moving estimator compiles the inventory during the in-home visual estimate, double-check the inventory to ensure that it includes everything you need to have moved. Many people don’t even look at it.

Additionally, don’t try to add extra items to the move after receiving an estimate; this will void the estimate and incur additional fees.

2. Packing Pratfalls. Many people choose to pack their belongings themselves to save money. However, crafty moving companies may see this as an opportunity to add unnecessary charges on moving day. There might be a few extra items that the moving company wants to go into boxes, or they insist that some of the boxes need extra tape that they charge much more for than the actual cost. Another scam is the half-filled box – the mover takes a box, puts just a few items in the bottom and fills the rest of the box with packing paper. All of a sudden, an extra $100 in packing costs is tacked onto the final moving bill.

How to Avoid the Scam: Make sure the estimate details all the charges for extra packing material from the moving company. Knowing the prices in advance may be extra motivation to make sure that every item that should be packed before moving day is indeed securely taped and packed. Also, consumers should be sure to closely monitor the movers during the process, and make sure the manager is aware.

The more consumers communicate and work with their movers, the better the move they will have overall.

3. The Move Size: Cubic Feet or Weight? When estimating the size of the move, some moving companies use cubic feet instead of weight. For many consumers, trying to envision all their belongings in terms of cubic feet is often downright confusing.

Why do they use cubic feet instead of weight? For an estimate based on weight, the moving company must go to a certified weighing station to see how much the inventory weighs – and that scale doesn’t lie. With cubic feet, the moving company measures the final move by the amount of space everything takes up in the truck. This gives the moving company sizeable “wiggle room” – literally – to load up the truck improperly, with lots of empty spaces. The moving estimate becomes much higher because the estimated cubic foot load is much lower than the final load in the poorly packed truck.

How to Avoid the Scam: Insist on a moving quote based on weight. And if the party being moved has concerns that there might be issues when the moving company weighs the load, tag along with the movers to the scales – consumers have the right to do this and should feel entirely comfortable asking.

To read about other moving scams – including ways that the moving company can tinker with move weights – and to get a full list of items that consumers should be looking for when choosing a quality moving company, see this blog post on Relocation.com: http://http://rismedia.com/2009-06-29/home-buyer-beware-3-little-known-moving-scams/

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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•  Examine your house from the street and make sure no valuables, like expensive electronics or artwork, is visible from the street. If a passerby can see your belongings, so can criminals.
• Lock and fasten all doors and windows locked and fastened. Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one-inch throw and reinforced strike plate.
• Secure sliding glass doors. Place a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track to prevent an intruder from forcing the door open.
• Always lock the door to your attached garage.
• Make it appear that you’re home – use timers on lights, radios, and televisions.
• Keep the perimeter of your home well lighted. You can do this by installing low-voltage outdoor lighting.
• Never leave clues that you are away. Ask a neighbor to collect your mail and newspapers—or ask for them to be held. You may also want to ask a neighbor to park in your driveway so it appears someone is home.
• Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open to keep a normal appearance.
• Never leave a message on your answering machine saying you are on vacation.
• Trim the shrubbery near your home’s entrance and walkway. This prevents a would-be burglar from hiding in tall, bushy foliage.
• Organize or join a community watch program to protect your neighborhood.
• And, of course, if you have a home security system, make sure it is activated when you leave. The more difficult you make it for the intruder, the less likely he or she will be to pursue forcing their way into your home.

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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Money Magazine’s Josh Garskof discusses the increase in burglaries with the downfall of the economy and how to get reliable protection for a reasonable cost.

The combination of a deep recession and widespread law-enforcement funding cuts will most likely spell a banner summer for burglars. If your house makes a good target – it’s upscale, off the beaten path, and in or near a city – an alarm system is your best defense, according to Temple University economics professor Simon Hakim, who studies security and policing. Installing one will reduce your risk of a break-in by two-thirds. To determine what you really need, follow the guidelines below.

Don’t overequip
A top-shelf security system that includes a detector on every door and two on every window could set you back thousands. But unless you have Picassos hanging on your walls, it isn’t necessary, says Stan Martin, executive director of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition, a trade association dedicated to reducing false alarms.

For the most part, a basic package that secures all exterior doors and includes a handful of well-placed motion detectors will stop the average thief. Also get smoke, carbon monoxide, and flood-alert devices (about $250 each), which operate even when the burglar alarm is disarmed.

Vet the companies
Alarm installers will drill holes in your walls and woodwork – and will know how to bypass your security system – so you need them to be honest as well as skilled. Collect referrals from friends, neighbors, and trusted tradesmen, and verify that the companies are members of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association.

Compare long-term costs
Get price quotes from at least three companies. A basic system should cost $1,500 to $2,000, says Martin. You’ll also need a monitoring service, which will send the cops to your door when an alarm is tripped. Monitoring ranges from $20 to $50 a month, plus $10 to $30 more if you get cellular backup, which ensures a distress signal will come through even if your phone line is cut. Since alarm companies make the bulk of their profit from monitoring, some offer discounted or free installation of a basic system when you sign a contract.

Consider a few extras
Make sure to get keypads with digital readouts (about $100) that clearly identify which detector has tripped, so that you and the monitoring center know immediately if the problem is carbon monoxide or an open dining room window.

If you have plaster walls, consider wireless detectors, which require no drilling or snaking of lines (the cost is about the same as for the standard models – and battery replacement comes at no extra charge). And if you have or would ever get a dog or cat, ask for pet-immune motion detectors (an extra $50 to $100 each).

Of course, a canine can make a pretty good alarm of its own, with no battery replacement necessary. Just daily walks – and a treat every time he barks at a passerby

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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Suzanne Ziegler reports on the importance of a strong credit score in this economy.

Americans’ credit scores, the three-digit number that determines whether you’ll get a loan and how much you’ll pay for it, have taken a beating. Millions of consumers’ scores have dropped, making it more expensive for them to borrow money – or even impossible if the score has sunk low enough.

“You have to watch out for a vicious circle. Now you have a bad credit history, which makes it harder for you to recover,” said Evan Hendricks, a Washington-based expert and author on credit reports and scores.

The falling credit scores are a reflection of the times: plummeting home values, record foreclosures and the overall recession. At the same time, lenders are applying stricter standards to borrowers, including requiring higher credit scores.

“For better or worse, our economy is very dependent on consumer spending,” Hendricks said. “If tougher standards mean that people with good credit can’t get credit … that could choke off the recovery or slow it down.”

Most Americans may not know their actual credit score, but they’ve seen enough marketing by the credit-score companies, including Minneapolis-based Fair Isaac Corp., to know that the number, which can range from 300 to a perfect 850, has become a de facto national ID. Lenders rely on Fair Isaac’s FICO score, but so do employers when screening job candidates, insurers when issuing policies for homes and autos, and landlords when renting an apartment.

And exactly what many people are experiencing now – foreclosures, late credit-card payments – will bring down their credit scores.

Americans carry $2.56 trillion in consumer debt, up 22% just since 2000, according to the Federal Reserve. The average household’s credit-card debt is $8,565, up almost 15% from 2000. And a report out last month said borrowers with good credit now make up the largest share of foreclosures.

“There’s no question a foreclosure can really slam your score,” Hendricks said. “It will easily send you into subprime territory.”

Overall, he said, two major factors are bringing down credit scores: late payments because of the economy and credit-card companies reducing credit limits, meaning people are using a greater percentage of their available credit.

Walking away from a house takes a toll on a foreclosed homeowner’s credit. But so do late payments – in particular those that are more than 90 days overdue. According to Fair Isaac, which created automatic credit scoring, bankruptcy, credit card defaults and foreclosures stay on a person’s credit report for seven years. That said, a single bad account such as a foreclosure would be better than a bankruptcy, which usually involves many defaulted accounts. But if all other bills remain current, Fair Isaac says a foreclosed homeowner’s score could begin to rebound in as little as two years.

Fair Isaac shies away from devising a rating system of what ranges are “good” and which are “bad,” saying each lender has its own standard. In general, a score of 700 or better is a sign the consumer handles credit well. Most lenders say a score of 650 or below indicates a high credit risk that could mean higher interest rates or a tougher time getting credit. Information for the score is based on that person’s credit report.

The top 25 auto lenders and credit-card issuers use some version of the FICO score to make lending decisions, as do 90 of the top 100 U.S. financial institutions. It’s common for mortgage originators to pull credit scores from all three major credit bureaus and average them to help determine a consumer’s interest rate.

For consumers, getting your credit report is easy – and free if you go to the right spot – but getting your score can be more complicated.

The three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, sell reports and scores to lenders and consumers. Also, Fair Isaac sells the bureaus’ FICO scores directly to consumers via myfico.com.

Fair Isaac spokesman Craig Watts estimated that the three credit bureaus sell “well over 10 billion” FICO scores each year to businesses.

Asked whether Equifax has seen an increase in consumers seeking credit information, company spokeswoman Demitra Wilson said, “Definitely, especially right now. People are very concerned about their scores. It’s the economic environment, the tightening credit market. People are very concerned about how their credit behavior impacts their financial well-being.”

Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT), consumers can get one free credit report a year from each of the three big credit bureaus. Consumer advocates warn of the many companies that have sprung up that charge consumers for information they can get for free.

Consumers who want their credit score will need to pay a small fee – generally about $15.

Consumer advocates recommend checking your report periodically. If you see inaccurate information on your report, inform the credit reporting company. Those companies must investigate and will generally do so within 30 days.

While Watts said millions have seen their scores drop, a “like” number of savvy consumers have seen their scores go up because they paid off balances and put off big purchases when the economy started to spiral down.

In good times, he said, the distribution is shaped like a bell curve. During a recession, it retains that shape but flattens out. “You have fewer people in the middle … and more people at both ends,” he said.

Watts said the best advice he can offer to consumers is this: “Don’t get too excited about the nuances in credit scores.”

There are no “quick fixes” to repair a bad score.

“The same general rules apply today that have applied for the last 20 years,” Watts said. “Pay your bills on time, keep balances low relative to the limit and take on new credit only … when needed. Those consumer habits are going to steer you in the right direction.”

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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A federal tax credit of up to $8,000 is nudging many Americans into buying a home for the first time, good news for those trying to sell one. Still, selling a home isn’t easy in most markets today. To get the typical first-time buyer to bite and submit an offer, a house has to stand apart from the competition – and there’s a lot of it, including foreclosure homes that are selling at hefty discounts.

One big thing working in favor of the traditional seller: A lived-in, maintained home is easier for buyers to imagine themselves living in than a vacant foreclosure. That has great appeal for someone buying a home for the first time, for practical and financial reasons. 

Outshine competing properties and lure in first-time buyers with these five helpful trends:

1. Maintain and Stage. A home that has been taken care of throughout the years will offer a stark contrast to a vacant, empty foreclosure.  As with any home, a fresh coat of paint, decluttering and the removal of unpleasant odors can go a long way to making a good first impression. But be careful not to over-improve the home, because the investment might not be worth the cost.

2. Mention Up Front That You’ll Help Pay Closing Costs. Whether it’s in the marketing material or in the listing, this could be an extra motivator to reel a buyer in. Generally, there’s a good chance they’ll ask for closing cost help anyway, but it might pay off to be proactive and offer it at the beginning.  If rising mortgage rates have your buyer spooked, consider paying mortgage points to bring the rate down. But consider a buyer’s timeline for staying in the home before deciding if this is the most effective way to help; paying points generally makes sense for those staying in a home for more than a few years.

3. Offer a Home Warranty. First-time buyers are often coming from a rental, and they are used to calling a landlord when there’s a problem. To help them more easily transition into homeownership, provide them a warranty that covers major systems when problems arise.

4. Offer Mortgage Protection. In some cases, it might make sense to address buyers’ fears by purchasing insurance so they can keep up with their mortgage even if after losing a job. Coldwell Banker has such a program through its parent company, Realogy. Basically, the plan will make several months of mortgage payments in the event that the buyer becomes unemployed.

5. Don’t Snub Low Offers. Buyers know prices have fallen, so they’re being aggressive in their offers-sometimes extremely aggressive. But even if they come in with a shocking lowball offer, don’t scoff at it. Understand where they’re coming from, and try to compromise.  If they liked the home enough to make an offer, it’s possible you can arrive at a mutually acceptable price.

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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The Wall Street Journal’s Tom Benning reports on the recent development regulating Austin’s selling market. 

The city of Austin, Texas, has begun requiring homeowners to conduct energy-efficiency audits before they can sell their house, a move it says provides a model for cities and states seeking ways to push energy conservation.

With its new law effective last week, Austin joined at least two other U.S. cities — San Francisco and Berkeley, Calif. — that require the audits, which can include a review of a home’s air-conditioning and heating systems, insulation and air-tightness, and generally cost owners from $200 to $300.

Municipalities across the country are forging policies to encourage more energy-efficient buildings, particularly in new construction. Voluntary energy audits are increasing, too, often as part of government-subsidized “green” renovation programs that are expected to grab a chunk of a $3.2 billion federal stimulus grant devoted to energy conservation.

Austin Mayor Will Wynn expects the audit program to be a hot topic at the U.S. Conference of Mayors next week. The Canadian province of Ontario passed a law in May requiring home sellers to obtain an energy audit, but regulations have yet to be written. City leaders in San Antonio are closely following Austin’s experience with its new law and plan to consider a policy on energy audits.

The Austin ordinance requires residents selling single-family homes more than 10 years old to obtain an audit and provide the information to potential buyers. While San Francisco and Berkeley, where audits became mandatory in the 1980s, require owners to make recommended upgrades, Austin doesn’t. The Austin Board of Realtors agreed to support the audits after that provision was removed.

Critics of the measure, including homeowners and real-estate professionals, worry that listing all a home’s energy-related flaws could drive down prices and even sabotage some sales. The number of homes sold in April was down 18% from the same month last year, according to the Austin Board of Realtors.

Sellers who refuse the audit are subject to being charged with a misdemeanor, a penalty some home sellers and real-estate agents call excessive. Austin city councilman Mike Martinez said the criminal tag shows the city is serious.

Angela Whitaker-Williams, a designer for an architecture firm, plans to list her 2,400-square-foot, 47-year-old home for $319,000 later this month. Her audit recommended doubling the amount of attic insulation, recaulking around plumbing pipes and fixtures and resealing the duct system to reduce a 19% air leakage — improvements that could cost as much as $1,800 before rebates, experts said.

Ms. Whitaker-Williams is dismayed by the thought that a buyer might use the audit to try to negotiate a lower price, especially because the new law doesn’t require buyers to follow through with improvements.

“If a buyer wants $20,000 knocked off the price for energy upgrades, would I do it? In this market, I might have to,” she said.

Nate Kredich, who runs the U.S. Green Building Council’s residential development program, said the Austin audits will be a trial run for other municipalities evaluating energy-efficiency policies.

The National Association of Realtors said it opposes government-mandated energy efficiency for homeowners and supports an incentive-based approach. Austin Energy, the city-owned utility, offers rebates and low-interest loans to homeowners who make energy-efficient upgrades.

City leaders say the required audits would help keep Austin from having to build a 700-megawatt power plant by 2020 by alerting residents to energy- and money-saving options.

In more than 300 audits already completed, Austin Energy found that, on average, homes had duct systems that leaked more than double what was recommended and attic insulation that was six inches thinner than ideal, said spokesman Ed Clark.

Bill Lanfer, chief executive of Avalar Austin Real Estate, said some sellers are confused about the differences between a home inspection and an energy audit. With a pre-inspection of her home already in hand, Austin art dealer Susan Sklar was surprised to learn she needed an energy audit to sell her 2,500-square foot home after June 1. Listed at $290,000, it was already receiving little interest from buyers. Ms. Sklar complied but not happily.

“Could they do anything else to make it harder to sell a house?” she said.

Write to Tom Benning at tom.benning@wsj.com  

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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Research and experience prove that litter – intentional or unintentional pollution resulting from consumer waste products being carelessly handled or improperly disposed – attracts more litter.  A clean community, by contrast, discourages littering and raises local living standards and quality of life.

There is no such thing as a single source of litter or a single profile of a litterer.  The seven primary sources of litter are:

1. Pedestrians or cyclists who do not use receptables.
2. Motorists who do not use car ashtrays or litter bags
3. Business dumpsters that are improperly covered.
4. Loading trucks and commercial marinas with inadequate waste receptacles.
5. Construction and demolition sites without tarps and receptacles to contain debris and waste.
6. Trucks with uncovered loads on local roads and highways.
7. Household trash scattered before or during collection.

For individuals to make a difference, the following approach to community change is encouraged by Keep America Beautiful

• Education – in schools and in communities
• Technology – equipment to measure and manage waste
• Ordinances – laws which impact solid waste and litter management
• Enforcement – consistent, effective law and ordinance enforcement

Litter is the result of too little attention to how waste is handled – the careless and casual handling of waste creates litter.  Knowing more about the causes of litter and where it comes from is a good place to start in addressing litter prevention.  One person, one business, one organization can positively affect the behavior of others in their community.

People tend to litter because they feel no sense of personal ownership.  In addition, even though areas such as parks and beaches are public property, people often believe that someone else (a park maintenance or highway worker) will take responsibility to pick up litter that has accumulated over time.  Because any and all items used in human activity have a potential of being littered, the scale of this issue is significant.

Litter is often a starting point for other community blight so everyone shares a personal responsibility to help prevent litter in their community.  Solutions that involve public education and volunteer action are very important.  Knowing more about the causes of litter and where it comes from is a good place to start in addressing litter prevention.

There is no such thing as a single “littering type.”  People of all ages and social backgrounds have been observed littering – men and women, children, and all ages in between are likely to litter.  Changing behaviors and societal norms begins with each of us … and it begins with you.

 Areas most likely to be littered fall into four categories: special event venues, roadways and highways, high traffic and everyday locations, and ‘transition points.’

• Special Event Venues – Special event venues such as fairs, concerts, parades, and other special events attract a large number of people who will generate waste.  The larger the event, the more waste it typically creates.
• Roadways and Highways - Roadways and highways as well as higway on/off ramps and roadway median strips have increasingly become the target of litterers.  Recent censuses report that people spent more and more hours in the car every day. People are snacking, smoking and eating meals while traveling by car. 
  • Car litterbags need to be utilized.  And, when these are full, they should be emptied in a trash receptacle. 
  • Smokers must use a car ashtray and/or a pocket ashtray to properly dispose of cigarettes, lighting material and butts.
  • All businesses should encourage their customers to dispose of trash properly.
  • Businesses like food vendors, convenience store owners, auto dealerships and auto rental agencies need to help their customers do the right thing, to be responsible for proper disposal of trash and waste.
• High Traffic and Everyday Locations – High traffic and everyday locations are fast food businesses and deli’s, convenience stores, picnic grounds, park benches and other high pedestrian traffic areas.  Every community has businesses selling consumable products that generate packaging waste.
• Transition Points – Transition points are the places where someone stops eating, drinking or smoking before they proceed.  A transition point may be the entrance to a public building, an office, a retail establishment, a train platform or bus stop.  Individuals may drop items and create litter before they move into a building, onto a bus or into the train.

What Happens to Litter any Why It Matters

No matter where litter starts, it moves.  From streets and highways to parks and waterways.  Wind and weather moves litter around a community, into the gutters, planted gardens, alleyways and parking areas.

In one study, researchers found that 18% of all littered items end up in creeks, streams, and waterways as pollution.  Other influences include changes in household and business trash collection.

When litter is not picked up promptly, animals and wildlife are natually attracted, trash bags are opened, and the trash is distributed on the ground.  Once this happens, it is easily caught by the wind and becomes … LITTER!

Litter is a result of some individuals paying too little attention to their actions and others carelessly handling waste.  Littering is an individual behavioral problem or a business problem that can become a problem for Plano.

We know it takes each and every one of us to make a difference.  Do your part … Help us prevent litter in your community.

What You Can Do To Prevent Litter

Changing a societal norm like littering begins with each of us.  Each person must accept responsiblity for their actions and influence the actions of others around them at home, at school, in your place of business, and in the community at large.  By modeling proper trash and waste disposal, you will cause others to consider changing their behaviors and embodying appropriate actions, too.

Here are some examples of what you — and others — can do to help prevent litter in your community.

• Set an example for others, especially co-workers, friends and children by using trash receptacles and not littering.
• Always have available a litter bag and portable ashtray in your car.
• If you are a smoker, carry and use a portable or pocket ashtray.
• Make sure your trashcans have lids that can be securely fastened.
• Encourage the identification of “Transition Points” and commit to having ash and trash receptacles placed at those points and properly maintained.
• Encourage building owners and business managers to place ash receptacles at points outdoors where their employees and/or customers smoke.
• Encourage the distribution of portable or pocket ashtrays and litter bags and the education of citizens about individual responsibility for proper waste disposal.
• Encourage Plano’s “Adopt-a-Highway” partners (local community organizations, youth groups and school groups) who augment the regular maintenance of public places by our employees.
• Assure easy access to dumpsters by employees and contractors.  Check dumpsters daily to see that top and side doors are closed.  This prevents scavengers from spreading trash on the ground.
• Cover all open loads on trucks leaving your business.  Encourage vendors and contractors to do the same.
• Provide ash and trash receptacles at entrances, exits, loading docks, picnic areas as well as in parking lots and along walkways of your business.  Remember, these should be placed where the people generally gather.
• Educate your employees about the importance of individual responsibility for a clean and safe working environment.Encourage groups to participate in “Community Cleanups.”
• Make your festival, fair, parade, or any outdoor community events “waste-wise and litter free” by involving all participants in the planning.
• Distribute litter bags and portable or pocket ashtrays at the entrances of your event and make sure everyone knows that your event is a “waste-wise and litter free” event.
• Place large trash receptacles and recycling receptacles near food venues and eating areas.  Remember, a large event with a large number of attendees should equal large, well-marked receptacles.
• If you place event volunteers nearby to help attendees find the receptacles as they need them, you will reduce clean-up while educating people about recycling and proper waste disposal.
• Before you light up, identify where you will dispose of your cigarette waste when you finish smoking.  Use ash and ash/trash receptacles.
• Carry a pocket ashtray all the time or have a portable ashtray with you as you leave your home, office or car.
• Encourage fellow smokers to be responsible for their cigarette litter, too.
• Pick up after your dog as you walk through your neighborhood.  Use newpaper delivery bags, “scoopers” or other easy-to-use methods to clean up after your pet.
• Keeping your pet on a leash assures that it doesn’t foul neighbors’ yards or public spaces in your neighborhood.
• Take responsibility for your pet and its actions.

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

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 This time of year, many people debate over keeping the house cool or saving money.  If you’re tired of sweating high summer cooling costs, there are some gadgets that will help you cut your energy costs and can potentially save you 30% annually on energy bills.

 1. Check for drafts with  Black & Decker’s Thermal Leak Detector ($50; Bdonlinestore.com)

This tool helps you find air leaks, especially those around windows, doors,  electrical outlets andrecessed lights, which force your AC to work harder. Point and drag the infrared Black & Decker Thermal Leak Detector around your home; the light changes color where the temperature is significantly higher or lower. So you’ll know where to caulk or weather-strip. Within the year, you will be able to recoup the cost of the device and even the weather-stripping.

2. Manage your degrees with  Ecobee Smart Thermostat ($385, Ecobee.com) / Honeywell RTH 7600d ($84, Amazon.com) 
This thermostat allows you to plug in times of day, such as when you leave for work or go to bed , to automatically raise or lower the temperature a set amount. The newest models have even more tricks: The Honeywell offers settings for every day of the week, plus a vacation override; it even reminds you when to change your AC and furnace filters. The more expensive Ecobee offers similar features and also allows remote programming over the web. So if you’re stuck at work late, you can change the settings from the office.If you set the temp to 8° higher (lower in winter) for eight hours daily, and the Honeywell will accumulate savings in six months, the Ecobee in 26.

3. Track your usage with Kill A Watt EZ ($35, Drugstore.com) Black & Decker Power Monitor ($100, Bdonlinestore.com)
These monitors act as a live-in meter reader, revealing your power usage and costs. Comsumers who monitored their usage changed consumption habits and reduced energy bills 5% to 15%.  Plug a window AC, or any appliance, into the Kill A Watt EZ, then plug that into the wall. Enter the kilowatt-hour rate from your electricity bill, and the device starts tallying costs. Or attach the Black & Decker Power Monitor to your outside electric meter. It displays whole-house usage only, but fiddling with the thermostat or lights will show you how small changes affect the big picture.  Recouping the cost of such devices dpeends on how your usage changes, but the Kill A Watt can ultimately pay off iwthin two months and the Black & Deck in give.

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com 

Your mortgage lender will want to know a lot about you before approving your loan application. Here are the general areas of questioning you can expect from a lender:
1. Employment and income
2. Outstanding debts
3. Cash reserves and assets
4. Down payment
5. Loan purpose
6. Property use
7. Property type

Employment and income
•Where do you work?
•How much do you make?
•How long have you been at your job?
•How is your income derived — steady salary or irregular income? If it’s the latter, you may need to provide more details to obtain a favorable interest rate.

Outstanding debts
•What recurring debts do you have?
•How much do you pay a month for auto loans?
•Credit cards? How much of your monthly pretax income do these debts consume?
•Cash reserves and assets
•How much money do you have in the bank?
•How much will be left after you pay your down payment and closing costs?

Down payment
•How much money are you putting down?
•Is this your own money?
•If not, is it a gift from your parents?
•A nonprofit agency grant?

Loan purpose
•Is this mortgage for a home buy or refinance?
•If it’s a refinance, do you want to take cash out at closing to pay off other debts? If so, how much?

Property use
•Do you plan to live in the house?
•Is it investment property?

Property type
•A condominium?
•A duplex?

The following responses tend to work in your favor:
•Steady employment (two or more years) with the same employer or in same line of work.
•Low debt: no recent major buys (such as automobiles) and a debt-to-income ratio of 36 percent or less.
•Loan is for straight home purchase (or rate-and-term refinance).
•Property is detached single-family home to be used as primary residence.
•Down payment of at least 5 percent of sales price with your own money.
•You’ll have at least two months’ worth of mortgage payments in the bank after closing.

These responses tend to work against you:
•Self-employed or contract worker.
•High debt: credit cards maxed out, total debt-to-income ratio more than 36 percent.
•Property is a duplex or condominium, to be used as a vacation home or rental.
•No cash left after home buy and closing costs.
•Down payment is 3 percent or less of buy price and money is borrowed.

Contact us today: 214.923.0261 or email us: info@archwoodproperties.com