Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Using You Tube as a tool to help enhance your real estate business

Have you ever considered using You Tube to enhance your real estate business?  Find out more from Randy Eagar in this hour long webinar December 9th - Go to: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/307742634 for more information

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

2FINDYOURHOME has partnered with the American Red Cross to give the Perfect Gift this holiday season.  Loved ones often tell us the best holiday gifts are those that come from the heart.  Yet, we spend hours flipping through circulars, scouring web sites and calling retailers to determine which ones offer the biggest bang for our buck.   
However, no one can put a price on saving a life.  Donating blood helps save up to three lives and the only cost is an hour of time.  To a hospital patient in need, time is everything – time to laugh, time to live and time to love. 

A blood donation this holiday season is the perfect gift…the gift that saves the day.  Give life.  Your heart, your wallet and countless hospital patients across the country thank you!

The Red Cross is proud to present “The Perfect Gift,” a video highlighting the importance of blood donation.  We hope it will inspire you this holiday season and beyond.  To view “The Perfect Gift,” log on to redcrossblood.org. This page will have a share button to encourage viral spreading of this across the Division.

Everyone who gives blood before December 31st is eligible to win (4) 100 level Sabres tickets. The first 2-thousand donors receive a t-shirt. 

Have a Happy and healthy holiday season! Thank you for making 2FindYourHome, both in print and online, your premier source for real estate information.

Sincerely,

John B. Leonardi

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Moving When The Snow Flies

Don’t let the ice and snow of winter sabotage your next move! Stay warm, safe, and smiling during your winter move simply by following these helpful tips:

Bundle up!
It’s always great to have a few warm pieces of clothing on hand during your winter move. Have sweatshirts, socks, sweaters, blankets, coats, and boots remain in your home until you are ready to leave permanently.

Don’t slip
Shovel and salt walkways, steps, driveways, and anywhere movers will be walking.

Stay warm
Be sure your heat will be on for moving day at your current and new home. If the heat is not yet on in your new home, bring along some space heaters to hook up before you begin moving your belongings inside.

Drink (and eat) up
Keep a kettle of warm water for tea or a pot of hot coffee on hand to warm your movers up with. If you want to go above and beyond for your movers, have some soups (Ramen noodles will suffice) and a loaf of crusty bakery bread ready for them to eat during a lunchtime break. They will thank you for the warm gesture during the chilly move!

Good luck!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Want to host that holiday dinner? You can!

One thing that apartment-dwellers need to know: just because you live in tight quarters, doesn't mean you have to head over to your Aunt Millie's house again for that holiday meal.  You can be the host or hostess!

1.  Think positive!  The most important thing to remember when taking on this big meal, is to be calm and think pleasant and positive thoughts.  If hosting immediately sends you shivering, take a walk and get some perspective.  Remember, it's one meal.

2.  Plan in advance.  Don't invite more people than your apartment can hold.  If 7-12 people is your limit, then stick to it.  Make sure to have plenty of snacks and drinks on hand as the meal preps often take longer than expected.

3.  Think "pot luck".  Invite all your guests to bring something, that way the entire meal is not riding on your shoulders.  If your sister makes the best stuffing in the world, then use that and invite her to your holiday dinner.

4.  Be flexible.  If you need to move things around in your apartment to accomodate all the food and/or guests, go for it.  Comfort is key.  You don't want them running for the exits the minute the meal is over. 

5.    Enjoy and embrace the holiday!  Remember that it's a time to be with family and friends and enjoy.  What you may be worrying over now won't be worth it in the long run.

Have a great Thanksgiving Holiday from everyone at 2 Find Your Apartment.com!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

What to do to avoid a landlord fight...before it begins

Want to avoid arguments with your landlord?  We have some advice on how to avoid trouble before it starts.

1.  Be prepared.  No this isn't the boy scouts..but if you bring stuff along with you when you meet your prospective landlords, you'll have a leg up on the competition.  Stuff like a completed rental app., references from employers and past landlords, friends & colleagues, and a copy of your credit report.

2.  Read through the fine print.  It's very important to review all the tenancy conditions before you agree to rent.  If you spot any restrictions on guests, pets, or modifications to the apartment be sure to ask questions.

3.  Write everything down.  Keep copies of any correspondence and follow up an oral agreement with a letter, setting out your understanding. For example, if you ask your landlord to make repairs, put your request in writing and keep a copy for yourself. If he agrees orally, send a letter confirming this fact.

4.  Keep the lines of communication open.  If you notice your landlord is slow to respond to problems, open your mouth and say something.  ort of a nasty legal battle.

5.  Safety first!  Find out whether your building and neighborhood are safe, and what you can expect the landlord's responsibilities are it if they aren't.

6.  Protect your privacy rights.  Before the landlord just barges into your place because he/she has a key, be completely aware of your privacy rights and when a landord can enter a rental unit.

7.  Know your rights as a tenant.  We mean the right to adequate weatherproofing; heat, water and electricity; and clean, sanitary and structurally safe premises.

8.  Purchase renters' insurance to cover your valuables.  This may seem like a tough thing to do, especially if you're a college student and you barely have money to eat, but it's worth it.  A renters' insurance policy covers loss due to theft or damage caused by other people or natural disasters.  In Western New York, that means a snow storm.

9.  Do you know what could get you a refund on your security deposit?  Know this in advance. 

10. Know when to fight an eviction notice--and when to give up and move.  Unless you have the law and provable facts on your side, fighting an eviction notice is usually a winless battle. If you lose an eviction lawsuit, you may end up in serious debt and face a negative credit rating.

Good luck, and know that a little advance preparation will go a long way to avoiding headaches in the long run.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Time for your first apartment?

Perhaps you're reading this as a young adult, perhaps a college student.  Ah, to be young again.  You may be wondering if you have what it takes to make it on your own.  Let me be the first to tell you it will feel fantastic to get out from under mom and dad's roof and live on your own.  Here's what you have to do to make sure you don't fall on your face.

Estimate Your Expenses

Write down everything you spend for the next month at least (that goes for anything you put on a credit card). This will give you an idea of where your money goes now.

Next, take a walk through a supermarket and make believe you're shopping for a week (maybe take a shopping list with you) and see what it will cost. Multiply by 4.3 for a month's food cost. (Do you eat a lot of meals out? Maybe you'd want to reconsider that.)

Look at 2 Find Your Apartment, so you can see what rent you will have to pay.

Call utility companies to get an idea of the average costs for electric and gas service for a residence of the size you plan to rent. Ask if deposits are required. Find out which utilities you pay and which may be included in the rent. Many apartment complexes in my area included garbage disposal and water. If they are not included, you need to find how much they cost. If you want cable television, telephone service or internet service, you must put those costs into your budget, too.

Do you have a car? Add in car payments and insurance and license fees, as well as gasoline (if you didn't include these in the first step). Otherwise, be sure you get a place near public transportation, and add the cost of bus travel in.


When It Comes To Furniture: Beg, Collect, Borrow & Save

When I moved into my first apartment - everything was "hand me down".  Even my boss gave me furniture.  I'll never forget it - it was chocolate brown and 20 years old, but I digress.  Free furniture is easy to come by, once you have a place. Just put the word out, and stuff will flow your way from friends, family, and strangers.
If you live in an apartment complex, you'll find abandoned furniture. You can also put a note up on the notice board saying you're interested in very cheap or free furniture. People just can't be bothered to move it!

Start saving now to purchase items that you can't get for free. Then, when you are 30 days from moving out, start purchasing small items. Thrift stores and garage/yard sales are your best bet. Remember, you only need functionality to begin with, you can purchase better quality after you are settled and earning more money.

What Will You Eat, or Eat With?

In your planning, don't forget to factor in the start up costs of a kitchen. Not only silverware, plates, glasses and pots and pans, but those other items such as spices, flour, sugar, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, etc. These items can be quite expensive when you have to buy them all at once.

To wrap-up, try this step-by-step approach when you're getting ready for your first apartment:



   1. Call to see how much you will spend on average per month for the type residence you desire (apartment, house, duplex, etc.)

   2. Determine how much you will require per month to drive from this residence to the places you frequent. Include work, church, friends, family, grocery store, etc.

   3. Ask the person who determines your current family budget how much is spent on groceries, lights, natural gas, and other utility bills. Realize that this number for you will not be 1/4 your family's budget even if there are four in your house. These bills have minimums that you are billed each month regardless of usage. Find out what these minimums are to avoid surprises in the future.

   4. Don't forget car payments, car insurance, renter's insurance, and other such necessary expenses.

   5. Have your family financial planner (most likely your mom) look at the list you have made, and contribute to the list. She (or he) will probably help you discover that you have forgotten almost as many things as you have remembered.

   6. Add at least 10% to your final total for times when the plumber is called, the car brakes down, etc., and put this in a savings account so you don't spend it.

   7. If you can afford to buy your furniture now and pay for storage, DON'T. Put all of that hard earned money in a savings account and let it earn money for you. Include the money you would pay for storage, and your total will grow much faster.

   8. Start by paying your family rent for your room, and when you get a good taste of what it is like to pay your own bills, you probably won't move out! Your family deserves to have you contribute to the family budget

Good luck!

So You Say You're Looking For Just The Right Roommate?

Earlier this week, we gave you lots of info and questions you should ask when looking for the right roommate.  Here's part two of our list...


First Roommate Interview - Trust your gut instincts during that initial roommate interview. If something seems a little off about the person and/or you just plain don't think you like them so much, trust yourself. The initial interview is "best behavior" time. If you're less than thrilled to be spending time with them now, you'll likely be much MUCH less than thrilled later.


Why Do They Want to Find a Roommate Now? - Try to find out why a potential new roommate is looking at this time. It could give you some insight into compatibility. Is this their first flail into the adult (not living with mom and/or dad at home) world? Did they not get along with their last roommate? Could they not pay their bills? Why, why, and why?

 What Kind of Roommate Will YOU Be? - Be honest when describing yourself to a potential roommate. Are you really tidy? No, for real.


Find a Roommate Time-Frame - Leaving it to the last minute to find a roommate means you'll: A) Panic and B) Settle for less. But you procrastinators out there probably knew that already, didn't you? More time to be choosy ahead of time almost always means less hassle later.

Roommate Comings and Goings - Do you like to come and go on a whim, even frequently during the wee hours? Or will you freak out if you hear your front door opening at 3 a.m.? Definitely questions to ask when looking for a roommate, a lack of compatibility here will be sorely missed.



The Absentee Roommate - Sometimes someone seems more appealing as a potential roommate because they say they'll be spending little time at your shared abode, maybe they have a lover in whose home they spend much time, maybe a job that requires frequent travel, maybe studying elsewhere several hours a day . . . whatever. But don't ignore other roommate-related considerations just based on the appeal of a possibly "absentee" roommate.  Make sure expectations regarding bill-paying are clear from the start, and non-alterable unless all parties cheerfully agree.

Your Roommate's Pets - If you live in a household with pets, you will probably be asked to take care of them at some point. Even if owned by one person that sincerely intends to be entirely responsible for their care, personal emergencies and illness happen to everyone from time to time. And all pets create at least a few messes here and there.

Roommates and Sleeping - If you like to go to bed early and are a light sleeper, don't live with a night owl, unless you're comfortable using earplugs. Similarly, if you know you like to be noisy late at night, you'd best find a roommate not so busy at the crack of what-in-the-world-are-they-doing-this-early unless they swear they sleep heavily.


My Roommate Was Here . . . and Here . . . - Some folks leave little trails of evidence detailing all their activites behind them wherever they go, others are compulsively tidy. Figure out who you are and find a roommate in the same general area of the continuum. Messies can sometimes pacify the tidy by confining their mess to their roommate, but folks that are extremely different in this regard are bound to bug the hell out of each other. However, don't make the mistake of assuming you'll be in Roommate Nirvana if you're both total slobs. Eventually someone will have to clean up, or the roaches and/or the Health Department will make you wish you had.


Your Budget - Don't overextend yourself in terms of what you can pay for rent, bills, etc. You might want to live in the nicest place you could possibly afford, but in the end, the stress of trying to afford something not in your budget will be more stressful than life in a more modest residence. Even if you think you have it all covered, allow some wiggle room. Do you really want to live like a monk? Also, unplanned and/or accidental additional expenses happen to everyone. Don't stretch to the limit, allow a bit of play (figuratively and literally).

Roommates and Kids - Your lifestyle check on any new roommate will need to be more thorough if you plan to have kids over regularly, yours or anyone else's, even if you're not the custodial parent. Similarly, expect more restrictions on your lifestyle if you opt for a roommate with regular kid visitors.

Who Will Be Visiting your Roommate? - How many, how often? Parties? Significant others sleeping over regularly but not contributing to the bills? Family members dropping by? Even if your roommate and yourself get along just fine, what sort of friends will she/he have over regularly? What if the visitors need to use your bathroom/shower regularly? OK vs. not? How often? All important questions to ask when looking for a roommate. Even if you think you don't care, fair warning is always more agreeable.


Length of Roommate Relationship - Is the situation month-to-month, or is there a lease with a defined term? If month-to-month, what amount of notice is considered adequate? What if someone absolutely has to move out early? Despite best intentions, these things can happen, better discussed in advance than during the heat of an emergency-esque moment. Are there any financial penalties for early termination on your lease? Who is responsible for finding the roommate's replacement? There are pros and cons here . . . if the person moving is responsible, they absorb more of the hassle, but the remaining roommate(s) will have to live with their choice. Also, if the moving away roommate is moving due to a personal emergency, they might not have the time to find a roommate replacement. There are no right and wrong answers here, but again, discussing in advance, making sure the situation sounds like something you can live with, and having a plan is a better way to go to keep things civil in a time of probable stress.



Good luck finding that roommate that best suits you and your needs!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Wanted: The Perfect Roommate Part 1

"I want the perfect roommate."  It's an easy thing to say, but when it comes to searching for that person who meets all your needs and requirements, do they exist?

You have every right to enjoy yourself in your "home", but so does your roommate. Conflict happens when your idea about what enjoyment consists of doesn't coincide with theirs.  In the next couple days, we'll give you a checklist of things to keep in mind as you search for your perfect roommate.

You can find a roommate in a rushed or ill-informed way, and hope you'd stumbled upon the right one by chance, or you can avoid the need to pack your stuff and/or look for a new roommate frequently by being more clever about it upfront.   Find a roommate with whom you share some degree of lifestyle compatibility. Opposites may attract in some romantic situations, but a lack of lifestyle compatibility is only a recipe for disaster in a roommate situation.

Roommate Realism - Be realistic in that no roommate situation is going to be perfect, a few conflicts will arise. On the other hand, some things are going to be non-negotiable for you if you plan on living a certain lifestyle. Do NOT compromise anything you know is important to you, but DO compromise on the stuff that isn't.

Friends Becoming Roommates - Unfortunately, one major tidbit of advice we'd care to share is that the qualities you might find important or desirable in a fun friend may NOT be the same ones you ultimately will require in a roommate. Friendships have been destroyed over a failure to recognize this at the outset. You may party like a Wild Thing with your friends on the weekends or during the week away from home, but require your homebase to be a more peaceful sanctuary when you actually are there. That same friend you thought was such a riot during your last pubcrawl you may find less hysterical if he/she brings the party home on a night you were trying to study or get to sleep early. Or, conversely, if you want to whimsically bring home whoever/whenever, a roommate who regularly leads a more conservative lifestyle is going to cramp yours. The best roommate relationships are primarily structured as roommate relationships.

Conflict Resolution Skills - One of the most important questions to ask when looking for a roommate . . . what happened the last few times they had an interpersonal conflict . . . what they did, what they said, how that worked out?? See, thing is, in any interpersonal situation (including roommates), given enough time, conflicts will arise.

Throw Stereotypes out the window - As almost anyone who has had multiple and demographically diverse roommates will tell you, not all women are tidy, and not all young men are loud. Or vice versa. If what you want is clean and quiet, ask about those things specifically. If you think picking someone on the basis of age or gender or some other demographic detail is necessarily going to guarantee any particular roommate-related adjective for you by default, you're likely in for a rude awakening.

Credit - Some may request a credit report on any new roommate. If you want to be the early bird that gets the worm and plan to look at a lot of places, requesting one for yourself in advance could put you at the head of the pack for a choice situation. If it's good, it will be an interpersonal selling point, perhaps helping you get in good with the landlord if that's required as well. If there are negatives on your report, be prepared to explain the what and why.

 "Morality" and your Roommate - It's best to find a roommate that is somewhat similar to yourself on those issues by sharing before moving in together. Get it out in the open before you discover it with horror after signing a lease and moving your stuff.

 How Many Bedrooms per Roommate? - Sharing a bedroom with your roommate is really NOT best. Yes, you'd save even more money. But the downside is substantial, that being you will have nowhere in the dwelling to go that's all for you and you alone.

There are more things that you should add to your checklist when searching for your perfect roommate.  We'll continue this list later this week :)

Thursday, November 4, 2010

College Students: Apartment Hunting?

College life - classes, parties, and tons of new experiences.

The last headache you need right now is trouble with your roommate, landlord, or any other apartment-related turmoil.

If you're looking for a new "pad", AKA place to temporarily live, there are a few things to keep in mind before you begin that apartment hunt:


Who do you want to live with? Sure, your best friend is awesome to hang out with, but is she really going to hold up the deal? And even if she does, is it really the best idea to spend 24/7 with your BFF? When considering roommates, make sure you consider how you will live with someone and not just how you feel about that someone. There is a very big difference and knowing that could make or break your friendship.

Where do you want to be? Location is the most important factor in real estate, so really think about where you want to be. Do you want to be close to class or close to your boyfriend? These are questions that only you can answer, but you should think your preferred location through before you get swept away by the in-house washer and dryer in an apartment on the wrong side of campus.

What do you need? So, yeah, a washer and dryer in your apartment would be the bomb.com, but do you need it? Is it worth sacrificing extra closet space?  What about bathrooms? And living space? Make sure to sit down with your potential roommates and make a very clear list of what it is you want and need. This will keep you on track so you don’t end up spending extra on flashy stuff (like a fancy kitchen) when what you really need is ample parking.


How much are you willing to spend? Sure, you can be a block from class, have your own bathroom, and park a foot from your door, but it’ll cost you. It’s important to assess pricing and know all the costs associated: electricity, parking, water, cable… A house may have cheap rent, but that price can skyrocket when you take everything else into account.

When does your current lease end? In many college towns leases run from August through the following July. Unfortunately, dates aren’t always uniform, so make sure to keep this in mind. You don’t want to be kicked out July 28th with nowhere to go ‘til August 1st, or be stuck paying rent all summer when you won’t even be on campus.


Hopefully these questions will help you find that perfect place to live...for now.

Friday, October 29, 2010

What to do this weekend? We're feeling a little spooky!


Looking for some fun this Halloween weekend?  You're in luck, there are tons of things to do. Here are some of the haunted houses in Western New York, guaranteed to scare the ____ out of you!



Final Fear

Dark Raven Manor and Scare at the Fair have combined their frightful ingenuity to come up with five haunted houses that will be open to the brave public through the 31st. If you're interested in a few different horrific adventures, head to Final Fear at The Fairgrounds in Hamburg. For more information, go to www.yourfinalfear.com.

Frightworld

America's Screampark hosts its own famous five haunted houses until November 14th. You can get a Frightpass for $30 to get the VIP pass that lets you skip through the lines or pay only $23 for a ticket that will allow you into all five creepy houses, in line with everybody else. Check out www.hauntedbuffalo.com for more details.

House of Horrors & Haunted Catacombs

Fight your way through the psycho killers and zombies in these houses and Catacombs until November 1. You can get one of those no-wait passes to go ahead of the anxious crowds in line for $25 or just a general admission ticket for $20. You can find out more info at www.houseofhorrorsbuffalo.com.

Lockport Haunted Cave

This fight tour on foot lasts an hour and ten minutes and travels right beside the early 1800's Hydraulic Race Power Tunnel that runs underground and the Erie Canal. Open until October 30th for $11 for the walking tour, but if you're brave enough, you can pay $16 to do the underground boat ride in addition to the walking tour. They recommend you make a reservation and head to Lockporthauntedcave.com for more info.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Welcome to 2 Find Your Apartment! Who are we?

2FindYourApartment.com is a site where you will find the latest rentals and apartments in Western New York. We are the sister site to 2 Find Your Home, the little sister actually. Whether you are a college student, an empty-nester looking to downsize, or anyone else who is looking for a rental property, we are here to serve! In addition to the latest "For Rent" listings posted by the community, you will also find an updated listing of apartment complexes in our area.

This blog will not only keep you updated on the latest events going on in Western New York, we will have a variety of tidbits and news that you can use.

This blog is interactive! If you have a question about 2FYA, can not find something you want on 2FindYourApartment.com, or if you just want to say hello - post a comment here.

Do not forget about our print insert, included as part of 2 Find Your Home each Friday.

Remember, 2 Find Your Home is the only print publication with 7 days of open houses.
 
Feel free to post a comment!