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Homeowner Stories

The Hassle of Relocation

Written by: ellimanbraun, on 02/02/2012
People move everyday due to job relocation, personal reasons, affordability issues, and etc, but it is still a time consuming and costly endeavor. Ideally, you should take a lot of time to really plan everything before you move, but sometimes you will have to move in a relatively short time frame. Here are moving tips to keep in mind when you have relocate. Get organized: The first thing you must do is get organized. Go through your entire house and really take...

They’re Back! Setting Guidelines for Returning Kids

Written by: NancyMyMoves, on 01/27/2012
I dropped out of college and moved back in with my parents. I mainly did it before I flunked out. Somehow, I missed the equation – waiting tables in a bar + 8:00 a.m. classes = bad grades. I’m grateful that my parents were willing to let me crash there for a while. But it was an adjustment for all of us. They had taken to that empty nest thing really quickly. Although the combination of inter-generational cohabiting and my job at a gas-and-go store reignited my educational pa...

The mortgage rates are continuing on a significantly low rate

Written by: michael, on 01/26/2012
The mortgage rates had started to lower from 2010. This trend is continuing till now and is supposed to continue for some time after this too. In fact, as per a new record released by Freddie Mac, the mortgage rates are easing to rather new record lows. As a result, the affordability of most of the homebuyers will be high. It will be easier for almost all to take out a mortgage in order to finance their hom...

Saying Goodbye – Emotional Aspects of Downsizing

Written by: NancyMyMoves, on 01/09/2012
Sometimes in the excitement (or stress) of moving, we don’t have time to pay much attention to the emotional components of the move. I recently wrote a post on “making meaning” when you’re leaving your old house for the new digs. It’s a way to say goodbye and preserve memories to mark the event. But what if you’re downsizing? Simi...

Power of the Powerless Things

Written by: ejee95, on 01/04/2012
Recently I've engaged myself in a conversation with a research assistant from Duke University. He came over for dinner and I casually asked him about his work. For the past few months he has been collecting datas and surveys. According to him, the U.S. government has given a large sum of money, i forgot how much but enough to say that it's a money that could make significant changes, to Mongolia. This money is to be invested in giving property rights. The research assistant...

Condo Fever

Written by: NancyMyMoves, on 01/04/2012
Lately I’ve had this urge to go look at condo models. You know, the ones that are impeccably decorated and dust bunny-free? Maybe it’s because my friends just bought a gorgeous Chicago condo on Lake Michigan and will move in soon. But it might be that the maintenance of a home that’s too big for me (and an eight pound cat) on a rural property with acreage can feel overwhelming. Or could it could be that I had to go out to my shed yesterday in 40 mph winds and put an additive ...

“Making Meaning” When You Move

Written by: NancyMyMoves, on 12/13/2011
There are all kinds of feelings that are kicked up around the word “home” and moving can be an emotional experience. When you’re moving to a new home, it’s easy to get caught up in the activity, stress and deadlines, which doesn’t leave much time or space for introspection. But, think of all the memories you’ve created in this home! Take the time to honor those while in the midst of your move.In my last house, I had a s...

10 Good Reasons to Sell Your Home in the Winter Season

Written by: NancyMyMoves, on 12/05/2011
The last time I moved was in mid-March several years ago. In Ohio, that can mean 79 or 20 degrees - it’s a toss-up. In our case, a “rare winter storm” was predicted for the week of the move. I didn’t choose that particular moving date. After being in contract with three different buyers - the first one shaky, the second one psychotic, and the third one was just right and the sale actually went through. By then, we were more...

Awareness Month Nomination: Homelessness in America

Written by: Keyboardqueen12, on 12/01/2011
Why aren't we, the people of America, doing all that we can possibly do to help those people. The number of homeless is outrageously high, while there are rich people who don't even know what to do with their money. Why don't we have more homeless shelters? They can only hold so much. Why don't we give them a push and help them into a collage so they can get a decent life? We can afford that right? People are suffering every day, scared of the thought that they might sl...

What Do You Mean, We Don’t NEED a Bathtub?

Written by: NancyMyMoves, on 11/09/2011
How to Stay Married While House-HuntingAdmittedly, I watch quite a few DIY/house-hunting/decorating channels on TV and get a little too involved. After a recent international house-hunting show, I decided that I need to move to a bungalow on the beach in Costa Rica. Right now. Oh, and I also need a lanai, even though I’m in Ohio…But I have to say my viewing pleasure has diminished recently and the house-hunting shows in particular make me cranky. Maybe I’ve slipped...

Awareness Month Nomination: The Homeless

Written by: REENA, on 11/09/2011
Awareness Month Nomination: The HomelessAll around the world, there are thousands of people scraping together a life on the side of the road – living on alms and sleeping on cardboard. Homelessness is an international issue, an issue which is of the highest importance because it’s something that dramatically reduces the opportunities and quality of life available to those who fall victim to it. Homelessness is the bane of human society, leaving all those without a roof ...

Because I Can

Written by: DarkStar49, on 10/16/2011
Home ownership is not necessarily new to me. My wife and I have owned 2 homes in the past 9 years, and have loved it! The stories of satisfaction, memories and such could fill a small book. Like most things, it seems, sometimes we get caught up in our daily grind and responsibilities and we tend to let the gratification take a back seat and, at least in my eyes, makes this short story all the more meaningful.Fall has come and gone here as it usually does each year an...

My serve weather story: My Basement Flooded by Hurricane Irene

Written by: Deva85, on 10/11/2011
My uncle was watching the basement and the next thing I hear is my name being called. I run to the door and my uncle is standing in water. He was holding down the chest freezer because it was floating from the all water in the basement. He asked me to hold it down so that he could look at the other part of the basement to see what it looked like. When he came back he told me that bins of clothes fell over and were filled with water. When the water was low enough we wen...

My Severe Weather Story: Our shingles were ripped off by Hurricane Hugo

Written by: momaloft, on 09/17/2011
Folks who live in our area are very accustomed to something called Hurricane Season which runs from June 1 through November 30 every year. It's not something that we fret over but we do stay stocked with the necessary items should the need arise. People in the low-country are very grateful that the need rarely arises. And one of the main reasons for this gratefulness stems from September 21, 1989. His name was Hurricane Hugo and he came through here with the intent of makin...

Buying a House, an Exercise in Life Skills

Written by: amgilaj2, on 09/16/2011
The exact pathway of the infamous process of Growing Up is different for every individual, whether that be entering school, having a child, or leaving a job that is fun for one that is a bit less enjoyable but more practicable. In that wide range of experiences is a massive one: buying a house, as well as all the joys, hassles, and worries that come with it. Living on one's own itself forces adult beha...

The Flood

Written by: justcallmemom, on 09/15/2011
It has never been a surprise when we get a lot of rain that our basement has some water in it. We prefer to call it a cellar, because it has a partial dirt floor and low ceilings and well....not something you can ever make into a rec room. I have my washer and dryer down there and have developed an intense hatred of doing laundry because of the place I have to do it in. I just dread going down to that dark, musty cellar. Recently our area received (and not like a gift - mor...

Lawn and Garden Blues

Written by: warren, on 08/09/2011
I’m acutely aware that there are those amongst us who worship the rites of spring and summer. Inside our home, my wife, Vicki, has plants on every level surface, vines hanging from the ceilings. That’s not enough. Getting outside to prune, weed, spread mulch, dig, plant, sweat, roll in the grass, bark… no, not the last …she ranks that up there with chocolate and trail runs. That’s not how I care to spend my time.The LawnI will mow the lawn if the grass taunts me by grow...

My Interesting Summer Project was roofing our garage

Written by: halibut801, on 08/04/2011
My husband and I recently bought our home; part of our price negotiation was the fact that the house and garage needed a new roof. This wasn’t such a daunting repair to us, as my husband is a contractor. He estimated that the house roof would be fine until next year but we needed to tackle the garage this summer. So we set out to complete it. My husband estimated that he and I could do all of the work ourselves and it would only take a weekend, and me, being the independent p...

Making It Work

Written by: thiegsr, on 07/21/2011
Things fall apart. Relationships dissolve. Children fall on uneven cracks in the sidewalk and scrape their knees. The stress of work buries us without apology. In my world, the “things” falling apart right now are pieces of my home. We LOVE our old home, and actually, I don’t know if we would ever want to buy new construction. Even with the allure of brand new pipes, walk in closets in every room, finished and waterproof basements, no hidden knob and tube wiring tuck...

Move? No…Renovate!

Written by: warren, on 06/30/2011
In the scheme of a working life, you retire, you move, right? We decided not to, at least not in the near term. There are several reasons, but the big one is the wish of my wife, Vicki, to spend more time helping her father in Wisconsin some 900 miles away.(Vicki is planning ahead, well ahead. Her father is a guy, who, in his mid-80s, builds and flies his own airplanes, just built a Model-T Ford, and last year, painted his barn perched on a 30 foot lift.)So, rather than s...

very easy plumbing repairs

Written by: jwyatt76, on 06/25/2011
Toilets are number one on the list but they are very easy to repair the flapper goes out often this makes you hold the handle down to flush it takes less then five minutes to change and it cost around five dollars fill valve are next they don't cost much and are easy to change Use a korky fillvalve turn the water supply off to toilet flush toilet remove water from tank with a sponge remove nut from supply line and fill value pull old valve out put new one in put big nut fi...

What is a dirty job?

Written by: jwyatt76, on 06/10/2011
1 I have pumped a chicken pit that was 30 ft deep 40 ft wide filled with chicken parts the plant couldn't use like feet,guts and such .2 sucked dead ground up baby chickens that was in a tanker truck that spilled allover the ground .3 we have pumped blood out of a tank in a funeral home .4 unstopped a embalming tank while there was someone on the table.5 jetted out a line on a pig farm filled with pig crap .6 removed a couple of dead animals from a vent in a house.7 repaire...

Plumbing repairs made easy

Written by: jwyatt76, on 06/10/2011
The best kind of faucet to buy is delta they are very easy to fix parts are seats and springs they cost around 10 bucks .the time in repair less then 30 minutes showers have same parts this will save a lot of water and money. jwyatt76.blogspot.com The best toilet is a kohler cimarron comfort height very easy to put together and install around 250 to 300 bucks they are great I never get a callback from them can't go wrong if you need or want a new toilet go with the ci...

ARE WE TOO WIRED TO SLEEP?

Written by: Bob, on 05/17/2011
I came across a great article that talks about the effects of electronic media on our ability to get a good night's sleep (which is important to every stage of life). I think you'll all find this helpful...Once upon a time, before humans gained the ability to harness electricity (can you imagine such a time?), our internal body clocks kept to a strict schedule. When it was dark, we slept. When it was light, we were awake. People in pre-electrical times got an averag...

INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE

Written by: Karl, on 05/09/2011
StageofLife.com sponsor, Mint.com, has some great tips and articles about personal finance. Here's one I found very helpful about advice for investing in real estate...Start with your own home.For some people, stocks and bonds don’t feel as tangible as land, houses or apartments. But before you decide to become a landlord or a house flipper (both of which are riskier than you’d think, especially in this market), your first step should be working t...

The season of the time.

Written by: DarkStar49, on 02/20/2011
There is something about this time of year. I can't put a finger on it exactly, but it is a feeling of bittersweet deep rooted emotion. Let me explain myself a little more clearly in hopes of knowing someone out there can relate the same.I love the winter time! I love the cold, the snow, the peaceful feeling of winter, long nights in front of a warm fire. Life slows down significantly, and this is very visible all around me. To the absence of birds and water fowl who...

Buy or Rent?

Written by: Bob, on 02/10/2011
I came across this article the other day and after reading David's post (below in the Questions and Stories category for the home ownership stage), I went looking for it again. I think you'll benefit from this information:To buy or rent? What is the best choice for you? You may lean one way or the other, but when you look at the economics of it, among the main factors to consider are how fast home prices and rent rises and how long you will stay in the home.W...

Do I Rent or Own When the Kids Are Gone?

Written by: davidl2001, on 02/05/2011
I have been thinking about where I'm going to live when all the children are off on their own. What are my choices? Stay where I am, rent ,or downsize to smaller home. We are presently in a 5 bedroom house that my wife and I have raised 6 children in. We have always been comfortable here. The kids have plenty of room and I have a den where I hide from all of them.Presently 2 have already left to lead their own lives. Another is renting an apartment at college. Two are livin...

Goal Setting Worksheet for your Home

Written by: Bob, on 12/29/2010
I wanted to share Stage of Life's free, universal goal setting worksheet for Home Owners. Whether you use it as your "New Year's Resolution To-Do" list or as a tool to kick off fresh start with your life, this 10-step worksheet will help get you proactively thinking about the goals, possibilities and opportunities ahead.View and print the Goal Setting Worksheet...

Cold House, Warm Heart

Written by: ElleoftheBall, on 12/19/2010
The editor's post had me literally laughing out loud because Baby, It's Cold Inside our house too! He has the temperature down to a science. I could have the house at 75 degrees all the time and comfy cozy would we be! But, he keeps it at 68...when we are home. The thermostat turns down to 60 around 11 and kicks on again at 7am so it is FREEZING when I get up to take a shower in the morning. This past weekend, we both fell asleep on the couch while watching SNL and awoke at 2...

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