The "Smart" Home

Ok, in my last post, I confessed that I am a bit of geek. In this post, I am going to confirm that impression as I want to talk about technology that can be used for your home.

First, let’s focus on smartphone apps that help you decorate and furnish your home. Technology has made it easier than ever to bring your home decor ideas to reality. There are countless smartphone apps that help you plan a space or do some valuable comparative shopping. Here are five apps to use on your next decorating project. Most are available should be available on both iOS and Android devices. As I have an Android phone I was able to confirm that all were available for Android except LikeThatDecor and DesignSponge

• Color Capture: Ever see a color that would make for a perfect paint scheme? Benjamin Moore’s Color Capture app allows you to take a photo of anything and instantly get a matching paint color.
• iHandyLevel: Hanging photos and artwork? Rather than searching through your toolbox for a level, you can use something that’s already in your pocket: Your phone. The iHandyLevel app functions just as well as a dedicated level, turning your phone into the ultimate picture-hanging companion.
• LikeThatDecor: Let’s say you see the perfect Chesterfield sofa in a coffee shop, and you want to see where you could get one of your own. Use the LikeThatDecor app to take a photo of furniture and instantly see similar items from dozens of retailers.
• IKEA Catalog: Forget about the nightmare of navigating the parking garage, showroom, and warehouse at your nearest IKEA. The IKEA Catalog app allows you to virtually place furniture in a room. If only there was an app for easy IKEA assembly!
•  DesignSponge: DesignSponge is one of the best DIY and home decor websites out there. Now there’s an app that makes it easy to access all of their awesome content on your smartphone.

Next, let's look at some smart home tools that will not only help you enjoy your home more but will also make the home more appealing when it’s time to sell.

• Nest Thermostat The Nest Thermostat is controlled with your smartphone, and it learns the schedule of the home's occupants. It adjusts the temperature according to your schedule, which saves on energy costs since heating and cooling will be reduced when appropriate. The Nest Thermostat has earned glowing reviews and almost universal praise, so it’s one of the surest bets for your home.
• Automatic Lighting Lighting is an overlooked part of home security—leaving the lights on in the evening can deter burglars, because the lights suggest someone is home. With automatic and smart lighting systems, you can program your lights to come on in the evening, or use your smartphone to turn on the lights before you arrive at home.
• Smart Alarms Gone are the days of controlling your security system from a panel inside the home. Now there are security systems that you can control from anywhere in the world using your phone. You can monitor your home from anywhere, without having to pay a monthly fee to a security company. Although it’s not marketed as an alarm, the Ring doorbell falls in this category because you can see who is at your door through your phone.

To Roomba or Not to Roomba

Have you seen the commercial where a child is running across the floor spilling cereal as he or she goes? You then hear the voice of what is obviously the mother saying “Alexa, buy more cereal.” Then the disembodied voice says “Alexa, tell Roomba to vacuum.” The next picture is of the robot vacuum cleaning up the cereal.

Geek that I am I get a kick out of that commercial. It’s like watching “The Jetsons” come to life. (That link is for you, Millenials) It also always triggers my desire to buy a Roomba. Yes, it’s an Alexa commercial but it’s the Roomba I find interesting. I’ve been wanting one for a few years but just haven’t been able to justify it. I find vacuuming very boring so having some automated way to do it is intriguing. However, my fear is that I’d spend the money and then find the darn thing caught in a corner where it's run it's battery down because it couldn't  get out. Whether that is a legitimate fear or not I don't know.  Seeing the commercial recently wetted my desire for one again so I’ve done a little research. Here’s what I found out to look for when you’re shopping for a robot vacuum cleaner.

Cost
Robot vacuum cleaners typically retail from $100 to about $700. Of course, units with higher quality features cost a lot more. If you want a unit that can withstand heavy use, you will have to pay a premium price.

Battery life
The best robot vacuums can run for two hours or longer. That’s particularly important if you have a big place—you don’t want to have to keep recharging your vacuum between cleanings. It’s especially convenient if you have a vacuum that can automatically dock and recharge between uses.

Cleaning patterns
Simpler, more inexpensive vacuums may only clean in a random or back-and-forth pattern, while more advanced vacuums can virtually map a room for more precise cleaning. It’s also better if the vacuum is capable of making multiple passes in its pattern, as it’ll lead to a more thorough cleaning job.

Size and design
Most robot vacuum cleaners are no more than four inches tall so they can move under furniture. Still, pay attention to the height of your vacuum and the clearance of your furniture, so that you don’t end up with a vacuum that can’t get to important spots. Also, consider your floor type—some vacuums are better-suited for hardwood floors and tile, while others are better for carpeted floors.

Benefits
The most obvious benefit of the robot vacuum is the ability to set it to clean while you are away. This offers you an opportunity to do something else with the extra time you save. However, there are actually quite a few benefits other than time-saving convenience such as:

• They are perfect for anyone with mobility issues because all they have to do is set the vacuum to do the cleaning on a regular schedule. Hmm, sounds like a good gift for an elderly parent I know.
• Some units come with advanced features that allow them to detect the amount of dirt in an area. This feature allows the unit to linger for longer on a dirty area until it is completely clean.
• Units with advanced sensors let them differentiate between different surfaces. This means the vacuum cleaner can sense and adjust settings when it is cleaning over a carpet or operating over wood or tiles.
• A self-recharging unit senses that the power charge is low so it heads back to base for a recharge when needed. How cool is that?
• If you buy the right robot vacuum cleaner, you will enjoy lengthy service from it. These units require minimal maintenance as long as it does not encounter any external damage.
• Some of the small robot cleaners have the ability to go round corners and also beneath seats to clean those hard to reach areas you are unable to access with the ordinary vacuum cleaner.

So what do you think? Is it time to break down and get a robot vacuum? If anyone has one, I’d love to hear your experience, both bad and good.

The Answer to the 'Where Shall We Eat' Question

Are you looking for a new place to eat? Maybe you are looking for a somewhere to eat that isn’t too expensive but has good fresh food?  Or are you looking for a place where you don’t have to dress up but you also don’t have to yell to make yourself heard?  Well, I have just such a place to tell you about today as I’d like to talk about one of my very favorite local restaurants. 

My husband and I don’t eat out much.  Between his schedule and mine, it’s difficult to find time to go out. When we do decide to eat out, we usually have trouble agreeing where to eat.  He’ll want to eat Italian and I’ll want steak. You know how it goes. There is one restaurant, however, that we both agree on and that is usually where we go. 

The restaurant is Sushi King located at 5953 S. Zang Street.  Situated in a little strip mall at Zang and Bowles, it isn’t a fancy place.  Seating is a combination of tables and booths and, of course, the sushi bar. Music plays softly in the background and I’ve never been in there when the noise level was too loud.  The décor is casually accented with some Japanese artwork.

Sushi Bar at Sushi King

Two things make this place stand out from the average Japanese restaurant.
-First is the staff.  The owners, Ring and Doug, are always pleasant even though it seems like they are always working.  The wait staff is young, friendly and polite which seems to be a rarity these days.
-Second is the food. Prices are average and the menu has quite a bit of variety such as sweet and sour chicken and cashew shrimp.  My husband and I usually get a Bento Box with sashimi and a rainbow roll from the Sushi Bar. The tempura vegetables are consistently good and not oily and the sushi always tastes fresh.  Beer and wine are available, if you're so inclined, as well as regular soft drinks.  Desserts are also available.  One of our favorites is the Green Tea Ice Cream.

If it’s been one of those days when you're too tired to cook or go out, Sushi King does have take-out available.  You can either order it for pick up or have it delivered.  Delivery is restricted to certain areas though so you might want to call the restaurant to see if you are within their delivery area.  

Check it out and let me know what you think.  Sushi King is open:

Monday 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m

Tuesday 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m

Wednesday 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m

Thursday 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m

Friday 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m

Saturday 12:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m

Sunday 12:00 a.m- 10:00 p.m. 

Cutting the (television) Cord

Like many folks, my family is always looking for ways to save money. Today's post is on one of the ways we've found to save on entertainment.

 My husband and I recently decided that we weren’t getting enough value out of our satellite service. We find the news too depressing so we only watch weather and traffic. We also don’t watch any of the nightly comedies or dramas. I don't want to offend anyone but we find most of the shows are the same storyline just told with different characters. We realized we had 800+ channels and we watched about 3 channels. Three channels for the monthly fee of approximately $80 just didn't make sense to us.  Other than sports and the occasional movie, our television wasn’t being used much.

We decided we didn’t want to be completely cut off though. After doing some research we found the cable company that supplied our internet could provide internet streaming television also for about $10.00 more than we were currently paying. So we said goodbye to the satellite and set up a computer that would allow us to watch television on our big screen via the internet.  The cable company provides live TV so if we want to watch the occasional local and national news we can. When my husband wants to watch motorcycle races he found the races were usually on YouTube. With our Netflix and Amazon Prime accounts, we find we have plenty to watch when we do decide to watch TV. A recent Hulu ad indicated that Hulu now has live TV so that may be another option for some people.

Don’t get me wrong, it was an adjustment to get used to using a keyboard and a mouse to watch TV. The “channel” numbers are different too and we’ve had to get better at searches. However, I think we are both happy with the change and the savings is definitely worth it.

I don’t think my husband and I are the only ones making this change. I’ve read that more and more people are cutting the cord and going without television service. If you watch a lot of live programing— then cable is still a necessity. I also think if we had children at home we would have made a different decision. You may find that this option is not for you. But if you find you want to make a change, here are some things to keep in mind to get and keep the best deals in television service.

Know what’s in store: Cable and satellite companies seemingly make it impossible to go online to downgrade your services, cancel service, or choose a new bundle. Cable and satellite companies love to sign customers to a two-year contract, but will dramatically raise your bill when a promotional period ends after one year. Suddenly, you’re paying $50 or more per month for the same services. Even online chat support gives the cable company the upper hand. Picking up the phone and negotiating remains the best way to get the lowest price for your television service. If you decide to cancel your service, be aware that some cable and satellite representatives make a bonus if they talk you out of canceling the service. I had the satellite company calling me two weeks after we canceled to trying and bring us back. You will need to remain strong!

Knowledge is power: Before you call, do some research. Understand the terms of your current contract, see which bundles your cable provider is currently offering to new customers, and price out similar service offerings from other companies. You’ll be in a better bargaining position if you have the freedom to cancel on your current provider.

Make the call: If monthly fees are the issue, make it clear to the support representative that you are calling because your rates have increased and you’re considering canceling if they cannot lower your bill. The support representative will initially try to offer higher-priced bundles or short-term freebies, but don’t give up on the negotiation—remember, you already know you can switch to another provider. If the sales representative won’t budge, you can even end the call, and try again with a different representative. In most cases, they would rather find a package that works than lose a customer.

An interview with Mortgage Broker, Charles “Chuck” Swigart

Charles Swigart

As a Realtor, I often work with first time home buyers. They enjoy the searching for and viewing potential homes. The not-so-fun part? The mortgage.

But if you don't pay attention to the details, your mortgage can end up dragging down the enjoyment of your new home and cause some major regrets. I’ve asked Chuck Swigart, an independent mortgage broker to help answer some of the common questions that buyers ask:

· Is a mortgage broker the same as a mortgage lender? No. Mortgage lenders offer only a few select loans marketed to the most common borrower characteristics. Charles Swigart Home Loans is an independent mortgage broker. We offer well-known conventional, FHA, and VA home loans. We also offer the not-so-well-known home loans such as our rare 1% down conventional purchase loan. We also offer non-conventional loans for special circumstances such as self-employed, investment income, and foreign national. We offer the same loans as all mortgage lenders but we can provide it with a more competitive rate.

When you shop for a car, you typically go to a dealer that sells one type of car. You can buy any of their vehicles in that brand. Now, imagine going to a dealer where you can buy any brand of car and any model offered by that brand. Having all brands and all models in one place is how convenient it is to shop for your home loan with a mortgage broker.

· What is a common misconception about mortgage lending? All lenders are the same. Not true. While many lenders and brokers may offer similar loan products, the service you receive may be vastly different. Differences in service from a lender or broker may be due to differing experience levels or differences in the company’s behaviors. Charles Swigart Home Loans’ primary behaviors focus on speed and service to our clients.

· What does a lender look for when qualifying applicants? Primarily, we look for demonstrated credit responsibility and consistency. This doesn’t always mean high credit scores and salaried borrowers. The lack of risky credit behavior is more important than a high credit score. Having two (2) years of employment and residence history is important. Two (2) years of employment in the same industry with more than one employer or two (2) years in the same position with multiple employers is acceptable.

· What is available to help buyers with a limited amount of money for the down payment? We offer our unique 1% down payment option for borrowers with 700+ credit scores. We also provide down payment grants and purchase money loans for borrowers that want a little more help. If you have your earnest money deposit and $1000 for appraisal and home inspections, you may be ready to buy your next home.

· What do you recommend for someone with credit issues? We provide a free, 10-minute loan qualification for our clients. We can answer your questions about your challenges and put your mind at ease. Most of the issues you worry may keep you from homeownership can be resolved with a simple phone call and an action plan. Let us put our experience and skill to work for you.

· People that are self-employed may not qualify if they claim many deductions on their taxes so they don’t show enough income. What can they do? If you have 20% down payment or 20% equity in the property you own, you can qualify using your bank statements to prove income. If you don’t have 20% for a down payment or equity, you should consult your accountant. We can also finance borrowers that can show their income from the cash flow of investment properties – even if they deduct all of their income.

Thank you, Chuck. Where can people reach you if they have more questions? You can reach me any day of the week at 303-868-6071. Don’t be afraid to call and get advice. It’s free and can lead to positive opportunities for your future!

Finally, from a Realtor’s point of view, here are a couple of mistakes to avoid to ensure that you love your mortgage terms as much as your new home.

Don't find your home first: Shopping around for the best mortgage rate should be the first step in the home buying process. You may even want to talk to a mortgage broker a full year before you plan to buy. It'll give you time to get your affairs in order to qualify for the best rate, could save you thousands of dollars in the long run, and you won't feel rushed to accept an unattractive loan because you're worried you'll miss out on your dream home.

Don't forget your real budget: There's often a big difference between what a lender says you can afford and what you can actually afford. Your debt-to-income ratio doesn't include the money you spend on hobbies, or the cost of commuting to work, or maintenance and utility costs. Really sit down and examine your spending before committing to the loan amount the lender is offering. You won't enjoy your home nearly as much if it's eating into your favorite hobbies.