Relocating To, From or Within Connecticut? Create Your Moving Checklist

One of the smartest things you can do when you decide to move is to have a plan for exactly how you are going to move, and for exactly what you are going to move. You might find that checklist by rooms suit you well, or checklists prioritized by time frames suit you better, or you may want to create your own checklist that incorporates both. Any way you do it,  you will need to organize your belongings.

First things first: When you decide that you are ready to move, and put your home on the market, start packing incidentals that you rarely use.  You won't miss them, and it will be one less thing that you will have to worry about.

Create your checklist :  You might want to organize it by room (living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen), or by family member, or by types of items (outdoor items, seasonal items, clothing, pet items, etc.). You should begin creating your moving checklist  as soon as you learn that you’ll be moving. That way it will make the process more organized, much less stressful and it will also nsure that you don’t forget anything.

A couple of Helpful Hints:

See if you will be able to write off some of your moving expenses on your taxes. Your best bet is to call your accountant if you have one, or check the IRS’s moving expense guidelines to see if any of your moving expenses are able to be deducted on your taxes. Being able to get some of those moving dollars back later is certanly worth the effort.

Also don't forget to submit a change of address card to the post office, which will enable your mail to be automatically forwarded to your new address for one year. That is usually more than  enough time to let everyone know that you’ve moved and what your new address is.

If you need an agent  in Fairfield County, contact us. If you need  a Realtor in another area, we will find you  a top agent for no charge. Click here to get started.

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The Featured Home of the Week is at 125 Norton Road in Easton  for $1.4M. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Make it a Priority: Protect Your Home and Your Assets.

It's certainly a tough conversation for any couple to have, and although its somewhat of an uncomfortable topic, its one you should have sooner rather than later.

If asked, most couples would say it's important to protect the financial future of their families in the event of a spouse's unexpected death.

Yet 74 percent of couples rarely or never discuss the topic of life insurance as part of their financial planning strategy, according to a 2010 State Farm® Life Insurance Study. A 2011 study from finance research firm LIMRA revealed that 41 percent of U.S. adults don't even have life insurance.

That doesn't mean it's not on their minds. Sixty-two percent of respondents said uncertainty in the economy makes having life insurance even more important than it had previously been.

Bringing up the subject can be difficult. It may be that discussing the unexpected death of a spouse is awkward. Or that one spouse already feels the pressure of being the primary wage earner. Or that a spouse who has recently lost a job will react negatively to the topic.

But whatever the obstacles, talking about life insurance is critical to both partners -- even if one earns substantially more than the other, or one doesn't earn an income. To start the discussion, try these tips:

•    Talk before you're in a financial crisis. Pick a time when you're not stressed, and treat the topic as you would any other aspect of your financial planning.
•    Make a plan that incorporates life insurance as a primary component of your overall financial strategy. Having a plan in place can be reassuring if your circumstances change.
•    Set a monthly budget and learn what options you can afford. Schedule follow-up evaluations and adjust your coverage as your needs, family situation and income change.
•    Consult an insurance expert who can provide an outside perspective and make the discussion less stressful.
•    Focus your discussion on the love you have for your family and your desire to protect it from financial burdens, rather than on the possible death of a spouse.

Article submitted by Brennan Purdy of State Farm Insurance

My vision is to be an insurance professional whose actions are driven by keeping the customer's best interest as my primary goal. My staff will treat all my customers in a caring, friendly, and professional manner. My office will provide warm, efficient, and seamless services to our customers at all times. I expect my business to be comprised of knowledgeable, multiple-line customers who see my office as their first and best choice for all their insurance and financial service needs

For more information on these and other home safety tips, stop by my office or visit www.brennanpurdy.com. My office is conveniently located in downtown Bethel. 203-798-7300.                   211 Greenwood Avenue , Bethel, CT 06801

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The Featured Home of the Week is at 125 Norton Road in Easton  for $1.4M. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Our Weekly Video Real Estate News Channel is Here! Check it Out!

We are pleased to present our first installment of our WEEKLY video real estate news channel. Hear what's happening in the market compliments of Judy Szablak, Realtor. Click here or on the picture below to hear this weeks' installment, and remember to check back with us every Monday for the latest national real estate news and mortgage advice!

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The Featured Home of the Week is at 125 Norton Road in Easton  for $1.4M. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Happy Labor Day From the CT Realty Blog and Judy

Happy Labor Day! This nationally recognized holiday was first celebrated 120 years ago!

The following history is excerpted from the U.S. Department of Labor

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

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The Featured Home of the Week is at 125 Norton Road in Easton  for $1.4M. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Bring Your Cell Phone When You Go Look at That House.

Huh? To take pictures? To post your find on facebook, or to tweet about it? Well, sure, that's OK, too- but bring your cell phone to make sure you get a good reception at that location if its especially important to you.

You can and would be very surprised at the amount of locations that get very poor signals. It doesn't matter if you are in a large town or city, or at what seems to be an obvious location that you would get  those five bars. Not necessarily so- and more and more people rely SOLELY on their cell phone for all of their telecommunications.

According to the  Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association  headquartered in Washington, DC , there were over 331 million wireless subscriber connections as of December 2011. The CTIA  also reports  that nearly 32 percent of  households in the US  have cellular service only, with NO Land line.

I can think of an excessively high number of very low service pockets  throughout ALL of the towns that I cover where you would never expect service to be so poor.  Don't just assume you'll get service everywhere.

I know, those cell phone towers are unsightly, and not known for their aesthetic value.  It's sometimes quite comical to look at the ones that are  supposed to look like evergreen trees- they look like tall poles with horribly fake fir branches.  So while your service may be exceptional being close by to one, for the record- having one of those towers within view of your home is not great for resale.

One note:  If you do not get great coverage at the location you want, you can purchase  a cell range "extender" (or try and negotiate a free unit)  from your service provider that works through your internet service to increase your signal and get reception. They do work, and I should know............ I have one :)

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The Featured Home of the Week is at 125 Norton Road in Easton  for $1.4M. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY