We are coming up for prime moving season for many people. This is the busiest season for families with children. Most people want to put as little stress on the family as possible, so when school is out, moving season is in full swing. Here are a few helpful tips to make your move an easy one.

Start early – Don’t leave organizing your move until the last minute. The more time you give yourself to clean, organize, and prepare the easier moving day will be.

Purge – Be tough on yourself and ask the hard questions, like when was the last time I used, wore, read, or needed that. Go through clothes, books, kitchenware (this is your chance to pitch all the old plastic containers), old electronics that haven’t made it to the recycle store, random wires, old toys, papers, and more. Taking trips to the dump and donation center can lighten your load significantly during a move, and make unpacking in your new destination a breeze.

Go pro – If it fits your budget and you are moving a distance, you may want to look into certified professional relocation companies. They will take control of packing, moving and unpacking your boxes, and if anything is broken there is a claims process. They label each of your items and give you a very complete checklist of everything in the house.

Contact insurance – Let your insurance company know about your move.

Take pictures – If you go pro, make sure to take pictures of things like TV’s while they are on to show working order. Also photograph anything breakable to show condition, and if you have any existing scratches on furniture, take pictures of those too. You don’t want a tiny nick to turn into a huge scratch without proof of prior condition.

Zip lock bags are your friend – If you need to take anything apart from an inexpensive shelving units to office desks, make sure you have a zip lock, sharpie, and packing tape handy to place all the small parts in the bag, label it, and tape it prominently to the large item.

Inventory your valuables – Make sure to have a complete inventory of all your valuables and check it after your move.

Change your address – File a change of address notification through the post office and make a list of all your important mail such as credit card companies, banks, loans, bills etc. If you pay money to a person, place, or establishment, make sure they have your new address.

Contact all your local utilities – The last thing you want to do is to keep paying water, electric, phone and cable bills for a home where you no longer live. Make sure to contact all your utility companies to inform them of your date of disconnect. Double-check where and when you have to return any equipment such as cable boxes, modems and the like.

Register children at new schools – If you are changing neighborhoods, make sure you find out all the school district information and start new registration early.

Hire a cleaning crew – This can take away a lot of the stress of a move. Rather than trying to deal with the entire move out clean on your home, there are many affordable options to get professionals in after the move and take care of the final clean.

These simple tips and reminders will help make your move as painless as possible so you can enjoy your summer in your brand new home.

Maronda Homes is located throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Florida. There are a lot of possibilities to make your families dream come true!

]]> http://www.marondahomes.com/blog/ohio/columbus/moving-made-easy/feed/ 0 http://www.marondahomes.com/blog/ohio/columbus/insulation-basics-why-insulation-is-so-important-as-the-weather-heats-up/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=insulation-basics-why-insulation-is-so-important-as-the-weather-heats-up http://www.marondahomes.com/blog/ohio/columbus/insulation-basics-why-insulation-is-so-important-as-the-weather-heats-up/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 14:04:31 +0000 browninga http://www.marondahomes.com/blog/?p=7275

Insulation is one of the most important components in your home both when it comes to long-term cost savings and ongoing comfort.

Whether the temperature outside is 20 below zero, or 100 degrees, the right insulation will keep your home comfortable and energy efficient. Heat is constantly on the move. In the summer it wants to flow into your home, and in the winter it wants to flow out. Proper insulation stops heat in its tracks. This in-turn reduces the amount of energy it takes to heat and cool your home.

When looking for homes with proper insulation the R-value is important to consider. R-value stands for resistance to heat flow, the higher the R-value, the more powerful the insulation.

Insulation decisions are dependent on a number of factors including local climate, how your home is built, and how you heat and cool your home. If you already own a home and you aren’t sure about its energy efficiency you can do a home audit to find out where there may be deficiencies in your insulation or other factors that cause a home to consume energy.

There are a number of advantages to purchasing a Maronda Home because we’ve already taken into consideration all the different insulation areas and systems for you and created BEE Smart Energy Efficient homes that score very well on the Home Energy Rating System Index (HERS Index) Not only do we use energy efficient products when building our homes, but we do pay attention to the insulation around ductwork where in older homes this can be sorely lacking and one of the significant areas of energy loss.

Overall energy efficiency and complete indoor comfort starts with proper insulation, and it’s just as important in the summer as it is in the winter to keep your family happy.

Want your home to have an eclectic look?  Hit the local flea market.

Shopping for home décor becomes an ultra-fun sport when you search for flea market deals. Here’s how to play the game.

Timing is everything.

If you’re on the prowl for a particular type of item, arrive early for the best selection. On the other hand, if bargain hunting is the name of your game, head out later in the afternoon, when sellers are more likely to make a deal. And while sunny, warm days make shopping more pleasant, inclement weather means less competition.

Prepare for the day.

Bring a bottle of water and stash some healthy, non-perishable snacks in your bag. Dress in layers, as temps will change throughout the day. Also, two words: comfortable shoes.

Scope it out.

It’s tempting to snap up the first bauble that catches your eye, but hold off until you’ve had a chance to walk the booths and get an overview of who’s selling what. You might find a better version at a lower price.

Negotiate with moxie.

Some tips for effective haggling:

• Underdress for success. Keep it casual and low-key; no expensive-looking clothes, jewelry or accessories. This way, you’ll avoid giving away cues about your style and budget.

• Manners go a long way. Asking whether the seller will accept a lower price is a better tactic than a blunt “I’ll give you ten dollars” when the tag says $30. Aim for two-thirds to three-quarters of the original asking price.

• Buy in multiples. Sellers may be more inclined to give you a good deal—and less likely to focus on their asking price for any one item—when you offer to purchase a group or collection.

• Maintain your poker face. Don’t ooh and ahh over an item, no matter how much you covet it. At the same time, if you’ve got your heart set on something, don’t let another shopper walk off with it, even if it means you don’t score the best possible deal.

• Don’t be a pushover. If a seller doesn’t respect your know-how or tries to press you into paying more than you believe an item is worth, walk away. (And don’t be surprised if they call you to come back.)

Endless possibilities.

Often, the best flea market items offer extra possibilities beyond their original use or condition. If a piece of furniture catches your fancy with a unique shape but is looking a bit dingy, transform it with a fresh coat of paint or updated fabric.

Don’t rely on plastic.

While some flea market vendors are set up to accept credit cards, most require cash—and you’re less likely to obliterate your budget if you’re forking over actual bills.

Maronda Homes Tip: If you’re heading out in search of larger pieces of furniture, artwork or outdoor items, plan your transportation accordingly. Line up an extra pair of hands (or three) for help with heavy lifting, and last but certainly not least check out our new floor plans to see how your latest flea market find fits! Enjoy.

Planning to buy a new home this year? You couldn’t have picked a better time.

Moving into a new neighborhood is a good time to review safety tips with your children. Settling into a new house represents a big change for everyone in the family. It’s an exciting time, but it can also be stressful and cause confusion for children. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:

1. Make sure your children learn the phone number and address for their new home as soon as possible. Help them locate their new school and take time to visit it before they start classes.

2. If your children ride a bus to school, visit the bus stop and learn the bus number. Remind them to always stay with other children and report any unusual or confusing incidents to you.

3. Take your children with you to meet your neighbors. This will be a good chance to meet other children in the neighborhood.

4. List emergency phone numbers by your telephone shortly after moving into your new home. Determine who can be available for your children to contact should they need assistance while you’re away from home.

5. Take a walking tour of the neighborhood with your children and help them learn the surrounding streets and main roads by name and landmark. Caution your children about taking shortcuts. Remind them to always stay on the main roads.

6. Remind your children that they must check with you first before going anywhere with new friends they make in the neighborhood. This includes accepting rides from new neighbors or going into their homes.

7. Go over safety rules with your children about what to do when they’re home alone. Remind them to keep doors and windows locked and never open the door for someone they don’t know. They should also check with you first before opening the door when you are home.

As you search for a new home, consider a community by Maronda Homes. No matter which neighborhood you choose, the homes built by Maronda are beautiful and have energy-saving features that save you money 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact Maronda to learn how you can become a proud homeowner.

]]> http://www.marondahomes.com/blog/company-news/your-new-home-7-child-safety-tips/feed/ 0 http://www.marondahomes.com/blog/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/nest-learning-thermostat-nestling-in-your-home/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nest-learning-thermostat-nestling-in-your-home http://www.marondahomes.com/blog/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/nest-learning-thermostat-nestling-in-your-home/#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:59:42 +0000 williamss http://www.marondahomes.com/blog/?p=7242

You’ve seen it at Home Depot and Best Buy; crowds of people visiting this new and exciting kiosk featuring this futuristic looking device. Maronda Homes, dedicated to building homes that meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency, added it as an included feature to all newly built homes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It’s a new technology which can lower your heating and cooling bills up to 20%. It’s the Nest Learning Thermostat, and every one of Maronda Homes’ designs in PA comes with it installed. Did I mention this is an included feature? It’s an included feature!

If you haven’t heard of this new thermostat, you’ve been missing out. “The Nest” connects to a mobile app on your smartphone, which allows you to control it miles from home. Software updates load automatically as long as Nest is connected to your Wi-Fi. It is a sleek, circular design that makes a schedule for your home that helps you save energy. It has an LCD screen and a rechargeable lithium ion battery. Change the temperature a few days in a row and it learns your schedule within two weeks. You can edit it in seconds right on the Nest, or you can edit remotely using your Nest account.

It’s always nice to know when you are saving energy, right?  Well Nest has a Nest Leaf™ that appears when you’re saving energy. After 30 days, log on to your Nest account and you can view your Energy History. It shows you how much energy you saved and why. It also contains these amazing features:

True Radiant: Gives you a predictable schedule and even heat, removing the frustration of guessing what temperature to set and when.

Filter Tracker: Keeps track of how long your system has been on and lets you know when your filter needs changing. A dirty filter can cost you 5% more on your heating and cooling bills.

Wi-Fi Connection: Keeps an eye on current weather conditions and forecasts so it can understand how the outside temperature affects your energy use.

Early-On: Get the temperature you want when you want it. If you like your home to be 73°F when your alarm goes off in the morning, Early-On will start heating or cooling early so it will be 73°F when your alarm rings.

All these features and more are now a part of your future Maronda home. Who would have known that such a small device could save you so much? To learn more, contact us here!

Are you still asking yourself is it the right time to buy? Well these are the questions you should be asking yourself to help you hop off the fence and buy your new home.

Do you have strong enough credit? Your credit is going to determine how great your interest rate is, or if you can get a loan at all. It’s time to take stock of your credit. Sit down with a loan officer. Have them take a look at your debt to income ratio and pick apart your finances to see what you can and can’t afford.

What are you currently paying for housing? Take a look at how your rent compares to the monthly payments you’d incur on a home of your own. Remember you get a tax break for being a home owner because you can deduct the interest you are paying toward your home loan on your taxes.

How stable are you? If you’ve been in your job for at least 2-3 years and things look good and you aren’t worried about the stability of your company than that speaks volumes about your ability, and readiness to purchase a home.

Are you a do-it-yourself-er? Remember there is a lot of care and maintenance that goes into owning your own home versus renting. If you like to get your hands dirty, do a little gardening and home improvement you will save a lot on paying others to do the work.

How much do you have put away for a down payment? Gone are the days when you could get 100% financing to purchase a home. In rare cases, like those in military service, this option may still be available.

If you’ve asked yourself this series of questions and you come out feeling positive and excited; If you know you have strong credit, a secure job, you feel confident on taking care of business around the house and you have some money in the bank; then it’s an excellent time for you to head out and start your home search. You can begin that search right here with Maronda Homes.

Owners can simplify the process by creating a quick checklist and information sheet that can be used for years into the future.

Create a contact list

There are several types of professionals that homeowners may need hire to complete projects or audits on their homes. It can be helpful to create a list of potential service providers, their contact information and the type of work they specialize in early on, according to AOL Real Estate. Homeowners can begin by asking for recommendations from neighbors, friends and family about the best service providers in the area. In addition, consumers should do their own research on contractors, electricians, plumbers and other professionals in the area.

Having a list of professionals on hand can help homeowners respond to potential problems quickly or plan for basic maintenance tasks.

Create a supply kit

Individuals who moved from an apartment to a new home may forget to purchase basic items, such as flashlights and shovels when they move into a new home. Let me tell you, from experience, being caught in a snow storm with out a shovel as an apartment dweller is NOT FUN! Homeowners can better prepare for home maintenance tasks by creating a list of home items they need and making the purchases. Over the years, homeowners may need ladders, tool kits, lawn and garden items and other instruments to complete basic work around their homes.

Visiting a home improvement store and speaking with a professional or simply walking the aisles can clue homeowners in to the tools they may lack. Of course, neighbors are often willing to lend a tool or ladder when needed as well.

Create a month-to-month checklist

There are several tasks homeowners need to complete on a monthly or seasonal basis. Developing a calendar that outlines each action that needs to be completed can keep homeowners on target and help them avoid forgetting about maintenance actions. The list can include items as simple as conducting an energy audit and cleaning the gutters to weeding the lawn and laying down flower beds. In addition, homeowners should create a timeline for replacing roofing, mechanicals and appliances.

Empty it out.

Yes, all of it. Toss anything that’s expired, stale or been nearly empty since 2001. If it’s still within its prime but you know you’ll never use it (like that AbRoller you once bought at 3:00 a.m.), donate it to a local shelter or school food drive.

Clean ‘er up.

Vacuum up spilled sugar, cereal, couscous, etc. Scrub away those strands of honey and syrup that always seem to trail from the bottle. Then wipe it all down with an eco-friendly cleaner (or just use equal parts white vinegar and water).

Restock your stuff.

After wiping everything down with a clean, damp cloth, it’s time for a reorg. You can group your goods however works best for you:

• Like-with-like: Cluster your canned goods, boxed meal mixes and cereals, spices, bagged dried goods, snack items, paper products and so forth.
• Height order: Create three tiers, with the tallest items at the back, shortest items at the front, and the middle-height items in the—middle!
• Easy access: Place the items you use most often at the front of the eye-level shelves, and relegate the non-essentials to the back (just don’t forget they’re there). If you’ve got kids, place their snacks in a single large basket on a low shelf, so they can access them if they want.

Keep it clear.

Glass or plastic storage containers make it easy to see what’s what when it comes to cereal, snack food, and baking staples like flour and sugar. Bonus: they keep food fresher than the original packaging, and deter creepy crawlies.

Maronda Tip: Once you’re done with the big clean-out, keep it up! Follow the system you created, move soon-to-expire items to the front, and make a note when you’re getting low on supplies. All it takes is a few minutes of daily maintenance.

At Maronda Homes we understand that making the decision to buy a home takes a lot of thought and consideration.  Once you’ve decided to take the plunge, there’s more and more decisions that come.  That’s why we keep our blog up-to-date with tips for the buying process.  Today, we discuss why new construction is the often the best option for buyers.

Why Buy New Construction?

There are many reasons why we believe that buying a new construction home is the best option for today’s buyers.

Number one, when purchasing a new construction home from Maronda Homes you can rely on quality construction that is backed by our New Home Warranty.  Giving you peace of mind that the home you purchase will not require any labor or repairs upon move in and for years to come.  By offering a New Home warranty we are showing our buyers that we are confident in the quality of our homes and that we will proudly back our homes with a warranty that is secured by a third-party insurer.

Another important factor in choosing new construction is the fact that buyers have more options in what they are purchasing.  Buying new construction gives you the opportunity to customize the home to your needs by choosing the floor plan, location, upgrades, color selections and more.  With resale homes if your tastes or needs don’t fit what is offered, you are stuck making changes after you get the keys.

If the 1st two reasons aren’t reason enough, how about energy efficiency?  New construction homes are built with higher standards and codes are much more stringent on energy efficiency.  Because of this, when you buy new, you can save a significant amount of money on your utility bills.

New construction homes also offer modern designs that fit the lifestyles of today’s buyers.  Maronda Homes offer bigger kitchens and more spacious entertainment areas as well as walk in closets and layouts that seem to fit better with today’s families.

That’s not all; perhaps the most exciting part of the construction process is watching your home be built from the ground up.  At Maronda Homes we have a streamlined process so you aren’t waiting forever for your new home to be built!  However, if waiting a few months for your dream home to be built just isn’t a possibility we have homes that are move in ready as well!

Contact Us

Contact us for more information on why you should by a new home from Maronda Homes!

• Lubricate garage door parts with Silicone spray – Keep your garage door operating properly and opening and closing smoothly by lubricating the hinges, rollers and tracks.

• Check and touch up caulking around you home – To prevent moisture from getting into the seams and joints of your home, inspect them twice a year for deteriorating caulk.

• Window caulking – Weather and time will shrink the caulk around your windows. To reduce air infiltration and maintain energy efficiency in your home, routinely check your windows for areas that need to be re-caulked.

• Sweep off fresh air intake and dryer vents – These vents maintain interior air quality throughout your home and vent out dryer exhaust. To keep these systems running properly, use a brush or a broom to clean off any dust or debris.

• Flush out your hot water tank – This should be done every six months to get rid of sediment and mineral deposits, which will help your water heater operate more effectively.

• Have your heat and air system serviced – A professional should service your air-conditioning/heating system in the spring & fall in order to keep it operating at maximum efficiency.

Keep your home in tip top shape by taking care of these often-neglected simple home maintenance items. Doing so will save you money and will extend the life of the mechanical systems inside your home.