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Simple Fixes for Common Problems
Problem: Not Enough Lighting Control Options
Solution: Wireless Switches and Remotes
Installing additional lighting fixtures in a home is usually quite simple, but running wiring to the most convenient location for a switch can mean having an electrician tear apart your walls.
This is where technology comes to the rescue in the form of wireless switches and remotes.
- Is a light for a detached garage or outbuilding not wired to a switch that you can use from inside your home? Replace the current switch with one that has wireless capability, then install another wireless switch inside your home and you'll be able to operate the light from there.
 - Would you like to add a switch in a new location for a standing or hanging light without having to install any new wiring? Just add the appropriate wireless receptor to the light fixture, then install a wireless switch anywhere you like. (They come in styles that look like hard-wired switches, and can include dimmers.)
- Are you tired of getting up every time you need to turn a light on or off? Wireless remotes make it easy to do this without ever being near a wall switch.
Cost: Currently $17 to $150 on Amazon, depending on features.
Note: Not all models work with CFL bulbs, and some companies offer limited frequency options when you order online, so it's worth browsing reviews before choosing one.
Problem: A Constantly Barking Dog
Solution: A Humane Bark Deterrent
Nearly nothing drives a neighbor to the brink of despair faster than having to listen to a constantly barking dog. While it's normal for dogs to bark occasionally, frequent or constant barking is called "nuisance barking," and it not only decreases quality of life, it can also significantly reduce one's property value.
Enter the citronella-spray bark collar, a noise-activated device that sprays citronella (a non-toxic, plant-based solution with a strong lemony scent) past the nose of the barking dog. The smell is powerful enough to act as a deterrent for the dog, but it causes no pain and leaves almost no residual smell in the home.
Cost: The PetSafe brand is currently around $35 on sale at Amazon.
Note: These collars are effective on the majority of dogs for whom barking is a choice, which includes most dogs who bark excitedly with little provocation. However, some dogs experience such severe separation anxiety that they actually enter a state of hysteria, at which point it can reasonably be said that they are no longer in control of what they do. For dogs like this a different solution would be better.
Problem: Losing Track of Household Inventory
Solution: Online Inventory Tracking Tools
Your insurance company would like you to keep an updated record of your household belongings in case they are ever destroyed or stolen, but how many people actually get around to this? It's a "to-do" item that seems to perennially get pushed farther down the list
Keeping a record of household inventory is now easier than ever before, thanks to online services and software. Here are two potential solutions:
Know Your Stuff: Currently free for unlimited storage.
This is a software download from the Insurance Information Institute. You can also upload your information to their online server, and they now offer a smartphone app.
DocuHome: Currently $59 per year for unlimited storage.
This online service does not require a download, and offers the Facebook-like feature of being able to enter data by "tagging" items in photos of your home.
Problem: Meaning to Save, But Getting Distracted
Solution: Innovative Online Savings Services
Saving money for multiple goals, such as a kitchen remodel, living room furniture, and a weekend getaway, just became a bit more fun! Many people already use automated withdrawals to save funds for large purchases, but seeing exactly how each deposit contributes to a specific goal is more rewarding and makes it easier to stay on track. 
Here are two innovative online services that put a helpful twist on saving money: ImpulseSave: Currently free. Did you mean to eat out but instead save $43 by eating at home? Send that money to your kitchen remodel fund via ImpulseSave. Whether you save $4 on detergent or $200 by switching auto insurance companies, this service helps you divert money you could have spent towards things that you really want. (An additional benefit is that you're less likely to simply make a mental note of the savings and then spend that amount five separate times. :) SmartyPig: Currently free. SmartyPig lets you create multiple sub-accounts for various savings goals and allocate automated or manual deposits for each one. You can also optionally share your goal with friends via social media and take donations. SmartyPig currently pays 1 percent interest and offers up to 11 percent in bonuses when you redeem your savings via a gift card. (You also have the option to transfer funds to a debit card or to your regular bank account.) Note: ImpulseSave works with your current accounts, while SmartyPig gives you a separate insured bank account. Both of these services offer smartphone apps. *All of the products and services mentioned above have received good reviews from consumers, but please use your best judgment when evaluating them for yourself. We'd love to hear your opinion on any that you use.
The Government Shutdown and the Housing Market
 When the government shut down on October 1st, the IRS stopped processing requests for tax transcripts and the website that verifies Social Security numbers went down. Banks typically require those two pieces of information before funding a home loan, and the news sent mortgage lenders scrambling.
Here's a summary of what we know so far:
- Some lenders are choosing to waive the pre-closing tax transcript requirement as long as the borrower has signed a request for the transcript.
- Some lenders are choosing to waive the Social Security number verification requirement until after closing.
- Some banks are only waiving one requirement, and some have not waived either one. The only way to know for sure is to inquire with the lender.
In addition, the staffs of many government agencies went on full or partial furlough. USDA loans were hardest hit, with apparently no one working on Rural District loans at all. FHA loans are likely to suffer big backlogs, but VA loans are expected to fare much better.
- U.S. home prices rose 12.4 percent year-to-year in July, according to a recent S&P/Case-Shiller report. They rose 12.4 percent year-to-year in August according to CoreLogic, a data and analytics company. - The national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped back down to the 4.25 percent range. - The Pending Home Sales Index dropped 1.6 percent in August, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). It was 5.8 percent higher than in August 2012. Note: Home price reports based on closed sales typically reflect market conditions of two or three months ago. To find out what's going on right now in our local market, please call me directly.
Are you planning to buy or sell a home, or do you know someone who is? Please call or email us. We're never too busy to help you and the people you care about with real estate. (*What the lawyers make us say: The information in this newsletter is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Please always consult a qualified expert before making decisions based on this content. Nothing in this article is meant to be taken as expert legal, financial, or medical advice.) | 
