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Ed Hughes, Natick Real Estate

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Bedroom Design Ideas for Better Sleep and Comfort

09-30-10
Ed Hughes, Natick Real Estate

RISMEDIA, September 30, 2010--Creating a relaxing and comfortable bedroom environment is an important part of getting better sleep. Bay Area interior designer Lisa Staprans offers these interior design ideas for bedroom designs that enhance sleep and rejuvenation.

* Keep the bedroom uncluttered. What is in the room should bring you joy and a sense of peace and calm.

* Select artwork that is personal and inspiring.

* Choose bedroom colors that make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated. Add splashes of color with a beautiful coverlet or pillows made from an amazing textile. Stay away from fussy fabrics.

* Have a variety of lighting options, including ambient and reading lights.

* An upholstered headboard adds comfort and softens the room.

* For stability and harmony, anchor the bed against a wall

* Invest in high quality and beautiful linens: pillows, comforters and mattress pads. They feel great and last longer.

* Have a mix of pillow sizes. Among Staprans' personal favorites is a small Camille travel pillow from McRoskey Mattress Company. She says it's a perfect neck pillow for reading in bed.

* Build your bedroom around a high-quality, comfortable mattress set

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Frugal DIY Projects to Make Life Simpler

09-29-10
Ed Hughes, Natick Real Estate

RISMEDIA, September 29, 2010--Most consumers lead very busy lives. They are used to a world where convenience is a way of life. As saving money becomes more fashionable and necessary, so do ways to make it happen. To help with this, Kim Danger, nationally known savings expert and author of "Instant Bargains," has collaborated with Uniroyal Tire in the creation of a new e-book, "Do-it-Yourself Tips for a Simpler Life," to show consumers time- and money-saving projects everyone can do.

This e-book features the best tips on home improvement, going green in the kitchen, gardening and homemade gifts. Download the free e-book at www.UniroyalTires.com.

Every mom wants a clean kitchen, but many never stop to consider how pricey the products they're using can be. With this in mind, Danger offers up DIY kitchen-cleaning tips that are not only green, but cost effective:

* Cutting boards are a frequently used kitchen item. To clean them naturally, wipe with vinegar and microwave on high for one minute.
* To combat grimy sponges, soak with white vinegar and microwave on high for one minute.
* Remove stuck-on food from pots and pans by making a paste with water and meat tenderizer to coat the area. Allow the paste to sit for a few minutes, then scrub off and rinse.

Gardens don't have to be a luxury reserved for those with green thumbs and ample space. Follow these tips for creating and maintaining a garden that suites your location and needs:

* For windowsill gardens, the most basic thing to start with is herbs. Choose easy plants that you'll use frequently while cooking, such as basil, oregano and parsley.
* If you have a patio or deck, try container gardening. The portability of the containers allows you to adjust plants to receive their optimal amount of sun exposure.
* Grow plants that are the most expensive to purchase in grocery stores.

Who says gifts have to cost a lot of money? Homemade gifts are a thoughtful way to show you care, without breaking the bank. Here are a few ideas:

* Use copies of your favorite handwritten recipe cards to create a personalized cookbook.
* Make a "25 Things I Love About You" book for someone special.
* For kids who love to dress up, fill a large tote with items such as hats, wigs, shoes and accessories that you've purchased from thrift stores and clearance racks.

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The Right Decisions Can Save Money During a Move

09-25-10
Ed Hughes, Natick Real Estate

By Gregory Karp

RISMEDIA, September 25, 2010--(MCT)--Moving a residence is often fraught with high emotions and involves a to-do list a mile long. So, it's tempting to give only passing attention to hiring a mover and the related incidental costs.

That could be a mistake - for your wallet and your peace of mind.

Moving can be quite expensive. A typical full-service interstate move costs about $4,300, while the same in-state move might cost about $2,500, according to the American Moving & Storage Association.

And while the moving industry has many fine companies, it is notorious for fraud and dirty tactics by so-called rogue movers.

Here are tips on making your move with lower costs and less hassle.

CHOOSE A TYPE OF MOVE: You have three basic choices: do-it-yourself, full service and a relatively new hybrid of the two. Going it alone is cheapest, costing the rental price of a truck, gasoline, packing materials and, perhaps, pizza and beer for friends you rope into helping.

With full-service moves, moving within a state is charged by the hour, while moving across state lines is charged by weight and mileage.

With a hybrid move, a mover will drop off a large container at your home for you to pack. It will then load the container onto a truck, drive the belongings to your new location and drop off the container for you to unload. Because you're doing the manual labor of packing and unpacking, it's far less costly than a full-service move.

HIRE A QUALITY MOVER: If you hire help, get at least three price quotes and do homework. Seek recommendations by talking with family and friends, even your Facebook circle. Investigate a company's reputation with the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org), Yelp.com and possibly the paid-membership site Angie's List (angieslist.com). Check a company's complaint history at the federal government site, ProtectYourMove.gov.

"People think a good reputation equals expensive, but that's not true," said Laura McHolm, co-founder of NorthStar Moving in Los Angeles. "You don't get a good reputation by overcharging people."

For interstate moves, a company's ProMover certification with the movers association is a good sign. The organization in January 2009 started screening movers based on seven criteria. It kicked out some 220 of 3,100 members over the past two years because they didn't measure up, said spokesman John Bisney. See "Find a ProMover" at Moving.org.

"The old rubric 'You get what you pay for' is true more often than not," Bisney said.

Look for two things: A full-service mover should visit your home in person, not give a quote over the phone or online, and should provide a written estimate, experts say.

DECLUTTER: No matter what type of move you're making, taking less stuff is cheaper and less hassle. Set up a staging area, perhaps in a garage, with various piles, such as throw out, recycle, donate and sell.

"If you really love those go-go boots from the 1960s but will never wear them again, take a picture of them and get rid of them," McHolm said. For many items, use the rule of thumb, "If you haven't used it in a year, you probably don't need it."

BE FLEXIBLE: Like airline fares, moving rates depend on when you book. The busiest time for movers, and thus the most expensive time for consumers, is summer weekends near the 15th and 30th of the month.

If you have time flexibility, ask what rates would be for different days or seasons. If you have extreme flexibility, ask about moving standby: waiting until the mover has extra space and needs to fill a truck.

SAVE ON BOXES: Buying new boxes from a moving company is the most expensive choice. Ask if you can buy used boxes from your moving company. NorthStar, for example, gives customers 25 percent off used boxes and then refunds 25 percent if they return boxes in usable condition.

Cheaper yet is finding free boxes, ideally from somebody who just moved. Ask your real estate agent to connect you with other clients who recently moved. Or look on Craigslist.org. Specialty boxes, such as wardrobe boxes, might be cheaper to purchase at a do-it-yourself moving store, such as U-Haul, than from your mover.

SAVE ON PACKING MATERIALS: If you're packing yourself, fill suitcases, laundry baskets and plastic containers with unbreakable items. Use pillows, scarves and towels to wrap fragile belongings. And you might as well empty your paper shredder into a box to add cushion.

MAIL BOOKS: If you have many books, pack them yourself and ship them at the postal media mail rate. It might be cheaper than paying a mover. A 70-pound box would cost less than $30. You can't send anything with advertisements, so magazines are out. Search USPS.com for "media mail."

CONSIDER CONSOLIDATION: For long-distance moves, ask about consolidating your stuff on a truck with other people's. Most homeowners can't fill a full-size moving van. You might have to be flexible on delivery dates and times, but consolidation can be cheaper. "Most times it's a huge price difference," McHolm said.

INSURE IT: Check your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy to determine whether it provides coverage for your belongings while in transit. If not, you'll probably want more than the basic free valuation coverage a full-service mover provides. The standard valuation is 60 cents per pound per item. That means breaking a 10-pound, $1,000 stereo system would net you $6. You'll want full replacement-value insurance, which reimburses you what it will cost to replace broken items. But don't necessarily buy that insurance from the moving company. Moving insurance is likely cheaper from a third party, such as MovingInsurance.com, McHolm said.

Be aware that you probably cannot get insurance on boxes you packed yourself. A mover must pack them.

BE PREPARED: Plot out where furniture and boxes will go. The less time movers spend rearranging, the less expensive it will be.

In urban areas, reserve a space or two in front of your new home for the moving truck by parking your own vehicle there ahead of time. If the movers have to park too far away to unload, you could incur a "long carry" surcharge, McHolm said.

STAKE YOUR CLAIM: If you're moving for a job, negotiate the best relocation package you can. Unreimbursed expenses might be tax-deductible. For details, see Publication 521 Moving Expenses at IRS.gov.

TIP: Tipping each mover $3 to $5 per hour is customary, said Stephen Coady, marketing manager for Gentle Giant Moving Co. in Somerville, Mass.

For in-depth information on choosing a mover, see the free, downloadable "Make a Smart Move" available at Moving.org.

MOVING RIPOFFS:

-Furniture nabbing. A mover essentially holds your belongings hostage, demanding a higher payment to release them.
-Lowballers. Beware of lowball price quote. They could end up costing you as the mover adds various surcharges.
-Instant quotes. Be wary of phone or Internet estimates. Get written, in-home estimates.
-Large down payment. Be suspicious of carriers seeking large deposits. They might take the money and run. Legitimate movers require no deposit or a small "good faith" down payment.

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Dessert and Dancing - Natick 10/1

09-24-10
Ed Hughes, Natick Real Estate
Dessert & Dancing



Date: 10/1/2010
Address: 1360 Worcester Rd./Route 9 East
Location: Natick, MA
Hours: 8:30 - 11 pm
Cost/Cover: $50 per person
Discounts:
Web Page: http://www.kids-connect.org
Contact Info: for more details contact Deb at 508-652-4211 or email her at debras@kids-connect.org

Details: The 18 piece Beantown Swing Orchestra plays wonderful swing and big band sounds. Arthur Murray Dance Studios will demonstrate several dances and provide free dance lessons. There will be a delicious dessert buffet and a silent auction with a variety of quality items.
Event is on: One day only
Audience: All Welcome
Category: Music, Dance & Comedy
Sponsored By: Kids Connect, Inc.
Submitted by: Deb Sayre
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As Fall Begins, So Should Mulching

09-24-10
Ed Hughes, Natick Real Estate

By Kathy Van Mullekom

RISMEDIA, September 24, 2010--(MCT)--Mulch in the garden provides you with benefits you may not always see.

In addition to deterring weeds, conserving moisture and making your garden look pretty, mulch decomposes to improve your soil and provides a habitat for beneficial micro-organisms and earthworms.

Mulch also helps prevent soil compaction, soil erosion and pollution runoff.

You can mulch any time of the year. If you mulch in spring, fall can be a time to replenish mulch to help stabilize roots during freezing and thawing times in winter.

Mulches can be organic or inorganic.

Organic types include tree bark, wood chips, recycled wood and paper, grass clippings, pine needles, straw, leaf litter, newsprint and animal manure. Check with composting facilities in your area to see if yard debris and leaves are recycled into mulch you can purchase for your yard.

Designer mulches created from pallet or hardwood material and dyed brown, red, black, chestnut, walnut and golden are available in bulk and bagged from commercial mulching sites and garden centers if you want staying power in your color choice.

If you use grass clippings, spread them immediately to avoid heating and rotting.

If you use newsprint, apply four to six sheets together, anchored with grass clippings or wood mulch to prevent blowing away.

If you use fallen leaves, use a mulching mower to turn them into a finer material that decomposes quicker; cover them with a light layer of heavier wood mulch to keep the leaves in place. A light layer of mulched leaves is also beneficial for your lawn, and will not smother the grass.

Inorganic kinds include crushed stone, gravel, plastic sheeting, landscape fabric and recycled tire chips. Beware of some of these because they can harbor too much heat and moisture around plants, and can be difficult to keep clean.

MORE MULCHING MATTERS

Apply mulch 2 to 4 inches deep; deeper mulch benefits sandy soils that dry out quickly while moist soils need a lighter layer.

Remove old mulch before applying new to avoid a "sinking feeling" for your plants. Too much mulch suffocates plant roots. Work old, aged mulch into new gardens to improve soil.

Keep mulch 3 to 6 inches away from building foundations and away from the base of tree and shrub trunks. Rodents nesting in mulch may chew on bark; mulch too close to your home's foundation could cause the soil to stay too moist.

Acidic mulch like pine bark and pine needles is ideal around acid-loving plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and gardenias.

Hardwood mulches are also beneficial in vegetable gardens. Use them to camouflage soaker hoses that you leave laying on the ground for convenience.

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