Over the last few years, I've noticed a new issue with buyers -- do they get a landline or stick with cell-phone-only service in their new home?

Me? I'm old-fashioned enough to want a phone that works when the power is out. If the power is out for days, I may not be able to charge my cell phone. Besides, I just like the comfort of knowing that at least one phone in the house is reliable. My cell phone is pretty reliable, but not always. The sound never drops out on my hard-wired landline.

I have no idea how many of my clients have opted for cell-phone-only homes, but an article in Monday's Realty Times had a survey by the CDC about the characteristics of each kind of household.

Which category do you belong in?

(C) Susan Pruden.

NBC4, Mercantile Potomac Bank and Shred-It are teaming up for a series of Safe & Secure Community Shred events. The next event is September 30 and the closest location is Rockville, but it's worth it to get rid of cancelled checks, old medical papers, tax returns, etc. safely. Take up to 5 boxes of papers and they will be shredded for FREE! Clicking on the link will let you know what else you can shred -- computer disks and credit cards are accepted as well.

I know that when my mother passed away, I was faced with boxes and boxes of papers that no longer mattered to anyone -- my grandparent's tax returns from the 1960s, cancelled checks from my grandmother (who'd passed away 10 years earlier). I know Mom wasn't saving this stuff for posterity, she just didn't know what to do with them. 

I know many former clients of mine who sit and shred papers in front of the television at night, trying to tame the paper tiger that has taken over our lives -- trying to get rid of the stuff instead of packing it and moving it.

Take advantage of NBC4's event -- up to 5 boxes of papers, shedded for free. It's such a relief to get rid of this stuff -- safely and securely.

(C) 2006 Susan Pruden.

One of the terms of the contract that sellers have a lot of trouble with involves leaving the property “free of trash and debris”.

The problem seems to lie in defining the words “trash and debris”.

I mean, that stinky old couch on the back porch isn’t really trash, is it? It looks perfectly okay – the dog liked sleeping on it for the past ten years. We left it out on the porch because it got left out in the humidity for so long, so we’d never move it indoors. (Frankly, I wouldn’t even want to sit on it!) But it’s okay for a porch couch. Right? I mean, we don’t want it anymore, but the buyer might, right?

Wrong. If the buyer wanted it, he’d have asked for it.

The point of this story is – don’t leave stuff YOU wouldn’t keep for the buyers to get rid of.  If it’s something you think the buyers might want – ASK! They’ll either say yes or no, but don’t make it their responsibility to get rid of your trash.

On the other hand, if the house was painted recently, it’s perfectly acceptable to leave the leftover paint – IN GOOD CONDITION – in the house for the buyer to do touch-ups. Especially if you label the cans so that the buyer knows which paint was used where.

You can leave a few left-over cleaning supplies, but not if they have only one good spray left in the container. A mostly full bottle of glass cleaner that you just don’t want to move would probably be welcome, but not all your dirty sponges and old rags.

You get the picture. I mean, let’s admit it. When you’re moving into a new house, you bring enough trash of your own, without having to deal with the previous owner’s trash.

Right?

(C) 2006 Susan Pruden.

I’ve been in some houses recently that have absolutely fabulous works of art. Or just cool belongings. A few of these houses belong to friends of mine and some are houses that I’ve shown to potential buyers. It got me to pondering the importance of knowing what you own.

So I went on a search for home inventory software and found a website from the Insurance Information Institute called KnowYourStuff.org. They have an amazing and free (did I say FREE?) software product that allows you to organize your belongings by room or by category. You can load photos and receipts to establish value. If you’ve ever had appraisals of jewelry or artwork, you can scan those in and attach them to the inventory.

The website also has lots of tips on how to inventory your belongings, where to store the inventory and even a list of items to include.

I didn’t think I really owned anything of any substantial value, but when you start adding up toys, clothing, CDs, computer software and many other smaller items, you realize that there is considerable value in everyday mundane things. Like dishes. Lamps. Winter coats. Appliances. You don’t just inventory the big ticket items, you inventory your whole life. Because that’s the kind of inventory you’ll need if the unthinkable happens.

This software is incredibly easy to use and even fun to start setting up. I sat down with my laptop and just started in one corner of the living room. I entered everything I saw – okay, not my husband – everything from the waste basket to the fireplace screen. Later I’ll start entering values for stuff because I have no idea what some of it is worth.

There’s even a “room” called Donation Room. I created a new room called “Yard Sale”.

Maybe I’ll have one someday. This  is a good start.

(c) 2006 Susan Pruden