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Every parent dreads the toy monster. Between birthdays, holidays and being spoiled by grandma, theres no doubt that kids can accumulate a lot of toys. And every parent knows that too many toys can lead to clutter. These tips can help parents and children alike manage toys without a tearful struggle.

Limit Incoming Toys When Possible
Toys make great gifts for kids, but theyre not the only option. If you have relatives and family friends who are open to changing their gift-giving habits, it can be helpful to ask for books, clothing items or activity-based gifts instead of a toy. After all, its far easier to keep tears at bay if you dont have to continually declutter your childrens toy collection.

Get Kids Involved in Decluttering
If your children are old enough, get them involved in the decluttering process. Giving your children autonomy when decluttering will allow them to feel accomplished once finished, giving them the incentive to do it again. Getting kids involved gives them the ability to choose what happens rather than seeing decluttering as a process that happens to them.

Declutter In Reverse
Asking your child what they dont like and want to donate can make them feel overwhelmed. After all, your child probably likes everything. However, they surely have a few favorites. Give children a container to fill with their favorite items; anything that doesnt fit is donated. This creates a definitive structure to the decluttering process, favorite items are put away first, then well-liked items, then a few semi-enjoyed items as room allows.

Rotate, Dont Just Donate
You dont always have to rely on donating toys to mitigate toy messes. At times like birthdays or holidays, an influx of new toys may cause clutter simply because too many are present and available at once. Set aside half of your childs toys and rotate them out every few months. They will feel like new and your child will enjoy the added space, and easier clean up, with partial access to all the toys they own.

Every child needs space to play, and too many toys can hinder their fun. With these simple tips, you can watch your children enjoy their toys like never before.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

High utility bills are a problem for many homeowners. If you are paying more than you would like for heating and air conditioning, you may be able to save money simply by installing new curtains.

Thermal Curtains Could Lower Your Heating Bills
If your house has drafts, cold air can get in and heat can escape in the winter, which means you may pay more than you should to keep your home warm. Installing thick thermal curtains or drapes could significantly reduce heat loss and cut your winter heating bills. Thermal curtains insulate a room to prevent air from entering or escaping. If you get thermal curtains, open them from time to time so condensation doesnt get trapped between the curtains and the windows, which can lead to mold and rot.

Blackout Curtains Could Help You Save on Air Conditioning
Blackout curtains prevent sunlight from streaming in through the windows and heating up the house in the summer. If you have blackout curtains, your air conditioner wont have to work as hard to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Choose blackout curtains with a light-colored backing to reflect sunlight.

Open and Close Curtains at the Right Times to Save Money
You can open and close the curtains at different times of the day to control the amount of sunlight and heat allowed into your home. In the winter, open the curtains while the sun is shining to heat the house naturally and reduce your reliance on the furnace. When the sun isnt out and you are running the furnace, close the curtains to keep warm air inside the house.

During the summer, close the curtains before the sun begins to shine directly on that side of the house. Keep the curtains closed until the sun has passed the area where the window is located.

How to Install New Curtains
Before you hang new curtains, check the windows for drafts. Replace caulking, if necessary, to prevent air leakage.

Hang the curtains as close to the ceiling and floor as possible and press them against the wall to create an airtight seal. Two curtains can be more effective than a single curtain at keeping your house at a stable temperature and reducing energy consumption.

Be Careful Not to Use More Energy in Other Areas
If you keep the curtains closed during the day, your house may not get enough natural light for your family to perform daily activities comfortably and you may need to use more artificial lighting. To avoid running up your electricity bills, use energy-efficient light bulbs.

Look for Simple Ways to Cut Your Bills
Homeowners are often frustrated by high utility costs and think that lowering their bills would require major home improvements, but that isnt necessarily true. Sometimes, simple solutions can yield big savings. Think about why your utility bills are so high and consider installing new curtains to save money.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Planning to buy your first house?

Be prepared and avoid excess stress with these tips

Get Help Hire a real estate pro to help you find the right property and close a deal.

Be Open to Concessions You might not be able to afford to check off every item on your wish list.

Define Your Finances Get a loan pre-approval, budget for closing costs and dont spend beyond your means.

Take Your Time Weigh the pros and cons of each house you view, and fight the urge to rush your decision.

Buying your first home can be a challenge. But it should be exciting, not overwhelming.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Does your home look like a storage locker or a pack rat’s dream? If so, it’s time to purge, declutter, and refresh. As your local real estate professional, I want to share with you this insightful infographic on how to efficiently and easily declutter your home. All without feeling overwhelmed, of course.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Anything that lets you save money on a mortgage is probably a good idea, as long as there are no strings or hidden fees attached.

Thats why ever since energy efficient mortgages (EEM) were introduced in 1992, thousands of homeowners have saved money on utility bills simply by financing the cost of adding energy efficiency features to their homes.

An energy efficient mortgage is easy to use, federally recognized and can be applied to most home mortgages”plus it is available whether you are buying, selling, refinancing or remodeling your home. Homeowners with lower utility bills will have more money in their pockets each month and can even afford to allocate a larger portion of their income to housing expenses.

Additionally, the money can be used to finance energy improvements to make an older home more efficient, comfortable and affordable, which increases the potential resale of the home.

A laundry list of upgrades includes replacing windows or doors, installing solar technologies or replacing older heating systems, cooling systems and lighting with a more environmentally friendly solution.

For people buying a home who want to take advantage of the program, the FHA requires that you make at least a 3.5 percent cash investment on the property based on the sale price, and all work must begin within 90 days of closing. The total amount of your mortgage is based on the value of your home plus the projected cost of energy-efficient improvements.

Another EEM option is for the lender to allow higher qualifying ratios for borrowers who will occupy a property meeting certain standards for energy efficiency. When the home has been built or retrofitted in conformance with the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) standards for 2000 or later, then the lender may stretch the borrowers qualifying ratios.

Benefits derived from the EEM will vary from one house to another and your lender will be your best source of information on what EEM benefits you may obtain.

Published with permission from RISMedia.