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New Home Checklist

New Home Checklist for new home buyers

You’ve closed the sale, arranged transport with a moving company and are now ready to move into your new home. But before you settle in for your first night there are a few things you need to deal with. To make sure your new home will be safe and comfortable follow this checklist and you’ll have a much smoother beginning.

Change the locks

Being handed the keys to your home is the moment we all look forward to but they won’t be the same keys for long. One of the first things you should do is change all the locks or have them rekeyed. It’s impossible to know how many copies the previous owners might have given out to babysitters, friends or relatives. Ensure that your home is safe by having the locks changed so there’ll be no unexpected visitors.

Copy housing documents

Once you closed the sale you should make at least three copies of your housing documents. Store the originals in a fire-proof safe in your home, another with your financial institution and a third can be left with home insurance providers while they set up your coverage.

Personalize the mailbox and entrance way

Make your home your own by branding it. The previous owners may have had their name or just the housing number on the front door; personalize it with your own. The same can go for your mailbox which allows you to mark your territory better.

Schedule a deep-clean

If your home has a carpet, swimming pool or gym you should get a deep-clean before moving in. Contact professional service providers to perform a deep clean of your home, you should also consider hiring HVAC contractors to inspect your heating and air-conditioning systems.

Update your address

You’ll need to inform a lot of people about your change of address. This can include your boss, financial institution, insurance provider, loan company and any other businesses you frequently make payments to.

Visit the local schools

If you have children you’ll need to inform the local schools that you’ll be moving to the area. This will give them time to prepare any paperwork to allow for the transition.

Check or install smoke and CO2 detectors

If your new home doesn’t already have a smoke alarm and CO2 detector you should have them installed immediately. As many as 150 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning are reported every year so make sure you have one installed that is working properly. Smoke detectors may seem obvious but you’d be surprised how many deaths a year result from faulty detectors or failure to check batteries.

Fire extinguishers

Again, this might seem obvious but it’s something many people overlook. There are many things you need to buy for a new home and fire extinguishers should be near the top of the list. Have one for every level of the home and make sure every member of the family knows where they are.

Be social

Lastly, don’t forget to be friendly and greet your new neighbors. A good impression from the start will make it far easier to settle into a new location. Call on your neighbors and ask about any social gatherings you can take part in. if they have any children ask about play dates or activities in the area.

Moving into a new home is an exciting time and by planning right you can make the transition smooth and effortless.

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7 Things to do in Savannah During October

7 things to do in Savannah during October

October is the perfect time to visit Georgia’s most beautiful city. It’s a good deal cooler than in the summer and Savannah has a host of different festivals on for all age groups. Expect busy crowds with multiple events on each weekend that are guaranteed to get your taste buds moving and your cultural knowledge up to date. The month ends with Halloween which is another reason to visit Savannah, reputedly one of the most haunted cities in the country. Make your reservations ahead of time because this month plans to be a busy one.

Savannah Greek Festival

Location: St. Paul’s Hellenic center
Date: October 12th – 14th

This year’s annual Greek festival is planning to be bigger than last year’s one. With 67 years of tradition expect lots of Gyros, Moussaka and traditional clothes and dancing. The three-day festival presented by Savannah’s Greek community will feature plenty of Greek foods, desserts, traditional dancing, and music. Church tours will be run and a there’ll be plenty to shop for among the stalls

October Festival

Location:  Morrell Park & Rousakis Plaza
Date: October 6th – 8th

Get your German hat and grab your beer mug for another riotous three days of the annual October festival. The tapping of the keg opening ceremony begins at 4 pm which is then followed by endless supplies of German craft beer, bratwurst, and live music. There’ll also be a comedy hour on each day and a kid’s zone for families to let their little ones enjoy.

Savanah Pride Festival

Location: Ellis Square
Date: October 26th – 28th

With pub crawls, museum tours and award-winning singers, this year’s Pride festival promises to be a big one. Bars and pubs all around Ellis Square will be doing promotional drinks and there’s a museum tour for every interest. After being inspired by the art exhibits be sure to sign up for one of the workshops and seminars. When the downtown takeover begins, Grammy award-winning singer Estelle will be leading the entertainment.

Savannah Film Festival

Location: Multiple venues
Date: October 28th – November 4th

The quarterly SCAD FILM festival spotlights some of the hottest entertainment this year with a host of honorary guests such as Salma Hayek Pinault, Zoey Deutch, Richard Gere and Sir Patrick Stewart, to name just a few. Blockbuster premiers, fascinating documentaries, and stunning visuals will be found in abundance.

Savannah Speed Classic

Location: The Westin, Savannah Harbor
Date: October 27th – 29th

Get your dose of adrenaline at the Savanah Speed Classic hosted on Savannas own Hutchinson island. With its cobblestoned streets and historic past, the island comes alive for three days at the birthplace of Grand Pix racing. For engine and speed lovers this is a great day out family, couples, and friends.

Savannah Jewish Festival

Location: Monterey Square
Date: October 29th

This year’s Shalom Y’All Jewish Food Festival will be held on the last Sunday of October from 11 am to 3 pm. Come for the food stay for the culture. This annual event draws about 10,000 people and features delectable Jewish cuisine dishes and entertainment for all ages.

Haunted Ghost Tour

Location: Multiple Venues
Date: October 8th – 13th

Both kids and adults are in for a scare this month. The Savannah Ghosts and Folklore tour brings you on a guided tour of Savannah’s most famous ghostly sites and legends. This southern Gothic town has heaps of history hidden in its walls and more than a few tragic events that have birthed legends.

The Ghost Trolley Tour takes you around Savannah’s historic district and trills you with stories of hanged slaves, suicidal wives, and murdered husbands. Get into the spirit of Halloween with one of these terrifying tours.

Adults will love the fun, fear, and romp of the savannah Haunted Pub Crawl. Get your costumes on and join the guide (also in period costume) for a humorous and intriguing 2-hour candlelit walking tour. You’ll get to sample both types of ‘spirits’ in Savannah’s hallowed pubs. Almost every pub has its own ghost story and what better way to see Savannah then with two of its most time-honored traditions, ghost stories, and alcohol.

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Fall Cleaning Tips

Fall Cleaning Tips for Savannah Homes

Fall is here with pumpkins in the fields and bright colors everywhere. It’s also time for the annual Fall clean. With winter on the way, it’s time to start preparing now while you can. If you’ve got any exterior wood or composite structures you need to ensure they’re well protected for the colder months ahead. This time is also good for other deep cleaning chores that will get your home fresh and comfortable for the coming months. 

Our Fall cleaning list and tips will help you make the most out of it and prepare for the coming winter.

Perform a pantry audit

Start by going through all your cupboards and shelves in search of stale food that can be thrown out. This is a chance as well to clean the areas where you store food. Begin by taking out all your cans and boxes and cleaning away any dust that has accumulated. When you’re putting everything back check each item and throw out the ones you don’t need or have passed their expiry date.

Test and Clean Your Smoke Detectors

The safety of your home and family depends on these devices so ensure that they’re worked properly. The batteries should be replaced with fresh ones at least once a year, a good to remember when this should be done is by doing it on Daylight Savings Time. The devices themselves though also need to be cleaned as dust can build up and cause them to underperform. Use your vacuum cleansers soft brush attachment to clean in and around the detectors openings.

Flip Your Mattress

It’s good to also make this an annual chore every Daylight Savings Time. Flip your mattress around to prevent body impressions from causing it to slump. Sprinkle the mattress with baking soda to neutralize odors and then vacuum it up.

Shampoo Your Carpet

This should be done at a minimum once a year. Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner so you’ll want your carpet in top shape for those events. It’s well worth hiring contractors for a professional clean, they’ve got the equipment and expertise to achieve results not possible with store bought chemicals. However, if this is not in your budget you can still get a good job done by renting a carpet cleaning and following some DIY tricks.

Clean and Varnish All Exterior Wood Structures

If you’ve got a wooden patio, deck or seating you need to ensure they’re protected for the colder months ahead. Start with a thorough cleaning of the wood surfaces to remove any dirt. Try to keep any wet leaves off your deck as they can cause discoloration and water damage. What sort of varnish you apply depends on what type of wood you have so make sure you know which one does what. At a minimum, you should apply two coats for best protection.

Seal Your Concrete

If you have any concrete footpaths, patios or driveways you need to protect them from freezing. Without protection moisture, any moisture in any crevices can freeze and cause cracking. Get a good concrete sealant and apply it correctly. This not only protects against cracking but also prevents it from aging more rapidly.