Home Owner Tips
Once you are in your home, you will need to set up utilities.
Electric Company: You'll need to call the electric company to get the lights and gas turned on. 1-800-ENTERGY is the number to call Entergy if they supply electric to your house.
Water Company: The water company will set up the water, sewer, and trash pickup for your house, so call them to have that worked out. You may also need to order a trash can and a recycle bin from them.
Also, a vital part of where you live is your environment. If you have any problems such as road damages, overgrown lawns, or burned out street lights then you may be able to request the city to do it for you online.
For example, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, you can do this online by going to www.brgov.com to request a service. The city will take care of it for you and keep you updated on the status of the request until completed.
For more on utilities...
Tips for the Homeowner:
Coins: Ever hear of the Biblical story of the man burying his treasure in the ground? Well, the same practice happens everyday. Having spare coins laying around your house is the exact same practice. The coins aren't even collecting interest. Everybody has spare coins laying around the house. Collect them, package them in free wrappers obtained at your local bank, and then cash them in at your local bank. You'll be surprised at how much money you had "laying around". Then use this extra cash to purchase the items in the next tip.
Lighting: Now that's a bright idea! Energy Saving light bulbs may cost you more to light your home upfront, but the initial investment well pays off. Today they make bulbs that use less energy than cheap bulbs, and they provide more light than the cheap bulbs do. However, they can be dangerous if you handle them without protection if the bulb breaks as they contain mercury so be very careful not to touch the mercury.
Tips for the Home Buyer:
1. While the price of rent can go up, the price of your mortgage will stay the same as long as you get a fixed rate mortgage.
2. As we've seen in the mortgage meltdown, getting an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) can be very risky. We recommend that you avoid them. The rate can change in a moment, and you can do nothing about it.
3. Purchasing a property in a new subdivision can be risky, as the properties haven't had a seasoning. Go to our page, New Homes Can Be Risky, to find out more.
