Once you have closed on your home, there are a couple items you will need sooner than you can say housewarming party. Rather than wait, get these essential items right away. If any are already there, you should replace them.

Batteries

Replace all the smoke detector batteries when you move in and each time the time changes. As long as you are in this section of the store, treat your home to a new flashlight and nightlights.

Vacuum

Do you want the dirt and dust of your last residence to come with you to your new home? Leave mites, bed bugs, and flea eggs at the door. Toss that old vacuum and buy one that is appropriate for the different surfaces it will have to keep clean. The broom and mop should be retired, too.

Garden Hose

Get the highest quality hose of at least 25ft. One for each spigot. A  roll-up hose organizer is a nice touch, but not necessary. A high quality hose will coil and uncoil easily without kinking. Extension cords are usually an aisle over, so grab one of those, too.

Tools

You are going to need tools. Get a set that comes with it’s own case. It should include a hammer, screwdrivers (flat head and Phillips), needle nose pliers, and wire cutters. Pick up a box of picture hangers, tacks and nails.  You may also find it handy to get a cordless drill.

Unless you just bought your household a new pack of scissors, get a set with various sizes. You’ll need someway to open all those moving boxes you packed up.

Wasp Spray and Cockroach Baits

These items should probably be used first. As soon as you have the keys, leave the baits in corners of each room and next to any exterior doors. Inspect the

exterior of the building for any wasps, and take them out before running to the car. You don’t want your moving volunteers to get stung.

If you find no wasps, put the can away. You’ll need it soon enough. Don’t use the spray (which can shoot 20ft ) inside the house.  Instead, use a flyswatter for any spiders you may see.

Do you remember going to the drive-in movies? They were a big thing once…and they are coming back!

What can be more fun than pulling up in your car with your family, turning on the radio to the right station, and preparing to watch two movies…all from the comfort of your own car? What’s even better…you can bring blankets, babies, and adjust the volume to your desires!

Most drive ins also have concession stands, so you don’t even have to go hungry.

If you’re going to the movies in this new old method, there are a few things you might want to take with you:

• Folding Chairs (Just in case you want to sit outside of your car.) Air loungers are good, too!
• A Cooler With Drinks. Some theatres might charge if you bring your own food and drink, but it doesn’t hurt to have them! Coffee is good when it’s a double-show, especially since the second one might not even start until late night
• Supper and You’re keeping awake until late so it’s everything about the carbs. You can’t turn out badly with popcorn, pretzels, and chips. Most theatres will not permit open flames of grills of any kind.
• Extra Cash for Concessions
• Plates, Napkins, Paper Cups
• Cleaning Wipes and Hand Sanitizers
• Portable Radios and Spare Batteries – you might want to watch from outside, after all!
• Sports Stuff to Play With Before it Gets Dark – you want a decent spot, you need to come early. Think of it like tailgating at your favorite football team’s home game.
• Bug Spray
• Snuggie or Blankets. It may be Florida, but at night it might still get cold.
• Rope to secure your trunk
• Check your screen number for each movie! Your first and second film might be on different screens, after all.

Now that you know what to bring, here’s some places where you can go for a great Drive-In experience:

• Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre – Lakeland:The Silver Moon has two screens usually showing first-run movies – with double features seven nights a week.
• Ocala Drive-In, Ocala: Renovated and reopened in 2011, affordable with great movies (and the concession stand has rave reviews)
• Joy-Lan Drive In & Swap Shop – Dade City: Shows first-run movies, and has in-car speakers available on some rows
• Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre – Ruskin:Great movies, good food, 2000 square foot screen and open year round!
• Swap Shop & Drive-In Theatre, Fort Lauderdale:14 screen drive in theatre that doubles as the largest drive-in and flea market in the world.
• Lake Worth Swap Shop and Drive-In, Lake Worth: Down-to-earth flea market with 2,000+ vendors, a drive-in movie theater & a food court.

The classifieds are a great place to find a pet. Many pet owners and breeders use the classifieds to let others know their dog, cat, fish bird, turtle or snake needs a new home.

Look for Adult Pets

You can skip the house breaking puppy phase by buying an adult dog. When adult pets are sold, it is often because the owners are moving and can’t take the pet with them. This usually means the pet will come with its own toys, cage, or tank, even food. Also, ask for their vet’s contact info, so your vet can get your pet’s health information.

As long as you are reading the classifieds, it’s a good time to look for additional pet accessories. Hamster cages, dog kennels, and cat trees can all be found in usable condition. Just be sure to thoroughly clean any used items before giving them to your pet.

Find a Reputable Breeder

When using the classifieds to find a pet, check that the breeder is running a good operation where the animals are in good health and not living in filthy conditions or being bred too often.

You should try to visit the seller personally, if possible, once you have made contact. You may then pick your pet from the available litter. The pets should look well-cared for, comfortable, happy and healthy. The seller should be able to confidently answer any questions you have about the pet and give you advice regarding care and feeding.

In the case of dogs and cats, the one or both parents will be on the premises. Bird eggs can be incubated, but look for a breeding pair to be present. Expect a health certificate to come with your new pet.

Watch Out for Scammers

Beware of any scams where you are asked for shipping address or asked to send money by wire transfer. If anything does not feel right, then end the conversation. Contact our HelpDesk if you find something suspicious.

Ease the Transition for a Happier Pet

Prepare the home of the pet in advance and buy the necessary feed, cage or accessories. Give the pet time to settle down for a few days and do not stress it out with too much attention and too many people crowding round.

Decide carefully about the pet you are going to add to your family based on the time, budget, space you have available and considering your lifestyle and the needs of your family. If you have little time then buy a hamster, fish, bird or similar pet that requires little care. A dog and cat need more interaction and grooming than other small animals. The pet should be safe around children, if you have any, though you should always supervise any play as young children can be unintentionally too rough with the pet.

Always follow the breeder’s instructions regarding feeding and other habits. If you notice that your pet is behaving in an unusual way or is not eating regularly then you should seek veterinary advice.

Looking for a job is the easiest part of the process. Our classifieds offer several pages devoted to listing vacant job positions. Being well-prepared, though, is a little more demanding. There will probably be a lot of competition for the job, and you will need to find ways to be better-prepared than most.

Resume

Having a very good resume will immediately increase your chances of getting the job. Make sure you use good quality paper, a good font style and size, and write a very cordial and interesting cover letter. These documents are your introduction to the employer and will be their first impression of you. Therefore, you have to make sure you seem an organized and methodical person.

Tailor every resume to the job you are applying for, a generic one will not do. Use a standard format and include all the relevant details of your education, training and past employment. Remember, you want to sound like the right person for the job, so show the employer why they should choose you.

Not all resume formats are the same! Here are some of the formats and who should use them:

• Chronological – These are the most commonly used resumes. They list work history preferred by most employers with the most recent positions on the top. These are best when you have a solid work history with no lapses and your experience fits the job you are applying for exactly.
• Functional – These resumes focus on your skills and experience first. Employment history is listed under the details of your skills. This format is effective for those who have lapses in their employment, are in the middle of a career change, are recently graduated college students with limited work experience, or have a very diverse background with no single career path.
• Combination – These resumes combine both skills and experience while still providing a chronological listing of work history. This allows you to more easily tailor the resume to the prospective job. This is great for those who want to detail their work experience.
• Targeted – These are customized in detail to the job being sought. Everything from objective through the qualifications directly mirrors the job requirements. These are the most time-consuming to create but can generate the best results as the resume is made to closely match the job listing. With these resumes, you should avoid embellishing career highlights just to match the job. Make sure you accurately list your skills.

Interview

Be well prepared for the interview mentally and physically. After your resume, this is your final chance to make a good impression. Dress appropriately for the job, make sure you have neat hair and nails, and turn up a little before the appointed time. A clean smell and muted accessories are much better than loud clothes and accessories and an overpowering perfume.

Mentally, be relaxed and well-prepared. Rehearse the interview a few times in your head. Breathe in a relaxed way and remember to smile and seem quietly confident. Do not be loud and opinionated, or talk at length about yourself without letting the interviewer fit in a word. Remember: Confidence is key.

Background Research

Do some research about the company before the interview date. Look at their website or read their internal newsletter/publication. You need to know the main facts about the company such as how long it has existed, who the key people are, if they are present in other countries, policies and other relevant information. They may ask you at the interview how you see yourself as fitting into the company. By showing that you know a little about the company, and giving specific and relevant answers, you will be ahead of the game.

Many employers also expect you to have some questions about the company and the job. Knowing important information about the company will enable you to make intelligent and relevant questions.

Finally, remember that there is an element of luck to every job application, too. And by luck, we mean preparedness. Do not be too downhearted if you did not get the position. Just be more prepared. A company may receive tens or hundreds of applications from suitably qualified people, but they have to make a choice, no matter how difficult that may be.

Great, vintage, collectible or downright old car? How would you know the distinction, and exactly when does a more seasoned vehicle become an amazingly classic vehicle? For the most part it depends upon who you ask: various vehicle clubs, collectors, countries, and insurance agencies have different methods of deciding whether a vehicle qualifies as a classic car. The essential attributes of a classic vehicle are age, condition and uniqueness among different vehicles.

How do you classify these cars?

• Antique – A vehicle more than 45 years old.
• Classic – A vehicle made at least 20 years prior to the current year. This definition is accepted by most state DMV’s.
• CCCA Classic – A “fine” or “distinctive” automobile, either American or foreign built, produced between 1925 and 1948 as defned by the Classic Car Club of America.
• Vintage – A vehicle made between 1919 and 1930.

Is your classic car valuable?

To be valuable and extraordinary, it must also be in great condition and true to the original design. What does great condition mean? The vehicle ought to be roadworthy, the body ought to have no rust, the inside ought to be unblemished without tears in the upholstery, ground surface or header texture, and the motor should run. Finally, the vehicle must match the first factory design as closely as could reasonably be expected.

• Uniqueness: How many were produced? How many are are left?
• Prominence: The more well known the vehicle, the more noteworthy the interest, and the more prominent the interest, the higher the worth.
• Model Quality: When it fell off the creation line, was it viewed as cheap or extravagance?

The design of cars is generally divided into the following eras — horseless carriages or veteran cars, brass or Edwardian cars, vintage cars, classic cars (pre thru post war), muscle cars. The modern car era begins in the 1980s where design was dictated by fuel efficiency and safety. Distinctive features were abandoned and cars even by different manufacturers began to look the same.

The modern “classic” returns to the bold design of yesteryear. Some have marked this as a corporate ploy to dupe buyers with nostalgic redesign. But others see this a as a return to proper design sensibilities, after a 20-year hiatus.

Cult Following

Whether corporate ploy or design revival, the status of a modern classic is really determined on Saturday in garages and car shows all across America.  Drivers are looking for clean lines and distinctive looks. They want cars and trucks that stand out from the rest.

If auto makers fail to provide it, these drivers will weld, grind and paint their way to a new era of “classic.” Only time will tell which new designs will find fanatical followers who will keep it on the road for 40 years, instead of the scrap yard compactor.

Keeping the value of your home or even adding to the value of your home may not require a gigantic effort on your part. Simple things such as a tidy yard and garage, freshly painted exterior, building a carport or installing a modern kitchen are all ways to keep the value where you want it to be. After all, buying your property is a large investment of time and money.

Financially, if you rent out your property and are commanding more rent because of the improvements, this is reflected in the overall value of the place. You may also save money with tax deductions for your expenses related to improving the property. Larger equity from an improved home that will enable you to comfortably borrow more money for other investments.

Some factors which affect the value of your property over time, and may not be obvious are:

• Safety – homes in cul-de-sacs and areas safer for children.
• Location close to desirable schools.
• Limited availability – in a nice neighborhood, limited construction is allowed, causing values to rise over time.

Top property appreciation tips:

• Keep the property’s interior and exterior in good condition
• Do regular yard maintenance
• Take care of plumbing and gutters
• Bathroom and kitchen renovation as necessary
• Replace the roof

How To Choose a Property That Will Increase in Value

• Research the Neighborhood. Are there problem areas? Is there any flooding or structural issues with the house? What future property development might occur?Use expert help and advice. An hour with a pro will save time and money. The best people to help you are a property inspector, a good real estate agent, a handyman, an insurance representative and an attorney.
• Inspect the property. Make sure there are no deteriorating roofs, termite infestations, or outdated electrical systems.
• Avoid overpaying for your property. You may end up crippled by debt or with a property that is worth considerably less than what you paid for it.

Another way of getting hold of a property that will appreciate in the short term is to acquire an undervalued property and quickly sell it for a profit. Some people will buy and sell a property in the same condition it is in, seeing the opportunity in the low price. The enemy here is a bad market that could leave the property on your hands. Other flippers renovate the property and add value before selling. This additional investment does slow down the appreciation.

There are some lower-cost ways to improve the value of your home:

• Plant a tree. Landscaping adds curb value.
• Add a money-saving luxury. A water filtration system is an excellent idea: not only does it purify the water, but it will lower grocery bills
• Improve the air quality in the home. One way is to get rid of carpets and replace them with tile, laminate, or vinyl flooring.
• Popcorn ceilings are dated. It’s actually fairly easy to scrape the popcorn away and replace it with a softer texture.
• Replace closed draperies with vertical blinds or shutters. Sunny rooms look bigger
• Small bathroom updates can help: replace wallpaper with paint or old lighting with a new fixture.
• Energy-efficient fixtures help increase house value. A ceiling fan can not only add lighting but help cut the cost of cooling your home.

The best time to prepare your personal emergency plan and make sure it is up to date is before you need it. This doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some easy ways to be prepared for the next hurricane:

The first step to being prepared for a Hurricane is to know the common terms used in forecasts. A “Watch” means that a hurricane or tropical storm are possible. A “Warning” means that the storm is expected. Hurricane warnings usually are issued 36 hours in advance of tropical storm force winds.

The eye of the storm is a clear, sometimes well-defined center of the storm. While there are calmer conditions in the eye, this doesn’t mean the storm is over. The area surrounding the eye is where some of the most severe weather is with the highest wind speed and largest precipitation.

Rain bands come off the storm and produce severe weather conditions, such as heavy rain, wind, and even tornadoes. A storm surge is the result of ocean water swelling as a result of the storm. This causes quick floods on the coast and even sometimes further inland.

Once you understand the terms, the next step is to prepare your home and an evacuation plan. We’ll cover evacuation plans later.

Preparing your home can be done in three steps:

ONE: Create your hurricane kit (plan for at least 3 days)

• Non-perishable food
• Water
• First-aid kit (including prescription medications)
• Personal hygiene items and sanitation items
• Flashlights with extra batteries
• Battery operated radio with extra batteries
• Waterproof container with cash and important documents
• Manual can opener
• Lighter or Matches
• Books, magazines, games
• Special needs: Pet supplies, baby supplies
• Cooler & ice packs

TWO: Secure your home.

• Cover all of your windows with either hurricane shutters or wood. Tape does not prevent the window from breaking
• Secure straps or clips to fasten your roof to the structure of your home
• Trip all trees and shrubs and clear rain gutters
• Reinforce garage doors
• Bring in outdoor furniture, garbage cans, decorations…in other words, if it’s not tied down, bring it in!

THREE: Prepare for power outages.

• Make sure your gas tank is full far in advance of an approaching storm. Make sure you have enough for cars and generators well in advance: otherwise, the gas station may run out before you get yours
• Have extra cash on hand in case ATMs don’t work
• Charge your cell phone, have backup chargers charged, and limit cell phone use after power is out
• Cover up windows on the inside in order to reduce the need for Air Conditioning
• Fill your bathtub and large containers for washing and flushing only
• Follow this guide for food safety: https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage
• Follow this guide if your power goes out: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/poweroutage/index.html

Finally, remember the cycle of a hurricane: Approach, Arrival, and Aftermath. We advise you follow this guide and listen to the officials for directions. Remember to plan ahead for evacuation, and if you’re advised you need to go: follow the plan!

How to evacuate:

• Plan how you will leave and where you will go.
• Check which shelter spaces are available for the year. Be warned: Covid-19 might have changed your community’s plans!
• If you evacuate to a community shelter, follow the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People over 2 years old should use a cloth facial covering. Be sure you bring face coverings, soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, or even household cleaning supplies. Also, be sure to maintain at least 6 feet between you and those not in your immediate family.
• Identify several places you could go in an emergency, just in case space in shelters are limited.If you have a pet, make sure your evacuation plan includes them. Most public shelters only allow service pets.
• Take your pets.
• Be familiar with alternate routes away from your area.
• Come up with a plan in case your family gets separated.
• Prepare a bag with supplies: snacks, cleaning supplies, games, etc.
• If you have a car, make sure there’s a full tank of gas if evacuation seems likely. Otherwise, keep a half a tank minimum. Make sure you have a portable emergency kit in the car. If you don’t have a car, plan how you will evacuate if needed.
• Unplug electrical equipment such as radios, televisions, and small appliances. Leave freezers and refrigerators plugged in unless there’s a risk of flooding.
• Leave a note telling others where you are going and when you left.
• Wear sturdy shoes and clothing that provide protection.
• Check with neighbors: they might need a ride!
• Watch for road hazards and don’t drive into flooded areas.
• When you return, please remember: only use generators outside and away from your home!