By: Guest Blogger Matt Harbut, FROGBOX of Madison

1. Manage your time properly

Start organizing and packing at least one month before the moving day. Start with things that you don’t use daily. Your ski suit, snow boots, winter clothes, most of the books, CD’s and computer games and other things you can do without for a few weeks. Start slowly and dedicate an hour or two every day for packing. The most important step is to go through your stuff and sort it.

2. Be sure to have recycling bins and donation bags and garbage bags

Before you start packing, you need to get rid of things that you don’t need. A good example are clothes that you haven’t worn for the last two years and that are taking up space you could use for new clothing.  This applies to books, toys and home decorations.

3. Throw out the fridge

or at least a lot of it – Food and vitamins are not like good wine. They don’t get better with age!  Go through your pantry, medicine cabinet and vitamins; throw away anything that has expired.  Be sure to check-out the Wisconsin DNR for pharmaceutical disposal guidelines.

4. The “Maybe Box”

Sometimes it’s hard to let go. If you feel conflicted, put it in a “MAYBE box” that you have prepared especially for tough decisions. After a few days, go check in with your “maybe box”. Your clarity will increase and you may see things differently.

5. Use existing containers, suitcases, etc for packing

Take a look at your home. You probably have some plastic containers, suitcases and camping bags that can be used for packing. Sometimes these bags are stored in the attic and they are full of dust; clean them and use them for your move.

6. For the rest of your things rent reusable plastic moving boxes from FROGBOX.  

They are easy to work with. Your belongings won’t get wet while loading/unloading in the rain. They are not only eco-friendly (since they reduce cardboard waste) they are family friendly too- if you by accident have packed your child’s most important stuffed toy… all you have to do is open the lid, take it out and close it back up. (You’d be surprised how often this happens.)

7. Soft Items

Do not pack all your towels in one big box. Use the towels to pad the bottom of each box when packing dishes and other fragile items. Use another towel on top and close the lid.

8. Label Every Box

Don’t label the top – always on the side, so when you stack them on each other you can tell what’s inside. When you rent FROGBOXes you get labels with your order but you can always just flip open the lid to see what’s inside so the contents of you boxes will never be a mystery.

9. Don’t let your junk mail move with you!

Use this as an opportunity to manage your mail with services like DMAchoice, OptOutPrescreen and Catalog Choice.   Feel good about simplifying your life, while saving hundreds of trees each year.

10. When choosing a mover…

make sure they’re licensed and bonded, and have a great reputation. Call or email FROGBOX for a list of trusted Madison area movers.

11. Do it yourself moving

Consider renting the smallest van or truck that your things will fit into.  This will make loading the truck much easier and you’ll save money and fuel.  If you have a small amount to move and don’t own a car it might be a great opportunity to use a car share program like Community Car.  They have some roomy pick-ups and mini vans that are great for moving and FROGBOX customer get 50% off the Community Car registration fee.

12. Set a goal to unpack

Unpack a certain number of boxes each day in your new home. If you rent FROGBOXes you’ll appreciate having a deadline for unpacking your boxes – sometimes a little motivation is healthy!. When you’ve reached your goal, make sure to treat yourself, you deserve it!

Good luck with your move and let us know if we can help!

Another great year to be one of the sponsors for the Willy Street Festival, hang out with our neighborhood friends and past clients and enjoy one of the best Madison area festivals!

Come join the fun on September 17th and 18th, 2011!

This is not just for Near East side neighbors, the Willy Street Fair is for everyone in the Madison area and people come from all over Dane County to celebrate the last days of Summer. The entertainment and fun is everywhere you turn with 6 stages of entertainment, a crazy fun parade at 11am on Sunday, award winning local & national beers, a large variety of foods, hand made arts and crafts and all for a good cause - to support the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center and Common Wealth Development.

Alvarado Real Estate Group is a supporter of this Fair and will have a booth, so come visit us to fill up your water bottle with ice cold water and check out our inventory of great listings in the area. We continue to be actively involved in supporting neighborhood events like these because it is what creates strong communities. Over and over again we meet with clients that want to move into a community, not just a house. It is what makes a neighborhood desireable and helps people feel a part of a community and not just a homeowner on a street. And we all benefit from that in many ways.

We hope to see you at the Fair!

Great Home Buyer classes for people looking to buy in the Madison WI and Dane County areas..and for FREE?! Space is limited so please call Project Home at 608-246-3737 for more information or to register.

Classes will be held Tuesday July 12, 2011 AND July 19th, from 6:00 pm to 9:30 p.m. Homebuyers must attend both sessions in full and a 1 hour counseling session to be scheduled individually. Classes located at Project Home’s Training Center, 1922 S. Stoughton Road Madison WI. 

The First Time Home Buyer Education classes offered by Project Home and GreenPath, Inc. allow first time home buyers to learn about homeownership in an environment that encourages questions and protects the potential home buyer from being solicited. They learn about the pros and cons of home ownership, money management skills, credit issues, how to choose a realtor and lender, down payment assistance programs, shopping of a home and obtaining financing.

We began this partnership in April 2011 and in the first 3 months of classes we have had 67 individual participants in 50 households. We are reaching the populations targeted – 96% are first time homebuyers and approximately 74% are at or below 80% of County Median Income and therefore may be eligible for most down payment assistance programs.

To receive funds for most down payment assistance programs, potential homeowners must complete education and/or counseling. This program is designed to meet the National Industry Standards for Home Ownership Education and Counseling created by the National Advisory Council of NeighborWorks® America. Our course is 7 hours of face-to-face group education and 1 hour of 1-on-1 counseling.

The Housing Center is a joint venture between Project Home and GreenPath Debt Solutions to expand and sustain affordable home-ownership in Dane County. 

Project Home is a local non-profit organization offering help to Dane & Green County residents for the last 40 years. Project Home’s mission has been to improve the quality and affordability of housing for low-to-moderate income residents. With the rising cost of housing, utilities, and building materials, it is difficult and expensive to tackle the repairs that all homes need. Project Home provides services that will improve homeowners’ comfort, safety, and reduce energy bills.

GreenPath Debt Solutions is a nationwide, non-profit financial organization that assists consumers with credit card debt, housing debt, and bankruptcy concerns. Our customized services and attainable solutions have been helping people achieve their financial goals for 50 years.  The Madison office has been serving local customers for 12 years.  Ellen Bernards has been a housing counselor and housing educator for the last 7 years and was the 2010 recipient of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling’s Individual Counselor of the Year award.

This information provided by Ellen Bernards, GreenPath Debt Solutions. Thank you Ellen for all you do!

We are excited to announce the opening of a second office for the Alvarado Real Estate Group at 1914 Monroe Street on Madison’s near Westside just one block west of Trader Joe’s!

This is an important location to us for many reasons. We are a neighborhood based, local real estate company and community is at the core of our business. Opening our first office as an independent brokerage in 2008 on Madison’s near Eastside gave us a community that has been very supportive and created wonderful success for the company but with all the business we do all over Madison, now it is time to grow!

The Monroe Street area has always been a place where we work, live and play and therefore a perfect fit for our business to move into as well. We look forward to stronger partnerships with other local businesses in the area and a Westside base for our agents that already live and work in the area that will also cater to our clients.

So when is the Grand Opening? That will depend on how the renovation goes, we’re shooting for August! And we’ll be sure to have a HUGE Bash! Stay tuned and thank you all for your part in supporting our business. We couldn’t do it without you!

La Fête de Marquette 2011 is coming soon! Come celebrate French Music & Culture starting July 7th through the 10th on Madison’s Eastside (South Dickinson & E. Washington). We love co-sponsoring this event because it helps the Wil-Mar neighborhood center and also because it is a great opportunity to bring our community together for some serious summer fun!

Music, Dancing, Food and Friends make La Fete one of Madison’s hottest summer events. And it gets better every year!

In its sixth year the free music event, which attracts thousands, celebrates French culture and benefits the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, will be staged from July 7 – 10th. The French-themed event occurs on or near Bastille Day (July 14th), the French national holiday.

See the La Fête de Marquette Schedule and bios of Performers.

Music

Musicians from throughout the French-speaking world including North and West Africa, French-speaking Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean will perform throughout the weekend. Artists with roots in the New Orleans, Cajun and Zydeco traditions will again perform primarily on Sunday, Le Jour de Louisiane.

It is hard to recall any Madison music event that could boast a more spectacular or more diverse cast of musical characters. Anders Osborne, Cyril Neville, Rosie Ledet, Glenn David Andrews, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, The Lost Bayou Ramblers and Papa Grows Funk are some of the heavy hitters from Louisiana. While BelO, Maraca, Bombino and Baloji are some of the global celebrities, set to converge on our fair city. De Temps Antan and Raz-de- Marée are two of the finest Quebecois groups from that culturally rich province.

La Fête’s music director, Bob Queen, claims this year will trump all previous years in terms of quality, quantity and diversity of musical acts. “These are all world -class groups. Some are making their first trip to this country or region. Anders Osborne is not to be missed. He is playing with his own band (Sat. last) and then joining a group of legendary New Orleans players in a grand finale on Sunday. Glen David Andrews is Troy “Trombone Shorty“ Andrews‘ 6‘4” older cousin who may supplant his cousin on this year‘s stage. Critics have compared Andrews James Brown and Prince. Baloji from Belgium and The Congo is no slouch and his big band will be playing Millenium Park in Chicago and Central Park‘s Summer Stage (NYC) on his first U.S. tour.”

Acoustic Café Breakfast

Another of the festival highlights will be the Sunday morning Acoustic Café Breakfast with a live stage show hosted by 105.5 Triple M’s Jonathan Suttin and Kitty Dunn. The Café runs from 9 am to 11:45 am and will feature memorable acoustic performances by Quebec’s Raz-de-Marée and Louisiana’s Lost Bayou Ramblers. A wait-staffed breakfast of scrumptious quiche prepared by State Street’s Barakas is the featured menu item and served to your table by East High School French students and participants of Wil-Mar’s Teen program. Sponsored by Alvarado Real Estate Group (yay!).

La Tente De Danse

Because of the incredible, vibrant dance tent sessions last year, La Fete organizers have established a new large tent dedicated to Quebecois and Cajun dance. La Tente De Danse will offer a wall-to-wall dance floor with a stage for live music. Quebec’s Raz-de-Marée (Tidal Wave) and Cajun phenoms Ryan Brunet et Les Malfacteurs (The Outlaws) will keep the tent buzzing. There will be a small ticket fee to support this new venue. La Tente De Danse is sponsored by RP’s Pasta, MadCat Pet Supplies and Wisconsin Public Radio.

Food

As always, there will be incredible food and drink from a host of vendors including— Baraka’s, Nattspil, Lao Laan-Xang, Smokin’ Cantina, authentic Cajun cuisine from Double S BBQ, Southern Style Seafood delights from HMI Catering, Jamerica, Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream and many more.

Willy Street Co-op Annual Meeting & Party

The Willy Street Co-op (presenter of the Fête) kicks off the celebration with its annual membership meeting Thursday evening, July 7th.  Featured that night are New Orleans’ Papa Grows Funk boasting OffBeat Magazine’s pianist-of-the-year, John Gros, in the lead. The incredible guitarist Bombino from Niger will show folks why he is taking the world by storm and reminding people of a Tuareg Jimi Hendrix.

The Willy Street Co-op’s Annual Meeting & Party is open to the public after 7 pm or become a Co-op equity-paying member (for just $10!) at the event and get a FREE Dinner (including beverage) gifts and chances to win prizes.

Ferris Wheel

The vintage, 1930s-era Ferris Wheel (which was just added last year) will be back and provided a perfect escape (if needed) with picturesque views of the Capital dome and Fête de Marquette’s colorful grounds.

This event has grown incredibly and attracts music lovers from all over the Midwest! Hope to see you there!

Another great event is coming soon to the great Near Eastside neighborhood! What do we love most about the Marquette Waterfront Festival? The music, the friends, the dancing, spending time outside, the beer? It is must be the combination! Here is the great description of this year’s event from the Marquette Neighborhood Association website:

Yet again the Marquette Neighborhood Association is conjuring up two days of unsurpassed excitement for the Marquette Waterfront Festival. The community will celebrate atop the whip thin spit of land known as Yahara Place Park on June 11th and 12th . This is the 22nd edition of the event and there will be a totally sensational group of performers around representing our neighborhood and diverse regions of the nation and the World. The music will be joyous and raucous and sweat-inducing danceable. We ask that you please come both days to enjoy the show and the seductive breeze at Lake Monona’s shore.

Saturday, June 11th, 2011 Waterfront Schedule

• 12:00 – The TakI All-Stars
• 1:30 – Grupo Candela
• 3:00 – Fareed Haque & The Flat Earth Ensemble
• 4:45 – Aurelio Martinez Garifuna Soul (Honduras)
• 6:30 – Yoro Ndiaye & Yoonwi (Senegal)

Sunday, June 12th, 2011 Waterfront Schedule

• 11:45 – Harris Lemberg Trio with Special Friends
• 1:15- Sleeping in the Aviary
• 2:45 – Robbie Fulks
• 4:30 – The Campbell Brothers
• 6:15 – The Bottle Rockets

We hope to see you there!

Here in Madison we have our own style. And part of this lifestyle in Madison WI that we love is our ability to be at the forefront of making a difference in the world. It seems that most people I meet in Madison understand that Global Change Starts at Home. At home in our own beliefs or our driving habits, energy use or our food choices. That statement is pretty broad but it also focuses on what we have the ability to control too. And one thing that we have seen many new Madison homebuyers get excited about (yes, they get excited!) is the opportunity to start composting in their new backyards.

The City of Madison and Dane County will hold their annual home compost bin and rain barrel sale on Saturday, May 7.  This one-day only sale will feature the Earth Machine Home Composter and the Systern rain barrel.  The Earth Machine will be on sale for $45, tax included and the Systern will sell for $55 tax included.

Madison location information: Alliant Energy Center. Customers should use the Olin Ave entrance. 9am – 3pm.

Middleton location information: Middleton Public Works Garage 3300 Laura Lane. 9am – 1pm.

For more information check out the City of Madison website and visit the Alvarado Group resource guide for making a difference in your home.

It’s the Spring Bike Fair in Madison WI!

Sunday May 1st, 2011, 11am – 3pm
Wright Middle School, 1717 Fish Hatchery Road

Celebrate the return of spring and the promise of many fun-filled days of biking by participating in the first annual Bike Madison Spring Fair. The Bike Madison Spring Fair is an opportunity to get ready for spring by learning or refreshing your skills with workshops such as Bike Maintenance 101, Bike Commuter 101 and many more.

The Bike Madison Spring Fair will feature MSCR kids activities, a chance to try out Metro Transit’s Rack-n-Roll program, Madison Police Department Bike Tours. The Bike Spring Madison Fair is a FREE family event.

Information provided by the City of Madison – Spring Fair website. For more resources and information about Biking in the Madison area click here.

Bike Madison Spring Fair Activities Include:

• Madison School Community Recreation Family Fun Activities – All Day!
• Madison Police Department South District Bike Tours at 1p.m. and 2 p.m.: Each ride will be approximately 45 minutes long. You will be required to wear a helmet to participate in the ride.
• Planet Trek Dane County information and Bike Tour at 1:00p.m.: Information and maps will be available for Planet Trek Dane County, a scale model of the solar system along the bike path from Monona Terrace to Mt. Horeb. We will also have a group ride leaving at 1:00 to make a loop from the Sun (Monona Terrace) to Jupiter and back to Wright Middle School.
• Metro Transit Rack-n-Roll Program: Learn how to use the bike racks before you travel. Ask questions and practice on a Metro bike rack.
• Bicycle Registration: A Four-Year Bicycle Registration costs only $10.00 and is a good way to help protect your important means of transportation, recreation and exercise!
• Madison Police Hula Hoop Making: Who doesn’t like a hula hoop? Madison Police Officers will be on hand to help you make your very own hula hoop.
• City bike initiatives: The City’s Bike Madison staff will share the exciting bike planning initiatives occurring in Madison. Pick up a 2011 Bike Map.
• Local bike advocacy groups: 20by2020, Wheels for Winners, Freewheel, and the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin will be on hand to talk about their programs and events.
• Transporting children by bike demo by Williamson Bicycle Works: Children of pre-cycling age will still love traveling by bicycle – there are different solutions for different ages.Brought to you by:
  City of Madison Bike Madison Program, MSCR, Madison Police Department, Metro Transit, UW Space Place, 20by2020, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, Williamson Bicycle Works

Sara and Kathryn at Isthmus Green Day

This is one of our favorite expo’s. It is the earth friendly expo and Madison’s finest!

April 16th, 2011 from 9am – 5pm come down to the Monona Terrace and visit local businesses, organizations and learn from the informational presentations.

This year the Alvarado Real Estate Group will be there to:

• Showcase our great Madison area listings
• Educate on the benefits of working with an EcoBroker
• Introduce you to the Slow Home Movement

Informational & entertaining presentations:
* An amazing line-up of speakers talk about shortening the distance from farm to table.
* The Fabulous Beekman Boys from Discovery’s Planet Green reality show share adventures from their urban-to-rural life with goats, chickens, pigs, and one diva of a llama.
* A townhall discussion on healthy food in schools features farmers, students, parents and school representatives.

Fun for little ones too!
Isthmus Green Day’s Family Play Zone has hands-on activities, arts and crafts, sponsored by Aldo Leopold Nature Center, MSCR, and Friends of the Henry Vilas Zoo.

Tickets are $5 at the door or in advance at the Isthmus office, 101 King Street in Madison.
Free admission for children under 12, and if you walk, take the bus or ride your bike.
Bring donations for Goodwill and get in free, too!

It is the end of March in Madison WI and we still have our heat on. Waking up to 15 degrees outside at the end of March? Not fair. We all know that living in Madison can be cold and bitter during the winter months. So what happens when your heating and/or cooling system breaks down? It can be an overwhelming experience to find a local heating contractor if you don’t have someone you already trust. You need to find someone quickly but don’t want to make the wrong choice or end up paying way more than necessary.

With many years in the Madison real estate market and loads of connections with contractors, we have access to the most trusted people, tips and information that can help you find a contractor you are comfortable with. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, be prepared by following these tips from EnergyStar.gov:

Study up

Find out about license and insurance requirements for contractors in your state. And before you call a contractor, know the model of your current system and its maintenance history. Also, make note of any uncomfortable rooms. This will help potential contractors better understand your heating needs.

Get a referral

Ask your favorite Madison Realtor, friends, neighbors, and co-workers for contractor referrals. You can also contact local trade organizations for names of members in your area. Take it another step and call for references.

Find special offers

A heating and cooling system is one of the largest purchases you’ll make as a homeowner. Keep your costs down by checking around for available rebates on energy-efficient ENERGY STAR-qualified heating and cooling equipment. Begin your search at www.energystar.gov.

Look for ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR-qualified products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and offer significant long-term energy savings. Contractors should be able to show you calculations of savings for ENERGY STAR heating and cooling equipment.

Expect a home evaluation

The contractor should spend significant time inspecting your current system and home to assess your needs. A bigger system isn’t always better; a contractor should size the heating and cooling system based on the size of your house, level of insulation, and windows. A good contractor will inspect your duct system (if applicable) for air leaks and insulation and measure airflow to make sure it meets manufacturers’ specifications.

Get written, itemized estimates

When comparing contractors’ proposals (bids), be sure to compare cost, energy efficiency and warranties. A low price may not be the best deal if it’s not the most efficient because your energy costs will be higher.

Check City of Madison guidelines

The City of Madison requires a permit for the installation of a new furnace. And then they need to come back to inspect it after the furnace has been installed. Make sure your contractor arranges for this and cooperates with the City. If you don’t live in the City of Madison, call your building inspector at your village, town or city hall.

Sign first 

Sign a written proposal with a contractor before work gets started. It’ll protect you by specifying project costs, model numbers, job schedule and warranty information.

Pass it on

Tell friends and family about your experience with your heating and cooling contractor. Another great tip is to gather two or more of your neighbors and see if you can get a group discount for your annual furnace check up by all hiring and scheduling together.  And of course tell your friends about ENERGY STAR. Almost one-quarter of households knowingly purchased at least one qualified product last year, and 71% of those consumers say they would recommend ENERGY STAR to a friend. Spread the word, and we can all make a big difference.

For more tips on taking care of your home, stay in touch with us on facebook! And please be sure to share the love and pass our contact info on to your friends and family when they talk about moving.