INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Do this prior to washing your clothing to avoid lint issues later during the drying cycle. The most common culprits are receipts, tissues, notes and candy wrappers. Remove the items one at a time, shaking them a bit to loosen any lint present. This also helps them stay wrinkle-free during the drying cycle! If you notice any tissue, fluff or paper particles, remove them. These will contribute to lint build up if they aren't removed. You'll want to dry them separately to minimize the build-up and transference of lint onto your clothing. A common culprit is a fluffy towel drying one with your garments will increase the likelihood of lint. Turning lint-prone garments inside out before drying them also helps minimize lint transference. Drying dark items separate from lighter items is also helpful, since dark colors emphasize the presence of lint. Dryer sheets help prevent static build up and minimize lint, so it's best to always use them. Each sheet is effective for only one drying cycle. For large loads, toss in an extra one or two sheets. Make sure it is clean of all lint by pulling the filter from the lint trap and remove any that you see. Discard it as you normally would. Insert them one article at a time, to prevent them from sticking or tangling together, which encourages lint build up. This also helps prevent wrinkled laundry. Let it do its thing! Be sure to use the settings recommended by your dryer manufacturer. Consult your appliance's user manual if you have any concerns. Your clothing should be lint-free upon completion. Be sure to throw away the used dryer sheet. Re-insert it once the lint is removed. Now you are prepared for the next lint-free load!

SUMMARY: Clean out your pockets. Remove your clothing from the washing machine. Inspect your clothing closely. Separate any lint-prone items. Toss a dryer sheet into the dryer. Double check the lint filter. Load your clothes into the dryer. Turn on your dryer. Remove your clothing from the dryer. Remove and clean the lint filter.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Wearing shoes inside someone's residence is not acceptable. It is customary to provide guests with slippers when they enter a home so it is unlikely you will have to walk barefoot or in socks. Some hotels, restaurants and other public establishments also require the removal of shoes. A good rule of thumb is to remove your shoes if you see tatami, woven bamboo floor mats, on the ground. In Japanese culture, gift-giving is very common and it is considered a necessary act of humility to politely refuse a gift the first time it is offered to you. Japanese people will expect this and will continue to offer, at which point you can accept it. A good way to respond the first time is "I am humbled by your generosity but I should not accept." Do not open the gift in the presence of the giver unless they specifically ask you to. When offering a gift, show humility by saying "I would like to offer this small token" to avoid the appearance of bragging about your wealth or generosity. Receive the gift with both hands out, not just one. Punctuality is extremely important in Japanese culture so showing up late to a meeting or event may indicate that you don't respect the time of your companions. If you are late, offer a contrite apology.
Summary: Remove your shoes before entering a residence. Learn gift-giving conventions. Show up on time.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: . If the seller rejects your offer, they'll tell you why. Ideally, they will only disagree on price, which is easy to negotiate. However, they might also disagree on other things, such as contingencies. Talk to your agent about how to proceed. You can expect sellers to claim that there is another buyer interested in the property. Trust your research. If the home has been on the market 120 days, it's unlikely a second buyer suddenly appeared at the same time you did. If you increase your bid, don't go too high. You still need to be able to afford your house. You've been pre-approved, but you still need to apply for a mortgage. Complete the application and submit all required supporting documentation. Mortgage rates are determined when you apply (not during the pre-approval process). Don't be afraid to shop around for the best rates. Check your purchase offer to see who will pay for them. You will need to pay for the inspection and appraisal fees at the time of service. If you plan to do the inspection yourself or do not want an inspection, then you may not have to worry about this cost. However, getting an inspection is a good idea in case there are any major issues with the home. The appraiser will take photos and send those to the underwriter along with their report. The underwriter is in charge of approving the loan, so any issues may delay approval. In some cases, a rehab loan may be required to move forward. If the inspection uncovers problems, then discuss with the seller how to handle them. You can ask the seller to repair the problem before closing, or you can ask for a credit that will be applied against the purchase price. Depending on your contract, you might also be able to walk away from the purchase. Your lender will be interested in the appraisal, since they won't lend you more than the townhouse is worth. You can contest the appraisal if you think it is low. Your lender will probably require that you have homeowners insurance before they will give you the loan. You'll need to pay your first year's premium at closing. You can shop around for the best deal. At the closing, you'll need to pay for your down payment, closing costs, and possibly the first payment on your mortgage. You may also need to pay your lawyer. You'll need a certified or cashier's check to cover the closing costs and your down payment. You'll end up signing dozens of documents at your closing. Your lawyer or real estate broker should attend along with you in case there are any problems. Pay attention to the following: You will receive a closing disclosure. This document should itemize how closing costs have been divided between you and the seller. Although you should have received this document a few days in advance, double check the information. Carefully review the terms of your mortgage. Again, there shouldn't be any surprises. Stop the closing if the mortgage details are not what the lender has previously told you. At the end of the process, you should get the keys to your new home!

SUMMARY:
Go back and forth with the seller Apply for your mortgage. Have the home inspected and appraised. Purchase insurance. Get certified or cashier's checks. Attend your closing.