Wood Does Rot - Home Repairs and Advice

Let me give you some advice right now," All Wood Rots Eventually". I have heard it all when it comes to this wood or that wood lasting this long or that long........ Hello....... All wood is going to rot at some period of it's life.

With that out of the way we can focus on some wood seems to last a little longer under certain conditions.

Teak is a wood that has a lot of natural oil in it. But you won't frame a house with it. Teak is used on boats and expensive outdoor furniture. It is a excellent wood to use when building a ship. The woods natural oils seem to create a protective barrier around it allowing it to last a long time even at sea. Great wood for the outdoors...

Oak is a excellent choice for almost every wood finish inside your home. It is used for kitchen cabinets, entertainment centers, flooring, trim and furniture. Oak is a hard wood and can take a lot of abuse from almost anything except water. I have seen a nice piece of furniture get stained from just setting one glass on it for ten minutes. Great Wood For Inside Your Home.

Poplar is also a great choice for inside your house. This wood is used by many finish carpenters for making cabinets and other built ins for your house. It is also popular not poplar for wood trim . Most of the poplar that is used inside of your home will eventually get painted. So that makes poplar a inexpensive choice of wood for homeowners that want a nice painted finish on their interior wood projects. Great Wood For Inside Your Home.

Douglas Fir is the most common source of lumber used on the west coast of the United States. This is a extremely durable wood product. On the East Coast they use southern pine and the nominal thickness is usually two inches by four inches for a 2 x 4 . With Douglas Fir a 2 x 4 is one inch and a half by three and one half inches to support the same weight structurally. In my opinion one of the best home framing materials.

Douglas Fir can and has been for a long time now. A great source for clear finish materials used inside of the house. You will see a nice orange or brown looking piece of wood stained naturally in some older home. This is Douglas Fir. It can be a bit pricy but really gives a log cabin look to your home.

Redwood is a great choice for inside or outside your home. I love Redwood it has a nice look to it stained naturally. Redwood is used for a lot of siding, fences, decks and out door furniture. The main problem with Redwood is that is is soft and will get scratched easily. Now for the facts about Redwood. It does rot and termites will eat it.

Wood myth number one eliminated. I have heard stories about wood that termites won't eat. Well Redwood is not one of them. I have seen termites tearing this stuff up. Don't get caught up in the hype that this or that wood will last for 5 years or 50 years. Under the right conditions almost all woods will rot at a accelerated rate.

For more information on wood damage, check out wood repair at http://gregvan.com/wood_repair.htm

Copyright 2008 Greg Vanden Berge All Rights Reserved

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry. Few Home Remodeling Rules

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5 Real Estate Investing Tips

Real estate investors face many new challenges in today's real estate market. The investor must be willing to rent the property since flipping is not currently an alternative. The investor must weight in 5 investing factors in order to succeed in real estate investing.

These are the 5 investing tips to consider when buying real estate.

Flipping - Flipping is not an option in today's real estate market. Don't think that the property will sell quickly and you will double in two months. You will have to rent the property for at least one year. The investor may also list the property for sale while is rented. Make sure there is a clause in the lease that allows you to show the property and that you can cancel the lease when the property is sold.

Repairing - The cost of repairing the house should be estimated and included in the price you are willing to pay for the house. Walk away from the property if the cost of repairing is staggering. Hire a professional inspector to insure that there are no repair surprises. Roof and plumbing repairs are always the most expensive. Don't assume you will get all the money back you spend on repairs when you sell the property.

Renting - Renting the property is realistic in this market. Make sure you rent the property for the maximum rent price possible. Be practical; don't set the rent amount so high that the property won't be rented for months. Hire a real estate professional to rent the house for you. Make sure a thorough background check, credit report check and eviction search are performed. Collect three months deposit up front in order to help you with repairs costs, eviction costs, plus other miscellaneous expenses.

Timing - You must make only cosmetic repairs to the property in order to turn around and rent it immediately. A vacant property which produces no rental income can be a costly mistake. The investor still has to pay mortgage payments, taxes, insurance plus other costs. Usually the buyer is not allowed to make any repairs to the property before the closing so you must wait to start repairing the house. Fixing the property fast and getting rented is essential in order to reduce costs. The timing of renting the property fast is very important.

Appreciation - The property will not appreciate in value as fast as in the boom years. It will take at least one year for real estate prices to stabilize. The profit should be made when buying not when selling. Make sure the rent will cover all expenses including mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, and maintenance fees. Don't buy the property is the projected rent will not cover the expenses and you have a negative cash flow.

Investors have an opportunity not seen in recent years to purchase heavily discounted properties. This opportunity may not last long and will not be seen again anytime soon. The foreclosure and bank reo home prices are low enough and rental prices continue to rise. This combination is very good news for real estate investors. Buying the property at an excellent price and renting fast while producing a positive cash flow is an investor's dream and a very feasible investing opportunity in the real estate market.

Hector Lesende is owner/licensed real estate broker in Miami, Florida. Please visit Miami Real Estate We will sell your home fast. We offer a Foreclosure List. Search Miami Real Estate Blog Search Coral Gables Real Estate

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What First Home Buyers Should Know

For the majority of people, buying a home will be the biggest investment they will make in their lives. Of course, we are talking about average income families, but even if you have more than one property, chances are that these properties will be your most valuable possessions in terms of money. Given the importance of the investment of your first home purchase, it requires a lot of preparation, research and patience.

Research is paramount when buying your first home, because it can literally determine how happy you and your family will be in your new home. Many people get overly excited when buying their first home and this is understandable. However, this overdose of excitement often leads people to rush in and commit very serious mistakes. You need to control your emotions and go with what your brain tells you.

The advance of the Internet has made searching for a new home a much easier task than it used to be. It allows you to do most of your research online before you go out in the field to look at potential homes. If you are unfamiliar with the area around a potential property, it is a very good idea to read some local press online and look at satellite images and maps of the neighborhood. You will be able to see the proximity of parks, sports facilities, supermarkets, shopping malls, schools, and also factories and other environmental hazards. This will help you determine how safe, healthy and convenient the area is for you and your family.

Make sure to invest the time needed to research a sufficient number of properties. There is no magic formula to tell you how many potential properties you should inspect, as this can largely depend on luck and your specific circumstances. The experience of other buyers, however, suggests that anywhere in the range of fifty to one hundred homes is a solid number. This may seem like an exaggerated statement, but buying your home is a serious enough task to be afforded this effort. Regardless of how many homes you inspect, be sure not to decide to buy the first property you see as this has been proven to be one of the worst mistakes you can make.

Even you love the property and eventually decide to buy it, you simply must go out and look at some other opportunities. There is a caveat to this advice, however. Namely, people are afraid that they will lose home to another buyer if they are not quick enough to act immediately. This is a valid fear, but keep in mind that real estate agents and home sellers sometimes purposely make you believe that they have a long list of people just waiting to buy the house in order to trick you into purchasing immediately. You can never know really, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. There are plenty of good homes out there and it is much easier to find another one that you like than to get out of a bad purchase.

You also need to be prepared financially. Calculate all expenses and potential renovation and repair costs in advance for each prospective property. This will help you determine the property's cost-effectiveness. It is also highly advisable to get a finance approval from your bank beforehand. The seller will see this as a sign of seriousness on your part and may be willing to hold on to a home until you are prepared to buy it. You can also hire an independent expert to visit the property with you to perform a check on the overall condition of the home, i.e. pipes, the pest situation, potential leaks, heating, etc. Furthermore, make sure to obtain a written and signed confirmation from the seller that they are selling the house in exactly the same condition as it was when they showed it to you. You would be surprised to hear some stories of people who bought a house without settling this important matter only to find out that most of the fittings and furniture were removed after the house was sold.

Follow these simple tips and do not leave such an important part of your life to pure chance. In this way, you and your family will have a great time in your new home.

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Great Tips on How to Select Wooden Doors

Your wooden doors are not added for the sake of aesthetic value. They can add protection to your home, especially from intruders and stray animals. They can also prevent harmful elements such as strong wind, snow, and rain from getting into your house.

But how do you exactly choose the most ideal wooden doors for your house? We can sum up everything in 4 tips:

1. Get to know the weather. One of the biggest issues of wood is that it tends to expand and contract every time the weather changes. This then makes wooden doors highly susceptible to premature wear and tear. What you can do is to select those that have fiberboard panels. They are not only very durable, but they are resistant to changeable weather conditions.

2. Go for solid wooden doors. There are actually two known types of wooden doors. You have the hollow core, where the panels are made up of fiberboards with gaps or holes. They are very lightweight and somewhat inexpensive. However, they are not as durable as solid wooden doors. They also produce a lot of noise. Though you will surely be spending more for them, you are also assured of their quality. You can stick with mahogany, oak, and hickory, to name a few. They are also considered to be more fire resistant. If you're in doubt of how strong they are, you can still find these kinds of doors among old houses-those that have been around for more than 50 years.

3. Ensure that the door hardly touches the floor. Some doors are just so huge that their bottom edges will cause scratches into your floor every time you close and open them. It would be ideal to have your floors attached first before you buy the wooden doors, or you can have an allowance of at least a half inch at the bottom of the door.

4. Buy the door from a legitimate manufacturer. There are hundreds of manufacturers that you can find in the market today, but not all of them are actually real. Some of them would only give you substandard wood door or market them as solid wood when, in fact, they're not. To see if it's a legitimate seller or manufacturer, you can look for reviews in the World Wide Web. You can also check the Better Business Bureau if the company is registered. Most of all, don't buy any wood door without warranty.

5. Determine your style. There are several choices that you can have for your wood doors, and usually, your selection will depend on your style. If you can't find the right color for your door, you can opt to buy the unfinished one and just have a professional painter to add the color. Victorian-style homes can go for six-panel doors, while others can select 4-panel ones.

You can look for wood doors in your local home depot or at the Internet. It's important, however, that before you bring them home, you must be able to check for any potential issue.

Searching for the best wooden doors will no longer be a problem anymore. Lenfex has partnered with the best American and European wooden manufacturers to ensure that you don't only obtain an affordable product but one that is of excellent quality.

How to Sell Your Home Yourself

A lot of people today have the luxury and the time to be able to sell their home on their own terms and by themselves. When homeowners forego the use of a real estate agent of broker, the real estate community refers to the situation as 'For Sale By Owner' or FSBO. If you've never sold your home on your own before, then there are four things you are going to want to do to make sure your home is sellable.

Prepare your entire home for selling.
Always make sure the interior of your home is in as tip top shape as possible in order to sell it. Make any necessary repairs, clean out the clutter and go for the minimalist look with furniture in all rooms, and make sure the home is clean. Update your kitchen and bathroom if you think it will help sell the house.

Do the same things outside by improving the landscape, making sure the lawn is cut and repairing anything outdoors - such as the fence or porch - to make your home have 'curb appeal'. Paint the exterior, make all minor repairs, and don't worry about what everyone thinks about the money you are putting into the home. As long as you break even or make a profit, everything you do is worth the effort.

Use a professional for all appraisals and home inspections.
Make sure that you use a professional appraiser and inspection officers in order to get a fair market asking price for your home. Plus, if there is any additional damage that you are responsible for fixing before the house is sold, they will alert you to the problem. Sometimes it's better to drop the price of the house and leave the problems for the new owners to fix than it is juggling around fixing it yourself.

Advertise, advertise, advertise.
Use a large 'For Sale By Owner' sign in your front lawn to make sure that everyone sees it. List your home in the classified section of all the local papers and on the FSBO sites available on the Internet. You can pay small fee to the Realtor's Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to have your home listed in there, opening it up for the buyer to approach you through a real estate agent. Place fact sheets about the house in a box by your sign, distribute them around the neighborhood and local shopping centers if allowed, and always make sure you are available for prospective buyers to come look at the house. And don't get offended when they inspect every little nook and cranny of your home.

Finally, make sure the buyer's deal is legal

and binding before accepting an offer.
You as the seller have every right to request a copy of the buyer's pre-approved or pre-qualified loan certificates. Make sure that they sign a legal and binding intent to buy contract. You can purchase these at your local office supply store or download them from the Internet. Hire a real estate attorney to close the deal with you and make sure there is nothing unusual that will pop up during the sale when you least expect it.

For more Information on this topic visit http://www.buildwish.com a free Online Home Improvement Directory in 100 Cities in North America. Featuring over 2 million Real Estate Classifieds, Helpful Articles, Contests, Virtual home tools, Qualified Trades, ask an expert, home improvement videos, a moving center, get free quotes for Insurance, Moving, Mortgages, Contractors, Find Foreclosures and Much More!

How to Sell Your House Quickly

Whether you have taken a job in another city, outgrown your current home, or fallen behind in your mortgage payments, you may find yourself thinking about how to sell your house quickly. Of course, we all know the real estate business has been in a slump, foreclosures are up, and sales (sale prices) are down. That does not mean, however, that you should not try to sell your house if your personal circumstances warrant the sale. The following advice about how to sell your house quickly can help you get on your way:

Improve the appearance of your house without spending a lot of money to do so. At one time, many people thought that adding on a room or renovating the kitchen or putting in a swimming pool would bring in more revenue for their house. Major things like that, however, should not be done if trying to sell your house quickly in a slow market. Stick to smaller things like minor repairs that need to be done, a coat of paint or two on the walls, and some enticing landscaping.

Market your home everywhere. Most realtors take on the task of marketing your home, but they often don't do enough advertising. If your realtor is not getting people in to see your house, talk to him/her and come up with every possible way of marketing your house. One key item when considering how to sell your house fast is making sure that people know it's for sale. At the same time, most real estate contracts specify how the home is to be advertised, so you may need to be flexible.

If necessary, consider picking up some of the costs associated with additional advertising, but don't pay for everything. That is one of the things real estate commissions are supposed to help the realtor pay for.

Want to sell your house and you can't? They say it's a buyers market and you're just plain out of luck. You can sell your house quickly. You just have to work at it.

Go here for more information: http://quickly-sellhouse.blogspot.com/2008/12/quickly-sell-house-review-of-sold-in-21.html

What Does a GFI Do

In your bathroom you should have a GFI electrical outlet. Most new homes or newly remodeled homes require you to have GFI electrical outlets in the kitchen. Most older kitchens do not have GFI electrical outlets. GFI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter.

Why not call it a GFCI instead of a GFI electrical outlet? Well it is called a GFCI in some instances. GFI is short and is the most common name used by most electricians and builders for this type of outlet.

GFI 's come in 15 amp and 20 amperage outlets. GFI outlets must be wired properly. Make sure you're using the proper wire size when hooking up the GFI outlet.

How do I know which size wire to use? This all depends on how far away you are running it from the electrical panel. There are charts you can use to figure this out. If you are not running the electrical wire more than 80 feet from the electrical panel you can use 12 gauge electrical wires for a 20 amp GFI. This is a general rule of thumb for most electrical house wiring.

If you're going to be using a 15 amp GFI and you are going to be less than 80 feet away from the electrical panel you can use 14 gauge electrical wires. Again this is just a general rule of thumb for most electrical house wiring.

A GFI is a light duty electrical plug used in bathrooms, kitchens and the exterior of your house. The sole purpose of the GFI is to shut the breaker off faster if there is any moisture or light load problems.

Let's say for instance you have your hair dryer plugged into the GFI outlet. The hair dryer somehow falls into the sink while it is on or plugged in. The GFI outlet will instantly shut off because of the sensitivity of the breaker inside of the plug it self.

The GFI plug has a test button and a reset button on it. If you are continually resetting the GFI you will wear it out eventually. I have had GFI plugs after resetting the button about 10 times break and no longer able to use them.

The GFI electrical plug is a great idea and if you don't have them in your bathroom or outside of your home it would be a great idea to have an electrician install them for you.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Home Building Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

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Get Rid of Your Realtor and You Will Pocket a Lot More Money

It has been proven to homeowners that if you can sell your own home, you will not lose as much money as if you let a real estate agent sell it for you. Realtots will add money to the price of the house just so they can earn more money or commission. The main things that homeowners like when using a real estate agent is the agent has MLS access, will do all the paperwork, and help with the pricing information. While this may be easier on the homeowner, it is not to their advantage.

At first, the real estate agent will take a standard commission to the bottom of the selling price of the house. After the commission, they will also charge for promotional services, negotiating the price assistance, and screening of the buyers. Before it is all said and done, the real estate agent will end up with large percentage of the selling price when all of this is added in.

Most real estate agents will try to persuade the seller to take the first offer. Studies have shown that most agents will move toward the actions that help with their own financial interest than the sellers. Most of the time the real estate agent is going to hike the price of your house so they will get more money.

Believe me when I say that the real estate agent is not your friend and does not have your best interest at heart. They are there for themselves and do everything they can to make more money. They will not tell the seller about all the things they will take from the price of the house for things that they did to sell it.

There are proven steps you can take that will allow you to sell your own home. Remember that nobody knows your home like you do.

Do not let the state of the economy keep you from selling your house. There are proven steps that will guarantee that you will sell your home. If you want to skip the part where you pay a realtor a big commission to help you sell your own home then Click Here

Realtors Lie to Consumers

It is shocking yet it happens every day. Realtors Lie to Consumers and Fail to Disclose and No One Holds them Accountable for their actions. No one can make a Realtor liable for their Lies. The Realtors are protected on so many levels.

Real Estate Consumers are hurt everyday at the Lies that Realtors tell them. Yes it is a cruel world and people lie sometimes, the thing is with members of the National Association of Realtors they Lie, They fail to Disclose and they are not held accountable by the So called "Higher Standard" umbrella of NAR that they work under.

No one hears the cries of the real estate consumer, sleepless night after sleepless night as they wonder if tomorrow will be a better day. If tomorrow they will find a way to get the Realtor to pay for the lies they told, or for what they did not disclose that has made it so that the real estate bought is un-sellable, dangerous to live in, worth less, or causing major damage to the structure.

Even if you have proof the Realtors lied, you have to fight for the Rights that Should be Basic in a Real Estate transaction. Having a Realtor in the Real Estate transaction actually provides more legal protection for the buyer to be cheated, lied to, mislead, and Not disclosed to. Without the Realtor, the buyer could sue the seller, and with proof maybe win - maybe not but it would be a more cut and dried situation.

If a Real Estate Agent is not a "Realtor", a member of the National Association of Realtors or a Non-Franchise Real Estate Broker, then this too is better for the real estate consumer, because they will dig harder to make sure that what they are telling is actually true.

Why? They have more liability, non-Realtors do not have that Super Power of the National Association of Realtors, those who lobby for them, and the Giant Insurance Companies behind them.

The Top E and O insurances want, demand that you be a Realtor Member or they will not insure you. Why is this ? Well because "Realtor" members are of a Higher Standard. Not True, but hey it's their motto so

The Realtor and the Previous Seller can act like "they did not know". Even if they did it is hearsay right? However you, now know and it is right out there for all to see because you are seeking justice.

I have had Realtors, ask me if my client fixed a problem under the floor in the kitchen on a property that I had listed for sale. You see Their Client or Friend wants to know BEFORE they buy, what a novel concept right?

Well it just so happens that only 6 months prior to this "Foot in Mouth" call, my Client had bought this property with One of My "Realtors" as their buyers agent, and they did not disclose this "problem" to my client. Yes they found it, they fixed it, it was an issue of well I can't sue the Realtor, I will lose and it will cost more to right so the owner fixed it. To find out later that the Realtor knew and admitted they knew was shocking.

He did so Boldly because, as a Century 21 Agent, he knew that there really was not way to touch him. Many times, this same agent had been "protected" by the Local Association of Realtors. He was and is a Broker Owner, A Realtor, and the local association gives him protection and special treatment. This is not unique to the area I am talking about. I have seen this in several state and several Realtor Associations.

C21, Coldwell Banker, Sotheby's and ERA have even more protection because they are all owned by the same Corporation, and in this they have attorneys, insurance and mega-protection which means to you the real estate consumer, You Lose. Oh I know you were lied to and misled, I know that your Realtor failed to disclose, but you see we will keep you in court longer then your pocketbook, your life, your kids life, and your marriage can possibly stand.

The National Association of Realtors lobbies to make sure they have more rights then you. No one lobbies effectively for Consumers Rights in Real Estate because who has more money then the National Association of Realtors? And is willing to spend it fighting for the rights of the Real Estate Consumer in the Real World of Real Estate.

So, with this, the laws lean more and more every month - day - week to make it easier for the Realtor to lie, Mandatory E and O insurance is one of these horrible acts on the Real Estate Consumer. Making, the Real Estate Agent, by Law Protect themselves from the Real Estate Consumer.

Several times I have seen a Realtor put in writing that a buyer will have Lake Access, that the Seller currently has lake access and the buyer will have it once they buy.

The Realtor deliberately lies or just goes with what the seller says without proving it and in the end the buyer is left to fight for years to get justice or to get the lake access that they were told would "come with" the Sale. There is no consumer protection in real estate.

Whether Realtors lie deliberately or without really knowing the facts, either way they have No Liability. They can simply say they did not know and the laws protect them. They should have known, especially before they used "Lake Access" in their Marketing. But the Realtor knows they have No Real Liability and a whole lot of loopholes to get out of any financial Accountability so they don't go ahead and Prove what the seller says, and provide no real proof to the

One Incident, I listed a 20 acre parcel, the Seller said that they had lake access, I believed them, however, I wanted proof in my file so I asked the Seller for the easement or documents that proved they had lake access. You won't believe the documentation that they had, they had a buy sell agreement, whereby the Seller and the Realtor wrote in that their was lake access. The buyer thought that if it was on the buy sell then it was true, they really had Lake Access. It does not matter what the Buy Sell says, yes it is a legal binding contract, but after you sign the closing papers, ( and the title company will Not prove anything on the buy sell), anyway after you sign then it is what it is. You have to make all parties prove what they promised or offered you in the Buy Sell before you sign the closing papers. The buyer thinks that the real estate buy sell is a binding contract.

It is in the sense that if the buyer and seller signs and one tries to back out you can take a few years out of your life and Sue for "Specific Performance" to hold the buyer or the seller to the contract, should they want out for any reason. However, the buy sell is not legally binding automatically, in any way, you have to fight for your right to actually have what the buy sell agreement promised that you should or could have.

In this Situation the Seller, who use to be the buyer, also had the original ads that the Realtor put out claiming that their was lake access. Turned Out they had no lake access and would never get it because the lake was fed by an irrigation ditch and had a turbine in it, they did not want anyone on it.

The Realtor, the Seller can promise the moon, they can be lying or really believe what they are saying, either way You Need to Prove it Before You Sign.

Peoples Lives are Ruined by Realtors that Are Not held Accountable for the lies that they knowingly or unknowingly tell.

The Insurance that Realtors have will Beat the Real Estate Consumer pretty much every time, even in the biggest most proven cases of fraud.

Realtors are Bound by Law they have to "Investigate" complaints, they have to listen to the real estate consumer and do the right thing.

This is Bull on every level. The Director at the Association of Realtors encourages (makes, misleads, denies) the "Realtor" members to not file a complaint, she Flat Out Denies them Due Process. She also does this when the Real Estate Consumer calls her for help. She suggests a real estate attorney and so begins the Diary of A Lawsuit. Years of your life, no help what so ever from the Realtor or the Realtor Association that got you into the mess in the first place. They go on to other "Victims" I mean real estate consumers, they continue sleeping well at night and making money. While the Consumer begins the lawsuit to fight for what the Realtor told them they had, or for the non-disclosure of a Realtor.

The Local Association of Realtors turns a Blind eye to the distress of the consumer, this includes a Realtor Member who becomes a Real Estate Consumer. Turning on their own, picking the Realtor with the Biggest Franchise Behind them.

This is the Cold Hard Fact of the Real World of the Real Estate Industry.

What do I hope to gain from all this blathering? Well not Justice that's for sure. I hope to Stop you from go through what others have gone through. I hope to Stop you from what, I myself have seen and gone through personally.

I could just walk away, quite being a real estate broker, get a new carreer and move on quietly. But that is not my, I am Very good at real estate, however, I cannot stomach the total disregard for the Rights of the Real Estate Consumer before, during and after the real estate transaction. I cannot stomach the commercials, billboards and websites that claim that Realtors are of a Higher Standard and that they are the Voice of Real Estate. The National Association of Realtors need to be stripped of their trademark on "NAR is the Voice for Real Estate". This is propaganda, this is a slogan, a way to pull in the unsuspecting prey, this could be new "Realtors" or the "Real Estate Consumer". Come on over to NAR, we got your back, we are "...the Voice for Real Estate", we constantly lobby against the consumer and there is nothing they can do about it. Join the National Association of Realtors and you to can be of a "Higher Standard".

Ok, Lawsuit Time, Get Out Your Checkbook. Time to Pay the Real Estate Attorney, The Forensics Engineer, the Structural Engineer, the Mechanical Engineer, the CAD designer, the Architect, the Roofing Inspector and lots more "specialists",

Why are Realtors able to just say whatever to make the Sale and not have to prove it? This is somthing that several Realtor Associations I have seen allows, condones,and even encourages, the Top agents get away with ruining your life, it is just the way it is.

Crystal L. Cox
Broker Owner
Real Estate Industry Whistleblower

Crystal L. Cox is a Real Estate industry insider, dedicated to Consumer Protection in Real Estate. She is not out to change laws, to lobby congress or to fight the National Association of Realtors. Crystal L. Cox is bringing information directly to the real estate consumer in an effort to Expose the Real Estate Industry and to Protect the real estate consumer from the lack of accountability among the Realtors and to be One voice out here on the internet to counteract the constant lobbying of Washington Officials against the rights of the Real Estate Consumer. Crystal Believes that the Real Estate Industry is seriously broken and that there is no end in sight to the damage that NAR has done and will do to the real estate consumer and to the member of the National Association of Realtors who are doing right by their clients. NAR does not Stand up for their members who are lied to and deceived by fellow members. NAR does not stand up for the Real Estate Consumer and there is NOT one reason to use a Realtor in your Real Estate Transaction. In Fact, using a Realtor can ensure your Lack of Protection and accountability in your real estate transaction.

Crystal L. Cox is passionate about you not being hurt by the severe flaws of the real estate industry.

A Primer on Selling Your House in a Buyer's Market

The sky is falling. Chicken Little may actually be right this time. And that's not all that's falling. The value of the dollar is falling through the cellar and so are home values. If you've got a $200,000 gem of a piece of property that you're looking to unload, you're probably finding that you're lucky if you can get 75% of that amount. Yeah, things are pretty bad all over. But they don't have to be. See, a lot of this is caused by mindset. Sure, some of it is the buyer's mindset. But some of it is yours too. And THAT is what we're looking to change with this article.

Let's be honest right now. You're thinking that there is no way you're going to sell your home for what it's worth, especially that it's probably been on the market for at least 30 days. Am I right? And your realtor? Forget about it. You're not getting any REAL help there so you're thinking that this is also a waste of your time. Nobody seems to have any answers and you begin to go into a panic. Tell me when I'm off base.

Okay, let's get one thing straight right from the get go. The value of a piece of property is what it's worth to the person who is buying it. Do you REALLY think that if a prospect were to see your home, realize that it was the home of their dreams, that they wouldn't pay you top dollar for it...especially if they thought that somebody else was waiting to snatch it from under them? Hey, they don't have to know that you're having trouble selling your home. It's none of their business. So YOU have to put on a front for that prospect. You need to show your home with confidence and make it very clear that it's going to go fast.

Don't rely on your realtor. Get out there and put your own ads into the marketplace. Don't come up with those lame "Must sell" ads. That just screams desperation and your prospect is going to know that they have you over a barrel. Don't know just what to write? No problem.

Below you will find a review that I think you'll want to read. It will solve ALL your problems as far as getting your house sold. I'm putting my reputation on the line by saying this because I firmly believe in this resource THAT much. It's literally fool proof.

Don't let the buyers walk all over you. You CAN get the price for your home that YOU want.

To YOUR House Selling Success,

Carson T Dyle

Want to sell your house even in a buyers market and get what YOU want for it? Read my other articles on this subject as well as a brief review of a great book with a totally out of the box tactic that WILL get your house sold. You can find it at http://howtosellmyhouse.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-want-to-sell-my-househelp.html

Real Estate Contracts For Wholesaling

To begin with, let's look at the nine steps to successful wholesaling.

1. Build your BUYERS LIST (this is CRITICAL as a 1st step!)

2. Market and ATTRACT Sellers to you

3. Analyze the Opportunities and leads that come to you

4. Negotiate the best possible solution - Make Offer

5. Control the Investment (via written contract or option)

6. Sell the paper or the property (get a buyer contract)

7. Close with your Seller (i.e. "Buy")

8. Deposit Check!

9. Ask the Seller "What are you going to do with your profits?"

Right now lets focus on 4 and 5. What kind of contracts or documentation do you need to invest in real estate as a wholesaler? You will need one of these four or five documents to begin with: Letter of Intent (L.O.I.), Offer to Purchase, Offer to Purchase and Contract, Contract to Purchase, or the Option to Purchase. You may also want to present the "Residential Property Disclosure" and "Lead Based Paint" addendums at this time.

Letters of Intent and Offers to Purchase

The Letter of Intent and Offer to Purchase are both option documents which carry no legal weight. They are simply a means to get your foot in the door so to speak.

Letters of Intent tend to be more popular with commercial property, while the slightly more formal Offer to Purchase is commonly used for residential property. Get the numbers agreed upon first, with the basic terms laid out in a simple outline and if everyone likes what is stated, then draft the contracts.

If no one can agree on the numbers in the Letter of Intent or Offer to Purchase there is just no need to keep beating each other up over the terms, move on. Generally you will want to offer well below the market value for the property, sometimes as little as 50%.

I've gotten some pretty heated callers with the "What is wrong with you? How could you insult me with such a low offer for my house?" calls from these. To which I simply say, "What offer did I put on your Letter? What do you feel your property is worth? etc."

100% of the time I engaged the Seller in a productive conversation, I've even purchased properties that way!

The Contract to Purchase

Once you work out the numbers and terms, you put them in a Contract, both parties sign the final agreement, and you are focused on moving toward the closing, not more talking.

The Contract for the Sale and Purchase of Real Estate is the main legal document used by the Buyer and Seller to establish and agree upon the terms and conditions of the property sale.

When possible, use your state Realtor approved contracts (with modifications, i.e. cross out, change, or add an amendment changing the Assignment paragraph to ALLOW assignments).

Please make sure you get any documents you use in your investing business reviewed by your attorney and approved for your state or the state you are making your offers in.

Each country, state, county, city, etc. has different laws and rules that govern what can and what cannot be done contractually and in real estate investing. Now, the safest way to buy and sell real estate is all cash, using traditional Realtor approved contracts and documents.

You should always try to control the creation of the documents and if you are not able to do so, NEVER sign anything without taking the time to thoroughly review each and every line in full and careful detail (or sign it, and carefully review each and every line during the 72 hour legal review and retraction period (if applicable.)

The final documents we will review are the Option documents. For wholesaling, and many other types of transactions in real estate, these are a favorite among the pro's of creative real estate.

You get an option to purchase from a Seller, you control the property, and if you set it up correctly, you only risk a small Option Fee. I often use less than $100.

Remember that as a wholesaler your goal is to get in and get out quickly while making a nice profit. Options allow you to control property so you can focus on selling it or getting the financing for it or finding a tenant, etc.

To begin making money in real estate contract wholesaling in less than 9 days Click Here Now!

Window Header Framing Problems - Building Problems

As a building contractor it is my job to assemble the house to meet the specifications from the architect and the structural engineer. I do this by looking at the building plans and installing the specified lumber sizes. I can take it upon myself to install a larger size wood beam or window header adding an additional cost to the job of course. I don't think so.

It's not uncommon for a framing contractor that has an additional 5 foot scrap piece of 4 x 8 left over that he now has no use for. He can then choose to use the 4 x 8 instead of a 4 x 6 for the window header. This type of building is common and acceptable.

If the structural engineer calls out for 4 x 6 window and door headers do not take it upon yourself to replace the 4 x 6 with a 4 x 4. I have seen too many framing contractors or carpenters make an on-the-job judgment like this.

A good example would be a single story house with 2 foot wide windows that require a 4 x 6 window header. As the carpenter builds homes over the years he can come to his own conclusion that a 4x4 will work fine for this application. Again keep this in mind as a framing contractor and a carpenter you are assembling the home not designing it.

Do not change the sizes of any headers or beams.

A long time ago carpenters used a standard rule of thumb, you could go up two sizes larger than the window opening for your header. Let me give you an example of what I'm trying to explain.

A 4 foot wide window opening would require a 4 x 6 window header. A 6 foot window opening would require a 4 x 8 window header. This should give you an idea of what I mean by going up two sizes larger than the window opening to figure out the lumber necessary to use for your window header.

This rule of thumb does not necessarily apply in today's building industry. The reason for this is structural changes from earthquake damage. The structural requirements that are required for building a home require a lot more metal bracing and strapping. Therefore some of the lumber requirements for beam sizes and window headers will be different.

This message is for general contractors, framing contractors and carpenters. When installing a window header and you take it upon yourself to change the size you also assume the responsibility if the building fails. This type of mistake is common and you guys know what I'm talking about.

It's not worth it. Keep in mind you are the assembler and not the designer of the building you are working on.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and House Framing Structural Repairs

Home Door Books

Ideas to Clean Your Kitchen Cabinet Easily and Quickly

The kitchen is an essential part for all homes. One can even say that a home is not complete if you don't have one which is well equipped. One of the most important things which make the kitchen complete is the kitchen cabinet. It is very important to have a place for storing things so that the house functions well. You also get a feeling of space if you have a cabinet in the kitchen. It is generally exposed to used smoke, fingerprints, moisture, grease, smudges dust and stains due to regular use. These tend to become a hindrance in the quality of the cabinets and the value also goes down.

For the benefit of your families health it is essential that all parts of it is kept absolutely clear. The kitchen cabinet generally occupies a large portion of the section and you have to take care to keep it clean. For proper maintenance you have to wipe it regularly. This is no doubt essential for the health of the family and also adds to the value of your home.

It may sound a little overwhelming but you should not worry. There are some exceptional ideas listed below which will help in cleaning the kitchen cabinet easily as well as quickly.

Ways to bring back the shine on the cabinet - You just have to rub some lemon oil on the cabinets' surface to bring back the sheen. This will not only make it look better but will also bring back the value which had gone down with the passing of time.

Do not use strong and caustic materials - It is essential to remember that you should not use very strong and acidic cleaners to clean this section of the house or in fact any other part of it as this will spoil the cabinet as well as shorten its life. You can clean the kitchen cabinet with regular soap solution and warm water.

You must clean the top portion also- This is seen with many of us that we just leave the portion we are not able to see. The fact is that it is very essential to clean the top part of the kitchen cabinet prior to cleaning the visible parts. It is in these places that the insects tend to hide and you can use a wet cloth and broom to clean it up. The cabinet can also be cleaned with a solution made from laundry detergent, ammonia, borax and water. It will keep shining and you will not have to keep fighting with the stains and dirt.

Natural cleaners are the best - Your cabinet will not be harmed by cleaning it with natural cleaners very frequently. You can get more information from the manufacturer or from the local hardware store. Find out more tips about cleaning kitchen cabinets at http://kitchencabinets.bestreferenceguide.com

Ideas to Clean Your Kitchen Cabinet Easily and Quickly

The kitchen is an essential part for all homes. One can even say that a home is not complete if you don't have one which is well equipped. One of the most important things which make the kitchen complete is the kitchen cabinet. It is very important to have a place for storing things so that the house functions well. You also get a feeling of space if you have a cabinet in the kitchen. It is generally exposed to used smoke, fingerprints, moisture, grease, smudges dust and stains due to regular use. These tend to become a hindrance in the quality of the cabinets and the value also goes down.

For the benefit of your families health it is essential that all parts of it is kept absolutely clear. The kitchen cabinet generally occupies a large portion of the section and you have to take care to keep it clean. For proper maintenance you have to wipe it regularly. This is no doubt essential for the health of the family and also adds to the value of your home.

It may sound a little overwhelming but you should not worry. There are some exceptional ideas listed below which will help in cleaning the kitchen cabinet easily as well as quickly.

Ways to bring back the shine on the cabinet - You just have to rub some lemon oil on the cabinets' surface to bring back the sheen. This will not only make it look better but will also bring back the value which had gone down with the passing of time.

Do not use strong and caustic materials - It is essential to remember that you should not use very strong and acidic cleaners to clean this section of the house or in fact any other part of it as this will spoil the cabinet as well as shorten its life. You can clean the kitchen cabinet with regular soap solution and warm water.

You must clean the top portion also- This is seen with many of us that we just leave the portion we are not able to see. The fact is that it is very essential to clean the top part of the kitchen cabinet prior to cleaning the visible parts. It is in these places that the insects tend to hide and you can use a wet cloth and broom to clean it up. The cabinet can also be cleaned with a solution made from laundry detergent, ammonia, borax and water. It will keep shining and you will not have to keep fighting with the stains and dirt.

Natural cleaners are the best - Your cabinet will not be harmed by cleaning it with natural cleaners very frequently. You can get more information from the manufacturer or from the local hardware store. Find out more tips about cleaning kitchen cabinets at http://kitchencabinets.bestreferenceguide.com

Contractor In Southern California

So you want to make big money making a living as a contractor in the state of California. Well now I bet you have seen contractors on TV or maybe you know someone who is a contractor. You see these men and women playing the part as Mr. or Mrs. Money bags. If you have the slightest thought that becoming a contractor will provide you with a life of riches think again.

Most contractors that I know and have worked with over the years don't think of there jobs as easy. They have to work everyday and a lot into the night doing estimates or meeting with potential clients because they are to busy during the day. The life of most contractors in the beginning will be difficult to say the least. But if successful you will make a great living for yourself and your family.

Now that we got the false illusion of the contractor answering his cell phone all day at some nice golf course having lunch talking about the money that he just made selling his oil stocks. We can start on reality. If being a contractor was that easy everyone would be a contractor. Right..... Well maybe not everyone.

I have been a contractor for over 22 years and in construction for 30 year. I have seen a lot of changes over the years. I remember when a few contractors that I worked for made a lot of money during the late 1970's. These guys had Ferraris and money to burn with one exception they had no idea how to save any of it. These guys went on vacations and bought extravagant toys for them selves. Out of most of the big framing contractors I worked for about 10 percent are still in business or actually saved their money during the good times so that they could make it through the bad times.

These contractors never thought it was going to end. Life on easy street that is. But it did and most went by the way side. I guess that is the nature of business. Especially the current economic business cycles that we seem to go through over the years. If you don't have the money to advertise or carry a payroll. Your business is going to suffer during the bad times. Sure there is credit and bank loans but you still have to pay that money back. IF you can't save your money stash some away for advertising.

Some of the best advice I can give a contractor anywhere especially in the state of California is " Don't Think The Great Times Of Easy Money Will Last Forever". Save some of the money you make just in case you need to get through the bad times. You will thank me for this latter, Some time down the road. Take this advice and put it into action starting right now.

Greg Vanden Berge has over 30 years of experience in residential home building and remodeling. This provides you with the comfort of knowing that you have a professional with the knowledge and skills to complete your construction projects in a timely manner.

Our low overhead along with our new online estimating system will provide you with the most competitive construction pricing in the area. We continue to educate ourselves about the new home improvement books and building systems in the construction industry. If we have any doubt that something might not work we don't use it. We have found some of these products to be the root of some major home building problems.

Click on the Home Remodeling Ideas to get more information and a possible online estimate for your home improvement project.

Multiple Layers Of Roofing

Is Your Real Estate Agent in a Hurry?

If any of these statements sound familiar to you, it could mean that your real estate agent is either in hurry or doesn't have an answer to your question. Either way, this could lead to an unpleasant relationship.

Have You Ever Heard the Words:

Don't Worry about a Thing, Will Take Care of You.

Come on That Roof Will Last for Another 30 Years.

I Wouldn't Worry about That, That's Easy to Fix.

How Many Times Do I Have To Tell You, It's Not a Problem.

I'm on Your Side, There Won't Be Any Problems.

With a Little Bit of Caulking, You Won't Even Notice It.

Just Plant Some Bushes in Front of It and You'll Never See It.

The Floor Squeaks, That Gives the House Character.

Or What about the Ever Famous, Are You Going to Buy the House or Not.

Are any one of these experiences familiar to you? Don't be afraid to ask your questions again. Be firm when asking, but please don't be rude and if the answers don't sound right ask someone else to verify or ask your real estate professional if they are positive and know for a fact their answer is correct. It's always good to get a second opinion anyway.

You don't need to do business with anyone that will not answer your questions and is always trying to hurry you along. If you sign a purchasing agreement with a real estate professional you're not getting along with, ask them to let you out of the contract.

With no fees of course, there are other ways to purchase a home if your now old real estate agent doesn't want to play fair.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping

If you're having problems with your real estate professional, you might give some thought to look in at some home foreclosures, and then contacting someone to help you, after you have found the home that you are looking for. Some real estate agents can be extremely unhelpful

2 X12 Stair Stringer With 2 X 12

Don't Be Afraid to Hang Things Up

There is something to be said about being able to take advantage of overhead space if you have it available to you. When you are talking about available space in your kitchen, the best thing you can do to maximize your kitchen experience is to use the space wisely. Instead of breaking your back to bend down into your lower cabinets for your cooking utensils, hang them up by using lovely pot racks! They're a great choice for adding to your kitchen space.

Reaching up for your favorite non-stick pan or a copper pot that you would like to use is obviously much easier than rummaging through drawers, pantries or cabinets. By having the pots and pans that you use the most hanging above your cooking space using pot racks, then you can simply reach up and grab for one whenever you may need it.

Besides, some of the styles of pot racks are so incredible, you are pretty much adding to the beauty of your kitchen and cooking space at the same time! For instance, you can get one crafted from hammered steel with a simple and stunning design that is perfect addition to just about any kitchen. What will put this piece's look over the top though is the way that it can be finished and there are actually quite a few different choices to choose from including something that is polished with a bright look, something a little more on the subdued side with a brushed finish, and there are even ones that can have an antique like oil looking finish.

What's really nice about pot racks is that they are pretty easy to install since normally included with one is absolutely everything that you need in order to hang it up with very little assembly required. Before you know it, you will be picking out your favorite, most used pots and pans to hang them up on one of the twelve angled hooks that come with it so they will be right where you need them. And, if you want more spots to hang your pots and pans, you can always purchase more angled hooks to get the job done.

One great way to find just the right pot racks for your kitchen space is to simply flip on that computer of yours and do some online shopping. Once on the Internet, you will see how you can browse all the online stores and their product offerings with ease. When you do happen upon something that you like, it generally will be at a pretty reasonable price and it will be shipped right to your home. So, you don't even have to spend time and money by leaving your home, now that is pretty convenient.

In the end, pot racks are just a practical selection that would be a great way to store your pots and pans in your kitchen. Plus, they'll add a decorative element to it as well. So, what are you waiting for? Get your's today so you can install it and start using it tomorrow.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops including http://www.gourmetdecorstore.com that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it's your living, bedroom, or even your deck or patio, there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful. Today, she offers advice on how to create a fabulous indoor area by using luxurious dining furniture. One is just the thing to cap off the look of your space.

Interior Painting - Home Tips

If you've ever moved into a new house, one of the first things you want to do is get painted in your style. Ideally you get access to the house before you move in so you can paint it all prior to the furntiure arriving. It's hard to tell which colors go with what and if you are not an interior designer, it could make sense to contact a designer or a painting company and see if you can get a color consultation.

Make sure to establish up front if you can get a free consultation or if you have to pay for their time. If you have a friend than can make a recommendation on a designer, go with that. It's always best to get a first hand account of someone skills then going blindly into the phone book and picking the first person that comes along.

If you decide on your colors, you then need to determine what type of paint is best for your walls, ceiling and trim. Some people like to use oil based paints for their look and sheen, but be careful, oil based paints can take days to cure and will leave the area smelling very strongly for a while. Most people choose water or latex based paints as they don't smell as bad as oil and you can often get a very similar and professional look for your place.

If you decide to do it yourself, make sure you have all the proper equipment, brushes, rollers, ladders and a sprayer would be great if you could get your hands on one. Alternatively you can find a contractor to take care of it, that might be your best bet if you're working a 9-5 job and have very little time left over for home improvement projects.

Choosing the right color is important, so is picking the right Interior Painter. We are a professional Seattle Home Painter and can offer you a free consultation, contact us today!

Stair Building

Tuckpointing - Home Tips

Tuck pointing is a growing industry. It has been around for thousands of years, but has become much more popular in the past ten years. This has spawned a number of innovations.

Originally, brick/stone masons would hammer and chisel out the mortar as needed. Then rinse away their dust allowing the new mortar to stick. After preparing the cracks for re-pointing, these masons would mix up new mortar to replace the old cracked mortar. At this point, they used a hopper or a trowel to hold their mortar, and a pointing trowel or a tuck-pointing trowel to push the mortar into the chiseled mortar-joint. After allowing the mortar to dry to a proper texture, these mortar-joints are tooled and brushed clean.

In todays market, tuck pointing is considerably different. We no longer have to hammer and chisel the mortar-joints to open the cracks up for repair. Most companies use an angle grinder fitted with a diamond-carbide blade prepared for the purpose of removal of the mortar. This innovation allows us to cut the mortar-joints out deeper and faster than had typically been done prior. This depth is about to of an inch deep, and allows for a better bond into the wall. This still requires the dust to be rinsed away to improve the ability to stick or bond in. In recent years, the new mortars are blended to match the original mortar of the masonry work. Note that not all companies are offering Custom Color Matched Mortars. (For companies that offer the Custom Color Matched Mortar System copy and paste this in your search bar). We also no longer need to use the pointing-trowel or tuck pointer to install the new mortar. This industry has adopted a tool used for grouting tile. It is called a grout bag, and it allows for more speed and accuracy when injecting the new mortars/grout into the mortar-joints. The mortar is still allowed to dry to a desired texture, then tooled and brushed clean.

Each of these new tools and processes has made this service faster, stronger, and more desirable.
There are books and other reports available at http://alamomasonryrepair.com/products.htm which will help you to locate quality contractors in your area or guide you through the process of doing the project yourself.

James Nech is a Masonry Repair Contractor in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. His company has repaired thousands of homes restoring them to their original beauty. When he is not repairing Brickwork or other masonry he can be found talking or writing about it. For more articles on brick repair visit his website at http://www.alamomasonryrepair.com

Wood Stair Cleats Problems - Stairway Remodeling

I would imagine most people don't even know what it wood stair cleat is, in construction we have so many words that describe the same thing. A stair cleat is another word for a thread bracket. In other words it's the part of the stairway that connects the stair stringer to the stair step. These have been used for years and over time, most of them will develop the same problem.

Most wood stair cleats loosened up and create a safety hazard. If the stairs are located outside in extreme weather conditions, for example, if it rains or snows a lot, extremely humid humid weather, or extremely hot and dry temperatures, your staircase might not last that long, if it is or isn't maintained properly. It's not a bad idea to use steel or concrete for stairways in these climates.

If you're ever walking up a set of stairs with wood cleats and the stair steps feel a little loose or wiggly, make sure you examined the stair cleats for safety. It's not uncommon for someone to be walking up or down a set of wood stairs and having the stair step or tread giveaway because the wood cleats has loosened.

If the wood stair cleats are nailed to the stair stringer, the nails can loosen up, causing it to become loose, as you walk up and down the stairs applying pressure to the stair cleat, this will create movement in between the stair step and the stair stringer. This could cause the cleat to crack, break and separate the connection between the stair step in the stair stringer.

I would suggest using metal brackets instead of wood cleats. The metal brackets will not crack or disintegrate like some wood cleats. Stair building brackets of course can loosen up and should be maintained regularly.

If you decide to use wood stair cleats, I would suggest using screws instead of nails and drilling holes in the wood stair cleats, most of the time this will prevent cracking the cleat. Try to use a thicker material for the stair cleat, for example using a 2 x 4 with lag screws and washers would be better than using a 1 x 4 with nails.

If you're walking up a set of stairs and a stair step feels loose, contact the owner of the property and let them know, they have a problem with their staircase.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more stair building books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Dirty Brick Wall

Online Home Insurance Tips

UK home insurance might be worth considering when you give thought to how much you could lose if in the worst case your home and contents were destroyed, say as the result of fire. While no one likes to consider these possibilities these things can and do happen and without insurance you could lose everything built up in your home, along with the property itself.

When considering UK home insurance you have two choices over the cover you may want to take out. The first is home contents insurance and the second is buildings insurance. If you were thinking of taking out both forms of insurance you would get them cheaper if you took contents and buildings insurance together. Buildings insurance is a necessity as the mortgage lender will not approve your mortgage unless you protect the shell of your home. Contents insurance is not mandatory; however it could save you a great deal of financial stress if you were to lose the contents of your home.

Usually contents insurance would protect any items in your home that you would be able to take with you if you should decide to move home. This could include your furniture, computer equipment and even clothing in your wardrobes. Usually contents insurance would protect your contents against such as fire, theft, vandalism and damage due to flood. You might also be protected against accidental damage but you would need to check the small print of any policy you may be considering as some providers might ask you pay extra for this.

Buildings insurance would protect the outer shell of your home along with anything that you would not be able to take with you if you were to sell your home and move. This could include such as pathways, garden shed, garage and boundary walls. It also included items in the home that are none removable such as fitted wardrobes, bathrooms and a fitted kitchen.

When considering taking out home insurance you would have to give some thought to the exclusions and limitations which are to be found in all insurance policies. For instance certain items may not be protected such as expensive jewellery or collections, again the only way you might know of these is checking in the small print of the cover.

There are ways you might be able to save on UK home insurance. For instance the safer your home is seen to be the cheaper the premiums may be for insurance. Therefore if you consider paying out initially for security devices such as door and window locks or an alarm you could make savings and recoup the cost of the payout. Enclosing your home with fencing or shrubbery can also make a difference to how much you would pay for the insurance. Where you live can also make a difference as to how much you would pay for the insurance. If you live in an area prone to flooding then you could expect to pay out more in premiums if you have flood insurance included in your policy.

David Thomson is Chief Executive of BestDealInsurance an independent specialist broker dedicated to providing their clients with the best insurance deal on their home insurance, car and life insurance

Room Additions Requirements

Having My Basement Barber Carpet Professionally Cleaned

Well it's finally done. My basement carpet was cleaned professionally today and it looks much better. So much better than I dearly wish I'd done this right away when the damage happened. The delay resulted in some imperfections that may never be completely fixed, and if we'd attended to the water problem right away it could have been cleaned back to original condition. Unfortunately I still have some left over mildew stains in the deep ruts where the heavy furniture sat.

The good news is that those deep creases will eventually relax and I can use a concentrated color safe bleach solution combined with my hand held steam cleaner to continually work to get those mildew stains to come out. The pros thought it would eventually come out with repeated bleaching efforts. They did a fabulous job on everything else. The rust stains are gone, the carpet is actually its original color again, and I had no idea how dirty it had become. It was fascinating to see the line between what they had cleaned and what was still dirty. That "off white" colored carpet was actually gray and I hadn't even noticed!

Berber is known for being a very tight weave and can really take a beating. I agree. However, I wouldn't recommend putting it in your basement like we did. Since it does have that tight weave it holds water really well and can make the cleaning process a lot tougher. It would be great in areas that won't be prone to water damage.

Berber is very soothing for some people. Even though there were some stained areas I still felt warmer and more secure somehow just because the floor was covered in berber. It's a very solid, firm carpet, but with a thick pad underneath is also very cushiony. I like it. And I like it even more now that it's clean!

For more information on cleaning berber carpet please see our website.

Building A Room Addition

Home Owner's Insurance - Flooding

About 20,000 communities have agreed to tighter zoning and building measures to control floods, reports FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). This is due to the fact that flooding is the most prevalent natural disaster and the basic home owner's insurance policy does not cover flooding.

The biggest investment most Americans would have is their home, so isn't it wisdom to protect that investment? Home owner's insurance policy is a compulsory requirement before mortgagors would consider your application and the insurance amount must at least cover the loan. But that is not enough; if you live in an area that is prone to floods then you need to get a separate cover for flood.

The location of your home determines whether you are insurable. Most beach front or ocean side homes (especially those that are in areas that are prone to hurricanes) are considered uninsurable. So you have to bear this in mind as you seek to purchase that beautiful home by the sea side or beach front.

Most communities are now involved in NFIP (National flood Insurance Policy). This makes it easier for residents in that community to buy flood insurance. So check in your community and find out whether they have such plans.

Sometimes flood victims who do not have flood insurance can receive federal aid. But this is a loan that is payable with interest and this happens only if the President declares them a national disaster.

The interest on this loan is about 4% and at the end of the day you pay more than if you had bought a flood insurance policy.

According to NFIP a loan of $50,000 would require monthly payments of $240 which is $2,880 per year for 30 years. Whereas your $100,000 flood insurance premium is $33 a month which is $500 per year.

So considering the above, the best thing for you to do is to buy a flood insurance policy. Bear in mind that there is awaiting period for every insurance policy, so do not wait until there is warning of a disaster before running off to buy one.

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Chisomeje Odimba writes for Quality-Insurance-4-Less.

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Home Insurance Policy For Flood-Prone Areas

For residents who live near the coastlines or along rivers and lakes, flooding will be more of a problem than ever. It is the same case with people who live in low-lying areas or near dams. Cleaning up after floods and repairing the damages they left costs a considerable amount of money. Unfortunately, most traditional home insurance policies list flood damages in their exclusions so the homeowners will have to shoulder all the expenses themselves.

In recent years though, there have been a notable increase in the number of insurance policies that offer flood protection. Thanks to the United States government and the National Flood Insurance Program, homeowners who live in flood-prone areas will now be able to get a home insurance policy that can really help protect them and their homes.

A typical flood protection home insurance policy has considerably higher premiums that any other traditional home insurance policy. If you ask around for home insurance policy quotes, you will see that most policies with flood protection will cost an additional $500 to $1,000 in your annual premium, depending on the exact location of your home.

But if you ask anyone who has experienced flooding in the past, they will tell you that the additional amount is more than worth it especially if it can cover the expenses in rebuilding and refurnishing their home. Most of these flood insurance policies can give you up to $150,000 in claims for an average-cost home. The actual amount will depend on the assessed value of your home.

Flooding actually will not cause much structural damage to a home especially if the walls are made of concrete and if the flood subsides quickly. But a home insurance policy is necessary to cover the damages done to the interiors of the house as well as the non-structural items such as furniture and appliances. This is the expensive part since almost all of these items will be damaged and will need to be replaced.

Finding a Homeowner Insurance policy that will cover flood damages will still be quite tough but it's not as impossible as it was before. Who knows, maybe your own insurance company already offers this option. You can start by asking them so you can just add the flood protection to your existing home insurance policy. This will save you the trouble of taking out a new home insurance policy from other companies. You may even be able to save a bit on the premium since you already hold an existing home insurance policy with the company.

If your existing home insurance policy does not have such optional add-ons, you can search the internet for other companies that offer flood protection.

You can also find more info on Homeowner Insurance. http://www.Homeownerinsurancebliss.com is a comprehensive resource which provide information about home insurance

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Remodeling Books Save Time and Money - Home Improvement

The other day, I was surfing the Internet and came upon an online home building bookstore that put together a website with the best-selling home building books on the market today. These books range from basic carpentry to advanced structural engineering and everything else you could possibly think of that could be related to the home building, selling, remodeling and construction process.

I couldn't believe the simple and easy to use. Here's a list of some of their books selections.

Photo Guide to Home Repair - The most up-to-date, complete, and useful guide to home repair a homeowner can have. With more than 350 projects and 2300 photos, virtually every home repair challenge.

Exterior Siding, Trim & Finishes - This first ever compilation by Fine Homebuilding on the popular subject provides builders with ideas for choosing the correct finishes for home exteriors, plus solid how-to information.

Flipping Houses - This book is designed for realty investors who want to profit from buying below market, making cosmetic improvements to add value, and then quickly reselling.

Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling a bathroom is a challenge - it's action-oriented and requires extra energy and stamina. But you, undoubtedly, realize it's a challenge you want to take on.

One $20 home building books or home repairs book, can save you lots of money, if you're willing to do a little research and the labor to complete almost any home building project.

By the way, if you're interested in learning how to repair a roof, build your own house, interior decorating, structural engineering, building a deck, gathering some more information about home painting or even remodeling your bathroom. Our online home building bookstore can save you money if you're willing to do the work.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping

If your looking for some more House Remodeling Pictures or home building ideas

Introduction to Solar Power

Solar power is the main source of energy for the humane beings. Life on earth cannot exist without solar energy. This energy is completely free for the human beings to consume and is also environmental friendly. Solar energy is now considered to be the biggest alternative of the current source of producing electricity. The main reason is that sources like burning fuel, coal, gas or nuclear energy to produce electricity is becoming expensive and also is very harmful to the environment. But solar energy on the other hand is completely free and very effective. We have only been able to harvest 1-3 percent of the solar energy that comes to the earth. If we look at the figures we find that.

1. The total amount of earth reserves responsible for producing energy are equivalent to only 20 days of sunlight.
2. 40 minutes of sunlight if harvested completely can produce energy for the entire planet for a time period of 1 year.
3. We are only harvesting 2-3 % of this energy which isnt very good.

Solar cells or photovoltaic cells are used to convert solar energy into electricity. These cells are basically made up of silicon alloys and are on panels which capture energy form the sun. sunlight contains photons which when hit the surface of the cells gets reflected pr absorbed, these absorbed particles are the one responsible for providing you with the energy. When more photons hit the surface they allow the materials surface atoms to release electrons. When these electrons leave there position they form a hole. When many electrons leave the surface, this creates a negative and positive voltage potential similar to that of the terminals of the battery. When this surface is connected with external devices they produce electricity.

Solar cells dont produce too much power out. These cells are connected to modules which form arrays. These arrays can be made up of ten or hundreds of modules each one producing a considerable amount of energy. There is no restriction on the amount of modules; you can connect as many as you want to according to your need. The performance of these modules depends upon the amount of sunlight, weather condition and location of the panels. The energy provided by these modules is in DC form and can only run small appliances but if you need more power than an inverter is connected to the modules which converts this DC power into AC power. Initially these cells were made to provide electricity in remote areas but now they are even used for providing electricity to residential and commercial areas.

Solar cells are also long life lasting, having a low cost and are environmental friendly as they dont produce a by products. Use of solar power is also very effective way for generating electricity. You are using natural source of energy to fulfill you own needs. As time will pass solar power will become the main source of energy for the human beings.

Solar Power is a solution for your budget and the growing danger of global warming, learn more about Solar Energy at http://powersolarsystem.com

Five Things Everyone Should Know Before Buying a Home

A few years ago, a home buyer could almost buy the first home they looked at and be assured that it would be worth more when it came time to sell. In today's real estate market, you have to be a more savvy buyer, you need to be more selective in what you buy, and where. In short, you need to know more now before you jump into a purchase. Here are five things you need to know, and do, before you purchase your first, or next, home.

• Know your Options for Financing

Bad financing has burned many a buyer in the last couple of years. Your Realtor can refer you to a number of reputable home loan professionals in the area, home loan companies that have been around for a long time and will be here for years to come. If you have a loan representative help you determine how much you can afford, it will save you a lot of frustration and wasted time. There are dozens of loan programs available. Discuss your needs and objectives with your loan professional. Review the loans and rates available in your area, and based on your income and existing debt, determine how much you can afford. You need to make an informed decision about which loan is right for you today, and in the long term. Things to consider include: First Time Buyers programs, Government backed loan programs, Down Payment options, Locking in the Interest Rate, length of escrow, and direct payment options.

• Understand What A Buyers Agent Does

The buyers agent works for you, and represents your best interests. Your agent should provide you with a Buyers Representation Agreement, which clearly outlines what the agent will do and how you will be represented. In most cases the representation of the buyers agent will not require payment from you, as the buyers agent is paid out of the commission charged to the seller of the house that you buy. Ask your Realtor for details on what a buyers agent does for their clients.

• Know What Affects the Value of Homes

Real Estate is a major investment. Things change, neighborhoods change. People move more frequently today than they have in the past. You have surely heard it before, but the most important thing affecting the value of a home is LOCATION! Some other things to consider include: Is the neighborhood being kept up or is it slipping? How is the home in relation to others in the area? Is the home the smallest home in a neighborhood of big homes, or the most expensive home in a neighborhood of cheaper homes? How might things change in the future? Those open lots behind your home, are they zoned to become a park, a school, a convenience store, or more homes? How has the area appreciated? What is the future potential? Are there any environmental issues with the ground water? Any history of flooding? These are the kind of questions you need answered before signing on the dotted line. Which leads us to...

• Have a Professional Home Inspection

Sometimes called a "Whole House Inspection", it can be written into your offer on the home that the offer price is based on the successful results of the home inspection. If the inspector finds a defect, the owner will have to fix it, or you can negotiate a modification to the price. If you can't work it out with the seller, you do not have to proceed with the transaction. By having a professional "Whole House Inspection" you might save yourself thousands of dollars and many hours of frustration from future problems with the house. There are also available home warranties that a buyer can purchase. These cover the appliances in the home and other items for the first year after you buy the home. This allows you to relax knowing that if anything goes wrong with the house after you move in, it will be taken care of. Ask your realtor for details.

• Know How the Purchase Will Affect Your Taxes and your Household Budget

There are many tax benefits to owning a home including deduction of mortgage interest and loan points in certain instances. Check with your tax advisor or accountant to make sure you understand them. You need to know the effects on your taxes and budget before you buy the home to prevent surprises later on. The tax laws change frequently, so get the latest updates. And how will your new monthly mortgage payment impact your overall household budget. You may have to adjust your spending habits in order to adapt.

Don't go into the home purchase without being armed with the facts. It could cost you thousands of dollars!

Vicki Walker is a Realtor in Davis, California. She represents buyers of Homes in Davis, CA She has been a Yolo County Realtor for over 12 years and enjoys writing articles about the business of Real Estate.

Helpful Habit Planning Tips

Pre-Purchase House and Pest Inspection - Why You Need It

House Inspection Services, otherwise known as Home Inspection Services, is an objective visual examination of the house performed by certified professional inspector and/or engineer for assessment purposes. It involves the analysis on every component of the house as well as each major system which includes the structure, roofing, heating, insulation, electrical, air conditioning/heating, interior and exterior as well as the property as a whole.

Pre-purchase house inspection is ideal not only for the buyer of the property but for the seller as well. For house buyers, House Inspection means no surprises after signing the dotted lines and settlement of payment that could undermine the joy of finding your dream house. House sellers, on the other hand, are given the opportunity to make the most of their investment by having the option to address certain features of the house that require repair in order to increase the house's market value.

Finding the house of your dreams can be quite exciting that some home shoppers may be tempted to rush into buying the property only to find their dream turn into nightmare that empties their pockets dry. Through pre-purchase house inspection, you are given the assurance that you will indeed enjoy the dream house you are about to purchase by making an informed decision. You will have the assurance on the safety of the structure and that all the major systems of the house are operative and sound. Moreover, you have an idea on how soon can you expect repair expenses to occur so you can prepare accordingly.

The house inspection report serves as a valuable marketing tool for house sellers and assurance for buyers that they are getting their money's worth in the purchase.

by Giselle Sanchez - Freelance property writer. If you are in Victoria, you can get a free pre purchase house inspection with Victorian House Inspections.

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How to Choose a Real Estate Agent

One of the most important financial decisions you will ever make is buying or selling a home. Amazingly, few people give finding the right real estate agent much thought. Many times an agent is chosen because of the recommendation from a friend or relative or from an ad in the newspaper. Taking time to select the right agent to meet your needs can save you aggravation and effort in finding a new home or selling your home quickly.

Just picking up the phone book and choosing a real estate agent based on their yellow pages ad is just as smart as choosing a brain surgeon by the same method. Once you make the announcement that you are ready to buy or sell a home, you may be surprised at the number of people who want to represent you. You won't have to worry about finding an agent; you only have to worry about finding a good agent.

Most people are totally backward in the process. They pick up the phone and call about a house they are interested in and from that point on, they are joined at the hip to an agent who may or may not be any good. You have no way of knowing if they are indifferent to your needs, or maybe very new in the business. The only thing you know for a certainty is they are capable of answering a telephone. Find an agent before you find a house.

This is especially important if you are selling a house. Your house is the most valuable thing you own, so it is imperative that you find an agent your can trust. This agent has a tremendous responsibility to you and a tremendous duty--a duty of trust and confidence.

Where to Start?

Asking friends and family for suggestions is a place to start, but don't hire an agent solely on their recommendations. Don't choose an agent based on their personality alone.

The best way to proceed is to choose an agency first and then ask them to suggest a couple of the top agents. Stick with the person you choose. If you see a sign in front of a house with an agent listed, their responsibility will be to the seller first and you, the buyer, second. Let your agent know which property you are interested in and allow them to take over from that point.

What to Consider

Your real estate agent or broker must be licensed by the state to sell real estate. Choosing an agent that is a Realtor means that person is also licensed by the National Association of Realtors and therefore must abide by a strict code of ethics.

• Avoid dual agencies in which the agency represents the buyer and the seller. It is impossible to be equally represented.

• Choose an agent that handles homes in your price range.

• Choose an agent who listens to what you want and who will take the time to explain things you do not understand. You are paying for their time, so allow them to earn their money and ask the hard questions.

• It is important to choose an agent who is available on your time schedule. If you are only available to look at homes on Sunday, and your agent doesn't work that day, then find one to accommodate you and not the other way around.

• Make sure your agent can assist you with other services, such as arranging a house inspection, refer you to qualified lending professionals who will assist you with needs, and find real estate attorneys.

• If you are buying a home, interview the prospective agent just as if you were hiring them for a job, because you are! Ask questions. Take notes. Interview several agents before making your decision.

• If you are selling your home, ask about the agent's marketing plan. If they are offering just an MLS listing, they are not earning their commission. Make a list of questions and ask every potential agent the same set of questions so you can compare apples to apples. Ask them to explain the market conditions. Ask what makes them different from other agents. Ask why you should choose them. Ask about their firm. Ask for the names and phone numbers of former clients and once you get this list, use it.

The agents at Nancy Chandler Associates are among the best in the Hampton Roads and Tidewater area of Virginia. Whether you are buying a home or selling, the agents in this firm put you first. These professionals listen when you speak and will not steer you wrong. Contact Nancy Chandler Associates at (757) 436-5500. Nancy Chandler serves Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk and Portsmouth in the Hampton Roads and Tidewater areas of Virginia.

Karen Vertigan Pope writes for Ciniva Systems, an award winning Virginia web design company. Ciniva specializes in web design and SEO. Ms. Vertigan Pope is an SEO Specialist with Ciniva. Ciniva Systems is in charge of SEO for Nancy Chandler Associates.

Creating A Habit

Building a New Home Basics

Building

Building a house is a complicated project and utilizes dozens of subcontractors, workers and suppliers. Building or supervising a construction project requires a minimum of knowledge, but equally important, a tried-and-true method. Keep in mind that home design, plans and homebuilding can be quite time consuming, and may be quite a strain on you and your family if you try to do too much yourself. It is a big job in itself just to do the new home plans, oversee construction and deal with the numerous, sometimes complex, situations involved in home designs and housebuilding. Plans for every aspect of building your home is the key to a successful project.

Project

Plans for every aspect of building your home is the key to a successful project. With good blue prints, by the time construction begins, you should be able to supervise the project from in front of your TV. You want to be very clear about the overall costs to ensure that you can afford to finish and maintain your project.

Finding Contractors

Unless you are buying a house that is already standing or in a subdivision tract, you will most likely need to choose and employ the services of an architect and/or builder. Individuals who perform the function of a builder are often referred to as Owner Builders. Here are the things you must know in order to be on equal footing with your home builder: How to avoid the model home trap used by every big builder. How to prevent your builder's assembly line construction techniques from getting in the way of the quality and craftsmanship you deserve. How to discover if your new home builder is telling the truth about claims of superior quality and customer satisfaction. How to prevent damaging mold growth that has become common in new homes. The tactics used by new home sales people to "up-sell" and persuade you to unnecessarily spend thousands of extra dollars. How your builderys attorneys are working overtime to make sure they have the upper hand.

Cost

By acting as your own general contractor you can expect to save from 15 to 40percent on the cost homebuilding. How much a house costs, how it looks, how comfortable it is, how energy-efficient it is--all these things occur on paper before you pick up even one tool. The result is houses end up being more costly and less energy-efficient than they should be. It is important to estimate how much it is going to cost you to buy the land and build the house.

As mentioned in order to build a new home you need to be organized and patient. Make sure you look at the Building Home Checklist. This is a must have tool considering building a new home.

Wishing you the best

http://CBMalls.BlogSpot.Com
The leading iMall for all of your informational needs.

Sean McAlister is a leading marketing and sales professional with over 15 years in the industry. A leading and trusted resource for product reviews and product research.