Tips For Pricing Your Home

If you have decided to put your home on today's market and are looking for a fast and profitable sale, you may be wondering how you should price your home. If you price it too high, you may see your home on the market for a while to come. If you price it too low, you may not get the profits that you are looking for. In any case, asking yourself a few simple questions can help you know how to price your Alabama real estate so that you have the fastest sale, while making the most money.

What are the homes in the area selling for? Do some research in the way of homes for sale in your neighborhood. Not only will their prices affect your own, but the number of homes on the market will also affect how you need to price yours. You should know what other homes are going for, and if they are selling at those prices.

Does your home need repairs? If your home is in disarray and needs a new furnace, you won't be able to ask top dollar for it. Often, it is more profitable to make any repairs and then place the home on the market, rather than ignoring them. Chances are the buyer will notice and want the repairs done, or a discount on the asking price.

Pricing your home may be daunting. If you still have questions, contact an experienced realtor who can help you maximize your home's worth.

RE/MAX of Alabama (http://www.remax-alabama.com) is a real estate brokerage that specializes in Alabama real estate. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

Reasons Why You Might Want to Use a Realtor

While looking for a home in today's market, you may be looking for places to cut costs in your job hunt and in the price of the home. You may think a good place to cut costs is to represent yourself and be your own real estate agent. But beware.

The real estate market is tricky, and deciding to go it alone may not be the best idea. A well-trained and qualified Realtor can help you in more ways than just finding you properties to see, and you'll probably regret trying to go without.

A good Realtor can save you time by searching the market for you, so you don't have to, and only finding homes that you would be interested in. Although you could look online or in your local classifieds, Realtors have access to other avenues of finding properties for sale. They might have tips from old contacts, or even homes that they are representing the seller on.

A realtor can also negotiate a better price for you. If you are hoping to drive a hard bargain, a realtor is truly your agent working for you with the seller. He or she knows the market and the amount of money a home is worth, so leave it to them to snag you a bargain.

Finally, they can walk you through the contract and mortgage phase of purchasing a home. Both of these are complicated and confusing, and your realtor can answer any questions and facilitate these components of home buying.

RE/MAX of New Jersey (http://www.remax-nj.com) is a real estate brokerage that has New Jersey Realtors. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

Easy Way to Repair a Large Hole in Your Wall

Great video on how to fix a hole in your wall .

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 home inspection or home building ideas.

Basement Wall Staining

Will a Credit Repair Guide Help Me?

A credit repair guide can provide step-by-step instructions on how to improve your credit. Using such a guide will provide the knowledge needed to confidently begin the process of restoring your credit. A guide is like a map to direct you to your ultimate goal of credit repair.

Have you every tried to get somewhere without a map? Sometimes you can get lost and waist valuable time without one. A map gives you valuable direction and ideas if you have an obstacle to go around. Use of the map gave you the confidence you will reach your destination as planned.

Well, much like that map, when you begin to work on restoring your credit, a credit repair help guide or map, if you will, will greatly improve your success in this endeavor as well as save you valuable time. A quick search of the internet will lead you to many websites which will provide you with a bad credit repair guide. Some of these guides are provided free of charge and some require a nominal fee to purchase the information.

A credit repair help guide can come in many different forms. For instance, while searching the internet, I found credit repair guides which could be downloaded directly from the internet, as well as guides in book and CD form. The form you use is a matter of personal preference so choose the format which works best for you.

Most, if not all, bad credit repair guide programs provide you with:

• useful and valuable information;
• step-by-step instructions;
• form letters; and,
• helpful tips.

Reviewing and utilizing this information should give you the knowledge to begin the process and allow you to confidently follow through in an organized and systematic manner. The form letters, if included, will help you get the process rolling sooner than if you had to compose the letters yourself.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) should be a part of any credit repair help guide you choose. The FCRA outlines your legal rights and was enacted with the underlying idea that all individuals should have the opportunity of a second chance at financial freedom. Be sure to read and understand your legal rights under the FCRA!

One thing to watch out for is the promise to help you create a new credit file. Beware of this promise! It is illegal and, if detected, you may find yourself in trouble with governmental officials! Under no circumstances should you attempt to create a new credit file!

Please note that I am not suggesting or recommending any specific program or software. I am merely suggesting that this would be a good way to begin your "travel" of restoring your credit. What format you do or do not use is entirely up to you!

As a good map can give you valuable guidance, so a good credit repair guide can help you achieve your goal of better credit. So, experience the good travel you have always wanted (financially speaking!) and get started!

Save time, money and mistakes. Mr. Ragan has 24 years helping people reach their goals. Construction, buying foreclosures, real estate investing,first time home buyers finding a mortgage and doing your own credit repair
Feel free to visit his website with hundreds of pages and free reports.

Cellulous Attic Insulation

Improve Your Home to Get Out of Negative Equity

With property prices continuing to fall more and more people are facing negative equity which is where your house is worth less than the mortgage you have on it. Rather than sitting and waiting for the market to improve there are ways out of this problem like improving your home to get the value back up. The way to do this is to maximise the space without spending too heavily.

There are many different ways of improving your that will add value and converting the loft is one option. If you convert your loft into an extra bedroom you instantly add value to your home and the cost can start from around 8000 but could easily be doubled. You could be adding at least 20,000 to the value of your property so it is well worth the initial payout.

Another option is installing an ensuite bathroom for one or more of your bedrooms. The master bedroom is the best option and according to the Nation Association of Estate Agents this could add up to 5% value to your home.

With large kitchen and dining space in demand you could easily add value by extending your kitchen. This can be quite costly though so make sure you get quite a few quotes before going ahead.

Garage conversions are an excellent way of adding space and value to a home and can cost as little at 5000. If you never use your garage but tend to use it as a dumping ground why not make use of this space and turn it into a games room or an extra bedroom. If you are lucky enough to have a double garage you could convert just half of it keeping the other half as a garage.

Another option would be to have your garden landscaped. You could do this yourself if you're not afraid of getting your hands dirty. There are plenty of gardening programmes and magazines that could give you some inspiration and advice.

Remember all of these home improvements will benefit you and your family while we all crawl out of the credit crunch. What better way of adding value to your home than improving it.

Finding a reputable building company is foremost in most people's mind when thinking of having an extension or improvements to the home. With so many cowboys around it's difficult to know if the company you choose is going to do you a cost effective professional job. The best builders are those that are recommended to you but if you don't have any recommendations you will have to do a bit of ground work. You could look though the yellow pages but this just gives you phone numbers which could be anybody. The best bet is to look online and search for local companies. Legitimate building companies will have nothing to hide, they will show their address and phone numbers and have pictures of recently completed work. Testimonials are always good to look for and if you think they have been made up, ask the company for a recent customers contact details so you can phone and speak to someone who recently used the company.

For Builders in Derby that offer Garage Conversions and Kitchen Renovations visit Building Solutions Midlands.

Ceramic Tile Shower Pan Damage

Basement Designs for Low Ceilings

When designing your basement, the ceiling height can play a large factor, especially when the ceiling is low. Basements with low ceilings pose some design problems. To begin with, the area can easily start to take on the appearance of a cave. Much like vaulted ceilings make an area feel larger than it is; the amount of space may appear much smaller because of low ceiling height. Here are a few basement designs for low ceilings.

There are a few things that can be done to open the area and help to keep your basement from resembling a cave. One easy way is the use of light. If you have low ceilings you should work on opening up the area and making it lighter and brighter. Upward light will give the basement a larger appearance. Table and floor lamps do a great job of brightening up the space and making it appear larger.

Wall sconces can help if they are installed correctly. You should be careful when choosing installation height. These need to aim the light at the ceiling to open up the area. Since they shine upwards, you do not want them aimed just under your eye level, obviously, because that would be irritating. A wall sconce should be at a height that will place the light above your eye level. If the ceiling is too low to accommodate this then sconces shouldnt be installed.

Fluorescent lighting can make a basement appear dimmer and more cave like and should be avoided. Recessed lighting within the ceiling draws attention to the low ceiling and makes the area appear more confined.

Where possible, you will want to open the area up and make it appear more spacious to make up for the low ceiling. A more open look with furniture being placed around the perimeter instead of placing furnishings in the middle of the room gives a more spacious appearance. Small cozy groupings of furniture in the corners work well for recreation rooms. Any arrangement that will leave the center of the floor open, allowing guests to easily scan the rooms contents, will give it a larger appearance and make up for the low ceiling.

Dark paint will not go well with the low ceiling. You should choose a light color for your walls. Where possible, windows are another area that should be taken advantage of as much as possible. Use light window treatments that do not smother the light or block the window from view. Window treatments could include stationary draperies and a valance to dress the window without covering it up. If needed for privacy, mini blinds can be installed.

Mirrors can open up a basement and make it look like there is more space. Placing mirrors on the wall gives the appearance of increased depth to a room. Placing mirrors on opposite sides of the room, so that the image of one mirror appears in the other, draws your eyes from the ceiling and gives a never ending look to the room.

Avoid hanging anything from the ceiling. This will draw attention to the low ceiling and make the area appear much smaller and more confined. You do not want to hang lights from your ceiling either, not only will they draw attention to the low ceiling but you may bump your head on them.

Visit us for more information on how to design a home theatre in a basement, creative basement ceiling ideas and basement makeovers.

Water Stains On Shingles

How to Choose the Right Kitchen Mixer

Whether you are looking for a gift for someone else, or for yourself, a brand new Kitchenaid mixer is a fun item to shop for. With their unique shape and rainbow of colors to choose from, these small appliances are incredibly popular. You have probably seen them used by professional chefs on television, as well as by family members through the generations.

Kitchenaid's Artisan Stand Mixer comes by its reputation honestly. Each one is assembled by hand in the U.S.A., and is made to last for years to come. If you love to cook, this mixer is a fantastic tool and will prove to be a wise investment over time.

Once you've decided to make your purchase, it is easy to get overwhelmed by all the options, but this doesn't have to be the case. Here are some guidelines to consider when choosing the perfect Kitchenaid mixer for your kitchen.

STEP ONE: Do you want a "tilt-head" or "bowl-lift" mixer?

A tilt-head model works just like it sounds: the head of the mixer tilts to allow access to the bowl and beaters. This is the model most commonly used for household cooking tasks.

The bowl-lift model is better suited for jobs such as mixing thick batters and doughs. This is the type that is sometimes used for commercial purposes.

STEP TWO: What size mixer do you need?

The tilt-head models have 8 to 9 cup capacity, and the bowl-lift models have a 12 to 14 cup capacity. Take into consideration what you plan to use your mixer for, and make sure you get one that is large enough for your use.

STEP THREE: What color do you want?

Now that you've chosen the style and size that you need, you can choose the color you want. Kitchenaid mixers come in just about any color you desire, from boysenberry to pear to ice.

With these tips you can have fun choosing your Kitchenaid mixer, and even more fun cooking with it!

You can get free shipping on Kitchenaid Mixers at http://www.kitchenaid-mixers.com

The Importance of Remodeling

In real estate, first impressions truly are everything. In fact buyers can usually tell within the first few seconds of viewing a home whether or not it's the right choice. Call it intuition or a simple matter of taste but at the end of the day sellers must make sure the home exterior grabs attention.

The National Association of Realtors reports that sellers have the best return on investment with exterior remodeling projects which is a no brainer considering it's the first thing prospective clients see. These remodeling projects can encompass a number of things from vinyl sliding to wood decks.

Keeping in mind that since the exterior is what most people see, that's where sellers should put the majority of their funds. This is not to say that interiors should be overlooked as interior remodeling also has its sizable return on investment but in this case one must take into account the whole first impressions idea.

Remodeling does not necessarily have to involve (or be limited to) the actual home exterior as the landscaping can also have a dramatic effect in catching a buyer's attention from the outside. After all, a colorful and well maintained yard does give off an impression that the home is in good condition.

During these tough times when buyers are scarce, the more effort that's put into making a good first impression, the better the chances of finding a buyer. Always make sure that whatever funds are used towards any home remodeling are not funds which affect money used for an emergency or for long term savings.

For more information please visit http://www.southbeachboutiquerealty.com

Stair Building Deck Video

Stair building tips for installing lights and decking, handrail tips and some deck advice.

For more helpful home improvement information visit: http://www.gregvan.com

Stair Building Tips

Building Handrails Books
Handyman Books

Top 10 New York Attractions

It's not easy to decide how to spend your time in the Big Apple.
With so many things to see and do, where do you begin? This top-ten list of must-see New York City attractions is a good place to start.

The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most popular of all New York attractions and no trip to the Big Apple is complete without a visit to this iconic structure.
The Statue of Liberty, officially called Liberty Enlightening the World, was constructed from bronze and was given to the United States by France in 1885 as a symbol of freedom and to mark the centenary of America's Declaration of Independence.
Standing at Liberty Island, in the mouth of the Hudson River in the New York Harbor, it welcomes visitors as it once did for the thousands of immigrants who arrived in New York by boat. The Statue of Liberty has come to symbolize freedom, independence and American values and is an attraction not to be missed by anyone visiting New York.

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is possibly the most famous skyscraper in the world and one of the greatest New York attractions. It's been in numerous Hollywood blockbusters and a defining symbol of the city. It was opened on 1 May 1931 and is a must-see for any visitor to New York City - just ask any of the 10,000 to 20,000 people who visit the building every day.

The observatory, located on the 86th floor, 1,050 feet (320 meters) above the city's busy streets, provides an unsurpassable view of New York City. It offers panoramic views from within a glass enclosed pavilion and from the surrounding open air promenade.
The building offers a variety of attractions for visitors; observatory tours 365 days per year, day and night, rain or shine provider breathtaking views of Manhattan and beyond. There are also, two restaurants, a sushi bar, three coffee shops, a drug store, a Hallmark card shop, a post office and two banks as well as the famous New York SKYRIDE virtual-reality movie theater and various art exhibits.

Times Square

Times Square is not really a square, it's more of a district, bordered by 6th Avenue and 9th Avenue and by 39th and 52nd Streets, and is one of the greatest New York attractions. Originally it was called Longacre Square, but in 1904, when the New York Times Company moved there, it took on the name we all know today. Shortly thereafter, in 1907, Times Square began its New Year's Eve tradition, securing the area's place in history.

Madison Square Gardens

New York City's Madison Square Garden is sometimes called "The Most Famous Arena in the World". It is a 20,000-seat arena located atop the city's Pennsylvania Station on 7th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets. Built in 1968, the current arena is the fourth in a line of Madison Square Gardens; the facility is home to the New York Knicks and New York Liberty basketball teams and the New York Rangers hockey team. In addition, the arena hosts over 600 events per year, including concerts, conventions, award shows, the NBA draft, and the Ringling Bros Barnum Bailey Circus.

United Nations HQ

The United Nations Headquarters is located on an 18-acre site along the East River in New York City. Home to the international organization, The United Nations, the striking glass-fronted Secretariat building dominates the New York midtown skyline. The building, opened in 1951, was instantly popular with tourists and continues to be one of the most popular destinations in New York City.

American Museum of Natural History

Located on New York City's upper west side, the American Museum of Natural history continues to be one of the world's most important natural history collections and research facilities. It has attracted world-class research scientists throughout its history and today attracts a wide range of visitors from all walks of life. It is a delight for guests young and old, and the sheer volume of exhibits means there's always something new to see.

Central Park

Central Park is Manhattan's back garden - in a city of high-rise apartments with a dense population, this 843-acre oasis is a place to take a walk, read a book, attend a concert, and much, much more. Over 25 million people visit the park each year, making it the most visited of any park in the United States. With four million trees, shrubs, and plants, representing 1500 species, Central Park has something to interest every visitor. In addition to the vast Great Lawn and other green spaces, the park boasts several artificial lakes, two ice-skating rinks, miles of hiking and bike trails, a zoo, a wildlife sanctuary and several children's playparks.

Wall Street

Wall Street, a narrow street in lower Manhattan between Broadway and the East River, was the first permanent home of the New York Stock Exchange. It was also the one-time headquarters for all of the major banks and brokerage houses in the United States. While the brokerages have since moved to other parts of New York's financial district, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the term, "Wall Street" is still synonymous with the US financial markets.

Brooklyn Bridge

Probably one of the most recognizable landmarks in New York City, the Brooklyn Bridge is the oldest suspension bridge in the United States and at 6016-feet long, one of the longest too. When it opened in 1883, after being under construction for almost 14 years, it was the world's longest suspension bridge. It spans over the East River and links New York's Manhattan and Brooklyn districts.
Over the years, the traffic across the Brooklyn Bridge has included horses, trolleys, elevated trains, and streetcars as well as pedestrians and automobiles but these days just cars, cyclists, and pedestrians are permitted.

Carnegie Hall

This beautiful and acoustically perfect concert hall, or more accurately, three concert halls, has been the host of over 50,000 events in its long history. Today it is completely restored and as beautiful as ever, Carnegie Hall welcomes visitors to three concert stages, a museum, and fascinating archives. In addition to watching performances, visitors to Carnegie Hall may tour the facility on guided tours, which include back stage, dressing rooms, and rehearsal halls.

About the Author

At New York Journey we have developed an informative, up-to-date directory of New York attractions and fantastic New York Hotels. Get the information you need to know before you travel, to make sure you get to see the best of the best. We offer information detailing each attraction's location, contact information, amenities, entrance costs (where applicable) and loads more.

Problems With Black Mold

Steel Studs - How Do I Love Thee? - Let Me Count the Ways

Its time you folks knew the truth about steel studs.

I am a passionate person by nature.

My number one passion for the last three decades has been steel studs and the architectural wonders that can be achieved using them.

In this, and many future segments, we will discuss the beneficial attributes of steel studs. The Internet is a beautiful thing. With the tap of a button you can access volumes of information on whatever subject you can think of. There's only one problem. You don't know if the information you're getting is correct.

Look No Further

Friends, Don't go anywhere else for your steel stud framing information. This site is written by a professional steel stud framer.

Age is Just a Number

I started my steel stud career back when Disco ruled the airwaves and the Cold War was in full swing.

I was told about a possible job opportunity by a friend of mine who was vacating his position to begin a stint in the military. He said I could take his place if I wanted. All I had to do was show up at the jobsite. As it was summer and I wasn't in school I figured I would go earn a few bucks and stay busy for a couple of months.

When I showed up at the appointed place and time I found myself in front of an eight story high rise apartment building on the outskirts of Miami. I climbed to the third floor, met the boss who handed me a screwgun and was told to screw off the bottoms of all the studs on that floor. This consisted of thirty-six apartments with several hundred steel studs each. I'll let you do the math. After a week of bending over pushing screws I had finally reached the last apartment and was overcome with a sense of elation knowing that my personal Hell had come to an end. I hurried upstairs to tell the boss I was finished and to accept what I was sure would be much back slapping and congratulations only to discover another floor full of steel studs awaiting me. Meanwhile the framing crew had already moved up to the next floor and were half way done with it.

Thus began my three decade love affair with steel studs.

Diamonds in the Rough

Just as steel is tempered in fire and diamonds are created under extreme heat and pressure so too are true craftsmen forged in the flames of experience. These were the days of piece work framing when you got paid on a production basis. Prices were by the lineal foot and if you weren't pushing screws you weren't getting paid. The more you could produce in an hour the more money you made. This was just the opposite of the hourly mindset of today where the less you have to do to earn your hourly wage the better.

Time was money and quality was of paramount importance because if you had to go back to fix something you did it on your dime. Now days if a guy has to go back and fix his own work he looks at it as job security. My, how times have changed.

So know that this is the first of many articles explaining what can be done with steel studs. My main intention today is for you to understand that I am a steel stud framer; I don't just play one on T.V.

The world is full of many talented steel stud framers and I have had the privilege of calling many of them friend. Unfortunately for people seeking information on the Internet, none of these spectacular individuals has created a website.

I extend an open invitation to all experienced steel stud framers to help us educate the general population by showing the many things that can be accomplished with steel studs. Leave your comments and recommendations on our contact page.

COPYRIGHT 2009 BY EDWARD B. CLARK

"By Helping Others, We Help Ourselves"

Edward B. Clark.

http://free-drywall-solutions.com

Stucco Finish Around Windows

Builders Adjusting To The Way They Build New Homes

Phoenix Arizona is an attractive city to make a home investment. The real estate market here is diverse offering buyers plenty of options in terms of type of property available for sale and the pricing. Making a home investment here is a good option because value of property is sure to rise in the years to come, yielding a good built-up equity value.

Now-a-day lots of home buyers want to build a home according to their exact specifications. Home shoppers typically want a home with features and facilities that they have chosen. They want to be involved in every step of the building process. Consequently, even tract home builders are now offering custom home building services. Several Arizona home builders are offering their own form of semi-custom options. This allows home buyers to choose almost every aspect of the home building process.

If you are looking towards building a custom home in Phoenix, check out the services offered by the top Phoenix custom home builders. These custom new home builders are well aware of the options that buyers would seek, when building their custom home and are prepared to cater to them, using their skills, resources and expertise. Building a custom home requires a lot of thought and careful planning, because every aspect of the home has to be decided by you.

Custom homes offer lots of flexibility for what buyers want in their home, which is the biggest advantage of buying a custom home. Buyers get to select the home layout, number of rooms, type of flooring, fixtures, fittings, home appliances, paint color and practically everything that goes into building their dream home.

Since building a custom home is a detailed process, buyers should be ready to accept the time, efforts and financial obligations that go with it. It may take a couple of months for the home to be ready or some of the options that a buyer has selected can cost a bit to be implemented. However, it is well worth the time and money spent because the buyer ultimately gets a home, built with the kind of building materials that they want and which has the kind of features and facilities they would like to have in their home.

Paul is a principal of NewHomesSection.com. Search Arizona home builders, Arizona master planned communities and Arizona real estate today!

Plastic Blocking Foundation Vent

Green Homes - Ugly Ducklings Or Beautiful Swans

A "green" home is a home that is highly energy efficient, has excellent indoor environment, and is built to exceed local building codes. So are they ugly then?Look like the Jetson's space-age house? So obvious they would stick out like a sore thumb?No. No. and No.A green home looks just like conventional construction inside and out.

The beginning of a green home is a set of plans that starts with a conventional floor plan and elevations. Then an experienced green home building will modify the systems of the house to accommodate green home features and energy saving devises -A geothermal system rather than air conditioning; in-floor heating rather than a conventional natural gas forced air system; a grey water recapture system; energy efficient windows, doors, appliances, and water heater; and high quality, high 'R'rated insulation.

The best part is that these systems work very different from their conventional counterparts, but are invisible to the homeowner and their guests. The home will be quieter and cleaner without the dust and noise of conventional forced air heating. And the energy cost savings are substantial, depending on your particular situation.

Energy Star appliances sip electricity but are similar or identical to your current appliances. And cabinets and trim can be identical to conventional houses or use recycled material or earth-friendly woods for a more eco-friendly alternatives.

The cladding and shingles on the outside of the home are no different than a conventional home making the home blend in to its neighborhood seamlessly. However, the market value is probably higher than the surrounding homes due to its energy saving advantages and tax incentives.

So a green home is a beautiful swan, not an ugly duckling, at all!

Kim Ward is Marketing Director for Green Earth Energy Homes at http://greenearthenergyhomes.com

Marc Wachter, Kim and Dan Ward, and Dennis Batdorf have teamed up to offer affordable, practical, LEED and Energy Star certified homes. Save thousands on energy costs and qualify for thousands in government tax incentives and benefits.

Based in Yorkville, IL, we currently are building the only LEED certified GOLD home in Illinois. Call Marc at 630-730-8592 for more information about our green homes or to schedule a showing of our model home(s). Email Marc at mwachter@greenearthenergyhomes.com

Electrical Outlet Problems

Home Theater Room Design - Where Do I Start?

Once we decide we want a home theater design for our very own - what then? Do we have room for it in the basement, or in a spare room? Will our electricity have the power to handle it? Most professional designers will tell us that the design of our home theater system has to meet specific requirements in order to place it inside our home. For example, our theater system set-up must fit with the size and shape within our home, with the sound likely to be off if this is not done correctly - causing it to be less than the high quality sound system we originally purchased. Without much trouble, the theater design can be created within our home if done correctly. Seeking to reproduce an actual theater or cinema quality environment, the fact is that a large-screen high definition television or projection system requires certain things to work correctly.

Basically, the technical description of a home theater system is a television, VCR, DVD, and a set of speakers. When we are selecting a home theater combination, our first considerations should be about the design elements in the home. If we will be purchasing a theater set-up that is going to fill a larger room, we may need to consider additional elements, such as the amount of speakers that are needed. Quite possibly, a sales person or a designer in the store we purchased our set-up from, will help us with the layout. This can be the sales person, a professional designer, or obtaining professional services from someone else. We may find that the design aspect of the theater is not as complicated as we originally thought. In fact, many adept home owners are able to do this on their own when they take a home theater kit out of the box in their living room.

Most research have found that when setting up the home theater system within the home, if the homes have a complete home cinema set-up the layout of the speakers is common to use the speakers integrated within the TV instead of playing the sound through the surround sound system. Spend a few extra minutes to make sure that you have the right home theater for your home and it is hooked up correctly. The design of it should be easy to install, but by far the most important thing is that the quality of the sound system should be as close to perfect as possible. When we take the time to do this, we will have created the perfect theater for our home. If we find we cannot do this, we can work with a movie theater specialist to help us to come up with specific needs, based on our home's shape and needs. The other option is to follow the directions that are provided to us with our movie theater system.

Check out http://www.hometheaterreviews.net/ for more articles on designing a home theater room and home theater chair.

Fire Damage Articles

Build Safety Into Your Home

Many safety precautions take place due to concern for children.However, the parents have accidents almost as frequently as their children.To avoid accidents in the home, consider these simply safety features.

• Scalding from hot water can be severe.Set your hot water heater to a temperature of 110 to 120 degrees.
• Store your liquor, chemicals, cleaners, and medicines in cabinets (out of the sight of children) and put locks on the doors.
• Also put locks on cabinets where you store plastic garbage bags.
• Eliminate (or cover) sharp corners on countertops, tables, and hearths.
• Put safety stops on your drawers.
• All outlets within 6 feet of a sink should be a GFI (ground fault interrupted) outlet.
• Put outlet covers in other outlets that small children can reach.
• Have fire extinguishers fully charged and handy (especially near the kitchen).
• Have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors installed.
• Use night lights.
• The range in the kitchen should have controls on top - not on the front.
• Make sure the flooring near tubs, shower, and sinks is slip-resistant.
• Select hardware for bathroom doors that can be opened from both sides.This applies to children's bedrooms as well.
• Any glass at shower or tub enclosures should be safety glass, or acrylic.
• Have grab bars in the tub and shower.
• Soap dishes should be recessed so elbows or heads don't bump into them.
• Post emergency numbers, including the National Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222) by each phone.
• Keep a stocked first aid kit near the kitchen and workbench areas.
• When working outdoors, use the heavy duty, UL rated extension cords; make sure your ladder is stable before using it; and wear safety glasses when using weed- whackers, hedge clippers, or other tools which will throw debris in all directions.

There's a report that is issued every year called the State of Home Safety in America report.It stipulates that more than 300,000 emergency room admissions each year are the result of injuries at home.Be diligent about home safety, and protect your loved ones from serious injuries.

Charles Gueli

Home Helper

http://www.continuous-home-improvement-help.com

Pressure Washing Tips

Nine Places That Will Help Brighten Your Atlanta Home This Holiday

Imagine...you are sitting in your dining room around a table filled with platters of food and family members who you have not seen for exactly a year. You look around as though noticing the room for the first time: The tiles still look dingy despite the 2 hours you spent mopping it earlier; the drapes suddenly seem to be filled with black spots as though someone in the house is a chimney sweep; and the upholstered dining room chairs seem to show their age more when everyone was in the room.

It does not have to be that way. You still have time to get your Atlanta home into tip-top shape for your inquisitive and loquacious relatives and friends to gossip about. If you live in Atlanta, you should get in touch with one or more of the following companies that will help you give your home a facelift.

1) Forsyth Fabrics
1190 Foster Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: (404)-351-6050

How They Can Help: They offer the wonderful fabrics that can be used to make drapes and reupholster furniture.

2) Plantation Shutter Repair
Atlanta, GA
Phone: (770)-698-9911

How They Can Help: This team of workers will work to renovate your shutters and dress your windows.

3) Chem Dry Carpet, Drapery & Upholstery Cleaning
Atlanta, GA
Phone: (770)-834-5169

How They Can Help: They clean carpets and upholstery like nobody's business. They, also, use only environmentally-friendly cleaning solutions and a steam-clean process that enables the carpet to dry quickly.

4) Contemporary Upholstery & Repair
6855 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Atlanta, GA 30360
Phone: (770)-455-1992

How They Can Help: Should you want to throw out the old sofa and dining room chairs and treat yourself to new ones, Contemporary Upholstery & Repair will help you even at short notice.

5) Completely Clean Homes
Atlanta, GA
Phone: (404)-246-8141/1-877-243-8681

How They Can Help: They dust, sweep, mop, and wash. They will leave your home spic 'n' span for your family. They will, even, go to the grocery store or dry cleaner for you.

6) Steady Hand Painting, LLC
880 Confederate Avenue, Unit 215
Atlanta, GA 30312
Phone: (404)-745-5008

How They Can Help: They paint your home inside and out. They, also, stain, pressure wash, and repair flaking glaze. They do any kinds of necessary carpentry and they guarantee all their work.

7) Designer Rug Warehouse
2027 Hills Avenue, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: (404)-350-0881

How They Can Help: They have just the centerpiece throw rug that you need to spruce up your entrance way or living room. There are so many to choose from that your only problem will be leaving the warehouse with only one rug.

8) Chimney Mischief
321 Nelms Avenue, NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
Phone: (404)-377-1254

How They Can Help: They can get your unused fireplace up and running for a very cozy family gathering should the weather decide not to play fair.

9) Fence-Production Fenceworks Co. Inc.
Atlanta, GA 30319
Phone: (678)-873-3628

How They Can Help: They take care of the outside of your home...the very first part your family will see. They do fences, driveways, and landscaping.

Now, the current economy may force you to feel like you have to tackle most of these tasks by yourself; but before you do, give these companies a call and see if you can negotiate with them. They understand the difficult times and I bet they are just as willing to work with you in coming up with a good price for their services. With them hard at work, you can relax and enjoy your weekends knowing that when your family comes to town your embarrassment will be caused by your drunken uncle, Jerry, and not by dirty drapes.

Zander Smith
Business Rankings Rep, http://www.grayboxx.com
http://www.grayboxx.com - Businesses ordered by Popularity

Building A Concrete Patio

Tips to Avoid Trouble For Construction Contractors

Construction contractors are in a profession that constantly remains in high demand. Because of the variety of projects that come their way and the often large scale makeup of many of them, it's important that contractors have the proper contractor legal representation and are fully apprised of their rights. Here are some legal as well as project tips for contractors.

1. Hire the best contractor legal representation you can afford: This is not an area to scrimp and save money. Your legal representation is what will often get you out of sticky situations. Therefore, make the investment in a knowledgeable attorney that knows how to win when necessary and keep you educated on the process.

2. Maintain a full understanding of both your rights and responsibilities: As a construction contractor, you have certain rights in terms of the work you do as well as responsibilities. For example, when beginning projects, it is your right to present a budget and timeline to the client which you think is reasonable and fair. They may or may not accept it, but you must bid according to what you actually think you can do. It is your responsibility as a contractor to stick with the budget and timeline you agreed upon and not try to gouge the client out of more money or time if unnecessary. You need to have a full understanding of what the law says are your rights and responsibilities in your chosen profession.

3. If a legal quagmire presents itself, seek the advice of your personal counsel quickly: Don't try to work it out yourself; that will likely only make the situation worse. Instead, write down an account of what happened and immediately seek contractor legal representation. In most instances, they will advise you on your legal rights, but may also give you tips on how to diffuse the situation without taking it to court.

4. Get everything in writing and notarized, with copies to your attorney: This is for record-keeping purposes and ensures that in the event that you need contractor legal representation, you have written forms of backup.

These tips will not only ensure that you understand your contractor rights, but also help to keep you out of legal messes. Maintain close contact with your attorney and be sure that they are completely familiar with your business and the overall contractor industry. For this reason, it's best to go with a lawyer that specializes in this field as they will be well versed in case law. Moreover, make sure your lawyer knows to work closely with your union representation, if that is an option available to you in your area.

To know more about constructor contractor problems and contractor legal representation, please browse through our website CalClient.com.

Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Condominium Unit Or Town Home Complex

When you buy a Langley condominium unit or townhouse complex, there are certain things you should always keep in mind.

The structure:

See if the building built was really designed to be a condominium or town home complex. If it wasn't, there would be obvious signs of conversion on the structure. If you really want to make sure, check with the local city planning office. Ask for the plans that were submitted to them by the developer. Conversions can look inconspicuous and it could even better than the old design. However, noise and insulation problems may arise from this since the original design was made for a different purpose.

Insist on having a building inspection done for a condominium or town home unit that you are keen on acquiring. Building inspection techniques and methodology for condos are somewhat different from traditional houses. Some costs that you may incur in the inspection may fall under the responsibility of the association.

Most inspections also cover the common areas of the building. Some building inspection procedures may involve invasive techniques to be able to identify particular structural integrity concerns. Aside from hiring your own building inspector, it would also be a good idea to find out if the strata have conducted a recent comprehensive building inspection. This inspection should be signed by a qualified independent engineer. Have your building inspector assess the survey that was done.

The community:

Get to know the people who live in the complex. Try to feel if there is a sense of community in the surroundings. You can often gauge the sense of community just by spending time in the common areas.

Check if people are friendly. A little smile and eye contact can typically confirm this.
Are the residents happy and satisfied? Do they value and respect each other?
Mingle with some of your would-be neighbors. Introduce yourself and find out what they are like and how they react.

The extras:

Does your unit have a parking area? If so, find out where it is located. The location of the parking area should be convenient and safe.
Check if the complex offers extra storage area. Find out the details, whether these are free, communal and secured.
Pools, hot tubs, gym area and other amenities - Check the general condition of these amenities. Are they maintained well? See also if they comply with all legal and safety regulations.

Get a professional opinion:

Do not rely too much on your realtor. You should also have a real estate lawyer go over the rules and agreement for your complex. Spending a few extra hundred dollars to cover your bases will give you less headaches in the long run.

Not keeping these factors in mind might lead you to end up with a less than ideal home purchase.

Andrew Szalontai is a realtor and Langley condominium expert who has spent years buying and selling condos and real estate in Langley and Surrey.

For more information on how to save thousands of dollars in your next purchase of Langley property, please visit Andrew's Langley Real Estate website.

Window Repair Video

Great video on how to repair a window screen.

If you're thinking about buying a home, check out this home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping. For under $15, you can save yourself a lot of frustration and money.

Damaged Vent Screen
Wet Appliance Floor Damage

Don't Rush When You Install Ceramic Wall Tile in Your Bathroom

It's not that difficult to customize and install ceramic wall tile in your bathroom. A little patience and dedication will get you a long way when installing that dream ceramic tile bathroom wall you've always wanted to have.

Before you begin to install ceramic wall tile, get your tiling tools together. You will need the following tools for this project: A tape measure, a tile cutter and a pair of tile nippers and a pair of pliers, tile spacers, sandpaper, a trowel (preferably notched) and a rubber grout float. To install ceramic wall tile on your bathroom walls properly, you will also need a strong setting material like tiling thinset mortar, or any of a wide selection of tile adhesives. You will also need tiling grout for filling in the gaps between your tiles. Make sure to match your setting material color with your grout.

A bucket, rags and sponges will also be needed for cleaning your tiles of excess grout and other debris, after you're all done. And don't start to install ceramic wall tile without these essentials: You will also need a pair of safety glasses, heavy leather gloves, and long-sleeved work clothes (broken shards, and other debris can cause nasty cuts, if you are not careful). Ready to start on your dream ceramic bathroom wall? Follow the tiling instructions below and make your ceramic tiled bathroom wall and start tiling!

You can begin by finding the center of your wall. Use a carpenter's level, or long pieces of plumb to mark intersecting vertical and horizontal lines. These will be your reference lines for your tiling work. Where both lines intersect is the starting point for your first row of ceramic tiles. From that point, you may then be able to working your way to both ends of your bathroom wall. Make regular checks when you install ceramic wall tile, so that your tiling work is consistent and does run up or down in a slanting direction.

There are two types of bathroom walls you may be working on. One is the common concrete wall, and the other is a special type of called a green drywall. A green drywall is specifically designed for use in bathrooms and showers because it is designed to resist moisture intrusion. Be sure that you clean your walls of dust and debris, as well as repair cracks and fill in gaps and holes. Roughen up or scarify your wall so that your tiling mortar has some grip for bonding. That way, when you begin to install ceramic wall tile on your walls, you won't have a problem with your tiling mortar or bonding material.

You may now start installing ceramic wall tile once the walls are laid out. Start at your reference lines' intersection point. Apply a coat of tiling thinset mortar. Place your tile over it and press the tile down firmly in place. Give it a twisting motion to set it in place. Stop pressing when you feel your tile has set and is no longer wobbly. Duplicate this procedure with the rest of your ceramic tiles. To get a consistent tiling, place tile spacers on all the spaces between your ceramic bathroom tiles. Don't forget to check your work every now and then.

You may not need to use the entire tile as you finish up the end of the row. Use a tile cutter to get your tile under the right size. Then, smoothen the cut edge with sandpaper. Be careful: The edge of a cut ceramic bathroom tile is very sharp. For irregular, use your tile nippers. First draw an outline of the irregular and etch a line along it. Then, use your tile nipper to break off the unuseable edges, until you have required shape. Do this a little at a time, so you can control your tile nipping. Don't forget to sand the edges over.

Once you're done tiling the bathroom wall, leave it to set, overnight, at the very least, or twenty-four hours, at the most. After this setting period, it's time to lay in your grout. There are two main kinds of grout: Sanded or unsanded grout. Sanded grout is a mixture of cement, water and fine sand. Unsanded grout is any of a wide selection of polymer-based and epoxy resin adhesive grout used to install ceramic wall tile. If your tile spaces are more than an eighth of an inch wide, use sanded grout. For smaller tile spaces, use unsanded grout. Start by map out your bathroom wall and work one section at a time. To maximize your grout application, angle your rubber grout float and press down firmly as you spread it over the tile spaces. Check for pockets of air. Dab these spaces with more grout lining by using the edges of your grout float. Use a damp sponge to wipe off any excess grout. Rinse your sponge regularly so you can get a cleaner and better finish. Let your grout dry for a day and then take a dry piece of cloth and clean and buff your tiles.

Before you know it, you're done! Follow these instruction on how install ceramic wall tile, and don't forget that ceramic tiling takes some dedication and patience. Take your time and don't rush your work. When you install ceramic wall tile, the key is consistency and patience. Ceramic tiles that have been rushed will ruin your bathroom's overall look. A bathroom wall with ceramic tiles that run in haphazard inconsistent zigzag lines is not a beautiful thing to look at. And worse, it would only mean that you lack enthusiasm for what you're doing and that you haven't given it your effort.

You don't have to be a master tilist to install ceramic wall tile in your house. All you have is the best ceramic tile installation instructions.

Flipping Houses Books

Wood Panel Renovation - San Deigo Home Tips

The old paneling in your home has turned too ugly to even bear and yet you cannot change it because of its very exorbitant cost. It gives you a feeling of depression and you have gone to the level of thinking of selling your home off just to get away from those irksome panels. Just do not feel down as you are not the only one facing this problem. There are millions of other people too who just hate the ugly look of the paneling in their home. There are a few tricks that can help you repair those panels and get rid of that horrendous look.

A few ideas are her for you to check, with the help of which you can readily brighten up the dingy walls and the ugly panels. Only be prepared to endure some elbow grease which is surely better than the ugly look of those panels.

Painting the Paneling: One way of giving them a professional look is to paint the panels. But you just cannot splash a tin-full of paint and expect it to look good. If you try that out it will give a bad look to the panels. Panels absorb the paints easily and this would show the panels again and might even leave some yellow streaks on the base. The key to a good painting is surface preparation. Just degrease the surface from dirt and muck with a good cleaner before painting it. A gloss-removing substance has to be applied before the degreasing solution is put on the panels. It should be then left to dry for a night. The panel is then absolutely ready to get painted. After the first coat of paint you should leave it to fry before applying the second coat.

Painting Wallpaper: There is a kind of wallpaper available in some wallpaper stores; those wallpapers can be painted again. This gives the look of a painted wall to the paper. You can choose a color and apply it on these wallpapers and it will look really great. The awfully dingy wood paneling gets a brand new look. Other colors can also be used to give a 3D effect to the whole thing. The wallpapers should be hung according to the direction. The paper has to be soaked in water prior to the painting and left to hang for a few minutes. This makes the paper ready to be painted with the color(s) of your choice. I did this to my own basement after replacing the windows.

Glazing the Paneling: By glazing the panel you can add a nice shine to it. The panel should be cleaned with a degreaser solution. Then the panel has to be colored according to your choice. It should be left overnight to get dried. Then you mix a satiny top shade with a glaze in correct proportion and paint over small sections of the panels. Determining how much shine you want, just wipe off the excess glaze with a clean sweep. The brush should be cleaned with mineral oil and let dry before storing them for future use.

Being specifically passionate about basement window, Johnathan Bakers was publishing a lot of detailed reports in this specific field. You can discover his writings on over at http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com

Residential Solar Panels As Essential Home Features

Are you tired of having to use up as much as 30% of your income to cover electricity bills alone? Are you looking to cut costs on home heating? If so, the next logical question would be, does your home have residential solar panels? If you have not heard of these yet, then I tell you, you are missing out on huge savings and peace of mind. Most new homeowners today specifically look for residential solar panels when they go shopping for a new home. Moreover, today's new breed of houses do not disappoint - they come with residential solar panels and more. This is because these days, the emphasis is now on environmental friendliness and energy efficiency rather than on a building's structural qualities solely.

Still, who says you can't have solar power just because your house isn't new? You can make residential solar panels yourself; all you need is the help of a comprehensive guide such as Michael Harvey's 'Earth4Energy' manual. You know a guide does what it promises to do when its language is one even non-experts can follow. Such is the case with 'Earth4Energy'. It shows the techie and the non-techie alike precisely how to create a power generator that directly converts solar and wind energy into electricity. This homemade version of a home solar system can potentially generate enough power to sustain your needs, maybe even generate some extra. Consumers who have created their own energy were able to generate enough electricity of power their home appliances. So can you. After all, what they can do with their solar power system, you can easily do better with panels you make yourself.

Now essential features of every home, home solar system are investments. Your own power-generating system pays for itself in time and even generates savings in the long run. This is definitely a smart way to ease the impact of gas and energy price increases on your budget. At the same time, it is a huge step toward energy independence.

Trudi Davidson is an environmentalist, researcher, and director of popular blog HomeSolarSystemGuide.Com. She provides honest information and advice on things like solar power for the home and much more. Check out her blog for more info!

Rancho Santa Fe Remodeling

How to Choose a Rope Hammock - Cotton Or Polyester is Better?

There are a lot of choices out there when it comes to hammocks. Many people do not realize how many different fibers, styles, etc.. there are. One option is polyester or cotton. There are a few other blended options, but cotton and polyester are the two most popular, and the most commonly found. It is a hard choice, because each have their advantages and disadvantages. However, a few considerations may help sway a buyer one way or another.

Where is the hammock going to be located?

Cotton hammocks can not be exposed to prolonged direct sunlight. It will cause them to discolor. Whereas, a polyester hammock is resistant to the sun. Over time, even polyester may fade if placed in direct, or very hot sun locations. However, polyester can take much more sun, and for a longer period of time than cotton. So, for outdoor use, polyester wins the durability question.

Which is more comfortable?

Cotton gives under the weight of the body, and will eventually conform to the body. Cotton is a breathable material; meaning less sweat for the person using it. It is also softer to the touch. Polyester is not as comfortable, soft, or breathable. So, cotton wins the comfort test.

Which is more resistant to rain?

Again, if the hammock is inside, this is a moot question. If outside, cotton is prone to mildew, mold, and rotting from moisture or rain. There are some commercial treatments claiming to "waterproof" cotton. However, they have not been proven to actually waterproof cotton. Polyester is resistant to moisture and rain damage. So, polyester wins on resistance to water.

Cost of each?

Polyester is generally cheaper than cotton. Of course, this depends on the brand of hammock. A high end brand of polyester hammock will be more expensive than low quality cotton hammock. So, the better buy depends where you buy the hammock.

Overall, the cotton hammock is great for indoor usage, but the polyester hammock wins for outdoor usage. Polyester is durable and generally cheap. Cotton is less durable, but much more comfortable. The real question is: do you want something that you will not need to replace for years to come, or something comfortable, that will often need replacing?

Learn more tips and advices on how to choose the perfect rope hammock for your backyard or patio.

Find more about polyester and cotton hammocks at http://www.hammocksbuy.com

Winter Weather and Your Water Pipes

If you live in a region that gets freezing weather, your water pipes are at risk of freezing in the winter. What's the big deal about frozen pipes other than the fact that you can't flush the toilets, brush your teeth, or take a shower? When water freezes, it expands which can cause the pipes to burst! And burst pipes lead to major water damage and costly repairs.

Because of the risk of significant water damage to your home, it pays to protect your pipes from the dangers of freezing temperatures. Below are some tips to protect your pipes from winter weather:

Insulate all exposed water pipes by wrapping them in pipe insulation. Pay attention to pipes in unheated areas such as the attic, garage, and basement.

Learn how to shut off power, gas, and water at their primary source as well as any local shutoff valves.

When the temperatures drop below freezing, keep your thermostat set to at least 55 degrees, even if you are away from home.

Caulk the entry points of any pipes where they enter the home. In the winter, close ventilation vents in the foundation to minimize cold drafts.
Drain and remove outdoor hoses before winter weather arrives. Shut off any separate valves for outdoor faucets and then drain those pipes by turning on the faucets.

For outdoor hose bibs without separate shutoff valves, insulate the pipes. Shut off the water supply to the outdoor sprinkler systems.

Indoor pipes that are located against interior walls need special care. Wrap these in pipe insulation and open cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate.

During sub-freezing temperatures, allow one faucet to drip cold water. This keeps water slowly circulating throughout the water pipes.

If a water pipe bursts, immediately turn off the main water to the house to minimize flooding.

If a pipe does burst, prompt action on your part is critical. After turning off the main water supply, some water will remain in the pipes and eventually make its way to the burst pipe. To minimize the amount of water that leaks out, start flushing toilets or running water (preferably downstream of the broken pipe) in an attempt to drain the water that's currently in your home's water pipes.

Once the water stops flowing, let the mopping up begin. You may have extensive water damage requiring the help of a water damage professional. In addition, structural repairs such as replacing damaged drywall or cabinetry may be required. Extensive water damage may require filing an insurance claim, depending on your coverages and deductible amount.

Contact a water damage company and your insurance agent to start the process right away because time is of the essence. Prompt repairs and completely drying the area ASAP are necessary for minimizing the damage and preventing an unpleasant side effect of burst pipes: mold.

As winter approaches each year, take the time to take care of your pipes. Preventing pipe bursts and water damage is well worth the effort.

By: Mr. Mark Decherd

For more information and other articles by Mark Decherd go to:

Dryout Inc.
1415 Colonial Blvd.
Fort Myers, Fl. 33907
http://www.dryout.net
239-437-7100
Water Damage

Dryout Inc Emergency water damage restoration, drying, deodorization, decontamination, disinfection, mold removal, water damage repair, restoration and reconstruction of commercial and residential properties damaged by fire, water and other disasters by a network of trained specialists, technicians and restoration professionals across the USA and Canada.

Home Improvement Grants Benefit All

Home improvement grants are one of the most popularly applied for and commonly awarded types government funding available today, and with very good reason. With everyone in the country experiencing at very least some sort of financial setbacks, urban development far below acceptable expectations, and the housing and homelessness issues, there is no better place to direct financial aid to than home improvement grant programs.

On the surface this may seem like a frivolous way to spend the American taxpayers money, but on the contrary, there is a great deal of benefit to be gained by all with these generous and amazing programs. Government funded home improvement grants are not just for those who are looking to beautify their homes for their own personal satisfaction, although they too may acquire them, they are more often than not, awarded to individuals and realtors who are in need of detrimental repairs to meet safety codes, or financing to construct additions or expansions.

This method of free government money distribution aids greatly in the enhancement of urban development, helps prevent homelessness by providing additional housing to many communities, insures tenant safety, and increases property values that generate more tax revenue that stimulates the economy. There is a great deal that can be accomplished by continuing to execute this amazingly strategic method of tax fund recycling, that will benefit America as a whole as well as families, individuals, and communities. There is no loss and no risk in this investment, just rewards.

Frivolous? Not at all. Government home improvement grants make perfect sense.

Apply for Personal Grants.

See how much money you qualify to receive today and never pay back. Get Grants for Individuals

Wood Beams House Repair Tips

If you live in a moist climate in the winter and a dry climate in the summer and you have exterior wood beams exposed to these elements. You could develop wood beam problems over time. If wood beams are properly maintained and painted often they could last for a long time. Wood beams can last many years if properly taken care of.

Exterior wood beams that are used to hold up roofs, patios and decking can suffer from wood rot if not taken care of. Let's take for example a wooden beam located in a patio holding up a section of a large roof. The span of the roof being is only 10 feet long. As we look at the exterior wood beam. We noticed the upper corner of the beam is soft and rotted.

The beam damage is roughly the size of a baseball. The wood beam itself is a 6 x 10. Do we need to replace this beam even though the damage is not real big. The answer to this question is yes, any amount of damage to a wood beam takes away from its structural strength.

If you have a wood beam holding up the roof and the beam fails you could end up replacing a large section of your roof as well as the damaged beam. Replacing the damaged beam is usually a difficult task. The beam is usually sandwiched between two walls and will have siding or stucco around it.

If you're lucky enough to have the wood beam sitting in a saddle or on top of a wood post this will make your job easier and will require less skill. If however the beam is located between two walls this will require shoring up the roof and removing the beam.

Beam replacement should be left to professionals. This is not often as easy as it looks and could create a safety hazard if not done properly. I have seen beams replaced by homeowners or handyman and the damage that was done after the repairs, was worse than just leaving the beam alone in the first place.

The biggest problem with exterior wood beams is that they are usually holding up large amounts of weight. If the beam is removed without the proper bracing and shoring of the roof or floor area you could have a larger problem than you started with.

Exterior beams over time seemed to develop large cracks or splits in dry weather. These large cracks and splits weaken the structural strength of the beam adding more stress to the beam itself leading to structural failure eventually.

Extreme climates where temperatures very over 40 in one day seem to suffer the most damage to exterior wood beams that are not properly maintained. Beam maintenance will require painting and keeping moisture away from them.

Be aware of structural beams in or around your house. A little painting now and then can save you thousands of dollars over the life time of your house.

Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information

His website http://gregvan.com provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building issues that could create major damage as well as possible damage to your pocket book

Visit us now for Vista Home Improvement

Deck Building Books

What to Look For When Choosing a Realtor

The real estate market has changed dramatically in the last few years. Gone are the days when everyone was related to a real estate professional. In the last 3 years, the number of Realtors in the Carson Valley and Carson City area has shrunk by 40%. So there are fewer to choose from, but how do you know whom to choose? What should you look for when hiring a Realtor?

In 2004, the Sierra Nevada Association of Realtors had almost 1,000 members. Every October, real estate professionals in the Carson City, Dayton Valley and Carson Valley area renew their memberships with the board. In October 2008, membership dropped to under 600 members. Now that the Northern Nevada real estate market has changed dramatically, many Realtors have left the industry. With the changes taking place in the market, those Realtors who endeavor to be successful have had to educate themselves - not only with technology advances - but with market changes such as how to effectively represent banks who own bank-owned REO homes in the area, to how to represent buyers when negotiating with a bank on a previously foreclosed home. Those Realtors who succeed in this market are trained specialists and worth talking to.

What can and should a seller expect from an Northern Nevada real estate professional today? Here is a list of things that are non-negotiable.

Web Exposure - The National Association of Realtors has reported that over eighty percent of homebuyers begin their home search online. There is more to having a strong internet presence than just creating a website. Do this little test. Go to Google or Yahoo and type in the name of a Realtor you are interviewing. Look at how many sites on the first and second page are directly related to that Realtor. Also, type in some key words for your area such as Carson Valley Real Estate and see how your Realtor ranks.

Speaking of the web, your home should be prominently featured in a Virtual Tour. This tour should showcase 60-100 images, showing your home as if the buyer was standing right there as they view it online. This tour should be available in multiple portals across the web, since not every buyer starts their search for a home in the Carson Valley in exactly the same place, or exactly the same way. Exposure on the web is paramount.

Market Trend Reports are a must in today's market. Market reports need to be generated at least monthly. The reason for this is that the market is changing at least monthly in most parts of the country. How can you know where the price of your home stands if you don't have any data to look at? A good monthly market analysis will help you keep a good pulse on the real estate market of your area. A complete market report will tell you how many homes sold in the previous month, the percentage of selling price was to asking price, how many days on market the homes took to sell, the per square foot price, and have a breakdown of home many homes sold according to pricing brackets.

Color Flyers are crucial in today's real estate market. Homes should always have a supply of accurately priced color flyers on hand for showings. Many buyers see multiple homes during a tour of available homes, and by the end of the day, they can't remember which home was which. If your home has a color flyer they can take with them, with pictures to help them remember the home, they will be better prepared to seriously consider your home as a potential purchase. The flyer should also have important information, such as square footage, property taxes, any upgrades, or other special features listed in bullet points.

Exterior signage is also very important. Some Realtors in the Northern Nevada area display a basic sign with their picture and phone number. Are they advertising the home or advertising themselves? Signage should always have the website address where buyers can find the virtual tour so they can find out more about the home. Make sure signage advertises your home, not just the Realtor.

Speaking of advertising, another effective advertising technique is radio transmission. Ask your Realtor if they use a "Talking House" transmitter to advertise your home. This transmitter is placed in your home and a professionally recorded message is placed upon it up to 5 minutes in duration. This message describes your home to those people who drive by the home can listen to the recording any time of day or night. This is like having your real estate agent curbside 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The prospective buyer can obtain a great deal of information about the home from this recording. Alongside with the radio transmitter, the agent should have additional signage instructing the prospective buyer on which channel to tune into to hear the recording.

Direct Mail is a great method to expose your property to the market. A mail communication advising your closest 500 neighbors that your home is for sale is imperative. According to the National Association of Realtors, one in six homes is sold by a neighbor. This means that there are families living in the immediate vicinity who like where they live, and probably have friends who would like to live in the area as well. It is very important to make sure all the neighbors know the home is for sale.

As a seller, you should demand these things from your Realtor. If you do, you will stand a much better chance of getting your home exposed locally and globally.

Christianne Gordon, Realtor with RE/MAX Realty Affiliates in Gardnerville, Nevada. First licensed in 1999. Sold over $85 million in the last ten years. Visit http://www.greatnevadahomes.com to learn more.

Christianne Gordon, REALTOR, e-PRO
RE/MAX Realty Affiliates
(775) 881-8223
christy@greatnevadahomes.com
http://www.greatnevadahomes.com

Basement Bar Help

Building a basement bar in your own home could be a nice way to utilize that extra cash you have hanging around. It will certainly gain you popularity points from your friends when you have them over and entertain them with a real fully functional bar.

This is not easy work though. Once you decide to build a bar in your basement, you have to commit your time, energy and money. Don't be scared, you don't have to be a millionaire to own a bar in your basement. It will soon be worth it when you finish and admire the newest addition to your home.

First things first, you have to make sure that you actually have a basement or a similar room that you use as a basement. Since you are going to be having parties or get-togethers in your new basement bar, it would be better if the basement is in a different level from all other rooms to limit the noise. It is important to note that you have enough space for the kind of bar that you want. You have a choice of building something cozy and personal or go all out for and build something for big events.

Once you have established your space for your bar, you have to deal with the dirty work. For a bar to function properly, you must have a good plumbing system, wiring framework and lighting.

There are two main areas that require plumbing work to be done:

- Hot and cold water to the bar sink
- Drainage for the bar sink
- Toilet

If you already have your washer and dryer in the basement then all you have to do is tap the water source and to bring it over to your sink. The drainage might be a little more complicated but it is just as important, you don't want your basement to be flooded. The toilet is actually an option. You can opt to go up the stairs each time you need to use the toilet to save you hassle from building one in the basement.

There are five major wiring jobs to be done in the basement:

- Electrical (outlets, lighting switches, wall switches)
- Audio
- Telephone
- Video
- Computer Network

Lighting is important to create the right ambiance. Lighting in your bar could be broken down into groups:

- Bar
- Stairs
- Seating area
- Play area

After this, you can move on with the formation of your dream basement bar.

Turn your basement into the ultimate hangout with friends. Basement remodeling is easy with the latest basement bar ideas online.

Home Termite Repairs

Want to Know How to Makeover Your Home For Less? Canvas Wall Art Prints

They say a picture paints a thousand words? We agree, and if your talking modern wall pictures for your contemporary home you cant go far wrong than considering a canvas artwork for your living space or office. There are a plethora of canvas art online galleries small and large out there - all of them offering different services at different prices. This article is aimed at providing a balanced view of what's hot and what's not in the world of canvases. We hope these somewhat abstract words of wisdom will help you in your quest to choose a great canvas art print for yourself.

A canvas print, also known as a stretched canvas or canvas art, is the result of an image printed onto a canvas which is stretched, or gallery wrapped onto a frame and displayed. Many sellers offer canvas art either stretched or unstretched. Stretched canvas takes the hassle out of the process for the buyer. Generally the canvas will be 'wall ready' straight out of the shipping box. However often you can save a little bit of cash buy asking for your canvas print to be shipped unframed, your print will probably arrive in a tube and you will then need to hand build a frame before hanging. I would always recommend spending a little extra of your hard earned cash on getting your canvas print framed. This way your leaving it to the experts to do what they do best.

Historically reproductions of original artwork have been printed onto canvas for many decades using what's commonly known as offset printing in the trade. In recent years the industry has exploded with the ever growing popularity of inkjet printers and digital photographic devices. Modern large format printers can print up to huge sizes up to 60 inches in width. This size and scale of canvas printing has meant an almost endless scope for design and decoration of photographic images and artwork. Walk into any contemporary restaurant these days and you can almost guarantee that you will find a huge macro focused image of the chef's latest culinary delight.

The growth of the internet in the digital age has had huge ramifications for the services that canvas art retailers can offer to their customers. Web 2.0 has meant development of many user generated software packages that allow anyone to load up photos, do basic effects to those pictures and reproduce them as canvas art prints. Some online canvas art sellers do nothing else other than produce artwork generated by users of their websites. Others have huge artwork catalogues that can be reproduced 'on demand' for customers rather than having to be pre made. We always recommend when considering which company to buy your canvas art from to check their delivery schedules before purchase. Some offer services within 48 hours others 2 weeks! Go for the 48hour option as weeks can often run unto months as the work builds up over busy periods.

The process of framing a modern canvas print takes skill and experience to achieve a professional quality finish. Make sure the print is tightly stretched over around the sides of a box stretcher frame when you receive it. Good stretcher frames will be professionally, accurately cut with a sloping profile that minimises contact with the front face of the canvas, preventing the impression marks. Without this slope you may find that over years rather than months the impression marks become so bad as to ruin the actual canvas picture. They should also be adjustable, supplied with tensioning wedges in each inside corner that can be tapped in slightly to allow occasional re-tightening of the canvas. To take the perceived risk out of the 'buying canvas art' equation look for sellers that offer no quibble money back guarantees for a period of time after receipt. Not only can you check out the quality against what we recommend in this article but you can also 'live with' the canvas wall artwork for a few days to check it matches your wall dcor and contemporary furnishings.

So what type of canvas art seller is best I hear you cry? Unfortunately we don't have a finite answer for that question but we have a few thoughts on things to look out for. Most wall canvas sellers come from a printing background... great you might think, what could go wrong? Well have a think, and look at the actual artwork they have on offer and compare it to other canvas sellers. You will see some similarities as they will probably buy images from stock photography sellers. As a piece of 'art' these canvas prints will be worthless over the long term. They lack a little integrity as they wont be limited editions signed by the artist, as there is no artist! Look out for information on artists, limited edition numbers and so forth, this is usually a good sign for the longevity of value for your canvas wall artwork. Make sure your canvas art retailer has one foot in the printing industry and the other dipped into the art world galaxy!

Luke Hollingworth is an artist and business person from a rural area in the United Kingdom. He works for a canvas wall art company called Art By People - http://www.artbypeople.co.uk

Options for Improving the State of Your Roller Shades

Roller shades have been around for many years. Long ago in history many people had roller shades installed in their windows. Some of these roller shades still look quite beautiful. However it should be understood, and expected, that by now many of these roller shades that are in windows have deteriorated and gone by the wayside. Some of the wear and tear may be quite natural, including control systems that break down or fabrics that have ripped and torn or simply don't look right anymore. In any case, for most homeowners or business owners want to have attractive window treatments in their spaces.

Among the most common problems that consumers have with roller shades are failures in the control system. Sometimes roller shades "don't want to roll up anymore." Other times, they are stuck in position. For the first of these situations, you may simply find that if you can reroll your roller shade, you can tighten the springs and have it roll up better. In the case of a shade that is stuck, you must be very careful to not damage the fabric while trying to fix the shade. Many of these situations are complete losses, meaning that you will need to replace the roller shades. This is because the older control systems, those managed by springs, are no longer the commonplace or easy to obtain shades. So in the end, if you have a shade control system that is not working properly it is often advisable to get a new roller shade with the new control system.

Many consumers ask whether they can get a new roller shade control system for their existing fabric. This would seem the most logical way of reusing the same fabric and saving money by not having to waste that same fabric on a new shade. However given the updates and new fabrics that are available on the market, as well as the new methods of manufacturing roller shades, it is not as cost-effective and easy as many would think. It may not be so much of a waste, however, to buy new roller shades. For one thing the new fabrics are technically more capable. For another, the new control systems are substantially more durable and will protect your roller shade fabric so it will last much longer in your windows.

Another common roller shade problem is ripped, warped, or otherwise damaged roller shade fabric. The heavy use of vinyl coated fabrics, those that are typically called blackout, were substantially more common in the past. Those fabrics, unfortunately the lighter weight ones, were more often susceptible to ripping than modern-day fabrics, particularly those from woven polyester or other threads. The damages to these roller shade fabrics have often created ugly or less than presentable roller shades. Many consumers have wondered if it is possible to repair this fabric by replacing a section of the fabric. Unfortunately, replacing a section of fabric is not a possibility. However, some roller shade fabrics can endure a slight repair, like sewing or other repair. Beware though, excessive sewing may lead to an expanded problem. Often times, the sewing of roller shade fabric will simply delay the inevitable- the entire destruction of their roller shade. In the end, it is usually advisable for consumers to begin thinking about replacing roller shades when this type of deterioration begins.

Some roller shades will cause damage to the surrounding area. The scraping of a roller shade bottom rail against a window frame is not uncommon. Sometimes, this bottom rail, also called a hem bar, will run into a wall or otherwise run into a window frame. This type of damage can usually be corrected by making slight changes to the bottom rail like cutting it with a saw. Sometimes this hitting into a wall is a sign of other problems. A roller shade that is not properly squared up may have other damage to the fabric at the controls at the top of the roller shade. It is important to make sure that the roller shade is rolling up properly and that there are no other damages to the fabric or the control system.

While many consumers would like to try to repair or update or otherwise renovate their roller shades, it is usually considered advisable for simple replacement of that one shade or the several with problems. The new control systems will help your shades last longer and look more beautiful for a longer period of time.

Judith Persit is a student of interior design. She started in this direction due to a search for design options in window treatments. Ms. Persit writes about roller shades. Roller shades can be interesting, you can learn more about shades at her sponsor's website, with many pictures.

Bamboo Flooring - Fallbrook Home Remodeling

When it comes to choosing a new floor for your home there are many choices available to today's home owner. Bamboo flooring provides an excellent alternative to traditional hardwood flooring materials. Growing in popularity as an alternative, bamboo flooring has many attractive features that make it a viable option for modern homeowners. Although harvested primarily in China, bamboo flooring can now be found quite easily in both European and North American markets. Many of those that adopted bamboo flooring early on point out its environmental friendliness due to it being a renewable resource. The bamboo plant regrows very quickly when compared with the time it takes a forest to regrow. In fact, the bamboo plant is considered a grass, as it grows far faster than a normal forest. When done responsibly, harvesting of the bamboo plant can be accomplished in a environmentally friendly manner.

How does bamboo flooring stack up when compared to traditional flooring materials? High quality bamboo flooring is harder and more durable than even the most expensive hardwood flooring. Moisture does not affect bamboo in the way that hardwood suffers from water damage. Where traditional hardwood may buckle and crack because of water exposure, bamboo flooring will keep out water without a problem. Bamboo flooring is engineered like a laminate and treated under very high pressure with a high quality glue. This makes bamboo flooring very resistant to abrasions and scratches, where a hardwood floor would end up showing scratches. Bamboo flooring has become significantly more affordable in the past number of years as well.

Best of all, bamboo flooring can typically be installed at home without any professional assistance. Like many of the newer hardwoods, bamboo flooring is made with a groove that allows the planks to interlock, making them considerably easier to install. Before installing a bamboo floor, allow the planks to adjust to their new environment for no less than 72 hours. Although bamboo flooring is very resistant to moisture, they do need some time to adjust to their new climate before installation. Having an experienced flooring professional install the material for you can save you money and aggravation down the road. The last thing you want is to ruin your new floor due to an improper installation method.

What steps need to be taken in order to provide upkeep for a bamboo floor? Maintenance requirements are fairly simple for bamboo flooring. Make certain to sweep and mop the floor after it is laid down. Basic regular maintenance such as dusting and sweep should be done after installation. This will prevent a build up of dust that can dull the finish. A mat used at the entrance way will keep out a great deal of dust and dirt. Dirt and small rocks can easily scratch the finish, and a mat can do a great deal to prevent this problem. By following a simply and ongoing maintenance plan you can help to keep your new bamboo floors looking their best for many years to come.

Harry Saggu is a Brampton condo real estate professional with a background in economics. Visit the site to search for Condominiums for sale in Brampton and market information.

Drywall Backing In Ceiling

Repairing Scratches in Laminate Flooring

When I moved into my home, the floor in the living room had just been refinished with beautiful honey toned laminate flooring. It was beautiful and it fit my decor perfectly. The only problem was the fact that one of my chair had popped a cap, unbeknownst to everyone involved, and it wasn't until a few weeks later, when I went to rearrange a few pieces of furniture, that I noticed it. Much to my horror, the gleaming floor beneath the chair had become a scratched mess and I shuddered at the thought of having to fix them.

Now, I'm sure that I am not the only person who has had to deal with scratched laminate flooring. In fact, I'm almost positive that the problem is universally shared. The simple truth is, if you are going to own laminate flooring, at one time you will own scratched laminate flooring. Most people would simply sigh and shift the furniture around to cover the evidence, something that I actually did for a few months, but laminate flooring can be fixed without having to tear out pieces and replace them.

Most repairs in laminate flooring are pretty minor. A glass may have fallen and gouged a small hole or the kids may have scraped a toy car, minus wheels, across a small section. The scratches and holes are simply surface damage but they definitely detract from the once shiny beauty of your floors.

With minor damage, you will only need to do minor repairs to your laminate. Unfortunately, as with most repairs, there is nothing regularly stocked in your shelves that will fix the floors. You will need to make a run to the local home hardware or flooring store to pick up a repair kit. Some manufacturers will make repair kits for their flooring so the best place to start is the store where you purchased your flooring.

If you aren't sure of the manufacturer or the manufacturer does not have a repair product, simply purchase a generic repair kit. A repair kit usually consists of a tube of putty or wax. This is your actual filler. Some repair kits have colored putty while others have paint that you mix to create the matching floor color; this you mix with the putty before applying. Both are perfectly fine to purchase and you will usually run yourself about ten to twenty dollars.

Some repair kits come with putty knife and everything else you need but if it doesn't simply pick up a putty knife while you are at the store. Popsicle sticks work perfectly for applying the putty to the crack.

Before you start repairing your scratches and dents, make sure the area is clean of any debris and is dry. There is no sense repairing a spot if a patch of dog hair is going to be glued into the floor. Once the area is prepared, it's time to get mixing.

If you went with a colored putty that matches your floor, all you will need to do is spoon in the putty, but if you went with a mix, you will need to match and create the desired color. Once you have that, spoon in the putty and smooth with the putty knife. Remove any of the excess putty so you have a smooth surface. Lastly, wipe the area around the scratch, being careful to not touch the repaired scratch with a clean cloth to wash away any residue.

Once it dries, your laminate flooring should look as good as new.

Sometimes, you will find the occasional scratch that is too shallow for the putty to work properly. If this is the case, the best product on the market is ScratchAway. This is a spray on treatment for any small scratches on laminate and other wood flooring. All you need to do is spray the area and then buff until it is dry.

So with a few little tricks of the trade, there are very few reasons why you can't enjoy scratch free laminate flooring for years to come.

Sirena Van Schaik is a professional writer who provides information on wood flooring and laminate flooring for A1 Wood Flooring