Vista Real Estate

What Does a GFI Do? - Electrical Problems

2009-10-05T07:51:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

San Diego Termite Damage

Plywood Roof Sheeting - Roof Framing Trade Secrets

2009-10-05T02:34:00.001-07:00

Most framing contractor's look at the building plans and order all of the material, according to those that are specified on the plans. This works out fine, and can often save you money, but rarely produces the best home that you could possibly frame.

As a professional framing contractor, I would like to share one of my house framing tips with you. Most plans require half-inch plywood or oriented strand board as their roof sheeting. This product is fine and if you're building a lot of homes, you're not going to have the choice. Ordering larger sized plywood could cost you thousands of dollars, especially if you're building a lot of homes.

However, if your framing or building a home for someone or even yourself, you might want to take my advice and think twice about it, before ordering the roof sheeting. Half-inch plywood, works okay for 16 inch on center roof rafters or engineered truss roofing systems. It doesn't work well on 24 inch on center roof rafters spacing.

It is usually flimsy and weak at the center point, directly in between the 24 inch roof rafter bays. If you're going to use the half-inch plywood, I would recommend using plywood clips that are relatively inexpensive and can be placed in the direct center of each roof rafter bay on each sheet of plywood. These can be purchased at most home improvement centers or lumber yards.

The other alternative, and this is what I recommend, would be to use 5/8 inch plywood. This plywood works great for 24 inch on center roof rafters and you will have a nice sturdy roof to walk on, while roofing your home.

I have actually seen people step through the flimsy plywood, while lifting heavy roof tiles and bundles of composition roof shingles. Experienced roofers try to walk directly on top of the roof rafters, when loading their roof shingles or even carrying them on the roof.

If you're a home builder and your concern is about making a profit, you will need to use the half-inch plywood. If you want to build a superior roof, use the 5/8 of an inch plywood.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link House Framing Contractors.

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vandenberge 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 excellent home inspection checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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Attic Handrail Safety - Do it Yourself Home Repair

2009-10-04T21:15:00.001-07:00

Some stairways that lead up to your attic will have a safety or guardrail to prevent people from falling down the stairs or off of them. Attic handrail safety can provide homeowners with a little peace of mind if they just follow the few simple steps. Make sure that the handrail is at least 42 inches in height. 42 inches is the minimum height for guard rails and can be found in the uniform building code.

The uniform building code is the Bible to the building industry and sets the standard for new construction and remodeling.

The 42 inches will be measured from the floor to the top of the handrail. Some older homes will have handrails that are 36 inches and some of them will be even 30 inches in height. A 30 inch handrail provides limited protection for anyone who is over five foot tall. 30 inches becomes the center point for any one over 60 inches and these people could easily fall over the short handrail.

Now for the homes that don't have any attic handrail safety systems. Some homes that were built before the 1960s won't have a handrail system at all in the stairway. Keep something in mind here, when these people were building these houses, some of them were trying to save money, some of them figured that it wasn't going to be a big deal and other builders simply forgot to install them.

It's not hard to install a working attic handrail for safety but keep in mind, that if the handrail isn't the right height, it will provide you with limited protection. Attic handrails that are lower than 30 inches can provide young children or others who are shorter than five feet with very little protection but can be a safety hazard to anyone over 5 feet tall.

If your attic doesn't have a safety handrail, use caution and be careful in these areas of your home. It wouldn't be a bad idea to install a locking doorknob if your attic access has a door that can be secured to prevent small children or other people from entering these unsafe areas.

Home Attic Repairs

Greg Vandenberge 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 Remodeling Pictures or home building ideas.

Important Home Repair Advice - Do it Yourself

2009-10-04T16:13:00.001-07:00

There are plenty of homeowners that would like to do their own home repairs, but lack the skills necessary to accomplish the task. I would like to give them a couple of tips that can drastically improve their home repair abilities.

Let's start with the basics, you need to acquire the basic information necessary to accomplish the task. Where are you going to find this information, who's going to teach you how to do your home repairs. Most building professionals don't have the time to explain the process to you, because it takes time away from them, for making money to support their families.

Here's the best advice I can give you, buy books, buying as many books as you need to gather the information to help you accomplish your home repair or home remodeling project. These books can provide you with lots of useful illustrations and the step-by-step instructions that will be necessary to understand the construction process.

I have been using great books with lots of illustrations, my entire life and have learned many things about the home repair and construction process. If you're planning on repairing your bathtub, try to find fix-it books that have some information on what you are trying to do.

There are plenty of great books out there and I would recommend any of them that apply to your needs. If you need a lot of pictures, find a book with a lot of pictures, if you have an easier time understanding step-by-step instructions, find a book that has plenty of step-by-step instructions.

I hope this has helped you, because it has helped a lot of people in the past.

If you're really interested in learning more about remodeling, new home construction, home maintenance, home repairs and really want to get the nuts and bolts of home improvement. Visit our web site and select from the best-selling home building books on the Internet.

Greg Vandenberge 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 Serious About Home Improvement You Should Visit Our Newest Site On Home Repairs

Retaining Walls Suffer From Moisture Problems

2009-10-04T11:05:00.001-07:00

Whether you're driving down the road or through a neighborhood and you notice a retaining wall that has large cracks in it, or is severely discolored, or one that has white calcium deposits from moisture covering the entire wall, you've got problems with moisture.

The retaining wall is designed to hold the dirt back, that's it's sole purpose. It's not going to hold any moisture back unless someone has installed a waterproofing membrane to separate the soil from the concrete block wall. If the soil isn't ever going to get wet, then you probably don't need to waterproof the retaining wall.

However that's normally not going to be the case. So we need to waterproof the interior of our retaining walls to eliminate future moisture problems that could eventually, deteriorate as moisture starts to accumulate, inside of our block wall for a longer periods of time.

If you don't know anything about waterproofing, I would suggest that you hire a waterproofing expert. Waterproofing looks easier than it actually is, and might be out of your scope of work.

I'm not going to suggest that you use waterproofing paints, because I haven't seen great results with these products. However, if you're not that concerned about your retaining wall and are looking for a cheaper way to apply any waterproofing materials, these paints might not be a bad idea. Sometimes, Something is better than nothing.

If you live in a relatively dry climate, it might not be necessary to waterproof your retaining walls. But if you live in a damp or moist area, especially an area where the ground is moist all year round or more than six months out of the year, I would suggest that you waterproof the back of your retaining walls.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link House Basement Repair Ideas. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Dryer Vent In Basement Window.

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

How Many Bathrooms Do You Really Need? Building New Homes

2009-10-04T05:58:00.001-07:00

When my dad was a kid, they lived in a two bedroom house with one bathroom and the family consisted of him, his two brothers and his mother and father. When I grew up, we have it a little bit better. We had the same sized family as my father did, but we lived in a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms.

How many bathrooms do you really need? Think about it. Here's what I would like to suggest, if you have more money than you know what to do with and would love to help the economy, then you should put as many bathrooms as you need in your home.

If you really need to tell your friends, that you have a 250 bedroom house with 275 bathrooms, and you have the money to pay for it, do it and knock yourself out. However, if you are building a new home, I would like you to consider, this question. How many bathrooms do you really need?

If you want each one of your children to have their own bathroom, then go for it. It will require more cleaning, more money to build these bathrooms and is it really necessary.

Here's what I would suggest as a guideline for deciding, how many bathrooms you really need. One bathroom for two or less people, two bathrooms for five or less people and three bathrooms for eight or less people. You could actually add one bathroom for every three people as a general rule of thumb.

Don't get carried away and start installing bathrooms all over your house, it doesn't make sense. Bathrooms are expensive and I have been in the homes, where I was the only person that used at bathroom. Some bathrooms might not ever be used.

Click here if you are looking for some more Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Click Here If your looking for some great Bathroom Ideas or Bathroom Remodeling Contractors

What If My Contractor Does Not Return My Call

2009-10-04T00:51:00.001-07:00

This is one of the biggest problems in business today. You have some work done on your home in good faith that the contractor knows what he is doing. When all is said and done you have a problem that needs to be resolved as soon as possible. I really don't care how long it has been since the work was done. If you have a problem the least that your contractor can do is answer the telephone.

Some companies go out of business and others get to busy to respond to your problem. You will hear the old excuse "That's not my problem" or the ever popular " I didn't do that". I have been in business for over twenty years and had very few problems. Of course I built things to last as long as possible.

Keep in mind that some contractors are a one man operation and they might be on vacation. Some contractors do not answer their phones over the week ends or after business hours. So don't sink the ship to fast.

Do not call the Contractors Licensing Board or the Better Business Bureau unless it has been at least a few working days. I would give it at least a week or so. Oh yeah don't assume that the contractor got your message. Call a few times at the least.

It has always made me mad when I have to fix someone else's problems. I get the call when the other contractors won't respond. I listen to the home owner with regret for being in a business where I am considered a crook. This is one of the reasons why contractors in my business get out of it.

If you have the contractors address and they aren't responding by phone you can always send them a letter by certified mail. Request a return receipt. That's your proof that the company received your letter. Keep a copy for your files.

The good news for a home owner when a contractor will not respond to your calling them is the Department of Consumer Affairs. Most states have a complaint department of some sort that will listen to your complaints. Does this mean it will get resolved? NO there are no guarantees here.

If your state has a licensing board for contractors, this will be your next step.

This will get your contractors attention and there is a great chance they will respond now. If there are enough complaints against the contractor and they do nothing about them the contractors board will take their license away.

If your contractor does not respond after all of this. There is very little you can do about it. Hire someone to fix the problem and look at it as a very important lesson learned.

If your state doesn't have a contractors licensing board contact the Better Business Bureau or your local government for their recommendation. Ask some of your friends if they have had any problems like this and how they handled them.

For some more tips about hiring contractors go to
http://gregvan.com/library/homeowner_checklists.htm

Greg Vandenberge 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.

10 Things a Homeowner Won't Tell a Contractor - Common Courtesy

2009-10-03T19:46:00.001-07:00

I've been a contractor in the state of California for over 20 years and there are some things that a homeowner won't tell a contractor. These are a few things that a contractor might want to hear, but a reluctant homeowner, might have second thoughts telling their contractors how they really feel.

1. We are happy with all of the work that you did in a timely manner and we appreciate your services.

2. We are happy with the way you performed your construction tasks, efficiently and we appreciate your services.

3. The work was done by a true professional and we would recommend you to any one of our friends.

4. The payment plan that you created in the contract worked out perfectly and never made us feel uncomfortable. It never seemed like you had too much of our money or we were putting you in a bad spot financially.

5. Thanks for keeping the job clean, it meant a lot to us, because we have seen other construction jobs that look like a tornado ran through them.

6. Thanks for helping us with our design. Working with your contractor on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can be frustrating or joyful. Let the contractor know either way how you are really feeling.

7. You and your crew are extremely hard-working and we appreciate the simple fact that you didn't come to work late or leave early.

8. Thanks for the reasonable priced estimate on our project. You helped us say a lot of money and we appreciate that sincerely.

9. Thanks for doing the extra work at a reasonable price. You could have gouged us at certain times, but you chose to be fair and work things out, in a way that would benefit both of us.

10. This one is the most important and often overlooked by homeowners and it's simple and easy to do. Thanks for doing what you said you were going to do and actually doing it.

Just a simple thank you and paying them on time, for a service well done is enough for most contractors. However, a little common courtesy can go a long way, even in the construction industry.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Home Remodeling Contractor

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Click here if you're looking for additional Homeowner Contractor Advice. If you're interested in gathering more information on how to hire a good contractor, make sure that you visit our website.

Pest Droppings in the Attic - Pest Problems

2009-10-03T14:49:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I wonder how these large animals can get through such small holes in our homes and into our attics and crawlspace's. A few years ago, I was working on a home that had water damage to the siding that needed to be fixed. The homeowner of course didn't want anymore water damage and this required repairing roof, the original cause for the siding damage.

When I bid the job, I had no idea what I was about to run into. The first day on the job, went smoothly as I repaired some damage fascia board, but the next day I was in for a surprise, as I removed the damaged siding, I found what looked like dog poop in the attic.

I was looking around in the attic and trying to figure out how a dog could of got up there. I know that I shouldn't have, but I walked around the home inspecting it for a large hole, any holes, something that a small dog could have wiggled his way into. I got my latter off of the truck and then went on the roof, trying to find a place where a dog could have got into the attic.

I couldn't find any holes and after wasting about an hour, I decided it was time to get back to work and since the homeowner wasn't there, I couldn't show him my new findings or ask him any questions. I cleaned up the mess and repaired the water damaged siding, but in the back of my head I kept thinking about how in the heck a dog got up in the attic.

To make a short story even shorter, when the homeowner arrived home that day, I showed him my findings and he informed me that he didn't have a dog. He did however inform me that he has been hearing something walking around in his attic for about a year now. He had a pretty good idea that they were raccoons.

I told him, that I had inspected his home and only found one small hole on top of his roof underneath the roof eave, but there's no way that a small raccoon could fit through that hole. He told me that you would be surprised, what these animals were capable of squeezing into and out of.

Well that's about it, the mystery was solved, I repaired the small hole in the attic and have never heard from the homeowner again. Hopefully that meant I did my job well and not that he was embarrassed about the poop in the attic.

Pest Control Ideas, House Pest Pictures

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Take Pictures of Your Growing Foundation Damage Or Cracks

2009-10-03T09:40:00.001-07:00

I champion people and try to get them to look at their house, at least once a year. One of the easiest ways to inspect your home is to use a home inspection checklist and if you really want a good home inspection checklist, there's a good chance that you are going to need to purchase one. You get what you pay for and don't ever forget that.

Foundation repairs usually start with a small crack and that's no joke. If you notice a crack, take a picture of it and save it somewhere. If you think, that the crack is actually getting a little bigger or starting to separate, you can simply take another picture and compare the two photos.

I would like to give you an example of what I'm talking about. Sometimes we look at something and we think that it's getting larger, but we don't have anything to compare it to. As time goes on, we think that the crack is still getting larger, but our mind is creating an optical illusion. This happens to a lot of people.

If you had a picture, from a few years ago, you could refresh your memory and this could be very helpful in reducing your anxiety or jumping to conclusions about foundation damage. Trust me, sometimes, I'm like a medical emergency crew, going to visit a homeowner to relieve their foundations stress. People panic over foundation cracks and I'm the doctor they call for any one of their home emergencies.

I would also advise you to take pictures of the rest of your home. How hard would it be to take about 300 pictures of your home each year and store them on your computer or on a disk, for easy access later? A picture is worth a thousand words and don't ever forget that.

Click Here for Some More Great Foundation Repair Solutions.

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

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Problems. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Building Codes - Stairway Construction

2009-10-03T04:28:00.001-07:00

The stair building code was created for building safety. Before the building code and local city enforcement (Building Inspectors), anyone could build a house. This meant Uncle Earl who had just watched a couple of his friends build a house down the street construct some sort of a dwelling. The next step for Earl would be to help these guys for a day and now he is a professional home builder. You get the point.

Stair Building Codes create the safety needed for one of the most hazardous areas of your home. You might know someone who has fallen down a stairway?

I lived in a house I built for 15 years and I redesigned the stairs from a winder design to a T shaped set of stairs. Both sets of stairs were built using the local stair building code for my city.

Wow I could not believe how many times my family members fell down the stairs. I even fell down once. I was amazed. When I switched from the winder to the T shaped stairway there were less accidents. My point is that even using the stair building codes this is a dangerous part of your house.

Having a professional stair builder install your stairs is great advice. Take it. For example this happened to me on quite a few jobs. I get a set of plans from a architect who has been designing houses for over 40 years. I looked at the stairway to find out that he has designed a stairway that is too small for the length of this part of the home. If I build the stairs using the plans that by the way were approved from the local building department, I could have a problem.

You are probably asking yourself how does this happen. Aren't these people experienced professionals. Of course they are. They probably have the U.B.C. (Uniform Building Code) in their office somewhere. Everyone makes mistakes here and there but this is one area of the home where safety is a big concern.

Just look at it like this. The stair building code was designed to improve the safety and reduce the number of accidents while using the stairs. Over the years I have seen stairs poorly designed and constructed. These stairs create problems for the owners of the buildings not just the people that use them. Did I mention lawsuits. This is one area where a lawyer will have a field day.

As a building professional I advise you to use the stair building code first for safety and second to avoid lawsuits. Get an idea from some of the pictures I have taken over the years on problems with stair building.

Use common sense while building or remodeling your home. It goes a long way.

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

Tile Grouting Tips For Your Bathrooms, Kitchens and Floors

2009-10-02T23:26:00.001-07:00

Isn't tile grouting supposed to be simple, if you read the directions and watch a couple of videos? What could make tile grouting so difficult? Grouting your tile isn't that difficult, by the time you're done reading this article, you should have a pretty good idea how to grout your floors, bathrooms, kitchens and anything else that requires tile.

I used to have problems grouting tile, but after I read the directions, I became a grouting wizard. This sounds hard to believe, but after reading the directions on the tile grout bag, I became a grout master. I know, you the type of person who never read the directions, you simply add water, mix and start grouting.

It's time to change your thinking about, whether or not the directions will be helpful. Whether it's about grouting your bathroom floor or putting together your home barbecued. I read one thing on the grout bag and it changed my entire grouting career.

The grout should slake. After you're done mixing the grout, you should wait between five and 10 minutes to let the moisture soak into the grout mix. Do this once, and you will never go back to mixing your grout and applying it, as quickly as possible after it has been mixed.

For more information on grouting, remodeling or home repairs, I would recommend reading books on home improvement and home repairs. Some of these books can make a big difference in your home improvement abilities as a handyman. I would also recommend reading more articles, there's plenty of information about tile and grouting, all over the Internet.

Click here if you are looking for some more Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Tips. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Thanks for reading the article

What is a Three Way Home Electrical Light Switch?

2009-10-02T18:14:00.001-07:00

A three way home electrical light switch is a special light switch that can be used in your hallways, large rooms and stairways. These light switches are specially made to operate one light or a group of lights from two different locations.

They are most commonly found in hallways and provide a homeowner with the option of turning the light on at one end of the hallway and turning it off, when they are finished walking through the hallway and are about to enter into another room.

Before three way home electrical light switches were made, people would turn the hallway light on and leave it on or they wouldn't turn the hall light on at all, because they knew that after they walked down the dark hallway, they wouldn't be able to turn the light off at the other end.

Three-way light switches are also used in stairways. It makes a lot of sense, to be able to turn your stairway light on, at the bottom of the stairs and then after you have walked up the stairway safely, you can simply turn the stair lights system off.

As homes become larger, it's not going to be uncommon to find three way light switches being used at either end of large rooms. If your living room or family room was located within the center of your home and had an entrance at each end, it wouldn't be a bad idea to install a light switch at each end, for travelers who are simply walking through these room.

Remember that three-way light switches, are used to operate lights from two different locations.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Great Home Repair Advice. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Encinitas Home Remodeling Contractors

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Avoiding Mistakes For Do-It-Yourselfers - Drain Clearing

2009-10-02T13:06:00.001-07:00

The other day I was in a popular home improvement center picking up some irrigation parts for our house, when I was ease dropping on a conversation between an older man and one of the stores representatives. The man explained to the so-called in house plumbing expert that he had a clogged drain and was looking for a product that could be poured into the drain and solve his problems.

They were both standing in front of the liquid plumber selection of fine products(that was a joke). What product do you recommend the older man asked. The do-it-yourselfer plumbing expert answered by pointing to a product that he recommended, this seems to do a pretty good job at clearing drains. The older man, having been around the block before, a little more educated than he was a few years ago, from his previous purchases of a product that claimed to perform a task, but didn't.

If this was a young man or woman, I would have waited until the home improvement specialist left the area and then, I would've explained who I was, and my experience with a few of these products. However, I felt that this man, who looked like he was in his late 60s or early 70s, should've known better. I chose the let him help the economy with his purchase. I guess in a sense, I was doing my good deed for the day.

Their conversation soon ended as the in-house plumbing expert left to advise another customer, hopefully on something that he actually knew something about. The older gentleman selected a different product and quickly scaned the area to make sure that the person who had assisted him wasn't around as he scampered off in a hurry.

Here's a quick tip on how to avoid mistakes as a do-it-yourselfer. Don't assume that liquid drain cleaning products will solve your problem. Try not to get caught up in your home improvement advisers solution to your problem. I have watched them sell products to unsuspecting customers and even had them try to sell me something that didn't work.

I personally, have never had any luck unclogging any drain pipes with any liquid drain cleaner. I don't know if my message is loud and clear here and hope that anyone who has gotten this far, reading the article will not believe everything that they read, because the book or product says professional plumbing expert or listen to someone because they're wearing a shirt that says ask me, I'm a home improvement expert.

If you choose to ignore my advice, know this, you will be forever doomed to repeat the mistakes that others have made before you.

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:
Greg Vandenberge 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 information on plumbing check out our house plumbing books

Subfloor Damage From Poor Bathtub Installation - Read Bath Tub Fixture Manuals

2009-10-02T08:05:00.001-07:00

You should never under estimate the amount of damage that water can do to your wood subfloor. Especially if this wood is underneath your bathtub. If the bathtub is not installed properly, you could find yourself replacing the wood underneath, within a short period of time. This repair is not uncommon and as more homeowners and handyman seemed to be doing projects like these, without the proper experience, it's becoming even more common.

I wish I had a solution to the problem, however, I don't. The best advice I could give anyone who is going to be involved in any home remodeling project, would be to get some books on what ever task you are about to undertake and read all of the information that you possibly can about the products you are going to be installing. This is extremely helpful for anyone who has never installed a bathtub or any bathtub fixtures.

If the product fails and was installed properly, the manufacturer should be responsible for the water damage. I have been reading the manufacturer's installation manuals for quite some time now and every once in a while, I find something that is of great value to me and I get to pass it on to my readers. That's what I'm doing right now.

Whether you want to remodel your bathroom to save money or you want to accomplish a task that you haven't done yet. I would recommend, taking the time to understand, exactly how the water flows off of and on to another section of the bath tub or shower on its way to the drain. Understanding the basics of bathroom remodeling can save you big money in the future.

Save yourself some money and make sure that you install your bathtubs properly. Taking a little time before you start to read the bath tub fixture manuals, can save you some money and grief in the future.

Find More Facts On Home Water Damage.

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Check out These Amazing Home Damage Videos.

Whole Grain Vs. Whole Wheat - What is Best for You? Part I

2009-10-02T05:16:00.001-07:00

Whole Grain Vs. Whole Wheat - What s the best for you? Part I
We have all seen it, 100% whole wheat bread that sits next to the white bread. It looks like white bread, but it says enriched. Enriched with what? Well, let me back up a little. When wheat is harvested the whole grain is taken to the refinery. REFINERY, did you see that! The wheat is heated to a point when the germ and the bran fall off. What is left is the starch, the white part, the not good for you part. The part that has a long shelf life and is bug resistant. Do you know why it is bug resistant? Bugs CANNOT sustain life in it. They will die if they only eat this refined grain. So why on earth, with the abundance of good life sustaining food do we eat white flour, which is the starch of the wheat grain ground up. Honestly do I need to answer that? Take a look around and you will see obesity on the rise, and now not only are adults overweight, but kids, little kids are getting more and more fat. Why? We are feeding ourselves all kinds of unhealthy food. Some do it because it is cheaper, some because of taste, and some just because they don't know any better.

So now that I explained what white bread is made of, let me continue to answer the question of "what exactly is enriched"? After the refinery takes the grains apart and makes white flour, which has no nutrition, they add some vitamins, some minerals, and some fiber, but not even a gram worth. The white bread is enriched with some of the very things they just worked so hard to take out. However, they do not add in as much of the grain they take away, otherwise it would be whole grain. Just enough to add some flavor and calories to it.

What is whole grain? It is the WHOLE grain used in the process of making bread, cereal and the building blocks of many other foods. For it to be truly healthy whole grain needs to be listed on your bread, cereal or other food in the number 1 or number 2 position on the ingredients list. No, whole wheat flour which is followed by (enriched white flour, niacin, and iron) is not healthy, it is a way of making people believe that they are getting a whole grain bread. They are not lying, it is whole wheat flour, but not whole grain. It did come from the wheat plant and it is all wheat, but not all grain. Whole is just another word like all. If you look a little farther down on the list you will see molasses, why molasses you ask? It colors the bread to make it look brown. Yup, white flour plus vitamins and minerals still does not bring the bran back into the bread. Bran is what helps to give the natural brown color to bread. So, they again, add something to it, to try and make it look like something it is not.

Linda Cramer is the owner of Oregon Gourmet Foods and Gifts. Visit our website. http://www.oregongourmetfoods.com

Feng Shui Symbols to Protect and Enhance Your Marriage

2009-10-02T00:04:00.001-07:00

A happy and long lasting marriage so sacred and rare, that we should all be so lucky to be involved in one. The Chinese has been using feng shui symbols to attract relationship luck for hundreds of years. Here are some great feng shui tips to protect and enhance your marriage.

The dragon and the phoenix are extremely auspicious creatures that represent a happy marriage (the dragon representing the husband and the phoenix representing the wife). If you can find an amulet with these two creatures on it, carry it around with you at all times. If not, a small (never too big) picture of the dragon and phoenix in the bedroom will bring luck into the marriage. These celestial creatures are benevolent beings that not only bring happiness into the marriage, but also protect the marriage against malevolent influences.

A pair of mandarin ducks is also most auspicious for a marriage. In the wild, mandarin ducks mate for life, and will only look for a new partner after the old one has died. These are excellent feng shui symbols for a happy marriage. Have a pair of mandarin duck figurines in the living room or bedroom. You must never have more than a pair of mandarin ducks in a room. Having more than one pair symbolize extra-marital affairs.

As we all know the Southwest direction represents your luck in romantic relationships and is dominated by the earth element. Place a crystal figurine of a pink lotus in the southwest to enhance your marriage. The lotus flower is symmetrical from all angles, and is the ultimate symbol for perfection and purity. Placing a crystal lotus in the Southwest will ensure that the marriage will be free of obstacles.

For more practical feng shui tips visit - http://fengshuimania.blogspot.com

Feng Shui Tips For Renovating Your Home - Part 2

2009-10-01T18:53:00.001-07:00

Light plays a very important role in creating good feng shui. Dark corners in homes attract a lot of negative energy that can be harmful for the family. A brighter home is always more auspicious than a dark and gloomy one. If you were planning to renovate your house, the addition and widening of windows to let in more natural light would be a great idea. Sunlight rejuvenates the energy of a room. As much as possible, all rooms in the house should have window, especially the bedrooms. Although bedrooms are predominantly Yin areas of the home, it is inauspicious for the bedroom to be too Yin (passive and dark), as it would resemble a tomb. Having a window allows the bedroom's energy to a renewed everyday by letting in fresh air and sunlight.

On the other hand, it is also a bad idea to have too much light in the house. Floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors tend to let in too much light. A room with too much Yang energy is also a bad idea, as it may cause restlessness and petty irritations.

A fresh coat of paint would also do wonders to the room. The walls and furniture is should be painted or cleansed regularly to get rid of accumulated negative Chi. This is the quickest and easiest way to renew the Chi of the home.

As much as possible, important areas of the home such as your bedroom should not be located next to toilets and the kitchen. If this is inevitable, at the very least, make sure your bed or work desk does not share a wall with the toilet or the stove (with the toilet and the stove on the other side of the wall).

For more practical feng shui tips visit - http://www.fengshuitipstoday.com/

Chicken in a Shell

2009-10-01T13:53:00.001-07:00

When the Gringo Came

To its pioneer days much of San Francisco's Bohemian spirit is due. When the cry of "Gold" rang around the world adventurous wanderers of all lands answered the call, and during the year following Marshall's discovery two thousand ships sailed into San Francisco Bay, many to be abandoned on the beach by the gold-mad throng, and it was in some of these deserted sailing vessels that San Francisco's restaurant life had its inception. With the immediately succeeding years the horde of gold hunters was augmented by those who brought necessities and luxuries to exchange for the yellow metal given up by the streams flowing from the Mother Lode. With them also came cooks to prepare delectable dishes for those who had passed the flap-jack stage, and desired the good things of life to repay them for the hardships, privations and dearth of woman's companionship. As the male human was largely dominant in numbers it was but natural that they should gather together for companionship, and here began the Bohemian spirit that has marked the city for its own to the present day.

These men were all individualists, and their individualism has been transmitted to their offspring together with independence of action. Hence comes the Bohemianism born of individuality and independence.

It was only natural that the early San Franciscans should foregather where good cheer was to be found, and the old El Dorado House, at Portsmouth Square, was really what may be called the first Bohemian restaurant of the city. So well was this place patronized and so exorbitant the prices charged that twenty-five thousand dollars a month was not considered an impossible rental.

Next in importance was the most fashionable restaurant of early days, the Iron House. It was built of heavy sheet iron that had been brought around the Horn in a sailing vessel, and catered well, becoming for several years the most famed restaurant of the city. Here, in Montgomery street, between Jackson and Pacific, was the rendezvous of pioneers, and here the Society of California Pioneers had its inception, receiving impressions felt to the present day in San Francisco and California history. Here, also, was first served Chicken in the Shell, the dish from which so many later restaurants gained fame. The recipe for this as prepared by the Iron House is still extant, and we are indebted to a lady, who was a little girl when that restaurant was waning, whose mother secured the recipe. It was prepared as follows:

Chicken in a Shell

Into a kettle containing a quart of water put a young chicken, one sliced onion, a bay leaf, two cloves, a blade of mace and six pepper-corns. Simmer in the covered kettle for one hour and set aside to cool. When cool remove the meat from the bones, rejecting the skin. Cut the meat into small dice. Mix in a saucepan, over a fire without browning, a tablespoonful of butter, a tablespoonful of flour, then add half a pint of cream. Stir this constantly until it boils, then add a truffle, two dozen mushrooms chopped fine, a dash of white pepper and then the dice of chicken. Let the whole stand in a bain marie, or chafing dish, until quite hot. Add the yolks of two eggs and let cook two minutes. Stir in half a glass of sherry and serve in cockle shells.

Cheers,

Gary

I'm a member of a private money making society online. Want to join me? http://MoneyPeckers.Com

Benefits Of Alfalfa Plant Juice

2009-10-01T08:37:00.001-07:00

Alfalfa plant or Alfalfa sprout juice Alfalfa plant, which is also known as lucerne or bum clover, is usually known to fatten cattle, and the juice has long been employed to put weight on people. Combined with carrot and lettuce, alfalfa juice is reputed to aid the growth of hair. Like comfrey the alfalfa plant has exceptionally long roots, sometimes over 120 ft (37m).

These enable the plant to be an efficient concentrator of trace elements. Alfalfa plant is a very concentrated source of vitamin A, which is not lost when the plant is dried and sold in tablet form, and of vitamin C. Not all of us live near a source of alfalfa, but it is as easy to sprout, to mustard and cress, and the resulting sprouts are not only of a high nutritional order but are also exceptional providers of a wide spectrum I minerals.

The high vitamin K content is important as a blood clotting factor and has been found in animal studies to control high blood-pressure, although the importance of this to man is not yet established. Alfalfa juice is normally taken in combination with carrot because it is very strong alone and the two complement each other well. It must be said that it is not very tasty on its own so its use as pan of a juice combination is the more acceptable way of using alfalfa as pan of a healthy diet.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and remedies for some of the most common illnesses and some tips on raw juice therapy.

Brutally Refined

2009-09-01T06:58:00.001-07:00

I have been making sculptures ever since I was a little kid. I find that the three dimensional aspects of a sculpture are much easier for me to grasp than the flat world of the drawing or painting. I really admire people who have that talent.

At this time I have found that the logging industry has become one of my best sources for wood. They leave behind stumps and knarled wood that is useless for lumber. Well one mans junk is another mans treasure, and so is the case of the discarded wood. I find the wood no one wants to have unbelievably beautiful grain patterns, that explode with radiance once finished. It is also in these rejects I find the wood demanding to be a certain thing.

I never rush a project, especially if the piece of wood is really interesting. I have had unique pieces of wood lie around for years before I ever touch them. Then one day it will come to me and I see what is inside. It is like looking at one of those magic eye pictures with the hidden images. Once I know what is in the wood, I am compelled to release it as soon as I possibly can. I will usually sink my saw into it the very same day that I perceive the image.

The first cuts are always the most important and must be well thought out, especially if there are large relieved areas. The saws I use at this stage are a Husquavarna 372 with a 32 inch bar and my trusty Echo 346 with a 16 inch bar. Wings, legs, and fins should be left with a generous amount of extra wood for the detail carving. Plunge cuts must be the most accurate of all because once they are made the option of shrinking the shape in any way is lost.

After this series of rough cuts the piece should have a blocky appearance of the end product. Sharpening the chain for different types of wood is an art unto itself, and a necessary thing to learn to perform the best of work. I will write more on that in a later article. The second series of cuts really is where you bring out the subject to a refined rough form. I will usually use a smaller saw like an Echo 346 with a 16 inch bar for this phase.

Do not worry about detail at this point , but leave plenty of wood to create it. I will take this step as close to the finish as I possibly can.

The third and final round of chainsaw cuts are all done with a small saw with a carving bar. The Echo 346 with a 12 inch dime tip is ideal. This is where all of the detail is brought to life. After this series of cuts are accomplished some touch up with a die grinder finishes the carving part of the job.

Remember you are seeking the illusion of detail. No wood project, even a chainsaw carving is finished without some sanding. I use a combination of sanders to finish the job. Great care should be taken at this point for you are your own quality control. Removing burrs, roughness, and splinters might save your customer a nasty splinter or abrasion, besides they finish better when cleaned up in this way. There are a myriad of finishes out there for your finished project. I will cover those in another article dedicated to that step entirely. In closing remember art is the illusion of detail, especially a chainsaw carving.

Chainsaws are extremely dangerous when using the tip like you will when carving. You will need to bond with your saw and understand how and why it kicks back, once you do it will do what you want as long as you out smart it.

Heroes of The New World

2009-09-01T04:38:00.001-07:00

The abundance of the universe is ever before those who wish to see it. The treasures that await us when we open our minds to the unlimited resources we have at our disposal are amazing. With this power, we can transform our world into one of wonder and beauty.

Unfortunately, There is also the abundance of greed and lifestyle seeking zealots who have little regard for the planet or their fellow man. We have become a society of people who's only purpose is to have and consume more. Our goal should produce more so others may also have as well. When the world is full of need, it is pointless to continue with the consumption mentality. With knowledge comes the responsibility of using it wisely that is beneficial to mankind. I am not proposing communism, but rather people willingly doing taking care of the business of world stewardship.

This world has great potential for good when generosity, purpose, value, courage, and honesty rule the actions of those with power. Everyone on this planet has some level of power, capacity for action, all with the ability to enact some level of change within their circle of influence. If you are in the Home Based Business Industry these principals are part of the mantra. Unfortunately, greed has also become a major part of that mantra as well, consuming some peoples entire thought life. The visions of huge mansions, sports cars, jet planes, and exotic vacations become the main focus.

Great leaders from all walks of life and nationalities have resounded a message of service repeatedly. That message is being spread again with the new President of the United States of America. Will it fall on deaf ears? Has mankind's greed overwhelmed their capacity for the changes that are necessary to save our world? As for me and my house we will work daily to ensure a better tomorrow for future generations.

Change is a process, we all know this to be true, and nothing happens overnight. If we as residents of this amazing miracle called Earth begin to clean our house it will shine like never before. If we make the move to more efficient energy sources and toys now it is possible to change the future of our planet. If we give a little more without having some hidden agenda we will still have more than we need. If we make honesty, value, and action our guides this world will never want.

It is time to do our part. For those who live in America it is past time. It is time to give back to a world that has given us so much. It is time to be worthy of the lifestyle we are fortunate enough to have in America. Even now as our economy is uncertain we still enjoy one of the highest standards of living the world has ever known. If you have been blessed it is time to step up to the plate and invest your time, money, and energy for a better world. There is an old saying "When good men stand still evil flourishes." It is time for good to flourish and for those with power to exercise it.

"In the cocoon of failure await the wings of opportunity."

William Muncrief 2007

Tips on the Best Composite Deck Materials

2009-09-01T02:14:00.001-07:00

The best composite decking materials are composed of different recycled materials, mainly plastics and wood. The best composite decking materials take away the problems of standard wood decking. Wood can fade, be a place mold to develop, crack and splinter. Wood decking requires seasonal treatment by sealing for the deck to maintain its original beauty, durability and feel. In the last 10 years when composite deck materials came to the marketplace, consumers were given some relief from these common maintenance problems typically associated with wood deck materials.

Composite deck materials are generally a bit more expensive than wood materials. The extra cost (sometimes 2 -3 times the cost of wood deck materials) is offset by the money saved in that you do not have the maintenance costs of wood with composite deck materials, it won't deteriorate over time (although some wood deck materials have a long life span) by cracking or splintering requiring replacement. The best composite deck materials have uniform coloring that will last the lifetime of the material.

There are almost a dozen different brands of composite deck materials for the consumer to choose from. The choices are quite broad and can be overwhelming. Some brands manufacture only the deck boards, while others provide a complete system including matching railings, and other decorative components to truly customize your deck. Some are more structurally sound, although most will stand up to the most rigid consumer standards and tests. All offer a wide choice in color and texture, the choice is really up to the consumer and which brand will fit the end-users final design criteria.

Since composite deck materials were introduced, many of the leading manufacturers continue with aggressive in-house testing and support of their products to live up to tough industry standards and consumer demands. These products are now more resistant to staining, higher UV resistance (fading) and structural integrity over the life of the product.

Many of your big-box home improvement stores can provide you with a number of different brands to choose from. My suggestion is to talk to a local deck building contractor for suggestions from a professional installer. They have years of experience in working hands-on with the various composite decking materials and give you valuable information on what will work best in your particular geographic area and value for the money.

My name is James, My business partner and I have spent the last 12 years designing custom single family homes and numerous additions and remodeling projects. I have over 20 years experience in the area of residential construction. To read my blog on home remodeling and renovation tips go to:

http://www.renovate-remodel-tips.blogspot.com/

The Best Marketing Tool on the Net

2009-08-31T23:49:00.001-07:00

Let's see...19.95 for this program...29.95 for that new and improved tool, 197.00 for this sophisticated software revolution...1500.00 for that system...4000.00 to learn from the masters and become successful on the internet is what is needed, right?

Nope!

All people have the inherited necessary ingredient sitting right on top of their body that they need to become successful at promoting a website.

Its called the brain.

No product, software program, internet guru, internet legend, hype, bs and any of the other associated lies that come in the email every single day is needed to learn successful internet marketing strategies.

All living breathing people have the inherited characteristics to know what is good for them...and likewise...what is not. The brain, the soul and the mind tell people every day how to react to situations. The key is to tap in on this wonderful device and let it work for them. The truth is...most fight that natural urge and wind up doing something totally stupid!

For example..."jump onboard with this program...I will make you $10000 within a month!" It is known that is nothing but a bald face lie, but sadly, people fall into that trap time and time again, making some "slick" richer and richer.

Is it not time to stop that insanity?

Good people are milked from their good hard earned money for future promises of Ferraris and mansions every single day, when all that would really be needed is to think for one split second before signing that online agreement.

The universal spirit will inform that it is a lie...time to walk away.

The greatest promotional tool in the world is right in front of the eyes at this moment?

Interested to know what that is?

Thought..."what are you reading right now?"

Butch Hamilton is an SEO|SEM Specialist. Living on the internet has become a way of life...a succesful way of life. His talents for obtaining top positions on the search engines have led him to the point in his life where he has always wanted to be.

"Life-What a Ride!"

Says Mr. Hamilton, "Writing has always been my passion. Gone are the days when I placed blatant ads on the internet for exposure. I have found my life's work in writing articles.

Reliable and credible information is what the internet is all about to Butch Hamilton. His experience as a self employed building contractor...steel fabrication...has led him on an incredible journey.

He now resides in his beautiful home in Texas with his wife. Writing is the passion behind his successful promoting ability on the net.

Butch Hamilton's Quote: "What we think-is what we become."

http://ButchHamilton.com
http://butchhamiltonsbestdomains.com

Search Engine Optimization-Search Engine Marketing: Marketing Successfully on Google

2009-08-31T21:30:00.001-07:00

The ultimate goal of driving traffic to a website in the hopes that someone...somewhere will read the information...click on link...and make instant money. This, in theory is a great way to do business, but misinformation...lies...hype...scam...people too scattered out to focus on just one thing...all lead to failure on the net.

Many suppose that if only they could get to the top of a keyword category then sales would just fall like leaves into the bank account. This is certainly not the case. Its only about half the battle. The other half of that supreme battle between winning and losing...between making money and losing money lies in the fine art of networking and relationship building.

Without a relationship of some type...whether it be on the net or in "real" life, people are simply not going to invest money without a bond of some kind. The art of search engine optimization is very important in nailing a top spot on Google...but its not all the story.

Whether people like to admit it or not...they are simply not going to do business simply through a site of some kind. One has to realize that good guys have websites...but so do the bad guys. Often the bad guys build better websites that the good guys.

There is a strong possibility that the so-called great looking website could belong to some guy sitting in a 1967 trailer house drinking beer in his jockey shorts telling people how much money he has made! The scenario has presented itself too often on the net and people are beginning to be much more careful about giving credit card info, ssn numbers, driver's license numbers and so on...that they have not a clue as to the origins of those people.

This is a good thing. Caution in NOT joining every program that comes along hoping that this is the magic button for success. In all actuality...there simply is NO magic button like people may think on the internet...or anywhere else in life.

Consistent effort pays off to big rewards for the far sighted individuals that have a clear objective defined on the net as to what they want to accomplish. Working steadily day by day with the intent of producing a good name and a feeling of trust that will follow that name.

The internet, while confusing at times, is really not that big. Once a person breaks into the inner loop and begins to make contacts with many of the same people over and over...a sense of community evolves. From this community atmosphere...there may even be money made at some point. But that should not be the ultimate internet marketing goal.

In dealing with a large number of people, it has been noted that most people grab onto an internet connection...get the plastic out...and hope for the best without a clue as to what they are doing...and with nothing more than "selling" something in mind. Woe to those with this mentality because is will not work on the net.

It takes time and consistent effort in building a sphere of influence...always being credible and reliable...always doing for people exactly what they want done...to the best of the ability of the person involved.

Its about building relationships that last a lifetime on the net. Its definitely NOT about taking the money and leaving. This does not work...and sooner or later the laws of Karma come around to take a huge bite out of the rear end of the person striving for this kind of success!

"Life-What a Ride!"

Says Mr. Hamilton, "Writing has always been my passion. Gone are the days when I placed blatant ads on the internet for exposure. I have found my life's work in writing articles.

He now resides in his beautiful home in Texas with his wife. Writing is the passion behind his successful promoting ability on the net.

Butch Hamilton's Quote: "What we think-is what we become."
http://butchhamiltons-search-engine-optimization-services.com
http://butchhamiltonsbestdomains.com

Tips For Dealing With Contractors

2009-08-31T19:11:00.001-07:00

This week continues my series on opening a brick and mortar retail store from scratch. So far we've talked about startup plans, market research, and scouting for locations.

This week we discuss how to find a capable building contractor to build out the location. And as this series has been thus far, this segment is based on my personal experience and offered to you warts and all. As with all of my columns only the names have been changed to protect the innocent, the ignorant, and the overly litigious.

OK, so I signed my name in blood on the lease agreement and the space was mine for the next two years, succeed or fail. It was a large single room, about 1600 square feet, with a small storage area and two restrooms in the back. The floor was painted concrete, the walls were an odd shade of orange, half the lights didn't work, and there was no hot water or air conditioning. And that was just scratching the surface. There were a few dozen other things that would have to be repaired or installed before I could move in.

Now a lesser man would have been intimidated by the huge task of converting this empty money pit into a thriving retail store in less than 60 days, but I'm an entrepreneur - which is a French word meaning "idiot who takes on the impossible," so I was energized by the challenge.

The question then became: who will build out this space? It certainly wasn't going to be me. When it comes to construction I'm about as handy as a one-armed man in a clapping contest. It was time to line up contractors.

I don't know about you, but it's been my experience that a capable, reliable contractor is hard to find. Let me rephrase that: it's been my experience that a capable, reliable contractor is damn near impossible to find. It's easier to pin the tail on Bigfoot while blindfolded in dense fog than to find a contractor who understands the concepts of appointments and commitments. Nevertheless, my quest began with the Yellow Pages and referrals from friends.

I quickly felt like Henny Penny, desperately seeking anyone who would help me bake my bread. I talked to flooring contractors, painters, plumbers, electricians, security system installers, heating and air conditioner guys, and general building contractors. Most of them didn't seem to give a rat's backside if they got my business or not. Several didn't bother returning my calls. Others came late to appointments and others didn't bother showing up at all.

Now I don't mean to say that all contractors are unprofessional, uncaring, and undependable. I'm sure there are many reputable contractors out there who show up on time, do great work, and bill you fairly. Then there's the other 99%, many of whom are good old boys who operate out of their pickup trucks without the benefit of license, bond, or concern for their customers' satisfaction. If you're a contractor and want to argue these points let's make an appointment to talk in person. I'm pretty sure you won't show up.

Fortunately for me I managed to find a contractor in the 1 percentile that went above and beyond the call of duty to get the space built out on time; in spite of my demanding nature and daily changes to the plans. I was very, very, very lucky...

So how can you better your chances of finding a reliable contractor to build out your space? Pray, my brothers and sisters, and follow these guidelines.

Don't be pressured by deadlines. When starting a business you're usually under a tight schedule, which puts you at the contractor's mercy (they can smell fear and desperation). They know that you need them more than they need you. This is a lousy place to be, but you have to be patient and don't hire a contractor simply because he has a hammer and a pulse.

Ask to see licenses and bonds. As mentioned earlier, many contractors forego the formality of business licenses and security bonds. They prefer the "have hammer will travel" mode of business. If the contractor you're interviewing can't show you a business license and proof of a surety bond, move on to the next candidate.

Are they wearing a watch? If the contractor isn't wearing a watch it's probably because he has no concept of time or regard for schedules. I want to see a contractor wearing a watch that he looks at often. I want to see him carrying a daytimer and a cellphone with a number that I have on speed dial.

Ask for references and check the BBB. This should be a no brainer, but I'd bet most entrepreneurs never bother to ask for or check references. You want the names and numbers of at least five previous customers and always check their history with the BBB. Anyone can stencil their name on the side of a truck. Don't be fooled into thinking that makes them a professional.

Next time we'll discuss building permits, zoning laws, and building codes; and how your ignorance of these items can cost you a ton of time and a bundle of cash. The voice of experience sings again.

Tim Knox, Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker, Radio Host
Founder, The Insiders Club, Giving You The Power To Start Your Business Today
http://www.theinsidersclub.com
Bestselling Author of: "Everything I Know About Business I Learned From My Mama"
http://www.timknox.com

Making Google Love Your Web Site - Part 2

2009-08-31T16:49:00.001-07:00

Tip #2 - Optimize Your Web Site Copy: Your web site copy is another important aspect on how your website is viewed by the search engine spiders. Try to make it as interesting and informative as possible while pleasing the search engine spiders too. You can follow this three step process. Begin with an introductory paragraph that outlines, or tells your visitors, what you are going to tell them. Then in your next few paragraphs follow through and tell them your message just as you outlined in your opening paragraph. Finally, wind up you're your article, or sales presentation by summarizing, or telling them what you have just covered in the proceeding paragraphs.

This may seem overly simplified but it works and it works very well. Speak to your
viewers as though they were 10 years old. Don't patronize them, but inform them in simple easy to understand terms that anyone can understand.

When writing your copy focus on one or two key words per page. If you are selling acne treatment, focus your presentation on acne treatment and don't use,
acne cure, acne medicine etc. Stay focused on your main keyword.

Next you should establish an acceptable key word density within your copy. When you optimize your website copy you should also establish a keyword density that is acceptable to the search engines. Opinions differ on what an acceptable keyword density should be, however it is agreed that, it shouldn't be over 5 or 6 percent. This means that for every 100 words of copy your key words should appear about 5 or 6 times maximum. Any higher and you may run the risk of spamming which could damage your search engine ranking.

Where your keywords appear is also important. If possible, try to use your main keyword or keyword phrase at least twice in your first paragraph and then once in each of your following paragraphs. You will also get the best results if you use your main keyword to start and end your first paragraph. Take some time and think this step out very carefully. Make sure your message flows easily and doesn't appear to be forced.

Proper use of Meta Tags and key words will definitely make your website search engine friendly and increase your traffic. In our next article we will be covering some other great traffic building tips. We will go through how to get more traffic through back links so be sure to stay tuned.

Terry Day is an Internet Marketer and an International Hall of Fame Photographer. You can sign up for his free photo tips and view a portfolio of his work @ http://www.photographylessoncenter.com

Want some Marketing Tips? View our blog for some Great Marketing Information and Product Reviews @ http://www.safehomebizreview.com/blog/

If you would like to be notified of our future blog posts be sure to subscribe to our RSS Feed. Thanks, Terry & Derek

Contractor Web Design - Content Critical!

2009-08-31T14:28:00.001-07:00

When a customer calls you to schedule an appointment for service, how do you "sell" them on your company. Do you use glossy handouts? Do you use your knowledge of your service to convince them to use you? Are you and your sales help just charismatic? Or do you build a relationship with them in order to earn their business? Or do you simply use a mix of all of the points above? If you're like most contractors, it's probably a mix. When closing a sale as a contractor, in most instances, you must draw on all of your options to sell the customer. It is the same when developing a contractor web design. You must gather a reasonable mix of flash, knowledge, expertise and past experience to convince your prospect to do business with you over your competitors. Even if you're not a good writer, the benefit of developing your contractor web design around great content is of great importance. The content is what your prospects are looking for to make a solid buying decision before they even talk to a live human.

To accomplish this, you must first get your arms around what caused your prospects to do business with you offline. As above, is it because you're a nice person or is it because they have confidence in your abilities because of the information you have shared with them. Let me save you some time thinking about the right answer to the question. There isn't one answer! Every prospect is different than another. some prospects won't do business with you unless they view you as a friend, others have to be given ALL of the information every created before making a decision to buy and still others will draw information out of you just for the sake of qualifying you as the company for them! So when developing a contractor web design, all of the different ways you sell your offline customers must be incorporated into your website.

The key to a successful "pre-selling" contractor web design is to engage the online viewer as completely ignorant of your business process. I don't mean in a condescending way, but you will have as diverse a viewership on the web as you do in your everyday business, if not more diverse. So, in order to inform as completely as possible, you need to give more information than you ever dreamed to your online prospect. The concept quite simply is to give the most uninformed and the most informed equal amounts of solid information about your company, its processes and the services you provide.

For example, if you are a general contractor and your specialty is custom homes, how important would it be to tell your customers about the products that you use in the homes you build, that make them better than those of your competition. The reality is, the components that you use in your homes may in fact be the same exact ones your competition uses, but do you think your competitor is sharing this basic information with his prospects? Probably not! What this does is creates a relationship with your prospects and gives them illusion of superior quality that is exclusive when doing business with your company over your competitors. In a similar example, if you are a window and door contractor and you fill the voids between the window frame and the opening with foam insulation, do you think this is worthy to mention in your contractor web design? Absolutely! Again, just about all window and door replacements do it, but until you bring it to the attention of a prospect, it may go as unnoticed.

These are just a few very basic ways to differentiate your business from you competitors on the web. You see, when selling your business on the web, you don't have the luxury of responding to questions you didn't anticipate. on the web, you usually get one shot at sell your prospect. If you miss the most basic detail it may result in a significant drop in leads coming from your site. It is extremely important that from the most basic to the most complex questions be answered and the most specific, incidental detail be mentioned to fully inform your prospects on ALL of the reasons why the should do business with you instead of your competitor.

The level of detail and professionalism you share in your contractor web design, the higher the conversion rates will be in converting that prospect into a lead and ultimately closing the sale with them. In most properly designed contractor web sites, the sales cycle will be dramatically reduced because all of the information your prospect needs is available to them all day, every day, online. When developing a contractor web design, please remember that the more quality, relevant, usable content you have in your site, the better it will perform at the human level as well as the search engines.

Contractor Web Design LLC
513-546-5409
Our business was founded by contractors, for contractors. If you are in need of information about building contractor websites, or need a web site built for a contracting company, contact us today at 513-546-5409

http://www.contractor-web-design.com

Tips For Dealing With a Manufactured Home Builder

2009-08-31T12:06:00.001-07:00

If you are considering buying a prefabricated or manufactured home then you will be dealing with a manufactured home builder. They are much easier to deal with then your average building contractor is, but all the same you will want to get the best deal that you can get.

A Lot of Design and Decorating Choices to Make

One quandary that you will face is the astounding number of choices and options that you will encounter prior to your home being built. It's just not like it used to be, because todays manufactured home builders are all out to offer more then the next guy in design and decorating options.

Take Your Time and Study Your Options

The secret to making the right decisions is to first get yourself acquainted with the information. Also, do your absolute best to avoid any snap decisions that you may regret later.

Choices in Fireplaces

For instance, you will be offered any number of choices in custom fireplaces and mantels. If you have never owned a home with a fireplace then you must take into consideration whether you want a gas or wood fireplace, so give it some thought beforehand.

Take a Virtual Three Dimensional Tour

Another new marketing trend for todays manufactured home builder is three dimensional computer software that allows a prospective client to actually take a virtual tour of their home before it is even built. It's a great tool for helping a buyer to make the right choices when selecting out their options.

Study Up and Ask Questions

So study the process well and don't be afraid to ask some questions. Can they install speakers in each room of the home your are considering buying? Also, what types of security features can you get with the manufactured home that you are considering buying?

Written by Jayden Jefferson. Come visit my website for more info on modern modular homes as well as modular manufactured homes.

Should You Hire an SEO Company to Promote Your Website?

2009-08-31T09:44:00.001-07:00

Going for the gold...reaching for the summit...obtaining notoriety for your website is the goal of the seo company. There are distinct advantages in hiring a qualified seo specialist to perform for you the necessary elements in reaching for the grand prize of page 1 rank on Google, Yahoo, and MSN.

The obvious results are increased traffic to your website, branding of your url for search engine placement, giving people the idea that your site is at the top of the Google search for a reason. That reason being that you have the best information about the keyword category that they are searching for and possibly, they will come to your site and signup for the project that you are promoting.

Its really all about keywords, ad content and linking on the net. There are absolutely no magic buttons, even though some disreputable so-called gurus, may tell you that there are software programs that will do it all for you...but you need to fly right past that notion. There are NO programs that allow instantaneous success on the net. In order to become successful on the information highway you need to blend all the necessary ingredients together for the perfect seo campaign. It requires consistent and diligent work to obtain these positions.

The advantages of hiring a qualified and tested seo specialist to handle the promotion of your website are many...I will list a few below.

1. If you do not have the time to devote to your mlm project or service, then the hiring of the seo specialist will free up your time for other pursuits. Successfully promoting on the Internet does require time and effort. Unless you have the time to spend doing it, the money that you will pay for the seo's craft will be good money spent.

2. If you do not have a clue as to how the Internet actually works then hiring the seo master will be far better than buying ludicrous software programs that they claim will drive motivated visitors to your sites for only $297. Bottom line here...and take it from someone who knows...there are NO programs that will drive traffic. There are only time tested and proven strategies and Internet marketing techniques that do work. So, you will actually save money by hiring the expert rather than trying to do it all by yourself.

3. When the seo expert places your website on the top notch of a keyword category you will be putting your project, your goods, or your services in the best possible position for traffic and will ultimately make sales. There is one rule in marketing...NO TRAFFIC=NO SALES! If no one ever sees your site...and unless you have a top position on Google they probably will not...then you are dead in the water. The money that you invest in building your online business will be dollars well spent. No seo specialist will ever tell you that they will make sales for you. This is an unspoken law of seo promoters. There is absolutely no way that the seo specialist can guarantee sales for its clients. Its a false statement and if you are ever in contact with one of these pseudo-masters...you are urged to not become involved with them. They are out to steal your money.

4. The successful seo master can save you time and money by telling you the programs to become involved with...and those to stay away from. Any seo guru will be the best judge of programs (or should be) and he or she can ultimately save you money in the long haul by not becoming involved with certain programs.

All in all the ultimate goal of a successful Internet marketing campaign is to make sales. You know that a top spot on Google does not insure this success by any means. You get into an entirely different area in the content and appeal of your site...the different promotional elements of that site and other features that lead to success with a website.

Websites only need one thing to become successful. They need to offer the best information about the program promoted. The do not need fancy graphics and flash presentations. As a matter of fact, search engine spiders do not read graphics, so those may appeal the human eye, but are absolutely not necessary for promoting on the Internet.

You may have built what you think is the greatest website on the Internet, but unless someone sees that site...what are the chances that you will ever make money with that site? The answer would be almost zero.

Hiring a qualified and proven seo master will be the best money that you ever invest in your new online business.

"Life-What a Ride!"

Says Mr. Hamilton, "Writing has always been my passion. Gone are the days when I placed blatant ads on the internet for exposure. I have found my life's work in writing articles.

He now resides in his beautiful home in Texas with his wife. Writing is the passion behind his successful promoting ability on the net.

Butch Hamilton's Quote: "What we think-is what we become."

http://ButchHamilton.com

http://butchhamiltonsbestdomains.com

http://butchhamiltons-search-engine-optimization-services.com/SEO_Services_For_You.html

Home Building - Getting it Right and Saving Money

2009-08-31T07:22:00.001-07:00

Like most people you have heard the nightmare stories from family and friends about the home they built or the remodel they did and how things didn't go right .The project took far too long and ended up costing more then initially discussed. The owner blames the contractor, the contractor blames the owner and it's the same old song and dance. What's the key thing usually missing in the scenario?

Communication between all parties

As an owner builder you may look at the process and think how hard can it be, hire a guy to do this another to do that and it's done right? most likely it's not. There are so many things that can be overlooked or go wrong, and you may be surprised to learn that most people working in the trades simply just don't care about quality nor do they care to work with other trades for the common good of the project. It takes someone to orchestrate, and someone with experience to get the job done right.

You may be hiring an architect and/or building contractor and more often then not they can't seem to get it right either, they simply don't understand that it takes a team working together towards a common goal. The goal being making sure your project comes together as you envisioned it, on time, and on budget. As a building contractor we have built many custom homes and in most cases struggled through the process using plans and specifications that frankly just weren't thought through completely.

Nine out of ten times the building contractor doesn't even see the plans until it is time to put the numbers together for the project.

On average most people looking to build will hand off their plans to about three contractors for pricing before they make a decision. Now let's assume the plans and specifications don't have all the necessary information needed to price the job out correctly, these three contractors now have to call the architect and the customer to get their questions answered, or they don't bother to ask any questions at all and the customer is left with the contractors interpretation of the plans.

We have seen time and time again where the customer says, "I thought that was included" and the typical response from the contractor is, "it wasn't on the plans", and or "you didn't ask for it.

Or how about this one, the customer states to the contractor, "why didn't you tell me I shouldn't use this type of stone in my shower?" the typical response is usually I didn't know, or you didn't ask. So many times the architect will call out for materials in their specifications that they saw or read about in a magazine without understanding the application process, what it takes to be installed properly, or how it will adhere to the other materials surrounding it.

The point is, there is so much to know about building a home correctly, it takes years of actually working with the materials, and doing the installations to understand the what, when, and how.

The bottom line is, if you're thinking about building yourself or decide to hire someone to do the build, hire yourself a consultant first, most likely it will save you time, money, and more importantly your sanity.

Sunroom Contractor Choosing 101

2009-08-31T04:59:00.001-07:00

The contractor that you choose to oversee and construct your sun room is very important. That is why you want to make sure that the person that you choose is experienced and dependable. There are many different ways to make sure that you are choosing the right contractor for your addition.

A house builder should be bonded and completed insured to ensure that you are protected. If there is a problem with your house addition, then you need to have some way to get the problem taken care of. Another issue that insurance can cover is if the workers or contractor is injured on your property or if they damage your property, the insurance will cover any costs that you could incur. Ask the contractor if subcontractors will be used. If they are, you want to make sure that they are insured and licensed, too.

Check with the better business bureau that services your area to make sure that there have not been any complaints against your contractor. This can give you some measure of how reputable that they are.

Now that all of the legal issues are taken care of, you are ready to make a decision on what patio room that you want to have constructed. If the company that you are using has a showroom, then you will want to visit the showroom so that you can see what they offer up close and in person. If they don't, then ask for references from customers, so that you can call them and see if they are satisfied with the work. You may even want to ask if you can see the work that was done.

It is now time to get quotes for your new building. Choose companies that offer free in-home visits and free quotes so that you can get several quotes for the patio room that you want to have constructed. You want to be sure that the quote is detailed, so that you can compare it with other countries. Ask if the quote covers a warranty or guarantee. Have the company specify the materials that are going to be used.

Now that you have some quotes, then you will need to compare them line by line to see which one comes out on top. Be sure that you include future costs as well. Are the materials that are being used energy-efficient to save you money on energy costs? Considering all of these details will help you to determine which sun room or house contractor's quote is the best one for you.

The best way to find a reputable sunroom builder is to ask for references from friends or family members who have recently has an enclosure constructed. Carefully choosing your contractor will help to make sure that you have someone that you trust to build a room that you can depend on.

Andrew Caxton is a consultant who writes on many consumer topics like conservatories for http://www.allsunrooms.com A website with tips on sunroom contractor.

Ingredients of Winning Kitchen Design

2009-08-31T02:41:00.001-07:00

Designing a new kitchen is both exiting and daunting. Where do you start and what are the must-haves? Mark Nash real estate author of 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home and columnist for RealtyTimes.com shares the top things that go into today's kitchens.

-Good lighting. In addition to decorative lighting which can match any style, remember to but abundant task lighting over food preparation areas. Mood lighting can accent glass front cabinets and cove ceilings.

-A functional layout. The basic mantra in kitchen design is to keep the work triangle composed of the stove, sink and refrigerator grouped near one another. It will save you countless steps through the years.

-Over-sized, deep sink. I never thought it would be important, but we put one in our home. It keeps the water in the sink, especially when washing large pots and pans. Don't forget the best faucet you can afford, with sprayer. We did a black porcelain sink to match dark granite counters.

-Lots of countertops. Clear work surfaces make cooking alone or with family and friends a snap. Make sure that you have at least one surface four feet long for baking. Don't skimp on materials either, countertops take a beating from knives, food acids and people, buy the best within your budget.

-Proper ventilation. Smelly kitchens are a turn-off. Specify adequate ventilation to the outside, near cook tops. Recirculating fans just stir up smells, not rid your kitchen and home of them.

-Storage. Plan for plenty of functional and easily organized spaces to store every day and seasonal stuff. More is more.

-Forget standing room-only. People want to stay in the kitchen. Make seating a design priority in your new kitchen. Seating around an island and a cozy table for breakfast all say, stay!

-Cabinet hardware. The finishing touch to a new kitchen.

Mark Nash's fourth real estate book, "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home" (2005), and working as a real estate broker in Chicago are the foundation for his consumer-centric real estate perspective which has been featured on ABC-TV, CBS The Early Show, Bloomberg TV, CNN-TV, Chicago Sun Times & Tribune, Fidelity Investors Weekly, Dow Jones Market Watch, HGTVpro.com, MSNBC.com, The New York Times, Realty Times, Universal Press Syndicate and USA Today.

Conquering Fears

2009-08-31T00:23:00.001-07:00

Fear is one of the greatest killers of all time and it is from fear that hate, violence, abuse, doubt and a host of other emotions are conceived. Fear is responsible for more failure than any other single emotion for it is the catalyst by which all negativity is brought into being in ones life. Fear should be considered an enemy to success and dealt with the enemies are dealt with. Unlike taking prisoners with human enemies fear must be annihilated for you to truly win.

One of my favorites analogies is the one of a diver. If you are to become proficient at spring board diving you must first conquer your fear of the landing, everything must play out within your mind with the intended result of success or failure will occur. The degree of failure can vary from a poorly executed entry to the proverbial belly flop. Business is much the same way with the same ramifications of success and failure.

The first step in anything is the mental learning, the how, why, when. Once we are educated in something then we can try the physical motion and that is what really starts the process. Failure is part of the learning process and during the early stages of any physical motion it is going to happen. How long failure will last is a matter of perspective with varying degrees of success that are inextricably within each one. When we focus on these little bits of success rather than the failure we set the stage for great progress.

We all try new things from time to time with good and bad results. It really is not whether we win or lose it is how we perceive the event that really matters. In the undertaking of any process fear must be displaced with determination, diligence, and faith in your abilities to overcome. Being afraid of what the day, event, or outcome holds for you is the your ticket to an unfulfilled life.

So how does this all play out in the business world? Simple you are going to fail and have failures time and time again. The degree of these failures is relevant only if you choose to dwell on them for they will never give you the strength to break free. Instead a healthy awareness of failure is appropriate but an awareness that never slips into the dwell mode. Unlocking your potential to move the mountains in your life, and business will begin with your mastery over fear. Success in your business will only come through properly applied actions borne from a spirit of success.

If you are considering a vocation of Internet Marketing fear is a killer you must lock up and throw away the key. The nature of Internet Marketing is one of change and challenging aspects. Even though one day may bring success another may bring failure and everyday will have its challenge. By consistent fearless actions that are based in the knowledge of the Internet inner workings you will win by playing the game. By maintaining a winning attitude you will become a winner in Internet Marketing or any endeavor you might choose. It is time for you to win in all you do.

Succeed in all you do in style. Believe in a favorable outcome even if you have failed a thousand times. Let everyday bring new promise for your dreams. You and you alone have this power over your life, and fear is your single greatest enemy. Do not let fear rule your life, you must rule your fear.

MCWGOLD.COM

"In the cocoon of failure await the wings of opportunity." William Muncrief 2007

Cash For Your Business During Bad Economic Times

2009-08-30T22:04:00.001-07:00

It's the sad lament of entrepreneurs across the country: Due to the current financial crisis, there simply is no opportunity for starting a business or growing one in the U.S. today. After all, growing a business takes money--and nobody is loaning them money since the economic woes started last September. But don't tell that to Arnold McIntosh. An entrepreneur himself, McIntosh is convinced that there is money out there for small businesses. And he's backing up his beliefs with a program he has produced to help entrepreneurs find it.

"My whole reason for creating the 'Unsecured Business Lines of Credit' program is to encourage small businesses to grow" says McIntosh, "and to show them that there is a way to get the financing. I'm an entrepreneur at heart, and I love helping other entrepreneurs."

"Unsecured Business Lines of Credit" is a special report written by McIntosh, a licensed general building contractor who has seen the principles work for himself. Coming as an electronic file via email, the report promises to help an entrepreneur secure up to as much as $1 million in credit for his business. And the program works no matter what size the business is or how much experience the business proprietor has.

"This is a stated income/asset, no credit score, application-only process which requires no tax returns or business financials," says McIntosh. What this means in plain terms is that, by following the principles outlined in the report, a business owner can get thousands, tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars of credit extended to his business. And he can get it:

Based on an application only
With no business financials
With no tax returns
Without regard to the business credit score
With no personal guarantee
And without reporting the matter to the credit bureaus.

"We're talking revolving lines of credit and perpetual lines, with interest-only payments," says McIntosh. "This is absolutely unsecured business credit. And the lines never convert to term loans."

McIntosh points out that the information in the report is crucial in today's economy, where credit is hard to come by. At the core of the economic crisis is a virtual shutting-off of most credit--unless you know where and how to look.

"Today, most people go to the bank or lender to apply for a loan, and they end up with their feelings hurt. With us, as long as you meet the requirements, you will get funded."

Nor is it a lengthy process; you won't spend weeks trying to get the funding. McIntosh says the whole process should take only 30 to 45 days, from start to finish.

"There are even Audio Links we will send you that explains the whole process," McIntosh says.
Those interested in starting the process can visit McIntosh's web page and fill out the short application. They will be contacted soon afterwards.

Arnold R. McIntosh

Tips on the Best Composite Deck Materials

2009-08-30T19:44:00.001-07:00

http://www.renovate-remodel-tips.blogspot.com/

Fireplaces Under Attack

2009-08-30T17:22:00.001-07:00

It's an effort that started in California. Actually, I recall a few cities in Europe that were attacking fireplaces too. You would be surprised how evil the fireplace has become.

It's an interesting revolution. A century ago, a ranch rested out in the middle of wide open territory and smoke rolled from the chimney in a picturesque scene that inspired many painters to capture it on canvas. That was years ago and no one ever had a thought that the fireplace could be so cruel.

But then, the city was invented. Listen to me! But, that's the simple version. Anyway, people flocked to the cities for work, entertainment, convenience or whatever reason they had for closing in on the urban dwellers.

They brought their fireplaces with them so to speak. Fireplaces in the city started popping up all over the place and yet, it still wasn't a concern. In fact, it was a novelty. Fireplaces were in townhouses. Fireplaces were in apartments. Fireplaces were in the suburbs and everyone was enjoying the comfort.

Fast forward to today and you find a problem. The sheer volume of fireplaces within city limits has raised some concerns. The pollution problem is the main concern. Out in the wide open of the farmland and mountainous territory there was never a problem, not anything that could even be measured. But, the volume of smoke pouring from city chimneys is producing considerable pollution problems.

Another problem is the fire hazard. Now, I know that electrical fires cause most of the city fires because of faulty wiring or old wiring that simmers and then all of a sudden burns through the wall. But, fireplaces have been responsible for a good number of fires. The problem with that is the close proximity of city living. One fire can take a block down if it's not caught and controlled in time.

So, it is that in the recent years fireplaces have come under attack. There are already city regulations put intp place in some cities that restrain new home building projects from including fireplaces in their building plans. Many of those same city regulations require that home remodeling projects remove the old fireplace from the home.

Are fireplaces obsolete? Absolutely not!

There are alternatives to the traditional fire burning fireplaces. The ventless gel fireplace is a safe source of heat that meets with all new city requirements. In fact, several condominium units in New York City have adopted the ventless gel fireplace for all of their units. They have actually added mentioning the ventless gel fireplace in their advertisements as a feature buyers will love.

With the many problems we are facing throughout the country, we need to find the alternatives that are more effective and beneficial than their originals. Alternative fuel sources are a much needed resource. Alternative medicines are becoming increasingly important. Likewise, alternative fireplaces will be very beneficial to the overall health and comfort of the planet.

Jessica Brylan has been a student of construction all her life, under her father who retired in 2004. Her passion turned to interior design and strangely evolved into becoming a fireplace expert. You can read her latest report, Summer Ideas when you visit Ventless Gel Fireplaces and sign up for the newsletter.

Solar Energy

2009-08-30T15:00:00.001-07:00

No matter what you may have heard, solar energy is the wave of the future, in large part because of its utter simplicity. A photovoltaic, cell collects energy from the sun, and that energy is converted into electricity without the use of chemicals, liquids, or moving parts. It's that easy.

A number of solar cells are generally linked together on a solar panel, hooked up in series to allow all the cells to work in unison. The energy that's generated is then stored in a battery, in the form of DC current. Since most household appliances run on AC current, the electricity is then converted to AC current by a device called an inverter.

The efficiency of photovoltaic cells has improved a great deal over the past few years, but it still would take a huge array of panels to run your entire house with solar power. Even so, it's still possible to use solar to power at least a portion of you home at a relatively minimal cost. For instance, you could power your home computer and a few other small electrical appliances using a system that costs about $1,000.00 to have installed. At the moment, solar systems generally cost about $10.00-$12.00 per watt.

Since it's totally renewable and doesn't pollute, it's easy to see that the future of solar power is so bright. If we could harness just one hour's worth of the suns total solar power every day, we'd have enough energy to fuel the entire planet's energy needs for a whole year. That's an amazing amount of potential power, and it's just waiting for us to tap into it.

As photovoltaic cells continue to improve, the cost of solar energy will keep coming down, and eventually, it will become economically feasible for everyone to switch to solar. Enormous amounts of money are being poured into solar research--some of it from seemingly unlikely sources, such as a number of major oil companies. However, that shouldn't really come as a surprise, because they can see the handwriting on the wall as well as anyone, and it's clear that they, like most forward thinking people, understand that the future of the world's energy lies in solar power.

Jeanette Fisher has researched the effects of environment on emotions for over 15 years. She teaches interior design college courses and seminars. Free environmental design info: http://environmentpsychology.com

Free Standing Electric Fireplace

2009-08-30T12:40:00.001-07:00

The freestanding electric fireplace will offer many choices of placement in the building or remodeling of your home. With out the need of a chimney, the position of this fireplace can be almost anywhere. These units do not have to be placed against a wall either. And with out the cost to build or remodel the existing, your could really save a bundle on just the cost of the roofer and building contractor. With no gas lines to be ran, this could also amount to quiet a bit of savings too.

There electric fireplaces are available in many different style and designs. The electric fireplace mantel is more then just pretty supporting trim around the fireplace unit. It can also have shelves that are not just pretty but can be very functional. With the mantels available with a wood or stone look, there is one that will fit with your home decorations. If you like the traditional deep, rich, wood look, some of the options will be the walnut, mahogany, pecan, cherry, or the oak electric fireplace.

One of the features that most owners of the electric fireplaces enjoys is the fact they do not have to deal with the acquiring the wood. With the chore of finding, buying, chopping and splitting the wood, then having to load and haul in your vehicle, then unload and stack and store, clean out you vehicle, then haul the wood in as you need it, then clean up the ashes, some people had rather not. The freestanding electric fireplace is as simple as plug in and enjoy not just heat.

The design and technology of the major electric fireplace manufactures have developed some amazing features. Depending on the model, most of the units come with a remote control. The logs can be real logs with special lighting to give the flicker of the fire. There is a sound that simulates the live fire. Some will also have the option to turn off or on the heat. This way a fire can be enjoyed even if you do not need the heat.

Without the need of a chimney, the placement of the freestanding unit is limited only by where you would like to place it. This makes it great for rooms like the basement that would normally just be cold. This great design will also allow for placement in the mobile homes. It is also great if you are renting. With no remodeling and you can take it with you if you move. There is also no smoke or fumes. With the very flexible positioning of the freestanding fireplaces and the ease with which you can install them yourself, consider these units before installing the stationary chimney.

The oak electric fireplace is one of the most popular styles of the electric fireplace mantels. The The free standing electric fireplaces will allow for installation in a wide range of locations that could not be accomplished with a fireplace that has a chimney. The corner fireplace will come in a wide array of colors and wood tones with the oak electric fireplace being a favorite of the free standing electric fireplaces.

Haul Out the Lifeboats - the Titanic is Sinking!

2009-08-30T10:16:00.001-07:00

Sinking ships on the net are a too often found occurrence. People seeking their fortunes with misconceptions of grandeur and success are unwillingly "jumping on board" with every project imaginable without a clue on how to effectively promote on the internet.

The story goes on, "my buddy just called and he has this amazing new product, let's jump on board and make some money!" That single phrase has separated more good people from their hard earned wages than anything else on the net today. Dispel the rumor that there are ways to make "quick money" on the internet or anywhere else.

Internet marketing is exactly like offline business. Are there offline businesses where one can come in with an investment, and be making $10000 in just a few short weeks? Unequivocally...NO!

Why then, do people consistently spend money in hopes of making significant rewards on the internet. What would make internet marketing any different from an offline business? Answer...NOTHING!

The bottom line...hard truth...telling it like it is attitude is this...there are no castles in the digital air.

Time, effort, training, actually sitting and learning time-tested techniques, visualization on what is to be accomplished, and then the final act of WORKING is what is needed for success on the net.

There is, in fact, nowhere else today that potentials are greater than on the net, but most are unwilling to actually learn the significant techniques to obtain that success.

Leading people down the primrose path is steadily becoming the disenchantment of folks desiring a new life and a new approach to living. Most will fail...but taking that statement, and turning it into a success story is highly possible on the net today.

One must have the fore-sight to learn the skills that will empower them to achieve that success. One must be willing to do the time...expend the effort...learn the rules...and then for God's sake...think originally about that project and the best way to approach it, before clicking on the "I Agree" button at the bottom of the contract.

"Life-What a Ride!"

Says Mr. Hamilton, "Writing has always been my passion. Gone are the days when I placed blatant ads on the internet for exposure. I have found my life's work in writing articles.

He now resides in his beautiful home in Texas with his wife. Writing is the passion behind his successful promoting ability on the net.

Butch Hamilton's Quote: "What we think-is what we become."

http://ButchHamilton.com
http://butchhamiltonsbestdomains.com

Conquering Fears

2009-08-30T07:52:00.001-07:00

MCWGOLD.COM

"In the cocoon of failure await the wings of opportunity." William Muncrief 2007

Mini Sites

2009-08-30T05:29:00.001-07:00

Mini sites are usually a 1-5 page website that focus on selling one type of thing. A product, service, promotion of a program, or any thing you could ever want to sell or promote online. Mini sites are generally designed using standard HTML and very plain, as you want the focus to be on your text. They contain very few graphics, plug-ins, or any other glorified elements that are often used to spice up a content site. Mini sites are responsible for selling thousands of dollars of products because they work. And depending on the way you generate traffic, you might want to think well before you design your mini site because it can have a positive or negative effect on your efforts.

These sites are responsible for selling thousands of dollars of products because they work. And depending on the way you generate traffic, you might want to think well before you design your mini site because it can have a positive or negative effect on your efforts. Mini sites are also useful to determine how popular a new product is to your market niche, based on the number of hits the mini site receives. It is very fast and simple to make changes to the content on the mini site to improve the conversion rate on the page. Mini sites are an extension of single-page landing pages in that they have other pages, such as the "about us" page, the "contact" page.

They come in different flavors but all have one significant element in common. Each site is very tightly focused upon selling a single product or service. Mini-Sites are like real estate you can do fabulous in the rankings with these small but powerful webpages. You may have seen big checks out there, from Google AdSense and affiliate sites like Clickbank the majority of the money that is earned is from Mini-Sites. Mini-Sites are effective because they are "direct response sites." Visitors are usually targeted individuals who have a genuine interest in what the site has to offer. The focus is on selling one product/service and one product/service only, directing the potential customer to the order form.

This sites need to be conducive for direct sales response. This means that the overall message being presented to the visitor needs to be so strong that the visitor has no other desire for anything else but to buy right now. Mini sites are generally designed using standard HTML and very plain, as you want the focus to be on your text. They contain very few graphics, plug-ins, or any other glorified elements that are often used to spice up a content site. Mini sites have made a lot of money for A LOT of people. They are simple and easy to use, and can make anyone who is serious about making money online a substantial profit.

Anyone can set up an order taking, money-making mini-site in minutes! Given the right tools, resources, and instruction on how to use them effectively, it is possible that anyone can build money-making mini-sites . Anyone who advertises even just a little bit can do this.

this micro sites are the easiest way to make some quick money because they do not require a large setup cost, and they are easy to design. All you need is a great idea and you are ready to make some money. Mini sites are the web sites that are designed online to sell. Their whole purpose is to sell a product or service. Mini sites are great little web sites, usually consisting of a single web page and occasionally a few more. A mini site is primarily created to advertise and sell a product or service.

Mini-sites are different from content sites, as they don't provide any content. They usually contain one or two pages and completely focus on one product or service. Mini-sites are inexpensive and easy to design, and once they're set up, they pretty much run on autopilot. Mini-sites are one of the most effective marketing tools online. Not only are they effective, but they're also very inexpensive and easy to create if you have the right guide.

Internet Marketing Tips & Tricks go to http://www.marketing.cblinkus.com

Jonathan Marino an internet marketer and founder of http://www.cblinkus.com new internet marketing concepts newsletter to discover the REAL strategies and Insider Tips

Personal Development Through Courage

2009-08-30T03:06:00.001-07:00

We have all had times when something takes away all of our courage. We succumb to the effects of doubt, fear, self pity, and denial. It is at these moments in time when our resolve is tested in any endeavor. If you are truly passionate about what you are doing you will stand refusing to give in to the weakness.

Struggles are a natural part of any process. Through the challenges that we face we are building a solid structure. It will not only stand the test of our individual lifetime, but quite possibly endure through time. All great projects, including each one of us, are the sum of countless actions. These actions either build a palace or a shack.

When we are in the process of building our lives our greatest concern must be accuracy. People today marvel at the accuracy with which the pyramids were constructed. With no knowledge of the methods that were employed by the builders it seems utterly impossible for the time when they were built. How did they do it? They used the overwhelming abundance of natural laws to their advantage. Through the power of observation, and action they were able to accomplish the impossible.

Natural laws are absolutely the key to everything. We can observe that water always seeks to rest in a plane across the gravitational axis. The Egyptians observed this natural law and employed its use for insuring their foundations were absolutely level. They followed other natural laws regarding leverage, and consumption. I think you can see that these basic laws of construction, are an absolute in the business world as well.

Egyptian builders knew that their projects would require extreme physical effort, and resources. In turn there would be a demand placed for many consumable products.

I believe you get the picture. Take what you have, observe the natural laws pertaining to what you are trying to accomplish, finally put it all together by leveraging time, energy, and material.

To take on any task of magnitude we have to focus on the big picture. This is a critical key to the success. What will the requirements be? As always time, energy, and material. Those are the key elements, but the catalyst, which brings the elements into a symphony of production, is the human will, from the will comes forth action.

Our will is the most powerful force on this planet, second only to terrestrial forces in existence. Mankind has reshaped the earth in many ways with this force. The will to succeed, survive, surpass, create, and even destroy is extremely powerful. It can change the course of rivers, build magnificent structures, and unlock mysteries that are hidden.

The driving forces behind this will are thought, emotion, and action. The will is then manipulated with the elements of our character. Our character is the gravity, which pulls our will into a state of equilibrium with our ambition, and environment. This character is charged either positively or negatively. Compare say Jesus Christ with Genghus Khan.

Now lets come full circle back to courage. It is responsible for one to charge in when the odds are against you, to attempt what others would have you believe cannot be done, to get up after a crippling defeat and push forward. Courage is a great ally for you to develop. It's nature is pure, and its effects are astounding. It is the limitless potential of courage that will help you discover the natural laws necessary to complete your own life's work.

This life holds all the time, energy, and material that you will ever need. Have courage that you will discover the hidden. Strive for understanding every day. The primary element of success is to have the courage to keep going no matter what things appear to be like. Your courage is what will bring to life discipline, desire, and determination. So be very courageous in all that you do.

New Life Worx

"In the cocoon of failure await the wings of opportunity."
William Muncrief 2007

Web Design Basics Do You Know the 5 Essential Elements For Any Web Site?

2009-08-30T00:45:00.001-07:00

There are those that say that the world became a lot less understandable with the arrival of desktop publishing and multiple fonts. Everybody began to add bells and whistles to the simplest documents.

To some extent this is just as true for web site development! Before you get fancy and clever with the design or special effects, make sure youve addressed a few web design basics.

It starts with good content. Make sure your site offers useful and informative content. Visitors to your site arent looking for an art gallery, theyre looking for information. Make sure you give it to them.

Make it readable. The content wont do much good if its displayed in yellow on a white background, is in the smallest possible type, or uses an unreadable font. This also includes compatibility issues that make content unreadable make sure your site works on Microsofts Internet Explore, Mozilla, and Apples Safari.
Add good navigation. If youve provided the content, make sure your visitors can find it. That includes search engines trying to catalog your site appropriately. Keep your menus and submenu obvious and direct. Make sure links and cross-links are visible and intuitive. Adding a site-map is always a good addendum to helping both users and search engines find what theyre looking for.

Keep it clean. Its essential that your site has no bugs, no dead-end links, no spelling errors, and no out-of-date data. In all events, inspect and monitor your site content carefully.

Keep it simple. Web design basics are just that basic. Dont use effects unless they add-value to your objectives. Using elaborate effects, even using tools like Flash, often make your site harder to use and harder to get to the information your visitors are looking for. Likewise, dont implement an elaborate page structure when a simple one will do.

These essential web design basics boil down to common sense. Paying attention to these four essentials is a good benchmark for managing your own site.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Promotion

Do you want to learn how to build a massive list fast? Click here: Email List Building

The Ins And Outs Of Hiring Building Contractors

2009-08-29T22:23:00.001-07:00

If you are considering a large construction project, whether it be a brand new home or an addition to a home that you already have, hiring building contractors is something that you may have to look into. Hiring building contractors is not the simplest thing to do, but it certainly is not complicated. As a matter of fact, if you know just what you are looking for then the hiring process should be rather simple. To help you in your endeavors to get your project done right and by the right people, read on for a few things that you should take into consideration when looking into building contractors.

Consider the Amount of Experience a Contractor Has

Even if you are in the business of giving a chance to newbies in the industry, doing so when it comes to general building contractors can be a huge disaster. Everybody has to learn somewhere-that is the truth; what is also true is that many times the learning experience can result in disaster, and if you don't want that disaster to be your new addition or construction, you should probably think twice about hiring a novice.

Make sure that your prospective building contractors have a proven track record of success. Good references and even photographs of work that they have done are a small thing to ask for, and can easily ensure that you don't get into a bigger project than you can handle. Also make sure that your contractor is properly insured and licensed in your city, county and state.

Consider Building Contractors Who Can Work With Your Budget

However reputable and honest your prospective building contractors may seem, if you can not fit them into your budget, you simply cannot fit them into your budget. Many building contractors may be more than happy to make some exceptions to fit your budget, perhaps by cutting a few corners or getting supplies that are a bit more affordable than the ones that you originally requested.

Some contractors will be willing to meet your financial needs, whereas others will not. If the building contractors that you have shortlisted are not affordable, there are always more out there that will be.

Make Sure That You and Your Contractor are On the Same Page

Even if your contractor is affordable and reputable, things may not work out. Why? Let's call it creative differences. Some people cannot work well together, and you must be able to work with them to make sure that the job gets done right. If not, all of the afford ability and experience in the world won't do you any good-your project stands the chance of failing and failure can be expensive.

Whether your project is big or small, hiring building contractors can be a bigger job than the construction project itself. It doesn't have to be though. Find someone reputable, honest, and affordable and you are already ahead of the game. Also make sure that when you are talking that you feel like your building contractor understands exactly what you are looking for.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on building contractors and specialist building contractors at http://www.affinitybuilder.com

Soil Testing - A Necessary Task Before Planting A New Garden Or Border

2009-08-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

Setting up a new garden invariably involves incurring considerable expense. While the hard landscaping elements such as paving, steps and water features usually take up the lion's share of the budget, the cost of garden plants is hardly cheap at today's prices. Yet it is at this point that many home owners, perturbed perhaps by the escalating costs, resist the suggestion of paying a further $300-$500 or so for one of the most necessary steps that should be taken prior to planting. The step is professional soil testing, which should be seen as an integral part of the process of creating a garden, or re-planting an extensive border.

In a soil test undertaken by a professional and reputable company, representative samples of earth are taken to a laboratory for analysis, the purpose of which is to gather accurate information upon which decisions regarding issues such as irrigation procedures, feeding regimes and the choosing of plants, are based. Much money can be saved of course by buying a home soil test kit, through which valuable data can be collected. These kits are no doubt adequate where relatively isolated questions are at stake; "is the soil acidic enough for Azaleas or Hydrangeas?" Or do I need to add nitrogen fertilizer? However, there are many other important matters which are usually beyond the scope of a home kit, so while these may be a necessary addition to the tool box for general maintenance, it is still desirable to undertake a professional test, where a large scale project is concerned. What kind of information then is necessary before planting?

Soil type: Determining whether a soil is predominantly clayish or sandy, (soil texture) has direct implications for irrigation and feeding practises.

Nutrient levels: It may not be that much of a discovery to know that it's usually necessary to add nitrogen to the soil prior to planting, but in many dry climate soils, phosphorus is often present in quantities that can be damaging to certain plants.

Soil salinity: An increasingly common characteristic of soils in dry climates is high salt concentrations. This can have the most drastic implications for the growth and development of the garden plants, and perhaps more significantly, for the capacity of the soil to sustain vegetation in the future. As fertilizing and especially watering affect salt concentrations, professional advice on this issue, is in my opinion essential.

Soil pH: The acidity (low pH) or alkalinity (high pH) of the soil is something that home soil test kits can determine. Most dry and Mediterranean climate soils tend to be alkaline, affecting both the range of plants that can be chosen, and the availability of mineral nutrients to the plants. Highly alkaline soils can be amended by incorporating sulphur-based products, while excessive acidity reduced by lime. While commercial products give instructions as to the desired quantities relative to a soil's pH, it is safer to consult with a soil expert. An extremely high pH at a depth of say 30-40cm, could indicate building rubble, kindly buried in your plot by the building contractor!

Soil pathogens: A soil analysis should also discover the presence of noxious perennial weeds or disease organisms like root nematodes, which can create havoc after the garden has been planted. Treatment of nematodes is normally beyond the competence of a gardener, and requires consulting with a soil specialist.

Drainage: This can be checked by the home owner alone. If rain water is standing in puddles for more than a few hours, then steps must be taken to improve the soil's drainage. Help from a professional gardener should be sufficient.

My name is Jonathan Ya'akobi.
I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984.
I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners.
I also teach horticulture to students on training courses.
I'd love to help you get the very best from your garden, so you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com

Small Business SBA Loan Info - Is Anyone Out There Making Loans? Will the Federal Government Bailout

2009-08-29T17:38:00.001-07:00

In the first two articles we talked about the prospects of small businesses finally receiving needed capital and some of the sources you can turn to. So assume you have selected a couple of smaller SBA lenders and are now ready to give your pitch. How do you present yourself? What information or documentation should you furnish? Let me tell you it is not going to be easy. Here are some suggestions to soften the blow:

Don't be intimidated. For some reason, people are naturally fearful of meeting bankers. Maybe it is the fact that their personal information will be disclosed or the prospect of rejection. Or simply that their whole livelihood may be at stake (Thanks, Sue, that really gave me a comfort level). Don't be that way. Take the mind set that they are in business to help you. They don't really have ice water in their veins (well, maybe lukewarm on a good day).

Dress appropriately. Unless you're a lawyer or planning to go to a funeral later on, you don't have to dress in a business suit. That's all pass. Business casual is fine, with a clean, well manicured look. That's right. First impressions are everything. In other words, look the part. One of the best impressions I ever received was from a large building contractor who showed up in his company truck with a well-pressed uniform (and company logo) he and his employees use, complete with tools and a hard hat. Well, maybe drop the tools. He just looked like a busy successful contractor.

Leave the hype behind. Bankers absolutely hate the used car sales mentality. You're not selling to one of your customers (Ooch, that hurts). Quiet and understated is good. Stop waving your arms.

Brief and to the point. Heck, they are not making loans anyway and have nothing better to do. Come on--you know that's not true. They like you to get right to the point. And remember actions speak better than words. Talk really is cheap to a banker.

Bring a business folder. I will never forget one meeting I had with a prospective lender in which they brought a well organized business folder (I loved the tabs) with the initial business plan, current financials, and a budget. I didn't ask them to bring it since it was the introductory meeting. This will really impress them. This does not mean you will be turning over the file at the first interview. Let them glance over the file briefly but then find out exactly what they need and tell them you would like to spend a little bit of time putting it in the format they are requesting. Showing you are organized is a good thing.

Meet in person and not by phone. There's no way you can find out if they are interested in loaning you money by phone: "Absolutely, come on in, we'll be happy to discuss it with you." Now that really told me a lot. As far as I know they're only interested in opening up a new account. There's no way you can find that out by a phone call. It disguises their true intentions. It's much harder to bluff in person. That way you can look them in the eye and ask if they're really planning to loan money.

Ask the tough questions. Don't be afraid. You can do it. The typical prospective borrower simply asks their terms, amounts available, and how long it takes. This tells you almost nothing. Here are some better questions: 1) Do you typically loan to small businesses in the same industry as myself? Are there certain industries you stray away from? 2) I'm looking for a bank that specializes in helping small businesses. Are you one? 3) How many small business loans have you personally made in the last 30 days (say this is politely because you're hitting them right between the eyes). Were they unsecured? What were the range of loan amounts? 4) Has your bank held off any in making loans because of the credit crisis? 5) I'm a big boy/girl and you can tell me like it is. Is your bank really making business loans at this point? 6) Are you making unsecured loans at this point? If so, tell me exactly what my qualifications should be? 7) What credit score should I be have? 8) Can you tell me exactly what procedures will be followed after my application, including how long it takes? 8) If you require real estate equity, will it have to be 100% backed by real estate? Will you take trade fixtures and equipment? 9) What debt to equity should I expect (for example, if it is 75%, that means if you have $100,000 in home equity, you would only be able to get $75,000), 10) Are there any special problems or concerns I should know about because of this tough economy? 11) What amount of positive cash flow should I have to support the loan?, and 12) What kind of personal and business financial documents will I be preparing?

Examine your credit report before the interview. Get a recent copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com. Give the banker a summary of your situation. They're not interested in long stories: "Yeah, my mortgage company was taken over by ABC and they didn't even let me know. I usually get my mail on the first of the month and found out two months later that I was sending it to the wrong place. You know I call this woman in the bank four different times and she told me four different stories. I then talked to her supervisor and he said . . . So I wrote a letter to.... And followed up with a conversation to ... And that was when I was transferred to ... But then I wrote the Better Business Bureau and they said. . . Alright already. We get the point. Don't be so defensive. Be prepared to tell them, short and sweet, the following issues:

1) how many credit cards or other revolving debt you have, and the approximate limits and balances

2) loan balances on your mortgages and the conservative fair market value of your home

3) unsecured loans or lines of credit previously taken out

4) the total amount of debt that you owe

5) the approximate amount of your assets

6) current credit score (that's right, you have to pay extra through Experian to get this, but it is worth it).

Talk to the right person. This might be difficult. You could very well be talking to a lower level person that will have nothing to do with a decision on your loan. Before the meeting, very professionally ask if you can talk to the person who would be primarily making the decision.

What you will use the money for. Bankers love to know precisely what you will be using the money for and how this will increase your income. Simply telling them that you need to expand or use it for cash flow needs is like whistling in the wind.

Talk past performance. Remember, talk is cheap for the future. Everyone claims that they will make millions next year. A banker is more interested in the actual historic figures the last few years.

Positive cash flow. There are some loan programs, such as the SBA Community Express Program that only ask about gross income. But other programs will require your net cash flow. Be prepared to describe it.

Positive, positive, positive. Bankers only want top hear the positive, not the negative. They all know that you need money. But you have to play the game. It is the kiss of death to use such phrases as: "I could really use the money now", "We need this money quickly because of cash flow needs", or "Our business is at a point if we don't receive this money, it will jeopardize its success" (That really shot yourself and the foot). Whatever you do, never used such words as "desperate", "trouble", or "needed it now", even if it is true. Instead, talk in terms of expanding your business to make more income.

They love budgets. It shows you are the type of person who has spent the time to map out future success.

A new bank is OK. Some people think the only chance they have is to make an application with their existing bank they have had for ten years. Wrong. That's no guarantee if they're not interested in loaning. In fact, a new bank might be even more interested because they needed new business and your new business account. Don't be afraid to go to a new bank.

Sue Malone
442 Diablo Road, Suite 137
Danville, CA 94526
Email: info@StrategiesForSmallBusiness.com

Sue Malone is a small business advocate and founder of Strategies For Small Business, a company devoted to providing SBA Loans for small business owners, whether as start-ups or for the expansion needs of existing businesses. For six years she has been the nations #1 provider of SBA Community Express Loans, having funded over 25,000 businesses in all 50 states. For a free loan consultation or for more information on the programs, visit our website at: http://www.StrategiesForSmallBusiness.com Or call (925) 899-8449.

Tips on the Best Composite Deck Materials

2009-08-29T15:14:00.001-07:00

http://www.renovate-remodel-tips.blogspot.com/

Fitted Kitchens and Your Home Renovations

2009-08-29T12:55:00.001-07:00

It is safe to say that you will only probably buy one or two new kitchens in your lifetime and because of this it is important that you get as much help as you can with choosing the fitted kitchen that is right for you; however due to the ever changing trends surrounding the design of kitchens it can often become difficult to make an informed choice about which one is right for you.

Your kitchen is considered to be the heart of the home and having a fitted kitchen installed makes the most of the available space but you should remember that you can't remove the fitted kitchen when you move house. An important thing to remember when you are having your kitchen designed is the triangle design. When it comes to your sink, fridge and oven there is an unwritten law that these three aspects should be placed near to each other within your kitchen as they represent the most used 'activity centres' so they shouldn't be spread to far apart.

If it also important when it comes to your kitchen re-model that you leave yourself a sufficient amount of time for the work to be undertaken. This is because a complete design and re-fit of a kitchen, which includes aspects such as new lights, fixtures, cabinets, appliances, flooring and counters can take anything up to about three months to complete all of the work that needs to be carried out by your building contractor team.

Your kitchen is the one room in the house that can bring your family together as you all cook in there and some eat in there and it is also often used as the place where people catch up on how their day has been. Due to this fact it is important that the style and design of your kitchen reflects your personality and family life; however it should also but decorated in a way that reflects the rest of the family home. So make sure that when you are deciding on your kitchen cabinets you choose a style that is fitting with the rest of your interior.

There are many considerations that need to be kept in mind when it comes to the design of your kitchen such as storage space. This is one aspect that is highly important when it comes to your kitchen. Some of the best features that you can have in your kitchen is large deep drawers, pull out shelves or an island in the centre of a large space. You need to make sure you have room to store all of the essentials in your kitchen as well as ensuring that you have sufficient room to work in the kitchen.

Talking of room to work in the kitchen you need to make sure that you choose the correct countertops as there is a range of styles that you can choose from such as title, granite, wood and moulded resin. While natural surfaces look best, synthetic ones are more hard wearing. Make a choice based on the look you require and the kind of work that'll be done there. Whichever style of worktop you decide on it is important that you have adequate worktop space adjacent to the sink and oven as they are needed for food preparation.

Whatever you decide that you want from your kitchen it is important that you enlist the help of a professional building contractor team to put your kitchen together and to ensure that everything is fitted in compliance with building regulations.

Helen is the web master of ARCH Building Solutions, specialists in all aspects of Fitted Kitchens.

Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site

Lucrative Web Design Business How to Create a Strong Web Design Business

2009-08-29T10:32:00.001-07:00

Lucrative Web Design Business How to Create a Strong Web Design Business

How to get good at a lucrative web design business it will require some hard work and testing, but it can certainly be done, even if you are just starting out. A lucrative web design business is one great way to explode your internet business. Also, a lucrative web design business is a great way to maximize your online business revenues.

So how do you use a lucrative web design business to explode your internet business and to maximize your online business revenues?

I have developed some incredible new innovations to help you to explode your internet business with a lucrative web design business.

Try these powerful new ways to help you to explode your internet business with a lucrative web design business:

- to explode your internet business with a lucrative web design business, first begin by building a list to which you can mail regularly. One of the most important things about growing any business online, especially a web design business, is creating a list of subscribers to whom you can promote your business regularly.

- to explode your internet business with a lucrative web design business, send quality traffic to your web design business by writing and submitting articles to the major article directories online. They will promote your articles for you, and you can simply write and watch the quality traffic come in.

- to explode your internet business with a lucrative web design business, use the web design business as an entry point for people into your business. Be willing to expand past just web design, and meet other needs of your customers.

- to explode your internet business with a lucrative web design business, look for additional revenue opportunities and convert one time web design customers into long term customers by offering backend, related products.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, 'Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide'

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Promotion

Do you want to learn how to build a big online subscriber list fast? Click here: Secrets of List Building

Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 9034 articles in print and 14 published ebooks.

Basic Kit Home Installation Steps - Get Ready, Set, And Live!

2009-08-29T08:09:00.001-07:00

When you review the basic kit home installation steps, it's easy to see that building a new kit home is much simpler than designing and building a home from the ground up. Building a kit home is quicker, much more inexpensive, and more adaptable to your needs. With an understanding of the installation process, anyone can build their own home on their property by following expert advice from professional kit home installers.

There are 4 stages to the installation of the kit home. You must first prepare the pier and floor system upon which the walls will set. The second step is the actual erection of the frame made simpler by using pre-constructed walls. Next the roof rafters are installed and the roof sheathed and finished. Finally the windows, doors and cladding are installed.

Of course there are detailed steps within each stage. There are also things you can do which make the job much easier. The simplification steps are offered by those who have experience installing kit homes on a variety of land configurations and conditions.

Snapping Your Fingers

It would be great if you could snap your fingers and your new home suddenly appeared. That's not possible, of course, but you can certainly build a new home quickly and easily when you choose to build a kit home. A kit home is set on piers above ground which means you don't have to worry about expensive concrete slabs. The walls are constructed long before they are delivered. You also get detailed instructions for a variety of situations including setting the house on sloped land or to achieve minimal ecological impact.

The basic kit home installation steps are really quite simple.

* Prepare the land as necessary such as establishing an access road
* Dig the pier holes
* Set the profiles which support the bearers
* Set the bearers which will support the joists
* Fit joists between bearers
* Set the piers
* Pour concrete into pier holes
* Fix the floor sheeting
* Erect the pre-constructed wall frames
* Install tie-down system
* Set the rafters
* Install rafter fixing for stability and strength
* Build decks or verandahs
* Install cladding
* Install windows and doors
* Affix roofing

Once the house is enclosed the interior work can be completed. On the interior the following work will be completed.

* Plumbing rough-in
* Electrical rough-in
* Install gyprocking
* Install Internal doors
* Install tiling
* Complete bathroom fit-off
* Kitchen
* Painting

The kit homes are solid and stable homes which can be built to withstand the roughest Australian weather. Kit homes are also suitable for bushfire zones. The homes are affordable and expandable too. The house can grow with your family over time.

Owner Building Leads to Owner Happiness

It's easy to see that once you buy your kit home, it's not long before the house is ready for finish work. The homes have been designed so they can be installed by the owner with minimal assistance from a building contractor. But for those who would prefer to leave their building to professionals, you can hire an experienced kit home supervisor who will see the work completed from beginning to end.

Oz Kit Homes are Australia 's premier kit home supplier. Oz Kit Homes have been providing quality kit homes for the owner-builder for over 10 years. For a free quote, visit Kit Homes.

Soundproof Insulation - Why Live Without It?

2009-08-29T05:45:00.001-07:00

Your home, unfortunately, is simply not up to the task of sheltering you from the noise pollution created by the continual traffic on nearby busy streets. Nor can it shut out the sounds of your overly loud neighbors. Your home, in fact, is actually contributing to the noise problems with its banging pipes and thin walls which allow sound to bleed from one room to another. What can you do?

How Soundproofing Insulation Will Benefit Your Family

Turning your noisy home into the quiet oasis of your dreams might be much less of a challenge than you expect. Adding soundproof insulation to your house will not only shut out the unwanted noise; it will make you home much more marketable should you eventually decide to sell. Most importantly, adding soundproof insulation to your home will make everyone who lives with you much happier.

As soon as you install soundproof insulation in your home, you'll put an end to the arguments over televisions and music players being too loud, and to the problem family members eavesdropping on conversations being held in other rooms. Everyone in your home will also be sleeping much better after the soundproofing insulation is installed, and if one of you has an early wakeup call, the alarm will not interrupt the slumber of everyone else who wants to sleep in. Soundproof insulation can bring a highly welcome feeling of privacy to the confined dimensions of a small home.

Soundproof Insulation and Lower Energy Bills

You may not have ever realized that when you install soundproof insulation in your home, you won't just be blocking unwanted noise. Almost all soundproofing insulation is acoustical foam which is injected through attic openings into the interiors of your home's walls. As the foam spreads down from the attic, it gradually expands and hardens, sealing each gap in your walls.

You'll no longer be experiencing drafts around your light fixtures and electrical outlets, and your home will be more protected than ever from summer heat gain and winter heat loss. Your energy bills, as a result, will drop and if you stay in your home long enough, your energy savings may even be large enough to pay for the cost of your soundproof insulation!

If you don't currently own a home, but intend to build one in the near future, you can make it the quiet retreat of your dreams from the outset by installing Soundproofing installation during its construction. Once the house's plumbing and electrical wiring are in place, your building contractor will attach fiberglass batting to the interior of its walls, and the degree of soundproofing it offers will depend on its thickness.

There are other soundproofing materials you can discuss with your contractor, so make sure you understand all your options so that your finished home provides all the peace and quiet you deserve!

You can also find more info on Soundproofing Material. Soundproofingbliss.com is a comprehensive resource which provide information about sound proofing item.

Success Through Failure

2009-08-29T03:22:00.001-07:00

Success and failure are more closely linked than most people realize, and the fear of failure is the main reason most people never achieve success. The key point here is achieving because everything worth having must be fought for. There is nowhere for the fear of failure in the heart of a successful person.

What is success? The answers would vary like the colors of the rainbow depending on whom you ask. One person will tell you money and another will say achievement you could have either one and be successful or both and not be. Success is a state of mind closely linked with happiness, satisfaction, and personal perspective. One persons success might be another persons failure.

It amazes me where I came from, and how my concept of success has changed almost one hundred and eighty degrees. My concept used to almost be entirely focused around the attainment of large sums of money as being the measure of success. Now I realize that money is just a tool that helps to further propel real and lasting success. Success my friend is the consistent action of making a positive difference in this world, for your fellow man, and giving more than you take.

Think for one minute about some of the greatest people from history, the ones you remember fondly. They weren't all rich were they? They might have been great leaders, artists, philosophers, scientists, or prophets but they all had something in common, success. The kind of success that only comes from action produced by a focused alert mind. The path a person chooses in life is entirely up to them and that path either leads one step closer towards a personal best or drifts deeper into a lonely abyss. We choose our level of success or failure, and it is never to early or to late to get started.

Follow your passion, live your dream, there is only one life. Dreams are the roots of reality in our lives, and the deeper they are the greater. Our reality can become. All things happen first in the thought world and are then acted upon to produce reality. So in reality our dreams are the fuel that our futures are propelled with. I for one would rather have rocket fuel than wood or coal. Some folks just cannot handle the g-force of a rocket as for me I want to go fast and far. With that analogy in mind, which of the two will be for the greater good of this world?

There is no greater enemy of success than becoming comfortable with life just the way it is. Life itself is ever in motion just look at the world and observe the motion. Not to paint a dark picture but a look what happens to the little fish that stays in one places to long. The same happens to our dreams when we hesitate or refuse to act on them they are swallowed up by time. I am sure you have had a great idea then sometime eventually seen your idea on the market. The person responsible for bringing the idea to market acted upon their thoughts. Opportunities come and go so taking decisive immediate actions are essential in every aspect of success.

Failure is not necessarily an enemy it is the testing ground for success itself. Our failures serve to produce the mindset that will propel us toward achieving our goals. Become comfortable with the idea that things will not always go right and even when they don't it will be easy to find value in the experience.

Fill each day with thoughts of success no matter the clouds that may loom overhead because the sun will always shine again.

William Muncrief

"The pinnacle of success is only reached by the daring souls that have the courage to climb it." William Muncrief 2009

William blogs at http://www.williammuncrief.com

How a Soundproof Window Can Change Your Life

2009-08-29T01:01:00.001-07:00

Having a home office with a view can be a real blessing for anyone who has to spend hours before a computer screen and needs a way to refresh his or her vision and spirit from time to time. But the downside of having a home with lots of windows is that, at the same time they let in the light and the scenery, they let in outdoor noise. If you live in an area afflicted with noise pollution, then you should definitely explore the possibility of installing soundproof windows.

When You're Sleep-Challenged

If, for instance, your home is close to a busy street, you know how hard it is to get a full night's sleep. The rhythm of the traffic, combined with the blinking of the traffic lights, makes it impossible for you to drift off and for your brain to enter the alpha state during which you dream and your body actually recovers from the stresses of the day.

If, on the other hand, you are a night shift worker and are faced with having to sleep when your street is at its busiest, you may find that your bedroom window permits so much noise to enter your room that sleep never comes. What can you do?

Installing Soundproof Windows

You can replace each of the windows in your bedroom with a soundproof window. In doing so, if the claims of the makers of soundproof windows are to be trusted, you will reduce the amount of outside sound entering your bedroom anywhere from seventy to ninety-five percent. So if noise pollution has been depriving you of much-needed sleep, adding a soundproof window or windows to your bedroom may be one of the wisest home improvement investments you ever make.

But every soundproof window you add to your home will bring a second benefit in addition to sound control. Each soundproof window will make your home just a bit more energy efficient, because in order to be soundproof, each window will have been designed with a casing which is secured to your home's wall so tightly that it is absolutely free of cracks and gaps.

Such a tight casing around a soundproofs window means that the window will not only block all unwanted noise; it will keep out all the warm and cold drafts which had been penetrating the seals of your old window and increasing your energy bills. Your soundproof window will provide a home which is not only quieter but less expensive to run, in one simple installation!

Yes, a soundproof window will be very easy to install. It is placed on the back of the original window and will be raised and lowered, or opened and closed, in the same way as the original. You won't have to worry about the cost of removing and disposing of your existing windows!

A bit of Internet research or a discussion with a local building contractor will tell you everything you need to know about where to find soundproof windows in your area.

You can also find more info on Soundproofing Tip. Soundproofingbliss.com is a comprehensive resource which provide information about sound proofing item.

9 Ways to Increase Your Home Value

2009-08-28T22:39:00.001-07:00

There are many ways to increase the value of your home. Some of these can be done on the interior and some on the exterior of your house from hiring a contractor for the large jobs to doing the smaller things yourself. You can do a little at a time or all at once. Most people cannot afford to have the whole thing done all at once so they can work on it in stages until the whole process is complete.

Your home is your largest investment and needs to be kept in good condition. Current market conditions will play a large role in the price of your house but there are several things you can do to improve your home value.

1. One of the greatest investments you can make is updating your kitchen. New cabinets, countertops, and flooring can have a dramatic effect on the value of your house. If you cannot afford those things, sometimes just painting the cabinets and putting new handles on the cabinets and drawers will give your kitchen a fresh, new facelift.

2. You can add decorative moldings to the doors, windows, walls, and floors. They are not that hard to install and can greatly add to the look of any room.

3. Adding a new roof is a good way to increase it's overall market value. There will usually be a 10 or 20 year warranty on the new roof and will add considerably to the value of your house.

4. You can replace your old wooden windows with vinyl windows. This will not only conserve energy but will make the house more beautiful.

5. Painting the inside and outside of your house can completely transform it. For resale value it is better to be conservative in your paint color choices as your taste might not be the same as others.

6. Adding vinyl siding is another great way to update and beautify your house. If you already have vinyl siding you can have it power washed to freshen it up and make it shine.

7. New appliances in the kitchen can make a big difference in the value of your home. A new refrigerator, dishwasher, and stove would be one of the best investments you can make in your remodeling. Also a new washer and dryer, new central air and heat, or a new water heater will also add a lot of value.

8. Replace old carpet. Use new, more modern tile for your kitchen and bathroom floors. It is getting very popular now to put down tile floors in the family rooms also.

9. Good landscaping can also increase your home's value. Weed your flower beds regularly and remove all dead plants and leaves. Keep your lawn well-maintained and manicured.

You can browse through magazines or visit a home improvement store to get ideas for remodeling your home. Remember this is your largest investment and take good care of it.

For more real estate tips please visit http://www.realestateabcs.blogspot.com

Custom House Plans - Finding a Good Designer

2009-08-28T20:16:00.001-07:00

The field of drawing custom house plans is a crowded and competitive one. There are many architectural and design firms out there vying for a "piece of the pie." However, if you look closely at examples of their finished product, you will find huge differences among them. The better ones offer quality designs and highly detailed plans.

Drawing a good set of custom home plans involves integrating many different concepts and ideas into a solid and usable working plan. Many designers are able to come up with a unique or interesting preliminary design, but fail to deliver when its time to detail the house structure. They draw a pretty picture but have little or no understanding of how to translate that nice design into a working plan which the builder can understand.

Having been in the business for more than 30 years, we have seen a large number of house plans which looked good at first glance. However, upon closer examination, many of these plans were found to be lacking large amounts of needed information. If a house plan is not easy to navigate or is not thoroughly detailed, then the builder is left to guess at the designer's intentions. This often means that he will "pad" his bid to make sure that he covers any unknown construction costs that may arise.

One item to look for when evaluating a house plans' quality level is the number of structural sections which are shown on the plan. Highly detailed sets of plans will always cut lots of sectional views through the house to show every different roof framing situation. This might mean that 10 or 12 (or even more) sections need to be drawn for a large house plan. And even a small house plan should include 3 or 4 sections minimum. However, many home plans available today (especially plans purchased through inexpensive plan directories) cut corners in this department and only show one or two house section views. This means that the builder will have to guess at the rest of the house framing.

Another item which is often missing or lacking in a set of house plans is comprehensive and accurate dimensions. We have always strived to provide more than the minimum amount of house dimensions so that it is easy for the owner and builder to layout a home on its building site. We will even calculate point to point dimensions (using trigonometry) for homes which have lots of odd angles to them (as opposed to a simple rectangle layout). Not all architects or designers will go this "extra mile," so it pays to check these things out beforehand.

Every set of custom house plans includes several items which need to be blown up and detailed for further clarification. If a set of plans does not provide additional close-up drawings (for things such as beam connections, deck railings, stairway construction, etc.), then it is not a complete set. It is very easy to cut corners during the planning process. But the end result will be higher costs for the home owner - and lots of frustration for the building contractor.

There are some architects and designers who seem to think that its the responsibility of the building department to check and catch any omissions. But the best of the breed takes it as a matter of pride to produce the very best plan and design they can. It is the only way to build up a loyal clientele and to get referrals for future work. And that vote of confidence from former clients makes all the difference in the world.

Steve Minkler
http://Minkler-House-Plans.com

Don't Let a Lack of Water Hurt Your Landscaping

2009-08-28T17:53:00.001-07:00

Ever heard of xeriscaping?

It's a term that came into vogue in the semi-arid Western United States back in the 1980s. Xeros is the Greek word for dry...and it's the botanical term for drought, as well. So you can see it's an applicable term for trying to landscape in any location where, at best, the rainfall can be termed erratic!

The trick to xeriscaping is to maximize what rainfall you do get. Sure, it's possible to have lush gardens if you're willing to pay for the vast amount of water you'll need to maintain them, but frankly landscaping that is not so lush have their own beauty as well.

It all comes down to planning.

Before you begin your landscaping, you must know the ground you're working with thoroughly. Take your climate conditions into account at every stage of the process.

The first thing you'll need to do is analyze your yard's soil and improve it to increase water retention. If you have a huge backyard, you'll probably only want to turn a small portion of it into a garden, but this can easily be integrated with the rest of the yard through proper design.

Select plants that are well adapted to the area in which you live. The more water-thrifty the plants, the better they'll thrive. Get advice from your local gardening stores to find out exactly what kind of plants these might be, and make sure you know the pH balance of your soil. Group plants together in your yard according to how much water they'll need. In this way, you can have some "water-thirsty" plants in your yard which you can water all at the same time, without having to waste time going from spot to spot.

Another thing to take into consideration is the slope of your land? Does it slope, and if so, in which way? Such rainfall as you do get will run off in that direction, so that's where you'll want to plant your garden. Or, create an artificial slope towards another area if you want to improve the view from your kitchen window, for example.

Keeping plants in movable pots is always an easy solution, grouping them together and changing that grouping whenever the spirit moves you.

But the starkness and beauty of the desert landscape itself need not be overlooked. Add a simple Japanese garden with white sand and rocks and you've got a perfect place to meditate. Build a small water-garden that recycles the water at all times and you'll enjoy the gentle sound of trickling water as you concentrate on your book, or while you're watching the birds fly by.

So, look for ideas on xeriscaping. As always, the web is your one-stop ideas shop. Try Xeriscape Colorado to begin with. You'll find a vast compendium of ideas, tips and tricks there.

Xeriscaping is not just for use in those dry portions of the country. It's time that water conservation was practiced by everyone - even in those areas where you think water will never be scarce. Take a look at Earth Easy's website for ideas on how you can implement water conservation in your garden.

Andrew Caxton is the editor of different articles published at http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com , with reference to lawn care and gardening . Find more publications about landscaping at his website.

5 Things You Should Not Do and 10 Things You Should Do Before Hiring a Building Contractor

2009-08-28T15:33:00.001-07:00

Over the years I have worked with hundreds of clients. No matter if it was a new home, room addition or a remodeling project, I tried very hard to do the job right. With the reputation that contractors can have now days, it is very important for the homeowner to make the right decisions when hiring a contractor. With so many contractors out there all telling you that they will do the best job for you, it takes more then just having a good feeling about a contractor or even a good referral from a friend or relative.

So, after over 40 years of dealing with people, working with sub contractors and just knowing what are the right things to do to make the building experience the best it could possibly be for my clients, I have come up with two lists that the homeowner can use as a guideline in helping them to make the right choice when hiring a building contractor.

5 Things You Should Not Do Before Hiring a Contractor

1. Lowest Price - Don't choose your contractor just because he is the lowest priced. A legitimate contractor has many expenses to keep his company going. Contractor's need to carry liability insurance, worker's comp. insurance and health insurance for employees. They have several operating expenses and pay city, state and federal taxes. With all these expenses it will become apparent that they will have to charge enough to help cover their costs. Even though the contractor you hire may not be the lowest priced, you can rest assured you are getting a contractor that is doing things the right way and that is what you can expect out of the job they do for you.

2. Down Payment - Never give a contractor a large down payment! In most cases a down payment of 5% to 20% down, is all that is needed for a contractor to get the job started. If someone is asking for a third or half down, you better be cautious. Unless the contractor has ordered something special that you requested and the company require a large amount down, there should be no reason for you to have to give a down payment that large. If the contractor does ask for that much, make sure you get it in writing as to where the money is going.

3. Credit - Don't give a contractor all the money up front for the materials needed for the entire job. If a contractor does not have accounts set up with suppliers, there is usually a reason. One reason could be that he or she is just starting out and has not established credit yet, or another might be that the contractor has some credit problems and if he or she does, that could spell trouble for you.

4. Get It In Writing - Never hire a contractor unless you get a legible cost break down or estimate and a signed contract. I can not stress this enough. Make sure everything you want is spelled out exactly the way you agreed. A verbal agreement is not satisfactory. This will protect you and it will also protect the contractor. It is the only way you should do business with a contractor.

5. Recommendations - Don't hire a contractor just because the company was recommended by a friend or neighbor. Although this could be a good thing that someone you know has used the contractor and had good results, make sure you check with others who have used the company as well. Follow the guidelines in the last post, "Ten Things You Should Do Before Hiring a Contractor."

10 Things You Should Do Before Hiring A Contractor

1. Licensing - Find out if the contractor is licensed and or bonded in the cities, counties or states in which it is required.

2. Insurance - Make sure the contractor carries liability insurance and make sure you see a copy of it.

3. Workers Comp. - Make sure your contractor carries Worker's Comp. Insurance and ask to see the certificate

4. Complaints - Check with the Better Business Bureau for unresolved complaints with the contractor

5.Client References - Ask for at least 5 or more current and past client references. Make sure you call them and ask questions.

6. Professional References - Ask for at least 5 or more material suppliers and sub contractor references. Again, make sure you call them and ask questions. If the contractor is not paying his bills in a timely matter, you need to be aware of that because chances are this could be a big problem for you down the road.

7. Permits - Make sure the contractor takes out the necessary building and zoning permits whenever it is required. Having your project inspected insures you that the job will get done in accordance with the city, county and state requirements.

8. Professional Organizations - If your Contractor is a member of The Home Builders Association - The National Association of the Remodeling Industry - The Better Business Bureau or any other professional organization, it means that time, effort and money went into joining and he or she is serious about their business. These types of organizations don't just let anyone join them. They do a thorough check up of each contractor that applies for membership before they accept them.

9. Sub-Contractors - Ask your contractor for the names of the sub contractors he or she is going to use and don't be afraid to check them out as well. As a rule, if a company is incorporated then that is a plus but this does not mean that you still should not check them out. You can make inquiries with your local building department and the Better Business Bureau.

10. Get Everything In Writing! - Get as much detail as possible. This should include an itemized signed and dated estimate or cost breakdown. Once you decided on who you are going to hire; "Make Sure You Sign A Contract!" The contract should specify the cost of the project, the down payment and payment schedule, the approximate completion time, the name and address of the contractor's liability insurance company, the companies guarantee or warranty, information as to the contractor and or sub contractor's being licensed and insured, and an acceptance clause and places for you and the contractor to sign and date. Do not be afraid to ask your contractor a copy of the company's contract to have your attorney look over before you sign. You can check with the BBB, NARI and the Home Builder's Association for information on contracts.

These two lists set the ideal standard. It may not be possible for the contractor you want to hire, to come up to this standard completely on every point, but if you follow these guidelines, hopefully you will feel better about the choice you make. Remember, depending on your project, you will have to deal with the person you hire for the entire length of your project, so why not try to make that as pleasant an experience as possible.

Rick Maselli, has been in the building business for more then 40 years. Over the years he has gathered and enormous amount information regarding home improvement products, ideas and information and has decided to share this with homeowners.

In 2007, he founded RTM Directories Inc. and as president of this company his goal is to help the do-it-yourself people out there to have a one stop home improvement resource and that resulted in his new website, http://www.showroom411.com

Showroo411.com is Your Ultimate Home Improvement Resource which is free to the public and reflects all the hard work that Rick has put into to being a building Pro.

You can also read his reviews on many new and innovative building and high tech products in his blog, http://www.leveladvice.com

Converting Christians to Christ

2009-08-28T13:07:00.001-07:00

A pretty young Hindu woman was assigned to my desk for what the local University referred to as a "job shadowing" assignment. The objective was for the girl to spend 4 hours with an individual whose profession was that which she hoped to enter upon graduation. So, she scheduled an appointment with me and, at the appointed time, set about picking my brain in regard to the communications and marketing field. She was so enthusiastic and wanted to learn all that she could about America and its people. Naturally, we reached a point where our conversation turned to religion. She stated that it seemed everyone she met at school was overly concerned about getting her to convert to Christianity and how she was tiring of this. She said someone even left a Bible on the ground outside her apartment door and added, "If that's what THEY think of their holy book, well...I threw it in the trash." I said, "I assure you, that's not MY mission. I'm trying to convert Christians to Christ." She laughed. We had a great visit. She left with the Bible I kept by my computer and a promise that I was here if she needed help. My wife and I intend to have her over for supper.

Converting Christians to Christ? Yes, that's my mission - and with a sense of urgency. Far too many Christians are simply clueless about the teachings of Jesus, especially in comparison to what they know of the teachings of their denomination. Face it, not only has denominationalism never gained anyone entrance to Heaven, but it proves to be a very shaky foundation when times of testing come.

Do you recall the parable of the two building contractors? The Bible has two records of this parable. One is in Luke 6:47-49. The other is in Matthew 7:24-29. These verses record that the people were "astonished at His doctrine." Part of that doctrine was the story He told about building on a good foundation. Paul also refers to building a foundation as being part of the doctrine of Christ: In Hebrews 6:1, he says,"therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ...not laying again the foundation...." Paul then continues to list the content of the doctrine of Jesus.

As "Christians" - a word that means "little Christs" (after all, it's Him we should aspire to; the Head of the Body) - we must set ourselves upon something solid, a rock upon which we can assuredly set foot. That rock is nothing less than the doctrine of Christ. You see, there are three types of doctrine mentioned in Scripture: the doctrine of man, the doctrine of devils and the doctrine of Christ and of God. Second John 1:9-11 reads as follows: "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."

A CLOSER LOOK AT HIS DOCTRINE

Let's look at 2 John 9 in the original language, okay? Get out that concordance and check this out for yourself: 'Whosoever goeth onward' (Greek: pas o proagwn). In other words, 'Every one who goes ahead.' Proagw literally means "to go on before." (See Mark 11:9). That in itself seems fine, industrious, like an ambitious self-starter...but wait! The text then says: 'And abideth not in the teaching OF Christ' (Greek: kai me menwn en te didache tou Christou). NOT the teaching about Christ, but the teaching OF or FROM Christ.

There it is! THAT alone is the standard of Christian doctrine; the teachings FROM Jesus TO all those who choose to follow Him. Over thirty times the Scriptures make some reference, some variation, to following Him; only ONE to being "born again." I believe God's trying to tell us something. We Christians make every effort to get people to be "born again" in accordance with our particular denomination's system for doing so, but make a universally meager attempt at teaching the Doctrine of Christ and thereby making disciples as Jesus commands us in Matthew 28:18-20: "...Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Our negligence in obeying this command explains MUCH of the problem in the Body of Christ today. We're vastly illiterate to what the Teacher taught and display a gross lack of concern regarding that of which we ARE aware.

The walk of Christ is the example for the Christian walk. Look at these verses in 1 John 2:6; 7:16; 18:19. Why did the author write so much about this subject? When this letter was written, the Gnostics claimed to be the enlightened ones of the day, the thinking class, and were anxious to leave Jesus in the dust as they raced forth into their own brand of spirituality. This same struggle continues today among scores as they approach Biblical studies. Is Jesus merely some sort of landmark along our path, or is He the goal, our example, as He claimed He was? Progress is good, but progress TOWARD Christ is what's important, NOT progress away from Him.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils," (1Timothy 4:1). It's clear that in these dark and evil days many will give heed to such doctrines of devils. Satan, who appears as an angel of light, and his ministers as ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:14,15), are seducing multitudes across the globe.

Biblical truth has been replaced with emotional substitutes.

Entertainment has replaced searching the Scriptures.

Many are being deceived and downright lulled into a false sense of security as they settle for Religion over Relationship with God. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 tells us that before the return of Christ, there will be a major defection from TRUTH in the Body of Christ. Jesus stated in John 8:32: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." We can be sure that Satan will do all he can to keep people in spiritual and religious bondage. Hosea 4:6 rings true. It states: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

The doctrine of Christ is presented by John as something required in order to have "both the Father and the Son." In presenting this concept, John uses the phrase, "he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ" (vs. 9). "Abideth" is from the Greek menon and means "to live, have as one's sphere; hence, to persist, walk in, or continue."

In other words, the doctrine of Christ is the realm of one who has God. I refer to this as one's "righteousness realm." To "abide in the doctrine of Christ" is not just an occasional acquaintance with His teachings, but familiarity and contact; you LIVE there and it resides IN you.

The doctrine of Christ is also presented by John as the means of revealing the worst-case consequences for recognizing a person's spiritual identity and acceptance (vs. 10, 11). First, the one not bringing the doctrine of Christ is characterized by "evil deeds." In other words, the absence of the doctrine of Christ is the presence of false teaching. Second, to accept, or fellowship, with those who do NOT bring the doctrine of Christ may lead to the spiritual seduction of the "partaker of his evil deeds" (vs. 11).

I'm stressing the two consequences of "abiding in the doctrine of Christ" to show the importance of this way of living. Some have wanted to segregate the two consequences. In today's ecumenical, why-can't-we-all-get-along climate, some seem to prefer belief in Jesus' deity as the sole requirement for fellowship. So, anyone who says they believe in Jesus' deity (doctrine ABOUT Christ) is considered a Christian. Those who restrict the doctrine of Christ to mean only teaching ABOUT Jesus and not include teaching FROM Jesus, end up accepting and incorporating the thinking that belief in Jesus' deity is all anybody needs. That's not belief; that's mere acknowledgement. Again, demons believe and they tremble (James 2:19).

We must understand "doctrine of Christ" in 2 John 1:9 to mean the doctrine FROM Jesus. Granted, we should exercise great caution in declaring what constitutes the Lord's teaching or doctrine. Those things that Jesus taught and/or exemplified or, at the very lest, implied, are the only things that can logically be looked upon as His doctrine. Some say, "but the Lord did many things besides what's written in Scripture...what if He did and said other things that we'll never know of?" It's true, John 21:25 says, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written."

Let's think about this for a moment, shall we? First of all, if we don't have it written down to follow, why worry about it? Either the Scripture that we DO have was inspired by the Holy Spirit or it wasn't (2 Timothy 3:16 declares that is WAS). We can ALL focus on what we DO have in Scripture easily enough and not fuss about what one contends that we COULD have, but DON'T have, because it wasn't written about. Doing otherwise is basing our beliefs on conjecture and assumptions. Ludicrous!

Secondly, regarding that verse, let's refrain from checking our brains at the proverbial door. In three years of ministry, subtracting the recorded miracles, bath time, dinner time, prayer time, alone time, travel time, weddings, Sabbaths in the synagogue, not to mention the townsfolk's work time, school time, cleaning and cooking time, and chores and errands that might have kept many people from running to listen to the Rabbi teach, that leaves very little room for many more miracles that "COULD" have been written about, logically speaking. Sure, He might have raised more dead, healed more lame people, but we caught the drift in reading that which we DO have and didn't need more examples, obviously, or the Holy Spirit would have provided us more stuff that He deemed necessary. As far as what Jesus taught, His message of redemption and salvation is already VERY apparent in what we DO have to read. Aren't they? Don't we have enough to understand these concepts? Could it be that there were some really different teachings - the kind of stuff argued about by various denominations today - that never made it into the Book? I can't swallow that. The things we already have are enough to keep us studying and praying and debating as it is. Why would He have done anything more that we cannot even read about? Such can only be referred to as anti-doctrine and must be classified as mere conjecture.

Third, what John wrote there in chapter 21 verse 25 was mere hyperbole; an exaggeration. If I told John once, I told him 'a thousand times," stop exaggerating! With all our differences regarding the doctrine of Christ, it's a miracle that entire towns were "turned upside down" by the preaching of the Gospel.

You get the idea.

Many will try to force 2 John 9 into serving as the proof text for dismembering the Body of Christ. That's not right either. Such a practice opens the door for the spirit of Phariseeism and essentially declares that if anyone's practices disagree with our group's understandings or interpretations, then they are not abiding in the doctrine of Christ. In other words, "MY idea of what constitutes Christ's doctrine has been elevated to equal footing with God's Holy Word itself!" That's the epitome of arrogance, and will only result in further divisions within the Church.

THE FIRM FOUNDATION

The steps for building a good spiritual foundation are given in Luke 6:47:

1. Whosoever cometh to me...

2. Heareth my sayings...

3. And doeth them.

All three steps are required. It is not enough to acknowledge Jesus and His deity; Satan does that much. We must also listen to then DO what He has said. We must take personal action. Luke talks about a person coming to Jesus, hearing what He says, then failing to respond: "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). Anyone can read the doctrine of Christ and still not act upon it, preferring instead manmade doctrines and dogmas, traditions never once taught by Jesus that do nothing in terms of advancing His cause on planet Earth. Jesus is NOT truly Lord of a person's life until that person responds to His teachings. Far too often, Christians who claim to love Christ are far more enamored with their denomination or even their own spiritual work done in His Name.

The man who came to Jesus, heard His Word, and then acted on it is referred to as 'wise.' This man made sure the spiritual foundation of His life was firm. He dug deeper, outside his comfort zone - those first few inches of soil, removing everything between him and the Rock, Jesus Christ. the doctrine of Christ is the plan which shows how to build our spiritual life. It must be accepted as the absolute authority and the source of our spiritual foundation. Why? "...the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," (2 Peter 1:21). The purpose of God's revelation is given in 2 Timothy 3:16: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." In other words, the Bible contains instruction in the basic doctrine of Christ. It also provides reproof and correction for failing to follow these teachings. Nothing else was needed.

CRACKS IN THE FOUNDATION

I knew a couple in ministry whose marriage was falling apart. Neither side would budge and the family of eight was literally divided. They were engaged in a civil war that wound up playing a huge part in the crumbling of an entire 300-member congregation. One thing that I recall vividly about their lovely home was this: an enormous crack in the foundation occurred during the time before he moved out, never to return. It literally ran diagonally from one corner of the house to the other, cracked the garage in half and shattered the driveway and a brick retaining wall between them and their neighbor. Extraordinary!

The man who built on a wrong foundation listened to the teachings of Christ but did not take personal action on what he heard. He is called a foolish man and is compared to a man who built without a foundation (Luke 6:49). His house was built on the sand instead of the rock (Matt 7:27). We build on the sand spiritually when we base our Christianity on the traditions or religious beliefs of man or of devils. It is thinking we can make ourselves spiritual or gain God's acceptance by our good works, church attendance, religious ceremonies and the like without any real, personal, relational, intimate knowledge of Jesus Himself.

Amazing! He's the ONLY way to the Father (John 14:6) but we foolishly try to attain that relationship by a zillion OTHER methods and systems INCLUDING Religion.

THE STORMS OF LIFE

Jesus' story of the two builders reveals another great truth; it's the nature of life on Earth to be stormy. Circumstances often result in many personal crises. We face death, disease, and disaster. Even Believers in Jesus face problems. Acts 14:22 warns that "we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God." Jesus said, in John 16:33, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." No one escapes the storms of life; they're necessary to test us and prove to us what we're made of. The storms of life are the same for all people are basically the same. What differs is how we respond to them. If your spiritual life doesn't have the right foundation, you will fall. What comes out of us when our come is shaken reveals what's been in there all along. Just as the house built on sand, the fall will be great. If your life is built on the right foundation - the teachings of Jesus Christ - the storm will not shake you: "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain,"(Hebrews 12:26-27). When the shaking experiences come, that which cannot be shaken will remain. Those who stand have built a firm spiritual foundation.

THE FIRM FOUNDATION: A PRE-REQUISITE

As any building contractor can attest, a good foundation is a prerequisite for constructing a solid building. The word "prerequisite" means something is "required before." A proper foundation is required before constructing the "superstructure" upon it. A proper spiritual foundation is a prerequisite to spiritual maturity.

In Hebrews 6:1-3 we are told we cannot go on to perfection unless the spiritual foundation is properly laid. Spiritual maturity is the superstructure [the building] which rests on the spiritual foundation. If the foundation is wrong then the superstructure will not stand and you will never achieve spiritual maturity.

I believe that the lessons I broadcast by email explain things which must be part of our spiritual foundation. But as the parable of the two houses indicates, it is not enough to be INFORMED of the Lord's basic doctrine. We must make a personal response to these teachings and integrate these truths into the spiritual foundation of our lives. If we do not respond, we are like the man in the mirror described by James: "But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves. For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; For he beholdeth himself and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed," (James 1:22-25).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael's mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Since 1999, he has broadcast over 300 hundred inspirational articles and a dozen booklets on subjects that will interest the thinking Christian, all designed to accelerate the process of spiritual development in God's people.

He is the founder of t.e.a.m. ministries (team1min@aol.com). An Author, Pastoral Counselor and Teacher, his eMail broadcasts, known as "Your Town for Jesus" are reaching millions around the globe WEEKLY. Write team1min@aol.com if you'd like to SUBSCRIBE.

A licensed/ordained minister, a Certified Workplace Chaplain, and a Professional Member of NIBIC, he has ministered in Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, College and Cowboy churches. He is also a Speaker on the Christian Speaker Network and may be available to speak to your church or Christian group.

Google Based Internet Marketing Strategies

2009-08-28T10:46:00.001-07:00

Marketing effectively today on the net is a ever changing event. Appealing to the search engine spider of Google is something that every home based business opportunity owner should carefully consider. When approached correctly, this type of system will lead to success on the net.

The Google approach to marketing is based on one thing. Good information. If one gives good credible original information about the particular project, Google will reward them. Conversely, if irrelevant, copied and pasted information, misleading information, spamming tactics and tricks are used, Google will punish them. To be punished on Google simply means showing up on page 5 million. No one will ever see the information. Bottom line in internet marketing is this...NO TRAFFIC=NO SALES!

There are many areas that will need to be explored in gaining top positioning on Google. There is absolutely no need for a thinking individual to spend massive amounts of money to obtain these positions.

What is needed, is a system. A system that can be duplicated by anyone. A system that leads to great results. A system that is inexpensive and yet highly effective.

Online business success is an obtainable goal. With proper tools and training anyone can achieve mastery.

The primary thought here is the ability to open one's mind to the thought process of how the internet actually works, appealing to the search engine spiders, and simply giving better information than anyone else to gain top positioning.

Absolutely billions of articles have been written on the subject of successful internet marketing. Experts will tell about what to do...and what not to do to reach top positions. That is all well and good, but the bottom line is...simply go to work...put out the information...do the work consistently (because there are NO quick fixes on the internet, and follow up with excellent sales copy on the website.

Sales copy...good or bad...will make or break a program. Having the best information on the best product will lead to sales.

Butch Hamilton is an SEO|SEM Specialist. He also is a WebTrafficConnection and a Veretekk trainer. Living on the internet has become a way of life...a succesful way of life. His talents for obtaining top positions on the search engines have led him to the point in his life where he has always wanted to be.

Says Mr. Hamilton, "Writing has always been my passion. Gone are the days when I placed blatant ads on the internet for exposure. I have found my life's work in writing articles.

He now resides in his beautiful home in Texas with his wife. Writing is the passion behind his successful promoting ability on the net.

Butch Hamilton's Quote: "What we think-is what we become."

Mr. Hamilton is a Spiritualist as well. Knowing the answers to life has been an incredible journey. His plans to write his first book are quickly approaching.

"Life-What a Ride!"

The Ins And Outs Of Hiring Building Contractors

2009-08-28T08:23:00.001-07:00

Consider the Amount of Experience a Contractor Has

Consider Building Contractors Who Can Work With Your Budget

Make Sure That You and Your Contractor are On the Same Page

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on building contractors and specialist building contractors at http://www.affinitybuilder.com

Take an Active Role In Your New Home Design

2009-08-28T06:02:00.001-07:00

Whether you know a lot about home building or just have some ideas of how you want your new home to look and function, you are an important member of the team designing and building your home. Contributing to the layout and building plan in the design phase will ensure that you realize your dream of living in the perfect home for you and your family. Increasing numbers of new homeowners are taking this approach by actively working with their building contractor and designer.

You may already have some good ideas of what you want to manifest in your design, or you may be starting from scratch and in need of inspiration. Outlined below are some sources of ideas for you to see what is available and how it would work for you.

Visit Open Houses

This first step can be a fun way to spend an afternoon on the weekend, as well as a free source of good ideas for your project. You can check out houses in your price range, as well as those that are more expensive, just to see what an additional investment can buy. Some ideas in very high-end homes can be adapted to other price level building with little or no loss of quality. You can also see what appeals to other potential buyers who are touring the same home, and what pitfalls to avoid. This can be important in terms of preserving market value in your new home design. You may also have access to the expertise of a wide variety of realtors and agents in terms of what works for most families and what appeals to the real estate market. Don't be afraid to pick their brain!

Magazines and Stores

Think of those glossy home improvement and lifestyle magazines as compact stores for you to window shop in from the comfort of your living room. These magazines were created to give you ideas for your design and should be considered even if on the surface they seem out of reach for your lifestyle.

You can tear out and collect pages that have elements of what your are looking for in your new home, and the juxtaposition of different magazine photos can stimulate brand new ideas that have never before been seen in any magazine or in anyone else's home. Isn't this ability to be one of a kind an important reason you decided to build rather than purchase an existing home anyway?

For a "hands-on", three-dimensional feel for what different elements look like and how they work, nothing beats a visit to your local home improvement store. They have set up mock kitchens, baths, and entryways to give you a real feeling for how their products function together in a realistic setting. As they say, take what you like and leave the rest.

Rather than sitting back and waiting for someone else to come up with the home of your dreams, isn't it time to get out there and participate in that once in a lifetime opportunity to create the perfect space for you and your family to live and enjoy life? With a little work and imagination, your dream home can become a reality.

Cadell Derbing's newsletters can be encountered on a large number of online sites with reference to homemade window coverings subjects. You might come across his publications on window covering idea at http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com and other sources for window covering idea information.

Commercial Interiors Have Different Needs Than Residential

2009-08-28T03:37:00.001-07:00

When most people think of interior designers they either remember the team of people from their favorite home improvement show or they think of the stereotypical interior designer from a sit-com. They would probably be surprised at the variety of interior design careers.

While many people realize that interior design does requiring a college education, they may not realize that there are many specialties within the field. One of these is commercial interior design. Even within commercial interior design, there are specialties that the budding interior designer may be interested in. But no matter the specialty, there are basics her or she has to master in any event.

One of the most important of these basics is the use of computer aided design (or CAD). All commercial interior designes use CAD to put their ideas into a form that a building contractor can understand and implement. CAD is used to created blueprints, design drawings and other materials. WIthout it, a commercial designer would be lost. But on the other hand, with CAD, commercial interior designers no longer have to rely on hand-drawn renderings to get their point across. Art skills, while still important, are no longer the deal-breaker for a potential designer. With CAD, the margin for errors by miscommunication are greatly reduced and designs can more easily be replicated or changed at the touch of a button.

CAD is often considered an engineering skill. People often don't realize how similar commercial interior design is to engineering. Commercial designers must be able to relate office, retail or industrial spaces available to the need for cubicles, stores and manufacturing needs. Commercial interiors must be rearranged, a skill that requires engineering know-how. Often that space can't be created by just moving a partition. Large machinery may have to be moved or whole new spaces may need to be built and added on to the existing space at hand.

Another important basic skill to have is basic people skills. You could be the most original designer on earth, but if you don't work efficiently others, most businesses won't work with you. That's why business communications, management, marketing and similar courses are so important at the start of your career.

As you have seen commercial interior designers often use quite different skills than their residential counterparts. While residential designers are often mainly concerned with aesthetics, commercial designers often are mainly concerned with the optimal use of space. Aesthetics are also import (Industrial space appearance needs are much different than those of an office, after all), but there are so many other details to warrant that commercial interior design is a discipline all its own.

If you shy away from interior design because of the usual stereotypes, don't. Commercial interior design can be a fascinating and very lucrative field. Check it out. You may have discovered a whole new career for yourself.

Jerry Blackburn's summaries are published on various online sites related to refinishing cabinets and kitchen cabinet doors and drawers. Sharing his passion in detailed publications on refinishing cabinets and kitchen cabinet refacing the writer improved his experience in the field.

Don't Let a Lack of Water Hurt Your Landscaping

2009-08-28T01:12:00.000-07:00

Ever heard of xeriscaping?

It all comes down to planning.

Before you begin your landscaping, you must know the ground you're working with thoroughly. Take your climate conditions into account at every stage of the process.

Keeping plants in movable pots is always an easy solution, grouping them together and changing that grouping whenever the spirit moves you.

So, look for ideas on xeriscaping. As always, the web is your one-stop ideas shop. Try Xeriscape Colorado to begin with. You'll find a vast compendium of ideas, tips and tricks there.

Candle Making 101

2009-08-27T22:39:00.001-07:00

If you'd like to try your hand at candle making, set aside two hours one day next weekend, and start with an easy project, using your old candles to test the waters. If it's instant gratification you crave, you'll see the fruits of your labor in just a couple of hours with a minimum expenditure for supplies.

People often speak of candle making and soap making in the same sentence as if they are similar experiences. The process is not the same. If you have thought of making your own soap, try candle making first. The process may appear similar, but it's simpler and safer. When you make your own candles, you are simply melting wax, not conducting chemical experiments in your kitchen.

We'll give you a play-by-play preview of the process, but consider this an overview. Before you actually set up shop and play candle maker for the afternoon, download a proper set of step-by-step procedures from the Internet. You'll find hundreds of candle-making projects available online, but start by recycling your old candles just to get a feel for the process. In fact, in this overview, we'll describe the process of melting down your old candles and turning them into brand new votive candles.

If you enjoy the experience, which is similar to cooking, then you'll want to order more supplies before beginning your candle-making hobby in earnest. With a little practice, you can give unique, hand-made holiday gifts, and delight your friends with something that you personally created.

Safety First

Anytime you work around an open flame, you have all the ingredients for a potentially dangerous situation. Work carefully and mind your safety P's and Q's at all times. Candle making requires your undivided attention. Don't even think about multitasking while working with hot wax.

Materials and Preparation

Before you begin, you'll need to gather the following equipment:

Old candles anything that you would otherwise throw away
Votive wicks, pre-tabbed
Votive molds (metal is best)
Scissors
Silicone spray for metal votive molds
Old saucepans to create a "double boiler"
Candy thermometer
Oven mitts

To minimize cleanup, cover your burners with aluminum foil and spread old rags or newspapers over a flat work area.

Prepare the Molds

If you prepare your molds in advance, you won't have to scramble at the last minute, and risk the possibility of your wax cooling before you can pour it.

Spray the inside of each mold with Silicone per the instructions on the can.
Place a pre-tabbed votive wick in the mold, and set aside.

Melt the Wax

This process requires your undivided attention.

Remove old wicks, labels, etc. At a bare minimum, clip the burnt part of the wick.
Melt the wax.

If you're using old jar candles, you'll need to melt the wax in the jars separately.

Pour the Molds

Allow the melted wax to cool to 160 to 180 degrees F.

Pour the wax into the prepared molds.

Allow to cool and shrink.

Melt wax for the repour and allow it to cool to 180 degrees F.

Repour to top off the molds.

Allow to cool.

Remove the candle from the votive holder.

The key to successful candle making is preparation and setup. If you have everything prepared and within easy reach, you'll have a smooth melt to pour process. If you haven't prepared in advance, the wax may cool faster than you can prepare your work area and molds, costing you additional time.

That's all there is to creating brand new candles from your candle remnants. If you enjoy the process, you can progress to creating your own custom candles from scratch, giving them as gifts, or even starting a brand new career path.

M J Plaster is a successful author who provides information on shopping online for candle making supplies and candles in general. M J Plaster has been a commercial freelance writer for almost two decades, most recently specializing in home and garden, the low-carb lifestyle, investing, and anything that defines la dolce vita.

Finding a Great Deal in Today's Market

2009-08-11T18:44:00.001-07:00

If you're looking for a great real estate deal, either residential or commercial, there is no better time than now to start shopping. Realtors and sellers are eager to make deals and unload property quickly, which means that you'll get a better value for your dollar. Now is the time to take advantage of the sluggish seller's market and snap up some choice real estate.

Although you'll have plenty of options when selecting a property, there are a few important things you should consider to help you narrow down your decision. Follow these basic tips to ensure that you get the best deal possible.

1. Appreciation

Whether you're planning on a quick turnaround sale or passing down your new home through the generations, you'll want to consider the potential appreciation of the real estate. Restoring and reselling homes is considerably more difficult in the current market, but holding on to a property for ten to twenty years can become a sound investment.

You can gauge future value by choosing a prime location and doing some research into future price trends in the surrounding area. This will help you determine whether it will give you a good return on investment.

2. Property Condition

Many homebuyers prefer move-in ready property. While this is often hassle-free, it doesn't always make the best deal. Real estate that requires some elbow grease can mean greater value and profit in the long-term, if you're prepared to do the work and have some experience.

Houses that require extensive renovations can often be negotiated for much lower prices. In ideal situations, the buyer can then restore the property for less than they saved, which means instant profit and a future higher selling rate.

If you don't have the time, ability, or experience to renovate, it might behoove you to choose real estate that is already in good condition. Even highly skilled home renovators can lose money on projects that require work.

3. Inspection

One of the most important (and too often tragically overlooked) steps in buying real estate is the inspection. Having a thorough inspection can prevent you from making a huge mistake.

If there are problems found, even minor ones, it can give you some leverage for further negotiations, especially if the seller is highly motivated. Always use property inspections to your advantage in getting the best price.

4. Cash Flow

If you're buying a property to rent out to other tenants, you'll have to take into consideration your monthly income compared to your own mortgage. A more expensive property does not necessarily mean greater profit.

You'll have to evaluate the local market and the kind of demand you foresee for the kind of real estate you're offering. You also must take into account maintenance fees and permits if you're buying commercial property.

Great deals aren't found as much as they are created. If you're not a real estate mogul or are making your first home purchase, it's a wise decision to employ the assistance of a realtor. They can help you negotiate and offer expert advice on what to take a second look at and what to avoid.

New Orleans is now a buyer's market and investing in property here is an excellent investment. Before you decide on a New Orleans real estate investment, contact an experienced realtor at http://www.realestatelouisiana.com to help you get the best price for your property.

How to Sell My House Myself - Keys to Successful Advertising

2009-08-10T21:02:00.001-07:00

When I wanted to sell my house myself, I found that advertising my property was the key to a successful transaction. However, simply adverting in the typical ways did not guarantee a quick sell. I had to find a way to mimic the role that a realtor typically plays - namely showing my property to buyers without all of the expense.

Most people who want to sell their house without the use of an established or experienced real estate agent want to o so because they want to save on the sometimes expensive realtors' fees involved in such transactions. However, using a qualified realtor has its advantages. The most important of which is the methods used to advertise the sale of your house. Realtors have unrestricted access to the MLS database which delineates an exhaustive list of characteristics used to limit and define real estate searches. They then use these refined lists to help people searching for a property find the right house for them. Realtors, in essence, help home buyers find the right house for them, thereby helping those selling their homes in the process.

However, this method does not ensure a quick sale of your home. A realtor, in reality, works for those who are buying properties, not those who are selling properties. Therefore, those individuals who want to sell their home quick must do so themselves. While sometimes intimidating, this is not a complicated or even a difficult process. The only thing that the MLS listing does is to advertise your individual property. Therefore, all that you need to do to replace this established method is to find other means to advertise your home.

There are several ways to advertise that your home is for sale. These methods range from the typical to the more creative. Typical ways include 'for sale' signs that direct potential buyers from busier streets and intersection to your property's address, classified listings in local and regional newspapers, and advertisements in local real estate magazines. However, these methods do not necessarily guarantee that your property will be noticed out of the several other homes that may also be for sale.

In order for your house to stand out from the rest of the pack, more creative ways of advertising must be utilized. Instead of simply placing those tiny, tried 'for sale' signs on street corners, pay people to stand at busy intersections with larger more colorful signs. This will allow you the flexibility to move your advertisements as the traffic patterns change throughout the day and will also allow you to skirt some of the local restrictions on the placement and size of personal adverts. Also use the words auction instead of sale. While all real estate transactions are auctions in a sense, most people associate cheaper prices with the word 'auction'. Finally, restrict showing the house to predetermined times, typically noon to five on Saturdays and Sundays. This creates the illusion of professionalism and also makes it easier to show your house in pristine condition.

When I wanted to sell my house myself, I realized that the key to making a successful and profitable sale was to advertize my property in creative and unique ways. This ensured that my property would stand out against the other properties on the market.

For a generation, home ownership was part of the American dream. It meant that a person was financially stable and was working towards being financially independent. Owning a house was seen as an investment in your future, a savings account, if you will, that a parent could pass down to their children after death. For many people, owning a home was the only thing that they owned outright. It was intended to be stable investment that would help generate personal wealth over time.

Answers for those wondering how to sell my house myself.

Profiting From Selling Sarasota Real Estate

2009-08-09T23:46:00.001-07:00

The sunny and booming city of Sarasota is considered as one of America's best cities to live, work, invest and raise a family.

The city's clean air, world-renowned beaches and sunny climate have made it famous as a major recreation, sports, housing, arts and culture center. The city has a large array of amenities, which rival the big cities, and has a small town feel as well as a comfortable living standard.

Investors, tourists, business owners and employees are not only living the good life, they also feel upbeat about the thriving business climate. The city's top-ranked schools, excellent workforce and affordable livings costs make Sarasota home to some of the most successful and productive companies in the country.

Tips In Effective Selling Sarasota Properties

Real estate brokers who want to do business in Sarasota, and succeed in this competitive field as well, first need to have a thorough understanding of local market conditions.

Incoming Realtors need to get pertinent and updated facts about the area's current housing market, get timely information about prevailing home prices, mortgage levels, current home inventories, as well as effectively establishing credible links with local business chambers and real estate associations. Succeeding in the local property markets requires a lot of serious planning, patience, hard work and some extra cash to help them make it through the slow periods.

Profit From Being A Freelance Broker

For those who wish to start their real estate careers, being a freelance real estate broker would be a good learning experience. One of the first steps that you need to take is to prepare yourself for the undertaking by ensuring that you possess all the necessary skills and knowledge in order to be able to sell your potential client's house at the best possible price.

Although it may sound easy, it will take a lot of hard work and skill in order to get everything down. You must acquire the necessary knowledge, understanding and skill about the local real estate market, and know how to effectively apply these skills that you have gained in your transactions, in order to be able to represent your clients competently.

Once you have verified the depth and extent of your understanding and knowledge of the property market, you need to start building up your reputation as a freelance real estate broker. You always need to take note that you are not representing any firm but yourself, which is why it is harder to sometimes establish your reputation as one of the best, especially since you are unable to build networks as easily as those who are under a company are able to do.

Sarasota Has A Booming Property Market

With the US housing market crunch literally wiping out many mortgage firms and investments, it's good to note that real estate market conditions in Sarasota have no doubt fared fairly well as compared to last year. Many housing and condominium purchases are taking place and the number of condominiums and homes for sale in Sarasota has gone down, which means there is no shortage of quick buyers.

This positive trend of improving fortunes is truly clear in the Longboat Key condo and Siesta Key condo markets. At present, the number of condos for sale on Siesta Key went down by more than 10% to 545 at the end of July from a peak of 620 during February. Condos for sale in Longboat Key declined over 16% to 420 from the March high of 503.

At the same time, monthly sales increased on both Keys, as the number of condos sold on Longboat roughly doubled, while on Siesta it almost tripled compared to the really sluggish early months of 2006.

Most developers and investment analysts view Sarasota and its adjoining communities as a property hot spot, where the demand for real estate is surging. The city's weather is generally considered more attractive than almost anywhere else in the country, especially for those who have a lot of leisure time to fill. In addition, Sarasota, and nearby Manatee and Charlotte Counties have the 7th largest market in Florida.

Sarasota Real Estate - http://siestakeyrealestate.com

Vanessa A. Doctor from Jump2Top - SEO Company

When Buying New Orleans Properties

2009-08-09T01:44:00.001-07:00

New Orleans real estate took a big hit with the multitude of hurricanes that have passed through the area in recent years. This means that there are deals to be had because a lot of people packed up and never looked back.

Now, while there are some great buys in the New Orleans real estate market, they are going to come with a lot of work. You can walk through a home to see the obvious damage like water stains and that will give you an idea of what to expect.

But, to find out just how much work is needed, you need to make sure the home inspection is thorough. Some things can be covered under the contract, but others you will have to fix yourself. Here's what you need to look for when going over your home inspection:

* Exterior Structure

Your home inspector will be checking for cracks, obvious wood rot and the integrity of the roof. Are there shingles missing, holes in the roof, etc.? He will also make sure the driveway is in good shape as well as the trim, fascia and gutters. If there are obvious drainage issues, he will make a note of it as well.

* Interior Structure

Again, he makes sure there are no cracks in the walls and foundation. The floor is also checked for weak spots and water damage as well as the ceiling. Because of the severe flooding, these are very important items on your New Orleans real estate home inspection checklist. Also included in the inspection are the appliances, if any come with the home.

* Wiring and Plumbing

It is likely that there will be electrical damage as a result of the flooding and high winds. The plumbing may have backed up and burst as well. Are the conditions safe or are bare wires hanging, etc.? Also, because there are many old homes in the area, you want to make sure that pipes and wires are compliant with current safety codes.

* Extras to ask for

The above issues are general items a home inspector checks. But, New Orleans real estate is unique in that it sustained a great deal of water damage. So, you will also want to have someone come in and conduct a mold inspection. Mold can create a multitude of problems and be expensive to get rid of.You need to know what you are getting into if you buy the house.

If you have an experienced and licensed home inspector who is familiar with the area and the situation, you should feel pretty good about the inspection results. Once you have all the information, you can decide if the house is going to be more work than you want to take on. Or, you can get a great bargain on a fixer-upper and put some of your blood, sweat and tears into it.

New Orleans real estate is on the rebound, but they need everyone who is ready and willing to help revitalize the area and return it to its former glory.

Water damage to structure, wiring and plumbing are a few things your home inspector needs to look for when going over your New Orleans home inspection. Before investing in New Orleans real estate, contact an experienced home inspector at http://www.realestatelouisiana.com.

Interesting Farm House Renovation Ideas

2009-08-08T04:13:00.001-07:00

People like to live in the country, and so many people are starting to move back there. People don't generally enjoy living in the city because of the noise and hustle and bustle. However it's by no means easy to find beautiful old houses in the country, farm houses are beautiful but they may require extensive modernization in order to live in them. It is normally much cheaper to renovate a farm house than build a new house in its place, plus you get a very historic beautiful building.

Older style farm houses were built using wood; these were made quite large by today's standards. They were also built very well and are probably more sound than modern day houses. You must however bear in mind that this is an hold house and there may be problems that could need sorting before you can get onto renovating it. Before you start renovating the house you should check that the foundations are sound, also inspect to make sure termites have not caused any problem. If all is well then you can start planning your farm house renovation project.

In old houses the electrical wiring is different normally two separate cables were used instead of the modern day single insulated wire. It is very important that you budget for rewiring the house as this needs to be brought up to standard. You will have to replace all of the wiring and install circuit breakers. You may also want to replace the galvanized plumbing and upgrade the heating and ventilation.

Replace doors and windows

Lots of old farm houses use double hung windows, these use weights on ropes which makes it easy to lift the window and keep it open. These ropes naturally deteriorate, as do the window frames. The windows might be a poor fit due to the building settling more into its foundations. You should budget for replacing all of the windows and doors just in case.

The settling of older homes over time can also cause uneven floors. It may be necessary to rectify this by using jacks to jack the floors up in the basement. If the floors are uneven you should defiantly get this sorted out first before you even consider fitting doors. The proportions of the whole house can be affected just by leveling the floor.

A farm house renovation project is no easy task, in fact it will take ages to complete. However casement windows are worthwhile spending time to do it because then you know its right. You should make sure you have enough money available in your budget to cater for any eventuality. There is no point starting unless you can finish.

The author Jerry Blackburn is especially passionate about subjects related to gardening and storm windows. His observations on casement window hardware are found on http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com/casement-windows.html.

Five Things Everyone Should Know Before Buying a Home

2009-08-07T06:40:00.001-07:00

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

Know your Options for Financing

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

Understand What A Buyers Agent Does

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

Know What Affects the Value of Homes

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

Have a Professional Home Inspection

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

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

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

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

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

How to Sell Your House Quickly

2009-08-06T08:58:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

Utilizing Solar Power in Your Home

2009-08-06T06:20:00.001-07:00

You have probably heard quite a bit about utilizing solar power in your home in order to save on some of the bills as well as being part of a "green" plan that helps keep the environment clean as well. It's no joke, you can truly use the power of the sun to heat your home and even drive your car. Even though we are still a little ways away from manufacturing solar-powered cars, it is a real possibility today to run your home on solar power.

This is an investment that will benefit you every day of your life, both economically and environmentally. You may be wondering how exactly solar energy works. The solar panel that you install in your home will convert the inherent energy in the sun to usable energy here on earth that can be utilized to do things like heat your home. The great thing about this particular type of energy is that it is natural and will not run out, unlike our limited supply of natural oil.

Doing something like installing a solar panel system may seem quite intimidating at first, but the average person can easily install one in their own home. You simply have to have the right materials and guides to help you along the process.

Doing it yourself will save your hundreds of dollars in labor and you will also get that good feeling that you did on your own and are capable of such a task which most people would be too afraid to do by themselves. As long as you do thorough and proper research on how to install a solar panel system, you shouldn't really have any problems at all. Make sure that the place you get your information from is trust worthy, then you are all set to start saving money and energy.

I've had a chance to review most of the guides available on how to build your own solar panels, and I've narrowed it down to the 3 that are the best value for your money.

=> Top 3 Guides <=

There are a lot of scams out there, and people selling solar power systems that just don't work. That's why I've put together these reviews for you.

=> Solar Guide Reviews <=

Masonry Books

Build Your Own Solar Panel System and Wind Turbine Generator - You Can Do This and Save Big Money

2009-08-05T08:30:00.001-07:00

Remember those old Gilligan's Island episodes in which the one radio they had would run out of batteries? The Professor always had some crazy way of re-charging those old batteries and getting the radio up and running again. Pretty cool, huh?

Well, ever since watching those shows, I've wanted to figure out how to build my own electrical generator and make my own power. And now, I've figured out how.

Up to now, solar systems and wind turbine generators have been so expensive that regular folks like you and me, the people who could really use the break on our utility prices, couldn't afford them. Even with government subsidies and volume discounts, the initial outlay of cash was simply too high for us to afford. But not anymore.

With all the changes and technological advances in computer science and electronics, two important things have changed in the world of renewable energy. First, prices for raw materials have come down incredibly. Second, the availability of those materials has gone off the charts. This combination of lower prices and higher availability for the raw materials and parts needed means that you and I can build our own solar panel system or wind turbine generator for a fraction of the purchase price of a retail system. But like most things in life, knowledge is the key. Even if you knew what to buy and where to buy it you would still be left trying to figure out how to go about it.

The good news is that I've found a resource that will help you in every phase of building a solar panel system, and a wind turbine generator. This book and DVD video set will explain everything you need to know in plain English with pictures and every detail. After reading this book and watching the videos you will be able to build your own solar panel system for under $200. Seriously. For most folks, the monthly electric bill can easily top $200. So, for the price of one month's electricity, you could build a system that will cut your electric costs for the rest of your life.

If you're looking for plans which can help you build your own solar panel system or wind turbine generator, you must buy Earth4Energy. This book and DVD set will give you all the knowledge you need to build your system.

Pretty soon everyone you know will be calling you, "Professor."

Home Selling Books

How to Build Your Own Solar Panel

2009-08-05T03:55:00.000-07:00

Energy crunch is on, fuel prices have hit the roof and they are slated to break through the roof soon. Days are not far when utility companies will jack up the electricity rates to a point where you will have to run for cover. Everybody is looking for ways to install some alternative energy system at home. Solar power system is one of the popular alternatives.

A solar power system comprises of three basic components, apart from the mandatory disconnects and safety accessories:

1. The solar panel;
2. Battery, for storing the energy generated, and necessary charger;
3. Inverter, to convert stored DC power to AC power.

Cost of a solar power system capable of supplying power to all household appliances can be quite substantial and solar panel makes a significant proportion of it. Fortunately the solar power system can be made in a modular fashion; you install the basic requirement and gradually as the time and the cost permit, carry on adding to it.

Your own solar panel can be assembled by you; the other components mentioned above will be procured as required from the local suppliers.

What you need

The actual process of assembling your own solar panel is not very difficult. You need a certain amount of guidance on some aspects such as:
How to assess the solar panel power rating to meet your needs
Where to buy the solar cells from
How to interconnect the cells to obtain the desired voltage and current capacity
How to assemble the solar panel
How to install the solar panel, etc

There are many guides available to provide such information. These guides cost about $25 to $40. A small search on the internet will get you website addresses at which these guides are available. These guides give step-by-step assembly and installation instructions with pictures/photographs where necessary. Obtain one of these guides, study thoroughly and now you are ready to get going!

To assemble your own solar panel you require the following materials:

Solar cells
A sheet of plywood of suitable size
Sheets of glass
Copper wires
Few simple tools such as pliers, screwdriver, hand-drill machine, a soldering iron (with solder, flux, etc) will suffice.

Solar panel assembly:

Arrange the solar cells in rows on the plywood sheet, with the back of the cells on the plywood and in the configuration suggested in the guide book.

Drill holes in the plywood sheet so that the wires connecting the cells can be taken through to the back. Interconnect the cells as per the instructions.

Put a backing board on the back of the plywood so that the interconnected wires are held in place and sealed

Place the sheet of glass over the top of the solar cells

Put a framing piece over this assembly (as would be done in framing a photograph)

Seal the edges of the assembly, and your solar panel is ready.

The assembly procedure described above is the basic process of assembling your own solar panel. Of course you can improvise on it so as to make your assembly more sturdy, make it impervious to ingress of dust, water, etc, make it strong so that its installation outdoor will not cause any problems.

A self assembled solar panel can bring about a substantial saving. You can save about 50% or more of the cost of solar panel by doing your own assembly.

Read More about Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get our complete guide at http://www.Homesolarwindpower.com

Home Garage Books

Battery Reconditioning Using EDTA

2009-08-04T06:09:00.001-07:00

Renewable Energy systems such as solar or wind have a few drawbacks and that comes in the form of storage of the energy for use when the wind isn't blowing, and you have some cloudy days in a row where solar energy output will be minimal.

When you are not generating energy you either use it from your grid-tied system, or you potentially have a battery bank of batteries that you charge for these times. Deep cycle batteries are not cheap at all and some of the batteries that are created solely for the use of renewable energy can cost of upwards of $250 per battery!

So what can you do about this? Well there are a couple of things that you can do, especially if you make the right people contacts in just about any town you live in. This is where opportunity lies for getting some nice batteries on the cheap.

Deep Cycle batteries are used in marine, vehicle, RV's, Off-road ATV's, Golf Carts, ForkLifts, and just about any application. One of the largest manufacturer of these batteries is a company named Trojan Battery company and the batteries they have are great for renewable energy sources. They even happen to have a ine dedicated specifically for RE uses.

So.... Instead of buying a large bank of these batteries at $250 a pop you should hunt around local golf cart maintenance shops, forklift repair shops, and more for finding these deep-cycle gems. :)

Most of the time the batteries themselves are not in horrible condition beyond repair, some easy work they can be fixed up to practically new without much cost at all. One simple method of repair is for using EDTA in the electrolytic fluid in each cell that doesn't pass the test of a standard electrolytic hydrometer. Although some battery types are sealed most are recoverable with this technique. EDTA stands for ethylene diamine tetra acetic, and can be purchased on the internet rather easily. If you see people selling you "special" battery reconditioning mixtures this is what the main ingredient is.

You can also visit energyprojects.info for more information about battery reconditioning methods and see them in action. You can save yourself lots of money on your solar pv or wind turbine system by using this method. If you already know how repair battery cells then you probably have all of the information that you need.

Nicholas Cole - http://www.energyprojects.info
"Your Resource for Energy Solutions"

Home Buying Books

Save Water and Energy With Waterless Cooking

2009-08-03T08:34:00.001-07:00

Is waterless cooking for you? It is if you want to enjoy the best tasting food, save energy and use much less water than with conventional cooking. Waterless Cookware fits perfectly into a modern green lifestyle. Whether selecting organic, local farm produce or regular supermarket fare, this cooking method will deliver the very best taste as the food cooks in its own natural juices. It is estimated that food loses around 40% of its natural vitamins and minerals with conventional cookware, but only 2% or 3% with waterless cookware.

Energy saving comes from the use of only medium heat to begin cooking and then, once the steam valve begins to whistle, the heat is reduced to low or turned off to complete the cooking process. High heat is never used with waterless cookware. The best products are constructed of surgical stainless steel which gives an excellent, gleaming appearance and last for the life of the product with just occasional cleaning. It offers high corrosion resistance due to an invisible, passive oxide coating that forms on the surface of the metal in air. Hospitals use surgical stainless steel because it can be kept clean and sterile. Waterless cookware has an iron core and an aluminum or copper plate in the base. The base is made up of different layers of metal (plies) with the aluminum or copper sandwiched between layers of stainless steel. The best waterless cookware will be 5 ply or better. This construction encourages the distribution of heat more evenly than conventional cookware. Multi-ply cookware also allows stack cooking. Once the stem valve has signaled that the correct temperature has been reached, the valve is closed and the pans can be stacked on top of each other to complete the cooking process. Heat is transferred from the bottom pan to the top. Also, because the steel is so clean and durable, it provides a much better cooking surface than aluminum or Teflon as these can wear off over time and get into the food.

There is a special steam release valve lid that keeps liquid from escaping. The lid forms a seal with the pot and locks in the natural moisture that usually escapes from the food during the cooking process. The food then cooks at a more constant temperature because of the cookware's heat retention properties and the steam heat inside the pot. Another benefit if the superior heat distribution of Waterless Cookware is that there is less chance of burning or sticking, which makes the cookware easier to clean. It also means that there is no need to use cooking oils to prevent sticking.

While it is referred to as Waterless Cookware it is necessary to rinse any food in water and then drain, prior to cooking. There will then be enough water clinging to the food to mix with the food's natural juices and cook it. Cooking times are similar to or slightly less than conventional cookware and obviously depend on personal taste as to the serving texture preferred. It is important to resist the urge to peek. If the cover is removed during cooking, heat and steam will be allowed to escape, so this will lengthen the cooking time and dry out the food.

Using Waterless Cookware is probably the healthiest, most energy efficient way to cook. It is more expensive than conventional cookware, but its superior construction and energy saving cooking process will pay for the difference over time.

Peter O'Grady is the owner of It's Eco Time.com and writes about a variety of subjects involving our impact on the environment and the options available for living a healthy and sustainable green lifestyle. Visit http://www.itsecotime.com and share your comments and questions.

House Renovation Books

The Feng Shui Link Between Water and Wealth

2009-07-28T15:30:00.001-07:00

When it comes to Feng Shui, there are various elements that you can incorporate into your living space in order to bring good fortune. There are five Feng Shui elements: fire, earth, metal, water and wood. Each of the five elements relates to a different area of your life. Fire relates to your career, earth relates to your relationships and water relates to your wealth.

Everybody can benefit from wealth, right? With today's society becoming increasingly more expensive to live in, wealth is one element in life that most of us would like to enhance. Well, it is possible to attract more wealth into your life through Feng Shui, and water is a very important element both to enhance it and keep it once we have it. There is a link between water and wealth.
Using Feng Shui to bring you Wealth

It isn't possible to suddenly become rich using Feng Shui in your home. If it were, everybody would be doing it! However, it is said that by incorporating water into your living environment, it will help to attract positive energy and wealth. If people owe you money, you might get the check a little sooner. Money might stop going out as fast as it had been and you'll be able to save more. You might maintain a steady flow of projects coming your way if you're self employed. You might get a raise or a bonus at work. With Feng Shui and some... well... a lot of luck, you could win the lottery! Just make sure you buy a ticket. In any case, you will see a change in your personal finances.

Water acts as the main conductor of positive energy and it is vital for our well-being. It is considered to be extremely lucky to live near a river or a lake. If you are not fortunate enough to live near a lake or a river, you could always add the Water element to your surroundings.

A stream, river, pond, pool, water fountain, water garden, waterfall ...
A reflective surface, such as cut crystal, glass and mirror...
A flowing free form, or wavy or asymmetrical shape...
A waterfall picture, or poster, any art representing water, or water life...
The black and dark-tone spectrum of colors such as charcoal gray and midnight blue.

Aquariums relate to the water element, and are not only visually appealing, but they represent the perfect balance of all the elements. So, placing an aquarium in your home, in the right area, can help bring in wealth. Feng Shui water features are especially powerful in the wealth and career areas because the element of Water has a direct association with the flow of money.

Many people believe that a swimming pool will help them achieve wealth. It's a big water feature, right? However, if you do decide to have a swimming pool, you would have to ensure that it is not too big. Even though your main goal is to attract wealth and success, you need to keep the five Feng Shui elements balanced. Having too much water around the home will have a negative effect on that balance. Therefore, the results that you receive will not be what you expect them to be.

The flow of water inside your home is like it's blood. Your pipes are it's veins and arteries. Every time you get a drip in the faucet, or you let the water run in the toilet, your home is losing blood. Water equals money. You would be losing money. That's why it's so important to keep your drains covered as much as possible, and to keep the toilet lid down ALWAYS! They are big escapes of Chi energy that you need to control.

Make sure that whatever water feature you use is kept clean and that the water is circulating. Don't let water just sit there and stagnate. Whatever you do, make sure to keep the balance of the elements. Too much of anything can be detrimental to your purpose.

Try using the Water element to attract more wealth and abundance into your life. I promise you will see a dramatic difference. Enjoy!

If you want to learn more about Feng Shui and find more very useful information, please visit me at http://www.lifewithfengshui.com

Ceiling Plumbing Leak Repair

Feng Shui Rules - Cracking the Code to Universal Abundance

2009-07-27T23:49:00.001-07:00

A Story That Puts Feng Shui Rules into the Context of Your Life

We are members of this vast and expansive organism that we call the Universe. I believe that as sentient beings, our lives were originally designed to be infinitely more abundant, in every aspect, than they are right now. To create the best possible life and world, we must live in accordance with Universal Principles.

You might be thinking: "Philosophy is nice but...what the heck do you mean?"
Good question!

Here's a metaphor I like that helps people get the picture:
Imagine grocery stores didn't exist and you only had 1 neighbor. Now... you need to eat, and the only food you could ever eat is what you grow in your back yard. You are given a beautiful piece of land with rich soil, an infinite supply of fresh water, and hundreds of absolutely magnificent seeds... to grow countless numbers of vegetables and fruit trees. Are you with me so far? Good. Simple, right?

You are given simple instructions: Plant the seeds in the soil, water them, nurture them, appreciate them... and let them grow.

THAT IS a "Universal Law" A.K.A a Law of Nature: Growth! Understand? Good.

Now...because you are curious and you just feel like it...you decide to ignore the instructions and try growing the seeds your own way... by drowning them in water. Nothing grows, so no food.
You try planting them in the grass and choose not to nurture them, still no luck.. You even try injecting the seed with steroids and sprinkling them with some soil, still nothing grows.

Now your neighbor... who has been following the simple growth principle... sees that you are starving and offers you some food and maybe some advice on how to grow your seeds, seeing that you must have obviously forgotten the SIMPLE instructions for Abundance and Success!! HIS land is RICH with a BEAUTIFUL garden... Growing fruits and vegetables fit for a king AND his court! The environment.. is just so full of life that now many beautiful animals live there! There is so much abundance that he is now living with a lover and they are going to have lots of kids and raise a BIG, Happy family! If heaven exists on this earth, then your neighbor has it!!!

Being so hungry...you can't think straight... and you have become quite BITTER and for some reason are in this "competitive" mind set. Like an idiot, you refuse because you are determined to show him you could do it too. You now have something to prove...The thing is, he doesn't care about that...he's just happy and wants you to be happy, too!

After such a long time of trial and error of your own ideas... you are a wreck. Your environment is dreadful, there is nothing of life...no plants, no trees, no animals, no food, no nothing! For this reason, you are always angry and in a state of lacking, and to survive you steal food from your neighbor. Shame on you...all you're doing is perpetuating your crappy way of life.

Are you seeing the Problem? You live in a world, and you try to go against it's natural order, so how could you reap all it's benefits? Whatever intelligence has designed the world surely can see things from a much bigger picture and so in a sense the natural flow of things is a more ultimate state of being. Just look at your neighbor!

The Solution? Get in harmony!

Why? So you can reap all the benefits (there are so many you can't even imagine from where you are now) that Life really has to offer!

Now of course, I'm not talking about you literally! Just trying to get you in character to hold your attention...

So what does this story have to do with Feng Shui Rules? Think of Feng Shui Rules as "the simple instructions" you were given in the beginning of the story. Remain in Harmony with the Universal Laws and Natural Order of things, and enjoy the best possible life you can!

Wait are you waiting for? Come and change your life, using Feng Shui at This Feng Shui Rules Lens

Enter Feng Shui Paradise

Wood Fence Damage

Stealth Health

2009-07-27T08:01:00.001-07:00

Sneaking healthful ingredients into food has been a tactic used by moms since the first mom disguised vegetables from her picky eater by mashing them to make soup. There have been numerous books written which offer ways to sneak nutrition into meals.

Hiding nutrition is helpful in the short-run, but I believe the goal should be for children to learn to enjoy the various textures and flavors of whole foods. There isn't one good reason why whole foods shouldn't be your youngster's Preferred Food! Now is the perfect time to start.

Taste for nutritious foods can be acquired at any age. The first step is to limit sugar and junk foods. Cooking delicious wholesome meals definitely will move your picky child in the direction of healthy eating. Casseroles are a way to meld flavors of healthful foods usually refused, like spinach, so that they are acceptable. The spinach takes on the other flavors in the dish.

Then you'll want to incorporate multi-sensory learning at the table. When you include all your youngster's senses, you open the door to learning to enjoy healthful foods. Speak to your child about the foods attributes. Then smell, touch, experience a new or refused food before you ask that a taste be taken.

Super foods can be disguised to help build super strong kids. Stealth health is valuable while you're in the initial stages of transforming your child to a healthy eater. Stealth health can be especially helpful, if your picky eater is very limited in her choices, especially when it comes to vegetables.

Whole foods are a vital part of the healthy eater equation and should be integrated from the very beginning of your child's eating transformation. Especially during the initial process, you'll want to slip them into things he's already eating.

Often it's as simple as changing from an inferior brand of bread to a nutritionally-packed one at your grocers. It's supercharging a breakfast fruit smoothie with flax seed oil, barley green, or powdered acia berries or vitamin C. Other times, it's making a healthful pureed vegetable soup for the vegetable-challenged child. Once veggies are no longer recognizable (because they have been pureed in the blender) a picky child is none-the-wiser she's eaten something healthful. One of the most fun approaches, as well as challenging, is integrating snack and dessert items they aren't only tasty, but healthful.

Nonna Joann Bruso is the author of "Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater." "Baby Bites" is a guide for parents of Picky Eaters that actually works. In only 7 days, your finicky child will be tasting new foods!

For more information on healthy family cooking go to: http://www.babybites.info and http://www.nonna.libsyn.com.

Rubber Paint Over Shower Backing

Universal Design

2009-07-09T09:23:00.001-07:00

Few of us pay attention to how we get around in our home until for one reason or another it gets harder to navigate that home.I personally had not given much thought to the fact that my master bedroom was on the second floor until I had knee surgery and found that it was difficult climbing those 13 steps. Luckily for me that inconvenience was temporary and I worked around it with the help of my wife.

Baby boomers like myself are beginning to realize that we are not immortal or immune to the effects of time.Sooner or later we will need to either make or living spaces accessible for our friends, family or ourselves. As architects, we work with these issues every day.From designing a new home which is fully accessible to a library addition on the first floor which can be converted to a master suite or guest suite by closing a pocket door at the end of the hall.

Built in accessibility can be so subtle it is almost unnoticeable unless you are looking for it.Wider doors, spacious bathrooms, grade level entries and curb less showers are a few of the easy features to include in a home you plan to spend a lifetime in. We designed a home for an 89 year old client and his partner who were both avid gardeners and loved to cook.Although the 89 year old was in a wheelchair, he still wanted to get into and out of his house on his own as well be able to prepare meals and tend to his beautiful flower garden.He also did not want his home to scream handicapped accessible.We listened and designed the first floor of his home so he could work and move around without help. He could easily come and go while tending his garden or help cook a fine meal.He decided the second floor could be for guests.

Options have improved for making a home accessible from premade adjustable countertops to less expensive residential elevators, baby boomers have once again changed the way we look at living our lives at home.

http://www.crisparchitects.com/ James M. Crisp, AIA is an architect working in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

New Wall Under Roof Rafters

How to Go About Painting Your Deck

2009-07-08T18:18:00.001-07:00

If you have a deck in your house that has lost all its charm and causes you a twinge of regret every time you look at it, then you should seriously consider renovating it so that it doesn't create a sense of shame when you socialize or hold parties in your house. For many people, building a new deck is not feasible because of the expense that will be incurred.. However, this is no cause for worry as your old and faded deck can attain a brand new look by the simple procedure of painting it.

The only problem with painting is that it is a solution which will work only for a short duration rather than for a significant number of years. The reason is that paint cannot withstand harsh weather conditions and requires a lot of maintenance to retain its beautiful look. Despite this, it can come in very handy if you are looking for a temporary solution for your deck.

Before you commence with the painting of your deck, you need to prepare the surface of your deck thoroughly so that the painting does not go waste. This means that you have to inspect your deck carefully and fix problems like loose and damaged boards, twisted fasteners etc. Using galvanized nails and weatherproof screws for the repair work is recommended for imparting strength to your deck.

After this, you have to focus on cleaning the deck. A deck broom or pressure washer will be very effective here. Similarly, a commercial deck cleaner can also be used for the job. It is very important that the old finish, loose material, dirt etc. are completely eliminated from the deck while cleaning it. Once the deck has been cleaned, care should be taken to make it totally free of moisture.

Priming the wood surface is the next thing that has to be done. A superior quality exterior wood primer should be used for this purpose. If the primer is applied with the help of a brush, it will provide better protection to the wood. Again, two coats of primer are essential for maximum impact when it comes to wood protection.

Once the primer has dried and the deck has been cleaned, it is time to apply the coat of paint. Nowadays, floor and porch enamels with hardeners and extra pigments can be obtained which will not be damaged easily. Apart from this, you should choose oil based enamels that have semi gloss sheen as they are more resistant to water.

You need to realize that for a long life for the deck, maintenance is essential. Try and avoid the use of a garden hose for the deck as it can damage the paint that you have applied on it. The best way to clean the deck is to use a soft broom and a moist cloth that has been soaked in a detergent that is harmless and mild. All of this will keep your deck looking bright and new for a long time.

Adam Peters is a freelance writer .Find at http://www.deck-porch-railings.com/vinyldeck.html more articles on vinyl railings

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Missoula, Montana Flat Fee MLS

2009-06-10T21:56:00.001-07:00

Residents of Western Montana aggressively look for cost-savings in the sale of their homes. Because of the obvious appeal of the area, the presence of the University of Montana, thriving arts and cultural scene and dramatic scenery, the Garden City has been growing for some time. Putting aside the national credit market meltdown which began in 2007, Missoula real estate seemed to be for some time selling itself, and the steep fees associated with selling it did not seem to make sense for many sellers. The market has shifted to a buyer's market, and it has become more apparent that the main driver of sales is price rather than fancy marketing brochures, open houses, or agent caravans.

Buyers are shopping for homes today, they just want to feel they are getting a reasonably good deal. Many people were burned buying homes in the easy-credit, no money down days of the mid-2000's, and declining property values affected many people's view of real estate. After all, many people bought homes not only based on buying a place to live, but also based on the fact that they thought the purchase was a reasonably good investment. They had heard real estate agents tell them that historically houses had appreciated at some particular rate or had doubled every certain number of years. People are now looking at houses more as a place to live then as a lottery ticket.

So price is hugely important in selling your home. It is important, however, for the market to know that your house is available for sale. People moving to Western Montana from, for instance, Seattle or Billings, are not going to drive around the city looking for 'For Sale' signs and writing down the address and property details on every thing they can find. Even someone in Missoula moving from one house to another are not going to do this. They want a database of homes that lists everything available for sale, everything already under contract, as well as information about recently sold properties. This database is the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). But don't you have to list your property with a traditional Realtor to have your property placed in the MLS? Doesn't this mean you will have to pay a steep commission to this person at closing? The answer for both questions is, "No," as a new type of real estate broker has emerged in recent years.

Flat fee MLS brokers list properties in the MLS for a small upfront fee and forego any commission at closing. Initially, there were only a few of these brokers in major cities around the country. Increasingly, a few brokers do offer this service in places like Billings and Missoula. Sellers are utilizing these services as a hybrid between selling 'For Sale By Owner' and listing with a traditional broker. Flat fee MLS programs appeal to sellers because they have exposure to unrepresented buyers that are driving around or browsing numerous Internet sites like Realtor.com and others, as well as buyers using the services of a buyer's agent.

About the Author: Donald Plunkett is a Montana licensed real estate broker offering flat fee MLS listings. He is a member of the Missoula Association of Realtors' MLS system. More info: http://www.congressrealty.com/Montana

Everything About Realtors

2009-06-10T21:06:00.001-07:00

So far in the USA, only real estate agents, which are members of NAR (National Association of Realtors) have got the right of naming themselves Realtors. Of course many other licensed practicants in real estate business may introduce themselves as Realtors, but the truth is, they are only using this term to impress the public's opinion about their whole activity as real estate agents, and they hope gathering as many clients as possible, so that the entire real estate business should keep going on. In this case they are kind of "fake Realtors", because this title, of realtor is very hard to be obtained.

Realtors, belonging to NAR, are diplomatically obliged to use and respect an entire list of rules regarding ethics. Before any real estate agent becomes a realtor, that is a member of NAR, he has to sign a legal document in which he promises that during any real estate transaction, he will remain honest and loyal, not only to his clients, but to his colleagues as well.

Any realtor, during the negotiations process, has the right to represent either the buyer's or seller's interests for a real estate property. As the ethics code demands it, he has to protect his client's interests at any time but he also has to act legally and pay respect to the other side as well. These objectives can be accomplished using a diplomatic and professional real estate negotiation process, without exaggeration or false statements of true facts. All closed real estate negotiations must be transparent, as Realtors ethics code demands it.

Realtors knowledge in real estate business is pure gold, because they know precisely how the entire process works, what real estate auctions are interested in promoting, how to deal with legal formalities in a real estate transaction, and what is best for their client. Realtors also have the ability to evaluate a real estate property value, and they always monitor the real estate market place and know exactly, when the perfect moment for selling or buying a property arrives.

Finding a realtor is not a complicated objective anymore, because of the Internet's great expansion. Specialized real estate websites, generally have real estate properties listings, and also list with Realtors in a certain area.

NAR (National Association of Realtors) is one of the largest and powerful organizations existing in North America, among others, being specialized in real estate business domain. Its evolution is remarkable, as in 2006, there were approximately 1 million members inside the organization, and today their number is still climbing, fact which only indicates a positive evolution of this society. It seems that people need Realtors now more than ever, in order to close a perfect real estate transaction, weather is it a commercial real estate transaction, industrial real estate transaction or even a simple building transaction.

Their society contains, as others, many specialized members, ranging from real estate agents, brokers, economists, managers, counselors, architects etc. Moreover, you need to understand that NAR governs the other lets say "small" real estate agents, monitors the well development of any real estate business in their jurisdiction, and makes sure that not only Realtors, but real estate agents, buyers and sellers as well, respect the ethics code. Most of the times, even experienced real estate agents, sometimes ask advice from a realtor, concerning pricing matters, or even ask opinions about a certain real estate property. Sometimes they also need a realtor to anticipate the evolution of the real estate market place, or evaluate a certain real estate property's value.

As far as taxes are concerned, it is well known that as a real estate agent, a realtor has his fee in a real estate successful transaction, but not only, because his job, as a real estate agent is to gather information about the client's building, evaluate the property, even participate to real estate auctions to see the new clients desires in real estates, to get a clue where the real estate investment is heading to, and finally make a plan of selling or buying what his clients want. And all these jobs must also be paid, so all in all, a realtor's fee is not accessible for everybody.

For more details and real estate news go to my web page http://www.modfind.com, which is specialized in real estate business.

Neguletu Octavian

The Secret to Creating Powerful Affirmations That Really Work

2009-06-10T18:11:00.001-07:00

Using daily affirmations is a time-tested way to create meaningful and lasting changes in your life, but unless you have crafted your affirmations properly you might not be getting the results that you expected. Unless you know the secret behind creating powerful affirmations, you may be wasting your time and energy. Fortunately, you can avoid this pitfall by learning how to create affirmations that do work, affirmations that help you manifest the changes that you desire.

The problem begins because affirmations are often confused with things like goal lists, dream cards, vision boards, and other great methods of making positive statements about your goals and dreams. These are all great tools that you should include in your SELF growth toolbox, but affirmations are about much more than the things that you wish to attract into your life.

Much more!

To use affirmations effectively, you must understand that In order to manifest something, or to bring it into your life, you must first change yourself into the kind of person that would be able to own or experience whatever it is that you want. Until you become that kind of a person you will be unable to create lasting changes in your life.

This is the secret behind affirmations that is often overlooked by many people when they first learn about this wonderful tool. Affirmations are not about the things that you want, affirmations are about the kind of person that you want to become. Understanding this important difference can help you get the maximum benefit from your daily affirmation practice.

Take losing weight for example. In order to lose weight, you must 'become' a person who has lost weight. Ask yourself, what types of thoughts a person who has lost weight thinks. What types of beliefs do they hold?? What kinds of actions do they take? A person who has lost weight probably holds different thoughts and beliefs, and takes different actions when it comes to food and eating and weight, than someone who is struggling to get rid of those extra pounds.

Creating wealth works in the same way. In order to become wealthy, you must 'become' a person who has gained wealth. A wealthy person has different thoughts about money, debt, and investing than you might have if your are struggling with money right now. A wealthy person thinks about money differently. Wealthy people have developed certain straits and habits that you need to copy and develop in yourself. Ask yourself what those traits and habits are. Write them down.

Your answers to these questions will lead you to discover which of these traits and qualities that you need to develop in yourself. You can now use those traits and qualities as the basis of your daily affirmations.

Here is the bottom line, easy as pie, simple rule for creating affirmations: Concentrate on who you want to become, not on what you want.

Apply this simple secret to your affirmations and you will begin seeing a remarkable change in the results that you are getting.

If you would like to learn more about attracting success and how you can learn to manifest your dreams into reality I invite you to grab your free copy of the ultimate manifesting ebook right now at http://www.bobcrawfordonline.com Click right now and you can start creating the life of your dreams today!

Established Neighborhoods in James Island, SC

2009-06-08T04:44:00.001-07:00

James Island is one of the most popular areas to live in Charleston, SC. While some buyers want newer homes, many buyers seek older homes for the larger lots and the brick exteriors. On James Island, you'll find these two features more in the older homes than the newer homes.

The majority of residential communities in this area are older, established neighborhoods. So, you'll find quite a few to choose from. We've included some of the more popular established communities on James Island below.

Riverland Terrace is a marshfront community that overlooks John's Island. Many buyers like this community because it's within walking distance of the Charleston Municipal Golf Course on James Island. Many of these homes are small and cottage-like, which means low square footage but those great architectural details that you won't find in new construction for the same price! Riverland Terrace has a very wide price range, with current prices going from $190,000 to $2.3 Million.

Harbor Woods has larger homes with a variety of styles. Some of these have been renovated, but many have outdated kitchens and baths. For the most part, though the renovations needed would be cosmetic. Since many home buyers look for homes that need some work, I wanted to make sure to include this neighborhood in the list. Right now prices in Harbor Woods are from about $300,000 to $490,000.

Fort Johnson Estates is a pretty large neighborhood, so you'll almost always come across it your search results. These are mostly brick ranch style houses, so there is not as much variety in the home selection. However, it's a popular established community in this area. Prices right now range from $260,000 to $430,000.

Stiles Point Plantation is more expensive, with current prices from 460,000 to 675,000. These houses are generally quite large - some are 3,000+ square feet. Stiles Point is also a little newer, with most of the homes being built in the 1980s and 1990s. Lot sizes in this community are quite large for James Island. You'll find many homes with over half an acre lot size.

Looking for Charleston SC homes? Lee Keadle can help you find the home you need! On his website you can search Mt. Pleasant home listings plus listings for all 6 Charleston beaches!

Holes In Floor Joist

Lies Realtors Tell - Ten of Their Favorites

2009-06-08T02:00:00.001-07:00

Realtors are agents of sellers. It is their job to obtain the highest possible sale price for a piece of real estate. By law they cannot misrepresent any facts about the property, but when it comes to opinions about the investment potential of the property, or the state of the real estate market, Realtors can say whatever they want. There is currently no restriction on the exaggerations or outright lies realtors are allowed to tell regarding residential real estate market performance.

The most common ploy realtors use it to attempt to create a sense of urgency in a buyer. In a seller's market, prices are rising, and buyers already feel a sense of urgency. In a buyer's market, prices are falling, and there is no urgency on the part of buyers. This fact does not stop Realtor from trying to create urgency even if the truth is cast asunder.

The most counter-intuitive part of buying in a buyer's market is to create a sense of urgency with the seller. Ordinarily sellers, or more accurately the seller's realtor, try to create a sense of urgency to buy the house. They want the buyer to think other people are looking, there is going to be a bidding war, and the buyer needs to get an offer in today. Realtors thrive by creating fear in buyers. They will use lines like:

1. It is a good time to buy!
2. Hurry. This one won't last.
3. Don't throw away your money on rent.
4. If you are serious, you had better buy now or you might be priced out of the market.
5. They are not making land anymore.
6. Rates are creeping up, so you better get in now.
7. This property is priced at below market value.
8. I will show my client the offer, but I just want to let you know that we have another offer for more coming in this afternoon.
9. Trust me.
10. It's not just the commission. I really care about you.

In a buyer's market these ploys are all lies (the truthfulness of these statements is questionable in all market conditions). Generally, the buyer is the only prospective buyer, and they can take as long as they want to buy the house. The buyer's task in negotiating is to create a sense of urgency and panic in the seller. This is why buyers should make their first offer their best offer.

When people were watching prices rise during the housing bubble, they felt a heightened sense of urgency to buy. This made many potential buyers even more gullible with respect to the nonsense realtors peddle. Perhaps in the future, people will be wiser to these ploys. Either that, or realtors will become even more vociferous in defending them...

Lawrence Roberts is the author of The Great Housing Bubble: Why Did House Prices Fall?

Learn more and get FREE eBooks at: http://www.thegreathousingbubble.com/

Read the author's daily dispatches at The Irvine Housing Blog: http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/

Damaged Exterior Drywall

Colorado Country Realty - Real Estate Redefined

2009-06-07T23:08:00.001-07:00

Colorado Real Estate - Find the Best Deals Online

The beautiful setting of Colorado offers a number of advantages to those who are planning to buy properties in the area. It's capital, Denver, alone features amenities and places ideal for biking, hiking and other fun outdoor activities. There are many prime real estate in Colorado such as Highlands Ranch real estate, Parker real estate, Littleton real estate, Castle Rock real estate, The Pinery real estate and Aurora real estate. Colorado may be a nature lover's paradise but even those who are not outdoorsy will appreciate the many recreational opportunities that Colorado offers.

The days in Colorado are characterized by sunny skies while the evenings bring refreshing cool breezes. There are many things to do in Colorado even at night thanks to the lively nightlife of Denver. The city of Denver is home to many bars, clubs, restaurants and cafes and even casinos that will make even the most jaded nocturnal creature happy.

Colorado is also a family-friendly place with its numerous malls, sidewalk cafes and child-friendly recreational facilities. Colorado is a curious mixture of the old and the new where you can see modern commercial establishments side by side with museums and old buildings. Colorado is also known for its festivals and other cultural activities and of course friendly people.

Colorado is one of the few places in the United States right now that is experiencing a real estate boom. The new residential and commercial structures being built in the area are proof of the lively and exciting real estate atmosphere of the place. Modern facilities, excellent recreational centers, established institutions, business opportunities, low crime rate and friendly residents are some of the contributing factors to the real estate boom.

But of course, a major attraction of Colorado is the Rocky Mountains along with its numerous ski resorts. The Rockies have made Colorado a hot spot and a most sought after location for family vacation homes.

One of the things that surprises most people is that properties in Colorado are actually affordable. To get the best deal if you are planning to buy Colorado real estate is to ask the advice of a real estate broker. Looking for Denver realtor or a Highland Ranch realtor or a Parker realtor is now easy thanks to the Internet. One reliable real estate group that you can find online is Colorado Country Real Estate which you can visit at http://www.coloradocoutryrealty.com Whether you are buying a home or planning to sell your home, Colorado Country can assist you for all your real estate needs.

Wood Window Damage

10 Ways Home Sellers Screw-Up Their Home Sale

2009-06-07T20:12:00.001-07:00

Selling your home is not a science but there are some standards that should always be maintained. For some reason sellers can get in the way of their own sale and mess it all up. Some sellers can't understand why real estate agents ask them not to be present during showings. Buyers are not too interested in hearing the gory details of how little Johnny killed the cat in the dryer or any other wonderful stories.

1.When you hire a real estate agent to market your home, you interviewed 2 or 3 agents and picked the best, now let them do their job. Of course the owner can sell the home they know every little thing that any new homeowner would want to know and they want to tell them. Please be quite or better yet go for a walk when buyers come to see your home.

2.Canceling and not allowing showings or setting rules for showing times that prevent buyers from seeing the home. No showings on weekends, 48 hour notice no exceptions or listing agent must be present for all showings. These things may be convenient for the seller but are red flags for any buyer agent they just won't show the home at all.

3.Holding off the photographer and visual tour photographer because you are not ready or the house is not ready. Your listing depends on pictures and visual tours to get buyers to your home. They can preview the property 24 hours 7 days a week without leaving their own home. Almost 80% of buyers start their home search on the internet with pictures, lots of pictures and visual tours.

4.Your dog and cat can stop a buyer agent in her tracks and take your home off the showing list. Remarks on your listing like "don't let the cat out" or "the dog barks a lot so put her outside" can slow down showings. My all time favorite is "don't go in the garage the dogs will bite and hurt you." Kitty litter on the kitchen floor or dog stains on the furniture are not good things.

5.Odors kill a deal every time. What's worse is using a smelly fragrant deodorizer trying to mask a bad odor. Clean and fresh smell always works with buyers. Keeping the kitchen and bathrooms clean make sure all trash cans are empty and trash moved out of the house to outside closed containers.

6.Over stuffed closets, garages full of your junk so much so that you can't fit a car, basements full of stuff, too much furniture, all of your collections on display in every room. All of this stuff gets in the way, clean it out.

7.A dirty house won't sell unless it is distress sales to an investor where you can expect a low ball offer, if you don't care it will show. Buyers like to see the outside when they open the blinds it's not a good thing that dust and dirt fall down on them. Walking around toys, pillows on the floor or a generally messy house doesn't allow the buyers see the home they are more worried about what they will step on.

8.Uncut lawn, untrimmed shrubs, overgrown weeds do not make for good curb appeal. Trimmed and edged lawn and shrubs are a basic requirement of a good appearance that will attract buyers to your home. Buyers are always driving around neighborhoods they drive by disasters but stop and write down phone number and web addresses of well maintain homes.

9.Most home buyers are not looking for a project, the closer your home is to move in condition the quicker sale you will have. The exterior of your home must be in very good condition. No broken windows all screens in place, rain gutters clean and properly attached. Doors, shutters and trim freshly painted.

10. Turning on the kitchen faucet and it comes off in your hand is not going to get the buyer jumping to make an offer even if they like the house they maybe too embarrassed to make an offer because they broke something. Everything inside the home should work properly. Lights, doors, drawers, appliances, and kitchen and bath faucets.

It's up to the seller to have the home ready and available for the buyers. If you are not ready don't put up the for sale sign, don't waste your time or your agents time and money. It does cost money to properly market a home your real estate agents money until closing.

Bill Carey a Broker/Investor/Builder. His over 30 years experience in Real Estate Sales, Investments and Construction offers a unique perspective to the processes of Investment Grade Real Estate. Bill and his family own resort rentals and hold a number of Off-Campus student rental properties in southern states. This started when our oldest daughter went away to school at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. The Carey family continues to buy and successfully rents student rental properties

How to Save $50,000 plus on your Childs College Education. 9 Steps to In-State Tuition. Student Rentals Real Money Makers. Check out the 9 part e-course on "How to Buy Your Student Rental Property"

Contact Bill by email at Info@CollegeTowneProperties.com or visit our website http://www.CollegeTowneProperties.com

(Your Comments are Welcome)

Foundation Wall Repair Problem

Sell Your Home on the Internet

2009-06-07T17:09:00.001-07:00

With the internet now being so readily available to most households, the world wide web has become a massive marketplace for pretty much anything that you could ever need to buy. These days that includes a new home. More and more people are using the internet to advertise their property and more and more people are looking there before they even look to the real estate agents. Last year 25% of home buyers bought their property through the internet. That is a staggering number and one which will increase considerably with each year. If you are planning to deal with your own real estate sale then you really should think about trying to sell your home on the internet.

There are many dedicated sites available to you should you decide to sell your home on the internet. These will vary in the services that they offer and their associated charges. On some sites you will be able to advertise your property, but any dealings with potential buyers will be entirely down to yourself. You will just have an advertisement on the site and anyone interested will contact you via your posted telephone number or email address.

Other sites will be more involved in your home selling procedures and will give you help and advice and follow you through the process. You can pay a range of fees depending upon the service that you opt for. Each aspect will carry a fee, such as a charge for listing your property right through to a complete tailor made service which will include the introduction of potential buyers and arranging of viewing times with you. Be very careful when you are registering for a service to help you to sell your home on the internet. Some of the fees structures can be a little complicated and you must always make sure that you are aware of the services that are included in your package. Some will include a service to help you through the legal red tape towards the end of the process, when it is time to sign contracts etc and some are more of an introduction agency for property.

One important aspect of property selling is to make sure that your house looks as good as it can in the photographs. As this will be the first impression that most people will get of the property, you should make it look its best. This may mean waiting for a sunny day rather than taking a photograph in the rain! It may seem a little absurd but it does make a psychological difference to people. They probably will not even realise it, but it will alter their impression! Make sure that the outside and inside of your house are as neat and uncluttered as possible. This is important whether you decide to sell your home on the internet or via more traditional routes. Try to remove as much personal clutter as possible and leave the place neat and tidy at all times.

These days, deciding to sell your home on the internet is a great idea. If you take a quick look at the various websites available you will surprised to see the huge number of people that are using the internet as a real estate market place.

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about sell your home on the internet, please visit Real Estate Selling Online for current articles and discussions.

Wood Post And Beam Connection

How to Sell Your Home Online and Save Money

2009-06-07T14:28:00.001-07:00

The crash of property prices in the UK and buoyed by the spiraling of the economy have prompted many house sellers to think of ways of maximizing their earning potential. One of these is to do away with the hiring of real estate agents. This makes a lot of sense since most real estate agents charge up to 3% of the total sale value, which is definitely a lot of money considering the economic crunch that the nation is in.

Selling one's property can churn out a lot of savings for any house seller. Consider that when a London property can be fetched for 400,000, the real estate agent can gain as much as 10,000 in commissions. Taking the real estate agent from the equation can really bring a lot of savings for any house seller.

With the advent of the Internet, selling a property has become less complicated. The Internet answers some of the basic assistance provided by real estate agents, particularly in getting a good number of prospective buyers. Real estate agents are often hired because they have an extensive network of real estate buyers who can potentially buy the house of their clients. This makes the selling easier and faster for house sellers. However, with the advent of Internet-based house selling advertisements, house sellers can now gain a good number of potential buyers from the Internet.

Selling a home online can also save a house seller time. There are many UK websites that allow house sellers to advertise their properties for sale. The process is usually simple and takes a couple of minutes to finish.

While many people think that it is hard to estimate the value of their property without the expert help of a real estate agent, the truth is that there are website that can provide free estimates of any property. These websites can even compare prices of properties in any area in the UK. There are also websites that offer listings of prices of homes recently sold in a particular area.

Selling a home online requires taking some shots of the property for sale. Using a digital camera, home owners should take pictures of the house for sale from various angles. Since websites now allow uploading of multiple images, a house seller can effectively portray the entire look of a property for sale just by posting as many images as he or she can.

There are also websites that provide Home Information Pack or HIP to those who want to sell their homes online. As most Brit's know, laws require house sellers to have HIP before selling any property in Wales and England.

Advertising a house for sale should be made by posting essential details about the property such as the number of rooms and their respective measurements, as well as other facilities that may be noteworthy to mention.

Once the potential buyers visit the property for sale, house sellers are a couple of steps closer from completing the sale of their houses. House sellers can then get the assistance of a solicitor to finalize the various legal requirements. After exchanging deeds of sale, the house selling process is finally complete.

Homes On Sale is 100% free for sale by owner (FSBO) and has been since 1999. More people are waking up to the benefits of selling their property without using a real estate agent. Take advantage of the saving you can achieve by selling your home online yourself and enjoy the savings. Be sure to visit http://www.homesonsale.co.uk

Mold Growing On Cement Wall

Sell My Home Privately - How to Price My Home to Sell Privately

2009-06-07T11:28:00.001-07:00

How do I sell my home privately and avoid enormous agent commissions? Many people to-day are making the decision to sell their home privately and are reaping the rewards with huge savings. They also now realize that selling their home without an agent/broker was not the daunting task they first believed it would be. By following the correct advice particularly when it comes to pricing the end result was a quick and successful sale.

Here's my motto when it comes to pricing - Don't just price to sell... price for PROFIT!

Pricing of a house is probably the most important, yet least considered aspect of selling your home as a for sale by owner - FSBO.

The wrong price will cost you thousands of dollars any way you look at it!

A for sale by owner price that is "too low" will result in a "Net" that is thousands ($1,000's) less than what you could have gotten with a little research.

A price that is "too high" will cause your house to sit on the market for a long time.... and possibly never sell!

Not selling means paying thousands more in mortgage payments, taxes, and insurance until you lower the price to what the market would have supported in the first place...or hire a realtor to sell it for you and pay an outrageous commission!

To make matters worse, the wrong price causes your house to get "shopworn".

The longer it stays on the market the more you'll be subject to really low-ball offers!

Incorrect pricing is the classic FSBO mistake!

Getting the price right from day one increases your chance of a quick sale dramatically!

Bill Hansen has been assisting people for many years to sell their homes and highly recommends you visit this website for more tips and practical advice on 'Getting the Price Right': http://sellprivately-nobroker.com

Dust Clogging Bath Fan Vent

Systems Drive Real Estate Sales

2009-06-07T08:37:00.001-07:00

The trend is for more of the top realtors to employ assistants to handle the more menial tasks or compensate for skill sets where the realtor has a weakness. This allows him or her to concentrate more on the aspect where they can provide greater benefit i.e. closing the sale. This allows the team to process more transactions and earn more in commissions. Systems are the backbone of these teams and enable all the team members to work together efficiently.

So what is a system? In this instance a system is a set of tasks that fit together to complete a given objective. You can define a system for almost anything. For example you could write a system for making breakfast:

Get the newspaper
Cook the eggs & bacon
Make the coffee
Set the table

In this example you could assign the four tasks to four separate people. Each task could be defined in more detail so that a stranger could perform the task and the end result would still be satisfactory. However, if even one of the tasks is missed or poorly done then the end result will be disappointing.

In real estate the tasks are usually very simple but there are usually a lot of them. Missing some steps due to the pressure of work or just poor discipline can have a drastic effect on the final income. Also, real estate salespeople are generally not renowned for their discipline. They prefer to be more intuitive, outgoing and people focussed. Therefore it is common to have checklists, computer systems or office managers to ensure that all the steps have been completed.

Example : Buyer enquiry system

Enquiries from potential buyers can come from a variety of sources including people simply walking into the office and asking for a specific property. The agent needs to work with each potential buyer and look after their needs. He or she needs to make the buyer feel special and that there is no need to go elsewhere for real estate services. This needs to be done in a proactive but reassuring way. That last thing that should be done is scare the person away by over servicing or being too pushy.

Each agent will develop their own style and will eventually develop a pattern that works for them. A typical system for managing the buyer enquiry might look like this:

Complete a buyer enquiry form. Usually a paper form filled out by the agent whilst talking to the potential buyer.
Conduct a search of possible properties for the buyer.
Take the buyer to inspect the possible properties and sell one of them if possible.
Gauge the buyer reaction to the properties and build a profile for the kind of property that will be suitable.
Enter the buyer details in the client database and schedule a trail of follow up actions based on the assessment of the buyer and his or her likelihood of purchasing in the next few weeks.
Same day - send a letter thanking the buyer and providing details of the properties seen and confirming the preferred property features for future searches.
Every week. Call the buyer and discuss the details of other properties coming onto the market. Try to arrange some more inspections.
Every month. Send a copy of the office newsletter.
Every three months. Send a copy of the suburb profile with updated sales and new listings during the period as evidence of sales activity.
Every three months. Visit the buyer and discuss how he values your service and whether he wishes to continue. You may then decide to change his details and the nature of your follow up campaign based on his comments.

Typically the system would be setup for a set period. For instance if a person wanted to buy a new investment property sometime in the next 12 months then you would probably assign a system based on 12 months duration. Then there would be a set number of follow up actions required, each with its own date etc. A system like this simple example would have 78 distinct actions that need to be completed.

When done well, these follow up systems build a trusted relationship between the clients and the agent. That in turn leads to a strong referral business.

Many real estate agents manage an area, or farm, consisting of over 500 people as potential sellers. Sometimes up to 2,000 people. The number of long term potential buyers, depending on the market, could be in the hundreds at any one time. Therefore it is apparent that a successful agent soon builds up a large list of daily actions and must be extremely efficient to stay on top. Writing the details in the diary is simply not going to provide the follow up necessary.

Please refer to Selecting and Using a Real Estate Database for more information.

Systems, tools and effective teams are the way forward in real estate sales today.

Mike Parsonage has worked in IT for over twenty years consulting to businesses of all sizes. His clients have included real estate agents over the past ten years where he has helped build systems and manage databases. His passion for establishing systems and improving business through change management has successfully turned many businesses around.

Finishing And Installing W Heater

Weight Loss Tips - Before After Pictures for Motivation

2009-05-22T05:53:00.001-07:00

Congratulations on your decision to lose weight. Now you can add in some strategies to keep yourself on track with your weight loss. You will most likely come across temptations to include the wrong foods on your diet. So here are a few tricks with photos to avoid getting off track.

Before and after pictures are always motivating. If you have a picture of yourself when you used to be at the weight you loved, put that picture on your refrigerator. This will remind you when you open that refrigerator door to only select the foods and portions in your fridge that will help your weight loss goals. If you have temptations at work, keep some before/after pictures on or in your desk. Or you can keep some pictures in your pocket or purse.

When you eat out having before/after pictures in your purse, wallet, or pocket could be handy to take a look at to motivate yourself away from all those tempting menu choices. At work you can keep before/after pictures on your desk or in your desk drawer.

You can also put that same picture or other pictures of yourself when you liked how your body looked on your bathroom mirror where you brush your teeth and comb your hair. Visual reminders can be strong motivation. Also if you have a fat picture of yourself where you dont like how you look, put that next to the picture of yourself you like. This will help you make the choices to move towards attaining the body image of yourself that you want to attain.

If you dont have pictures of yourself, you can use other peoples before/after weight loss pictures to help motivate yourself. You can use the link below for some great before/after pictures that you can copy to use for your inspiration.

Here are some pictures you can copy and use for your motivation: http://www.weightlossproduct.com/beforeafterpictures.php And Your weight loss can be made easier with soy protein shakes by Herbalife and you can find a variety of Shake Recipes at smoothie protein shake recipes for a simple solution to replace one or two meals a day. Once you know that you love the Herbalife products, you can register to save 25% or more with the Herbalife Discount at Herbalife Discount

3 Ways to Stay Motivated Despite Movable Deadlines

2009-05-22T04:54:00.001-07:00

It is important to know how to find self motivation when you are dealing with unstructured timetables and deadlines that can change from one moment to the next.

Unstructured time and changing deadlines can be very frustrating and can cause motivation to dwindle away.

Motivation can also sometimes be difficult to recover in these types of situations unless we can find a way to put more prediction in the unstructured time and changing deadlines.

Most of us find motivation somewhat easy to get when we are dealing with structured situations. Going to work is a good example of a structured situation. We get out of bed each day and go to the office or factory and put in our eight hours, sometimes not really wanting to.

But we find the inner strength and desire to do so day in and day out. The reason we do is that if we don't we don't get paid and can actually lose our jobs. The need for an income to support our families is the source that motivates us to get to work even when we don't want to.

There are many tasks in life that have unstructured time tables and changing deadlines. A simple example might be getting the house painted. If you are a working person, like most of are, you only have time to paint the house on the weekends.

However, most house painting projects are not just a one weekend event, but rather a project that can take several weekends to complete. Moreover, the deadline for completing such a project can change because of weather conditions or other events that interfere.

So how do you stay motivated to complete your painting project when time is unstructured and the deadline changes?

The thing to do is to put structure into your time. This is fairly easy to do if you:

1. Break your projects down into smaller pieces.

Taking the house painting example, rather than trying to paint the whole in a weekend, break the overall project into smaller projects.

For example, scrape the old paint away on one Saturday morning. Then the following Saturday morning apply your primer. Then the next Saturday morning paint one side and the final side on the next Saturday.

The point here is to put structure in unstructured time by breaking projects down into more time manageable pieces as it relates to your ability to complete the smaller pieces.

When you put structure in time where it was unstructured before you will find more motivation to complete the overall project as you complete the smaller ones.

2. Be flexible but do something!

Movable deadlines can be a source of frustration, discouragement, and pressure, all of which can then affect our motivation.

Deadlines move for a variety of reasons, many of which are beyond our control, like the weather interfering with getting the house painted before the party you planned to have in a few weeks.

But here again even though the rain today has prevented you from painting the house today you can do other things that you were going to do next weekend and paint the house next weekend.

3. An effective way to cope with movable deadlines is to be flexible and able to change your schedule.

Unstructured time and movable deadlines can affect our motivation. By nature we are creatures that feel more comfortable and motivated with stability and prediction in our lives.

When time is unstable and unpredictable we can become confused, frazzled and frustrated because unstructured time and movable deadlines require us to change something.

The key to staying motivated in these situations is to remain flexible at all times and adapt ourselves and schedules to meet those changes.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report that reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting motivation. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: stay motivated

Fall - Time to Change YOUR Leaves?

2009-05-22T03:56:00.001-07:00

Fall is one of my favorite times of year - the temp starts dropping, the air gets crisp, the trees put on a glorious display of color - I love it! I also think it's a great time to drop what's not working for you. If trees can let go of every leaf, why can't we let go of what no longer serves us? Here are some possibilities: excess weight, too much clutter, bad relationships, bad habits, bad debt. Just how long are you planning on carrying those dead leaves around? And you know that you can't grow any new leaves with those dead leaves blocking all the sunshine.

I know what I'm asking you to do is hard. I'm asking you to change what could be lifelong patterns of behavior. I know it is not easy. But here's the deal-continue on your current path and your situation will only get worse. The latest statistics on obesity are shocking-in less than 8 years, 75% of Americans will be overweight and 41% will be obese! We are turning into a nation of fat people. Why? Because of our habits-we eat too much, we exercise too little. Think you're heavy now? Guess what, unless you change those leaves, you're going to be a whole lot heavier in eight years.

I just put together a seminar called "Kicking Your Own Buts" on how to change this type of behavior. I studied different methods of change and researched changing the most difficult behaviors-addictions' to see if there were lessons for the rest of us. There were:

1.) Know thyself. Truer words were never spoken. You know what is going to work for you and what isn't. If you've been a night owl for 40 years and hate exercise, getting up at dawn and running is not going to work for you. Craft a plan you can live with. Forever.

2.) Oh yeah, baby - we're talking forever. The deal is not the change itself-most alcoholics are great at quitting. It's the staying sober part that's hard. Dieters can lose weight - they're good at that - it's keeping it off that's hard. If you can't do it forever, it's no good.

3.) You have got to want to change for you. I watched many, many episodes of A & E's series Intervention and only those who really want to get better have a chance. Most bail out as soon as their family is out of sight. Change is hard as hell - if you don't really want to do it for yourself, don't bother trying.

4.) Try Kaizen. Kaizen says take tiny steps. I did this with my backlog of e-mail. I have serious perfectionist issues-if I can't do it all and do it right, I'll put it off. (See #1) My inbox was getting to be a nightmare. E-mail needed to be deleted or filed or dealt with. Then I tried Kaizen-I would just aim to have 10 less in the inbox at the end of each day. Then I went to 25 less, etc. I got through the backlog and now have a cap (no more than 50) that can be allowed in my inbox at the end of the day. You can do this with anything-walk in place for 5 minutes while watching your favorite TV show. Build up gradually. Leave one bite of food on your plate. Kaizen is all about taking small steps to change. You've been practicing your bad habits for a lifetime-stop expecting to change them overnight!

5.) Get smart. Dean Ornish observed that even when told if they did not change they would DIE, heart patients did not change their eating and exercise habits. He discovered that doctors were just telling patients to exercise and lose weight, not telling them how to do it. You have to learn about whatever change you are trying to make. Many of us eat without really paying attention. I noticed my jeans feeling a little snug and realized the scale was moving toward my-OHMYGOD weight. So I started writing down everything I was eating. Everything. A cookie here, a piece of candy there, a roll at lunch - it adds up faster than you realize. Start writing. All I want you to worry about is calories. Do you even know how many you need JUST TO MAINTAIN your current weight? Find out ASAP if not-go to mayoclinic.com and look under health tools for their calorie calculator. Don't lie about how active you are. The number you get (maybe around 2,000) is all you should eat if you don't want to gain any weight. I'm not talking about losing-I'm talking about staying where you are today. Guess how many calories are in one slice of P.F. Chang's Great Wall of Chocolate cake? One piece = 2,000 calories. Wake up! Look at serving sizes. You may think a bowl of your favorite cereal has only 70 calories. But that's for 1/3 cup and you've been pouring a bowl of two cups (420 calories). Knowledge is power. Ignorance is not bliss. In this case, ignorance is obesity. Apply the knowledge plan to any change you want to make. What you know now is clearly not enough.

6.) Ask for help. We Americans are tough and we believe we have to go it alone. AA and other programs work for people because they give them a support group. Ornish found in his work with patients that if they had others to offer them support, their efforts at change were much more successful. This could be a mentor, a therapist, a family member, a friend or a teacher. There are also thousands of groups on the Internet-just search and see. Having other people trying to make the same change as you are supporting and encouraging you can be a huge help. The key here is fit-it has to be a person or a group you are comfortable with and you trust and respect. Change is hard, but it's much easier if you have some support along the way.

A tree is not its leaves any more than you are your habits. Have the courage to let go of what's not working. Nothing says fall like the smell of burning leaves.

Denise Ryan, MBA, is a Certified Speaking Professional, a designation of excellence held by less than 10% of all professional speakers. She is a blogger http://motivationbychocolate.blogspot.com Her website is http://www.firestarspeaking.com