tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85740238783239623972024-03-26T09:11:28.237-04:00Mississauga Real Estate | Buying a Home in MississaugaMississauga Real Estate - Buy, Sale, Mississauga Properties, Condos, Home and Apartments.Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-1205591553987230112013-10-10T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-10T00:00:08.115-04:00Interested In Investing In Real Estate? The Pros And Cons Of Becoming A Landlord<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Now that the United States housing market is beginning to turnaround, you may be beginning thinking about how to invest in real estate. The current economic recovery has been accompanied by a huge surge in the rental market. Many families who were forced into foreclosure or who took a loss when selling their homes have now become renters, especially because the market for affordable homes remains incredibly tight and competitive. Hoping to cash in on the increased popularity of renting, you might be thinking about buying a multifamily complex in order to make money.<br />
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Investing in a multi-family complex certainly looks lucrative. The <em>Pensacola News Journal </em>reports that returns of 7 to 8 percent from rental properties "<a href="http://www.pnj.com/article/20130929/BUSINESS/309290007/Rentals-hidden-gem-housing-market/">are not uncommon</a>." If you're considering buying a multifamily home to live in one of the units and rent the rest out, there are some important pros and cons to consider.<br />
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Just because renting a multifamily home you own seems like an attractive option in a tight rental market, there are a number of drawbacks to consider. Unexpected costs may be one of your biggest obstacles to making money from a rental property, says <em>Bankrate.com</em>'s Margarette Burnette. In a report for <em>MSN Real Estate</em>, Burnette lists four hidden costs of being a landlord: Increased insurance costs, additional legal and administrative fees, expenses for cleaning, care and maintenance of a rental property, and <a href="http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=25951229">increased taxes</a>.<br />
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If you're thinking about buying a rental property, you can expect to pay as much as 25 percent more on your insurance premium. And in order to negotiate the web of new laws you'll be subject to as a landlord, you'd be wise to hire a lawyer who could cost hundreds of dollars an hour to advise you. That's on top of any legal costs you might incur if you have to evict a tenant or face off in court against an aggrieved renter. Meanwhile, some municipalities have special fees they charge landlords. And don't forget: if you're a landlord you're also in business. That means you're going to have to spend money to make your property presentable to new tenants, keep it in good, livable shape, and clean and fix any damage after tenants move out. Security and cleaning deposits won't pay for all these expenses. Your costs are also going to vary depending on what state your rental property is in. Each state will have different taxes it charges landlords. Before you decide to buy a multifamily complex to rent out, make sure you know what those taxes are.<br />
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Meanwhile, you also have to consider other drawbacks. How will you feel about living in the same building as a tenant? What will you do if you can't rent a unit? Each month you're unable to rent a space out is a month without rental income, but your expenses for the property will remain the same.<br />
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But though there are added costs to owning a multifamily complex and renting it out to tenants, there are also important positives. If you buy a house with multiple units and plan to live in one of them, you can get tenants to pay your mortgage costs, or at least subsidize some of them. That could help you pay your mortgage off faster. Then once your mortgage is paid off you can profit from the monthly rent you receive. You'll be able to pocket some of those profits. Plus the more units you have, the more cash flow you'll have coming in. You also won't have to compete with all the single-family homeowners diving into the real estate market. Finally, once you're ready to sell, you could stand to make much more money selling your multifamily building, especially if you've paid it off.<br />
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<li><img src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/articles/2013/10/becoming-a-landlord.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span> <span class="source"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53611153@N00/8633135213/" target="_blank">image source</a></span> </li>
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Larque Goodson is a real estate writer at Reply! with over 15 years of experience in journalism and marketing. To read more about the advantages and disadvantages of buying a rental property, see her article on <a href="http://www.reply.com/realestate/houses-for-sale/?utm_source=myblogguest&utm_medium=guestblog&utm_campaign=september-2013/" target="_blank">the types houses for sale and which is right for you</a>.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-60023285435548302732013-10-09T01:06:00.001-04:002013-10-09T01:06:37.492-04:00Benefits Of Purchasing Foreclosed Houses For Sale And How To Find Them<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASign_of_the_Times-Foreclosure.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="By respres (http://www.flickr.com/photos/respres/2539334956/) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Sign of the Times-Foreclosure" height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Sign_of_the_Times-Foreclosure.jpg/512px-Sign_of_the_Times-Foreclosure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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One person's misfortune can sometimes turn into another's blessing. This is frequently the case with foreclosure properties. While no one is exactly happy to hear of someone else losing their home, it can turn into a great opportunity for the next homebuyer if they go about it the right way. Many homeowners and real estate investors have found great deals going the foreclosed route. As long as you are aware of the risks and challenges that can come with the benefits of buying this type of property and understand that it will be a different process than a purchase under regular circumstances, then you may be ready to begin searching for foreclosed houses for sale.<br />
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<strong>Benefits of Buying a Foreclosure Property</strong><br />
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Banks and other companies that take over the responsibility of a home in foreclosure are usually looking to have it taken off their hands in a quick sale. This will often cause them to price a property under what it is actually appraised for, opening up the range of potential buyers that it becomes appealing to. In turn, it's possible for buyers to find homes for sale in neighborhoods they never thought they would be able to afford and even get a house worth much more while staying in budget. Buyers will generally find they can get away with a lower down payment in a foreclosure situation and are able to move in soon after the deal is completed. Home values fluctuate all the time, and when purchasing at the low price <a href="http://homebuying.about.com/od/foreclosures/qt/051308_REOTIPS.htm" target="_blank">foreclosures offer</a>, this means there's a good chance to see a big profit as the market increases in value.<br />
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<strong>How to Find Foreclosure Houses For Sale</strong><br />
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Foreclosures aren't listed the same way other houses for sale are, and it may take a little extra time, effort and research to find these bargain investments. One of the best things to do if you're serious about beating out the buyer competition is to build a relationship with a real estate agent experienced in foreclosures. No one will know the local market better and be able to get you in on a deal before it's snapped up by someone else. Agents also have good connections with banks and financial institutions, which help in the buying process. Going straight to <a href="http://countrywide-foreclosures.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">major bank websites</a> and searching their current listings is also an option. Government-owned listings, auction houses, asset management companies and information filed with your county offices are all ways to find possible foreclosure properties. If all else fails, you can pay a fee to sign up with an Internet foreclosure listing service as well.<br />
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<strong>Tips For Going Through a Foreclosure Purchasing Process</strong><br />
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Foreclosure buyers should still be pre-approved for a loan before beginning their house hunt and then budget accordingly. Lower asking prices are great, but keep in mind you may be spending quite a bit in home repairs. Look at how long the house has been unoccupied and what conditions its surrounding property is in. Take into careful consideration the neighborhood it's in and other factors that will determine its resale value in the future. Be sure to insist on a home inspection before finalizing the deal.<br />
Don't automatically turn up your nose at the possibility of purchasing a foreclosed property and exclude them while searching <a href="http://buzzaboutredding.com/services/homes-for-sale/" target="_blank">other houses for sale</a>. You don't want to miss out on a great home owning opportunity.<br />
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<li><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Sign_of_the_Times-Foreclosure.jpg/512px-Sign_of_the_Times-Foreclosure.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span> <span class="source"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASign_of_the_Times-Foreclosure.jpg" target="_blank">image source</a></span> </li>
<li><img src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/authorship/55/55681.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Image author owned</span> </li>
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By <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/108684383809471399396/?rel=author" target="_blank">Tiffany Olson</a> <br />
Tiffany Olson resides in Northern California and has a special interest in real estate. She has been greatly influenced by her aunt who has been in the real estate business for over 20 years. </div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-2830820152322376642013-10-06T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-06T00:00:01.326-04:005 Ways You Can Control Your Home With Your Phone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It sounds like something out of science fiction. You push a few buttons on your palm-sized personal computer, and every aspect of your home responds with perfect attentiveness and synchronicity. Your lights turn on, your meal prepares itself, your climate control kicks in--all without you even having to be at home. But while a fully remote controlled house may sound like a dream, the truth is that it is fast becoming a reality. Here are five aspects of your home that you can control with nothing more than a smartphone.<br />
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1. Security</h2>
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In the United States, a home is broken into approximately every 15 seconds. In fact, statistics show that 1 out of every 5 homes will experience an invasion at some point. With numbers such as these, it becomes imperative that homeowners do everything that they can to protect their families and property, but when you're away from home, how much can you really do? Well, a lot, apparently. Modern home automation companies such as Vivint provide direct, mobile device based access to their <a href="http://www.vivint.com/en/solutions/packages/home-security" target="_blank">Vivint home security systems</a> from anywhere in the world. That means that even though you’re on the other side of the planet, you can still view live security camera feeds, lock or unlock doors, and even check up on things to see if it was a burglar who tripped your alarm, or just fluffy out for a midnight hunt.<br />
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2. Lighting</h2>
Energy production accounts for a large portion of the world's dangerous greenhouse gas emissions, and a lot of the energy that we use in our homes and pay top dollar to utility companies for ends up going completely to waste. Have you ever rushed out of the house without remembering to turn off the lights? Well, there's your culprit. With home automation, however, it never has to be a problem again. In addition to timers that can automatically turn on or off lights at specific hours of the day, and occupancy sensors that can deactivate lighting when you leave a room, automated lighting can also be controlled from the phone. That way, when you arrive at work and realize that you left every light in the house burning brightly, you can just use your phone to turn them all off.<br />
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3. Climate control</h2>
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Thermostats are wonderful inventions that have been around a long time, but they certainly have a few flaws. For one thing, how can you make sure that the temperature stays comfortable for you, without having to leave it running while you're away from home? Smart thermostats solve this problem, by not only taking into account the homeowner's schedule, but also making it possible to adjust the temperature of your home remotely. So, if it's been a long, cold day, and you're looking forward to stepping into your nice, warm living room, you won't have to leave the furnace running the entire time you're gone; just use your phone and get things cooking ahead of time, and everything will be perfect when you pull into the driveway.<br />
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4. Appliances</h2>
Speaking of cooking, you can also use your phone to activate and control appliances. You can set the crockpot to begin heating up supper or the coffee maker to begin brewing you up a steaming cup of joe long before you walk in the door. You can even tell the popcorn maker to start popping while you're still browsing your selection choices at the corner Redbox. In fact, with a few attachments, any home appliance can become mobile phone controlled.<br />
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5. Entertainment</h2>
And at the end of the day, when you just want to relax, you can even have your <a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.techsling.com/2013/08/is-technology-taking-over-our-lives/&sa=D&usg=ALhdy2_8jhIh5kSvfhkcM52yc1faaZutVQ" target="_blank">phone tell your home</a> to record your favorite television shows to watch later, while it gets your automated home theater setup to your liking. Because really, what good would a totally remote controlled home be if you couldn't also use it for entertainment purposes?<br />
So live the sci-fi dream, and discover what you can do with a few home automations systems, and a mobile smart device. Total home control is just a button away.<br />
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Featured images:</h5>
<ul>
<li><img src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/articles/2013/9/16561012_s_1.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Royalty Free or iStock</span> <span class="source">source: www.123rf.com</span></li>
<li><img src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/articles/2013/9/15900211_s_1.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Royalty Free or iStock</span> <span class="source">source: www.123rf.com</span></li>
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About Author: <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/107263680448719111149?rel=author" target="_blank">Lindsey Patterson</a>, a freelance writer who specializes in technology and the latest social trends, specifically involving social media. She is currently a social media advisor to Vivint.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-21969034458170627802013-10-05T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-05T00:00:00.105-04:00The American’s Primer on Moving to Canada<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, you have finally made the big decision. Unlike all those other random people online, you’ve made your threat to move and you are actually going to stick with it; it’s a landmark decision for anyone, and I congratulate you on making it. But, if you are in the early stages of this decision, chances are you haven’t done a ton of research on what you’re getting yourself into. Sure, you might have heard that the rivers are made of honey, and that everyone holds hands and sings songs on a nightly basis to the beautiful Canadian sunsets, but do you have any idea what it’s truly like up in the True North? I didn’t think so. With that in mind, here are a few things you should know before making the big move; who knows, you might end up changing your mind in the end (though that is definitely not my goal).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This totally happens, by the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>“Obamacare” is Not a Valid Reason to Move</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since this is a beginner’s primer, I thought I’d start with something that will get all those internet conspiracy theorists to stay at home. Yes, yes, Obamacare is terrible, and Americans are only a hop, skip, and a jump away from true socialism; but, did you know that Canada has a system that is similar to Obamacare, only more widespread? Yup, Canada implemented Nationalized Healthcare <a href="http://www.ilsr.org/rule/health/2076-2/">in 1971</a>, way before Obamacare was even an idea. But, before you go crying “socialism” again, you have to think about the benefits. This means that, the moment you become a resident, you will have access to healthcare, without really having to do anything; and this includes if you couldn’t afford healthcare in America. Sure, the taxes might be a bit higher on average, but healthcare is extremely affordable, and you won’t have to worry about being uninsured. Overall, the Canadian healthcare system is a much more sophisticated one than you have in the US, and it isn’t as much of an onus as you might think it would be. Contrary to what you might be thinking, I would argue this is actually an argument <i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">for</span></i> moving to Canada…anyways, moving on.</span></div>
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<b>The Cultures are Different, but Not Incredibly Different</b><br />
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You might think that moving to Canada is like moving to China, or you might think Canada just a strange extension of the Northern United States; the truth is somewhere in-between. There are many key differences between Canadian and American cultures, but there are also a ton of similarities. For instance, Canada—like America—has a love for fast food and unhealthy food, causing them to have a similar weight problem (though nowhere near as bad); however, the realty system is much different, as there’s not as many tax breaks and advantages for owning a house, meaning renting is much more valued in Canadian culture. You will also find that sports are similar but different (Canadians like football, but also curling), and that Canadians are a bit more socialist in leaning than free market (see: Nationalized Health Care and Equalization Payments). So, while moving to Canada isn’t going to be an alien experience, it’s still different enough that I would suggest reading up on it more so you can be prepared down the line; <a href="http://www.dealathons.com/cad/blog/2011/07/18/25-biggest-differences-between-canadians-and-americans">here’s</a> a good article concerning the differences between Canada and American culture.</div>
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<b>Renting makes Much
More Financial Sense<o:p></o:p></b><br />
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In America, there are a boatload of tax breaks, incentives,
and cultural ideals that make buying and owning a home much more glamorous. How
many people have told you that renting is just throwing your money away, and
how big of a day was it when you bought your first home? If you’re like most
Americans, then the answers are “everyday” and “huge”, respectively. However,
though Canadians value home ownership highly, it is a bit different in the True
North. There, renting is not seen as money pit, and home ownership is not so
highly rewarded as it is in the states. This is partly because Canadians are
much more thrifty with their money, and the government tries to set policies to
enforce that; the result? You pretty much won’t be able to buy a house unless
you can truly afford it, and that’s okay! Renting is perfectly fine in Canadian
society and it’s a perfect segue into actually owning a home once you get on
your feet and are used to the higher priced lifestyle that Canada provides. </div>
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Overall, moving to Canada is a huge decision, and one that
should not be made lightly. So take this advice, do a bit more research, and
make absolutely sure that this is what is best for you; it never hurts to be
cautious when making life decisions. Good luck with your search!</div>
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<i>Tyler Fleck is an
American blogger who has lived in Canada for several years, and is writing on
the behalf of The Chamberlain Group Real Estate Company. For more information
on moving to Canada, or to find some </i><a href="http://chamberlaingroup.ca/sellahomeincalgary"><i>houses for sale in Calgary</i></a><i>,
Toronto, or any other Province in Canada, visit the previously linked website.
Thank you for reading!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-44152614260607169312013-10-03T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-03T00:00:02.019-04:00Where To Start With Home Security<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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With technology becoming cheaper and more readily available, more and more people are turning to state of the art tech to protect their houses. After all, if technology is not helping us at home--where we spend most of our time, keep all of our belongings and most importantly, where we live with our families--what use is it? However, it is a competitive market, and getting into it can be confusing and overwhelming if you don't know what you are doing. So to help you out, we have compiled a basic guide to help you to decide exactly where to start with home security, which features you need, and how to get it set up.<br />
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<b>Professional System vs. DIY</b><br />
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Before you install a single camera or motion sensor, you must first decide which direction you want to go in terms of a <a href="http://www.vivint.com/en/solutions/packages/home-security">professional home security system versus a homemade one</a>. Naturally, there are pros and cons for each. Do-it-yourself allows you the freedom to choose exactly which features you want to install and which you can go without. This can make it cheaper than a professional system. However, many professional systems will also allow you that same choice. Furthermore, with a professional system, you have the added benefit of a security company who can monitor your system and be on hand for emergencies, as well as any necessary repairs. It is likely to cost you a little more, however, with a monthly fee for the privilege. Ultimately, both are good choices, so it is up to you to decide.<br />
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<b>With the Basics</b></div>
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Now that you have decided how you will install your system, it is time to decide which kind of system you want. Whether you create it yourself or use a professional security company, there will be a lot of different security packages to choose from. If you are new to home security, you might want to start with base level protection, such as an alarm for your door and some security cameras. To make the alarm more effective, add motion detectors in the first floor rooms of your house and sensors on the windows and doors.<br />
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<b>Add Some Frills</b></div>
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Once you have the basics installed, you might want to consider adding some special features that might not be necessary but will increase both security and convenience. Some examples include keyless entry; installing a keypad will make your house more secure as you no longer have to hide your spare key under the doormat or in that fake-looking rock, but it also means that you don't have to worry about forgetting your key anymore! More advanced systems let you lock and unlock your door with your smartphone. Another cool feature that is available with some systems is a <a href="http://www.business2community.com/tech-gadgets/next-stage-tech-0617487" target="_blank">smartphone</a> app that lets you view video surveillance footage from your phone. This not only lets you check on your house when you are gone, but allows you greater freedom to leave pets at home or even your older children unattended for a few hours. Home security is a great way to protect you and your family, but it can also be a great way to have some fun with your house.<br />
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Featured images:</h5>
<ul>
<li><img src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/articles/2013/9/19703975_s.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Image author owned</span> </li>
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About Author: <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/107263680448719111149?rel=author" target="_blank">Lindsey Patterson</a>, a freelance writer who specializes in technology and the latest social trends, specifically involving social media. She is currently a social media advisor to Vivint.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-74014851303878869342013-10-02T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-02T00:00:06.059-04:00Keep Fluffy Safe While You're Away<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Wahoo, you're leaving on vacation, but unless you plan on sneaking your pet into that high-end resort you booked, you're probably thinking about how to take care of your furry friend while you are away. Making sure your pet is well-fed and has enough water is important, of course, but what about keeping them safe from other hazards? Losing a favorite pet is sure to put a damper on your vacation, so remember these safety tips when you go away.</div>
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Forgetting to close the cupboard door or put away dishrags may not sound like a big deal when you <a href="http://myblogguest.com/forum/www.motherearthnews.com/green-homes/conserve-resources-zbcz1308.aspx" target="_blank">leave for vacation</a>, but bored pets may be tempted to play with all of the shiny packages in the pantry, leaving you a mess and a sick pet who ate that bag of chocolates you left in there. Old rags or strings can also quickly become choking hazards. In addition, make sure the toilet lid is down, the trash can is where they can't get to it and all doors and windows are secure.<br />
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<b>Get a Trusted Pet Sitter</b></div>
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Whether it's a family member, friend or a paid service, make sure the person you hire is dependable and that you review their background thoroughly. Make sure a pet service is licensed, and ask for references. Once you've selected your sitter, let them meet your pet before they leave, so your pet will see a familiar face while you are away. Teach the sitter your pet's routine as well as any special needs or unique habits. Lay out strict guidelines for what you would like the sitter to do or not do. Are they simply feeding your pet, or are they playing with them and taking them on walks?<br />
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<b>Use Technology</b></div>
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There is plenty of technology available to help you keep tabs on your pet and make sure they are comfortable while you are away. <a href="http://www.vivint.com/en/solutions/packages/home-automation" target="_blank">Vivint automation technology</a> allows you to check on your pet with your home's security camera or make sure your pet sitter is doing their job. An automated thermostat will let you turn the heat on if a cold front comes through or turn on the A.C. if it starts to get too hot for your pet. Automatic door locks allow you to let the pet sitter in and and out at certain times of day while keeping your house locked up tight from intruders the rest of the time.<br />
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<b>Have Regular Contact</b></div>
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Before leaving, make sure the sitter has your contact information, and set up a time to talk daily about how your pet is doing. Find out if they are eating and if they have exhibited strange behavior. Skype is a great option if you want to give your pet a chance to see you and hear your voice, so they don't feel like you have abandoned them. Leave an emergency contact list for the sitter as well that includes your veterinarian and a trusted family member in case you cannot be reached in an emergency.<br />
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Featured images:</h5>
<ul>
<li><img src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/articles/2013/9/22278421_s.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Image author owned</span> </li>
</ul>
About Author: <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/107263680448719111149?rel=author" target="_blank">Lindsey Patterson </a>is a freelance writer who specializes in technology and the latest social trends, specifically involving social media.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-35438266390098751182013-09-30T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-07T01:55:45.831-04:00Steps to Take when Choosing your Canadian Home (for Foreigners)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Everyone knows what to look into when buying a home. Is it in your price range? Does it have a nice school next to it? What’s the neighborhood like? Etc. But, if you are moving to Canada, there are a host of other issues you need to look into, before choosing the home that you want to live in. For you internationals out there, Canada is an entirely different beast than what you are used to (yes, little brothers down south, that includes you), so you need all the help you can get. Welcome to Canada (no, I will not say “eh”); you are going to love it here!<br />
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<b>1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Check the Roof Quality</b><br />
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First off, if you didn’t already know, Canada is cold. I mean really cold. There aren’t a lot of places here that don’t get snow, and there are even fewer where isn’t raining a good portion of the year; and, as we all know, with snow/rain comes a need for structural integrity. If the home you are looking at has weak points, is over 20 years old, or just doesn’t seem like it is in great shape structurally, you may want to reevaluate your choices. All it takes is one powerful snow storm for your newly bought home’s roof to simply cave in, and that’s after you go through the “summer” of drop buckets and roof patches. Trust me; the roof should be one of the first things you look at. If you don’t, you may end up regretting it. <b><i>Bonus
Check: </i></b><i>Also make sure you check
window seals and quality. You do <b>not </b>want
a leaky window, as you may end up with property damage and higher electricity
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<b>2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Temper your Expectations</b><br />
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This one’s more for our friends out of the Red, White, and Blue, but it can pertain to many other countries, especially those with low property values; don’t expect a beautiful 4,000 square foot home in Toronto on middling salary, because you are going to be disappointed. Though Canada offers citizens incredible health care, beautiful and clean cities, and—of course—a quality of living that isn’t matched almost anywhere else, that all comes with a cost, and the brunt of that cost is found in Canadian Real Estate. Even smaller houses can garner huge prices, particularly if you are close to major living centers (like Calgary or Toronto). On top of that, bills in general are much more expensive than you’ll find in the US, so you will find yourself facing mountainous utility bills if you aren’t careful. Trust me; Canada Real Estate, particularly Toronto and <a href="http://chamberlaingroup.ca/">Calgary real estate</a>, is exceedingly expensive, so don’t expect Five Star living in terms of realty if you come from a less than comfortable background. You may have to settle for less.<br />
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<b>3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Research the Neighborhood Well</b><br />
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Okay, this might be cheating because you have to do this no matter where you live; but, I include this because many of you might have unrealistic expectations when it comes to living in Canada. Many of the people I talk to always allude to the “sorry” illusion, that everyone in Canada is “so nice” and that, obviously, it’s a great place to live because you never have to worry about walking around at night or keeping your door open. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to break you of that illusion. Canada, contrary to popular belief, isn’t the land of Mana, nor is it the Emerald Kingdom or some other fantasy land where nothing bad happens. We have crime, just like everyone else, just as we have bad neighborhoods; thus, you need to do your own investigation before you get yourself into a terrible situation. Visit your home at all times of the day (especially at night) and walk around the neighborhood a bit. Talk to the people, see the sights, and investigate crime rates; whatever you have to do. The more you know about your prospective neighborhood, the more safe you will be, and the better chance you’ll have of realizing that you’re in a “bad neighborhood” before you mistakenly buy a house there. Like all major city centers, Canada has a host of neighborhoods that you might not want to live in, even if our crime rates are lower than most places.<br />
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So, stay informed, make smart decisions, and be careful! Buying a house is a major responsibility, and this is just as true in Canada as it is anywhere else. Good luck!</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-48652912995399399372013-09-26T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-07T01:57:03.238-04:00Buying a house with first time home buyer loan - What are the things you should consider?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Are you still paying house rent to the homeowner? If you haven’t purchased your own house yet, then you must be living in a leased property. Why are you delaying to buy your abode? Probably, you don’t have the bucks you will need for home buying. There are <a href="http://www.first-time-homebuyers-loans.com/buying-home.html">first timehome buyer loans</a> available who are purchasing house for the first time. You should look carefully at the loan you want to take out and see if you can pay it off on time.<br />
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<b>4 Things first time buyers should consider when purchasing home</b><br />
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Buying a house is undoubtedly a daunting task, particularly if you are amongst the first time buyers. Have a look at 4 things you should consider when you plan to purchase home.<br />
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<li><b>Look for houses as per your restricted budget</b> - You should fix up a budget within which you want to purchase your home. Thus, search for homes as per your restricted budget and don’t go for the ones that are too costly. You will need to take out a loan for purchasing your new house. Make sure you obtain the amount that you’ll be able to pay off on time.<br /></li>
<li><b>Maintain good credit score to get approval fast</b> - It is important to build good credit score before you may go to the lender for a loan. You need to know that you’ll have higher chances of getting your loan approved when your score is good. In case you find your credit score is poor, try to improve it before requesting the lender for approving the loan.<br /></li>
<li><b>Compare between different loans before taking out one</b> - Being a first time home buyer, you should compare between the different kinds of loans that are available for you. You need to know that all loans are not suitable and so, consider the pros and cons associated with a particular loan before obtaining it. This way, you can choose the right kind of loan for purchasing home.<br /></li>
<li><b>Check the interest at which you can get the loan</b> - There are several lenders in the loan market who want you to take out the loan from them. It is completely your decision as to which lender you want to choose. Check the rate of interest at which the different lenders will provide you the loan. This way, you can get the loan at the most suitable rate.<br /></li>
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A first time buyer should gather sufficient knowledge about home purchase before he jumps into this market. If required, seek help of a real estate agent so that you can find the house as per your requirement. Thus, you need to keep in mind the above-discussed things if you are a new buyer and purchasing house for the first time.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-70011855642309523732013-09-25T09:00:00.000-04:002013-09-25T09:00:13.196-04:00Starter Homes: A New Emphasis On Design & Efficiency<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Buying a first home is a big step in a married couples’ new life. Traditionally, a first home purchase was a tiny bungalow or small ranch house, a place to start small and dream big. However, as both the culture of home aesthetics evolves and as young buyers look towards a home they can stay in for more than a few years, the market has shifted. Young home shoppers are more certain of their needs and more aggressive in pursuing what they want. In fact, these days, custom-built, expansive and expensive homes are often starter homes.<br />
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Younger couples tend to be earning two incomes and they have a strong sense of what they want in their home. They do not want to wait for the design and convenience features they desire long-term. Additionally, as many of these couples plan to have children, they want a home they can grow into and, therefore, tend to buy larger than what those houses traditionally classified as starter homes offer in terms of space and number of rooms. In fact, with an improving mortgage market, some young buyers are building their own custom homes, complete with many of the latest emerging design features.<br />
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Foremost amongst the design features that young couple’s desire is outdoor living and entertaining space. This trend, emerging over the last decade, encourages homeowners to create spaces that have more of the feeling and function of an indoor room; design considerations include better flooring, quality furnishings, fire pits, and even audio systems. In fact, this trend also includes fully functional outdoor “rooms”, with walls and windows for greater energy efficiency. The emergence of outdoor living also drives an increased interest in outdoor food preparation. The available options range from basic grills to complete outdoor kitchens, including stoves, refrigerators, and running water. Emerging in tandem with these outdoor cooking areas are vegetable gardens, further utilizing more outdoor space. Garden design allows homeowners to grow and produce the very foods they are most likely to consume.<br />
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As young homeowners look to merge their indoor and outdoor living spaces, they are also paying significant attention to energy efficient design solutions and to living a more “green” lifestyle. Design considerations include using sustainable products when choosing countertops and flooring. For example, many buyers are opting for countertops constructed with recycled bottles, crushed glass, and concrete. Flooring choices veer towards bamboo and cork. In this milieu, solar energy systems are growing in popularity and their designs are evolving to be seamless with the overall design of the residence. Tax incentives are often available for the purchase and installation of such systems. Other popular conservation considerations for these homes include low-water appliances, improved insulation, and the use of gray water for irrigation needs.<br />
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Young couples entering the real estate marketplace are changing the perception of a starter home. However, no matter what stage of life one is in, the purchase of a new home is a significant event. Their design decisions flow from their hearts and their budget. In that way, they create a place they can truly call their home.<br />
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The author of this article, Eva Duncan, has had over 20 yrs of experience as a real estate advisor and has helped many young couples find their dream home. For more info concerning these topics check out <a href="http://ambassadorenergycollege.com/">http://ambassadorenergycollege.com/</a></div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-51681748592391660772013-09-25T06:00:00.000-04:002013-09-25T06:00:09.632-04:00Commonly Misunderstood Real Estate Terms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One of the most frustrating aspects of real estate, as well as other legal ventures, is the expectation that all those who are in any way participating in the exchange of real estate (including renters, owners, landlords, and tenants) are automatically savvy with the associated ‘lingo’. Common complaints of those buying or renting a home is the lack of understanding they initially carry into conversations and negotiations with lenders, agents, or other involved individuals.<br />
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The sheer length of an article or exposition laying out all real estate terms would be substantial; if such is needed, a real estate agent or <a href="http://rpmeastvalley.com/services">property manager</a> is most likely the better source, but listed below are four commonly misunderstood phrases that perhaps will shed light on some real estate questions or concerns:<br />
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Joint and Several Liability<br />
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This term comes into play when there is more than one individual on a tenancy agreement. Contracts must be drawn up in such a way that no grey area exists as to who is responsible and accountable for specified roles, particularly payment. When two or more tenants carry Joint and Several Liability, this translates to each individual on the contract being individually responsible for ALL the rent and other associated costs (including that of damages), not just what would compile their share. For instance, if four tenants had signed, if three of them for whatever reason fail to pay, the fourth tenant is responsible for the entire amount, not just 25%.<br />
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Forfeiture Clause<br />
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This entails a more aggressive grip of ownership and tenancy than per usual. Ordinarily, if a tenant failed to pay rent consistently, a landlord or agent cannot simply take ownership; they must comply with the standard obligations of serving notice and eventually obtaining a court order. However, with a Forfeiture Clause, if 14 days or more have elapsed since the tenant paid their overdue rent, the right is present to actually re-enter the property and take possession of it. This allows a landlord or agent to have more control over their properties, but is done at the expense of the tenant. This might make said tenant slightly less likely to sign the lease or contract.<br />
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Access and Inspection<br />
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Agents and landlords have the responsibility to carry out inspections on a home; this is a critical role they play legally in the real estate exchange. Because that is part of their right, they are legally given Access and Inspection to houses they steward over, but in order to protect the tenants, a bare minimum of 24 hours must be given to carry out the inspection. Mutual consent must be present, typically at a date and time agreeable to both parties.<br />
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Quiet Enjoyment<br />
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Very simply put, the right to Quiet Enjoyment connotes that those individuals specifically named on the tenancy agreement have full rights and access to live in a property, at least for a specific amount of time, with zero interference. An agent, landlord, or other person acting on their behalf cannot enter during these periods unless specifically allowed. Be aware that these terms are critical components of housing contracts, and need to be discussed before signing on the dotted line.<br />
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Written by Clif, freelance writer for RPM East Valley</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-38846782194498057452013-09-24T12:00:00.000-04:002013-10-07T01:52:57.426-04:00Get That House Sold: 5 Tips For Staging Your Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you have decided to sell your home, the stress has probably already started. In theory, it should be easy. People are constantly buying houses and you have one to offer. Those interested buyers should be beating down your door. But, even in the best of times, people can see their houses sit on the market for months with no bites. There is no bulletproof formula for getting your house sold as quickly as possible for the highest price possible. Wouldn’t that be great? But, that does not mean you are totally at the mercy of the real estate gods. You can do several things to increase the appeal of your home. Staging is one such strategy that is particularly powerful.<br />
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If you cannot afford, or would rather not pay for the services of a professional stager, there are some DIY techniques that can make a big difference. At the very least, however, you might consider a consultation with a stager to get some valuable input. She can view your home in a truly objective fashion, something you simply cannot do for a variety of reasons, such as a strong emotional attachment to the space. Remember that staging will present a space the buyer can see himself in, make your home look better online (where 90 percent of people begin their real estate search), and may even lead to a quicker sale at a higher price.<br />
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<b>Get Rid of the Clutter</b></div>
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This tip may seem obvious, but many people trying to sell their homes leave much of their stuff right where it is. This is not good for two reasons. Remember—people have a hard time looking past what is. It is hard to see themselves being comfortable in a living room that is filled to the brim with knickknacks, a kitchen that is covered with all sorts of appliances, dishes and cooking utensils, or the family room filled with old magazines and books. Secondly, if your stuff is all over the place, it appears that you do not have enough storage space. If they think there is no room for <em>their </em>‘’stuff,’’ the house will seem very unappealing.<br />
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<b>Go Neutral with Wall Colors and the Master Bedroom</b></div>
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Painting goes a long way in a DIY staging, and the effect is significant compared to the relatively low cost. You may love your purple living room walls and the funky lime green bathroom, but potential home buyers may not be so enamored. Remember, the name of the game is creating a space that they can see as their own. You do not need hospital-white walls to achieve neutrality. In fact, a bit of color is actually better. Go for sophisticated tones like mocha or ‘’griege.’’ Not only will these tones neutralize the space, it will make the whole room looked pulled together.<br />
The ‘’neutral’’ strategy also applies to the master bedroom. But, here I am not talking about colors, rather gender. It should look like a space that could belong to a man or woman. Comforters and wall treatments can be white or neutral shades like beige. Get rid of all personal items.<br />
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<b>Give Every Room a Purpose</b></div>
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Every room in your home should have a clearly defined purpose. This is not too difficult to achieve since most rooms probably already do. But, if that spare bedroom or bonus room has become a graveyard for old furniture or a holding cell for stuff you have not decided what to do with yet, this needs to change really fast. Make the room an office, a spare bedroom, an exercise room, craft room, whatever. Think about what potential buyers in your neighborhood might like to see most here. Picking right is not as important as picking something and getting the room transformed. They can turn it into whatever they want.<br />
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<b>Lighting Tips</b></div>
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Lighting can go a long way in making a space look more attractive. Home staging experts recommend 100 watts of light for every 50 square feet of space. Have multiple sources of light in each room. There is ambient (overhead or general lighting), task lighting (such as a pendant or reading lamp) and accent lighting (such as table lamps.)<br />
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<b>Check the Flooring</b></div>
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Flooring cannot be ignored when it comes to staging the home. If you have carpets, at the very least steam-clean them. Depending on the color and state, it may be a worthy investment to lay down new carpet or even hard flooring instead. Refinish wood floors if they look a bit worn. If this is not in the budget, some well-placed accent rugs can go a long way.<br />
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Citations:</h5>
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<li><a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Signage_g309-Home_For_Sale_p152041.html" target="_blank">Photo Credit</a></li>
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Featured images:</h5>
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<li><img src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/articles/2013/9/id-100152041.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Royalty Free or iStock</span> <span class="source">source: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Signage_g309-Home_For_Sale_p152041.html</span></li>
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Kelli Cooper is a freelance writer who enjoys blogging about home improvement and real estate; if you are interested in learning more about selling or buying a home in Canada, she recommends visiting <a href="http://www.kanetix.ca/best-mortgage-rates-ottawa-ON">Kanetix.ca</a>.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-59287752440200002702013-09-24T06:00:00.000-04:002013-09-24T06:00:12.310-04:00How To Prepare For A Long Distance Move<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When you move anywhere, even if it’s just across town, packing can be stressful. But when you have to fit your entire life into a few boxes and ship them across the country, it can be even more intimidating. Before preparing for the big move, put the following items on your checklist to ensure the smoothest move possible.<br />
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<strong>Cleaning House</strong><br />
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This may be something you need to do again once everything is out of the house, but it's important to clean your house beforehand as well. Go through areas that accumulate clutter such as the garage, attic, basement, closets or even utility drawers, and throw away anything you don't really need. At the end of your cleaning, you'll likely have several bags worth of old papers or rarely used items that you can either dispose of or donate to charity. If your old items turn out to have a sizable value, make sure to get a receipt from the charity of your choice for your taxes at the end of the year, which may also offset some of your moving costs.<br />
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Clearing out old, unwanted items is also a great way to make some money for the move. List everything online or have a yard sale and sell everything at bargain prices. You’ll likely rid yourself of all of your clutter and will be able to put a little money towards your big move. By lightening your load, you’ll likely save on moving costs as well.<br />
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While it may be difficult to part with some items for sentimental sake, try and keep in mind what value these items are really offering you. There will always be some keepsakes that you take along for the long haul, but you probably don't need to haul a broken hat rack to your next home. If you're unsure whether you should keep something, use the <a href="http://movingmuse.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/4-tips-for-deciding-what-to-pack-for-a-cross-country-move/">one-year</a> rule. If you haven’t used that item at all in the past year, there’s a good chance that you can toss it out or find it a new home.<br />
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<strong>How To Pack</strong><strong><br /> </strong><br />
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The first stage of proper packing is organization. Begin by assessing what items you use most often as those will need to stay behind until the last minute. Everything that sees occasional use should get stored away in boxes and labeled by room, and you should aim to pack one room at a time to minimize crossover. To keep from getting overwhelmed, begin your <a href="http://www.primermagazine.com/2011/learn/how-to-pack-up-and-move-cross-country">cross-country packing process</a> about two months prior to your moving date. If you don't have access to storage, designate a room or a portion of a room where your items can go in the meantime.<br />
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Once you're a week out from the move, begin packing up items until you're down to your absolute essentials. You might think of essentials as things you can store in a suitcase; in fact, a suitcase is an excellent place to store everything you will actually need while you move everything else out. When moving day comes, you can put the suitcase in the cab with you or take it on your plane, depending on how you're planning to get to your new home.<br />
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<strong>Shipping and Transport</strong><br />
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When packing your items, be sure to clearly label anything that is fragile for both your own peace of mind and for movers if you hire help. It’s a good idea to use colored tabs on your boxes to group rooms or to flag boxes that are most critical to getting settled in your new place. When putting together your boxes, ensure that all seams are secure and that the boxes include any important contact information in the event of a transport issue.<br />
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If you're moving on your own, being Spartan with your packing will be even more important. If you know someone in the city you're moving to, consider shipping boxes ahead of time to store there so that you have less to haul for the trip. Compare the costs of shipping via the post office to a packing and shipping company rather than purchasing a large truck with high fuel cost. If you do go with a moving company, do your homework on <a href="https://www.cratersandfreighters.com/services/moving/national-moving/">cross-country shipping companies</a> beforehand to ensure a trustworthy and expedient carrier that won't cost you a fortune.<br />
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Featured images:</h5>
<ul>
<li><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3289/3041280560_74ec2a1970_o.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span> <span class="source"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/clevercupcakes/3041280560/sizes/o/in/photolist-5CKmKJ-5Fhh8h-5GqmDz-5GKf5t-5GP6Nj-5HuARn-5KyX75-5Qaz64-5QeHmE-5QeRbj-5RkdCF-5T1nJ3-5VLyNS-5ZusCN-61bonD-61ugXV-67gg5S-683zKx-68CCNL-6dzpjW-6dC3s4-6dLcF2-6eK7Hd-6fxvSd-6qQkdJ-6tKVfz-6uPVHE-6vpDRj-6weJy2-6zqymN-6C6CCC-6E2PuF-6J8tHM-6PLe2o-6UCF9D-6VAd1c-6VE6PY-6VE6V9-6XhAYH-73H91G-759bLx-76AvEo-77Eqcd-79JT19-7bF2Kz-7mVPfy-7paDgW-7tv669-7tBfy4-7x7Sok-7Ya1Jp/" target="_blank">image source</a></span> </li>
</ul>
<em>-Brandon's a shipping writer with Craters & Freighters.</em></div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-28860066031653198762013-09-24T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-07T01:52:23.941-04:00Understanding Listing Agreements For Commercial Real Estate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Due to the current market trends in real estate, residential realtors and commercial real estate brokers are seeing more business in recent months. When things are hot and the trend is up it is not unheard of for multiple buyers to make offers on a single commercial property. So, what happens when a Buyer makes multiple offers and offers that are in alignment with the listing agreement, as well as offers that are above what the listed sales price is?<br />
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Commercial real estate brokers have a listing agreement in place that technically allows them to market a seller’s property. However, the listing agreement is not really an offer from the seller to sell their commercial property to a specific buyer. A seller is not bound within a listing agreement to sell their commercial space. A seller is not bound within a listing agreement to accept any offer from any potential buyer, either. This means that the first offer in and first offer out on a commercial property listing do not always apply.<br />
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An offer from a buyer that is ready and able to perform and make a purchase may entitle the commercial real estate broker to a commission on the sale. However, would a seller be liable for more than one commission if multiple offers are received by more than one able and willing buyer? In other words, if a seller receives ten different offers on a commercial property and the seller accepts one of them, are they liable for the other nine offers? Within the context of an open listing the seller is not liable for more than one commission on any given sale. An owner in an open listing (non exclusive) has a right to authorize more than one broker in which each broker is independent of the other, in which the seller is not liable to more than one commission when the consummation of the sale is made with one of the brokers.<br />
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A commercial real estate broker must prove in this type of agreement that they were the “procuring cause” of the transaction occurring and the commercial real estate property being sold. An open listing agreement is not usually in the best interest of a commercial real estate broker, although it may be of interest to the seller. Most commercial real estate brokers will not take an open listing. Open listings can often lead to issues popping up with marketing the property. Commercial brokers may run into problems with open listings where they end up having to double up their efforts, as well as having to prove they were the procuring cause of the sale of the property. Also, an open listing does release the seller for paying more than one commission if they pay the broker that is not the procuring cause of the sale.<br />
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The favored listing agreement is a win-win agreement that is in place that protects both the real estate broker and the seller. This listing would be an “exclusive agency“ listing agreement.<br />
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Mike Henry has been involved in the real estate industry in some fashion for over thirty years. He ocassionally blogs online about the current state of the industry, primarily in the southwest. For more information about commercial real estate, please visit <a href="http://austin-office.com/">http://austin-office.com</a>.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-65132299994388386812013-09-23T06:00:00.000-04:002013-10-07T01:51:40.266-04:00Renting Versus Buying: An Open Discussion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For years I ran under the assumption that buying a home was the automatic choice for anyone in the real estate market. <a href="http://www.rpmeastvalley.com/">Renting a home</a> was merely a stepping stone, or a last resort if you couldn’t afford the full purchase. This assumption has recently come crashing down, with more and more acquaintances, peers, and even real estate tycoons selecting the rent option.<br />
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The following article represents thoughts for and against both buying and renting:<br />
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<b>PROS</b></div>
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Why should I rent?<br />
Bottom line: it’s affordable. It is, and will always be, cheaper on a monthly budget to rent a home than to buy it. For the majority of home-users who don’t have excess funds, the ability to live in a place that fits their financial constraints will always be number one. This simple and fundamental fact is unavoidable, and its relevance cannot be overstated.<br />
A close second to affordability is manageability. Because the title, tax burdens, etc. are not in the name of renter, the multitude of responsibilities involved in maintaining a home and keep/increasing its property value has nothing to do with the renter. They lock into a price and duration via contract, and little outside of that contract really concerns them. If something big breaks, often the owner or property manager has to foot the bill.<br />
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Why should I buy?<br />
Because it’s an investment. You know all those rich people that you know? They’re rich because in one form or another, they invest. They own things…homes, cars, businesses…and those things they own make them money. Independent of their daily work schedule, their money works for them. The paycheck is not the only form of income.<br />
Buying a home also provides a protection against the unknown. If unexpected medical bills, a lawsuit, or even death occurred, something exists in your inventory that can be leveraged to create big dollars in a hurry. Of course leveraging your equity in a home to pay for something you didn’t want to happen may not be a happy thought, but here’s a happy thought: Leveraging that same equity or resale value for something you do want to have happen (getting out of debt, a second home, lasting wealth…)<br />
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<b>CONS</b></div>
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Why shouldn’t I rent?<br />
Renting may be a workable short-term fix, but it provides nothing in regards of retirement or long-term stability. Like an inexpensive oil change, it feels nice on the wallet, but going too long without addressing the larger issue of long-lasting independence will ultimately result in a train wreck if things aren’t proactively taken care of.<br />
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Why shouldn’t I buy?<br />
The first thing out of any new homeowner’s mouth is something to the effect of: “Wow, I didn’t realize how many small expenses and unplanned things I need to take care of. This is pricier than just the mortgage.” Owning a home puts you behind the eight-ball for just about everything…taxes, HOAs, insurance, repairs, etc. With homes, there is always something new that requires work and/or attention. Always.<br />
These four paragraphs were intentionally written to be inconclusive. There is no concluding statement that declares that this option is better than the rest. Hopefully all four thoughts are persuasive, yet objective. From here, it’s up to you…<br />
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Written by Clif, freelance writer for RPM East Valley.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-6487143686369709142013-09-23T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-07T01:50:49.394-04:00Easy Way To Selling Property As Is In Texas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you are a home owner and thinking of selling property as is in Texas quickly, you will of course already know that it is tough to sell your home fast. The recent economic situation has also caused great misery to businesses looking to sell their property in the land. The future of the property market also doesn’t look healthy either. So, what do you do in that case to have a property sold in these times of uncertainty? Selling properties within few days is easy with the benefit of home seller companies. These are the specialist property buying companies that help owners to acquire fast sale on these spaces.<br />
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Advantages</b></div>
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There are several advantages of selling your property to a company that buys it directly. The most beneficial provision is that the seller gets a fast and hassle free sale, simply as it is much easier than sale through real estate agents. Some of the other vital attributes of using such companies for selling property as is in Texas are:</div>
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Process is easier, no involvement of middleman.</div>
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Commission free sale, as there’s no fee to pay any agent.</div>
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The property’s condition is not much of a concern as these companies will buy them as is.</div>
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It can be in any location.</div>
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Sale is concluded within 2-3 days from the initial valuation.</div>
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No listings required, companies have their own investors.</div>
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Certain companies even cover legal costs of the sale.</div>
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These are just few of the benefits that selling property as is in Texas offers you. The entire process is designed to assist those desperate to get their property sold out fast. Of course, there are many such people and the need is evident among sellers. Many have to sell quickly to suffice tough circumstances which include: financial troubles, home repossession, poor health, divorce, relocation, inheritance, emigration and more. If you fall under any of these, then contacting a property buy company should definitely be a serious consideration.<br />
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Decision</b></div>
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Decide how quickly to want selling property as is in Texas to take place. Most of the fast sale companies can finish the purchase of your property in less than a week. If you wish to get it conducted at the earliest, these property buyers will also do so. Determine how much you will accept for the property, but remember in such cases when the need to get the selling fast is concerned, you may not get the full market price. But as is with a real estate agent, you will not have to pay realtor fees as the entire procedure is quicker. These companies always offer a decent deal for you to accept. In fact, the facility is enormous and the pricing hence is of the most suitable that you can acquire from such a process.<br />
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Make sure that you always talk to the realtor companies in the land prior to inducing into a sale. The property buy companies will provide you a far better insight into how to approach the whole concept. The <a href="http://www.selltexaspropertyfast.com/selling-property-as-is-in-texas/">selling property as is facility is easy</a> to avail as you can just seek for their assistance through their website. All you need to do is fill in the requisites that will enable them to understand about your Texas property. Once a request is send, the team will contact you right away and reach out to the location in the shortest possible time. The entire deal is finalized and closed within 7 days, which is highly beneficial.</div>
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Article by Michael @ Solution Strategies ~ more info at Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/mmartinssllc">https://twitter.com/mmartinssllc</a>.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-68063285796262341482013-09-22T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-22T00:00:01.050-04:00What Good Property Management Can Do<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Short of finding a good rental home to pursue, the most important decision a home-renter will likely make is selecting a good property manager. Like an employee, it is absolutely worth the time to thoroughly investigate and interview. In fact, it may be helpful to consider a property manager or <a href="http://www.rpmeastvalley.com/">property management</a> company as just that, an employee.<br />
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These are the individuals that will be stewards for something very expensive, very worthwhile, and very versatile. A plethora of legal considerations, property codes, and Home Owners Association criteria need to be considered, to the degree that anyone who works full-time and rents/owns property needs to hire someone to proactively care for these assets.<br />
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When employment superiors and administrators go into an interview, they are almost always equipped with specific, well-thought questions and scenarios in order to test the readiness and capability of a potential candidate. Going along with this metaphor, here are questions an employer (home renter) should ask when potentially hiring an employee (property manager):<br />
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How much do you need to be paid, and is that price warranted?<br />
Both individual managers and property management companies tend to utilize a monthly fee for their services. To give a ballpark estimate of how much they should be charging, percentages typically range from 5% to approximately 20%. It goes without saying that frugality is important, but also remember that you get what you pay for. Using a median amount between the two extremes is a good starting point.<br />
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Are you skilled and experienced at the tasks needed for this arrangement?<br />
Maintenance, repairs, and yard work are some of the ‘bread and butter’ tasks associated with property management. It is important to know if a maintenance crew is directly employed, or if they contract that work out to some kind of handyman or other service. Significant ramifications exist within this distinction: How much do they cost? Are they equipped to handle everything involved with your land or home? What happens if or when they’re not? In addition, you need to know how hands-on you want to be in regards to more expensive work, and enquire as to their willingness to keep you in the proper loop.<br />
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How would you handle an extended vacancy? How about an unexpected eviction?<br />
Good employees step up to the plate when bad things happen. To the degree to which they rise to the occasion says a lot. If a vacancy were to go longer than anticipated, you need to know if some type of fee or charge would be coming your way, and what that would be. Same thing with evictions: If that were to occur, what out-of-pocket money would you have to forfeit?<br />
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Do you have the accounting and monetary habits that gel with how I want to exchange funds with you?<br />
With the usual primary motivator being profit, it is important to clearly lay out exactly how those profits will be collected, and how liabilities will be paid. Things as simple as the date each month you’ll receive payment, whether it will be via check or other money form, and if they have some reserves to survive temporary hardship are often overlooked, to the detriment of the rent. Advertising factors into this as well, in that if a vacancy is trying to be filled, money will be exchanged more frequently in order to find a renter.<br />
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Written by Clif, freelance writer for RPM East Valley.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-49334014286157589282013-09-21T06:00:00.000-04:002013-09-21T06:00:09.883-04:00Advice For Anyone Building Their Dream Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It seems that the only true way to find a home that is absolutely perfect in every manner for you personally is to make the decision to build it yourself. Although not everyone has the financial luxury to be able to do this; it is growing in popularity thanks to <a href="http://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/">TV shows such as grand designs</a> and, for some at least, represents the perfect way to find the home of their dreams.<br />
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Not that anyone was thinking it would be, but going through the process of designing and then planning the construction of a home is not easy. There is so much to think about along the way and there is sure to be more than a few stressful periods where you begin to question the decision you have made. However, the end product will undoubtedly be something that brings about immense pride and accomplishment and you then have the rest of your life to enjoy it.<br />
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So before you embark on this mammoth adventure; here is some helpful advice you may want to think about along the way.<br />
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<strong>Temporary Accommodation –</strong><br />
The chances are that you will have had to sell your current home, or are in the process of doing so, in order to help fund the project and therefore you need to think carefully about where you are going to live during the process. Depending on the size of your build it is likely to take a good few months (maybe even years) until your new home is in a state to be lived in and so you should choose your temporary accommodation carefully.<br />
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Some people will elect to move in with friends and family but those who want to be close to the action and always involved often choose to stay onsite in a caravan or any other kind of mobile home.<br />
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<strong>Save In The Right Places –</strong><br />
You are almost definitely only going to go through this process once in your life and so you will want to go about it the right way. And so if you are spending large amounts of your hard earned money on the project anyway then it seems pointless to try and cut corners. Attempting to save money on materials and the building process itself could well backfire in the future, leaving you heartbroken, and so you should look to <a href="http://www.eplans.com/community/15-Ways-to-Save-Big-When-Building-a-House">save in the right areas</a>.<br />
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Make the exterior as structurally sound and impressive as possible and then make the relevant cut backs (if they are needed) on the furniture and systems you put on the inside.<br />
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<strong>Go Green –</strong><br />
After spending an unthinkable amount of money on your new home; it is a good idea to look at how you can take advantage of relevant measures that will help save you money in the future. The best way to do this is to create the most energy efficient home you can; something that has become a modern trend with a lot of people who choose to build their dream home from scratch. There are many green procedures that have been made a mandatory part of the construction process in recent years but the further you take these the more energy saving capabilities your home will have.<br />
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<a href="http://www.airtestingsolutions.co.uk/residential.php">Procedures such as air permeability testing</a> (establishing how much air escapes from your home) and SAP calculation (creating an energy performance certificate for the property) are now part of government regulations to ensure all new dwellings reach a nation standard. However, there is no reason to stop at being ‘standard’ on your quest to save money on energy bills throughout the rest of your life.<br />
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Featured images:</h5>
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<li><img src="http://www.stroymart.com.ua/img/forall/Image/65635850_1---.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span> <span class="source"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framing_%28construction%29" target="_blank">image source</a></span> </li>
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Chris Mayhew would love to build the house of his dreams but is just looking for ways to raise the funds. He would recommend ATSPACE to anyone looking for a trusted building control partner.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-79316105987011959422013-09-21T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-21T00:00:04.917-04:00A Buyer's Benefits To Performing An MLS Search<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Buying a home is one of the most important experiences in a person's lifetime. Considering this, if you are in the market for a new place to call your own, you want to be certain you've seen all your options and covered as much ground as possible before you make the final decision and begin to settle in. One of the best chances you have of doing this is by doing an MLS search, a well-known and popular tool in the real estate industry. Often thought just to benefit sellers, the MLS listing database actually provides buyers with many advantages as well.<br />
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<strong>Ability to Work With One Agent</strong><br />
Before the MLS (multiple listing service) was created, real estate agencies worked to sell only the listings that they had access to from the sellers they worked with unless granted permission from another agent or company to show one of their properties. This means clients working with one agency were rarely able to view a home if it was not listed with that particular company or they were forced to work with multiple agents if they ever wanted to see a variety of options. Now, any agent subscribed to the service is able to be connected to all the properties listed within an area, and a simple MLS search will show buyers a multitude of possibilities. This allows a buyer to develop a close and trusting relationship with one agent, have all of their paperwork handled in one place and not worry about the competitive nature of the business. Read more about the origin of MLS <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_listing_service" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<strong>Less Research, More Compatibility</strong><br />
One of the biggest benefits of an <a href="http://redding-realestate.com/mls-listings-search/" target="_blank">MLS search for buyers</a> is the ability to cut out all the properties that don't match the criteria they require. Once your agent gets you hooked up to the database, you are free to customize your search to homes that are within your budget, have the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you desire, stand in certain zip codes and specific school districts and contain whatever numerous other features that you can think of, leaving you only with results that will truly peak your interest.<br />
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<strong>Most Updated Information</strong><br />
Our society is turning to the Internet for everything we need these days, and a good portion of the time we can find exactly what we need. While the <a href="http://www.inman.com/2013/01/08/study-offers-a-deep-dive-ways-homebuyers-use-web/" target="_blank">Internet is heavily utilized</a> by those scoping out real estate listings as well, potential home buyers could possibly be wasting their time and not getting the most updated information on a property that they come across online. Having your real estate agent set you up to do an MLS search will get you the most comprehensive report on the available homes in your market and the most up-to-date details.<br />
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If a house is up for sale, it's most likely listed in the MLS. That makes it equivalent to a one stop shop for buyers. Driving around hoping to see "for sale" signs on your own or going off of a few listings you find online won't get you nearly as far or give you as many options as an MLS search can.<br />
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Featured images:</h5>
<ul>
<li><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/House_for_sale.jpeg/512px-House_for_sale.jpeg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span> <span class="source"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHouse_for_sale.jpeg" target="_blank">image source</a></span> </li>
<li><img src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/authorship/55/55681.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Image author owned</span> </li>
</ul>
By <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/108684383809471399396/?rel=author" target="_blank">Tiffany Olson</a> <br />
Tiffany Olson has taken a recent interest in real estate and has hit the ground running. She loves to write and share about real estate with others via social media and blogging. </div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-31920109631216092792013-09-20T06:00:00.000-04:002013-09-20T06:00:03.262-04:00Tips For Your Big Move<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Preparing to relocate can oftentimes feel overwhelming, especially when you’ve got a young family in tow and a house to somehow condense into boxes and bags. There’s a great deal to consider, including just how you plan on transporting your life from point A to point B, how much money you can spend on your move, what you can get rid of before you go and how long it will take you to pack up, load up and move on. But before you become buried beneath stressful questions, consider consulting professionals for advice. Whether you’re merely renting out a moving vehicle or are hiring a team of pros to help through the entire process, most specialized companies can offer you a few key tips to prepare for your relocation. Nonetheless, here are some things to keep in mind, as you get ready to box up your life and ship it off to somewhere new.<br />
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<strong>Pre-planning and preparation tips: </strong> Consider making a timeline and setting goals for yourself. Spacing out each step of your move will make it far easier and significantly less stressful. You will also be able to better prepare around other day-to-day responsibilities without feeling like you’ve booked too much into a single afternoon. Two months before you move, assess your home and consider what you need to take with you and what you will not need. Plan a <a href="http://www.yardsalesearch.com/garage-sales-san-diego-ca.html">garage sale</a> or box unwanted items for donation. Try and finish at least one major task a week; for example, one week, aim to box away the kitchen and during another week, aim to clear the attic.<br />
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<strong>Packing tips: </strong> Pack in segments and determine what can be boxed away immediately and what needs to be used until the day of departure. You can easily pack away decorative items, books, toys and photo albums far ahead of time, while you will need certain clothing and personal care items throughout the move. Plan out what you need and begin packing away the rest. Evaluate which rooms will be the biggest packing challenge and start there; you want to make sure you have plenty of time to address each room, one by one. Throw out (or recycle!) any unnecessary clutter that may have accumulated over time.<br />
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<strong>Moving tips: </strong> By this point, you should know whether or not you will be using a vehicle or professional movers, but if you’re looking for a little guidance on this front, you may want to consult someone with serious know-how. With years of experience, the pros can help you determine the most economical way to get you where you’re going. If you’re moving a short distance, a DIY move with a rented portable storage unit is likely ideal, while if you’re in the midst of planning a national or international relocation, seasoned movers can assist in both the organization and labor of your move.<br />
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These are just a few tips to prepare you for your latest adventure, but do contact the guys and gals who know best and consult one of your local <a href="http://www.unitedvanlines.com/mover/">moving companies</a>.<br />
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<em>Martha’s friends often call her “Martha Stewart” because she is so savvy about all things home related, including organization and moving. She is happy to share her packing and moving hints and tricks, in hopes that they will help individuals and families relocate in more comfort and with more organization.</em></div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-11648210970809224882013-09-20T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-20T00:00:00.026-04:00How To Make Your Home Shine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Having a home that is to your own personal standards and style is important; it will make your living experience much more enjoyable. We live in an internet age and scanning the whole market is a great way to ensure success.</div>
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You have got to be innovative and think outside the box when designing your home or making those home improvements you have always wanted. Don't be shy to invest in your home as in the future it will increase the value of it should you want to sell.</div>
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Having a plan can help you make them in a methodical manner and this will help with the way the overall home looks. This article will highlight and explain my three top tips of how best to make the home improvements you need.</div>
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<a href="http://realtormississauga.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-to-make-your-home-shine.html"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.richardlopinskielectric.com/images/New%20Images/Residential/residential%20-%20inside%20house.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Think Outside the Box</b></div>
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You have got to think outside the box and be willing to innovate in order to make your home shine. Home improvement is done by everyone and being successful is a skill in itself, you have got to have an eye for it and be willing to push the boundaries in order to be successful.</div>
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In the internet age we live in there are hundreds of websites out there that offer various quirky and innovative home improvement fittings. Companies such as <a href="http://www.superglide.co.uk/">Superglide</a> Wardrobes offer brilliant, custom fitted wardrobes for your bedroom which can act as the centerpiece for your room.</div>
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All I am saying is being open to suggestions will be of benefit and don't fear being different, add some colour to your home and make sure it is well lit. This will give you the platform from which you can add those personalized decorations that will take it to that new level.</div>
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If your home is well decorated then you will feel so much more comfortable in it and thus it will become your haven to get away from the stresses of day to day life.</div>
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<b>Spend</b></div>
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You have got to be willing to spend some money improving your home; it isn't just going to happen out of the blue. You have got to want to <a href="https://www.bouf.com/">invest some money</a> in making those changes necessary to make your house the palace it should be.</div>
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There are an abundance of websites out there that sell very interesting and well priced items that would be ideal for your home. Buy some new furniture and ensure the flooring is perfect; it is what most people look at first.</div>
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<b>Have a Plan</b></div>
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Having a plan is a great idea; you have got to think thoroughly about what you want from your home and how you want it to be look. If you are going for a quirky image then for it, don't hold back. Your home is the only place in which you can express yourself to a wide scale and if you get it right then it can look extremely good.</div>
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We live in a world that is in constant competition with one another so having a house that is in tip top shape can do wonders for your reputation (if you are that way inclined). Ensure that you have a solid idea of what you want and then the rest will fall into place.</div>
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Featured images:</h5>
<ul>
<li><img src="http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900448761.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Royalty Free or iStock</span> <span class="source"><a href="http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900448761.jpg">source:</a> </span></li>
</ul>
Andrew is an author with over 10 years experience. He loves to write about home improvement and fashion, especially bedroom refurbishment.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-6145631405262419372013-09-19T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-19T00:00:00.059-04:00Decorating Your Treehouse<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonguri/2530960784/" title="20080517 Makaino Farm 02 (入れないツリーハウス) by BONGURI, on Flickr"><img alt="20080517 Makaino Farm 02 (入れないツリーハウス)" height="400" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3285/2530960784_4ca5947c29.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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So you’ve made your treehouse. It’s secured in place, the floors and walls have been completed, your steps or rope ladder have been attached. To all practical intents and purposes your treehouse is complete, now you just have the aesthetics to worry about. You need things to do, things to look at, things to turn your treehouse into a tree home.<br />
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Decorations for a treehouse are different decorating a regular house. For a start, your treehouse decorations are probably going to be a lot more open to the elements than furnishings for something more indoorsy. However at the same time you also have a lot more freedom to be creative, with some crazy patterns and colour combinations on the table.<br />
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So here are some ideas worth playing around with:<br />
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<strong>Decide On A Theme</strong><br />
Deciding on your theme beforehand is a great way to pull everything ideas. Treebound pirate ship? Go with lots of unpainted wood, stick up a Jolly Roger or two and find a treasure-chest shaped box to store things in. Secret spy base? Go with a camouflage paint scheme with some netting for the windows. Space station? Paint the ceiling black and add some glow in the dark stars while painting everything else battleship grey. Alternatively just go all out and use as many bright and eye-catching colours as you can, just because you can!<br />
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<strong>Recycle</strong><br />
Any leftovers you have are fair game for treehouse decorations. Got some old fabric lying around? Smashing, now your treehouse has curtains. Left over carpet samples or trimmings? Now you’ve got an awesome patchwork carpet! Anything out of place or leftover can be repurposed into some cool. Check out pinterest or google “Upcycling” to find some truly fantastic inspirations.<br />
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<strong>Pay Attention to the Windows</strong><br />
A treehouse can be anywhere between two things. It can be a wide open platform for kids to enjoy the outdoors air when they go out to play in the garden, or it can be a dark and secret den for the to hide in. The biggest factor in this is going to be the size of the windows, the bigger the windows, the more outdoorsy the treehouse will feel. Adding curtains gives you a bit of flexibility on this point as well, but it’s worth remembering that the less they can see out of the treehouse, the harder it is for you to keep an eye on them as well!<br />
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<strong>Pay Attention to the Signs</strong><br />
Of course, the other fun thing that’s fun to do with treehouses is signpost them. With a few reasonably sized bits of wood and some paints you can have great fun making these signs with your kids. Everything from TOP SECRET: KEEP OUT to NO GROWNUPS ALLOWED to SECRET LAB are all options.<br />
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<strong>Protect it from the Elements</strong><br />
The odds are your treehouse is made of wood, and so water can soak through wood. This can be bad, especially if you’re storing things in there. Fortunately there are steps you can take to prevent it. If you want the natural look than moss and tree bark are excellent natural water repellents. If you want to look a bit more space age, there are waterproof blankets and specialised paints you can use instead to prevent your interior decorating from being washed away!<br />
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Featured images:</h5>
<ul>
<li><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3285/2530960784_4ca5947c29.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span> <span class="source"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53064522@N00/2530960784/" target="_blank">image source</a></span> </li>
</ul>
<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101479264041236581751/posts">Sam Wright</a> is a freelance writer who likes nothing better than sitting in his treehouse. He works with luxury treehouse company <a href="http://www.flightsoffantasy.co.uk/products-2/tree-houses">Flights of Fantasy</a>.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-64922018699221450182013-09-18T02:30:00.000-04:002013-09-18T02:30:00.940-04:00Architectural Trends in Home Design<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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You might tend to think that new home designs have not
changed much in recent years, but the truth is that new development in both
taste and technology are constantly instigating architectural trends in the
design of residential structures. Architectural trends often also reflect
lifestyle needs are desires, and often floor plans are envisioned with the
functionality of a home and the daily tasks that will be accomplished by the
residents in minds. Economic factors can affect home design and cause those in the
process of building a new home to be more frugal and practical regarding home
features. In addition, contemporary home designs reflect a growing concern with
the sustainability of our homes and with being environmentally conscious. </div>
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The following are some major trends that have been seen
lately and that are likely to become more pronounced in the coming years.</div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">A Push Towards Automation- New technologies have
made it possible to automate more and more everyday tasks. Not only has
automation become more prevalent in recent years, but it has also become more
affordable. Automation could involve installing systems that control a home’s
temperature, lighting, </span><a href="http://www.vivint.com/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">security systems</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">,
appliances, and more. Additionally, enormously popular electronic devices such
as the smartphone and the tablet have begun incorporating and accommodating
home automation possibilities.</span></li>
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<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Multi-Purpose Furniture and Accessories- As
families are often tending to move into smaller homes or live together in one
home, space has become an increasingly important commodity. This has led to
home designs and home accessories that often attempt to maximize storage
capabilities at the same time as fulfilling other functions. Nowadays, it isn’t
uncommon to see couches with foldout beds, coffee tables that can be converting
to dining room tables, and ottomans and chairs that can also serve as storage
accessories.</span></li>
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<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Sustainability- As homeowners become
increasingly environmentally conscious, they seek to infuse their homes with
recyclable or renewable products, sustainably produced materials, and heating
and air conditioning systems that use as little energy as possible. Even
experimental home designs involving earth homes or building materials such as
adobe have attracted attention. These alternative methods of constructing homes
are often both more sustainable and cheaper than traditional constructions, and
they even save money into the future when they cut back on utility costs
through improved insulation and other energy-saving techniques.</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Prefabricated Designs- While the concept of
prefabricated design has often called to mind mundane, unattractive structures,
prefabricated design has come a long way in recent years. Prefabricated designs
can save money, but they can now set trends as architects devise bold new
designs that are both practical and distinctive.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Flexible Plans to Accommodate Living
Arrangements- Many features of contemporary homes allow homeowners to make
adjustments for lifestyle or family changes. Those on the market for </span><a href="http://www.icon-property.com/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">real estate Monte Carlo</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> might be
looking for such flexibility in the property they hope to find. Such features
include wide hallways and sliding doors. The term “universal design” has caught
on to describe this trend of creating a home so that it is open to many
possibilities and so that it is accessible to everyone.</span></li>
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Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-85653887176993793042013-09-17T03:36:00.001-04:002013-10-07T01:50:14.451-04:00Future-Proof Your Bathroom in 5 Easy Steps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You might not think of it this way, but bathroom remodeling
is a big investment. The size, look and fill of your bathroom directly affect
your home’s value. If there is even the slightest possibility that you might be
selling your place at some point in the future, you should consider future-proofing
your bathroom. Future-proofing simply means creating a timeless look that will
(1) work for your needs and (2) appeal to the most buyers even 10 years from
now.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, How do I
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Go Big </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bigger is better – remember that commercial? If you have an
option to expand your bathroom without turning your bedroom into a closet, do
it! “I want a home with a tiny bathroom,” said no one ever. Large bathrooms
will always be desirable because they are more usable. You don’t have to build
a football field of a bathroom, but make it spacious enough for two people to
use simultaneously. If possible, include a small closet for bathroom supplies,
such as towels, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Split it</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Space-saving tub & shower combos have their place, but
if you are redesigning and expanding a master bath, consider splitting the
bathtub and shower into separate units. After all, they do serve different
purposes: a shower is for a quick rinse
and a bathtub is for long, relaxing soaking. It’s only logical that these two
should be separated if the space allows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Avoid following trends</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember the orange and green sinks and toilets that were
all the rage in the 70s? Well, guess what? They are far from cool right now.
The same fate awaits your 2013 trendy bathroom in 10-20 years or maybe even
sooner. If you don’t want to remodel again before you sell, keep the design and
décor simple and classic:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Avoid bright-colored sinks, toilets, bathtubs
and tile</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t do wallpaper – paint is much easier to
customize</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Avoid busy patterns on walls and flooring</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Stick to neutral tones and natural materials</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Express your style with accessories</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Does it feel like you are designing a bathroom for someone
else? While it’s partially true, there is still plenty of room for your
creativity. As long as you establish a good neutral base with the key elements,
such as plumbing fixtures, tile, countertops and flooring, you can freely
customize the look with accessories. Go as bright and colorful as you wish and
when there’s time to sell, simply swap the accessories for something simple and
clean. Towels, wall color, floor mats, shower curtain, cabinet door knobs and
handles are just some of the things you can easily customize without spending a
fortune.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Go green</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">More and more people are becoming conscious of the
footprints their lifestyles leave on the environment. There are many ways you
can conserve water in the bathroom and installing low-flow toilets and faucets
is one of them. This is definitely an additional selling point, because
low-flow plumbing fixtures appeal not only to eco-conscious home buyers, but
also to thrifty ones who would enjoy savings on their water bills. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, making all these changes to your bathroom(s)
might not be possible due to the space limitations or financial reasons, but you
can still follow the general guidelines. Make sure you get all the expensive, hard-to-replace
elements right, which includes choosing neutral colors and natural materials
for tile, flooring, countertops, sinks, toilet and bathtub. Add your personal
touches with removable décor and you are good to go. When it’s time to sell
your home, just add a fresh coat of paint and stage the bathroom with white or
off-white accessories to emphasize the freshness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">These bathroom future-proofing tips were brought to you by
Maryland Re-Bath, the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8574023878323962397" name="_GoBack"></a>specialists in <a href="http://marylandrebath.com/">bathroom remodeling in Maryland</a>.</span></div>
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Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-24376220761022216972013-09-16T02:39:00.000-04:002013-10-07T01:49:35.853-04:00Is Housing The 'New' Stock Market? And What Does It Mean For Real Estate?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There will always be those who find a way to make a profit in any situation. The necessity for survival will always help man to look outside the box of the everyday and find a new way to make ends meet. The historic housing crash of 2007 has created an epic opportunity for many. In the past 6 years, the housing market has morphed from a form of shelter to one of the most popular, tradable assets. With a limited number of distressed properties and a huge influx of investors, it should come as no surprise that the housing market is now nearly as volatile as the stock market. Glenn Kelman, CEO of Redfin, and online real estate sales company stated that, “We've seen more volatility in the real estate in the past five years than we have in the past 500.” Could this be the start of a new normal?<br />
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<b>Where is the Housing Market Now?</b></div>
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The amount of volatility in the housing market is proved over and over again. When news last week surfaced that sales of newly built homes had plunged over 13 percent in July, another report showed healthy gains in sales of existing homes in July. Rising mortgage rates and home prices, low confidence, tight credit and even short supply were on the short list of woes from real estate investors, but one thing stood out, investors have started pulling out of the housing market. Investors made up only 16 percent of home buyers nationally in July, according to the National Association of Realtors, compared with the 22 percent in February and 25 percent in 2009. During the worst part of the foreclosure crisis, in some of the hardest hit markets, investors had made up more than half of all buyers.<br />
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<b>Who is Investing in Real Estate Now?</b></div>
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Reports show that large funds like Colony Capital, Waypoint and Blackstone have been buying thousands of properties, are driving prices higher and faster than most expected, and are currently trying to fill those houses with renters. Buying has become more attractive for larger firms because smaller investors are moving away from housing and lessening the competition. Last year, the amount of institutional investment activity exploded, and what we're seeing now is the natural progression of such exponential growth. This means a slowdown in how many homes they aquire, or letting employees go in areas where there is less demand.<br />
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<b>What Does This Mean for Private Real Estate Investors?</b></div>
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With rising home prices and interest rates, many private real estate investors have started backing out of the real estate scene. Many companies give seminars to small “armchair” investors on how to buy and manage single family rentals, and most seminars are packed with wannabe real estate investors. But with the influx of larger companies in the real estate market, it makes investing that much harder for the everyday joe.<br />
We've seen a lot happen in real estate in the past few years. The housing crash, the huge influx of investors. Then, the bulls became bears and single investors began pulling out of the housing market. One thing is for sure, all eyes are watching to see what happens next in a volatile housing market, and just where the investing can go from here.<br />
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Citations:</h5>
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<li><a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100988740" target="_blank">Olick, Diana. “As Investors Shift, Housing is the New Stock Market.” CNBC, 27 August 2013</a></li>
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Featured images:</h5>
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<li><img src="http://myblogguest.com/forum/uploads/articles/2013/9/housing-vs-stock-market.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Creative Commons</span> <span class="source"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/imosaad/4111211837/sizes/m/in/photolist-7gi33H-bsACcN-5HY7yp-5HY8fH-5HY7z4-5HY7zD-5HY7zr-5HY8fP-5HY7zM-5HY7ze-5qdyCn-5HY1Wn-5HXZMc-5HY1Wv-5HXZMr-5HXRXg-5HXRWH-5HXRWX-5HXRWZ-5J3fgy-5HXRWP-5J3fg9-5J3fgo-5HXRX8-5J3fgd-5J3fgq-5J3fgE-5HXZM6-hvxEy-5tFf62-5neF7D-5vUdTZ-6e3HqJ-7F7YfV-7F7Y9t-7F7Y2v-7F7XKD-7F7XUc-m1SVu-4Zyo9A-5HY1Wr-5HXZMi-5HXZMg-5HY1Wi-66gp31-5qj3nW-5qj3gU-5XLxop-6yosc5-bGgugR-bGgwPR/" target="_blank">image source</a></span> </li>
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By <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/106139763106767956722/?rel=author" target="_blank" title="Real Estate License Education & Resources author Jeffry Evans">Jeffry Evans</a> - I bring you the top resources to get your real estate license. If you're looking to become a real estate agent check out my site <a href="http://www.realestatelicense.org/">www.realestatelicense.org</a> to see the requirements and resources your state has.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574023878323962397.post-32501113754318233352013-09-14T00:32:00.000-04:002013-10-07T01:49:14.359-04:00Top Tips For Keeping Your House Safe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Keeping your home safe is an essential thing for anyone to take care of. The thought of someone breaking into your house is a scary one and it is important to take measures in order to prevent this from ever happening.<br />
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<img alt="home security" height="204" src="http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900442456.jpg" style="float: right;" width="201" />Here are some top tips to help you make sure your house if safe.<br />
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<b>Don’t Leave Your Home Unattended For Long Periods</b></div>
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It is really important to make sure your house isn’t unattended for long periods, for instance when you go on a holiday. Try to have a friend check out the house regularly doing your holiday to make it look like you aren’t away, as well as to make sure any problems are immediately noticed.<br />
Huffington Post also reminds you shouldn’t announce your upcoming holidays on social media. This information can get into the wrong hands and attract burglars to try and attack your home.<br />
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<b>Install An Alarm And Motor Sensor Lighting</b></div>
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You should also get yourself an alarm system. You don’t need to go for the fancy and complex alarm systems, even one that makes a lot of noise when an intruder is spotted can be enough to scare the burglar away and get the attention of your neighbours for instance.<br />
You should also install motor sensor lighting in your house. This is another great way of scaring away the burglars and it can also get your attention as well. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when doing the set up so you don’t end up with a light on the porch that gets triggered by a gust of wind.<br />
If having a friend visit the house is not an option you could also set an automatic light system or even a radio system to go off at certain times to make it seem like there is someone in the house.<br />
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<b>Don’t Let Strangers In</b></div>
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Whether you live in an apartment block or in a semi-attached house it is important to have a peephole in the door to ensure you can always check the person knocking at your door. Don’t open the door if you are at all unsure who the person is and they refuse to give you a reason why they are there.<br />
It is also important, especially in an apartment block with an intercom door system, that you don’t let people in that you don’t know. Always ask why they want to enter the building. This is to guarantee not just your own safety but also the safety of other people living in the building.<br />
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<b>Make Sure You Have Insurance</b></div>
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Of course you also need to ensure you have adequate home insurance to help you out in case something goes wrong. When you are getting a home insurance it is important that you fully evaluate your items and get a cover that adequately matches your possessions.<br />
If you underinsure your items you won’t be able to claim for the full amount and can thus end up loosing, not just your items, but a lot of money as well.<br />
Look around for different insurance companies to ensure you make the best possible deal. There are often nice offers available and it is a good idea to always contact insurance companies directly and ask for a quote. <a href="http://www.xyzinsurance.co.uk/home_insurance.html" title="Check out XYZ Insurance for great home insurance deals.">Check out XYZ Insurance for great home insurance deals.</a><br />
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Featured images:</h5>
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<li><img src="http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900442456.jpg" style="height: 100px; width: auto;" /> <span class="license">License: Royalty Free or iStock</span> <span class="source">source: http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900442456.jpg</span></li>
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Mark is a security enthusiast who wants to make sure people keep themselves and their properties safe. He is also a big fan of martial arts and loves to teach young children martial arts in order to provide them with a healthy hobby.</div>
Bill Bushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09290320450881156053noreply@blogger.com0