List of Home Insurance Providers That Uses Credit Scoring

The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports an increasing number of insurers are using credit-based insurance scores to decide who gets homeowners coverage and how much they pay. The effect of this, III claims all else being equal, a person with a good insurance score will pay far less for insurance than someone with a poor score.

Compiling a list of insurance companies not requiring insurance credit scoring isn't as easy as you may believe. The reason being is that the industry is in a state of constant change, especially with the current credit crisis this country is facing. For instance, Michigan Appeals Court ruled that state regulators can stop insurers from basing rates on card pay history (late August 2008).

Michigan regulators can stop insurers from using customers' credit scores to determine home and auto insurance rates, a practice critics says arbitrarily jacks up premiums for those with poor credit histories, the Michigan Court of Appeals has decided. The 2-1 ruling reverses a 2005 ruling by a lower court judge who allowed companies to continue using credit scores in setting premiums

The quickest way to determine whether or not a home insurance provider uses credit scoring is to simply call them up from the phone book and ask. Pure and simple. Of course, if you had taken care of your credit file in the past, you wouldn't be concerned whether the insurer checked credit or not.

You can also be proactive by beginning to repair your credit file so you can consider those companies who do check your credit score in determining your premiums. By making this goal a priority you can drastically improve your premiums and financial life in general.

Start by paying all your bills on time. Its one thing to have bad credit from the past, but almost impossible to do any financing or obtain preferred insurance rates with current poor credit. Keep your total credit usage below 35% of the total amount that's available. This is called your debt to income ratio.

Also having a credit file with a history helps. Someone with a credit file with 5yrs of credit (assuming with timely payments) looks better to the credit bureaus than someone with only 1yr of credit showing.

The point is to take the initiative..and not so much reactive.

'Legal Credit Manipulation' free ecourse. Don't be held hostage by the effects of insurance credit scoring. Learn the secrets to creating the credit you need, want and deserve. Click here at Bad Credit Repair.

Christopher Wright, Financial Cancer Specialist

http://Blog.GoodCreditApproval.com

What Does A Gfi Do

Building a Deck Steps & Stringers Video

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

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

Stair Building Help

Deck Building Books
House Painting Books

Home Improvement Federal Grant - Tips to Qualify For Federal Home Improvement Grants

The Obama 2009 Stimulus Package has several grants some of which are quite unexpected. One of these is home improvement Federal grant. The Federal home improvement grants are available for no down payments and are not biased with your income or the credit scores.

Tips to Qualify for Federal Home Improvement Grants

Here are some tips to qualify for home improvement grants as prescribed by the Federal Government:

Your work begins with locating your local government office in the area. They shall guide you on the eligibility criteria for the same. These can also be found out in detail on the Federal Government websites.

Most likely, they would require you to prove that you do not have money to get the home improved. Also they would ask as to what sort of improvements are you looking forward to.

At times they require you to quote based on some specific company as to what would be the expenses that must be incurred for the required task.

They do all these inquiries for the key reason that these grants must not be misuses by any of the individuals.

You may also qualify for a loan for this requirement. All you have to do is search for it on the Internet just like a car or a home loan. There are some companies who do provide special packages for such purposes. The best part is that they come for a lower rate of interest.

Usually the home owners use this loan to add another room to the houses, change their electric equipments or may be repair the roof and / or windows of the house.

You must understand that without proper documentation, the Government work can not go ahead. So before approaching the office, make sure that you have all proper documents and proofs on hand. For instance the proofs of monthly income and the monthly expenses. These would make your case very strong and help you proceed faster.

To know more about Home Improvement Federal Grant and to check if you qualify for that

Click Here --> Federal Home Improvement Grants

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Gorgeous Vines For Your Landscaping Backyard

Spring is almost here. Looking for some great looking vines to block a wall or maybe you want to block the view from your neighbor?Here are some suggested vines that can help you achieve that look.

Spring is almost here. Looking for some great looking vines to block a wall or maybe you want to block the view from your neighbor

Halls Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica `Halliana`)

Great looking semi-evergreen vine, perfect for the southwest, white and yellow flowers that will bloom from spring thru late fall. It tolerates poor soil and likes full sun. This is one vine that is very drought tolerant. Once established needs only occasional watering. Great fragrant smell almost all summer long. Fast-growing twining stems can up to 15' long or more can also be used as ground cover up to 2 feet tall.

Yellow Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans 'Flava')

The Yellow Trumpet Creeper, very fast growing clinging vine produces yellow trumpet shaped flowers in the summer months that attract hummingbirds. This trumpet bloom vine loves the southwestern sun it is a tough vine for hot and dry sites

(Campsis radicans)

Trumpet Creeper

Another great looking vine that does well in the southwest. Can handle the hot dry sun grows fast produces orange trumpet shaped flowers in the summer months that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Can be used to cover fences, arbors, and rock walls.

MADAME JULIA CORREVON CLEMATIS (Clematis viticella)

This is one clematis vine that does great in the southwest. Beautiful wine-red flowers that bloom almost all spring and summer. that will bloom from spring thru late fall. It does need regular watering. Grows to about 12' wide and long. Great for small arbor, trellis and container vine.

See photo of these vines at: Southwestern Vines

Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

Beautiful evergreen vine prized for its very fragrant, star-shaped white flowers. Train on posts, walls, or trellises, or use as a fast-growing shrubby ground cover. Good container plant in cold climates. Full to partial sun. Vine with 18 to 20 feet twining branches 1 to 2 feet tall

There are actually hundreds of types of vines. Above are some of the more common ones. These vines should be available at your local nursery store. Be sure to ask what your zone area is. Or check out the links below for further information regarding your zone area.

Thanks

Paul Guzman

Paul Guzman is the author of this article. Visit Guzman's Greenhouse for more gardening information.

Gorgeous Looking Vines

What Causes Attic Odors And Stra

How to Start Your Metal Building Project

You need to consider a number of issues before beginning any metal building project. Here are six essential aspects that need to be decided on before starting.

The first consideration is your budget and how much money you have available to fund your project. Many people make the mistake of having funding for the initial phase of their project but then not having the monetary resources for the completion. If your budget is limited you may want to consider a smaller building initially that can expand to a larger facility as additional funds become available.

The purchase of a cheap metal "economy" building is not advised. These buildings can quickly become money nightmares on maintenance issues. Purchase the highest quality metal building you can afford to minimize your maintenance expenses.

Most metal buildings do not come with components as a complete building package. If you will be needing doors, windows, vents, insulation, or any other components you should know that these are purchased separately from the base building package.
Do remember in many cases, the foundation base cost is usually extra and carried out by a separate contractor.

Figure the amount and pricing of the components you need to complete your building first before purchasing the building to see if your budget is in line.

Make sure you know the exact height of the metal building that you require. Add 3 or 4 feet in height more than your tallest door or entrance clearance requirement. You should check your local building regulation before deciding the height clearance required by law.
The erector for your metal building project will rarely offer preparation of your site. You have that responsibility and to make sure you budget accordingly for these improvements.

The site needs to be cleared of all foliage and in some cases leveled. Contact a local landscaping company that has done this type of work before if you do not have the time or manpower to do clear the land yourself.

You want to be sure that your new metal building has the space required for its use. Even though metal buildings are expandable do not cut size requirements initially and complicate your space requirements by growing "out of your building" quicker than expected. Budget for as much space as required by your design requirements.

The use of your metal building is important. You will probably need to go with clear-span metal frame construction if your needs are for a column-free interior environment such as a metal warehouses, metal office complex buildings or aircraft hangers.Clear-span accommodates up to 300 feet in width but is a more expensive system.

You can save money if the application of interior columns is not an issue in a manufacturing facility, for example. This is called a multi-span metal frame system.

Written by Jim 'G' Davidson - freelance writer for http://www.metal-building-sales.com

Painting Metal Siding

Home Loans For Energy

With home energy bills on the rise across the nation, lenders are offering homeowners financing to upgrade their homes. Long-term, low-interest mortgages and loans are popping up from both government and private lenders for homeowners who want to improve their homes' energy efficiency. Borrowers can even arrange for 30-year loans with interest rates under 10%.

For example, homeowners who wish to purchase a home that needs energy upgrades -- such as new appliances and heating -- can add an additional $35,000 to their mortgage using a FHA program. The program is aimed at several home improvement projects, including new roofing, plumbing or upgrades in energy efficiency. Everything from new doors and windows to added insulation is included in the program, according to the agency.

The FHA's Streamline K loan program offers a 30-year mortgage, fixed or adjustable. The average loan amount for improvements ranges between $18,000 and $20,000. The program offers a way to "bring today's energy technology to yesterday's houses," says Doris Ikle, president of CMC Energy Services.

"When people are buying a house...they want at this point to reduce their bills. Yet, buyers often have no money left for improvements once they close on a mortgage," she said. There are also several private lenders offering loans for upgrades in energy efficiency. Many states have programs that give added incentive.

When looking to purchase a home with energy improvements financed, you will have to have an energy audit performed on the home. However, the extra steps at closing can often save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Martin Lukac represents RateTake Refinance Rates marketplace. RateTake matches consumers with multiple lenders offering low rates. Got too much credit debt? Get Debt Help and you'd be surprised what we can do together.

Painting Metal Siding

Fence Installation For The Home Improvement Challenged

Fences, whether wood, chain-link, plastic or steel are installed for any number of reasons. The primary reason, and most will agree,is for privacy, whereby segregating a section of the yard to keep your business away from public eye. Another reason, but no less important, is to keep children or pets in the confines of your property. Whatever the purpose a well placed fence only enhances the look of your property and adds to the value of the home if you decide to sell at a later date.

Before taking on any major job I've learned to ask myself a few questions. Do I have the confidence to take on the job? Do I have the right tools? Am I physically capable? Do I have to get permission? It's not a knock on yourself to ask for help. I've swallowed my pride a few times, asked for help, and in doing so saved myself alot of frustration and money.

I suggest you visit or call your local code or permitting office to see whether you have to pull a permit. Once you've determined whether it's okay to build your fence, make sure you're building it on your own property. If you do not know your property measurements, check with the local jurisdiction's department that keeps your tax plat records or hire a surveyor. Mark the corners with flags and show your lines clearly with paint or stakes and string to define your boundaries.

Installing the fence

There are many different material options when it comes to fencing, from wood to metal to plastic. For this example we'll discuss the use of pressure-treated wood since it offers long-term endurance. Don't worry too much about figuring out how much material you'll need. Just take the exact dimensions of your property to the local fencing distributors. They will be able to figure out the cost.

Tools needed:

Air gun nailer (makes the job go quicker unless you're REALLY into swinging a hammer)

Safety glasses

Post hole digger (if you're ok with blisters) or a power auger (Make sure someone instructs you on how to use the tool, and carefully follow all safety precautions. These mechanical beasts don't know the difference between your foot and the ground when they start digging)

Small sledge hammer

Shot line

Type N quick drying cement

Regardless of the type of wood you use, the nails should last as long as the fence, so choose galvanized nails if at all possible.

The number and placement of the posts you use will be determined by the distance of your fence. A good rule of thumb is to space them between 6 to 8 feet apart. Once you've determined post placement, you're ready to dig your holes. The general guideline for setting posts is to place at least one-third of the length of each pole in the ground.

What I like to do is put in my corner posts first and use them as a guide to get all the subsequent posts to line up staright. Set the corner posts where you want them, securing the posts by adding a bag of fast-setting concrete to each hole. Simply add a gallon of water and allow the mixture to set up; it will generally harden in less than an hour. Once a post is placed in the hole, check to see if it's plumb and adjust as necessary. Hold in place by nailing scrap wood to the post to stake it. Once the cement has set tie a piece of shot line between the corner posts as tightly as possible. This is your plumb line for setting up the rest of the posts in straight line.

When placing the top rail, keep in mind that a good typical height is between 58 and 66 inches from the ground. The middle and lower rails should be spaced evenly below. The rail length is determined by measuring from the center of one post to the center point of the next. Use two 10-penny nails to fasten the end of each rail to each post, making sure that all the rails are on the same horizontal plane and the same distance from the ground.

To speed up the building process, make sure all the rails are in position before starting to attach the pickets. Place a picket on the first post, with the bottom approximately 1 inch above the ground. Make sure it's plumb, then nail it in place.

Repeat the process with a a picket on the next post, but only nail it in place with one or two nails. Then add a nail to the top of each picket and run a string between them, placing it a half-inch above the top of the picket. The top of each picket should then be positioned a half-inch below the string. This allows the pickets to gradually follow the contour of the yard.
Tip: To ensure a uniform space between your pickets, cut a small piece of one picket to use as a spacer as you work your way along the rails. (Be sure to keep placing pickets with the tops a half-inch below the string line.)

While holding each picket in place next to the spacer, secure it with a single nail right in the center. This will allow some leeway for aligning it later. Work your way around the perimter until each picket is secured with a single center nail.

Now it's time to plumb the pickets. Hold your level alongside and on top of each one to check that it's plumb. Once it's perfectly postioned, get the nail gun and add two nails to the top end (for a total of three, since the first one was put in earlier to hold the piece in place), then secure it with three at the bottom end. Repeat the process all the way down the line, then go to the other side and repeat again.

If you follow all the steps correctly you should end up with a fence that runs straight on all sides, and best all adds to the curb appeal of your home.

Chuck Lunsford is a successful Webmaster and publisher of JustGoDoItYourself.com He provides more tips and advice on accomplishing do it yourself fence installation

Wood Deck Repair Ideas

Do you have any ideas for building or repairing wood decks . We would love to hear from you in the comment area.

Learning From The Masters

Where Can I Buy a Cheaper Home Insurance Policy?

Once one understands the importance of purchasing a home insurance policy, practical considerations must also be taken in to account. The most important issue in people's minds is where to go to purchase insurance for their homes. Policies can be bought either through a reliable agent or home insurance companies' websites.

After you choose who to buy from, you should research them for more information. Make it a point to collect the information regarding the policy coverage, term period of the policy, various payment modes as well as the monthly and annual premium installments.

Nevertheless, it is extremely important to be cautious when purchasing home coverage policies. For example, before contacting any agent or firm, you should make sure that the firm/agency is trustworthy and have a license from the governing or licensing body of your state. Many companies and agents on the internet are frauds that are after your money, so be wary.

Recommendations for good agents or home insurance companies can be sought from sources such as your family and friends. If you still need assistance, try looking in the Yellow Pages for more info. Websites, such as Google, can be a great help in your search for additional information.

After you have found an agent or company to get insurance from, it is vital to obtain as much information about them and their future plans as humanly possible. Do whatever you believe will be of benefit and read online reviews as well.

Home insurance policies are many and varied, including HO-1 all the way through HO-8. There are benefits and limitations to each kind of home coverage policy.

Please provide as much detail as possible when requesting quotes because there is a wide variety of policies and coverages for each insurance type. An example is to check if the policy is meant for a homeowner, a leaseholder or a co-op/condominium owner.

Once you've determined the specific type of policy that's right for you, gathering information on companies specializing in that type of policy is critical.

The Internet plays an increasingly important role in transmitting information from around the globe in just seconds. Using the internet to obtain detailed information has assuaged people's concerns about selecting the wrong company.

Thanks to countless websites you can discover reliable insurance companies as well as agents. People purchasing a home can get a great deal when these insurance brokers give them a special offer for their home coverage policies.

While the internet is an ideal way to purchase homeowners insurance, one should always be alert to fact that fraud is still alive on the world wide web. Therefore, if a company does not have a state government certification, you should avoid them. State governments often monitor insurance companies by certifying them and rating their insurance plans.

Ian Wright will only help you save money on home insurance if you visit homeowner insurance quote online or http://www.quick-online-insurance-quote.com/cheapest-online-home-insurance-quote.html.

What Causes Attic Odors And Stra

Remote Computer Repair

Remote computer repair is a field that is fast picking up and becoming the preferred choice of customers looking for repairs for their PCs. These remote computer repair specialists can repair most of your PC problems by remote control, as long as you have a high speed Internet connection. Specialists usually charge an hourly service fee.

One can locate remote computer repair specialists through a simple search on the Internet. Their online resources give you a good idea about the jobs they have undertaken.

A remote computer repairperson watches everything on a PC screen while working on your problem. Technology has advanced so much that you can even assume control anytime, just in case you feel that there is a breach of security. In certain cases, the instructions are given from a remote location and you follow these instructions to repair your computer. Most of the remote computer repairers disconnect the connection program, until and unless you want to reinstall the program for future use. Although the entire method is popular, it is always preferable that you get good references from the remote repairing company. This way you will able to verify their credentials better and ensure the safety of your data.
Remote computer repair is of great help in things like spy ware removal, trouble shooting, virus and pest removal, software installation, up gradation, cleaning up of disk, and PC optimization. Needless to say, the success rate is also pretty high when it comes to remote computer repair. Another advantage with remote computer repair lies in the fact that it will save you money in the long run, since the technicians are working from their own location.

Computer Repair provides detailed information on Computer Network Repair, Computer Repair, Computer Repair Services, Computer Repair Software and more. Computer Repair is affiliated with Computer Part Supplies.

Shower Shelf Wood Damage

Xbox 360 Repair Guide - 3 Proven Tips to Choose the Right Repair Guide

The popularity of Xbox 360 is to be seen to be believed. This game system has become the favorite with all age groups. In fact seldom do you find a house without the Xbox 360 these days. Although quite a sturdy piece of electronic equipment, the Xbox 360 too comes with its own set of errors and problems, that you will need to fix from time to time. Fortunately the popularity of the game system has meant that you can easily find a good Xbox 360 repair guide over online sources these days. With so many repair guides available, sometimes choosing the right one may seem like a confusing task. It need not be so if you were to follow these simple tips.

1. It is important to go through the index of an Xbox 360 repair guide before you buy one. This is because most of the repair guides seem to focus on just giving solutions to the Xbox 360 3 red lights error. You need to keep in mind that you could be facing other problems too with your game system. A good Xbox 360 repair guide will usually focus on all these issues.

2. When choosing a Xbox 360 repair guide, it is always preferable that you choose one that comes with video file collections, rather than just PDF files consisting of pictorial representations. Video files are the preferable choice since they would contain detailed explanations of the various errors and how to fix them, which is not always a possibility with just pictures.

3. You can also find DVD packages if by any chance you are not able to find the right Xbox 360 repair guide over the internet.

You can find tons of information on fixing Xbox problems at Fix Xbox 360 Blog, which is the preferred Xbox 360 repair guide, using which you can now fix almost any error in your game console.

Stucco Stain From Roof Leak

Can You Help Us with Your Remodeling Experience

To would appreciate any home remodeling tips for ideas that you have that could help other homeowners, building contractors and other people involved in home remodeling. Post all your comments below.

House Framing Books
Home Skylight Books

Interior Wall Framing Help For Home Owners

Framing a new wall, anywhere in the home will not be very difficult to do. However, removing an interior wall on the other hand could be an enormous task and create some big problems, especially if you remove a loadbearing wall. A loadbearing wall would be something that is holding up another section of the home, like the roof or the floor.

If you're not removing or moving a wall, framing a new wall is a task that most homeowners with very little skill can do quite easily. Let's start with the basics, most walls are built from 2 x 4 framing lumber, which can be purchased at any lumber yard or home improvement center.

Let's start with measuring the length and the height of the wall. For example let's say that the wall you intend to frame is going to be 8'7" long and 8 foot tall. If I was going to figure the lumber for this wall, or how much material I would need. I would start with some simple arithmetic.

We need one bottom plate and one top plate. This would be the lumber that's going to run horizontal or right to left in our wall. So now we know that we need two pieces that will be 8'7" long and since they only sell lumber in 2 foot increments, our choices will be narrowed down to a couple of 10 foot two by fours.

The height of the wall is 8 foot tall and will require us to buy 8 foot two by fours. Now how many two by fours am I going to need? Most walls require 16 inch on center placement of the vertical two by fours, or in other words the two by fours that go up and down will be spaced 16 inches apart. If I was to divide 16 inches into 8'7", that would require 7 - 8 foot two by fours.

It's pretty simple math and don't forget to convert your measurements into inches to make the job easier. 8'7" can be converted to inches by multiplying the number of feet times 12, 12 times eight and then adding 7 to it will give us 103 inches. We can now divide 16 into 103 inches to give us the amount of vertical two by fours needed to frame our interior wall.

Don't forget there's 12 inches in a foot.

House Wood Damage or Wall Framing Tips

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

Corner Roof Fascia Damage
Roof Truss Repair

Choosing the Right Tile

Granite is and continues to be one of the more popular tiles purchased by homeowners right now. Due to its scratch and stain resistance, to go along with its stylish look it has become a favorite to be used on counter tops around the sink and is being used in bathrooms around the sink. On the reverse side it is a little dangerous to use it on your floors for granite is usually polished which causes it to be quite slippery. Putting it on the floor in your bathroom or kitchen where water is often spilled could make this product quite dangerous. My recommendation would be to make sure to use it to dcor and build counter tops.

Limestone is another commonly purchased tile. It's much softer then granite which makes it much easier to work with. Limestone gives you a more of that old school look. The one set back with Limestone is...it does seem to stain a little easier then the Granite or Marble tiles. But if your looking for beautiful classic-look for an affordable price limestone is definitely the way to go.

Travertine has been a surprisingly popular stone. Travertine at first was used mostly on the floors but consumers liked the looks so much it has now evolved to being used on walls for decor. This stone is for the consumer willing to spend that extra money to get a great look. If you choose to go cheap with Travertine tiles (in my experience) it tends to chip. Its a little more brittle then other stones so when working with Travertine be care for if you mess up it will cost you more money on installation. So pay for the best.

Looking to add beautiful tile to your home? Visit worldkitchensonline.com for the best prices on the web!

Jared Cleary writes about Home Improvement, Financial Literacy & Sports. To see more on how to improve your home please visit http://www.worldkitchensonline.com

Hardwood Floor Installation and Floor Sanding - Choosing the Right Surface Treatment

Consumer interest in hardwood floors is increasing, and so is the awareness of different surface treatments. There are several different options to choose from such as finish, oil, and wax. To finish a wooden floor is the most common treatment consumers tend to go for.

The difference between finish and oil is that a finish builds up a surface. This surface is a protecting layer, and the resistance depends on how wear resistant the finish is. In contrast, oil gives the hardwood floor an impregnation. The hardness and wear resistance of the wooden floor is critical to the survival of the floor.

A number of factors influence the choice of treatment. Finish and oil have advantages and disadvantages making them more or less suitable for certain environments. The advantage of a finish is that you can get unbeatable wear and tear resistance. Finished wooden floors are also easy to clean and maintain. Finish is available in gloss, silk, matt, and satin.

The advantage of oil is that it more often than not looks great. It is scratch resistant. There is also the possibility to spot repair worn or damaged areas. The use of oil in public places is more suitable on dark wood. The oil enhances the colour, and the dirt is not as visible as on lighter wood. But not only does the shade of the wood flooring affect the choice of surface treatment, the hardness of the wood is important too.

It is also very important to choose the right type of wood for a specific environment. For example, the use of oil on a ash floor in a shop would not be a suitable treatment, unless you are willing to put a lot of effort in maintenance. Ash is a light kind of wood and shop floors tend to have heavy traffic. Other examples of light kinds of wood are beech, pine, and maple, which are also not suitable for public areas with high traffic.

A sports hall floor is also not suitable for oil. The reason is that sports hall floors need regular cleaning, and that means that the oil is washed away, and the floor would need regular maintenance. Wooden floors add beauty and value to your home. Choosing the right surface treatment will result in a beautiful, durable, and easy to maintain wooden floor.

Martin Stepien is the owner of Starlet Building a building contractor in London who specialises in hardwood floor installation and floor sanding.

More information about hardwood floor installation and floor sanding services in London is available on the Starlet Building website http://www.StarletBuilding.co.uk

Other services that Starlet Building offers include kitchen installation, bathroom installation, painting and decorating services, and carpentry and joinery services.

Starlet Building has extensive public liability insurance. All work is guaranteed for 12 months. References from previous customers are available on request, and free quotations are available on all building services in London.

The Advantages of Building Green

If you are considering building a new house, consider the savings that you'll gain from building a green house. Once you've purchased the Baton Rouge real estate on which you've chose to build your home, ask your builder about what he or she can do to make your home more energy efficient and green. Not only does it help the environment, it will help your pocket book as well!

Insulation is your number one easiest change that has the largest impact in reducing the energy your home takes to run it. A well insulated home will pay for itself over and over again through the hot summer and cold winter months. You'll see a huge reduction in your energy bills.

The size of your house makes a difference as well. Consider your plans for a home carefully, and decide how much space you really need. Obviously, the larger the home, the more energy it will take to keep it running. You can reduce your costs by building a slightly smaller home.

Windows let plenty of energy escape the home. When it comes to choosing windows for your new home, choose energy efficient windows that not only keep the elements out, but actually work to keep your home protected as well. Low-emission glass actually reflects heat and cold away from the house respectively, which means lower energy costs for you.

A green home is a great way to save money. You won't just be doing your part for the earth, but you'll be saving money every month.

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

Bathroom Faucet Leaks

Faucet leaks can waste more water than you think. Have you ever put a cup or bowl underneath a leaky faucet and actually seen how much water is wasted. Leaky faucets should be repaired as soon as possible to prevent the waste of water in your home. Water is a precious resource and should be used wisely.

One slow drip from the faucet can waste over 5 gallons of water per day. If you think that's not a big deal, let me put it in perspective for you. 5 gallons of water per day equals 35 gallons per week, times 52 weeks in a year, that equals over 1800 gallons of water, and that's a lot of water.

The problem with a faucet leak isn't just the amount of water it waste, it will soon start to deteriorate your sinks, bathtubs and showers and could damage other sections of the home, like the wood framing. I've seen a water drip in a steel kitchen sink, in just a few years, wear a hole right through it. Keep in mind water and wind formed the Grand Canyon, water can be extremely erosive.

Faucet leaks can attract house pests, like mice, flies, ants and a wide variety of other insects.

Most faucets can usually be repaired for under $20. Most of the time the problem will be in the valves or handles that turn the water on and on. If you're not familiar with plumbing parts, you could pick up a do-it-yourself home repair manual or go online and look up the manufacturer of your faucet, for more information.

Usually the manufacturer has a diagram of the faucet, broken down into sections and you could get a pretty good idea, what parts you will need to remove, in order to replace the damaged part or parts that are creating the water leak.

Calling a plumber seems to be most homeowners last resort. They only do it if they absolutely have to. If you don't understand how a faucet works and have no desire to learn how, I would suggest you call a plumber or contact someone who can help you with your faucet leak, but get the faucet leak fixed and quit wasting water.

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

What Does A Gfi Do

Please Contribute Helpful Information to Our Blog

How would you like to help other contractors, home improvement specialists, builders, real estate professionals and anyone else involved in home remodeling. If you have any tips or home improvement advice to you would like to share with our readers, it would greatly be appreciated. Leave all comments below.

Kitchen Books

What Is A Mortgage Contingency Clause In A Real Estate Contract

A mortgage contingency clause is a provision in the home purchase contract that stipulated that if the prospective buyer can not get a mortgage within a fixed period of time, this prospective buyer will be able call the whole deal off. In other words, the agreement is conditional on the buyer being able to obtain a mortgage on the property.

Be careful when dealing with contingency clause. Any real estate officer or loan officer will tell you that there is no universal "standard" mortgage contingency clause. The seller would prefer that the sale close no matter how high the interest rate and how awful the terms the mortgage carries for the buyer. But the buyer wants to be sure that if he cannot get the mortgage he is counting on, such as one with 90% financing on a 30-year loan, the mortgage at no more than a specific rate, he can stop the transaction and recover the down payment. Both the buyer and the seller need to get some security about the deal to happen. The seller may be too concerned that the buyer is leaving the transaction too uncertain. Therefore these provisions are often negotiated.

General contingency clauses are very often to a contract. You can find appraisal clause stipulating that the sale is conditional to a certain amount of the value of the house. House inspection clause stating contingencies that deal with the presence of insect and other toxic substances or with the tests to verify that a septic system or well is functioning properly. You will find thousands of contingencies clause. Everything comes down to your ability to bargain and deal with the seller. But the hardest to bargain is the mortgage contingency clause on the ground that it affects directly your financial commitment.

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Maintenance Fasteners

Identifying Termites - How Do Termites Look Like?

Termite identification goes beyond simply identifying the different members of the termite colony. If homeowners are to protect their homes and prevent termite infestation, they must know some basics first.

The Truth About Termites

The most common look that termites are usually associated with is the worker termites look. These are the termites that do all the food foraging and are creamy white in color. The truth though is that termites usually avoid the light and the open air.

Termites burrow deep in your soil and work its way to the wooden parts of your house through mud tunnels. This means that the damage to your property may also be undetected until there is already too much damage. Some homeowners do not know they have termites until damaged wood breaks off to reveal the white workers. The key to early termite identification is to look for tell tale signs of their presence.

Swarmer Termite

Swarmers are the ones entrusted with the task of flying off to build new termite communities. Early termite identification therefore begins by looking for flying winged insects of a dark color, with straight bodies and four equal length wings that they might discard around your property.. These swarmers may fly to or away from your house.

Be especially watchful during the beginning of spring or after some rainfall. Although some may say that some swarmers simply get blown accidentally to your house, they might just establish a colony if the conditions are right.

Termites Through Mud Tunnels

Mud tubes and tunnels are often a good aid for termite identification. Since worker termites try to avoid open spaces and day light, they usually move from their underground colony home to your house through mud tunnels. You should therefore be a little worried if you notice some seemingly dried mud that seem to rise up from the soil and stick on cracks or boards. When prodded, these tunnels may come off as grainy particles on your fingers. Some conditions are just so perfect for termites that they may even build mud mounds somewhere in your property.

Through Damage

If termite colonies have been left undetected for a long time in your home, chances are that wooden parts of your home may already be severely damaged. Some signs of termite damage would be holes on the surface of the wood, paint cracks or wood that sounds hollow. Extensive termite damage may result in wood surface that easily breaks off when you prod it, revealing irregular sized hollow areas inside that may have traces of grainy mud.

Favorable Conditions

Although environmental conditions are not necessary for termite identification, there are some favorable conditions however that will attract potential colonists. You may for example have moist soil with wood contact on the ground. Ground termites love moist soil and the proximity of the wood to the soil may make their food harvesting work easier. Pipes that leak on wooden trash around the house and foundation cracks may also encourage termite infestation.

The initial step in do it yourself termite protection depends in your knowledge for termite identification. Discover how to save your home from termites!

Good Orange County Contractors

I would love to hear your good contractor stories. I'm so tired of hearing about contractor nightmares, is there anyone out there that has a good contractor story. Place it in the comment area underneath this question.

Hiring Contractors Books

Teak Patio Furniture Adds Style to Your Outdoor Living

Home owners would be best advised to purchase teak furniture for their outdoor entertainment areas. Everybody wants their outdoor furniture to be sturdy, durable and easy to maintain - all natural qualities of outdoor teak furniture.

Teak furniture is constructed from teak wood, which is a hard wood suitable for the construction of long lasting everyday objects. The Teak tree is native to Southeast Asia and is a highly valuable material for construction. Early settlers in Central Africa even used Zambezi teak wood to build railway lines, bridges and buildings thanks to its extreme durability.

Teak furniture is not restricted to outdoor use. Indoor dining room tables, coffee tables, pubs, chairs, couches and cabinets can all be constructed using this high quality material. Business offices are also all the better for its presence as teak wood is often used to assemble high quality, stylish boardroom tables or luxury office desks.

Outdoor teak furniture is particularly appealing because it does not simply represent a table to use or a chair to sit on, but rather superior quality furnishings beautifully handcrafted to the finest of details. Rest assured that teak furniture will add style and substance to your home through the highest standards of craftsmanship.

Anything from desks, dining room tables, chairs, coffee tables, cabinets, boardroom tables, pubs, patio tables, folding chairs or benches can be constructed from teak wood. The dense grain and heavy properties of teak wood means objects are more durable and reliable than objects made from lighter materials.

The price range for teak furniture can seem high when you first look into costs, but it provides a very good value due to the high quality of teak and its durability. Cedar wood is another good choice for outdoor furniture. In comparing prices you may find that teak can be up to twice expensive as a similar cedar piece. More often you will see cedar furniture for 60% less than teak.

Due to Teaks many fine properties it is one of the most popular outdoor patio furniture choices. It will look good for a long time and stand up to the weather almost as well as many man-made materials. Teak furniture is a solid investment and should bring you many years of enjoyment.

Come join Shirley P at Teak Furniture where she writes about the many benefits of Teak Patio Furniture.

Window Installed In Wood Framing

Plans For a Small Inexpensive Home - Cheap Ways to Remodel Your Home

While there are many different approaches to making plans small, inexpensive home, I'm going to be describing the one I see as the best choice for the average person with a small budget, and I'll tell you why. There are many influencing factors affecting our world right now; some are new, and some are changing very rapidly. As time goes on, the struggle for resources becomes more complex and frenzied. Many modern building techniques, while effective and convenient for the infrastructure we have set up, are really quite wasteful and could be seen to encourage what could be called "living beyond our means." Sustainability is something that we are all going to be hearing emphasized increasingly as time goes on. Building with natural materials whose production consumes little energy is a part of this idea.

The benefits of using natural materials to create your plans small inexpensive home are numerous, and I'll describe some of them now. The first material I want to talk about is cob, which is a mixture of clay, sand, straw, water, and a binder such as wheat paste or manure for cohesiveness. When cob dries it is like concrete; very hard and strong. If you were to make a six inch wedge shaped shelf along a wall made of cob, once dried you would be able to stand, even jump up and down on it and it will not crumble. The chopped straw that is uniformly mixed in adds enormous tensile strength to the material. While it can be eroded or reshaped with enough water, it's possible to seal the surface with an oil which will waterproof it. This is useful for cob floors because after treatment they can be mopped easily. Cob has relatively low insulating value, so if your wall is all cob it's important to make it very thick to ensure retention of hot or cold air. Conversely, it works as excellent thermal mass, meaning it absorbs heat or cold and stores it very well for long periods of time. This can be useful when designing your plans small inexpensive home for passive solar heating. A dark wall in a position to get lots of sun during the days in winter will soak up that heat all day, and throw it off into the air all night.

Earthbags are another useful technique to have at your disposal when making plans small inexpensive home. As you might have guessed, they are just burlap or some similar type of bags filled with highly compressed dirt, which is important to prevent settling from occurring. Earthbags can be used as a floor base to be covered with a layer of cob and then plaster. Any gaps between bags can be smoothed over beautifully this way. Barbed wire is sometimes used between the bags to help keep them in place, which is very effective. Stem walls built on top of the foundation of your choice are extremely stable.

The benefits of these different techniques are numerous. From an environmental standpoint there is little to no pollution when your house is finally demolished, since the bulk of the structure built using these techniques initially came from the build site itself. In fact, many people have built small homes like this themselves with the help of friends and family. Do some research and you'll find that methods will be effective in helping you make plans small inexpensive home.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about plans small inexpensive home, please visit Home Remodeling Ideas for current articles and discussions.

Corner Roof Fascia Damage

How To Clean Laminate Flooring The Right Way

The time comes after you have installed your laminate floors that they will need to be cleaned. Most people at this point stop and wonder how to clean laminate flooring? Is there special chemicals, is there a certain mop, should I go a certain direction? All these are questions that may enter your brain when it comes to cleaning laminate flooring.

When you finally are done wondering how to clean laminate flooring and ready to begin the first thing you will want to grab is your dry mop. these mops are available from many different manufactures and do the best job at cleaning the loose dirt off your floor. Dry mops usually have a disposable soft pad that once exhausted can be quickly changed and the cleaning continued. Make sure that you go the same direction as the seems of the floor. Because no laminate floor is perfectly flat there will always be slight uneven spots on the floor and If you go against the seams you may just trap dirt between the planks in these spots. That is the best way how to clean laminate flooring with a dry mop.

But what if you have stains or a spill on your floor, then the question how to clean laminate flooring will pop back into your head again. Even with stains or spills cleaning your floor is very simple. You should start by only using a floor cleaner that was made specifically for laminate flooring. This is very important because the wrong chemical can damage or ruin your floor very easily. If you in short supply of laminate floor cleaner you can use some Windex or a mixture of vinegar and water diluted 4:1. Never use a wood polishing chemical like pledge to clean your flooring. Although these chemicals will leave a beautiful shine they will also make the floor as slick as ice and could lead to a dangerous slip and fall!

Once you have the flooring cleaner just spray some on the spots to be cleaned and wipe dry with a towel. this is the a best way to go about using any liquid cleaners on your floor, to much liquid on your floor can leak between The flooring planks and cause damage and make the floor look worn.

Learn more Cleaning and Care Tips For Wood laminate flooring

Transform Your Bathroom - Home Tips

When you don't have room in your budget to completely renovate your budget, it is amazing what installing a new bath vanity will do for the look and feel of this room of your home. The simple task of changing the cabinetry in the bathroom will make it look as if you have redone the whole room. Simply adding a few different accessories, such as changing the color of the towels of the shower curtains will enhance the effect.

A bath vanity does not have to be an expensive proposition with the many styles of discount vanities available. You do have to look at the size of your bathroom so that you get a vanity that will suit the space you have. For example, adding a large vanity to a small bathroom will make the room look crowded.

The vanities available in MDF are not expensive and require assembly. However, the detailed written and visual instructions that are included will make the assembly quite easy. Even the tools you need to put the various pieces together are included. All you have to buy extra is the sink and countertop, but there are some models that have this included as well.

The bath vanity is the central focus of a bathroom. This is where you will spend time grooming yourself in the morning before you go to work and when getting dressed to go out at night. You do need to have drawers and shelves where all your grooming aids are close at hand.

You can blend the old with the new by using an antique style that has a wash basin type sink that sits on the countertop. You can choose from a wide variety of colors, but the best rule of thumb to follow is to have a vanity that is of a neutral color. You can add contrast in the faucets and colors of linens that you use.

You do have to make sure that the bath vanity of your choice is sturdy and durable. You will not save any money by buying a vanity that is really cheap only to find that you have to replace it in a few years. A lot of the furniture manufactured today is eco friendly using glues that will not emit any harmful fumes into the air when they come in contact with water.

Even the smallest bathroom can have an elegant bath vanity or even a glass sink. A stone vanity, for example, can measure only two feet wide and will make a bold statement in your bathroom as well as make it look larger than it is. A vanity made of stone with teak cabinetry inserted in the center is also a viable option if you are looking for durable construction that will last for many years to come.

When you shop for a new bath vanity you can do so in many different ways by focusing on any of the following aspects:

Size

Shape

Material

Price range

Obviously the price will be the bottom line for you, but you will find that there are vanities to suit every taste. Browse the sites of the many online retailers just to get a glimpse of the wide assortments you can choose from. This will give you ideas to work with when you are contemplating making changes to your bathroom.

Allison Ryan is a freelance marketing writer from San Diego, CA. She specializes in home remodeling and interior design. For a beautiful bath vanity or glass sink for the bathroom of your dreams, please visit http://www.mybath.biz/.

Roofing Books

eBay List Building - How to Use eBay to Build a Huge List!

Building a list is absolutely essential to any online business, and should without question be one of your top priorities when starting an online business. Many internet marketers claim to make $1 per subscriber per month that they get to join their list. This means that if you can build a list of 10,000 or 20,000 people then you can make a quite lucrative income online.

How exactly do you go about building a list? There are many methods, but one of my favorites I will refer to as eBay list building. This is a process where you place classified ads on eBay in your niche, and have an opt in form within your ad. The reason this is so effective is because each classified ad that you place on eBay will get at least 100 views per month, which should translate to about 30 new subscribers. Now just think how productive this strategy could be if you have 100 ads running!

Another benefit of eBay list building is that it is very cost effective. A 30 day classified ad on eBay with only cost you $9.95, and you will get at least 100 visitors to your offer from this, if not many more. I have seen some well written ads that pull over 500 visitors per month. As you can see this method is easier and more cost effective than Google AdWords, but shockingly still has little competition.

Building a list with eBay classified ads is one of the fastest ways to build a huge list. It is possible to ad 5,000 people to your list monthly using this method. Imagine how that could boost your online income.

So go ahead and give eBay list building a try, you will like the results and will have much more success with your online business.

See The Exact Methods I Use To Rake In Massive Amounts of Cash From Ebay Classified Ads! Visit http://www.marketingprimetime.com For Instant Access!

Painting Metal Siding

Building Instant Rapport

Every investor has heard how important it is to build rapport with distressed homeowners. What we never hear about is how to do it. What is it about someone that makes us instantly like or dislike them? We do not really know what it is about that person; we just know it is something.

Rapport is developed in the subconscious. We cannot quite pinpoint it, but there is something about that person that seems familiar and makes us feel comfortable around them.

So...how do you establish rapport? Let's start with a few basic tips. When I am looking for distressed homeowners, I like to knock on doors. It is the fastest way to get deals. If I knock on twenty doors over a weekend, I will have several contracts by Sunday afternoon. I would rather spend a day or two getting multiple deals instead of waiting for my phone to ring hoping for just one deal.

Here are some dos and don'ts when you knock on doors or meet a homeowner in person:

• Do not wear sunglasses. Homeowners cannot see your eyes and subconsciously you seem suspicious.
• Never wear a hat, like a baseball cap. Again, homeowners cannot see your eyes and are suspicious.
• Always have a clipboard in your hands so that both of your hands are visible. If you tend to stand with your hands in your pocket or behind you, the homeowners will think you have a gun and are going to rob or kill them and will not hear what you are saying.
• Never wear cologne or perfume. I know this one seems strange, but let's look at it from the homeowners' point of view. You're a guy and you wear Eternity. You show up at the door and a woman answers. Her husband used to wear Eternity. He ran off with another woman and she still hates him for it. You are wearing what the ex-husband used to wear and subconsciously, you remind her of him. She now dislikes you without knowing why. The same goes for the girls, too. You do not want to remind the homeowners of someone they now dislike.
• Be aware of what color your clothing is. Green promotes trust, while red promotes dominance. I like warm colors like green, blue, pink, or brown. Stay away from reds and blacks. Dress casual, but professional ... no suits. Also, lose the jewelry. Homeowners losing their home do not need to see that you own a Rolex.
• Be aware of what you are driving. If you drive a Rolls Royce, you may want to consider getting a middle-of-the-road car for meeting homeowners. Yes, homeowners need to see that you are successful to feel confident that you can help them. No, they do not need to see that you have become a millionaire from distressed properties. You never want them to wonder if you have taken advantage of others and that is why you have so much stuff. People are leery to begin with; do not feed in to it.
• Be certain you are speaking to the right person. Instead of blurting out why you are there, ask if this is Mrs. or Mr. so and so first. Once you are sure, continue with your conversation.
• Never use the "f" word ... foreclosure. State that you were doing some research and see that they have a "pending problem with their property" and that you would like to help them. This puts the blame on the property, not the person.

Let's look at establishing rapport over the phone.

• Speak at the same rate of speech as the homeowners. For example, if the person who answers the phone speaks slowly, do the same. If they speak fast, do the same. People who speak fast think that people who speak slowly are stupid. Likewise, people who speak slowly think that fast talkers are slick and untrustworthy. Is it true? No, it is a subconscious thought that most people are not aware of. When you follow the homeowners' rate of speech, you seem familiar to them and, again, they like you without knowing why.
  
• Ask them to share a little about their current situation and listen with respect and empathy. Once you feel that they have properly vented, begin to ask details about their situation. Homeowners want to tell you what happened because they do not want you to think that they are losers. No one grows up with the goal of being in foreclosure. Something in their lives changed and they want to be certain you know what it is.
  
• Make an appointment to view the property then call back to confirm the appointment. During the second phone call, ask more questions. Be certain that everyone on the deed is home and willing to put a deal together.
  
• When on the phone, listen for the objections you are going to get when you meet in person. For example, "we don't have to sign a deed, do we?" If they ask questions on the phone, be ready to handle them in person.

So, you see folks, it is not that difficult to establish rapport. Take the time to be approachable, honest, and trustworthy and business will follow. Better yet ... just be that way naturally and you will reap what you sow.

Bill Twyford is the Co-Founder and Faculty Head of The Investors Edge University, a company that specializes in training new and seasoned investors in a wide range of real-estate investing techniques through live workshops and seminars

Bill is President of B.K. Ventures, Inc., a company that specializes in helping distressed homeowners stay in their homes. With some investors taking advantage of and stealing homes from homeowners, he is a fresh site on the investing scene.

Older Homes With No Dryer Hookup

3 Car Garage Plans - Your Garage Building 101

So once you've finally opted to add that much needed extra space to your property with a 3 car garage, but you realize with dismay that getting started is not as easy as it may seem at first thought. The good news is that your 3 car garage plan to enhance your home does not need to depend on the suggestions of your contractor who will no doubt charge extra for the consultation, nor do you need to hire an expensive architect.

Here, on the World Wide Web, you can find the perfect garage plan having capacity to house three cars, for only a fraction of the cost. However, don't be a gullible client, pay attention to detail, and you will be able to find the right 3 car garage plans for your home.

Following the Blueprint

When buying the plans for your 3 car garage , the first thing to ensure is that the blueprint is easy to comprehend, and is one that you can give over to a builder and step back with ease of mind that the building process will go smoothly. Ask your vendor if the garage building kit, at the very least, includes blueprints of the interior and exterior elevations, a plan for the foundation, the outlines and floor as well as a cross-section view.

Picking the right blueprint for a 3 car garage plan will enable you to have a stylish yet affordable and functional garage. You can pick one for extra storage space, for a work bench area, for an apartment above with living quarters complete with a small kitchen and bathroom or place to kick your teenager and his noisy band into.

Pay attention to the overall style as well; for instance, would you like your 3 car garage plans to be in a carriage house style Or a traditional layout Or a Palladian one? The last thing you need is to purchase a 3 car garage plan that looks great on paper but is built as a country cottage style extension to your Victorian mansion!

Picking the Right Materials for Building

So you've finally decided the right blueprint. Now make sure that your 3 car garage plans come with a list of materials. This list should give you an idea of the concrete, lumber, steel brackets, roofing, paints and other essential components needed for building your garage. It's all very well to find a great 3 car garage plans that suits your need, but without an estimate of the cost you will incur to build it, you are not going to get very far.

Finishing off With the Perfect Flooring

There is tons of great flooring options available to you, the most popular being garage floor tiles and garage floor mats. These are commonly suggested by you 3 car garage plan vendor as they are convenient to lay out and use on the same day. Garage floor tiles can also be patterned according to individual tastes in size and colour. Coating your garage floor with high grade epoxy is also an option.

Thomas Johnsen is the Author and Leading Expert on loft garage plans and the creator of Loft Garage Building 101 See these sites now to see the most easy to understand step by step guides on garages available online today.

Exterior Wood Beams

Repairing a Leaking Toilet

Let me explain how a toilet works. First when you go to flush the toilet a little arm pulls a rubber flapper up and lets the water drain into the toilet bowl. The water draining into the toilet bowl forces the old water out along with the number two or number one waste and extremities.

If the toilet sounds like it is running there is a good chance that the seal between the rubber flapper and the plastic rain at the bottom of the toilet is broken somehow. The sound you are hearing is water running around this ring and in to the toilet bowl.

This leak is actually causing no damage to the toilet itself but is wasting water. Hence the water bill will be a little higher if you don't fix the leaking toilet. The best way to find out if this is actually your problem is to take the toilet tank lid off. Then stick your hand down into the toilet bowl and press gently on the rubber flap.

If the water stops leaking or starts running faster this is your problem. Turn the water off to the toilet. There will be a shut off valve on the wall under your toilet bowl in the bathroom. After you turn the water off removed the plastic flap and examine it.

You will be looking for a warped toilet flap or of some sort or grooves on the flapper itself. Take the toilet flapper down to your local home improvement store and buy a new one. Go home and replace the new toilet flapper and this should solve 90% of your leaking toilet problems.

There is one more thing it could be. With the toilet tank lid off, check to see if water is overflowing into the little round plastic pipe. This plastic pipe should have a small hose running from the float valve assembly into it.

If the water is over flowing from the toilet tank into this little plastic pipe you will need to adjust the float.

First thing you will need to do is while the toilet is running lift up on the float lever arm. If the water stops you can simply bend the metal arm of the float lever. The purpose of bending the arm will force the float deeper into the water there for stopping the water from rising over the small tube in the center of your toilet.

There are few parts to a toilet and most parts can be purchased at your local hardware or home improvement centers. Toilet repairs like this can be made simple and the parts used to replace are inexpensive.

Happy Toilet Repairing.

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

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Some Great Plumbing Ideas

Buying Your New Bathroom

Buying your new bathroom is probably one of the largest and most demanding expenses you will face. The bathroom market is very diverse and you will need to make decisions about where to buy, how much to spend, and what bathroom style to choose. I will clarify some of your choices.

Your first decision is to decide upon a bathroom budget and how to raise the money. A new bathroom will increase the value of your home, so it is akin to an investment.

Your home has a maximum potential value according to its location. To prove that to yourself, just look at a flat in London, and then look at the same style and size flat in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The London flat will cost much more. So spend according to the potential marketability of your home. Estate Agents often say a 5-10% expenditure on interior upgrades is a reasonable cost. So a 100K flat could warrant a 5-10K expenditure on upgrades. Much of that could be for your new bathroom.

After fixing your budget, you need a bathroom design done. There are key decisions to about product types to make. You may want a steam unit, a whirlpool, a sauna, rainbars, bodyjets, a walk-in enclosure, a shallow tray, or many other bathroom fittings.

A bathroom showroom is a good place to start and ask the sales manager to do a design. He may need to visit your home. Designs are done using CAD (computer aided design) software or graph paper. After his design, you will have a good idea of what can be done. The sales manager will offer normally an installation service and provide a total price for supply and installation.

Giving your purchase to the showroom is the safest and easiest route. He has premises and is easily accessible and you will have just one contact. However, using the services and products from a showroom is probably the most expensive route to take. It is safe, but that safety has a cost.

Showrooms are given special pricing on certain lines, and they will recommend those lines. Also, the showroom has a limited supply line; maybe only 10% of supply lines. So you choice is limited. Labour via a showroom is marked up, so the installation will be expensive.

If you decide against using a showrooms services, you can try shopping at a plumbers merchants.

Plumbers Merchants have limited customer service and they rarely do bathroom designs. They are in business to serve plumbers, but they also do retail. Plumbers merchants are cheap, and the large nationally based ones can get almost any product.

You will need to have all your facts available to yourself. Buying that route will save you money. They will not install for you, so you will need to find your own plumber.

Plumbers advertise in their local papers and that shows they are looking for work. That will normally mean a far better price for you. Advertisements in the Yellow Pages for plumbers, especially with 0800 numbers, rarely advertise low cost services. Use a local paper if possible. Always use the services of a Corgi registered plumber whenever possible.

The Internet is another source and one that is growing very rapidly for bathroom supply. Bathstore.com embraced the web and it sells via the Web and its stores. There are countless showrooms also on the Web.

Buying via the Web will widen your choice dramatically and also open up deals to you for great prices. You will need to know the products well, and be careful about deliveries. Under the law, when you sign for something as received and in good condition, you have no legal recourse if the goods are damaged.

Phone the web retailer to put a human voice to the website. That will increase your confidence in the companys services.

Happy Shopping.

This article is written by Trevor Oakley. He is the managing director of Merrows Bathrooms. Merrows has traded for four years selling hundreds of thousands of pounds of quality goods. He also manages the Sayworth website. That site is about consumer advice and it has buying tips.

The Pros and Cons of Bathroom Remodeling for Resale Homes

On each flip project a decision must be made as to whether or not the bathroom(s) need to be remodeled. The decision to remodel the bathroom of an investment property is one of the biggest you'll make as it will also result in one of the largest costs in terms of time and money. The net financial result is what should concern you. Will the remodeling yield a profit on it's own, or at least contribute proportionately to the overall profit.

The Pros of Remodeling the Bathroom of an Investment House:

Give it the WOW factor! The Wow factor is probably the major reason you would renovate the bathroom. There are three rooms that you want to be impressive; and the bathroom is arguably number one. Mr. and Ms. Buyer will often make their decision based on the condition of the bathroom.

Whether you choose to remodel the whole thing or just replace certain components should be based partly on the criticality of the bathroom in the buy-decision. Done properly a bathroom renovation could well be the deciding factor between getting your price and not selling your house.

An ugly, poorly maintained bathroom will have the potential buyers lowering their pricing expectations disproportionate to the amount it would cost to renovate it. A buyer purchasing a renovated house has expectations that certain things are in good shape thats why theyre buying a house thats already been renovated.

Whether its a facelift or a total gut, that one room can make or break the deal.

If youre working with a very limited budget you can decide which particular parts of your bathroom that you would like remodeled, such as the tub or the toilet or the sink.

If money is not an issue, you may make the decision to remodel your whole bathroom. In addition to deciding what parts of your bathroom you would like remodeled, you will also have complete control over the products and materials used.

For instance, if you wish to replace the toilet, you can choose the quality which suits the budget. What matters is that its new. Knowing that the toilet is new and has never been used is a big deal to some people. They may think I will replace that toilet someday, but its good enough to help facilitate a good overall impression.

Bathroom remodelling can be relatively easy to do depending on the depth you want to go. It is something an average handyman can do by themselves in order to save expenses.

Although you can save yourself money by doing your own remodeling, you may not want to or you may be unable to do so. If that is the case, you still have a choice. That choice is seeking assistance from a professional contractor.

Despite costing more money, your bathroom will be remodeled professionally and often in less time.

It is also important to mention that bathroom remodeling projects can help to increase a homes value. That is one of the biggest pros to having your bathroom remodeled. The increase in value, if there is one, will depend on a number of different factors. Those factors include what type of remodeling is done, as well as how well it is done. Whether you choose to hire the services of a professional bathroom remodeling expert or if you have prior home improvement experience, the decision to remodel your bathroom could significantly increase the value of your home.

Although there are a number of pros to bathroom remodeling, there are also a number of cons. Those cons mainly include the cost of doing so. When it comes to deciding whether or not you want to remodel your bathroom, you will have to make up your own mind; however, when doing so you may want to keep the above mentioned points in mind.

The Cons of Remodeling the Bathroom of an Investment House:

There are two major cons to remodelling for a flip; cost and the impact of a poor job.

If you are contemplating a bathroom remodeling project, these cons may make you want to rethink your decision.

The biggest con to remodeling is the cost, particularly if you go high end on your fixtures. Remodeling for resale is not the same as remodeling for yourself. You must keep this in mind for a flip. The character of the end result should match the character of the house not your idea of what the perfect bathroom should be. Remember, you are in this for profit.

The extent to which you remodel will affect the price as well. If you gut the bathroom down to the joists you will be looking at a lot more than if you simply replaced the toilet and added a tub surround. In addition to the cost of supplies and materials, you also need to determine whether or not there will be any additional costs. For instance, if you make the decision to have your bathroom professionally remodeled, you will need to pay a professional contractor. Although a professional contractor often produces better results, you will find the cost of hiring one fairly high.

In addition to the cost of bathroom remodeling, it is also important to note the time that it will take. How long a bathroom remodeling project lasts will all depend on what is being remodeling. If you are simply looking to replace your toilet, you will find that your remodeling project takes less time than it would if you were planning on remodeling your entire bathroom. The amount of time it takes for remodeling will also depend on how much time can be devoted to it. If you make the decision to hire a professional contractor to remodel your bathroom, the remodeling will likely be done quicker. In addition to knowing exactly what they are doing, professionals can usually devote more time to work than someone who is only doing the work on the side.

Another one of the many cons to remodeling your bathroom is what it can do to your home. As you may already know, it is possible for a bathroom remodeling project to increase the value of your home. While an increase is likely to occur, it is not guaranteed. If your homes value does increase because of a bathroom remodeling project, it will all depend on how much remodeling was done and the result of that remodeling. A professional or quality remodeling job is likely to produce the best increase in value.

What you need to be aware of is what a poor remodeling project can do for your home. There is a chance that a poor bathroom remodeling project could also decrease the value of your home. The chances of that happening are slim, but there is always a chance.

As previously mentioned, when having your bathroom remodeled, you have a choice as to whether you want to do your own remodeling or a have a professional do it for you.

When it comes to bathroom remodeling, you will find that are more cons to do it yourself bathroom remodeling.

As you can see, there are a number of bathroom remodeling cons. Although it may seem as if it isnt worth it to remodel your bathroom, there are also a number of bathroom remodeling pros. These pros include a new bathroom and the possibility of increasing your homes value. If you are interested in remodeling your bathroom, only you can decide whether or not it would be worth it and given your skill set and time, what the best approach would be.

Steve Leighton
Real Estate Investment Consultant
http://www.HouseFlipOnline.com
steve@housefliponline.com

Author of "Guide to Buying and Selling Fixer Upper Homes"
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Building Your Own House

Most of us only dream of building your own home and living in it for the rest of our lives, well maybe not for the rest of our lives. My grandfather built his home when my father was nine years old and lived in it until he died. As a Carpenter and general contractor, I have always wanted to build my own home but never got the chance.

For anyone interested in building the home of your dreams, I found a few books on home building that seemed to be pretty helpful. I have been remodeling, building room additions, worked on track house framing for years and have done more home repairs than you could possibly imagine. I have found some of these books to be very resourceful and helpful, when it comes to solving some of the problems I run into.

When it comes to building the foundation, it's not just about pouring a concrete slab or footings. You need to run electrical conduit, plumbing supply and waste pipes, make sure the building foundation is square and level, and if you forget one thing, just one thing, you could find yourself in a world of hurt. I have worked on homes where the builder forgot to install electrical conduit and plumbing for a kitchen island. The contractor needed to saw cut the foundation and repair at it, during the home construction. This cost the building contractor around $4600.

Sometimes a checklist makes sense but where you get a checklist for building homes. Well maybe one day, I will try to make one. These home building books have been valuable resources to me for many years and have saved me grief and agony over simple things that often get overlooked.

It's a little overwhelming to even think about building your own home, if you don't have some construction skills. Construction knowledge can be gained through on-the-job training and by reading construction manuals. The best of both worlds would be to have both of these skills.

Construction knowledge can be gained or improved, over time with experience, combined with a couple of great books.

Home Building Books

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

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

Old Electrical Wiring

Home Window Repair - Home Repairs

One of the most usual repairs that people do around their houses is on their windows. The most common reasons for home window repair are also broken glass and deteriorating putty, which is not only unattractive to the eyes but also produces openings that lets the air escape. Although anyone can always approach a professional to do repairs around the house, there are also certain repairs that can be done by house members and a broken window is one of these. If a family needs to replace the broken glass of a window, then they would just need a number of things to be able to do this.

Anyone can do their own home window repair. Among the things that they just need to get if their window has a broken glass pane are glazier's points, linseed, a glazing compound and of course, a new glass pane. These things can all be found in any hardware store in the neighborhood or just about anywhere. However, to be able to have more choices on window panes, then they should head on to a glass shop. Once, all the materials needed are at hand, anyone can already get started on fixing their broken window.

The first step that needs to be done in home window repair is removing the old broken pane as well as the putty. This is made easier of linseed oil is applied to putty and would be left to stand for some thirty minutes. Heating the putty would also make its removal easier. Once the putty is already malleable, the glazier's points are the next to be removed. However, to get this out, the glass need to be broken completely. As soon as the glass has been taken away and that frame has been cleaned of all remnants of the old putty, boiled linseed oil should also be wiped onto the old wood. This keeps the wood from getting the oil that can be found in the glazing compound.

Laying glazing compound on the window sash on which the new glass pane will be set, is the next step to home window repair. As soon as the glass is set, glazier's points should be placed using a putty knife or a glazing tool at every four inch to keep the glass in its place. The points should be inserted straight and firmly into the wood, against the glass. To seal the pane in, more glazing compound should be applied. It should be made sure that half of the glazing is set on the glass while the other half should be in the frame. After a few days, these new window can already be painted. However, you should also paint the edge of the glass right before the frame to seal in the glazing.

Katie Appleby is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about home window repair, please visit The Home Carpenter for current articles and discussions.

Louvered Garage Vent On Plywood

Torch Down Roofing - A Cautionary Tale

Don't spend a dime on torch down roofing until you've read this cautionary tale. While the names and places change, this tragedy is a common occurrence. It goes something like this...

Two roofers are installing a small flat roof over a lanai while the homeowner is at work. The tear off goes well. Perhaps there's a little rotted wood to fix but that, too, is no problem.

Then they start installing the new roof system. It is a type commonly referred to as "torch down roofing". The official name is "modified bitumen" (pronounced buy-TOO-men). It is a rolled roofing product that consists of a tough membrane embedded in a thick layer of asphalt. Rubbery additives in the asphalt allow the roofing to expand and contract, where other roofing systems just crack. The roofing can bond tightly to metal flashings and move with them, while maintaining the bond. This flexibility is the main benefit of modified bitumen and is a big factor in its success.

Some types are applied with an adhesive, some types are self-adhering and some types are hot mopped as the cap sheet in built-up roofing systems. But it is the type applied with a propane torch that is referred to as "torch down roofing". It is also one the most dangerous of all roofing products...

One of the roofers gets a little careless with the torch and starts something smoldering in the attic. And they don't notice the small wisp of smoke coming out of the soffit vents. Just after the roofers go to lunch, the smoldering turns into a fire that spreads quickly in the dry, dusty attic.

With nobody home, the fire is going pretty good before the mailman notices the black smoke billowing up from the back of the house. He dials 911 and the fire trucks are there in a matter of minutes. But they have trouble putting the fire out because it is mostly contained within the attic. Finally they chop a big hole in the roof so they can put lots of water on the raging inferno. They get the fire out, but not before the home suffers extensive smoke and water damage, in addition to the actual fire damage.

One of the neighbors calls the homeowner, who rushes to the scene to find that the lovely home she had a few hours before, is now pretty much destroyed. About that time, the roofers come back from lunch... and wish they had taken up plumbing instead of roofing!

Fortunately, this scenario is completely preventable. For a good discussion of the alternatives to torch down roofing, check out: "Roofing Secrets: How to Avoid Leaks and Save Thousands of Dollars!" by John C Bishop. It will make the job easier and help you avoid big mistakes.

For details, go to: http://www.roofingsecrets.com

Three Foot By Three Foot Window

Bathroom Remodeling With a Shower Curtain

In bathroom decorating, the shower curtains tend to be the focus of the room in most cases. The great thing is that there is a wide variety of choices that you can choose from to enhance the look of your bathroom and your home. From simpler, more sedate shower curtains to unusual and unique shower curtains, you are sure to find just the right look and personality of curtain for your bathroom remodeling. This is a low cost way to undergo bathroom remodeling if you are not able or willing to redo the entire room. You can choose shower curtains that coordinate with the rest of your accessories to give the entire room a new look and feel.

How Do You Choose Shower Curtains?

There are many different choices in shower curtains for your bathroom. From unique styles to more traditional, simple styles, you will be able to find just the right style and color of shower curtain for your bathroom. After you have chosen the fabric and design of your shower curtain, then you can move on to the curtain rings and rod. Be sure that you choose wisely, because these choices can make the room look complete or it can detract from the whole look.

Shower curtains come in many different waterproof materials, including PVC coated, vinyl coated, and nylon to ensure that they are durable in the shower. Even if you find a curtain that is not made of a waterproof material and it will work great for decorating your bathroom, you can still use it with a plain vinyl shower curtain. This can give you the exact look that you are desiring and you will still have the durable, waterproof protection.

Shower Curtains Made By You

If you just cannot find the right look or style for your bathroom, then you will be happy to know that you can create your own. Whether you are a sewer or not, there are a wide variety of different instructions to enable even the most craft-challenged of us to create designer shower curtains. Use your imagination and create the perfect look for your bathroom.

Keeping Your Shower Curtains Clean

The number one problem in the bathroom is mold. Your shower curtain will be no exception to this problem, simply because mold loves the warm and damp environment of your shower. In some people, mold can trigger health problems, which is why it is very important to you're your shower curtain as clean as possible.

To clean your shower curtain you want to use a cleaner that is specially made to clean and kill the mold. Most of the time, shower curtains can't be cleaned in the washing machine, but you will have to check the tag on your particular curtain to be sure. If you can wash it in the washing machine, then wash it using hot water and bleach to kill the mold and germs. If not, then you can wash the curtain, apply lemon juice to the mold, and then place it in the sun. The sun and lemon juice together will kill the mold.

After the mold is killed, you want to keep it away. To do this, you want to keep your bathroom ventilated by opening a window or opening a vent and you can soak your clean shower curtain in salt water, as this can help inhibit mold growth.

The free-lance writer John Bakers is especially interested in themes similar to designer draperies and designer curtains. Recording his experience in detailed writings like http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com the columnist expressed his experience on ideas related to designer shower curtains.

Remodeling Help In Carlsbad

What you are thinking about remodeling your house and you live in Carlsbad. Let me give you some advice about some local contractors and some of the people involved. I used a company called Service Magic to find a local heating and air conditioning contractor. All I had to do was go on the internet , type in some information about my self and what I wanted to have done to my home. This didn't seem that bad of a idea at the time. But look what I found out.

I went to their web site, filled in my information and with in minutes I had received the names of at least 4 contractors. Wow this is neat. I didn't even get to start calling any of them when my phone rang. It was one of the contractors secretaries. She introduced herself and asked what would be a good time for someone to come out to look at the work I wanted done.

I was surprised at the speed things were taking place but in a way glad that I had a reputable contractor from one of the largest construction referral services on the internet. I told her 10:00 would be fine. I got a call shortly after that from one of the other companies. He wanted to meet me that mourning at 8:00 if it was Ok with me. I told him of course, let's do this. Then the next one called and I thought great you can come at 1:00. Well you guessed it the next one was coming over at 2:30.

The first contractor showed up as scheduled at 8:00. We talked about what I wanted done and he whips out his note book and starts figuring out a price. This took place around 15 minutes into the meeting. This guys good I thought. Being a General Contractor in Carlsbad myself, for a job like this I would go back to my office and figure out a price and then double check my figures for a accurate estimate. It took this guy less than 5 minutes to create a proposal of around 10,700 dollars for every thing.

Well I was thinking to myself, the job should be around 7,000 dollars but what do I know about construction. I informed him that I would think about it and that I was going to meet with a couple of other contractors that day. He ask me who the other contractors were. I proceeded to tell him that I probably shouldn't tell him who they were. Well your not going to believe this. He put on his physic hat and told me who was coming over. The only thing he didn't know was what time they where coming over.

Oh I forgot to mention before he left he told me he would knock ten percent off the job if I signed the contract right now. I pretended like I was excited just to see his reaction. He looked at me like he had won the gold metal in sales. I told him thanks but I bet your new offer with the ten percent discount will be good for the next few day. Right I asked. He wasn't looking that excited any more as he replied with a Yes it will be good for a while. I thanked him and he went on his way.

My 10:00 never showed but his secretary gave me the old, " He had to go do a emergency job and could he reschedule tomorrow at the same time. I said that would be fine. As a contractor myself I have always put the work I had to do first and foremost.

About 12:30 I get a call from my next heating and air conditioning contractor. He is running late but will be there at 1:30. I appreciate the call and I will see you then. The only problem now is that I have another contractor coming at 2:30. That give the next contractor less than one hour before the next guy shows up. I never liked going over to someone's house and running into another remodeling contractor.

The next contractor was very informative and knew his stuff. I listened and learned. He told me he was going to have to go back to his office and would have a price back in the mourning. Great I told him as I hurried him out the door.

The last contractor of the day shows up and wants to know whose been over to the house, was it these guys or those guys. I told him I wasn't going to tell him who was over. Now this guy was a salesman. He did a little more probing before he let me in on the fact that his company doesn't do complete home installations. He made up some story that his company only replaces the forced air units. I could tell he didn't want to do the job once he found out I knew what I was talking about. So I said my good byes to Mr. Salesman.

The bad part about him was latter on that week his company sent us some mailers. The kind that doesn't have your name on it and everyone in the neighborhood get's one. I couldn't believe my eyes when I started to read this letter. It said we would be glad to give you an estimate on all your heating and air conditioning needs or services. " We Do Complete Installs". I told my wife we could have used this a few weeks ago. Then I recognized the name of the company and now knew that the salesman had lied to me for sure.

That night I started to think about what was going on here it seemed like I was being set up. Everyone knew what was going on but me. It seemed clear to me that these people knew each other.

Well as time went on we ended up hiring the first guy that came over. He seemed to have the best product at the most reasonable price. His company also did a great job. Keep one thing in mind here out of five contractors that I gave the opportunity to bid the job. Only three showed up and from them I only got two bids. Why didn't I get more bids? Quite frankly I was to busy working at the time and of course the other two guys were always going to show up and that kind of strung me along. My mistake.

Here's the kicker to all of this. Service Magic calls me up one day to tell me they would like to start sending me construction leads as a General Contractor.

I listened to what they had to say and was almost ready to sign up with them again. That's right, I was signed up with them when they first started until they changed the rules on me. The salesman that originally contacted me said if I paid them the 100 dollar sign up fee they would let me pick what jobs I wanted to do. That lasted about 5 months before I noticed that they were not sending me siding referrals to pick from. I called them up only to talk to someone who didn't understand the State Of California Contractors Licensing Board.

Well I wasn't about to reinvent the wheel. I simply told them that I should a least get my money back, right. They said they would look into it further as I never heard from them again about my 100 dollars. Well things have changed at Service Magic since I was with them when they started.
As a home owner you don't think you are paying Service Magic because all you do is fill out a simple form giving some information about yourself.

I found out that Service Magic sent all four of these contractors my original information. Each contractor then had to pay 55 dollars each to Service Magic for a total of 220 dollars. All I have to say is how are they getting away with charging this much money for sending a out a simple referral to these contractors.

The contractor unfortunately passes this expense on to his customers. You as the home owners end up paying these fees as a cost of doing business with them. Some contractors think this is a great way of doing business but you might think differently in the future if you start paying over 100 dollars for a simple construction referral.

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

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

Visit us now for Home Improvement Tips

Wood Rot At Post Base