วันศุกร์ที่ 22 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Five Tips To Quickly Recognize Serious Structural Problems - Home Inspection Tips For Denver-Boulder

Five tips to quickly recognize serious structural problems

Serious structural problems in houses are not very common, but when they occur they can be difficult & costly to repair. These tips won't turn you into a home inspector, but it will give you some of the common indicators of structural concerns. In these cases, a structural engineer should be called out to investigate further and provide a professional opinion.

Tip 1 - Leaning House

Take a macro-look at the home from across the street - is the house obviously tilting or leaning, or one edge of the home separating?

Tip 2 - Exterior Walls & Entries

Look for areas of wall separation greater than ½" in size
Check the Chimney area well - is the chimney separating from the home?

Tip 3 - Doors & Windows

Do doors and windows open freely? Look for cracks around the edges of windows and doors, and for sagging lintels on brick homes.

Tip 4 -Floors & Walls

Are there drywall cracks > ¼" in size? Are there uneven floors near corners?

Tip 5 - Basement Foundation Crack

Look for significant cracks both inside and outside on the foundation, particularly near corners, around windows, and any cracks that run the full length vertically or a considerable length horizontally.

Summary

o Tip1 - Is the house obviously leaning?

o Tip 2 - Are there large external cracks?

o Tip 3 - Are doors & windows sticking?

o Tip 4 - Are walls cracked or floors uneven?

o Tip 5 - Are there basement cracks present?

Any of these may indicate a structural issue that should be inspected or reviewed by a structural engineer. Structural concerns when selling or purchasing a home are the most costly items you can be faced with. Look closely at these areas, or ask you home inspector to focus on these areas in a separate walk through of the home. If you aren't sure about something you see, have a structural engineer look at it. The cost of an inspection will be well worth the peace of mind in knowing the severity and extent of the concern.

George Scott, Scott Home Inspection LLC,

http://www.scotthomeinspection.com/

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วันศุกร์ที่ 15 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Co-Op Promotions = Big Bang For Your Marketing Buck!

An old advertising concept is making headway into today's online marketing campaigns. The concept is so down-to-earth that many e-marketers have forgotten about co-op advertising.

Co-op marketing and co-op advertising frequently mean the same thing. One common definition is where two or more business entities work together, sharing in the expense of the advertising, consulting, fees or any other advertising or marketing expense that would be common to each of the partners.

In partnering with businesses that complement yours, you are marketing to a segment of the market that have pre-selected themselves to be interested in your related product or service. You will be able to drive targeted traffic to each others website.

Trade customer lists. You do retain control over how your list is used. Make sure those involved agree on what each other is going to do with their list. Take advantage of the innovative list building opportunity that the borrowed list provides.

Exchange links, especially if the two businesses complement each other. Be sure to check each other's incoming links that may be appropriate.

Write a review for each other. Each of you will write about 250 words on what it is that you and your business do. Use the review in a link back to the other site(s).

Plug each other in social networking venues. Get together and talk about how both of you can benefit from shared social media marketing. What interests your customers when reading your website might also interest readers of the other (partner) site.

Don't put all of your co-op marketing bucks into a single theme marketing approach. What portion of your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) expenses can you share? How about email marketing? Maybe just a small portion of each others mailing list complements the other business, but USE ALL of the co-op marketing strategies available to you. This is a no-brainer if you are just starting out and your budget can't match your advertising needs.

And don't stop there! Marketing costs can be shared making your offline advertising dollar go further. Share offline expenses, i.e. printing, office supplies, newspaper inserts, and the like. Buy your ads in a "bundle" and share the expenses and savings with like-minded business owners.

And for those of you who have tangible items to market, it makes sense to "partner up" with your supplier and/or your affiliate. Often shared ad campaigns can be focused on a topic such as PPC marketing. The costs, results and the rewards can be shared.

Always try to make one advertising dollar do the work of three!

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วันอังคารที่ 12 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2553

5 Steps to Buying a Foreclosed Home

With all of the economic troubles the country has been facing, it should come as no surprise that some savvy investors have been taking advantage of some great real estate deals. As housing markets around the country have reached lows that haven't been seen for years, many experts agree that there has never been a better time to purchase real estate. Luckily, you don't have to be a millionaire or a real estate tycoon to take advantage of these great prices. In fact, if you are simply looking for a great home for you and your family, purchasing a foreclosure just might be the answer. By following these five simple steps, you may soon find yourself living in the home of your dreams at a price that fits your budget.

Step #1: Decide Where You Want to Buy

There are many great foreclosure properties out there to select from. If you don't have your heart set on living in a certain area and you are simply looking for the best foreclosure markets in the country, you might want to consider one of these top foreclosure markets:

Greeley, Colorado
• Detroit, Michigan
• Miami, Florida
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Denver, Colorado

Of course, each of these markets is vastly different and the types of homes you can expect to find there will vary significantly. Therefore, you need to consider your current as well as your long term plans when deciding where you will buy.

Step #2: Obtain Financing

Getting your financing squared away before you start your property search is a good idea, as this will tell you exactly how much you can afford to buy. By being pre-approved for a loan, you will also be able to move quickly on the purchase. When it comes to purchasing a foreclosure property, having the money in your hand will significantly increase your chance of being able to purchase the property.

Step #3: Get an Agent

Although it is possible to purchase a foreclosure without the help of an agent, hiring a real estate agent will simplify the process. Not only will an agent be able to help you locate foreclosure properties, he or she will also be able to guide you through the legal process of completing your purchase.

Step #4: Contact the Owner

Contacting the owner of the property can be trickier than you might think, as the process changes according to the status of the property. If the property is in pre-foreclosure, for example, you contact the owner directly. If the property has been put to auction, on the other hand, you will have to place a bid on the property at the auction. In addition, you generally have to pay cash at the time of the purchase. Finally, if the lender or a government agency has taken possession of the property, you will need to contact that agency in order to discuss the possibility of making a purchase.

Step #5: Inspect the Home

It is essential for you to thoroughly research the property you are considering buying. Otherwise, you might be taking on a big problem without realizing it. In addition to checking into any financial liens that might have been placed on the property, you also need to get the property inspected in order to make sure it is still in good condition. Contrary to popular belief, foreclosures are often in excellent condition. Nonetheless, a thorough inspection is necessary in order to know what you are getting yourself into.

After successful completion of these five steps, you are now ready to make an offer. If everything has gone right, you can congratulate yourself on becoming the proud new owner of a great piece of real estate at a bargain price!

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วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 7 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Booster Blitz

Most parents assume child restraint laws apply only to infant and toddler age groups. Years ago, they did. But, a new Colorado Child Passenger Safety Law now extends car seat or booster seat requirements to all passengers 7-years-old and younger and also maps out requirements for children up to age 16.

Previously, Colorado law required only children 5 years of age and younger to ride in car seats or booster seats. But as of Sunday, Aug. 1, safety regulations encompass a much greater number of young people riding in passenger vehicles.

According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, car wrecks are the greatest cause of accident injury deaths for children between age 1 and 14. In an attempt to decrease this statistic, the state's new passenger restraint guidelines address height and weight of child passengers to at least the same extent, if not more so, as the child's age.

Because of the way automobiles are designed, a passenger's height directly relates to how well a vehicle's lap and shoulder belts provide restraint during a car accident. A person who's 4'9" or taller is tall enough to ride while wearing manufacturer-installed vehicle safety belts. Taking this into consideration, the Colorado Child Passenger Safety Law maps out the following guidelines:


A rear-facing car seat is required for children up to age 1 or up to the seat manufacturer's maximum specified weight.
A rear or forward-facing car seat is required for children ages 1 to 3 or up to the seat manufacturer's maximum specified weight.
A forward-facing car seat or booster seat is required for children ages 4 to 7 or up to 4'9" tall.
A booster seat or lap & shoulder belt is required for children up to age 16.

Parents need to use the style of safety seats and manufacturer size limits to determine the best method to safely restrain their children. Safety officials point out that only children who are noticeably larger or smaller than average will not fall within the law's suggested safety guidelines.

The new law makes it a primary offense for any passenger who is 16 years old or younger to ride unrestrained in a moving vehicle. This means law enforcement officers can pull over drivers for non-compliance with the new regulations, rather than citing the driver for non-compliance in the course of a traffic stop for another offense.

For one year, police will issue only warnings to vehicle operators not following the new law. Beginning Aug. 1, 2011, tickets will be issued with a minimum $82 fine.

It remains only a secondary offense for passengers 17 and older to ride unrestrained in a moving vehicle.

To help parents determine the right seat for their children, fitting events are being held all over the state of Colorado, beginning with Cheyenne Wells, Colorado Springs, Denver and Lakewood on Aug. 5, 6 or 7. Booster Seat Blitz events are being held Aug. 13, 14 or 15 in Akron, Bayfield, Black Forest, Broomfield, Commerce City, Cortez, Delta, Denver, Eagle, Fort Collins, Grand Junction, Greeley, Ignacio, Lamar, Pueblo, and Silverton. Get location, schedule and activity information by visiting the CDOT Booster Blitz press release.

Colorado's Child Passenger Safety Law is part of the CDOT Integrated Safety Plan that aims to decrease traffic accidents and accident injuries within the State of Colorado by expanding safety partnerships with government, law enforcement and vehicle safety education.

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