Quiet, Lovely, Benton LA. 3/2 Home on cul de Sac only 5 min. from Cypress Lake
Location: Benton, LA.
Beautiful, Spacious, Home built in 2007. 2028 sq. ft. 3 bedroom 2 bath home on .6 acre shaded lot. Open floor plan with neutral colors and lots of windows. Big kitchen with breakfast area, Center island with bar and separate formal dining room. Great cabinets and closet space. Oversized master bath with large garden tub. Large living room 20' x 27' with stone corner fireplace. Large 8ft x 24ft deck. Storage building. Exceptional Benton schools.
This is a great video of what can go wrong with water heaters if they are not installed correctly. It also shows what happens without proper maintenance. Please do not try this at home, as it may be hazzardous to your health
Some web designs are truly so repulsive that they actually drive people away from the site and prevent them from returning. Both you and your web design company must avoid these situations at all costs. Otherwise you run the risk of allowing your reputation to be diminished or being labeled and avoided by clients and customers.
Web Design's Scariest Backgrounds
The background of your website is one aspect that you have control over and you can easily change or alter to suit your client's needs. You must be aware, however, that some backgrounds are simply not attractive at all. Some of these backgrounds that should be avoided at any cost are:
A completely black background with light or white text superimposed upon it. Even the best web designers in the world have difficulty achieving an appealing look with this type of background. It gives viewers the impression that you are imperious and condescending and does not do anything to encourage readers to stay on your site. Also, some browsers, when used to print a page, also print background color. This could cause complaints from customers who are not happy about the amount of ink they used in order to print a single page.
A completely black background with dark words. This is an even worse background choice than the previous one because the words simply cannot be seen without great difficulty. In order to read the text, visitors to your site will have to first highlight the text, a task that will quickly irritate them.
Complicated, tiled images. Fresh web designers often use this type of background because it is convenient and looks good to them. They should also bear in mind, however, that this type of background can dramatically increase the amount of load time for a website.
Web Design's Scariest Text
The main reason people visit your site is that they are interested in the content contained within your website. If they are unable to read your text, then there is nothing for them to stay for. Your web design company definitely does not want visitors to find nothing worth reading on your site, so avoid the following pitfalls:
Centering all your text. A page with all of its text completely centered is unattractive and difficult to read.
Overly emphasized text. Some designers bold every other line of text and italicize the rest. This is self-defeating because in attempting to make everything stand out, nothing stands out.
Flashing text. Although some people find text that constantly disappears and reappears appealing, it is almost impossible to read, defeating the purpose of even having text in the first place. Text is there to be read!
Web Design's Scariest Content
As a web designer, you should never ignore your content. At the end of the day, the content of your web page is what either draws visitors to your site, or drives them away. You should make sure you include interesting and attention-grabbing content and avoid the following mistakes.
Pages consisting solely of links. Pages where every word is a link on its own do not serve any purpose other than to convince visitors never to return to your site.
"Funny" content. Including humorous content is risky, at best. Some people may not understand your humor and will need to have it explained to them or, more likely, they will simply leave your site in search of something more interesting that they can actually understand.
Web Design's Scariest Multimedia
Many designers find themselves in love with multimedia and attempt to use it in every project that they undertake. The web design company you work for probably does appreciate your talent with multimedia and, when the situation calls for it, you can showcase your talents to your web design company and your clients. However, designing using multimedia tools is a very time consuming process. You should not let your desire to show off your skills with multimedia compromise the work that you eventually hand in to your clients. You should do your utmost to avoid the following traps:
Image overload. Images of all forms, including icons, should not be present in large numbers. As a general rule-of-thumb, anything more than two images is overkill.
Overly large images. The readership of your site will not suffer if your images are not of print quality. Large, high quality images take a long time to load and most readers would not care if you had used a low quality image.
Embedded audio. Audio streams that play constantly while the page is open are very annoying for visitors who simply want to examine the content of your site. Worse, these audio streams are usually impossible to turn off. If you absolutely must include some form of sound with your web page, you must give your visitors the controls required to turn off the sound if they wish.
A scary web design is most definitely not what your web design company hopes that you will produce. The web pages you design should be appealing to readers and help keep them on your site, and not drive them away.
Choosing a good domain name is crucial to the success or failure of your business. You may wonder how something so small and slight could have an impact on your business, but the best way to compare this is to think about how important location is to an offline business? If you do not have a good location, you are likely not going to get many visitors. The same holds true for a good domain name as well.
Here, you will discover the six qualities that a good domain name must have to ensure maximum success.
1.) Memorable
A good domain name must be memorable. Yes, we have the option of bookmarking a site that we enjoy; however, the hard truth is that many people do not take advantage of bookmarking. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that your domain name is one that is easy to remember and makes an impact. It should be easy, memorable, and straight forward.
Avoid complexity and it is usually a good idea to avoid initials in most cases. The only exception to this rule would be if the letters represented the website name or business and was still easy to remember.
2.) Short and Sweet
Twenty characters is the maximum that you should use for a good domain name, ten is even better. A long and complicated domain name is not going to help you. Your best bet is to keep it short and sweet. A great domain name is less than ten characters; a good domain name is less than twenty characters. A bad domain name goes over twenty characters.
3.) Be Choosy On Your Extension
There are several domain extensions available to you such as .com, .net, .org, .tv, .info, .gov and so on. However, some of these work better than others and are more memorable at the same time. It is important to understand that some extensions also have restrictions such as .gov is reserved specifically for government websites. The .com domain name extension is the best by far, because it is the most widely used.
The .net extension is the second best, but be prepared most people will type .com before they will .net if they cannot remember which extension you use. The type of extension you use might also have a bearing on the type of website. Some people have come to expect certain things when a particular extension. For example, .org is typically used by not-for-profit organization and educational websites. The .info extensions are generally used for informational websites.
4.) Spelling Means Everything
Having a difficult to spell domain name could cause you some trouble. Again, many do not even make use of bookmarks; therefore, if your domain name is hard to spell, they may end up at a competitor's website.
A good domain name contains only words that are easy to pronounce, have a good combination of words or letters that are used in every day language, and does not contain foreign words that may be difficult to non-native speakers.
5.) Tells a Story
A good domain name should be descriptive and tell a story. In other words, when your visitors, customers, or potential customers see your domain name they should instantly be able to tell what they are going to find. For instance, if it is your business, a business name is good.
6.) Avoid Fancy Symbols
It is never a good idea to use numbers or hyphens within your domain name. Even if your domain name is memorable, many people will not pay attention to the symbols, which could lead them to someone else's website.
I am constantly hearing that a good logo makes you stand out above everyone else. So with this in mind, I recently changed mine. I think it is very eye catching. I am interested in hearing from everyone, does not matter to me if you dislike it or like it. Let me know whatever it is that you feel. Here it is:
It was designed by Rob at Logorama.com. They are very competitively priced and do great work.
Easily add value to your home for sale by having it
Move In Certified.
Move In Certified homes have been pre-inspected by InterNACHI certified inspectors and the sellers confirm that there are no major systems in need of immediate repair or replacement and no known safety hazards.
Advantages of selling a home that has been Move In Certified:
The seller can choose a Move In Certified InterNACHI inspector to inspect the home properly before the buyer's inspector arrives.
The seller can schedule the Move In Certified Inspection at the seller's convenience.
It might alert the seller of any items of immediate personal concern, such as radon gas or active termite infestation.
The seller can assist the Move In Certified Inspector during the inspection, something normally not done during a buyer's inspection.
The seller can have the Move In Certified Inspector correct any misstatements in the inspection report before it is generated.
The report can help the seller realistically price the home if problems exist.
The report can help the seller substantiate a higher asking price if problems don't exist or have been corrected.
A seller Move In Certified Inspection reveals problems ahead of time which:
might make the home show better.
gives the seller time to make repairs and shop for competitive contractors.
permits the seller to attach repair estimates or paid invoices to the inspection report.
removes over-inflated buyer procured estimates from the negotiation table.
The Move In Certified Inspection report might alert the seller to any immediate safety issues found, before agents and visitors tour the home.
The report provides a third-party, unbiased opinion to offer to potential buyers.
A seller Move In Certified Inspection permits a clean home inspection report hosted on www.FetchReport.com to be used as a marketing tool.
Move In Certified yard signs attract potential buyers.
A seller Move In Certified Inspection is the ultimate gesture in forthrightness on the part of the seller.
The report might relieve a prospective buyer's unfounded suspicions, before they walk away.
A seller Move In Certified Inspection lightens negotiations and 11th-hour renegotiations.
The report might encourage the buyer to waive the inspection contingency.
The deal is less likely to fall apart the way they often do when a buyer's inspection unexpectedly reveals a problem, last minute.
The report provides full-disclosure protection from future legal claims.
Included with your home inspection is a 90-day limited home warranty. Effective January 1st, 2007, a warranty is provided by the American Home Warranty Company. Your inspector will hand you your signed warranty form at the inspection. Keep it for your records.
Read the Warranty in PDF format, click.... Warranty
The 90-day limited home warranty is effective from the date of the home inspection for a period of 90 days. If closing should occur after the expiration of the 90-day period, the warranty will extend to 21 days following closing.
What is covered? Drain lines, gas lines, faucets, electrical, heating, air conditioning, poured concrete foundations, water heater, floor joists, framing, roof structure, roof covering, load-bearing walls, garage doors, range, oven, dishwasher, microwave oven. All coverage's are subject to the exclusions and terms set forth in the warranty in detail.
What if something goes wrong? Send a written notification to the American Home Warranty Company describing the problem. Send a copy of the itemized estimate or repair bill. Send a copy of the inspection report. Send your signed warranty form. Then claims will be processed.
This section is meant to provide a short overview only. Those wishing to know more should follow the EPA link at the bottom of the page.
What is Radon?
Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas which is a product of the natural decay of uranium located deep underground.
Lighter than air, it rises through cracks and fissures in the ground and can enter a home through cracks, joints and openings in a concrete slab, or move easily through floor, wall and ceiling framing assemblies. Homes with concrete slab floors, basements and crawlspaces are all vulnerable to radon entry.
Although some radon problems can come from water sources, most are from soil gas.
What Are the Health Risks?
Because it's a radioactive gas, radon will eventually decay. When radon decays it emits tiny radioactive particles. If radon has been inhaled and is inside lungs, these particles can strike lung cells, causing abnormal lung cell replication, otherwise known as cancer.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calls radon the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.
No "safe" level of radon exists and the effects may be delayed for years, may affect children more than adults, or may never cause health problems. Generally, exposure to higher levels and longer exposure times increase the odds of developing radon-related health problems.
Where is Radon Found?
Some parts of the U.S. are more likely to have elevated levels of radon than others. The EPA National Radon Map provides great information on U.S. radon levels nationwide.
Radon Measurement
The only way to determine whether a home has levels which may pose a health risk it to have the home tested.
A number of testing (radon-measuring) devices are available, ranging from simple do-it-yourself charcoal canisters found at most hardware stores to sophisticated monitors with security features which provide immediate results at end of the typical 48-hour test.
Testing for real estate transactions should comply with EPA protocols and be performed by a qualified neutral third party. Qualifications may vary by state.
Testing requires "closed house conditions," and under certain conditions, opening windows in upper levels of the home make actually increase radon levels in the home due to "stack effect," or the rising of heated air.
Stack effect can pull gas out of the soil.
Test Results
Radon levels are measured and described in picoCuries of radon per liter of air, typically shown as "pCi/L". The EPA action limit is the limit at which the EPA recommends that mitigation take place. At this time (2007) this limit is 4 pCi/L.
What is Mitigation?
The process of lowering radon levels is called "mitigation." Mitigation may involve different approaches or combinations of approaches, depending on the situation and severity of the problem. Mitigation is often very successful.
Lighting accounts for 30% to 50% of a building's energy use, or about 17% of total annual U.S. electricity consumption. Ninety percent of the energy emitted by incandescent bulbs is in the form of heat, and only 10% is in the form of light. This means that not only is money wasted on inefficient lighting, but using incandescent bulbs lights increases cooling costs.
TYPES of LIGHTING
Compact Florescent
Generate 70% less heat, they're safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.
Use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer.
Save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb's lifetime.
Must turn on instantly, produce no sound, and fall within a warm color range or be otherwise labeled as providing cooler color tones, in addition to other quality requirements.
Are available in different sizes and shapes to fit in almost any fixture, for indoors and outdoors.
Where to Use CFLs:
To get the most energy savings, replace bulbs where lights are on the most, such as your family and living room, kitchen, dining room, and porch, with CFLs.
Although they are manufactured for use in recessed light fixtures, some CFLs have trouble operating in enclosed fixtures.
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs are available for different applications.
NOTE: Because they contain small amounts of mercury, CFLs must be disposed of properly.
Halogen
Although they produce significant amounts of heat and cost more than incandescent light bulbs, halogen lights last much longer than incandescents, give high-quality light and are 50% more efficient. Halogen lights are good for task lighting. Task lighting refers to lighting a small area where a particular task will be performed, such as reading.
Halogen Light Bulbs
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
Light emitting diodes are a relatively new technology in residential lighting. They emit low levels of heat, consume little electricity and last for tens of thousands of hours.
This LED recessed light fixture had been on for about 5 hours when these photos were taken.
The 12-watt LED fixture in the photos above emitted light intensity comparable to a 60-watt incandescent, will last approximately 50,000 hours and was close to room temperature
Full-Spectrum Bulbs
Full-spectrum bulbs emit light waves which cover a wide spectrum and are meant to simulate natural light. These bulbs may be either compact or tube fluorescent, incandescent or halogen bulbs. They can be recognized by markings reading "Full-Spectrum" or which indicate a Kelvin temperature above 5000.
Thanks for the invite. Hopefully we will have a great time. If not we will just enjoy everyones company. Maybe you or other might even want to exchange links. I keep hearing that this is a great way to increase our Internet exposure.
I perform comprehensive inspections involving a property's major visible, structural and mechanical systems for real estate owners and prospective buyers. The items examined in a typical inspection include the plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning systems, foundation, roof, exterior and interior structures and surfaces, and built-in appliances. The visual inspection culminates in a set of comprehensive, computer generated reports describing the condition of the items and systems inspected
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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