Downtown Revitalization and Parking Planning - 12/31/07 03:57 AM
When planning a downtown revitalization project the goal is to get people to come back to downtown and shop and spend money. Due to issues such as urban flight many people have moved into the suburbs and new businesses have sprung up there. Many lower income people have been stuck in … (2 comments)
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Regional Water Wars Recklessly Waged - 12/31/07 03:43 AM
More and more we see too many regional water wars over a decreasing or over taxed finite supply of water. There are many things to consider indeed. Often a larger city will attempt to take the water in a river, lake or underground aquifer from another smaller region. This sometimes temporarily … (2 comments)
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Neighborhood Mobile Watch Patrol - 12/31/07 03:30 AM
Have you found yourself disgusted with the crime lately? You know much of it is gang and drug related yet cannot understand how it has infiltrated your quiet town or how it has become such a menus in your city? Have you recently been a victim of a crime, vandalism or … (1 comments)
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Community Unity When Setting Up an Arson Watch Program - 12/31/07 03:21 AM
This years fire season has already started and so far the score is showing the fire fighters in the lead with several large fires under their belts in California, Nevada and Arizona. So far in 2005 we have not had any huge or "Mega Fires" yet, cross your fingers that our … (2 comments)
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When Building a Coin-Op Carwash - Should You Build One In-Bay-Automatic or Two? - 12/31/07 03:14 AM
Many coin-op car washes note that having an in-bay-automatic on the property increases sales, because not everyone want to stand out in the cold, or wind and wash the debris off their cars. Indeed, after a winter's storm there will be lines of cars trying to get into the in-bay-automatic system. … (1 comments)
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Economic Indicators - Small Businesses Not Increasing in the Buying of New Equipment - 12/31/07 03:00 AM
Worried about the Over All Economy? Well, I am and as an Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, well that's my job, to watch the trends, charts, world issues and put it all together. There are a few economic indicators that I follow quite closely in judging the US Economy … (1 comments)
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How Many Carwashes are in the United States? - 12/31/07 02:56 AM
After 27-years in the cleaning business, most in the car washing industry, folks still ask questions about the industry. It is kind of fun to reminisce. Not long ago, someone asked me a question that, is not answerable really and it made me think a bit, as there is no real … (0 comments)
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Car Wash Statistics and Economic Considerations in 2007 - 12/31/07 02:51 AM
What is the car wash business and industry sector trend for 2007 and 2008? Well, currently, new car wash construction has slowed a bit, due to water supply issues. Although more high-tech car washes that conserve water are getting popular. Labor supply is another issue slowing construction numbers of new car … (1 comments)
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Who Will Be the Largest US Carwash Chain in 2008? - 12/31/07 02:47 AM
The landscape and race for the largest carwash chain in the United States is changing fast. One fast mover is the company in Tucson, Car Wash Partners, a name that is climbing steadily. They are expanding their operations, but only when it makes sense to do so.
If you search for it … (2 comments)
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Aircraft Hanger Rain Water Collection to Wash Aircraft - Cost to Collect Water - 12/31/07 02:36 AM
Water is a precious commodity and as the population grows the water resources become more valuable as there are more people using a finite amount or sometimes during drought periods even less. One recent architect asked if it is possible to collect the rain water from an Aircraft Hanger to re-use … (3 comments)
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Why Live in Oregon? Well, How About the Best Oregon Aviation Museum - 12/31/07 02:32 AM
If you are an aviation enthusiast and you find yourself in Oregon you must check out The Capitan Michael King Smith Evergreen Aviation Educational Institute and Museum. From the time you approach the location until you leave, is a jammed packed experience in aviation history - there is an F-15 Eagle … (0 comments)
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Erosion Migration Techniques to Re-Invigorate Depleted Farmlands - 12/31/07 02:26 AM
Much of the farmland throughout the world is no longer nutrient rich due to years of farming and in many cases planting three crops per year with no breaks. The soil does not have time to regenerate or recharge and it does not have the nutrients it needs and therefore the … (1 comments)
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Landfills Filling Up - Bottled Water Industry Takes Off as Environment Suffers - 12/31/07 02:20 AM
The Bottled Water Industry has seen nothing but record profits in the last five years. Each year more and more companies enter the market and each year the environment suffers more and more. Although the plastic bottles are recyclable and fast decaying in the environment, it just is not fast enough … (3 comments)
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Commercial Real Estate Professionals Beware: Carwashes and Droughts - Serious Business - 12/31/07 02:16 AM
Anyone in the car wash industry has to be a little worried right now with all the water shortages and droughts going on around the country these days. If you have ever thought of the problems with droughts and the car washing business; these issues are huge you are correct. For … (1 comments)
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Seeding Eroding Coastline During Tropical Storms, Monsoons, Hurricanes and Typhoons - 12/31/07 02:09 AM
Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones erode our coastlines and cause future flooding, land loss and severe harm to wildlife. Even a series of small Tropical Storms, Monsoons or Nor-Easters will cause damage that can be irreparable - is there some way we can stop this serious erosion?
What if we begin putting seeds … (0 comments)
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Please Read This Article If You Want To Protect Your Home - 12/31/07 02:00 AM
Every family wishes to protect their domicile and it is more than just a home where people like, it is much more than that and the need to protect your living space and territory is an innate characteristic of the species. Humans are a territorial animal like other higher mammals; we … (0 comments)
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Cutting Back the Brush to Prepare - Abatement Programs for Fire Season - 12/31/07 01:55 AM
Fire Season is approaching along with Hurricane Season and what we see now is a whole lot of last minute nervous tension and preparation and questioning; Did we do enough to protect our civilization from the 2005 Atlantic Tropical Hurricane Season?
We are reassured that our government, FEMA and private sector are … (3 comments)
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Home Improvement Service Companies and Liability Issues - 12/31/07 01:46 AM
Home Improvement companies, which service our needs and the handymen that run them are under the gun these days due to all the rules and regulations, permits and fines at all levels of government. In fact, one recent franchise company which is basically a; Handy Man Service, sells franchises where a … (1 comments)
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Thinking About Buying a Truck Wash Think About Truck Parking and Hours of Service Rules - 12/31/07 01:36 AM
Many folks are concerned that truck drivers spend too many hours straight driving across the country and that in doing so jeopardize the public safety on our Nation's highways. Indeed there have been some accidents however much of the concern is completely overblown.
The United States Navy has done lots of tests … (0 comments)
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Eminent Domain, Family Farms, and Fair Market Values Discussed - 12/31/07 01:29 AM
When important infrastructure in our nation must be built to ensure economic vitality, proper distribution or the basic needs of our civilization, we must also be cognizant of the Displacement of Family Farms, Fair Market Values and the reality of the importance of the project too. Taking family farms even if … (0 comments)
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New Housing Starts Do Not Guarantee Aftermarket Sales of Home Improvements - 12/31/07 01:21 AM
We have been studying a trend of new home buyers in the US in light of this latest housing boom. And how we should adjust our strategies to deal with it. Last year we saw 5.56 million sales of existing homes and we all know that the number of brand new … (0 comments)
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Most Washington DC Suburban Middle Class Neighborhoods in Real Estate Housing Decline - 12/31/07 01:12 AM
Even with all the massive government spending in Washington, DC and all the overpaid jobs in all the corporations leaching off the government we still find that the economy, especially the housing market cannot sustain itself. It is evident that this is happening due to the real estate prices locally in Washington, … (0 comments)
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Las Vegas Real Estate Market Has Collapsed - Massive Foreclosures: The Bubble She Has Burst - 12/31/07 01:00 AM
Not more than three-years ago folks were putting their deposits down and getting onto 18-month waiting lists to buy new track homes as Las Vegas became the fastest growing real estate market in the country. Unfortunately, now things are a bit different. Sure people from California are moving out into the … (0 comments)
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Humble Dwellings, Negative Equity and Walk-Aways in an Ownership Society - 12/31/07 12:55 AM
Humble Dwellings
As we watch the real estate market pull back slightly in the United States it appears that the equity level averages are at an all time low. Where as we are coming off an all time high of home ownership the contrast is a little troubling. Home ownership is good … (0 comments)
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Buying and Selling Real Estate in a Post Bubble - Buyer's Market - 12/30/07 06:43 AM
Buying Real Estate Post Bubble
Buying Real Estate Post Bubble can be a little tricky, but with more property on the market the balance between supply and demand is clearly in your favor. Patience of course is now your friend, as desperate sellers and stress sales can make your purchase an excellent … (2 comments)
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Recycling Carwash Wash Water for Landscape and Toilets - 12/30/07 06:30 AM
Recently a Business Marketing Student suggested using carwash waste wash water and running it thru and RO Reverse Osmosis unit and then using it water the landscaping at the car wash and even to flush the toilet. In fact the brainchild of this concept, Paula Chavis tells an online think tank … (1 comments)
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Housing and Smart Houses; Energy Self Sufficient Possibilities - 12/30/07 06:23 AM
Housing and smart houses. I believe that we could have avoided this upcoming Natural Gas Shortage by building smarter and more efficient homes. For instance by using small devises which are simple such as using the idea of mini-hydro pumps, reflective energy boosting solar efficiency from a water pond (with 1-2 inches of … (9 comments)
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Is a Solar House in Your Future? - 12/30/07 06:07 AM
For those of you who are living in a solar powered house and living off the grid. I salute you. For those of you who generate more power than you use and sell energy in reverse back to the Electrical Grid, well let's just say that; You are my hero.
Some people … (2 comments)
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What About Gray Water - Why Don't We Put it to Better Use? - 12/30/07 05:16 AM
Brenda Sprankle at Rodeo Realty in California asks;
"What about water power? Is there a reason why the recycled gray water isn't put to use when building these new homes to water the lawns or gardens to grow our own food?
These are excellent questions, as we know that Southern California uses way … (4 comments)
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Why are Southern California Homes Built with Little or No Insulation? - 12/30/07 04:56 AM
Brenda Sprankle at Rodeo Realty in California asks;
"Why are Southern California Homes Built with Little or No Insulation?"
This is an outstanding question and one, which deserves a decent answer. You see, new homes are not required to put much insulation in the homes and therefore they don't, indeed they should … (1 comments)
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How Come it Has Taken so Long to Get Decent Hybrid Cars on the Market? - 12/30/07 04:35 AM
Brenda Sprankle at Rodeo Realty in Simi Valley and Calabasas California asks;
"How Come it Has Taken so Long to Get Decent Hybrid Cars on the Market?"
There are a many reasons why hybrids have taken so long to come to market - one of the biggest reasons is that it costs … (4 comments)
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Will People Lose Their Jobs if We Switch to Using More Alternative Energies? - 12/30/07 04:28 AM
Brenda Sprankle at Rodeo Realty in California asks as very tough question with regards to alternative energy;
"Do you know how many people would be out of jobs or how much tax revenue would be
lost if we didn't have to pay the electric company or the gas company or the … (6 comments)
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Why doesn't the housing industry use solar panels when building a home? - 12/30/07 04:16 AM
Brenda Sprankle at Rodeo Realty in California asks a serious question about the use of Solar Panels in homes; "Why doesn't the housing industry use solar panels when building a home?"
This was a huge topic in "Building Industry News" magazine for a good nine months at the top of the bubble. … (4 comments)
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Why Don't We Harvest More Wind Power? The Windmills Mesmerize Me! - 12/30/07 04:10 AM
The question, which represents this article was proposed by Brenda Sprankle at Rodeo Realty in California. I believe we should explore this question and consider all the reasons behind the answers.
Do you like Windmills? Well, I like them too and you are not about to see me swing my sword at … (4 comments)
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United States Citizens Need Water Conservation Training Now! - 12/30/07 01:16 AM
Some people have no clue as to the value of water and they waste it without concern. In many regions this is simply unacceptable and as our population swells to 420 million by 2020 we will need to solve this issue. Many rural areas are not able to keep up with … (3 comments)
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Texas Water Conservation, Desalination and Water Loss Mitigation - 12/30/07 01:09 AM
New Technologies and Procedures of Desalinating Brackish Water Made Economically Feasible in TX
There is no doubt that Texas is leading the World in new technologies and procedures in the area of water conservation. A new pilot project in West Texas, which is a cooperative effort between research staff at a local … (1 comments)
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Starting a Mobile or Fixed Site Truck Fleet Oil Change Business in Idaho - Case Study - 12/30/07 12:58 AM
When considering a new Fleet Oil Change Business one has to decide whether they wish to go mobile or have a fixed site location. Let's take a case study in Idaho, if someone is in a rural area, they might not have enough volume to make hay with a fixed site … (0 comments)
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So You Want to Build a Truck Wash Outside of Town? - 12/30/07 12:52 AM
Consulting in the Truck Wash Industry is not easy, often we get calls from people all over the country who proclaim that they are interested in setting up a Truck Wash. Not long ago, a gentleman from Texas emailed for some consulting services in the Truck Wash Sector and before we … (0 comments)
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Living Off the Grid; Is It for You? - 12/30/07 12:46 AM
Are you getting tired of the high gasoline prices to fill up your automobile? Well what about the high natural gas prices to heat your home or the increasing energy costs of electricity? Well if you really get tired of this and have come to a wits end, perhaps it is … (2 comments)
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I Want to Make My House a Home - 12/30/07 12:39 AM
After 911 we say many people somewhat checking out of society and retreating to their houses and spending more time there. We say an increase in new housing starts and a rapid and unprecedented growth in first time car buyers. We saw many chose to move to suburbs which grew into … (1 comments)
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Solar Power Panels on the Roof of Your Home? - 12/30/07 12:31 AM
Have you ever driven by a house and saw that the top of the roof is covered with solar panels? Do you have any idea how much this family saves electricity bills; quite a lot. And there's no reason you cannot do this to.
Previously in the last decade the return on … (6 comments)
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Home Air Purifier Smoke Detector Combo Unit - 12/30/07 12:26 AM
Air purifiers can clean the smoke out of your house and save you from dying in a fire, as it will remove the smoke quickly and efficiently. There is a problem with this, as your home's smoke detector may be delayed in going off if the air purifier is too efficient, … (2 comments)
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Turn Your Home Into A Fortress - 12/30/07 12:19 AM
The best way to turn your home into a fortress is to carefully and strategically consider all your options. First, you need to make a layout of your property and look at an aerial diagram of your home. Then you will need an aerial of the neighborhood, you can go to … (1 comments)
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Home Security System, You Are A winner! A Marketing Ploy to Beware of - 12/30/07 12:06 AM
Have you ever been to a local trade show or fair and filled out a raffle and later you find out you have won a Home Security System? Well, you are not alone. Sometimes everyone one wins. That's right you are not as lucky as you think you are. Well you … (1 comments)
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Garage Door Opener Climate Control Systems of the Future - 12/29/07 11:38 PM
Garage Door Openers have been saving Americans from back injuries for over 35 years, yet there has been few new modifications or major innovations in these garage door openers. Sure there have been nice new features such as the garage door clicker so you do not have to get out of … (0 comments)
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Through Efficiency and Technology - We Can Cut Our Nation's Energy Consumption 50% by 2025 - 12/29/07 11:18 PM
There is a big debate out there on how much energy consumption that our nation can reduce through technology and conservation. If we concentrate on efficiency one recent report suggest that we can reduce our energy usage by up to 35%, yet the Environmental Protection Agency disagrees, stating in a recent … (2 comments)
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2008 The Funding of Alternative and Green Energy Innovations - 12/29/07 11:14 PM
The cost of using fossil fuels to make energy for our nation is getting to be an economic burden on our middle class and country. Using Oil for fuel in our cars is causing significant problems with monetary outflows. Burning coal is polluting the air and that is a challenge to … (1 comments)
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Let's Talk About Energy In 2008 - 12/29/07 10:22 PM
In case you had not considered it, Energy is one of the most important flows for a human civilization. Indeed, it is wise to work on the most efficient generation and distribution methods with the least impact. The US Department of Energy (DOE) is one of the most important agencies in … (1 comments)
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Securing Home Water Supplies; Conservation of Water Planning - 12/29/07 09:54 PM
Generally when it rains the water runs off the house and yards into the gutter and into pipes or storm drains which feed it into the river, stream or ocean. This conventional approach is problematic in that many of the countries regions are in severe drought.
As we expand our population … (1 comments)
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Thoughts on Surveillance Camera Positioning - 12/29/07 09:44 PM
It is a known fact that advertising is made to attract our eyes. Marketers work very hard to plant visual memories in your mind. They use anomaly phrases, rhetorical questions, sexy images and ironic text. There are many reasons why this is done but the biggest reason is that it works. … (3 comments)
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Abatement of Weeds at Your Log Cabin - 12/29/07 09:35 PM
If you have a secluded getaway like a log cabin in the woods you need to insure that you very carefully remove the weeds, underbrush and debris around to insure that you are safe from wildfires. So often people lose their homes who are near forests or wilderness because they fail … (0 comments)
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Flood Pumps; Purchases Prior Particularly Pitiful Storms - 12/29/07 09:27 PM
If you live in a flood zone and even if you live in a hundred year or thousand-year flood zone in your area it might be wise to buy a flood pump before the next huge storm. So many cities and counties have had extreme regional weather storms in the last … (0 comments)
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Orec XLR Robotic Vacuum and Air Purifier - 12/29/07 09:19 PM
Today we see awesome vacuum cleaners and little robotic vacuum cleaners. We see in catalogs special air purifiers like the Ionic Breeze and on Television the Orec XL home air purifier. We also see robots, which can entertain us in the form of household size robotic replica pets. All these are … (0 comments)
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Artificial Intelligent Designs in Home Architecture - 12/29/07 09:04 PM
Today we have artificial intelligent computers programming themselves and coming up with things, which work, but do not look similar to anything we as humans might design. In fact they do resemble much of anything that humans might consider when programming a computer, yet these programs do work and the give … (0 comments)
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Homeowners Need an Innovative Shadow Creation Device for Home Security - 12/29/07 08:51 PM
The study of light and physics is so very cool and in fact it is amazing what you can do with different spectrums of light. Take black light for instance, it can be used to cast shadows or do all sorts of things. Think of all the possibilities for such a … (0 comments)
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California Fires - A Million Households With Rotten Food and Pink Scenery Out Your Window - The Aftermath - 12/29/07 06:54 AM
Many people do not consider all the problems with the aftermath of a group of huge Wildfires like those, which struck California in October of 2007. After the fires were put out, there were 100s of thousands of tons of ash to be removed, much of it toxic. This is enough … (7 comments)
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New Homes are Ripe for Solar Power - 12/29/07 06:32 AM
In the last five years many Americans have bought new homes and in fact this has been one of the biggest housing booms in U.S. history. More people have bought new homes then in any other time in our nation. What many people may not realize is that by today's standards … (10 comments)
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Real Estate Law and Knowing What You are Signing - 12/28/07 10:59 PM
Real Estate Law is a lot more complicated than it has ever been in the past. Now when you sign a brokerage agreement with a realtor instead of 1 page or 2 pages it is 14 pages? That is just for the listing. Why is it so long? Well that is … (2 comments)
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Long Term Droughts in Many Regions Severely Impact Business and Economic Stability - 12/28/07 10:42 PM
Many regions in the United States of America are experiencing long-term droughts and there are areas that are now in Level 3 Drought conditions. Generally, in such conditions people are not allowed to water their lawns, wash your car and water is restricted in its usage. Worse off some of these … (7 comments)
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Big Box Stores and Local Economics - 12/28/07 10:13 PM
The Wal-Mart Phenomena is interesting. Wal-Mart today is the biggest supplier of goods to the American People, it is the biggest employer and could be said to be the distribution system for the Nation. No wonder all large corporations study its transportation and distribution models, Wal-Mart has won the game. Thanks … (2 comments)
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Green Roofs and Vegetation Covered Buildings - 12/28/07 09:49 PM
There has been a lot of talk about Green Roofs, where the tops of buildings are converted into gardens and mini-parks. The idea makes sense because it slows down all the roof tops in creating Urban Heat. Urban heat is known to increase city temperatures more than 10 degrees at times … (8 comments)
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The Realities of Foreclosures and Fraud - 12/28/07 09:10 PM
Many banks and consumers are claiming fraud when it comes to the subprime mortgage problems, and yet we need to ask ourselves how much is really due to fraud. The New York Times did an interesting piece on this, it had a few examples of how at least some of the … (5 comments)
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Audit Air Conditioning Airflows - Improve Comfort, Climate and Conservation - 12/28/07 07:53 PM
Have you ever gone to a business and literally been frozen? This often happens at restaurants and coffee shops where the temperature control is pre-set or the employees set it for their level of comfort. Of course the employees are moving around a lot and stay toasty even in the blizzard … (1 comments)
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Down Towns in the Suburbs are Changing - 12/28/07 07:41 PM
Down Town re-vitalization projects use to be for Cities, but now downtown suburbs are getting a face lift too. And with so many people living in the suburbs often down towns are now a traffic mess; indeed cars are clogging town areas.
Many Downtown Beautification Projects, revitalization in suburbia have gone to … (0 comments)
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Nearly 50% of Arsonists are Either Fire Fighters or Fire Department Rejects - 12/28/07 07:29 PM
Everyone loves firemen, because they are considered heroes and many young boys if you ask them what they want to be when they grow up they will tell you; Firemen. But, one thing we never consider is that not all firemen are good. I hesitate to say this, because personally, I … (9 comments)
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Northeast to God - Global Warming Bring it On! - 12/28/07 07:18 PM
So anyway, I talked to a good friend of mine the other day, you know to wish them the happiest of holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and what have you. I asked him what he wanted for Christmas, and he indicated he would really like to have some Global … (4 comments)
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Accelerating Affordable Housing - 12/28/07 02:21 AM
With real estate prices experiencing a bit of a pull back in many markets and topped out in others we see that so many people may not be able to buy homes based on their current wages and rising interest rates. Even more alarming is that many who had bought homes … (3 comments)
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Real Estate Moving and Relocation Considerations - Hiring the Best Company - 12/28/07 02:07 AM
One of the biggest ways consumer feel that they have been ripped off is by moving companies. Generally, you will pay them upfront a fee to move your furniture and belongs and once they have them, well you better make sure you trust them. This of course means you need to … (1 comments)
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What a Clean Car Says About Your Attention to Detail as a Realtor - 12/28/07 02:01 AM
A dirty car is a real no-no for realtors showing property, even if you take the customer's car or they follow you. A dirty car shows a lack of detail and sloppiness, whether it is true or not first perceptions are difficult to dismiss from memory.
A clean car says you … (96 comments)
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Clean Up Your Real Estate Office Exterior - A Disgusting Image Detracts from Your Professionalism - 12/27/07 07:30 PM
How often have you walked up to a real estate office and found chewing gum on the sidewalk, spilled chocolate fudge bar remnants or black marks from bicycle tires or skateboarders? I did a quick survey the other day when I went cruising over the hill to the next city and … (1 comments)
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Water Crisis Looms as California Wildfires Devastate - Next Up - Landslides and Erosion - 12/27/07 06:03 AM
California is usually known for its ominous Earthquakes, but right now most folks are saying: Earthquake, smirthquake! Earthquake, bring it on, just get rid of these wildfires and all this smoke. Air quality in California is at deadly levels and people are reporting respiratory problems, red eyes and choking. If that … (2 comments)
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Drought and Water Conservation - Components of a Perfect Public Relations Campaign - 12/27/07 05:54 AM
Selling a water conservation plan to the public is not easy. Many drought mitigation public relations campaigns fail because they do not seem fair to the water users. Other fail because they either over embellish the shortages once and then people do not by into the crisis later. Some fail because … (1 comments)
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Funding Alternative Energy for Housing - 12/27/07 05:48 AM
We must continually work to make more energy efficient housing. There is virtually no one who disagrees with such a worthy goal. The question becomes; how will we be able to take the next giant leap forward, while maintaining the incremental gains in energy efficient housing. The only way to propel … (1 comments)
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Why Realtors Should be Advertising in a High School Booster Club Programs - 12/27/07 05:16 AM
Most small businesses in communities around the country spend thousands of dollars each year in advertising to no avail. They waste money on ads that do not pull in customers like it should and yes those many businesses often include real estate professionals too. Even with that said, there are the … (6 comments)
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Advertising is Serious Business and a Crappy Set of Ads Can Kill a Real Estate Company's Image - 12/27/07 04:55 AM
Some folks in real estate say that all news is good news and therefore you would assume that these same folks think that all advertising even crappy advertising is better than no advertising. Well those are both mistakes when it comes to building brands, communicating with customers or driving targeted sales … (0 comments)
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Tips on Marketing from Avis Rent-A-Car - Case Study as it Relates to Real Estate Agents - 12/27/07 04:35 AM
Not every agent is the top agent in a geographic area, in my career, I have always been fortunate to be the best at everything, but sometimes being the best is not as important as the message you have for your customers. Sometimes folks like the underdog, and sometimes even a … (0 comments)
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Shrink Wrap Your Real Estate Car for Maximum Impact - 12/27/07 04:20 AM
One of the greatest ways to advertise if your company has company vehicles on the road is to shrink wrap the entire vehicle with an advertisement or a picture. I am sure you have seen these vehicles where the advertisement wraps around the entire car curving with fenders and bumpers and … (1 comments)
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Have Your Real Estate Office Sponsor Recycling Direct Mail Marketing Campaign - 12/27/07 04:05 AM
Recycling programs are not easy to get going, but helping in the process will help your real estate career and office to some real community goodwill. Sure, there are always people willing to participate, but you need a lot of synergy to do any good and that is where you company … (2 comments)
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Art for Staging Homes and to Decorate Your Office - 12/27/07 03:27 AM
If you are wise then you know that having quality art in a home you are selling makes all the difference, but you have to be careful that you do not overstep your bounds, otherwise you might turn the buyers off. In a real estate office, you also need quality art, … (7 comments)
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High-Tech Home of the Future Starts With Technologically Advanced Material - 12/26/07 04:00 AM
Are you considering building an energy efficient high-tech home? Well perhaps you ought to think about some of the latest and greatest materials that are now coming available. Today we have solar cell panels that are one-third the cost and 5 times more efficient, thus your return on investment is that … (4 comments)
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Post California Wildfire Ash - What You Need to Know About Cleaning Up - 12/26/07 03:52 AM
After big fires like those in California in October of 2007, folks need to know what to do about the huge quantities of ash both outdoors and ash that has gotten indoors. Some ash is toxic, but most that comes from burnt brush is relatively harmless and is similar to the … (5 comments)
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Real Estate and Franchising - 12/26/07 03:33 AM
It is often discussed in Business Management Program or MBA School history books that Ray Kroc's McDonalds was successful due to the fact that they controlled the real estate underneath every store, and the appreciation was their true asset. There is some truth to this, but that is not the only … (1 comments)
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Tired of Mowing the Lawn: Condominium Living on the Rise in America - 12/26/07 03:15 AM
With all the ride on lawn mowers that Wal-Mart, Sears and Home Depot are selling it is indeed interesting that the number one reason why people wish to live in condominiums is so they do not have to mow the lawn or upkeep the landscaping.
Are Americans lazy? I mean riding … (0 comments)
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What if the Real Estate Prices Always Went Up? - 12/26/07 02:44 AM
We have all heard the saying what goes up must come down. We hear stock brokers tell us to buy low and sell high, then when it goes down again, repeat that process. We know from physics class that "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction" and it … (2 comments)
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Real Estate Buyers Market - Some Thing to Consider - 12/26/07 02:28 AM
You must buy real estate was the battle cry two-years ago, unfortunately this was very bad advice at the top of the market. Yet, many people believed prices would never go downward again? For those who have lived decades and followed the real estate market they know full good and well, … (0 comments)
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Home Ownership, Ownership Societies, and Home Equity Considered - 12/26/07 01:21 AM
One of the greatest things that a society or civilization can have is "buy-in" from its citizenry. This includes things like voting, serving in the military or even a stronger tie such as owning a piece of the nation. Perhaps you might call this a sense of nationalism that comes from … (2 comments)
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Active Rain and Other Industry Social Networking Websites Might Be Self-Sabotaging Their Systems - 12/26/07 01:05 AM
There is a pretty popular Industry Blog and Social Networking site specifically designed for realtors and real estate industry professionals; it is called ActiveRain. Is Active Rain a lightening rod and rain maker for those who use it? Will it suddenly be raining, not cats and dogs but referrals? Some folks … (4 comments)
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Is Your Life and Career in Real Estate a Perfect Storm? - 12/24/07 03:23 AM
More and more realtors are getting out of the business - some of those who are battle hardened and will never give up have become cynical. I advise you to take a different path, the bumpy dirt road. Why you ask? Well, because adversity builds character; that's why.
You see, life is … (10 comments)
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Be Careful Writing Advertising Informational Real Estate Financial Advice Pieces as a Ghost Writer - 12/24/07 01:09 AM
It is generally okay for you to write articles, as a ghostwriter for business folks, but beware, as there are some laws now in a few industries, which makes it illegal for the clients of such articles to send them to their customers and claim that they in fact wrote them, … (0 comments)
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Charitable Giving Real Estate - 12/23/07 07:38 PM
Recently traveling thru West Virginia on my way out West to the Plains of Texas and the Hot New Mexico Desert, I met with a financial planner at a coffee shop and we discussed many new strategies of giving away money. Perhaps you are not aware but giving away money is … (1 comments)
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Commercial Property Strategies Considered - 12/23/07 07:35 PM
Speculating in Commercially zoned property can be a little bit of a challenge. Buying up such property is a smart investment especially during a down economy as things will go up eventually and well there you will have an instant rise in valuations as supply and demand tilt the tables once … (1 comments)
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Building Your Dream Home - This Buyer's Market is Perfect Time to Secure the Raw Land - 12/23/07 07:23 PM
Your home will most likely be your largest investment in your lifetime and for that reason most people want to make sure they get it right. Lots of folks wish to have a new home, a brand new that no one has ever lived in before.
Well this makes a lot of … (1 comments)
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Putting Together a Mobile Neighborhood Watch Program In Your Community - 12/23/07 07:13 PM
More and more citizens are worried about crime rates in their cities. Crime has been slightly on the rise for the last three years. Worse, as realtors know; for every 1% increase in the foreclosure rate, statistically that increases the crime rate by 2.8% - see the problem?
Many people blame … (1 comments)
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Properly Done Water Conservation PR Campaigns Work - Realtors Must Be Involved - 12/23/07 06:42 PM
Water conservation is very important for the in the United States and when a town or city ends up in Level II or Level III drought it can cause real estate valuations to collapse. One of the first things that the city does to curtail water usage during a Level II … (1 comments)
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As a Realtor You Have More Power Than You Think - Do Not Discount Consumer Confidence - 12/23/07 06:09 PM
Do Not Discount Consumer Confidence - Speak Positive About Real Estate Market in Your Town
In business, we often say that the customer is King and indeed, the consumer is the supreme authority, not only on which products and services they purchase but also on the economy itself. If consumers believe the economy … (5 comments)
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The Earth is Cooling Down - Global Cooling and Why You Should Buy Beach Front Property - 12/23/07 05:38 PM
There certainly has been a lot in the newspaper and on TV about global warming. In fact, there has been more information on global warming than there ever was on Y2K, which if you'll recall was to be the calamity of all calamities caused by mankind. There were almost as many … (2 comments)
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Tips on Writing Lots of Blog Articles and Blowing Everyone Else Away - 12/23/07 05:20 PM
If you want to increase your quantity in the number of article that you write then perhaps I might assist you. You see, I am of the opinion that the best way to create articles is to write out 20, 50 or even 100 titles that you wish to write on, … (4 comments)
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Truck Wash Steel Buildings Have Tripled in Cost in the Last 4-Years - 12/23/07 05:00 PM
There are many ways to build a Truck Wash building. Some Truck Wash buildings are made out of concrete tilt-up structures, others are steel buildings and there are advantages to both. It used to be that you could build a steel car wash building a lot cheaper than you could Truck … (0 comments)
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Billboard Blight is Not Alright - Los Angeles Citizens Taking Action - 12/23/07 04:36 PM
There is a huge controversy in Los Angeles over the billboard blight. More and more billboards are going up all the time in many business areas. Generally they are on the corner lots and business owners are allowing the advertising companies to build billboards that go over the top of their … (5 comments)
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Plan to Prevent Fires Completed - Arson Prevention - 12/22/07 05:50 AM
About 11 years ago, the big Malibu Fires in the Santa Monica Mountains burned from Las Virgines Road at the 101 Freeway all the way to Malibu. The fire was wind driven by the notorious Santa Ana winds. The fire was so intense it left a literal hell through the mountains. … (1 comments)
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Keeping a Scrapbook Might Help Sell Your Home? - 12/22/07 02:28 AM
If you are really smart and want to sell your home in this buyers market then you might have to work a lot harder than normal. This is because there are so many homes on the market currently that it is pretty tough on the buyers, as you probably already know. … (2 comments)
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Commercial Property Management Public Relations - 12/22/07 02:24 AM
It is important always for property management companies to maintain a good standing in the community. This is why property management companies are always involved in civic events, service clubs and chambers of commerce. Often property management companies also operate parking structures and parking lots and are aware of the need … (1 comments)
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Property Management Considerations for College Housing - 12/22/07 02:21 AM
Property Management is not easy, but there are ways to make your job easier if you will understand a little about human psychology and work with the tenants whether they be business owners or residents. One group of properties that is an industry sub-sector is managing properties for college housing. The … (1 comments)
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2008 Down Town Re-vitalization Thoughts - 12/22/07 02:06 AM
Urban flight and the move of the middle class to the suburbs has changed the dynamics of the way Americans live, work and play. It has also changed our downtowns forever. Additionally, in many small towns where factories have closed nearby and manufacturing jobs have headed for foreign shores we see … (5 comments)
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Real Estate Investment Clubs Buying Carwash Properties - 12/22/07 02:01 AM
Would it be wise for a real estate investment club to invest in carwashes securing their investment with carwash assets and real property? Could the revenue stream model of an average fixed site carwash, perhaps a new robotic high tech touch-less carwash, support such an investment? Many a real estate investor … (0 comments)
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Car Wash Industry Surveys and Reality Check - 12/22/07 01:39 AM
As a self-proclaimed industry analyst spanning many sub-sectors of our economy I always find it fascinating to study Industry Surveys although I never seem to quite trust the data. Why you ask? Because it always seems that I will read one research paper or survey, which says one thing and another, … (0 comments)
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Is the Building Industry Forsaking our National Sovereignty? - 12/22/07 01:36 AM
In the United States we have many industries, which continually hire illegal aliens and illegal immigrants and we all know, which industries are the greatest problems. For instance the Building Industry is a huge problem, as they hire sub-contractors knowingly who hire illegal aliens by the busload and who are clearly … (1 comments)
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How Much Does it Cost to Build a Truck Wash? - 12/22/07 01:34 AM
Many folks want to build a truck wash and then start making a business plan. They go look at a truck wash and then think to themselves, well I can build something like that cheap enough. Get a steal building, put down some concrete, buy some equipment and suddenly I am … (1 comments)
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2008 Strategies and Considerations for Carwashes - 12/22/07 01:30 AM
Starting a Carwash from scratch can be a monumental task and even if you buy a carwash, which is already built with a customer base it can still be quite tough. Over the past 27-years I have competed with Fixed Site Carwashes with mobile car wash units in some 450 cities, … (2 comments)
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Automated Parking Garages and Commerical Real Estate Discussed - 12/22/07 01:26 AM
In the future automated parking garages will certainly be everywhere, as robotic cars approach they will automatically sync with the automatic parking garages and be guided in like the Shuttle Craft of the Star Ship Enterprise. Sounds too way out for you? Well it shouldn't as we already have several automatic … (1 comments)
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Car Wash Property Considerations - 12/22/07 01:09 AM
When choosing a car wash location an entrepreneur must consider the competition in the trading area, which is approximately 8-miles and can be as much as up to 10-miles. An oil change facility attached to the car wash could pull for up to 12-miles.
Detailing Shops generally pull from 5-miles for … (1 comments)
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