sellers: Today I am Julia Childs...But better looking
- 11/15/10 09:04 AM
The Oxo salad chopper has made chopping salad so much easier for me! My wife eats a lot of greens and preparing salad is not one of my favorite things. This cool knife that looks like a pizza cutter is so cool I can even get the kids to help. It cuts everything for salads including nuts with just a few rolls! I don't even need a separate cutting board or worry that someone will lose a finger. The cool angled handle on the roller is built to work perfectly with the oxo bowl and the rim of the (3 comments)
sellers: How to handle a necessary evil
- 11/12/10 06:06 AM
The necessary evil I am talking about is extension cords! (insert horror music here). Most people don't think twice about these potential safety hazards so I have put together a simple list to use them safely.
1. Don't run extension cords through a doorway where they can get damaged. 2. As tempting as it may be, don't hide extension cords under carpet where you can't see them and they may overheat. 3. An extension cord can be a trip hazard, keep them away from high traffic areas. 4. Never use extension cords end to end. That doubles your risk. (1 comments)
No matter what the surface, the outside of your home will have dirt and grime build up. Cleaning it is a whole lot easier than you may think. Pressure washing that the pros use isn't always the answer. More often than not you don't need to re paint the surface either. Save yourself some time and money with the following tips.
Mild detergent and water usually do the trick. First, get the surface wet with the detergent and water mixture using a garden sprayer. Grab a soft brush like the kind you use to wash (5 comments)
sellers: The builder made a sticky mess!
- 11/08/10 03:33 AM
One of the inspectors at United Professional Real Estate Inspectors was featured in a local news story about a bee infestation mess. Dennis Candler (he's the same guy who was stranded on a roof in an earlier blog) disovers it's all the responsibility of the builder to fix this horror. http://www.kcra.com/news/25629087/detail.html (2 comments)
If you are anything like me, you have often wondered how FICO really works? The company behind FICO has published the specific point drops for common missteps. You can find them on the fico website. Here is the breakdown of 3 common financial difficulties and how their specific point drops. Maxed Out Credit Card · Starting score of 780: 25-40 point drop · Starting score of 680: 10-30 point drop 30 Day Delinquency · Starting score of 780: 90-110 point drop · Starting score of 680: 60-80 point drop Foreclosure · Starting score of 780: 140-160 point drop · (0 comments)
If you are anything like me, you have often wondered how FICO really works? The company behind FICO has published the specific point drops for common missteps. You can find them on the fico website. Here is the breakdown of 3 common financial difficulties and how their specific point drops. Maxed Out Credit Card · Starting score of 780: 25-40 point drop · Starting score of 680: 10-30 point drop 30 Day Delinquency · Starting score of 780: 90-110 point drop · Starting score of 680: 60-80 point drop Foreclosure · Starting score of 780: 140-160 point drop · (3 comments)
If you are anything like me, you have often wondered how FICO really works? The company behind FICO has published the specific point drops for common missteps. You can find them on the fico website. Here is the breakdown of 3 common financial difficulties and how their specific point drops. Maxed Out Credit Card · Starting score of 780: 25-40 point drop · Starting score of 680: 10-30 point drop 30 Day Delinquency · Starting score of 780: 90-110 point drop · Starting score of 680: 60-80 point drop Foreclosure · Starting score of 780: 140-160 point drop · Starting (0 comments)
sellers: Red Flags you can spot on your own
- 10/22/10 04:12 AM
Home inspections by a qualified inspector are always a must. That being said, there are a few things you can spot on your own as well. · EXTENSION CORDS- A labyrinth of wires from the outlets to computers, televisions, radios, lamps, etc. may tell you the home has an outdated electrical system. A qualified home inspector can tell you if it can be fixed simply or with new wiring. · FOUNDATION CRACKS- Vertical cracks are mostly nothing to worry about but horizontal cracks are another story. Horizontal cracks often require excavation, drainage provisions and wall repair. Opinions can be different with (0 comments)
We all know curb appeal is a big deal. Lack of curb appeal can be a big deal breaker. The exterior of your home gives off a first impression. It also protects your living space from all sorts of damage from animals, humans and mother nature. If you are looking to change your home’s exterior but just can’t visualize what you want there is a cool new on line tool from Better Homes and Gardens. http://www.bhg.com/app/colorahome/member/index.jsp Color-a-Home’s website allows you to test various designs and color combinations. Some of the exteriors you can check out on (0 comments)
We all know curb appeal is a big deal. Lack of curb appeal can be a big deal breaker. The exterior of your home gives off a first impression. It also protects your living space from all sorts of damage from animals, humans and mother nature. If you are looking to change your home’s exterior but just can’t visualize what you want there is a cool new on line tool from Better Homes and Gardens. http://www.bhg.com/app/colorahome/member/index.jsp Color-a-Home’s website allows you to test various designs and color combinations. Some of the exteriors you can check out on your (1 comments)
Mortgage guidelines may be up and there are better loan disclosures for consumers but the FBI says mortgage fraud is on the rise. Fraud comes in many forms. The cost across the nation is between 4 and 6 billion dollars a year. Common frauds target those homeowners behind on their mortgage and looking for help. There are a lot of great organizations that dedicate themselves to helping homeowners. It is important to know the signs of a common fraud. This short video from NBC’s Today Show is a great outline to help you be aware of the criminals (3 comments)
sellers: Know how your buyer thinks!
- 10/15/10 04:50 AM
Sellers can gain a competitive edge by studying the research of the psychology of home buying. According to Smart Money’s David Rout, subtle factors can be deal breakers in today’s buyer’s market. You and I know that a bad paint floor in a room can be rectified by a few coats of paint. Research shows that subtle factors like these can be deal breakers. A study from the University of Texas really may surprise you. It turns out that listings that boast renovations like “new paint, new carpet, and/or roof work actually end up with lower sales prices. Buyers become suspicious (2 comments)