Know the Cost Immediately With an Instant Home Insurance Quote

When you contact an insurance agent and give him/her the details of your home and the amount of coverage you want, you will probably have to wait for a few days or longer to find out what the cost of such a policy will be. This is not the case when you shop for insurance online.

Just about all of the insurance providers with a website will give you an instant home insurance quote once you enter your information. It is free to request a quote for the cost of the premium, so you would be wise to request several quotes so that you can compare the rates and coverage options.

Homeowners that shop around each year and request free home insurance quotes from various insurers are able to save money on their policies. Requesting a quote does not place you under any obligation to purchase the policy.

It is also a way in which you can educate yourself about home insurance and learn valuable money saving tips in order to get the most affordable insurance with the best coverage. When you compare the quotes side by side, there is bound to be one that is cheaper than all the rest for the same type of policy.

Take notice of the types of questions you must answer when requesting an instant homeowners insurance quote online. One of these talks about the types of safety features you have installed in your home. The more features you have the lower the quote will be.

If you really want to see what kind of difference they make, you can request a quote with and without the features, such as smoke detectors and dead bolts on the doors. In this way you can see how cost effective it will be to take the necessary steps to have them installed and then start looking for homeowner insurance. The installation is not costly and will save you money year after year.

All insurance companies require you to have a deductible. This is a set amount of money that you will have to pay for repairs before the insurance policy comes into play. The instant home insurance quote will have a standard deductible of $500, but you can lower your premium costs by requesting a deductible of a higher amount.

You have to have some information ready to submit when you request an instant home insurance quote online. You will need to know the age of your home, its size in square footage and the type of materials used to build the foundation walls and roof. You will also have to tell your primary source of heat and in some cases the type of flooring in your home.

When calculating the amount of coverage that you need for cheap homeowners insurance, do not simply think in terms of what you paid for the home. You have to think in terms of what it will cost you to rebuild the home at today's prices, which may give you a significantly higher price.

Keep in mind that the instant home insurance quote you receive may not be the actual price of the policy once you start making changes or if you sit down with an agent to discuss your insurance needs. The quote is simply a guideline to give you an idea of the company's rates and offers in an insurance policy.

Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in finance, business, and different types of cheap homeowners insurance. For free home insurance quotes, please visit http://cheap-insurance-rates.com/.

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American Traditions - Southern Comfort and the Patio

In the south, the patio has been a tradition and a staple of social life for nearly 10 decades. There's a good deal of discussion about the social reasons for this fact, but it seems that the only real explanation for this southern tradition is simply a love for pleasant, comfortable social spaces.

One can easily point to the fact that the southern climate, easy going lifestyle, and relaxed pace has encouraged the institution known as the patio, but it would be an oversimplification and a reductive analysis to say that these three broad social generalizations make up what it means to have and enjoy a terrace.

If one is interested in making a southern style patio, or interested in enjoying a veranda they already have in a characteristically southern manner, one needs to realize that there are no guidelines and there is no simple methodology that one can point in order to enjoy their terrace to the utmost. In keeping with the southern way of life, one must simply feel out the patio way of life.

For the scientific minded, one can imagine that enjoying or building a terrace is a phenomenological endeavor- that is, its a project that needs to be felt on an experiential level. Like drinking a mint julep or going for Sunday drive, enjoying a veranda must be felt for it to be understood. The three staples to the terrace experience are easily defined and delineated: they are relaxation, good company, and plenty of free time.

The simplest of these three is finding time. It should be clear to anyone with a busy job (which is so many of us, these days) that finding a decent amount of free time is easier said that done. While surely on most weekdays the necessity of sitting down and getting work done takes precedence over relaxation, there is no doubt that the fastest way to enjoying the terrace in a southern fashion is to squeeze those free moments of the day into classic down-South relaxation out on your patio. But how do you find the time? Well, the simplest way is to take a few hours out of your weekend to relax on the veranda. If you can get a feel for this aspect of your house in a laid back and relaxed manner you will start to understand the essence of this very southern home addition.

Second, once you have a decent feel for your terrace, you can officially christen it by bringing over your friends and your extended family over to enjoy a nice relaxing afternoon and evening on your new home addition. Of course, there are no specific rules to hanging back and enjoying time on your veranda, the only thing you need to ensure is that everyone is welcome and has a good time. In true southern style, that relaxed ethos is the only true rule involved.

Thirdly, you need to know how to relax. Is there a formula to relaxing on your down-South style patio? No, not quite. There is no guidebook or ten commandments to follow- relaxation are as natural, and as indefinable as life- it needs to be lived.

So sit back, relax and enjoy your time on your terrace. The less you worry about the style and function of your patio, the more style and the more functional you'll find your patio being. Take a break, lean back, and invite some friends over to your patio- it's the southern way.

Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent of LifeStyle Builders. The new home contractor provides new home construction throughout the Richmond Virginia area. For more information on their New Homes Richmond Virginia please visit their website

Painting A French Door

Corrugated Metal Roofing - A Popular Solution

Corrugated metal roofing is becoming a popular solution for architects and home builders, both in residential and commercial construction. For many years, metal roofing has been considered an eyesore to most and only had a purpose in industrial applications. But with the advances in technology of building materials, corrugated metal roofing is now keeping up with the modern style and feel of homes today.

With special coatings and treatments, now corrugated metal roofing can withstand years of abuse like few other materials can offer a homeowner today. With proper treatment, rust no longer becomes an issue, assuring your new metal roof will have a long and healthy life and protecting your investment. It also helps to reduce energy costs as well. Outside of it obviously keeping the elements out, it helps to reflect heat due to the properties of the metal. Since it is so lightweight, this also allows a thicker layer of insulation to be placed between the roof and the interior of your home, minimizing energy loss through the roof while posing no extra weight burden on your house's supports.

The roof's corrugated design allows for an extremely strong design in a lightweight material. By putting a ripple effect through the metal, the strength is actually increased dramatically while being able to use less of the material. This means that it will cost less to purchase the necessary amount and eliminates the burden of an unnecessary weight load on your home's structure. This can become exponentially more important if you live in an area of heavy snowfall as well, since snow is extremely heavy. Extreme blizzards compounded with a heavy roof have been known to cause collapse. Not only could this be extremely expensive to repair but it could have catastrophic consequences. Actually, due to the installation techniques required of corrugated metal roofing, it's one our most weather proof options available to us today. It has been known to withstand tornadoes and hurricanes as well as the most hazardous weather conditions we would ever encounter.

If you are in need of a new roof, consider the substantial benefits of corrugated metal roofing. With the processes available to us today, it will last for many, many years without ever rusting or getting damaged by weather. Its energy saving characteristics will help to reduce your energy costs as well. And its lightweight properties will make sure there is no unnecessary burden being placed on your home's structure. To learn more about roofing and to find local contractors, visit our website at: Metal Roofing.

By visiting the authors website you will be able to find local roofing contractors and more information about roofing. Visit: http://www.metal--roofing.net/.

Installing Windows At A Eye Leve

Do You Know Enough About Sunrooms?

A sunroom is a structure usually constructed onto the side of a house either new or old. It allows you to enjoy the premises or the surrounding landscape, while being protected from adverse weather such as rain or wind. Sun rooms are highly popular in countries like United States, Europe, Canada, Australia etc. They are described as Conservatories in U.K, though they may not contain plants. More than being beautiful additions to your home, they add value to your property.

Sunroom can be made of brick, breeze block, wood, glass or PVC. The main support for the PVC is provided by the brick or wood base. The glass panels are large and often clear than frosted. Glass panels can be used for roofing, but it is usually done with a plastic material which allows sunlight inside. Aluminum framing with tempered glass is used as the primary structure in newer rooms. The roof system is constructed of aluminum insulated panels. A shingled roofing material is used for constructing the outside of the roof.

In some countries sun rooms used to be built separately from the home. But now the trend is to blend the sunroom into the architecture of the room. With the latest heat resistant technology and technologies of glass, sunrooms are widely used in colder states also.

Sun rooms are more cost effective and easier to install. They cause less mess than construction of ordinary rooms and take less time to complete. The prices vary according to location, builder, size, materials and design. Elaborate designs cost more than 'contemporary' ones, which are the most affordable options. Sun rooms are more than room additions and they serve various purposes. They provide a sanctuary for you and your family. They also enhance your lifestyle.

You have to do quite a bit of research and planning before constructing your sun room. Various aspects have to be considered well in advance to avoid unnecessary expenditure. With the help of a reliable contractor make sure that all the guidelines are set and the necessary materials are in place before actually starting the construction.

Straight, Curved, Cathedral and Conservatory are the four main styles of Four Seasons Sun rooms. Straight style sunrooms are like patio room enclosures with a few upgrades. Curved style sunrooms get their names from the wall that curves up to meet the side of the house. Cathedral style sunrooms have vaulted ceilings that provide a light and airy feel. Sunrooms with a glass roof are called Conservatory style sunrooms.

Quality materials are used to insulate each style of sun room. In order to prevent harmful ultra violent rays of the sun entering the room, durable double paned windows filled with Argon gas are used along with a glazing. This helps the owner to enjoy the warmth of the sunlight without being susceptible to the harmful effects of the rays. Another advantage is that it protects the furniture and carpets from discoloring. Once finished the sunroom will look like a natural extension of the home itself. Furnishing of the sunroom can be done according to the purpose of the room and the interests of the owner.

If you are looking for more information then feel free to visit Sunroom.

What Kind Of Wood Rot

Fixing a Hole in Your Wall Home Repair Video

Great video on how to fix a hole in your wall .

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 home inspection or home building ideas.

Spoiled Children
If You Behave Your Children Will

Reduce Your Electricity Bill With a Metal Roof

Consumers everywhere are looking for ways to reduce their monthly electric bill. Soaring energy costs have caused many consumers to make home improvements that increase their home's ability to save energy and in turn, save them money. One way to reduce your electricity bill is to consider replacing your old tile or asphalt roof with a new metal roof.

Old style roofs tend to absorb the sun's rays, causing your Air Conditioner to work harder in order to maintain a nice, cool temperature in your home. Metal roofing and tiled roofing are like chalk and cheese, they both work totally differently. Not only are the sun's rays totally deflected off a metal roof, if you choose the best finish for your roofing, you can save up to 50% of your energy costs.

Finding the best business to install your new roof -

The first step to your new metal roof is finding a reliable contractor to remove your old one. It is not uncommon for many older, standard titled roofing to contain asbestos, so proper asbestos removal is necessary. Brisbane is home to several quality contractors experienced in proper asbestos removal, but it's necessary to ensure they are fully qualified in Brisbane Asbestos Removal before using their services.

If you have a newer roof and are not concerned about asbestos removal, some contractors choose to leave the original tiles underneath the new metal roof. This will cost you less money as there is no removal and clean-up required.

Ensure the contractor you find explains the advantages and disadvantages of different types of roof replacement procedures to you.

What is the best type of Metal Roofing -

The next step is to decide what type of metal roofing would be best suited to your home. There are a massive range of colors available, you may be looking for a special color to enhance the look of your house from the street or other options like painted galvanized steel and metallic colors. It's a proven fact that metal roofing deflects the sun's rays, but lighter colors tend to be more affective than dark colors.

Why Metal Roofs are Cooler -

The metal as well as the color pigments in the metal are both responsible for releasing the heat back into the environment rather than absorbing it into your home like standard tiled roofs. Metal roofing is not only attractive, it also helps you to save money, offering the best of both worlds.

If you're serious about saving energy costs and reducing your electric bill, consider the replacement of your old tiles-shingled roof with a new metal roof. Many home owners are able to recover a large percentage of their initial investment in metal roofing, not only through their electricity bill, but also through insurance savings and current rebates on offer. Not only will a metal roof save you money over the long-term, it increases the appeal and look of your home as well. Most consumers are very satisfied with metal roofs as they require very low maintenance and if installed properly by a qualified contractor, rarely leak. Consider roof replacement today by metal roofing contractors in the local Brisbane areas.

Metal Technology Roofing have over 25 years experience in Brisbane Roofing and are specialist with all types of roofing and Asbestos removal in roofing. MTR's wide exposure to different types of roofing jobs helps to provide advice of everything from Brisbane Re Roofing to current available rebates.

Painting Metal Siding

Home Staging - Say Au Revoir to Odour

We spend a lot of time thinking about what our homes look like when we are trying to sell them. Don't forget that the sense of smell is one of our strongest senses. Because we spend so much time in our home we can no longer tell what it really smells like to others. This is no time to be shy- get an honest opinion from someone you trust. Chances are if you have a dog, love scented candles or enjoy cooking different foods your home could use some neutralizing of scent. This doesn't mean masking with perfuming deodorizers. Clean is the best smell of all. Your home can not be too clean and any scent of mold or mildew will spark a big question in the noses' of buyers.

Think about your old carpets and dirty clothes in laundry hampers. Put fresh linens on the bed and clean, new towels in bathrooms. Give your home a breath of fresh air by saying good bye to odour and hello to a fast sale.

Open some windows for at least 10 minutes. There is nothing worse than walking into a stuffy house or one that smells of smoke and pet odors.

Use candles for aromas...NOT sprays which are obvious and indicate something concealed

Play soft music during tours (if possible because it helps people to relax).

Bake breads or cookies and leave the dish out for visitors.

DO NOT cook smelly foods (fish, onions, garlic and grease) prior to sales tours.

Keep the home spotlessly clean. Would you want to buy a dirty and unkempt home?

Repair any damaged wood, tile or lino flooring.

Clean carpet of stains and odors and replace worn carpeting.

Remove pets or have them put in the laundry room or garage with a sign to not open door.

Colette Robicheau, President of Organize Anything, is a consultant, coach, and public speaker offering corporate, residential, and personal organizing services. For more information contact Colette Robicheau, Organizing Consultant and Coach visit her website http://www.organizeanything.com, email info@organizeanything.com or read her blog at http://organizeanything.blogspot.com/

Stair Tread Carpet Stain

Credit Repair - Recovering From a Fraud Attack

Have you ever been in the middle of a Fraud Attack? I have and it's no fun. It's not only a hassle to repair the damage done to your credit files but that personal feeling of being violated. After all your hard work to maintain a good credit score, paying your bills on time and just being a conscientious consumer, it all disappears in a matter of hours.

With technology comes the birth of the professional credit fraud rings. In most cases they won't attack your personal assets but they will open new charge accounts or charge fraudulently against one of your existing accounts. You are covered against loss under most credit card plans but to clean up this mess is time consuming.

By the time you sense something is wrong or you get a call from a creditor the fraud ring is packed up and gone. Swift and efficient if only our government could work in such a way. If there is any comfort in numbers realize your not alone. Millions of cases are overloading the fraud divisions and credit companies are losing billions per year to these thieves.

If you are a fraud victim repairing your credit is a little different than if you were behind or something of that nature. Take the following steps to rectify the fraud:

1. Get a free copy of your credit report
2. Identify the fraudulent accounts
3. Contact those companies and explain the situation
4. You will be sent a fraud affidavit - keep copies of everything
5. Contact the credit reporting agencies (3) - they will put a fraud alert on your credit files
6. You may be required to file a police report

This is very fixable, it may take a few weeks to fill out all the forms and contact the companies involved. Remember keep copies of everything.

This experience will certainly cause you to be more skeptical in the future about credit purchases. Could it have been the department store clerk or a on line purchase whom leaked you credit number. Use this experience to learn how the criminal worked and better yet how the credit system works.

Now if you are over extended and your credit is suffering because of that, this is another story. Credit repair has to take a different course. There are techniques and solutions to solve these situations. If you Click Here you will get more details on how to handle credit repair in this area.

RB

Roof Truss Repair

Tips For Replacing Your Bathtub Drain

Bathtub drains occasionally need to be replaced, and drains with the built in stoppers are the ones that usually have problems. These will with time become harder to use and will slowly allow water to leak while the tub is supposed to be plugged, as well as hold water when they are supposed to drain. These are the reasons that you cannot properly rinse off your ankles in the shower in many cases. In time your bathtub drain stopper mechanism will need to be repaired or replaced. This is actually a minor repair that most do-it-yourselfers are willing and able to tackle. You will need to have on hand some plumber's putty, channel locks (or other wrench), a Philips screwdriver, and the replacement part for the bathtub drain you are replacing as well as a few cleaning rags.

Start by removing the old bathtub drain plug mechanism. This has a face plate in the tub which has two screws attaching it to the tub. Once you remove the cover plate you will gain access to the rest of the assembly. Simply grasp it and remove through the hole it was installed in.

If you have any broken pieces you have a couple choices; if you have access to the other side of the wall the easiest thing to do is open the wet wall panel and make the repair in the open space but this is usually not an option. The most likely scenario is you are going to have to fish out the parts in a very small amount of space. A piece of wire, or a wire hanger, straightened into a hook works well.

Once you have fished out all of the old pieces you merely need to clean up, and reassemble and reinstall the pieces. Often you can repair this type of draining mechanism without having to replace any of the parts by simply cleaning it up and putting it back together correctly.

For those drains that do need to be replaced you need make sure your new parts are the same as the old parts were. Changing to different sized parts when you are working with plumbing is not a good idea, unless you like having your home flooded.

Test the parts, make sure everything is in good working order. If the stopper fits in and plugs the pipe properly you are ready to install the bathtub drain stopper. If not you need to get the right equipment first.

Plumbers putty should be used on all of the pipes and flanges where they attach to one another to make sure they seal well. The mechanism that lifts and lowers the stopper needs to be attached to the overflow plate. Before you seal the plate down make sure the stopper is working properly by testing it. If the tub is holding water and draining the water back out at appropriate times you are ready to seal the plate down.

You need to smear some plumbers putty on the plate and then put it in place and screw it down. You can then clean up any excess plumber's putty. Make sure that you haven't covered the overflow vent and you are finished. Your bathtub drain should work as good as new.

Visit us for more information on how to refinish a bathtub, how to caulk bathtub tips and Japanese bath tubs.

The Ten Most Frequent House Problems That Home Inspectors Find

A recent survey of home inspectors resulted in a list of the most frequently found problems in the homes they have inspected. It is significant that within this list of ten categories, at least four are directly related to the damaging effects of water. Thus, keeping water out - is the homeowner's most important and continually challenging objective.

1. Improper Surface Grading/Drainage
This was by far the most frequently found problem, reported by 35.8% of the survey respondents. It is responsible for the most common of household maladies: water penetration of the basement or crawl space.

2. Improper Electrical Wiring
A significant number (19.9%) chose this item as the most common home defect, which includes such situations as insufficient electrical service to the house, inadequate overload protection, and amateur, often dangerous, wiring connections.

3. Roof Damage
Although reported by only 8.5% of the respondents as the most common problem, roof leakage, caused by old or damaged shingles or improper flashing, was considered by CAHPI members to be a frequent problem.

4. Heating Systems
Problems in this category include broken or malfunctioning operation controls, blocked chimneys, and unsafe exhaust disposal.

5. Poor Overall Maintenance
Even the novice home buyer is usually aware of this situation, demonstrated by such signs as cracked, peeling, or dirty painted surfaces, crumbling masonry, makeshift wiring or plumbing, and broken fixtures or appliances.

6. Structurally Related Problems
Many houses, as a result of problems in one or more of the other categories, sustain damage to such structural components as foundation walls, floor joists, rafters, and window and door headers.

7. Plumbing
Though never ranked by the respondents as a Number One problem, plumbing defects still rank high among the house problems encountered, and include the existence of old or incompatible piping materials, as well as faulty fixtures and waste lines.

8. Exteriors
Flaws in a home's exterior, including windows, doors, and wall surfaces, are responsible for the discomfort of water and air penetration, but rarely have structural significance. Inadequate caulking and/or weather-stripping are the most common culprits.

9. Poor Ventilation
Perhaps due to overly ambitious efforts to save energy, many home owners have "over-sealed" their homes, resulting in excessive interior moisture. This can cause rotting and premature failure of both structural and non-structural elements.

10. Miscellaneous
This category includes primarily interior components, often cosmetic in nature, which were not found frequently enough to rank individually in our survey.

Obviously the age of a home plays a significant role in these findings. In older, urban houses, problems such as heating system failure, inadequate electrical service, and worn plumbing can be found with much greater frequency than reflected in this survey.

The survey response percentages were given only for the first three categories because they were so high and statistically meaningful. Items 4 through 10 were ranked significantly lower than the top three, and vary regionally.

Peter Ottowitz
http://www.newworldenergyaudits.com
http://www.masshomeinspect.com

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.

Energy Saving Books
Home Theater Books

Removing Interior Walls

Here's a word of advice for any contractor, Carpenter, handyman or homeowner that is planning to remove an interior wall from your home or someone else's. Beware of removing interior walls, to eliminate your fears of the house collapsing. Some of the interior walls inside of the house are important structural components of the building.

Some of these walls hold up floors, roofs and other loadbearing sections that could create safety problems within the structure of the house itself. This is an area where an expert with framing skills should be consulted. What is the definition of someone with excellent framing skills? Some one with at least 10 years as a master framing carpenter.

My home building experience consists of three decades for over 30 years of assembling some of the most difficult sections of a home. During these years I have seen damage done to houses from removing structural interior walls. Most of this damage could be repaired with a little structural engineering. Some of the damage could not be repaired and caused other damage to different sections of the house. The damage caused in some cases to the floor and the roof framing had to be completely rebuilt.

I'm not telling you about every single thing I have ran into but you would be surprised if I started to make a list of all the homeowners and professionals in the building industry or home selling and buying business that contacted me to remove a structural component of a building. There have even been a few of these people that told me everything was going to be okay just go ahead and remove the structural building component.

Needless to say I would leave these people very irritated but I'm sure they found someone to do the job. The bad news is I was normally the person they would hire to go back and repair the damaged building after these people were gone and out of business. There have been cases where people have removed an interior walls against my better judgment and over the years of driving by in these homes I personally got to witness the structural damage that was occurring on the outside of the house.

I have no idea what the inside of the house looked like but could only imagine. My advice again when removing interior walls is to hire an experienced contractor or at least get some advice from an experienced framing carpenter. This does not include your basic know it all that has basic construction experience like your father in law, parents, friends, golfing associates or people you work with that tell you not to worry about it, just do it, everything will work out just fine.

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 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 What Does A Shear Wall Do

Horizontal Or Vertical Drywall

Internet Marketing Faux Pas Anyone?

The same old thing...

"If your online markteting is failing

then you don't have enough QUALITY TRAFFIC.

That's it PLAIN and SIMPLE.

With High Quality Traffic and Leads any business

can flourish online and that's a Fact!

Finally the Answer to Your Problems is Here.

Internet Marketing Systems and Strategies

that enable NEWBIES to Market like the PROS.

Check Out This Revolutionary Product For Your Self

http://justanotherbsprogram.com

And Start Making Money Online Tomorrow."

Looks familiar right? It is seen every single minute of every single hour of every single day on the internet. Jumping on this, try this, do this, look at this, make money online with this, the newest, hottest online opportunity ever...right?

The bursting of the bubble is about to happen today! There are NO SUCH PROGRAMS! No program, no system, no plan, no scheme, no trick, no product, no...NO WAY!

Legitimate and reliable business is being conducted on the net daily. The trick is wading through all the hype and scams and finding one that is good...YES ONLY 1!

That is all that is needed...Walking away from the misused and abused term of multiple streams is the best thing that a newbie marketer can do. The term multiple streams of income was probably founded by some internet marketing legend designed for one purpose in mind...seperating people from their money...

One program or service, when properly used to the fullest extent is absolutely all that a person needs in terms of income, time freedom and living the life they choose.

Multiple streams means nothing if all the streams are dry!

Staying focused, determining proper objectives, visualization thinking...and most importantly WORK...will lead to more success on the net than any other thing.

Butch Hamilton is an SEO|SEM Specialist. Living on the internet has become a way of life...a succesful way of life. His talents for obtaining top positions on the search engines have led him to the point in his life where he has always wanted to be.

"Life-What a Ride!"

Says Mr. Hamilton, "Writing has always been my passion. Gone are the days when I placed blatant ads on the internet for exposure. I have found my life's work in writing articles.

Reliable and credible information is what the internet is all about to Butch Hamilton. His experience as a self employed building contractor...steel fabrication...has led him on an incredible journey.

He now resides in his beautiful home in Texas with his wife. Writing is the passion behind his successful promoting ability on the net.

Butch Hamilton's Quote: "What we think-is what we become."

http://ButchHamilton.com http://butchhamiltonsbestdomains.com

Post Your Ideas Here On Deck Building

Do you have any ideas for building or repairing wood decks . We would love to hear from you in the comment area. Any useful comments that you can make on deck construction or deck building will help our blog readers.

Landscaping Books

Keep Your Hot Tub Filters in Good Working Order

Stepping into the warm, massaging water of a hot tub is a great way to relax. Research is beginning to emerge that shows the many health benefits that warm and massaging water can provide to the human body. Muscles relax and people's sense of well being is positively affected.

It is therefore important to keep your spa or hot tub in good working order. Part of this is keeping your water clean and healthy. A hot tub filter is used to trap debris and dirt that accumulate in the water. Often this is hair or dirt. It could also include dust or leaves depending on your backyard and where you live. A filter in good working order will keep your water clean and ensure that you can continue to enjoy your tub without any adverse effects.

There is a range of different filters that you can buy. The most important thing is to purchase one that fits your spa. The best place to find this information is in the manual that would have come with your hot tub. The type of filter you need to buy will determine the price but most range between $20 and $100. You should be able to find a hot tub filter at your local spa store or even online.

The life of hot tub filters is around one year. This can be shorter or longer depending on how often you use the tub, whether you have a spa cover and how much debris are blown around your backyard.

To keep your filter in proper working order it is important to clean it regularly. Remove the filter, hose it down with a pressurized hose and pull out any large debris. This may be quick and simple, but can extend the life of hot tub filters and keep your water clean and healthy.

For more information on the best spa cover for you, check out the Spa Cover Guide. A recent article that may interest you covers looking after hot tub filters.

Usablepatio

Get Rid of Moles Now

OK, so suddenly there are many tunnels all over your yard. What could be underneath the very soil you walk on? Relax. It's probably just a mole problem. Or don't relax! These creatures are very destructive creatures, and even though they're so good at hiding, you'll be able to clearly see the damage they do to your yard, what with all the visible tunnels and hills showing up. Get rid of them before they go on with what they're doing and succeed in destroying your garden or yard entirely!

Here are the few and very easy steps you should take to get rid of moles, those highly destructive varmints that ruin all your dreams and plans for a healthy yard:

1. Moles love grub larvae so much that they will tear out your entire yard or garden for it. So what you need to do is to rid your yard of all the grubs you can find. They're the reason why they are in your yard. Remove the cause, and you'll remove the effect as well.
2. Determine which of the tunnels are active. You'll know this by doing some damage to each of the tunnels. If the damage is repaired within the course of 24 hours, then, yep, that tunnel is active all right.
3. After you have gathered which tunnels are active, purchase traps and put them in the active tunnels based on their directions. Check up on the traps regularly, and when you succeed in trapping the mole, remove it.
4. Using a hose, try to get rid of them by flooding their tunnels. Put the hose pipe's end into either of the determined active tunnels. Turn on the water and carefully pay attention as you wait for the it to escape out of the flooded tunnels.

Just so you know, the mole traps may kill the mole, but if you don't want that, you should check the traps often so you can get the varmint out and set it free. Of course, you're supposed to set it free somewhere far away, so you won't see it again in your yard.

You can't take the presence of moles in your yard lightly, unless if you don't mind them crawling around doing much damage to your property. If you don't want that to happen, follow the steps mentioned above and get rid of moles now.

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.

Home Stucco Books

Painted Adirondack Chairs - A Burst of Color in Your Backyard Retreat

When it comes to expanding living space one of the easiest places to start is the backyard. Filling it with furniture and greenery and even water elements makes it feel homey and luxurious. Who doesn't want to relax outside in the warm sun?

An ideal place to begin is with a place to sit. You may be inclined to choose a porch swing to enjoy the warm breeze or a chaise lounge to relax by the pool, but for a classically comfortable look, you should try painted Adirondack chairs on your deck or patio. You can choose from many colors from warm red to sunny yellow and even have it pre-distressed or let it naturally distress in the environment. Ready to settle into they make a welcome respite along your garden path or even amongst the green leaves of your garden as a place to sit back and admire your work.

Created as outdoor furniture in upstate New York, this style of chair boasts a high slat back, wide angled seat and extra large arm rests. It is impossible not to relax while sitting in one. And if you invest in painted Adirondack chairs you can add a punch of color to any spot in your yard. On the deck, around the fire pit or alongside the pool you will always have an always comfortable spot to rest your bones.

Along with your painted Adirondack chairs, you can invest in matching ottomans to put your feet up and a side table to rest your cold drink and book on. Once you have set up an area with a pair or more you can add other things to your retreat. Cushions make any patio furniture more plush and a table and chair set ensures you can enjoy a meal in the elements. Usually crafted from heavy duty wood such as pine, cedar or teak your painted Adirondack chairs will last a lifetime.

So, when that warm weather comes throw open your doors and invite the summer in. Your living space becomes instantly larger with the right furniture and accents. You can add outdoor lamps for lighting, custom made cushions for increased comfort, and outdoor art for a unique look. The possibilities are endless. No matter what colors you choose your painted Adirondack chairs will complete your outdoor oasis with rustic elegance.

Don't leave that big backyard empty. Maximize that space with the right furniture and accents and your favorite vacation destination will be right outside your door. Whether you create a romantic resting spot along a garden path with a teak bench or a beckoning entrance with a garden arbor covered in creeping and flowering vines; the choice is yours. Look forward to returning to your home every day and kicking off your shoes and relaxing. Finding the right furniture designed for your life and your style is not a difficult task. And once you invest the time and money you will love your space for years to come.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of numerous niche online stores that offer customers not only products, but information relating to furnishing and decorating indoor and outdoor living spaces. Whether you want to renew your deck or patio with Adirondack Chairs or create the ultimate living environment with furniture that is perfect for entertaining, there is a lot of helpful advice to take advantage of to make it happen. Click today http://www.eadirondackstyle.com and indulge your senses.

Rough Framing Of Shower Floor

Remodeling Your Home 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

Energy Saving Books

Kitchen Carts - Making Kitchen Life Easier

The ideal kitchen is a compromise between a completely functional space and a room that you can really live in. It is for this reason that kitchen furniture should be both designed and chosen. Because you may need to switch between working and socializing in your kitchen, the advantage of furniture like kitchen carts is to let you reconfigure the layout at any time.

Kitchen carts are similar to kitchen islands in that they allow you to use your kitchen space in an optimal way. However, unlike kitchen islands that are typically fixed and may well have power points and even faucets for running water, kitchen carts are mobile. They come in a variety of styles and sizes, which allow you to use them as a workspace or as a serving space and therefore also move them from the kitchen area to the dining room if required.

Wood is a popular material for making a kitchen cut. This allows for flexibility in the construction and a certain robustness coupled with lightness for easy moving. The structure of the kitchen counters will typically include different levels of shelves so that you can stall a microwave oven and other handy utensils underneath. The top surface of the cart is often more massive and maybe made out of solid wood to form a butcher's chopping block or heat resistant materials including ceramic tiles so that you can put hot dishes and casseroles on top.

At the bottom of the kitchen cart their will usually be small wheels or coasters, a little like a supermarket trolley, so that the cart can easily and safely be moved from one area to another. The up market models will allow you to lock the wheels into position so that you can park the cart in one place and use it as a stable item of kitchen furniture.

If you plan in advance or if you elect for a solution with integrated items of furniture, then you may also have the possibility of a kitchen cart that integrates perfectly into the rest of your kitchen furniture, either by coming along side existing countertop furniture, or by being stowed away into or under other fixed cabinets.

Check out the different options for your kitchen cart so that you can have the version that suits you best. If you want your kitchen guard to be entirely functional and an asset to you for working efficiently in your kitchen then you might go for a tall model which allows you to operate a microwave oven at the top level with shelf and cabinet space underneath. In this case you can get the advantage of the extra space while you are standing up preparing different dishes in your kitchen.

On the other hand if your kitchen cart is to be an elegant item in your dining room, then there are many sophisticated models available with handsome wood, granite or marble tops that are sure to fit in perfectly with your dining room furniture such as dining table, chairs and buffet.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops including http://www.simplydiningfurniture.com/ that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it's your living, bedroom, or even your deck or patio, there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful. Today, she offers advice on how to create a fabulous indoor area by using beautiful dining room furniture. There are a plethora of gorgeous selections to choose from.

Fungus On Roof Shingles

Small Bath Tubs For Small Bathrooms

Most home owners are faced with the dilemma of how to install bath tubs in a small bathroom. You have two options to solve this dilemma. Either you do away with bath tub installation or you can use small bath tubs that will fit in your bathroom.

Small bath tubs can offer numerous benefits for you. That is why you have to make sure that a bath tub can be installed in your bathroom. Here are the advantages you can get from them and some tips on bath tub installation.

Health Benefits

Bath tubs have dual functions. You can use them to take a bath but they can also provide many healthy benefits. By soaking in a warm bath, you can effectively solve muscle pain problems and muscle soreness.

Muscle pains are common problems of most working people like you. It is not always advisable to take pain relievers because you can develop dependence on these medicines.

A warm bath every night is an effective alternative for taking pain relievers. And you can only achieve full body muscle relaxation if you have a bath tub at home. This way, you will feel reinvigorated and your pains can go away.

Warm bath is also very helpful for those with arthritis, rheumatism, and other types of joint pain problems. Soaking in a warm bath therefore can improve the quality of your life.

Use Small Bath Tubs to Save Bathroom Space

Using small bath tubs is a practical alternative to big and bulky tubs. You can save a lot of bathroom space if you use them. In fact you can install an overhead shower above the bath tub so you can take a bath immediately after soaking in the tub.

Most small tubs are short so you can easily install them in the corner area of your bathroom. This way, your tub will not hamper your movements in the bathroom.

How to Choose the Perfect Small Bath Tub

When buying one, always choose a deep soaking tub. A deep soaking bath tub will allow you to fully soak your body in it. Remember, these are shorter so if they are not the deep soaking types, they would be very difficult to use.

You must also find a small bath tub that has a built-in seat. This seat will allow you to comfortably recline inside the tub for a full body soaking. Without a built-in seat, it would be very uncomfortable to lie down inside the tub.

It is also best if you can find a walk-in small bath tub. A walk-in tub has a specially designed swing-in water tight door. This swing-in door will allow you to easily enter and get out of the tub.

A walk-in tub will be very useful for the elderly who have difficulty climbing in and out of the tub.

When you have a small bathroom, then there is no reason why you cannot install a tub. Just utilize small bath tubs that can fit perfectly into a corner. Because of its many benefits and advantages, you will not regret your decision to install one in your bathroom.

George Edmondson is an accomplished writer who specializes on small bath tubs help and advice. If you want to learn more about small batch tubs, simply visit http://www.bathtubsguide.com.

Good Exterior Home Improvement Tips

If your home has suffered from a fire or a flood, you can do some remodeling on it. All you need to do is go to the home There are many ways to fix up your house on the outside. You can put things on your house or you can fix something to make it look better. If you have a porch on your house or not, you can build one that wraps around the whole house. All you need is the lumber, nails, and all you need to know is how the lumber needs to be. You have to make sure it is level and if your yard has hills or goes downward, you need to make the boards longer than some of them. If there is a tree close to your house, cut the wood so that it will go around the tree. You don't have to knock it down. You can fix up the roof if it is getting old or if it needs it.

You can even change the roof by putting something over it like metal that will not make your house hot and so it protects it. It will not leak, rust, or bend, and it is a very good investment to put on your home. You can put shutters on your windows to match your roof, and this will also help keep your house cool or warm. When you put on shutters, it makes your house look better. You can make them or you can buy them at a store. You can build a screen porch in front of your front or back door so you can sit outside whether it is raining or to stay cool under it when it is hot outside.

If you have someone in your house that has to use a walker or a wheelchair, you can put a flat stairway for them to get in the house so it will be easier for them. You can put a fence around your yard so you can have some privacy. You can put up a small fence or a tall fence, whichever fits your style. You can also add a sidewalk that goes up to your porch or house, or you can have flowers lined up next to it to make it better. They can be any way or shape that you want to make your house look the way you want it to look and to make it stand out.

You can get any of these things at a home improvement store, and it may cost you a lot depending on what you are doing but it will be worth the money. You can also look around other home improvement store to see which ones are cheaper in price. Another thing you can do is put up new siding around the house to replace the old ones or to cover the wood and make your house look better. This also protects your house as well so the wood will not get damaged.

Visit Adyan Corkern's
Butler Flood Damage Cleanup and Calera Flood Damage Cleanup sites for fast help.

Buying a Vinyl Fence? Home Improvement Chain Store Prices Are Not What They Seem

You see them advertise on the TV every day, orange aprons fluttering down the aisles at Home Depot, "You can do it! We can help!?", the warm voice of Gene Hackman telling you "Lowes, let's build something together". These big names spend big bucks to convince you that if you want to improve your home you need to do it up big time at their big name, big box, home improvement chain stores.

Whew, that's a mouthful and in a lot of ways very true too. Except for vinyl fencing. Oh, they sell vinyl fencing and their prices seem to meet the big box standards but everything is not always as it seems.

One of the first questions clients always ask me is, "How do you compare to them?" or "Why was our fence more expensive then theirs?" (If it was more). I found the best way to respond was by simply telling the truth. Sometimes our prices were more and sometimes they were less but one thing was certain. We always delivered a higher quality product.

I have nothing against them and have even advised certain people that the H. I. C.S. might better suit their unique needs. For example, I had a guy who was flipping a property and needed the cheapest fence he could buy. He wasn't concerned with how long the fence would last, he just wanted to sell the property. I suggested, Home Depot.

The key to big box store shopping is to know, what you are getting for the price you are paying. I highly urge you to go and look at their fencing first hand. Feel it, touch it, push it and you will see that it gives quite a bit. The panels are thinner and are generally hollow with no internal ribbing and reinforcement.

They also utilize a bracket system which is an inferior way to assemble vinyl fencing and requires external hardware which distract from the clean lines of vinyl. Their fencing usually comes pre-assembled.

Oh, I hear you out there, "Isn't that more convenient?"

Yes, assembled sections do provide more convenience but always remember that lower quality residential grade vinyl fencing normally comes assembled, as fence panels, while prime quality commercial grade vinyl fencing always comes unassembled.

Why? To be able to ship your order more securely so you receive it, complete and undamaged. It also allows you the opportunity to personally attend to each stage of construction, insuring the lifetime strength and durability of your fencing investment.

Keep in mind that the slide and pop assembly of commercial vinyl sections are very similar to "legos", making them relatively easy to assemble. I, personally, am not a very handy man and I can tell you, from experience, they are not hard to put together.

One last thing to realize when evaluating prices between the H.I.C.S. and a vinyl fence dealer. The H.I.C.S. 's panel pricing, generally, does not include the costs of posts and caps. This is very misleading.

They get you in on the appearance of a lower price, which is usually for the fence panel only. Then they add in these costly but essential items at the time of sale. Right when you have reached that point when you are ready to buy.

Odds are, you usually carry on with the sale and find out the hard way that the posts and caps are where these stores make their money. Which is why they sell their fencing in six foot panels (rather then eight) as this means more posts and caps. You will of course, need posts and caps to assemble a vinyl fence. So when you're pricing various options, you'll need to add these costs into the total.

Wow! That great chain store price wasn't so fabulous after all, was it?

Think about it. If you are going to make a lifetime investment in vinyl fencing for your beloved home. The rule of thumb is that, quality always trumps economy. In the long run you'll end up paying less for a whole lot more.

Copyright 2008 David Spangenburg & Michael Goldman

After buying a home, or a car, the purchase of a vinyl fence ranks as one of the larger purchases you'll ever make. You must read the Vinyl Fence Buyers Guide. You can find it at http://www.vinylfencebuyersguide.com/. It's not a trade manual, filled with industry jargon and dry terminology. It was written for you, the buyer, as a quick, easy read. Filled with ALL the critical facts and information you need, laid out in a straight forward and sometimes humorous manner. It's an easy to read step by step approach that walks you through each and every phase in the purchase and general installation of your new Vinyl Fence. For more details, go to: http://www.vinylfencebuyersguide.com/.

Walkways Books

Finding Grants for Green Construction

When it comes to new construction techniques, grants are often a way to cut costs. Federal grants for green construction are plentiful with billions literally available.

A federal grant is an award of financial assistance from a Federal agency. It is intended to carry out a public purpose or support or stimulate a purpose that is authorized by a law of the United States. Federal grants can be found and applied for electronically. The site Grants.gov is the central clearing house for Federal Grants.

There are twenty six different agencies that offer over 1,000 grant programs. The grants that apply to green construction are mostly offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The total amount of grants available exceeds $400 billion dollars. The grants offered by the feds fall into twenty one categories. The categories that have the most impact on green construction are Energy, Environmental Quality, and Health.

Most of the grants are directed toward specific geographical areas. Some of the major concerns of the grants include water quality improvement and the prevention of urban storm water runoff. Many of the grants are connected with the Leeds certification program. Leeds stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a program that is run by the United States Green Building Council and it establishes green construction standards and awards certificates to those that maintain these standards.

Although there are federal grants available, it is on the state and local level that the large majority of grants can be found. The green movement is a grassroots type of thing that appears to be strongest at the local level. Environmental concerns are often very local, and the problems that have been caused by the neglect of the environment are local as well. The pollution of waterways is a good example of this. grant programs exist that are directed at the Great Lakes or at Puget Sound, for example. States that are bordering these waterways usually offers these grants. The idea of environmental impact areas has led to the localities that border or are inside the impact area being the best source of funds for projects that will address the problems.

Private foundations like the Kresage Foundation are among the best sources of green construction grants. The Kresage Foundation has been offering grants under their Green Building Initiative Program. It is specifically geared toward the area of planning and design. While it is true that State, local, and private foundations are the major sources of grants that can be considered pure green building, the federal government is also a source. Research is the key to finding a grant for your project, so take the time to explore the various options mentioned above.

Zack Verde is with GreenBuildingCompanies.com - providing green building articles.

Bathroom Remodeling Problems

Link Building From Paid Blogs

Should you pay a blogger to write reviews for you? The reason there is a question at all about this is the attitude of our friends at Google. Google have a stated policy of not giving your website any credit in SEO terms for links that you paid for.

Now this on its own is a moot point as evidence abounds that a paid link in the right place i.e. in the Yahoo directory will get you noticed big time by Google.

The reason that paid blog reviews are thriving is the simple fact that Google find it very hard to ascertain whether a blogger is doing it for money or not. A sure give away however is if the blog is covering lots of different subjects. Stick to those with a constant theme.

If you do decide to go ahead then the usual rules apply to get the maximum SEO value from your investment. Those rules are that you need a blog that is a complementary subject to your own. The blog review should be from a page with a reasonable PR and not just a site with a reasonable PR.

Another point to remember is that you need to offer a hyperlink to your website using the keyword you want to be found for and not the often used 'click here'.

Among the better websites willing to introduce you to bloggers are Payperpost, Blogvertise and Reviewme.

The amount of money you pay will depend on the PR of the blog concerned. Expect to pay $1 for a PR1 site and up to $40 for a PR6 blog. Typically the blogger will weave three keyword hyperlinks into the review for you.

Lyndon Ogden is the Managing Director of Your SEO Services, based in the United Kingdom. Lyndon is an acknowledged expert on search engine optimization and also on what it takes to make a website successful. His SEO Company website features news, advice, free tools and SEO services aimed at helping businesses succeed online.

Window Header Framing Problems

Set Up Your List Building System Properly For Success

There are two kinds of mailing lists to develop for your business - the freebie list and the customer list. How you approach and prioritize these lists will make a big difference in your online success.

A Tale Of Two Lists

A freebie list can be built up quickly into an impressively large list, but it can also be a list that buys very little off you. After all, most of the people on your freebie list are there because they were after a free report. They may never be willing to actually part with their money.

Your customer list, although often not as big, is a much more valuable list. Here is a list of responsive, qualified customers. They have already shown their willingness to buy your products - at least once. It is quite likely that they will buy from you again.

Which Mailing List Gets Your Priority?

In my own business, my customer list is bigger than my freebie list. I give a much higher priority to building my customer list, and only have a few systems set up to bring prospects in to my freebie list.

The freebie list is merely a vehicle for turning prospects into first-time customers, and moving them onto the customer list.

How Do You Build These Two Mailing Lists?

For your freebie list, you just create a free report to give away, in exchange for names and e-mail addresses. This report must still be a high-quality report, which gives away some great information and showcases your expertise.

See, your free report is a great advertisement for your business. It's a chance to get in front of your prospects and show them why they should be buying your reports and e-books. Impress them to the point where they are compelled to buy more information from you.

Your free report gives away some great "what to do" information. It gives the reader a clear idea of exactly what they must do to solve a certain problem or achieve a certain goal. What it doesn't do is show them the exact steps to accomplish this feat.

The step-by-step "how to do it" information is in your paid report. This is how you will build your customer list.

Build your customer list by selling low-priced reports - anywhere from $7 to $10 in most cases. This low price tag eliminates the biggest barrier to getting a first-time customer on your list - the price barrier. Once you get customers on your mailing list - and they start seeing more of the valuable information that you can provide - they'll be more inclined to buy from you again. And next time, it could well be one of your mid-priced products, or even a high-ticket home study course.

Treat Your List Well

In the next article, I'll go over how to treat the members of these two lists. You need to set up your follow-up mailing system differently for each mailing list.

Are you ready to "Live the Life of Riley"? Get your FREE, no obligations, no opt-in copy of Kevin Riley's fantastic new report "Your Online Money Factory". As one delighted reader gushed, "This report is a roadmap showing me the procedures to construct my own Money Factory, each critical element is mentioned." Get it now! Go to: http://YourOnlineMoneyFactory.com

Ceiling Plaster Crack

Home Selling Tips - Best Real Estate Advice Ever

One of the most important things to remember when selling your home is to keep it as clean as possible. If you need help or don't have the time to organize your stuff, you can hire a home staging professional in your area. Ask your real estate professional for more information.

1. Remove any clutter from the home and place it in storage. Do not store this stuff on the property if you don't have enough room. Storing clutter in closets or in your garage, will often make these areas look smaller. By removing clutter or even large pieces of furniture, the rooms will look larger.

2. Disconnect yourself emotionally from your home. This is a big problem for people who have lived in their house for long periods of time. If you've raised a family here, the children could have emotional ties also to the home. Some home sellers are looking for someone special to buy their home, if you've got the time and money to wait, you can be selective but be careful, because the longer you wait, the market could go up or down.

3. When your real estate professional is showing the house, it's always a good idea to leave the home until the potential homebuyers are gone. One example of this would be if you were in a bad mood or didn't have a good day and were a little upset at the world. Your mood could cause potential homebuyers to lose interest in the property. I've seen this more than once.

4. Make sure everything is operating properly. This would include doors, door knobs, windows, kitchen appliances, garage door openers, cabinet drawers, bathroom fixtures, toilets, faucets, lights, switches, electrical outlets and anything else that moves, slides, turns or rotates that is part of the home.

5. The Interior and exterior walls of the home should be in good shape. Make sure there's no termite damage, wood rot, peeling paint, broken windows or holes in the walls.

6. Make sure the flooring is in good shape. Some real estate professionals will suggest, replacing the carpeting with a neutral color. This method often works pretty good but I have seen plenty of homes that were re-carpeted and after the home was purchased the carpeting was replaced again, by the new owners. Just make sure the flooring is in good shape.

7. Here's a trick that definitely works a little magic when selling a home. Leave some cookies or a nice fruit bowl on the dining room table. There is no need to leave a sign that says "Eat Me". It gives the home a warm feeling, almost like a country atmosphere.

8. Even better than home selling tip number seven would be baking some cookies just before the perspective buyers arrive, it's not the cookies, it's the smell from the cookies that most people cannot resist.

These are just a few home selling tips but the most important is to keep the inside and outside of the home clean.

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.

Don't buyers sell a home without checking how the problems with poor home repairs.

Selecting Kitchen Countertop Materials

Kitchen countertop material selection is not hard, but it is full of more choices than ever before. You now have a range of new countertop materials and applications that have expanded choices in patterns, colors, and textures. While, mixing and matching different countertop materials and elements has gained in popularity.

For instance you might pair one counter top material for the island countertop and pick another to pair with the cabinetry that runs along the walls. Or, you could use stainless steel adjoining the cooktop with a marble insert for a bake center and solid surface material around the perimeter. When looking at choices for your countertop material give some thought also to them as a matching or completely different backsplash

Besides enhancing the function of your kitchen work surfaces, counter top materials that you choose can be the anchor for your kitchen design and decorating theme.A natural choice for a rustic or country style kitchen is wood, while a concrete countertop looks at home in a contemporary setting. Concrete is gaining in popularity as a kitchen counter top material because it is becoming available in a wide array of colors and the relative ease of acquiring it. You can get concrete prefabricated or it can be poured into a mold on site. Then you have the flexibility to add the color of your choice to the concrete and/or create a personalized inlaid design by adding shells, glass, china, stones or whatever your imagination can come up with.

When it comes to selecting kitchen countertop materials your personal taste and the function it is intended for will ultimately determine your choice. Really, there are no hard and fast rules to apply to the countertop material you choose. However the one factor that it is important for you to consider while choosing is the maintenance required. Before you make a final choice remember that some materials require more care than others. It does not matter how perfect a counter top material fits into your kitchen design if it requires more care and attention than you are are able or willing to give it. For example marble countertops are beautiful but they must be sealed periodically. Because it is a soft porous stone sealing must be done so that it does not absorb liquids, even water can leave a mark, which could stain it.

In essence the new counter top materials and applications give you options that did not exist in the not so recent past. This can be a good thing. You now have more choices in colors, pattern and textures than ever before when deciding what material will best fit your kitchen's design. Whether choice of kitchen countertop material is wood like butcherblock, laminate, stone such as granite, solid source, man made engineered stone or any of the other choices keep this in mind. Just make sure that the material you pick is practical for the area it is to be placed in to ensure longevity. And, be aware of the maintenance and care required to keep your choice looking as beautiful as the day you selected your kitchen countertop material and had it installed.

Want more specific information, such as the countertop materials qualities and care/maintenance requirements? To help you select the best countertop material for your kitchen Click here at Kitchen.Countertops-And-Cabinets.Com to recieve what you need to make informed decisions in one place.

Also, to get or share kitchen design ideas and to see what is happening in kitchen design today go to http://Countertops-And-Cabinets.Com

Commercial Kitchen Equipment Layout

Ask grizzled veterans of the restaurant industry and they will tell you that in distinctive and progressive commercial kitchen equipment layout lies the secret to creating an exceptionally mesmerizing experience for both members of the putative divide that is both the owner and the customer.

Don't Treat Equipment Selection Flippantly

You may be making forays into the restaurant business, rather diffidently, but the fact is that you cannot treat the singularly important issue of equipment selection and layout with derision. It is with their sustained efforts that you can deliver a unique sensory experience to every customer at your doorstep.

Considering the fact that different eateries entice customers with an eclectic set of delectable delights, one cannot expect all of them to use the same kind of products.

But things do not always stand at polar ends. All commercial kitchens through the ages have followed a specific set of rules when it comes to the ostensibly daunting task of selection and layout of equipments. These include:

• Pots and pans: A nifty restaurateur will always have a veritable mosaic of pots and pans to woo clients. There is a massive assortment of highly advanced restaurant sets that encompass everything from frying pans and gravy pots to saut pans and boiling pots. The staggering array of pots and pans will enable your eatery to sizzle like never before. But make sure you spare some thought to the durability and functionality of these sets.
• Knives: Cutting-edge is not always used to describe technology and innovation. A wonderful collection of high-quality knives will help you slice through intense competition. Since everything ranging from meats to desserts has to make the cut, there is no reason to slash your investment in this department.
• Appliances: You will also require the unstinted support of a truckload of appliances like the microwave, dishwasher and a stove to make your journey into the hearts of customers less tedious. Issues like warranty, repair agreement and quality cannot be relegated to obscurity. Above all, you should be able to haul all of them with unmatched confidence.

So are you ready to establish a dialogue with your equipments?

Learn exactly how to easily generate 100's of positively *brilliant* Kitchen Design Ideas - F-A-S-T ! See http://www.TrulyLovelyHome.com

Renovating a Home in Greece - DIY Or Project Management

Greece is well known for its abundance of traditional old village houses and ruined stone cottages that are in need of some or total renovation. These old houses are frequently set in idyllic friendly villages, where the locals are welcoming and often ply new home owners with gifts of wine and oranges. Although many of these dilapidated houses are in need of a little care and attention they are full of charm and characters and can usually be purchased at reasonable prices. This makes them an attractive purchase for prospective home owners.

Before buying an old property that is in need of renovation there are various aspects that you should consider. Some of the first questions you should be asking yourself include: Are you going to do the building work yourself? Will you be dealing with the work from another country? Or will you need to find somebody local to help you?

Normally, Greek people prefer to build new houses and do not understand why anyone would want to bother fixing up an old house. Consequently, Greek builders are often complete bewildered by the requirements, time scales and expectations of foreigners. It is hardly surprising then, that builders are generally reluctant to renovate old houses. It is also advisable to remember that Greek renovations standards vary considerably, so it is best to ask around for recommended builders. Dealing with the builders yourself can turned out to be a more daunting task than you first realised.

You may prefer instead to find someone in the local area to project manage the renovations of your house for you. This will ultimately give you peace of mind knowing that there is somebody close at hand at all times. Your project manager will be able to oversee the building work on a day to day basis, regularly reporting back to you and ensuring that all goes smoothly. Another important point is that he will also have valuable knowledge of local suppliers and tradesmen. A good level of communication between you and your project manager will make certain that you have plenty of involvement in renovating your home even though you live thousands of miles away.

In any case, it is wise to ask a builder to look at a property before you buy it. He will be able to give a rough estimate of renovation costs. This might prevent you from making a disastrous decision and save you a lot of money in the long run. Take a realistic look at the property you intend purchasing. It is easy to imagine that you have more money to spend on your dream property than you actually have. The cost of purchasing a house and costs of repairs can spiral dramatically without you being prepared for it. This statement is one that should be at the forefront of your mind when you are making your plans.

Providing you do your research prudently you can successfully renovate an old property in Greece. Good luck with the purchase of your dream home and you will soon be sipping wine with the locals. Enjoy your little piece of paradise after all you've earned it.

Claire May is a recognized author of articles about property in Greece and Messinia. An article of her successful undertaking was published in the Escape property magazine. For more information about Messinian properties come and view our website http://www.claires-messinian-properties.com/

A Healthy Home

Your home is your castle. You decide, possibly together with
family members, what to make of it. Outside our home we have
limited opportunities to improve the environment, but in our
home we can do a lot.

At home we want to feel free, relax and do things that we
like. We want to eat, sleep, exercise, maybe work, and
socialize with friends and family. We spend many hours at
home. Naturally, we want our home to be as comfortable and
healthy as possible.

What surroundings make you happy? What things do you like to
have around you? Feeling good at home is a matter of
physical as well as mental and social well-being. Look
around you and think about what changes can be made in your
home environment. Start with something small, one step at a
time. Make a small change every day, and after a week the
difference will be considerable.

Your home - a place for personal growth and well-being

Your home should be a refuge where you can hide from the
rest of the world and find strength to go on with life. Why
not follow these ten steps:

1. Put away things that you dont need. Too many things
disturb the eye and make it hard to relax. Only surround
yourself with things that you need or things that will
enrich your life.

2. Stick to a few colours two or three for each room,
instead of mixing many different colours. This will help you
create a calm and balanced atmosphere.

3. Make sure you have good ventilation. Leave doors between
rooms open for better air circulation, and open windows when
possible.

4. Dont smoke in your home. Ask your visitors to smoke
outside.

5. Choose area rugs instead of carpets when possible.

6. Use cleaning products with low-toxic content.

7. Choose furniture and fittings made of non-toxic
materials.

8. Make sure your sleeping place is comfortable and healthy.
The pillow is important. Do you often wake up with a
headache? You might need a new pillow.

9. Make your kitchen table as pleasant and welcoming as
possible. When you sit down to eat you must be able to relax
and enjoy your meal. Are there papers or magazines on the
table? Too many different colours? Keep it simple and
clean.

10. Buy some new flowers for your home. Decorate your home
with candle lights. Small simple things like these will
influence your well-being.

Ingela Berger started her own Internet business Lifestyle Plans in 2003 out of a desire to inspire and encourage others to make reality of their dreams of a personal, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Ingela has studied theatre directing, acting, history of art, history of ideas, health communication and leadership psychology. After some years working with art exhibitions and the theatre she went back to college and is now a health and lifestyle consultant.

Dryer Vent In Basement Window

Bath Decor How To Design a Bathroom That Is Truly Yours Through Bath Decor

Bath dcor nothing is more beautiful (to me at least) than a room that is perfect. The correct room design, the correct furnishings and let us not omit its dcor. A room that is pleasing to the senses beautiful, luxurious, a pleasure to be in. A room designed to be lived in. Those are beautiful rooms to me and one than can stand out through its bath dcor is obviously the remodelled bathroom.

A bathroom has such potential for dramatic bath dcor and this is something that can be utilized to increase a homes selling price or increase the joy experienced in living in it.

Some of my favourite examples of dramatic bath dcor are:

1) Skylights Nothing adds more elegance, more panache to a bathroom than a gorgeous skylight contained in a vaulted two-story ceiling. Accentuated with a low hanging paddle fan perhaps.

2) Lighting This often overlooked method can be used to obtain the functional lighting levels that are required in a modern remodelled bathroom but please realize the opportunity you have with the bathrooms bath dcor if you incorporate a stunning light fixture of some kind. Decorative generally works best around the mirror(s) with recessed ceiling mount lighting fixtures providing the utilitarian lighting levels needed for general overall illumination.

3) Plumbing Fixtures These consist of:

a. Your Tub/Shower Unit - is it an antique-looking unit to be accessorized with the same type of faucets and towel bars or modern to be paired with modern accessories?

b. Your Sink Unit Do you want a common sink & vanity cabinet or will you opt for a stunning free-standing pedestal based unit?

4) Wallpaper and paint These are two of the old standbys; utilize them in conjunction with your other bath dcor opportunities and your remodelled bathroom will be a stunning victory over the mundane!

By integrating these different opportunities to make your bath dcor your very own, you can design and create stunning bathrooms for very little money, depending on your exact bath dcor.

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John Mann, "The Electric Mann", has been involved in the residential construction industry for over 25 years. He's worked as an Electrical Contractor and a General Contractor in Residential Remodeling and is an expert on Kitchen and Bathroom Design and Remodeling.

Signup for his "Bathroom Remodeler's Newsletter" and get a FR*EE 7-Part mini-course (Value $67.00 US) called
"How To Avoid the 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Remodeling a Bathroom!" by visiting http://www.TheRemodeledBathroom.com

Click Here to Learn More About Bath Decor - How To Make Bath Decor Work for You!

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Fungus On Roof Shingles

The Right Weather For Home Exterior Painting

If you have decided to paint the exterior of your home, then you have probably taken into consideration all of the basic preparations. Most people know to lay down drop cloths and to turn off certain appliances before painting. Still, there is one condition that many people skip over in their preparation: the weather. The weather on painting day can be the deciding factor in a successful paint job.

Rain should obviously be avoided during exterior home painting. Not only will rain immediately wash away your fresh paint job, but it is not safe to be outdoors (especially on a ladder) in weather conditions that could involve lightening. Outside temperature is another factor worth considering. In order for the paint to dry in the appropriate time span and for the texture to be even, painting should never be performed when it is less than 50F.

It is generally good practice to do your home exterior painting in the shade. This means you will have to paint strategically to avoid the sun. The sun can cause the paint to dry too rapidly, which leads to blisters, lap marks, and uneven texture. Ultimately, you'll end up having to paint the same area over again. You should avoid painting during windy weather conditions for the same reasons.

Before you begin home exterior painting, it is an absolute necessity to consider the weather while planning. The good news is that optimal painting weather happens to be pretty decent weather for just about any outdoor activity, which can turn this "job" into a good time.

More information on College Works Painting home improvement for your home is just a click away.

Shower Drain On Subfloor Framing

Repair Holes in Your Wall From Door Knobs

Fixing holes in your wall can be a challenge if you have no idea how to repair the wall or even how it is built.

Have you ever slammed a door shut because you were a little mad a something of someone. Well now have you ever slammed a door open a little to hard and then hearing a sound like something just stuck to the wall.

Well now that would be the sound of your door knob going through the drywall or plaster. Oh crap now what do I do. And don't try to blame this one on the kids either. Right about now you are wondering how in the heck am I going to repair this and not let it happen again.

You should have a nice round hole in the door. Try to remove the piece of drywall without it falling into the wall. After you get this piece of drywall out set it to the side for possible reinstallation. Now get a measuring tape to see if the wall is framed with 2 x 4 or 2 x 6.

If the wall is framed with 2 x 4 it will measure three and one half inches in between the drywall or plaster. If it is a 2 x 6 framed wall it will measure five and one half inches in between the drywall or plaster.

We will use the 2 x 4 wall for our example on fixing the hole from the door knob. Cut a piece of 2 x 4 about 5 inches long and taper both ends of the 2 x 4 so you will be able to slide the piece of wood into the damage hole.

When you slip the wood into the hole set it on edge and screw the sides into the drywall. This will hold the2 x 4 in place. Next reinstall the piece of drywall you removed and screw it into the drywall. Now for the secret to finishing the wall.

Go down to your local home improvement store and purchase a round rubber door stop that glues onto the wall. These rubber and sometimes plastic door stops will be about 6 inches in diameter and work great for these holes.

You could also buy a few more of them to protect the walls from big bad door openers.
Keep Your Temper In Check and You Won't Have To Keep Writing Them

Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business in California 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 provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building in North San Diego Valley Center Remodeling

Visit us now for Drywall Ideas

Skylight Using C16 Metal Strapl