Have You Started on Your Fall Home and Garden Checklist?
By Debbie Arrington
RISMEDIA, October 5, 2020--(MCT)--In the garden: Pull out the summer garden and get started on cool-weather vegetables and flowers.
Now is the time to plant seeds for many flowers directly into the garden, including cornflower, nasturium, nigella, poppy, portulaca and sweet pea.
In the vegetable garden, seed bok choy, mustard, spinach, radishes and peas. Plant garlic and onion sets.
Set out cool-weather bedding plants including calendula, pansy, snapdragon, primrose and viola.
Around the house:
It's time to get alarmed.
This is National Fire Prevention Week. According to a new survey, most American homes don't have enough smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.
About two-thirds of homes don't meet the national recommendation for the number of smoke alarms set by the National Fire Protection Association, said the nationwide survey conducted by First Alert. Only one in 10 homes meets the recommendations for carbon monoxide monitors.
The association recommends at least one carbon monoxide alarm on each level of a house and one in or near every bedroom or sleeping area. For smoke alarms, one should be installed at the top of each staircase, and one in every bedroom or sleeping area, under the guidelines. For an average two-story, three-bedroom house, that adds up to four smoke alarms and five carbon monoxide alarms. (For details, see www.nfpa.org.)
Need more reasons to get fired up? According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 84 percent of all civilian fire deaths occur at private residences. Each year, nearly 3,000 Americans die in home fires and about 450 succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Experts recommend installing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and checking the batteries once a month to make sure they work.
Protection One, another home-security company, recommends that families practice fire drills so they know what to do when the alarm goes off. Devise an escape plan, and post it where it's visible at all times.
For more tips and a home safety checklist, click on www.firstalert.com/safety—checklist.php.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Credit Services, Inspection Advice & Aflac
Today was our monthly office sales meeting and we have three informative guests. I wanted to pass along some of the great information that was shared with our office agents.
Donna Perkins - Kansas City Credit Services was our first guest. She spoke with us a few weeks ago. She is a financial consumer advicate. Her job is to pick about your credit report looking for inaccuracies to help you lower your bills. They have a proven success of 75% to 85% removal of misleading, outdated and unverifiable information from most credit reports. They have been in business since 1991 and her team has 35 years experience. They offer a free credit consultation and if they can't help you, they'll find someone who can. To contact Donna - dperkins@kccreditservices.com
Ed Sullivan - Ed Sullivan Inspections was our second guest. Ed talked about the Utility Flue that service your hot water heater and furnace and how it is necessary that this flue has a metal liner to protect you and your home. This liner is necessary because many older homes have older appliances which had 9-12 in flues. Newer appliances have 5 in flues. There are a few different options. One of the less expensive options is to get a diverter for your water heater. You could also get a flexible liner for your flue. Make sure when you get your home inspectied the inspector checks the roof and flue liner. He also mentioned that you need to be careful with gas burning fireplaces that are VENT-FREE. These need to be in large, open rooms.
Seve Sterthman - Aflac was our last speaker. He talked about all the different policies that Aflac offers that give cash back to policy holders for medical bills. Once you pick your policy, your rate never goes unless you switch to a new policy. Their Accident policy covers anything "that comes at you from the outside" - including car accidents, falling from a ladder and even poison ivy. You can have more than one plan/policy and they do not cancel out the other.
Donna Perkins - Kansas City Credit Services was our first guest. She spoke with us a few weeks ago. She is a financial consumer advicate. Her job is to pick about your credit report looking for inaccuracies to help you lower your bills. They have a proven success of 75% to 85% removal of misleading, outdated and unverifiable information from most credit reports. They have been in business since 1991 and her team has 35 years experience. They offer a free credit consultation and if they can't help you, they'll find someone who can. To contact Donna - dperkins@kccreditservices.com
Ed Sullivan - Ed Sullivan Inspections was our second guest. Ed talked about the Utility Flue that service your hot water heater and furnace and how it is necessary that this flue has a metal liner to protect you and your home. This liner is necessary because many older homes have older appliances which had 9-12 in flues. Newer appliances have 5 in flues. There are a few different options. One of the less expensive options is to get a diverter for your water heater. You could also get a flexible liner for your flue. Make sure when you get your home inspectied the inspector checks the roof and flue liner. He also mentioned that you need to be careful with gas burning fireplaces that are VENT-FREE. These need to be in large, open rooms.
Seve Sterthman - Aflac was our last speaker. He talked about all the different policies that Aflac offers that give cash back to policy holders for medical bills. Once you pick your policy, your rate never goes unless you switch to a new policy. Their Accident policy covers anything "that comes at you from the outside" - including car accidents, falling from a ladder and even poison ivy. You can have more than one plan/policy and they do not cancel out the other.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Steps Toward Success in Business
11 Steps Toward Success in Business
By Stephanie Andre
RISMEDIA, September 23, 2010--Whether you've been in the business world for five months, five years or five decades, there are always some rules that you should live by. Doing so will bring you closer to business--and personal--success.
A good work ethic and great attitude will always get you far. Here are some additional tips to help you get ahead as a business professional:
1. Don't let others decide "your" attitude.
2. Always be early to work and always be willing to stay late. Moving up is often measured in sweat equity.
3. The best ethics are those that can stand being illuminated in the morning newspaper.
4. A positive attitude will take you further than your technical knowledge.
5. Decision making should always involve identifying the risks and assigning probabilities to possible outcomes.
6. Make an effort to improve your written and oral communication skills. Whatever the sacrifice - make it! -- Very few professionals move up without being good communicators.
7. Learn everything you can about the computer and the Internet. It's not going away any time soon! The 21st century will be defined by "technocrats." Join them or fall behind.
8. Join professional business organizations. Career maintenance and the networking related to it will pay off.
9. Be a volunteer for community service, starting now. Recruiters believe if you give that extra two cents while you are a student, then you will likely give that extra two cents to the company.
10. Continually update your address, telephone, and e-mail information. Networking is an important key to success.
11. Be attentive to details. It is not long in life before you will discover it is the little things that make the big difference.
By Stephanie Andre
RISMEDIA, September 23, 2010--Whether you've been in the business world for five months, five years or five decades, there are always some rules that you should live by. Doing so will bring you closer to business--and personal--success.
A good work ethic and great attitude will always get you far. Here are some additional tips to help you get ahead as a business professional:
1. Don't let others decide "your" attitude.
2. Always be early to work and always be willing to stay late. Moving up is often measured in sweat equity.
3. The best ethics are those that can stand being illuminated in the morning newspaper.
4. A positive attitude will take you further than your technical knowledge.
5. Decision making should always involve identifying the risks and assigning probabilities to possible outcomes.
6. Make an effort to improve your written and oral communication skills. Whatever the sacrifice - make it! -- Very few professionals move up without being good communicators.
7. Learn everything you can about the computer and the Internet. It's not going away any time soon! The 21st century will be defined by "technocrats." Join them or fall behind.
8. Join professional business organizations. Career maintenance and the networking related to it will pay off.
9. Be a volunteer for community service, starting now. Recruiters believe if you give that extra two cents while you are a student, then you will likely give that extra two cents to the company.
10. Continually update your address, telephone, and e-mail information. Networking is an important key to success.
11. Be attentive to details. It is not long in life before you will discover it is the little things that make the big difference.
Tips to Getting Your Loan Modification Application
For Your Clients: 8 Tips to Getting Your Loan Modification Application Reviewed
RISMEDIA, September 25, 2010--Many homeowners seeking a loan modification to lower their monthly mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure continue to find the application process a complex web, often causing them to give up before their application is ever reviewed by their mortgage company.
Certified housing counselors for CredAbility, a national nonprofit credit counseling and education agency, speak daily with hundreds of homeowners seeking a loan modification or other solutions to keep their homes. The organization has several tips for people that will help them increase the chances that their application is reviewed as quickly as possible.
"A homeowner needs to collect and send several documents that tell the mortgage company why you need a modification, and it needs to be done in a timely, organized manner," said Michelle Jones, senior vice president of counseling for CredAbility. "Once a homeowner has submitted these documents, they need to stay in regular contact with the company. With hundreds of thousands of applications under consideration, homeowners must take matters into their own hands to make sure their application gets to the right person at the company."
Here are CredAbility's recommendations for homeowners seeking a loan modification:
Speak With a Nonprofit Housing Counselor to Understand Investor Rules for Your Loan. Every homeowner's mortgage loan is different, so don't rely on information you may have heard from your neighbor or your sister-in-law, even if they received a loan modification. For example, if your 30-year, fixed interest rate loan is owned by one investor, and your neighbor's is owned by another investor, the rules governing a loan modification may be quite different. A certified counselor at a nonprofit credit counseling agency can help you find the investor who owns your mortgage and determine your options.
Submit All Documents That Prove Your Current Income. Income verification is critical, but homeowners sometimes don't provide their mortgage company with recent documents. If you lost a job in June, don't provide pay stubs from March. In addition to recent pay stubs and other traditional income sources, homeowners should also provide a document called a "contribution letter." This letter explains the source of any household income that is not easily verified. For example, a servicer will want to know the total household income of a married couple, even if only one person's name is on the loan. The letter could also include income verifying that you have a roommate that pays rent.
Submit Current Bank Statements. Recent bank statements allow your mortgage company to verify your income and expenses. This information enables the mortgage company to see your monthly expenses for food, utilities and other expenses and determine whether you will have enough money to make your mortgage payment.
Mail Your Documents to the Mortgage Company. Many people prefer to send all of their documents by fax or scan their documents and send them via email. However, postal mail is usually more reliable, especially if it's addressed to the person you spoke with at the mortgage company. Faxes often get lost.
Label Each Page With Your Name and Loan Number. One of the most common complaints among homeowners is that the mortgage company loses their documents. You can help your own cause by writing your name and loan number on each page of every document.
Fully Explain Any Recent or Unique Income Changes. For example, a bank deposit may show various one-time transactions, such as an asset sale, cash gifts from family members or a bonus. Unless you explain this one-time increase in income, the servicer may not understand it and use this information to deny your loan modification.
Include a Timeline in Your Hardship Letter. Every application for a loan modification must include a "hardship letter" that explains the reasons for your request. But the letter must have specific dates explaining when an income loss has occurred. If your spouse lost her job on July 15 and your family income will decrease by $3,000 beginning in August, your letter needs to provide these details.
Call Your Mortgage Company Every Week. Many homeowners work extremely hard to submit all of their paperwork to the servicer - and then wait for weeks before picking up the telephone to call them about the status of their application. This is a mistake for several reasons: the person handling your application may quit; the application may be transferred to another person; the company may need more information. You get the picture.
RISMEDIA, September 25, 2010--Many homeowners seeking a loan modification to lower their monthly mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure continue to find the application process a complex web, often causing them to give up before their application is ever reviewed by their mortgage company.
Certified housing counselors for CredAbility, a national nonprofit credit counseling and education agency, speak daily with hundreds of homeowners seeking a loan modification or other solutions to keep their homes. The organization has several tips for people that will help them increase the chances that their application is reviewed as quickly as possible.
"A homeowner needs to collect and send several documents that tell the mortgage company why you need a modification, and it needs to be done in a timely, organized manner," said Michelle Jones, senior vice president of counseling for CredAbility. "Once a homeowner has submitted these documents, they need to stay in regular contact with the company. With hundreds of thousands of applications under consideration, homeowners must take matters into their own hands to make sure their application gets to the right person at the company."
Here are CredAbility's recommendations for homeowners seeking a loan modification:
Speak With a Nonprofit Housing Counselor to Understand Investor Rules for Your Loan. Every homeowner's mortgage loan is different, so don't rely on information you may have heard from your neighbor or your sister-in-law, even if they received a loan modification. For example, if your 30-year, fixed interest rate loan is owned by one investor, and your neighbor's is owned by another investor, the rules governing a loan modification may be quite different. A certified counselor at a nonprofit credit counseling agency can help you find the investor who owns your mortgage and determine your options.
Submit All Documents That Prove Your Current Income. Income verification is critical, but homeowners sometimes don't provide their mortgage company with recent documents. If you lost a job in June, don't provide pay stubs from March. In addition to recent pay stubs and other traditional income sources, homeowners should also provide a document called a "contribution letter." This letter explains the source of any household income that is not easily verified. For example, a servicer will want to know the total household income of a married couple, even if only one person's name is on the loan. The letter could also include income verifying that you have a roommate that pays rent.
Submit Current Bank Statements. Recent bank statements allow your mortgage company to verify your income and expenses. This information enables the mortgage company to see your monthly expenses for food, utilities and other expenses and determine whether you will have enough money to make your mortgage payment.
Mail Your Documents to the Mortgage Company. Many people prefer to send all of their documents by fax or scan their documents and send them via email. However, postal mail is usually more reliable, especially if it's addressed to the person you spoke with at the mortgage company. Faxes often get lost.
Label Each Page With Your Name and Loan Number. One of the most common complaints among homeowners is that the mortgage company loses their documents. You can help your own cause by writing your name and loan number on each page of every document.
Fully Explain Any Recent or Unique Income Changes. For example, a bank deposit may show various one-time transactions, such as an asset sale, cash gifts from family members or a bonus. Unless you explain this one-time increase in income, the servicer may not understand it and use this information to deny your loan modification.
Include a Timeline in Your Hardship Letter. Every application for a loan modification must include a "hardship letter" that explains the reasons for your request. But the letter must have specific dates explaining when an income loss has occurred. If your spouse lost her job on July 15 and your family income will decrease by $3,000 beginning in August, your letter needs to provide these details.
Call Your Mortgage Company Every Week. Many homeowners work extremely hard to submit all of their paperwork to the servicer - and then wait for weeks before picking up the telephone to call them about the status of their application. This is a mistake for several reasons: the person handling your application may quit; the application may be transferred to another person; the company may need more information. You get the picture.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
13 Unique Ways to Sell a Home
For Your Clients: 13 Unique Ways to Sell a Home
By Paige Tepping
RISMEDIA, September 16, 2010--In today’s market, it takes more than painting and trimming the bushes to get noticed, to stand out, to make your home memorable. While home sellers across the country are resorting to dropping the price in order to make their home more attractive, it leads to one crucial question: what can I do differently to make my home stand out?
Larry Nusbaum, Resolution Assistance Contractor for the FDIC, offers the following tips for home sellers looking to differentiate their homes from the numerous homes that are on the market today.
1. Get lighted signage that’s illuminated even after dark. This will give prospective buyers extra time to see your home as they don’t have to depend on sunlight.
2. If you or your agent are hosting an open house, be sure to serve light snacks and hand out something that attendees will remember. You want something that will be a positive reminder of your home—seasonal gifts are the perfect way to stay top of mind. Be sure to at least have pens and key chains with your agent's name and contact information on them.
3. Create an informational flyer with all the local conveniences you can find: shopping, schools, universities, hospitals, malls, restaurants, gas stations and attractions in the area, in addition to local police and fire stations, even school bus pick up locations. Assume your open house attendees don’t know the neighborhood.
4. Hand out information pertaining to your home as well as information on the other listed properties in the area showing that your house is the best value.
5. Do some staging to make sure your home looks its best.
6. Be sure to offer incentives. Some examples include a Lowe's gift card, paying for a year’s worth of yard care or a free session with a landscape architect, offering a $1,000 landscape allowance, paying for a years worth of homeowners fees, offering $1,000 for new appliances or any home improvement, offering a new carpet allowance or paying for lawn service for a year—the possibilities are endless.
7. Paint the garage floor (concrete paint). Making the garage look fresh and clean will make the whole house feel newer.
8. Send letters to all the neighbors inviting them to “pick their neighbor,” and be sure to include information about your home and the open house. Give them an incentive to talk about your home with other individuals in their sphere of influence. (i.e. a $200 gift card if they find your buyer).
9. Put up signs in your front yard and be sure to hang up as many directional signs as the neighborhood allows.
10. Put out flyers in surrounding shopping areas.
11. Have your agent create a video of your home and put the virtual tour on the Web.
12. Have your agent post ads on Craigslist and on any other free online listing sites you can find.
13. E-mail HR departments at local companies as many employees prefer to live close to their jobs but don’t make time for the house hunting process. This will make it easy for employees to find your home.
By Paige Tepping
RISMEDIA, September 16, 2010--In today’s market, it takes more than painting and trimming the bushes to get noticed, to stand out, to make your home memorable. While home sellers across the country are resorting to dropping the price in order to make their home more attractive, it leads to one crucial question: what can I do differently to make my home stand out?
Larry Nusbaum, Resolution Assistance Contractor for the FDIC, offers the following tips for home sellers looking to differentiate their homes from the numerous homes that are on the market today.
1. Get lighted signage that’s illuminated even after dark. This will give prospective buyers extra time to see your home as they don’t have to depend on sunlight.
2. If you or your agent are hosting an open house, be sure to serve light snacks and hand out something that attendees will remember. You want something that will be a positive reminder of your home—seasonal gifts are the perfect way to stay top of mind. Be sure to at least have pens and key chains with your agent's name and contact information on them.
3. Create an informational flyer with all the local conveniences you can find: shopping, schools, universities, hospitals, malls, restaurants, gas stations and attractions in the area, in addition to local police and fire stations, even school bus pick up locations. Assume your open house attendees don’t know the neighborhood.
4. Hand out information pertaining to your home as well as information on the other listed properties in the area showing that your house is the best value.
5. Do some staging to make sure your home looks its best.
6. Be sure to offer incentives. Some examples include a Lowe's gift card, paying for a year’s worth of yard care or a free session with a landscape architect, offering a $1,000 landscape allowance, paying for a years worth of homeowners fees, offering $1,000 for new appliances or any home improvement, offering a new carpet allowance or paying for lawn service for a year—the possibilities are endless.
7. Paint the garage floor (concrete paint). Making the garage look fresh and clean will make the whole house feel newer.
8. Send letters to all the neighbors inviting them to “pick their neighbor,” and be sure to include information about your home and the open house. Give them an incentive to talk about your home with other individuals in their sphere of influence. (i.e. a $200 gift card if they find your buyer).
9. Put up signs in your front yard and be sure to hang up as many directional signs as the neighborhood allows.
10. Put out flyers in surrounding shopping areas.
11. Have your agent create a video of your home and put the virtual tour on the Web.
12. Have your agent post ads on Craigslist and on any other free online listing sites you can find.
13. E-mail HR departments at local companies as many employees prefer to live close to their jobs but don’t make time for the house hunting process. This will make it easy for employees to find your home.
Trends In Kitchen Design
For Your Clients: Trends in Kitchen Design
By Jean Patteson
KITCHEN-DESIGN TRENDS
Counter tops: Stainless steel, antiqued marble, lava stone, wood, concrete, mosaics and flamed granite with a textured, matte finish.
Cabinetry: Fewer overhead cabinets. Lift-up or sliding doors, self-closing drawers, glass-fronted cabinets and glass shelving, tracks inside doors for attaching storage accessories, pantires with multiple storage options. Fresh finishes, from smooth, high-gloss and matte lacquer, to textured, horizontal-grain laminates.
Appliances: Free-standing accent pieces and fully-integrated designs that blend with cabinets. Fridges with more crisper space, less freezer space; combination gas/electric ranges; designer range hoods; super-quiet dishwashers; specialty sink faucets; luxury items such as warmer drawers for coffee mugs.
Lighting: Combinations of soft incandescent, bright halogen and cool, energy-efficient LED bulbs.
Colors: Warm neutrals such as walnut, slate, sand, greige, celadon and magnolia.
Architectural elements: Wall niches and bump-outs for housing coffee machines, juicers, dinnerware, herbs, spices and collectibles.
By Jean Patteson
KITCHEN-DESIGN TRENDS
Counter tops: Stainless steel, antiqued marble, lava stone, wood, concrete, mosaics and flamed granite with a textured, matte finish.
Cabinetry: Fewer overhead cabinets. Lift-up or sliding doors, self-closing drawers, glass-fronted cabinets and glass shelving, tracks inside doors for attaching storage accessories, pantires with multiple storage options. Fresh finishes, from smooth, high-gloss and matte lacquer, to textured, horizontal-grain laminates.
Appliances: Free-standing accent pieces and fully-integrated designs that blend with cabinets. Fridges with more crisper space, less freezer space; combination gas/electric ranges; designer range hoods; super-quiet dishwashers; specialty sink faucets; luxury items such as warmer drawers for coffee mugs.
Lighting: Combinations of soft incandescent, bright halogen and cool, energy-efficient LED bulbs.
Colors: Warm neutrals such as walnut, slate, sand, greige, celadon and magnolia.
Architectural elements: Wall niches and bump-outs for housing coffee machines, juicers, dinnerware, herbs, spices and collectibles.
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