by: ARA Content
(ARA) - Remodeling your home can be a daunting task and devoting quality time to make your house a home can be a challenge any time of the year. If you’ve been thinking of remodeling, now is a great time to freshen your home’s appearance and make it more energy efficient (www.abcseamless.com).
It's a good idea to inspect your home now. As you do this, ask yourself these questions:
Do I have high heating and cooling bills?
Is my current siding rotting, warping, fading or discontinued?
Can I hear outside noise when the windows are closed?
Do I have excessive heat gain in my home from the sun?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might be in the market for a home-remodeling job. Knowing where to start can be very important. You might be wondering: Can I do a project like this myself or should I leave it up to the professionals? How much is this going to cost?
Here are some tips from ABC Seamless Siding (www.abcseamless.com) on how to choose a contractor:
Ask for references and visit some of the homes they have remodeled. Ask questions while you are there, too.
Check credentials and find out how long they have been in business. Are they a member of the National Association of Home Builders? Are they up to date with their licensing and insurance?
When it comes time to sign the contract, go over it thoroughly with the contractor and discuss any final questions with them before signing it.
Remember, quality is never cheap and the lowest bid isn’t always the best. It may seem like a headache at first to do research, but it will save time and money in the long run.
Once you’ve chosen a contractor, prioritize your projects.
With the rising costs of heating or cooling your home, the best place to start might be making your home more energy efficient. The U.S. Department of Energy says one-third of a home's air leakage comes from the walls, floors and ceilings.
One of the best ways to make your home more energy efficient is to install seamless steel siding. ABC Seamless, for example, can install its seamless steel siding year-round. Since it has the strength of steel, it is not vulnerable to extreme cold or heat. Vinyl siding expands and contracts greatly with changes in temperature, which limits its installation to certain times of the year.
Each home sided by ABC Seamless is wrapped with a blanket of Energy Star approved insulation before the siding is installed. With the increase in heating and cooling costs, this added insulation can save you money year round. The seamless steel also eliminates ugly seams and is virtually maintenance free.
Home remodeling can be a big project, but if you hire professionals, you can save a lot of time and effort. And an investment in a home-remodeling project now can save you money for years to come.
For more information on ABC Seamless Siding, visit www.abcseamless.com or call (800) 732-6577.
About The Author
Courtesy of ARA Content, http://www.aracontent.com/ ; e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com
ABC Seamless Steel Siding manufactures seamless log siding and seamless steel gutters on the job site. Based in Fargo, N.D., ABC Seamless Steel Siding has 125 franchises in 38 states.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Remodeling and Buying Hud Homes
Looking To Buy HUD Homes?
By: Tom Laing
Buy HUD homes are sometimes the cheapest option available for a common man to own a house. The fact that teachers and police officers could buy HUD homes at 50% off the market value attracts more potential buyers.
Before starting off hunting around to buy HUD homes, let us see what actually a HUD home is? HUD homes are those dwellings that have been acquired by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. When a home owner fails to meet the payments of a HUD insured mortgage, it results in the home getting foreclosed by the mortgage lender. He then transfers the ownership of the house to HUD and collects the money owed to it. HUD homes are then put for sale at the current market rate with the aim of selling it off quickly and recovering the money. It in fact offers a cheap option for those looking to buy HUD homes.
Buy HUD homes options vary from family residences and townhouses, condominiums and other types of residential properties. It is a cheapest and later profitable option to buy HUD homes for common man as well as potential investors. While a common man sees buy HUD homes as a way to earn a house for him and family, an investor taps the economic potential in re-selling it at a higher price to some body ready to buy HUD homes. Other home buyers are motivated in buy HUD homes at below market value because it allows them to acquire a larger home than they could normally afford to purchase.
In fact, any one can buy HUD homes. But in order to buy HUD homes, he/she should have a pre-approved mortgage or is in possession of a verifiable amount of cash for purchase. But the price ranges are such that any low or moderately salaried American can buy HUD homes. And on the race for buy HUD homes, an owner-occupant has preference over other buyers if he/she is deciding to buy HUD homes as his/her primary residence. But this privilege is valid only for a certain period, beyond which the home will be available to other qualified persons looking for buy HUD homes.
In order to buy HUD homes, one can strike the deal only through real estate agents approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Approved agents can submit bids during any day of a week, from which the highest net bid is chosen. If there is no acceptable bid to buy HUD homes, the home is put to new bidding until sold.
On the acceptance of a bid to buy HUD homes, the agent will be notified within 48 hours. The settlement is usually completed within one to two months, during which time financing is arranged and the sale is closed. If you do not close by the settlement date, your earnest money deposit is forfeited else you have to pay for an extension of the sales contract.
For those looking to buy HUD homes, since HUD homes are sold in a 'as-is' basis, conducting a professional home inspection before submitting a bid is recommended. The customers who buy HUD homes need to pay for any repairs/maintenance - those expenses would not be paid by HUD. After you buy HUD homes, the selling commission will be paid by HUD only if such a condition is there in your offer.
To buy HUD homes, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development does not provide home loans directly. One can make use of the several insurance mortgage programs available to buy HUD homes.
About The Author
Tom Laing
Providing Business and Real Estate Resources
http://www.BringYourBusinessOnline.com/sitemap.html
By: Tom Laing
Buy HUD homes are sometimes the cheapest option available for a common man to own a house. The fact that teachers and police officers could buy HUD homes at 50% off the market value attracts more potential buyers.
Before starting off hunting around to buy HUD homes, let us see what actually a HUD home is? HUD homes are those dwellings that have been acquired by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. When a home owner fails to meet the payments of a HUD insured mortgage, it results in the home getting foreclosed by the mortgage lender. He then transfers the ownership of the house to HUD and collects the money owed to it. HUD homes are then put for sale at the current market rate with the aim of selling it off quickly and recovering the money. It in fact offers a cheap option for those looking to buy HUD homes.
Buy HUD homes options vary from family residences and townhouses, condominiums and other types of residential properties. It is a cheapest and later profitable option to buy HUD homes for common man as well as potential investors. While a common man sees buy HUD homes as a way to earn a house for him and family, an investor taps the economic potential in re-selling it at a higher price to some body ready to buy HUD homes. Other home buyers are motivated in buy HUD homes at below market value because it allows them to acquire a larger home than they could normally afford to purchase.
In fact, any one can buy HUD homes. But in order to buy HUD homes, he/she should have a pre-approved mortgage or is in possession of a verifiable amount of cash for purchase. But the price ranges are such that any low or moderately salaried American can buy HUD homes. And on the race for buy HUD homes, an owner-occupant has preference over other buyers if he/she is deciding to buy HUD homes as his/her primary residence. But this privilege is valid only for a certain period, beyond which the home will be available to other qualified persons looking for buy HUD homes.
In order to buy HUD homes, one can strike the deal only through real estate agents approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Approved agents can submit bids during any day of a week, from which the highest net bid is chosen. If there is no acceptable bid to buy HUD homes, the home is put to new bidding until sold.
On the acceptance of a bid to buy HUD homes, the agent will be notified within 48 hours. The settlement is usually completed within one to two months, during which time financing is arranged and the sale is closed. If you do not close by the settlement date, your earnest money deposit is forfeited else you have to pay for an extension of the sales contract.
For those looking to buy HUD homes, since HUD homes are sold in a 'as-is' basis, conducting a professional home inspection before submitting a bid is recommended. The customers who buy HUD homes need to pay for any repairs/maintenance - those expenses would not be paid by HUD. After you buy HUD homes, the selling commission will be paid by HUD only if such a condition is there in your offer.
To buy HUD homes, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development does not provide home loans directly. One can make use of the several insurance mortgage programs available to buy HUD homes.
About The Author
Tom Laing
Providing Business and Real Estate Resources
http://www.BringYourBusinessOnline.com/sitemap.html
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Windows and Heat
Dealing with Bright Sun In Your Windows
By: Rick Chapo
You purchase a home with beautiful, large windows only to find the sunlight is blinding during the day and turns the home into an oven. Here’s how you can deal with the issue.
If you’ve ever doubted the power of the sun, the glare and heat generated in a home with large windows will change your mind. Boiled down to its basic elements, the sun is a nuclear reactor that sends more energy in the form of sunlight to the earth in one day than the entire world uses in one year. Without a filter device, the sun can practically turn your house into a nuclear reactor!
Solar shades off a solution. They come in a variety of forms, but have a few common characteristics. Regardless of the type, they act as a semi-translucent barrier to greatly filter the amount of light and heat generated by the sunlight. Depending upon your needs, this filtering process can be tailored to completely block the sunlight [a dark room] or filter it to allow for a more reasonable amount of light and heat in the room. Put in more simple terms, solar shades act as sunglasses for your windows.
A standard shade system is going to have an automated method of raising and lowering the screens from the inside of the home. If you are looking at a system that requires manual raising and lowering, skip it. It will become a pain in the derriere to have to do so every day, particularly if you have numerous screens.
Most screens come in standard sizes, but can be custom built to the particular dimensions of your windows. When ordering the screens, it is critical that you understand how the company is sizing the screens. Are the measuring from the inside border of the window or from the outside of the window frame? Nothing is worse than getting your system and finding it doesn’t fit.
You can install the screens yourself, but more and more manufacturers are requiring professional installation. Using a contractor is best unless you have previous experience with such systems. The installation seems simple, but can be frustrating in the details. Most manufacturers also require profession installation as part of the warranty for the system.
Long term exposure to the sun can be a killer for the interior of your home. Carpets and furniture will fade and fall apart. The massive production of heat can put pressure on joints and cause premature roof failure as it builds up in the attic. Solar shades are just about the only way to deal with this problem.
About The Author
Rick Chapo is with http://www.solarcompanies.com/ – a directory of solar energy and solar power companies
Aluminum Cushion Patio Furniture
By: Cat Greenbriar
Choosing patio furniture can be a difficult decision with so many options. There is one option that is comfortable as well as beautiful to accent any patio, and that is aluminum cushion patio furniture.
Aluminum cushion patio furniture is the most comfortable patio furniture . Plush cushions and soft upholstered fabrics make sitting in a chaise lounge a very relaxing experience. The fabric chosen for upholstery can be suited to match any type of décor.
Aluminum cushion patio furniture is also a great choice for durability. The aluminum hardware is treated to be weather resistant, and is also designed with comfort in mind. Cushions also are treated to be mold and mildew resistant so they can survive the elements when left outside.
Aluminum cushion patio furniture has some unique design elements to offer as well. Instead of a set of simple chairs, aluminum cushion patio chairs can be swivel chairs or rocking chairs that allow for maximum mobility as well as comfort. An aluminum serving cart can also be ordered to compliment any aluminum cushion patio furniture set.
Aluminum cushion patio furniture is a great choice for commercial or residential use. It is a great idea when you want you gets to have the maximum comfort patio furniture can provide when sitting outdoors or poolside. It is more decorative than traditional aluminum patio furniture, so you know your guests will appreciate that.
About The Author
Cat Greenbriar writes for PatioStuff at www.ettflorida.com.
Choosing patio furniture can be a difficult decision with so many options. There is one option that is comfortable as well as beautiful to accent any patio, and that is aluminum cushion patio furniture.
Aluminum cushion patio furniture is the most comfortable patio furniture . Plush cushions and soft upholstered fabrics make sitting in a chaise lounge a very relaxing experience. The fabric chosen for upholstery can be suited to match any type of décor.
Aluminum cushion patio furniture is also a great choice for durability. The aluminum hardware is treated to be weather resistant, and is also designed with comfort in mind. Cushions also are treated to be mold and mildew resistant so they can survive the elements when left outside.
Aluminum cushion patio furniture has some unique design elements to offer as well. Instead of a set of simple chairs, aluminum cushion patio chairs can be swivel chairs or rocking chairs that allow for maximum mobility as well as comfort. An aluminum serving cart can also be ordered to compliment any aluminum cushion patio furniture set.
Aluminum cushion patio furniture is a great choice for commercial or residential use. It is a great idea when you want you gets to have the maximum comfort patio furniture can provide when sitting outdoors or poolside. It is more decorative than traditional aluminum patio furniture, so you know your guests will appreciate that.
About The Author
Cat Greenbriar writes for PatioStuff at www.ettflorida.com.
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