Month: August 2016

Fix it and Flip it – How I Lost Money on Real Estate

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I’ve known a lot of people who have lost money when they sold their homes. In fact, I’m one of those people, and it’s happened to me more than once.

There are a number of factors can cause a financial loss when you sell your house, including the need to sell at the wrong time due to divorce or an impending foreclosure, or a downturn in the local real estate market. However, it’s also common to lose money simply by making too many expensive changes to the house before putting it on the market. This is how I lost money on real estate, before I wised up.

My most resounding failure in the fix it and flip it market was a house I bought in Spokane, Washington. Knowing what I know now, I would have restricted myself to replacing the carpets and the kitchen and bathroom fixtures, painting inside and out, and buying new appliances. I probably would have replaced the old-style windows, too, to make the place look nicer and appeal to the energy-conscious buyer. These fixes could have been done easily within the two years I needed to live there to avoid capital gains taxes.

Since I didn’t know what I know now, I made major renovations, which included moving the bathroom. I did most of the work myself, but the materials alone cost more than I could get back when the house was sold. With the exception of repairs done to the house to make it eligible for an FHA loan and watering the grass, I doubt that any of my major projects really helped me sell the house or increased its value.

If a house is actually sound, with no structural damage or insect problems, the biggest reason it will sell for less than its worth is usually cosmetic. This was certainly true of the house I bought in Spokane. Dirty carpeting, and a wall in the living room covered with mirror tiles, kept most buyers from going any further into the house. I could see past the cosmetic problems and see the home’s full potential – but my imagination went a bit too far.

The floor plan was odd, and slightly inconvenient, but leaving the bathroom where it was would have been far more rational, financially. Why didn’t I do that? Because my emotions and my nesting instincts took over, pushing aside all thought of future gain or loss.

Let’s face it – most people don’t buy their own homes with the intention of making a profit, although they certainly hope the house will be a good investment. In fact, the emotional stress caused by the process of buying a house and moving into it can be enough to completely erase any thought of moving again a few years later. However, I know several families who have made a very good living by buying underpriced homes, living in them and fixing them up, and then selling them when the IRS will allow them to do …

Benefits of Laptop Computer Stands

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The passing days are making it more and more obvious that skeletal health and ergonomic conditions of human beings is directly correlated with the way that we use our laptop computers. And each day, laptop computer stands are finding a stronger place in our daily lives compared to yesterday. Laptop computer stands are useful if you use a laptop on a regular basis at your home or office.

The human spinal system is delicate. If you keep stressing it consistently and continuously to make it do what it was not designed for doing, it is going to lose its health. That is exactly what happens when we keep using our laptop computers day in and day out. The laptops are not designed in a way that you shall find comfort typing in. They are designed for convenience. As a result, your health may seriously suffer if you do not use mobile computer stands.

The main benefits of using laptop computer stands are highlighted below.

  • Ergonomics: A mobile computer desk adjusts the height and you can use your laptop sitting on your chair if you have a stand in place. Thus, you get to sit in the ergonomic position that you are the most comfortable with.
  • Ease of multi-posture use: You can easily adjust the height and position of your laptop stand many times a day if you feel that changing postures while working is good for your health and comfort.
  • Portability: Mobile computer stands with wheel bases are portable. You can carry them all over your house and use them from almost anywhere at home that you want to.
  • Space efficiency: Folding these away is extremely easy. If you do not plan to use your stand for some days or hours, you can simply fold it and move it out of sight. In fact, if you have one with a nice décor then you may not feel like folding it away too much since a part of your nice house décor would appear to be missing.

Thus, using laptop computer stands can yield a high number of benefits that make using them an attractive option.…

How Do I Stop My Jack Russell From Peeing In The House – House Training A Jack Russell Puppy

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That’s a good question. How to house train a Jack Russell puppy is one of the most daunting tasks you’ll face as a dog owner. However, because Jack Russells are so intelligent, house training a Jack Russell puppy can be accomplished easily and quickly if you follow some basic guidelines.

Puppies 8-10 Weeks Old

Depending on how old your puppy is, you may be expecting too much. If your puppy is too young, physically, he may not be able to hold his bowels. Most dogs come to their new homes 8-10 weeks of age. At this stage, they are unable to hold their bladder for an entire night and they have to be taken out every few hours.

If your JRT is less than 6 months old, be prepared that you’re going to have less than perfect compliance to house training and that you’ll have accidents at times. Be patient and stay positive.

Getting Started

First, and foremost, if you really want learn how to house train a Jack Russell puppy, you have to be willing to take at least 2 weeks off work. Why? Because you’ll need to keep watch over your pup very carefully so that you can sense when he has to pee and then intercede.

Designate His Own Space

Designate a space just for your JRT. Make it a space where the floor is easy to clean. This will be his play and sleep area. It should be an area that can be easily closed off and small enough to be manageable.

This will be your terrier’s “room” until house training gets under way and until you introduce the crate. Get him a blanket – perferably one with your scent on it, a bowl of water and some toys, and keep it in his new “room.”

Don’t Let Home Roam Free

If you’re serious about house training a Jack Russell puppy, and want fast results, your Jack Russell can’t have free access to the house until he’s fully house trained.

I know that sounds cruel, but there’s a good reason for this kind of rigid restriction in the beginning. If you give your dog free reign of the house, he’ll pee all over the place. You won’t have an opportunity to intercept him and take him to the appropriate place you want him to eliminate – which is outside.

When you’re learning how to house train a Jack Russell puppy you’re going to be asked to do a lot of things that seem cruel to your dog at first. But you’ve got to trust the process and do what you’re asked to do if you want results.

Keep Your Eyes on Him Every Minute

Your job is to watch your pup like a hawk. If you have to wash dishes, tie a tether to him, this way he can only go so far and you can still catch him in the act if he starts to go to the bathroom.

During Jack Russell house training, it’s …

Medical Alert Systems

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Medical alert systems are typically wearable diabetes necklaces, pendants, control keys, watches as well as necklaces that incorporate the patient’s illness, blood type, allergy symptoms along with additional vital details. The system signals family members, friends, physicians and healthcare facility emergency personnel respond effectively to a sufferer’s ailment should the affected person be unconscious or even incoherent or unaccompanied in the emergency situation.

Even though such alert devices utilizing panic calls had been initially designed for older people, they’ve proven to be great for sufferers of every age group who are suffering severe medical conditions such as bronchial asthma, hypersensitivity, cardiovascular system problems, fainting,, as well as other various health care disorders which would demand proper treatment when the need arise and no time will be misused diagnosing a individual’s affliction.

The medical pendant can be designed from precious metals – gold or silver. At a glance they do not appear to be health care systems but designer accents. The units are etched with the person’s home phone number as well as other details together with his or her healthcare needs. On the other hand, they are equipped with alarms that switch on the built in transmitting device that links to phone lines and/or radio frequencies get in touch with family and the individual’s doctor.

Wearable medical alert systems need to be picked carefully as these aren’t affordable. You cannot afford to stake your life with questionable and inexpensive systems or go with a system which is not guaranteed. Commonly these products are donned as necklaces, watches, as well as charms. Looks can be significant but it is important to choose one with exceptional alert devices. It should furthermore have a back-up battery power in the event of an electric outage.

Since it actively works to notify the station that is plugged into a telephone of healthcare locations nearby, the necklace needs to fit comfortably and needs to easily be moved without needing to remove it. Picking your medical wristband or watch furthermore requires deciding on the medical system. If there is an urgent situation the patient can get in touch with their health practitioner promptly. Therefore, it truly is fully necessary the system has to have extremely receptive microphones as well as audio for sharp quality of sound.

These kinds of alarm products may have a useable distance Four hundred to Six-hundred ft. With the base centrally situated, the system can easily grab impulses anywhere the sufferer is. The patient may be in the bathroom or living, away from your sight, however the response center can pick up any signals and warn you of the patient’s condition. These devices also has a back up warning. If the system is still un-activated for Twelve hours, a medical staff is routed to check up on the sufferer.

When choosing a medical alarm, go through the patient’s ailment. Disabled individuals will need to have products with soft control keys. Furthermore look for the level of transmitting in all sides of the home.…

Installing Tabor and Apex Bathroom Furniture

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Essentially a vanity unit and WC unit combined, as its name might suggest, a bathroom furniture combination unit is a space saving piece of furniture. Nevertheless, if you’ve bought one of these and are thinking about installing it yourself,you’ll find that as a large, single piece of bathroom furniture, it the potential to be really heavy. Not as much of a problem if you have a floor standing piece such as an Apex or Tabor, but if you’ve bought a wall mounted combination unit you’ll need a helper when it comes to fixing the item to the wall!

Before you begin your installation, check that you have all the parts and tools that you need. It may sound obvious, but if you cut off your bathroom water supply and dismantle your old basin and toilet only to find that you don’t have all the parts you neede to complete the installation of your bathroom furniture, you won’t be best pleased.

Once you’ve assembled your combination unit from its flat-pack delivery state, your water supply to your basin and toilet has been shut off, and your old sanitaryware has been removed, you can begin your installation.

Look around the bathroom: you’ll see that your water supply pipes and waste pipes will come either out from a wall or up from the floor. You’ll need to spot where these pipes enter and exit the room, then cut access holes as appropriate in your new bathroom furniture. Items don’t generally come pre-cut in this way, so wherever you bought your bathroom furniture, this will be one of your first tasks. When cutting your bathroom furniture, measure carefully first of all, and then double check each of your measurements. It’s better to spend some time making sure that you’re cutting in the right place from the outset, than to cut first – and then have to repair an unsightly mistake.

Use common sense when measuring for fixing holes on your walls, and make sure you drill carefully too – especially into tiled surfaces, which can be easy to crack. Plumb in your basin taps and waste and your WC waste and water supply securely, using good quality tools and materials that have been designed for the task in hand.

Always be sure, whether you’re fitting furniture to the wall, or plumbing in your sanitaryware, that you carefully follow any specific fitting instructions that have been provided along with your new bathroom furniture, as the manufacturer may pass on some important item-specific details.…

5 Ways to Get Rid of Pet Hair in Your Home

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Our dogs and cats can bring smiles to our faces and joy to our hearts, but those little fur balls also leave hair all over our households. Pet hair is a real nuisance. It’s big enough so that your neighbors can see it on your couch, yet too small to pick up with just your hands. It collects not only on our fabric furniture and carpets, but our clothing as well. In addition, pet hair can often cause allergic reactions not only in humans but surprisingly in pets as well. Let’s face it, pet hair is not an easy thing to clean, but these five tips should help keep life a little less hairy.

Use Lint Roller. While you should try to keep your pet off of your furniture and out of your closet, the lint roller can be a very effective tool for removing hair from those attracting surfaces. Simply grab the handle and roll the adhesive surface up, down and across any item. The sticky surface grabs each strand and when you’re done, you just peel off the old piece and a new one is there under it ready for use. Also, mainly used for big pieces of furniture like couches and chairs, sticky sheets are extremely effective for hair removal. Sticky Sheet act like the lint roller except it’s larger and more adhesive. It is made up of a large transparent piece of plastic with a sticky surface on one side. You apply the sheet with your hand on the desired surface and then peel away. One sheet should be able to de-hair all of the furniture in your living room. Keep in mind furniture is only half the battle.

Vacuum Often. Our rugs are where our cats and dogs spend must of their time so, maintaining their cleanliness is not always the easiest task. A vacuum is a necessity when it comes to owning a pet, but you can’t just own it; you have to use it all the time. I know it sounds tedious, but it’s completely necessary in maintaining rugs, drapes and furniture. We recommend to all our Denver house cleaning clients to get small vacuums with detachable handles, which would allow you to get into all the nooks and crannies.

Brush Your Pets Regularly. Brushing your cats and dogs everyday, outside removes dead, unwanted hair and gets rid of tangles and decreases the amount of hair that ends up in your house in the first place.

Wash Your Carpet. Giving your cat or dog a bath twice a week will greatly decrease you’re the amount of hair around the house. Similar to brushing, shampooing and scrubbing your pets coat will get rid of dead hair and moisturize the skin making the follicles stronger. Try Anti-Allergen Solution. This shampoo will not only decrease shedding but, it will clear up dander for your allergic friends.

Hire a professional cleaning service. This could be the first step in the process if the pet hair problem is …

Diseases from House Flies

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I am writing this article as a way of promoting our fly killer machines. It provides information on diseases that can be caused by house flies.

Houseflies frequent dung heaps and other fecal sources. They also visit decaying matter including dead animals. When landing on food that is prepared for human consumption, contaminated material is often transferred to the food.

There are a wide range of diseases that can be transmitted by flies. Here are some of them:

Typhoid Fever (Salmonella typhi)

Symptoms: High temperature (up to 104 deg F or 40 deg C), loss of appetite, headache, stomach pain and usually some weakness. Sometimes a pink skin rash appears.

Treatment: A doctor will usually prescribe an antibiotic and the symptoms will cease in a few days. If no treatment is given, the subject may become seriously ill and even die from secondary problems (up to 20% typhoid fever sufferers die without treatment).

Cholera (cause by Vibria cholerae, a bacterium)

Symptoms: unexpected episodes of watery diarrhoea that contains flecks of white mucous material, stomach pains, dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, concentrated coloured urine, in a child a markedly sunken fontanelles (the soft spot at the top of the head), dry skin, nausea and vomiting (usually).

Treatment: Cases can vary from mild to serious. If untreated, serious cases can lead to imminent death. Drink plenty of fresh water, mixed with small quantities of salt and sugar. This will restore the body’s fluid. Treatment must be given immediately.

Escherichia coli

Symptoms: This depends on the strain of Escherichia coli. Most strains are harmless and result in no detectable symptoms. Other strains, such as O157:H7 can sometimes cause bloody diarrhea. In a very small number of cases Escherichia coli O157:H7 can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome that can lead to kidney failure in young children. For most of us, and for most of the time, Escherichia coli causes no problems.

Treatment: No treatment is necessary, unless uremic syndrome occurs, in which case a blood transfusion and kidney dialysis may be required.

Shigellosis (cause by Shigella, a bacterium)

Symptoms: Diarrhoea (often bloody), fever, and stomach pains. Most cases are mild and may not even be noticed. In a small number of cases, the very young and very old may be vulnerable to high temperature fever, possibly (and rarely) leading to a seizure in a toddler.

These are just some of the illnesses that can be spread by houseflies. Be on your guard. To be safe you may wish to install a fly killer machine (details follow).…

Holiday Christmas Block Party Ideas

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Let’s all try something new and exciting this holiday season. I recently helped a couple in Florida that wanted to do something out of the box this year for the holidays. I suggested a Holiday Block Party.

This would of course only work if you live in an area where you have nice weather in December. If you are lucky enough to have this nice weather and are not dreaming of a white Christmas then let me give you some tips and ideas.

First I would make up some real nice holiday invitations to send out to your neighbors and friends. You should remember that lots of people are busy during this time of year so I would suggest doing it early in the month of December. Give a few dates and let the masses decided when it will be.

Second you will want to let all the participating houses know that they should plan on decorating the house, in festive ways depending on the religion. You have to try to accommodate everyone.

Next I hire a DJ to play holiday music as well as party music. I would have a pony ride, and organise a few games for the even. You can find many idea’s at theblockpartyhome.com .

Someone needs to dress up like Santa and give out gifts. I would have all the parents for the participating houses get a little something for their kids and give to whoever is going to be Santa. You don’t want to leave anyone out, so when you set a household budget make sure you leave some money to buy some cheap toys to give out just in case the parents do give a gift.

Some other Idea’s. Bring the Christmas Tree out to the driveway. Hold a

50/50 raffle (you can get tickets at theblockpartyhome.com). Have a pie eating contest, just be creative.

For more basic block party ideas visit [http://www.theblockpartyhome.com]…

The Biggest Problems With Knives and Cutlery

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Looking back, knives were first used millions of years ago as essential tools firstly made of rock and flint. It was through technology that has evolved blades made from copper, bronze, steel, ceramics and titanium along with the flint’s practicality as an effective cutting instrument. These have inspired the production of a very wide range of different modern blade patterns and styles that we know of today.

Generally, we see different versions of a knife following culture and origin, but even so, the knife’s serviceable characteristic made it the best tool that spends time in the hands of cooks and chefs. Different types of kitchen knives provide different efficiency and accuracy in cutting different kinds of food, but little did we know, the biggest problem in almost all home kitchens is dull knives. A lot people find it the biggest hindrance in cooking.

Just about every friend’s kitchen I go to, I see different kinds of knives but very few are sharp. The only kitchens I’ve been in where there are sharp knives are those of meat butlers who are selling meat and those where no one cooks and where the knives and cutlery are kept inside the drawers. If most of your kitchen knives are dull and you don’t sharpen them on a regular basis, even on high-end cutlery, your knives are almost certainly dull.

Myth says a sharp knife is safer than a dull knife. This is because using dull knife requires excessive force to cut the food which can slip off food and cause injury to the user. A sharp knife cuts food finely requiring only a little force, so cutting gets much easier along with a good control of the knife, and the user is more likely to be safe. Since kitchen knives become dull time after time, it is only necessary to take best care of them by regular sharpening. Besides it’s one of the ways we can make our knives useful and long-lasting.

Another thing about knives myth says is it should have a full tang. This probably works for heavy duty knives obliged to cut coarse leather and firewood, but not for kitchen knives which are generally only designed for delicate cutting of soft ingredients for food. On the contrary, it will give you problems getting full tang knives as it is rare for high end kitchen knives, or even stainless knives with a full tang. In short, know the kinds of knives you are in most need of so you don’t fall on marketing hypes.

Another thing that is both true and false is that knife sets are a better deal than individual knives. Although you get more metal in a set compared to buying same pieces individually, large sets usually come in a large number or knives that you will not use. On the other hand, you can use the other metals when your useful ones get dull, dirty, or broken. So either you buy a premium set of knives, cutlery …

Solar Mole Repellers – Do They Work?

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Anyone, who has moles, gophers, voles, or various other burrowing animals will not likely plan to waste their time or cash on repellers that aren’t efficient, even when these unwanted animals are often very troublesome, the majority of people choose to have a humane method to rid their yard of them. A cost-effective and humane selection is a solar mole repeller, so people ask, “Do these solar mole repellers work?” The answer then is “Absolutely!” There is nothing that is going to be 100% effective, but this style of repeller works well under most conditions.

How Do They Work?

The solar mole repeller functions by switching vibrations in your yard and sound waves, which the moles don’t especially like and often will move away from the repellers. The batteries that power the repellers are charged from the solar energy panels. The batteries can hold enough power to repel moles for a couple days, in case there isn’t any sunlight, the solar repellers still work and may carry on doing their job.

What Types Work?

The solar mole repellers have stakes which go directly into the ground with the solar panel above the soil. Lots of people find the kind of stake that has worked the most effective is aluminum stakes. Green stakes may very well be most desired type since they blend in with the grass. Other buyers take advantage of the stakes to enhance the decor of the yard, so they may select a type that comes in a wide range of colors or has a LED light to increase the lighting of the area.

How Many Are Needed?

For optimum effectiveness, solar mole repellers really need to be spaced so there exists a slight overlapping of the forty-eight-ft. radius which the repellers work within. Start with enough to cover the sq. footage of the area that there’s a problem with burrowing animals. Some feel that aluminum stakes may work efficiently inside of a larger radius versus the plastic stakes. It may need 2 or 3 days and occasionally 7 days roughly until the moles vacate the area. It could be necessary to reposition the stakes to improve efficiency. The moles will continue to burrow outside of the radius so there needs to be enough stakes to prevent the moles far enough away to no longer be a complication.

When They Don’t Work?

Areas which can be heavily shaded will not be able to get adequate sunlight to charge the battery, therefore the solar mole repellers won’t work. Caliche (sedimentary rock), high concentration of large stones, and large rocks will prevent the sound waves and vibrations from traveling in the soil, so the repeller won’t be as effective since it will be in soil that the vibrations and sounds can go through easily.…