Losing ones home to a foreclosure can often be halted or stopped, but time is usually the most important factor in whether or not this can happen. There are legal teams available at many law offices, which specialize in this type law practice. They will negotiate with your financial institution to avoid or stop further action on your foreclosure and get your finances back on the right road to help you avoid this pitfall in the future.Some foreclosure legal teams will also work with other creditors so that you have extra time to pay these fees and payments, offering you the chance to put your funding where it most needs to be currently, and permit you to pay mortgages, late fees and accrued costs in an effort to save the equity you have built up in your home. A foreclosure team is something that most people will find necessary if the situation should arise that you truly are sued for the foreclosure. In this event an attorney is a good investment.Many of these attorneys will offer special fees, or permit you to pay the fees over time, to prevent you from going further into debt at the present time. As a general rule, 90 percent of those who apply for a new financier or lending institution are usually turned down for that refinancing loan. Many, if not most, are not notified of the turndown until it's nearly past the last chance to save their home from the foreclosure.
Even if you are approved interest rates will be a great deal higher than those you paid previously and you are pressured by the company and your circumstance into accepting what might prior to now have been unacceptable. Many times the fees and loans will be five or six times what you paid previously, which are sometimes handed to you at the very last moment of closing.Legal teams are able to inform you objectively whether or not a refinancing of the home will be beneficial to you, and if not, to contact your lender in an effort to assist you in putting off the foreclosure until alternative funding is found. If you are in doubt as to what course to take, take it to a specialist. See a member of a legal team who is cognizant of what you are going through, and what it will take to help you.
Closet Organization Tips - Closet Organization Tips
Planning a Gift Closet - Planning a Gift Closet
Friday, August 31, 2007
Most people know about foreclosures
Most people know about foreclosures, or at least have heard of them, but aren't certain what they really are, or actually entail. We all hope that we won't find ourselves encapsulated in such a procedure and for most of us that is a reality. We will not, be involved in a foreclosure, however we should know something about how the process works in the event that we might want to take advantage of it, or prevent one.A foreclosure, as most of you know, is the result of a borrower getting behind in the payments for his or her home, and as a result, steps are taken to return the home to the possession of the financial institution or lender.
The communications involved and the actions taken typically follow a specific timeline, much as any other transaction.After fifteen days, in most cases the borrower/s will receive a phone call from the lender asking what happened with the payment and when they may expect to be paid the due amount on the mortgage.Also as early as 15 days from the due date of the mortgages a late payment will be assessed and added to the payment due. As early as forty five days, the lender may send letters to the borrower stating that the terms of the mortgage have been breached and the borrower is now in default. Traditionally at this point the borrower is given a time span, usually 30 days to correct the default and bring the payments current, or to make other arrangement, such as a deferment of payment. Usually at 90 days past due, the mortgage company or financial institution will hire a local attorney, who begins foreclosure proceedings. At about day 120 the sale proceeds.
Solar Pool Heating Systems - Pool Heating Systems most economical and simple solar heating system for your pool is the solar pool blanket.
Reduce Your Energy Bill - Energy Conservation Reducing greenhouse gas production may help to reverse global warming. In a nutshell - conservation of energy has both personal and societal benefits.
Chemical Energy - A chemical compound is composed of very simple collections of atoms, bound together. When the bond between these atoms loosens, a chemical reaction takes place and new combinations are created. Very simple reactions, such as the oxidation of metals occur
Get an Energy Efficient Mortgage - Get an Energy-Efficient Mortgage You can check with banks and other institutions who can help guide you in the right direction in finding this great opportunity
Certain requirements are necessary in each state or province. Some necessitate that the foreclosure must be judicial, that is presided over by a judge. These may take up to 9 months to accomplish a sale.In some states however judicial intervention is not necessary, and those states may find their homes sold in as little as two months. Until the actual sale of the property, the borrower has the right of redemption, that is to say he or she may pay what is due, plus costs and recoup the home. Once the home is sold they have no further rights, and no way to prevent the loss of good credit or equity in the home.
The communications involved and the actions taken typically follow a specific timeline, much as any other transaction.After fifteen days, in most cases the borrower/s will receive a phone call from the lender asking what happened with the payment and when they may expect to be paid the due amount on the mortgage.Also as early as 15 days from the due date of the mortgages a late payment will be assessed and added to the payment due. As early as forty five days, the lender may send letters to the borrower stating that the terms of the mortgage have been breached and the borrower is now in default. Traditionally at this point the borrower is given a time span, usually 30 days to correct the default and bring the payments current, or to make other arrangement, such as a deferment of payment. Usually at 90 days past due, the mortgage company or financial institution will hire a local attorney, who begins foreclosure proceedings. At about day 120 the sale proceeds.
Solar Pool Heating Systems - Pool Heating Systems most economical and simple solar heating system for your pool is the solar pool blanket.
Reduce Your Energy Bill - Energy Conservation Reducing greenhouse gas production may help to reverse global warming. In a nutshell - conservation of energy has both personal and societal benefits.
Chemical Energy - A chemical compound is composed of very simple collections of atoms, bound together. When the bond between these atoms loosens, a chemical reaction takes place and new combinations are created. Very simple reactions, such as the oxidation of metals occur
Get an Energy Efficient Mortgage - Get an Energy-Efficient Mortgage You can check with banks and other institutions who can help guide you in the right direction in finding this great opportunity
Certain requirements are necessary in each state or province. Some necessitate that the foreclosure must be judicial, that is presided over by a judge. These may take up to 9 months to accomplish a sale.In some states however judicial intervention is not necessary, and those states may find their homes sold in as little as two months. Until the actual sale of the property, the borrower has the right of redemption, that is to say he or she may pay what is due, plus costs and recoup the home. Once the home is sold they have no further rights, and no way to prevent the loss of good credit or equity in the home.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Hire a Qualified Building Contractor
Avoid a Nightmare -
You’ve decided on your building project, whether new construction or remodeling. Perhaps you have chosen a new building to house your business, and you will need either a general building contractor or a metal building contractor.
Carefully choosing the right home building contractor is important to the success of your project, while an unqualified contractor can turn your plans into a nightmare. Here are some tips for selecting the right contractor for the job:
A candidate should have a valid building contractor license, and up-to-date liability insurance. Ask to see certificates; check with your local licensing authority for past problems or violations pertaining to any potential candidate.
Avoid a Nightmare Ask for references of recently completed projects; check each out.
Make sure the contractor will acquire necessary permits and arrange for any required inspections and certificates.
Avoid a Nightmare Give identical copies of detailed project plans to each potential candidate to get a quote for the project. You should get at least three different quotes before making your selection. Be sure the quote includes materials and fixtures that meet project specifications. Avoid contacts that allow “of like kind” substitutions.
The Contract
After you have selected a building contractor, make sure that all detailed information is included in the contract, such as complete names, addresses, and phone numbers of both parties, as well as the physical address of the project. Be sure that project start and finish dates are included, and that a payment plan is described in detail. It is normal for a contractor to ask for 10-33% in advance, with additional funds paid as work progresses.
How to Save on the Total Bill
If your project does not have to be completed on a priority basis, you may want to consider offering it to a contractor as a “fill in” job. Most contractors will take such projects at a reduced price, insuring they have other work in the event of adv erse weather or materials delivery mix-ups at another project.
Avoid a Nightmare Many contractors will accept a project as a “reference” contract. This is a win-win situation for the property owner; work is completed at a reduced price, and since the contractor will use the completed job to showcase his expertise to potential clients, only his best work goes into your project.
Finding the Right Contractor
There are at least three sources for finding a qualified building contractor in your area: word-of-mouth references from people that have recently had a similar project done, local licensing authorities who provide a list of contractors with appropriate building contractor license, and Internet web sites that make referrals. For instance, Canadian residents can visit www.handycanadian .com to locate a qualified contractor in their area.
By following these simple steps, you can avoid a potential nightmare, and insure your project is a pleasant experience for all parties involved.
Max Sheppard is Co-Owner of Handy Canadian.com at http://www.handycanadian.com/. Handy Canadian.com is your one-stop renovation information web site: where homeowners locate professional contractors, and qualifying contractors acquire new leads.Communication and Your ContractorGeneral Contractor Can Help Contractor for Your Project
You’ve decided on your building project, whether new construction or remodeling. Perhaps you have chosen a new building to house your business, and you will need either a general building contractor or a metal building contractor.
Carefully choosing the right home building contractor is important to the success of your project, while an unqualified contractor can turn your plans into a nightmare. Here are some tips for selecting the right contractor for the job:
A candidate should have a valid building contractor license, and up-to-date liability insurance. Ask to see certificates; check with your local licensing authority for past problems or violations pertaining to any potential candidate.
Avoid a Nightmare Ask for references of recently completed projects; check each out.
Make sure the contractor will acquire necessary permits and arrange for any required inspections and certificates.
Avoid a Nightmare Give identical copies of detailed project plans to each potential candidate to get a quote for the project. You should get at least three different quotes before making your selection. Be sure the quote includes materials and fixtures that meet project specifications. Avoid contacts that allow “of like kind” substitutions.
The Contract
After you have selected a building contractor, make sure that all detailed information is included in the contract, such as complete names, addresses, and phone numbers of both parties, as well as the physical address of the project. Be sure that project start and finish dates are included, and that a payment plan is described in detail. It is normal for a contractor to ask for 10-33% in advance, with additional funds paid as work progresses.
How to Save on the Total Bill
If your project does not have to be completed on a priority basis, you may want to consider offering it to a contractor as a “fill in” job. Most contractors will take such projects at a reduced price, insuring they have other work in the event of adv erse weather or materials delivery mix-ups at another project.
Avoid a Nightmare Many contractors will accept a project as a “reference” contract. This is a win-win situation for the property owner; work is completed at a reduced price, and since the contractor will use the completed job to showcase his expertise to potential clients, only his best work goes into your project.
Finding the Right Contractor
There are at least three sources for finding a qualified building contractor in your area: word-of-mouth references from people that have recently had a similar project done, local licensing authorities who provide a list of contractors with appropriate building contractor license, and Internet web sites that make referrals. For instance, Canadian residents can visit www.handycanadian .com to locate a qualified contractor in their area.
By following these simple steps, you can avoid a potential nightmare, and insure your project is a pleasant experience for all parties involved.
Max Sheppard is Co-Owner of Handy Canadian.com at http://www.handycanadian.com/. Handy Canadian.com is your one-stop renovation information web site: where homeowners locate professional contractors, and qualifying contractors acquire new leads.Communication and Your ContractorGeneral Contractor Can Help Contractor for Your Project
Prevent a foreclosure on their homes
Many people find themselves in circumstances they had never planned to be in. Losing a job or a spouses income due to death or divorce leaves them scrambling to pay the mortgage or other bills on their own. They then find themselves scrambling also to find a way to prevent a foreclosure on their homes. This is new territory and can be a very stressful time due to the fact of having a foreclosure on their home or automobile. This does not make you the bad guy, or even a deadbeat, as many financial institutions appear to think. It merely makes you a victim of a set of circumstances currently touching the lives of many thousands of people daily. When you receive that first foreclosure intent notice then that is the time to act on it. Do not become paralyzed by the circumstances, and in fact, do nothing.
This is the worst possible reaction to what is already a bad situation. There are options to avoid foreclosure and to save your credit and equity, if you act rapidly enough to take advantage of them.One of the options would be to contact an investor who you know to be interested in properties in your area. There are lists of such investors readily available on the internet or at your local library or realtor. There are lists of people who are ready and willing to purchase your home and work to help you prevent a blot on your credit record which will last for many years to come. While it isn't always the best solution, or the one which pleases everyone, it is one way in which you may prevent a foreclosure on your home and work toward the purchase of another one.
Contact them and see if an arrangement might be made to sell your home prior to the foreclosure, or in what is called the pre foreclosure period, when you retain the most rights toward the home.Additionally there are a multitude of foreclosure assistance groups both offline and online who are waiting to aid you with this situation. Take advantage of and research all of your options prior to using one, but do use one or the other of them. It is in no ones best interests to see your home repossessed. The banks do not desire to have to deal with this, and you have no real desire to lose your investment. Everyone loses in a foreclosure so take the steps to avoid it.
This is the worst possible reaction to what is already a bad situation. There are options to avoid foreclosure and to save your credit and equity, if you act rapidly enough to take advantage of them.One of the options would be to contact an investor who you know to be interested in properties in your area. There are lists of such investors readily available on the internet or at your local library or realtor. There are lists of people who are ready and willing to purchase your home and work to help you prevent a blot on your credit record which will last for many years to come. While it isn't always the best solution, or the one which pleases everyone, it is one way in which you may prevent a foreclosure on your home and work toward the purchase of another one.
Contact them and see if an arrangement might be made to sell your home prior to the foreclosure, or in what is called the pre foreclosure period, when you retain the most rights toward the home.Additionally there are a multitude of foreclosure assistance groups both offline and online who are waiting to aid you with this situation. Take advantage of and research all of your options prior to using one, but do use one or the other of them. It is in no ones best interests to see your home repossessed. The banks do not desire to have to deal with this, and you have no real desire to lose your investment. Everyone loses in a foreclosure so take the steps to avoid it.
Hiring A Contractor
- 10 TipsBy: Steve Gillman A very smart attorney I know paid $7,000 for a roof repair, only to have the roof leak the next time it rained. The contractor stalled, made excuses, but never did a thing about it. Anyone can have these kinds of problems when having repairs or improvements done, but to make it less likely, avoid the folowing mistakes when hiring a contractor.
1. Not knowing what you want. If you don't know what you want, you might not like what you get. Also, if you change your mind and change the job halfway through, the contract - and price - have changed (Hint: it won't get cheaper). Know clearly what you want done.
2. Not getting everything in writing. You don't want to hear, "I didn't say I was going to include the gutters."
3. Not having dates in the contract. Did you want it finished this year? You better have it in the contract.
4. Paying too much up front. A deposit may be a reasonable request when the contract is signed, and money for materials prior to the start date. Never pay in full before the job is finished.
5. Hiring unlicensed contractors. Actually, this can be okay, if you know what you are doing (and he does). The license doesn't mean you get expertise, but it does mean you get leverage. A contractor will right his wrongs to avoid losing that license.
6. Hiring the first one in the phone book. Ask friends who had work done, or the owner of a hardware store. Find a recommendation based on a similar job to yours.
7. Thinking there will be no problems. Weather delays, employees quitting, and more will happen. Having problems is okay, but it's not okay if the contractor can't work out the issues to your satisfaction.
8. Expecting neatness. Believe it or not, it is sometimes efficient to leave things laying where they'll next be used. There will be messes, so prepare accordingly. Cover things if it will be a dusty job, for example. Also be clear in the contract that the jobsite will be cleaned up at the end of the job.
9. Not having penalties in the contract. This is important on large jobs. It's one thing to say "Work to be completed by May 2nd," but better to add, "$100 per day to be deducted from the contract price for each day the job is unfinished beyond May 2nd." That's what I call a motivational clause.
10. Thinking contracts will prevent problems. They help, but unreasonable people on either side of a contract can ignore them, or use "literal readings" to make things even worse. Find someone you can work with, and keep your eyes open. About the author:Steve Gillman has invested real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com
1. Not knowing what you want. If you don't know what you want, you might not like what you get. Also, if you change your mind and change the job halfway through, the contract - and price - have changed (Hint: it won't get cheaper). Know clearly what you want done.
2. Not getting everything in writing. You don't want to hear, "I didn't say I was going to include the gutters."
3. Not having dates in the contract. Did you want it finished this year? You better have it in the contract.
4. Paying too much up front. A deposit may be a reasonable request when the contract is signed, and money for materials prior to the start date. Never pay in full before the job is finished.
5. Hiring unlicensed contractors. Actually, this can be okay, if you know what you are doing (and he does). The license doesn't mean you get expertise, but it does mean you get leverage. A contractor will right his wrongs to avoid losing that license.
6. Hiring the first one in the phone book. Ask friends who had work done, or the owner of a hardware store. Find a recommendation based on a similar job to yours.
7. Thinking there will be no problems. Weather delays, employees quitting, and more will happen. Having problems is okay, but it's not okay if the contractor can't work out the issues to your satisfaction.
8. Expecting neatness. Believe it or not, it is sometimes efficient to leave things laying where they'll next be used. There will be messes, so prepare accordingly. Cover things if it will be a dusty job, for example. Also be clear in the contract that the jobsite will be cleaned up at the end of the job.
9. Not having penalties in the contract. This is important on large jobs. It's one thing to say "Work to be completed by May 2nd," but better to add, "$100 per day to be deducted from the contract price for each day the job is unfinished beyond May 2nd." That's what I call a motivational clause.
10. Thinking contracts will prevent problems. They help, but unreasonable people on either side of a contract can ignore them, or use "literal readings" to make things even worse. Find someone you can work with, and keep your eyes open. About the author:Steve Gillman has invested real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com
Monday, August 13, 2007
Your Building Your Dream Home, But Where Do You Start?
You have finally found the perfect lot, in the neighborhood of your choice, and at a price you can afford. Now you have to decide what type of house you want built. In fact you may even know the house you want, be it a big rambling farmhouse, with a wrap-a-round porch reminiscent of your grandmother’s home, a rustic log cabin or a more modern luxurious home. Whatever you choose, the first thing you will need is a set of house plans.
An architect can draw up plans to your exact specifications, but this can be very expensive. A building contractor may show a selection of home plans to choose from, but perhaps a better less costly idea would be to purchase a set of pre-drawn house plans. There are magazines and web sites where you can purchase plans for just about any style house you could imagine.
Most House plans web sites allow you to search, by house style, such as country, cottage, log cabin, Tudor or luxury home. You can also search by price, designer, number of bedrooms, numb er of stories, garage etc. not all sites offer all search options.
Informational articles, or FAQs (frequently asked Questions) are available on most sites. These provide information about the different types of plan sets available and what is included in each, making changes to the house plan you choose, return policy, finding a builder, return policy, and a number of other questions. For Questions not covered in the information section, there is usually a toll free number you can call to get the answers to your questions.
The types of house plan sets are: Construction sets. Which consists of 5 to 8 complete sets of plans. This set is what you will need, to get a building permit, arrange financing, and actually get your house built. The plans in this set include, exterior views (elevations), floor and roof plans, basement or foundation plans, Building sections, electrical schematic, and usually information about such things as structural specifications, excavation and grading, flooring materia l, carpentry, and tiling. A building license, not to be confused with a building permit, is included. The license allows you to use the plans to create your dream home.
A reproducible set is available for making minor changes to your plans. The plan is drawn on erasable vellum or Mylar. This set comes with a Copyright Release, allowing you to make as many copies as needed to accommodate the changes you make to the original plan. It also comes with a building, license, but you may not construct more than one house without first getting a multi-use license from the company.
The CAD set is intended for use when you will have a local architect make major changes to the original house plans. It also includes a copyright release so that your designer can make copies as needed. Again you need to get a multi-use license if you intend to build more than one house.
A study set, is used primarily for estimating costs, it usually doesn’t include foundation plans and may not be copied. No license is incl uded and comes marked with a “Not for Construction” label. Lastly there is the Single set it is for obtaining bids, it also bears the “Not for Construction” label, and no license is provided.
The designers of pre-drawn house plans do their drawings to meet national building codes. It is possible that you will need to hire a local architect to bring your plans up to code for your area. It may be wise to contact your local building agency and to find out what is required to get a building permit.
At last you have chosen the plans for your new home, obtained financing, and your plans meet code. What comes next? You need to hire a building contractor, and sub contractors, for electricity and plumbing. Where do you begin? Most areas license contractors, so make sure that the people you interview, have the right qualifications, and licenses. If you had a local designer to alter your plans she may be able to refer you to some qualified, reputable contractors in your area. If you have had electrical or plumbing work done in your present home, that person may have the name of a good builder. Always ask for and check references, Also, make sure your contract provides for redress if the work is not completed, done properly and to code standards Once you hire a qualified builder, he should have the names of plumbers, air conditioning specialists and electricians that he has worked with in the past. Check the Better Business Bureau to see if the person you are considering has any complaints lodged against them.
The companies that sell house plans will usually make minor changes to your plan, for an additional charge and it may not be necessary to hire a local designer. However, the changes must be requested at the time of purchase.
It is possible to have your plans reversed in most cases. If your breakfast nook faces north for instance and the best view from your lot is to the south, you can ask to have the plans reversed. Most house plan web sites allow you to view the reversed image on line. Occasi onally the view can’t be seen on line, but most companies will email you a reversed view in that case.
One thing the plans do not include is the actual layout of the electrical, plumbing and air conditioning work, since the designers have no way to know where on your lot these lines would enter the house. Your contractor s will have no problem working that out.
There are dozens of home styles to choose from .A- frame to Victorian. One search option is size. A small house is anything up to 1500sq. ft. of living space, a medium size is from 1500 to 2500 sq. ft. A home over 2500sq.ft is considered large.
A luxury home is also 2500 sq. ft. or more and has extras, such as large main floor master bedroom suite, walk in closets, media room, and home office. Premium homes are also large, often 5000sq.ft. In addition to the Master bedroom suite and extra special use rooms, they generally have a bathroom for each bedroom. Music room’s media centers, and offices are common. The garages with these house s are often larger than 600sq.ft
Your dream house is out there, you just need to do your homework. When you find the right plan to suit your family and your lot. Make sure your contractor is licensed, reputable and qualified to do the work and adheres to your local building code. Be sure that your contract protects you if the work isn’t done to code. Stay in touch with the contractor, visit the site often, be there when the last detail is completed. Now relax and enjoy your new home.
About the AuthorMartin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for home buyers and consumers on purchasing a variety of unique house plans which includes cottage plans, beach house plans, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information
Plan for Your Log HomeHouse Floor PlansEstimate Home Building Cost
You have finally found the perfect lot, in the neighborhood of your choice, and at a price you can afford. Now you have to decide what type of house you want built. In fact you may even know the house you want, be it a big rambling farmhouse, with a wrap-a-round porch reminiscent of your grandmother’s home, a rustic log cabin or a more modern luxurious home. Whatever you choose, the first thing you will need is a set of house plans.
An architect can draw up plans to your exact specifications, but this can be very expensive. A building contractor may show a selection of home plans to choose from, but perhaps a better less costly idea would be to purchase a set of pre-drawn house plans. There are magazines and web sites where you can purchase plans for just about any style house you could imagine.
Most House plans web sites allow you to search, by house style, such as country, cottage, log cabin, Tudor or luxury home. You can also search by price, designer, number of bedrooms, numb er of stories, garage etc. not all sites offer all search options.
Informational articles, or FAQs (frequently asked Questions) are available on most sites. These provide information about the different types of plan sets available and what is included in each, making changes to the house plan you choose, return policy, finding a builder, return policy, and a number of other questions. For Questions not covered in the information section, there is usually a toll free number you can call to get the answers to your questions.
The types of house plan sets are: Construction sets. Which consists of 5 to 8 complete sets of plans. This set is what you will need, to get a building permit, arrange financing, and actually get your house built. The plans in this set include, exterior views (elevations), floor and roof plans, basement or foundation plans, Building sections, electrical schematic, and usually information about such things as structural specifications, excavation and grading, flooring materia l, carpentry, and tiling. A building license, not to be confused with a building permit, is included. The license allows you to use the plans to create your dream home.
A reproducible set is available for making minor changes to your plans. The plan is drawn on erasable vellum or Mylar. This set comes with a Copyright Release, allowing you to make as many copies as needed to accommodate the changes you make to the original plan. It also comes with a building, license, but you may not construct more than one house without first getting a multi-use license from the company.
The CAD set is intended for use when you will have a local architect make major changes to the original house plans. It also includes a copyright release so that your designer can make copies as needed. Again you need to get a multi-use license if you intend to build more than one house.
A study set, is used primarily for estimating costs, it usually doesn’t include foundation plans and may not be copied. No license is incl uded and comes marked with a “Not for Construction” label. Lastly there is the Single set it is for obtaining bids, it also bears the “Not for Construction” label, and no license is provided.
The designers of pre-drawn house plans do their drawings to meet national building codes. It is possible that you will need to hire a local architect to bring your plans up to code for your area. It may be wise to contact your local building agency and to find out what is required to get a building permit.
At last you have chosen the plans for your new home, obtained financing, and your plans meet code. What comes next? You need to hire a building contractor, and sub contractors, for electricity and plumbing. Where do you begin? Most areas license contractors, so make sure that the people you interview, have the right qualifications, and licenses. If you had a local designer to alter your plans she may be able to refer you to some qualified, reputable contractors in your area. If you have had electrical or plumbing work done in your present home, that person may have the name of a good builder. Always ask for and check references, Also, make sure your contract provides for redress if the work is not completed, done properly and to code standards Once you hire a qualified builder, he should have the names of plumbers, air conditioning specialists and electricians that he has worked with in the past. Check the Better Business Bureau to see if the person you are considering has any complaints lodged against them.
The companies that sell house plans will usually make minor changes to your plan, for an additional charge and it may not be necessary to hire a local designer. However, the changes must be requested at the time of purchase.
It is possible to have your plans reversed in most cases. If your breakfast nook faces north for instance and the best view from your lot is to the south, you can ask to have the plans reversed. Most house plan web sites allow you to view the reversed image on line. Occasi onally the view can’t be seen on line, but most companies will email you a reversed view in that case.
One thing the plans do not include is the actual layout of the electrical, plumbing and air conditioning work, since the designers have no way to know where on your lot these lines would enter the house. Your contractor s will have no problem working that out.
There are dozens of home styles to choose from .A- frame to Victorian. One search option is size. A small house is anything up to 1500sq. ft. of living space, a medium size is from 1500 to 2500 sq. ft. A home over 2500sq.ft is considered large.
A luxury home is also 2500 sq. ft. or more and has extras, such as large main floor master bedroom suite, walk in closets, media room, and home office. Premium homes are also large, often 5000sq.ft. In addition to the Master bedroom suite and extra special use rooms, they generally have a bathroom for each bedroom. Music room’s media centers, and offices are common. The garages with these house s are often larger than 600sq.ft
Your dream house is out there, you just need to do your homework. When you find the right plan to suit your family and your lot. Make sure your contractor is licensed, reputable and qualified to do the work and adheres to your local building code. Be sure that your contract protects you if the work isn’t done to code. Stay in touch with the contractor, visit the site often, be there when the last detail is completed. Now relax and enjoy your new home.
About the AuthorMartin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for home buyers and consumers on purchasing a variety of unique house plans which includes cottage plans, beach house plans, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information
Plan for Your Log HomeHouse Floor PlansEstimate Home Building Cost
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Facts About Solar Energy
You have likely been told many times different facts about solar energy. Of course, it is hard to know which facts about solar energy are actually “facts” and which are more like opinions.
This article is going to relay to you some of the top facts about solar energy. It will delve into not just positive facts about solar energy, but negative ones, as well. Are you ready? Here we go:
Facts about solar energy (in no particular order):
· Solar energy is a renewable resource (it may go away at night, but we will always have it.)
· Solar energy will not pollute our air with carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases and bad emissions.
· Solar energy can be used to heat water, dry clothes, heat swimming pools, power attic fans, power small appliances, produce light for both indoors and outdoors, and even to power cars, among other things.
· In 1990, a aircraft powered solely by the sun crossed the United States.
· Solar energy products can be v ery expensive. The initial cost is, perhaps, the main disadvantage of solar energy.
· You need a relatively large area to install solar panels if you want a good level of efficiency.
· Depending where you live (Arizona vs. Alaska, around many shady trees or in the desert, etc.), you will get different results with solar energy systems.
· Of course, once you install the products, they can be very inexpensive to run. In fact, energy from the sun is free.
· If you have a really good solar energy system, one that produces even more energy than you use, your utility company can buy it from you.
· When you use solar energy, you are making you and your home independent. You do not need to depend on foreign or other sources of energy which can raise their costs quickly.
· To run a solar energy system, you do not even need to connect to a gas or power grid.
· Solar energy cannot be produced at night or if there is a lot of pollution in the air or clouds over the sun.
· Of course, realize that you can have a battery backup system with your solar energy system that will take care of the problems that could arise when the sun does not rise, so to speak.
· You can install solar energy in remote locations.
· If there is a power outage, you can still have electricity!
· As your energy needs grow, you can add more solar panels
· Solar panels operate silently.
· Solar powered cars are not yet up to par with other cars. They have a much slower speed.
· Solar energy systems require very little maintenance and will last for a long time.
· Technology for solar energy is constantly improving.
Those are just a few facts about solar energy. I hope that they were helpful!
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, the enviornment, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gar dening. For more of her articles on solar power, please visit Solar Home.
What Is Solar Energy
This article is going to relay to you some of the top facts about solar energy. It will delve into not just positive facts about solar energy, but negative ones, as well. Are you ready? Here we go:
Facts about solar energy (in no particular order):
· Solar energy is a renewable resource (it may go away at night, but we will always have it.)
· Solar energy will not pollute our air with carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases and bad emissions.
· Solar energy can be used to heat water, dry clothes, heat swimming pools, power attic fans, power small appliances, produce light for both indoors and outdoors, and even to power cars, among other things.
· In 1990, a aircraft powered solely by the sun crossed the United States.
· Solar energy products can be v ery expensive. The initial cost is, perhaps, the main disadvantage of solar energy.
· You need a relatively large area to install solar panels if you want a good level of efficiency.
· Depending where you live (Arizona vs. Alaska, around many shady trees or in the desert, etc.), you will get different results with solar energy systems.
· Of course, once you install the products, they can be very inexpensive to run. In fact, energy from the sun is free.
· If you have a really good solar energy system, one that produces even more energy than you use, your utility company can buy it from you.
· When you use solar energy, you are making you and your home independent. You do not need to depend on foreign or other sources of energy which can raise their costs quickly.
· To run a solar energy system, you do not even need to connect to a gas or power grid.
· Solar energy cannot be produced at night or if there is a lot of pollution in the air or clouds over the sun.
· Of course, realize that you can have a battery backup system with your solar energy system that will take care of the problems that could arise when the sun does not rise, so to speak.
· You can install solar energy in remote locations.
· If there is a power outage, you can still have electricity!
· As your energy needs grow, you can add more solar panels
· Solar panels operate silently.
· Solar powered cars are not yet up to par with other cars. They have a much slower speed.
· Solar energy systems require very little maintenance and will last for a long time.
· Technology for solar energy is constantly improving.
Those are just a few facts about solar energy. I hope that they were helpful!
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, the enviornment, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gar dening. For more of her articles on solar power, please visit Solar Home.
What Is Solar Energy
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