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Looking for a home isn’t like looking for an apartment. There is no landlord to fix the leaky faucet, and you have carte blanch to change and remodel how you please. You’re not signing up for a six-month lease, either. The goal is to settle down and create some roots. A house is a major life change.

So when it comes time to seriously look at some houses, it’s important to take your time and not feel pressured by the seller or realtor. One of the most common ways they will try and get you to hurry is by saying they already have someone interested in the house or that there has been an offer on the house.

They want you to panic and feel like if you don’t act, then you are going to lose the opportunity. If they do have an offer and you miss out, it’s no big deal. There are literally thousands of houses on the market. If you miss that one, then it’s no big deal. It may seem perfect, but two months down the line, there may be another house that fits you even better.

Start out by picking the neighborhoods and areas that you are interested in moving to. Each neighborhood likely has a variety of prices available, and you make the job easier for the realtor if you are able to pin down some areas.

You should see many houses before you make a decision. The house you choose must be a balance of beauty, price and neighborhood. Does it fit in your price range? Is there enough room for an expanded family? What’s the crime like in the neighborhood? Are the schools any good?

Most of you will likely go through a realtor, because they have a listing of many houses available and can help you in the buying process. Don’t discount the For Sale By Owners, as well. Some people don’t like using realtors or are exploring the idea of selling their home, but haven’t really committed. You would be buying it directly from the owners, which has advantages and disadvantages. They are often not listed with many places, so you have to drive around to find it or scour the newspapers. They also aren’t accounting for a 10 percent takeaway from a realtor, so they might be more willing to lower the price.

The most important lesson is to take your time and shop around. If you don’t see anything you like on the first pass, then wait a few weeks or months and do it all over again. You may lose one or two that you really liked because of waiting, but you will also not get stuck with a money pit, either.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/27128437@N07/2535104628/

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By Allyn Paul,

Did you know that wives and lawns are one-in-the-same? I do because I’ve got an ex-wife, and ex-lawn; and a wonderful current wife and wonderful current lawn!
Let’s talk about the “ex’s” first

My ex lawn: when I got it, it was in horrible shape. It had never been cared for or fed or watered. It was riddled with weeds and flattened out.
Same with my ex wife! (no more needs to be said LOL)
I worked hard on my ex-lawn. I talked to it, cuddled it, watered it and nourished it until it was plump and prissy and the envy of the neighbors!
Same with my ex wife! (no more needs to be said LOL)
However, there came a time when I began to neglect my ex-lawn and it headed on the down-turn … fast! So I sold my ex-lawn and it has a new owner. My ex-lawn still looks terrible and got what it deserved. It’s old and weathered and in bad shape physically.
Same with my ex-wife … ‘nuff said! (It cost me a lot to get rid of her, lemme tell ya! LOL)

My current lawn: I love it. It is always beautiful and stands at attention when I walk by.
My current wife: I love her. She is always beautiful and gets down on her knees when I am around … she says, “Come out from under that bed and face me like a man you bum!” LOL
She takes no crap from me!

On the serious side, lawns are a lot like wives.
Generally speaking, your lawn will tell you when it needs your attention, but you have to pick up on the signs. If you have not fed and watered it properly, it will crunch and lay flat when you walk on it … it will take on a dull gray color that says, “If you don’t get me what I need quick, I’m gonna go dormant on you.”
Your (my) wife is the same way. She needs love and attention. She needs her feet rubbed at night before bed. She needs to know you care. If you, as the husband, don’t put in the time and effort required to make your marriage work, your wife will clam up and go “dormant” on you. You have to learn to pick up on the subtle hints too.
Just last week, my wife said, “I’m busy working, so the laundry is gonna get done on Tuesday instead of today, ok?”
I missed the sign that day. It was up to me to figure out that I should throw a couple loads in Sunday during the Bears game. I missed the hint and she went “dormant” on me for a couple days. It’s my fault, really…I know better! LOL
I know you’re thinking, “This sounds like some heavy, dripping, drivel, from a bad episode of the Dr. Phil Show,” …but it is true. Just ask a guy who has an ex-wife, ex-lawn and a current wife and current lawn!

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Most of today’s homes have crawl spaces, but few of us ever venture up there. No one really likes to think of crawling up into that tight space, but there may be a few reasons to consider it. It is important to schedule an annual checkup for your crawlspace, since this can help you spot potential signs of trouble and get them stopped before they become larger issues. Let’s take a look at how to inspect your crawlspace for a very common problem and how to fight it.

If you live in a humid area, or your area gets a lot of rain, you may notice a mildew smell in the house that you can’t get rid of. Chances are, your crawlspaces have become damp and the mildew is forming up there. It is important to get rid of this problem as quickly as possible, since mold could also be forming inside that crawlspace. Take this opportunity to check your crawlspace and see what is going on up there.

Once you’ve determined that your crawlspace is indeed a bit damp, there are a few things that you will need to do. First, it is important to ventilate the area. Most crawlspaces are closed up all year round and little air can circulate through there. This creates the ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew spores. If your home does not have a vent, you will need to install one.

You can find appropriate vents at your local hardware store, and the process of installing them is quite easy. Locate a spot on an exterior wall and cut a hole through to the outside. Place the vent in, and properly secure it. You now have a way to get rid of that moisture buildup!

This will help, but you may also need to see what is causing dampness in your crawlspace. If the mildew is not severe, it may just be the side effect of living in a moist climate. If it is severe, chances are you may have a leak. You will need to inspect all the walls inside that crawlspace and look for any leaks that may be occurring. If you do find a leak, repair it immediately. Overtime, this can lead to serious water damage on your ceilings and walls.

Lastly, it is a very good idea to completely clean out your crawlspace. If you are storing excess insulation or even household items up there, remove them and find a new storage space. Insulation is a particularly nasty culprit when it comes to mildew and can be the source of a lot of mildew odor problems. If your crawlspace is permanently smelly, get fiberglass insulation that has a vapor barrier. Install this throughout the crawlspace, with the vapor barrier facing the top of the crawlspace. This will help keep the odors inside the space instead of in your home. This is a great solution if the damage has already been done and you need to get rid of the smell of mildew in your home.

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As all savvy marketing types know, people frequently buy with their eyes. That’s why it is important to keep the exterior of your restaurant as pristine and inviting as possible.

Pressure washing your parking lot and sidewalks to clean oil spills, grease, excess dirt, chewing gum and other debris is a great way to make that first impression a good one.

Set your washer for 2600 and go at it. Be sure not to neglect your outdoor seating area, if you have one. For extra greasy areas, be sure to presoak the area. You may need to up the pressure to blow away chewing gum.

And don’t forget to clean your dumpster pad area regularly. Spills and caked food on and around the dumpster can attract the kind of varmints and vermin that could drive potential business into your cleaner competitors.

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