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| West Hollywood to Brentwood And Everywhere In Between. |
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| 8514 Franklin Ave Wonderful Contemporary home with a fantastic view, a huge swimming pool and great entertaining space http://www.btardif4homes.com/sold_listings.asp?listing_id={BC308CC8-3EC8-4E09-B0D1-DFAB4426F1D4}&src=featuredListing |
Articles and Advice |
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| FBI Warns of Chinese Earthquake E-Mail Scam By Terrence O'Brien Anytime something terrible happens in the world, there is always some jerk looking to make a buck off of other people's sympathy and good will. So keep alert, as you're bound to get at least a few e-mails soliciting donations to aide victims of the recent earthquake in China that has claimed the lives of 50,000 and climbing. The FBI on Wednesday offered the following list of tips to avoid getting scammed, many of which we've covered before, but it never hurts to review: Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) e-mail. Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as officials soliciting via e-mail for donations. Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail. Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. To ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes, make contributions directly to recognized organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf. Validate the legitimacy of the organization by directly accessing the recognized charity or aid organization's website rather than following an alleged link to the site. Attempt to verify the legitimacy of the nonprofit status of the organization by using various Internet-based resources, which also may assist in confirming the actual existence of the organization. Do not provide personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: providing such information may compromise your identity and expose you to identity theft. And remember, most of the above tips are applicable to pretty much any e-mail scam, so hold on to them! [Source: NBC News] |
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| Building permits pay off for sellers By Dian Hymer Curing deferred maintenance before selling usually improves a home's overall appeal, which can attract more buyers for a quicker sale at a higher price. Sellers typically do pre-sale fix-up as quickly and inexpensively as possible. This can lead to cost-cutting measures, some of which trigger unwelcome consequences. For example, one way to keep costs down and shorten the time it takes to get work done is to bypass the permit process. Some contractors charge less if they don't have to apply for permits, pay the permit fees and wait for building inspectors to sign off on the work when it's done. But, consider the downside. A homeowner in the Oakland Hills in Oakland, Calif., expanded his home to increase its market value. He used a licensed contactor but did not take out the required building permits. The house sold for a good price. But when the appraiser evaluated the property for the buyer's lender, he reduced the valuation on the addition because it hadn't been done with permits. Because of this, the house did not appraise for the price the buyer offered. To save the deal, the seller applied for permits after the fact. He not only had to pay the permit fees he'd hoped to avoid, he also had to pay penalties. In addition, walls had to be opened so that the inspector could confirm that the plumbing and electrical were properly installed. It might have taken a little more time to do the job right the first time, but it definitely would have cost less. Other issues come into play when sellers sidestep the permit process. Some municipalities won't issue a final approval for work done with permit if there is a building code violation. For instance, an Oakland homeowner obtained a permit to replace and relocate a gas furnace. When the city building inspector visited the property to inspect the furnace installation, he noticed electrical wiring near the furnace that didn't meet code. A contractor from Hayward, Calif., who didn't apply for a permit, had done the wiring years before and obviously wasn't well informed on Oakland code requirements. The homeowner had to have the electrical wiring corrected before the city inspector would issue a final clearance for the furnace installation. HOUSE HUNTING TIP: If you buy a home where work was done without required permits and you take out a permit to do additional work, you could find yourself paying to correct the past owner's misdeeds. To guard against this, visit the local planning or building department and ask to see a copy of the permit history on the property. Make sure that you do this before you remove your inspection contingency from the purchase contract so that you'll have an opportunity to negotiate a satisfactory resolution if there's a problem. Another issue is that -- depending on where you live -- you might not be granted a new permit if there is an outstanding permit that has not received final approval. Recently, the buyer of a Piedmont, Calif., home discovered that the seller had taken out a permit to replace the roof, but the job was never done. The roof either had to replaced and approved or the roofing permit had to be voided by the city building inspector before a new permit would be granted. In California, home sellers are required to disclose if they are aware of work that was done without required building permits. If you're buying in a state that doesn't require this disclosure, it's even more important to check the permit history before you buy. Be aware that sellers often think that permits were obtained when they weren't. THE CLOSING: To find out if a project requires a permit, consult with your local building or planning department. |
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| 10 must-do repairs before selling Tackling these basic home improvements will help your home stand out By Marilyn Lewis, MSN Real Estate When you put a home up for sale these days, you're facing stiff competition. In most parts of the country, buyers are faced with huge numbers of homes for sale. Before asking strangers to trade hundreds of thousands of their hard-earned dollars for your little palace, make all the little repairs you've always meant to do but never had the time for. These 10 basic repairs will help prepare your house for a buyer's white-glove inspection: 1. Repair sagging screen doors and other entry red flags. The entrance to your home is the key to first impressions. Carolyn Brake, a home-staging expert in Aurora, Colo., near Denver, prepares about 10 to 12 homes a week for market and she stresses the importance of creating a great impression right off the bat. "We're not so much selling the house as we're selling the experience of living in this house," Brake says. Buyers will be alert to signs of neglect or deferred maintenance, since they want to avoid expensive hidden problems down the road. Make sure everything at the entrance is in working order. If the screen door is sagging, you'll probably have to install a new one, as aging aluminum parts often become too bent or broken to repair, says Charlie Hudson, a remodeling professional and owner of Hudson Remodeling, in Lynden, Wash. But first, try replacing any missing or corroded hinge screws and tightening the rest. Patrol the perimeter of your home, inspecting it with the critical eye of a stranger, advises Katherine Carroll, agent with Century 21 Mountain Lifestyles in Weaverville, N.C. Clear dead plants from flower beds, clip dead blossoms and stems, rake and haul the yard waste far away. A fresh coast of paint on the front door goes miles toward establishing a great first impression. What color? Drive around for some inspiration and to see what colors prevail in your community. In some towns, a bright red door, or a deep plum, looks great. In others, it'll seem over the top. Forest green, navy blue and black can be great door colors. The front door need not match the exterior colors of your house and trim 2. Spiff up the roof. Missing shingles and hanging gutters broadcast a loud, scary signal to potential buyers. "You want the house to look as presentable and nonproblematic as possible," says Cathy Cowan, an agent with Windermere Real Estate Co. in Seattle. "There's a great deal of fear when people go out to look at property. You want them to be able to focus on 'Where does my bed go?' and 'Can we live here?' rather than, 'Oh my God, there's a problem with the roof.'" Get a roofer to replace any missing or broken shingles or roofing tiles. Moss growing on the roof signals neglect, so it's important to get it cleaned off. Ask a roofing expert to remove moss or to recommend someone who can. Roofing professionals may suggest treating the surface of your roof with a chemical to kill moss or they may recommend installing zinc strips on the roof ridge. Water running over the zinc washes minute amounts of zinc carbonate over the roof, killing algae and moss, according to Z-Stop, which manufactures the strips. When hiring someone to work on your roof, it's crucial to check their recommendations. Amateurs can damage your roof with the careless use of a high-pressure power washer. 3. Clear and caulk gutters. On a dry day, climb up on a ladder and clear all the debris out of the gutters so water can flow freely. While you're up there, recaulk the gutter end caps, advises Hudson. Seamless gutters are finished at the ends with a cap that's crimped and caulked. Aging caulk allows leaks to drain water down your home's siding. Get started by drying the clean gutter; the drier the aluminum, the better caulk will bond to its surface, says Hudson. He recommends using flexible butyl caulk made for outdoor conditions. Its color doesn't matter, since you're caulking inside the gutter. Squeeze out a generous amount and use your finger to smear the stuff around inside the gutter cap seams. Don't worry about appearances, since no one will see your work. 4. Patch nail holes and repaint. Moving inside the house, you'll want to patch up nail holes in the walls. Ask at a hardware store for lightweight putty. Apply it with a putty knife and fill in each hole, scraping the excess off the wall. Following directions on the package, wait for it to dry. Then sand the putty until it's smooth and flush with the wall. Paint the repaired spots with primer. Call a handyman for anything bigger than a nail hole, as it's not easy to blend bigger repairs into the wall and obvious patches telegraph the message, "I'm hiding something," says Hudson. Repaint the entire wall -- you're unlikely to be able to hide a touched-up patch, otherwise -- from one corner to the next. 5. Divorce your smoker and ship kitty to Siberia. All right, just kidding. Sort of. The thing is, smells are a serious deal killer. When strangers enter a home, the first thing they notice is the smell. Don't even try hiding behind scented candles, potpourri and plug-in room fragrances. Buyers, ever suspicious to problems, catch a whiff of those and conclude that you're hiding something. In the kitchen and bathrooms, deep clean with bleach, then regrout tiles and recaulk cracks between sinks, tubs, toilets, counters and floors to seal out the moisture that encourages the growth of smelly mold, mildew and bacteria. If you've had smokers in the house, you've got extra work to do. To rid walls of smoke and nicotine film, some experts suggest washing the walls with cleaners using an alkaline builder, such as ammonia, and a glycol solvent (found at paint stores). Brake recommends painting an undercoat of Kilz primer onto clean, dry walls to seal in nicotine smells. Finish the job with a fresh coat of paint and change the furnace filter to further freshen the air in the house. Then, "send smokers down the street," says Brake. She's not kidding: Ban smoking, even in the garden, because the smell clings to porches, decks and clothing. Gardens lose their appeal when littered with cigarette butts. If possible, board your cat off-premises while you're showing your home; at minimum, clean the litter box daily. 6. Replace damaged vinyl flooring. Inspect the vinyl flooring in your bathrooms. If it has discolored spots or is loose, moisture may be damaging the floor. You'll probably want a professional to lay the actual flooring, which could cost $400 or more. But you can save as much as half of the cost by preparing the floor yourself. Remove the baseboards by pulling them away from the walls with a small pry bar. Next, pull up the flooring using a larger pry bar -- it will be glued and nailed or stapled. Also remove the next layer, called the underlayment, made of particleboard or layered plywood. While your new floor is being installed, you can sand and repaint the baseboards so the whole job will look terrific when it's finished. Another good choice for flooring material is linoleum, a green product made from linseed oil, pine resin, sawdust and other natural binders. It can add 30% or 40% to the cost of a $400 job. 7. Reseal the toilet. Not all flooring installers will remove and reinstall the toilet, something that must be done to replace the floor. Pulling the toilet yourself can save you money. With plumbers' fees running about $85 an hour (with a minimum hour and a half charge for a house call), you could save yourself $200 or more (for two trips) by pulling the toilet yourself. Even if you aren't replacing flooring, the seals may need replacing. How to tell? If the toilet rocks when someone sits down, or if the floor at the base is moist or discolored, the seal could be broken. Corroded nuts that hold the toilet to the floor are another sign that the toilet needs to be reinstalled. Before you begin, shut off the water supply at the faucet behind the toilet. Flush the toilet, holding down the handle to drain as much water as possible. Use a wrench to unscrew the bolts holding the toilet to the floor. Don't move the toilet alone. Get a friend to help, because toilets are heavy and cumbersome, and the tanks are easily cracked. Prepare a bed of old cushions or towels in the bathtub and set the toilet there gently so any drips drain into the tub. At a hardware store, find two wax toilet seals (also called gaskets, about $3 apiece). One seal is conformed to fit into the sewer pipe; the second is a plain wax circle that you'll stack directly on top of the first. (Also at the store, purchase two new bolts -- about $1.50 each.) Back home, remove the old gaskets. Fit the new shaped gasket into the mouth of the sewer pipe first; put the second seal directly over it so the toilet fits into the space with no gaps. Lower the toilet over the seals. Screw in the new bolts, tighten them, reconnect the water supply and caulk the base of the toilet. 8. Stop faucet drips. A dripping faucet calls attention to itself, and it's not hard to fix. Shut off the water supply to the faucets by turning the valves under the sink to the right. Then, test the faucet to make sure you've shut the water off completely. While you're looking under the sink, check for moisture on the wall around the valves and on the floor of the sink cabinet. Also check the supply lines leading to the dishwasher and disposal. If those areas are wet, get a plumber. If you've got a newer, rotating, single-arm faucet (through which both hot and cold water run), note the brand and purchase a faucet rebuild kit (roughly $50) at the hardware store. Inside the faucet arm is a metal ball on a stem that lets the handle swivel while allowing water to flow in any direction. The kit contains the six to 12 parts most likely to fail, including that metal ball, O rings, springs and gaskets. The idea is to replace them all rather than trying to diagnose the exact source of the problem. Dismantle the faucet, laying the parts out in order on a paper towel. Snap a photo or draw a sketch to help you with reassembly. Replace the old parts, put the faucet back together and turn the water back on. For older faucets with independent hot and cold water faucets, shut off the water under the sink as before then dismantle each of the sink's faucets separately. Remove the washers (rings made of rubber, plastic or brass), put them in a plastic sandwich bag and bring them to the hardware store to find replacements. Reassemble the faucets and turn the water back on. If this seems like more trouble than you're willing to tackle, call a plumber. With no complications, a plumber can install the new parts in an hour, though most will bill you for an hour and a half minimum. 9. Renew dinged baseboards. Beat-up baseboards detract greatly from the appearance of your home, and they're easy to spiff up. "All those little things tend to stand out," says Carroll. First, clean them to remove scrapes and smudges left by clawing pets and toddlers on wheels. Brake says a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge works great on painted surfaces. Fill in dents with spackle, sand the baseboards smooth and repaint them. If you've lost the name of the original paint color, chip off a coin-sized bit, slip it into an envelope and bring it to the paint store where you can have the color computer matched. Use primer before painting. Don't just retouch small areas; paint the entire piece of baseboard, from one end to the other. Choose a washable eggshell finish. White is a great choice for making baseboards and trim look crisp and clean. 10. Repair cabinet scratches. You can quickly improve the look of unpainted woodwork and worn cabinets with an application of products that even out the surface color. Brake covers scratches on woodwork and cabinets with Old English Scratch Cover or a Tibet Almond Stick, a tight roll of cotton saturated in chemicals that the manufacturer, Zenith Chemical Works, says is a 100-year-old family formula. (You can find these at hardware and home-improvement stores.) The almond stick goes on clear but covers scratches. "It's amazing," Brake says. Zenith owner Kim MacInnes says the almond stick works best with shallow surface scratches on dark finishes. It doesn't work in every case, he says, and even a good result may fade with time and need to be reapplied periodically. Old English makes separate formulations for light or dark wood. These are oily stains, so use them carefully. Try out any products first in a corner where results will not be noticed. Do not use the dark stain on light wood. Finally, polish wood cabinets to a glow with lemon oil. |
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| Fight Cancer at the Grocery Store Seven edible overachievers that can help cancer-proof your life By Courtesy of Men's Health Invest in the Market... Thank god Merck can't patent the tomato. Just imagine if drugmakers discovered some legal loophole that allowed them to move foods that function like pharmaceuticals from the produce stand to the prescription counter. We'd all end up needing a doctor's note (and a hefty co-pay) to give our prostates the protection offered by tomato sauce and our arteries the salvation promised by salmon. The only possible upside to Rx-only edibles might occur with beans, since every can would come with a very clear warning: "Room-clearing side effects have been reported." For now at least, there's no one to keep us from eating to beat disease, even if that disease is a multi-headed monster like cancer. But unlike prescription cancer drugs, most of which are designed to treat the illness, pharmaceutical foods are here to help prevent it. We've rounded up the newest of these nutritional standouts, along with strategies for slipping them into your diet. And while none of the lucky seven that follow are FDA-approved, your body will be MH-improved after you eat them. CURRY UP The right spice can make the meal -- and block the tumor. That's what University of Illinois researchers discovered when they pitted turmeric against 19 different strains of H. pylori, the ulcer-inducing bacterium that's been linked to colon and gastric cancers. In every case, turmeric took the teeth out of H. pylori. "Turmeric didn't necessarily reduce the bacterial load," says Gail Mahady, Ph.D., the study's lead author. "What it did was reduce the chronic inflammation caused by H. pylori. And it's this inflammation that has been associated with the development of cancer." The best way to increase your intake of turmeric? Eat Indian food. Specifically, try dining on curry, which is rich in turmeric and often contains additional cancer quashers, such as garlic and onions. Another option: Slather extra mustard on all your sandwiches; the bright yellow variety is loaded with turmeric. GILL OR BE KILLED Shark cartilage won't ward off cancer, but a shark's diet might. A recently completed 12-year Harvard study of nearly 48,000 men determined that those who ate fish more than three times a week were 40 percent less likely to develop advanced prostate cancer than those who hit the surf only twice a month. It's those amazing omega-3s again, though they don't deserve all the credit. "Fish also contains vitamin A and vitamin D, which may help prevent prostate cancer," says Michael F. Leitzmann, M.D., a coauthor of the study. That's why it may be better to skip supplements and stick with actual fish. Salmon, mackerel, and herring have the best balance of omega-3s, vitamin A, and vitamin D. Note: Don't wait until the weekend to go fishing, says Dr. Leitzmann. "Space your fish consumption out over the week so you consume a steady supply of these compounds." ADD ZEST TO LIFE Fresh squeezed OJ contains all the health benefits of oranges except one: the cancer protection in the peel. People who regularly consume citrus zest reduce their risk of squamous-cell skin cancer by 30 percent, according to a recent University of Arizona study. Even lab rats live longer on the stuff; animal studies suggest that citrus zest can actually shrink existing tumors. Turns out the oils in the peels of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit contain powerful compounds that stimulate the body's production of a detoxifying enzyme, explains study author Iman Hakim, M.D., Ph.D., who says the results had an impact on her research group. "Several people around here started chewing on citrus peels," she says. Another option: Grate the colored portion of the peel and add the pile of zest (at least a tablespoonful) to soups, salads, and salsa, or sprinkle it on chicken and fish. GET WHITE HOT Green tea grabs all the headlines as a tumor-taming brew, but the white kind surpasses it at preventing colon cancer. When researchers at Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute tested the two teas' abilities to block colon-polyp growth, the blanc beverage was about 10 percent more effective. In fact, it stopped polyps as effectively as sulindac, a powerful anti-inflammatory drug. And while prescription anti-inflammatories can cause internal bleeding and ulcers, "tea is pretty much guaranteed not to cause side effects," says Gayle Orner, Ph.D., the study's lead author. The study used Exotica white tea (80 tea bags for $20 at stashtea.com); 3 cups a day may be enough to cut your cancer risk. FIND YOUR WHEY Not since lycopene landed in our lives has there been a more promising prostate-cancer-fighting nutrient than whey protein. In a recent Ohio State University study, researchers treated human prostate cells with whey protein and then measured the cells' levels of a natural cancer-blocking compound called glutathione. The finding: Glutathione levels rose by a remarkable 64 percent. "Whey is a great source of the amino acid cysteine, and cysteine can become glutathione in the body," explains Rosemary L. Walzem, R.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Nutrition, Health, and Food Genomics at Texas A&M University. One of the best sources of whey is yogurt; a lot of the protein is in the clear liquid on top, so don't pour it off. You can also pick up powdered whey-protein isolate -- vanilla-flavored -- and add it to instant oatmeal. BERRY YOURSELF ALIVE Make every day Thanksgiving and you could slash your risk of several different cancers. Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles have confirmed that cranberries contain a trove of tumor-blocking compounds, including phenolic acids, glycosides, and anthocyanins. These phytochemicals are effective at preventing cancer down below -- in the colon and prostate -- as well as up top -- on the head and neck. "They force cancer cells to die or they inhibit their unregulated growth," says David Heber, M.D., Ph.D., a coauthor of the study. To hit your daily cran quota, down a small glass of cranberry juice (the type that lists at least 27 percent juice on the label) at breakfast and snack on Craisins (sweetened dried cranberries) throughout the day. PLEDGE TO THE GAMMA FRAT The nutrient with the coolest name -- gamma tocopherol -- may also be the one with the fastest draw in a showdown with cancer. When Purdue University researchers pitted this form of vitamin E against prostate- and lung-cancer cells, they discovered that it was able to stop the cells in their microscopic tracks. What's more, gamma tocopherol helped kill existing tumor cells without hurting healthy cells, says Qing Jiang, Ph.D., the study's lead author. But what about the research showing that vitamin E supplements are worthless, and perhaps even dangerous? Doesn't apply to gamma tocopherol, since it isn't included in most E supplements. Instead, you'll find it in sesame oil, which you can sub for other cooking oils or sprinkle over salads. Or, if you want a source you can sink your teeth into, munch on walnuts. |
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| Not everyone's keen on fluorescent lights Some say CFLs consume extra energy when turned on By Paul Bianchina Q: I have a question about fluorescent bulbs and power usage. I have been told that fluorescents draw the most power when they are turned on and almost no power to keep on. Therefore, they should be turned on and left on, and should not be turned on and off during the day because it would end up using more power in the process. Is that true? --Richard C., via e-mail. A: A fluorescent light does consume some additional energy when first starting up. This is known as "inrush current," and is equal to about five times what the operating current is. However, with today's rapid-start bulbs, that initial surge only lasts for half of one cycle. Electrical current is 60 cycles per second, so the initial startup surge lasts only for approximately 1/120 of a second. In other words, you would have to turn the lamp off only for a couple of seconds to save the equivalent amount of energy that it takes to turn it on again. With any type of light bulb in your home -- incandescent or the new compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) -- it's best to live with the old rule of thumb of turning off the light whenever you're going to be out of the room for more than just a couple of minutes. Q: We have some stucco houses on our street. A couple of them had dry rot, and they had to remove the siding and some of the wood. We were wondering if there is a way to check to see if our stucco house has dry rot. --Art W., via e-mail. A: There can sometimes be some telltale signs. Since water runs downhill, if moisture has been getting behind the stucco it will often migrate down to the bottom of the wall. On some older stucco houses you may be able to see or feel soft spots at the very bottom of the exterior walls, where they meet or overlap the foundations. Also, examine the stucco carefully for signs of discoloration and cracking, and press on those areas to see if there is any movement in the stucco or if the wall underneath feels soft. You can examine the wood around window and door casings, both inside and outside, for signs of rot or water intrusion, and examine baseboards and flooring around the inside of the exterior walls to look for softness or water stains. Finally, you can check under the house at the exterior walls, looking for the same indicators. You mentioned that a couple of the houses on your street had dry rot problems. I would also suggest that you stop by and chat with neighbors who have had work done and see what occurred with their homes. They can tell you exactly where and how extensive the rot was, and if the homes were all built around the same time and by the same builder, that should also get you a few additional tips on where to search. If you do suspect dry rot or other moisture problems, you can contact a contractor who specializes in insurance-related home repairs. These specialized contractors typically have moisture meters that are capable of detecting moisture inside walls. You can also see if any contractors in your area have thermal imaging cameras, which can "see" inside walls for differences in heat patterns that can indicate moisture problems. Q: I have a microhood that has to be replaced. I'm not a big do-it-yourselfer person, but I'm OK with most straightforward projects. On a scale of 1 to 10, how difficult is it? Can you give me some basic instructions? --Michael T., via e-mail. A: If you are replacing the microhood with one that is the same size and type, with the same venting arrangement, then the replacement should be pretty easy. There could certainly be some variables with your installation, but in general the steps should be as follows: 1. Unplug the old microhood, and remove the tape that seals the vent duct to the transition on top of the hood. 2. Remove any bolts that hold the microhood to the bracket, and slide it out of the bracket (you may need two people for this). 3. Remove the old mounting bracket, unless it's identical to the new bracket. 4. Install the new mounting bracket, slide the new microhood into the bracket, reconnect the vent, and plug the unit in. Complete installation instructions are included with the new hood, and because it just plugs in there is no electrical wiring required. As long as there are no alterations to the vent -- which there shouldn't be if you're using the same make and model -- then on a 1-to-10, simple-to-difficult scale, I would rate the job about a 3. You can always give it a try on your own, then hire someone to complete the project if you end up not feeling comfortable with it. |
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| Another One Bytes the Dust Invaluable advise on how to dispose of your old computer By Kelli B. Grant DISPOSING OF AN OLD laptop is a little like dumping an old friend. After all, your computer may very well hold some of your most important secrets — including financial information, passwords, account data and so on. So when it's time for you and your computer to part ways, it's important you do so in the right manner. Unlike a human-to-human friendship, one way to say goodbye to your old friend is to take a sledgehammer to it. But you can probably do better than that. Many charities will gladly take your old computer, which not only will give you the warm fuzzies for doing good (both for the charity, and also for the environment) — but it could also give you a nice little tax break to boot. Here's how to get it done right: Reuse or Recycle? Thanks to the fast pace of technology, many old computers simply aren't worth enough to consider donating. LAPTOPS AND DESKTOPS RE-USE if... Pentium I CPU or newer; All components — tower, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. — are included; It's in working condition, or easily repairable RECYCLE if... 486 CPU or older; Some components are missing (say, you have a monitor but no tower); Extensive repairs are needed * Data from manufacturer re-use/recycle guidelines. If you aren't sure whether your computer still has some life in it, check with the manufacturer (see chart below), advises Kate Krebs, executive director of the National Recycling Coalition. IBM has a general return program, and will sort out for itself whether your item is fit to donate or should be sent to the scrap heap. Dell, on the other hand, offers extensive guidelines to help you figure out what to do with your hardware. CLEANING YOUR HARD DRIVE No matter where you computer is headed — to the recycling bin or to a charity — it's important to remove your personal information before it leaves your hands. And a simple "delete" isn't enough. Someone with computer knowledge can easily restore your files and check out everything you didn't want seen. "Reformatting the hard drive won't do it," says Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a consumer advocate. "Use a more in-depth program that over-writes it several times with zeros and ones." For a no-cost solution, check out Eraser 5.7 (http://www.download.com/Eraser/3000-2092_4-10231813.html?tag=lst-5-2), a free download with high ratings from CNET, an electronic review site. PICK THE RIGHT CHARITY Not every charity wants your computer. But don't worry — there are plenty that specialize in computer donations, including: Computers for Youth (http://www.cfy.org) provides computers for low-income children, aiming to improve the home learning environment. Gifts in Kind International (www.giftsinkind.org) passes donated equipment on to local charities around the world. Goodwill Industries International(http://www.goodwill.org/page/guest/about) takes computer donations at most locations. Most systems are refurbished and sold for profit, while some are recycled. National Cristina Foundation (http://www.cristina.org) distributes computers to people with disabilities. Of course, in order to get the tax deduction, you'll also want to make sure that the charity you choose is registered as a 501(c)(3) with the IRS. (For more tips on how to select the right one, see Make the Most of Your Charitable Donation.) No matter how much your dinosaur of a desktop is worth, you'll need a receipt from the charity acknowledging your gift, as well as its estimated dollar value. If it's valued at $500 or more, you'll also need to fill out Form 8283 come tax time. Keep in mind, your computer may not be worth all that much. Most charities will help you appraise the computer's worth. To get your own estimate, input your computer specifics in this worksheet from eDeal. YOU MAY PAY TO RECYCLE Oftentimes, you'll pay a small fee to recycle your hardware, but it's a more environmentally friendly option than kicking your computer to the curb — literally. The ideal time to recycle your computer is when you're purchasing new equipment, says Krebs. Paired with a purchase, many manufacturers offer incentives such as free shipping and processing, or a discount for your next purchase. Here's a rundown of the major computer manufacturers' programs: Apple: Recycle your Apple hardware for $30. If you're purchasing new equipment, recycling is free. For more details go to - http://www.apple.com/environment/recycling/nationalservices/us.html Dell: Opt to either recycle or donate your hardware (even non-Dell products). Choose recycle, and you'll pay $10 to $20, depending on the weight of the hardware. If you're purchasing new equipment, recycling is free. Choose to donate, and someone from the National Cristina Foundation, a charity that provides computers to people with disabilities, will contact you to arrange a pickup. You'll receive a receipt for tax deduction, and a 10% discount coupon from Dell for your next purchase of software or accessories. For more details go to - http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/environment/en/recycling_main?c=us&l=en&s=corp Hewlett-Packard Recycle any of your hardware (even non-HP products) for a small fee, and receive a coupon good toward your next purchase. For example, recycle a PC with monitor ($46 charge), and you'll receive a $50 coupon for your next purchase of $60 or more. For more details go to - https://warp1.external.hp.com/recycle/ IBM Send in any of your hardware (even non-IBM products) to be sorted for $29.99. Hardware capable of re-use will be donated to Gifts in Kind International, a charity that contributes to local charities. In exchange, you'll receive a receipt for tax deduction. Unusable hardware will be recycled. For more program details go to - http://www.ibm.com/ibm/environment/ |
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| New home technology wows builders By Paul Bianchina Each year, the National Association of Home Builders holds its International Builders Show, the granddaddy of all home shows. The IBS is traditionally the launch site for a variety of new or redesigned building and home-improvement-related products, and this year was certainly no different. Here's a roundup of some interesting products that you might find useful, along with Internet links if you want to find out more. Please note that all the information is based on the manufacturer's own product research and claims. Faster Cooking: Looking to get dinner done a whole lot faster? Check out the TurboChef Speedcook Oven, which offers "revolutionary speed with gourmet results." Utilizing patented "AirSpeed" technology, the TurboChef cooks up to 15 times faster than conventional ovens, and will cook a rack of lamb in four minutes or roast a 12-pound turkey in 42 minutes. www.theovenreinvented.com. A More Convenient Seat: Seating Innovations offers a variety of attractive and innovative seats for eating bars, tables, desks and other areas. The seats are suspended from the wall on steel pivots rather than having legs that sit on the floor, freeing up floor space, making cleaning easier, and eliminating floor damage. www.seating-innovations.com. The King of Caulking: Newly introduced from Red Devil is King Kaulk, which the manufacturer guarantees is the only caulk you'll ever need. King Kaulk is a hybrid polymer composition that replaces all of the caulks, sealants and adhesives you currently have around the house, and will bond and seal virtually every construction material. It can be used indoors or out, has low odor, and is completely paintable. www.reddevil.com. Energy-Saving Wall Heaters: Offered by ECO-heaters, these wall-mounted electric panels can heat an entire room while using less than one-third of the energy of regular wall heaters. According to the manufacturer, the heaters use the same amount of electricity as four 100-watt light bulbs, yet will heat an entire room. And the panels can be painted to match any décor. www.eco-heater.com. A Smarter Lockset: Kwikset has introduced its new line of SmartKey deadbolts and locking knobs. The new technology replaces the old standard of pin and tumbler technology with its patented side-locking bar. What that means for you is greater security, and the ability to re-key locks yourself in seconds, without removing the knob or deadbolt from the door. www.kwikset.com. Spray Foam: For larger insulating and sealing projects, Touch-N-Seal offers a two-part expansive spray foam in disposable containers. Compete with gun, hose, tanks and tips, this spray foam is ideal for a wide variety of sealing, insulating and sound-proofing applications, and is more economical and easier to use than traditional spray cans for those larger projects. www.touch-n-seal.com. Steel Beams for Light Residential: There are certainly any number of applications in new building and remodeling where the strength of a steel beam would be a real advantage, but these massive beams had always been too difficult to deal with. The new LiteSteel Beam was developed to provide the greater structural strength of steel in a beam that is light, easy to carry, and can be cut, nailed, drilled and otherwise worked with on the job site using standard tools. www.litesteelbeam.com. Flooding Protection: Flooding from storms or other causes can devastate your home. StormPro offers several innovative, high-capacity pumps with a battery backup, so you can be assured of reliable pump performance even when severe storms knock out electrical power. Their battery backup systems can also be used with your existing pump system. www.sumpro.com. Polypropylene Siding Shingles: Nailite's new Cedar Pride EZ siding shakes and shingles offer some of the most realistic appearing shingles available. Cedar Pride shingles are installed in 6-foot strips for fast application, and have a deep grain and a staggered appearance for a more authentic look. They're available in several standard colors and patterns, and can also be painted. www.nailiteinternational.com. Energy-Saving Bathroom Comfort: The Enerjoy Bathroom Comfort Center is an all-inclusive unit that provides heating, lighting and ventilation for your bathroom. The Enerjoy combines radiant heat panels, a room light, night light and low-noise fan in one unit that the manufacturer claims uses half the energy of conventional units. www.sshcinc.com/BarNone2.htm. |
| Dos and don'ts of holding home's title in LLC By Benny Kass DEAR BENNY: I own several single-family rental homes. In talking to advisors, one says I should put the houses into LLCs for liability protection. Another said, don't bother. If you get sued, your liability protection on your homeowners policy plus your umbrella policy will cover you. Obviously, the latter provides only attorney and possible judgment costs, but does the LLC really keep you from being sued, or protect you if you are sued, so that you would not need to use the umbrella policy? –Bruce DEAR BRUCE. It is my understanding that an umbrella policy is not that costly, so I would recommend that you consider both options: Get the umbrella policy and put all of your rental properties in separate limited liability companies. The concept of limited liability companies (LLC) is relatively new -- probably started in the 1980s. Its primary purpose is to insulate the property owner from personal liability should there be a court judgment against the property. For example, if a child was injured because of lead paint in the property and a judgment was entered against the LLC, if the proper procedures for maintaining a LLC were kept, it would be difficult -- if not impossible -- for that judgment to attach personally against the member (or members) of that LLC. This column does not permit a lengthy explanation of what an LLC is and how it works. However, if you own several properties, each should be held in a separate LLC. Otherwise, a judgment against the LLC will impact on all of the properties that are held by that LLC. Some basic rules to preserve the independence of an LLC: (1) Do not commingle your own funds with that of the LLC; (2) If you are the sole member of the LLC -- or its managing member -- make sure that whenever you sign any papers, you add the word "member" after your signature. You want to make sure that the world understands that you are not acting in your own capacity but only as the representative of the LLC. It would even be helpful to have at least two members for the LLC. Clever attorneys may be able to "pierce the corporate veil" of a single-member LLC. |
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| Visit Nourmand Website http://www.nourmand.com/ Home Staging by Marshall Design Group http://www.marshalldesigngroup.com/contact/main.htm Get the latest mortgage rates http://www.cohenfinancialgroup.com/home.html The Woven Garden - Garden Design, installation and maintenance http://www.TheWovenGarden.com Outdoors & Beyond - Architectural Pool and Landscape design and installation http://www.outdoorsandbeyond.com/OAB/index.html |
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