Retaining walls and pavers add curb appeal to your front entry

(ARA) – Front-porch entertaining is making a comeback in America’s neighborhoods, thanks to homeowners’ renewed interest in beautifying the front entries of their homes. The days of uninspired concrete front stoops have passed, giving way to elegant combinations of freestanding walls, columns and matching pavers to create  welcoming entrances that also serve as gathering places.

Front-entry makeovers that are both eye-catching and functional are one of the hottest trends in landscape design these days.

“Decades ago, neighbors would often retire to their front porches in the evening and gather together for conversation with neighbors up and down the street,” says Lonnie Sekeres, designer at Villa Landscapes in Oakdale, Minn. “That practice is returning as families spend more time entertaining at home and getting to know their neighbors. A creatively designed front entryway can help facilitate that.”

It doesn’t have to be extravagant either. “Doing something as nominal as adding a paver walkway and freestanding wall – along with a new take on plants to accent certain areas – can do a lot to freshen up your curb appeal on a modest budget,” says Sekeres.

New concept, old look
Many homeowners face the challenge of updating a home that looks a bit stuck in the past, but a front entry facelift can be an easy solution. Villa Landscapes transformed a rambler’s small and mundane concrete-slab front stoop into a sweeping paver patio and pergola-covered entryway defined by Versa-Lok retaining walls and columns. The stunning result changed the entire look of the home.

“The original house had a 4-foot-wide step to access the front door,” explains Sekeres. “The owner wanted to provide more useable space for traffic flow through the front door while creating a sense of an old-fashioned front porch. In addition, he wanted to use materials that would complement the existing home and also be low-maintenance.”

Versa-Lok retaining walls in a charcoal-blend color were used for seat-height freestanding walls and columns to create the new porch space. Paving stones in a matching color were used for the patio and walkway surface. The formerly boring square front stoop was transformed into an attractive rounded step that protrudes from the patio, flanked by two columns and faced with a veneer made from slicing off the back of a retaining wall block. The curved lines of the step are repeated in the walkway and in a round raised-bed garden.

The pergola extends from the front of the house, supported by white pillars mounted inside freestanding columns.

“What began as a cold and somewhat clumsy entrance to the house is now a bright and inviting gathering place that adds a contemporary look to what could have been a dated home,” Sekeres concludes.

Front-yard entertaining
Sekeres gave a another family’s home a facelift with a handsome hardscaped front-entry courtyard graced with fresh plantings. A plain concrete sidewalk was replaced with matching pavers to create a fresh look for the home with a new, more neighborly entertaining space.

“The entry had overgrown plants in some areas, bare spots in others. While it’s a beautiful house, it had lost its curb appeal and was in dire need of attention,” explains Sekeres. “Besides sprucing up the look of their home, the clients also wanted to have a spot out front to sit and chat with the neighbors as they passed by.”

The solution was a raised patio that extends from the existing front step to the middle of the yard. The patio is buttressed on the outer sides by freestanding Versa-Lok retaining walls accented at two corners with stylish matching columns.

The patio and sidewalk are paved with Willow Creek paving stones in a cobblestone pattern and color scheme that complements the walls and the home’s existing brick exterior. A variety of new plantings around the wall and patio soften the hardscaping.

“We come out here in the evening and it’s not 10 minutes before someone sees us and stops over,” one of the homeowners beamed. “We just love it.”

For more information on how you can give your home a front-entry makeover, contact Versa-Lok Retaining Wall Systems at (800) 770-4525, or visit www.versa-lok.com.

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Renovating your home? Renovate your insurance

(ARA) – Whether you are upgrading a kitchen, adding on a master suite, or gutting a newly purchased structure, you need to reassess your insurance needs both before and after your renovation.

It’s common to plan every major step of the renovation. But one thing that’s tough to plan for is the unexpected. What if an oily rag left unattended starts a fire and your home goes up in smoke? The remodeling work done to date may have an impact on your homeowners insurance – unless you let your insurance agent in on the plans ahead of time.

For example, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company policyholders are required to let their agent know about any renovation projected to increase the replacement cost of your home by more than $25,000 in order for the crucial full-cost replacement coverage to remain in force.

“Your insurance company and your agent can help you find gaps in your coverage related to remodeling and establish appropriate replacement costs,” says Don Soss, vice president of personal insurance at Fireman’s Fund. “We can also make sure your contractor and subs have adequate liability insurance in case of damage to your property from poor workmanship or carelessness.”

In addition, risk managers at the insurance company can provide advice to minimize the possibility of fires, theft, and mishaps. Good risk management practices also minimize potential project delays. This may be a good time to add security and safety features such as water flow monitoring devices or upgraded burglary and fire alarm systems.

One of the most common issues is maintaining a secure environment during the work phase. For example, contractors often disable a home’s existing fire alarm system because dust and particulates generated by construction tend to trigger false alarms. It is important for temporary measures such as fencing and alternate alarms to be in place to keep the property secure.

Demolition debris should also be secured so it can’t become airborne in high winds. Toxic or explosive materials need to be stored and handled appropriately, and rebars should be capped to prevent injury to workmen and residents.  

Often, the family moves to temporary housing during a remodel. It may be a good idea to put art collections and other valuables that could be damaged in an offsite secure storage facility for optimal protection.

Even before your work is complete, your agent can go over your current homeowners insurance and make sure you have the replacement value of your home updated. This will reflect increases in construction materials and labor, changes in building codes, installation of new safety devices, changes in square footage, and custom features and appliances.

Top tips for homeowners considering a renovation:

1. Contact your agent before construction starts for coverage of your remodeling work and the value of your completed home.

2. Make sure your contractor and subcontractors have adequate liability insurance. Many contractors carry the generally recommended limits of at least twice the replacement value of the home.

3. Ask the contractor to maintain adequate safety and security devices such as fire and burglar alarms.

4. Save all records related to your project (receipts and appraisals). Store copies of these records in a secure off-site location. Videotaping your house and possessions is also recommended.

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Make a splash – how you can attract new birds to your yard this summer


(ARA) – When summer really heats up, there is nothing more refreshing than drinking a tall glass of ice water, taking a quick dip in the pool, or running through the backyard sprinkler with the kids. But what many people do not realize is clean, fresh water is as important to birds and other wildlife as it is for humans. Not only that, but birds actually enjoy splashing around and frolicking in the water just like we do.

With this in mind, create an inviting habitat for feathered friends right in your backyard or on your patio or balcony. It is easier than it seems, and there is no need for a big backyard to do it. Just providing the basic elements birds enjoy will establish your setting as a wildlife habitat. Water is one of the important resources birds need, along with food, shelter and a place to nest or raise young. For a quick and easy bird-friendly habitat, simply put out a bird feeder, hang a bird house, provide some nesting materials, and set up a watering place to drink and splash.

“Water is one of the most frequently overlooked resources we can add to our backyard to attract more birds and other wildlife,” says John Robinson, chief ornithologist at Scotts. “Every year, I am astonished by the new species that appear in backyards when owners are willing to share this simple yet critical resource with their feathered friends.”

Providing a source of water need not be a big endeavor. Water can be provided using a mister, slow drip, saucer, bird bath or pond. Below are some simple ways to incorporate water into your backyard.

Bird baths and saucers:
Water in a saucer or bird bath will quickly and easily give area birds the water they need, even when placed on a balcony or patio. Stones with depressions that collect water will also help attract small birds and butterflies. Keep in mind you may need to change the water and clean the bird bath every few days to keep it fresh. In hot weather, it may even be necessary to refill the container every day.

Drippers:
A great way to attract birds and other creatures to the backyard is to add a water drip feature to the bird bath. Because of birds’ heightened senses of hearing and sight, drippers are inviting. Create a drip feature by hanging a bucket or plastic milk jug with a tiny hole over the bird bath so water drips down into the bath slowly throughout the day. Or, hook up a garden hose to a specially designed drip tube you can purchase at local hardware stores or garden centers.

Misters:
Another water feature gardeners often employ is a mister. A mister hooks to a garden hose and sprays a gentle mist over a garden or bird bath. Humans enjoy being cooled off by misters at amusement parks, and plants enjoy the refreshing spray of moisture, too. Birds enjoy frequenting misters to cool down and pollinators, like butterflies and bees, enjoy areas being misted because of the tiny water droplets the mist leaves on flowers. Misters can generally be found at local hardware store and garden centers.

Ponds:
Whether large and elaborate or small and quaint, a backyard pond is guaranteed to attract birds and other wildlife. Most ponds found in urban or rural backyards are on the small side, most no larger than 3 to 4 feet in diameter. Ponds with a fountain are best because the sight and sound of splashing water will attract visitors, and moving water is less likely to become a breeding ground for mosquitoes or other insects. The addition of logs, rocks and other in-water structures provide a drinking and basking habitat for songbirds, as well as other wildlife such as turtles and butterflies. Aquatic snails or tadpoles are fun and natural ways to limit the growth of algae in the pond, and add an interesting element for kids to watch and enjoy.

This summer, when planning the water fun for the kids, don’t forget the birds. Water is very effective in drawing birds and wildlife to your backyard and is also a relaxing, scenic addition that can provide interest and enjoyment for the whole family. With the addition of a simple water source, you never know who may stop by your backyard habitat for a quick swim or a refreshing drink.

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It’s nearly impossible to separate real estate’s fortunes from the health of the overall economy.
Yet one sliver of the property game has a most curious — even at times, inverted — relationship with the business climate.
Welcome to the odd world of self storage, those somewhat odd facilities where one can rent space to stash everything from keepsakes to household goods to business supplies to plain old junk.
This is not a small business. The industry claims it services 1-in-10 Americans. According to Self Storage Almanac, there are 49,000 storage facilities across the nation — 1,100 in Los Angeles and Orange counties — worth roughly a quarter of a trillion bucks.
How’s that? When the economy’s a mess, lives get turned upside down. Thus, people frequently need space to keep some — or many — of their belongings. Failed small businesses — another outcome of a financial downturn — additionally create demand for storage for tools, machinery and/or inventory. Where better to stockpile the goods but at a local storage locker?
This recent economic cycle has been particularly brutal in many ways. Yet it’s proven to be an opportunity for self storage as a flood of foreclosures has forced scores of families from homes. That’s boosted demand for storage as these households are often forced to relocate to smaller quarters that can’t hold all their possessions.
Bad news can be good news in the real estate genre.
“Self storage has weathered the storm,” says Michael Schwartz, CEO of Strategic Storage Trust Inc., a self-storage investment firm from Ladera Ranch. He feels he almost has to apologize because, “we’re moving so fast.”
He’s not alone. When Selfstorage.com recently surveyed 200 self-storage owners on business conditions, 42 percent replied that their rental traffic rose in 2010 vs. the previous year and 38 percent said revenue rose as well.
On Wall Street, where shares of four big owners of storage facilities trade, self-storage investment trust stocks were up 18 percent in the first five months of the year – the hottest real estate investment trust niche, according to NAREIT indexes. Note: U.S. stocks in general, as measured by the S&P 500-stock index, were up 8 percent.
And the industry’s even a hit on TV. Not one, but two cable shows – “Storage Wars” and “Auction Hunters” — follow the antics of the bidders drawn to public auctions of goods stored in self-storage units with delinquent renters.
Schwartz’s SSTI — a real estate investment trust with stakes that do not trade on stock exchanges — was started in 2008 and has raised $230 million from investors. It recently started the SmartStop brand of storage facilities and, according to its financial filings, if it completes a series of acquisitions it will own 77 self storage facilities located in 17 states with 50,590 units and 6.2 million square feet of space. One of those planned deals includes a facility in its hometown, what will be its second Orange County property and its eighth in California.
“I want more assets in California,” says Schwartz, noting the state’s population density and its typical – though not current — economic heft.
This isn’t a play on extended lean times, Schwartz insists. Self storage flourishes in good times, too.
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(NAPSI)—Whether you’re an avid environmentalist, a Western movie fan looking for a little tranquility, or just someone who’s seeking a fun vacation for your family, you can experience the undisturbed beauty of the American West at hundreds of places around the country. Over 28 million acres of National Conservation Lands are permanently conserved by the federal government for the public to enjoy.

Here are a few facts and figures:

• These lands, especially those around the Empire Ranch in Arizona, have been a calling card for Hollywood Westerns.

• With a plain of saguaro cacti beneath it, nearby Ragged Top Mountain in Ironwood Forest offers a striking reminder of the Old West.

• Historic Fort Stanton in New Mexico is one of the few intact frontier forts, with many of its original buildings and surrounding lands looking just as they did when the fort hosted such legendary personalities as Billy the Kid, Colonel Kit Carson and the Buffalo Soldiers.

• The Santa Rosa/San Jacinto Mountains in southern California has an old brush corral and views from the highway that harken back to the southern California of a century ago.

• Rock caves and formations in Red Rock Canyon of Nevada dominate the landscape once crossed by cowboys and Native Americans.

Since they were established a decade ago, the National Conservation Lands have not gotten the level of funding, protection, recognition or support that they need from the federal government. They face other challenges such as recreational target shooting, reckless off-road vehicle use, vandalism, encroaching development and trash dumping.

The Conservation Lands Foun- dation is the only organization dedicated solely to conserving, restoring and expanding the National Conservation Lands through education, advocacy and partnerships.

To that end, the Foundation:

• Provides grants, training and networking opportunities to build a constituency of grassroots advocates;

• Works with Congress and the Bureau of Land Management to help shape the future of the National Conservation Lands; and

• Promotes greater public awareness of and appreciation for the National Conservation Lands and the irreplaceable human and natural history they contain.

You can discover more about the Foundation and the sites and monuments it protects, how to visit them and how to help protect them at www.conservationlands.org or (970) 247-0807.

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WAKE COUNTY, N.C.
Raleigh, NC—October 14, 2010—CESI Debt Solutions, a Raleigh-based, national nonprofit association helping Americans manage debt and buy and keep their homes, is hosting a VIP, invitation-only Open House Celebration on October 19, 2010 in their new headquarters.

The organization employs over 125 Triangle residents, and is hiring another 30 people this month alone. Due to this tremendous growth over the last three years, the organization relocated its headquarters to 3700 Barrett Drive in Raleigh.

Guests will paint a “Wall of Hope”, a mural that will adorn the new space. The mural symbolizes the hope that CESI has installed in the local economy, and hundreds of thousands of people nationwide who have been helped by the organization.

In attendance will be local residents, who with the help of CESI counselors, have dug themselves out of mounds of debt to start a new debt-free life and residents who have learned money management skills from local CESI counselors, enabling them to prevent foreclosures and buy houses. Local dignitaries, politicians, bankers, realtors, and other CESI partners will attend as well.

“It’s a great feeling for our employees to know that they have helped more than 120,000 people—300 of them Triangle residents—in dire straits turn it around, learn how to live debt free and keep their homes during this recession,” says founder and CEO of CESI Debt Solutions, Dr. Diane Chen.

Dr. Chen, will also announce a special partnership with the City of Durham and local nonprofit homebuilder, Builders of Hope, that is helping dozens Durham residents buy new homes.

She adds, “We’re excited to keep the momentum going and about the community joining us in our housewarming celebration.”

Event Schedule:

5:00—6:00 – Mural Painting and Private Tours6:00 – Speakers: Dr. Diane Chen, Founder and CEO of CESI Debt Solutions; Michelle Grant, City of Raleigh; Juanita Massenburg, City of Durham; Nancy Murray, Founder and CEO of Builders of Hope6:30—7:00—Mural Painting and Private Tours
October 19 is also the organization’s 12-year anniversary.

CESI Debt Solutions provides local and national debt management programs, homebuyer education workshops, revere mortgage counseling, budgeting education, foreclosure prevention and loan modification assistance, credit report review and analysis, and community outreach programs.

For more information on the event, please call 919-459-8158. For more information on CESI Debt Solutions, please visit www.cesidebtsolutions.org.
Source: MyNC

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Steps that make building onto your home simpler and safer

(ARA) – It’s the time of year to finish all the projects around the house that you put off all summer to go to the lake. Regardless if it is finishing a new deck, renovating the kitchen or building a new garage, it needs to be finished before winter hits. You will need to take a few easy steps in order to start – and  finish – the job.

Rules and regulations: Check with your city building inspector to find out whether your project needs a permit within city limits. In most cases, if it is something minor, such as renovating the kitchen or building a deck, you might not need a permit. But if you are putting an addition on the house or adding a new garage, a permit is usually required. In general, the law states that you do not need a permit unless you are changing your old foundation or pouring a new one. So before you start building, make sure you contact city officials to ensure that what you are doing is allowed or that you have a permit for the project. Otherwise you could be in big trouble with the law.

Have a plan: When you start to build, make sure you have a plan and blueprints. Have a checklist of what needs to be done before you start your task. It is an easy reminder and helps you keep track of what you need and what is going on. Blueprints are also needed if you are planning on renovating. The blueprints are your step-by-step guide for building your project. Without good blueprints, the work may not be up to code, could be unsafe or will be a huge hassle to build because everything won’t fit together properly.

Proper equipment: When you are working on a project, you need to make sure that you are using the proper equipment. You can’t use a waffle-headed hammer on trim work and you can’t use pin nails on frame work. You even need the proper equipment for transporting your lumber and ladders home from your local hardware store. For example, you will not be able to fit 16-foot boards into the bed of your pickup. But don’t worry – there are tools for that too.

Access, a division of Agri-Cover, Inc., makes the Adarac truck bed rack system for your pickup for those extra long loads. This truck bed rack has trouble-free stake pocket installation, fits inside the rail tonneau cover and can be easily removed. The Adarac sits neatly behind the cab, and is capable of carrying a 500-pound load with ease. Eyelets secure your load so you don’t lose it while going down the road.

Safety: Safety is key when you are doing any kind of handiwork. Make sure you go through all precautions and safety issues before you start. Even when you are just digging in the ground, make sure you know where your gas lines and any buried electrical wires are located. Always be mindful when other people are around you to ensure that you do not harm anyone. Make sure you know how the tool you are using works and what you need to do to be alert when using that particular tool. Make sure you tie yourself off when you are higher than 6 feet off the ground to prevent a fall.

Enjoy: You will get a great sense of accomplishment when you build something with your own hands. After you are finished with your project, and you know everyone is safe and the project is built to code, sit back and enjoy what you have created.

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MANAGING YOUR MONEY Is It The Right Time To Buy A Home?

(NAPSI)-If you’re thinking about buying a home, now might be the right time. Mortgage rates remain at historically low levels, and housing prices have yet to rebound from their recent declines. As those conditions aren’t expected to last, smart homebuyers need to consider their options, especially if they are making low down payments. There are two main options for first-time buyers and others putting less than 20 percent down: loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and loans insured by private mortgage insurance (PMI). Premiums are tax deductible, and the insurance may be cancelable when equity in the home reaches 20 percent. Both programs have changed in the past year, and more changes may be ahead. While FHA pricing has often been more favorable compared to PMI, rates are going up. Earlier this year, the up-front premium required on FHA loans jumped from 1.75 percent to 2.25 percent of the base loan amount, adding $1,000 to a $200,000 mortgage. Now the FHA wants to raise its maximum mortgage insurance premium, a change that could take the monthly premium on a $200,000 mortgage from $92 to $125. PMI offers many premium plan structures that now make pricing very competitive. In general, PMI pricing is more affordable than FHA’s for borrowers putting down 10?15 percent and can match FHA on loans with 5 percent down. The minimum required FHA down payment is 3.5 percent, but new credit guidelines require a credit score of 580 to qualify for the 3.5 percent program. Borrowers with less than a 580 credit score must put at least 10 percent down. PMI mortgages with 5 percent down are available nationwide, with 3 percent down for some loans that meet Affordable Housing Guidelines. PMI can also offer extra benefits at no extra cost to the borrower. Genworth Financial, for example, purchases job loss protection that helps make a borrower’s mortgage payment (principal, interest, taxes and insurance) in the event of involuntary unemployment up to $2,000 a month for up to six months during the benefit period, with a maximum of three monthly payments per job loss occurrence. Genworth also provides free homeowner assistance to borrowers in financial difficulty as long as they have mortgage insurance with the company. In 2009, it completed nearly 20,000 mortgage workouts, saving over $2.6 billion of mortgages from foreclosure. More information is available at www.SmarterMI.com/MI-vs-FHA.aspx. Understanding your mortgage financing options can save you money and could even save your home.

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Foreclosures Open Up New Market (326) (NewsUSA) – To some, the current real estate market looks dismal. A weak labor market, rising mortgage rates and high energy prices have caused many American homeowners to lose their properties. To others, the real estate markets looks ripe for investment. Deer Park Development Corporation, a company with over 30 years of experience in the real estate market, has developed a new approach for investors hoping to purchase and resell foreclosed properties for profit. Foreclosed houses sell at lower prices, helping investors buy properties with less money upfront. In the past, housing prices reflected overinflation -; as the market evens out, the mortgage crisis might actually help stabilize home prices. Marty O’Malley, CEO of Deer Park Development Corporation, noted that the current real estate market represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the astute buyer. “With one in every 360 homes in foreclosure nationwide, the opportunity to buy distressed property at significant discounts to their original appraisals is extensive,” said O’Malley. “In Clark County, Nev., one in every eighty homes is in foreclosure, and on top of those statistics, one in every two homes is underwater, meaning that it’s not worth the amount of money owed on it.” With this amount of inventory on the market, there are situations out there that present themselves as profitable ventures. Not all of the foreclosures are money-making deals, but with experience, professional investors know when and what to buy, so they can make successful ventures. Being an individual investor in the real estate market can be a dangerous proposition for the inexperienced. But investors, in tying themselves to a group of experienced real estate players, can use experts’ hard-earned knowledge to turn a profit in the down real estate market. “Allowing individual investors to participate in ownership through direct partnership creates a risk-free vehicle for foreclosure players to work with,” said O’Malley, For additional information, visit Deer Park Development Corporation’s Web site at deerparkdevelopmentcorp.com or contact Capital Group Advisors at 954-297-0706.

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Facing Foreclosure? Don’t Lose Hope (334) (NewsUSA) – Homeowners struggling to meet their mortgage payments should not wait until they default on a payment before speaking to their lender. Hope and help are available. Hope Now, a private alliance of mortgage services, non-profit counselors and investors helped 270,000 homeowners keep their homes in April 2009. The organization reaches at-risk borrowers through its Web site, www.hopenow.com and community events, where homeowners can meet their lenders directly, as well as speak to representatives from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Legal Aid. Hope Now also operates a telephone hotline, where homeowners can speak to non-profit counselors, at 1-888-995-HOPE. Before calling their lender, homeowners should compile their financial information. Before restructuring a loan, lenders will want to see hard numbers stating income and expenses. Homeowners also need to be savvy — scammers have found endless ways to profit from the housing crisis. Scammers sift through public foreclosure notices in newspapers or use advertisements to reach desperate homeowners. Then they take mortgage payments, home equity or ownership of the home. To avoid being scammed, Hope Now suggests homeowners be aware of potential “red flags”: * The service guarantees to stop foreclosure, no matter what. * The service collects an upfront fee. * The service tells you not to contact your lender, lawyer or credit or housing counselor. * The service only accepts payment by cashier’s check or wire transfer. * The service encourages you to lease your home so you can buy it back over time. * The service wants to collect your mortgage payments. * The service tells you to transfer your deed or title to it, or offers to buy your home at a fixed price. * The service offers to fill out paperwork for you, or pressures you to sign paperwork that you have not read or do not understand. To find legitimate help, homeowners need to contact their lender directly or call 1-888-995-HOPE to speak with non-profit counselors. To find out about foreclosure prevention options, read “Mortgage Payments Sending You Reeling? Here’s What to Do” at www.ftc.gov.

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