When Malcolm Berman was making a living cleaning homes in New York City, he came home every day with rashes on his hands -- the combined effect of chemical cleaners and wearing rubber gloves.
Berman felt so unhealthy after work that he started to think one of his clients was on to something. "She insisted that we only use products she had on hand, which were nontoxic," Berman recalled. "I felt fine after cleaning her home. Number one rated Chem-Dry located in Phoenix and Scottsdale Arizona. She became the inspiration for my business." That was 10 years ago. These days Berman's company, Green Clean, is a thriving business that caters to people who prefer their homes scoured by all-natural cleaners. And Berman's business is hardly unique. Perry Phillips, the executive director of the Association of Residential Cleaning Professionals, says the concept of green-cleaning is hot, particularly on the West and East coasts. He estimates that about half of all cleaning services on the West Coast feature cleaning with nontoxic products as a main business or as a premium service. On the East Coast, he says, the figure may be close to 40 percent. Meanwhile, eco-cleaning services have been cropping up in many major cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and Dallas. "It's definitely a trend in our industry," Phillips said. "More and more customers want their homes cleaned in a health-conscious way." Scrutinizing Labels Amid this rush to use environmentally friendly cleaners, some are advising buyers beware. Urvashi Rangan, an eco-product watchdog at the independent, nonprofit Consumer Policy Institute, points out that, unlike the organic food industry which has recently been partly regulated, so far the business of eco-cleaners is completely unregulated. "Phrases like biodegradable, nontoxic, hypoallergenic and fragrant free -- all of those things technically don't have to mean anything," she said. "Manufacturers can use these claims and don't have to meet any standard, and they don't have to be verified." Rangan adds that, unlike food companies, cleaning-product companies aren't required to list ingredients in their labeling. She advises that customers select natural cleaning products that voluntarily list all ingredients on their labels -- and choose eco-cleaning services that identify all their cleaning products as all-natural. Seventh Generation and Ecover are a couple of companies Sunrise Chem-Dry that voluntarily list all ingredients on their labels while others, including the brand Simple Green, simply offer a phone number that consumers can call for a complete ingredient list. "If any one thing can start to make these products more accountable it would be to have an ingredient list on the label," Rangan said. Learning exactly what's in a cleaner -- and exactly what cleaners a cleaning service uses -- is important since the "eco" label almost always comes at a premium. Green Premium Green-cleaning services generally cost about $5 to $10 more per hour, according to Phillips. That coincides with the higher price of commercial eco-cleaners. Despite the extra cost, the Nutrition Business Journal estimated the sale of eco-cleaning products jumped from $140 million in 2000 to $290 million in 2004. "It's not that it's never worth the extra money," Rangan said. "But in order for consumers to figure it out, you have to begin with an ingredient list." For some people, there is no question that using all-natural cleaners is worth a premium. One of Berman's customers, Constance Pond, a New York resident and mother of two sons, said at first she hired green cleaners because they were convenient and reliable. Since then, one of her sons has been diagnosed with autism, and now she says she can never revert to using a regular cleaning service. "It is extremely important to me to limit the chemicals in my house, because my son tends to be more sensitive to chemicals," she said. "It's not even a problem to be in the house when they're cleaning because there are no toxic fumes or anything like that." A Little Vinegar Goes a Long Way If people have the time, there are also inexpensive ways to "eco-clean" your own home. Rangan points out that combining basic household items, such as white vinegar, baking soda, olive oil, borax, water and lemon, can work just as well as any premium-priced product. "There's a little bit of science behind it so you're not just using lemon on everything," she said. "But making your own formulations is pretty easy." Below are a few natural cleaning tips from GreenerChoice.org, an independent, nonprofit group that collaborates with the Consumer Policy Institute. A more complete list of cleaning formulations is available here: http://www.eco-labels.org/greenconsumers/products.cfm?product=greencleaning&page=RightChoices Ovens: Mix one cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of washing soda, then add enough water to make a paste; apply the paste to oven surfaces and let soak overnight. The next morning, lift off soda mixture and grime. Tub and tile: Mix 1 2/3 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of liquid soap, and 1/2 of cup water. As the last step, add two tablespoons of vinegar (if you add the vinegar too early it will react with the baking soda.) Immediately apply, wipe and scrub. Toilet bowl: Pour one cup of borax into the toilet before going to bed. In the morning, scrub and flush. For an extra-strength cleaner, add 1/4 cup of vinegar to the borax. Furniture: Mix olive oil and vinegar in a one-to-one ratio and polish with a soft cloth. Windows: Put three tablespoons of vinegar per one quart water in a spray bottle. For extra-dirty windows, try 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap, three tablespoons of vinegar, and two cups of water. Shake well.
0 Comments
When you talk about janitorial services, the most common services expected from them are carpet cleaning, rug cleaning, upholstery care, spot removal including pet stain removal, and even tile grout cleaning. An often overlooked service provided by many janitorial services is water damage cleaning and restoration. What does water damage cleaning and restoration involve? It means cleaning a property that has been subjected to water damage and restoring it to its original condition before the damage was done. This is a serious undertaking with procedural standards of care set by a US certifying body, the Institute for Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), through the S500 water damage guide completed in May 2006. This standard has been accepted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The S500 does not dictate water damage restoration procedures but instead provides the basic principles of proper restoration practices based on research, experience and current practice culled from various sources. These include the scientific community, trade associations serving the disaster restoration industry on the international, national and regional levels, chemical formulators, equipment manufacturers, the insurance industry, cleaning and restoration schools, restoration service companies and allied trades personnel. The guide is being updated as needed. Part of the Chem-Dry Phoenix responsibility of water damage restoration service is to determine loss assessment and evaluation by documenting all items affected by the water damage and determining the proper value lost based on industry standard pricing guides such as The Blue Book. Water damage restoration service also involves inspecting the areas affected using water sensors such as probes and infrared tools to determine the cause of the water damage and the full extent of the affected area. The water that caused the damage is categorized based on the level of contamination present. This is important in determining the necessary level of sanitation needed in the area. Category 1 covers water that comes from clean sources. This includes clean water supply lines, faucets, clean toilet tank or bowls and bottled water. Once these are contaminated by being exposed for a certain period or being in contact with contaminants, however, their category is duly changed. Category 2 covers water that has some level of contamination that may cause discomfort or illness if ingested. This includes washing machine overflow, dishwasher overflow and even toilet overflow with urine but no feces. With the passing of time, even category 2 water could degenerate further to category 3. Category 3 covers water that is completely unsanitary and could cause severe illness or death if ingested. This includes overflow from the flooding of streams and rivers, sewage water, water that comes from beyond the toilet trap, toilet bowl water with feces and standing water with microbial growth. The areas affected by water damage are dried with equipment, sanitized and deodorized. Contents of the area, such as furniture, electronics and books, are evaluated. Those that are unsalvageable are discarded while others are dried, sanitized, deodorized and stored. Of course, all these are included in the documentation process. Drying may take two to three days with air movers, air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, wood floor drying systems and sub floor drying equipment. A reevaluation is then undertaken and the process is continued if necessary or adjusted to the prevailing conditions. If the results of monitoring show, however, that the temperature, humidity, and moisture content in the area are safe according to industry standards, the restoration is deemed complete. Now that you know what water damage cleaning and restoration is, make sure to choose a janitorial service that includes it in its program, along with carpet cleaning, rug cleaning, upholstery care, spot removal, pet stain and tile grout cleaning. By: BusinessLocalListings Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Max Total Care Contact: Victor Zamora 5422 W. Crenshaw St. Tampa Florida 33634 Phone: (813) 228-7688 Bus Fax: (813) 247-1888 Email: [email protected] Website: www.maxtotalcare.com http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Water-Damage-Cleaning-and-Restoration/991246 According to the World Floor Covering Association, wood floors are a long-lasting, wear-resistant alternative to other types of flooring. It is helpful to know the proper way to clean them, whether you are thinking about installing a wood floor or already have them in your home.
Determine the finish Your floor's sealing will govern the most effective way to keep it clean and in good condition. Find a small section of the floor that is not easily visible, perhaps behind a door, so you can run some tests to determine the generic finishing. First, apply a few drops of rubbing alcohol. If the finish starts to soften and becomes sticky, you have a shellac finish. You can also try scratching the floor with a coin. If this causes the finish to flake, the floor is probably shellac or varnish. If the area crumbles instead when you scrape, you have a urethane or polyurethane finish. If you apply a small amount of paint remover to the floor and the finish bubbles, it is probably a urethane finish. In a new spot, apply two drops of water. If white spots appear within 10 minutes, your floor has a wax finish. You can also check for wax finishes by wiping a drop of mineral oil and seeing if the cloth has a yellowish-brown stain. Cleaning According carpet cleaning to the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), polyurethane-finished floors require regular cleaning using a dust mop, broom or vacuum. Do not wax a floor with surface finishing. Michael Martin, CEO of the NWFA, recommends sweeping or vacuuming wood floors at least once a week to remove dust and dirt from the surface. Standing water can cause damage and discoloration to the floors, he says, so you should avoid cleaning them with a wet-mop. "[Instead,] wipe up all spills immediately with a dry or slightly dampened towel," he says. For particularly grimy or dirty spots, use a hardwood floor cleaner that contains alcohol or vinegar, says Eric Hurst, president of Flooring.org -- a nationwide distributor of hardwood floors. "Avoid cleaners that contain oils," he says. "They will basically leave a greasy film over your entire floor that will show every single footstep and smudge, and you'll have a really difficult time getting your floors to look pretty again." Maintaining Prevent scratches by placing soft felt or protector pads under the legs of all furniture. This is especially important when you move heavy pieces of furniture across the floor. Use curtains, blinds or other window treatments to provide shade for your floors and prevent sun damage. Floor mats will catch dirt before it has a chance to make it to your floor, so place them at every entryway. Use rugs to protect places on which water may easily be splashed, like in front of the kitchen or bathroom sink. Make sure the mats and rugs are made for wood floors, as certain types may damage your floor. If cleaning your polyurethane-finished floor does not restore the shine, you may need to re-coat the floor. Severe damage may require that the floors be sanded and refinished. Waxed floors should be buffed to restore their shine. Read: 'World's tallest treehouse' grew from a divine vision Family who stole 45m in a VAT scam jailed for 27 years | Daily Mail Online
Pictured: Joshua Copp, 24, who ran a VAT scam with his uncle and father A family who stole ?45million in a VAT scam and spent the money on race horses and holidays to Las Vegas have been jailed for a total of 27 and a half years, despite a Premier League star giving one of the convicts a character reference. A court heard how the trio, from north west London, enjoyed 'high living on a grand scale' and lived like Kings while employing foreign manual workers on minimum wage to maximise their income. Geoffrey Copp, 56, his brother Andrew, 51, and his son Joshua, 24, pleaded guilty and today they were jailed for a total of 27-and-half-years at Wood Green Court in London. Judge Noel Lucas QC said the family had made the financial burden on the country worse by taking money from the public purse. He said: 'Each Copp frittered away huge sums of money on luxury items and high living. 'Although all spent as much as they could on luxury items they had an aversion to paying any tax. 'They regarded the money as a bonanza and frittered it away as quickly as they could. 'At a time when Britain was made to tighten its belt while financial austerity was imposed, the Copps frittered away the better part of ?44 million. 'This tax money could have gone along way to easing true financial burden on the country.' Their lifestyle was brought to the attention of the authorities when Joshua Copp shared images with an inmate at Chelmsford prison showing off his wealth. Family affair: Josh Copp, 24, and Geoff Copp, 56, ran a business paying migrants minimum wage while they enjoyed the profits by splashing out on luxury cars and holidays Pictured: Geoffrey Copp (right) with Andrew Copp (left) ran their business Central Payroll Specialists, later Quality and Premiere Services, which provided payroll services to recruitment companies and issued invoices to their customers with a 20 per cent VAT applied England star player Jake Livermore wrote a letter to a judge praising Joshua Copp, 24, who he said helped him through the death of his young son who died the day after he played for Hull in the 2014 in the 2014 FA Cup Final. Livermore, now with Premier League West Brom, said Copp helped him set up a charity in his son's name and supported him with frequent phone calls. RELATED ARTICLESPrevious1NextManchester attacker 'detonated rucksack bomb packed with...BREAKING NEWS: BBC radio stars Tony and Julie Wadsworth face... Share this articleShare But the judge appeared to take little notice after sentencing Joshua Copp and his father Geoffrey and uncle Alan to 27 and a half years each for stealing ?45 million from the public purse. Their business Central Payroll Specialists, later Quality and Premiere Services, provided payroll services to recruitment companies and issued invoices to their customers with a 20 per cent VAT applied. They declared sales amounting to just under ?20million when it was more than ?250m and kept the VAT due. Tax records showed Geoffrey and Joshua paid no income tax between 2009 and 2015 and Andrew paid just ?15,930. Joshua gambled more than a million pounds in a single session at a Las Vegas gambling table and had numerous photos of him posing in private jets, casinos and with bundles of cash in briefcases. His ?4million home was referred to as an 'Aladdin's cave' of luxury material goods including Bentleys worth ?300,000 and Rolex and Audemars Piguet watches worth ?50,000. Tax records showed Geoffrey and Joshua paid no income tax between 2009 and 2015 and Andrew paid just ?15,930. Pictured above: Geoffrey Copp's home in Stamore, north west London The thieving family splashed out on a fleet of luxury cars, race horses, trips to Las Vegas and mansions in Britain and around the world On his mobile phone, detectives found a photo of a notepad showing calculations of how the VAT fraud was worked out and then split between him and his father and uncle He was in the process of buying a ?4.25 million property in Barnet north London and among the nine cars registered to him were a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, a Lamborghini Aventador, a Bentley Continental, Rolls Royce Wraith and Rolls Royce Ghost. On his mobile phone, detectives found a photo of a notepad showing calculations of how the VAT fraud was worked out and then split between him and his father and uncle. A statement by midfielder Jake Livermore, read to the court by Christopher Henley QC, said: 'Josh has been very supportive of me and my family during very tough times. He said: 'During the death of my son three years ago he looked after me when I needed the most support. He said: 'We would have frequent phone calls and he took me to the Priory when I was suffering from depression and I considered taking my own life. 'Josh saved me in the darkest hours of mine and my partner's lives. 'He supported me through my mental recovery and helped me set up a charity in my son's name to help young men deal with mental health issues after child death. 'It's difficult to think Josh will not be able to support me and my family. 'I know he wants to start a family and will make a fantastic dad.' Father Geoffrey Copp, who owned four mansions in the UK and one in Malaga, bought valuable race horses and paid more than ?120,000 for training and stabling. Pictured above, his watch collection Tax records showed Geoffrey and Joshua paid no income tax between 2009 and 2015 and Andrew paid just ?15,930 After the jury returned their guilty verdicts on Monday Andrew Copp tried to attack fellow defendant Simon Hathaway, who had earlier been cleared, outside court Geoffrey was banned from running a company for 15 years, Andrew for ten years and Joshua for eight. A confiscation hearing will be held on January 26 next year when fines and compensation may also be ordered by the court Today as Geoffrey Copp was sentenced to ten-and-a-half years, Andrew to nine years and Joshua to eight, members of their family, who had packed or the public gallery, began crying. Judge Lucas added: 'These are serious offences because of the huge amount of public money which has been taken. 'This was an operation that was the brain child of all three Copps, there was nothing that one knew that the others didn't. 'An integral part of the business was the taxation structure and Geoff Copp sought advice from leading QCs and two firms of solicitors about that structure. 'And that structure required charging VAT on pay role he knew to be highly unusual. 'That two accountants didn't know about that to my mind suggests that the plan to defraud was from the outset. 'To my mind he is someone who should not run a company again. 'No honest businessman would have failed to mention the highly unusual taxing structure of the business.' Geoffrey was banned from running a company for 15 years, Andrew for ten years and Joshua for eight. A confiscation hearing will be held on January 26 next year when fines and compensation may also be ordered by the court. After the jury returned their guilty verdicts on Monday Andrew Copp tried to attack fellow defendant Simon Hathaway, who had earlier been cleared, outside court. In 2015 Copp paid more than ?362,000 for a Range Rover Vogue, Lamborghini Gallardo and Bentley Continental. Pictured above, Joshua posing with some of their fleet of cars Geoffrey Copp, 56, his brother Andrew, 51, and his son Joshua, 24, were jailed for a total of 27-and-half-years at a court Geoffrey Copp, wearing a dark blue jumper, sat next to his brother, Andrew, who wore a green t-shirt and his son, Joshua who wore a white T-shirt and wiped away tears during the proceedings. The court heard Geoffrey Copp, 56, was disqualified from acting as a company director months before he started the payroll business in 2011. He was convicted of acting as as a company director while a discharged bankrupt in September 2006 and banned from acting as a company director for five years, as well as beig convicted of handling stolen goods and making off without payment in 2007. Geoffrey Copp was sentenced to ten-and-a-half years, Andrew to nine years and Joshua to eight, members of their family, who had packed or the public gallery, began crying. Judge Lucas added: 'These are serious offences because of the huge amount of public money which has been taken. 'This was an operation that was the brain child of all three Copps, there was nothing that one knew that the others didn't. 'An integral part of the business was the taxation structure and Geoff Copp sought advice from leading QCs and two firms of solicitors about that structure. 'And that structure required charging VAT on pay role he knew to be highly unusual. 'That two accountants didn't know about that to my mind suggests that the plan to defraud was from the outset. 'To my mind he is someone who should not run a company again. 'No honest businessman would have failed to mention the highly unusual taxing structure of the business.' Geoffrey was banned from running a company for 15 years, Andrew for ten years and Joshua for eight. A confiscation hearing will be held on January 26 next year when fines and compensation may also be ordered by the court. viewazhomes payroll business in 2011 "> The court heard Geoffrey Copp, 56, was disqualified from acting as a company director months before he started the payroll business in 2011 When police raided his home in Stanmore, north London they found ?55,000 cash hidden in various places including inside a Bentley GTC Convertible on the driveway. Warwick Tadford QC said: 'The fraud involved a blatant abuse of position as a company director so it is perhaps significant that he had previous actions in the business world which perhaps ties into these proceedings. 'This was a blatant and brazen fraud, not a particularly sophisticated one, but the lack of complexity is no mitigation, this was a blatant attempt to steal public money.' Andrew Copp, 51, has previous convictions for criminal damage, making off without payment, handling stolen goods and possession of cocaine, where as Joshua Copp has no previous convictions. Charles Bott representing Geoffrey Copp, 56, said: 'It's easy to say when you have enjoyed the high life, as the Copps have, to throw a pound in the poor box, but he has given ?35,000 a year to GOSH and a hospital ward in Glasgow was opened in his name in 2015. 'He knows his family will go from the easy luxury of a few years back to real austerity.' Judge Noel Lucas QC indicated Geoffrey Copp would be banned from running a company for 15 years, Andrew for ten years and Joshua for eight years. Previously a court heard how the family enjoyed 'high living on a grand scale' and lived like Kings while employing foreign manual workers on minimum wage to maximise their income. Father Geoffrey Copp, who owned four mansions in the UK and one in Malaga, bought valuable race horses and paid more than ?120,000 for training and stabling. He is also said to have spent nearly ?300,000 on private flights to Malaga and elsewhere between July 2014 and January 2015. When police raided his home in Stanmore, north London they found ?55,000 cash hidden in various places including inside a Bentley GTC Convertible on the driveway. He had bought three Bentley Continentals in cash between 2013 and 2015. His brother Andrew Copp owned eight homes, six mortgage-free including one in Malaga. In 2015 he paid more than ?362,000 for a Range Rover Vogue, Lamborghini Gallardo and Bentley Continental. Several Rolex watches, works of art, a Lamborghini, Bentley and Range Rover were found at his home in Hemel Hempstead. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4589048/Family-stole-45m-VAT-scam-jailed-27-years.html AVONDALE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2006--Adult 55+ homebuyers know what they want and it is lifestyle according to a recent survey conducted by Cannon Custom Homes of Glen Riddle, PA.
Cannon conducted the survey using its current homeowners and asked over 30 questions ranging from what they looked for in an active-adult community to their interest in purchasing extended warranties for home maintenance. With an overwhelming response rate of 50%, Cannon Homes found that lifestyle, extra-curricular activities and fitness where paramount among those buying at Traditions at Inniscrone in Chester County, PA. The Inniscrone golf course setting, privacy, spacious homes on generous lots, low maintenance, walking trails, a clubhouse and plentiful area restaurants were some of the other hot buttons that sold buyers on Traditions at Inniscrone, reports Preston Moritz, director of sales and marketing for http://www.viewazhomes.com Cannon Custom Homes. Buyers also noted they liked the convenient location to family and friends who reside in Delaware County and the nearby Wilmington, Delaware area. Located in the historic Brandywine Valley, the single family homes at Traditions at Inniscrone are set on spacious lots buffered by open space and overlooks the rolling fairways of the Inniscrone Golf Club. Beyond this tranquil setting are abundant restaurants, wineries, museums and cultural attractions, and an array of other entertainment. "Forewinds Hospitality, owner of Hartefeld National Golf Club, a mere 10 minutes from Inniscrone, has recently acquired Inniscrone Golf Club," Moritz said. "Our homeowners love playing Inniscrone, since it provides a fair, challenging and fun course. Associate memberships are available at Inniscrone and we are working with the club to offer memberships for our homeowners. It is a great amenity. For the avid golfer, Premier Memberships, at the private Hartefeld National offers privileges at both Inniscrone and Hartefeld National." In addition to the golf course setting, Cannon has built a $1.5 million community clubhouse. Priced from $300,000 and up, the Energy Star certified community of single family homes offers spacious lots and five flexible home plans with the spacious master suite and bath on the first floor. All feature basements, two-car garages and gas heat. A Homeowners Association handles mowing and exterior maintenance. Call 610-268-1442 or visit www.cannonhomes.com. Brendan Boroski Advertising Susan Montalbano, 215-345-4190 Donna Johnson, 610-268-1442 http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20060317005305/en/55-Buyers-Amenities--Cannon-Custom-Homes-Surveyed-Homeowners Where have you heard of the word glycerine from a song by Bush of the same title or from your chemistry class? Or the term seems familiar but you just cannot pinpoint how or where you have heard of the word? It may be one of those words that we do not understand yet we do not mind looking it up in the dictionary. Now let us see why this pleasant-sounding and sweet-tasting chemical substance is worthy of public recognition.
Imagine you have eczema or just dry skin. So you constantly use moisturizing soaps and apply moisturizing lotions. Find time to check the ingredients usually written at the back of these products' container. More often than not, you will find glycerine or glycerin there. The reason for this is that the substance is a humectant or it attracts moisture to the skin. So unless you just don't really care about skin care, then the chemical substance does matter. Now if you want your soap to have an extra moisturizing effect then you can make your own soap. You will only need blocks of a pure glycerine soap base and a microwave. You will also need molds, which may come in various shapes, depending on your preference. Another reason why the substance does matter is that it is used in making mouthwashes, unless you do not care about fresh breath. In fact, when the substance is gargled, it can eliminate halitosis or bad breath as it would kill the sulfurous bacteria that live in carpet cleaning the mouth. It is also found in toothpaste where it acts as a sweetening agent as well as to keep the paste from drying when its container is left uncapped. Now that cosmetics and toiletries are being mentioned, other products where it is found include lipstick, mascara, pre-shaving creams, and deodorants. It also does matter if you are a cleanliness buff. See those sticky food spilled on your freezer? You can remove them by wiping them off with a rag dabbed with glycerine. You can also use it to remove tar or mustard stain. All you have to do is apply some amount of the substance on the spot and leave it for about an hour. Using paper towels mildly remove the spot and do this using a blot-and-lift motion. Further industries where the chemical substance does matter include: o tobacco industry where it is used as a moistening agent in tobacco products; it is also used to make cigarette filter tips and to add flavor to the chewing tobacco o paper industry where it prevents paper from shrinking while being manufactured o textile industry where it is used to lubricate various kinds of fiber o pharmaceutical industries where it is used to produce drugs like anesthetics, suppositories, cough remedies, ear infection remedies, and capsules. Here are more reasons why it does matter: o it can be composted and used as a fertilizer o it moistens candies, cakes, and other baked goods o it is a component of nitroglycerine, which is used in making dynamite o it is used as a plasticizer in cellophane o it can be used to preserve scientific experiments With all the uses of glycerine mentioned and discussed, you still. We are the leaders in upholstery cleaning serving the Arizona metro area. Safe and easy for your home or business.get to decide if it does matter or not. But whatever your take is, the fact still remains that it does matter to not one but many industries that manufacture products we use every day. It is not just a title of a song or a word entry in the dictionary. It is one chemical substance that hides in the soaps that we use every day and in the baked goodies that we just love to eat. Selling a house? What single word in your ad can add thousands of dollars to the selling price? Do you know which words work best? Do you know that some commonly used real estate ad words can backfire and harm your sale opportunities?
There are a lot of standard phrases used in real estate ads. Just because you see a phrase used a lot doesn't make it a winner. Some of those common phrases, like "motivated seller" can work against you! Are you a FSBO? That translates to "For http://www.viewazhomes.com/ Sale By Owner", pronounced "fizz-bo". Do you use a real estate agent? Either way, you need to pay attention to how your home is marketed. The words chosen for your ad and flyer's can lure in prospects or can turn them off! A real estate agent's experience can be valuable in marketing your house. But how about adding a little scientific research? Paul Anglin, a professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario Canada is also a real estate economist. Professor Anglin led a study in two counties in Ontario to study the effect of real estate ad phrasing on sales price and time on market. The results showed that some common words had a demonstrably positive effect on selling price, and shortening the time to sell. The surprise, to me, was that some commonly used words can get in the way and cost you money! What's the magic word? One of the words that can put more money in your pocket is "beautiful". The study showed that using the word beautiful scored an additional 5% in the resulting sales price. That works out to $15,000 on a $300,000 house. I don't know about you, but my house is beautiful! What are some of the other words that scored positively and negatively in the study? ___________________Words that sell____________________ Some words strike a positive note with today's buyer. Here are some words that have shown a positive effect: Curb appeal Move-in condition Landscaping Granite Gourmet Golf must see __________________Words that can fail__________________ Some good sounding words can double-cross you! Here are some commonly used ad words and how they can be misinterpreted: Motivated seller - loosely translated as "I'll take less money so low ball your bid" Good Value - loosely translated as "It may not be much, but it's a bargain." As-is - loosely translated as "It's a mess and we can't do anything with it, are you dumb enough to try?" Other words and phrases that can work against you: must sell good value starter home vacant handyman special motivated __________________A note of caution___________________ It should go with out saying that the words you use must be honest choices. If it's a dump, then the word "beautiful" will get a snicker, not a sale. If you use "curb appeal" then the house better look good as the prospect drives up and gets their second impression. You ad is their first impression; and it should be as good as you can make it! Acknowledgements Professor Anglin's study was covered in a news release that found it's way into several major newspaper articles. I saw the study result first in an article written by Ann Brenoff in the LA Times and reprinted in the Arizona Republic. Other interesting articles on real estate sales https://hubpages.com/living/Real_Estate_Ads By David Randall
| NEW YORK NEW YORK Even with a good salary as a data scientist at a San Francisco technology firm, Yang Guo, 30, knew he couldn't afford a home in the Bay Area, among the priciest U.S. markets. He still wanted to own property in addition to stocks, however, and soon found a way to buy cheap rental houses in faraway cities - and to outsource the associated hassles to HomeUnion, a three-year-old startup in Irvine, California. The firm is among a small crop of new companies, including competitors Investability and Roofstock, that offer ways to buy, renovate and manage properties in markets that command relatively strong rents compared to their low home prices. The risks remain the same as any landlord faces, from vacancies to broken appliances to the potential for a rent- or home-price downturn. And using such services places a lot of faith in young companies with short track records. But the firms, launched after the housing crisis, say they can take much of the worry and work out of owning out-of-state rentals, for fees that typically run from 7 percent to 10 percent for property management and 3 percent for acquisition. Their clients usually buy one or two homes to supplement their incomes and investment portfolios. The companies are pulling in money from clients in costly coastal markets that is boosting demand and home prices in the lower-cost cities they target. "In the last 12 months, I've seen more cash buyers from California than I've ever seen in my career, and I've been doing this for 25 years," said Anne Callahan, a real estate agent in Cleveland, Ohio, where the average rent for a single-family home is up 4.2 percent over the last year, according to Zillow Research. Earlier this year, Guo bought and fixed up a small home in the suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama that he found through HomeUnion. He purchased another home in the suburbs of Columbia, South Carolina - spending about $60,000 on the pair. Now, from his apartment in San Francisco's trendy South of Market neighborhood, Guo collects monthly checks from tenants he has never met in properties that he has never seen, all located more than 2,000 miles away. "There's too much risk with buying property in the Bay Area," Guo said. "As long as the cash flow is coming and hitting my bank account, I basically don't care about seeing them in person." Buyers like Guo are attracted to less glamorous regions where home prices and rents have risen at modest rates in the housing recovery. They're eyeing steady income rather than rapid home-price appreciation. In suburban Atlanta, the average landlord of a single-family home reaps a 25.8 percent gross annual yield, a measure of annual rent divided by median sales price, not including other potential costs, according to real estate data firm RealtyTrac. That compares with just a 3.4 percent yield in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the median home price was $675,000 in August, according to data provider CoreLogic. "It's all people from the coasts coming to us and saying, 'We want to find a way to buy properties out of state,'" said Don Ganguly, the chief executive of HomeUnion. LEARNING TO BE A LANDLORD Most homes purchased through the firms go for between $50,000 and $150,000, the companies said, or about typical for first-time home buyers in the same markets. Florida has long been the most popular state for out-of-state investors, in large part because of its beaches, but lower-priced states such as Georgia, Tennessee, and Ohio are emerging as destinations for buyers from beyond their borders, according to RealtyTrac. For a graphic showing top markets for out-of-state landlords, see: tmsnrt.rs/2dvEq7l While these investors have identified a real opportunity, their inexperience and lack of local market knowledge can lead to some mistakes, real estate agents said. "You see these people coming from California and what I like to call 'yuppie-ing up a place,' but they don't realize it's not in the best area because they didn't do their homework," said Tony Kazanas, a real estate agent in Cleveland. Guo, the San Francisco investor, had no experience as a landlord and is already realizing that it is not as simple as he imagined. His property near Birmingham - in a metro area whose 14.4 percent vacancy doubles the 6.9 percent average nationwide - sat empty for a few months before he landed a tenant. The high cost of property insurance, meanwhile, is making him wary of buying in areas susceptible to hurricanes and other natural disasters. There are signs, too, that the rental industry is cooling off. After the housing crash, hedge funds raced into beaten down markets including Las Vegas and Los Angeles, buying up large blocs of single family homes to rent out. But some institutional investors are now eyeing an exit strategy. Blackstone Group LP's Invitation Homes announced in July that it expects to sell about 5 percent of its about 50,000 homes to current renters. In addition, while U.S. rents have risen by an average of 4.1 percent since 2010, average rents in New York, San Francisco and San Jose fell in the third quarter for the first time during that period. The decrease in expensive markets could presage broader weakness rent prices nationally. BUYING WITH RETIREMENT FUNDS Many investors still see a long-term play. They are turning to self-directed individual retirement accounts, which allow investors to buy property and let their rental income build tax-free as long the home is kept for investment, not personal use. Some buyers use their IRAs to pay cash for rental properties, but others get mortgages from niche lenders that offer them on properties held in retirement accounts. "Self-directed IRAs are becoming a more critical piece of property sales as an investment," said Dennis Cisterna, chief revenue officer at Investability. Major asset management firms like Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade do not allow account holders to buy property directly using their IRAs. Smaller firms such as Oakland-based The Entrust Group, which manages about $2.2 billion in assets, say that about a third of clients use their self-directed IRAs to buy real estate, with Kentucky, Alabama, and Arizona among the most popular markets for California-based clients. Guo, the San Francisco investor, used cash savings and took out a mortgage on each property. The monthly notes for both houses total less than what he pays in rent in San Francisco, he said. He takes some of out every paycheck and earmarks http://viewazhomes.com/ it for real estate, hoping to build a portfolio of at least 10 rental properties for less than what it would cost to buy a single home in the Bay Area. "There's nothing like the competition that you see in San Francisco," he said. (Reporting by David Randall; Edited by Dan Burns and Brian Thevenot) http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-housing-investors-idUSKCN1271FL?virtualBrandChannel=11563 4 Ways to Get Hair Dye Stains Out of Carpets
Accidentally slopped hair dye on your carpet? Use liquid dishwashing detergent with white vinegar to cleanse the stains. Buzzle further suggests some easy home remedies to get hair dye out of your carpet. Cleaning Wool Rugs Cleaning wool rugs is a big challenge as you want to ensure that you do not end up damaging its natural fibers. Read this article to learn the best way to clean them. Rug Cleaning Tips It may seem like a huge task to clean a rug, but it really isn't all that bad. With our help, you'll be able to clean your rug without ever having to worry about how to do it again whenever required. Best Carpet Cleaning Methods Choosing the best method to clean your carpet is difficult, as it will vary for different types of carpets. Wondering how to clean carpets? Read on... How to Clean Wool Carpets Wool carpets are popular for their rich texture and durability. Like any other Sunrisechemdry carpet, a wool carpet also needs regular cleaning, but with some extra care. Here are some tips for the same. Reviews on Commercial Carpet Cleaning Machines If your standard vacuum cleaner is not doing a good job, then you may give a thought on investing on a commercial carpet cleaning machine. And to help you get the best deal on the market, here are some quick reviews. How to Use a Carpet Cleaning Machine You'll find some very simple instructions on using a carpet cleaning machine in this article that will put an end to your carpet cleaning woes. Carpet Paint Remover During a DIY project, you have managed to spill paint on your carpet and now you need to dispel the stain. How do you do that? We give you some easy removal options that you can use to clean your carpets. How to Remove Chewing Gum from the Carpet Many people find it very complicated to remove chewing gum stuck on carpet and clothes. If you are concerned with the same cleaning issue, this article on how to remove chewing gum from carpet will interest you. Carpet Steam Cleaner Reviews Planning to buy a carpet steamer? Well, before you step into stores, read on the carpet steam cleaner reviews mentioned below and get to know about the top rated products in the category. Best Carpet Shampooers Using a shampooer will help you get rid of the stains on the carpet with ease. This Buzzle article reviews the best one for you. Best Carpet Cleaner for Pet Stains Choosing the best carpet cleaner for pet stains depends upon the intensity of damage that your furry companion has done to your carpet. Read the article and find out the different measures for cleaning pet stains. How to Get Stains Out of a Carpet Wondering how to get those stubborn ink or coffee stains off your carpet? Find some home remedies that really work, in the following article. Carpet Shampoo Carpet shampoos available in the market guarantee retention of quality, while the cleansing action is on. However, choosing a particular brand becomes tough. Keeping that in mind, this Buzzle article provides you with tips on how... Carpet Dry Cleaning vs Steam Cleaning Which method is better for cleaning the carpet, dry cleaning or steam cleaning? As both the methods have their own benefits and drawbacks, people are usually confused about the usage of carpet cleaners. Read this article and get... Carpet Dry Cleaning Process The process of dry cleaning a carpet is not as difficult as it seems. A carpet which is not heavily soiled can be easily cleaned at home. This section gives some simple tips to dry clean a carpet at home. Carpet Ink Stain Removal If you are looking for carpet ink stain removal ideas, then you are on the right page. In this article we are going to discuss how to remove ink stains from the carpets. Berber Carpet Cleaning Tips Berber carpet cleaning is not that difficult, provided you are aware of the correct techniques to be used. This article will give you the right guidance tips regarding the same. Killing Fleas in Carpet Fleas in carpet can be killed by vacuuming, steam cleaning, sprinkling salt, and using borax powder. These home remedies are safe and pose no health risks for you. Removing Urine Smell from Carpet Removing urine smell from carpet is imperative to avoid its repeated soiling by your pet. Read on to know effective ways to do the same. How to Remove Dog Urine From Carpet Have you ever had your dog pee all over your carpet? Then you'll need to know how to remove the smell and the spot. Go through the following methods mentioned here, and then apply them to get that carpet looking and smelling fresh. How to Get Candle Wax Out of Carpet Getting wax out of anything can be difficult. It's worse with wax on carpets, since the wax dries on the fabric. However, with the proper method, it can come out. This article takes you through the steps of removing candle wax from... How to Remove Odor from Carpet Carpets can smell bad due to dust, poor ventilation, pet urine, mold, etc. This write-up provides instructions on removing odor from carpets or rugs. Carpet Cleaning Tips Follow these carpet cleaning tips to keep your carpet looking fresh and as good as new! How to Get Paint Out of Carpet Has paint spilled accidentally on your expensive carpet, making you feel miserable? Stop worrying and read the following article, which provides a step wise guide for getting paint out of carpet. How to Remove Cat Urine Stains and Odor from Carpet Enzyme and bacteria-based cleaners are the answer to removing cat urine stains from carpet. Some homemade cleaners can also be made that have excellent results in removing its smell. Read the following article that provides some... How to Get Rid of Carpet Stains Different carpet cleaning options are present for different kinds of stains. Depending on the type of stain, the solution used to clean it will vary. Let's take a look at the different kinds of stains, and the different ways to get... Starting a Carpet Cleaning Business Carpets are an integral part of home furnishings. Many homes in America have carpets covering their floors. However, they can get dirty and really messy. This has led to the mushrooming of many carpet cleaning businesses. This... Carpet Cleaning Business Plan Carpet cleaning business plan is simply a documented vision of the future of your company. It defines the journey and the complete process of your business. How to Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet A spot of nail color on your beautiful carpet is really an ugly sight. In this article, we have addressed the issue of how to get nail polish out of carpet. Read on to know more. How to Remove Pet Odor from Carpet Although cuddly and sweet, pets are often a pestilence in sanitation, even the trained ones. There are some ways to keep loving your pet without having to assault everyone's nose with the smell that it carries into the house and on... How to Remove Pet Stains from Carpet Pet stains can ruin your expensive carpets and removing them once they have set in, can be very difficult. To add to it, if the stains are not effectively removed, it can have a nasty smelling odor. If you are facing a similar... Tips for Removing Carpet Stains Stain removal can be a tedious job but there are some easy strategies that will help you get rid of the toughest spots. This article lists some effective solutions for a variety of carpet stains, including water-based and oil-based... How to Remove Paint from Carpet Your painting project need not end prematurely just because you spilled a drop of paint on your new carpet. There are several ways to get rid of that nasty stain and salvage your carpet from permanent damage. Homemade Carpet Cleaners Cleaning carpets is not a very difficult task, and you can use some simple household products for this purpose, instead of using the commercial cleaners. Find out some simple recipes for making homemade carpet cleaners, by going... Commercial Carpet Cleaning Machines Proper commercial carpet cleaning equipment is essential for effective stain removal. The following Buzzle discusses different types of machines used for cleaning carpets. How to Clean a Berber Carpet Berber carpets are a bit difficult to clean and maintain, but are still preferred by many for their elegant and rugged look. However, it is possible to maintain these carpets by following some simple cleaning procedures, which are... How to Steam Clean Carpets Vacuum cleaners, while effective, do not remove oily and muddy stains from carpets. The answer to removing these tough stains and smears is 'steam cleaning'. Steam carpet cleaners use pressure and temperature technology to suck all... Finding a Commercial Carpet Cleaning Service It is quite a task to lift that heavy carpet off the floor and clean it or dust it. The best solution in such a case is to hire the services of experts in this field. But, not everyone who claim to be experts, are experts. This... Eric Trump denies report that Russia funded dad's golf courses | New York Post
Eric Trump on Sunday condemned a report that claimed his father got funding for his golf courses from the Russians. "It's a recollection from some guy three years ago through a third person," the president's son told The Post, in reference to an interview that golf writer James Dodson gave to the Boston public radio station, WBUR-FM, about the alleged backing from Moscow. Excerpts from the sit-down, which aired Friday, were featured in a story on the station's website. "We own our courses free and clear," Eric said, insisting that the report was "categorically untrue" and "complete garbage." "We have zero ties to Russian investors," he added. Dodson claimed in Friday's interview that Eric admitted to http://www.fpsaz.com/blog/arizona-is-the-worst-state-for-allergies/ being in bed with the Russians while hitting the links with he and his father at the Trump National Golf Club in Charlotte, N.C., in 2014. "Well, we don't rely on American banks," the author recalled Eric saying, after asking how they found the money to keep developing golf courses during the Recession. "We chem dry have all the funding we need out of Russia," he added, according to Dodson. President Trump has been shooting down accusations for months that he and members of his administration are in someway connected to the Russians. Countless people have asked him to release his tax returns to prove that he has no financial ties to Moscow, though he has repeatedly refused -- claiming they are under audit by the IRS. Share this:FacebookTwitterGoogleLinkedInWhatsAppEmailCopy |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |