Buying a Home - What is a Home Inspection?
Any Sally and Sam Homebuyer can look at a home and decide whether it is attractive. They might notice it is freshly painted in pleasing colors, has the requisite number of rooms, a cook's kitchen and is located in a location with top schools. But what about less obvious parts of the house?It takes special expertise to determine if the functional parts of a home are in good shape. If you attend an open house, how do you determine if there are plumbing problems, electrical problems, structural problems, drainage problems, the condition of heating and air conditioning equipment and the condition of literally hundreds of other items that could cause concern? Enter the home inspector.
A home inspector is trained to be a detective in regard to the construction and working parts of homes.
It is not an exact science.
The home inspector cannot tear into things, so they can't always see everything they'd like to. They do, however, come equipped with ladders, strong flashlights, and devices to measure various things related to plumbing, electrical and other necessary home items.
Importantly, a home inspector will also typically bring a digital camera to photograph problems such as roof shingles not lying flat, signs of mildew from leaking pipes and construction that doesn't comply with building codes. They don't miss much.It's a good idea for the buyer to be present during the home inspection.
If you ask them to, home inspectors will usually explain how things work to you. This is important as they can show you where cut off valves are, how to remove filters for cleaning or replacement and tell you how often various maintenance chores need to be done. This information can be very valuable if you ultimately purchase the property.It's also a good idea to ask the home inspector if there are any particular tests they would perform if they were buying the home.
For example, radon gas (a colorless, odorless gas which is a carcinogen) can be a problem in some parts of the country. It can be detected, measured, and, if levels are above EPA standards, there are procedures to deal with it successfully.
A home inspector can help identify such issues for you.It's easy to see that a home inspection can provide a wealth of valuable information. While it is easy to fall in love with a listed home, a home inspector can be the key to avoiding disastrous discoveries down the line..
Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org - an online site providing national exposure for sellers listing properties and a database of properties for buyers.Annuity Buyers Find Timing is Right on Fixed Annuities Treasury Bond Rate Reaches Six Month High
Medford, OR (ContentDesk) November 3, 2005 -- For the first time since March 2005, the 10 year Treasury bond rate is over 4.5%, and as a leading indicator for fixed annuity rates, is pointing investors back to this fundamental, principal protected investment vehicle. The wide variety of guaranteed, rate-protected annuities that are now available to investors, free of charges and fees, let individuals take charge of their retirement funds, says Ken Nuss, CEO of AnnuityAdvantage.com the Internets best known annuity research and sales site.
According to Nuss, Fixed annuities are an ideal way to keep retirement funds growing and working, while leaving the high fees, and market uncertainty behind.
One way former stock market investors are protecting their retirement funds is to create a modified annuity ladder, with guaranteed principal, increased liquidity, and interest-rate protection. A modified annuity ladder works like this:
Investors buy a ten year...
Ladders > Annuity Buyers Find Timing is Right on Fixed Annuities Treasury Bond Rate Reaches Six Month High
5 Ways To Protect Your Bond Portfolio From Rising Interest Rates
The Federal Reserve recently raised its target federal funds rate for the first time since March 2000.
This could be just the tip of the iceberg, though, as many experts believe rising inflation and a strengthening economy will spur continued rate hikes for the foreseeable future.
This is bad news for bond investors, since bonds lose value as interest rates rise.
The reason stems from the fact coupon rates for most bonds are fixed when the bonds are issued.
So, as rates rise and new bonds with higher coupon rates become available, investors are willing to pay less for existing bonds with lower coupon rates.
So what can you do to protect your fixed-income investments as rates rise?
Well, here are five ideas to help you, and your portfolio, weather the storm.Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS)First issued by the U.S. Treasury in 1997, TIPS are bonds with a portion of their value pegged to the inflation rate.
...
Ladders > 5 Ways To Protect Your Bond Portfolio From Rising Interest Rates
Solving the Nursing Shortage
By Que Schafer
For years, hospitals all over the United States have experienced a shortage in nurses, nurse administrators, nurse managers and nurse practitioners.
Unfortunately, the shortage doesn't appear to be getting any better.
According to a report by the Health Resources and Services Administration, 30 states currently have shortages of registered nurses (RNs).
The shortage is expected to intensify over the next two decades, with 44 states expected to have RN shortages by the year 2020.
Furthermore, the demand for nurses in 2012 is expected to be 2.9 million, up from the 2.3 million that were needed in 2003.
There has never been a more appropriate time to pursue a career in nursing in the United States.
The total job openings, including new jobs and replacing nurses who no longer are practicing, will be more than 1.1 million from 2002 to 2012.
The main reasons...
Ladders > Solving the Nursing Shortage
Amazing New Digital Measuring System Saves Sign Shops Time, Effort And Money
La Mesa, CA (ContentDesk) June 16, 2006 -- Commercial sign shop owners, operators, and graphic designers now have an innovative new tool to save time , effort and reduce costs when measuring projects.
Thanks to the Amazing Sticky Yard" Digital Measuring System, sign makers can take measurements of any size object quickly and easily using a digital photo, their computer and the Amazing Sticky Yard software.
With the Sticky Yard www.stickyyard.com
as a reference, measurements can be taken as often as neededwith just a few clicks of a mouse.
The Amazing Sticky Yard Digital Measuring System saves valuable time during the estimating phase of a new sign project.
Sticky Yard eliminates the need for ladders, clumsy measuring tapes that do not stay in place, and repeat measuring trips.
Graphic designers and sign makers can even forget about spending time sketching...
Amazing New Digital Measuring System Saves Sign Shops Time, Effort And Money
Ladders > Amazing New Digital Measuring System Saves Sign Shops Time, Effort And Money
Quality Time?
From the book Spider's Big CatchGary Andersonwww.abciowa.comThere's a phrase that's become popular over the past few years that fills me with wonder. That phrase is "quality time." We've all heard it, and we all seem to accept it as a real concept. But to the average country person, that phrase is difficult to comprehend.Here's what I mean. Last summer, my 10-year-old son Cody and I spent an entire day walking the fields, checking fences. When we saw a post that needed straightening or a strand of wire that needed to be tightened, we set right to work.
Sweat poured across our faces, our shirts grew soaked from the hard work we were engaged in. But as we strained against the task at hand, we talked about his little league baseball team and how he could improve his hitting to the opposite field. Then, as we walked a little farther down the fence line, we laughed till we cried when a covey of quail nearly gave us a heart attack as they...
Quality Time?
Ladders > Quality Time?
With Pretendables Young Careerseekers Research And Role-play A Range of Dream Professions
The Professional SeriesVictor & Vikki: VeterinarianLet Victor and Vikki Veterinarian take your pooch's pulse or check Miss Kitty's blood pressure.
Acting as kindhearted vets, kids don lab jackets and sling stethoscopes around their necks while playing along with an interactive CD-ROM featuring veterinarians Victor and Vikki.
The two tend to their feathered and four-legged patients in their very own hospital and along the way take care of Mister Bulldog, Miss Turtle, Miss Python, and even scary Mister Lion. Through Victor and Vikki, children learn about a variety of fascinating animals, medical tools, and the various responsibilities of a real veterinarian.Peter & Peggie: PilotWith Pretendables, children can opt for a more "lofty" experience: flying a Boeing Jet. With a pilot's shirt, toy headset and airplane, youngsters can play along with Peter & Peggie Pilot.
Through the interactive CD-ROM, children will attend flight school to learn to become pilots.
Ladders > With Pretendables Young Careerseekers Research And Role-play A Range of Dream Professions
Library Ladders
Libraries contain huge stock of books, periodicals and information that needs to be accessed by a great number of its members. To be able to reach items efficiently, a library ladder is a must. Library ladder help retrieve books, periodicals and magazines that would otherwise be out of reach.
Traditionally, library ladders were straight, portable ladders that could be kept and moved anywhere. Simple hook ladders were also an option for better grip.
Even stepladders were common in libraries. But nowadays, special rolling track library ladders are available. Rolling track library ladders have a steel rod installed above the library racks. The grab bars at the top of the rung are inserted into steel rods. Thus, the ladder moves along the rod and the shelves without toppling over.
At the bottom of the ladder, wheels are fixed to move the ladder from one place to another smoothly. Double track rolling library ladders are available for very narrow aisles. They have...
Library Ladders
Ladders > Library Ladders
Ladders
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