houseIncreasing the resale value of a home is typically a house flippers first priority. Typically when somebody who intends on flipping a house buys a run down place there are a number of things they update immediately.  These items include fresh paint, new tiles, new cabinetry, updated bathrooms and last but definitely not least, new flooring. By simply replacing old run down carpet or beat up laminate floors with some exotic hardwood floors, one can dramatically increase the resale value of their project. If you are planning on updating your house project on credit, make sure you account some extra money for some truly stunning hardwood flooring.
Hardwood floors are beautiful and many people are content with traditional oak or mahogany floors as these are not as expensive of other, more exotic wood types. However, many people are not aware of the variety of exotic woods available for their floors because they tend to be harder to find.

Many of these special woods are imported from South America, Australia, the Far East and Africa and come in a wide range of grains, colors and sizes. From very dark woods, to deep reds and lighter colors, there is something available for anyone. If you would like a custom, different and exotic hardwood floor then choosing a different type of wood is your best option.

However, before you make your choice it is vital that you are aware of the various types of woods available and their traits and suitability for different types of hardwood floors, as they have different manufacturing standards and some may not be the best option for your particular case.

Brazillian Cherry Hardwood Floors

Brazilian Cherry(Jatoba) an exotic wood floor species

Brazilian cherry wood is tan with black striping when it is first milled and then turns into a deep red in time. It is one of the most popular species for hardwood floors due to its natural beauty and excellent hardness. This type of wood can range from yellowish shades to pink to deep red with a dark striping.

Cocobolo Hardwood Floors

Cocobolo Wood Flooring

Thies wood is also known as Nicaragua Rosewood or Palo Negro and originates from Panama and southwestern Mexico. Cocobolo is a very hard and heavy wood that is very durable, stable and is highly resistant to problems that usually affect hardwood floors such as decay and insects. This is a wood that has a high degree of natural oils which give it a beautiful polish but make it inappropriate for gluing. It has a deep and rich orangey red color once aged with black striping and mottling.

Peroba Hardwood Floors

Peroba Wood Flooring Sample

The Peroba species originates from coastal Brazil and features a light olive color with a red tint that makes it almost golden. It has an interlocked grain and has a fine texture with a lustrous finish. This species lends itself to creating lovely, warm and charming hardwood floors and its light yet deep color makes it a perfect complement to any style from modern to traditional.

Purpleheart Hardwood Floors

Purpleheart

This wood is one of the most unique woods in the world which is really purple and quite a deep purple as well, which is an ideal option for those who truly wish to have completely different hardwood floors in their home.

African Padauk Hardwood Floors

Padauk, African

The African Padauk species is a medium to hard wood that offers a vivid orange to deep red color with darker striping and when aged it becomes an ever deeper red, close to black. It creates a stunning effect in any home, and used in a combination with lighter wood inlays the resulting hardwood floors can be absolutely incredible.

These are just a few of the many exotic wood types available to help you create different and unique hardwood floors in your home.

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Quick Tip: Mortgage Sheets

by admin on October 8, 2009

mortgage-sheet

A mortgage sheet is a tool (usually a computer program) to calculate your mortgage payment with ease. It also allows you to see how much you can afford on your mortgage. A workbook program will usually have two pre-filled and fully automated spreadsheets to let you compare up to 4 loans after x amount of years. The other sheet is to help you compare a fixed and variable rate mortgage.

It is important to always read over your mortgage sheets to make sure you have factually correct data. It is also a good idea to have a lawyer look at your mortgage contract. Never sign a document you do not understand or that you disagree with.

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8 Critters That Can Destroy Your Home

by admin on October 4, 2009

New homeowners and homeowners who have held onto the family home for generations collectively shudder at the mention of termites and woodworm. Either of these pests can destroy a home or at the very least cost the homeowner thousands of dollars in repairs. Any part of a home that was crafted from wood is vulnerable to attack. What are the usual suspects in these crimes against homes? Well, here are a few of the most common home-wrecking insects.

1. Termites

termiteThe best known, and perhaps the most dreaded of all the nasty pests that can destroy a home, are termites. These little critters live in swarms - if you see one (unlikely), you can be certain that there are thousand more of them chomping away at the wood structure of a home. They can be hard to detect but spotting mud tunnels or noting and floors sagging are two tip-offs as to their presence. Another way of ascertaining their whereabouts is to tap on wood in any part of the home - a hollow sound may mean termites. Three major classes of these household invaders are Formosan termites, drywood termites, and subterranean termites.

2. Woodworm

woodwormholesNot a specific species, woodworm is the larval stage of several wood boring insects such as ambrosia beetles, black borer beetles, furniture beetles, deathwatch beetles, longhorn beetles, powder post beetles, and weevils. They can raise havoc in the larval stage when they burrow beneath the wood and as adults when they exit the wood via exit holes.

3. Ants

ant-circleThese pesky pests are no fun at a picnic and most people certainly don’t want to live with them. They come in all sizes from little black ants to army ants. No cook wants them invading her foodstuffs and most species bite!

4. Cockroaches

cockroachAll they need are warmth, water, and nesting sites to make a house a place of horror. The nocturnal pests can also cause serious health risk to people who suffer from asthma. But perhaps the worst thing about having cockroaches scurrying around your home is the mental image of such a vile insect living so nearby.

5. Bedbugs

pug-bed-bugThey feed on blood and are the bane of hotels and their visitors around the world. Their bites are not dangerous but they are very itchy and leave unsightly red bumps on their victims.

6. Spiders and Tarantulas

tarantulaSimply put, these creepy crawlies belong in the garden. Some species of spider, such as the black widow and brown recluse, pose a very real and present danger to your health, but most household spiders are actually harmless and help cut down on the number of flies in the area where they live. Tarantulas may look terrifying and their bite is typically painful, but not usually a health threat, although should you get bitten it’s always a good idea to consult a doctor.

7. Moths

Most often spotted at night, they are a nuisance pest more than anything else. They won’t destroy the structure of your home but they aren’t your woollen sweaters’ best pal either. In fact, moths are quite partial to garments made of silk, felt, fur, and feathers so make sure you keep them well away from your wardrobe.

8. Rodents

cute-ratRats and mice not only destroy and contaminate food in the home, but they also harbor and transmit diseases. They can also be the vehicle for other pests such as fleas, lice, and ticks, which present additional health risks. However, apart from the potential damage to your health that these rodent pests present, it is often the noise of them scurrying around in the loft late at night that most frustrates people!

About the author

This is a guest post from Mark Brown who writes about home management and personal finance for Money Compare, an Australian money comparison website where you can compare term desposits and home loans from a range of banks and issuers.

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10 Tips for When You Are Choosing a Home to Buy

by admin on September 29, 2009

home-buying-tips

With available homes flooding the market, prices and mortgage rates sinking to lows not seen in years, and sellers desperate to move, it’s making choosing any one home more and more difficult. Should you look for a foreclosure, wait on a short sale, go the ‘for sale by owner’ route, or stick with the old standby, a standard market listing? While only you can make that decision, there are certain criteria to consider that will make your decision easier and safer financially.

1. Look at the neighborhood

Knowing and understanding the demographics, location, available transportation systems and routes, and local industries of an area can be a great way to begin evaluating how to pick a house. While the home itself will be important as well, if you don’t feel safe, comfortable, and happy in your neighborhood, you’ll feel like you’re living in a prison.

2. Review other homes in the area

Reviewing comparable homes in the neighborhood and surrounding areas can give you a good idea if the home or homes you are considering are properly priced. Knowing a home is set in a reasonable price range or if it’s under or overpriced can also strengthen your bargaining position when the time comes.

3. Negotiate

Speaking of bargaining, a large part of picking the right home, and being happy within that home once you’ve made a decision, will be determined by the sales price you’ve negotiated. If you feel you’ve been ripped off in the home purchase process, you will most likely harbor negative feelings toward your home, where as if you feel you have gotten a deal, your feelings will most likely be positive.

4. Ask your Realtor

Picking the right house can be an incredibly intimidating process. It’s kind of like picking someone to be married to for years to come without having a chance to date him or her first. It is therefore important to consult other people and take into consideration their opinions of the home as well as their knowledge of real estate to assist you in your decision. Think of them as the nosy friends in your home ‘marriage’ relationship. Finding a good realtor to help guide you through the process can help relieve some of the stress you are feeling. Besides being a great resource in determining pricing, evaluating certain aspects of the home, and pointing out positives and negatives regarding the homes you see, they can be critical in the negotiating process once you’ve made a decision.

5. Talk to neighbors

When picking a home, you can’t be sure who you’re moving in next too. Bad neighbors can put you through hell, and those neighbors who are neglectful of their homes can diminish the resale value of your own home down the road. Once you have a house in mind, talk to the neighbors closest to you, and consider whether you would be comfortable living next to them.

6. Utilize your friends and family

Family, friends, and co-workers can be the perfect people to ask questions to or advice from when it comes to deciding if a house is the right one for you. They can tell you about their experiences with purchasing a home and things to look out for. You can also even have them come to the house to walk through it with you, and ask for their thoughts and opinions.

7. Taxes, HOA, and, condo association fees

These fees are sneaky little devils that can creep up on you if you’re not careful. Be sure that when you’re out looking for a good home to buy that you are aware of the property tax rates and any homeowner association or condo association fees. Make sure that the property tax information you receive is as current as possible and not based upon senior discount rates unless you yourself are a senior and will receive similar discounts.

8. Home inspection services

Finding a good home inspection service can be the ultimate safeguard in protecting yourself when determining if a home is the right choice for you. Follow and listen to your home inspector closely to find out if you have indeed made the right choice on a home.

9. Get pre-approved

Being pre-approved for a mortgage can help you avoid costly delays when you finally make a decision on a home and are ready to make an offer. Pre-approval shows you are a serious buyer and it can strengthen your position if there are competing offers on the same home.

10. Listen to your gut

While a home can grow on you over time, often your initial gut reaction can be the true indication of whether a home is the right one for you.

About the author

Mark Brown writes about matters concerning personal finance and money management such as finding the best personal loans and low rate credit cards for an Australian money comparison website.

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So you just got your first home and you’ve moved all your stuff in. If this is your first home, you may have neglected one of the most important things that a new home owner should do prior to moving in.

Get appropriate insurance!

You have probably spent tens of thousands of dollars on your possessions and all in takes is once person to break into your house or car in the middle of the day (or night) and you could be left without a TV, laptop, stereo or other expensive personal possession.

Getting insurance is not as expensive as you would probably think and the extra protection it provides is more than worth it. Below is a list of the most commonly stolen items when criminals decide to ransack your house.

Laptops


Macbook Pro
Laptops are one of the most commonly stolen items from homes and offices. The reason being is laptops are easy to grab, is worth a lot of money and is in high demand.

Tips to prevent laptop theft:
Get a laptop lock kit and bolt it to something very sturdy. A little prevention goes a long way.

Home Stereo Equipment


Home Stereo
It is no secret that guys like their toys and aren’t afraid to shell out the money for their electronics.  Because guys love their stereos so much, they are another hot item for thieves.

Tips to prevent stereo equipment theft:
Get a locking stereo case; If the thieves can’t get into the cabinet chances are they will move onto the next item.  Trying to quickly snatch large items is nearly impossible.

Car Stereos


Head Unit
If you don’t have a garage, make sure your car didn’t fall victim to the broker offering one of those cheap auto insurance quotes.  Why? Some plans don’t cover theft outside of what originally came with your car and will battle you to the death over covering your high end stereo.

Tips to prevent car stereo theft:
If you have sub woofers and amps, make sure they are bolted down to the body of your car.  I would recommend using heavy duty screws and lots of them.  Also, if you can tether your head unit to the firewall of your car, it will help prevent potential thieves from being able to pull it out.

Also, make sure you turn the volume down on your music around your house.  Pounding your stereo is just advertising that you have some expensive equipment in your car and you would like all the neighborhood kids to try and steel it.

Get in the habit of removing your faceplate every time you leave your car.  You don’t even want a passer buy looking through your window and spotting it for future thievery.

Cell Phones


iphone
Even though when you find your cellphone missing you can get it disabled, you would be surprised how common it is for thieves to steal them.  Often times, GSM phones are shipped over seas and are unlocked where the US companies have no jurisdiction.

Tips to prevent cell phone theft:
This one is easy, don’t leave your cell phone at home when you leave!  Bring your cell phone with you and keep it on yourself.  It is pretty hard to steel a phone from your house when it is attached to your hip.  If you must leave your cell phone at home, lock it in a drawer with other valuables.

GPS Devices


Tom TomGPS’s are one of the hottest selling electronic devices right now.  People are getting lazier and don’t want to use maps so thieves have absolutely no problem finding buyers for your used Tom Tom.

Tips to prevent GPS theft:
If you aren’t using your GPS in your car, put it in your glove box and lock your glove box.  If a thief can’t see it on the dashboard of your car, chances are they aren’t going to risk breaking in to see if it is in your glove box.

Ipods


ipod
Ipods are another object that is worth a lot of money that is super easy to grab and put in your pocket.  Not only are Ipods stolen from homes, but also from schools, gyms and even at the workplace.

Tips to prevent Ipod Theft:
Because Ipods are in such high demand, try to make a habit of keeping it in your pocket and if you can’t bring it with you lock it up in a desk or in your locker.

Video Game Consoles


xbox-360s
Xbox 360, PS3 and Nintendo Wii’s are some of the most popular video game systems on the market. Since every teenage boy aged 12-30 has some desire to own one of these consoles, thieves are all over stealing these popular gaming consoles.  Nobody wants to fork over another $500 for a new video game system, so make sure you follow these tips.

Tips to prevent Video Game Console Theft:

Conveniently, video game consoles no longer require the controllers to be wired to the console.  If you have a locking stereo cabinet, make sure you place your video game consoles inside of it and lock the door.  Thieves want in your house and out as fast as possible and will be targeting items that are not bolted down.

DVDs/CDs


dvds
While DVDs and CDs aren’t really worth what they used to be, it is easy to throw dozens of them in bags and resell them at pawn shops for a buck a piece.  Most thieves are stealing to fuel a drug habit and a few dozen movies or albums are more than enough to cover their habit for that day.

Tips to prevent DVD/CD theft:
Don’t keep your CD’s and DVDs on display!  Keep them in some sort of organizer that is out of site and out of mind.  If the thief can’t immediately see your goods, they aren’t going to continue to hunt for them.

Flat Panel Televisions


Samsung LCD
Nowadays it seems everybody has flat panel TVs.  Since more and more people have moved away from plasma TVs and have ventured into the lighter LCD models, thieves are having a field day.  Large TVs used to be nearly impossible for thieves to carry out of your house.  LCD televisions are so light a single man can easily carry a 50″ TV all on his own.  One thing you can be sure of, is that selling a 50″ LCD on the street is easier that stealing candy from a baby.

Tips to prevent Flat Panel Television Theft:
Some companies make lock kits that you can use to secure your TV to the wall, or even to your wall mount.
Don’t have your TV facing the road for the entire world to see, and if you do, keep the blinds closed at all times so potentially pryng eyes don’t know what you’ve got in your house.

Is there anything else I can do?

Whenever you buy anything of value, do yourself a favor and write down the serial number.  If you ever are forced to use your home or auto insurance they will require that you have all the serial numbers written down to help them track down the thieves.  If you are really anal,  you can even go as far as engraving your initials into your devices in case somebody decides to make you their victim.

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