TWO THING TO PUT AT THE TOP OF YOUR RENOVATION LIST OF THINGS TO DO

Both of these things are things that sometimes get forgotten. But they should be at the top of the list of things to plan for.

1. Replacing the electrical wiring. If wiring is old it could start a fire, for safety it is best to replace it. So if you are renovating - plan it in up front for updating the wiring. If you are doing a kitchen and you do not update the wiring - with the big fridge, the dishwasher, other smaller appliances, can the old wiring handle it all or will you keep blowing the breakers all the time? It gets very frustrating when it happens all the time. Do you have enough outlets and in the places that you need them to be in that will work best for you?

2. Lighting is next on the list. The electrician will need to know for putting in the wiring for the lighting. There are three kinds of lighting for the room:
A. Main lighting
B. Task lighting
C. Ambiance lighting

If the lighting is not what it should be, it is like being in a cave. It is not very inviting to be in that room. Sometimes it even affects how you can function in the room.

Both of these things it is best to have an electrician do for you. They know what code for your area are and the best way to do things. This makes your home safer as well. Make sure that the cost is in the budget for the electrician. The placement of wiring and lighting is easier done without sheetrock up. So if you are renovating and the walls are down to the studs, this is the best time for doing both the wiring and lighting. It is best to get them worked out ahead of time so you do not delay the construction or have to redo it later after the other work is all done.

copyright 2008 Dan and Deanna Finlinson "Marketing Unscrambled"
moonlight1458@gmail.com
http://www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/

IT IS WINDING DOWN FOR THIS YEAR AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW YEAR

The end of the old year and the start of a new year. We hope that all will be well for all that visit our blogs. That it will be a safe, happy and productive year for all. We look forward to having you come back to our blogs next year as well. Until next time, have a great year.

Dan and Deanna Finlinson "Marketing Unscrambled"
moonlight1458@gmail.com
www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS

To those that do Christmas - Merry Christmas. To all the rest Happy Holidays. Let it be safe with Peace, joy and happiness. May it be a good year to come.

Dan and Deanna Finlinson "Marketing Unscrambled"

WHY YOU NEED A GOOD HOME INSPECTOR

This is not the place to cut corners on. This could save you a lot of money and headaces in the future. There have been enough movies like "the money pit". We all laughed and thought I am glad that is not me. Everything in the house has problems, it takes longer then they said it would. It costs a lot more than you ever thought it would. Would you want to know ahead of time that this is the case, so that you could avoid this. That is one good reason to get a good inspector.

If you have someone that knows what they are looking for and know what they are doing. ( Ask how long they have been doing home inspections, if it is there first house. They may not be the one to go with.) They can identify problems areas. Then you can decide what you want to do. If it is a really big problem or something that will be easy to fix.

If the inspector finds problems, there are three ways to deal with it:
* ask the seller to fix it.
* get estimates on the cost to fix it and ask the seller to reduce the price that much so you can fix it yourself.
* get out of the deal all the way and look for an other place to buy, if it is a really big problem that the inspector finds.

These are a few of the things that an inspector should look at:
* The condition of the electrical wiring in the house.
* The pluming.
* Check for signs of water in the basement or other places that it should not be in.
* Check the foundation.
* The condition of the roof, vent pipes and anything else that is on the roof.
* That everything is up to code.
These are but a few of the things the inspector should check. Just remember it will take some time to check all of these things ( an hour or more).

copyright 2008 Dan & Deanna Finlinson "Marketing Unscrambled"
moonlight1458@gmail.com
http://www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/
http://see-click.com

EIGHT FINANCING TIPS FOR BUYING A HOME

1. Before looking for a home to buy this should be your first step. Get pre-approved for a loan. Make sure that you could qualify for FHA and conventional loan. That way you can go one way or the other.
A. This way you know that if the house that you like does not qualify for FHA loan you are ready with the conventional loan that you can use.
B. You know before looking the price range that you would qualify for. Buyers like this they know that you are ready to buy now not just looking, to be looking.

2. Also find out about insurance for a home in this price range. You will know how much it will cost you. The bank will want to know that it is insured. If you do not they will tack it on ( that could cost you a lot more than getting it yourself.)

3. Expect the unexpected when it comes to getting the money for a house.

4. Have extra money saved up for add on things that might come up.

5. Get a copy of all the paperwork that you will be having to sign, they should let you have that the day before. Read them over, so that you know what you will be signing. If you have questions make note of them.

6. Make sure that all your questions are answered before signing the papers.

7. Make your appointment early in the day. It will take sometime to get everything signed. You do not want to be rushed, because it is 4:00 and they want to go home. Everyone is tired at 4:00 in the afternoon. That is why I say early in the day.

8. If you know that the windows will need to be replaced. Get estimates on how much it would be. (this is an example) This could be something that is added into the loan up front. Get the estimates and ask up front before starting the loan process. Do not wait till the day of the signing and ask, it probably will not happen then. (Replacing the windows adds more value to the house, so there is a greater chance that they will say yes to that as well.)

copyright 2008 Dan & Deanna Finlinson "Marketing Unscrambled"
moonlight1458@gmail.com
http://www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/
http://www.see-click.com

CHECK OUT MIKE LITMAN'S POST - DISLIKE THIS

This is something that you need to check out to find out for yourself what he is saying about
" dislike this ". It is important that we all change the way that we think. Time to change our thinking, for the better. Let's not settle any more.

Go to this blog: http://www.mikelitman.com/blog/?p=114 . I hope that you enjoy it and " dislike this". Take the 24 hour challenge. Let us know how it works for you.

copyright 2008 Dan & Deanna Finlinson "Marketing Unscrambled"
http://moonlight1458@gmail.com
http://www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/

LOOK AT OUR ARTICLE ON SQUIDOO

We have placed an article in www.squidoo.com . We would be pleased to have you join us there at: www.squidoo.com/marketing-unscrambled3 . Our lense page is called "From marketing unscrambled to you". Please leave a comment, if you like it - if you do not? We would still like to hear from you.

copyright 2008 Dan & Deanna Finlinson "Marketing Unscrambled"
moonlight1458@gmail.com

LOWE'S CREATIVE IDEAS BOOK

This book from Lowe's is beautifully done, color photos, articles,tips to help you with your home and garden. This is a book that they mail out to you. To get it, go on line to order it. The link is at the end of this post.

Right now they have great ideas for decorating the holiday party table. wonderful gift ideas for friends and family. If you would like to remodel a room they have ideas for that also.

This is a book that you can learn from. It has articles for inside the house and out.
Here are some examples: "Save money, energy and water". Another would be "Save money and minimize maintenance". Learn about growing zones for plants. Where you live makes a big difference in the way that you garden. They have got customized gardening tips for your region of the country.

They have two different books for ideas:
Lowe's creative ideas for home and garden.
Lowe's creative ideas for wood workers.

They will help you put your own character into every room that you have. From these beautiful books I hope that you can learn and make some wonderful rooms and gardens.
Let us know how they turn out. We would like to hear from you.

copyright 2008 Dan & Deanna Finlinson "Marketing Unscrambled"
http://moonlight1458@gmail.com
http://www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/
http://www.see-click.com

"SO YOU WANT TO REMODEL YOUR KITCHEN" BY AARON J. MUNK

This is a great article that I found that I thought that the readers would get a lot of information from it that will help when it comes to the remodeling of the kitchen. I hope that you enjoy it.

Beginner's Guide: So You Want To Remodel Your Kitchen
Copyright (c) 2008 Aaron J. Munk
SeeItYourWay
http://www.seeityourway.com

Renovating your kitchen can seem daunting, but if you break this
big project down into smaller steps, you can ensure that the
vision you have for your new space will be achieved.

1. Find your style. Stimulate your creativity by checking out how
the professionals do it. Look through magazines and keep photos
of style elements that you like in a binder. With the many
do-it-yourself websites, the Internet is always a good source for
inspiration.

While you are browsing, think about how you want to use your new
space. How many people plan to use the kitchen? Do you entertain?
Do you need room for children to do homework at a computer? Do
you prefer a formal space or do you have a more casual style? Is
your kitchen just for cooking or is it the gathering place for
your family and friends?

Also think about the style of the rest of your home and how the
new kitchen will fit in. All of these style elements you collect
will be helpful to show your vision to the contractor and keep
you both on track.

2. Set a budget. We all wish we could have everything we want.
However, for most of us, we need to choose where to spend our
money to get the most value. Granite counter tops might be a “must
have” for some, while someone else might want to put their money
into specialized appliances.

You may need to think about how long you’ll be living in this
home. If you’re going to be there five years or less, the remodel
could be viewed as improvements on your investment.

Whatever your budget, make sure you include labor costs and a 10%
contingency for those unexpected expenses. And, have a plan to
keep track of all the costs - maybe a spreadsheet - so you can
compare your actual costs to your budgeted amounts.

3. Find and hire a Contractor. The best way to find a qualified
professional is through referrals from family and friends. You
can get first hand information on how the contractor worked and
if there were any problems.

There are two types of contractors you can hire - General
contractors and Subcontractors. General contractors will oversee
every aspect of your remodeling project and he or she will
usually hire the subcontractors. Subcontractors for a kitchen
remodel can include Tile Contractors, Plumbers, Electricians,
Painters, Cabinet installers, to name a few.

If your budget is tight, you may have to oversee all the
subcontractors yourself. Always compare quotes from at least
three different prospects and always work with licensed
professionals who have insurance.

Interview all candidates, check their references and ask to see
some completed projects. It’s important that you are comfortable
with the person and you are both able to communicate with each
other.

After you’ve narrowed it down, take a look at their documents.
Everything should be in writing and look professional - including
a bid price and a payment schedule, the scope of work and a site
plan. Decide in advance how you will handle disputes and get that
in writing as well. Along the way, there may be design changes
initiated by you or the contractor. Make sure these are in
writing as well and understood by both parties.

4. Obtain your Kitchen Design Plans. There are different ways to
do this important step. If your renovation is complex, you may
need to hire an architect. If not, most home stores have computer
aided design programs, which allow you to see how the store’s
kitchens would look in your home. Or, you could buy one of the
many home design programs and see your remodel on your own
computer.

Some of the free online programs can even give you a list of your
choices and vendors in your area who sell the products you want.
This could save many trips to the store and countless headaches.

Knowing your cooking style and the appliances you want is
something to consider. Also, selecting the flooring, counter tops,
sinks, and faucets that fit your lifestyle and budget. Last, but
certainly not least, select the lighting for your kitchen,
keeping in mind that no single light source can light the entire
kitchen.

There are many decisions to be made and having your favorite
style elements handy in your binder will keep you on track and
make some of the decisions easier.

5. Be proactive. Inspect what’s going on regularly. During the
work, make sure that both you and the contractor follow the
written plans. Be clear and honest with any issues you have and
try to meet once a day to discuss progress and budget and
schedule concerns. Having this meeting might save work stoppages
and panic phone calls along the way.

Your partnership with your contractor will be the key to the
success or failure of your project, so maintain a productive work
environment by keeping the lines of communication open.

These steps can help make your renovations a little easier, but
realize that unexpected things happen. Relax, take a deep breath,
be flexible and soon you’ll be enjoying your beautiful new
kitchen.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Aaron J. Munk is the founder of SeeItYourWay, a home-design
technology company at the crossroads of technology and design.
SeeItYourWay is a premier kitchen design website, providing
users with thttp://moonlight1458@gmail.comhe ability to view multiple home décor selections
in a photo-realistic setting, bringing out the unique designer
in each and every one of us. To learn more, visit
http://www.seeityourway.com or call 800-733-0155.

Have a great day. How did this work for you? Let us know, we would like to here from you.

copyright 2008 Dan & Deanna Finlinson "Marketing Unscrambled
http://moonlight1458@gmail.com
http://www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/
http://www.see-click.com

MAKING YOUR HOME BEAUTIFUL, IDEAS TO HELP YOU FROM hgtv.com

HGTV has so many great tip and ways to help all that come to see it.

What is your interest? This is a list of some of the things that are on this site:
* Decorating your home.
* Gardening to beautify the outside of your home.
* Kitchens - how to make them better.
* Bathrooms - get them from Ho, Hum to WOW in no time.
* Crafts that are fun to do.
* Remodeling your home.
* At home - organizing and even holiday decor.
* Dream homes.
* Even a place to shop.

This has the most hidden potential that I have seen in a web site. It's time for you to go searching it out for yourself. Go to http://www.hgtv.com .

copy write 2008 Dan & Deanna Finlinson"Marketing Unscrambled
moonlight1458@gmail.com
www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/
www.see-click.com

3 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME ENERGY WISE.

1.Is your home ENERGY WISE? Does your home measure up? Windows can make a big difference when it comes to saving energy in your home. Do they need to be replaced? One way to know is if your windows are drafty. If it is yes, then that means it is harder to keep your home warm in the winter, because they let the cold air in. In the summer when you are trying to cool your home, the cool air goes out the windows. This means the heating and cooling cost goes up a lot. The money that you save in energy cost would go a long way to helping you up date the windows. It might even come close to paying for it's self to replace the windows.

Choosing the right windows
* Look for the energy star symbol
* How easy are they to clean from the inside?
* Is the installer licensed and has no complaints against them?

2. The next way would be to add insulation to your Attic and walls

Choosing insulation
* Different parts of the country need more insulation than others, the colder areas need more - that is only reasonable.
* Is the installer licensed and has no complaints against them?

3. Keep drafts from coming around the door, with weather stripping.

When looking for new homes look for the energy star to see if the house will be energy wise or not.

The energy star label was created by the environmental protection agency (EPA) and the U.S. department of energy (DOE) to help consumers quickly and easily identify windows and other products that save energy.

Now it is time for you to do the energy wise things. I would like to hear what you did to make it better for you and your home. Leave a comment. I would like to hear from you.

copyright 2008 Dan & Deanna Finlinson Marketing Unscrambled
http://moonlight1458@gmail.com
www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/
www.see-click.com

HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING

We at Marketing Unscrambled, Home edition want to say to all have a great Thanksgiving.

12 THINGS YOU SHOULD DO WHEN BUILDING A HOUSE

1. Find the right property for you.
2. Have the plains made that will be right for the lot. If you do not, it will cost you a lot more trying to put the wrong house on the lot.
3. Have your financing in place ahead of time, be pre-approved.
4. Check out the contractor, are they licenced? Do they have complaints against them with the better business burrow? Get references and check them out. If you do not fallow though, It could cost you a lot - maybe more than money.
5. Make sure that the blue prints of your house plans are all worked out.
6. This is something that will help you stay on time and on budget. Have things picked out ahead of time. What will the out side be made out of, the color. Each and every room needs to have every thing picked out before hand. If this is done you will know what things will cost, what it will look like. You can look for bargains. Think of materials that might be less expensive, but more durable and easy to keep up. For example in the bathroom choose: the toilet, tub, sink, lighting, what is going on the wall and the colors, floor covering, electrical covers (light switches), window treatment, shower curtain, tiles, faucets, crown molding,base boards. Pick every thing from floor to ceiling.
7. Think about how it will be to maintained it. How much will it coast over the years to keep it maintained? Could a different choice be less expensive to maintain?
8. Is it easy to clean? For example: windows, can you clean them from the inside?
9. How energy efficient is your house going to be? This can cost you a lot of money over the years if the house is not energy efficient. What one would you rather have? One that saves you money over the years or one that does not.
10. YOU pay the subcontractors that way you know that it gets done and have the receipts. You do not want to pay twice. ( If the contractor is paid and is to pay the subcontractors,but does not pay them. Then you are the one that has to pay again or the subcontractor can put a lean on your house. That coasts you a lot.)
11. PLAN, PLAN,PLAN, the more you have planned ahead of time the less problems you are likely to have later.
12. Getting the house finished on time and on budget is your goal. It helps the pocket book as well. That is where the planing comes in. You get what you want for the price that you want. The bank likes it better also.

Copyright 2008 Dan and Deanna Finlinson
moonlight1458@gmail.com
www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/
http://www.see-click.com/

STAGING A HOME FOR TRYING TO SELL YOUR HOME.

What is staging? You hire someone to come in with furniture, art and accessories. The things are placed in a way that makes the best of each and every room. Since they are professionals they know how to help you bring out the best in each room.

Make sure that you give them enough time to do what they need to do. Then plan for the open house after they are done. If you invest in staging, it could help you sell you home for the most that you can get.

It does have a cost, so make sure that it is really going to benefit you. The bigger cities have this service more than the smaller cities. It might not be available in all areas.

This can help to sell the house faster. It is harder to sell an empty house. It is harder for the buyer to envision what the house would look like with out furniture in the house. That is why staging the home is important.

If you think that you would like to learn how to do staging. Check out this website: www.haverhill.com .

If you like watching tv and need some ideas on what to do with your home, watch HGTV they have all kinds of different shows from buying a home, up dating a room or more, ect. They also have a website go to: http://hgtv.com

copyright 2008 Dan and Deanna Finlinson
moonlight1458@gmail.com
www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/
www.see-click.com

SOME WAYS TO UP DATE A SMALL BATHROOM

When it is time to update a small bathroom. What is in good condition? What needs to be replaced? How much can you keep out of the land fill by reusing? Starting with the flooring - it is a small space, even if you are wanting to use more expensive tiles. It will not break the bank to make it look nice.

If all that is needed to up date the sink area is a new counter top and faucet, then replace only that. You could even get granite for such a small counter top. They might have remnants for a lot less money so do not forget to ask at the store. Re stain or paint the cabinet and add new hardware to the doors. and it looks like new.

Replacing dated lighting and the mirror can be spiced up by framing it like a picture. Use molding like for base board that is a nice touch.

If the tub looks bad leave it in place and use an insert to cover it up and make it look new. That keeps the tub out of the land fill and is less expensive. What does the tile look like? Is it in good condition but you do not like the color.There is special paint that works on tile paint it the color that you want. This again keeps it out of the land fill.

Now for the walls. Paint is always a good choice. Keep the color light in the small bathroom, it will feel bigger. Do not forget window treatment to set it all off.

I would like to know how it turns out. Please leave your comments.

copyright 2008 Dan & Deanna Finlinson
Marketing Unscrambled
moonlight1458@gmail.com
http://www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/
http://www.see-click.com/

TEN THINGS A FIRST TIME HOME BUYER NEEDS TO KNOW

1. Every thing takes longer than you think that it will and expect the unexpected.
2. Figure out what the budget is. ( about 1/3 of your income.)
3. Get pre-approved, that way the seller knows you are ready to buy and you know the price range to look in. That way you do not find your dream home and you can not get the money for it because it is to much.
4. Have money saved up for the down payment, closing cost, extras or the unexpected things that might come up.
5. Make a list of the things that are the needs, for example: 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a big kitchen and dinning room, an office (because we work form home and have a big family).
6. Make a list of the the things that wish it would have, but if they are not there it would not be a deal breaker. The example might be a swimming pool, game room, theater room.
7. When looking remember it is not the furnishings and how nice they look, it the house and what condition it is in that you are looking at. How does the house flow? Will it work for your needs and some of your wants.
8. Think 5 years in the future will it still work for you. If you are single, what would it be like having an other person in the house? Are children in the future? Would there be room for them? Are the children growing up and moving out, now it will be to much room?
9. See a place more than one time before you make an offer. You might have missed things the first time around.
10. Once you have found the place that will work for you, go back at different times of the day. You might be amazed at the differences that you find. How would it be to get to work from there, how is the traffic? Are the dogs out and barking? Parking at night.

Have a nice time house hunting. I hope these tips help. I would like to hear from you. Tell me how you did?

copyright 2008 Dan and Deanna Finlinson
Marketing Unscrambled
moonlight1458@gmail.com
www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/
http://www.see-click.com/

RENTERS CONCERNED ABOUT FORECLOSURES

Why you might ask would renters be concerned about foreclosures? The answer is with the economy the way that it is, the land lords are having trouble with paying the mortgages and loosing the property. The renters are paying on time but they are forced to leave when the property is lost by the land lord.

The renters find themselves without a place to live, through no fault of there own making. They have little time to find another place to live. Maybe short on cash for a deposit on another place because they might not have gotten it back from the last place.

We are told to have some savings for such things like this. Be prepared for the unexpected. The economy is hurting a lot of people. Even the ones that you might not expect. This is something that blind sides you and things get worse. It is hard to know what to do for those that are caught in the middle of the mess that the land lord is in with the bank.

It would be nice to see a way out of this economic mess. The government is bailing out the big guys, not so much the little guys. Good luck to us all. We are in this mess together. Lets hope that we can find a way out. For the good of all, not just a few.

copyright 2008 Dan & Deanna Finlinson
Marketing Unscrambled
moonlight1458@gmail.com
www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/
http://www.see-click.com/

MARKETING UNSCRAMBLED - HOME EDTION

This blog is to help people with the home that they have now or the home that they want to get. Real Estate tips, remodeling tips, curb appeal tips.

How do you update a room or a home, by making a few changes? Create a new look that is more to your taste.

There are sites that can help you find ideas on different things to do. Think out side the box. Just because everyone else is doing something, it does not mean that you have to do that as well. How do you put your dream into action without breaking the bank? Can you keep it in the budget?

Things that you need to know about finding a real estate agent. If you are going to remodeling or build a new house. How do you choose the right contractor? If you choose the wrong contractor it could really coast you, some times even more than money. Who would do the best job for you?

There are websites that can help in many of these areas. They are good places to get ideas. Look though magazines, the professionals are the ones that put these things together but they can be adapted to your live. They can give a starting point.


copyright 2008 Dan and Deanna Finlinson
Marketing Unscrambled
moonlight1458@gmail.com
http://www.powerpointerspage.com/152893/
http://www.see-click.com/