David Home Inspection: September 2009

When it comes to funny questions and thoughts about life, every time I think I've seen them all I find one I've never seen before or come up with more of my own. The following are some of the ones I've discovered or written however, I know there's more because thats,... life. So, if you find while reading these funny questions and thoughts about life make you smile, pass them along or be nice a leave a comment.

• Funny Questions about life - Group 1 Why does Hawaiian pizza also contain Canadian Bacon? Grape Nuts cereal. No grapes - no nuts. Huh? What's the difference between regular ketchup and fancy ketchup? Do Dutch people always split the bill? If you use Miracle Whip on Wonder Bread, do you have a better chance at a Wonderful Miracle?

• Funny Questions about life - Group 2 Is there ever a day that mattresses aren't on sale? They make bullet proof vests, why not bullet proof pants? Why are oriental rug stores always going out of business? Is there any difference between partly cloudy and partly sunny?

• Funny Questions about life - Group 3 If it only takes one match to start a forrest fire, why on earth does it take me a whole box of matches and a can of lighter fluid to light my grill? You ship glass items with styrofoam peanuts. What do you ship styrofoam peanuts in?  How do you know when pickles or sour cream has gone bad?

• Funny Questions about life - Group 4 How does one know when their bagpipes need tuning? Allstate Insurance has a disclaimer that reads: not available in all states. What? If Donkey Kong's main character is a monkey, why isn't it called Monkey Kong? Why does the word lisp have an "s" in it?

• Funny Questions about life - Group 5 How come you never read the headline, "Psychic Wins Lottery"? The next time someone says, "Now I've seen everything", ask them if they've ever seen a UPS truck painted red. Has anyone ever really seen a Jolly Rancher? If you get a club soda stain, how do you remove it?

A few laughts and smiles with my friends at Active Rain... Have a great day everyone...

Burglars are opportunists. So being aware of how vulnerable your property may be can decrease the chances of an intruder. In the following blog I will discuss how to protect your property.

Wndows

First of all did you know that a third of all burglars access properties through windows. Securing your windows is vital. All windows should be inspected, even porch or pantry windows. If a human head can fit through it, then it needs to be secure. When you go to bed each nite you check every door but do you check every window?

Securing these windows is relatively straight forward depending on the glass and frame structure. The most secure glass is laminated glass which is harder to break. However attaching a window lock has the most benefits. It enhances the strength of the MFG latch, making it almost impossible to open without a key. The opportunist would be deterred as even if they break the glass, they still have to unlock the window.

Doors

While a third of all burglars enter the property through the window, two thirds enter through doors. If your door does not have a window or a visible means of checking who is there, it could be advisable to install a door viewer. A chain can add extra security during the day, but be aware that this may be a part of an exit strategy in case of fire. While it is always a good idea to keep keys out of sight, maker sure you know exactly where they are.

Inspecting that the frames and doors are in good condition, can help keep out a persistent intruder. Also be aware of any vulnerable parts such as glass panels.

It is sometimes much easier to keep keys in the doors for ease of access, however to an opportunist this an open invitation to enter your property. In fact most people keep a variety of keys with their door keys such as ; office keys, garage keys and car keys. This is a prize to any intruder. Now they have access to your house, your office and car.

Security Lights – Fitting security lights that are activated by somebody walking in front your property of within a designated area, can help protect you property at night. These are often built on passive infrared technology. The cost range is $9.99 $79.99. Big security value for the money.

Vacation – When going away on holiday there a few precautions you can take to help improve the security of your property. Making your neighbors aware that you will be away, will make sure that you have somebody keeping watch for an strange visitors.

Buying a dimmer switch is also another great idea. These can turn on or off, depending on the time you allocate on the switch. A house sitter is also a good idea. They can open and close your curtains and make the property look as though it is still occupied.

In summary, the above points are not made to cause panic or fear. The truth is these are just precautions that we can take to improve the security of our properties. With the standard of living so high, we work hard for our possessions, it is only fair that we should want to protect them.

The Best Blogging Blog, That Was Ever Bloged!

Blogging is much more like talking to a good friend who never joins the conversation. Keep it simple, keep it fun. Don't get bogged down with all the details of what you want to talk about. Rather used notes and structure it out then blog.

Applying a good strategy is often the key for many successful writers. If you want to succeed in blogging, it is important to implement and carry out a successful article writing strategy.

First, remember that practice makes perfect. Pledge to write a blog every day. Find some time in your schedule to write either for work or for pleasure. It’s important to practice letting your words flow on the page (or screen), so fit in practice time.

Then, as part of your blog writing strategy, use a basic template when writing blogs so that you do not miss any important components. Make sure you have a clear topic, a great title that describes that topic, an introduction to the article that sets up the information, the content of the article that gives the information, and if you are writing for Active Rain, include the important keywords in your article.

Before you begin writing, jot down a few simple notes or any thoughts before you start your article. Is there an anecdote you think fits in with the topic? What kind of factual information do you want to include in the body of the article and where can you find this specific information? How do you want to end the article? These notes will create a good framework in your mind as you write.

Writers can often get discouraged when feel they are writing too slowly. One blogging strategy is to proofread your work once you’ve completed the first draft. Not while writing. Proofreading your uncompleted work will only slow down your process. Save the editing for the end.

Another tool when blogging is to sprinkle examples in your article. When you’re writing on a complicated subject, it can help to explain your topic using examples.

There are a variety of self improvement articles available nowadays. You may be thinking that this is one of those, obviously.

When you come to the 40-year stage in your life, you will suddenly realize many things. You get to ask yourself questions. How will it be when I get to the end of my life? How do I feel about the life I lived?

Here are top ten shifts in perspective that can help you move your life to the next level. Breaking through your own glass ceiling to create the life you really want.

1. Give yourself permission to dream. You probably had no problem dreaming as a kid. What happened to your ability to imagine and dream about what you want and who you want to be? When was the last time you caught yourself daydreaming and appreciated it?

2. Stop looking outside yourself for happiness. Look inside. Increase your self-awareness. Get curious about who you are at the core. Cultivate and nurture a relationship with yourself.

3. Cover the basics. Take the time to address your personal needs. How can you focus on thriving in your life if you are in survival mode? Set up that meeting with a financial advisor, get your space organized, clean up the details that are wasting your energy.

4. Embrace your past and move on. Shift from "why it happened" to what I want to do about it now. Asking "why" is not a very empowering question. Asking what or how I want to proceed can be much more powerful and produce forward movement.

5. Remember that you are not alone. It is easy to feel overwhelmed with life. Seek support. Read more self improvement articles. They might help you figure about some things that are puzzling you.  

6. Remember gratitude. Count your blessings. What is working right in you life? Make a list. Set aside a bit of time everyday to acknowledge what or who you are grateful for. The more you practice gratitude, the more you attract into your life things to be grateful for.

7. Court your passion. You still have your passions though it has been a while since you may have felt it flow. When are you the most alive and joyful in your life? Who do you most admire and what do they inspire in you?

8. Take action and take a risk. All the inspiration in the world is not enough to make you move your life to the next level. It takes inspired action to do that.

9. Keep breathing. You probably forget to take deep full breaths. We have all learned to constrict our breathing in response to stress. According to many self improvement articles, we not only need oxygen to stay alive, we need oxygen to give us energy and keep us healthy. Right now take 5 deep, full breaths.

10. Have fun. Call a friend, take a bubble bath, take yourself to an art museum or schedule a whole day out in nature. Put on some great music and dance till you drop.

And you thought this was just one of those self improvement articles.

Accountability And Doing The Right Thing. This is empowering

As a home inspector in the Los Angeles market for the past 11 years I have seen a heard a lot of things that make me question a persons character. Personally I feel it's very important to be accountable to myself first.  You owe it to yourself to take full responsibility for all that you say and do in your life. There is no greater reward then having total control over your entire decision making capabilities. This power guarantees the full benefit of knowing that you have chartered your own destiny for greatness.

When you think about accountability, it may sound scary at first. It may even sound negative. However, when you get a good perspective on it, you will see that it is very positive.

Accountability is a strength. It means that you know the difference between right and wrong, and that you have the ability to act upon your conscience. You always have the opportunity to do the right thing in any situation.

We do as people sometimes make mistakes. Being responsible for your own actions is the other side of accountability. Accountability means that if you make a mistake or do something wrong, even if it was not intentional, you need to own up to your mistakes. When you admit a mistake and do your best to make up for it, you are showing yourself as a strong and courageous person.

When you hold yourself accountable for your own actions, you are also showing that you are a person of good character. A weak person makes excuses for his behavior, or leaves it up to others to hold him accountable. A person of good character, on the other hand, knows that he has it within himself to know the difference between right and wrong, and to know that he is responsible for his own actions.

There is a powerful feeling within your when you know you have this ability. It lets you know that you have developed a conscience that is on the right track, and good character to follow through with it. When you know that you are responsible for your own actions, and make this principle a part of your everyday life, you have a great reason to be proud of yourself.

You will see that accountability is not scary at all. Instead, it is one of the most basic foundations for a fulfilling, happy life. Being responsible for your own actions will help you to get along better with other people, too. You will be doing your part to make your world a better place for yourself and everyone else who is in it.

Additional points to consider when deciding between Roofing Contractors: Was the contractor on time for your estimate appointment? If not, or if he failed to show at all, calling you later with some excuse, drop him from consideration immediately. If he’s not on time when he most needs to impress you (before he has been given the job), then he surely cannot be relied upon after he gets the contract. Does he have an actual office, and a showroom for you to go visit? If not, does he at least have a secretary or paging service for emergencies? Trust your instincts. Do you feel comfortable with him working on your home? Remember, the person you meet with could just be a convincing salesman, and become totally different once the actual work starts. Call your city's building department, and ask if they are familiar with the contractor you plan to use, and see if they have anything negative to say about the company. And ask lots of questions. Don’t let the contractor confuse you with strange words and industry jargon. Ask him to explain everything to you in detail. Remember, you’re the boss! They work for you. The bottom line is, trust your feelings; you must feel comfortable.

Ask about the process that the crew will follow when installing your roof. It’s the roofing contractor’s responsibility to see that the roof is waterproof at the end of the day, and if necessary, there should be enough tarps to completely cover the roof in case of rain! Take pictures as the work progresses, to document anything the workers do to cause damage to your property. And when the job is done, it’s nice to offer the contractor copies of your photos, and give a nice testimonial for a job well-done.

David Home Inspection Services

626-629-8499

We Proudly Serve The Areas Of

West Covina, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside County California

Getting honest estimates from roofing contractors can be confusing. Some have really high prices, and some are priced so low that you can’t understand what’s included and what’s not, or if you’re getting good value for your money. Some less-than-scrupulous roofing contractors play games with pricing, only to jack the costs up later during the job with unexpected surprises. That’s why it’s important to use care when selecting a contractor, and be sure you’re dealing with someone honest. You want your roof taken care of quickly and cheaply as possible, but it pays to take the time to select a roofing contractor that’ll do a good job for a fair price. It’s better to do it right the first time, instead of using the cheapest contractor available and later discovering you’ve made a painful mistake.

Hiring a roofing contractor is more than just finding the cheapest quote. For the best results, you need to find a legitimate roofing professional. Consider the contractor's experience and qualifications, the duration of the project, quality of materials, and other factors. For example, GAF Master Elite Contractors, who by virtue of their excellent workmanship are granted special status and offer enhanced warranties.

Get recommendations from your neighbors and friends – they’re your best resource. After all, if they were happy with the work you will be too.

One of most important things to find out before hiring a roofing contractor is that they are fully licensed and insured. Roofing is a dangerous occupation. Don't leave yourself open to a devastating liability by hiring an unlicensed roofer. Protect yourself!

If you going to get multiple estimates, you should know what you want. 20 year 30 year 40 year asphalt shingles, or do you want tile or raised rib metal roof. What ever you choose have the bids reflect your wants and needs, not there's. Remember to get your estimates in writing from each roofing contractor, and ensure that they’re based on the same roofing project specification. Never, ever, rely on verbal promises. Insist on getting all guarantees, promises and warranties in writing. Including warranties from all the various manufacturers whose products will be used. And investigate their previous work; any reputable roofing contractor should have job sites for you to visit to see completed work.

David Home Inspection Services

626-629-8499

We Proudly Serve The Areas Of

West Covina, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside County California

You Heard Me! This is not a joke. This is called Naked Networking. I want to show you my website. I want to see your website. As a matter a fact I'll bet a lot of people want to see your website. I want to help you get exposure. I know that you need the hits and back links. I need hits and back links too. Did you know that a group of ten people took a website that had a page rank of 2500 and took it to a page rank of #1. All they did was link it on twitter, facebook and other social networks. Hit it, they went to the same site many times and created their own traffic. Read it, when you go to a website read the content, click all the links. Get some new ideas! Have fun with it. So here is what I want you to do. Post your website link in the comments. Tell us what you would like to change of anything. If you visit a website that you like link to it. You can always ask for a back link. It works people try it. Please Re-blog. Grow the business

David Home Inspection Services

626-629-8499

We Proudly Serve The Areas Of

West Covina, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside County California

While there are plenty of fun aspects to the winter, from sledging to snowball fights in the East to skiing and snow boarding in the West, it can’t be denied that there are a number of downsides too. Freak storms don't make anyone happy and neither does getting soaked by driving rain on your way to work. Then there are the rising costs of electric and gas heating bills.

Luckily there are a number of ways that you can save money on your heating during winter. Elderly people are frequently targeted by campaigns to help them stay warm in winter, and quite rightly as they are less able to cope with extremes in temperature, but it’s worth bearing in mind that there are some tips suitable for everyone and young families will benefit from money and energy saving tips as much as pensioners will.

In the winter, it’s wise to think ahead and plan whether you’ll be using certain rooms and when you’ll be in the house. This allows you to use your heating in the most efficient way. So, for example, if you are typically out of the house for most of the day, setting your heating on a timer that will switch off once you are out of the house and back on a while before you come in will make sure you enjoy the best of both worlds.

When it comes to saving money and making the most of your heat in winter, insulation is absolutely key. Invest in decent insulation and you’ll find that it keeps heat in to a surprising degree. From adding insulation to your walls and wooden blinds to your windows to simply plugging up drafts with inexpensive doorstops, everything you do to keep the cold out and the heat in will help you in your crusade.

Making sure that your FAU and other appliances are all as efficient as possible is also a great way to ensure you’re making the most of your money in winter. Modern, efficient FAUs can make your energy use up to a third more efficient than older models. Just going to show that if you pay attention to your central heating you could find ways to cut your home energy bill drastically.

There are a few other very simple ways you can make sure that you save money in winter and at any other time of the year, these include ensuring that all electrical equipment is properly switched off rather than left on standby, making sure all doors and windows are kept shut when not in use, only boiling as much water in the kettle as you are planning to use and letting hot foods and liquids cool completely before storing them in a fridge or freezer.

David Home Inspection Services

626-629-8499

We Proudly Serve The Areas Of

West Covina, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside County California

Making repairs to your home can be a great way to increase your equity as well as make you more comfortable. Many individuals who own homes put off repairs due to the high price of hiring contractors but a few minor improvements can greatly increase the value of your home and not all of the repairs have to be completed by a hired hand either. That are many simple improvements that you can do your self for very little money.

Painting the exterior of your home as well as the interior can greatly increase the value of your home and your property. Interior paint can be purchased at your local home improvement store for less than twenty dollars per can and exterior paint only runs a bit more. Not only will painting make your home more aesthetic as well as increase the value of your home but such improvements will raise overall property value by increasing your homes curb appeal.

landscaping cheep and easy, big impact. Although there are many homeowners who spend large amounts on their landscaping it can be done for much less. A quick trip to your local nursery will afford you an array of lower cost options for your landscaping. If you have a lot of patches in your yard a little grass seed can go a long way as well. Mulch is fairly inexpensive as well and can be a beautiful addition to any landscaping design. If plants from a nursery are a little out of your budget you can always buy seeds and start your own plants and flowers from scratch. It may take a little more effort to get them going than if you buy from a nursery but you can have just as beautiful plants and for much less of the cost.

If your house doesn't necessarily need to be painted pressure washing is a great and low cost alternative. Pressure washing can also improve the look of your driveway and other exterior elements as well. This also works great for siding and porches and decks. People are often amazed at how much dirt their houses and exterior elements can collect and how much of a difference it makes when cleaned. Pressure washing is one of the cheapest and easiest improvements you can make to your home.

Finally, going around your home and making sure everything is secured and attached correctly can also make a big difference in the appearance of your home. Railings, awnings, shutters and broken stairs can be a major problem when it comes to the apperance and value of your home.

By making these few simple changes to your home and your property you can greatly increase the value and income potential of you biggest investment. After all isn't this the real reason so many individuals take that step into home ownership? Increase your profit potential by making a few easy repairs to your home today.

David Home Inspection Services

626-629-8499

We Proudly Serve The Areas Of

West Covina, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside County California