Thursday, February 25, 2010

Finding A Towel Warmer To Fit Your Bathroom

By Allen Wright

After you get out of a hot shower, the first thing that you should be doing is taking a nice and hot towel off of your very own towel warmer! Choosing the right towel warmer for you can be difficult, as there are many options out there but that is what we are here for, to help you make the best decision. Towel warmers are by far some of the best inventions in the world and below, we are going to go in detail what options you have available.

One thing that you need to get out of your head is that you are going to be spending a great deal of money on towel warmers. To be perfectly honest, if you do a little bit of research, you will be able to find this luxury item at very little cost to you, all it takes is a little brain power and some elbow grease!

There is not just one particular brand of towel warmers on the market right now, there are several. This is where the problem might come in if you really have no idea what you are truly looking for. First, make sure that you choose something that goes with your bathroom.

Now that we have talked a little bit about towel warmers, lets dive deep into the options that you do have and what you should look for in a warmer. The first type of towel warmers out there and by far the most common is the electric towel warmers. These are super easy to install and they are actually ideal for any budget.

These particular warmers can be hardwired or they can be plugged into any standard 120V outlet, wall mounted or even floor-mounted. The cool thing about these warmers is the fact that there are so many different styles available that you can look at so really, you can find any style that suits your bathroom.

Other towel warmers are hydronic. You will find that these typically cost more than electric ones. This is partly because they are powered by hot water. They have a pipe, through which hot water continuously circulates. A valve controls the device. In general, this type of warmer can increase the humidity levels in the bathroom.

Finding the ideal towel warmer for you is hard but not impossible. Just make sure that you choose which one you really want and which style that is going to fit into your bathroom decor and overall appeal very well!

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Saturday, February 20, 2010

Finding The Perfect Patio Doors

By Adriana Noton

It is a hard task trying to pick out the perfect patio doors. There are such a variety of styles and types offered that consumers often have a hard time finding the perfect patio doors. When searching you need to narrow it down based on what you desire and the price you are willing to spend on the doors.

The most common type of doors used for patios are the sliding glass doors and French doors. These are not the only types available though. There are also center swing doors and entry system doors. There are several differences to take into consideration. French doors and sliding glass doors are readily available since most of the time they are prefabricated. Center swing and entry system doors are custom made and can take some time to obtain. However, any of these doors can be prefabricated or customized; it is solely up to your discretion.

Sliding glass doors are popular with a lot of people because they are some of the cheapest doors available. Sliding glass doors are mounted on tracks making them able to slide back and forth. The majority of problems with sliding glass doors come from the tracks being damaged or broken. If anything happens to these tracks the doors lose their ability to open and shut properly and they also tend to allow water and air to seep in. Sliding glass doors are appealing to the eye and allow for optimum visibility. They are also a practical choice for someone looking to have a temporary quick alternative for ease of access to and from a patio but they are not the wisest choice for a permanent patio entrance.

French doors on the other hand are durable and aesthetically pleasing. These doors are hinged and therefore can withstand a lot more usage than the sliding glass door. Most French doors allow for visual ability since they are constructed with glass panels; however it is possible to get them as solid doors also. French doors make great patio doors. They are durable and encased allowing them to maintain their ability to prevent air and water from entering. The only thing you may have to replace is weather stripping, which can sometimes dry rot over time. All in all, French doors are probably your best bet for being practical and cost effective.

Center swing doors are not very practical for use as exit or entry doors, they are more commonly found on closets or bedrooms. A center swing door is typically made of all wood, plastic or fiberglass with no glass; however it is possible to have these doors custom made to include glass panels. Center swing doors are much like sliding doors in that they are not constructed to weather high usage and can quickly lead to leaking and losing their airtight qualities. These doors are not highly recommended for use entering or exiting an area such as a patio.

If price is not an issue then the way to go would be entry system doors. These types of doors can be custom made to fit any specifications and generally include luxuries such as transoms and sidelights. These doors can be all glass, a combination of solid and glass or just solid. There are some prefabricated entry system doors but most of the time these are custom made to fit customers specific needs. These doors are constructed to be airtight and leak proof; however, you will pay the price for this type of door. Entry system doors can be as simple or elegant as you desire, it is just a matter of what you are willing to spend.

There are definitely options when it comes to purchasing patio doors. The main thing to consider is construction, durability and practicality. There are doors that look good but just are not practical. You want to get the best door at a reasonable price. When choosing a door for something such as a patio, you are also going to want something that allows visual mobility opposed to something that is solid.

Patio doors are often a focal point in some homes so you want to make sure you get something that is going to be aesthetically pleasing. When making your purchase you need to compare your options and go for something that is cost efficient. If you have to worry about replacing entire entrances because of skimping this is not going to save you money. Your best bet is to go with the fastest grown patio doors; the French doors.

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Monday, February 15, 2010

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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Big Bear Short Sales: The Bad and The Bad

By Marie Strahg

A question I seem to get quite a bit these days from my clients is " What is the difference between short sales and REO's?" I then , usually, go into a whole explanation of the pro's and con's of each, and end up telling them that REO's are superior in every way. I have a couple of dealings over the past couple of months that really bring this point home.

The first family I had been dealing with for a little of a year. They were from North Hollywood and had been in search of a place in my area for quite awhile. When we first began our search, we couldn't find anything that sparked their interests. They had made the decision to wait about a year or so in the hopes that the prices of homes would eventually fall.

So, I took them out a couple of months ago and found a cabin that was perfect for them. The cabin is super clean and situated on a great lot with a ton of beautiful oak trees. Even at the $149,900 price tag, it was a great deal. The one big problem with it was it being a short sale listing. I warned them of the major hassles that usually accompany buying a short sale, but they liked the house enough to risk it.

A month into the process we still hadn't heard back from the bank. At this point I was fairly certain the listing agent was full of it and hadn't really done what he needed to do to get a short sale done. I told my clients that all we could really do was wait and see what the bank would do. After a month and a half, the listing agent called me to say that the bank had just taken the listing away from him and never gave us an answer.

Which just goes to show you that short sales can be very unpredictable. I am sure this saga will continue...

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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Big Bear Lake Blanketed

By Karen Richardson

This year Big Bear Lake, CA had an epic snow storm. Most of Southern California experienced flooding that damaged many buildings in the coastal cities. But we were absolutely buried in frosty precipitation. There are different cities in the Bear Valley area like Moonridge, Fawnskin and Sugarloaf and they all took their own measure of beating, but what I was amazed by was the sense of community and brotherhood.

At first I began to question living in Big Bear because of these scenarios but now I feel a sense of confirmation. Rooftops are covered in feet of snow and holding, Chimneys are heating homes where the power is out. But all in all these abodes are boding well. And now my family is snuggled by the fire playing Yahtzee and telling stories by candlelight and strolling through the streets of fantastic snow hills in the early morning.

I admit I was secretly terrified that we would all be stranded and trapped like the Donner Party but as we began to dig out of our driveway, I felt a ray of hope. And then I saw neighbors helping neighbors with their trapped vehicles. And as I walked to the end of my block to search for any evidence of plowed road, I passed smiling faces and welcoming waves. We asked each other if we needed anything and offered our open doors.

When I walked back to my house, I was welcomed by my husband in his robe with a cup of coffee. My kids were sitting on the floor of the living room playing cards and something felt right about it all. We had everything we need and we had each other. It is actually quite a relaxing getaway.

We were definitely forging new memories together in our new environment. It was very special to me. It seemed like we did the same thing every day, but oddly enough it did not bother any of us too much. Well, maybe my teenager.

I think the best part and the key part is that we don't drive down the hill at the end of the weekend, we just head back home on the side streets while traffic stalls on the main boulevard. It's nice to know the little tricks. It's nice to have a home in Big Bear.

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Monday, February 8, 2010

Realty Micromanagement

By Marcus Fetzer

Recently, my clients and I threw a hat in the ring for a bank-owned property. Form my previous experience, it seemed like everything was going smoothly.

A week had come and gone, and I still hadn't had any concerns yet. Then after two weeks went by, and no response still, I knew something was going on. I called and e-mailed the selling agent religiously for three days, and still no response. Finally, as a last ditch approach to getting some type of response, I had to call the agents broker. They then turned me over to their assistant, and she did appear to have more knowledge then I had expected about what was going on.

Finally after a long and drawn out two weeks, I received a notice giving me an extension due to the bank opening the escrow with the wrong company. How is it even possible to not be aware of what company you are dealing with? Thank goodness I decided to give the broker a call, otherwise the selling agent would have just coasted along and not have been able to put a stop to the madness.

I've also been fortunate enough to experience dealings that were completely opposite from this situation. I had sold a property not to long ago for an agent listed in Lake Arrowhead. It wasn't a surprise when it took awhile for the bank to finally open the escrow, but the rest of the closing process was very successful. This agent was very good at keeping me updated, as well was her assistant. I was then able to complete all of my paperwork correctly and in a timely fashion.

Since the agent I worked with was knowledgeable and on top of the situation, it allowed me to deliver outstanding customer service to my client. It is always a wise decision to ask your Realtor a couple of detailed questions about how they work so you can be sure you are getting the service you deserve. It is always beneficial to work with an agent that is full time versus someone who is only part time. Your Realtor should also be very intuitive about your local market and how it works.

If you are planning on buying in Big Bear, it is a very bad idea to use somebody from L.A. or Orange County. If you are planning on buying a Bank Owned listing, it is especially important to use somebody who is experienced in selling them. The banks do thing very differently and a Realtor who doesn't know what they are doing can blow the deal or end up costing you a great deal of money.

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