Monthly Archives: February 2009

There are many people who think of rugs as just a covering for the floors in their home. However, it is more than that. It is more than just something that people put their feet on when they walk in your home.

Rugs are made to provide comfort as well as being a conversation piece. They can enhance the way the rooms in your home are displayed. Once dull and drab, with rugs, the rooms can make a statement.

For children, they can be a learning tool, using rugs that have alphabets or numbers. Even those that have animals on them can help them to learn what the different animals are. For those children who like sports, rugs in their room can give them a sense of pride in their favorite sporting event.

If you have blemishes and dents in some of the walls of your rooms, you can use rugs to cover them up and no one will know what’s behind them, unless they decide to be nosy and look or an occupant in the house says something.

Otherwise, the blemishes and dents will remain a secret. You can find various shapes, styles, colors and sizes that will blend in with the rooms in your home to make them look unique. They will provide a sense of creativity and openness.

Rugs can also be used to reduce the noise you endure in your home. Just imagine kids fighting and screaming at the top of their lungs. They work as absorbers so that you won’t hear the loud decibels that come out of their mouths when they are screaming at the top of their lungs. There would also be less chance of you being disturbed when you are concentrating on something.

If you are trying to keep your marble and hardwood floors free or scratches, scrapes and scuffs, rugs can be used as floor protectors. These things are easier to remove if the marks are fresh. If they have been there for a period of time or they are just plain difficult to remove, then you’ll have to get those areas replaced.

Replacing them means money-money that you were not prepared to spend at that time. Also, safety is another factor in having rugs on these kinds of floors. People can easily slip and fall if they are not there.

Going online to solve these issues is a no-brainer. Of course, there will be those who prefer to venture outside of the home. However, being able to browse online for rugs is the simplest way to get the problems solved.

Are the high fees of commercial real estate brokers really justified?

It depends what you get for your money. Today’s professional commercial real estate broker provides a whole host of services and expertise that was unknown 20 years ago. Fees are not regulated, and you are free to test the open market and hire the services that you need. But there is a reason that most Fortune 500 companies have outsourced their real estate needs to a third party commercial real estate firm.

If Fortune 500 firms have difficulty developing in-house expertise with all their capital and resources, how will you fare? They know that today’s sophisticated commercial real estate market requires a level of expertise that is difficult to develop with an in-house real estate department. You are entitled to this level of expertise today, and if you are not receiving it, your real estate expense may not be justified.

Your broker should save you a multiple of the “high fees” that he or she is paid. I represented a non-profit agency some years ago that was renting their headquarters in a Class A office building. I made the case, and demonstrated it with spreadsheets, that they should purchase a building to achieve substantial savings in real estate tax expense. They followed my advice, we purchased a 25,000 square foot office building, and they are now saving over $200,000 a year. My fee was a small fraction of their savings.

In a different example, we recently represented a manufacturing company on an exclusive basis. With our client, we looked at an industrial building that seemed to meet all our requirements, and it quickly zoomed to the top of our negotiating list. I remembered, however, that there was a superfund site in the neighborhood. I made a quick call to the president of an environmental company that we have worked with for many years, and he ordered the appropriate due-diligence reports. Within a few days, I had my verbal reply, “Hands off!” The cost of the reports was under $1,000 (which we absorbed) and we saved our client the legal expense of ordering contracts, and conducting his own Phase I, and ultimately Phase II, investigation. Not to mention the time savings involved! Your broker should be bringing this sort of knowledge and expertise to the table.

Finally, many people forget that most brokers work on a contingency basis, and that the fees are necessarily higher to compensate the broker for absorbing the risk. If the transaction is not completed, you generally have no obligation to pay a broker, regardless of the work or expense incurred on your behalf. (Our firm will accept compensation in any of three ways, depending on our client’s needs and desires: on a retainer, by the hour, or on a contingency basis. Over 95% of our clients choose contingency.)

Are the “high fees” of your real estate broker justified? Make sure they are! Hire the talent you need and insist on the most up-to-date representation. Your savings will be a multiple of your broker’s pay check.

The time has arrived; we have decided that we are going to build a new swimming pool. What should we do first? Here are some ideas to get you started down the right path and on your way to your new fun filled backyard.

The best way to start the process is to locate a property survey, if available, to determine the amount of space available for your new swimming pool. Once you have reviewed the survey, scope out your property and decide the best area and location for your new pool. Try to determine the shape of your pool, where you would like the shallow and deep end, location of the steps, location of water features, equipment location and size and area of the deck. Also think about fencing which may be required, landscaping, outdoor kitchen areas, entertainment areas and yard lighting.

What is next?

The next item for consideration is which contractors will you have visit your property and offer a proposal for your new swimming pool? This is an important decision and should not be taken lightly. Choose swimming pool contractors which can offer ideas and suggestions for your new backyard oasis. Contractors should not be afraid to offer corrections and improvements to your ideas if necessary. Review contractor’s licenses, insurance and background before selecting any particular builder for your project.

One of the most important items to consider in today’s pool market is, choose a contractor who can offer 3D design pictures of your new backyard swimming pool in the completed stage. Computer software is now available to design and show your new swimming pool, spa, water features, landscaping, planters, outdoor furniture, equipment location, outdoor kitchens and deck areas. Pictures should also show fencing, the house in relationship to the pool, rivers, lakes or ponds in the surrounding areas. 3 D images and pictures can show different colors of tile, decking, pool interior finishes and lighting. Contractors should also offer different views of the pool and also be able to show various shapes and designs which would function on your property.

3D design pictures are a great way to see and predict how your new backyard is going to look. Don’t settle for a flat sketch or drawing, demand to see your new pool in its completed mode. Use the pictures to help consider other items such a landscaping and fencing which should be considered when costing out your project.

Once your contractor has been chosen and the construction has begun, have fun watching your 3D design turn into reality.

If you live in an apartment, condominium or small house one of the issues you may have is getting the furniture you want into the small area you have. Usually, the biggest problem comes in the area of dining sets. Usually, the dining room and dining sets take up a lot of space in a home. So, how do you have the dining sets you need without feeling cramped in your home? The answer is to think small.

One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by choosing a bistro table instead of more traditional dining sets. Traditional sets include a large dining table and a number of chairs. If you have a large family this may be necessary. By, if you have a smaller family, or there are just two of you, a bistro table may be more than enough. Traditionally, a bistro table is a small roundtable that has two chairs. Sometimes, bistro tables can have four chairs just in case you need a little extra space.

Bistro tables can be put in a number of places in the home, not just the dining room. If you have a small studio apartment, you may not even have a dining room. In this case, your small sets can go in the kitchen or you could eat outside in the backyard or on the balcony so you can appreciate a meal in the open fresh air.

The next thing to think of when purchasing dining sets for a small home is the shape of the table. If you’re not sure which is the best way to go, you should look for a round dining table. The reason for this is that round tables are easier to maneuver around. Instead of having corners that you can keep bumping up against, you can easily slide around a round table in a tight space.

Additionally, consider the chairs you’re going to purchase with your dining sets. Most people think chairs are chairs. They don’t consider the added items chairs may have on them that can make a difference when it comes to the space a dining set takes. For example, dining sets that have chairs with armrests are going to take a lot more space than chairs without. Just by their nature armrests take up a lot of space. If no one is sitting at the table, the chairs usually cannot be pushed all away in because the armrests will stop that from happening. If people are sitting at the table they are going to sit back further because of the armrests, so they can get in and out of the chairs. Armrests are going to need a lot more of that precious floor space you were trying to save.

Just because you live in a small home does not mean you can’t have all the comforts of dining sets. The key is in knowing what will fit and how to make it fit to create a home environment you love.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops including that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it is dining room furniture for your dining room or kitchen tables for you newly remodeled home, there are many tips you can use to make any spot both functional and beautiful. Click today and indulge your senses.

Often it seems that stylish and affordable don’t go well together, but when it comes to window coverings, there are some good options available. If you are looking for window blinds on a budget, knowing what type to look for can help you to find the best values. So lets look at some of the types of window coverings to look for.

If you like the look of wood blinds, check out faux wood. These are a composite material that has the appearance of the real thing. However, they do not have the high price tag.

Roller blinds can often be an affordable option. But not only that, they can be very stylish. They can be found in many different colors and textures, so the styles can vary quite a bit. Regardless of your preferences, there is a good chance that you can find something that fits them with this type of window treatment.

When it comes to venetian blinds, the material will effect the price. Look for options that are made out of faux wood, vinyl, or metal, as these materials will tend to be relatively affordable. Vinyl is often the most inexpensive option, and there are a lot of great colors available. So you have a lot of flexibility in creating the type of style that you like.

So keep this information in mind when it comes time to purchase new blinds. For most of us, saving money is always important. So whether you need blinds for your home or for your office, remember that you don’t always have to spend a lot of money to create a stylish appearance.