You buy homeowners insurance to cover possible future losses. You want to reduce your risk. But submitting a claim – any claim – is a risk. The insurance companies will punish you for daring to use the policy you paid for.
Once in a Decade
Homeowners submit a claim once every 9-10 years. According to the Insurance Information Institute (iii), wind and hail account for the largest share of claims (2.4%). However, fire and lightening caused the most damage. From 2012 to 2016, the average incurred losses were $50,315. Wind and hail average incurred losses were $8,625. Nearly 83% less paid out in claims.
Drop You Like a Bad Habit
On average, homeowners and renters pay $1,192 a year for insurance. (Based on 2016 numbers.) That does not include flood insurance and any additional riders you may have for, say, jewelry. You are justified in believing that you should be able to submit a claim for any loss. Unfortunately, if you submit too many claims, your insurance company will drop you like a bad habit. In fact, some insurers will drop you after one claim.
We Don’t Want You
Insurance companies, obviously, want to provide insurance to people who have the lowest risk of submitting a claim. If you have filed more than one claim in the last decade, they don’t want you. If the previous owner of your home filed several claims, they don’t want your house. Why? All those claims add up to poor maintenance. If they believe your home is “accident-prone” – due to an old roof or a bad plumbing system – they don’t want to insure it. Or, they will happily insure it for a much higher premium.
How Do They Know?
When you’re getting a quote for homeowners insurance, the agent will ask how many claims you’ve submitted in the past. They already know. Insurance companies use one of two databases to track claims: The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) and the Automated Property Loss Underwriting System (A-PLUS). The database goes back five years. Most insurance companies purge older records.
Get A Clue
If you’re buying a home, insist that the seller provide you with a CLUE report. Protect yourself further by having an insurance contingency. This allows you to get out of the contract if you find you can’t insure the property or the premiums are very high.
Is It Worth It?
Filing one claim can raise your premium by about 10%. A liability claim is more expensive with a premium increase of 14%. File a second claim within that 9- to 10-year period and you could see your premium jump 20%. The size of the claim has little to do with the premium increase. It’s the act of filing a claim that the insurance company objects to. So, if you’re going to file a claim, make sure it’s worth it. Let’s look at two scenarios:
- You pay $1,200 a year for homeowners. You have a water damage claim for $2,000. You have a $500 deductible. The most you’ll get is $1500. Your premium could go up 10% costing $120 more per year. Let’s assume the insurance company doesn’t drop you after one claim. That means you can’t submit another claim for 10 years. Not adjusting for inflation, the additional premium is $1,200. You would net $300 for this claim.
- You have a fire that causes $50,000 in damage. This one’s a no-brainer. Of course you file a claim. However, if you had filed the above claim, your insurance company will drop you and it will be hard to find affordable coverage with two claims on your record.
Aim High
You should get the highest possible deductible you can afford to lower the premium. Unfortunately, some companies put a cap on the deductible. That’s just one variable that impacts the premium, so shop around. It’s possible that the company with the $1,000 max deductible costs less than the one that allows a $5,000 deductible.
Independence
If you are dropped for filing too many claims, work with an independent insurance agent to find affordable coverage. They have access to many different companies. This is more efficient than your calling several companies separately. It helps if you can show that you fixed problems that led to the claims you filed.
Think Twice
Think twice before you file small claims on your homeowners policy. It may cost you more in the long run by having to pay higher premiums. Consider your homeowners policy risk mitigation for big events – like a fire. Then, adjust your coverage to reduce your premium. This way you’re not paying for protection you’ll never use.
Resources:
https://finance.zacks.com/average-homeowner-file-insurance-claims-8387.html
https://www.uphelp.org/pubs/claim-or-not-claim%E2%80%A6that-question-david-shaffer
https://claimsmate.com/how-does-filing-a-homeowners-insurance-claim-affect-insurance-policy-rates/
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-homeowners-and-renters-insurance
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/insurance/auto-home-insurance-claims-reports/
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/clue-report-real-estate-2866520
This article was a sample written for a prospective client. It is written in story style.
It’s Cold Season
You feel like you have a cold coming on. You keep coughing and your
throat feels hoarse. Every time you cough or laugh your chest hurts.
Now that you think about it, this cold has been coming on for months.
You go to the doctor and after some tests she tells you the unthinkable:
You have lung cancer. You’re wondering how that’s possible. You never
smoked. You didn’t hang around people who smoked.
A Natural (Airborne) Killer
There
may be a silent killer in your home called radon gas. You can’t see it,
smell it, or taste it. It is naturally occurring, but don’t equate
natural with harmless. Radioactive elements such as uranium are found in
soil and rock nearly everywhere in the world. Over time these elements
break down and release radon gas into the air. Once airborne, radon can
find its way into your home.
Radon
poisoning is symptomless. You only know you’ve been poisoned when you
develop lung cancer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), 21,000 people die of lung cancer linked to radon poisoning each
year. It’s the second leading cause of lung cancer. (Smoking is the
first.) Some research shows that radon gas may also be linked to
childhood leukemia and other cancers, but the evidence for that is not
as strong as it is for lung cancer.
The Air You Breathe
Radon gas is in the air around you. In small amounts, it can’t hurt you. Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). You’re at risk if your home has high levels of radon gas. When radon gas is consistently 4.0 pCi/L or higher, the air
you breathe is literally poisoned. Radon gets into the lining of your
lungs. The radiation it gives off damages your cells and can lead to
lung cancer. It takes a long time; about 5-25 years. The EPA estimates that 1 in 15 homes in the United States has elevated radon levels. It
can vary from house to house. The soil underneath your home may be
giving off higher levels of radon than your neighbor’s home.
Seek Professional Help
The first thing you want to do is hire a professional to test the radon levels in your home. If your levels are 4.0 pCi/L or higher,
a licensed radon mitigation contractor can help you develop a plan.
There are several ways to reduce the amount of radon coming into your
home. Your
risk mitigation plan may include sealing and caulking cracks in your
foundation and running a pipe from the soil up to the roof to release
radon gas outside your home.
Breathe Easy
Sometimes
a cold is just a cold. But you’ll breathe easier if you can rule out
high levels of radon in your home. You may not be able to see radon gas,
but a professional inspector can find it. The charge is very
reasonable: It typically costs $150 to $300 to have your home inspected.
A small price to pay to know that you and your family are safe now and
in the future.
This client likes articles with a lot of facts and figures weaved in.
Just Another Hurricane
She’d
lived through Florida hurricanes before. The news always made a bigger
deal out of it than it really was. Bev, her husband, and the kids
hunkered down and waited for Irma to pass them by. Not this time. With the hurricane bearing
down on them, they high-tailed it out of there. Irma smashed the
Florida Keys as a category 4 and sustained 185 MPH winds for 37 hours.
Irma caused $50 billion in damage and claimed the lives of nearly 100
souls. Amazingly, they came home to a house with no damage. Bev and her family were indeed lucky.
Major Savings
When Bev refinanced her home this year, the lender insisted upon a Wind Mitigation Inspection.
Good thing. The inspection was a major factor in saving $3K a year on
her home insurance. Coverage for wind damage is the most expensive part
of a Florida homeowners policy. After the devastating 2004 hurricane season, insurance companies raised premiums considerably. The largest hurricanes that year ― Charlie , Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne ― resulted in thousands of deaths and tens of billions of dollars in damage. The Florida legislature recognized the impact this was going to have on families. In response, they required insurance companies to give discounts for home features that minimize wind damage. Homeowners who complete a Wind Mitigation Inspection could
receive discounts up to 89% on the wind damage portion of their policy.
For $70-$100, a homeowner could potentially save thousands. At the very
least, they would save enough to cover the cost of the inspection. The
inspection and subsequent savings are good for five years.
Form Matters
It is important that the licensed inspector use the right form. The 01/12 update to the OIR-B1-1802 Uniform Wind Mitigation Inspection form went into effect February 1, 2012. It supersedes the original 2012 form. The new version is
much more comprehensive and gives homeowners the opportunity to realize
more savings. For example, high impact windows are now separated out
from other building entrances (like your garage) and may provide
additional discounts. You’ll want to give the inspector as much
documentation as possible, such as permits for shutters and Notice of Acceptance (NOA) for Exterior Opening Protection. These show that you have installed these items and had them approved.
Risk Reduction
A
licensed Wind Mitigation Inspector must perform the inspection. They
are looking for building features that reduce the risk of wind damage.
The 01/12 form requires them to provide detailed information about your roof, doors, and windows.
First, they want to know if your roof was built in compliance with the Florida Building Code. The specific code requirement is based on the age of the house and location.
Most
of the inspection is related to your roof. The shape of the roof
matters. A “hip” roof (sloped inward on all four sides) is the most
wind-resistant. They care about the material that covers your roof, but
how it is attached is critical. Is the roof decking attached to the rafters
or trusses below? They also inspect how the trusses or rafters are
attached to the walls. The inspector must identify the weakest points in
the roof-to-deck and roof-to-wall attachments.
The Details Matter
The
discounts are definitely in the details. How a roof is attached to the
rafters is just one example. The type of nail and the spacing between
them determines uplift resistance strength. This minor detail can double
the chances of your roof staying on during a hurricane.
The
Wind Mitigation Inspection also examines secondary water resistance
(such as a foam barrier) and opening protection. The addition of
hurricane shutters and impact-resistant windows and doors can result in
higher discounts, depending on the type.
The
one thing you never want to do is list a building feature that you
don’t have in order to get a discount. It’s a class one misdemeanor. The
state of Florida takes this seriously.
Worth More Than Discounts
No doubt that potentially saving thousands is an incentive to get a Wind Mitigation Inspection. But finding ways to protect your property from getting destroyed in a hurricane is even more important. Bev
is no longer counting on luck to get her and her family through the
next hurricane. Risk mitigation and a full tank of gas go a long way.
[This article is used to promote VPNPro]
It’s amazing that most of us have our lives integrated with our smartphones. How much of your life flows through your phone? Let us count the ways: Photos, videos, email, texting, personal and work documents, and notes. We use apps to play games and find love. We talk to friends through Facetime and Marco Polo. We research everything from when our fave celebrity was born to how to fix a faucet. We use social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn. Our phones remind us of meetings, birthdays, doctor appointments. We use them as music and book libraries. We watch movies, listen to podcasts, and keep up with the news. We do our banking on them. We use them to shop for holiday gifts and order groceries. And so much more.
In many ways, smartphones are the engines of our lives. Yet, most of us do little to protect so much. One of the key ways to protect data flowing in and out of your smartphone is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
Okay, I’ll Use It. What Is It?
Nearly everything we do with our smartphones is done over the internet. At a high level, a VPN gives you access to a secure network. Like using the cloud to store your files, there are advantages to using someone else’s servers while using the internet. There are several benefits to using a VPN app. Here are our top three reasons why it’s smart to use a VPN on your smartphone.
Reason #1: Public WiFi.
Whether you’re at a coffeehouse, an airport waiting room, or the gym, it’s convenient to use publicly available WiFi. For those of us who have a limited data plan, it can save money. Sometimes it provides a faster connection speed. But, like all things in life, it’s not totally free. Using public WiFi leaves you wide open to hackers. Using a VPN over public WiFi secures an insecure public network. A VPN encrypts your data before it sends it over the network. The strength of that encryption varies from vendor to vendor. Even a weaker encryption protocol is better than none at all. Most hackers are just trying to quickly grab your credit card number or password. They are not likely to take the time to try and decrypt the data they steal.
Reason 2: Stay Anonymous.
There are times we visit websites that we would prefer others not know about. Like searching for information about a medical ailment. (And the other kind of website you thought I was going to mention.) There are ways to clear your browser history. You don’t have to remember to do that when you use a VPN for web browsing.
In 2017, the U.S. stripped away a key internet privacy protection from its citizens. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) can sell any American’s web browsing data without their consent. When you use a VPN to browse the internet, only the fact that you were browsing through a VPN is logged. That’s all your ISP will know.
Reason 3: Geo-blocking.
Is it possible to be in two places at once? A VPN makes that virtually possible. Some companies and governments block websites and content based on your physical location. This is called “geo-blocking.” When you use a VPN to connect to the internet, you can connect to any server in the VPN network. If you’re in China, you can use a VPN to get around their government’s restrictions. Or, if you’re in England and want to watch shows that are only shown in the U.S. When you connect to a VPN server in another country, you appear (at least online) to physically be in that country.
How does Netflix know where you are? Your Internet Protocol (IP) address gives you away. IP addresses are assigned on the fly. If you’re home in Boise, Idaho surfing on your phone, your ISP assigns one address. Take your phone to your local coffeeshop and use the internet to watch cat videos, and your IP address changes. This is how your ISP knows where you are and what device you are using. That information is embedded in the IP address. A VPN hides that address and provides a VPN IP address in its place.
What’s So Good About It
There are a few things to look for when selecting a VPN vendor. If you want to use a VPN to access Netflix content in other countries, make sure the VPN you select explicitly offers this feature. If you’re a newbie to using a VPN, select a vendor with 24/7 customer service. There are technical considerations related to data leakage, type of encryption used, server farm size, and geo-blocking. If your eyes started to glaze over while reading the previous sentence, no worries. We can help you find the best VPN service here: https://vpnpro.com/best-vpn-services/.
Free Comes at A Cost
You can get a free a VPN, but it will not be as robust and reliable as a paid version. The whole point of using a VPN app on your smartphone is to protect a very important piece of hardware in your life. Don’t cheap out on security. Really, it’s not that expensive. Sign up for a free trial version so you can try it out before you buy it.
It’s Your Life
Our smartphones are small, but mighty. They hold memories and secrets. Keep yours safe.
Resources
https://speedify.com/blog/true-mobile-vpn/why-use-vpn-your-phone-5-reasons/
https://tech.co/safe-to-use-vpn-phone-201-07
https://www.wired.com/2017/03/want-use-vpn-protect-privacy-start/
[The client, a property investment company, asked for a short sales letter that targets anyone who needs to sell their home fast.]
Sometimes life comes at you fast and you need to act quickly. Maybe you’re going through a divorce, filing for bankruptcy, or can no longer make your mortgage payments. Other people may choose to sell their home, but you may need to sell your home. And sell it now.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could avoid having to find a realtor to list your property? Or have a bunch of strangers wandering through your bedrooms and peeking in your closets? Then you’re supposed to keep it looking like a model home. Try doing that with three kids and a full-time job.
Maybe you already have a great real estate agent and don’t mind listing your home. But your house needs a lot of repairs and you just don’t have the money. Heck, if you did, you wouldn’t be selling your home!
There’s an easy solution: Call PDuran Properties. We are investors who buy homes in nearly any condition – fast. We buy your home as-is, for cash. No commissions, no fees, no closing costs, and a quick close. In most cases, we can close in just 3-5 days.
We work with a team of professionals to ensure a smooth transaction every time. People who understand that you’re going through a tough time and just need to move on with your life.
Helping families like yours is what we do. Every day. If you just need to sell your home quickly – for any reason – you may be able to sell your home to PDuran Properties. We make it as stress-free as possible.
Call PDuran Properties today at 817-662-7106. Or visit our website to learn more: www.pduranproperties.com. We work hard to get you the most $$$ for your house…fast.
[This article is to promote a local bankruptcy attorney. In the final version, his contact information is added at the end.]
How Bad Can It Get?
You’re rolling along, paying your bills, even putting a bit of money in savings each month. You’re prepared for a rainy day…but not a tsunami. Then one day, tragedy strikes. You lose your job or a family member gets sick and the medical bills start piling up. Now you’re struggling to make your mortgage payments. What can you do?
You’re thinking if things get really bad, you can just file for bankruptcy. Truth is, you’re not really sure what that means. It just sounds like a way out.
Bankruptcy may be the answer to your troubled prayers. There are several different types of bankruptcies.
Chapters 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, And 15 – Dealers Choice
There are six different types of bankruptcies outlined in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The numbers refer to the chapters in the code. Unless you’re a municipality or doing business with a foreign country, chapters 9 and 15 won’t apply to you. Although you may own a family farm (not a far-fetched possibility in Texas), chapter 12 is not likely a consideration for you. Most folks have heard about the other types: Chapters 7, 11, and 13. Which type is right for you?
Chapter 7 – Liquidate & Close Up Shop
Think of Chapter 7 bankruptcy as the “you can’t squeeze blood out of a stone” type of financial relief. When an individual just can’t come up with the cash – even given extra time – they will file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Businesses can also file under Chapter 7 if they want to liquidate all their assets and close up shop.
In fact, Chapter 7 bankruptcy is referred to as “liquidation.” It’s a way of starting over. Big, bad debt is holding you down and you can legally cry “uncle.” (For those a bit younger, this is when the neighborhood bully would hold you down until you would scream “uncle.” Why that particular word? Why not?)
Can I Keep My Home and Rolex?
Can you keep your home if you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy? The answer is: Maybe. If you are current on your mortgage and don’t have a lot of equity in the home that can be used to pay your debts, it is more likely. If you have benefited from rising home prices, you may have to liquidate that asset to raise cash to pay off your creditors.
There are many assets that typically cannot be discharged under Chapter 7 bankruptcy. (A discharged debt is one that you are no longer personally liable for. The creditor cannot come after you for it, say, through collections.) It’s a pretty long list and includes back child support, alimony, and student loans. It also includes luxury goods over certain proscribed amounts. So, if you think that you can go buy a 30K engagement ring for your honey prior to filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy and not have to pay for it, think again. Ultimately, it is the judge who gives the final word on whether a debt can be discharged. A judge will not likely think kindly on a person who believes they can get thousands of dollars in luxury goods for free through bankruptcy.
Chapter 11 – Keep The Doors Open
This type of bankruptcy is for commercial businesses who want to remain in business. An agreement is made with creditors to get at least some of their money back without forcing the enterprise to close its doors.
Chapter 13 – Let’s Make A Deal
Chapter 13 bankruptcy is for those who have a regular income and want to pay their creditors. They just need more time and perhaps some debt relief. If you’re in debt up to your ears, want to do the right thing, but not lose your home, Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be right for you.
Under Chapter 13 bankruptcy you can discharge debts that are not allowable under Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Items such as alimony and student loans. A plan to payback your creditors is created and must be approved by a judge. Your payments go through a trustee. Over the life of the plan (usually three to five years), you deal with the trustee who in turn deals with the creditors. Any collection activity must stop and your creditors cannot take further legal steps to collect your outstanding debt.
Exemptions – Fido & The Family Bible
Exemptions are assets that the creditors cannot force you to sell. There is a list of federal exemptions and a list of state exemptions. In Texas, you pick one list to work from. The Texas list of exemptions is more generous. It’s also quite interesting. You can exempt up to two firearms, your family bible, and some of your pets. There is a total exemption limit depending on your marital status.
Don’t Go It Alone!
Bankruptcy is not the right choice for everyone, but it may be the right choice for you. Don’t go it alone! Find a reputable bankruptcy attorney to explain your options and walk you through each step of the process. It just may save your home.
Originally posted on www.ShielaHanlon.net.
We know that selling your home is a stressful. For most people, selling their home is the biggest financial transaction they will make in their lives.
Selling your home comes down to three key areas:
Price
You want to price your home at or just below market value. Your real estate agent will provide you with information on comparable homes that have recently sold in your neighborhood. This, in consideration of your personal situation, will help you make the best decision on how to price your home. As your agent receives feedback from prospective buyers and other real estate agents, you can revisit the price, if needed.
Presentation
You want to show your home in the best light possible. And, you want to make
your home appeal to the broadest audience. The more prospective buyers your home attracts, the higher the chance you will sell your home quickly for a good price.
This is the hardest part of selling a home. You have to “de-personalize” the very place that has been a reflection of your individuality; your personal expression of your lifestyle and beliefs. Now, you need to step back and let prospective buyers envision themselves and their life in the home.
Access
You want to make it as easy as possible for buyers to see your home. It’s not easy to do while you’re living there. Allowing a “For Sale” sign to be placed on the property, leaving a lockbox on the door, and keeping the amount of time required to give notice of a showing are all great ways to make your home as accessible to prospective buyers as possible.
Your Home’s Benefits
Every home has at least one key feature that is especially desirable to buyers. Your real estate agent can help you determine what is the best aspect of your home to focus on when staging and marketing your home.
General Staging Recommendations
Suggestions to best show your home to sell quickly in today’s market.
All of these suggestions are to make your home look as big and bright as possible. Why? Because this is what most buyers want.
- Neutralize, de-clutter, and de-personalize to attract the largest potential buyer audience possible. Remember, you want to sell your home! People often have different tastes, different beliefs, different lifestyles, etc. Your goal is to make potential buyers feel comfortable viewing your home.
- The use of each room should be defined. A “multi-use” room confuses potential buyers. When you leave things “up to their imagination” potential buyers may not imagine things in a way that leads to an offer.
- Each room should look as large as possible. You are selling square footage. A 1200 square foot home can “feel” like a 1500 square foot home – and the reverse is also true!
- A prospective buyer should be able to easily move about every room in the home. Nothing should be blocking their way to a window. Especially a window that looks out onto pretty landscaping or views.
The Aroma of Home
We are often focused on how a home looks, but how it smells is nearly as 
important. Smell is a very powerful sense that can evoke pleasant – or unpleasant — memories. You want your buyers to feel that “aroma of home.”
- If you have pets, it is best to have a friend or family member take care of them – or board them – while you are selling the home. If this is not possible, be sure to have somewhere they can safely stay (like a carrier or penned-in area) during showings.
- We get used to the smell of our pets. The smell of a home is very important. I have personally seen buyers walk out of a
home without touring it because they didn’t like the way it smelled.
If possible, keep the areas that your pet(s) can roam around in to a minimum.
- If you smoke in the house, stop now. Like pets, a smoker does not realize how smoke residue smells to non-smokers. Switching to electronic cigarettes is one option.
- Use a pleasant-smelling, but not too strong, plug in. Vanilla, cinnamon, and the like are good options.
- Keep a can of Febreze nearby. A little spray around the rugs, bathrooms, and furniture before a showing can do wonders.
Getting Help
You may want to consider hiring help to clean, paint, and repair. Your real estate agent may be able to recommend some vendors. Otherwise, Yelp, Angie’s List, Thumbtack.com and HomeAdvisor are all good sources. Always get at least three bids for larger jobs. Check reviews and references. See Resources below.
You don’t have to go it alone! Partnering with an experienced Realtor® can help you prepare your home to sell as quickly as possible — for the best possible price.
Shiela Hanlon is a Houston-area Realtor® with many years experience selling residential homes, commercial properties, and land. There are many benefits to working with Shiela. Learn more here.
Resources
https://www.yelp.com/
http://www.angieslist.com/how-it-works.htm
http://www.homeadvisor.com/
https://www.thumbtack.com/
Finding the perfect home can feel impossible.
You’re looking for a home. But, every house is not quite right. It doesn’t have that “open concept” design. Or it does and you want more walls — more defined space. You’d like a bigger kitchen island. Darn! It doesn’t have a 1/2 bath just for guests.
You think, “If only I could afford to build a custom home.” And that may be the right solution for you. Are you ready to make the time and energy commitment required?
Here a 1+ acre lot has been carefully cleared to leave these gorgeous mature trees.
Show Me The Money
Prices for a custom home are typically from $150 to $250 a square foot. It’s more than the money; it’s the many decisions that you have to make. Starting with finding a buildable lot. Is it ready to build on? Or do you need to get water and utilities to the site? Are there grading issues? That’s just the beginning. And you haven’t even hired an architect yet.
You could buy a home from one of the big builders. But, they often limit how many structural changes you can make. And those aesthetic upgrades (crown moulding, etc.) can add up.
An Affordable Option
Turns out, you don’t have to settle. There is a happy medium. A semi-custom builder can offer the best of both worlds. Usually, at a price far less than a “start from scratch” custom home. Their prices are often competitive with comparable homes in the area. They have already selected a buildable lot for you. They have home plans that they have experience building. But, you can decide if you want double ovens, to add a game room, an extra bath, a larger kitchen island, and many more custom choices. Although the big builders will give you a choice of cabinets, they rarely let you choose your color scheme. (I recently bought a tract home and my choice of wall color was light yellow or light yellow.)
The home is being built according to plan, but if you bought even at this later stage in the process, changes like accommodating a larger commercial-quality stove is still possible.
The earlier you purchase the lot from a semi-custom builder, the more changes you can make. But, even in the later stages of building, there are options that you can include. Usually, you have to live with the appliances a large builder has selected. But, with a small semi-custom home builder, you can select exactly what you want. Maybe you want a large commercial-quality stove. In most cases, the kitchen can be reconfigured to accommodate it. That’s just one example.
Your Way at an Affordable Price
You don’t have to choose between a tract home and an expensive, time-consuming custom home. Consider a semi-custom home and make your dreams come true — at an affordable price.
A Local Custom-Quality Builder
For help finding the perfect custom-home builder, contact Shiela Hanlon of Panoramas of Texas at 832-928-1183.
Originally published on LinkedIn.
An artist is inspired to paint again after the death of her father
Corrina Holyoake seemed destined to be an artist and a writer. She even wrote and illustrated a couple of stories at the tender age of nine. As children often do, she considered all kinds of things she could be when she grew up. A dancer, a doctor, an architect. She was in her teens when she decided to pursue a career in art.
“Six years passed and I hadn’t even picked up a paint brush.”
After Corrina completed college, she talked her way into a position with a graphic design company. Unfortunately, five years later there just wasn’t enough work to go around. She then took a job working in a medical and scientific publishing house. Now a technical support advisor for the same company, she admits that it is not an environment that inspires creativity. She says, “Before you knew it, six years passed and I hadn’t even picked up a paint brush.”
Corrina gets her “arty” side from her mother. Her dad, Jack, was the storyteller. She says, “He was in the Navy when he was younger and then moved into rigging.” Jack was posted all over the world. “He had such a colorful life and was quite the traveler.” A bear of a man with an intimidating demeanor, he was the family’s “gentle giant” who wrote poetry for Corrina’s mother.
“Then the unthinkable happened.”
Then the unthinkable happened. Jack got cancer. In 2009, after a painful six years, Corrina’s father passed away. “His passing was very tough going, to watch your big, burly Dad wither away to a husk of a man was heartbreaking to witness.”
“It was like a switch had been flicked. I think I picked up the brushes as a form of therapy and then things snowballed,” she says. Corrina realized illustration was her calling. Since her epiphany, she has been working non-stop painting illustrations for children’s book authors. Then she decided to illustrate her own book. The idea for Animania was inspired by a very silly conversation Corrina had with her 8-year-old son Dylan. “We were discussing how funny it would be to mix animals up. So we came up with creatures such as Antosaurus, Prickly Python and Fluffa Fish.” Another switch went off—her son had created a great idea for a picture book!
Corrina tried very hard to get an agent or traditional publisher to work with her. Finally, she decided to self-publish Animania. “I just wanted to share the book with children and couldn’t wait any longer.”
“I decided to enter straight away.”
As a self-published author, Corrina was now responsible for promoting her own book. She says, “I am still finding my feet with the wonderful world of marketing.” She’s trying many different avenues, including entering Animania into a book competition. She’d heard about The Gittle List, a contest exclusively for indie authors of children’s picture books, on Twitter. “I decided to enter straight away.”
Corrina still grieves the loss of her father. “I would give anything to have just one more night of storytelling from him.“ But his passing opened many new doors to creative endeavors beyond her teen-aged aspirations. Recently, she decided to sponsor the pet therapy organization Critterish Allsorts. She says, “A percentage of all sales go to them. I have always wanted to give something back with my work.” Jack would be proud.
Aviva Gittle Publishing offers great stories for children in English and Spanish, including the Kitten and Friends / Gatito y amigos series. Aviva’s website, www.GoToGittle.com shares the stories of authors, illustrators and others who create books and creative media for children.
Originally published on LinkedIn.
What will you do if you lose your job? Or if there is another Great Recession?
In late 2007, after a wild ride during the housing boom, I knew I was in trouble. I never thought things would get so bad so quickly. I was drowning in a sea of red numbers. I needed to make big changes. Right away.
I knew two things for sure–I had to 1) get my expenses down and 2) stop the bleeding. Oh, the third thing: There was no time to dilly dally, hem and haw, or cry in my soup. (Alright, I did cry.)
Here are 10 ways I handled my situation:
1. Moved to a place where housing and other costs were far less expensive. I can see you shaking your head. “My kids are in school, I love my home, my friends are here…” If you lose your home, you are going to have to move anyway. If your situation is as dire as mine was, you should at least look into it. While you’re at it, consider a smaller home. I once lived in a 3800sf home with 6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and 2 dining rooms. Where did we eat most of the time? Standing up talking around the kitchen island. I used maybe 1/3 of the space 99% of the time.
2. Shed the poorly-performing assets. I waited longer than I should have to do this. Why? Because I kept thinking about how much money I was going to lose in the short-term instead of how much money I was going to save in the long-term. But, even though I lost more up front than I would have had I gotten rid of the “losers” earlier, it ultimately stopped the bleeding of cash. This was key to my financial turn-around.
3. Stopped spending money on nearly everything.
- Somehow “window shopping” turns into real shopping. It was best for me to stay away from temptation, commonly known as “the mall.”
- No more personal services like manicures, pedicures, and colorists. I can shape my own nails, slap on some clear polish, and dye my own hair.
- No more buying clothes.
I can hear the whining now: “But I have to look my best for job interviews.” Yes, you do. My guess is that if you were recently fired, you already have some nice clothes that you wore to work. No need to buy more.
4. Stopped saying, “It’s only $20 bucks…” (Actually, I used to say, “It’s only a couple of grand…”) 20 bucks here; 20 bucks there, before you know it you’re talking some serious money.
You need to go through your credit card and bank statements and find the hidden waste. Do you really need to spend $10 a month on a book club or $14.95 a month for credit card fraud protection (the credit card companies’ fraud prevention measures and some diligence on your part is sufficient). Do you really need vanity plates? Do you need to add another [enter name of un-needed item] to your collection? Do you want to feed your family? Are your collections of stuff edible?
5. Stopped going out to restaurants and taking vacations. (Except for special occasions when someone else was paying for it.)
6. Checked my “I’m rich” ego at the door. Yes, I used to think I was rich. I could have been, but between bad decisions and bad timing, I lost the opportunity. Now it was all about not ending up sleeping on someone’s couch. I had to stop caring so much about what others thought.
Most of what we spend money on is to impress other people. Bigger homes, sportier cars, fancier jewelry. It’s a competition you can never win. There will always be someone richer, smarter, younger, and better looking than you. So what?
7. Lived with the car I already owned. I did not need to have a new car every 2-3 years. The one I owned worked fine and, besides, I didn’t have a car payment. Savings Tip: Wash your car yourself or do a cheap one at the local gas station. No one knows you paid $250 to get your car detailed, but you.
8. Canceled cable and stopped going to the movies. To this day, I have only an internet connection and Smart TVs with Netflix and Hulu. I have plenty to watch. (I can watch my news shows live streaming online.) Just think of all the times you sit on the couch flipping through channels while spending $200 a month for all those movies you don’t want to watch.
9. Created a realistic budget and tracked every dime I spent. For awhile, I gave myself $25 a week for food. I put the cash in a jar and when the money was gone, that was it. I got really good at it. To the point where I had money leftover. The crockpot is your friend. (How to save money on food is a different article.)
10. Managed my own money. I’m not telling you to not use a broker, but no one cares about your money like you do. I started paying attention to the investments in my own portfolio and making my own decisions. I would still consider my broker’s advice, but I didn’t always take it. There was a key moment in September, 2007 that I did not follow his advice. My situation would be very different if I had just followed him blindly. I would have been forced to go back to a full-time cubicle job. I’m lucky; my company would have re-hired me. But, once you’re free, it’s hard to go back.
What I did not do: Cancel my health insurance, stop paying my taxes, homeowner’s and car insurance, or long-term care coverage. Amazing to me that folks won’t quit smoking or stop buying take-out food, but they’ll stop paying for health insurance. Really?
Desperate Times
They say that desperate times call for desperate measures. Truth is, most of these things that we consider essential to our happiness are not required.
Today, my life is my own. I don’t need to get a regular job. (I live on rental income.) My lifestyle is not for everyone. But, I have a choice. Do you? Are you forced to get (or stay in) a job because you’re paying a huge mortgage for a huge house, a big car payment for a fancy car, large minimum payments on 10 credit cards you used on fancy dinners, vacations, and who knows what else?
Get Your House in Order
Are you prepared for a big financial hit? Like another recession? Or being fired? Do you have an exit strategy for your investments? The number one thing you can do before financial disaster strikes is to get your house in order now. In this way, desperate times will require less desperate measures. And, you will already be mentally prepared to downsize your life.
Here’s a great book worth spending money on: Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
Disclosure: Please understand that I do not hold myself up as a shining example. I still spend more money than I think I should. But one thought will keep me in check: I think about being in my 50s looking for a job. That works 95% of the time.
Aviva Gittle is a writer, publisher, real estate investor, and realtor’s assistant. Her company, Aviva Gittle Publishing, offers great stories for children in English and Spanish, including the Kitten and Friends / Gatito y amigos series. Aviva’s website, www.GoToGittle.com shares the stories of authors, illustrators and others who create books and creative media for children.
