My Florida Home Builder

When you move out, downsize your home or go traveling for awhile, you almost always need to find a storage unit to keep some or all of your things in until you figure things out or settle down. The question is how much storage space do you need? How can you figure out exactly how big of a storage unit you need without having to move all your stuff in and then find out that it’s either way too big or way to small, both of which are a problem? If you get a unit that is too small, you either have to upgrade your unit and move all your things into the new one, or get rid of things until you have enough space. If your unit is too large, you are paying extra for space that you don’t even need and chances are, you could really use that money for whatever reason you are storing your stuff for. There are some fairly basic sizes that you can rent units as and most places will tell you approximately how much you can fit into a unit. The normal sized units are as follows.

- 5′ x 5′ self storage unit - 25 square feet. This unit is like a small walk in closet. It’s a good space to keep an overflow of things such as seasonal items (winter or summer clothing, pool toys, sleds and toboggans), toys, boxes and miscellaneous household and office items.

- 5′ x 10′ self storage unit - 50 square feet This size unit is more like a large walk in closet. You can hold a couple of larger items such as a couch, dresser and/or mattress set as well as boxes and other small items. You can always keep bikes, yard equipment and other off-season items like lawn mowers and patio furniture.

- 5′ x 15′ self storage unit - 75 square feet A unit this size would hold the entire contents of a studio or a small one bedroom apartment. It is enough space for one or two peoples things but only if both people are light on belongings.

- 10′ x 10′ self storage unit - 100 square feet

This storage space is the size of a standard one car garage. It can hold the entire contents of a two bedroom apartment and easily can hold the belongings of two people or you could always use it as a garage and store a vehicle or small boat in it instead. If you plan on doing this, make sure that you get a unit that opens to the outdoors rather than into a hallway.

- 10′ x 15′ self storage unit - 150 square feet

This storage space is larger than a one car garage and can hold the entire contents of a three bedroom apartment or home as well as things like motorcycles and exercise equipment.

- 10′ x 20′ self storage unit - 200 square feet

This unit is almost the size of a two car garage. You could use it to accommodate a car, truck, boat or RV as well as some furniture and boxes. This storage space will easily hold a large three bedroom home or apartment or larger and still have some space left over. It is the best unit for families of four or more.

You can either use this as a guideline, or talk to your self storage provider to see what they suggest as the appropriate sized unit. Either way, it is better than trying to guess and do it through trial and error.

There are few situations that will cause as much as much devastation to your credit as claiming bankruptcy. If you unfortunately have to do so at some point, you are going to want to be aware of the many bankruptcy credit repair tips you can use to work towards gaining back a positive credit rating.

Tips to Bankruptcy Credit Repair

Once you have claimed bankruptcy, you may feel as though there is nothing that you will ever be able to do to regain your credit, but although it is going to be very difficult, it is definitely not impossible, and that is the most important thing.

Any bad mark on your credit report, and absolutely the claiming of bankruptcy, remains on your credit record for a maximum of seven years, and after that it is dropped from your record completely. Therefore it is possible, although you will most likely have to wait the full seven years, to come back after filing for bankruptcy.

Getting Started

The first step towards bankruptcy credit repair is to get a credit report. This is really the only way to get started, because you need to be aware of how you stand at the present time. In most cases you should be able to get your own credit report for free or at least for a very nominal charge.

You will need your credit report to understand not only your rating, but also to check for errors. You’ll need to review the report, checking for any errors or negative strikes against you, after which you will work at getting corrected. If you locate an error, you will need to contact the credit bureau directly, offering verification that you do not owe what is listed on the report.

Paying off debt is a critical step towards bankruptcy credit repair, and even if you only owe a few dollars somewhere, if it is showing on your credit report then it is still negatively affecting your credit rating. You should always pay off your highest interest debts first, and remember that the lower the debt you owe the less negative your credit rating is going to be.

There are many other steps you can take towards bankruptcy credit repair. If you have more debt than you can manage repaying, you should consider filing a formal proposal with your creditors, or consider starting a debt management plan.

Credit cards are great, but if not used with common sense and self-control, can easily break your bank and peace of mind. If youve been broken by your credit card, credit repair services are easily available in every state and online to help you. But which credit repair services are legitimate? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has come up with some safety tips for those of you to choose a credit repair or debt reduction service.

What to Look for in a Scam

Just as there are many different options of credit cards, you will find as many, if not more debt reduction companies to match. When looking for a service to help you, make sure they follow federal laws. Most importantly, if a company makes outlandish promises, you should be suspicious. These companies should have one goal in mind teaching you better money management for life, not using various services to fix the problem temporarily. Therefore, if you read advertisements for quick fixes, rather than financial education, beware. Some of the more common statements made associated with a scam include the following:

“100% Guaranteed - We will Repair your Credit”, not possible “Obtain a new credit identity”, illegal “Have low credit ratings, bankruptcies, and liens removed from your credit history” “No credit problem is too hard for us to handle”

The bottom line is that credit repair services can help you get out of debt but to do so, they must adhere to federal laws. This means they must also advise you of free steps you can take to correct and better your credit report. Any company that asks for money upfront to obtain your credit report is lying. You as the consumer can ask for a free report once a year from each of the reporting agencies. Therefore, if they ask for money to obtain one means they are trying to scam you.

All you have to do to get a copy of your reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion is to request one in writing, fill out an online form, or call them on the phone. Now, if you want to find your credit score, which is different from the credit report, you would typically be charged a small fee.

Understanding the Credit Repair Organizations Act

Just like credit cards, credit repair services are big business. The FTC regulates them firmly. And, for your protection, there is such a federal law called The Credit Repair Organizations Act, which you should be aware of. All debt reduction services are required to let you know your rights BEFORE you pay any fees.

In addition, these companies are not allowed to charge you until all of the work is done. Therefore, if any false claims are made regarding the services offered, you have the responsibility to let the FTC know. After all, this would be illegal action on the part of the debt reduction company.

We’ve all heard the saying “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”. It’s often the simple things that are overlooked until it’s too late - things like water. If there is a drought, your landscape and garden will surely feel the effects. There are some things you can do conserve water during or before a drought to help.

First of all, you can mulch your plants. If you’ve already done this, you’re ahead of the game. Mulch will reduce water evaporation in the soil. Plastic mulch is fine for this purpose, but organic mulch will have the added benefit of adding organic material to the soil.

Mulch can go all around your plants in the flower beds, and between rows in a vegetable garden. You should know that it makes it tougher for water to get to the roots as well though.

Since you have a limited supply of water, you should make sure as much of it gets to the roots as possible.

Lawn Sprinklers, for example, are a poor form of irrigation because much of the water is waste on the leaves and other obstructions before reaching the ground. Watering the base of the plants with a slow, gentle, soaking stream of water will be much more efficient.

A drip or trickle irrigation system is a great option. They are inexpensive and easy to install and use. They apply small amounts of water directly to the base of each plant. There will be no wasted water at all using this method.

Make sure you know which of your plants is built to withstand the climate during a drought. You should use the small amount of water you have to keep the weaker plants alive. Plants that are mature and native to the area should survive the drought on their own, this is plain old good lawn care and landscaping advice.

To limit evaporation you should water early in the morning. This will also give plants moisture to deal with the heat of the day ahead of them.

One last tip to deal with drought conditions is to collect any water you can from downspouts when it rains. You’d be surprised how much water your roof catches. Get a large barrel to store the water in to use when needed.

It is not unusual for people to ask what exactly are Bonsai trees? Bonsai trees are diminutive and exquisite examples of larger trees. To keep them small, they spend their lives in shallow containers. Just about any type of tree can be a bonsai.

Garden stores and nurseries usually stock beginner bonsai trees, and they are just sitting there waiting for someone to spend time training them into a exquisite designs. Before training a bonsai, it is a necessity that you consider what is about to happen and what is needed to be successful.

Pointers on Beginner Bonsai Trees

To develop pleasing characteristics for beginner bonsai trees, some limbs of the trees will have to be removed so that a unique display can be presented. Beginner bonsai trees do not possess a pre-ordained shape when you first find them. You just begin with a tiny tree. It is up to their owner to pick out a shape for them to grow into.

It is possible to choose from many bonsai styles. Some of the more popular and less complicated ones include the windswept, cascade, slanting, formal upright, informal upright and the bunjin designs. Hobbyists about to grow beginner bonsai trees are certainly welcome to select any style they will be happy with.

When getting ready to buy a tree, see if a particular bonsai tree has a tendency toward a given shape. How do the truck and branches grow?

Invest some time in learning how to prune the crown and roots of your beginner bonsai trees. You will be required to cut off specific limbs to encourage added growth. This will also cause the development of a healthy plant and it must be done consistently.

Furthermore, you will need to replace the container of your bonsai approximately every one or two years to stimulate continued health and in order to access the roots for pruning. This will also encourage faster growth, which can mean more pruning will be needed.

Most bonsai trees, which have come from tropical or subtropical regions, are not able to live in a shallow and cold bonsai pot. They can freeze when they are not brought inside in the cold weather. Since they will be inside during the cold season, you can see them every day.

Prevent their dirt from drying out, by moving beginner bonsai trees as far as possible from inside heat, for example a radiator. Also, it is very important to make sure the bonsai trees are not left too near windows. Excessive cold will cause stress to a bonsai tree and it may die. By sticking to these simple requirements, you can end up with a really beautiful bonsai display.

Your credit or “FICO” score is critical to your real estate investment career. The simple fact is that the higher your credit score, the greater the chances of your obtaining loans and getting them at a lower interest rate. It keeps valuable money in your pocket!

Remember this primary fact: lenders are in the business of loaning money and loaning it at the lowest risk possible so they’re going to look long and hard at your credit score before pulling cash out of their own accounts. This information tells you that you should understand how credit scores are calculated and what you can do to raise your own credit score if it’s low. This article provides you with that fundamental information

A Brief History of Credit Scoring Credit ratings are arrived at by a formula used by lenders and others to give them an objective method to predict how likely it is that you will repay a new loan. A credit score is the result of complicated formulas for determining your credit worthiness.

Very often, you’ll hear a credit score referred to as a “FICO” score. This term comes from two men named Fair and Isaac. In 1955, they established a company called Fair Isaac Corporation. Over the years, the name got shortened to “FICO.” Fair, Isaac is a for-profit company, traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: FI). Their precise formula for calculating credit scores is secret (proprietary).

Each of the major American credit reporting agencies (CRAs) has a relationship with Fair Isaac. The three major CRAs are: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

Now, you’d think that each CRA would have the same score for each person, but they have different models for determining your credit score so your score may vary from one CRA to the other!

In any event, they’re still referred to collectively as “FICO” scores. Each model is based on experience with millions of consumers. With each model, the higher your score, the better your credit rating.

Calculation of Credit Scores A credit score depends on the credit scoring model used by the CRAs. In general, FICO models look at these items in your history: * Past delinquencies * Derogatory payment behavior * Current debt level * Length of credit history * Types of credit * Number of inquiries by lenders and others into credit history.

Although the models vary as I stated above, the general formula looks like this:

* 35 percent on a borrower’s payment history. * 30 percent on debt. * 15 percent on how long the applicant has had credit. * 10 percent on new credit * Another 10 percent on types of credit.

There is a range of FICO scores. Within that range, the higher the score, the better your credit rating is. For example, a perfect score is 850 (only 1% of the U.S. population). Eleven percent (11%) of the population has a score of 800. In the above two instances, the borrower likely will get a lower interest rate and have the loan closed within days.

The average individual has a FICO score of 720. The interest rate will be higher, and it’ll take days or weeks to close the loan.

When your FICO score is less than 600, you’re definitely going to have trouble getting money from conventional lenders. That’s because they calculate that you’ll default on that loan better than 50% of the time. Naturally, it doesn’t make good business sense to lend money in that situation. Or, if they do loan the money, it will be at a much higher interest rate in hopes of covering the risk. Lenders look closely for “red flags” to decide whether or not to give loans to individuals with low credit scores. Red flags include: missed payments, late payments, unpaid debts, bankruptcies, etc.

Common-sense Guidelines for Raising Your Credit Score The first guideline is to pay your bills on time-all the time. The second guideline is to not open unneeded credit card accounts to increase available credit. That raises red flags for lenders. The third guideline is to budget to figure out where you’re currently at financially. The fourth guideline is to reduce unnecessary expenditures so you can apply that saved money to your debt and improve your credit score.

If you’re not sure what your current financial situation is, you can analyze it using the debt to income ratio formula. It’s a simple method of measuring your net monthly income against your debt.

Here’s an example: Assume your net monthly income is $2000, and your monthly debt payments are $500. Now, divide $500 by $2000, and you’ve calculated your debt to income ratio: 5002000 =.25 (25%).

In general, it’s agreed that debt expenses should be 25% or less of your income. A ratio of 10% or less is great. Anything above 25% is a red flag for you and may be for lenders. If it’s 25% or more, you definitely need to reduce or eliminate debt!

To calculate your current debt to income ratio, take the following steps: * Look at last month’s bills and add up all the fixed expense items (rent, mortgage, car payments, child support, loan payments, etc.). * Then, check your credit card bills and add up the minimum payments owed on each card. * Figure out your monthly take-home pay (net salary). * Divide monthly fixed expenses by monthly income.

Key Point: A good credit score is essential for your real estate investment career! If it’s low, do everything you can to raise it.

Individuals with poor credit were prevented from applying for a first mortgage loan in the past if they had bad credit. Mortgage companies would avoid approving a loan to applicants with poor ratings. Those who already owned a home could not qualify for a mortgage refinance loan. Increasing competition in the market today has led to more options for people with a poor credit history.

Consult a mortgage advisor who specializes in applicants with low credit scores. There are fewer options available to applicants in this position, but an advisor is often aware of possibilities the average lender may not be aware of and may be able to direct you to a program that could work for you.

In addition, it helps to know what the mortgage company is going to base their decision on. Take advantage of your right to receive a free copy of your credit report every year - and don’t be taken in by companies who offer a “free” with a subscription to their service, they are absolutely unnecessary. By comparing your most recent credit report to those in the past, you will know if your credit is improving, remaining stable or getting worse.

Bear in mind that just because your credit rating is low doesn’t take away your right to dispute things on your credit report that might not be accurate. Mistakes happen on credit reports every day and by simply disputing those errors, your credit rating will often increase. You should also know that some things on your credit report will no longer show up after a certain period of time. Even bankruptcies will disappear after a few years.

When speaking with a low credit mortgage advisor it is important to be open and honest about your financial situation. Bad credit mortgage refinancing is a tricky proposition. Your advisor will be better able to help you if they know exactly where you stand. You are at risk of being denied the best possible mortgage refinance loan and an advisor can help.

Discuss all options with your mortgage advisor. If you do not understand the information, ask them to clarify. Bad credit mortgage refinancing can be confusing. Never act like you understand something if you do not! You always have the right to decline signing on the dotted line.

Your individual credit situation will dictate your options to an extent, but bad credit does not mean you are without choices. Your interest rate will be higher than someone with good credit. Fixed rate mortgage refinancing loans are harder to get, but with adjustable rate mortgages (also called ARM) and hybrids you will find an option that works for you.

Final word: Don’t do anything you aren’t comfortable with. Trust your instincts and always read the fine print. If you are still confused, ask a trusted friend or family member to have a look and offer their opinion. You don’t have to make the decision alone.

Hot Tubs are becoming a luxury that many people would not be without. What started out as little more than a simple tub to hold water, has developed into a luxury item loved by it’s owners the world over. Their steady development over the years has now resulted in a desirable addition to the home.

Hot tubs can be traced back to early Rome, BC. In that era, hot tubs were housed in spas and were open to all who wanted to use them. Women and men together, shared in the relaxation and luxury of a spa.

In years gone by, owning a hot tub was considered to be in the realm of the very wealthy. Owning one was a message that you could afford the finer things in life. The first consumer available hot tubs were large, bulky, costly to run and would be found mainly outdoors.

Nowadays, you will find that there is a tub available to fit almost any space you may have. Indoor or outdoor, the choice of options is probably only limited by your imagination.

Hot tubs come in many different sizes. You can purchase one that contains two seats, for an intimate evening, or, if you entertain a lot, you can install one that seats up to ten people; the choice is yours. In the past, hot tub seats were uniform, in a bench style that allowed everyone to be at the same level. It was at times very uncomfortable for those who were either tall or short. Today, with the different materials that hot tubs are made of, you can have your choice of multi-level seating.

The jets of the hot tubs have also developed significantly over the years. What used to be manually powered gave way to electrically powered jets of many different styles. You now have your choice of swirling jets, whirlpool jets, mini jets, pillow and shoulder jets, and massaging jets. Each one has its own benefits, however the one consistent fact is that once you get into your hot tub, you may not want to get out!

Hot tubs also have reputed medical benefits. The major one being that when used as part of a therapy session, the patient often recovers faster and with less stress to their bodies. Hot tub hydrotherapy has been used for several decades and has had great success.

Bathroom tile ideas are not hard to come up with. All you need is some background regarding the different types of tiles and your creativity, and you’re well-equipped for decorating your new bathroom. First, you need to think about the materials you want for your bathroom. Here is a list of all the different types of bathroom tiles:

- Ceramic Tiles - It’s non-porous, durable and affordable making it a practical tile for the bathroom. It’s resistant to water so it’s safe to walk on when wet. Ceramics are very easy to clean and maintain. When combined with a slip-resistant surface, this makes it the best bathroom idea so far.

- Travertine - This is formed by shifts in the earth’s crust. It produces a uniform surface unlike the other marbles and is ideal for bathroom walls and floors.

- Granite Tiles- This is the most durable and easiest to clean. It can also withstand wear and tear.

- Glass - Glass is another affordable alternative. It can be used in different bathroom wall styles - as a border or as mosaics. What makes this different from the other tiles is that it has a unique reflection when light hits glass. If you are going for that bold, contemporary look, you might want to use uniform colored stained convex glass pieces. When these are combined in plaster they make a wonderful glass mosaic.

- The Slate - These tiles have an anti-slip finish which makes it an ideal choice for bathroom wall and especially floors. You may also install these in showers, tubs or floors.

- Marble - This is a type of natural stone. Marbles are know for its own textured appearance. An advantage of natural stones is that they have their own distinct color and texture.

Bathroom Tile Shapes and Accent Pieces

When it comes to shapes and sizes, there are definitely a lot of choices. Common shapes are squares, rectangles, hexagons and octagons. Feel free to play with accent pieces to make a good design. Accent pieces may sometimes be narrow tiles or small diamond-shaped tiles.

Colors to Reflect your Mood

Choosing the right colors for your bathroom also matters. Each color reflects a certain emotion. Below is a list of some of the most commonly used colors in decorating bathrooms.

- Warm colors such as peach and yellow are fun. This makes your bathroom feel cozier and have a country-look about it.

- Beige and white are neutral colors and may make your room appear larger than it really is. These colors are always in style.

- To create an ambiance and atmosphere of serenity and calmness, use cool colors such as blue, green and violet.

- If you want to add drama to the room, use black and red colors. Since it absorbs light, it may make your room appear smaller than it really is. Bright colors are good for rooms that have plenty of windows and natural lighting passing through it. This helps balance the ambiance lighting in the room.

Bathroom Tile Ideas

You can use any of these styles when decorating your bathroom:

- Use a solid color ceramic bathroom floor tile and pair it with a tile border of a different color. You can use alternate colors if you like for the tile border.

- One other unique way is to use the same color of ceramic tile for your floor and wall, you can also use different tile sizes for an interesting visual effect for your room. You may also align the tiles either on your wall or floor diagonally.

- If you have a certain favorite color, don’t be afraid to use it. Just add decorative tiles of your favorite shade of color or if you like, use different shapes, textures and borders.

- Pairing ceramic tile colors with contrasting grout colors is also an excellent idea. To preserve grout colors, apply sealers to grout lines.

- Other bathroom tile ideas are the use of standard blends and gradients. Standard blends help enhance the surface design of your bathroom dcor and thus giving it a modern look. Gradients give your room a dramatic effect.

Finding the right kind of house alarm system for your own home can leave you feeling somewhat confused because there are so many to choose from. But hopefully through this article we will be able to help you find a system that is ideal for your home and which meets your budget requirements.

Today there are many reasons why a person will have an alarm system installed in their homes. The main one being that it provides them with security not only for their possessions but also for those that live in the property. Also because we are now spending much more time away from home whether on vacation or on business it is good to know that everything we love and treasure is protected at all times.

But having made that decision you are still faced with having to make a further decision. This one of course is which company or alarm system to select. Which one will do the job you want? Among the other questions you need to ask which pertain to your particular situation, you should use these points below to guide you in your selection.

Of course what you need to start with is a list of potential companies and security systems you want to gauge and make your decision about. Start with your local area, your local yellow pages, and also ask your family and friends what systems they use and their experiences with the same. Don’t forget to look online for companies and systems to add to your list. These days this can be the best way to go.

Once you have a short list of companies that you are considering getting your alarm system from, then you need to keep the following in mind. By doing this you will be able to determine just what the strengths and weaknesses of each alarm system are.

Begin with checking that each company has the proper insurance for the work they do. Finding out too late that they did not may mean that any losses that come in the future will be your own responsibility and will not be covered by insurance, either yours or theirs.

Secondly, it is important that you check to make sure that company you wish to use has a valid business license to operate in the city where you live. A great way of doing this is by contacting the Better Business Bureau or an association which provides licenses to all security system companies.

The last thing you will want to check is whether or not the company you are looking at does their own installation work or if they subcontract out the work to someone else. Not that subcontracting is necessarily bad. But you will want to be sure just what arrangements are made for handling any problems that may develop with your house alarm system later on like who is responsible and who will do the work.