David Salvato

A good appliance maintenance tip is for the dishwasher and garbage disposal here's where a lot of people get into trouble. Take a look at this picture.

You will notice a high concentration of mold in the cabinet. Many of us keep a lot of products under the kitchen sink. We hardly ever get on her hands and knees and inspect this area. It's important that twice a year you remove everything from under the sink run your faucets, garbage disposal and your dishwasher. What were looking for are signs of water leaks. Failure to identify an ongoing leak can lead to mold and mildew. Look for signs of corrosion around the garbage disposal. This will sometimes manifest itself as corrosion like blisters. If you find evidence of leaks around the garbage disposal it’s time for replacement. A simple dishwasher maintenance tip is to use CLR, according to the manufacturer’s instructions to clean any calcium build up in the appliance. For more great tips on home maintenance Read More:

Southern California has started get it's share of rain. If you've waited till now to have your roof inspected, understand inspection costs have gone up, along with repair cost. If you're already experiencing water leaks in your home there is probably no real reason for an inspection, it's time to call a local roofing contractor and get it fixed. Don't waste anymore time! The longer you wait, the higher the likelihood for moisture related damages such as mold & mildew, insulation and drywall damage.

Let's Say You Need a Roof Inspection.
There are a couple different types of roof inspections one can get. A visual inspection or a water test inspection. We will discuss them both in this article.

A visual roof inspection:
Is exactly that. A trained Professional will visually inspect the roof for proper installation techniques. The fee for a visual inspection normally runs from $100 - $299, depending on the size and type of roof system. A visual assessment of the shingles or roofing material will be made and determine the expected service life of the roof. The roofing flashing and valleys will also be investigated to determine if proper installation techniques were met and the likelihood of possible roof leaks. The Roof Inspector should at this point be able to make recommendations for the roofing system. Whether it needs a general roof tuneup, sectional replacement or complete replacement. We do not recommend that roofing contractors be consulted when it comes to roof inspections. There is a conflict of interest and money is to be made by the contractor. Seek the advice of an independent home inspector with an extensive background in roof inspections.

A license roofing contractor should only be consulted after the determination for repairs have been made. Be sure to get three estimates and check the status of the contractor's license with the

California State Contractor's License Board.

The Water Test or Leak down Test:
This test is considerably more involved and therefore the fee for the test is usually more expensive. The fee for this type of inspection usually runs, $169 to as much as $299, depending on the size and style of roof system.
In my professional opinion this is the most thorough way to determine if the roof is leaking in a given area. This type of inspection usually requires two inspectors to be present one to direct the water from a garden hose to a specific area of the roof while the other inspector watches for leaks in the attic area. This is done around all critical areas of the roof and a report is generated from the findings. This information can then be given to a roofing contractor in order for bids to be obtained.

We do not advocate that these types of tests or evaluations be done by the homeowner. Working from a roof can be dangerous! A fall from a roof can be critical or fatal. So for less than $300 you can get a full evaluation of your roof system and know how long it will last and how much it'll cost to repair. The roof is a very important part of a complete home system. As such, it will require maintenance and repairs to last and keep you dry!

Pricing and inspections standards may vary in your area. Check ActiveRain.com for a professional home inspector near you!

When I first arrived at this 1920s Los Angeles home I real never expected to find the level of settling I was about to uncover. Take a look at the photos below. From the street the home looked very small.

After walking in the front door it was evident that the home was settling as cracks were found in the walls throughout the home. Doors and windows were out of plumb by more than a 1/4" and up to 1" in others.

I put a level on the floor to show my client just how bad it had gotten. Take a look!

I went under the home to find what was causing the some of the issues.

Below are some of the pictures taken that day.

The excessive settling has caused the corner of the foundation to crack.

All of settling problems in this home stem from a retaining wall system that was installed nearly 30 years ago.

These timbers were rotten from the inside out.

The retaining wall was out of plumb by nearly 2"over a two foot section.

We recommended that a structural engineer be called in immediately to make recommendations to stabilize the hillside and save this wonderful old home.

Presentation letters in Email Form.

A great sales letter presents the benefits of your products or services, clearly highlighting them to the reader. Your letter must move the prospect further along in the sales cycle by describing the next step. Whether your goal is a one-to-one meeting, sales presentation, or the opportunity to present a cost proposal, ask for it in your letter and then follow through as promised. Also, always include your 'call to action'; no marketing campaign or advert should miss the point and neither should your sales letter. These tips apply whether your communication is in postal format or to be sent by email.

• When writing your sales letter, use a friendly and conversational style. Avoid "corporate speak" , obscure words, jargon and business clichés - it rarely impresses and often irritates. There is obviously a balance though; so don't be overly familiar or too 'chummy', keep it professional, simple, clear and well thought through.
• Make sure you personalize your letter. Refer to earlier meetings, conversations or correspondence you may have had. Within the context of your letter mention their company, their products, their services and their objectives (if you know what they are). Your letter should not have the feel of a template but, rather, a smooth, natural flow that is entirely concentrated the reader.
• Resist the temptation to write about what "we offer" and instead focus on what "you'll get." No one wants to read a litany of what you do, how you do it, or what you provide. They do want to read about how your service will make their lives easier or better. So all sales letters must be written from this perspective, eliminating most uses of the words "we" and "I" and replacing them with "you."
• Be careful with the salutation. Unless you've held a conversation with the recipient that puts you on a first-name basis, it's best to adhere to a more formal mode of address

Also look at your e-mail itself does it say something about your company? Is there a cohesion between your website and the email your sending. Does it contain logos, watermarks, signatures and can it be better.

Take a look at these RealEstate E-mail Templates

With 2010 only a few days away people are talking about action plans. Just some fancy wording for getting your act together.

We tell ourselves that we are going to do all the things we should have been doing from day one. We create list, spreed sheets, hell some of us get out the day-planer and put it in writing. Why do people wait to make positive change in their lives. It's crazy every day that goes by is costing you money. If you know what's wrong with your daily program fix it. And make more money starting now.

I recently told myself this and went for it. I knew my website was good. Well good when you compare it to other home inspection companies. But I knew it could be better. But was not in the mood to put the code together and make it happen. So today I got up, made a big pot of coffee and went at it. About 9hours latter it's done. I feel so much better about it and that alone inspires confidence.David Home Inspection Services. At

http://www.homeinspectionservices.org

Have an amazing 2010 everyone at ActiveRain.Com