How to Improve a Home's Value

You may be considering home improvement projects that make your home more comfortable and add value to the property. Certain projects are more likely to improve your home?s value, but routine maintenance and minor upgrades shouldn?t be overlooked. A well-maintained home is always worth more than one in need of repairs and upgrades.

What You Need to Know

• Obtaining a market value assessment of homes in your surrounding area is a wise idea. You can also review homes for sale in your area and see what kind of amenities they have as a guide toward your own home improvements. A local real estate agent can provide a market assessment for you.

Step 1

Assess the overall outside condition of your home. Look at such structural elements as trim, fascia boards and soffits. Check for peeling paint or sags. Check the roof for missing shingles. Look at the condition of your landscaping. A healthy lawn and trees, and well-maintained flowerbeds, are a part of your curb appeal, which influences the value of your home.

Step 2

Check the condition of your heating and cooling systems. You can find a local heating company here. Replacing old and inefficient furnaces and air conditioners with energy-efficient models will add to the overall value of your home. Replace leaky, single-pane windows with energy-efficient ones. Upgrade or add insulation to your attic.

Step 3

Look at your neighborhood?s housing styles before considering adding square footage to your home. Additions are one of the more expensive projects. Adding a second story for additional space will only increase the value of your home if other homes in your area have second stories. If there are no two-story homes nearby, consider putting an addition on the back of the house to blend with the neighborhood. The value gained is market value. It may not be a dollar for dollar return, but your home will have a higher value. You can find a local contractor who specializes in room additions here.

Step 4

Upgrade your outdated kitchen. Demolishing your kitchen is a major project and one of the more expensive home improvements. If your kitchen has older appliances and lower-grade cabinetry, invest in getting it updated with new cabinets. To increase the return on this improvement, try not to move plumbing and electrical or gas lines. These are high-cost labor items, and if you can upgrade with a minimum of disturbance to the original footprint, you should do so. You can find a professional kitchen remodeler in these listings.

Step 5

Add a second bathroom. Homes with only one bathroom have a lower market value. Placing the second bathroom so you can hook into existing plumbing lines will help reduce the project?s cost. A second bathroom, even if only a half-bath, will increase your home?s value almost dollar for dollar.? You can find a local plumber here. Or if you just want to redo the bathroom countertops, look here.

Step 6

Upgrade your landscape to include an outdoor room. A covered patio, a deck, or an outdoor kitchen and entertainment area increases the livable space of your home. The cost, though, is less than an enclosed addition. The outdoor room is part of the landscaping. Don?t neglect to upgrade the rest of the property to enhance the outdoor room and increase your home?s value.

Tips & Warnings

• Check with your local government to see whether you need a permit for your project.
• Check with a local real estate agent to find out which home improvement projects add value in your particular neighborhood.

Source: http://blogs.dexknows.com/home-improvement/2012/03/29/improve-homes/

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Samsung Shipped 1 Million Galaxy Note Phablets A Month (Update)

As much as I love Samsung hardware, I've felt for a long while now that the Galaxy Note was a bit of a mistake. The screen size is just too big for me to wield the device comfortably, and I see no real value in the S-Pen other than having a little fun during bored moments. But a good chunk of people out there in the world apparently disagree with me, as Samsung has just announced that the South Korea-based company has shipped 5 million units of the Galaxy Note phablet. At the start of this month, Samsung had sold 2 million Galaxy Notes globally — a solid stat albeit not equal to Galaxy S II or iPhone 4S sales.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/vn8-Qa04GSA/

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Judges seek warrant for African ruler's 'playboy' son

By Reuters

PARIS -- Two French judges sought an international arrest warrant for the son of Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema on money laundering charges, a judicial source said on Tuesday.

The two judges, Roger Le Loire and Rene Grouman, consider there are grounds to suspect that Teodorin Obiang, who is agriculture minister in the small, oil-rich central African country, acquired real estate in France by fraudulent means.

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The warrant will not be released until a prosecutor has reviewed the request and decides whether to proceed.

Extravagant lifestyle
Teodorin is frequently seen enjoying an extravagant lifestyle abroad with multi-million dollar mansions, jets and yachts. Billboards in the capital Malabo seek to show him at work and in touch with the people, but diplomats and analysts cite his playboy lifestyle as a cause for concern.

The French judges, who have been handling the case since 2010 on the basis of "concealment of embezzled public funds," suspect that the properties were purchased with public money from Equatorial Guinea.

Lavish summit could pay dividends for African ruler

The judges had previously sought permission from the government of Equatorial Guinea to question Teodorin, but that request was rejected, Olivier Pardo, lawyer for the oil-producing nation, told Reuters in Paris.

"Unless one wishes to violate the sovereignty of the State of Equatorial Guinea and harm relations between France and Equatorial Guinea, it is absurd to want to launch an arrest warrant," he said.

Paris raid
As part of the investigation, French police raided a building belonging to Equatorial Guinea in a wealthy area of Paris in February. After three days they removed art works and fine wines worth several million euros.

The building was valued at about 150 million euros ($200 million)?and investigators say it housed a nightclub and hairdressers, which suggested it was not being used as a diplomatic residence.

Anti-corruption organization Transparency International had filed the original legal complaint against Teodorin Obiang.

On March 1, Teodorin filed for defamation against Daniel Lebegue, the president of the French arm of Transparency, denying he had embezzled funds.

Interpol faces legal threat for helping oppressive regimes hunt dissidents

President Teodoro Obiang has ruled the former Spanish colony for more than three decades, making him the longest-serving African leader following the demise of Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, with rights groups labelling his regime one of the world's most corrupt.

The country produces about 240,000 barrels of oil per day.

'Character assassination'
In January, Teodorin asked a U.S. court to dismiss attempts by the Obama administration to seize some $71 million worth of his assets, denying charges that they were obtained with allegedly corrupt funds taken from his country.

He argued he had not violated U.S. or Equatorial Guinea law and called the corruption allegations "character assassination" against him and his country.

Equatorial Guinea in October said it wanted to appoint Teodorin as its deputy permanent delegate at U.N. cultural agency UNESCO in Paris, a position that would give him diplomatic status in France. Until now the agency has not received any official documentation to proceed further with that request.

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Source: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/28/10899442-mansions-jets-yachts-warrant-sought-for-african-rulers-playboy-son

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Live World War II bomb neutralized in southern France

By msnbc.com staff

French officials evacuated 1,500 residents from their homes in Marseille, in the south of France, on Sunday after discovering a live bomb that was placed there by Germans during World War II, LaProvence.com reported. ?

The bomb was discovered by builders working on a retirement home construction site, The Riviera Times reported. The bomb, wrapped with a cable and pillows to absorb any potential shock, was gently lifted for fear that it might explode.

Neutralizing the bomb took 40 minutes. Deactivating the bomb was a delicate process, one that LaProvence.com detailed in a minute-by-minute account.

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The massive bomb, which took up the better part of a moving truck, was transported Sunday afternoon to Canjuers military camp, where it will be destroyed, LaProvence.com reported.

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Source: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/18/10747795-live-world-war-ii-bomb-found-then-neutralized-in-southern-france

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Free Casino Slot Games ? You can start your online gaming ...

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Source: http://free-casino-slot-games.net/you-can-start-your-online-gaming-experience-with-slots.htm

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Cloud CRM and Business Productivity | What is CRM

Crm is an essential part for any business because the clients are those who influence the failing or successes inside the business. If the company deals in delivering goods and services, they are developed and introduced on the markets with clients or even target audience in the mind.

The right administration of the clients is done much easier and practical through various software. For the reason that is very difficult to deal with large numbers of clients and also to know who?s who , the value of each client and also the requires which the different clients need and what they?re searching for through the company.

Cloud CRM is just one of a several software options that might be on the market. As with all different software focused on management, you can be impressed by just how necessary that software is at raising business production. Many business owners are actually accepting software items which will definitely help them with reducing costs and in the same moment end up in improved productivity hence earnings.

Cloud CRM helps it to be very simple regarding large and small organizations to work together with clients and also work along with them to get productive service supply. That is simply completed by appropriate activity and time administration, communications and also official document administration. It?s a creation that includes excellent advantages as much as organization work productivity is involved. Utilizing the cloud CRM, company owners are in a situation to capture records from the clients, trace every incidents, discussions and also dealings by using the goal of getting higher worth for each sides.

This can be a company item that make it simple to plan conferences and also meetings in that way making sure time is properly and efficiently handled through the business work schedule. Time may be difficult to control however this is exactly what decides the entire result of the organization. Also, it can be simpler to schedule task sequence and in the same moment produce techniques which are solid therefore all affect breaks are closed.

Cloud CRM is certainly not difficult to manage relative to the company requirements therefore his efficiency is promised to fit with any kind or even dimensions of business. Also, it is really easy to manage, utilize and master besides becoming really quick. That is a thing that has demonstrated to be extremely useful for a lot of companies if well developed or simply starting.

Source: http://what-is-crm.org/2012/03/cloud-crm-and-business-productivity/

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The Best Social Network Platform For Businesses | Internet ...

Written By: Cheryl Wilison?on?March 16, 2012 No Comment

The social media network range has exploded dramatically in the past decade, with a lot of individuals choosing that they need to contact people through the net, and seek their selection of services and goods from these places too. It is essential, therefore, to get a strong online presence in order to keep bringing people through your (or your website?s) doors.

However, different types of social media could attract different people and it may sometimes be tough to know the best social network platform for the business that you simply have. If you make errors now, then you can find yourself saddled with a load of social media sites that aren?t useful.

Probably the most effective ways to start out is to begin using professional social networking sites. These are usually job sites or contract sites, however they could push your business out into the internet, and that encourages hits from search engines.Such professional social networking sites may also be helpful as a means to develop your networking skills while you try to do something that could be seen by the general public. Not that you should not take such sites seriously. If you?re a contractor providing services, for instance, then you could surely benefit from utilizing these locations.

Choosing an open social media site may be rather daunting. For instance, you can be wondering over whether to utilise Facebook or Twitter. These are both sensible sites, but for different reasons. Facebook is probably the best social network platform if you are aiming at a younger audience, maybe if you are selling music or clothes, whereas Twitter may be the simplest social network platform for somebody who wants to attract slightly older, more affluent customers to their site.

Some of the best social network platforms around are those which are not yet popularised, because they are usually utilized by individuals on the cutting edge of social media awareness, which will be nice if you?re looking for customers with greater interest in technology. These can even be the best social network platform for you to create a buzz by posting videos, or articles, that cause interest. Many businesses use such social platforms successfully, and have reached many people through this than from any other sort of connection. Businesses with an understanding of technology always do much better on social media than those with arts or creative backgrounds.

For assistance with any kind of best social network platform and to create a wave by using colour and design to draw individuals into your web pages, you must go to the website http://www.BrandGoLive.com now and speak to a consultant about improving your social media profile. Brand Go Live helps you claim your brand on 300 popular social networks.

Tags: Internet marketing

Source: http://articles.buildabetterbusinessonline.com/the-best-social-network-platform-for-businesses/

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Affleck, Garner reveal name of baby boy

By Gina Serpe, E! Online

Violet, Seraphina and ... who?

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have already proven that they don't mind straying a bit from the classics for their child-naming proclivities, but did they switch up their technique for their new baby boy?

You may be surprised. The couple Wednesday shared the moniker they chose for their now 2-day-old son -- and it truly seems to be a mutual collaboration. So what is it?

MORE: Here comes the son: Jennifer and Ben welcome a baby boy!

It's Samuel Garner Affleck!

"We are happy to announce that on February 27, Jennifer gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Samuel Garner Affleck," Affleck posted on his official Facebook page?this morning.

PHOTOS: Baby Bumpin'

The first of the brood to have scored mama's maiden name as his middle moniker, there was no further comment or explanation of the strong, classic, and dare we say New England-appropriate moniker (Sam Adams. Sam Malone. Sam Affleck.) Hey, you can take the man out of Boston, but you can't take the Boston out of the man. Or baby boy, it would seem.

Little Sammy joins big sisters Violet, 6, and Seraphina, 3, in the Bennifer brood. Congrats to the happy family!

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Source: http://todayentertainment.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/29/10541168-jennifer-garner-and-ben-affleck-reveal-name-of-new-baby-boy

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Sprint reveals it spent $15.5 billion to fuel its iPhone hunger

Sprint's SEC filings have revealed that the carrier has committed to purchasing $15.5 billion worth of iPhones as part of the long-promised $20 billion gamble. If each handset costs around $630 at trade, then we're talking about the network holding nearly 24 million units. Given that the company most recently ate a loss of $1.3 billion, most of which was caused by carrier subsidies for the 4S, there's a genuine fear that the company won't be able to make enough back on each customer to offset the initial outlay. Given the Baller-style purchasing decisions of Dan Hesse of late, we'll be watching how this unfolds with great interest and our fingers very firmly crossed.

Sprint reveals it spent $15.5 billion to fuel its iPhone hunger originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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