Business

Smart Strategies for Renting Homes, Condos, Duplexes, and Townhomes in a Tight Real Estate Market

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1. Searching for houses and searching for apartments are two completely different animals and require different approaches. In apartments there is always another one available next week. In homes, each one is unique, and once rented it disappears. That’s why being prepared is especially important when you need a home. That’s particularly true of high-end or well-located homes.

2. Remember, you cannot open the door to see the place without a REALTOR or owner present. Thank goodness for the MLS (multiple listing service) you should be using to find you the perfect home. Choose the areas of the city you’d like to live in, and then search the database for available homes in your price range. You should take out about 80% of the houses for one reason or another just by doing this. The rest will focus on you and your real estate agents.

3. Unlike apartments, houses will require substantial deposits and do not accept checks or cash. They will want certified funds (money order, cashier’s check), so you may need to budget. Contrary to popular belief, most houses are owned by people like you and me, and not big investors. They are looking for people who pay on time and don’t trash the place. Can you blame them? On the one hand, they can be demanding, but unlike many apartments, they are usually realistic in their expectations. Each homeowner will have different requirements, and as a rule, the better the place, the more closely they will look at your overall credit score. REALTORS must work with the requirements of each individual landlord, as well as comply with the law.

4. Very few REALTORS rent, mainly because the commissions are very low and there is a lot more work involved compared to renting apartments or selling houses. So when you find one that specializes in leasing, it’s a huge advantage in your search for a new home. Please understand that they are not tour guides. It is very important that you are prepared. Houses rent very quickly, especially nice or well located properties. It gets very competitive. So when we look at:

1. Have all parties (lease signers) of the property look at the same time.

2. Have your funds ready and be prepared to make a decision.

When should I start looking?

Remember, apartments and houses require different strategies. You should start looking at the different houses available to you online no earlier than 30 days before you want to move. This will give you an idea of ​​what is available in a given area. BUT there’s no point in searching because, unlike apartments, landlords won’t hold a house for you for more than a week or so. What you look at today will be gone in a month. It’s best to seriously consider places (to look physically) for rent only about two weeks before you intend to move. Unless specifically noted for pre-leasing, landlords generally accept the first qualified applicant with the earliest move-in date. That is why you must be prepared with your deposits and you must be ready to make a decision. The vast majority of people prefer to live in a house or duplex than in an apartment. That’s what makes it so competitive.

Management companies run most of the properties and are normally closed on weekends. Of course, you can search on the weekends, but you may not be able to do anything app-wise. Sometimes that’s a good thing, it gives you a break to think. If you’re from out of town, make sure you give yourself plenty of time.

Always have a backup of “stuff happens”, agents forget to remove MLS listing, lease on sight, owner changes mind about moving. Like I said, it’s not like looking at apartments. Again, one more reason, being prepared is vitally important.

What about my pets?

Many people move into a house so that the dog has a garden. However, many owners do not allow pets in their home. The MLS will usually itemize pet policies and deposits typically range from $300-$500. Sometimes they let you split it. They generally like smaller animals under 25 pounds, but this can vary quite a bit. And because it’s so individualized, it can depend on your credit and, of course, a credible case from your agent. If you have a pet, there is no point in looking for homes that do not accept it. You don’t want to commit a lot of your cash and waste a week only to be denied because you didn’t mention your dog.

Why you should use a REALTOR to find your next home.

1. While it’s true that driving around looking for houses to rent or sell can be a national pastime, understand that many of them are occupied. If the garage is closed and the shades are drawn, you may not be able to tell. Looking out someone’s bedroom window is usually a really bad idea and if they have a big dog…well…I know I wouldn’t want to be on that bus.

2. You can’t open the door and if you cancel the sign, then you’re still on…another agent program, (“I’ll be right there, let me pick up the kids at school and drop this movie off at Blockbuster”) It’s infinitely easier and obviously smarter to have a dedicated person there and able to open any and all doors for you today.

3. The MLS has virtually every property for rent in your city. By researching and doing your homework online beforehand and talking to your REALTOR, you can eliminate the 80% of properties that don’t work for you. That will save you hours of mindless driving. and above all, eliminate the problem of losing the street where the perfect house for you is located.

The system a real estate agent uses to find you the perfect home is robust, efficient, and will save you a lot of time, money, and frustration. Plus it’s fun and interesting! However, it requires a lot of work on the part of real estate agents. Please be considerate of your REALTOR. They work only on commission.

Home Kitchen

How to secure patio furniture

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Patio furniture is a big investment and you want to make sure it is there for you to enjoy year after year. If you have a sheltered area in your backyard, you probably won’t worry too much about securing your patio furniture from shifting in a strong wind or storm.

But battling the elements is a way of life for those who live on the coast or in areas where the trade winds seem to always be blowing. Often times, a strong wind can come out of nowhere, blowing away all your furniture, food, and drinks. This is especially true if you have a patio full of plastic patio furniture.

As you know, these inexpensive pieces can be very useful at a party, complementing your permanent patio furniture so everyone can get together, enjoy a drink and a bite to eat on a hot summer day. Not only are they cheap, but they are easy to move around, especially when compared to quality furniture, which is built to last and much more solid.

To prevent your party from turning into a whirlwind of unintentional excitement, you’ll want to take a few precautions when setting up your party if wind is in the forecast. With just a few precautions, you can be sure your party will be a success, even if it gets hit by a sudden gust of wind.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to overload your furniture with unsightly red brick. However, you can weigh down a small patio table with a glass brick filled with colored sand or other heavy objects, such as glass beads. This not only adds weight, but also beauty to these tables.

If your party is going to last into the night, you can use a similar trick, but create lighting instead. You can use the decorative glass bricks to hold a single candle or push multiple taper candles down into a base of sand or aquarium rocks. This can create an elegant decoration and hold the table.

Plastic lawn chairs are a bit more difficult to handle. That said, you can create a simple weight with lead sinkers. If you’re near a lake, river, or ocean, there’s a good chance you have a fishing tackle store nearby. Sometimes Wal-Mart will also have a good selection of lead fishing weights.

Get a good commercial plumb line, one that is heavy enough to hold chairs in place without adding so much weight to the chair that it is difficult to move. You can mount these weights in two ways. If you want them out of sight and out of mind, you can add them to the base of the legs where they curve together. You can stick them in there permanently or use decorative duct tape (it comes in many colors these days) to hold them down. Alternatively, you can hang your weight from the center of the chair. Simply drill two holes in the center of the chair (there’s usually one there already for a drain) and tie the sinker with fishing line. Be sure to leave enough line for the plumb line to touch the patio or deck. You don’t want it to swing around and hit the guest sitting in the chair.

Larger dining tables won’t move as easily, but if you have an umbrella, you’ll want to make sure it has a weighted base to add weight to the table. Otherwise, your umbrella may catch a sudden gust and send your table flying. The decorative glass bricks mentioned above can also help keep the table heavy enough to withstand a cool breeze. These bricks are available at almost any home improvement store as they are a popular item in homes where they are used to create translucent walls in the bathroom or between rooms. To add a decorative touch, insert a string of colored lights into the opening and plug them in when darkness falls.

Obviously, wooden, wrought iron and steel garden furniture will not disappear as easily as the plastic variety. But with just a little creativity and some planning, you can confidently throw an outdoor party, even if the weather calls for a little bragging.

Auto

How to start an online business: the secret is the “service”

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If you’re looking to grow any kind of business venture, online or otherwise, the biggest thing I’ve found is the role of SERVICE in what you’re doing.

Service is NOT an arbitrary word used to describe whether or not you respond to customer support emails – it is at the CORE of what determines whether or not a business venture will be successful.

Putting this in perspective, if you consider what a “business” actually “does”, we have witnessed a sea change from a “production” to a “service” based model in the last 15 years.

Driven by Internet connectivity and advances in engineering techniques, the way to “be productive” in the modern world (particularly in the West) is to provide new products and tools. How they are made should be of secondary concern (very little benefit).

The key, unlike historical production, is that it is no longer so important to have “production capacity”… almost everyone has access to that.

What people do not have is a MARKET in which to offer their products. This market (depending on the type of business you end up growing) will determine the PRICE of the product and if it is something they will consider using.

The point is that if you are looking to “get into” the business, the most important thing you MUST consider is what type of SERVICE you will be able to provide as a professional. This service, applied using your own or someone else’s products/tools, is the real secret behind why some companies “always” seem to grow, while most struggle.

This tutorial aims to explain how it works and what to do if you are looking to get involved in the business world.

Service makes the world go round (literally)

Most people get into “business” because they have an idea they want to pursue.

Perhaps they wanted to create their own clothing line, have some sort of “lifestyle” business (winery/farm, etc.), or get involved in a particular field (cosmetics/models) – the hallmark of “failed” businesses. ” usually starts with someone’s melancholy wish. to “be self-employed”.

This is a lie. People don’t care that you started a “business” and all the stories you read about a 12-year-old CEO who is at his fifth company are only there because the publication wanted something new to keep their readers coming back.

The simple reality is that MOST people only move out of necessity. The “necessary” that they consider a product to be for their life is how much value they will attribute to it (and therefore a price).

The way to ensure that YOUR products are purchased is to create a need for their use. Don’t even think of “selling” it – [most] People are not stupid; they will attach a price to any product they deem essential to their life. No one discussed the cost of life-saving heart surgery…and the same principle holds true in every other business. People pay you in direct proportion to how much you really “care” about what you’re doing.

The most important thing is to realize that “service” is at the CORE of what gets people interested in a business.

It’s not your “products” or even your “staff”, it’s what they DO on a daily basis that drives RESULTS. This “activity” is what the market recognizes and ultimately attracts you to.

Think about it.

  • Apple does not “manufacture” its products. They design them and create all the components, etc. Your service is design.
  • You’re there do “manufacture” their products because no one else can do it as well as they can.
  • Amazon are Really a digital logistics company – no one it is capable of storing and sending as many packets as they do.

If you want to get into the “business”, come up with a RESULT that you can provide to a market.

  • 10,000+ Twitter followers in the first 60 days
  • 150+ YouTube subscribers in the next 90 days
  • conversational italian in 14 days GUARANTEED
  • Ferrari + Lamborghini brand lessons
  • CUSTOM SHIRTS CUSTOM SUITS PAY YOU

If you’re looking to “start” a business, the BEST thing to do is look at what people are ALREADY looking to buy (just browse the “best sellers” section of any marketplace).

This gives you a direct indication of *exactly* what they have a budget for (what they are willing to PAY). This allows you to deliver this RESULT as a service (meaning your way), giving you the ability to start attracting customers by virtue of how effective you are at delivering those results.

The BIGGEST problem I’ve seen is leading with a product, or even a “solution”. I hear it all the time: “What problem does your business solve?”… Hardly anyone who buys a product thinks they have a “problem”. Rather, they are looking for a particular SERVICE that can be provided to improve their life in some specific way. Or, as Gary Halbert put it, “Your marketing should make your pupils dilate.”

Think of it this way: who would you rather do business with: “The LARGEST social media agency in the world” or “The ONLY agency that GUARANTEES 10,000+ FOLLOWERS in the NEXT 30 DAYS or your money back.” While the former works for established businesses, the latter works for ANY business, especially new ones.

Do you realize that you’re not really selling anything about the “process” of how you achieve results? This comes later; you need to stipulate EXACTLY what the buyer will get for their time/money, which in the case of “social media” is followers. For SEO, it’s number 1 in Google rankings and for “programming”, it’s creating a “SAAS RECURRING BUSINESS”.

Obviously, how those various outcomes are cultivated is vital. But the irony is that no one cares how you do it…as long as it’s legit.

This is why some companies “always” seem to win: their “service” is based on the provision of particular RESULTS. They ignore (outsource) everything else.

If you start a business, it is “country” to focus on service

In conclusion, if you’re thinking of “starting” a business, the key is to forget about yourself and focus entirely on the underlying results you can deliver to the customer.

If you don’t have the skills to provide such results, you need to put in the work to develop them (which can be done on the job).

Think of each transaction from the perspective of what it can add to the commitment. Don’t be afraid to “give away the family money” (in terms of “secrets”): the 99% won’t compete with you, and the guy who’ll rip you off will jump on the next fad he finds.

The most important thing to do from a business perspective is to identify the various “services” that you can, or can provide, to anyone with the right budget.

Digital Marketing

5 Tips That Quickly Increase Your Online Search Ranking

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Do you have a website? Is it visible at the top of Google? No, have you tried your level best, but aren’t happy with the results? If your competitors are giving you a hard time and you want to beat them, here are some tips to implement into your strategy to quickly increase your online search rankings.

  1. Increase the value of your business: Online marketing is accelerating and to be in today’s tough competition, you need to make your brand face as attractive as possible to attract the audience. Make sure that each and every page of your website is well optimized and has all the necessary features to stay on top of Google.
  2. Run a check and trace errors: Mistakes can be detrimental to your business and brand online, so you need to fix them soon. Check your website, find errors and fix them to make sure Google doesn’t mark you as spam.
  3. Look at your website from perspective view: If you want to increase your search ranking online, the appearance of your website plays a vital role in it. And to improve it, first you have to give it some time. Visit your own website as a new visitor and think from their perspective. It will help you realize what is missing from your website and how you can get that charm to retain customers.
  4. Think one step ahead of your competitors: If you do the same thing your competitors do, you will confuse your audience and also distract them from you. Therefore, you should think about stepping up to find something that will not only increase your online search rankings, but will set you apart from the rest of the world in a positive way.
  5. Get as much exposure as possible on social media: Social media and social platforms are the easiest possible way to reach new audiences, further increasing your online search ranking. So, you need to give your brand exposure on social media, so it can help you stay in touch with your valued customers.

Here are some ways you can increase your search ranking online. Apply them to your strategy and get ready to boost the value of your brand. You can even hire a professional SEO company to make sure your brand always shines at the top of search results.

Relationship

5 things divorcing parents need to know

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When you had your child or children, your life changed from focusing on yourself to suddenly having to consider how all of your life choices would affect the children. That’s the way it should be. What is in the best interest of the child should always be the parents’ top priority, especially when considering divorce. The first thing you need to know is that our adversarial legal system is not focused on children or families. The emotional and financial price you pay when you each hire separate divorce attorneys is higher than you can now imagine.

Before I became a divorce attorney, I was a special education teacher. My Masters is in Special Education, focusing on teaching severely emotionally disturbed children, so I came to law with a powerful bias to act only in the best interests of children. The second important fact to know is how comfortable many divorce attorneys feel spending their client’s college fund instead of quickly and cheaply helping the couple negotiate a fair deal. After 8 years of litigation and witnessing the utter financial and emotional devastation of too many families, I vowed not to accept any more contested divorces and only do divorce mediation. Over the next 3 years, after working with over 150 couples with a 100% success rate, I am convinced that divorce mediation should be the first resort solution for 85% of couples contemplating divorce. So the third thing to know is that there is an alternative to divorce court, mediation.

It is easier to deal with a situation when the basic information is already known. In the 8 community property states (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin) the property division is quite clear. Anything owned wholly before the marriage or received by gift or inheritance is separate property that passes to the spouse who owns it. If it was partially paid for with the use of wages or income earned during the marriage, the “community” earns an interest in it that can be calculated. The division of property in community property estates is one of the easiest topics to deal with because it is so clear. But what about the other 42 states? These states use an equitable distribution system to divide marital property. Each state has its own rules that can be determined before starting the divorce process. So there is some uncertainty in non-community property states, but an experienced attorney/mediator generally knows what the court will do in most situations and can be a valuable guide for couples unfamiliar with the laws. . The fourth thing to keep in mind is that there is no point in fighting over property division. You can protect your co-parenting relationship and end up with more property if you divide everything the way a neutral third party (mediator) suggests.

In contested divorce cases, child custody and visitation issues can be the most contentious and emotional. If the parents can reach a custody agreement, which they eventually do in 90% of custody cases, they can avoid court altogether. Why should a couple wait until they’re on the courthouse steps to make a deal? Only 10% of custody cases are litigated. A couple could always seek the services of a child therapist for advice instead of going to court. Courts generally apply a “best interest of the child” standard to determine who should get primary custody. Wouldn’t parents themselves be in the best position to decide how their children should be raised? When a couple works together in mediation, they are in control of the end result, not the lawyers or the judges. When couples intend to co-parent effectively with the best interests of the child always in mind, they will produce a much more satisfying outcome than if a solution is imposed on them from above. Child custody issues are the most inappropriate issues to be decided within an adversarial system. The win/lose game played in court always creates tension between parents. Not only will this stress negatively affect the health and happiness of the parents, but the children will find themselves caught in the middle of a battle, dodging verbal and emotional bullets that fly overhead. The adversarial system does not protect the coparenting relationship of the parents and should be avoided as much as possible. An emotionally vulnerable client in the hands of a “zealous advocate” who is more concerned with enriching himself than helping her client is a dangerous combination. The last thing she needs to keep in mind is that avoiding divorce attorneys and the court should be her number one priority if she wants to protect her health, spirit, co-parenting relationship, and pocketbook.

Health Fitness

What is the diabetes? Important facts about diabetes

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Diabetes is a topic that is talked about a lot these days. It is believed to be one of the fastest growing diseases in the world to the point that the World Health Organization (WHO) recently described it as an epidemic. But what exactly is diabetes? This article will explain what the disease does to the body and the different types of diabetes.

Diabetics are characterized by having a high blood sugar level. They cannot lower this sugar level, which can lead to further health complications if left untreated. Sugar enters the bloodstream when we break down food. It is used by the cells of the body as energy. Without the energy, the cells would starve.

It is often thought that eating too much sugar or sugary foods will give you diabetes. This is not true. Eating sugary foods won’t give you diabetes, but it could lead to weight gain if you don’t get enough exercise to accompany your food intake.

If a high-sugar diet is followed for a long period of time, without exercise, there is a good chance that the person will become overweight and eventually obese. And one link that most people with type 2 diabetes have is that they are overweight or obese. The assumption is that a person who is overweight has a higher chance of developing the disease.

Also, a diet rich in sugary foods is not a balanced diet and will lead to a deficiency of vital nutrients and vitamins that could cause further health problems.

Another aspect of diabetes is that many people who have it don’t know they have it. This is because there are often no symptoms, or the symptoms can be attributed to another illness, such as the flu, stress, or simply being overworked.

These are some of the most common symptoms:

Excessive thirst (polydipsia).

Frequent need to urinate (polyuria).

Have a big appetite without gaining weight.

Always tired.

Nausea or a general feeling of being unwell.

Blurry vision.

Fungal infections.

Male impotence.

If you have noticed any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor.

It may be that your body has stopped making insulin. Insulin is the hormone that lowers the level of sugar in the blood. This is called type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes.

The other alternative is that the pancreas continues to produce insulin but the body has become resistant to it, negating the sugar-lowering effect it has on the blood. This is called type 2 diabetes. A similar condition happens to pregnant women. This is known as gestational diabetes and it will start during pregnancy and stop after birth.

There is still no cure for diabetes. Therefore, lifelong treatment is the way to deal with the disease.

Treatment includes establishing a diabetic diet plan. This is effectively a well-balanced meal plan consisting of servings of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Exercise is also an important part of treatment. Diabetics are encouraged to exercise as much as they can and keep their weight down.

Type 1 diabetics will also inject insulin every time they are about to eat or if they have a high reading. People with type 2 diabetes may also take medications to make the body respond to naturally created insulin.

Legal Law

Three Strange Florida Criminal Law Stories

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As a fan and writer on criminal law, this author often reports strange criminal law stories from the state of Florida. These are some of my favorite vintage stories that I would like to share with the wider world.

Orange County. Florida – Veterans Day weekend 2010, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department became a national laughing stock when it was reported that sheriff’s deputies and members of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation carried out a series of warrantless raids on local Orlando barbershops that made history by arresting 35 people for the misdemeanor “unlicensed barbershop” after investigating the matter for several months. A record check revealed that in the last ten years only three people in the entire state of Florida had been sent to jail on such charges. In the present cases, many of the warrantless raids involved officers raiding barber shops that had children inside, handcuffing the barbers and “escorting” them to police vehicles. At least one felony arrest was made when one of the raids caught a barber with an unlicensed gun. We further learn that all the barbershops were in the African-American and Hispanic neighborhoods.
This initial report makes one wonder if those neighborhoods are known to be hotbeds of “criminal barbershops.”

New Port Richey, Florida: This strange story is also from 2010. As many of you know, “Four Loko” is a caffeinated alcoholic beverage. A New Port Richey man drank four bottles and then stripped naked. Police report the 21-year-old man ran barefoot from the back of his house to a house a few blocks away, broke a sliding glass door and ransacked the house. He then stripped off his clothes, defected on the floor and ripped the oven door off its hinges, according to Pasco County deputies. In another house, a woman came to her house and found the naked man stained with blood, sleeping on her sofa. She called 911. According to one report, when officers arrived, the man allegedly said, “Why are you arresting me? I didn’t steal anything.” He was charged with two counts of theft.
The headline of this little story could have read: “Loko Gone Loco”. It’s probably best to stay away from this dangerous product.

Hernando County Jail, Florida: 2011. Strange things happen in jail. An inmate in the Hernando County Jail didn’t have enough honey buns to pay off a gambling debt and was paid with a punch to the face. The inmate admitted that he lost a football bet with a fellow inmate. The loser of the bet said that he went to the cell of the winner of the bet to give him the bear claws that he owed him, but he was missing four honey buns. The winner of the bet was not happy about sticking with the bet and he hit the loser so hard that he had to be hospitalized. Yes, the winner of the bet and the kicker. he was arrested on an assault charge.
If this had been a casino game, the loser of the bet might have wagered: I’ll see your one bear claw and raise you four honey buns…

Lifestyle Fashion

The Detox Mania – The Master Cleanse

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The Master Cleanse is one of the most widely used detox treatments out there. With the positive feedback it got from people who have tried and proven its efficacy, as well as the endorsements from public figures, we can truly say that it is the new innovation to become healthy and sexy!

We can’t deny the fact that sagging is out and fit is in. This is why there are so many people who would spend so much money on fitness programs and diets that promise them optimal results in such a short time, but then find them useless.

Master Cleanse got its world-renowned debut when a book titled Lose Weight, Have More Energy and Be Happier in 10 Days by Peter Glickham reached modern audiences. Through this, people had begun to recognize the Master Cleanse as a weight loss program rather than a detox regimen.

The Master Cleanse was developed by Stanley Burroughs in the 1940s with the goal of resting the digestive tract, cleansing all systems of toxins, mobilizing and eliminating harmful substances that had been stored in different parts of the body, and burning extra fat stores. . So we could clearly say that weight loss is a natural byproduct of the detoxification process.

Those who wanted to continue with the program had to prepare themselves emotionally and physically because an ultimate challenge would soon present itself.

The detoxification process, which has a recommended duration of 10 days, includes drinking lemonade juice made from lemon or lime juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water. No other food or drink should be taken during the process. That is a very strict rule. The only thing you could drink is a lot of water to avoid dehydration of the body. Lemonade juice has an acidic nature.

Due to the lack of fiber in the diet and to help the body expel these harmful toxins from the systems, laxative and relaxing teas should be taken during the regimen. A salt water rinse should also be done once a day to cleanse the colon and aid in the production of stool in the intestines.

Some people had reported some side effects while taking the regimen. These include headaches, nausea and vomiting, irritability, and cravings. But these symptoms disappear after one or two days.
Some of the good effects of the programs consist of weight loss, increased energy, relief of some chronic diseases and increased sexual stamina.

After the 10-day regimen, it is recommended that you switch to eating healthy foods and adopt a healthier lifestyle to maintain the body you worked so hard for. There are no guarantees that you will remain in that state because some authorities say that you will recover what you have lost in due time.

So be wise, be health wise.

Pets

What are Squinkies?

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As the holidays approach, you’ve probably asked your young children, nieces or nephews what they want to find wrapped in presents under the tree or in their stockings. You might expect to hear familiar names like Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants, but don’t be surprised if you discover a new toy mentioned more than once. Squinkies are the latest playtime sensation, and their durability and endless potential for fun are sure to make them the best-selling gift this year.

What are Squinkies?

In the tradition of other collectible miniature toys like Littlest Pet Shop, Polly Pocket and Pokémon, Squinkies are expressive figurines of babies and lovable animals like cats, dogs and ponies. The names of “Squinkies” may be derived from the fact that real dolls are soft and squishy to the touch. Like Pokémon figures, Squinkies dolls are packaged in spherical containers, only these are opaque so you have an idea of ​​what to expect when you open them. Real Squinkies are not sold individually as new. Blister packs of sixteen per set may be available at toy and department stores…if you can find them! The popularity of Squinkies since their debut in the summer of 2010 has resulted in many empty toy shelves across the country, with a growing demand for Christmas figurines.

As well as similar figure toys, games and accessories for the Squinkies are also available. Your kids can interact through their toys in three popular games: Gumball Playhouse (shaped like an old-fashioned gumball machine), Cupcake Surprise Bake Shop, and Squinkies Tea Time Surprise. Real Squinkies toys are so small that people have even worn them as jewelry, turning the cute puppies and kitties into charms for rings and decorations for necklaces.

A Squinkies Bubble Pack, containing sixteen balls and figures, averages around fifteen dollars, with larger sets pricing between $35 and $40, depending on where you shop. If you can’t find the toys at your favorite stores, you can search the Internet for sites like Amazon that sell toys.

However, whatever you do, don’t wait to buy them! With their expressive eyes and angelic smiles, Squinkies are irresistible to kids and toy collectors alike, and are sure to be a big hit this Christmas!

Real Estate

Antiques – Wood Basics

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Oak, Mahogany, Walnut, Pine, Rosewood, Maple, Elm; you may have some or all of these woods in your home. But do you know how to tell them apart? In this month’s column, we’ll talk about the different types of wood regularly seen in antique furniture and some common decorative treatments.

The basics
The wood is hard or soft. When I say hard, I mean that the wood is dense, while a soft wood is flexible. A good trick to tell the difference between hardwood and softwood is that if you press your nail against a softwood like pine, it leaves an indentation. But, this does not happen with a hard wood like oak.

The wood is coarse-grained or close-grained. In coarse-grained wood, the age rings of the wood are far apart, giving it a jagged appearance. In close-grained woods, the age rings of the wood are close together, giving it a smooth, delicate appearance.

Sometimes the wood is stained. Lighter woods like oak, elm, and maple can be stained to look like a darker mahogany or rosewood.

Some woods (mahogany, rosewood, walnut) are perceived as more valuable than others (elm, maple, fir). The reason for this is availability. The wood that must be imported is more expensive than the wood grown in the country. Abundant woods are not as expensive as scarce woods.

Oak
Oak is a coarse-grained hardwood found in Europe and North America. Beginning in the 17th century in Europe, oak was used to make furniture found throughout the home. There are several varieties, including red oak and white oak. Young oak is pale in color. But, over time and with polishing, the oak darkens and takes on a deep brown color.

Mahogany
Mahogany is a close-grained hardwood native to northern and central South America and the West Indies. Mahogany was a popular choice in England in the mid-18th century for fine furniture. It is a dark red color at times, however it is dark brown. Red mahogany is found in the West Indies and brown mahogany is native to South America. Mahogany furniture continues to be desirable today.

Rosewood
Rosewood is a close-grained hardwood indigenous to India, South America, and the West Indies. Rosewood is named for the scent of roses that is released when it is cut. Occasionally, I find that people confuse rosewood with mahogany. Both woods can be red. However, when you look closely at rosewood, you will see fine black (and sometimes white) rings that are not present in mahogany. Another trick to tell if an item is rosewood is to pick it up. Rosewood is a very heavy wood, heavier than mahogany. In 17th century China, rosewood was a popular choice for fine furniture makers. Also, in 19th century Europe, it was used to build better quality furniture for elegant homes.

Nut
Walnut is a close-grained hardwood found in Europe and North America. Color ranges from a light brown to a very rich golden brown and it is not uncommon to find walnut stains to look like mahogany. Sometimes illness leads to the unexpected. The Burl Walnut, the most prized form of walnut, is the result of a disease that attacks the tree and causes a beautiful, closed, coiled kernel. These days you see the look of burl walnut replicated in the plastic interiors of some high-end cars.

Pine tree
Pine is a pale, knotty softwood with a wide, straight grain. It grows in Europe and North America. Pine was often used in furniture intended to be painted. Everyday furniture (kitchen tables and chairs) was often made from pine.

maple and elm
Maple and elm are coarse-grained hardwoods found in North America and Europe. They were frequently used in utilitarian furniture. A veneer of a finer wood was often applied to these woods.

veneers
Veneering is a technique where a very thin sheet of more expensive wood is glued to less expensive wood. The use of less expensive woods such as elm and maple and the addition of a more expensive mahogany or walnut veneer allowed furniture manufacturers to provide affordable furniture for a larger clientele. You may hear an antiques dealer say; “This table is walnut on maple.” The dealer wants to say that the item has a walnut veneer and under the actual item is maple. A walnut on maple table is less valuable than a solid walnut table.

How to know if your furniture is veneered? Look at the edges of the piece. If you see what appears to be a seam, it is plated. On the other hand, if the edges of the piece have no seam, it is solid.

The first plates of the seventeenth century were cut by hand, so they could be uneven. But in the 19th century, veneers began to be cut by machine. This allowed the veneers to be cut very thin and even. Depending on the way the wood is cut, the veneer produces different effects. Butterfly veneers occur when two opposing front fiber veneers are cut diagonally from a branch. They are applied to mirror each other.

Marquetry/Parquet/Inlays
Marquetry is a technique in which various types of wood are applied to a surface to produce an image. Flowers and birds were often the themes. Exotic woods such as ebony, satinwood and tulipwood were frequently used.

The difference between marquetry and parquet is the theme. Parquet is a veneer that uses geometric patterns. Today, you see it on parquet floors and ornate chess and backgammon boards.

Inlay is a decorative treatment in which materials other than wood are cut into a design. Inlays were often made of bone, ivory, mother-of-pearl, brass, tortoise shell. Marquetry, parquet and inlay first appeared during the Italian Renaissance.

Golden
Gilding is a technique in which gold leaf with plaster (a plaster-like substance) is applied to wood. It is highly decorative and was popular during the Italian Renaissance and Louis period in France.