Thursday, December 22, 2011

Install Your Sliding Barn Doors

If you love barns, you absolutely would want to provide a good barn door. They are a pair of vertical framed material. They are also visible, and usually made but not limited to wood. They commonly have gambrel type of roofing, but of course, the barn doors' construction is the crucial part as they must be wide enough to house a lot of feeds and other farm equipment.

With other forms of do it yourself instructions, here are the most basic instruction to install your beloved sliding barn doors. Larger sturdy doors can also be used on larger barns, but the usual thickness is of 1 3/4" and 3/4"tongue and groove.

INTERIOR DOORS

With the materials needed, here are the most common tools you should have. You don't need to be too exact with them; anything equal to them can also be usable. Also, the bolts and nuts included in the door, you will need the following items:

1. Goggles and protection gear, level, tape measure, socket wrench, the sliding barn doors and other needed materials (bolts, spacers and other mounting items), saw, drill, awl, wooden mounting board, router, and paint.

2. When starting out, you need a couple of men to do the job. You can hold track of the support of the door to get a mounting board but with a slightly bigger size the track to be installed. The drywall anchors, bolts, spacers are the ones that will hold the track and the roller to be in place. You can alternatively paint the mounting board to your desired color to match the door color.

3. You can now assemble the steel track. With the joint brackets placed according to the specifications of your barn door. You need to cut a track for the width amount needed, this must be double the girth of its door to permit the door to be opened entirely to the size of the actual width.

4. The next step is to measure the drill holes that you need to put the steel track. When they are to be attached, you need to use the awl to create a space for the drill to remove the occurrence of slipping while drilling. Here is the part where you need to wear the goggles as metal will get hot.

5. You will now measure the track, make sure they are aligned with the use of a level. The next is to install the track along with the spacers to the board and use the bolts.

6. Attaching the hanger roller and be sure to follow your doors' instructions, you will now install the bolts, washers, and other nuts. You can get tighten them with the use of a socket wrench. The next is to attach the bottom roller guide and you can hang the door and you're all done.

You can practically save more money if you follow this guide. But be sure to get more persons to help you out to make sure they can help you out on other things. Also, having a good sliding barn door can be obtained along the internet or just canvass well and get a cheaper but sturdy door for your liking.

Install Your Sliding Barn Doors

For tips on choosing sliding doors, visit http://www.slidingdoors101.com

INTERIOR DOORS

A Diyer's Guide to Soundproofing on a allocation

If you plainly tell your construction contractor in progress to reinforce your home's walls, you can pour purified, mold-free sand into its stud cavities and have reasonable and highly sufficient soundproofing.

If you've decided to soundproof only one room in your home, you can plainly use rolled roofing available in 30' x3' rolls from any Lowe's or Home Depot. If you've investigated soundproofing materials at all, you know that Mlv, or mass loaded vinyl, is one of the best around, but it commonly costs anywhere from .25 to .00 per quadrate foot, and that can put a serious dent in any home construction budget. Mlv is permeated with silica and barium salts, giving it the soundproofing qualities of lead sheeting without any toxic properties.

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Using Rolled Roofing When Soundproofing On A Budget

But you can make your own economical substitute for Mlv by stapling or nailing a membrane of the rolled roofing across your stud frame with each section overlapping the previous one by at least one inch. You'll have to use acoustical caulk from a top soundproofing materials constructor like Sound Isolation Company, caulking not only the overlaps but the whole perimeter of the rolled roofing membrane, so that all the gaps in it have been sealed.

Your rolled roofing, of course, will not be soundproof as Mlv, so I highly advise that you staple and caulk a second layer over the first on both the walls and ceiling of you room. Stagger the seams where you can, install, mud, tape, and paint a final layer of 5/8" drywall which is fire-code compliant, and you'll have a soundproof room which costs
a fraction of what you would have otherwise paid!

The point Of Acoustical Caulk In Soundproofing On A Budget
The best recipe you have doing soundproofing on a budget is to use the best potential acoustical caulk. When compared to any other soundproofing materials, acoustical caulk is the least expensive, yet your choice of acoustical caulk can make or break the success of your soundproofing project. Don't try to save even more on your soundproofing by substituting a silicone caulk for genuine acoustical caulk.

Two high quality acoustical caulks are Osi-175 Sc, and Tremco Smoke and Sound caulk. Either of these caulks will add exquisite sound dampening properties to your soundproofing project. You can learn more about the different acoustical caulks by visiting the websites of soundproofing material manufacturers or calling them by phone.

There are ways to do your Soundproofing Tip on a budget, and I hope this article has given you the facts you need to get your home soundproofing project underway!

A Diyer's Guide to Soundproofing on a allocation

LOWES

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Bedroom Painting Ideas - Making Your Bedroom Look More Inviting

Before you start painting your bedroom with your favorite color, you first need to know that there rules in painting your bedroom. Since this is your private retreat and is a part of the house that is least visited by other people, you can experiment and be creative about the decoration as well as the wall color. However, you should also follow the three basic rules in choosing the color for your room.

1. The first rule is the color family rule. For example, if you want to paint your room with the color blue, you should consider having a decoration inside your bedroom that will also have the shade of blue. This is called monochromatic schemes that is simple to do and very popular for most people. So, if you like a particular color for your bedroom wall, you should also get a shade of that color in as your lampshade color, your bed sheet color and also your picture frame color.

INTERIOR DOORS

2. The second rule is the next door neighbor color rule. If you are familiar with the color wheel, you will have an idea on what kinds of color you should put in your bedroom. For example, if you like red, then the colors next to it in the color wheel will prove to be great combinations. If you choose red then you should also use the colors orange and violet. If you choose blue, then the colors green and violet can prove to be a great combination and so on. This color scheme is called the analogous color scheme.

3. The third rule is the Ying and Yang rule. Chinese beliefs suggest that you should have adequate Yin and Yang in your house. This means that there should be opposites of everything and this will include the colors. And, this proves to be true. It can create a harmonious environment that you will truly love. Most people love the basic black and white combination. You can experiment with different dark and light shades of colors and determine which can provide you with a great looking bedroom.

These are the three basic rules in providing a comfortable and relaxing environment in your bedroom. Be creative and you will definitely have different ideas on what colors you should paint your bedroom with.

Bedroom Painting Ideas - Making Your Bedroom Look More Inviting

To learn more interior painting ideas, visit my house painting tips site.

INTERIOR DOORS

White Kitchen Cabinets and Kitchen Design

Today the most popular type of home improvement homeowners are wanting and doing is kitchen remodeling. Kitchens are the main attraction and social center of your home for preparing meals for your family and for friends a comfortable place to socialize and gather. Kitchen design and planning is most important step for you to achieve the personal look, practical use and customized to meet you and your family's lifestyle and needs. One of the most popular colors kitchen designers choose is white. White kitchen cabinets can be used to make a subtle design statement or portray a very dramatic distinctive look. The color white speaks for itself and depending on the style of kitchen cabinetry and door style you can create a look that fits your personality. White kitchen cabinets are used for many different decor such as contemporary, traditional, country, French country, English, shaker and many more. There are also many choices of material used for kitchen cabinets like; plastic laminate, white painted wood, high gloss lacquer, vinyl foil, white stain and white washed finish - all having their our design statement. Each of these styles has a distinctive look and can reflect your own personality.

White kitchen cabinets make color choices for accessories and countertops somewhat easier to choose an accent color theme throughout the kitchen and surrounding rooms. Using white color cabinetry in any of the styles mentioned can accomplish a design which is timeless and stay stylish for years to come. Contemporary style white gloss finishes give a very sleek modern look, while white painted wood raised panel door styles can give a warm traditional feeling in a kitchen. The flooring and countertop colors are the main accent areas and can drastically give different moods with different colors. A white traditional style cabinet with wood flooring is very popular and makes the kitchen feel very inviting and warm. Adding granite countertops to this combination again can totally change the mood of the kitchen depending on the color and texture.

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The color choice for appliances is also very important and contributes to the total design statement. I would suggest if you are planning a traditional style kitchen use matching white wood front decorator panels on the dishwasher and refrigerator fronts as they will blend in better with the total look and use your choice for ovens, cook tops and sinks as stainless steel or black. In a contemporary style kitchen many designers choose to accent all appliances with contrasting colors to create a more dramatic look. In the past many people felt that white kitchen cabinets were only for showrooms and thought white was too much work to maintain. With today's new wood finishes and synthetic materials white kitchen cabinetry is as easy to maintain as any other stained color. White kitchen cabinets have been in style for the past 20 years and show no signs of going out of the style trends to date. It is much easier to change color themes from time to time by changing window treatments, place mats and countertop accessories with new accent colors if you choose.

White Kitchen Cabinets and Kitchen Design

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Replacing Sliding Doors With French Doors

Typically leading out to the patio or backyard, sliding doors or French doors allow plenty of sunlight in while giving you a private view and access to the outdoors. Sliding glass doors are simply designed and perform the basic functions but may be seen as outdated and commonplace. A pair of French doors opens fully to the outdoors and adds charm and elegance to a space. Follow these steps to replace your sliding doors with French doors.

1. Take measurements of your old doors and purchase your French doors.
It is a good idea to purchase your French doors before you begin any work to remove your existing doors, since you may have to wait a couple of weeks or longer for the new doors to arrive. In order to purchase the right size of replacement doors, you will need to measure the height and width of your existing sliding doors. French doors come in standard sizes, so if you take your measurements to any reputable lumber yard or home improvement store, they should be able to order the correct size of a set of pre-hung French doors. If in doubt, you may remove the trim from the outside to obtain the measurements for the rough door opening, without removing the old door. It is best to choose a door with dimensions a quarter inch smaller on each side than the rough opening.

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2. Detach your old sliding doors.
Once your new doors have arrived, you can get to work replacing your doors. Pry the existing trim and moldings loose with a hammer. The track and the rest of the sliding door unit will be exposed. Unscrew the nails on the side jambs, the top header, and the bottom track that secure the door panels in place. Pull the fixed panel away from the track and remove, followed by the sliding panel. You may need to pry the fixed door panel out of the side jamb if it is stuck.

3. Remove the rest of the sliding door unit.
Unscrew all the nails holding the jambs, header, and track in place. The unit should easily come loose. The side jambs tend to require more work to remove, and you need to be careful not to damage the wall surrounding the door frame. Starting at the bottom, pry the metal jamb away from the side wall.

4. Place the French doors in the opening and assess the fit.
Do not remove any clips or straps that hold your new doors aligned and closed. Center the door unit in the opening and position it into place. Using a level, assess if the door unit is even and plumb. You may need to get a friend to help you hold the door in place while you use shims to adjust the fit of the door. Start with the top and bottom corners and then behind the hinges, making sure to assess for levelness after each shim.

5. Secure the new doors into place.
Attach the frame of the unit to the opening using three nails for each jamb. Nail any shims into the jambs or the frame. Secure the doors on the hinges, remove the clips or straps attached to the doors, and test out their swinging motion. Fill the cracks between the jamb and frame with insulation. Install the interior casing and exterior molding, and apply caulk along the exterior to seal out drafts. Complete your door replacement by following the manufacturer's finishing instructions.

Replacing Sliding Doors With French Doors

Alyssa Davis, who writes exclusively for Metal-Wall-Art.com, offers many suggestions for creating bold interiors with wall art and large wall sculptures.

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Use a Draft Blocker to Seal a Door

If you are looking for ways to seal a door, look no further than a door snake. You will not need to have special skills or to go out and buy a lot of sealants, if you use this well built draft blocker. They are specifically designed to block the flow of air underneath your door.

As studies have shown that doors with an effective seal can save anywhere up to 25% on your heating costs and cooling costs, you should know that when you seal a door you are doing your bit for home energy conservation. Enjoy pleasant temperatures year round, with savings to boot.

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Many homeowners might not realize the important and immediate need to seal a door. They wrongly assume that the little amount of air that flows in and out of the gap under a door cant do much to throw off the temperature in a home. But when you count the number of doors in your home that lead to the exterior, the problem can create an extremely drafty home.

When taking action to seal a door, don't just stop at the front and back doors. The door leading to the garage, the sliding glass door leading to the deck, the attic door and the basement door should all be protected for exterior drafts. There are door draft stoppers that fit just about any size door and gap opening.

When you seal a door, you stop any airflow in and out of your house through the gap between the bottom of your door and its metal threshold. Its important to keep warm air in and cold air out in the winter months, and vice versa in the summer months, to ensure your home remains at the temperature you have set. If it doesn't, you are paying more to run the heat or the air conditioner more frequently.

If you are wondering whether you need to take action to seal a door, just run your hand along the bottom. If it feels colder, or warmer as the case may be, than the air inside, then the outside air is coming inside. Just place a draft blocker along the bottom of the door and you will fix the problem.

To seal a door with a door snake or draft stopper, its important to buy a commercial grade one that is constructed out of materials that are sturdy and durable. Testing has shown that polypropylene material is the best in terms of toughness. Also look for the interior to be filled with a material that is both flexible and a proven insulator, such as finely ground corn cob.

Using a draft blocker to seal a door is very straightforward. You will not need to worry about installation steps or maintenance, you will not need adhesives or fasteners, and you will see that the items can be easily cared for. Just hand wash and dry, and these items will last for ever.

Use a Draft Blocker to Seal a Door

Look for detailed information about how to seal a door. Be sure to sign up for our free newsletter at http://www.cleanupstuff.com and get our free report. A toll free resource is available on our site to answer any queries.

INTERIOR DOORS

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Roll Up Doors For Storage Sheds

One you have decided on the type of storage shed you want to build, think about the type of door you want to install. Roll up doors for storage sheds are excellent systems that benefit you in a number of ways.

The positioning of the storage shed in your yard is a consideration to the type of doors that can be installed. If space is limited, certain types of swing out doors will not be the most useful choice. Swing out doors will not be able to have a full radius of travel if space is limited. This will also limit your ability to totally utilize all the storage space in the shed. Without full access to the space, you may not be able to store larger items such as riding lawn mowers and attachments such as thatchers.

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Sliding doors on storage sheds are another option. These doors are installed with rollers and a metal guide to keep the door in place. The sliding doors can either one or both directions. Sliding doors on a shed can also be two panels or one panel. A disadvantage to this type of system is that it does not fully seal the shed. There is usually enough of a gap to let in unwanted wildlife like mice and squirrels. Birds may also want to enter in the space between the door and the rollers.

Roll up doors for storage sheds are the best choice is you have limited clearance and also if you wish to completely enclose the contents of the structure. A properly installed system completes the seal and need minimum clearance on the outside of the shed. You are then only limited to what the shed will actually hold and not the clearance area in front of the shed. Wildlife will also not be able to enter.

Many build your own systems for doors on portable sheds are available. To limit frustration, make sure to read the instructions first.

Roll Up Doors For Storage Sheds

These are just a few of the options in roll up doors for storage sheds.

Next, discover the many types of doors at http://doorshelpunlimited.com that can save you time and money.

INTERIOR DOORS

Renovate Your Room With Plexiglass Closet Doors

Giving your traditional bedroom, or any room in your home for that matter, a contemporary look has never been easy with plexiglass closet doors. You can have louvered, bifold, accordion or bypass style doors with plexiglass.

Plexiglass is a great closet door material for daily use because it would not break or crack easily. You would not have any problem fitting it with your modern home décor because it comes in various designs and finishes. Check out some of the offerings from online retailers (eco-furniture.com, prontohome.com, etc) and compare their prices first before making a buying decision.

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Coloran Acrylic Doors:

Resilient in style, this door is perfect for use in almost all closets in your home, from wardrobe to pantry to laundry. It is moisture-resistant, steam-resistant and can withstand humid or damp conditions. Therefore, there is less possibility that this door will lose its shape or warp.

Plexiglass Doors:

This sliding door can be a great addition to your shelving system. You can combine or mix and match the various available colors to create a unique look in your bedroom or any room in your house. You can combine the colors with clear or frosted door. The myriad of design options available for this door only shows its flexibility.

Armoire with Plexiglass Door:

This children's armoire features a plexiglass door making it safe for your children's room. The armoire has three adjustable shelves and a hang bar where you can easily hang clothes. Some of its standard features are hand painted designs and decorative iron scrolls. For optional features, you can have pull knob handles in gold and silver finishes, plain glass and decorative iron scrolls in finishes of either burnished gold, white and antique silver. Meanwhile, the door is available in four finishes, namely red, white, navy and black. The door is constructed with Asian hardwood, solid medium density fiberboard. The dimensions are 19 and ¼ inches in width, 39 inches in length, 60 inches in height and 125 pounds in weight.

SLIM-5 Series Doors:

This plexiglass door is ideal for any room in your house. You have the option of either right or left swing. Standard features are a flush pull and cam keylock. Prices vary according to your choice of design, hardware as well as weight. For example, a door that weighs 18.3 pounds sells for 0.34, 9.10 for a door that weighs 14.8 pounds, 7.94 for a door weighing 28.45 pounds while a 23-pound door sells for 1.62.

Chatsworth Products Inc.'s Plexiglass Door:

Chatsworth offer this replacement door in various styles, including solid plexiglass style, vented, spoiled perforated metal or high flow. You have the option to remove and install to open from either left or right. This door also perfectly fits cabinets designed with side panels. It comes pre-installed with locks and keys. An opening area of 63 percent is available for the perforated door style for greater ventilation.

Middle Atlantic SCRK Series Plexiglass Front Door-PFD-44:

This door can be installed either with a left or right swing. Standard features are cam keylock, attractive flush pull, metal hinge and lightly smoked plexiglass. It fits well with door opening clearance of 1.5 inches and has black textured powder coat. Sizes are 22 inches wide and 77 inches high.

Renovate Your Room With Plexiglass Closet Doors

For more information about PLEXIGLASS CLOSET DOORS and other door styles, visit http://www.theclosetdoorideas.com.

INTERIOR DOORS

House Blessings - Bless Yours NOW!

It's time to kick the enemy out of our homes and our of our family's lives. My wife and I recently bought an 85 year old Victorian home in Stephenville, Texas. We call it Vanderbilt Place and we run it as a rooming house. On New Year's Eve 2005, along with some friends, we prayed a blessing over the house. It made such a huge difference insofar as not only keeping the place occupied but also in the quality of renter we attracted from that day onward.

Later, after sharing this experience with a friend, a local business woman asked if we would pray with her over her business. Once we prayed, not only did productivity soar, but the strong ungodly element decreased dramatically, starting with the manager's resignation several months later.

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In this message, I did not want to get too ritualistic, thereby possibly inviting some other religious devil. Consider this a model; feel free to customize it for your needs. So, I'm keeping it simple and duplicatable so that others might be able to bless THEIR home...people like YOU! Don't wait for Sunday to do something spiritual...we are the Church, NOT the buildings! Don't wait for a minister either...you ARE one according to Scripture.

In America today, we tend to scream at societal issues and throw money at our problems. We do a great deal of finger pointing, too. What I'm proposing is that, house by house, American Christians must take back what the enemy has stolen from us. Starting TODAY! As they say, if you want something you've never had, you've got to do something you've never done.

Single parents, grandfathers, college students alone in your dorm, apartment dwellers AND apartment managers or property owners - if you are a Christian, you have the authority to take dominion over your dwelling place. Don't delay. Gather some friends and a bottle of virgin olive oil from the kitchen and start praying and anointing as the Spirit leads...first your place, then THEIRS! There's power in agreement so, regardless of their denomination, go for it! If you like, have communion afterward or sing some hymns. Here's what we're doing. Do likewise and be blessed!

1) TAKE AUTHORITY OVER SPIRITS THAT HAVE BEEN WELCOMED THROUGHOUT THE HOME'S HISTORY - LEAVE DOORS OPEN FOR THEIR ESCAPE. The Bible declares, "Submit yourself to God, resist the devil and he will flee." Here's a prayer you can begin with:

In the Name of Jesus our Messiah,and by the power of His Blood and His Cross, and the Holy Spirit that raised Him from the dead and now dwells within us, we bind all spirits in the air, and the fire and the water, in the ground and the underground and the nether world,and we bind any satanic forces of nature that have been assigned to this dwelling place. You will steal from us no longer! In fact, you will repay us sevenfold, according to Eph 4;28. "When the thief is caught he must repay seven fold". That includes sevenfold time, energy, money, health and anything else stolen from God's children.

We break all generational and word curses, hexes, or spells, or any witchcraft or occult activity that have been invited into this house - on purpose or by accident - throughout the generations past.

We bind the interaction and interplay of demonic spirits within these walls. And we claim the protection of the shed Blood of Jesus Christ over this house and grounds, and over every person who ever spend so much as a few moments upon this property. May they receive God's blessing!

We call out to you, Holy Spirit. Come now and fill this place, never to leave! We pray this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Here are a few Opening Scriptures you may choose to start with:
"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:7)

"Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in..." (Revelation 3:20)

2) PRAYER OF BLESSING WHILE ANOINTING WITH OIL

Most loving God, we thank you that through faith in your Son Jesus Christ, you make us all members of your eternal family. We give thanks for all the love that you send to draw our earthly families together, to heal us, and to heal those who have gone before us. Fill this house with your divine presence, we pray. Pour out your love to deepen the fellowship shared here. Let your wisdom guide us, your trust free us, and your peace bless us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We dedicate this home to love and understanding. May its joys and sorrows be shared and the individuality of each person who lives and visits here appreciated.

We dedicate this home to work, and rest and play. May our home have joy and high fellowship, with kindness in its voices and laughter running within its walls.

We dedicate this home to friendly life. May its doors open in hospitality and its windows look out with kindness toward other homes and those who pass by its doors.

We dedicate this home to cooperation. May its duties be performed in love, its furnishings bear witness that the work of others ministers to our comfort, and its table remind us that God works with us for the supply of daily needs.

We dedicate this home to the appreciation of all things good and true. May the books bring wisdom, the pictures symbolize things beautiful, and the music bring joy and inspiration.

We dedicate the time and talent of those who live here to help build a world in which every family may have a home of comfort and fellowship.

We dedicate this home as a unit in the Church universal, an instrument of the Kingdom of God, a place of worship and Christian training and a threshold to the life eternal.

With our hearts turned toward you, so our thoughts rise in gratitude to God for this home, and in prayer for God's blessings upon it.

Following are s few Scriptures and Reflections about Homes and God's Care:

1. The Bible teaches us that a home is far more than a physical building.

Proverbs 24:3-4

By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

2. We need God's presence, power and direction for our lives and homes to be fruitful.

Psalms 127:1

Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.

3. The Bible indicates that it is important to dedicate our homes to God. Before going into battle, the men in the Bible were warned to dedicate their homes!

Deuteronomy 20:5

Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying, 'What man is there that has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it.'

4. God told his people to write his word on the doorposts of their homes.

Many Jewish people today place a portion of God's Word on a parchment scroll in a container on the doorposts of their homes. They touch the scroll every time they go in or out to remind them that their homes belong to God, and what happens there is to be directed by God's Word.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your hearts and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

5. When a person dedicates their house to God, we trust that God responds to their commitment. When Solomon dedicated the temple, God responded, speaking to him.

2 Chronicles 7:15

Now my eyes will be open [says the Lord] and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.
For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there for ever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time.

6. When people in the Early Christian movement gathered to teach and preach about Jesus, and to pray in the power of the Spirit, they often met in homes. Even today, there is a growing movement throughout the Western world - something our third world brethren have been doing for decades - meeting in homes or anywhere the Spirit leads them to.

Acts 5:42

And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Acts 28:30,31

[Paul] stayed two full years in his own rented quarters, and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ...

7. Jesus can use our homes to minister to us and with us if we will welcome him.

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

8. In his teachings, Jesus presented home life as a model of what it means to live a life in God's presence and love.

John 14:1-3

"Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms;
if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

9. The Psalmist saw God's care in a similar way.

Psalms 91:1-2

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress;my God, in whom I trust."

10. How will we use the homes God has loaned to us? Dedicating our homes to God is not a one-time act. It is an ongoing ministry!

Hebrews 13:2

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

11. We are accountable to God for the use of our homes and our hospitality. God honors those who consecrate the use of their homes to bless others in need.

Matthew 25:31-46

"When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats... Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was ...a stranger and you welcomed me...'
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee...a stranger and welcome thee...? And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.

Final Prayer of Blessing:

Almighty God,we thank you for the desires of our hearts for this home and all who enter its doors,that all we have and do here may be in accord with your divine plans,that this home and its residents may be truly and completely dedicated to you, and to serving your kingdom.

We ask you to strengthen them in this commitment. We pray to you, O God, for this home, its occupants and possessions,that you may bless and sanctify them, enriching them by your kindness in every way possible. Pour out on them, O Lord, heavenly dew in good measure, as well as an abundance of earthly needs.

Mercifully listen to their prayers, and grant that their needs be fulfilled.
As we come before you, Father, bless this home & every aspect of it,
cleansing any misdeeds of the past, and leaving it pure, fresh and holy.
Bless this house, just as you blessed the homes of Abraham and Sarah, of Isaac and
Rebecca, of Jacob and Rachel.
Within these walls, let your angels preside and stand watch over those who live and
spend time here, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

House Blessings - Bless Yours NOW!

Pastor Michael has been accused of saying that which everyone else is afraid to say. He has written nearly 700 online articles since 1999. He has also written 15 books, all designed to challenge and strengthen the thinking person. His latest book, "8 Things I Hate About Jesus," is receiving great reviews and is now available at http://www.lulu.com/content/1472061

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3 Door to Door Sales Tips For Better Selling

Door to door sales is a tough business involving a lot of walking, talking and what turns most people off; Rejection. Being rebuffed time after time after time can really make this type of selling very hard and if you are the kind of sales person that thrives on success they may be so few and far between that this becomes depressing and not worthwhile. There are many door to door sales tips and tricks used by great sales people but the real building blocks for success come from motivation, planning and persistence.

1. Motivation Tips

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Staying motivated from street to street, door to door and day to day is an ongoing challenge. It is said this sort of sales is just a numbers game, the more you knock the more chances you have to get a sales and while this is true it is only a part of the truth. If you knock unsuccessfully for too long it can get to you and the next call you will not be as lively or persuasive, having high motivation and energy throughout the day is essential for being persuasive and making each call count. The first thing you must do is not take any rejection personally, you are in an industry where you are selling to people who are not actively looking for your product and do not know you are coming, the conversion rate of sales is very low and you must expect this. Just think that every unsuccessful call has enabled you to get to the next call that may be a winner quicker! Another way to stay motivated is to keep track of sales but do not keep track of unsuccessful calls, only focus on positives not negatives and you will find success comes more easily, celebrate each sale, revel in it and stay on top of your game!

2. Planning Tips

While this may be a numbers game not all calls are equal so the adage of more is better is somewhat false. Good planning and research can help you to find the most profitable calls to focus on instead of just calling on whatever doors come your way. That also being said too much planning and too little calling is also a recipe for disaster. Choose your locations well for your products, some areas simply will not generate the same sales as other due to demographics. Also the time of day you call is important, calling at the wrong time can lead to a wasted call. You must strike a balance between numbers and quality of calls for a good sales conversion rate.

3. Persistence Tips

Persistence can be a double edged sword; I was once told that the difference between a good sales person and a great sales person is persistence. However later I learned that the difference between a great sale person and an annoying harasser is but small degrees apart. While you must be persistent in sales there is also the danger of following dead end too far and wasting time. If there is no chance of a sale why continue to try to make them come around? If you are pressing too hard you simple put people off, the art of listening is more important in this situation or even just giving up. That right, persisting when the outcome will not change is not good! If you apply your persistence where it can get results you will go far but you must prioritise calls and customers quickly or be stuck in dead end avenues. Having more time for more calls can often yield better results than simply trying not to take no for an answer! Remember that door to door sales is about quality and quantity, sticking with a low quality call means you have no quality and you are missing out on more quantity!

There are heaps of other small tips you can use from your opening to your closing to overall door to door coverage. Keep in mind these overall concepts for running your territory and you will be able to increase your overall sales however and more door to door sales tips will come to you in the process of your work!

3 Door to Door Sales Tips For Better Selling

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A Guide to Platform Bed Plans

Do you want to try your hand at building a platform bed? For those of you who don't yet know what a platform bed is, it's an exciting, old way of sleeping that incorporates a simple, elegant frame and a single mattress. Its lines have been used in Europe, Scandinavia, and Japan for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Platform beds can be made of wood or metal. If you're looking to build a platform bed, you're probably thinking about wood.

Platform beds can be extremely simple. The extremely simple platform beds have no headboard or footboard, and certainly no canopy. They incorporate slats, which, in effect, replace the need for a box spring, since, because they are sturdy yet somehow slightly flexible, support the single mattress on top. The result is that you get a good night's sleep, are very comfortable, and yet don't end up with back pains or numb muscles in the morning.

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It's ever better for your back than sleeping on the floor. And now, with the rapid proliferation of memory foam, your platform bed can be even more comfortable and healthy. Memory foam is a gel-like polymer that accepts your shapes and bones, but supports it fully. (It was first used in hospitals, and is now a popular mattress and pillow material.)

Platform bed plans can be more complex too; you can add headboards, footboards, canopies, even extra flourishes and storage units. You can build the storage units as one with the bed frame, or you can create rolling drawers supported by castors, so that the drawers are modifiable and easily maneuverable throughout your bedroom.

It's not the most difficult job in the world for a handyperson. If you want to build a platform bed, you can order platform bed plans from any of a number of plans retailers. Woodworking clubs, furniture enthusiast groups, and other organizations can give or sell you plans. You can also buy plans online.

A Guide to Platform Bed Plans

Platform Beds Info provides detailed information about contemporary, Japanese, discount, and wood platform beds and platform storage beds, as well as platform bed frames and plans. Platform Beds Info is the sister site of Futons Web.

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Monday, December 19, 2011

Shabby Chic Paint Colors and Decor

The great thing about shabby chic paint colors is that it uses paint on everything from the walls to the furniture. This means that you'll be able to create a totally fresh new look in your room for just a couple of bucks. Sure, you'll need to start out with furniture with curved lines and pick subtle hues, but you can easily accomplish this design aesthetic in any room of your home for just the cost of a few buckets of paint and a little elbow grease.

The first step in how to paint shabby chic is to pull out the cream and ivory paint. This is a staple in the cottage style. You can also go for a taupe or gray for a more modern space. You'll want to paint all of your furniture in these light neutral colors. The focus will then be on the curved lines and carvings of the pieces instead of more distracting wood grains. This allows you to take all those old garage sale finds and pieces from college and really turn them into something special. You might want to leave the edges of the pieces black or chocolate brown for a worn effect that still has a big impact.

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Shabby chic colors border on feminine. This may mean using lavenders and rose tones. You can balance a masculine sage green with ivory furniture. Pair a robin eggs blue with delicate accessories to soften the look.

Shabby chic wall decor helps get your theme across. This might be plates or a set of mirrors. You'll want to create a collage of found items on the wall; this may even be architectural elements.

You can create a cottage style without being too extreme. You might just want to paint the doors and trim in your room in order to save on paint and have versatility. This might mean adding a cottage blue or sage green. Then you can layer green and white toile fabrics with striped furniture and porcelain lamps. You can even use a floral fabric on the lampshades.

Cottage paint colors can still have a modern look to them. This keeps your room from becoming predictable or stuffy. Pair a linen couch with a fuchsia accent wall. Then use cottage rose curtains on the wall for a traditional shabby chic style that ties your color palette together. If you want to keep natural wood in the room then soften it with a pickling or white wash effect so it has a more feminine touch to it. This will also breathe life into wood that has become dated or dinged up.

You can draw inspiration from delicate items such as china or crystal to really create a unique color palette. You can mix and match patterns from thrift stores as long as they are in the same color family. This adds interest to an all white room or is just an inexpensive way to accessorize that makes a big impact. Pull out subtle rose, gold or green tones from your plates. Offset the wall color with neutral furniture and lots of crystal in the space so it still has that light and airy effect.

Shabby Chic Paint Colors and Decor

To learn much more about different paint schemes, and Shabby Chic Colors visit Interior Decorating Colors. You'll find this and much more, including the best Tuscany Colors to use.

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How to Properly Repair Chips and Deep Scratches on Your Car

We all have received them on our cars - rock chips, door dings, bumper scrapes, etc... They can come from a rock thrown up from a truck on the highway, or its as easy as a parking lot ding from someone in a hurry or even an errant grocery cart. Most of these are unavoidable. They can happen even if you park far away from stores and regardless of the measures you take to protect your car. Not only do they detract from your cars beauty, but they can also make your car susceptible to rust and the environment. Here's how to fix these paint chips, nicks and deep scratches and protect your car from rust.

Its not worth going to a auto paint and body store for chips and scratches. They will charge 10 times more for repairs you can easily do yourself. The first step is to locate the chips and scratches and see how deep they are. If they don't go all the way through the paint you can buff them out. Using a cloth terry towel apply a small amount of scratch remover or cleaner wax. Rub in a circular motion over the chip or scratch and buff when dry. If this removes the chip or scratch after a couple of applications, great, then just follow with a good wax or polish. If you see white primer or metal in the nick or scratch scratch remover or cleaner wax will not work well.

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Some cars have paint that is lacquer based and others have paint that is enamel based. The following tip works wonders on cars with lacquer based paint only. Get a clean rag and apply a small amount of lacquer thinner to it. Take this and rub lightly on and around the scratch, nick or chip. The lacquer thinner will actually start to move the paint around and cover the affected spot. This even works on larger scrapes. This treatment is not recommended on cars with custom paint jobs and may not work on all cars with lacquer based paints.

For those with enamel paint or scratches and chips where the above treatment didn't work, then you have to touch up the blemish in your paint. First, you need to get the paint code so you can correctly match the paint for your car. This is located inside your door jam or on some Hondas inside the glove box. Take this paint code to your dealer and get a small bottle of touch up paint. The touch up paint will come in a small bottle with a brush applicator. Instead of using the brush, as it will apply too broadly and make your touch up of the chip or scratch really stand out, we recommend using a toothpick for better paint placement.

First clean the area of the chip or scratch. Then follow the directions on the touch up paint bottle. Usually it is mix thoroughly for 5 minutes (metallic paints may require more agitation). Then using the toothpick place the paint directly in the chip or scratch. When done allow to dry for several days before waxing or polishing (some cars have a clear cote which you would then apply in the same fashion to the affected area). By touching up the paint you have sealed the area from the environment and greatly reduced the chances of rust setting in and affecting your sheet metal. Rust is like cancer for your car and very difficult to stop once it starts, so it is better to be proactive and prevent it with proper car care and treatment and quickly identifying and repairing paint chips, nicks and scratches. For more great free info on automotive repair, treatments and headlight cleaning and restoration, please visit the link below.

How to Properly Repair Chips and Deep Scratches on Your Car

David Maillie specializes in automotive safety products and information. He holds numerous patents and awards for his patented headlight cleaner and restorer. For more information, tips, safety and money saving products for your auto please visit http://www.mdwholesale.com

INTERIOR DOORS

Replacing Your Sliding Glass Door Rollers

If the sliding glass doors in your home are more than 10 years old, you might notice that they are becoming harder to slide open. This problem is even more common on aluminum frame dual pane doors. The reason is because the doors are heavier due to the dual pane glass, but many of the aluminum units did not use stainless steel rollers. So, in many cases, the rollers get rusty from moisture and they start to bind.

In order to replace the rollers, you have to remove the sliding panel from the opening. In most instances, the fixed panel must be removed in order for the sliding panel to come out. There is a simple way to determine whether or not your fixed panel has to come out as well. If the slider is on the inside track and the fixed panel is on the outside track, you have to remove both panels, because the slider will only come out from the outside. There is a lip on the bottom of the track inside your house. That lip keeps water from coming in. Unfortunately, that lip is also too high to lift the sliding panel up and over. So, you have to remove the fixed panel first, then lift and swing out the slider from outside. If you are one of the few people who have a slider on the outside track, then you can lift your slider out without removing the fixed panel.

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But, let's assume you need to remove the fixed panel first. Here is what you do: Remove your screen door if you have one. The screen door will have two rollers on the bottom. Lift one end of the door frame with one hand while using a flat screwdriver to lift the roller off the track. Do that on both sides, then take out the screen door and set it aside. Now, look for a metal piece on the bottom track that runs from the bottom corner of the fixed panel all the way across to the bottom of the side jamb that has the door lock hardware. If your door is really old that piece might be missing. If you have one, you can pry it up from the track. It is snapped in place even though it looks like it is a part of the track. Once you have that piece removed, you want to look inside the house where the fixed panel is against the wall jam. Look for screws holding the frame to the jam. They usually have one near the top and bottom corners, and one near the center. Remove these screws and put them where you won't lose them. Now, you should be able to pull the fixed panel out of the side jam. There is a very good chance that it will be stuck. If it is, grab the center rail near the bottom and lift up as hard as you can. If you feel the panel go up, pull it back down. Do this a couple of times, then try to pull it out of the side jam again. This usually loosens it enough to pull it out. If it still won't come out, you will have to put a thin screwdriver between the fixed panel frame and the side jam and pry while a helper pulls the panel away from the jam. Once you get it free of the side jam, grab the fixed panel side rail and have a helper grab the other rail. Lift the panel up into the top track and swing the bottom out of the bottom track. Remove the panel from the top track and set it aside with the screen door.

Now, you can try lifting the slider up and out, just like you did with the fixed panel. If the slider won't clear the bottom track, you need to do a couple of things. First, look to see if it's the old rollers protruding from the bottom that is preventing the door from coming out, or if the actual bottom of the door frame is hitting the track. In almost all cases, it will be the old rollers. But, if the opening is 8' wide, sometimes the wood header that runs across the opening has sagged just enough to make it tight in the center of the opening. If it's the rollers, you need to adjust them all the way up into the door. Look for a hole on the bottom side where you can put a phillips screwdriver and find the adjustment screw. Then turn that screw counterclockwise as far as you can. Do that to both sides, then try lifting out the door. If you are still getting stuck, have your helper lift one side and pull outward while you try to pry the frame and roller over the track. If you get one side out, have your helper hold that side with his or her foot to prevent it from going back in while he or she lifts the other side for you to pry free.

Once you get the slider out, almost all rollers are held in place by the same screw that holds the frame corners together. So, you need to set the panel on one side, remove the screw in the corner, flip the panel over, remove the screw on the other bottom corner. Now, you can take a rubber mallet or the wood handle of a hammer, and tap the bottom frame off the glass. This will give you access to your rollers. Take a close look at how they are inserted into the door frame. In fact, it's a good idea to only remove one roller to bring with you to match for the new ones. Then, when you get back home, you can use the roller that is still in place as a guide to installing the new ones.

Places like Home Depot, Lowes, and Ace Hardware carry about 80-90% of the rollers out there. So, you should be able to find them. However, let's say this just isn't your lucky day, and you can't find your rollers anywhere. You are going to have to have them ordered. Bring the roller to your local glass shop. If you're lucky, they will have them in stock. If not, they can order the rollers, but you won't get them for about a week. Don't panic. Just go home and tap the bottom frame back on the door panel, but leave the corner screws out. You can even leave the roller out that you removed. Lift the door back in place, install the fixed panel but don't snap the bottom piece back in, and don't install the inside screws. Then, from inside the house, lift the slider and pull it closed. You don't want to drag it if you left the roller out. It will scrape the bottom track. Just lift it enough to take the pressure off, and close and lock it.

When Your new rollers come in, take everything back out and install the new rollers. Adjust the new rollers all the way up before putting the door back in. That way, the new rollers won't interfere with you lifting it back in place. Adjust the new rollers down until the door slides good and locks. You want to be sure there is an equal gap at the top and bottom when the door is about an inch from closing into the side jam. You can adjust the rollers to make this dimension even. If you can get the job done by a professional for or including parts, it might be worth hiring someone to do it. But, in high population areas such as Los Angeles, it's common to pay 0 in labor only. Then they mark up the cost of the rollers, and you could wind up spending 0 for a job that you can do yourself for about . Next week i'm going to tell you how to repair your broken or defective window glass.

Replacing Your Sliding Glass Door Rollers

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit How To Install Windows

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Victorian Decorating For The Modern Home

The Victorian decorating style is one that combines antique accessories with modern methods and can really make your house stand out. Whether you have an old Victorian mansion or a new home, you can decorating with a Victorian style by changing small things, for instance painting and hanging vintage accessories to bring some of the Victorian age to your home.

A major component in victorian decorating is what you put on the walls. For this style the room colors make a big difference - you should contemplate putting reds and dark colors and anything with vintage appeal and depending on the particular style many colors either in your wall color or your accessories. Try using an antique style wallpaper and border sets on the walls, or if you want something different go with paint and stenciling. You don't have to get too fancy or spend a lot of money and if you are afraid of a bit of color, merely paint the walls a neutral shade and let the accents in the room do the decorating.

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The floor covering can make or break your decor, but if you can not buy new flooring then just use area rugs with a Victorian design. Oriental rugs are perfect for this type of decor and you can buy genuine antique rugs, or reproductions if you are on a budget.

Accessories are key to pulling your Victorian decor together. You'll be surprised at the impact a few alterations can make! Concentrate on buying old photos, artwork and mantle clocks that match your Victorian decor. Be sure to add in plenty of antiques as well as Victorian era curios. Additional touches like vintage fabrics and vases filled with flowers can add that special touch that gives your home a professional look.

You might want to consider light fixtures in terms of both style and type to go with your Victorian decorating style,. Given that you are trying to get a Victorian look, you might want to take a look at using old fashioned ceiling lights with lamps with silk fringe shades but remember to pass up anything which is primitive or country looking. Don't forget to include table lamps as well as wall sconces.

Furniture should be Victorian in style but you don't have to use genuine antiques. For the sofa especially, you should consider a reproduction. This is because vintage Victorian sofas are very uncomfortable! Wooden pieces like side tables and curio cabinets would look best if you can buy real antiques - the new stuff is just not as beautiful as the old pieces with a rich patina. Always make sure you buy pieces that are in tip top condition.

How you dress your windows are important to your victorian decorating design theme. For a fantastic design in your parlor go with working with layered drapery or velvet curtains or heavy draped curtains with different fabrics. There are a lot of window treatments that can be paired with this design theme, particularly if you match fabrics to your window treatments, but you should avoid contemporary style window coverings.

One decorating area that is frequently overlooked when decorating is the wall space. Even the ugliest walls can be made to look good with great wall decor. Try adding vintage paintings and old photos to create an interesting look to your parlor walls to really bring out the charm of your Victorian Interior Design.

Putting together a perfect Victorian look in your home can be as basic as just buying new decorative accessories or as involved as replacing everything. Either way, working on the details and making sure to coordinate your furniture and decorative accessories will help you achieve a great new Victorian decorating look that you will be proud to claim you accomplished all by yourself!

Victorian Decorating For The Modern Home

Lee Dobbins writes for decoratinghowto.com where you can learn more about decorating your home in a variety of decorating styles.

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

How to Start a Foreclosure Cleanup and Property Preservation Company

A new article on June 3, 2009 from MSN Money writer Michael Brush indicates that there is a third wave of foreclosures still to come from prime borrowers (i.e. those previously "safe-borrowers" with sound credit and fixed-rate mortgages) as a result of job losses thanks to the worsening economy ("Coming: A 3rd Wave of Foreclosures").

The article states that "In the first quarter, the percentage of these borrowers who were behind on their mortgages or in foreclosure had doubled from a year earlier, to nearly 6%" and goes on to say that "Credit Suisseanalyst Rod Dubitsky predicted last week that 8.1 million mortgages, or 16% of all mortgages, will go into foreclosure over the next four years. A weak economy, continued declines in home prices and rising delinquencies among prime borrowers all but ensure that foreclosures "will march steadily higher," he says." Not such great news for the economy, but good news indeed for entrepreneurs interested in starting a foreclosure cleanup business to clean and repair foreclosed homes for the banks.

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To put this in perspective, this means that there will be over 2 million foreclosures a year and more than ,025,000,000 up for grabs in money that will be spent on cleaning up these foreclosed properties (since the average bill is 00+ to clean up one of these properties).

Let's take a look at how you can position yourself to capitalize on this coming foreclosure movement

Set Up Your Company Properly

If you want to be hired for cleanup or preservation work, you'll need to operate your business as a professional company. The good news is that you can set up a business quickly and inexpensively, and usually on your own. Many people decide to set up an LLC (Limited Liability Company) because of how quickly and easily it can be done but you'll want to check with your accountant or other business professional to select the type of business entity that's right for your personal situation.

If you do decide to start an LLC, you can usually find all of the documents you need online from your state's government website. Usually the branch you're looking for will be called the "Industrial Commission" or "Corporation Commission" or similar. Try typing in "start a business + ______ (your state)". Anything ending in ".gov" is usually a good place to start as it indicates a government site.

Once your business is set up, you'll need an Employer Identification Number (EIN), which is like a SSN for your business. You can register for one online: type in "IRS" & "EIN" into a search engine to find the online registration link.

As soon as you have your EIN (which you can usually get immediately online), you can open up a business bank account for your company. This step is very, very important. In the excitement of things, many people get caught up in the day-to-day dealings of running a business and use their personal accounts to pay for business expenses. Not only does this present an accounting nightmare at the end of the year, but it could present problems for you with the IRS if you don't keep your personal and business finances separate.

Once you legally set up your business, you may be required to register your business with your county or city in order to get a business license to operate. You can start by calling City Hall or the Office of the County Clerk to inquire as to whether or not you need a city/county/state business license and if so, how to get one.

So to recap:

1. Legally set up your business
2. Get your EIN # and set up a business bank account
3. Apply for a business license
4. If you want to do preservation work, determine whether or not you need a contractors' license

Get Insurance

You absolutely must have a Commercial Liability Insurance policy and Workers' Compensation Insurance in order to run your business. Not only is insurance essential for protecting yourself from liability and protecting those that work for you in the event of a work-related injury, but many asset management companies will not do business with you if you do not meet their minimum insurance requirements.

Insurance will likely be one of your largest start-up costs, however, most insurance companies allow you to pay the premium on a monthly (rather than yearly) basis, which definitely makes this expense more affordable.

General Liability Insurance policies can cover the following: bodily injury, property damage, contractual liability, personal and advertising injury, professional liability (also known as Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance, this coverage protects you and your business from litigation caused by charges of professional neglect or failure to perform your professional duties), hired auto and non-auto liability and umbrella liability.

You'll want to speak directly with your insurance agent to get a better idea of the extent of the coverage provided by their particular policy and one that is best suited for your individual needs

Workers' Compensation Insurance is required in most states when you have W2 employees, and some states also require your insurance to cover your 1099 contractors also. Workers' Compensation ("Workers' Comp") covers your employees' medical and disability expenses related to work-related illness and on-the-job injuries.

In the states where you are not required to cover your 1099 contractors you would need them to provide proof that they carry their own Workers' Compensation insurance. Although tempting to shift the financial burden of maintaining a policy onto your 1099 contractors, in all reality, you are probably better off to take on the cost of all staff Workers' Compensation (all W2 employees and 1099 contractors). The reason is that it's difficult to find only independent contractors that have their own policy. In addition, this industry has such high turnover that if you put this restriction on your independent contractors, you'll waste valuable time and lost revenues trying to find replacements in a hurry.

Here's a great tip: sometimes you can get "pay-as-you-go" insurance where your workers' compensation insurance premiums are based on your actual payroll, rather than an estimated amount. This is great for companies that are just starting out or have a fluctuating workload. Type in "pay as you go workers comp" into a search engine for results in your area.

As a second tip, we've used Farmers Insurance for years and have always had excellent customer service and great rates. Just Google "Farmers Insurance" for an agent in your area.

Foreclosure Cleanup v.s. Property Preservation Services

As the name suggests as a Foreclosure Cleanup Company, you'll be cleaning out all of the junk in the house (also called a "trashout or a "junk out"), as well as cleaning the interior of the home. You may also be required to remove vehicles on the property. Usually foreclosure cleanup companies are also responsible for doing a basic landscape cleanup which includes hauling out any junk from the front/back yards, cutting the grass and trimming trees/bushes.

Cleaning up the property is the extent of services offered by a Foreclosure Cleanup Company, whereas a Property Preservation Company is also involved in the "securing" of the property and the "preserving" of the property.

Here are some of the services that a preservation company may offer (note that a Property Preservation Company will generally also offer cleanup services):

Securing the Property
o Initial vacant property inspection
o Lock changes
o Boarding of windows and doors
o Temporary roof repair
o Securing swimming pools

Preserving the Property
o Exterior Debris removal
o Abandoned vehicle removal (cars, boats, etc.)
o Interior Debris removal (junk-out)
o Hazardous waste removal
o Interior cleaning services including carpet cleaning
o Window washing/graffiti removal
o Window replacement
o Pool services (draining, acid washing, maintaining, etc.)
o Pest control services
o Yard maintenance/landscaping
o Snow removal
o Winterization
o Gutter cleaning
o Pressure washing
o Carpet removal & replacement
o Tile/Floor repairs
o Painting
o Sheetrock/drywall repairs
o Carpentry repairs
o Plumbing fixtures repairs & replacements
o Fire & mold remediation
o Fence repair

Here are a few things to consider when determining the extent of the services you want to offer:

A Contractors' License is generally not required for Foreclosure Cleanup Company but is likely required for preservation companies doing work over a certain dollar value (usually 0 - 00+). Sometimes this license can be obtained by attending a course and successfully passing a test whereas other states require previous, verifiable industry experience.

The insurance premiums tend to be higher on companies that offer preservation services as they are considered to be a "general contractor". However, the revenue potential is much higher as preservation services tend to run from a few thousand dollars upwards instead of 0 - 00 for each cleanout.

Usually what people do is start out initially offering just the foreclosure cleanup services and then when things pick up, they'll add preservation items to the list of services they offer. This let's them get their foot in the door without having to spend a whole lot of money upfront when setting up their company.

Source the Right Equipment & Tools

The great thing about starting a foreclosure cleanup company is that the initial expenses are quite low as much of the equipment and tools needed for cleaning foreclosures can likely be found in your own garage:

o Cleaning chemicals (i.e. all purpose cleaner, disinfectant, toilet bowl cleaner, window cleaner)
o Cleaning supplies (broom, mop, scrub pads)
o Vacuum cleaner
o Garbage bags and shovels
o Work gloves and disposable plastic gloves
o Lawn mowers & lawn tools
o Wheelbarrow

For the smaller items you don't have on hand, check your local dollar store. Their prices can't be beat and they usually have the same chemicals and cleaning supplies as the other retailers. Once you start doing some volume, consider shopping for your supplies at Sam's Club or Costco to keep your expenses low.

You can also find used equipment in great shape (such as vacuums) by going around to your local Saturday morning garage/yard sales. If you have a "Re-Use" center or a Salvation Army, you may consider checking there also as they often have vacuums and other small equipment or yard tools for sale.

For hauling junk, you'll need some sort of trailer and a vehicle large enough to pull it. If you don't have a truck and a trailer, you can always borrow a friend's truck and rent a trailer from U-Haul or just go ahead and rent a moving truck from U-Haul. (Remember though, that you'll be charged a daily rate plus a per-mile rate when you rent a moving truck whereas if you use your own truck and just rent the pull-trailer, you'll only incur the daily rental rate for the trailer.)

Sometimes you'll be required to clean a property that doesn't have electricity or water. In the event that there's no electricity, you'll need a generator to operate the vacuum cleaners and other electrical equipment. These can be rented at Lowe's or Home Depot and is a much better alternative to purchasing one outright unless you're going to use it on a regular basis (a new one will run you about 0+).
To save on expenses, it's best to rent equipment in the beginning.

Once you get up and going, it may be worth looking into purchasing equipment of your own. Check the online classifieds ads (such as Craigslist, Kijiji and Backpage) for used trailers, generators, etc. You should also check with U-Haul as they have been selling some of their excess trucks as of late.

Stay Safe on the Job

As a business owner, you're responsible for keeping your staff safe while working on the job. Working safely is paramount to the health of your staff and the reputation of your business (and also keeps your insurance premiums low). It's imperative that you review safety issues prior to allowing anyone to work on the job - you must provide both classroom and on-the-job safety training to all new hires.

Now, it doesn't have to be anything fancy; you can spend 20 - 30 minutes reviewing safety policies, safe working practices and answering any questions and then you'll be done! Make sure you have people sign in and out of the meeting and that you document that a safety meeting took place.

It's also very important that you become familiar with OSHA and Safety Standards as well as the health & safety hazards associated with this industry so that you can keep your staff safe, avoid accidents and costly fines. You can find the OSHA Pocket Guide to Construction Safety (it's a short and an easy read) at the main website (OSHA DOT gov) by searching for the report name.

Another way to protect your staff and your business is to make sure that you check references before you hire someone. Insist that they list non-related references (i.e. not mother, sister or best friend) and instead list references of previous employers or someone they know in a professional capacity. We also do drug testing and background checks - it might sound paranoid to some, but the safety of our staff, our customers' property and our company's reputation is far too important to risk not spending on a background check or drug test.

Price Your Services Right

In this industry, the lowest price always wins the bid (unless, of course, the lowest bidder has a terrible track record of not completing work and is utterly irresponsible and unprofessional, in which case the company has just committed "reputation-suicide" and will never be hired again). Lenders don't want to spend any more than they have to on these properties so you want to make sure you price your services comparable with the going market rates (but at the same time, priced so that you still make a great profit and don't leave any money on the table).

For cleaning out foreclosures, most banks expect to spend anywhere from 0 - 00 for a cleanout (trashout, interior clean and initial landscape cleanup), but it could be a bit more or a bit less, depending on your area. It's important to know that most lenders have prescribed "price caps" for the maximum amounts that they'll pay for services.

If you're also providing preservation services, a great site that we've used before to determine our prices for doing repairs is www.CostEstimator.com for getting the market rates for construction costs - you can get a free 30 day trial (no need to enter credit card - it really is free!). There are over 3,000 cost items adjusted for over 210 local, geographic regions to create your bid and you can add as many others as needed. If you want to sign up after the trial, it's only /month.

Market Your Services

It's true - "nothing happens until somebody sells something"... and you'll need to get out there and sell, sell, sell your business. Once you've done a few jobs, you'll find that word of mouth advertising and referrals will provide a large pool of new jobs for you, but in the meantime, you do need to do everything possible to let customers know you exist.

A large portion of work will come from the relationships that you build with Real Estate Agents ("Realtors") who list bank-owned homes (often referred to as REO listings). They are often given the task of bidding out the cleaning and repairs of new listings by the asset management company so you'll want to make sure the agents in your area know your company handles this type of work.

A great way to find out which Realtors in your area list REOs is to go online to the major bank's REO websites and "data mine" the contact information for the listing agents (name, email, phone numbers). It can be painstaking work, but definitely worth it.

Here's an example of a bank REO sites to get you started collecting Realtor information

WELLS FARGO (Properties managed by Premier Asset Services): pasreo.com/pasreo/images/pas_logo.jpg

NOTE: In order to access agent information, select the state and click search. Then, individually select each listing and click on "Print Property Report CVS". Each listing and corresponding information (such as agent name, phone # and email) will be created in an Excel spreadsheet. You can access the page

Remember to follow up with a phone call a few days later. Don't be shy about asking the Realtor if he/she has any jobs for you to bid, either - most of them are very accommodating and willing to give a new company the opportunity to provide estimates.

The other way jobs are bid out is through large Asset Management Companies (also referred to as Marketing & Management Companies, REO Field Service Companies and Property Management Companies). Essentially, the lender says, "ok - I have thousands of properties to get rid of. Here, national ABC Asset Management Company: clean, fix and sell these properties for us". And the national Asset Management Company will then subcontract out the work to local foreclosure cleanup and property preservation companies. In order to work for these companies, you usually need to sign up your company as a potential vendor. Many times this can be done online.

There are both positives and negatives associated with working for the larger companies. On the positive side, you will probably be given a few projects to work on at a time so you will be kept relatively busy. On the negative side, they usually want you to offer 'wholesale pricing' and don't pay until 30 - 60 days after you invoice them for the work. Working for one of these companies, however, will give you the experience you need to go after more work.

Other possible customers include wholesale property investors (groups of investors that purchase foreclosed homes at the auctions and then sell them to smaller investors at a wholesale price), investors, landlords, property management companies, Realtors and so on.

You should also consider attending your local networking events such as the Chamber of Commerce meetings and any local investor meetings in order to hand out your card and network with potential customers. The more you get out there, the better chance you'll have of securing some great, long-term customers!

This is definitely an exciting industry and a very profitable one for those of you who don't mind getting your hands a bit dirty! Good luck!

How to Start a Foreclosure Cleanup and Property Preservation Company

Les Tyler has been happily and profitably cleaning out and fixing up REOs for over a year. She is the author of "Foreclosure Cleanup Cash", a 200+ page ebook/eprogram on How to Start A Foreclosure Cleanup and Property Preservation Company in 7 days or Less. She also writes a blog on REO cleanups & preservation available at http://www.ForeclosureCleanupCash.com

You can reach Les at info@ForeclosureCleanupCash.com

LOWES INTERIOR

Interior Decorating With Picture Frames

There are many ways to decorate the interior of your home, none the least of which is with picture frames. Picture frames have the unique ability to personalize a house in more ways than one. You can share with friends, family and visitors your memories and cherished moments.

There are literally dozens of different picture frames to choose from including:

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Collage picture frames Digital picture frames Magnetic picture frames Shadow boxes Wholesale picture frames

You don't have to spend a fortune to decorate your home using picture frames. In fact cheap picture frames or discount picture frames look just as classy and elegant as expensive ones. One thing you do need to do before decorating your home however is stock up on picture framing supplies. Be sure you get any matte, mounting equipment and other items you need so you can do your decorating in one fell swoop.

Steps For Decorating Your Home

There are several steps you can follow to ensure your decorating goes well. Here are a few tips for saving time and decorating efficiently:

First inventory all the photographs and memorabilia you have. Separate groups of photos and memento's into categories. Some ideas include vacation shots, weddings, birthdays, children etc. Survey your home. Take some time out to decide what walls and areas of the home you would like to display your pictures in. Stairwells are a popular choice for displaying photographs. You can also use wall space in the living room, dining room and bedrooms. Hallways are also a great area for displaying pictures and frames, as are foyers. Don't forget, you won't have to mount all frames, like digital picture frames. These picture frames look great as stand-alones. You can decorate your office, bedroom and den with them. Assess the number of frames you need relative to the photos you have. Decide the style frames you want in each area of the house. Try to match the style of the frame to the theme of the photograph and then to the decor of the room.
Tips For Hanging Your Pictures

Before you start hanging your pictures, be sure you gather all your supplies together. You will need at the minimum your frames, pictures, hanging wire, a hammer, pencil and some wall screws. If you can, enlist the assistance of a housemate or family member to help you hang pictures. They will help you decide if your pictures are placed correctly and hung evenly.

If you don't have someone to assist you, you can use a piece of paper or cardboard cut to the exact size of the picture. Take this "pattern" and tape it to the place you want to hang the picture. That way you can move it about easily to see exactly where you want it without having to put a bunch of holes in your wall! This works particularly well if you want to group several pictures together.

Keep in mind when hanging picture frames for decorations, you want each photo to add to the room, not detract from it. You don't need to cover your walls in hundreds of pictures to make a statement. Rather select a few key pieces that will accent the room. If you have a group of pictures that are too large to display at once, you can rotate them seasonally.

Think about the room's layout. This includes other accessories in the room such as a table, TV, lamp and more. Decide where the best place to put your picture is. Then hold it up to the wall and experiment with different angles. Not all pictures need to be centered in the middle of the wall. Figure out where the picture looks best relative to the other furniture in the room. Have your companion help you decide the best spot for your picture.

Now you can hang your picture. You want to make sure your picture is even. Measure the distance of your picture from each corner to the edge of the wall. You can use a tape measure if that helps. Mark your spot with a pencil once you decide what place the picture is most even.

Most pictures hang well using ordinary picture hooks. You should have a supply of these readily available. The bottom of the picture hook should land at the spot you marked for your hole. If you need to hang heavier pictures you should use nails and not hooks. You can use two instead of one to provide added support.

The most important thing to remember when decorating is to have fun. Remember you can rotate out pictures during certain times of the month or year. Decorating with picture frames is one of the easiest ways to accent your home in a loving and personal manner.

Interior Decorating With Picture Frames

About The Author:
Antigone Arthur is a successful freelance writer with 10 years of professional experience providing consumers with informative articles on such topics as digital picture frames, discount picture frames, and shadow boxes.

INTERIOR DOORS

Bathtub Reglazing Cost

There has been a lot of question lately in the tub refinishing industry in respect to cost, there is a lot of competition which forces the refinishing industry to lower their costs in order to compete. You will see many advertisements stating a very low cost, sometimes as low as 0.00 and stating it will only take a couple of hours. What is happening is they are sacrificing quality service with lower prices!

Let me start with this, it takes at least 1-2 hours for a quality primer to set before applying the top coat! any less than that and there is a possibility of delayed cure and possible failure of finish. Quality primer is essential to the success of the finish and many companies are sacrificing the epoxy or poyurthane primer for a lower quality shellac based fast drying primer to move things along. This will certainly affect the longevity of the finish as these products are not designed for wet conditions. Some companies will skip this step altogether for the sake of moving along to another job! Definite finish failure! So, there is minimum 1-2 hours for priming.

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Lets talk about preparation, this is probably the most time consuming and crucial part of the reglazing process and there are a number of things to do before any material is sprayed on.

Caulking needs to be scraped off and sanded at intersections to ensure complete removal. Caulking is a contaminant and will cause the finish to fail - 20 minutes to possibly 1 hour The tub needs to be cleaned with Ajax to remove soap scum - 20 minutes The tub needs to be acid etched - 30 minutes Surrounding areas need to be covered to protect from over spray - 30 minutes to possibly 1 hour The tub needs to be solvent wiped to remove oils from hands during the foregoing processes The tub needs to be dusted with a tack cloth - 5 minutes

These six processes alone represent a possible time frame of 3 hours. What are we up to now? possibly 5 hours! Cleaning the equipment in between spraying and when finished - 30 minutes, paper pulling - 10 minutes, caulking - 10 minutes (but only after the finish has dried to the touch - 30 minutes up to 1 hour and sometimes even the next day!) What are we up to now? lets round off this example to 2 hours, that's a total of 7 hours so far.

Now, some jobs may not be as labor intensive and this time estimate is just an example of the possibility. You can give or take an hour or so depending on the experience of the finisher but the bottom line is this, it takes more than a couple of hours to do the deed and anyone telling you so is lying. You can rely on the better part of a day to reglaze a tub.

Lets get to cost. Quality products cost money and any refinisher should get paid what he is worth (at least - an hour). A typical tub reglaze will cost roughly in materials (primer, urethane, plastic, paper, tape, respirator elements and so on...) If a tub takes 7 hours @ /hour = 0, materials = 0. We are not factoring in traveling costs cause we assume the refinisher is eating that cost. We are not factoring in the possibility of stripping an existing finish! So, a typical tub reglaze should cost between 0 and 0. As the old saying goes "You get what you pay for" especially in this business!

Bathtub Reglazing Cost

My name is George Piccot, owner and operator of Southern California's AB Ceramic Tile Regrout and Reglaze Systems http://www.regroutpros.com - I have been involved solely in the restoration industry since 1989 and if you have any questions on a particular project feel free to send an email and I will be there to help. Best, George Piccot [mailto:services@regroutpros.com]services@regroutpros.com

AB Ceramic Tile Regrout and Reglaze Systems

INTERIOR DOORS

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Starting a Mobile Locksmith Business

One of the best decisions I ever made in my 62 years of life on this planet was to become my own boss in a field that is never dull, always challenging, and intrinsically interesting. It was not an early decision. In fact it did not occur to me to enter this field until after I'd already spent ten years as a professional photographer. It came about in an odd way, as many serendipitous things do. But regardless of how it came to be, I consider that decision the one that paved the way for me to spend the rest of my working life in comfort and with a good measure of security.

I've since discovered that many people follow a similar course, turning to locksmithing only after finding themselves unhappy in other jobs. I'm not sure how or why so many discover this particular business when looking for an interesting career. In my case it was a natural progression from a rather unique part-time career I had fashioned for myself: That of installing simple door viewers and doing this door to door. Many times my customers would ask if I could install deadbolts for them while I was at it, and after turning down money a dozen or so times I finally got wise and visited a local locksmith supplier who sold me an install kit and a book of instructions. From what I can tell, others come across this idea by doing Internet searches for home businesses, because ultimately this qualifies as such if you, like I do, run it out of your home and structure it as a Sole Proprietorship. In any case, it is obvious that locksmithing has become a popular choice for a chance at self-employment.

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After tiring of door to door selling (which didn't take long to do) I hit upon the idea of cold calling. I was still thinking too small, but at the time I didn't know it. Lesson Number One: Don't do this. I was doing it back in 1981 or so when the stigma attached to such endeavors wasn't quite so strong. I'm afraid that calling people out of the phone book and asking if they'd like to have deadbolts installed just would not fly in the present era of terrorism and business rip-offs.

Still, I owe to this period of hard knocks a good deal. I became efficient at installing locks, rekeying locks, and duplicating keys. It was during this one year period that I scrounged together enough money to purchase a small key duplicator and also a lock rekeying kit. I carried these items in the trunk of my car and carried them into my customer's home when needed. I also purchased several boxes of the most common domestic key blanks and by the time I'd accumulated all this stuff my car's trunk was crammed and I was wishing for more room. Also, and most important, I came to realize that driving around in an unmarked car and working out of the trunk was not lending itself well to my credibility.

Lesson Number Two: Start out with credibility. Purchase a small work van, or a large one if you can afford it. Buy signs or have signs painted on it. Use whatever lending power you have, may it be with banks or with family, to locate a used vehicle and have signage made up, even if this is in the form of magnetic signs. Of course all this suggests you start out as a legitimate business, and this is just my point. Create a name for your business (think long and hard about this, as you'll lose any credibility you might initially gain if you keep changing it), have signs and forms and letterheads made up, and dive in.

There is, too, the question of legality. This is a hard subject to field, because the legality of doing business from one jurisdiction to another can differ widely, and even wildly. It is incumbent upon you to do the research and determine whether or not your jurisdiction requires a locksmith be certified, bonded, and/or licensed. You'll almost certainly discover that licensing is the fundamental hurdle, and that is usually taken care of with the signing of a few forms and the payment of a small annual fee. Certification is something else. Not all jurisdictions require this. In my case I found that the state in which I was then living -- Utah -- did not require it. Nor was I required to be bonded, though I chose to do so for the added protection (it is widely and incorrectly thought that bonding protects the locksmith's customer, whereas in fact it is the locksmith that is protected by the bond).

Lesson Number Three: Do the homework required to determine if acquiring a business license is all that is needed to establish your locksmith service. One phone call to your state's Attorney General office will likely answer that question.

Once you have lined up an affordable vehicle and put a reasonably professional sign on it, you must begin outfitting it. This should, and must, be done before you begin advertising your services because if you are like I was at this point you know next to nothing about the business and not much more about the work. We will endeavor at this point to educate ourselves. Locksmithing is in point of fact one of the few professions left in this world in which a formal education is absolutely UNnecessary. I have spoken to very few professionals during my career who got to be that way through going to a 'locksmith school' or a college. This is certainly not to say that a formal education isn't desirable. If you can afford it, if you have the means, then by all means take that route. This article is for those of you who can't.

The vehicle you purchase will in large part determine how it is to be equipped. I've always preferred a full-size van (I've owned Ford, Chevy and GMC models during my career), but there are many locksmiths who just love the Astro Van or Safari Van made by GM. These minivans are popular with many different professions and are ubiquitous. You can undoubtedly find one in your price range. Either way, the first order of business is to erect a work bench that will give you as much space as possible. Best to have the bench on one side of the van and leave the opposite side for shelves or storage bins. Make it sturdy! There is nothing worse than a wobbly bench when you're trying to rekey locks. Make it level for the same reason.

You'll need a power source. It is excusable to string extension cords until you can afford something better, but bear in mind that this detracts from your professionalism. The ultimate is probably having a RediLine Generator that runs off your van's 12V power. This is not a power inverter, it is actually a generator and it kicks out 110-115V power. They are wonderful sources of AC power and you can even run a bank of flourescent lamps off one of these for your interior shop lighting. There are several models to choose from with varying outputs, but they are expensive. If you can locate a rebuilt, so much the better. A good inverter might do the trick if you can't afford a RediLine, but be careful. Some key machines (and you're going to have to have one) will not run with an inverter.

Power now available, you need to start out with at least a key duplicator on your bench and preferably, as well, a good code cutting machine. The latter is desirable but not necessary in the beginning unless you plan to launch directly into automotive locksmithing, in which case you'll find it hard to get along without one. We'll touch on that in a moment. Key machines are almost impossible to find used. You'll likely end up buying a small HPC Speedex because they're pretty much the least expensive good key duplicator around. Expect to pay around 0. Best if you include this in your initial loan. A key duplicator is bread and butter for any locksmith, mobile or otherwise, so don't even think about starting up until you have one.

Equip yourself with a good rekeying kit. I've always preferred 'universal' kits because they do the work of dozens of other keyway-specific kits and they are easy to use. LAB makes the best of these, hands down. If you have the space, try to get a metal Classic Kit. If you don't, you can start out with one of LAB's Mini-Durex kits or, better, the miniature version of the Universal Kit (LMK-005 or LMK-003). You simply can't rekey locks without one, and if you get a Universal you won't be confined to keying up one or two brands . . . you'll be able to handle them all. Don't know how to rekey locks? Pick up an instruction manual on the Internet or at Amazon.com. They are available and this is one of the quickest locksmith skills to pick up. While you're at it, buy at least one plug follower, a pair of pin tweezers, and ideally a pair of TruArc pliers. Over time you'll accumulate more rekeying tools but these fundamentals are nearly essential.

Even before I was making money rekeying locks, I was being called to open cars. If you intend to advertise yourself as an emergency service, you're going to have to take in this kind of lucrative work. Let me tell you now, this will be the easiest money you've ever made. It is well worth learning the skills required to open vehicles even if it means spending a couple of hundred dollars on tools and a good manual. Lockouts, at least in my case, virtually supported me for years. If you live in a medium to large city, count on getting lockout calls day and night even if you have only a tiny ad somewhere (a subject for later). There are many good lockout kits available online, to suit any budget, and the same goes for lockout manuals. Do a Google search for 'car opening tools' or 'lockout tools' and you'll have no trouble finding suppliers. Are they legal where you live? Again . . . this is up to you to determine. The supplier cannot and will not endeavor to police this aspect of marketing, as it is simply not possible. I'm not advocating the purchase of anything that is not legal where you reside!

House and business lockouts are likewise lucrative sources of income for the locksmith, but these require different skills, different tools. Here is where it becomes necessary to learn the skill of lock picking -- probably the most fundamental skill of the trade. It is not as easy to learn as car opening and lock rekeying, but it is by no means difficult, either. It requires practice and patience, and it requires good tools. Do not get stingy here. There are lots of cheap lock picking tools for sale. You'll find them in automotive magazines, even. Stick with tools from the established firms like HPC, SouthOrd, Lockmasters, etc. Purchase a beginner's set with a few picks and one or two tension tools for start, unless you have a big budget, then go for a set that will last you a while. Choice of spring steel or stainless steel is largely a matter of personal choice. Whichever one you start out with will likely be the kind you'll stay with, because you'll form an attachment to that type and you'll train yourself to make the best of it. More important is the concept of practice. Buy Practice Locks. Once you've picked all the locks in your home you're going to need more challenges, and now that Practice Locks are an accepted training aid in this field you'd do well to pick up a few of them. Practice until you can repeatedly pick the most challenging of your Practice Locks and then practice some more.

Did I mention that servicing lockouts will likely be the single most lucrative service you offer your customers? I thought so. Good!

There are other aspects to providing a locksmith service and among these is the ability to install locksets on homes and businesses. Primarily you'll be asked to install deadbolts, but later on, as your business gets bigger, you'll want to offer commercial business and real estate companies the option of replacing all their old lock hardware for newer more secure hardware. Again, practice is called for and you should be prepared to install a few unnecessary deadbolts and knobsets on doors in your own home that don't need them. After doing this a dozen or so times, it will be easy to go to that first installation with confidence. You'll need to add a few essential tools to your toolbox, such as a 1/2 inch drill, a couple of hole saws (2-1/8 inch and 1-inch), a 1/2 inch boring bit, and a good wood chisel. With these tools, you can install deadbolts in metal or wood doors. Complete installation kits are available and are the best choice if you can work them into your budget. Need instruction? Books galore available on Amazon.com or at any large scale bookstore in your city.

Once you've accumulated vehicle and the tools, and some knowledge gleaned from practice and reading, you can start thinking about getting your feet wet. The best way to start is the old fashioned way and that is to appeal to family and friends for work and for referrals. Network. Talk to everyone you know and let them know you're serious about this and that you are available. Step two is to advertise and this is absolutely necessary, even if you start out only as a listing in the Yellow Pages. This is where 99% of the people who need a locksmith will look. Newspaper ads, flyers (Yucchhh!), direct mail and radio ads don't work for locksmiths unless you have one enormous budget. Try to justify a small one-eight or one-quarter page Yellow Page ad if at all possible. Even in the face of huge competition, you will get calls and over time your name will be spread around, if you do a good job. Well, it will get spread around if you don't, as well, but you'd do well to avoid that.

That's how I did it. That's how thousands of others have done it, give or take a detail or two. Be sure to cover the legal bases, because if you jump into it and find later that you're acting outside the law, don't come to me! This is part of your research. It is not that difficult to acquire a certification and satisfy local laws that may pertain to this business. If you keep the business small, and maintain yourself as a sole owner, you're going to be profiting right off the bat because overhead with a mobile service is nil.

It's within your reach whether you're 18 or 58.

Starting a Mobile Locksmith Business

George Robertson, owner/administrator
http://www.LockPickersMall.com -- specializing in locksmith training aids and locksmith tools.

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