Advanced Foundation Repair Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   What is the approximate cost of having a house leveled?
   I am looking at purchasing a home and we just had a home inspection done yesterday. The house has some settlement issues and needs some work. We are getting a good deal on the house b/c it does need work. I would just like to know an approximate amount on having the floors leveled. My husband could possibly do it himself, but would rather pay someone if it is not going to be too expensive. Also, the house is only one story, incase that matters. I’m sure a 2-story house would cost more. Anyways if I could possibly get an estimate from someone it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
   I am located in North Alabama and the house is on a crawl space. The inspector told us that there were some leaning, missing and fallen columns under the house.

   • ANSWER:
     you failed to mention what area you are in and whether you are on a slab or a crawl space. IF the issue is because of the foundation it “could” cost an avgerage of 00.00.
     But repairs can range from 1200.00 to 40000.00.

     If you are on a crawl and the wood floors need replaced, cost would depend on amount of sqare feet and whether the joists need to be supported from underneath.

     Here is what I would do. Call serveral contractors and ask them to bid out the job. The estimate should be free. If they are hungry, they will do it for free and give a little lower price.

     If you do not know who to call, in our area we have an organiztion called, Angies List. It is comprised of reviews from the members and they rate thier workmanship and price for value. ( they only keep good companies that know what they are doing.)

     Hope this helps

2. QUESTION:
   Have you ever bought a house at the auction?
   How complicated is it? Do you need a realtor?

   • ANSWER:
     Its not complicated but be sure you know exactly what your maximum bid is beforehand. The whole point of the auction is to get people excited and bidding more than they otherwise would. Also the contracts are slanted towards the auction company, be sure to review one in advance and be sure you are ok with it. Another thing is the autioneer typicaly cahrges a premium above you auction price so if you win with a bid of say 100,000 they may charge a 3% premium (or whatever) and you end up paing 103,000. Another thing to remember is typically the contract is contingency free, and they require a downpayment at the auction. So if you fail to buy the property for any reason they keep your downpayment, at a minimum, so be absolutely sure you are willing and able to buy the property you bid on. Another thing, be sure to inspect the place beforehand and run comps to find out exaclty what its worth (if your inspection finds problems subtract the cost for those from what you are willing to pay). I’d suggest only bidding on properties in good to great shape unless you really know the fixup costs and can do a really good job determining everything that is wrong with the place (ie will those cracks in the foundation require minor patching, or require major repairs).

     Finally, if you end up winning a property but get a deal that is too good, the seller can still refuse to sell it to you at that price (unless the auction is an “absolute” auction – but very few are), and they will instead try to bargain you up on price – which you may or may not be willing to do.

     Having pointed out all the above problems, there are some pluses. First off the prices are usually (but not always) below market, and sometimes way below market, so you can get some really great deals. As mentioned, the sellers can refuse to sell to you if the deal is too good, but they are paying alot to run the auction and of course the market is weak in most areas right now (very, very weak in some areas) so they really do want to sell the place even if the price is really good.

     So, you can get great deals, but be sure you know what the palce is really worth, and don’t get carried away and bid higher than you wanted to.

     Also, when the bidding is going on – if someone is bidding againist you then put your bids in slowly. Give the other guy time to think about what he is doing so he doesn’t get carried away either.

     Best luck.

     PS – This is for auctions of property where you get title free and clear (like is currently going on in areas with lots of foreclosures). If you are talking about buying property being foreclosed on (where you typicaly buy it on the courthouse steps) its a whole different set of considerations. It can also give good deals but its alot trickier.

     PPS – You don’t need a realtor but having one may help if they are experienced with these auctions.

3. QUESTION:
   Has anyone tried that National Credit Relief toll free number?
   I’m not too sure what it’s about but they help people with their debt. Can anyone explain what it is? Have you used it? If so did it help? Thank you in advance. Just curious. 🙂

   • ANSWER:
     You can do this all yourself = easily.
     Wihtout paying someone thousands of dollars to do nothing for you.

     These comapnies charge you – they are for profit to pay for their BMW’s.
     They allow you bills to go unpaid for months and months while they get your money in their pockets.
     In the meantime, you are racking up late fees, and higher interest penalties.
     This is to make creditors nervous – it does not work.
     Most people end up in court anyway.

     Go grab you car keys:
     You are getting a book on
     Credit and Debt Repair
     From your library or bookstore.
     These books are amaizing – they can teach you how to negotiate, settle, reduce payments, even the pay on delete on some items on your reports.
     They will make you a PRO at it.
     Just spend a hour a night for about a week reading.

     If you don’t like to read = there is a federally approved agency that does this for you at no cost to you.
     National Foundation for Credit Councelling.
     NFCC.org
     You go to the site call the 800 number, and make an appointment at a local office.
     If bankruptcy is the only answer – they will be honest with you and tell you.
     Reviews call them angels from above.
     /

4. QUESTION:
   I have Interstitial Cystitis. How are others coping with it and/or being treated for it if at all?

   • ANSWER:
     Causes
     The cause of interstitial cystitis is unknown, though several theories have been put forward (these include autoimmune, neurologic, allergic and genetic). Regardless of the origin, it is clear that IC patients struggle with a damaged mucin, aka the GAG layer, aka bladdering lining. When this protective coating is damaged (perhaps via a UTI, excessive consumption of coffees or sodas, traumatic injury, etc.), urinary chemicals can “leak” into surrounding tissues causing pain, inflammation and urinary symptoms. Oral medications like Elmiron and medications which are placed directly into the bladder via a catheter work to repair and hopefully rebuild this damaged/wounded lining, allowing for a reduction in symptoms.

     Recent work by the University of Maryland, Baltimore indicates that genetics are a factor in, and may even (in some cases) be the cause of IC. Two genes, FZD8 and PAND, are associated with the syndrome. FZD8, at gene map locus 10p11.2, is assocated with an antiproliferative factor secreted by the bladders of IC patients which “profoundly inhibits bladder cell proliferation,” thus causing the missing bladder lining. PAND, at gene map locus 13q22-q32, is associated with a constellation of disorders (a “pleiotropic syndrome”) including IC and other bladder and kidney problems, thyroid diseases, serious headaches/migraines, panic disorder, and mitral valve prolapse.

     [edit]
     Symptoms
     It may well be that the symptoms of interstitial cystitis have multiple causes, and IC is actually several syndromes which will eventually be discerned. For example, patients with Hunner’s Ulcers are believed to be the most advanced cases. They have larger “wounds” in the bladder that are much more difficult to treat. It is estimated that only 5 to 10% of patients have these ulcers. Far more patients may experience a very mild form of IC, in which they have no visible wounds in their bladder, yet struggle with symptoms of frequency, urgency and/or pain. Still other patients may have discomfort only in their urethra, while others struggle with pain in the entire pelvis. Some patients may experience pelvic floor tightness and dysfunction, while others have normal muscle tone.

     Often the symptoms of IC are misdiagnosed as a “common” bladder infection (cystitis), however unlike cystitis, IC has not been conclusively proven to be a bacterial infection and the mis-prescribed treatment of antibiotics is ineffective. The symptoms of IC may also initially be attributed to prostatitis and epididymitis (in men) and endometriosis and uterine fibroids (in women).

     [edit]
     Diagnosis
     Diagnosis has been greatly simplied in recent years with the development of two new methodologies. The Pelvic Pain Urgency/Frequency (PUF) Patient Survey, created by C. Lowell Parsons, is a short questionnaire that will help doctors identify if pelvic pain could be coming from the bladder. The KCL Test, aka the Potassium Sensitivity Test, uses a mild potassium solution to test the integrity of the bladder wall. Though the latter is not specific for IC, it has been determined to be helpful in predicting the use of compounds, such as pentosan, which are designed to help repair the GAG layer. The previous “gold standard” test for IC was the use of hydrodistention with cystoscopy. Researchers, however, determined that this visual examination of the bladder wall after stretching the bladder was also not specific for IC and that the test, itself, can contribute to the development of small glomerulations (aka petechial hemorrhages) often found in IC. Thus, a diagnosis of IC is one of exclusion, as well as a review of clinical symptoms.

     [edit]
     Treatment
     [edit]
     Diet
     The foundation of therapy is a modification of diet to help patients avoid those foods which can will further irritate the damaged bladder wall. Common offenders include coffees, teas, herbal teas, green teas, all sodas (particularly diet), concentrated fruit juices, multivitamins, monosodium glutamate, chocolate, and potassium-rich foods such as bananas. Most IC support groups and many urology clinics have diet lists available.

     The problem with diet triggers is that they vary from person to person: the best way for a person to discover his or her own triggers is to use an elimination diet. This is where someone cuts out all foods except the basics (e.g. potatoes, bread, rice, water) and then introduces new foods one at a time. Trying to discover which foods are one’s own triggers without the use of an elimination diet is like trying to do a scientific experiment whilst altering 10 variables all at once.

     [edit]
     Bladder coatings
     As recently as a decade ago, treatments available were limited to the use of astringent instillations, such as clorpactin or silver nitrate, designed to kill infection and/or strip off the bladder lining. In 2005, our understanding of IC has improved dramatically and these therapies are now no longer done. Rather, IC therapy is typically multi-modal, including the use of a bladder coating, an antihistamine to help control mast cell activity and a low dose antidepressant to fight neuroinflammation.

     The two US FDA approved therapies for IC have had recent setbacks in various research studies. Oral Elmiron (aka pentosan polysulfate) is believed to provide a protective coating in the bladder, however data released in late 2005 by Alza Pharmaceuticals suggests that 84% of Elmiron is eliminated, intact, in feces. Another 6% is excreted via urine. Reference: Metabolism of [3H]pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) in healthy human volunteers. Xenobiotica. 2005 Aug;35(8):775-84. In addition, the NIH funded ICCTG study of pentosan revealed results only slightly better than placebo.

     DMSO, a wood pulp extract, is the only approved bladder instillation for IC yet it is much less frequently used in urology clinics. Research studies presented at recent conferences of the American Urological Association by C. Subah Packer have demonstrated that the FDA approved dosage of a 50% solution of DMSO had the potential of creating irreversible muscle contraction. However, a lesser solution of 25% was found to be reversible. Long term use is questionable, at best, particularly given the fact that the method of action of DMSO is not fully understood.

     More recently, the use of a “rescue instillation” composed of elmiron or heparin, cystistat, lidocaine and sodium bicarbonate, has generated considerable excitement in the IC community because it is the first therapeutic intervention that can be used to reduce a flare of symptoms. Published studies report a 90% effectiveness in reducing symptoms.

     Another bladder coating treatment is that of Cystistat(TM) which consists primarily of sodium hyaluronate. It is believed to replace the deficient GAG layer on the bladder wall. Like most other intravesical bladder treatments, this treatment requires the patient to lie for 20 – 40 minutes, turning over every ten minutes, to allow the chemical to ‘soak in’ and give a good coating, before it is passed out with the urine.

     [edit]
     Pelvic floor treatments
     Pelvic floor dysfunction may also be a contributing factor thus most major IC clinics now evaluate the pelvic floor and/or refer patients directly to a physical therapist for a prompt treatment of pelvic floor muscle tension or weakness. Pain in the bladder and/or pelvis can trigger long term, chronic pelvic floor tension which is often described by women as a burning sensation, particularly in the vagina. Men with pelvic floor tension experience referred pain, particularly at the tip of their penis. In 9 out 10 IC patients struggling with painful sexual relations, muscle tension is the primary cause of that pain and discomfort. Tender trigger points, small tight bundles of muscle, may also be found in the pelvic floor.

     Pelvic floor dysfunction is a fairly new area of specialty for physical therapists world wide. The goal of therapy is to relax and lengthen the pelvic floor muscles, rather than to tighten and/or strengthen them as is the goal of therapy for patients with incontinence. Thus, traditional exercises such as Kegels, can be helpful as they strengthen the muscles, however they can provoke pain and additional muscle tension. A specially trained physical therapist can provide direct, hands on, evaluation of the muscles, both externally and internally. While weekly therapy is certainly valuable, most providers also suggest an aggressive self-care regimen at home to help combat muscle tension, such as daily muscle relaxation audiotapes, stress reduction and anxiety management on a daily basis. Anxiety is often found in patients with painful conditions and can subconsciouly trigger muscle tension.

     [edit]
     Pain control
     Pain control is usually necessary in the IC treatment plan. The pain of IC has been rated equivalent to cancer pain and should not be ignored to avoid central sensitization. The use of a variety of traditional pain medications, including opiates, is often necessary to treat the varying degrees of pain. Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, massage, and biofeedback are also beneficial to some patients. Even children with IC should be appropriately addressed regarding pelvic pain, and receive necessary treatment to manage it.

     Electronic pain-killing options include TENS (a machine connected to sticky pads which one palces on their body at certain pressure points; the tens machine sends electrical impulses to the skin, using the human body as an ‘earth’). PTNS stimulators have also been used, with varying degrees of success. This is similar to a TENS treatment, except a needle is used rather than sticky pads.

     [edit]
     Other treatments
     Bladder distentions (a procedure which stretches the bladder capacity, done under general anaesthetic) have shown some success in reducing urinary frequency and giving pain relief to patients. However, many experts still cannot understand precisely how this can cause pain relief. Unfortunately, the relief achieved by bladder distentions is only temporary (weeks or months) and consequently, it is not really viable as a long-term treatment for Interstitial Cystitis: it is generally only used in extreme cases.

     Surgical interventions are rarely used for IC. Neurostimulation techniques are not FDA approved for IC.

5. QUESTION:
   Short Sales?
   I am currently looking to purchase a property that the listing agent states is a short sale property. There are 2 seperate loans out on the property, one for 8,000 and the second for 0,000. This home has been on the market for over a year. Has anybody ever done a short sale and if so can you please explain how it all works. Is there a possiblility that the first mortgage will take priority and not have to pay off the second loan? Thank you in advance for your answers:)

   • ANSWER:
     My experience is that the people that the banks have assigned to these kinds of issues are new and inexperienced. They are often unrealistic about the value of the property. Essentially they estimate the value to be much too high.

     I recommend that you hire an attorney who specializes in real estate law to represent you and write the language in your offer.

     Ask your attorney to include language that makes your offer contingent on the fair market value as determined by your appraiser not the lender’s appraiser.

     Also include language that makes the contract contingent upon your approval of inspections that are conducted by your own inspectors not the seller’s inspectors.

     The inspections should include at a minimum an inspection of the roof, the structure, the foundation and the plumbing and electrical systems. Also a termite inspection. An inspection for water damage and dry rot and an inspection for mold.

     Your contingencies should be for a period of at least 21 days to give your inspectors time to get out to the property, write their reports, get the reports back to you with enough time for you to review the reports.

     Also your contingencies should only be removable by you in writing, not by the passage of time. That way you will not accidentally remove a contingency that you did not want to remove.

     The inspectors may also recommend additional inspections. If additional inspections are recommended, I recommen that you have the additional inspections performed,

     I also recommend that you hire a real estate appraiser who is a Member of The Appraisal Institute (MAI designation( to make an appraisal of the property as a second opinion to protect you from paying too much for the property.

     Do not rely on the lender’s appraiser for a determination of the fair market value.

     If the seller and the bank accepts your offer, then I recommend that you have your appraiser make an appraisal of the property to determine the true fair market value of the property..

     When the appraisal comes back at a value that is substantially less than what you offered then give the lenders two choices:

     1. Agree to reduce the sales price to the fair market value as determined by your appraiser or

     2. Agree to cancel the contract and direct the escrow company to return your deposit to you.

     The same is true of the inspection reports. When the inspection reports come back showing that repairs are needed, which they will, again give the seller and the lenders two choices:

     1. Either maike the repairs or reduce the price sufficiently to compensate for the cost of the repairs to be done by a licensed contractor or..

     2. Agree to cancel the contract and direct the escrow company to return your deposit.

     If you will follow the procedure that I have outlined for you that will make it possible for you to purchase this house at true fair market value, not some inflated value that the previous owner paid for the property.

6. QUESTION:
   Hair, makeup, and skincare??? Please help!!!?
   What are some drugstore hair, makeup, and skincare neccessities for a 13 year old girl? No foundation or powder, please. Also, please include the names and brands of the products. I want to try a MAC eyeshadow, so you can recommend that, but other than that don’t even bother with high end. Thanks in advance! 🙂

   • ANSWER:
     Neutrogena has by far the best skin products, along with Cerave and Cetaphil. Definitely get those products, because when your pimples start, these products will clear them up like THAT! (: They’re not too expensive. Steer clear of Clean & Clear because they suck ass and will make your skin oily.

     Aussie has the best deep conditioner, 3 Minute Miracle. Tresseme’s hairspray is apparently the best. I like Pantene’s Shampoo and Conditioners for specific hair types, leaves my hair shiny and I can go two days without washing it before it gets greasy. I also like Herbal Essences conditioners. I use Garnier Triple Nutrition leave in conditioner, it makes my hair so soft and repairs the damage. I use Tresseme’s Heat Tamer spray for my heat protectant, it’s SICK!

     Well, NYX’s eye shadows are the best. I have one in Charcoal, but it was 7 bucks! Covergirl’s lashblast volume is a great mascara. I’m wanting to buy the EcoTool’s 6-piece brush set, my friend has it and she say’s the brushes work amazingly. I like Annabelle’s Smoothliner Eyeliner, works good.

     For further info on some of the products you want to buy, go to Makeupalley.com, sign up and look at all the reviews! It helped me buy products that were flawless.

     Have fun shopping! (:

7. QUESTION:
   When A home changes MLS status from short sale to agent owner?
   What does this usually mean? A home we have been interested in recently changed status in the MLS. We have been put off by the fact that the home was a short sale as sitting with our hands tied for months waiting for a bank response doesn’t appeal to us. I have not yet moved to the area I am debating using an agent as I have already looked thoroughly into the area the schools are great no sex offenders or meth houses in the area crime maps are clean city has a good water supply and the schools are great etc. My offer can only be what I can afford minus any estimates to make the home habitable. I also have access to a real estate lawyer to review everything.

   This is the e-mail I would like to send to the listing agent:

   I noticed this home on the MLS awhile back. Its listing status just changed from Short Sale to Agent/Owner. Is this property still a short sale or has the ownership changed hands? The listing states the home is in need of repairs The photos attached to the listing are only of the exterior I would love an honest assessment of the shape that this home is in. Have any appliances or systems been replaced or updated? How old is the roof? Is the Water Heater more than 6 years old? Are there any known foundation problems? Is the home habitable in its current state? I am aware that “subd y” was built on top of a mine and therefore has a disclosure regarding sinkholes is this also the case in “subd x”? Has the property ever had a soils test performed on it? Thank you in advance for any information you can provide regarding this property.

   Would asking these questions endanger me if I later choose to work with a buyers agent? Is there anything in my wording that could be improved upon?

   Thanks in advance!

   • ANSWER:
     One possibility is that an agent bought this property as a short sale and opted to immediately put it back on the market.

     Laws will vary in different states but generally if an owner has not lived in the home, they are not required to file any disclosures about the condition of the property.

     You can certainly ask these questions and the owner/agent may provide answers if s/he has them. It generally wouldn’t preclude you from using a buyer’s agent if you choose to go through with the sale.

     My advice would be to contact a buyer’s agent and request that they preview the home for you (if you are not geographically able to do so).

8. QUESTION:
   Water in the basement and Everdry?
   My wife and I just bought our first home about 6 months ago. During the fall everything was great but now with spring coming we are finding water not only coming in from the walls(which we expected)but also from the floor itself. I called Everdry a company that had good online reviews and word of mouth from people at my wife’s work. They came out and took a look at the basement. Their claim is that the water levels are an issue on multiple ends. They said that first off it is coming from the wall itself as snow melts or it rains, but that second the water levels are rising and its coming in through the floor because of this. The rep claims that it is a serious issue because it is doing damage to the foundation of the house and also that its putting heavy amounts of mold in to our ventilation system because the heating unit is located in the basement. His estimate is for around ,500 after financing to go in and put in a double sump pump, repair any foundational damage and waterproof the walls. He also said that their company has a a year fee afterwords, but it gives a cover all life time warranty where they will repair anything that happens to the foundation or fix any issues with water that ever happen with the basement again. They also put something called an E-Z Breathe that pumps air out of the house with negative air pressure. Supposedly it greatly reduces mold and household allergens.

   I am really torn on what to do because this is A LOT of money…especially seeing as we just bought the house less then half a year ago! But on the other hand if its damaging the foundation and since we just found out my wife is highly allergic to mold we are scared to do nothing. It seems everyone says water in the basement and the mold is normal, but they claim this is excessive. Just not sure what to do. Anyone have any thoughts? The house is around 100 years old and used Clay Tiles and brick. As I said the water is def coming up from the floor as well as in through the walls. Does having this type of work done seem really excessive and unneeded or like something that REALLY should get done?

   Thanks in advance. I will edit in more info if anyone requests it.

   • ANSWER:
     Suggest you find the low end of your basement and put one or two sump pumps in at different levels to drain the water out.

     You may need a contractor to see if you have a drainage problem in your area.

     Suggest you have the walls and basement floor sealed to prevent future water damage. You will need to dry the basement out before you apply the sealant.

     You can go to the website listed below and find the cost for sealing your basement.
     You can go to Lowe’s Hardware or Home Depot on line to find the cost of sump pumps and other material you may need.

9. QUESTION:
   What company is good for consolidating credit cards in collection?
   I have about 5 credit cards that I opened when I was 18. a few years later, during a hard time financially, I called each one and canceled it hoping to end more charges and get each paid off and reduce the amount of bills I had. however I couldn’t I was unable to pay them off and all of them are now in collection. I am working at this time and would like to get these cards paid off but can only afford to pay so much. I’ve heard of companies that can help turn all these bills into one monthly payment but have also heard many are scams. so does anyone know off a good one I can look into? thanks in advance!

   ( PLEASE NO COMMENTS ON HOW I AM IRRESPONSIBLE AND SHOULDN’T BE TRUSTED AROUND ANY CREDIT, I am aware that I didnt handle these credit cards properly. I have been through a lot in my life and what is important is that I am trying to correct this)

   • ANSWER:
     Please dont’ fall for scams. These companies don’t care about you. They care about making a profit for their trips to hawaii and their BMW’s.

     Did you know there is a non-profit service out there to help you at no cost?
     Also look at your credit card statement (perhaps on the back) it might be on there.
     National Foundation for Credit Councelling http://www.nfcc.org/
     No cost to you – non-profit.
     Reviews call them angels from above.
     If they put you on a DMP program. Debt management Program.
     The cost is about a month, but only if you can afford it – negotiate and ask for lower
     They will contact your creditors and see what can be done
     Call the 800 number on the site, and make an appointment at a local office.
     If bankruptcy is your only answer. They will be 100% honest and tell you
     —-
     Did you know there are some pretty amazing books out there on Credit Repair?
     They will teach you how to do this all yourself – what NFCC.org does
     Visit your library or bookstore today

10. QUESTION:
    Finding an Exclusive Buyer Agent in San Jose, CA.?
    Hi,

    I am a first time home buyer in San Jose, CA. I have read few books and researched conclusion leads me to getting an Exclusive Buyer Agent is the best way to go.

    I have asked my friends and colleagues about it, and no one I know have used such agents, so I am stuck finding one on my own.

    I have looked at NAEBA (www.naeba.com), but here are my questions:

    1. Are there other sites and or resources besides NAEBA that is good to search for an agent?

    2. What usually are the pay structure? Is it a fixed fee? Are they negotiable?

    3. Since NAEBA was founded in 1995, its only been around for 10 yrs or so, are there many around who is experienced enough?

    Thanks for you help in advanced.

    • ANSWER:
      Real estate agents and REALTORS are very poorly trained.

      I recommend that instead of a buyers agent, you hire an attorney who sepcializes in real estate law to write the language of your offfer and that you hire a real estate appraiser to give you a second opinion on the price of the house.

      Your real estate appraiser should be a Member of The Appraisal Institute. (MAI designation)

      Virtually all of the houses that are for sale are on the internet. You do not need an agent to find the house for you.

      What you do with the attorney and the appraiser is that you tell them upfront that you are hiring them to protect your interests and to protect you from paying too much for the house.

      Direct yur attorney to include language in your offer that makes it contingent on the appraised value as determined by your appraiser not the lender’s appraiser.

      The lender’s appraiser will appraise high to ingratiate himself with the real estate agents so they will continue to send business to the bank and the appraiser.

      When your appraiser determines that the fair market value of the house is less than the amount that you offered, you are to give the seller two choices:

      1. Reduce the contract price to the fair market value as determined by your appraiser or…:

      Note: Since you are represented by an attorney and not a real estate agent, the seller is saving the 3% of the purchase price that would have been paid to the real estate agent. I recommend that you also direct the seller to reduce the contract price by the additional 3% that he would have paid to your agent.

      After all that 3% is your money. You are saving the seller that money by not using a real estate agent. Thereofre you should get that money in the form of anadditional price reduction of 3% less than the amount of the fair market value as determined by your appraiser.

      2. Agree to cancel the contract and direct the escrow company to return your deposit.

      Also have your attorney include language in the contract that makes the contract contingent on your approval of inspection reports.by your inspectors, not the seller’s inspectors.

      The inspection should be at least 21 days to give your inspectors ample time to inspect the property and write their reports. Do not let the listing agent try to shorten this period. Listing agents often try to shorten this period to 10 days or less. That does not giveyou adequate time to get your inspectors out to the property, make the inspectins, write the reports, give you time to review the reports and make decisons ablut what repairs are needed.

      The inspections should include at a minimum an inspection of the roof, the chimney, the structure itself, the foundation the plumbing, heating and the electrical system. Also you need a termite report and an inspection for water damage and dry rot.

      In San Jose and all over that area you need and inspection of the chimney by a masonry contractor because in San Jose many chimneys were broken in the 1989 earthquake and have never been repaired.

      A broken chimney can permit hot gases from the fire to enter the attic and start a fire in the attic.

      When the reports come back indiccating that repairs are needed again give the seller two choices:

      1. Agree to hire a licensed contractor to make the repairs or further reduce the price of the house to compensate for the cost of the repairs. or…

      2. Agree to cancel the contract and direct the escrow company to return your deposit to you.

      I see the responder below does not agree with me and that is fine, I understand. Many people disagree with me. I have been very successful following the method that I have outlined for you.

      I challenge those who disagree with me to show that they have been more successful than I have at purchasing pieces of property at true fair market value and not the inflated prices that the real estate agents think that you should pay.

      I never use real estate agents to purchase property. I only use appraisers and attorneys.

      I also know San Jose very well. I grew up there and purchased most of the property that I own in Cupertino, which is a town very close to San Jose. The method that I have developed works very well in San Jose.

      You will find that the attorney and the appraiser will cost much less than the 3% the seller will pay the buyer’s agent. Remember that I said to reduce the contract price to fair market value less the 3% the seller would have paid your agent.

      On even a 0,000 house, that is ,000. Your attorney and your appraiser will not charge you anywhere near that amount and your attorney and your appraiser will do a much better job of representing your interests than a buyer’s real estate agent will.

      For one thing a real estate agent, even if he is a buyer’s agent will become very unhappy with you after you have cancelled several transactions because the seller would not agree to reduce his price to fair market value or would not agree to make needed repairs.

      You will not have that problem with your attorney or your appraiser.

      I realize that real estate agents think they know how to determine fair market value of a house, but they do not.

      An appraiser who is a Member of The Appraisal Institute has far more rigorous training standards to meet than a real estate agent. There is extensive classroom training that the appraiser must complete and pass and then he must work for several years in a firm that is owned by a Member of The Appraisal Institute before he is even eligible to apply for the MAI designation.

      A real estate appraiser who is a Member of The Appraisal Institute has far more expertise than any real estate agent with respect to determining the true fair market value of a piece of property.

      Your attorney has far more training than a real estate agent with respect to the law and the language that a contract must contain to protect your interests.

      The attorney must go to law school for at least 3 years after graduating from college and must pass a very rigorous bar exam.

      A real estate agent only has to take a few classes online. The classes only take a few weeks. Then the real estate agent takes a relatively easy exam which really does not test his knowledge of law or valuation of a piece of property.

      You get much better representation with the attorney and the real estate appraiser and they cost less if you follow my instructions and deduct the 3% fee that the seller would have paid youir real estate agent from the fair market value as determined by your appraiser that you pay for the property.
      .

11. QUESTION:
    Should I switch to IT from Computer Science?
    I signed up for a college major Computer Science…I’m scared to death to take it because of all the math involved, so I’m thinking about doing IT instead. I want to learn web development and programming…Northeastern University has a good IT program and I’m wondering if the curriculum looks good….any advice please…here is the program curriculum:

    College Algebra 1 3q.h.
    College Algebra 2 3 q.h.
    Finite Mathematics 3 q.h.
    Statistics 1 3 q.h.
    Statistics 2 3 q.h.
    Major Courses (66 q.h.)
    Complete all of the following courses:
    Information Systems for Management 3 q.h.
    Systems Analysis and Design 1 3 q.h.
    Systems Analysis and Design 2 3 q.h.
    Net Security and Legal Issues 3 q.h.
    Java Programming 3 q.h.
    Advanced Java Programming 3 q.h.
    C# (C Sharp) Programming 3 q.h.
    Database Management Systems (formerly Advanced Database) 3 q.h.
    Operating Systems Concepts 3 q.h.
    Network Foundations 1 3 q.h.
    Introduction to PC Productivity Tools 3 q.h.
    PC Database Software (formerly Advanced PC Software) 3 q.h.
    Internet Essentials 3 q.h.
    Computer Architecture and Systems Programming 3 q.h.
    Network Foundations 2 3 q.h.
    Network Security 3 q.h.
    Wireless Network Technologies 3 q.h.
    Information Security Management 3 q.h.
    UNIX System, and Overview (formerly UNIX 1) 3 q.h.
    UNIX System Administration 3 q.h.
    Business Decision Models 3 q.h.
    Organizational Behavior 3 q.h.
    Web and Multimedia Specialization (15 q.h.)
    Complete all of the following courses:
    ITC 1120
    Website Design 3 q.h.
    ITC 1255
    Human-Computer Interaction 3 q.h.
    ITC 2205
    Multimedia for the Web 3 q.h.
    ART 2111
    Designing Web Graphics
    Choose one of the following courses:
    ITC 2220
    Web Services Development 3 q.h.
    ITC 2213
    Database Websites with PHP/MySQL 3 q.h.
    ART 2112
    Designing Web Graphics 2 3 q.h.
    Non-Business Electives (6 q.h.)
    Open Electives (43 q.h.)
    Total Quarter Hours: 160
    * Specializations in this program are recommended groupings of courses designed to provide additional content focus. Courses in specializations count towards open and non-business electives.

    • ANSWER:
      If you are weak in math you can pretty much rule out a CS degree. However don’t get discouraged as a Computer Information Systems (CIS is what I have) or an IT degree can work for you just as well.

      Here are some of the jobs available with those degrees.
      Computer Technician – Works on computer hardware at user location or in service center. (entry level IT Job)
      Service Center Coordinator – Schedules the repair of user community computers, orders spare parts, schedules staff, establishes priorities, maintains loaner laptops and non-US laptops for travel outside of US.
      Help Desk Staff – answer questions and resolve problems for the user community. (entry level IT Job – Tier 1 support)
      Storage Administrator – in charge of mass storage servers and devices.
      Network Administrator – Works on routers, switches, hubs, cables, load balancers and all the other hardware that handles LAN and WAN network traffic. Also, may be responsible for IP phone service.
      Systems Administrator or Systems Engineer- Works with servers, laptops and desktop computers to keep them free of problems and secure the data they contain. Responsible for Security group creation and memberships, server patching, anti-virus protection updates, password changes and any automated mechanisms that make these changes. These positions may be divided into server and desktop teams. Tier 2 support.
      Enterprise Administrator – Handles Enterprise support and design issues. Tier 3 support.
      Active Directory Administrator – Designs and administers Active Directory infrastructure, AD policies, access permissions, roles, group policies, separation of duties.
      Exchange and Messaging Administrator – maintains mail systems servers, other mail related devices and the company messaging infrastructure.
      Backup Administrator – Maintains backup devices and determines backup strategies so data that was deleted accidentally or intentionally can be recovered. Design and control how and when data is backed up, where the backups are stored and how long the backups are retained. They will test to be sure backups are valid and usable.
      Disaster Recovery Specialist – Plans for disaster events so the company data and infrastructure can be brought back online as quickly as possible after a fire, flood, earthquake, terrorism or other disaster event. Plans for failover of services to alternate locations, if the primary location is not available.
      Database Administrator – Maintains the company databases which may include customer and sales records, billing information, inventory and other data.
      Computing Security Specialist – A company’s biggest asset is its data and the Computing Security Specialist will work to try to keep that data protected from loss. They may be dealing with and defending against viruses, hoaxes, malware, keyloggers, phishing attacks, internal attacks and domestic and foreign intrusion. Develops monitoring and interception systems, filters and strategies and works with appropriate government agencies.
      Corporate IT Acquisition Specialist – Works with acquired outside companies to establish migration into the corporate computing infrastructure.
      Data Center Administrator – Maintains the data center facilities where the company’s servers and other devices reside. They are responsible for physical security and may review badge reader and camera information to be sure that only individuals with proper access are getting close to the company’s servers and other critical devices. Also, maintain backup power devices (UPS or generators), climate control equipment, fire suppression equipment, establish access policies, etc.

      In a small business the list above might be one or two people doing all these jobs. In a large Enterprise environment this could be hundreds of people.

      Best wishes!

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