Advertising Homes For Sale or Rent Near US Military Bases |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc.
Vol. 1 Issue 11
|
|
|
|
| Letter from the Editor |
Veterans Day
 A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
November is a busy month as we celebrate Veterans Day, the birth of the Marine Corps and the military family! As Marine's around the world will celebrate the 234th birthday of the Marine Corps on November 10 we want to say "thank you" for the enormous sacrifices that all military members and their families make each day to continue to ensure our freedom!
The upcoming months is when we see a drastic shift in our paradigm. As our pace picks up around the holiday season, the real estate market slows down. And in a market that has already been slow, this can be discouraging for those who are still trying to rent or sell their homes.
A lot of our customers are seeing high rates of views on their ads, but not as many contacts as you would during the busy moving months. A slow moving period paired with a saturated market may make it harder to move your home quickly. But with aggressive marketing and diligent research, you can have success with renting or selling your home!
We continue to offer our customers great ways to advertise their businesses, and our newsletter is another area in which you can highlight your business to our over 37,000 subscribers on a monthly basis.
For samples of the advertisements, take a look at those in the right column of this issue. For pricing or questions, please contact me.
And remember, we are available Monday - Friday, 9am - 9pm EST to assist you via our live chat.
Editor
MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc. |
|
MBO News |
|
Within in the next couple months we will launch new features that you have been asking for.
Things to come:
-
More search options
-
Save your favorites
-
Email alerts
-
and many more
Reminders:
Questions?
|
| Real Estate Corner |
|
FIXING FORECLOSED HOUSES FOR FUN & PROFIT Part II
By Jane Shafrin
Congratulations. You are now the proud owner of a
fixer-upper. If you manage this project right, you  can make 10% up to 30% on
your investment each time you do a rehab. That certainly beats any earnings you
can realize in the stock market or other investment vehicles. It's also safe.
Nice houses sell!
Does your new "sad and neglected" house have at least 3
bedrooms, a bath and a half or more, is it a single family house in a
neighborhood of similar well-kept homes, not close to superhighway, railroad,
noisy high traffic streets, convenience stores, or business areas? If so, and
if you do the rehab right, the house should sell quickly.
Did you have the property inspected, especially the
plumbing, electric, and sewer lines? Mature trees growing in the same area as
the waste lines to the street may indicate some sewer problems. If you are in
any doubt, it's worth paying a small fee to have the waste line checked for
breakage or blockage. This Old House did a remodel of an older home with
blocked sewer lines that a tree had grown into but the tree was protected,
could not be removed. I don't remember what the solution was, but it was
certainly costly.
Read up on all the possible problems you may encounter.
Assume the plumbing is shot, the wiring needs updating, the roof must be
replaced (unless there is a newer roof), windows need replacing, and so on. Get
on the phone and call suppliers and contractors to find out the extent of costs
involved.
After your offer is accepted you'll have some weeks until
the closing. During this interim period you should start interviewing
contractors, set up credit accounts with Home Depot and any other suppliers you
plan to use, such as tile, cabinets, flooring, carpet, windows, paint. The more
credit accounts you can establish the better. On time payments will also help
to boost your FICO score.
How do you find contractors? Craigslist is a great source
for skilled people who are looking for work. You can contact those who already
have an ad on Craigslist, and you should post your own ad. Write something like
"Looking for experienced carpenter, plumber, painter, electrician, tile setter
to remodel a 4-bedroom house for resale. Non-smokers only." (You don't want to
worry about smoking smell or hazards.) Chances are you'll get a flood of
answers. Call the ones whose replies look good. Set up interviews at the
property. Space them about 2 hours apart on the same day. Get written bids from
every applicant.
Hiring contractors is a blood sport. There are a lot of
jerks out there waiting to grab your money and disappear. I sincerely recommend
that you hire an attorney specializing in contracts to write a contract that
will be water-tight, and insist that every contractor you hire sign it. Get at
least three local references from residential projects they have done recently.
Check the Better Business Bureau and Angie's List.
Since you are buying materials, don't agree to pay up front.
If you make this clear when you first talk to the contractors, you can weed out
the ones who want payment up front. It is however perfectly OK to pay as they
complete each part of the project to your satisfaction.
The more contractors you interview at the property, the
better. Your broker can let you and the contractor into the property to assess
what needs doing, how long it will take, and what materials to buy.
Each contractor will present different ways of doing things.
Some of them will respond with a written bid, some won't. Give them a copy of
the contract when you interview them. And listen to them closely! Take notes,
or record the interviews with a small hand held recorder, an inexpensive way to
keep track of who said what.
The contract is not the only paperwork you should prepare.
You'll also need a work schedule, or punch list, or specification. This is a
key ingredient of the project that lists all the jobs to be done in detail. Get
each contractor to give you his estimate of how long each part of the project
will take, and the cost. You may not be able to write this until you have
spoken to a number of contractors. The work list is made part of the contract,
and when the contract is signed, it means the parties agree to the all terms.
Think of yourself as the project manager. You don't need
expertise in carpentry, plumbing, window installation, plumbing, or painting.
You are the person who makes everything happen, since you provide the funds and
determine the final choice of skilled trades people who will be working on the
project. Your job is to put together a successful team with you as the team
leader.
To reach success in a house rehab, preparation is absolutely
crucial. Don't worry if the preparation is taking longer than you thought it
should. And don't let any contractors rush you into starting a job until you
feel sure you have all the bases covered. Contractors live paycheck to
paycheck, and their financial problems are not your responsibility. I've had
people ask me for money up front because they need a new car, need tuition for
college, medical reasons, or other excuses. Decline politely, but always
decline. If this happens too often perhaps it's time to think about letting
someone go.
On the day of closing you'll need vacant insurance in place
and you'll need to change the utilities to your name. Your broker can help you
with this.
If all of this sounds like a lot of work, it is. If a house
full of unfinished walls, windows, floors, bathrooms, and piles of tools and
accessories bothers you, perhaps this isn't your cup of tea.
However, if you have a really good head for details, are not
working full time, and enjoy the results of a job well done, you should
consider rehabbing. It can be very rewarding, not just financially. You are
improving the neighborhood and creating a lovely home for some lucky new
owners.
I have barely scratched the surface of this topic.
Remodeling a house presents a myriad of problems. Each problem has one or more
solutions, and if you hired good contractors, they will help you choose the
best solution for your goals and budget. Good Luck!
Jane Shafrin is owner of A Happy Home, LLC (AHH), is an investment group located in Colorado Springs, CO that buys tired, damaged houses and resuscitates/remodels them for sale to new owners who want a lovely home that is also affordable.
She can be reached via email at jane5505@msn.com
| |
 |
We hope that you find the MilitaryByOwner Newsletter useful. Please forward it to your friends. If you are not a current subscriber, you can sign-up by clicking on the mailing list banner above. |
|
The Top 20 Hottest Bases
Updated Monthly
|
Helping The Military Community Buy and Sell Their Vehicles"
Make a quick sale with your trusted military network!
Active in the U.S., Europe, and Asia
|
Interested in advertising in the MilitaryByOwner.com newsletter?
* Reach the military families
* Over 35,000 subscribers
Email me for more info |
When was the last time you sent an unexpected card at an unexpected time to someone you care about?
Do you think it would make a difference?
Do you remember people's birthdays and other special occasions?
Do you think that matters to them?
How about a simple thank you or expression of appreciation. Do you think that would make a difference?
With this incredible tool, not only can you remember people and share appreciation, you can motivate, uplift, encourage and truly make a difference. Here is the interesting thing, the more you do this, the more you realize that you, the sender of these cards, benefit the most.
We are changing people's lives for good one simple card at a time.
A concept and service that is changing people's lives.
You can send a printed greeting card with your message in less than 60 Seconds
.·Choose your card
· Write your message
· Click send
SendOutCards prints it, stuffs it and mails it, all for less than a greeting card at the store.
SendOutCards is also a great tool for businesses to keep in touch with their customers and referral clients. We at MilitaryByOwner would like to share SendOutCards with you.
To learn more about SendOutCards, and see how the system works, visit this page to send a free card to someone you care about:
Check out SendOutCards | |
|
|
Military Life
|
President Proclaims Military Family Month
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2009
President Barack Obama pledged his support of military members and their families and said Americans have a "solemn obligation" to preserve their well-being in his proclamation declaring November as Military Family Month.The proclamation reads:
"No one pays a higher price for our freedom than members of our Nation's military and their families. As sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and mothers and fathers are deployed, military families endure with exceptional resilience and courage. They provide our troops with invaluable encouragement and love, and serve our Nation in their own right. During Military Family Month, we honor the families of our Armed Forces and thank them for their dedication to our country.
"Though only a small percentage of our Nation's population, our troops bear the great responsibility of protecting our people. They, along with their families, serve us every day with courage and dignity. Ensuring that military families receive the respect they deserve and the support they have earned is a top priority for my Administration.
"The strength of our Nation is measured not just by our success on the battlefield, but also by our ability to support those families who have made so many sacrifices for us. Time and again, military families have shown their heart in the face of adversity. We have a solemn obligation to ensure that while our men and women in uniform discharge their duties, we do all we can to promote and preserve the well-being of their families. We must also support the families of our wounded warriors and our fallen heroes who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy.
"This month, we celebrate the tremendous contributions of military families, convey to them our deepest respect and appreciation, and recommit ourselves to their support.
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2009 as Military Family Month. I call on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our service members and our Nation."
American Forces Press Service "Family Matters" Blog
|
Military Life II
|
Postal Service Announces Holiday Mailing Guidelines
By Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Jung
Special to American Forces Press Service
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Oct. 28, 2009 - U.S. Postal Service officials have announced recommended mailing dates for delivery by Christmas to U.S. servicemembers serving in Afghanistan and other overseas locations.
First-class and priority mail for servicemembers stationed in Afghanistan should be sent by Dec. 4 for arrival by Christmas. The deadline for parcel airlift mail is Dec. 1, and space-available mail bound for Afghanistan should be sent by Nov. 21.
Officials recommend that parcel post mail to all military overseas locations should be sent by Nov. 13.
A chart with recommended mailing deadlines for all types of mail to various APO and FPO addresses is available at the Postal Service's Web site at http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2009/pr09_082.htm.
Express mail cannot be used to mail packages to Afghanistan; however priority mail is available.
Priority mail packaging products, including priority mail flat-rate boxes, can be obtained free at any post office, or online at http://shop.usps.com. The priority mail large flat-rate box can be used to mail to any overseas military address, no matter the weight of the box, for $11.95.
The Postal Service offers free military care kits, designed for military families sending packages overseas. To order by phone, call 800-610-8734 and ask for the military care kit. Each kit includes two "America Supports You" large priority mail flat-rate boxes, four medium-sized priority mail flat-rate boxes, six priority mail labels, a roll of priority mail tape and six customs forms with envelopes.
"All packages and mail must be addressed to the individual servicemember by name, without rank, in accordance with Department of Defense regulations," said Air Force Master Sgt. Deb LaGrandQuintana, the 455th Expeditionary Communications Squadron official mail manager here.
Military overseas units are assigned an APO or FPO ZIP code, and in many cases, that ZIP code travels with the unit wherever it goes, LaGrandQuintana added.
The Postal Service places APO and FPO mail to overseas military servicemembers on special transportation destined to be delivered as soon as possible.
Mail sent APO and FPO addresses may require customs forms. All mail addressed to military post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling. For general guidelines on sending mail to servicemembers overseas, visit http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/.
Postal Service officials recommend taking the following measures when sending packages:
-- If you use a regular box, use one strong enough to protect the contents with no writing on the outside.
-- Cushion contents with newspaper, bubble wrap, or Styrofoam. Pack tightly to avoid shifting.
-- Package food items like cookies, fudge, candies, etc. securely in leak-proof containers.
-- Use pressure-sensitive or nylon-reinforced packing tape.
-- Do not use wrapping paper, string, masking tape, or cellophane tape outside the package.
-- Print your return address and the servicemember's complete name, without rank, followed by unit and APO or FPO delivery address on one side only of the package.
-- Place a return address label inside the package.
-- Stuff fragile items with newspaper or packing material to avoid damage.
-- Remove batteries from toys and appliances. Wrap and place them next to the items inside.
-- Purchase insurance and delivery confirmation service for reassurance of package delivery.
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Jung serves in the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs office.)
|
| Featured Home |
For Rent By Owner
Price: $1,850.00/month Carlisle, PA - West Harmon Drive
4 Bed, 2.5 Bath (Single Family)
Description:
Country living at its finest! Beautiful brick/vinyl
all electric home in desirable Rockwell Farms with mountain views. 2.85 acres of
well maintained yard with many trees and a hill (great for sledding). Spacious
kitchen with breakfast area. Four large bedrooms. Master bedroom suite has large
walk-in closet, separate shower, double vanity and deep jetted jacuzzi tub.
Laundry room has cabinets and mud sink. Oversized two garage could store third
vehicle.. Lots of storage in this house. Security system. Nine foot ceilings on
first floor. Gas fireplace in the family room. New four seasons sun room has
beautiful views to private back yard. Ceiling fans in all bedrooms, family room,
and sun room. Large deck and patio just right for familly fun and entertaining.
Great schools in Carlisle district. Friendly family neighborhood. Lawn tractor
provided or lawn care service available for additional fee if desired. Owner is
a retired AF Reserve officer.
MilitaryByOwner Rent: $1,850.00/month
|
| Featured Site |
Networking is essential to surviving and thriving in a military lifestyle. And whether you are new to Army life, or you have been doing it for years, this is a great site for all things Army!
Confused by what your soldier means when he says he has an APFT in the morning? Check out the Army 101 section and learn how to decipher the unique language that encompasses Army life.
Do you wonder if you are the only one that is struggling with the decision of who should be present at your soldier's homecoming? The blog and message boards are the perfect place to see how others handle the same situations that you struggle with.
Maybe you need ideas for care packages, advice on making a move or are you looking for a unique Army gift. You can find all of this and much, much more on Married to the Army.
We think you will find this comprehensive site of Army life an enormous asset to both surviving and thriving!
|
|
Featured Book
|
 One of my favorite
aspects of military life is the information that you glean from other
military families. During a recent Marine Corps training course, I was
part of a group discussion regarding PCSing and tips for making moves
easier. This is when a friend of mine mentioned a book that she had
picked up at a Cracker Barrel restaurant that had become their travel
guide each time they move. I was surprised that I had not heard of it
before this, but was grateful to find a new resource for those long
trips across the country.
While
we are in the era of GPS systems being standard in most cars, the benefit of The Next Exit is that it will
allow you the ability to plan ahead and to map out your stops based on
what services you desire, rather than scrambling as the next exit is
approaching! Find information on each exit, including food, gas, shopping, camping and much more.
If you don't have plans to stop by a Cracker Barrel any time soon, you can certainly order The Next Exit from their website. I hope this makes your next road trip a little easier and maybe a whole lot more fun!
|
| Customer Experience |
Thanks again for your wonderful service. This is the
best way I know to rent to wonderful renters. You are
greatly appreciated and hopefully we will be able to
use you again in the future.
T.E.
Pentagon, VA
11/09 | |
|
Disclosure: We have made every effort to make our newsletter useful, informative, helpful and honest. The views and opinions of our guest contributors are not necessarily the views, opinions or an endorsement of MilitaryByOwner.com. You should seek advice from a professional familiar with your state laws regarding specific legal matters.
PERMISSION TO REPRINT MUST BE GRANTED BY MILITARYBYOWNER.COM
MilitaryByOwner Advertising,Inc.
All Rights Reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
