Livingston Reporting - page 225

Home Buying and Selling in 2016

When it comes to selling a house in today’s market many sellers are in for a culture shock.  Today’s buyers are different than they were five years ago.  Buyers are demanding.  In this technology savvy world we live in buyers want to see homes when their schedule permits.  It is no longer about the seller and creating the perfect ambiance for selling a home; today’s buyers want convenience and they aren’t about to wait for an open house to get what they want.  Long gone are the days of baking cookies and creating the perfect, warm home introduction.

When you decide to sell your home the first step that you should make is to call in a trusted professional.  Real estate agents help to eliminate the emotional aspect of the transaction.  This greatly improves the chance of a quick sale.  Below is a sample action plan that most realtors will use when working with you to sell your home.

One debate that exists is if a seller should buy a new home before they have sold theirs.  Is it necessary to carry two mortgages?  The answer is no.  Sell your home before you buy a new one.  A few scenarios’ can play out all of which are better than paying two mortgages.  Many buyers are willing to work with a seller if they need additional time in the home by renting it back to the seller for a few months while they find a new home.  Another option that is common is a short term rental.  The one thing you are looking to avoid is buying a home contingent on the sale of yours especially in a market where you are up against other bidders.

No longer are the good ole days of throwing a for sale sign in the yard and calling it a day.  Homes don’t get sold unless they are properly marketed.  Buyers are looking for photos, videos, floor plans, staging ideas and more.  They are looking at homes online and through social media.  Long gone are the days of Sunday drive by’s where buyers are deciding which homes to look at.  If they don’t see what they want to out of the online marketing campaign you and your realtor have set up then you won’t have to worry about setting up a time for them to see the house in person.

Selling a home today requires buyers to have immediate access to have their questions answered immediately.  Without a solid internet presence and marketing plan in place your home will sit stale on the market for months waiting for those far and few between drive-by buyers.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

Avoiding The Challenges That Come With Selling Your Home

It can be a challenge to sell your home.  This is especially true in a market saturated with homes for sale.  When buyers have lots of options available to them they don’t have to buy what you are selling.  If your home is just one of a million available on the market today it is crucial that you aren’t sloppy when putting it up for sale.

Don’t price your home out of the market:  You know what you paid for your home when you bought it and you know what you have invested into but that doesn’t mean you know how much it should sell for.  Your house is not worth a penny more than what the market is willing to purchase it for.  The market may have gone up or it may have gone down since you initially purchased your home.  When setting an asking price for your home it is important that you don’t overprice your home.  A home that has a high asking price may discourage parties that are interested in making an offer.  Your goal is to sell your home not show it for six months.  Take into consideration homes that are comparable to yours and be willing to set an asking price that is equivalent.

Don’t go it alone: There are a number of mistakes that can be made in any real estate transaction.  Without the proper understanding of exactly what is entailed in selling your home it is wise to hire a professional realtor to guide you through the process.  Working with a local real estate agent is helpful in a number of ways.  First, they are familiar with the local area, the selling price of similar homes in the area and know a reasonable offer when it is given. They have experience on counter offers and can help you negotiate a contract that is fair and appropriate for the market you are in.

Another benefit of using a real estate agent when selling your home is the additional marketing tools and connections that have available to them.  Selling your home in a competitive market is much more than just sticking a sign in the yard and watching buyers come pouring in.  Today real estate is all about marketing.  Your home needs to be on the internet throughout social media, video tours and public open house advertisements with additional pictures of the home.  Sellers can no longer get by on putting a sign in the yard, word of mouth and drive-by’s.

The process of selling your home can be emotional.  A real estate agent can help you through the sentimental aspect while understanding the business side.  With the right price and proper marketing your home has the potential to have a number of buyers interested before it is even officially listed by the real estate agent.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

Cancer Treatment Using Different Radiation Therapy Techniques Part 3

In our third installment discussing different types of radiation treatment we will look into more details around image-guided radiotherapy, IGRT.  Treatment using IGRT is a bit different than previous therapies we have discussed because CT scans continue to be utilized throughout treatment to look for reduction in tumor size as well as other changes.  Using several scanned images allows the radiation oncologist to adjust treatment for changes in the position of the patient and adjust the amount of radiation needed.  IGRT leads to an increase in treatment accuracy while allowing for a decrease in radiation exposure to the tissue surrounding the tumor.

There are two main types of IGRT, stereotactic radiation and radio-surgery, such as SBRT, Gamma-Knife and Cyber-knife.  Stereotactic radiotherapy is similar to IMRT except that it involved fewer treatments, fractions.  It delivers a high dose of radiation directly into a tumor.  It delivers the radiation in a number of different angles to focus radiation all at one small area. Radio-surgery involves a single fraction whereas stereotactic radiation involves two to five fractions.  Most often this treatment is used for lesions within the brain.  This minimizes effects to normal tissue, which radiation passes through while delivering a large dose of radiation to a single point where the beams all come together.  The large number of beams angle in order to deliver radiation to a single point when precise targeting of the tumor is required.

Stereotactice radiation, also known as SBRT, is used most often for treating areas such as the lung, prostate, liver, brain and bone.  With the advancements in technology, computer imaging and patient stabilization radiation oncologists are able to offer treatment in fewer fractions.  The higher dose of radiation is delivered to the tumor while the outlying areas receive less and less harmful doses of radiation.  This type of treatment is often given with the use of linear accelerators and cyber-knife systems.  Cyber-knife is basically a linear accelerator placed on a robotic arm allowing for more freedom in movement.

Radio-surgery is most often used in the treatment of brain tumors.  The brain does not move so there are not the problems with motion that are run into with other cancer treatments.   An MRI scan is used to localize the tumor and a frame is used to position the head with great accuracy.  Radio-surgery requires both neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists during planning and treatment.  Lesions that are smaller than five centimeters can be treated using radio-surgery.

This series has outlined numerous types of radiotherapy along with the cancers best treated with each technique.  More detailed information on linear accelerators and how they can be used in the treatment of cancers is available online.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Cancer Treatment Using Different Radiation Therapy Techniques Part 2

In this installment we will continue to looking into the numerous options available in radiation therapy treatments that oncologists can use when treating cancerous tumors.  As stated previously, depending on a variety of circumstances the option in therapy chosen to treat your cancer will vary.  Your radiation oncologist is the only one that understands your unique situation and therefore is the only one that can recommend a treatment plan.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy, otherwise known as IMRT, delivers photons to treat tumors but in a manner that allows healthy structures to receive a potentially lower dose of the high radiation.  The process of IMRT begins much the same way as other methods of delivering photon radiation.  Treatment planning begins by performing a CT scan that outlines the normal organs and the cancerous tumors.  From the scans the radiation beams are positioned in a fashion to deliver the radiation to the cancerous area without affecting the healthy tissue.

The difference in IMRT is that the beams are divided into a grid that takes the one large radiation beam and divides it out into many smaller beams.  Computer software is employed to help radiation oncologists determine the best pattern to deliver radiation while sparing healthy organs.  A variety of shapes are used during treatment to ensure precise control while delivering radiation which is critical when treating tumors in difficult to reach positions.  IMRT is often utilized in the treatment of head and neck cancer where there are other critical structures close to the cancer that can be easily damaged by the strong course of radiation treatment.  IMRT is one of the most frequently used methods in delivering radiation.

There are downsides when treating cancerous tumors using IMRT as there are in all treatment options.  The time it takes to plan the course of treatment as well as the amount of time it takes to deliver the daily treatment because of the number of shapes the leaves are required to make during treatment.  Another downside is that with the beams going in numerous directions it is possible that the dose of radiation would not be as even as it is with three D conformal therapy.  Another disadvantage found is that although a high dose of radiation is spared to healthy organs a greater number of normal organs are affected by radiation because of the greater number of beams used in shaping the radiation.  New and improved intensity modulated radiation therapies continue to hit the market being tested on a variety of hard to reach tumors in the head, neck, brain, prostate, GI and lungs.

In our continued series on the numerous types of radiation we will begin to look into options in image guided radiotherapy otherwise known as IGRT.  The uniqueness of this therapy comes in that imaging scans are continually repeated to identify any changes in the tumor size and surrounding area.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Cancer Treatment Using Different Radiation Therapy Techniques Part 1

There are numerous types of radiation therapy that oncologists are using to treat cancers today.  Several types of radiation particles or waves are used to deliver radiation treatment including photons, electrons and protons.  Photons and electrons are the used types of radiation as they are the most abundant.  Proton radiation therapy is available in a few medical therapy facilities while new proton therapies are being developed.

The three types of radiation therapy, photon, electron and proton therapy, all have the same basic effects on cancerous tissues; to eliminate them.  Each type of therapy has its own set of benefits and drawbacks which is why oncologists use it over the others in treating certain cancers.  In the following few installments on radiology treatments we will discuss why certain therapy’s are chosen by radiation oncologists over others.  Only the radiation oncologist treating you will understand your cancer situation and the best radiation therapy to best care for specific condition.

Photon Radiation Treatment Options

Photon beams are similar to those used in diagnostic x-ray machines like what would be seen to check for a bone break.  These same photon beams but in a much higher energy beam are used in radiotherapy.  Most conventional photon radiation is delivered using a machine known as a linear accelerator or linas for short.

First we will take a look into two dimensional photon therapies which are the most common therapy options in treating cancer.  This conventional radiation therapy utilizes x-ray films to determine how to best position the radiation beams to treat the cancerous tumors.  In treatment, the bones on the x-rays are used to map out the position of the tumor in relation to normal organs to allow radiologists to position the radiation beams on the targeted cancerous tumor.  In conventional radiation therapy the planning is done in a quick, efficient manner and a patient can begin the process of treatment swiftly.  Other techniques in treating cancer require lengthier planning.

Three dimensional radiation therapies use CT scanners and imaging to plan for treating tumors.  This treatment option is the most readily available within medical facilities.   One major advantage of CT-guided treatment over two dimension conventional therapy is that it allows radiation oncologists to define normal organs and cancerous tumors in three dimensions instead of the flat image present in x-ray technology.

Normally this type of treatment begins with the patient receiving a CT scan laying in the exact position they will be in for treatment.  The CT scan will outline the tumor in 3D.  Organs that are not affected will also be outlined so that during treatment they can be avoided.  The photon radiation beams will be positioned to deliver the most advantageous dose of radiation to the cancerous tumor while avoiding normal organs.

Radiologist use computer software in order to calculate the amount of radiation that is optimal to terminate the tumor while minimizing the radiation to healthy tissue.  The goal is to optimize the amount of radiation being received by the cancerous tumor while minimizing the effects of the radiation on healthy organs and tissues surrounding the area.  These calculations are constantly adjusted during treatment to take into consideration these calculations.

In order to better understand how this can be done it is important to understand how the beams are positioned using linear accelerators.  The radiation beams can be shaped in one of two ways.  The first is a leaf within the linear accelerator that can be used to form a customized radiation beam.  Usually these leaves, known as multi-leaf collimators, are made of small, shiny blocks of metal that can be quickly moved around independently of one another to form most complex configurations.  The second way that beams can be shaped is with the use cerrobend blocks that are individually molded into the desired shape.

We will continue to look into the numerous options available in radiation therapy treatments in our next installment.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

 

The Difference Between Reconditioned and Refurbished

What is the difference between buying factory reconditioned and factory refurbished?  Each year there are millions of products that are returned to manufacturers each year.  Sometimes it is because they have been leased to the consumer and the lease is up or others because they aren’t functioning properly.  This determines how a manufacturer can market a product for resale and the condition the product is in when the consumer purchase it.

Products are often l eased by consumers in order to keep up to date on needed technology without the exorbitant expense of purchasing the product outright.  When an item is returned to the manufacturer the product is often reconditioned by replacing worn components, testing the product and putting it out for sale.  The process of reconditioning has less to do with actually repairing it than it does with replacing parts that commonly need updating and putting it back out to be sold.

Two categories of companies can actually sell reconditioned equipment: factory authorized and reseller recondition.  When the item is reconditioned by the factory itself or by a certified outsource firm to company resale standards it is considered factory authorized.  When an item is purchased from the original company and reconditions in house but is not certified by the original manufacturer the item is considered to be in reseller recondition.

When an item is returned because of a defect to the surface or functionality and refurbished it is more about repairing the damage then replacing parts that are worn out.  When a return is made the company takes the time to find what the problem with the item is, repairs it, replace parts needed to be replaced and labels it as refurbished.  Being certified is again the difference between being labeled factory refurbished or in-house refurbished.

What All Of This Means To Buyers

Whether you are purchasing a reconditioned or refurbished component, part, piece of equipment or electronic you want to be educated.  The more you know the easier it will be for you to compare new vs reconditioned products and the price being charged.  Also educate yourself on what you should expect out of the product.

Be sure to read the entire listing before you purchase a reconditioned or refurbished component.   Most of these products have been through a stringent testing product before they can be listed for sale.  Be sure that the listing makes mention of this.

Check out seller’s feedback.  Previous buyers will give you a sense of how the company offer support to their customers.  Yes, negative feedback happens but look more into how they handle issues when they arise.  Are emails answered, problems solved and tech support given when needed?

When items are refurbished or reconditioned by a factory or certified outsourcer they usually come with a warranty or guarantee.  Check to make sure the warranty offers you enough time to actually use and test the product to determine if it is working for you as stated.  The usual warranty for reconditioned components is around fifteen to thirty days.

If looking to save money while getting similar quality that would be expected out of new equipment or replacement component parts buy reconditioned or refurbished.

J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company.  At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.

The Difference Between Used and Refurbished

One way to save a lot of money is to seek out refurbished tech items, electronics and electrical components when looking into making purchases.  It is important to remember that there is a difference between buying a used product and one that is refurbished.  Both can save you a lot of money however there are actually numerous differences that make refurbished better than used.

One of the first differences between used and refurbished items is the warranty.  All components that have gone through the refurbishing process come with a limited warranty of some kind.  When purchasing a used item however, it is rare for the item to be sold with any type of warranty.  Used items are usually bought and sold as is.

When it comes to the physical condition between used and refurbished items there is also a huge difference.  Refurbished items, especially electrical components, are supposed to look as close to the original as possible.  When something is refurbished it has been taken apart, cleaned, parts replaced and put back together in like new condition whereas used items are sold as is and are potentially worn.

Vendors rarely sell used items.  If you are purchasing an item from an OEM it is most often a true refurbished product. They will offer a full warranty on the item as if it was knew because essentially the process of refurbishing is making a like new product.  Used items will often be sold through third party vendors who label them as refurbished.  An item is unlikely to be a true refurbished product if being sold without a warranty or the description states the item is being sold as is.

When a product is refurbished or sold through an OEM is will come with customer service support.  When you purchase a used item you are not guaranteed to have any support services.  It is bought as is, buyer beware.  There are more guarantees when it comes to purchasing components that are refurbished.

If you are looking for the best bang for your buck, especially when purchasing electrical components for manufacturing equipment or for your home then the way to go is refurbished.  Another good thing about buying refurbished components is that you can usually find components for older machinery often even the most obsolete of machines.  Where new components are no longer available and used components would be in like shape to what you are replacing, refurbishing gives you a like new way to keep your machines running properly.

Buying A Home With A Less Than Stellar Credit Rating

Are you starting to consider buying a home?  If so you have probably heard how important your credit score is in obtaining a mortgage.  It is possible that you may have been previously turned down for a home loan because of your poor credit.  Or that you have pulled your credit report to realize that your credit rating is far worse then you thought it was.  Whatever the case may don’t give up on buying a home just yet.  Even with a credit score that is too low for a conventional thirty year mortgage there are numerous options you can look into for financing a home.  You might be surprised by what a mortgage broker can do to help your situation.

First off be aware what lenders are looking for when lending money to individuals for a conventional mortgage.  A general rule of thumb is that a borrower should consider saving at least twenty percent of homes price for a down payment and a FICO score of about six hundred fifty to receive a conventional mortgage with a low interest rate.

There are a host of things that lenders look at when deciding whether or not a borrower is a worthy risk.  One of the major factors, as previously discussed is a person’s credit score.  Another element that borrowers use is the amount that borrowers have for a down payment.  It is possible to offset a lower credit score with a higher down payment.  Lenders are apt to believe that you are less of a risk the more equity that is invested into the home.  Your personal interest in the home is greater and therefore lenders believe you are a better risk.

If you have a less than perfect credit score and a small down payment don’t count yourself out of the mortgage game yet.  Talk with a mortgage broker about various non-conventional loan options.  Some options include: FHA loans, VA loans or U.S. Department of Agriculture loans are all options with less stringent guidelines then conventional mortgages.

If none of these options pan out consider working on getting your credit score up, saving money and working towards financing a mortgage in two to three years when your financial situation has recovered.  There are many ways to work towards a better credit score including:

  • Take care of correcting errors in your existing credit report especially with collection agencies and late payments.
  • Make payments on time all the time.
  • Pay down the balances on revolving credit cards to decrease your debt to income ratio.
  • Give yourself some time to build your savings.

Work with a mortgage broker to discuss options that are available today.

Cross Country Mortgage in Brighton, Michigan provide mortgage services for clients including new home loans, refinancing, reversed mortgages, new purchase home mortgages and home equity loans to the entire Livingston County area including Brighton, Howell and Livingston County. Cross Country Mortgage Brighton, MI at http://brightoncrosscountry.com/.

The Difference Between Mortgage Brokers and Banks

Are you looking into financing the purchase of a new home?  You may be overwhelmed at the possibilities that exist within the mortgage industry.  There are numerous options and channels that can be used to obtain a mortgage.  In this article we will focus on two specific areas, mortgage brokers versus banks.

Mortgage brokers work as a middle man between lenders and borrowers.  The broker works to secure several best case scenario’s for borrowers to choose from a variety of lenders.    A borrower is allowed to compare and contrast the options that are available, using the knowledge and assistance of a mortgage broker.  Mortgage brokers account for more than ten percent of the mortgage financing on all home loan originations.     When the real estate market was in full bloom mortgage brokers peaked, accounting for thirty percent of loan beginnings.

Borrowers working with a bank are in more of a retail situation.  A bank or financial lending institution states what their best available offer is, given the borrowers situation and they can either choose to accept the offer or continuing searching competitors for a better offer.

As with all financial transactions there are positives and negatives of both channels of obtaining financing for your mortgage.  Some situations leave you with no alternative but to choose one over the other.  If you are a borrower working with a poor credit or a loan situation that is a bit trickier than what is normal a mortgage broker may be your only option to finding a loan that works for you.

Most homeowners find themselves turning to their bank or financial institution when they find they are in need of a mortgage or begin looking into refinancing options.  However, when they have trouble qualifying for a loan through their own bank many turn to mortgage brokers.  Don’t assume that rates and loan options won’t be as competitive when using a mortgage broker over a bank.  Many times options that brokers find for borrowers are as competitive as those from a bank.  Be sure to work with a broker that is not taking abundance off the top before selling borrowers the loan.  In actuality, wholesale mortgage rates can often be cheaper than what borrowers can find at local banks.

Bank Positives

  • Relationship building and the connection between community and your finances
  • Adding to an existing financial profile
  • Personal relationship with the lender

Broker Positives:

  • Brokers do all the leg work
  • Brokers compare rates from numerous banks and lenders all at one time
  • More loan options available
  • Can help with poor or tricky credit situations

Bank Negatives:

  • More conservative loan options
  • Lengthy and bureaucratic process
  • Incompetence because of high turn over

Mortgage Negatives:

  • May overcharge for services
  • Access to select bank programs
  • Lack of control for the borrower

Mortgage brokers are a great option for borrowers who are looking to compare multiple options all at one time without spending day in and day out searching around for available options.  Borrowers with excellent credit and a solid relationship with their banks may find that working with their bank to locate a mortgage is better for them.

Cross Country Mortgage in Brighton, Michigan provide mortgage services for clients including new home loans, refinancing, reversed mortgages, new purchase home mortgages and home equity loans to the entire Livingston County area including Brighton, Howell and Livingston County. Cross Country Mortgage Brighton, MI at http://brightoncrosscountry.com/.

Don’t Install That New Roof Yourself Instead Hire A Roofing Contractor

Let’s face it there are certain jobs that homeowners should feel confident about tackling on their own and others that should be left to the professionals.  New roof installation is one of those home improvements that even the most experienced DIY homeowner shouldn’t tackle on their own.  No matter how many YouTube videos you watch or books you read there are more benefits to hiring a professional then trying to do it yourself.

Consider the benefits you receive when you hire a professional roofing contractor:

  • Experience
  • Safety
  • Time

Let’s look into each one of these separately to fully understand why hiring a roofing contractor is better than installing or repairing a roof on your own.

Experience: Most homeowners don’t specialize in roof installation or roof repair.  Most of us don’t have the expertise it takes to properly install a new roof.  Roofing contractors are like all other professionals, they spend hour upon hour on roofs perfecting their techniques.  In fact many professional roofers have spent a majority of their time before starting their own business working under roofing contractors with years of experience.  Contractors, no matter what their specialty, are required to become licensed to work in their area of expertise.

Roofing contractors are also knowledgeable on the materials it will take to cover a variety of different roofs.  Whereas many do it yourselfers tend to overestimate or underestimate just how much they will need in materials.  It won’t matter how much preplanning or research that is done installing a new roof on your home for the first time is an experiment.  Do you want that for your home?

Safety:   When working on a ladder or roof there is always a certain aspect of risk involved.  A number of accidents occur each year that are related to well meaning DIY homeowners that have fallen off their roofs resulting in injury or death. Consider the last time you took on a new skill.  It is almost guaranteed that the all of your concentration went into completing the task at hand verse your surroundings.  In certain situations this may be just fine but in roofing it could be incredibly dangerous.

Professional roofing contractors have the tools to get the job done while having the tools to keep them safe doing it.  Changes occur within every specialty in construction, the same is true of roofing.  Let the professionals who are skilled in their job, using their tools and techniques take on the job of replacing or repairing your homes shingle roof.  It will keep you safe on the ground where you belong.

Time: Most homeowners don’t have the time it takes to spend replacing their homes roof.  A full crew of skilled contractors can take up to a week to strip off old roofing shingles, replace worn out roofing and install the new roofing.  A lot of things factor into this: the weather, the number of crew members and the type of roofing material being applied.  The time you estimate that it will take you to complete your roof will be added to if the weather doesn’t cooperate, more materials are needed or any other number of factors.

Before you commit all of your free time to installing a new roof to your home really consider all of the benefits found with hiring a professional roofing contractor to do it for you.

Home Pro Roofing contractors offer a variety of roofing services throughout Brighton, East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Fenton and Commerce Township, including installation of shingle roofs, metal roofing and roof repairs.  You will find them at http://www.homeproroofingmi.com today.