Of course we sell homes in San Diego County CA. put we also have a network of professionals around the country who can assist you where ever your property is located. If you want to stay in your home but you are having trouble making the mortgage we can assist you with our “No upfront Fee” National Loan Modification division. If you would like to make income from referring others to our loan modification division then just request information.

Just ask for the report and I will forward it on.

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The new provisions also apply to newly added systems such as solar-energy panels, water heaters and geothermal heat pumps.

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Here’s where the story gets updated: The hare was disappointed at losing and he did some soul-searching. He realized that he’d lost the race because he’d been overconfident and careless. So he challenged the tortoise to another race. The tortoise agreed. This time, the hare ran without stopping from start to finish.

Now the tortoise did some thinking, and realized there was no way he could beat the hare in a race as it was currently formatted. He thought for awhile, and then challenged the hare to another race, but on a slightly different route. The hare agreed. They started off, the hare running at top speed until he came to a broad river, with the finish line 10 yards on the other side. As the hare sat there wondering what to do, the tortoise plodded up to the riverbank, slid into the water, swam to the opposite bank, and continued across the finish line.

That’s when the hare and the tortoise realized that the last race could have been run much better – if they ran as a team. They started off again, and this time the hare carried the tortoise till they reached the river. Then, the tortoise swam across with the hare on his back. On the opposite side, the hare again carried the tortoise and they reached the finish line together.
News Flash

Question: What do I do if I want to stay in my property but I cannot afford the Monthly house Payment?

Answer: Call Fred & Linda Gregory

Why? Because Avalar San Diego now offers loan modifications for our clients.

***No Up-Front Fee
***Do not have to be behind on payments
***Let us help you lower your payments and keep your home.
***If you cannot stay in your home then we can help you sell in a “Short Sale”
Call us for details .

Team work makes the dream work!

Fred & Linda Gregory

Don’t Trash
Those Batteries
You probably don’t even think about it. You’re replacing the battery in a flashlight, hearing aid, lap top, smoke detector or toy, and you toss the old battery in the trash. You’re not alone: The average person owns 12 batteries and throws out about eight per year.

Batteries – so necessary to our lives, so nasty to the environment – can contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium and nickel, which, when improperly disposed of, can contaminate our land, air and water. Rechargeable batteries result in a longer life span and use of fewer batteries, but they also may contain heavy metals that can hurt the environment.

Guidelines for safely disposing of batteries vary depending on the type of battery and where you live. Some hardware stores, drug stores, and electronics retailers now act as collection points for batteries. Your area’s recycling center and hazardous and/or e-waste collection department should have information, as do Web sites such as earth911.com, www.canadianenvironmental.com, and call2recycle.org.

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See page seven
for all this and more.
A little research now will pay off big time for our planet!
Non-Stick Pans
May Pose a Risk
We love our non-stick cookware – so easy to clean! But did you know that non-stick cookware coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) may cause respiratory conditions?

When these pans are heated to very high temperatures (518 degrees or higher) – or even normal temperatures if the pans are scratched or damaged – the chemical coating can break down and emit hazardous fumes. In humans and cats and dogs, exposure can cause flu-like symptoms. For pet birds, it’s often fatal. Here are some steps to consider:
WELCOME NEW CLIENTS
Here are some of the new clients who became members of our “Real Estate & Loan Family” this past month. We’d like to welcome you and wish you all the best!

Ashley Tanner (referred by Leslie Song)

Jack & Nan Barrient (referred by Fred’s barber)

We love giving recognition to our new friends and our wonderful existing clients who are kind enough to refer their friends, family and neighbors to us.

• If you have non-stick drip pans under the stove burners, dispose of them. They can reach dangerously high temperatures during normal use because of their close proximity to the heating element.

• Don’t boil water in a PTFE-coated pan.

• Don’t leave the kitchen when a PTFE-coated pan is in use.

• Cook at low or medium heat when using non-stick pans.

• Use a food thermometer to determine the temperature to which your PTFE-coated appliances (deep fryers, waffle makers) rise. If it exceeds 518 degrees, dispose of the appliances.

• Make sure your kitchen is properly ventilated, preferably with a stove hood that vents outdoors.

• Don’t keep your pet bird in or near the kitchen.
Does This Add Up?
The earliest adding machine was a simple counting board, used many thousands of years ago. Its successor, the abacus – a frame that holds rods with sliding beads – was developed in China around the year 900. In 1642, when he was only 19, the French scientist and philosopher Blaise Pascal invented an adding machine to help his father with his tax collecting. Pascal’s device was a wooden box with 16 dials that allowed rapid addition and subtraction.

The first electronic desktop calculator was made by the Bell Punch Co. of Uxbridge, England, in 1961. It was called the “Anita,” an acronym for “A New Inspiration To Arithmetic.” Unlike our handy pocket calculators, Anita used vacuum tubes, weighed more than 30 pounds, was the size of a cash register, and cost $1,000!
Directions For A New Direction
Are you in a rut? Do you need to make a change – but you don’t know how to start? You don’t have to completely overhaul your life. Try some of these exercises to stretch your perspective a little:

Client Of The Month
Congratulations to our Client Of The Month,

Christopher Evans

Call me to find out how you can become
Client Of The Month!
Talk to one new person every day.

Eat something that you’ve never tried before.

Read a random page from an encyclopedia (or Wikipedia).

Pick an object in your office or home, and think up a completely different use for it.

Commit to telling the truth for one full day (without being rude).

Perform a random act of kindness for a stranger.

Go to a museum and spend some time looking at a piece of art you’ve never examined before.

Learn a magic trick.
If You Don’t – Or Can’t – Retire
The traditional concept of whiling away your retirement days playing golf just doesn’t appeal to lots of people anymore – or it isn’t an option in this economy. If you’re looking for a new career instead of retiring, be prepared:

• Update your technical skills. The rapid pace of technological change may require that you get additional training for the career you’re thinking of pursuing. Check out your options with government, nonprofit, and corporate technology training programs.

On January 1 2010 we opened our new corporate office at the Allied Plaza professional Building

New Address:

Avalar San Diego
Real Estate & Loans
7777 Alvarado Road Suite 410
La Mesa Ca. 91941
619-825-8900
• Evaluate your talents and values. Talk to people you know well, both professionally and personally, and find out what they think your strengths are. Have a good handle on your talents and values so your new career matches them.

• Do a little research. If a particular career appeals to you, investigate it. Talk to people already in the field, and find out what they like and don’t like about their work.

• Don’t ignore the financial implications of the new career. Make sure it will provide the income you need.

• Enjoy the work. Do something you love, and let yourself enjoy it. If, for example, you tended to be a workaholic in your former career, don’t let yourself make the same mistake in your new pursuit.
See An
Interesting Home?
No need to wonder about the price. No need to call a high-pressure sales agent who will just make you feel obligated. Our computers can send you the information quickly and easily for any house, listed or sold, anywhere in town.
Just ask us! It’s all part of our free, no-obligation
Home Finder Service.
Leave the address on our voicemail, anytime, 24 hours a day, and We’ll fax, mail or email all the information on that listing within 24 hours.
Pun Intended!
The dictionary defines “pun” as a “humorous play on words.” See if you think these qualify:

A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The flight attendant looks at him and says, “I’m sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.”

Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can’t have your kayak and heat it, too.

A hungry traveler stops at a monastery and is taken to the kitchens. A brother is frying chips. “Are you the friar?” the traveler asked. “No, I’m the chip monk,” he replied.

Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, “I’ve lost my electron.” The other says, “Are you sure?” The first replies, “Yes, I’m positive.”

Then there was the man who entered a local paper’s pun contest. He sent in 10 different puns, in the hope that at least one of the puns would win. Unfortunately, no pun in 10 did.
Avoid Infection at the Doctor’s Office
Health specialists say it’s not uncommon for healthy people to visit the doctor for a routine checkup and then come down with a cold or some other bug. One reason: Sick people visit the waiting room and bring their germs with them.

To lower your exposure to infection, bring your own reading material – or toys, if you’re going to the pediatrician. Sit on vinyl, plastic, or metal chairs rather than upholstered furniture, which can’t be cleaned as often. If possible, schedule appointments first thing in the morning or right after the office’s lunch break to minimize the time you spend in the waiting room.
Six Steps For $aving
Trying to save money? Here are some simple ideas for adding some heft to your overall financial profile:

Pay down your mortgage. You can save more than $63,000 on a 30-year, $200,000 mortgage by paying just $100 more a month.

Save 10 percent. Put aside 10 percent of your income for long-term investments and retirement savings before paying any bills.

Track your expenses. Record every dollar you spend for at least one week. You’ll get a clearer idea of where the money goes and what you can cut back on.

Energize your house. Look for ways to make your house more energy efficient. You’ll save on heating and cooling costs and also help the environment.

Stay home. Resist the temptation to eat out. Cook more meals at home. Instead of going to the movies, rent a video, read a book, or a play a game with your family.

Don’t rely on credit cards. Credit card debt can eat up your savings and your future. Start reducing your debt, and don’t buy anything on credit if you don’t have the money to pay the bill off promptly.

Get a Loan Modification Completed Banks are now very motivated to modify their inventory of home & commercial loans. We can assist you here.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE REFERRAL OF THE MONTH:
*
DOMINION FINANCIAL GROUP
Life, Health & Disability
Insurance
Quality Service and Honest Advice
Call Andy Kimari
619-644-3545
Ca. Lic. #0681525

March Is…
March 1: Peanut Butter Lover’s Day
March 6: Dentist’s Day
March 14: Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 15: Call Team Gregory with a Loan Modification Day
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
March 20: Spring Begins

TEAM GREGORY’S HOME NEWS
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Team Gregory 7777 Alvarado Rd. Suite 410 La Mesa Ca. 91941 or just call us at 619 825-8900 www.AvalarSanDiego.com email: info@AvalarSanDiego.com

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Have Some Halakahiki!
In the mood for some pineapple, or halakahiki, as they say in Hawaii?

Interestingly, pineapples aren’t native to Hawaii – but rather to Brazil and Paraguay. How they came to Hawaii depends on which story you believe: Pineapples were brought back to Spain by Christopher Columbus, then introduced by the Spanish to the Hawaiian Islands; or, pineapples came from South America on a ship carrying the fruit as cargo that crashed off the shores of the Big Island in 1572; or, pineapples were brought to Hawaii by Captain James Cook in the 1770s!

Whichever story you choose to believe, here’s one you can believe: Fresh pineapple is low in calories, has no cholesterol, and is a good source of vitamins C, B1 and B6, plus calcium, manganese, copper, and dietary fiber.

Pineapples won’t ripen after they’re picked, so it’s important to select a fruit that’s ripe when you buy it. Hormel Foods Corp. offers these tips on how to tell if a pineapple is ready to enjoy:

• The base of the pineapple should have a fresh, sweet smell.
• It should be heavy for its size.
• If you can easily pull out one of the bottom leaves from the plume, the pineapple is ripe.

A cut pineapple can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

This newsletter is intended for entertainment purposes only. Credit is given to the authors of various articles that are reprinted when the original author is known. Any omission of credit to an author is purely unintentional and should not be construed as plagiarism or literary theft.

Copyright 2010 Team Gregory inc.. This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical, legal, financial or tax advice. Any and all decisions and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a qualified physician, attorney, financial advisor and/or CPA. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without proper medical, financial, legal or tax advice.

Team Gregory’s Home News
Avalar San Diego
Real Estate & Loans
7777 Alvarado Rd Suite 410
La Mesa Ca. 91941
Ca. Lic. # 01270959

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A: It really depends on the condition of the house, what existing problems it might have, what your competition is in the neighborhood, what the price range is, and several other factors.

First and foremost, I always recommend that people fix what’s broken. Today’s buyers are very savvy about maintenance issues, and anything that obviously needs repair is going to jump out at most people. Also, when a potential buyer sees the first defect, he or she tends to start being more aware of others. So take care of all those loose screws and broken window screens and sticking doors and towel bars that are hanging on by a thread.

Kitchens are always one of the primary selling features for a home in just about any price range. If you have an outdated kitchen with dark wood cabinets, outdated appliances, older counters, a poor work flow, or other problems that could be solved by a partial or complete remodeling, you will generally see more of a return on the home’s selling price than the amount of money you invested in the remodel.

Bathrooms are another area of the house that returns well on selling. If the home has only one bathroom, the addition of a second one is generally a huge return. Adding a bathroom to a master bedroom to create a master suite is typically another good return, as is remodeling outdated bathrooms.

You also want to take a good look at your home from a curb appeal standpoint. Updating old, single-pane windows is a big feature, as is a new roof if your old one is on its last legs. You will probably see only an even-money return or even a slight negative on these big expenditures, but in my opinion they make the home easier to sell.

A new front door might be a good investment if the other one is damaged or worn out. Also look at exterior paint, landscaping, fences, walkways and other outside areas — especially in the front — that could use repair, replacement or just a sprucing up.

Another big thing is interior paint, which is a fairly minimal investment if you do the work yourself. Paint that is old, faded, dirty, or otherwise doesn’t show well is another one of the maintenance things that make a positive or negative impression on people. I would also suggest painting over walls that are red, hot pink, bright yellow, or other colors that might have a limited appeal — you don’t need to paint everything white (in fact, I’d recommend against it), but go with colors that are more neutral.

As to wood floors, they are definitely a hot feature at the moment. Replacing old flooring with new hardwood is a selling feature, but I couldn’t say how much of a payback you would see on the investment, other than making the home easier to sell. Also, in my experience true hardwood flooring — either prefinished or finish-in-place — is a better selling feature than laminate flooring.

Finally, be sure you don’t overbuild for your neighborhood. Sinking $40,000 into a major kitchen remodel in an area of starter homes is not going to pay back very well, so keep the general price range of homes in your area in mind as you do your planning. An experienced real estate agent can help you in that regard as well.

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Every seller’s dream is to receive offers from more than one buyer. Although multiple offers were scarce last year, in some markets and price ranges listings that are priced right are receiving multiple offers, particularly in the low-end foreclosure markets.

Most sellers are inclined to accept the highest-priced offer, but this isn’t always the best offer. For example, a seller of a hot property in the hills above Oakland, Calif., received six offers. The two highest offers were close in price, but the seller decided to accept the higher of the two. Fortunately, the seller’s agent suggested countering the next best offer for backup position.

The buyer in primary position had 10 percent cash for a downpayment. Some issues came up during inspections that were going to be costly to repair. The buyer didn’t have more cash to pay for the repairs, so he asked the seller to lower the price. The seller said no and the backup offer became the primary offer.

The backup buyer made a large cash downpayment; he wasn’t cash-strapped like the first buyer. He had enough cash to pay for the repairs. In this case, the backup offer, which wasn’t originally the highest offer, turned out to be the best offer both in terms of price and financing.

Before making a decision about which offer to accept, it’s important to review all of the terms and conditions of the contracts, not just the price. In another case, a seller received two offers. One was quite a bit higher than the other. After reviewing the highest-priced offer, it turned out that the price wasn’t as high as it seemed.

The agent representing the buyers was from out of the area and didn’t know how fees associated with a home sale were customarily shared between the buyer and seller. In terms of net proceeds to the seller, the offer price was $10,000 less than it would have been if the offer included an allocation of fees that was according to local custom.

HOUSE HUNTINTG TIP: Sellers who receive multiple offers often are tempted to counter for a higher price, even when the offer prices are for more than the list price. This is risky. In one case, a seller received two offers. The highest-priced offer was for more than the list price. The seller countered this offer at an even higher price. The buyer thought the seller was unreasonable and withdrew his offer. The seller ended up selling for much less. Don’t let greed rule your decision-making.

The financing proposed in the offers should be scrutinized carefully. In general, the more cash a buyer puts down, the better. Recently a seller reviewed two offers on her house. One of the buyers offered to make a 40 percent cash downpayment. The other was putting five percent down. It’s far easier for a buyer to get loan approval in the current market place if the downpayment is 20 percent or more of the purchase price.

Close of escrow can be an important factor for some sellers. It can be beneficial for a seller to accept a lower price if the buyer can close quickly. This is particularly so, if the sellers have already purchased and closed on another home.

An offer made contingent on the buyers’ home selling is riskier than an offer from a buyer who doesn’t need to sell in order to buy. Depending on the seller’s situation, it might be wise to consider a lower-priced offer that is not contingent on a sale.

THE CLOSING: It’s a good idea to counter the next-best offer for backup position in case the first deal falls apart.

Dian Hymer, a real estate broker with more than 30 years’ experience, is a nationally syndicated real estate columnist and author.

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Delinquencies, Foreclosures Reach Record Highs

One in every 7.5 U.S. homeowners were either behind on their mortgage payments or in foreclosure in November, according to a report by Lender Processing Services, a mortgage performance data and analytics firm. Its December 2009 Mortgage Monitor report summarizes mortgage industry performance indicators based on data collected as of November 30, 2009.

Total delinquencies excluding foreclosures rose to a record high of 9.97 percent, which represents a 5.46 percent increase over the previous month and a 21.29 percent increase over a year ago. The report also finds that 5.01 percent of loans became more delinquent during the month, compared to 1.52 percent of loans that improved.

The November foreclosure rate rose to 3.19 percent, but foreclosure starts declined as a result of loss mitigation efforts. Fewer foreclosure starts, combined with the steady increase in delinquencies, is resulting in a growing shadow inventory of troubled properties, the report concludes. Tue, Jan 12, 2010

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The real estate business in general is experiencing the same kind and speed of change. When we started in Residential Real Estate 25 years ago there were no computers, no fax machines, one data port and only 2 agents out of 67 had a cellular (car) phone. We used MLS Books and the telephone to search for properties and to check on availability. We hand wrote our offers on one page-fill in the blanks contracts and we presented our own offers to the sellers at their home with the listing agent present. My how the times have changed.

We just finished relocating our Brokerage “Avalar San Diego” to a more Corporate Location in the City of La Mesa in the suburbs of San Diego that embraces a more virtual office and eliminates the agent’s desk space and the bull pen feel. When we ask 2 of our most professional and productive agents their major concerns with the upcoming relocating they both stated that as long as we were available for consultation, there was a work station with a computer, a conference room to meet clients and a high speed scanner they were happy. We now have all of the above plus 5 conference rooms to use. Our foot print is smaller but our vision is greater.

We now are a 95% paperless brokerage with the adaption of Winforms/Zip contracts and contract documents, High Quality Digital Cameras, High speed scanner to email, Relay transaction coordination & a remote transaction coordinator. Our agents, loan originators and our loan modification professionals all work virtual and have greater contact and availabilty to their clients & management through the use of laptops, cell phones, test messaging and smart phones than ever before.

We are excited as owners of a real estate brokerage in San Diego and we look forward to the next round of changes in lending, changes in regulations, changes in real estate related laws, changes and improvements in technologies and the changes in the mindsets of our clients.

This all reminds me of the fortune Cookie Saying “You will live in interesting times”. and “and this too shall pass”

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Team Gregory and Avalar San Diego’s Newsletter

He Never Gave Up

In 1955 Harland Sanders was 65 years old and virtually broke.  Fortunately, he possessed two things:  a car, and a recipe for chicken.  He took his recipe on the road to sell to restaurants, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Harland “Colonel” Sanders was the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and now KFC restaurants serve more than 12 million customers every day in 109 countries and territories around the world.  Colonel Sanders is proof that it’s never too late to decide to never give up.

Let’s celebrate that it’s never too late!

Fred & Linda Gregory

Help Yourself by Helping Others

When the difficulties of life are getting you down, often a way to work your way out of the dumps is to perform a personal act of power that benefits someone else.  What’s a “personal act of power”?  An action that’s within your control, such as:

Holding a door open for someone.

Smiling.

Offering kind words and encouragement to those who need them.

Listening to someone without interrupting him or her.

Picking up the phone and dialing when your intuition tells you to call someone.

Forgiving others and yourself for imperfections.

Cooking a meal for a friend.

Offering a compliment to someone.

Stopping – when you catch yourself starting to judge someone.

Remembering that things can change in a moment.

Focusing on the present and what you can do for someone else right now, not sometime in the distant future.

Remembering that everything you do, think, or say matters.

How To
Learn New Skills

Acquiring a new skill is a journey.  Follow these steps to ensure that you’re headed in the right direction:

Start with the basics.  We often jump past the fundamentals to speed up the learning process.  To find the right road, begin with material that explains how and where to get started.

Break down the tasks. The distance ahead can seem overwhelming at first.  Cut down your journey into manageable segments to avoid growing frustrated.

Become an expert at each segment.  Don’t move on to the next step until you’ve tested your knowledge.  Try to get the same measurable results over and over before you move on.

Let go of the past.  As we get older, it can get harder to pick up new skills, sometimes because of fears or bad habits.  When you’re learning something new, train your mind to let go of preconceived ideas that will slow your progress.

Ask for directions.  The key to understanding is to ask questions.  Consult with experts who can guide you toward your destination.  Develop some test questions for yourself as a way to really confirm your understanding of the material, and also to retain the information better.

Let’s Use Less Stuff

It should come as no surprise that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, our excessiveness hits an annual high, especially where waste is concerned:  We throw out 25 percent more garbage than we do the rest of the year.  That’s a million extra tons of garbage per week.

So this year consider some of the ideas below provided by The ULS (Use Less Stuff) Report.  Your planet will thank you!

• If every family saved and reused just two feet of ribbon per year, enough ribbon would be saved to tie a bow around the entire planet.  When unwrapping gifts, poke two holes in a paper plate and feed the ribbons through so they’re easy to find and reuse later.

• The more than two billion holiday cards sold in the United States each year could fill a football field 10 stories high.  If each family cut back by one card (not that The ULS Report advocates “scrooginess”), they’d save 50,000 cubic yards of paper.  At least try using recycled paper products, and consider sending e-cards when appropriate.

• If each of us throws away just one tablespoon of mashed potatoes, it adds 16 million pounds of waste to landfills.  If that’s unimaginable in your family, think of it this way:  One discarded spoonful of cranberry sauce amounts to over 14 million pounds.  Make only as much as you need, then store any leftovers in airtight containers and be sure to use them.

• Reduce the number of bags thrown out by carrying your own, whether you’re shopping for gifts or groceries.

The ULS Report has more useful tips on its Web site at http://use-less-stuff.com.

Can More Sleep Help
Eliminate Childhood Obesity?

Researchers have found that getting less sleep could increase your child’s risk of becoming overweight or obese.  In fact, for each additional hour of sleep children get, their risk for obesity drops by nine percent.  The researchers found that children with the shortest sleep time had a 92 percent higher risk of being overweight or obese when compared with children who experienced longer sleep durations.  Short sleep durations were categorized as follows:

• Children younger than five – less than nine hours per day.

• Children ages five to 10 – less than eight hours per day.

• Children older than 10 – less than seven hours per day

Previous research has recommended the following daily sleep times for children:

• Younger than five – 11 hours or more per day.

• Five to 10 – 10 hours or more per day.

• Older than 10 – nine hours or more per day.

Lest We Forget

You probably know that Veterans Day in the U.S. and Remembrance Day in Canada are observed on November 11.  This is a day to honor our veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice.

But do you know why this date was chosen?

The major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.  World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” and “The War to End All Wars” – had raged across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East from 1914 to 1918, with a death toll estimated as high as 15 million people.

The red poppy that you’ll see veterans wearing on November 11 is a symbol of remembrance inspired by the most famous poem of the war, In Flanders Fields by Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae.  The sale of manmade versions of these red poppies benefits veterans, their families and dependents.

Waiter, Please…

A guest of a resort hotel in a tourist area walked into the dining room where breakfast was being served.  Shortly after the guest sat down a waiter arrived to take his order.

“I would like two eggs, over easy, one with the yolk overcooked and rubbery and the other undercooked with the yolk broken and running out on the plate.  I would also like some sausage that has been grilled and set out on the plate to get cold, burnt toast that has also grown cold so that it crunches and crumbles into nothing at the first bite, butter that has been in the freezer so that it’s impossible to spread, and a pot of coffee that is lukewarm and very weak.”

The waiter busily scratched down the guest’s order and said, “This is a very complicated order, sir.  It might be difficult to deliver it exactly as you have requested.”

The guest replied, “But I had that exact breakfast here yesterday!”

Get Read –
Get Results

Do your emails get the attention – and rapid response – they deserve?  Here’s how to make sure people read and answer your messages while they’re still fresh:

• Grab them with your subject:  The subject line should read like a compelling newspaper headline.  Another technique is to use the subject line to tell people what you want up front:  “Please come to the 3pm meeting,” for example, or “Do you have the Jones file?”

• Limit yourself to one subject per message.  Don’t overload readers with questions and data.  Single-topic emails are easier to answer than lengthy essays or questionnaires.

• Ask for action.  Tell the reader what you need him or her to do:  present a report at the 3 o’clock meeting, or bring the Jones file to your office.  Specify whether you want a response to your email.  If it’s not necessary, close with a simple NRN (No Reply Necessary).

• Be consistent.  Tracking emails is easier when you keep the same subject line.

Doggie Holiday Dos and Don’ts

Don’t let your holiday feast become a holiday hazard for your dog.  Control the situation with these guidelines:

Never give a dog a cooked bone, especially poultry bones.  These can splinter and harm your pet’s throat or even cause internal injuries.

Don’t serve your dog leftovers.  What’s good to us may seem tasty to a dog, but beware:  Many foods are difficult for dogs to digest; some are toxic and can even be fatal.  On the “Do Not Serve” list:  fat, grapes, tomatoes, garlic, onions, raisins, and salt.

No dessert, please.  Sugar and fat can lead to weight and dental problems, as well as diabetes.  And chocolate can be lethal, especially to small dogs.

Don’t decorate with items that may be hazardous to your dog.  Be aware that small ornaments can cause choking.  If you plan to burn candles, make sure your dog can’t knock them over.

What a Gift!

Daylight Saving Time ends November 1, which means we’ll “fall back” and regain the hour we lost when Daylight Saving Time began back in March.

A whole hour – what a gift!  What will you do with it?

Stop Before You Shop

Before you head out to that next sale, stop and ask yourself if you really need to go.  Why?  Because many “sales” aren’t really sales at all, and you’ll end up spending money that you wouldn’t have if you just hadn’t gone.

Think about things you’ve purchased on sale.  We’ve all done it – bought things we didn’t need and really didn’t want, but we just couldn’t pass up that bargain.

If you do find yourself at a sale, try to keep yourself from overspending by stopping and asking yourself, “Do I really need this? or “Do I really want this?”  You might also ask yourself if what you’re about to drag home will end up being something that sits in the back of your closet until you drag it back out for a yard sale.  If so, keep your wallet closed.  Don’t add clutter, work, and guilt from bad purchases.

You have to be careful when you go grocery shopping as well.  First, avoid grocery shopping when you’re hungry!  Second, always shop with a list, try to resist all that temptation sitting on the shelves, and buy only what you really need.  Finally, don’t fall prey to using coupons that are for things you’d never buy otherwise.  It will just pump up your expenses unnecessarily.

Team Gregory’s HOME NEWS

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On Blessings

What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it – would you be likely to give them another?  Life is the same way.  In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have.

– Ralph Marston

Where’s Your Honey?

Honey experts say that the pantry – not the refrigerator – is the best place to store honey, particularly raw varieties.  All honey eventually crystallizes, forming a semi-solid, grainy block, but cold temperatures accelerate that process.  If your honey has crystallized, this doesn’t mean it’s spoiled or unsafe to eat.  To re-liquefy it, put the jar in a pan with hot water and heat it on the lowest setting on your stove.  Or microwave the honey in a microwave-safe container, stirring every 30 seconds until the honey has dissolved back to a liquid state.

This newsletter is intended for entertainment purposes only.  Credit is given to the authors of various articles that are reprinted when the original author is known.  Any omission of credit to an author is purely unintentional and should not be construed as plagiarism or literary theft. 

Copyright 2009  Team Gregory Inc..  This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical, legal, financial or tax advice.  Any and all decisions and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a qualified physician, attorney, financial advisor and/or CPA.  We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without proper medical, financial, legal or tax advice.

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A new trend has taken over the real estate market — owning condominiums. More consumers want to buy condominiums instead of traditional homes. Condos became popular because they are a  lower-cost alternative to traditional homes (depending on the area), according to published reports.

New condo sales prompted the insurance industry to offer insurance just for condominium owners. However, there are several different offerings and it might be difficult to know which one is best for you. State Farm Insurance recommends the following options:

The Condominium/ Association Master Policy

Because it can be more efficient or economical, your association may insure all the building and common elements under a single package policy, commonly called an association master policy. The three typical ways to provide coverage, all through an association policy:

1. Insures the building (walls, roof, floors, elevators) but leaves you responsible for insuring appliances, carpeting, cabinets, wall coverings, and other items in your unit. 

2. Insures both the basic building and the items within your unit other than personal property. 

3. Insures both basic building and includes unit owner fixtures and improvements.

Building Coverage

When an association master policy insures some of the buildings, a condominium unit owners policy provides coverage for:

   Items not covered by the association master policy that may be your insurance responsibility. 

  The value of building additions or alterations made by you, at your expense. 

  Value added. For example, if you replaced the carpet in your condo with a higher-end or better quality carpet, this coverage would make up the difference in case of loss. 

  Damage to your unit not compensated because of the master policy deductible.

If this sounds a bit complicated, it is. Building coverage is one of the more complex parts of insuring an association. You should discuss your needs fully with insurance agent.

Your Personal Property Coverage

Because you have a large investment in your personal property, you need enough coverage to compensate you if you suffer a covered loss. One study found that many condominium/ association unit owners are underinsured in terms of their personal property. Whatever type of association you live in, a good way to be certain you have adequate coverage is to complete an inventory of your possessions and their purchase date and price. Some insurers have inventory forms available to assist you. Put your inventory listing in a safe place outside your home. Photographs or video will supplement your inventory. To speed up your claim settlement if you have a covered loss, save receipts for major purchases. Check to make sure your policy has an inflation-guard feature — one that automatically increases coverage for belongings.

Other Special Needs

If you operate an office or small business in your home, you may need special coverage. Check with your agent if you have a home business. This will help make sure that you have the right kind of coverage.

Putting it all together

Condominium association living has grown in popularity, and the insurance industry has responded by providing a broad selection of coverages and policies. Remember,  that conditions in condominium association bylaws and other governing regulations may vary widely. Be certain that your policy covers any potential gaps in the condominium association master policy.

Discuss these needs with your insurance agent — someone you most likely already trust for you car, life and health insurance needs.

Don’t delay. The best protection against financial loss is well-planned coverage of your home and your possessions.

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A new home is the most important investment you will make. The second most important investment is homeowners insurance. So before you buy that new flat screen television for the living room, look into what type of homeowners insurance is right for you. If you’re not sure what the right insurance is or how much to buy, follow these tips from Bankrate.com to begin protecting your investment:

1. Buy the right insurance. “You should know what you have, and you should know ahead of time that you are covered,” says Jeanne Salvatore, vice president for consumer affairs with the Insurance Information Institute, a nonprofit industry trade group. She recommends looking at your insurance coverage in four key areas: the structure of your house, your belongings, your liability to others and your living expenses if you’re forced out. “If there’s a disaster, you want to be able to rebuild your house and replace everything in it. And you need enough liability coverage to protect you in case you do get sued.” Living expenses would cover the cost of making the house livable or living elsewhere while your home is being repaired or rebuilt.

2. Get replacement value insurance. Face it this is an insurance policy, not a garage sale. You don’t really care how much your possessions would fetch on the open market, the so-called “cash value” or “fair market value.” You want to be able to replace everything you lost with similar, new items. And make sure that your policy spells out that both your home and its contents are covered by replacement-value insurance. 

When it comes to replacing the home itself, look for extended or guaranteed-replacement-value coverage. Guaranteed replacement, which covers rebuilding no matter what the cost, is not offered much any more, says Don Griffin, assistant vice president of commercial lines for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). Many companies offer extended-replacement-value insurance, which will cover up to 100 percent of the value of the home, plus a certain percentage to cover rebuilding the home in today’s market.

3. Understand the claims process. Two policies can promise the same amount of coverage, but they can be vastly different when it comes to making you whole after a loss. Have the agent explain exactly how claims are handled, especially when it comes to writing you a check. Do you receive your entire claim upfront, or just a fraction? Does the company pay you for all the things you’ve lost, or only those things that you replace? 

Some policies will give you the cash value of your possessions right after a loss, but wait to cover the replacement value until after you’ve replaced your items — and have the receipts to prove it. This could be a problem if you’re wiped out and have no cash reserves.

Equally important is the timetable on replacement. If you go from living in a five-bedroom home to sleeping in a motel room with four kids and a dog, you might not want to go on a shopping spree right away. How long do you have to replace your things?

4. Take inventory. Filing a claim involves two steps — proving you owned certain items and verifying their worth. This is a lot easier to do when you still have your things. Go through your home with a video camera (rent one if you don’t already have one.) Walk through each room, do a quick sweep and get everything you own on tape. Don’t forget the attic, basement, closets and offsite storage locker, if you have one. Or take the low-tech method: make a list and shoot a few rolls of film. Stash your video or photos in a safety deposit box with a copy of your policy. If you keep your inventory at home, make a second copy to give to a friend or keep at the office.
 

5. Buy floaters. Many times, homeowners and renters policies limit the amount you can collect on some big-ticket items — usually things like computer equipment, jewelry, furs and fine collectibles — to a fraction of the replacement value. If this is the case, you need to pick up a special policy known as a “floater” or “endorsement” for each of those items. A floater will also reimburse you if you simply lose the article. In the case of something new, save the bill of sale with your inventory, and fax a copy to your insurance agent. If the item is older, have an appraisal done. Again, save one copy and send another to your agent. That way, you’ll never have to worry about proving you owned an item, and there will never be a dispute over what it’s really worth.
 

6. Keep pace with inflation. This is especially important with a homeowners policy. It may have cost you $100,000 to build your home 10 years ago, but it might cost $120,000 to replace it today. “Many companies have inflation guard, which covers the increasing cost of rebuilding,” Salvatore says. When your policy comes up for renewal, talk to your agent to verify that your coverage amounts are still realistic. And when you make an improvement, add it to the total.
 

7. If you own a condo or co-op, protect your property. Make sure that the condo board or association has a policy that covers the common areas, and get a copy. Also look at the association bylaws to find out what portions of the home you must cover. “It’s usually from the drywall in,” Griffin says.  

Since condo owners need their contents policy to cover things like cabinets and fixtures, they need a bit more insurance than the typical renter. Sometimes you get a price break if you go with the same company that wrote the policy for the condo association.

“Plus they are familiar with what they cover, so they know what to sell you,” Griffin says.

You also may want to consider assessment coverage. If the condo association’s policy is not large enough to cover a loss, or if there is a hefty deductible, the association will split the additional costs among the members in the form of an assessment. With assessment coverage, your insurance company pays the tab.

8. Consider flood and earthquake insurance. Granted, this is not for everyone. But if you live in an area prone to floods or earthquakes, it pays to know that most property policies do not cover these disasters. Some independent carriers offer both. For flood insurance, you can also contact the National Flood Insurance Program. In California, you can get earthquake insurance through the California Earthquake Authority.
 

9. Think about buying an umbrella policy. Liability insurance, which picks up the tab if someone gets hurt on your property or through the actions of your family members, tops out at $300,000 on most homeowners policies, according to Griffin. “But nobody sues for $300,000,” he says. “That usually starts at $1 million.” His recommendation: if you have assets, pick up an umbrella policy that would add extra liability coverage to your home and auto policy. “Umbrellas are cheap — usually starting at about $200 to $350 a year.”
 

10.  After a life-changing event, call your agent. Getting married or divorced? Are the kids moving out — or back in? The amount of insurance you need — and the items you want to cover — change over the years. Be sure you keep your policies and inventories up to date.

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