All Entries Tagged With: "Real Estate"

Cesspools & the law explained!

In July of this year, Governor Raimondo signed a piece of legislation into law aimed at protecting public health and the environment.

The law looks to eliminate the remaining 25,000 house cesspools in the state. It was first proposed five years ago by several lawmakers, including House Representative Teresa Tanzi.

“I think it’s a really important day. I think that there’s so many different ways that we’re going to benefit as a state. Without getting too graphic, just consider all of the raw sewage, all of the untreated sewage from your home would leave the home and enter a colander and remain untreated,” said Tanzi.  Taken from WPRI.COM from July 22nd…

Designing and Installing Septic Systems is what we do best.  Though we enjoy working on all kinds of landscape excavation projects (we’re currently installing an outdoor shower in Newport for instance)…we know septic systems and we’re good at it (if we say so ourselves)!

The new law requires homeowners to replace the cesspool with either a septic tank or hooking up to their municipality’s sewage system less than one year after they sell their home.

“This legislation not only protects our environment, but gets Rhode Islanders in the building trades back to work updating and modernizing our wastewater treatment systems,” said Raimondo. “By setting us on a path to remove cesspools from yards and other property across the state, we will be taking important steps towards improving the water quality of Narragansett Bay, our beaches, and our drinking water.”  Taken from WPRI.COM from July 22nd.  

Did You Know…
…that replacing a cesspool is considered a repair by DEM. DEM will agree to adjustments (within reason) that are necessary to upgrade a substandard system. There is definitely a misconception out there that the only new system allowed these days is a (the Rolls Royce) denitrification system. More often than not a more conventional system will work.

***Knowledge is power so feel free to pass this valuable information along!

www.grencoexcavation.com

Technology! Tips for the Real Estate Professional

by Jeremy Bargiel

Real estate is a business defined by buying, selling, or renting a property. It is an industry that is constantly evolving over time through increasing rules and regulations, economic uncertainty, and financial possibilities. It promises a simple education and a fortuitous graduation through convenient slogans like “Location! Location! Location!” or “Buy land, they’re not making it anymore!”, but there are more stories of personal success and epic tragedy written in real estate than most other industries combined.

Real estate entrepreneurs suffer from the traditional business pitfalls of client dependence, money management, and workforce dependability. The pathway to prosperity is paved through a number of avenues. Client and property diversification lead to a stronger business pattern for growth and less opportunity for substantial stagnation or decreasing income. Continuous cash flow and deep capital reserves enable companies to maintain growth and cover all untimely operational costs. Detailed experience, focused training, and strong employee relationships empower a company to move forward regardless of business or personal related problems in the workplace. These fundamental issues are commonplace and templates for accomplishment exist, but how does an organization cope with constantly changing technology challenges?

Network Infrastructure

Networks provide the flexibility and efficiency to communicate and share ideas on a global scale. Switching is the lifeblood of the network and the key to maximizing growth and productivity in the marketplace. A breakdown or flaw in your infrastructure will result in the inability to close client sales, offer new properties, distribute correct information, sustain new business, strengthen past business, partner with team members, hire the best talent, and build a solid reputation. Real estate is a relationship business and, regardless of a great service, the business will not thrive or survive without the ability to disseminate clear information to the team and clients.

IT Security

Quality security prevents information theft, privacy breaches, and data corruption and is the difference between a minor client inconvenience and a major situation threatening bankruptcy. The increasing use of the web 2.0 platform, social networking, and real time applications for the real estate business produces a higher risk of vulnerability to network resources and web applications from malware, viruses, spyware, and adware. Through streaming content, online chats, and video conferencing, networks are exposed to 100’s of direct threats and daily remote attacks by proxy-jumpers. It’s never been more difficult to secure confidential information and the liability of a leak can have severe revenue, reputation, and legal consequences.

Business Continuity

Business continuity is the process of recovering data quickly and efficiently following a system failure. A compromised or down network, for any amount of time, can have a catastrophic effect on ecommerce systems, payment processing, ERP systems, and digital records and storage. The loss of sensitive data can strike at any time and for a multitude of reasons: database corruption, hardware crashes, and human error or natural calamities. It is vital to incorporate a solution to better centralize daily management tasks and improve the flexibility, scalability, and efficiency of hardware resources which will quickly reduce costs, decrease the physical footprint, lower power output, and increase productivity.

The Technology Advantage

The demand for real estate can be affected by many outside forces: population demographics, debt burdens, industrial and commercial demand, capital market liquidity, interest rate fluctuation, and global uncertainty. The real estate community anticipates these factor through past data indicators or actualized action plans. The answers to problems of the past are time-tested, but today’s real competitive advantage is found through employing the proper technology and committing to an accurate risk assessment platform which will empower and protect your business for near term sustainability and long term success.

Jeremy Bargiel, Writer TBNG Consulting www.tbngconsulting.com

Easy Steps for Buying a New Home

by Daniel E. Giroux

1. Preparation Period

• Build a good credit history. Pay all bills on time and keep balances low.
• Get mortgage PRE-APPROVAL.
• Consider hiring an attorney to review all contracts and agreements associated with the home buying process. Often lenders will have attorneys available for review.
• Figure out what you can afford for a down payment and where it will come from.
  • Consider closing costs which can include taxes, attorney’s fees, and transfer fees.
  • Consider utilities and monthly bills.

2. Interviewing a Real Estate Professional

• Get a referral from friends, family, and work colleagues that have worked directly with that realtor. Do not use a friend of a friend without a proven track history.
• Interview several buyers’ agents. Ask about buyer’s representation contracts and agreements; make sure you understand the terms.
• Explain your needs and expectations to the real estate professional you choose to work with.

3. Finding the Perfect House

• Determine what is important to you; particular schools, neighborhood amenities, monthly mortgage payment, public transportation, walkability, etc.
• Make sure you include home owner’s assessments, utilities, and taxes when calculating the monthly mortgage payment.

4. Finance the Property

• Contact your mortgage broker or lender.
• Make sure you understand the financing terms—ask the lender for clarification, if necessary.
• Follow your loan originators direct. They are there to assist you but need to be on the same page.
• Do not apply for new credit, quit your job, change jobs, or deposit large amounts of funds during the loan process.

5. Make an Offer

• Read all contracts before signing—make sure you understand all of the terms, ask questions.
• Place a competitive bid and be prepared to make a counter-offer.
• Keep your credit score stable and in-check by waiting to purchase any big-ticket items until long after the closing.
• Ensure the property is inspected by a licensed home inspector.

Daniel E. Giroux  NMLS 26531 Owner, A-Plus Mortgage LLC NMLS # 2748 Licensed Rhode Island Lender And Loan Broker – APLUS  NMLS# 2748 Rhode Island Loan Broker License– 20041842LB ,Rhode Island Lender License– 20142971LL.

Testing for EMF in Real Estate Transactions is Skyrocketing

EMF QUALITY SOLUTIONS

A real estate transaction can be exciting but also overwhelming at times with factors such as dealing with the bank, coordinating inspections, planning and expectations, and even sales pressure.  Typically, Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Testing has not been part of the inspection process when one does their due diligence, however this has drastically changed in the last few years.  Concerns about potential impacts have brought up questions about significant EMF and radio frequency (RF) sources at the property, building or in its proximity. Many indoor environmental and public health research professionals feel that EMF/RF evaluations and measurements should be part of a healthy building inspection. While the scientific community is still divided, many scientists and institutions recommend prudent avoidance as the safest approach. An EMF/RF evaluation at the start of the Real Estate Transactions, before remodeling begins is the best and most cost effective time to implement possible shielding methods.

Only trained and experienced professionals with the appropriate and calibrated equipment can determine the exposure in the areas of concerns. AC magnetic fields commonly referred to as EMF, can be hidden and only detected using appropriate EMF testing services protocols and professional equipment.  Certain electrical installations and lighting features or wiring areas that are code violations can cause elevated AC magnetic fields. These elevated EMF fields and the possible code violations often go undetected in regular home inspections that solely focus on functionality.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Our indoor environment has changed dramatically in the past ten years.  Many wireless devices are impacting our indoor environment such as cellular antennas, TV and radio broadcasting transmitter, radar, wireless router and access points. Many are added all the time, such as video game systems, wireless printers, baby monitors, security systems, wireless devices and appliances controlled with the latest mobile phone app. This trend will only continue. Do you believe that our recently and dramatically changed indoor environment has no effect on our health and development of our children or performance and wellbeing of employees?

Or do you feel that we should be cautious and choose to limit our personal exposure in areas where we spend a lot of time such as sleeping areas, children’s play areas and our work areas. Many organizations and countries outside the US recommend long term exposure limits and precautionary action levels. Why is this so? Are they more sensitive individuals or are we unaware of the potential dangers? At EMF Quality Solutions, we don’t speculate.  We assess an area using scientific methods to provide you with the information to make an educated decision and exercise your right to choose what you want to be exposed to in your own home, building or office.

We can help create a low EMF and RF environment in your future building or home. The recipe to a successful outcome is following a systematic protocol in assessment, designing the mitigation plan if necessary and verifying the achievement of the design goals. The steps for a low EMF/RF assessment, consultation and possible development of a mitigation plan consist of:

• Assessment of low and high frequency background levels present on the property
• Assessment of low and high frequency levels present in the building
• Develop and design of a possible mitigation according to your benchmarks for sensitive areas
• Consult on prudent placement in all sensitive
• Design shielding concepts as indicated
• Retain a qualified electrician to verify proper electrical installation and grounding system if indicated
• Shielding implementation by qualified craftsman
• Measurements to confirm compliance to your benchmarks
• Certification of the site or building

If you would like us to help you in the assessment or design of a low EMF/RF in home or Real Estate transaction, please email us at EMFQualitySolutions@gmail.com