That's News To Me

Question and Answer

Q: I’m thinking of putting my home on the market and need to know its square footage. How do I calculate my home’s square footage?

A: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) offers these suggestions for measuring your home’s square footage:

• Always start by measuring the outside of the house. Begin measuring from any corner and work your way around the house. Move counter-clockwise so the numbers on your tape will be right-side-up.
• Measure from the exterior face of the walls. Include any features that are on the same level as the floor, such as chimneys and bay windows.
• If there are stairs, include them on every level they serve.
• When there are openings to the floor below, subtract the opening from that level.
• For split-level designs, measure each level. You can add multiple floor surfaces into one level if they are within two feet of each other.
• Exclude any areas, such as porches and converted garages, that are not finished or heated the same as the rest of the house.

However, most houses are not perfectly square, and because regulations may vary from one region to another, it’s best to consult a professional appraiser for a truly accurate measurement of your home.

If you are ready to buy or sell a home in the Lodi or Stockton, CA areas, I am here to help. Let me guide you through this complicated process. Call me today.

I came across this short video today that really puts this into perspective. At least it did for me.

We sometimes take for granted the little things in life, like a beautiful smile on someone’s face, or a baby’s laugh, the rolling clouds in the sky, or literally everything that we can see, hear, touch, or smell. What an amazing gift to have any or better yet, ALL of these senses.

I urge you to watch this video and to cherish all you can think of no matter how large or small you might consider it to be. It is all relative to the life you live.

One of my resolutions this year will be to laugh, smile and enjoy life more than I have in the past. I hope that you will consider to do the same. ;-)

Happy New Year, and welcome to your BEST YEAR EVER!

I wish you all a very healthy and prosperous new year!

Randy

According to Lender Processing Services (LPS), there were 6,298,000 mortgagesgoing unpaid  in the United States as of the end of October.

Although that sounds like an incredibly HIGH number of delinquent mortgages, that total is actually less than the previous months.

At the beginning of this year, there were 6,870,000 delinquent mortgages.  Compare that to the beginning of 2010 that showed 8,118,000 and you can clearly see how there’s been a major decline in the total numbers of past due mortgages.

CLICK HERE for more on this story.

Does all this mean that we’re nearing the end of the housing problems?  I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, but I feel it’s definitely showing that we’re heading in the right direction.  And although it may confirm that we’re heading the right direction, it’s kind of like we’re on a cross-country journey and we still have a long road ahead of us.  Hopefully the trek will be less cluttered with road blocks the further we get.

I try to blog often, but end up usually only blogging occasionally.  But however often I do, I'd prefer not to step on any toes and violate any usage rights where clipart is concerned.  

In the past I've usually done a Google search to find what I'm looking for there, by searching for something that doesn't scream I BELONG TO A SPECIFIC COMPANY! Sometimes you can never really tell though.

I've always heard to be cautious when using any photos, clipart, etc from the open internet due to copyright and trademark issues, but I haven't talked to anyone who has specifically felt the wrath from clipart police.

Has anyone here had any run-ins with legal issues surrounding using photos and clipart from the open internet like Google, etc.?

Can someone briefly explain the do's and don'ts, and do you have any suggestions as to where to get FREE pictures, etc that can be safely used without fear of the Men In Black showing up at my home or office and taking my computers away and slapping me with a big fine?

I look forward to hearing from you!

It's time for the 7th Annual ZinFest in Lodi, CA coming this May 13-15th.  There will be tons of festivities, fun, wonderful food, and of course plenty of wines from many of the local vintners.  This will surely be a festival that will provide the adults that are still young at heart with lots to do and enjoy.

This is Lodi's premier wine tasting event and has grown in popularity over the last few years.  It attracts wine enthusiasts and fun lovers from all around. 

The festivities of Vintner's Grille at the Lake will start at Lodi Lake on Friday the 13th, yes that's right, I said Friday the 13th, from 6pm-9pm at the lovely Lodi Lake on Turner Rd.   If anything, at least show up to see what happens at a small town lake on Friday the 13th just for fun.  HA!

The fun continues as the actual Wine Festival on Saturday the 14th (not as scary sounding) from noon - 6pm, still at Lodi Lake.  There will be 250 handcrafted wines from 50 local Lodi wineries.

Then on Sunday the 15th (not scary at all) ZinFest wraps up with self-guided tours and open houses of participating local wineries.

There are different ticket prices for the Friday and Saturday events, and Sunday is a no-charge day to tour the wineries.

Visit this website ZINFEST for all the details on tickets, locations, participating wineries, etc.

If you attend, BE SAFE and HAVE FUN!  And while you're in town and would like to view any homes for sale in Lodi area, I'd be delighted to assist.  Perhaps we'll even find you a property that has wine grapes growing on it and you can really be a part of the 8th Annual ZinFest next year.  :-)