ePicketFence.com Blog

More people than ever are taking part in social networking sites. Facebook alone has more than 500 million users, according to Facebook statistics. People have a lot to lose if the security of their social networking site is compromised. Their own personal, identifying information, and the information of all those they network with, could be at risk. In addition, wide usage of mobile devices increases the possibility of virus infection and provides a new gateway to hackers and malicious codes in spam mails and websites around the Internet. Introduction to voice messaging services also provides a new medium for virus infection and hacking of personal data. "Cell phones and laptops are revolutionizing the way we communicate in today's society," says Lyman Munson, vice president of risk services at Fireman's Fund Insurance Company. "It is imperative to protect your personal information when taking advantage of this wonderful, innovative technology." Here are some top recommendations to ... Tags: online, social networking, online protection Read More

Every year you can change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another with no questions asked, no medical underwriting. In order to have a Medicare Supplement plan you must be able to pass health underwriting except for that first few months from your 65th birthday month. Does that tell you anything about which might offer you the best coverage? When dealing with the law or government every word has an exact definition. In the world we all live in a lot of words, such as supplement, have a general or generic meaning. This leads us to make terrible and permanent mistakes when entering Medicare. Over the past couple of years Medicare Advantage plans have suffered significant reductions in coverage/protection. So who are these plans an advantage to? How about the government (they pay less per capita for persons on this type plan than they do for persons on “Supplement” plans) and the insurance companies (they make more money on Medicare Advantage plans because they have maximu... Tags: Untagged Read More

Thanks to David Pico, President / Publisher of Peak Region Cyclist for this great article on a good friend of mine. Kenny's story is truly a miracle, yet he is the first to tell you that he believes cycling saved his life. Page 1Page 2... Tags: Untagged Read More

It is amazing how many days we get up and do the same thing, over and over. Like our health, how many of us get up everyday and take the same vitamins or supplements and not really know what they do and if they are working??Protandim-works 100% of the time with everyone!  It reduces Oxidative Stress by over 40% just after 30 days.  Oxidative Stress is linked to over 200+ diseases.  Go to www.pubmed.gov and look at all of the information about Oxidative Stress.  'Questions: call me at 720-32-3521 Take control of your health today...... Tags: Untagged Read More

REVVING UP YOUR HEATING SYSTEM   Maintenance requirements for modern heating systems may not involve as much of a homeowner’s time and effort as years ago, but there are still some basic maintenance issues that need to be addressed to help ensure your system will operate properly when needed. Ideally all heating systems should undergo a preseason maintenance check. Some steps are relatively simple and can be handled by any reasonably competent homeowner; however, with the extra controls and safety devices used with modern systems, most systems should be serviced annually by a qualified heating or plumbing serviceperson. A trained serviceperson is equipped with the tools, instruments and training necessary to inspect your system, complete regular maintenance tasks or needed repairs, and adjust the burners and other components of the system for optimal and dependable performance. While you may already have started up your system for the heating season, it is always bes... Tags: Untagged Read More

Hey boys and girls, time to get your Spook on! Join us for our Halloween Spook Off Costume Party on Oct 30th from 1pm - 5pm. This event will benefit Tri-Lakes Cares which helps low income and distressed families with essential needs like groceries, diapers, and finding a job. Entry fee for the costume contest is canned goods or Large size baby diapers. We'll have games for kids as well as door prizes for the adults so bring the whole family! ... Tags: Untagged Read More

Being at a Healthy Weight is not about losing, It’s About Gaining     Changing your eating habits and getting down to a healthy weight is not about giving up, unless you’re talking about giving up your opportunity to be constantly at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and cancer. Changing your eating habits and achieving a healthy weight is about gaining the right to wear the clothes in the back of your closet and not going through the dreaded size increase. It’s about going shopping and liking the way you look, and being able to think of things you can do and not what you can’t do because of your weight. You gain the ability to look forward to a longer, healthier life doing the things you enjoy and not being  tied to medications and medical appointments, or to a long list of “can’t do’s” because you simply cannot manage it physically. You can take trips that require physical stamina or simply wal... Tags: Untagged Read More

  Choosing Vinyl When it comes to windows and doors, vinyl is an all-around excellent choice. Unlike wood, vinyl windows and doors will never rot or require endless repainting. And unlike aluminum, vinyl windows and doors will never pit or flake. Simonton vinyl windows and doors are made from the highest quality vinyl and require almost no maintenance. In fact, an occasional washing will keep them looking like new for years. Plus, they offer increased comfort and lower utility bills, provide headache-free operation and add value to your home. You can’t get much better than that. Increased Comfort  Simonton’s vinyl windows and doors offer excellent thermal performance for year-round comfort and to help lower utility bills. Easy Operation  Our windows and doors open and close easily for maximum performance with minimum effort. Weatherability  The premium vinyl used in Simonton windows and doors can stand up to extreme weather conditions year after year.... Tags: Untagged Read More

Provided By: Hanley Wood Market IntelligenceWritten by Jonathan Dienhart    07.29.2010 Our data feature this week looks at which housing markets across the country have the largest share of new home closings compared to overall home closings, courtesy of Housing IntelligencePro.  The far and away number one was the active-adult nexus of The Villages in Florida, while six other markets follow in which new homes capture more than 30% of all home sales.  To put this in perspective, the national average is about 10%, so these markets definitely have an inordinately large emphasis on new construction.  All of these markets had at least 500 new home closings so far in 2010, although none of them exceeded 1500.  The first on the list to do so is #9 Raleigh, NC, which has had 2,600 new home closings so far this year which account for 29.5% of all home closings.  The first over 4,000 new home closings is #16 San Antonio, where new homes make up 21% of ... Tags: Untagged Read More

When a well-water supply system has been running flawlessly, there is a tendency for homeowners to forget that just like any other mechanical equipment in the house, the well equipment needs periodic maintenance and replacement. A lack of maintenance can lead to a sudden loss of the water supply -- one thing a homeowner certainly does not want to have to live without for even a short period of time. But with regular preventive maintenance, maximum reliability can be achieved. Prompt attention to changing conditions is important. If unusual noises or irregular flow conditions occur, it is best to have the system checked out as soon as possible. The effort to perform maintenance or servicing will vary with the type equipment involved. Many private water supply systems now use a submersible pump located at the bottom of the well. If problems with this type pump are encountered the pump may have to be pulled up from the base of the well. However, these units are durable and under normal ci... Tags: Untagged Read More

What is Property Management?        If you are not in the Real Estate business, or are an owner of an investment property you may not know what a Property Manager does. As a Property Manager I manage rental properties for owners of investment properties and absentee owners.      What this service includes changes daily with the needs of the property, tenant and owner. A Property Manager works at building a relationship with the owner and tenant. I do all advertising for the property to find tenants. I do a complete visual inspection of the property and document the condition with a written report and photos of the property. We all want to know what condition the property was in when it came into property management as well as when the tenant moves out. Therefore we have accurate records of the home to compare it to. I screen the tenants by verifying their income, checking their past two rental histories, and running their credit. Once tenan... Tags: Untagged Read More

  Visit Website | Listen to my Podcast July 26, 2010   HARRY’S WEEKLY UPDATE A CURRENT LOOK AT THE COLORADO SPRINGS RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET   THE NEWS AIN’T ALL BAD Locally, initial claims for unemployment are down 28.6%. The unemployment rate is down to 9.1%. New auto and truck sales are up 7.2%. Taxable retail sales are up 7.2%. The hotel occupancy rate is up 77.7% and foreclosure filings are down 7.9%. SO, WHY DO I HAVE THIS UNEASY FEELING? Because local Realtors report that telephone requests for information about listings have dried up and appointments for showings by other Realtors have almost disappeared. and Because local Lenders are reporting a big reduction in calls from “Rate Shoppers”. Calls from individuals who need mortgage money have dried up and the only calls that are coming in are from people who want to refinance. and Because the chief Economist for NAR is predicting an increase in interest rates as a result of the... Tags: Untagged Read More

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:mino... Tags: Untagged Read More

Summertime and Showings Are Increasing On Friday I gave you the new Monday market report early so that you could catch up on your web browsing over the weekend.  At that time our company, RE/MAX Properties, Inc (the company with the greatest market share by far in Colorado Springs) showing activity for active listings was down 48% from the best week of the year so far, April 5-11, 2010.  The number of listings was up 7% between April and the week of May 31-June 6, 2010.  The good news is now that graduations, early summer weddings, and the hub-bub that surrounds kids getting out of school here in the West has passed, people are interested in looking at houses once again.  Listings are still increasing (10% increase from the first full week of April), but showing activity has increased 41% in the past week from the week before.  Our company showing activity is down 26% from early April, but we are still hoping for steady s... Tags: Untagged Read More

The wholesaler is a vital tool in the Real Estate Industry. The wholesaler is often in a position to help the homeowner or property owner to establish the titles, deeds  in order for many heirs to sell their property. We all know that relatives often do not put into the will, the heir to their property. Sometimes the family then has a hard time establishing kinship when names vary. The family may have a will and still the title to a property goes unattended. There are any myriad of problems that can occur when settling or probating an estate. The wholesaler is a great source of information when  try to deal with a difficult property. Although, there are those who set out to deceive.....the genuine wholesaler helps in extraordinary ways to help families during this time. A  genuine wholesaler who helps families can be found at  http://nahabproperties.com/SellHome.html    ... Tags: Untagged Read More

Although all in one washer dryer combo units have been available for quite some time in Europe, they have only recently been introduced in the United States. European all in one washer dryers let you wash and dry clothes in the same unit. Simply put the clothes in the washer dryer unit, add detergent, and turn it on. The unit will wash your clothes, and then it will dry them. There is no need for you to move wet, heavy clothes from one machine into another. Because you only need one unit to do both your washing and drying, you will save a lot of space. You will also save yourself some heavy lifting as well. Unlike most dryer units, most combination units do not require ventilation. This, along with their small size, makes them ideal for apartment dwellers. Combination units dry your clothes by means of condensation instead of just hot air like traditional dryers so they do not need to be ventilated to the outside. Because of this, the combination units take longer to dry your clothes. ... Tags: Untagged Read More

Have you ever returned from a vacation feeling exhausted? There are benefits to traveling, but sometimes a quiet week at home is simply the more relaxing and restorative option. Many Americans are opting to save money and reduce their carbon footprint by enjoying a “staycation”.   The staycation is a key piece of jargon these days. As you probably guessed, it’s a hybrid of the words ‘stay’ and ‘vacation,’ which is actually what the noun describes: a vacation which involves staying where you are, or staying close to home.   It's important to choose an actual beginning and an end to your staycation. Just because you're staying at home, it's still a vacation and it's really important to get into that mindset.   Don't get stuck on the idea that you've been there, done that just because you're limited to a 100-mile radius. You likely haven't even scratched the surface, so go into this with a positive attitude. &n... Tags: Untagged Read More

It's time to move; the boxes are packed, the truck is loaded and you're about to drive off into the sunset towards your new home. Then you wonder, what happens if I have an accident on the way? Who's responsible to fix the truck? What about all of your precious cargo in the back? You start to question "what kind of insurance do I need for this move?"     There are 3 primary concerns when you are renting a truck to move your belongings from house 1 to house 2. They are: What if something happens to the truck? What if I crash into someone and hurt them? What about all my stuff in the back? The size of the truck plays a part in the answer, as does the specific coverage provided by your insurance company, but in general here is what you should know.What if something happens to the truck? Most insurance companies provide coverage to rental trucks, but ONLY if they are UNDER 10,000 pounds. Since you probably won't have your truck scale with you when you're looking fo... Tags: Untagged Read More

Its 2010, so I know that if you're smart enough to figure out the internet and stumble across a blog (like this one as an example), then you're smart enough to know what identity theft is. You know it's out there happening to people every minute of every day, but will it happen to you? With more than 10,000,000 identity theft victims in 2008 alone* chances are it could happen to you, and since it takes an average of 330 hours of work to repair the damage** you should be prepared for it! The easiest way to protect yourself is with Identity Theft Protection, but where's the best (and cheapest) place to get it?Google the words "Identity Theft Protection" and you'll get around 52 million results, which makes the question of where to get the best protection for the best a price more than a little overwhelming. Your bank, credit card provider, AND a myriad of on-line companies are all happy to help you protect yourself for $10 - $20 per month, but they usually don't include coverage for... Tags: Untagged Read More

What does it mean to have 2 of the nation's largest home builders merge? Can it be a good thing? Or is it bad? I have seen many mergers in the home building industry. In the 1990s Lennar bought up several smaller companies. Although this could be considered good business in a down economy it can also take quite a toll on both employees and customers.When philosophies collide:When two or more companies merge under one name, usually people hold false hope that their company's philosophies will stay in tacked. Yes sometimes they will for a year or two but eventually new management will want it their way and start to aggressively make changes to the way everyone does business. People who do not conform to the new philosophy will be pushed out. This can be a slow and painful process for the acquired company and its employees. Typically many people will either leave for be left intentionally. On the flip side the larger company may have a similar or even better philosophy and employees will ... Tags: Untagged Read More