How To Use Your IRA To Buy Real Estate
January 27, 2012 | 
Author In life there are a lot of things we learn by accident, which can be very beneficial to us. Sometimes understanding these processes can take a while. Sometimes after proper explanation …BLAM, you get it. That is exactly what happened to me. When I first heard about the topic, I will discuss in this E-book, it was perplexing, however, I knew that it could reap huge rewards in the future. It took a while for me to understand the process. I remember trying to tell a buddy who owned an apartment building about _________ and what it could do for him. I remember getting it all confused (like telling someone a good joke, but while you are trying to say the good joke, in mid sentence you realize that you don’t remember it all and it is not coming out right, so you just say forget it because you are screwing the joke up). Fortunately, by mistake I came across the company Pensco Trust who has educated me on this great opportunity of____________. I am considered one of their “Preferred Professionals.” My learning curve is your benefit. Enough with my teasing games, the purpose of this E-book, is to educate you on Self Directed IRAs. So buckle up!
This publication is made to provide basic information in regard to Self Directed IRA’s. It is presented with the understanding that I am not engaged in rendering accounting or legal advice. If you need legal advice services of a proficient professional should be contacted. I can not in any way guarantee that this material will be properly used for the purposes intended and I assume no responsibility for its correct and proper use.
We all know that Social Security (SS) is struggling and the money there will eventually disappear. Prior to 1935 there was no personal SS. All that existed were people saving their money in their bank/under the mattress. In 1935 SS was created. Remember that this was the same time period of the Great Depression. Keep in mind the life expectancy back then was like 62 years old. Now it is 76. Baby Boomers make up a huge portion of the population. Baby Boomers are retiring everyday. You want some hard facts? Well according to Research Corporation Study: The New Landscape of IRA Rollover © 2005 BISYS Retirement Services.
o The first of the baby boomers reached age 59.5 in July 2005
o 4 million more will reach age 59.5 each year
o 24 million people will reach age 65 by 2010
o 55% plan on to work after “retirement”
Now on the flip let’s say there was no problem with SS. Have you ever talked to someone who gets SS checks? They don’t get a lot of money. It is sad sometimes. I am not trying to offend anyone, but the majority of the older people you see at Wal-Mart greeting you and marking your receipt didn’t have a “nest egg” to rely on when they “retired”. The topic I will discuss will prevent that from ever happening to you and I.
1974 congress created IRA (Individual Retirement Account) to supplement Social Security. We know these are programs to help shelter money away for tax benefits. Typically people go after the traditional investments. We always hear about stocks, bonds and CD’s. Yes all investments have risks, but the thing about these investments is that you can not affect the outcome of the business/your return. You are a spectator, watching the game. Also, you can’t use leverage (an example of using leveraged will be discussed later). Also, with stocks if any little blip in market occurs, like oil, war, scandal, etc. your value could go down. Real estate does go up and down but generally you don’t lose all of your money in worst case scenarios. Real estate appreciation has kept pace or exceeded inflation. It is a cycle. When it goes down, the value does not go down instantly (like Enron).
Self Directed IRA (SDI) an overview. Now I am not bashing stocks, I have them, if you talk to any financial planner, they will tell you to always be diversified in your investments. This is what SDI does for you. Ideally you should have SDI, stocks, bonds etc.
SDI has been a well kept secret. Why? I think it is because of ignorance, and I also the folks on Wall Street don’t benefit. A broker at an investment company will not tell a person about it, because they can’t make money off of the transaction (let alone having them understand how it works). The last reason is because there are “professionals” who don’t have a clear understanding on its use.
To get a SDI, you would either have to go through an Administrator, or a Custodian.
What is an Administrator? Banks, brokerage firms (like Charles Schwab) and insured credit unions.
What Is A Custodian?
There are very few self-directed IRA/401k custodians in the United States. In order to be a custodian for self-directed products, the custodian is known as a “passive custodian.” This simply means that they are obligated by law to provide only custodial and administrative services for the qualified plan. They can provide NO investment advice. This tremendously reduces the fees associated with traditional investments because you, the investor, make all of the investment decisions. They are also FDIC insured.
What is the role of the custodian
o Holds your IRA assets
o Performs all IRA transactions
o Keeps all IRA records
o Provides all IRS required reports
o Keeps IRA plan in compliance
o Provides access online access
There are only three things your SDI can’t invest in and they are
o Collectibles/antiques
o Life insurance
o Stock of a sub-chapter “S” corporation (these are companies that are traded publicly on the stock market)
As long as the transaction is for investment purposes and you have not created a “prohibited transaction” (will discuss later) the list of investments are endless.
The beginning of a long list of real estate you can buy with your SDI
o Foreclosures, Options, Pre-construction, raw land, apartments, offices, strip malls, mobile homes, public storage, any type of investment property
o Trust deeds/mortgage notes
o Privately held C-Corp stock, LLC membership
.
The rules on prohibited transactions
o Cant buy from or sell to a disqualified/prohibited person
o Cant make personal use of property
o Cant use SDI as collateral for personal loan
Personal use prohibitions
You can’t personally use a vacation home. Even if you rent it out for 354 days and spend one day in it, this is illegal. You can’t perform maintenance on the property. You can hire a maintenance crew using the money coming out of your SDI, but you can’t physically work on the property. You also can’t hunt on raw land, dock boat at a SDI owned boat slip. There was a person, who worked with Pensco, that bought a specific area of a water fishing spot in Alaska. The person, couldn’t fish there, so she leased out the area to other fishermen and received profit.
More on disqualified persons
You can’t buy from a person providing services to the investment. It has to be a clean slate. It can’t be business between employer and employee. If you have your SDI in an LLC and you want to buy property, you will not be able to if you own more than 50% of the company. You can’t buy/sell to a member of your family including spouse, ancestor, lineal descendant and any spouse of a lineal descendant. Meaning, not you parents, children, your son in law etc. But, you can buy/sell to a sibling. There can’t be a sale/exchange/leasing of any property or providing a loan between a plan and a disqualified person. Lastly, you can’t buy something you already own (SDI can’t be used for funds to pay off your mortgage. There should be no perceived direct or indirect personal benefit to the account owner).
Basic rules
o Can’t involve the account holder, his/her spouse a lineal ascendant/descendant of family nor the spouses of your children and you can’t use SDI funds to pay off a personal mortgage
o Can’t make personal use of property (must be for investment purposes only)
o Can’t personally guarantee the loan for your SDI nor use the SDI as collateral for a personal loan
o Can’t work for or take income from an SDI investment
o Can’t have your spouse, nor your family members (your siblings are ok) own the property prior to its purchase by your plan
o Can’t have your business lease or be located in or on any part of the property while it’s in your plan. You may receive any property as a distribution from your plan as a retirement benefit
What transactions are prohibited?
The following are defined as prohibited transactions when they involve the account holder:
o Borrowing money from the SDI
o Selling property to the SDI
o Receiving unreasonable compensation for managing assets for the SDI
o Using the SDI as security for a loan
o Buying property for personal use with the SDI
o Collectibles/antiques
o Life insurance
o Stock of a sub-chapter “S” corporation
50% rule
If a disqualified person(s) owns 50% or more collectively of an entity, then the SDI can’t engage in a transaction with the entity because the company is considered a disqualified person.
Using IRA as collateral
You can’t use your SDI as collateral for a loan. If you will get a loan it must be an unsecured loan. If you default in paying the loan, the lender can’t go get the money out of your IRA, nor can they go after personal assets.
Any type of prohibitions have penalties, if you violate them. SDI is no different. Here are the consequences if you do not comply:
o Loss of IRA status resulting from prohibited transaction
o Loss of tax exempt status
o Income tax on account value
o Penalties and interest
o Possible audit to determine extent of prohibited transactions
If you really want more information on the rules check out:
o IRS code 4975
o UDFI/UBTI: IRS code 598
o Department of Labor (DOL) 2004-8
Tax court cases
o Swanson 1997
o Rollins 2004
o Rousey v. Jacoway 2005
Ways to invest by using your SDI
o Property purchase all cash
o Property purchase using a loan (NOTE this has not always been the case where you can get a loan from a bank for your SDI. These past couple of years a few establishments are offering loans to SDI. I have those contacts, contact me and I will explore options for you)
o As a member of an LLC or “C” Corp.
o As a lender on a trust deed (mortgage note)
o As a partner in a joint venture
o As a Tenants in Common T.I.C. member (if any of the terms I use are unfamiliar to you, look them up online)
o Make a private loan to an entity or person (hard money loans)
To give you ideas of what investors have bought through Pensco:
o Largest US massage school
o Cypress tree farm in Costa Rica
o Fish farm in Salinas, CA
o Interests in movies, plays
o Condo in Lithuania
o House on a private lake in Colorado
o Thoroughbred race horse
o Nudist resort in Virgin Islands
o Over 35 U.S. banks
o Napa Valley B & B
o Biotech company
Pensco’s top investor success story is going to amaze you on the potential your SDI can have. In March of 1999, four men opened up SDI accounts. They each invested individually and through their IRA’s in a company they were starting. They brought in other unrelated investors. That company is bought out a couple of times. The company goes public and sells out in June 2002. Well how much did they make? CEO made $34 million (12,000% return). Chief scientist made $22 million. CFO make $17 million. Marketing VP makes $8 million (4,000 return) What is better than that? They all invested $2,000 through their IRA’s except the CEO who invested $1,800. Pensco explained the features of the 1 year Roth IRA and they all chose to invest with a Roth IRA. If the CEO gets an average return of 12% until he is eligible to withdraw tax-free at 59.5 he will have $1 billion, $100 million tax free! Yeah that is right…show me the money!
Let’s compare
Real Estate Investing – with SDI
o Tax deferred growth on income and cap gains
o No 1031 requirement!
o No annual tax reporting
Taxable investments non SDI
o Tax deferred cap gains (if 1031)
o Tax on net earnings
o Annual reporting required
How it works
You have an account with Pensco (you can roll over your current IRA account to them) you tell them what you want to invest in, they do all of the paper work, make out the check and now it is in your trust account. All money that is needed for expenses and all profits go into/taken out from the trust account. The title of the property in your IRA will be held with Pensco Trust as follows: “Pensco Trust Custodian, FBO (client name) IRA, (Acct #). All documents will be reviewed and initiated by the you (the IRA owner) and signed by Pensco Trust.
Introducing SDI on steroids in the neck…Solo 401(k)
A solo (k) is a combined salary deferral and profit sharing retirement plan for sole proprietors, small business owners with no employees (other than part timers working less than 1,000 hours per year or their spouses).
Roth contributions can increase tax free $15,000 to %20,500 per year or 30k to 41k per married couple (for 2007). Unlike a Roth IRA, there are no income limitations placed on the contributor. You could be a zillionaire and it would not matter! Currently a single person making over 110k can’t contribute to their Roth married couple is 160k.
Who can benefit from Solo (401)k
o Real estate brokers
o Consultants
o Contractors
o Lawyers
o Electricians
o Any sole practitioner
o Even if you work full time for an employer and have a business on the side where you are a sole proprietor you can establish a solo K
The difference is…
o You can borrow up to 50k (or up to 50% of balance, if less) from your Solo 401 k
o You can invest in life insurance
o You can invest in “S” corporations
o You can avoid UDFI and capital gains UBIT (UDFI and UBIT will be discussed later) when using leverage to buy real estate
o A portion of your savings can grow tax free for life
o You can put away more money faster with larger contributions
o No income cap on contributing to the Roth component
o Above 50 year old employee has the option to put up to $20,500 per year away, to grow tax free
Why appealing
o Allows the sole proprietor funds to grow tax free
o While Roth IRAs allow similar contributions they are limited to $4,000 in 2007 ($5,000 if over 50), and to those earning annual gross income of less that $110,000 for that year
o You can increase tax free growth opportunities by also contributing to a Roth IRA ($4,000/$5,000) in addition to the Solo (k) (15,500/$25,000), if you are eligible (check with Pensco for details)
o A married couple in business together can put up to $51,000 ($25,500 each ) per year of after tax money into retirement accounts that will grow tax free for their lifetimes and those of their heirs (including $5,000 Roth IRA contributions) and another $59,000 ($29,500) each that will grow tax deferred. That is a total of $110,000 as a couple of which $51,000 will grow tax free (assumes each is over 50 and earns less than $100,000
o And there is no income limit on contributions
o May roll pre existing plans and IRAs into it
Types of purchases of SDI
All cash
Your SDI buys one property all cash. No debt, LLC, and partners. When you do this your SDI needs to have enough funds to cover purchase price, all closing costs, custodial fees and ongoing property expenses. If you run out, you can loan your personal money to your SDI (with interest and principal).
Multiple SDI – All cash T.I.C.
SDI may belong to anyone – even prohibited people. All SDI go on contract, and on title, as “tenants in common.” Ownership percentage must be identified and all costs and proceeds prorated correctly according to these percentages.
Multiple Parties – IRAs & People all cash T.I.C.
Same as multiple IRAs, as long as there is no loan (as an all cash deal) it does not matter who the SDI belongs to, or who the people are. All names must be on contract and title for unique percentages.
All cash
Buy/sell, with/without, friends/family is by far the easiest and most common transaction. When this happens all income comes back to SDI, so having a1031 exchange is not required to defer taxes. The money in your trust account is also used to pay any expenses incurred. Real estate investment related expenses are paid out of the SDI.
Getting a loan to buy
In the past there were NO banks lending to SDI. Only until recently a few banks in the nation offer this service. The loan that is offered is a non-recourse loan. This is great news, because now investors could use leverage.
When you get a loan for your SDI you:
o Can’t guarantee the loan personally.
o Can’t co-invest with your IRA.
o Pay the tax on any income or capital gains derived from leverage.
o Increase the returns and growth of your SDI two to three times.
What is a “non recourse loan?”
o You are not personally liable for repayment of the loan. In the event of a default/foreclosure the lender can only recover the property and your equity.
o Typically requires 30-35% down payment. If there is low cash flow or the condition of the property is bad then they may require a larger down payment.
Non recourse loan process
o After setting up the SDI, it will typically close in 30 days.
o Cash out refinance: funds are distributed back into the SDI.
THERE IS NO PRE PAYMENT FOR A NON-RECOURSE LOAN!
Property Eligibility
o Single family residential
o Condo’s (100% complete, 33% or more sold, and HOA turned over by developer)
o Duplexes
o 4-plexes
o Multi-family (5 or more)
o Commercial property: including retail, warehouses, and office buildings
Ineligible properties include:
o Residential with large acreage
o Raw land
o Farms
o Manufactured homes
o Hotels, condo-hotels
o Co-ops, timeshares
o Senior or assisted living facilities
o Non-franchise restaurants
o Entertainment properties
o Mini-storeage
Requirements for debt financing must be verified for purchase along with reserves (10-20% loan amount).
Documentation required for loan approval:
1. Completed loan application
2. Most recent asset statement verifying IRA assets for purchase and reserves.
3. Purchase sales contract
4. Acceptable real estate appraisal for the property to be financed. The appraisal must come from lender.
5. Copy of drivers license
6. Property insurance should read the IRA/LLC as the insured
Income requirements for homes
o The financed property must generate sufficient net operating income to exceed debt service payments by:10%single family (less then 10% or negative cash flow is acceptable with sufficient reserves on SFR). For 2-4 unit properties it is 10-15%
o IRA assets must be verified for purchase along with reserves
How the closing process works:
1. Title company prepares closing documents.
2. SDI owner initials for approval.
3. Originals sent to Pensco for execution by the tile company or broker.
4. Pensco signs, notarizes and returns package. They overnight and wire balance of funds for closing.
5. Title company forwards recorded grant deed to Pensco.
6. Through your trust, you now own the property.
Another way to invest using IRA
This is a true story from a Pensco client. One investor wanted to buy a property in San Francisco. They buyer didn’t have all of the money for a down payment. So, he approached his friend and asked about him if he was interested in earning a certain percentage return on his IRA. He agreed. So, the buyer took his portion and combined it along with his friends SDI, to purchase the property. His friends SDI issued him a second on the property. This created a “win” situation for everyone. The buyer gets the property. His friend gets a great return on his IRA (that is secured by real estate) the sales agent wins because the deal closed. The owner of the property is happy, because they sold the property. The bank, is happy because they are making a return by giving a loan. All of this is possible because the SDI was used.
There was another person, who used his SDI to buy pre construction property. In Las Vegas, there was a developer who was forming a community. The investor approached the developer and solved a problem for them. Apparently there were some fall outs with buyers. The investor, said (paraphrasing) “I will buy any homes that fall out of escrow for a discount.”
If you would like to read upon an investor who used their SDI, look up: Time June 14th 2005. Investor used $195,000 to invest in property on Marco Island FL. Sold resulted in a $500,000 profit going directly to IRA
Rental property purchases
Question:
I want to purchase a rental property for $100,000 can I use:
o A. $30,000 of my IRA funds
o B. $65,000 of my personal funds
o C. $5,000 loan from my brother to do this?
o D. All of the above
o Answer: D
In the begging of this E-book, I expressed that using SDI has been kept a secret. One of the reasons is because of misinformation from “professionals” is from CPA’s. Some CPA’s say not to use an IRA to invest in real estate because:
o You will lose tax benefits e.g. depreciation (not quite)
o Using SDI “destroys” tax deferred compound growth in IRA (wrong)
o You have to pay ordinary income tax versus capital gains tax at the end of the line (true just like any other IRA investment)
Some CPA view points do not take into consideration the following:
o They do not address need for diversification in the retirement portfolio to hedge against other assets
o Broadly implies that even if you know that you can get better results investing in real estate through your SDI you shouldn’t do it
o It is IRRELEVANT if real estate out performs other IRA investments
o IGNORES the facts that 44% of net worth in US is in real estate
o Does not recognize that after tax yield is the primary goal of the investor
Unrelated Business Taxable Income (UBTI)
If your SDI produces income from activity not “substantially related” to the exempt status UBTI comes into play. The purpose of UBTI was to alleviate unfair competition by exempt organizations with taxable enterprises. Basically when you conduct business and it is not passive income, you come across UBTI. Further explanation; if your SDI is going to open up a restaurant, you are going to have ordinary income. The IRS feels that is fair that you pay tax on the money you make everyday. Because it is not fair for you to open up a restaurant and for someone else to open up a restaurant down the street, but you don’t pay tax. If it is “ordinary income” UBTI applies. If it is passive income UBTI does not apply, such as rent, interest and capital gain.
Unrelated Debt Financed Income (UDFI)
Income generated by activity that had debt financing. Tax is applied to that portion of gain/income that is debt financed. Most “passive” investments income such as rents from a property are normally excluded from taxes, but such investment income is going to get taxed if derived from debt financed property (UDFI). Basically, if you buy a property for 5 million. You have your SDI, put up 2.5 million and you get a loan for the other 2.5 million. Well the gains you get from the borrowed 2.5 million from the bank will get taxed (UDFI). You will not get taxed on the portion that comes out of your SDI.
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Roaches – How Do They Get In Your Home
Are you embarrassed that you have roaches? You don’t want anyone to know because they will think you’re an unclean person. If this fits you, you have come to the right place. It’s not your fault that roaches are in your home. They can come from a number of sources you have virtually no control over.
Grocery Stores
Roaches love to eat food. Product is shipped from all over the world to grocery stores. It only takes one supplier to infest a lot of other suppliers. The most popular way people bring roaches home is in a paper grocery bag. Why? Roaches like paper. They can also be found in other paper products at the grocery store like beer and soda cases.
Laundry
A lot of apartment dwellers go to Laundromats. And, apartments are known for having roach problems. When you go to the Laundromat, a roach might just tag along in your laundry. Maybe he/she is looking for a cleaner home to pursue. Be careful when going to the Laundromat.
Used Appliances
First of all, don’t buy a used appliance unless you really have to or you know it’s from a clean home. Roaches love appliances. They make their home in microwaves, ovens, fridges, and even washers and dryers. Don’t try to save a few dollars. Don’t ever take a used appliance from an apartment complex. You are just asking for some roach trouble.
Shipping Materials
Roaches love wood and paper and these are very common shipping materials. If a warehouse is infested you can be sure some of the critters will make it to your place of business. That’s why it’s important to always put out some boric acid bait paste. For one reason, if some roaches show up they won’t survive long enough to infest the premises.
Neighbors
If you are in dwellings attached to your neighbors homes, if one person brings them in they can easily spread without detection for some time. To keep them out of your home, keep water and food sources sealed. The roaches will tend to make their nest where there is the most water and food. If you want to get rid of all the roaches, you will need to treat your neighbors homes as well.
Outdoors
Hot humid areas have a larger concentration of roaches living outdoors. In some cases, they can come in from your yard. Some people use a boric acid bait mixed with fertilizer to eliminate the outdoor roaches.
Solution
Fortunately there is a low cost effective solution. It is called boric acid roach bait. We call if MRF 2000. It is effective against roaches for up to one year and easy to apply.
JC Penney Outlets
JC Penney is one of the most popular mid-range retailers in the United States. Providing quality apparel, shoes, heavy-duty work clothes, children’s clothing, home furnishing and more, the company enjoys a strong position as a favorite place to shop for Americans. Adding to the attractiveness and value that can be enjoyed by shoppers are the JC Penney outlet stores and JC Penney’s online outlet. Here, bargains can be found in abundance and the same great quality that shoppers have come to expect from JC Penney is also found at JC Penney outlets.
In the U.S., there are twenty actual JC Penney outlets that shoppers can visit. These stores offer an incredible array of bargains, and reviews of these stores are very positive. People find clothing from jeans to party dresses and suits, and housewares and home furnishings from coffee makers to dining sets. Price reductions can be quite extreme. If you live near or are visiting a city with a JC Penney outlet store, you’d do well to stop for an afternoon of shopping. You never know what kinds of great deals you’ll find.
If you prefer to shop from the comfort of your own home, it’s easy to do by visiting the JC Penney outlet online via the JC Penney website at http://www.jcpenney.com. Here you will find that same excellent discounts on quality merchandise for your home and the entire family. Shopping from the online version of JC Penney outlets is a relaxing way to spend some time and find just what you are looking for.
As a highly regarded retailer, JC Penney has a reputation for quality and value. This reputation extends to its great JC Penney outlets and outlet stores online. If it’s value at a discount that you’re looking for, you need look no further than JC Penney outlets.
Where Do Bed Bugs Come From When They Infest Your Home?
There are a nearly as many ways for these nocturnal blood suckers to infest your home as there are homes but here are some of the more common ways.
Luggage And Shipped Boxes
Because of their small size, less than 1/4″, they can hide in the seams of baggage when you travel and sneak a ride home with you. Boxes shipped from an infested home can easily make your home their new habitat. College dorms are a great food source for the bugs so when your college student comes home they can unknowingly have bugs hidden in bags and boxes. If you rent to a new roommate, the bugs can come along in boxes, bags and hidden in furniture.
Furniture
One common way that homes are infested is by bringing used furniture home that has been discarded on the streets, bought from a neighbor or even purchased at a used furniture store. If someone has an infestation, one of the first things that they will often do is get rid of infested furniture. Bedbugs can last a year or more without feeding so if you buy from a used furniture store, even if the item is not obviously infested, you may be bringing home someone elses problems.
From Neighbors
If you visit a home that has an infestation the bugs can hitch a ride home on your clothes or in anything you bring back with you. A neighbor can bring the bugs into your home on their clothes, boxes or bags. If your unit is close to another that has an infestation the Bed Bug can crawl along pipes, on wires, through heating and cooling vents or just through the dead spaces between walls. The bugs may move between units because they have grown in numbers to a point where they need an additional food source, the resident has moved out or because the unit is sprayed to try and kill them.
Laundry rooms are another common transfer area. One of the first things that people do when they have an infestation is launder bed linens and clothes. If they don’t use a tightly closed bag they can leave a trail of bedbugs along halls and in laundry rooms.
Real Free Stuff – An Insiders Guide to Getting Free Product Samples
Everyone has heard the old expression “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” The idea of getting something for free online automatically has any one with the slightest bit of skepticism asking what the catch is. Is it really possible to get stuff for free online without giving over any billing information at all? The short answer is yes, it is possible. You really can get free samples of shampoo, makeup, toothpaste, soap and virtually anything the average person uses. Many times large brand name companies will run legitimate free sample offers on their websites. To request a sample you only need to fill in your information and hit submit. They will have a designated number of free samples to distribute and it will be first come first serve. They wont charge for shipping, and will send you free samples of their products in the mail.
What’s the catch?
The catch is that you can never truly be sure if a sample you request will actually show up. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. There are several factors that play into if a free sample will actually be sent to you. The first and most important factor is supply. Companies have a limited supply of free samples to give out so when they reach that number there might be thousands of people who still haven’t gotten their sample. Also another factor that will play into whether or not a sample will arrive is location. The cost of shipping gets higher for the companies giving out the samples the further away they have to ship them. So, almost every free sample offer is limited to a certain geographic region (mostly North America).
Avoiding Scams
Scams, fake offers, SPAM, call it what you will the end result is the same. There are sites that claim something is free and either by cleverly worded fine print or straight out lying never really send anything to anyone for free. Spotting scam freebies at first can be tricky but once you learn the things to look for it’s really just common sense. How much does the product being offered cost? If it’s more than a few dollars chances are that it’s fake. There is no such thing as a free iPod or laptop. Also, look at the homepage of the site offering the free sample. What business are they in, does it make sense for their company to have samples of the product they are offering? For example: if a site about ringtones is offering free shampoo it’s most likely a scam. But if it’s an online cosmetics store that’s offering small samples of their cheapest lip gloss there’s a better chance that it’s real. Also ask yourself if the information the site is asking for makes sense. Are they saying they are going to mail you something but not asking for your address? There are exceptions but generally most real free samples will ask for your email address, name, mailing address, and phone number.
Avoiding Junk mail
Another thing to keep in mind is spam and junk mail. Unfortunately it’s unavoidable when attempting to get freebies. Even legitimate free samples will still keep you on their mailing lists long after they send your sample. In fact in most cases it’s the reason they offer something free in the first place. But this is easy to manage if you know how. First set up a separate e-mail address that you will only use for requesting free samples. You can’t give a fake e-mail address because you will have to click links in confirmation e-mails before they will mail to you. Next, think up a pseudonym and use it as your name when you are requesting freebies. The fake name is helpful because it makes sorting junk mail easy, and keeps your real name off those pesky commercial mailing lists.
Where to look
Now that you know the basics of how real free samples work, it’s time to cover how to find them. There are many different sites that all serve the same purpose, finding real free samples and letting their visitors know where they are. It is important to understand that these freebie sites are not the party actually offering the free samples. The websites you will become familiar with will actually be more like the yellow pages making the freebies easy to find. How do they find the freebies for their site you might ask? By checking out what the other freebie sites are linking to. What this means is that real freebies spread very very quickly. One freebie site will find a sample and post a link to it. Then 2 more freebie sites will see that link and put one on their own site, then 4 more from there, and so on until it’s on every freebie site. There really is no ONE freebie site that you should use. But rather you should get familiar with them and pick out 2-3 freebie sites to check regularly for new samples to request. Finding these sites is as easy as doing a Google search for ‘free samples’, ‘freebies’, ‘free stuff’, etc…
Playing the numbers game
On average no less than 80% of the free samples you try to request will never show up for one of the reasons listed above. This means that requesting only one or two freebies wont be enough to swing the odds in your favor. Instead visit your favorite freebie sites every day and request every single new freebie you see. On average there are no more than 7-10 new freebies available daily. This may sound very time consuming but there is a great trick to automate requesting free samples. All you need to do is download and install Google toolbar. It’s virus free and wont mess up your computer. Once you have Google toolbar installed go into it’s options then go to the the “auto-fill” tab. There you will be able to type in your fake name from earlier, your real address, and your separate e-mail address and save all of it.
Then when you are on a website asking for that information you only need to click the auto-fill button on Google toolbar and the request form will be filled out for you automatically! This means that without auto-fill it may take over an hour to request 10 free samples, but with it that same amount of request could take under 5 mins. Then it’s just a matter of setting aside 5-10 mins every day to request every new sample you see. If you are consistent about it you will have more than enough requests to swing the odds in your favor. Then your daily visits to your mail box will be like an exciting free sample lottery. Some days you’ll win and there will be a freebie for you. Other days there will be nothing. But it’s always exciting and you never know what you are going to get!
Tax Write Off List – What Most People Do Not Know
Most people just go to the local income tax preparing office & blindly hand over their tax information to the accountants for a basic price to save money.
What they don’t know is that if they only paid the extra fee to find a good chartered accountant that they could save a lot of money & at the same time get a bigger refund.
I am talking about writing off thousands of dollars not only hundreds.
You can write off a percentage of anything that cost you to make money such as:
1. Transportation expenses (car, fuel, repairs, rentals etc).
2. Office expenses (papers, advertising, staples, books etc).
3. Furniture (filing cabinets, desks, tables etc).
4. Computers, phones, cell phones & other electronic gadgets.
5. Special tools or devices needed.
6. Special equipment.
7. Apparel or uniforms.
8. Food or entertainment.
This list can go on & on if you are a business owner that has spent any expense to incur an income. If you are an employee then you may not be able to write off anything unless let’s say you own a home based business. An employee that owns a home based business can then write off expenses but it would be best to consult a professional accountant before attempting to write off anything.
Here is a list of whack things that some people have written off in the past:
1. Breast implants.
2. Animal depreciation.
3. Cat food.
4. Body oil.
5. Clarinet lessons.
6. Dentures.
7. Dentures.
This is what I call really being creative (or weird) with tax write offs. Take this seriously folks. Find out what you can legally write off by consulting a professional accountant. The constant hike in fuel prices will not get any better. It is your responsibility to keep most of your hard earned dollars in your house hold. This is taking better care of your family.
If you don’t take tax write off’s seriously or think that you can’t write anything off because you are an employee then find a good home based business to make you entitled.
Why should you leave money on the table?
The Psoas Muscles and Abdominal Exercises For Back Pain
Common opinion notwithstanding, the proper purpose of abdominal exercises is to awaken control of the abdominal muscles so they coordinate better with the other muscles of the trunk and legs (which include the psoas muscles). It is that better coordination that improves alignment, and not merely higher tone or strength. When the psoas muscles achieve their proper length, tone (tonus) and responsiveness, they stabilize the lumbar spine in movement as well as when standing, giving the feeling of better support and “strength”. Mutual coordination of the psoas and other muscles causes/allows the spine and abdomen to fall back, giving the appearance of “strong” abdominal muscles — but it is not the strength of abdominal muscles, alone, but the coordination of all the involved muscles that gives that appearance.
To improve psoas functioning, a different approach to abdominal exercises than the one commonly practiced is necessary. Instead of “strengthening,” the emphasis must be on awareness, control, balancing and coordination of the involved muscles – the purview of somatic education. I will say more…
… but first: A discussion of the methods and techniques of somatic education is beyond the scope of this paper, which confines itself to a discussion of the relation of the psoas muscles, abdominal exercises, and back pain. For that, see the links at the bottom of this article.
The Relationship of Psoas, Abdominal Muscles and Back Pain
The psoas muscles and the abdominal muscles function as agonist and antagonist (opponents) as well as synergists (mutual helpers); a free interplay between the two is appropriate. The psoas muscles lie behind the abdominal contents, running from the lumbar spine to the inner thighs near the hip joints (lesser trochanters); the abdominal muscles lie in front of the abdominal contents, running from the lower borders of the ribs (with the rectus muscles as high as the nipples) to the frontal lines of the pelvis.
Take a moment to contemplate each of these relationships until you can feel or visualize them
In the standing position, contracted psoas muscles (which ride over the pubic crests) move the pubis backward; the abdominal muscles move the pubis forward. (antagonists)
In walking, the ilio-psoas muscles of one side initiate movement of that leg forward, while the abdominals bring the same-side hip and pubis forward. (synergists)
The psoas major muscles pull the lumbar spine forward; the abdominal muscles push the lumbar spine back (via pressure on abdominal contents and change of pelvic position). (antagonists)
The psoas minor muscles pull the fronts of attached vertebrae (at the level of the diaphragm), down and back; the abdominals push the same area back. (synergists)
Unilateral contraction of the psoas muscles causes rotation of the torso away from the side of contraction and sidebending toward the side of contraction (as if leaning to one side and looking over ones raised shoulder); abdominals assist that movement.
Now, if this all sounds complicated, it is — to the mind. But if you have good use and coordination of those muscles, it’s simple — you move well.
Words on Abdominal Exercises
Exercises that attempt to flatten the belly (e.g., crunches) generally produce a set pattern in which the abdominal muscles merely overpower psoas and spinal extensor muscles that are already set at too high a level of tension.
High abdominal muscle tone from abdominal crunches interferes with the ability to stand fully erect, as the contracted abdominal muscles drag the front of the ribs down. Numerous consequences follow:
(1) breathing is impaired,
(2) compression of abdominal contents results, impeding circulation,
(3) deprived of the pumping effect of motion on fluid circulation, the lumbar plexus, which is embedded in the psoas, becomes less functional (slowed circulation slows tissue nutrition and removal of metabolic waste; nerve plexus metabolism slows; chronic constipation often results),
(4) displacement of the centers of gravity of the body’s segments from a vertical arrangement (standing or sitting) deprives them of support; gravity then drags them down and further in the direction of displacement; muscular involvement (at the back of the body) then becomes necessary to counteract what is, in effect, a movement toward collapse. This muscular effort
(a) taxes the body’s vital resources,
(b) introduces strain in the involved musculature (e.g., the extensors of the back), and
(c) sets the stage for back pain and back injury.
The psoas has often been portrayed as the villain in back pain, and exercise is often intended to overpower the psoas muscles by pushing the spine and abdomen back. However, it is obvious from the foregoing that “inconvenient” consequences result from that strategy. A more fitting approach is to balance the interaction of the psoas and abdominal muscles.
When the psoas and the abdominal muscles counterbalance each other, the psoas muscles contract and relax, shorten and lengthen appropriately in movement. The lumbar curve, rather than increasing, decreases; the back flattens and the abdominal contents move back into the abdominal cavity, where they are supported instead of hanging forward.
It should be noted that the pelvic orientation, and thus the spinal curves, is also largely determined by the musculature and connective tissue of the legs, which connect the legs with the pelvis and torso. If the legs are not directly beneath the pelvis, but are somewhat behind (or more rarely, ahead of the pelvis), stresses are introduced through muscles and connective tissue that displace the pelvis. Rotation of the pelvis, hip height asymmetry, and/or excessive lordosis (or, more rarely, kyphosis) follow, all of which affect the psoas/abdominal interplay.
Where movement, visceral (organ) function, and freedom from back pain are concerned, proper support from the legs is as important as the free, reciprocal interplay of the psoas and abdominal muscles.
More on the Psoas and Walking
Dr. Ida P. Rolf described the psoas as the initiator of walking:
Let us be clear about this: the legs do not originate movement in the walk of a balanced body; the legs support and follow. Movement is initiated in the trunk and transmitted to the legs through the medium of the psoas.
(Rolf, 1977: Rolfing, the Integration of Human Structures, pg. 118).
A casual interpretation of this description might be that the psoas initiates hip flexion by bringing the thigh forward. It’s not quite as simple as that.
By its location, the psoas is also a rotator of the thigh. It passes down and forward from the lumbar spine, over the pubic crest, before its tendon passes back to its insertion at the lesser trochanter of the thigh. Shortening of the psoas pulls upon that tendon, which pulls the medial aspect of the thigh forward, inducing rotation, knee outward.
In healthy functioning, two actions regulate that tendency to knee-outward turning: (1) the same side of the pelvis rotates forward by action involving the iliacus muscle, the internal oblique (which is functionally continuous with the iliacus by its common insertion at the iliac crest) and the external oblique of the other side and (2) the gluteus minimus, which passes backward from below the iliac crest to the greater trochanter, assists the psoas in bringing the thigh forward, while counter-balancing its tendency to rotate the thigh outward. The glutei minimi are internal rotators, as well as flexors, of the thigh at the hip joint. They function synergistically with the psoas.
This synergy causes forward movement of the thigh, aided by the forward movement of the same side of the pelvis. The movement functionally originates from the somatic center, through which the psoas passes on its way to the lumbar spine. Thus, Dr. Rolf’s observation of the role of the psoas in initiating walking is explained.
Interestingly, the abdominals aid walking by assisting the pelvic rotational movement described, by means of their attachments along the anterior border of the pelvis. Thus, the interplay of psoas and abdominals is explained.
When the psoas fails to lengthen properly, the same side of the pelvis is restricted in its ability to move backward (and to permit its other side to move forward). Co-contracted glutei minimi frequently accompany the contracted psoas of the same side, as does chronic constipation (for reasons described earlier). The co-contraction drags the front of the pelvis down. The lumbar spine is bent forward, tending toward a forward-leaning posture, which the extensors of the lumbar spine counter to keep the person upright; as the spinal extensors contract, they suffer muscle fatigue and soreness. Thus, the correlation of tight psoas and back pain is explained.
As explained before, to tighten the abdominal muscles as a solution for this stressful situation is a misguided effort. What is needed is to improve the responsiveness of the psoas and glutei minimi, which includes their ability to relax.
A final interesting note brings the center (psoas) into relation with the periphery (feet). In healthy, well-integrated walking, the feet assist the psoas and glutei minimi in bringing the thigh forward. The phenomenon is known as “spring in the step.”
Here’s the description: When the thigh is farthest back, in walking, the ankle is most dorsi-flexed. That means that the calf muscles and hip flexors are at their fullest stretch and primed for the stretch (myotatic) reflex. This is what happens in well-integrated walking: assisted by the stretch reflex, the plantar flexors of the feet put spring in the step, which assists the flexors of the hip joints in bringing the thigh forward.
Here’s what makes it particularly interesting: when the plantar flexors fail to respond in a lively fashion, the burden of bringing the thigh forward falls heavily upon the psoas and other hip joint flexors, which become conditioned to maintain a heightened state of tension, and there we are: tight psoas and back pain. (Note that ineffective dorsi-flexors of the feet prevent adequate foot clearance of the ground, when walking; the hip flexors must compensate by lifting the knee higher, leading to a similar problem.)
Thus, it appears that the responsibility for problems with the psoas falls (in part, if not largely) upon the feet. No resolution of psoas problems can be expected without proper functioning of the lower legs and feet.
SUMMARY
The psoas, iliacus, abdominals, spinal extensors, hip joint flexors and extensors, and flexors of the ankles/feet are all inter-related in walking movements. Interference with their interplay (generally through over-contraction or non-responsiveness of one or more of these “players”) leads to dysfunction and to back pain. The strategy of strengthening the abdominal muscles has been shown to be a misguided effort to correct problems that usually lie elsewhere – which explains why, even though abdominal strengthening exercises are so popular, back pain is still so common. Sensory-motor training (somatic education) provides a more pertinent and effective approach to the problem of back pain than abdominal strengthening exercises.
Top Ten Things to Do in Spring
It must be serendipity that I am in currently in the janitorial industry and that I enjoy cleaning. I use my skills as a sales and marketing director to sell my ritual of welcoming spring.
While some people enjoy lounging, daydreaming or reading when the days are still cool but sunny I enjoy tying up loose ends and starting with a “clean” slate. So what if others do not share my enthusiastic spring dance in honor of mother-nature! Why do they insist on their own dance and will not applaud my magnificent performance? Here are my favorite things to do in spring:
1. Spring clean & de-clutter home & office:
Make a caddy of your basic tools. I use multi-purpose cleaner, microfiber cloths, lamb’s wool extension duster, furniture polish, disinfectant spray, trash bag and a laundry basket to put items I am removing from the room. If your ceilings are high you may need a small step ladder. I also have a broom to get behind furniture I can’t move and for carpet edges and corners. A vacuum with attachments is also very handy. Place your equipment outside the entrance of the room you are cleaning. Give each room a thorough, top to bottom cleaning. This is the perfect time to launder the curtains and bedding. If you are up to the challenge you can also flip furniture cushions, mattresses and rearrange the furniture. The best approach I have found is to start each room at the entrance door and circle the room. Start your high dusting, touching all surfaces on the walls such as picture frames, shelves, etc. If the curtains are not going to be taken down, remove the dust on the tops & fabric folds. Cobwebs can get anywhere, including the flat walls. Get under and behind the furniture with the duster and/or broom. Dust inside the window frame. Wash the windows. Use a microfiber with just a mist of all-purpose cleaner and dust the surfaces you can reach. The last thing I do is use my disinfectant spray and vacuum.
2. Get rid of clothes not worn:
I bring storage containers or boxes and kitchen trash bags and a black marker. First go through the shelved clothing, second the clothes that are hanging and third clothes that are in drawers. Make a pile on the floor of clothes that should be place in the garbage. Box up the seasonal things you are going to keep. Things you are giving away put into the trash bags. Use the marker and put your name and season of clothes on the boxes. Label the bags with the person’s name you are giving them to, yard sale or Goodwill. Store away the seasonal boxed clothes, put the give-away clothes in your garage or auto so you will not forget to take them away.
3. Clean yard, porches & garage:
All of these are good for family team work, but this one especially is. The garage needs and occasional de-clutter and cleaning. You will need a broom, plenty of boxes or plastic containers, a black marker and maybe some white mailing labels to write on. If you have a large major crisis in there you may want to copy the show “Clean Sweep” and get out three tarps on the drive or yard. Tarp number one is for things to keep, tarp number two is for giving away or yard sale, tarp three is trash. When you have everything out that you can, you may now dust, sweep and/or pressure wash. Organize tools by their use and season. Keep the yard tools together, garden tools and the basic repair tools together, etc. The sports equipment and toys are also organized and the off season sports equipment and toys should be boxed and put up. Tarp number one “things to keep” will be boxed up and labeled and neatly put back into the garage. Tarp number two “things to give away or yard sale” should be boxed, bagged or price tagged for yard sale. Label the give-away or yard sale items and neatly put back into the garage. Tarp number three “trash” items need to be bagged if they can fit into garbage receptacle or hauled to the dump if necessary. Now the garage is neat and clean!
4. Thoroughly detail autos:
Have a contest with someone if you are detailing two autos! Guard yourself from the sun. Tools needed are a vacuum with attachments, trash bag, towels, paper towels, 2 microfiber cloths and a large terry cloth, two old large beach towels, a long handled car wash broom if you have one, and a stiff brush for the wheels & tires and bucket & sponge. I also fix a small caddy with window cleaner, Mr. Clean, some Q-Tips, Armor-all, Febreze, car wash, wax with an applicator or soft cloth and tire “black” spray. Start on the inside and fill up your trash bag with any garbage in the auto. Look under seats and in the cracks of the seats. Pick up items that will hurt your vacuum. Take out all the carpets and lay them down to vacuum. Then fill a bucket with about a gallon of water and an ounce of Mr. Clean. Use this water first to scrub the seats with a very damp cloth, it may remove some stains and it smells good. Then wash the dash, wheel, seat dividers and inside the doors. Constantly clean your cloth in the bucket. Dip Q-tips in the water and use to get the dash cracks, corners and areas the cloth couldn’t get into. Spray Armor-All on a microfiber cloth and wipe down the dash and hard smooth surfaces made from similar material to shine up and make like new. When finished put that cloth away from the others so you will not use it again. Time for the inside windows! I use a window cleaner and paper towels to wash all the inside windows, then I go back over them with a microfiber cloth and it really polishes good. The last thing I do is vacuum the carpet. Be sure to adjust the seats forward and backward to get all areas. Last I give the fabric and carpet a spray of Febreze, carefully avoiding my windows. Vacuum the carpets that you took out. If you want to organize the trunk and vacuum, this is a good time. Now get the windows up and shut the doors. Empty your bucket and refill with plenty of water and a little carwash. Hose down the entire auto and wash by sections. Immediately rinse off each section as you go around the auto. When you think you are done walk around the auto for any touch-ups. Now use your stiff brush and scrub the wheels and tires a few times, then rinse. Hose off the carpets you removed and let air dry. Use a beach towel to dry off all areas of the auto. After drying and no water spots it is time to wax. My favorite auto wax is the new spray on wipe off type, but if you are using the paste wax it is done the same way. Put wax on a section at a time, and then remove it with the second beach towel. Let the paste wax dry before buffing off. Again check all around the auto for any areas that need touched up. After waxing I wash the windows with paper towels and then polish with the microfiber cloth. Your wheels and tires should be dry by now so you can spray your “black” spray on them. Now that is a sparkling beauty!
5. Get planting beds & flower containers ready:
You can start seedlings indoors or wait for the nursery centers to stock your favorite plants. Guard yourself from the sun. Tools you may want for the large planting beds are a tiller (if large area) rake, shovel, garden claw, landscape fabric or plastic, gloves, trash bag potting soil (my favorite is Miracle Grow with the water holding material). First pull all weeds and place in trash bag. Rake the surface of leaves, old mulch and debris, put in trash bag or compost bin. Use shovel or garden claw to turn the soil (till if large area) and mix in your potting soil. After the area is complete, cover with the landscape fabric or plastic. When you are ready to plant, cut holes in the landscape fabric or plastic and place plant where you want. To finalize your flower gardens, cover the fabric or plastic with mulch or rocks. For the flower containers, if they have previously been used they must be washed and let air dry. When the weather is warm enough you can plant. Place some large stones or broken pottery pieces in the bottom for drainage. Fill pots ¾ of the way full. Decide where to place your plants and surround them with potting soil and firmly press down. Give a good drink of water. Check on weekly to remove dead material and water if needed.
6. Start seedlings indoors:
Pick a few seeds you want to start, veggies, herbs, flowers (Burpee is my favorite brand). You can use a sun lamp, although I never have. Just don’t start too early or they will grow too large before you can transplant. The easiest way is to get the jiffy pots ready for water and seeds. You can also use a rectangle receptacle like a cake pan and fill with potting soil and sprinkle on the seeds and water. Pour off excess water. Save your seed envelopes to mark your plants or you won’t remember what you are growing and where. When the weather is warm enough and all chances of freezing are over they can be transplanted either in a prepared bed or container.
7. Write down new things to do in the summer and fall:
I like to write down things I haven’t done in a while, new things or things to do with particular friends and family; go to museum with mother; watch movie with Linda. Learn how to rollerblade, take a painting class, run a marathon, go boating and so forth. I have things to do indoors for rain and outdoors for sunshine. Keep your list next to your calendar and when you want something to do check one off. Make arrangements a week or so ahead so you will have a full social calendar.
8. Begin a customized fitness plan:
First schedule a check up with your family doctor and make sure you are okay to become more active. Define what you want to accomplish and a date to accomplish this by. If you have more than one goal, do this for every goal. Example: I want to lose 30 pounds by August. Next step is to plan out how you will accomplish this. Example: I will clean out my kitchen and replace with healthy low calorie foods. I will walk one mile every day. I will lift weights thirty minutes every other day and so on. Keep positive affirmations and motivational post-its on your bathroom mirror and refrigerator.
9. Get a new hair cut, hair style or color:
Be browsing the magazine for cuts and color you like to get an idea or two. Visit your favorite hair salon or one that a friend refers. Ask the stylist to recommend a cut and or color for your complexion, lifestyle and budget. Ask questions regarding maintenance before you decide. Your cut must be quick and easy to maintain if you lifestyle is very busy. If you are young you can easily go more dramatic and bold. If you are more mature or have a career you may want to stick with some classic styles and color, but different than you usually get. This is a great ego boost and when you are confident and happy, it will rub off on everyone around you.
10. Take a long walk, hike or bike ride in a scenic area:
This is a great family outing, or couples and friends outing. Bring your dog if you can. If you have a favorite park or recreation area, plan a day and a picnic for this event. This could ba a great way to scout out a camping area. Take the basics, sandwiches, fruit and water. Dress for the occasion and don’t forget sun protection. Bring a rain jacket or wind breaker in case the weather suddenly changes. Let someone know where you are going and bring a cell phone. Bring a Frisbee or football to mix things up. Just enjoy the time to spend with good company and appreciate the beautiful earth.
With a “clean” slate completed there is still ample time to soak up all the crisp air and sunshine. I feel I have accomplished something great and it makes me feel terrific about the next great season!
Look for more articles coming soon!
RV Water Leaks
If there is a way to get in your RV, water will find it. Water leaks on an RV can cause extensive damage and can be extremely costly to repair. When I worked at an RV dealership I saw the damaging effects that water can cause to an RV time and time again. I learned the lesson the hard way. I appraised a unit that was being traded in and didn’t identify the extensive water damage, which resulted in a thousand dollars worth of repairs. Hindsight is 20/20 and I quickly learned how to inspect for, and identify potential water damage on RVs. My recommendation is that you inspect for potential water leaks twice a year at a minimum, once in the fall and again in the spring.
Every seam on your RV and anywhere the manufacturer cut a hole in your RV has the potential to allow water in. To protect your investment and your wallet take the time to REALLY inspect all of these seams and sealants. Water damage on an RV is similar to progressive damage to a tire. The outside of the tire looks fine, but the internal damage over a long period of time causes the tire to fail without any warning. The outside of your RV looks fine but the internal damage caused by water over a long period of time can result in the entire roof, floor or wall rotting away without you knowing it. Here are a few things to look for during your inspections.
Always keep safety on your mind when you are working on the roof of your RV You can be seriously injured from a fall! A reader of mine suggested that you use 2 pieces of 1/2″
plywood, 2 foot by 4 foot, to move around on and spread your weight out over the
roof rafters.
* To stop a leak before it starts, thoroughly inspect all roof and body seams. Consult with your RV dealer for sealants compatible with different types of roofing materials.
* Look for any discoloration and feel for any soft spots on the ceiling around roof vents, air conditioners, TV antennas, plumbing vents, and any other openings that were cut in the roof.
* Look for any discoloration or wrinkles in the wallpaper, and feel for any soft spots on the walls around all windows, doors, vents, slide outs, or any other openings that were cut in the side walls.
* Identify the location of items like the water heater, furnace, outside shower, potable water fill and city water inlet on the outside of the RV and then access those areas from the inside of the RV and look for any indications of water damage around these openings.
* Open all overhead cabinets and look in the top corner where the walls meet the ceiling for any discoloration or feel for any soft spots. This would indicate a leak at the seam where the sidewall and the roof attach.
* Check in all outside storage compartments for any indications of water leaks or water damage.
* Check for any soft spots on the roof itself especially around the roof seams at the front and rear of the RV. Thoroughly inspect all sealants on the roof around every opening.
* Some Class C motor homes are notorious for leaks in the cab over bed area. Look for any signs of discoloration and feel for soft spots. Reach under the mattress and feel for water.
* Look and feel on the outside of the RV for any signs of delaminating. Delaminating is caused by water getting between the exterior fiberglass and the sidewall. When this happens the exterior fiberglass separates from the sidewall of the RV. You can stand at the front or rear of the RV and look down the side for any noticeable ripples or what looks like a bubble. You can also press on the sidewalls. If you feel the exterior fiberglass move it is delaminating. Often times delaminating starts around where an opening that was made in the sidewall.
Don’t just inspect your RV for water damage; REALLY inspect your RV for water damage. If you do this on a regular basis you can locate and repair the source of any water damage before it has a chance to do a great deal of damage. I think I’ll start checking our motor home more than twice a year.
Happy Camping,
Mark
Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101
Loft Bedrooms
Do you want to extend the living capacity of your home, then why not convert your loft space into a bedroom?
Bedroom loft conversions are becoming the most popular form of home improvements as householders seek to extend the living space in their homes. And these are the reasons bedroom conversions have become so popular:
The loft provides a blank canvas on which the home owner can design any style bedroom they wish rather than having to fit their ideas into the existing room lay-out
It is so easy to add an en-suite bathroom to the bedroom and that bathroom can be quite sizeable and, again, laid out exactly as the owners want it rather than having to adapt an existing space
Building bedroom loft conversions allows the existing bedrooms to be converted into hobby rooms or offices, or for two existing small bedrooms to be knocked into one .
And remember, we all like our bedroom to be at top of the house, well you can’t get much higher than that when your new one is built in the roof space!
One of the massive points in favour of bedroom loft conversions is that with the use of large skylights the room can be blessed with huge tracts of natural light. A major plus in bedroom loft conversions is that by installing large skylights the new bedroom will enjoy much natural light. Why not add remotely operated window blinds to give your bedroom loft conversion that added special touch of luxury. One of the most attractive elements of bedroom loft conversions is the option of including a sizeable en-suite bathroom.
Though bathrooms are fairly easy to add to the roof space the major consideration is of course the extra plumbing that needs to be installed. One of the first things to be done when converting the loft is to get rid, or relocate, the old water tank. One solution is to dispose of the tank altogether and install a combi boiler. If installing a combi boiler is the preferred option and you can meet the extra cost, it is an ideal solution. If the combination boiler option isn’t to your taste then you will need to replace and relocate your water tank.
Plastic water tanks are much longer lasting than older tanks but still need to be relocated – the best solution is usually under the eaves behind the new panelling. The only drawback here is that access must be unrestricted and insulated cupboard doors and boarding must also be built in.
To install a new bedroom loft conversion with ensuite bathroom is to make first class use of your previously unused roof space. No wonder bedrooms are the preferred option of so many home owners when they plan to convert their lofts.