Mar 31 2008

 

Thank Your Customers

Tag: GeneralWebmaster @ 8:05 am

 

By Bob Winkfield

I’ve called on business selling advertising for more than 20 years. The most common comment I hear is that the best advertising comes from word of mouth. That statement is quite true. Often business owners, even though they quote this statement don’t tap into that vital resource to build their businesses. Your satisfied customers and clients will tell others about your business or service. It is commonly known that it is less expensive to retain a current client or customer that it is to recruit a new client or customer. So, given these truisms, why wouldn’t a business owner devote resources to market to their existing customer base? I often hear the comment that “well my current customers are coming to me anyway, why I should offer them an incentive?” The answer is TO KEEP THEM COMING BACK! In business today, competition is everywhere; consumers are continually being bombarded by special offers promotions and incentives by your competitors. It is vitally important for you to keep your clients coming back to you!

Through the Equilibrix email marketing plans, we create a database (mailing list) of your regular clients or customers. On a monthly basis we create and email your information to your database. The information you send to your clients will depend on the type of business you operate. If you operated a car wash as example, you would want to include information on how to maintain your automobile in top condition, and offer a coupon incentive to return to your car wash for the best wash & service ever. ALWAYS Thank your customer for their continued patronage. You appreciate their business…tell them that!

If, as an example you are in a service business like a mortgage broker, you would want to create an email database of the realtors, who send you business. The mortgage market is continually evolving with rates and loan programs changing constantly. Pass that information on to those folks who refer business to you! Rather than a discount coupon like the car wash, maybe you would suggest that the realtors email or call you to enter a drawing for a Free business lunch at a favorite local restaurant. You want to keep those referrals coming in!

 


Mar 26 2008

 

Whole Foods in Plantation – Announcing 5% Day for The Kids Ecology Corps!

Tag: Environment,NEWSWebmaster @ 10:25 pm

 

Announcing 5% Day for The Kids Ecology Corps!

What: Support KEC at Whole Foods for 5% Day!

When: Tuesday, April 8, 8:00 AM until 8:30pm

Whole Foods in Plantation

7720 Peters Road
 
Who should come: All supporters of The Kids Ecology Corps, friends and family

Why: Whole Foods in Plantation has chosen The Kids Ecology Corps for their 5% Day! 5% of all sales are donated to The Kids Ecology Corps! Help support our environmental programs by doing your shopping that day!

The Kids Ecology Corps will be there all day with children's activities and crafts, games and information on lowering your carbon footprint, protecting the environment and becoming a "Climate Change Activist".

Please help support The Kids Ecology Corps by doing your week's shopping on April 8th at the Whole Foods in Plantation.

Call us at 954-524-0366 for more info or email us at kec@kidsecologycorps.org.

Hope to see you there!

Volunteers to help at our table would be appreciated in 3 hour shifts from 2-8pm. Service hours will be given. Please RSVP to Toby Lopez by Friday April 4th.

Toby K. Lopez
Community and Volunteer Outreach Coordinator
The Kids Ecology Corps
1350 East Sunrise Blvd., Suite 106
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Tel.:   954-524-0366
FAX:  954-462-9182

I GoodSearch for The Kids Ecology Corps!

Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by searching the Internet or shopping online with GoodSearch – www.goodsearch.com – powered by Yahoo!

 


Mar 14 2008

 

Last nights School Board meeting tenatively approves a plan

Tag: GeneralWebmaster @ 7:36 am

 

My wife attended this meeting and from the sounds of things, it was a bees nest of issues and upset concerned  parents.

Below is an article form Sun-Sentinel this morning summarizing the meeting:

School Board OKs reshuffling thousands of SW Broward students
By Akilah Johnson |  Sun-Sentinel.com
5:45 AM EDT, March 14, 2008

After nearly nine hours of heated and contentious debate about how to reshuffle thousands of students in Southwest Broward, the School Board tentatively approved a plan early Friday:

Send all of Southwest Ranches and pockets of Davie and Pembroke Pines to West Broward High School in Pembroke Pines; a chunk of Weston to Western High in Davie; and a hunk of Miramar High students to Everglades High in Miramar.

The Whole Article:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/

Also from Sun-Sentinel there are two videos and the map with changes available:
The Board Meeting
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/video/?slug=sfl-0313boundaries.video

Cypress Bay
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/video/?slug=sfl-0312cyprus.video

School Boundary Map
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-westonhsboundaries,0,699630.flash

———————————————————————– 

This is an important document which all the changes may be based on:

Enrollment and Facilities Planning Inventory (EFPI)
School Facility Data Provided by Facilities and Construction Management
Policy 5000 Standards for Overcrowded Schools
Revised: Thursday, February 07, 2008

 

This was supposed to be the list of attendees:

Boundaries Discussion
School Board Workshop V
February 13, 2008

Robin Bartleman, Chair
Maureen S. Dinnen, Vice-Chair
Beverly A. Gallagher
Jennifer Leonard Gottlieb
Phyllis C. Hope
Stephanie Arma Kraft, Esq.
Robert D. Parks, Ed.D.
Eleanor Sobel
Benjamin J. Williams
James F. Notter
Superintendent of Schools
Katherine Blasik, Ph.D., Associate Superintendent
Research, Evaluation, Assessment, & Boundaries
Jill Young, Director, School Boundaries
Thomas Getz, Director, Capital Planning and Programming
Patrick Sipple, Noelle Mecoli, Joseph Beck, Demographer Specialists, School Boundaries
Area Superintendents: Dr. Verda Farrow, Dr. Joel Herbst, Dr. Joanne Harrison, Dr. Leontine Butler

 

 

 


Mar 13 2008

 

Broward School Board Meeting TONIGHT!

Tag: GeneralWebmaster @ 8:51 am

 

Parents furious as thousands of students reassigned in SW Broward
By Akilah Johnson |  South Florida Sun-Sentinel

As far as high school boundaries and southwest Broward County are concerned, this much is clear: Parents are furious, students dismayed.

Thousands of teens in Cooper City, Southwest Ranches, Davie, Pembroke Pines and Weston must switch schools in the fall. The shuffling uproots tradition and deepens resentment among communities.

Tonight's Hearing – The first of two School Board hearings on proposed boundary changes is at 5:30 p.m. at the Plantation High School auditorium, 6901 NW 16th St., Plantation.

Read the complete story
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/

 


Mar 07 2008

 

My Broward Restaurant List

Tag: GeneralWebmaster @ 10:27 am

 

I have been working on a restaurant list on the side of the refrigerator for a long time and decided to type it up to share it. These names, addresses and phone numbers can help you order your favorite meal on a busy night.

http://www.broward-directory.com/pages/BrowardRestaurants.php 

If you see a restaurant that needs to be added – please let me know. 

 

 


Mar 04 2008

 

Selling Power back to FPL

Tag: Environment,NEWSWebmaster @ 12:34 pm

 

Users may be able to sell power to FPL

The state is close to agreeing to make utilities pay customers who produce solar power in their homes and businesses.

BY JOHN DORSCHNER
jdorschner@MiamiHerald.com

In a move that could dramatically expand renewable energy in Florida, state regulators are expected on Tuesday to approve a rule that will require utilities to pay homeowners and businesses for the extra energy they produce from solar panels on their property.

It works like this:

A homeowner or business installs solar panels, wind turbines or other renewable energy sources. These devices produce energy that’s used mostly for the property owner’s needs, but on some days they might create excess energy.

Under net metering, this excess gets transferred to the electric grid for the use of others. A meter records that outflow and gives the owner credit, which is likely to be a net deduction from the owner’s bill. In rare cases, it might lead to a check.

Update – 1/19/2009

From FP&L website:

NOTICE is hereby given that the Florida Public Service Commission, pursuant to Section 120.54, Florida Statutes, has adopted Rule 25-6.065, Florida Administrative Code, relating to interconnection and net metering of customer-owned renewable generation, without changes, and with the clarification that the “applicable demand charge” referenced in Rule 25-6.065(8)(h), Florida Administrative Code, is for the maximum measured demand during the billing period; i.e., the highest demand registered on the utility’s meter during the billing period.
The rule was filed with the Department of State on March 18, 2008 and will be effective on April 7, 2008. A copy of the rule as filed with the Department is attached to this Notice.

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF RULE

Interconnection Tiers
Tier One (0-10kW) – Learn more

Tier Two (>10kW – 100kW) – Learn more

Tier Three (>100kW – 2mW) – Learn more

Related Links

 


Mar 01 2008

 

What is a home inspection, and why should I have one?

Tag: GeneralWebmaster @ 2:47 pm

 

By Bill Siegel of Florida Home Inspection Team Inc.

As we all know, buying a home can be a very trying time, and one of the most exciting. Owning our own home is the American dream. A home inspection can help it from becoming the American disaster. Home inspections are done so the prospective buyer knows what the condition of the home he is buying. It is an evaluation of the major systems of the home – the structure, electrical system, plumbing, air conditioning, appliances, doors, windows, attic, sprinkler system, and pool. Additional inspections may include a septic system or seawall. A good inspection will determine the approximate age of these system, and help in determining the remaining life so you, the buyer, can make an informed decision on whether to go through with the purchase, re-negotiate a better price, or have the seller do some repairs. The inspection is not a pass or fail, but an evaluation of the condition of the property.
When looking for a home, you will probably look at many homes. Take a digital camera with you and photograph the outside of each home you look at. Take pictures inside of all the components that you think will be staying with the home – appliances, ceiling fans, chandeliers, etc. Make sure these items are listed in your contract. If not, they might not be there when you close on the home.

When is the right time to have the home inspection done? Unless there are special circumstances, the inspection should be done after the contract is signed. The contract will stipulate how many days you have to complete the inspection. It is always a good idea to have the inspection done as soon as possible, as issues may arise that need to be addressed. If you wait to the last days on the contract to do the inspection, you may have a hard time getting the inspector or your choice.

One of the most difficult things to do is find a qualified inspector. As of this writing, Florida does not regulate or license inspectors. So how do you find a qualified inspector? Referrals from family, friends, or someone who recently bought a home is always a good way to go. Try and find an inspector who belongs to a local or national organization. ASHI, FABI, NAHI, NABI are all excellent organizations that require testing and ongoing education. Be wary of organizations that are only used as a marketing too and do not administer proctored testing. Find out if your inspector is licensed with the county to operate (each county requires an inspector to have an occupational license to operate in that county). Does your inspector carry insurance? Ask for Errors and Omissions insurance. Without it, who will pay if the inspector misses a major system in your new home? You always have recourse through our legal system, but that takes time and quite often, a lot of money. Also, find out if your inspector is working for you, or is he really working for the real estate agent. A lot of inspectors, especially new ones, rely heavily on agents for their referrals. If a deal falls through because of the inspection, they loose their referral source. Not only am I am FABI member (since 2001), but I am also a member of the Independent Home Inspectors of North America (IHINA). We do not solicit real estate agents and have taken a pledge to work for our clients, and not the agents. Over 75 percent of my business now comes from referrals.

While buying your new home is exciting, there is some important homework every homeowner needs to do. You should go down to the building department in the jurisdiction of your home and do a permit and open violation check on the property. This will give you a history of the home. If the seller tells you the roof is 5 years old, the windows were recently installed, or the electric was upgraded, etc., you should find permits on file with the county or city. If the home has an extra room or an addition, there should be permits on file. If not, the work may have been done by unlicensed contractors, and there will be no warranty for these upgrades or repairs. There is a little known law in Florida that all work done on a home within six months of the home being placed on the market, when the seller has intent to sell, must be done by licensed contractors. You can find this article on my web site – www.floridahomeinspectionteam.com – Go to the article section and click on 'can a homeowner perform repairs on a house?' There is also an article there about work being done without permits. Not using a permit can become costly if the city / county finds out and becomes involved. I am asked all the time about what happens if a portion of the property does not have permits and what can be done about it. My response it that all work should be permitted and permits can be attained for un-permitted work though an as built permit with the city / county, but there will be extra costs involved in the form of permit fined, architectural drawings, engineering plans, etc. The city can even make you tear the structure down and start all over. My advice on how to proceed with an un-permitted situation is always to consult a real estate attorney, as they can guide you thought the process help in the negotiations. The other alternative is to buy the property knowing that there is un-permitted work and accept it. But just remember, when you sell the home, the issue may come up again, and the owner of the property is ultimately responsible for the un-permitted work.

If you are buying an older home, understand that you may be required to have an additional inspection for insurance purposed. It is called a four-point inspection, and covers the roof, air conditioning, plumbing, and electric. It is a separate inspection (they do not accept home inspections) and will determine the insurability of the home and the cost of the insurance. You may be required to do some upgrades to the home to bring portions of the home up to current code standards. It is good to have an understanding of this prior to your purchase, so if upgrades are required, it does not come as a shock.

A lot of the older homes also used to be on septic systems. Many times the city has installed sewer lines on the road. Do not assume that just because the tax records show you are on a sewer system that you are on one. Once the sewer line has been installed, the property is now billed for sewer taxes, even if they have not hooked up to the system. Always try to get a disclosure from the seller. The only sure way to determine what type of system you are one is to hire a plumber. They will snake the line and determine what system the home is on. In Florida it is illegal for a home inspection company to inspect a septic system. These systems must be inspected by a master plumber or licensed septic company. We do not determine the type of system the home is on.

A very important process of your home buying process is your pre-settlement walk through. It is so important that I have a clause in my contract stipulating that pre-settlement walk through will be completed by the client. This is usually done the day before or the day of closing. It is very important that you perform this inspection, as now all of the items in the home should be removed and you have access to all the walls, windows, and outlets. Do not let anyone rush you through this process. You should spend between one and two hours on your walk through. Remember, your inspection was probably done anywhere from three to six weeks (sometimes longer) prior to closing. Many things can happen in that time. Make sure you check all the faucets, toilets, doors, windows, floors, walls, outlets, and switches. If something is broken or does not work, you need to bring it up at the closing. There is a good chance you will get some kind of credit. If there are stains on the walls or ceilings that were not there before, a leak may have occurred. You may want to call your inspector back out to the property.

Inspections are for the buyer. All buyers should attend the inspection. Questions may arise. It is always better to be there, rather than just read a report. Remember, we are not there to tell you the good qualities of the home. You have already seen those, and that is why you put in a contract to purchase the home. By being on the inspection, you will have a better idea of what is a major repair and what is a minor repair. All homes will have some form of minor repairs. A home is like a car, but on a much larger scale. It takes upkeep and ongoing maintenance to keep a home in top condition. Once you receive your report, please read the entire report, not just the summary page. There is valuable information that will help you make an informed decision. If you have any questions, or do not understand anything, please call your inspector and discuss it with him. Our job does not stop when we send you the report. We are always there to answer questions and hopefully steer you in the right direction so you can get the answers you need.

Bill Siegel
Florida Home Inspection Team, Inc
6431 NW 199 Lane
Miami, Florida 33015
Dade – (305) 430-8800
Broward – (954) 342-4988
Boca – (561) 417-8733
Fax – (305) 628-1490

website: http://www.floridahomeinspectionteam.com

 




  • Archives
  • Contact Us
  • Recycle
  • About Us
  • Business Partners
  • Business
  • Environment
  • Financial
  • General
  • Government
  • Health
  • Meetings
  • NEWS
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007