North Central
v
Morgantown, Fairmont, Bridgeport & Clarksburg
Home & Living V6:I3
2015 Home Show Edition see page
18
Where Do Pests Lurk?
Vince Lombardi is to a Football as Honesty is to Real Estate Investing By Bret Nida
see page
8
see page
304.363.22255
24
www.mountaineerwoodcraft.com
Crites Electric
Automatic Standby Generators
304-472-0148
63503.6.2.CoverA.indd 1
see page
3
2/19/15 10:42 AM
UÊ ÕÃÌ Ê >L iÌÀÞ UÊ À> ÌiÊ Õ ÌiÀÊ/ «Ã UÊ >L iÌÊ,iv>V } UÊ-«À>Þ " Ê Õ ÌiÀÌ «ÃÊ
UÊ VÀÞ VÊ/ÕLÊEÊ7> Ê iÀÊ UÊ/ÕLÊ,iwÊ Ã } UÊ- ÜiÀÊ,iwÊ Ã } UÊ- ÜiÀÊ ÛiÀÃ Ã
Îä{ ÎÈÈ ÎÈÈx ÇääÊ À}> Ì Ü Ê Ûi]Ê > À Ì]Ê76ÊNÊ76ÊäÎÇnnÎ
ÜÜÜ° ÌV i L>Ì ÀÝ°V 63503.5.13.011B.indd 1
12/18/14 8:42 AM
WV’s Only
Premier Dealer
63503.5.7.003.indd 1 1 63503.6.2.Generac.indd
7/2/14 10:54 2/19/15 10:49 AM AM
Home & Living
Lisa Hart | 304-216-2632 Dan Lanham | 304-345-0654
wvhomeimprovementmag@suddenlink.net mlnjhart1@frontier.com
63503.5.9.Mast.indd 11 63503.6.2.Mast.indd
9/5/14 2/9/15 11:46 2:49 AM PM
H003.qxp:H003
4/19/12
4:23 PM
Page 1
kitchen/bath
Preferred Surfaces, LLC
Making Custom Countertops in the area since 1984!
• Granite
We use the latest in CNC technology and all American made machines.
• Marble
We are also concerned about the environment and reclaim and recycle all our water.
• Quartz • Solid Surface
Why try to pick your granite from small samples. Choose from our large selection of granite slabs right here on site.
Preferred Surfaces, LLC
1001 Chaplin Road • Morgantown, WV 26501 (304) 983-7730 • fax: (304) 983-7732 email: noel@presurface.com web: www.presurface.com Owner(s): Noel Houze
Area(s): North Cenral West Virginia
Specialty: Custom Countertops
Hours: 7:00 to 4:30 M-F; and by appointment
Established: 1984
Please tell them you saw us in the Home Improvement Resource Guide
Apply Now @ fairmontfcu.mortgagewebcenter.com Membership eligibility requirements may apply. This credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Loan approval based on qualified applicants. Financing is available with approved credit and collateral. We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. EQUAL HOUSING
LENDER
304.363.5320 | fairmontfcu.com
Advantage Basement & Foundation Repair
DON’T MISS OUT
Brian Courtney Owne
Cell: 330-257-2363 Office: 304-758-0500 Quality Personal Service
www.AdvantageBasementRepair.com
Advantage Basement & Foundation Repair 7>ÌiÀÊ*À wÊ }ÊUÊ-Õ «Ê*Õ «Ã
À> >}iÊUÊ `Ê/Ài>Ì i Ì ,i«> ÀÊEÊ,iLÕ `Ê7> Ã
iÀÌ wÊi`Ê Ê Õ `>Ì Ê,i«> À
iÀÌ wÊi`Ê Ê-ÌÀÕVÌÕÀ> Ê,i«> À ÀiiÊEÊ iÃÌÊ ÃÌ >Ìià email: bcbcbasement@gmail.com
63503.6.2.FFCU.indd 1
ON AN OPPORTUNITY to Show case your business to the thousands of consumers reading our magazines each month. We distribute 5,000 magazines every month on over 300 locations throughout Morgantown, Fairmont, Bridgeport and Clarksburg. In addition to our street distribution we deliver to 500 households every month. Great Distribution & Fair Rates!
CALL TODAY to advertise your business… Dan Lanham (304) 345-0654 wvhomeimprovementmag@suddenlink.net
Home & Living 2/19/15 11:03 AM
CN.indd 1
4/21/14 9:46 AM
Vince Lombardi is to a Football as Honesty Is To Real Estate Investing When wearing my Real Estate Investor hat, I always look for opportunities to “pay-it- forward” to anyone that will hear the knowledge and insight I have gained over the years about how to succeed as a Real Estate Investor. It is such an exciting industry and beyond that, it is just my nature to see others realize their success and to build new relationships as I have. For now, I will save you the Anthony Robbins-esq jazz and jump to the purpose of this long-winded paragraph you are reading. Over the next few blogs I intend to build a foundation for what it takes to succeed as a Real Estate Investor. Ladies and Gentleman, let’s begin! Vince Lombardi was a successful leader on-and-off the field and always loved a teaching moment. When an opportunity of growth reared its fancy face, he was known to demonstrate what at the time, seemed farce. To learn and grow, he would start with the basics time-and-time again. In the locker room, amongst veteran players, he would gather them around and state “Gentlemen, this is a football!” and redo the basic fundamentals of how to succeed in the game-starting from the basics and working forward. With that said, pretend for a moment that for Investing and succeeding at the game, that Honesty is the football. It is "Doing The Right Thing" the “Golden Rule” The Truth Be Told"; the most valuable asset you have that will realize your biggest gain in building your empire. (Geez, not only am I sounding like Anthony Robbins but also Joel Osteen. I suppose that's not a bad thing?) As you start building your empire, there will be many obstacles you will encounter, starting with financing. Sure, you can get your financing in order with a bank and possibly build a relationship for funding on a few homes but you will soon
Football.indd 1
discover the limits of too many loans and the cumbersome red tape banks have with their underwriting standards. Even with a solid business plan and a strong column of assets,most banks make it extremely difficult to do business with. There are a few exceptions to the rule but to find that rule you must for now, “focus on the football”. To overcome the financing quagmire, you must seek private funding. (I will save the "How To Find A Private Lender" sermon out of the Gospel Of Nida for the next article and reinforce being a football. I mean a honest person.)
Using my own personal experience, by being honest, even when that greedy little Devil on my shoulder told me to " do the deal" or "only think of Team Bret who cares about The Team Edward Family?", I have been blessed to have raised a good bit of funding for my ventures and have been able to pass on to my lenders a great return. Private lenders are everywhere: at Church, the Gym or maybe even your Great Uncle Archie might have a stack of cash to invest in. With the measly ROR(Rate of Return) the Fat Cats on Wall Street are giving him on his retirement, you could give him a much higher return on his retirement and provide a Win/Win for everybody in the Bunker Family. Demonstrating that you are a person that one can trust, no matter which paradigms of your life you are moving through, is the first step on your way to being a reputable Real Estate Investor. Remember the basics and remember the football and should you be wondering what the football and Vince Lombardi has to do with Real Estate investing I can honestly say, absolutely nothing but absolutely everything! By Bret Nida
1/7/15 8:06 AM
t Insulated Metal Buildings t Dog Boxes t Metal Roofing t LifeTite Premium Panels t R-Panels t Standing Seam Panels ...and we make a wide variety of trim.
TWO LOCATIONS: Kenna, WV 304-786-8012 & Belington, WV 304-823-3771
LifeTite.indd 1
2/19/15 9:23 AM
Dream homes don’t build themselves. No other lender understands rural living the way we do. We know the ins and outs of buying and building in the country and can help turn your ideas into the lifestyle you’ve always imagined. Farm Credit has been financing land and homes in the country for almost 100 years. Call us. We’re the experts.
We Offer Loans for: Homes and home construction Small & large tracts of land with no acreage limits Mortgage refinancing Modular, mobile and stick built construction Second homes Clarksburg: 304.624.5551 Oakland: 301.334.8542
800.919.3276
FarmCreditofVirginias.com NMLS# 456965
63503.6.2.FarmCredit.indd 1
Loans for
Farms, Homes
& Land!
2/19/15 9:24 AM
63503.6.3.011.indd 1
2/19/15 9:25 AM
63503.6.3.012.indd 2
2/19/15 9:25 AM
63503.6.3.012.indd 3
2/19/15 9:25 AM
Growing Investment
Opportunities
In Green & Blue Technologies (NewsUSA) – As an investor, you’ve probably heard companies use the phrase “going green” too many times to count — but have you heard of “going blue”? “Tighter environmental regulations have expanded the market for companies that encompass not only the use of ‘green’ technology, but ‘blue’ — or clean water — technology,” says Alan Murphy, president of STW Resources, a Texas-based water reclamation systems integration company. Now, environmentally conscious companies, like STW Resources (OTCQB: STWS), are positioning themselves to be potentially lucrative for investors. “At STW Resources, we strive to compliment our [water] reclamation services with proven environmentally friendly tech,” says Murphy. “And, because of the way we have structured our business model, we can provide customers with the option to reclaim water without a large capital outlay.” STW designs, builds, owns and operates, and then charges the customer by the barrel or per one thousand gallons. If the water quality doesn’t meet the required specifications that the customer desires, they don’t pay for the service.
“We will perform this same service for municipalities and industrial customers,” says Murphy. “The majority of municipalities in the U.S. are in need of wastewater facility upgrades but don’t have the money. STW will finance, own and operate for these municipalities so they can continue to deliver fresh drinking water to their citizens.” Currently, the company has brought together a team of industry experts who have designed and built more than 250 projects around the world. They have extensive experience working with various state and local regulatory agencies, including the Texas Water Development Board, the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality and other environmental agencies in Texas. “Companies are having to change the way they do business by taking into consideration numerous environmental regulations,” says Stanley T. Weiner, Chairman and CEO of STW Resources. “In this way, our company is far ahead of our competition because of our proprietary and environmentally sound technologies, and our ability to help clean up and reclaim useful byproducts from waste in the oilfield.” STW, however, is about much more than just water. The company also has its hand in oilfield service technologies as well. Shale oil and gas plays are substantial resources and could be the answer to future energy independence. For more information, email info@stwresources. com or visit www.stwresources.com.
growing.indd 1
2/19/15 9:26 AM
63503.6.3.015.indd 1
2/19/15 9:27 AM
Curb Appeal By Brandon Boyce
Simple Tips to Dress Your Home For A Quick Sale Pricing a property properly and using a good REALTOR® are important factors in selling your house quickly and maximizing your profits, but ultimately the most important consideration in selling your home is curb appeal. What's curb appeal? Curb appeal is a synonym for how eye-catching your home is from the street. Making the right exterior decor choices and performing the right type of repairs can give your home curb appeal that causes buyers to stare in awe when they arrive. Even more lucrative, making the right type of "finishing touches" can add plenty to the sales price of your home. Go out to the road and walk past your home. What catches your attention? The dirty windows? The pinestraw on the roof? The weeds in your planters? These are the items you want to take care of. Make a list of the things that catch your eye and stand out. Tackle the ones that can be remediated without a lot of expense and make the biggest difference in the curb appeal of your home.
W
ork on the landscaping. Purchase some inexpensive plants and flowers from Lowes, Home Depot or your local nursery and apply liberally. Don't forget to put some type of mulch (clean pinestraw, cypress chips, rock, etc.). Mow the lawn and keep it neat throughout the period that your home is on the market. Sweep off the driveway and edge any concrete (driveway, walkways, patios) if necessary.
D
on't ignore the exterior of the house itself. If the wood surfaces such as lap siding or fascia and eaves are looking rough, now would be a good time to make a new friend who will give you a good discount on exterior painting. Replace any rotted wood on the exterior of the house -- 9 times out of 10 you will need to replace it eventually in order for your buyer's lender to extend financing on the house. An inexpensive feature that is often missing from many homes is decorative shutters. If they jive with the exterior style of your house, install them beside all of the front windows and any other windows that are visible from the street.
C
R
emove the clutter and debris from your yard. Lawn mowers, children's toys, grills, flashing neon pink flamingo statues... you get the idea. Pickup any fallen branches and rake up leaves and pine needles.
63503.6.2.CurbAppeal.indd 1
heck all "attachments" on the house such as front porches, patios, even things such as corner lights and landscaping lights. Make sure that everything is in good shape and working order. If you've gotten this far, you've got some serious curb appeal! Keep it up while your house is on the market and hopefully you'll see a big payoff when the right person sees your home!
2/9/15 2:37 PM
63503.6.3.G+.indd 1
2/19/15 10:50 AM
Where Do Pests Lurk?
The Rooms in Your Home That Pests Like Most (NewsUSA) – When it comes to common household pests, they enter homes in search of three thin s water, food and shelter. They can find entry points throu h almost any si e openin , includ ing tiny cracks and crevices or holes as small as a dime in the structure’s exterior. Once inside, pests, such as rodents, coc roaches, ants and spiders, will find a hidin or nestin spot the most com mon rooms being the kitchen, bathroom, basement and attic.
The Kitchen Whether it’s dry foods in the pantry, crumbs on the counter or under the fridge or food scraps in the trash can, all are items rodents, ants and cockroaches are looking for. Once they’ve discovered the goodies, they will keep coming back, contaminating kitchen surfaces and food and posin health and property ha ards.
The Bathroom Not only do sinks and bathtubs provide a never endin source of moisture for pests, the pipes provide a good travel pathway from the outside or throughout the house. Cockroaches, house centipedes and silverfish can often e found in the bathroom.
The Attic and Basement Usually these rooms house boxes, papers and insulation and at times are filled with moisture, which is why homeowners tend to discover ro dent and spider infestations there. Rodents are also capable of destroying insulation in attics and chewing through walls, baseboards and electrical wires, increasin the ris of fire.
pests.indd 1
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) reminds homeowners that there are many effective pest proofin measures they can ta e to discoura e unwanted uests from ta ing shelter in these places: mmediately wipe up any crum s or spills from coun tertops, ta les, oors and shelves. Wipe down itchen appliances and clean under them. Store food in airti ht containers, and dispose of ar bage regularly in sealed receptacles. un your ar a e disposal re ularly. on’t let dirty dishes pile up and stand in the sin . on’t leave pet food and water owls sittin out for long periods of time. ccasionally, inspect sin s, toilets and tu s for any leaks or drips. ive athrooms a thorou h cleanin y scru in the oors with disinfectant cleaner, and wipin down the inside of drawers with warm soapy water. hec to ensure that shampoo, lotion and soap bottles are secure and no contents have spilled out of their containers. eplace loose mortar and weather strippin around the basement foundation. Store items in asements and attics in sealed, plastic containers off of the oor. eep attics and asements well ventilated and dry. se a dehumidifier and install utters or diverts as needed. liminate all moisture sites, includin lea in pipes and clogged drains. f you suspect an infestation, contact a pest profes sional who can properly assess and treat the problem. For more information, visit pestworld.org.
2/18/15 7:14 PM
63503.Filler1.qxd:63503.Filler1
6/20/12
1:03 AM
Page 1
Find your new designer kitchen in this issue
FIREPLACES
Call for March
Military SPECIAL*
* call or stop by showroom for details
63503.6.2.Granite.indd 2
2/19/15 9:46 AM
Countertops, Vanities & Tile
Stop by for A P R I L SI NK SPECIAL*
63503.6.2.Granite.indd 3
2/19/15 9:46 AM
West Virginia's first certified GREEN Community.
HOMES AVAILABLE MID $200's in the
LOCATED IN MORGANTOWN JUST OFF THE INTERSTATE For sales information:
Traci Aberegg at KLM Properties 304-376-4273
KLM PROPERTIES 304.296.1533 Kathy L. Martin, Broker
REALTOR
1533 Mileground Road, Morgantown, WV 26505
Find it. Buy it. Sell it. ALL NEW
63503.6.2.KLM.indd 1
klmproperties.com
2/19/15 9:39 AM
America’s Largest Replacement Window & Exterior Remodeling Company
WINDOWS • SIDING • DOORS E
ANY SIZ
8DO9W 1 N WI
$
LED INdoSubTleAhuLng up toply4’x6’
White er fees may ap Oth
10 PREMIUM
WINDOWS INSTALLED
ACT NOW !
85
$
*
/MO
• White, double hung up to 4’x6’ • SolarZone™ Glass & Custom Exterior Trim included • Includes Lifetime Transferable Warranty • Guaranteed Lowest Price! *7.99% APR for 60 MOS. With approved credit. Not to be combined with any other offer. See store for details. Offer expires 6/30/15.
!
Call for a FREE In-home Estimate! TRANSFERABLE Positive
304-816-4026 LIFETIME
LIMITED WARRANTY*
3 Locations: St. Albans, Parkersburg & Fairmont Reverse Options
WindowWorldWV.com
TRANSFERABLE
LIFETIME
This Window World® Franchise is independently owned and operated by Hanshaw LIMITED WARRANTY Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Window World of Fairmont under license from Window World, Inc.* Exceptional owners Quality Local Mary Morris & Made Family in USA
Exceptional Quality
Exceptional Quality
Exceptional Quality
CMYK: 0, 100, 36, 37
CMYK: 0, 8, 22, 56
RGB: 147, 22, 56
Made in USA
Made in USA
NAT-50727-1
RGB: 140, 127, 112
LIMITED WARRANTY* PANTONE®
WVF-083 HL Mag 5.375x8.25 1-15.indd 1 63503.6.2.WindowWorld.indd 1 Made in USA
T Color R APalette NSFERABLE
LIFETIME 1955 C
Hex #: 931638
PANTONE®
Warm Grey 9 C
Hex #: 8C7F70
1/21/15 9:45 AM 2/2/15 11:05 AM
63503.4.8.Fairmont.qxd:63503.4.8.Fairmont
8/27/13
9:12 PM
Page 1