New website is up, but still adding content and features!

It takes quite a bit of time to get a new website up and running. With google and yahoo taking as long as 6 months to get a new site listed I figured I’d better load up my site as early as possible and add content as I go. I have already received some great input from you all, thank you, I appreciate that. If anyone else has ideas or suggestions for me then please do. In the meantime take a peek at my new site and tell me what you think of it so far. I have so much to add, but only so much time in the day.  Http://www.garagesalesavvy.com

Alan

I’m adding some new websites about garage and estate sales. How to take what knowledge you have and use it to your advantage.

Well they say to do what you love so I am going to put together some new websites that may be of interest to you.  I have long been a fan of garage sales, estate sales and yard sales so I figure it is time to write about what I love to do.

Not only do I love looking for treasures and bargain hunting, but I am have been very successful at it. I want to pass along some of my experiences and also give you all some of my expertise in this area.

I have hundreds of photos of items I have bought and sold over the years and you can have fun looking and learning too. Some of you can make a living at this if you take the time to learn the ins and outs of the business.

As a teenager, I was very fortunate to have been mentored by an elderly couple who owned an antique and jewelry shop. They spent hours teaching me the business and sent me out on weekends treasure hunting for them. I made quite a bit of pocket money as a teen by just buying a few things at yard sales and selling them to them for a profit.  I have done this throughout my lifetime.

It never occured to me that I had a lot of unique knowledge and experience that I could share with people. Besides being fun, I am passionate about it. I can’t wait to get these websites going. Garage and yard sale savvy is something that takes years to learn, and estate sale savvy is another area of expertise in itself. What is savvy you ask?

Defined as: shrewdly informed; experienced and well-informed; canny

I am shrewly informed, but not in all things, just certain things. Things like musical instruments. Some are worth buying and some are not. Knowing the difference is where “shrewedly informed” come into play. I’ve been a musician all my life. Through the years I’ve learned quite a bit about musical instruments. I use this knowledge to my advantage. Especially at estate sales. Knowing what to buy and for what price is the key to making money.  What do you know a lot about? Use that to your advantage. That’s what my website are going to be about. How to take what knowledge you have and use it to your advantage.

Is this cool or what? Drop me a line or two and tell me what you think. I would love to hear from you all.

So be patient, as it will take me some time to get my new websites up and running. But until then keep checking back. If you have any ideas that you would like to see on my sites, make a post here. Here are the new names of my sites. They currently redirect to my carpet buying website until I get them ready to launch.

http://www.EstateSaleSavvy.com 

http://www.GarageSaleSavvy.com

http://www.YardSaleSavvy.com

Coming soon to a browser near you!

Take the Carpet Quiz

Do you know enough about

Buying Carpet to avoid making

 Serious and Costly Mistakes?

Take this Quiz before you start

shopping for carpet to find out! 

Buying carpet is not as simple as it was 20 or 30 years ago. but today it is very easy to make the wrong carpet choices. Smart carpet shoppers do their homework and research before making such an important and expensive purchase of buying new carpet. Can you make all the right choices and get the whole job done start to finish? Maybe so, my simple carpet quiz will put your carpet buying knowledge to the test! 

Are you a Smart Shopper? You better hope so. First, take your sweet time! There are hundreds or thousands of your hard-earned dollars at stake! Second, have a game plan! You should already have a good idea about what carpet style and main characteristics of the carpet and pad you want to buy. You should know how long you want your carpet to last and about how much it’s going to cost for the carpet, the pad and the installation, long before you reach for your checkbook. 

When you visit any retail carpet store, you don’t want to start asking advice from the carpet salesperson. Most of your carpet buying questions should have been researched and answered long before you start shopping for carpet. Any questions you have for the salesperson should be limited to  “How much does this carpet cost per yard?”,  or ” Do your installers use a power-stretcher?” or “Can I see a copy of the manufacturer’s carpet warranty?”.  

After you visit several carpet stores, you’ll almost think you’re buying carpet from a used car lot. The last thing you need is high-pressure salespeople and a garbage can full of conflicting information.  You will quickly understand the reason why you don’t want to ask carpet salespeople for advice.

Find out if you’re ready to start shopping for carpet, or if you should stay home tonight and read my E-book  “The Complete Carpet Buying Guide”. 

 

The Carpet Quiz

 Find out if you are ready to buy carpet wisely!

Carpet Quiz Answers are on the next page

1. Do you know which carpet padding to use for your home? Which padding is the best deal?

• Rebond                                            
• Foam                                                 
• Rubber,                                             
• Synthetic fiber                             
• Recycled fabrics                        

2. Here are some common features padding may have for an extra charge. Do you know what benefits they provide? Which of these features do you think are worth paying extra for? 

• Moisture barrier                                 
• Odor eating                                        
• Anti-microbial                                    
• None of the above                            
• I don’t know

3. Do you know what padding Density to choose? 

• 4 pound                                                
• 5 pound                                                
• 6 pound                                                
• 7 pound                                                
• 8 pound                                                
• 10 pound                                           
• Don’t know

4. Do you know what thickness of pad is required?

• ¼”                                                 
• 3/8″                                               
• 7/16″                                            
• ½”                                                
• Don’t know

5. Do you know about carpet fibers? Which fiber is most resilient?

• Nylon                                         
• Olefin or polypropylene         
• Polyester or P.E.T.                   
• Nylon / polyester blend         
• Sorona                                       

6. There are different ways to make carpet.  Would you choose a Continuous Filament fiber or go with a Staple Fiber?

• Continuous filament
• Staple fiber
• I don’t know

 

Carpet Care and Maintenance

How you care for your carpet will determine how long it will last. 

7. How many people live in your home? How many days per week do you vacuum on average?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8

8. What number is higher?

• Your answer to How many people live in your home?
• Your answer to How many days per week do you vacuum?
• Both answers are the same

9. Do you have a good vacuum with a beater bar?

• Yes
• No
• I don’t know

10. How often do you have your carpet professionally cleaned?

• Never
• Every 6 months
• Once a year
• Every other year
• Every three years

11. Do you keep all the receipts for the professional cleanings?

• Yes    
• No
• I don’t know

12. Do you know what the following carpet definitions / conditions mean? Which of these conditions are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty? 

• Appearance retention
• Crushing
• Fading or color loss
• Footprints or indentations
• Matting
• Shading
• Shedding
• Filtration soiling
• Wrinkles
• Yellowing

13. Have you visited the website of “The Carpet and Rug Institute”? (CRI) 

• Yes          
• No

14. Are you familiar with the requirements set forth in “The Carpet & Rug Institute’s Standard 105 for Residential Installation”?

• Yes            
• No

15. Do you know which manufacturer’s warranties apply to your particular carpet?

• Yes
• No
• I don’t know

16. If some of your carpet is found to be defective and you file a valid claim with the carpet manufacturer, what do you think will typically happen next?

• They will refund my money 100%
• They will refund a percentage of my money
• They will replace all my carpet with another carpet of my choice
• They will remove all of the old carpet and install new carpet of the exact same type and style.
• They will remove the defective carpet areas only and install new carpet of the same type and style.
• They will issue a pro-rated credit to your retailer equal to the cost of the carpet material only, for the affected area only, the credit is good only toward new carpet from the same manufacturer. They will not pay to remove your old carpet, nor will they pay to have your replacement carpet installed.
• They will pay to have the carpet repaired if possible

Carpet Installation

How your carpet is installed will determine how long it will last

17. What is the best day to have your new carpet delivered to your home:

• The day it is to be installed
• The day before
• The week before
• I don’t know

18. What is the best climate to have your carpet installed

• On a warm day with the doors open
• On a cool day with the doors closed
• Any day with the heater on (66*F) before and during installation
• I don’t know

19. What should do you do before the carpet installer begins to install your new carpet?

• Move all small breakables and valuables into a safe and secure area
• Make arrangements for kids and pets to be out of the work areas
• Check to make sure the installer will use a power-stretcher
• Take photographs or a video of the entire area in case you need to prove damages in court
• Make sure the installer has brought the right carpet style, quality and color
• Have the installer roll out the carpet so you can check the carpet for obvious defects.
• Make sure you have the original carpet sample so you can compare it with the carpet delivered

20. What should you do after the carpet installer is finished installing your carpet?

• Call all your friends to come over and see the new carpet!
• Inspect the carpet installation completely. Withhold final payment until you are completely satisfied.
• Pick up all the carpet scraps and vacuum the carpet well.
• Show the installer where you want all the carpet and pad waste to go.
• Find out how long the carpet seams will look so obvious. 

Click to see Quiz Answers at www.carpetsupersite.com/quiz_answers.htm

 

Why do carpet salespeople keep pushing Polyester Carpet?

Carpet shopping is quite frustrating. I have been to approx 8 stores in the last few days. Each time the salesperson tries to steer me to polyester. I find it also difficult to comparison shop because most of them don’t give you any specifications of the carpet, but just say that this is a good carpet and I can give it to you for this or that price. They ask very few questions as to what you are looking for…

Does this sound familiar? Do you have a polyester carpet story to tell?

Home buyers often overlook carpet pet damage

“Not every homebuyer knows how important it is to check the condition of carpeting in a previously owned home before making any offer to buy. Many unsuspecting homebuyers discover carpet damage too late, often weeks after moving in”, says Alan Fletcher, author of a new e-book “The Complete Carpet Buying Guide“. “The main problem is the highly potent odor and severe damage caused to carpet and padding by pet urine, which is often difficult to detect and almost impossible to eliminate. For many homebuyers, the problem could take weeks or even months before it is fully realized” Fletcher says.“When touring a home for sale, homebuyers may not immediately notice the odor from pet urine if the carpet has been recently cleaned and might therefore assume that the carpet is in good condition. Similarly, if a homebuyer tours a home while it is unheated or when doors or windows are wide open, odors from pet urine can be much less noticeable. Pet urine odor will be easiest to detect in the winter months while the heat is on, and also when air circulation is limited during hot summer days.” Fletcher also warns homebuyers to be aware that central air conditioning can also help mask pet odors.

Fletcher goes on to say, “Homebuyers with pets may be surprised to find fresh pet “accidents” in their newly purchased home. Most dogs and cats will urinate or “spray” indoors to overpower the scent of pets that previously inhabited the residence, causing the pet odor and carpet damage problem to

escalate. It’s natural for dogs and cats to mark their territory and will do so if they feel threatened or to establish or define boundaries. Cats use several methods to mark their territory including spraying, scratching, rubbing against furniture, and leaving feces uncovered. Dogs use urine marking to show dominance or to make claim to something they feel belongs to them. Female dogs may urinate over any spot where another dog has previously urinated.”

“Even pets that have never had “accidents” previously may begin urinating or spraying if they detect the scent or markings of other animals. When this happens, complete carpet and pad replacement may be the only hope of solving the problem. It may also be necessary to have the wood or concrete subfloor sealed to prevent urine odor from seeping up through the new carpet because animals have sense of smell many times better than humans” Fletcher added.

“Pet urine is very difficult to completely remove from carpet because it often soaks through the surface fibers into the carpet backing and may even become embedded into the padding and flooring below. Having the carpets professionally cleaned may help temporarily but the underlying damage caused from pet urine will not be solved and the urine odor may quickly return. Carpet that becomes urine-soaked will quickly deteriorate and further cleaning will only worsen the problem” says Fletcher

“It’s not enough just to ask the seller if there is or has ever been a pet urine problem in the home because people who have pets can become so accustomed the odor from pet urine that they may be unaware of the severity of the problem. In order for homebuyers to know for sure if there is a pet urine problem they will need to conduct their own investigation. The best way to determine the presence of pet urine damage would be to pull up the carpet in a corner of the room and look for signs of urine stains. Another effective, but less popular method, is to just get right down on the floor and smell the carpet in suspected areas. Cat urine glows under a black light and that may also be a method that may be used, but the room must be dark in order to see the urine stains. Cats tend to prefer urinating in a quiet corner or in closets, while dogs will usually urinate in the middle areas of a room or lift their leg on furniture or other objects. A thorough room by room search may be necessary to discover the scope and severity of the problem” Says Fletcher.

“If it is determined that the carpet has significant pet urine damage, the total cost of replacing the carpet should be considered prior to making an offer to purchase the home. In some cases, urine soaked wood subflooring may need to be completely removed and have new wood installed. A qualified flooring contractor should be able to provide a reasonable repair estimate” Fletcher says.

“New carpet and padding prices have been on the rise for the past few years due to rising crude oil and fuel prices. Replacing carpet in a typical 2-bedroom home could easily cost more than $2500 for a medium grade style. Prices for carpet vary widely depending on the quality, face weight, type of fiber, and style selected. There are other expenses to consider including carpet padding, moving furniture, removing the old carpet and pad, and professional installation. Some carpet retailers include some of these items in their carpet prices but homeowners are often charged extra if the job requires more than what is considered to be a simple or “basic” installation”, Fletcher warns.

Potential carpet buyers can visit Mr. Fletcher’s website at www.carpetsupersite.com to learn more smart ways to save time, money and learn how to avoid common carpet buying problems.

Berber Carpet Advice

Berber carpet snags easily. Dogs with long toenails and kids with sharp objects, toys or other playthings can easily cause snags. Snags are difficult and expensive to repair. If you find a snag, don’t pull it, snip it off with scissors. If you have kids or pets, you might want to avoid buying berber carpet.

 Berber carpet has to be installed in a certain direction on stairs to prevent the rows from “smiling” as it wraps around the front of the stair. If the berber carpet on the stairs is not going the same direction as the carpet in the main rooms, it may not look very good. Berber carpet should be installed in the same direction, and the stairs are the deciding factor since berber must be installed in a certain direction on stairs. If you are having Berber carpet installed, think about the direction before you measure and place your order, you probably can’t change the carpet direction after the carpet has been measured and ordered.

Berber carpets with small loops tend to look better and retain their new appearance longer than berbers with large loops. Larger loops tend to collapse and fall over quickly, and when they do, rarely bounce back to look like new again. Most Berbers are made with a fiber called Olefin, also called Polypropylene. It is a strong fiber, but it does not clean easily.  Buying a Berber made with Nylon costs more, but is a much better way to go if you want a berber carpet that will last longer.  Berber carpets are more expensive to install because they are more difficult to install, as much as $1 or $2 more per yard.  A power-stretcher must be used to install berber carpet or wrinkles may develop. A special pad is required to keep the warranty in effect, usually 1/4″ thick and at least 8 pound density. I believe that using Chem-Dry to clean Berber carpets is the best way to go.  Hot water extraction, or the ”steam cleaning” method can cause berber carpets to stretch-out and develope wrinkles if too much water is injected into the carpet and it soaks through  into the carpet backing and carpet padding.  Water is a mortal enemy of berber carpet and the Chem-Dry method uses very little water.

Did you try to make a carpet warranty claim?

Did your carpet have defects? did you try to make a valid carpet warranty claim? Did they tell you that your carpet problem is not covered under the carpet warranty? What is your story? What was the final outcome? What carpet fiber did you have, polyester? Consumers want to know the truth about carpet warranties. 

How do I know if my carpet is installed right?

If your carpet is not installed correctly it could shorten the life-span significantly. Professional carpet installers (almost always) use a power-stretcher to stretch the carpet tight from wall to wall. This all-important “stretch” prevents wrinkles from developing during the life-span of your carpet. Another tool, the carpet knee-kicker is to be used in addition to the power stretcher. The knee-kicker is a hand held tool with a rubber pad on one end, the installer uses his knee to move the carpet into place. It looks like it hurts the knee to use this tool, and it does! If the installer just uses a knee kicker, your carpet may not be stretched in tight enough. Sometimes, in a very small room (10 x 10 or less) , a knee-kicker may be sufficient to get enough stretch.  Before you hire a carpet installer, ask if a power-stretcher is used.  If not, you may want to look for another carpet installer. Do you have carpet installer questions? Post your questions here!

What is the best carpet pad for concrete basements?

What is the best pad for concrete floors? What is the best pad for stairs? What about these new fancy pads like odor eating and moisture barrier? Are they worth having or just another carpet scam to get consumers to pay more for something they don’t really need.  What are your experiences with carpet padding?

My carpet installer ruined my carpet!

Have you had a bad experience with a carpet installer? Did they fail to install your carpet correctly? Does your carpet have wrinkles? Do your carpet seams look terrible? Do you have a carpet layer nightmare or experience? What was the final outcome? Tell all!