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How-To: Finding Your Property Lines

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:45:48 -0700

If you're putting a fence around your property, building a deck or an addition, or planting trees, it's important to know exactly where your property lies before you begin. There are several ways to determine your property lines.

Many property developers drive metal pegs into the corners of each property lot, about four to five feet underground. You can locate them by scanning a metal detector around what you think are the edges of the lot; rent one from a rental store or buy one.
You can also hire a licensed land surveyor to survey your property and mark the corners of your lot; this is the most accurate way. You can find a local surveyor online or in the Yellow Pages.
Your county assessor's office likely also has maps, including subdivision plat maps, that show property dimensions for most properties. If you call your county assessor's office, you may be able determine your property lines and find monuments or property stakes using map information and measurements. Be sure to look at the most recent map, as property lines may have changed between sales, and the land itself may have changed naturally.
If any of your adjacent neighbors have recently determined their property lines, you can ask them or their surveyor for their property line information, to give you at least one boundary.

Source

Five Tips For Increasing the Property Value of Your Home

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:15:09 -0700

In anticipation of the new TLC series Hope For Your Home, which premieres this Saturday, I thought I'd share with you host Kirsten Kemp Becker's five tips for increasing the value of your property. A veteran Realtor, author and real estate company, and owner of a successful design company, Becker knows a thing or two about acclimating your home to the current economic climate. Here's a few ways she says you can do so yourself:

Plants on the outside. "The most economic way to achieve curb appeal is by refining your landscaping at the front of your house and by making sure the front door is the focal point. Guests, buyers, and appraisers will take notice of the entry experience and homeowners/sellers need to establish that emotional connection from the moment they pull up to your home. Remember the details: trim weeds, fix broken screens, hide the trash cans from view, and plant some fresh flowers in prominent planters."

There's four more where this came from, so read more.

Paint on the inside. "The biggest transformation in the shortest period of time results from paint. It can lighten a room, create an accent wall, and provide flow from one space to another."
- "If you can't afford new lighting or higher ceilings try painting a neutral color on the walls and a shade lighter on the ceiling."
- "To give a room a focal point or create more drama around one wall, try your hand at some color by painting it a shade of chocolate or charcoal to achieve a designer's touch."
- "If you can't afford to remodel the entire house and change your floor plan to make each room transition smoothly, try using the same shade of paint in all the public areas and down hallways - consistency of tone adds a feeling of congruency and openness."

Kitchens and baths. "Invest time and money into updating kitchens and bathrooms, but it doesn't mean ripping it all out and starting over - you can enhance what is already there. Learn to distract buyers' eyes from that which is not perfect by directing them towards areas that have been completely updated. A coat of paint and new hardware on existing cabinets and bathroom vanities can instantly update dated countertops tiles and fixtures. Take it one step further by using epoxy over existing tile or regrout to avoid demolishing and installing new tile, which saves time and money."

Declutter. "Stick with the timeless tried and true paint colors, accessories, and furniture in order to maximize the length of time and enjoyment out of your investment. Paramount to this is how you maintain your home. There is nothing like clutter to bury a home's value. If a professional can't see the space, appreciate the finishes or easily navigate around personal belongings and oversized furniture, they can't appraise it or sell it for top dollar."

Clean, clean, then clean again. "Even if a house has a poor floor plan, limited landscaping, or outdated bathrooms and kitchens, everything looks more valuable when it is well maintained and dust free. Pride of ownership shines through in a house that is clean and well cared for, which translates into higher profits in a sale and more attractive loan options for a refinance."

Source and Source

Do You Live on a Lake?

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:00:43 -0700

Growing up, I was a two-minute walk to a beautiful lake behind our home. While our house wasn't technically "on" the lake, it was certainly close enough to take advantage of all it had to offer, from canoeing to fishing to swimming. Are you a lucky lake property owner?Source: Flickr User jcookfisher

4 Lip Balm Ingredients to Avoid

BellaSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0800

Are you constantly reapplying your lip balm, because no matter how much you put on, your lips just dry out again five minutes later? It could be that you're experiencing a lip balm ingredient to avoid. Many lip balms have ingredients that actually dry your lips out or have other negative properties. To find out whether your favorite gloss has a deal-breaker additive, just read more

Win Tickets to Watch The Saturdays Perform Live In London!

PopSugarUK — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Calling all UK-based Saturdays fans! To celebrate their new partnership with Impulse body spray "The Impulse Diaries", the girls are performing an exclusive gig in London and I've got two sets of three tickets for two lucky PopSugar Community members!

Simply leave a comment and you could win tickets to be part of the small audience at the show which will be held at London's Forum on the evening of Monday 7 December. The girls will perform their big hits as well as tracks from their new album, and the performance will be filmed for a special TV show! Please read the terms and conditions below carefully.

All you have to do to enter, is leave a comment before midnight (BST) on Sunday 29 November. Two winners will be selected at random to attend the gig with two guests each and will be contacted on Monday 30 November. You need to be a PopSugar Community member to enter, so if you're not already one and want to enter you MUST register for an account now. One entry per person; all repeat entries will be ignored. You must be logged in to make a comment and be eligible for the prize. Giveaway is open to UK residents aged 14 and over: please see the terms and conditions below for further rules regarding age requirements.

For terms and conditions, just read more.

Terms & Conditions

1. The Impulse Promotion is open to UK residents aged 14 and over.
2. If you are between the ages of 14 and 16 you must have obtained your parents' or guardian's consent before entering.
3. Each entrant may only enter the Competition once. No entrant may win more than one Prize.
4. Responsibility is not accepted for entries lost, damaged or delayed as a result of any network, computer hardware or software failure of any kind. Proof of sending will not be accepted as proof of receipt.
5. The tickets are not transferable, re-saleable or exchangeable. There is no cash alternative. The winner and attendee must be able to get to and from The Saturdays exclusive gig at the Forum in Kentish Town, London. If the winner or attendee is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian (over 21), must accompany them to, from and at the gig. To enter the gig, ticket holders must be at least 14 years old. The Promoter reserves the right to verify age of all ticket holders and refuse entry at the gig. The Promoter reserves the right to check that a parent or guardian (over 21) is present in a winners' group if one or more in the party is under 18. Anyone under the age of 18 who is attending the gig must have the permission of their parent(s) or guardian(s) to do so.
6. All winners will each be responsible for their own travel costs to attend The Saturdays gig and accommodation costs in London.
7. All entries will become the property of the Promoter. In consideration of the right to enter the Competition, each entrant automatically grants to the Promoter an irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free, world-wide licence for the full period of copyright to use, reproduce, alter, adapt or sub-licence their entry in any media in perpetuity.
8. All prizes are subject to availability. In the event of unforeseen circumstances the Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prizes for alternatives of equal or greater value.
9. The Promoter shall not be liable for any loss, damage or consequential damage of any nature in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise caused by acceptance of the terms and conditions or in connection with the prizes (except to the extent that death or any personal injury occurs as a result of the negligence of the Promoter).
10. The Promoter reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify or withdraw the prize of any entrant found to be tampering with the voting process for the Competition or to be acting in any manner deemed by the promoter to be in violation of the Terms and Conditions.
11. To claim their prize, winners must confirm their attendance and names of their friends attending. If the prize is unclaimed after this time, it will lapse and the Promoter reserves the right to offer the unclaimed prize to a substitute winner selected in accordance with these Impulse Promotion rules.
12. The winners' details (name and county) will be made available on request to those writing to "The Impulse Promotion, Mindshare UK Ltd, 40, Strand, London WC2N5RF" within ten weeks after the closing date, enclosing an SAE. Each entrant consents to the use of their personal details in accordance with this clause.
13. Winners may be required to participate in publicity arising from the Impulse Promotion.
14. By entering the Impulse Promotion, all entrants will be deemed to have accepted and be bound by the rules and consent to the transfer of their personal data to the Data Controller for the purposes of the administration of this Promotion and any other purposes to which the entrant has consented. All entry instructions form part of the rules.
15. The Promoter reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any point during the Promotion if circumstances outside our control make this unavoidable. Any amendments will be explained at the top of these Terms and Conditions.
16. These terms and conditions shall be governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction.
17. Prize draw is open to UK residents only.
18. Competition prize includes three tickets to an exclusive Saturdays performance on December 7, 2009 in London for each winner (two winners in total). No travel or accommodation is included. You MUST be able to get to London on December 7, 2009. No alternative prize will be offered if winner is unavailable.
19. One entry per PopSugar Community member.
20. The winning UK residents will be drawn at random on Monday 30 November, 2009.
Promoter and Data Controller: Unilever UK Limited, Unilever House Springfield Drive Leatherhead KT22 7GR

Good luck!

GeekSugar’s Submit Your Cool Captures to Win a CanvasPop Print Contest

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:23:17 -0800

GeekSugar’s Submit Your Cool Captures to Win a CanvasPop Print Contest

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MAKING A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. The GeekSugar’s Submit Your Cool Captures to Win a CanvasPop Print Contest (the “Contest”) is sponsored by Sugar Publishing, Inc. (owner and operator of geeksugar.com), having an address of 111 Sutter Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 (“Sponsor”).

ELIGIBILITY:
Open only to permanent legal U.S. residents physically residing in the fifty (50) United States of America and the District of Columbia. Employees of Sponsor and its respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising and promotion agencies and any other entity involved in the development or administration of this Contest, and their immediate family members or household members are not eligible to participate in or win the Contest. All prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians on their behalf. Winners may be required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and complete relevant tax forms as a condition to the delivery of the applicable prize. Void where prohibited by law. All applicable federal, state and local laws apply.

HOW TO ENTER:
No purchase is necessary to participate in the Contest. To enter, you must log into your profile at geeksugar.com or any PopSugar Network site (or register for a profile at http://www.onsugar.com/user/register), then join the Cool Capture group and share your image, the model of camera used to take the photo, and a short description about the image (see also detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups ) between 12:00am PDT on Monday, November 23, 2009 and 11:59pm PST on Sunday, December 6, 2009 (the “Entry Period”). Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means are void. Normal time, toll, connection and usage rates, if any, charged by your Internet service provider will apply. All entries become the property of the Sponsor.
By registering and entering your photo(s), you will be agreeing that your registration and any other information collected in connection with the Contest may be used by Sponsor in accordance with Sugar Publishing, Inc.’s Privacy Policy and may be shared with Sponsor’s affiliated business entities, and that you automatically opt-in to receive email, text messages or other communications from Sponsor. You may subsequently opt-out of the receipt of such email or communications by following the directions in the email, communications or by contacting Sponsor directly.
All registrations must include entrant's valid email address. The email address provided by online entrants will be the identity of the entrant and, if selected for a prize, the identity of the winner. We expressly reserve the right to disqualify any entries that we believe in good faith are generated by an automated program or via scripts. By participating, all entrants agree to abide by these Official Contest Rules.
SELECTION:
GeekSugar editors will select their top ten (10) entries from the photos submitted to the Cool Capture group as described on the entry page between between 12:00am PDT on Monday, November 23, 2009 and 11:59pm PST on Sunday, December 6, 2009 (the “Entry Period”). The top ten (10) entries will then be posted for PopSugar community members to vote on their favorite photo. The photo with the most votes during the voting period will be the winner. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting the entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the e-mail account is registered. The Contest will be conducted under the supervision of the Sponsor. The decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. The winners will be notified by email and/or by private message through the winner’s PopSugar community account; Sponsor reserves the right to determine the method of notification. Winners must claim their prize within three (3) business days after the date of notification of such prize. A Contest winner's failure to respond to the prize notification within the specified three (3) business days will be considered such Contest winner's forfeiture of the prize and an alternate winner may be selected from the pool of eligible entries. If an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternate winner may also be selected from the pool of eligible entries. Sponsor reserves the right to ship prizes directly to the email and/or mailing address provided by winners during their entry to the Contest. Each entry submitted in response to the Contest and in accordance with the rules will constitute an official entry. All entrants agree to abide by these Official Contest Rules. All entries become the property of the Sponsor.

PRIZES:
At the end of the Entry Period, there will be one (1) Grand Prize winner who will be awarded the grand prize of up to one (1) CanvasPop print of their choice, including all prints less then or equal in value to the 36x54,1.5” gallery wrap print (retail value: $329). Decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding with respect to all matters related to the Contest. All prizes will be awarded. In no event shall the Sponsor be obligated to award more prizes than the number of prizes stated in these Official Contest Rules. All prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians on their behalf. Winners shall be responsible and liable for all federal, state and local taxes on the value of their prize. To receive a complete list of winners or a copy of the Official Contest Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Prize Fulfillment, Sugar Inc., 111 Sutter Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104. Specify winner's list or rules on your request.
Please allow 6-8 weeks for prize delivery.

SELECTION:
The winning entry will be determjned by user voting after a selection of 10 final entries is made by our editors. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting the entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the e-mail account is registered. The Contest will be conducted under the supervision of the Sponsor. The decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. The winners will be notified by email and/or by private message through the winner’s teamsugar.com account; Sponsor reserves the right to determine the method of notification. Winners must claim their prize within three (3) business days after the date of notification of such prize. A Contest winner's failure to respond to the prize notification within the specified three (3) business days will be considered such Contest winner's forfeiture of the prize and an alternate winner may be selected based on the final user vote ranking. If an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternate winner may also be selected based on the final user vote ranking. Sponsor reserves the right to ship prizes directly to the email and/or mailing address provided by winners during their entry to the Contest. Each entry submitted in response to the Contest and in accordance with the rules will constitute an official entry. One entry per person. Duplicate entries will be void. All entrants agree to abide by these Official Contest Rules. All entries become the property of the Sponsor.

GENERAL CONDITIONS AND RELEASES:
An entrant or winner may be disqualified from the Contest if he or she fails to comply with each provision of these Official Contest Rules, as determined in the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Participation in the Contest is at entrant’s own risk. Sponsor shall not be liable for 1) failed, returned or misdirected notifications based on inaccurate information provided by the winner on the contest entry form, 2) entries and responses to winner notifications which are lost, late, incomplete, illegible, unintelligible, postage-due, misdirected, damaged or otherwise not received by the intended recipient in whole or in part or for computer or technical error of any kind, 3) any electronic miscommunications or failures, technical hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit an entrant's ability to participate in the Contest, 4) any technical malfunctions of the telephone network, computer on-line system, computer equipment, software, program malfunctions or other failures, delayed computer transactions or network connections that are human, mechanical or technical in nature, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from downloading any part of this Contest or 5) any warranty of fitness or merchantability of any prize or the function or operation thereof, which shall be the sole responsibility of the manufacturer of the prize. Sponsor does not make any, and hereby disclaim any and all, representations or warranties of any kind regarding any prize. Unless prohibited by applicable law, your entry constitutes your permission to use your name, photograph, likeness, voice, address (city and state) and testimonials in all media, in perpetuity, in any manner Sponsor deems appropriate for publicity purposes without any further compensation to such entrant. By entering or accepting a prize in the Contest, winners agree to be bound by these Official Contest Rules and to conform to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. When applicable, the winner (or, if the winner is a minor, the winner's parent or legal guardian) may be required to execute and return to Sponsor within ten (10) business days an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability and Publicity Release to be eligible for the prize or an alternate winner will be selected. Winner may be required to furnish proof of identity, address and birth date in order to receive a prize.
By entering, an entrant agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsor and its respective parents, subsidiaries and affiliated entities, directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents, and representatives from any damage, injury, death, loss, claim, action, demand, or other liability (collectively, “Claims”) that may arise from their acceptance, possession and/or use of any prize or their participation in this promotion, or from any misuse or malfunction of any prize awarded, regardless of whether such Claims, or knowledge of the facts constituting such Claims, exist at the time of entry or arise at any time thereafter. Any person attempting to defraud or in any way tamper with this Contest will be ineligible for prizes and may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Sponsor reserves the right to modify these Official Contest Rules in any way or at any time. Sponsor reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel or suspend this Contest should viruses, bugs or other causes beyond their control corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Contest. In the event of cancellation or suspension, Sugar shall promptly post a notice on the Contest entry page to such effect. This Contest shall be governed by California law. By participating in this contest, entrants agree that California courts shall have jurisdiction over any dispute or litigation arising from or relating to this Contest and that venue shall be only in San Francisco, California.

On the Market: Sleep in Edward Cullen's Bedroom

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:37:06 -0800

All right, Twilight fans, here's your chance to get a little closer to Edward Cullen. The Vancouver residence that the Cullens inhabit in the New Moon film is for sale for $3.3 million through Soprovich Realty.

The five-bedroom, four-bath home is a modernist's dream, with extensive use of glass and post and beam style throughout the soaring, open spaces. The fantastic views of the surrounding Pacific Northwest landscape only add to this home's considerable charm. According to the realtor's listing,

"The Cullen House" as seen in the recent world-wide hit saga - "Twilight: New moon"!! Arthur Erickson's finest and totally renovated in 2001, this award-winning residence is situated on a private 1/2 acre creekside property nestled amongst a gorgeous greenbelt and towering trees. Tastefully remodeled by Brian Hemingway, this home has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, with the finest detail and quality available.

The home features a private studio with koi pond, concrete, slate, wool carpet, and cherry floors, a chef's kitchen, cherry cabinets, granite countertops, 20-foot-high ceilings, an outdoor pool, and a huge media room overlooking a nearby creek. Absolutely gorgeous, for vampires and humans alike.

Take the complete tour when you read more.

This is not the same house used in Twilight. That house was designed by architect Jeff Kovel of Skylab Architecture. For New Moon, the filming was moved to Vancouver, BC, and the Erickson-designed house, which was also featured in the John Cusack film Martian Child, became the Cullen home for the second film in the Twilight saga.

View 18 Photos ›

This Just In: Two Andy Warhol Pop-erties Up for Grabs (Part II)

CasaSugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:00:33 -0700

You recently learned that two former homes of Andy Warhol are on the market, and I gave you details on (and showed you images of) one of the properties. While the other property may not cost you forty million, it's certainly a landmark, and has plenty of original architectural features. The property, listed at over $5.9 million, is an 8-room, 4-story Carnegie Hill townhouse, which he purchased in 1959, became known as the first of his "factories" in Manhattan.
According to the listing, he moved in there with his mother and "25 cats all named Sam," and lived there until 1974 (when he moved to the other UES property). The property is "one of six historic adjoined buildings designed by Henry J. Hardenbergh, renowned architect of the Plaza Hotel and the Dakota," and it is also the place where Warhol's "Campbell’s Soup series Brillo, the Do It Yourself and the Close Cover before Striking series, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley," were produced, and stars like Elizabeth Taylor visited. It features "a dramatic center staircase, high ceilings, fireplaces with original mantels, elegant moldings, magnificent woodwork, and hardwood floors." An NY Times article says that in the early '60s, the ground floor was used as his studio, where he propped up "his paint-by-number canvases against a large fireplace mantel in a wood-paneled room." Not bad, eh? I hope whoever purchases this property respects its cultural importance, or perhaps, makes it open to the public.

View 27 Photos ›

Source and Source

This Just In: Two Andy Warhol Pop-erties Up for Grabs

CasaSugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:30:47 -0700

According to Page Six, two of Andy Warhol's former Manhattan residences are on the market, under Corcoran listings. One of the properties is a 12-room, six-story Upper East Side house owned by former Viacom head Tom Freston, and has an asking price of $38.5 million. The pop icon "paid only $310,000 for the now-renovated 1910 townhouse," and "lived there from 1974 until his death in 1987." Amongst its "exceptional finishes and extraordinary architectural detail," it boasts "a master floor plus three additional master bedrooms, a wonderful library, living room, dining room, chef's kitchen, staff suite, gym and seven wood burning fireplaces," as well as an elevator, says the listing. Warhol is also honored by a plaque on the front of the building, placed there by the Historic Landmark Preservation Center. Stay tuned for details and lots (!) of photos of the other property up for grabs. Check out photos of this property below, and as always, feel free to make a bid if you don't mind spending 60 grand on annual taxes.

View 6 Photos ›

Source

Tips For Cleaning the Yard Without Breaking Your Back

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:30:53 -0800

The cool temps of Fall mean yard work for me. How about you? There are piles of fallen leaves to rake, and I also like to plant colorful flowers to brighten up the upcoming rainy Winter.

I'm sure many of you are knee-deep in yard work as well, and while it's a great way to burn some calories, you want to do it safely so you don't end up injuring your bod. Here are some tips.

Purchase a lightweight rake made out of plastic instead of metal. The plastic glides more easily on the grass compared to the metal, making less effort needed on your part.

When raking, keep your core stable and upright, and use your arms to pull the leaves toward you instead of hunching over. It'll tone your upper body and prevent pain in your back and neck.

If you have woods on your property, rake leaves into small piles that you carry away on a tarp. Don't try to pull too much at once, as that's a good way to strain a muscle. If you have to bag your leaves, bend your knees out to the sides and squat down to pick up piles instead of bending at your waist. This will work your booty and also prevent lower back pain.

If you have heavy things like tree stumps and rocks to clear off your lawn, use a wheelbarrow instead of carrying them yourself.

Bring a bottle of water outside and drink often. Even though you may not be at your gym, it's still a good workout.

Take breaks often. No need to do all three hours of lawn work at once. Do 20 minutes and then stretch for five. Also know when to call it a day. You can always do more yard work tomorrow.