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CategoriesSelling Real EstateBuying Real Estate Market and Trends Homeownership Home Finance Acts of Agents RE Manners Staging The Examined LIfe Credit Ready Favorite LinksIncredible Agents.comArchivesMarch 2007The Art of Staging: A Vintage KitchenPosted at 5:22 AM, Mar. 30, 2007A kitchen does not need all the bells and whistles to have a positive effect. It does however need to address function and create an overall good feeling. Here is an example of a where you can focus on a kitchen's assets instead of the negatives and have appeal to buyers.
PROBLEM: This kitchen is vintage in design and lacks up-to-date appliances and features. Clutter was apparent in flow as well as in the pantry/storage areas.
SOLUTION! The first item on the agenda was to remove any restrictions to the room’s natural flow. The microwave was relocated to a baker’s rack next to the fridge instead of the stove which opened up the door way instantly. The pantry and countertops were scaled down and all items that were not regularly used were to be packed up and removed for a more organized, spacious appearance. Lastly, fresh fruit added just the right touch of color to accent the beautiful detail in the tiles along with simple art work that also played into the color theme and vintage appeal.
Five Things to Understand about Homeowners InsurancePosted at 4:43 AM, Mar. 29, 20071. Look for exclusions to coverage. For example, most insurance policies do not cover flood or earthquake damage as a standard item. These coverages must be bought separately.
2. Look for dollar limitations on claims. Even if you are covered for a risk, there may a limit on how much the insurer will pay. For example, many policies limit the amount paid for stolen jewelry unless items are insured separately.
3. Understand replacement cost. If your home is destroyed you’ll receive money to replace it only to the maximum of your coverage, so be sure your insurance is sufficient. This means that if your home is insured for $150,000 and it costs $180,000 to replace it, you’ll only receive $150,000.
4. Understand actual cash value. If you chose not to replace your home when it’s destroyed, you’ll receive replacement cost, less depreciation. This is called actual cash value.
Understand liability. Generally your homeowners insurance covers you for accidents that happen to other people on your property, including medical care, court costs, and awards by the court. However, there is usually an upper limit to the amount of coverage provided. Be sure that it’s sufficient if you have significant assets. www.REALTOR.org/realtormag Addapted and Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® . Copyright 2003. All rights reserved. { 0 comments } { add comment } { Permanent Link }
View more entries tagged with: Homeownership, Insurance People Will Not See Past Your Dirty UnderwearPosted at 4:21 AM, Mar. 28, 2007It never ceases to amaze me when I have to say this, but look sellers, buyers will not see past your dirty, smelly laundry. That means, pick up!!! I took a client out on Sunday and low and behold, came across my first nasty property for the day. The bachelor pad, the "I give my clothes the sniff test before I deem them unwearable" pad, the "just had the guys over for a poker night" pad. There we stood in the door way. Mouths gapping in horror. This was something that movies were made of. Right in the middle of the living room was what appeared to be a complete change of clothes, used mind you. Apparently, the owner was in such a rush out the door, he was unable to pick up his clothes and put them in the dirty laundry. Of course, when we discovered the dirty laundry, or should I say, it annouced itself by the smell, we couldn't imagine that as a better option. In the middle of the room was a discarded pizza box, no doubt last night's dinner (I hope!). Dirty dishes, dried food stains on the counter and a giant shark head in the closet to boot. From this point I could not even tell you much about the property. I have to say, I feel sorry for this agent. Or should I? If a seller plans (or doesn't plan) on at the very least, keeping the place picked up and devoid of nasty odors do us all a favor and not take the listing, unless of course you plan on warning us in advance in the remark section of the MLS with something like this..."Warning, this property is a violation to every sense you have". Sellers, if the only audience you wish to appeal to is your frat buddies (note, I do realize women can be just as messy!) don't waste a buyer's time. They are not going to see past your filth and admire the home for its potential, unless of course its the very last property on earth. { 0 comments } { add comment } { Permanent Link }
View more entries tagged with: Staging, Showings, Buyers, Sellers, Listings A Buyer's RealityPosted at 5:12 AM, Mar. 27, 2007Why is using an Agent so important in today’s Internet savvy market? Reality.
Most buyers assume the very purpose of using an agent is to help find that perfect home. With the evolution of search sites and IDX abilities on the Internet, that perception has begun to show some holes. Buyers are under the impression that as Realtors, what made us so valuable is our access to listings. With the change in times, anyone can pretty much access the MLS on line. Here is where the misconception lies. Having knowledge does not give you wisdom. Accessibility does not equate to skill.
First, let’s tackle what apparently is not obvious to the general public. The information you receive via your favorite resources such as the local papers, popular anti-agent sites and even brokerage firms that allow MLS searching in the privacy of your own home, lack a certain something. We call that something, Real Time. The information that is filtered to the public (and yes, it is filtered) can quite often be days, even weeks old and missing very relevant information.
My favorite example involves past buyer clients who were very much involved in the home search process. Now I certainly applaud the effort, but the truth be told, I began to sound like a broken record when clients would email or call inquiring about a property that sounded absolutely perfect and beaming with pride at their discovery only for me to bust their bubble with news that the house is under contract, off the market or having serious flaws in regards to their criteria.
Fact, information that is made public is for the purpose of attraction. Every ad you read from in the paper to online is about appealing to an audience. Home marketing is no different than a commercial. We have but a short amount of time to capture buyer’s attention. The nuts and bolts of the property are pretty much reserved for other agents. An agent will often be the interpreter of the small print. You know, that fabulous car deal that sounds to good to be true and after you have hauled yourself down on a Saturday afternoon, you listen patiently to the salesman’s pitch and about 2 hours later, you uncover that the great bargain you were planning on getting, you do not qualify for. Why? You didn’t read the small print. Let’s face it; no one is going to save you time, aggravation, and money by saying up front whether or not what it is you want fits with what they are selling.
Now the Internet certainly serves a greater purpose. I love it that it allows buyers to inevitably narrow down their search time under the guidance of a seasoned Realtor. I also love how it helps to give them a better sense of value, with limitations of course. What it doesn’t do is replace wisdom. An experienced agent will not only help filter unworthy and wasteful properties from your email-inbox, they will help you understand and weigh the pros and cons before each showing.
Unless of course you are one of those individuals who has nothing else better to do on the weekends then visit homes out of your price range, lack the features and amenities you require and have potentially serious design and location flaws.
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View more entries tagged with: Mls, Internet Search, Buyers Market, Home Buying Watch Your ThoughtsPosted at 4:17 PM, Mar. 26, 2007Watch your thoughts for they become your words... Watch your words for they become your actions.... Watch your actions for they become your habits... Watch your habits for they become your character... Watch your character for it becomes your destiny. joyce meyer The Art of Staging a Dining RoomPosted at 6:19 AM, Mar. 23, 2007We continue this series with an example of a formal dining room in a vintage home.
This dining room looked scarce and offered little interest to the eye.
Here you can see huge transformation by adding a few small details that add color, texture and invite guests to sit down and enjoy an evening of togetherness. The corner chest was moved to center the opposite wall and adorned with a piece of art for color. A large plant in the corner added texture to the room and the opposite corner displays a large serving plate and a station for drinks. The table was set minimally with chargers and napkins in a matching hue to the red drape across the windows. The finishing touches included a centerpiece for the table and simplification of the owner’s china collection
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View more entries tagged with: Staging, Selling, Preperation What Was SaidPosted at 5:44 AM, Mar. 22, 2007This week's thought is: The distance between the ears and the mouth depend greatly on interpretation and memory. { 0 comments } { add comment } { Permanent Link }
View more entries tagged with: Thought Of The Week, Quotes, Wisdom, Listening The Bungalow Chronicles Part 1Posted at 5:54 AM, Mar. 21, 2007 Like many optimistic homeowners out there, I join the ranks of those who renovate a home. My experience thus far ranges from the small to the large. Mostly because when we bought it, we knew upfront that the house needed updating not just from an aesthetics point of view, but also for function and growth. Here I will share with you how even someone in the real estate business suffers equally with finding competent help, working with dead lines and budgets, disillusionment, above all, exercising patience.
It is interesting how it begins. Hopefulness, desire, dreams of a better future, and for us what acted as our motivator, we believed in this house and all that it could be.
We purchased our home back in 2004. Similar to those I represent, the process was frightening and very stressful. I think I felt even more pressure to do right because of my profession. My family was counting on me to deliver. Even though I was fully aware of the potential pitfalls, I found that it shook my core when I was faced with specific negotiating items. Do I pass pushing certain issues that could eventually bite me in the behind? Or, do I take that leap of faith and trust that these items will get address in due time. It’s very hard to remain objective when you are in the center of things. This is where our journey begins.
Very first thing we did before moving in was refinishing the hardwood floors. We had a total of 4 rooms and a hallway that was in desperate need of a facelift. Certain rooms such as the two first floor bedrooms were quite atrocious. It had appeared as if some quick and sloppy job of staining the floors left them with uneven dark spots and what even appeared to be burns.
While trying to schedule that, we also removed the radiator heat and put in central heat and air. Now, I know the argument for which is the better source of heat is. Quite frankly, in order to enjoy any pleasure of central air (and I am not a person who enjoys sweating), we would have to go this route. To add what is called a sub Pac to an existing radiator heating source would still require eating into my floors and walls to run duct work AND cost about 4 times as much. Not to mention, my new home is not exactly massive in size so the current radiators were definitely space hogs. I kept trying to postpone the heating service waiting for a new Bungalow Initiative that credited homeowners with up to $2000 back towards their HVAC installation costs, however, at with only 3 weeks in the count down before I had to move in, time was running out.
So, between tearing out the radiators and adding a new HVAC system, we carefully (and stressfully) coordinated the two within the same time frame. If you are allowed this opportunity please do so. I strongly recommend any type of work that inhibits living conditions (and believe me, refinishing floors fits the bill, not to mention lack of heat) seize the moment before all else. You will be thankful. First rule of thumb, get estimates and don’t be shy with them. As a salesperson, I myself was becoming quite amused with the techniques presented to me of what I refer to as, the dance. Avoiding answering any substantial questions without a real commitment or conviction for that matter was a theme I was becoming more and more aware of. Don’t go for the cheapest for I believe something is being compromised and unless you are educated in that specific trade or skill, you won’t know what it is, or even to inquire about it. And don’t go for the most expensive. If the person who comes out to give you an estimate is a sales person and not the proprietor or the actual person doing the job, factor in the overhead.
I also find that if the person quickly finds something else to ask you about, such as whether or not something has been done recently, you can bet they are sizing up what else they can attempt to persuade you to purchase. It’s called, up selling. If they suggest additional work or materials, ask for it to be itemized separately from the original job quote and have them clearly state the pros and cons. Once they leave, Google it. There is a definite truism about home repair and improvement project proposals and estimates. Pricing can drastically vary, its up to you to figure out why.
Next week; siding, painting, and trim work.
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View more entries tagged with: Chicago Bungalows, Home Ownership, Home Repair, Home Improvement, Renovations Don't Overlook PreparationPosted at 5:49 AM, Mar. 20, 20075 Ways to Speed Up Your Sale
1. Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range.
2. Get your house market-ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.
3. Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you’ll find a seller.
4. Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.
5. Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, be prepared to lower your asking price.
Reprinted from Realtor Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of Realtors. Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.
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View more entries tagged with: Preparation, Selling, Staging The Art of Staging 1Posted at 6:00 AM, Mar. 19, 2007BEFORE AND AFTER STAGING
Well they say a picture speaks a thousand words. So what better way to illustrate the effect of staging by how it affects a buyer’s senses?
BEFORE
Here we have the before living room. This particular space was a bit challenging in layout for furniture placement. The nook where the couch is located is dark and uninviting and the wall art is small in scale to the space. In addition, though the unit did offer decent natural light, it was neither utilized nor maximized.
AFTER
Here we have added interest to the eye by adding wall art, enhanced lighting around the couch and simplifying the coffee table. We have rearranged the chair to angle more and therefore encourage conversation flow. We removed a small wall unit that was housing books and a stereo and relocated it to another room. Some plants were added to bring elements of nature indoors. Lastly, in front of the window we placed a small table decorated with interesting pieces belonging to the owner for color and effect, but mostly, to draw the eye’s attention towards the window that was now encouraged to allow the natural light in.
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View more entries tagged with: Home Staging, Open Houses, Selling Real Estate To refinance or not to refinance, that is the question!Posted at 4:55 AM, Mar. 16, 2007 My guest writer today is a wonderful Mortgage Broker (I personally use her!) who offers sound advise about whether or not to refinance.
To refinance or not to refinance, that is the question!
I receive dozens of phone calls from clients every week asking whether they should refinance their current home loans. There are many factors to take into consideration when refinancing and rates aren’t the only thing to consider. In fact the state of Illinois and several other states now require to all borrowers to sign what is called a “Tangible Benefits Disclosure” when refinancing. Under Illinois law, the new or refinanced loan must show reasonable, tangible net benefit to the borrower after taking into account the terms of the new and existing loans, the cost of the new loan and the borrower’s personal circumstances. Here are 5 reasons to refinance that make sense and offer a tangible benefit!
1) The obvious, but not the only reason to refinance, is to lower your interest rate and save money! If your in an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) and your rate has just adjusted or is about to adjust in the next few months, chances are your mortgage rate will adjust significantly higher. It’s time to consider refinancing into a Fixed rate or a new ARM, depending on your circumstances.
2) Another thing to consider is whether your credit score has greatly increased since you purchased your home. If your credit score was below 680, you had a bankruptcy or other derogatory credit, chances are that the interest rate you signed for was a little bit higher. Now is the time to check your score and see if you can refinance at a lower rate.
3) Consolidate your 1st and 2nd mortgages into one loan or get rid of Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). If you purchased a home and put no money down or less than 20% down, you likely have a 1st and 2nd combo loan also known as an 80/20 or 80/10/10 or you might be paying PMI. Now is the time to speak to a mortgage consultant and consolidate the 1st and 2nd loans or rid yourself of PMI and lower your monthly payments substantially.
4) Payoff those high interest credit cards. In January 2006, credit card companies doubled their minimum monthly payments from 2% to 4%. This means that if you had a credit card balance of $10,000 and payment of $200, your increased payment is now $400. If you were to refinance at a rate of 6% and payoff the $10,000 credit card debt, your payment would only increase some $60 per month.
5) Cash out your equity for home improvements or pay for college tuition. Instead of borrowing the money from credit cards or financing with home improvement companies, use the equity in your home to finance any needed home improvement projects. Also, if your children are nearing college age and you don’t have enough money socked up for tuition, consider setting up a college fund with the equity in your home.
When calling your Mortgage Consultant, check the above 5 points to determine whether there is a “tangible benefit” of refinancing your current loan; however, an experienced Mortgage Consultant will take the time to review your current terms verses the new terms and will show you what makes sense for your personal needs.
6565 N. Avondale Chicago, IL 60631 773-792-0000 phone 773-792-0002 fax
Marianne Mandel Sr. Loan Consultant { 1 comments } { add comment } { Permanent Link }
View more entries tagged with: Refinancing, Home Ownership, Credit The Power of BelievingPosted at 7:09 AM, Mar. 15, 2007You don’t become what you want-You become what you believe.{ 0 comments } { add comment } { Permanent Link }
View more entries tagged with: Quote Of The Day, Daily Word, Thoughts Buying a Home in a Special Service AreaPosted at 6:06 AM, Mar. 14, 2007What is a Special Service Area (SSA)?
New homes in an SSA may be priced and marketed at lower prices because the infrastructure costs are not built into the cost of the home. Instead, the infrastructure costs are paid annually by the homeowner through Special Service Area assessments. A Special Service Area (SSA) is a special taxing district created by an ordinance of a municipality or county, often at the request of developers of new housing subdivisions, to pass on the costs of new infrastructure (i.e. streets, landscaping, water lines and sewer systems) to homeowners who reside in the SSA. They also are created to pay for repairs and maintenance of existing infrastructure. The funds collected through these assessments pay off bonds that are issued to pay infrastructure costs. Special Service Area boundaries are established by the municipality or county and can be a neighborhood, an entire subdivision or even an entire municipality.
What are the purposes of creating an SSA
in a residential area?
There are three purposes for creating an SSA in residential areas:
• To pay for new infrastructure in a new subdivision
• To pay for the repairs and maintenance of existing infrastructure.
• To serve as a “fall-back” to pay for existing infrastructure in the event that a homeowners association dissolves and no longer maintain the infrastructure of the subdivision.
How is the assessment collected?
A Special Service Area assessment is a tax lien on the property. The assessment will appear on homeowner’s property tax bill as a line item that says, “Special Service Area Number X: $X, XXX.00.” Most assessments range from $1,000 to $3,000 per year with annual increases ranging from 2 to 5 percent. These assessments are typically done for a period of 20 to 30 years.
Is the assessment tax deductible?
Even though these assessments appear on your property tax bills, they are only tax deductible on federal income tax forms if they are for repairs or maintenance of existing infrastructure.
The assessments are NOT deductible if they are for NEW infrastructure.
It’s important to keep this in mind when buying a new home and considering all of your housing costs.
How do I know if a home is located in an SSA?
When searching for a new home, it is smart to check to see if the
home you are interested in purchasing is in an SSA. Here are ways to check:
If the house is a re-sale (not new construction), ask the seller for a copy of the latest property tax bill. The tax bill will have a separate line and dollar amount for the SSA. If there is a separate SSA line on the property tax bill with $0 listed, either the assessment has been prepaid or the SSA is a “fall-back” SSA. In a “fallback” SSA, the special assessments will start if the homeowners association fails and the municipality has to maintain the infrastructure. If the home is newly-constructed, there’s a greater chance that the property will be in an SSA.
ASK THE DEVELOPER IF THE HOME IS IN AN SSA.
Remember: the SSA assessments on new homes won’t appear on the property tax bills until the following year. Be sure to ask the developer or the sales agent if there is an estimate on the amount of the special assessment. It’s important to take this amount into consideration when reviewing your monthly housing costs should you purchase that new home.
• You can contact the county clerk’s office and give
. the clerk the home’s PIN or call the municipality and ask if that home is located in an SSA
THIS IS PUBLIC INFORMATION!
Follow-up questions:
– What is the life of the bond?
– How much is the current assessment?
– What is the percentage of the maximum increase each year?
– Will the municipality take over the maintenance of the infrastructure after the bond is paid?
Source: Illinois Assoication of Realtors
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View more entries tagged with: Home Ownership, Buying Real Estate, New Construction, Developers 8 Steps to Getting Your Finances in OrderPosted at 6:04 AM, Mar. 13, 2007
8. Establish a good credit history. Get a credit card and make payments by the due date. Do the same for all your other bills. Pay off the entire balance promptly.
Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of REALTORS. Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.
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View more entries tagged with: Home Financing, Home Buying, Mortgage Loans Single Women on the Rise in HomeownershipPosted at 8:31 AM, Mar. 12, 2007Here is subject matter near and dear to my heart. I love reading how women are taking a strong step forward towards financial independence and empowering themselves through homeownership!
SINGLE WOMEN TAKE NO. 2 SPOT IN HOME MARKET { 0 comments } { add comment } { Permanent Link }
View more entries tagged with: Women In Real Estate, Homeownership, Female Buyers The Six Steps of Home Improvement RecoveryPosted at 3:06 AM, Mar. 9, 2007If you have ever taken on a serious home renovation, these are stages you will recognize. For those of you about to embark, we salute you. Six Phases of a Project: { 0 comments } { add comment } { Permanent Link }
View more entries tagged with: Home Remodeling, Home Renovation, Home Improvements What Is Staging?Posted at 5:39 AM, Mar. 8, 2007When you get ready to place your home on the market for sale it becomes a product. Similar to a product on the shelf at your local store, the product has features and benefits as well as pluses and minuses, and competition. To compete with the competition in the marketplace you must be priced right and look better than the other products. Your home is no different, it is one of many homes for sale and you must present it, to the buyers, in the best possible light. Staging is the process of preparing any home for sale, regardless of price or location. Source: Barb Schwartz, founder of StagedHomes.com { 0 comments } { add comment } { Permanent Link }
View more entries tagged with: Staging, Home Preperatation, Home Selling What You Need To KnowPosted at 1:04 PM, Mar. 7, 2007What You Need To Know
There is never a comfortable time or place to discuss what I am about to. However, I feel it is very much in need of attention, serious attention, from every member of society, not just those with children.
If you follow the Oprah Winfrey show, last month on February 21st was a showing called Inside an Abducted Child’s Mind. To view the story click on below:
What makes this particular show so critical is that it challenges us all to take action by writing our Federal and State Government about changing the laws that currently are far too lenient on sexual predators. We need to bring this issue out from behind closed doors and make a united stand to protect our nation’s children. Damaged children grow up to be damaged adults. The list is endless when it comes to the emotional, physical and psychological effects sexual acts have on children. Some will be lucky enough to recover and move on, others will harvest a cancer of their spirit that impacts themselves and the world around them. These are the children that will become our future workers, employers, teachers, spouses, parents, and yes, in some cases, future predators. If that isn’t motivation enough, I can’t imagine what is. Here is an excerpt from the show with some compelling facts:
Ernie Allen is the co-founder and president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Since the center opened in 1984, it has helped recover more than 110,000 children.
· Of the more than 600,000 convicted and registered sex offenders living in the United States, 100,000 are missing.
· California is the state with the highest number of registered sex offenders at 109,000. Second is Texas, with 50,000. Ranking third is Michigan, with 40,000.
· Only 1 in 3 sexual offenses against children are ever reported.
· 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized in some way in the United States before they turn 18.
· Forty to 50 percent of those who victimize girls are family members, but only 10 to 20 percent of those who victimize boys are in the family.
· Ernie says this country suffers from a sense of denial when it comes to crimes against children, and that two laws need to be changed now.
Every single offender needs to be registered and law enforcement needs better tracking systems, Ernie says. Currently, Ernie says there are 31 states where failure to register is a mere misdemeanor. "These guys move around, and they take advantage of the inadequacies of the laws," Ernie says. "We know that these kinds of offenders represent the highest risk of reoffense. So at a minimum, we need to know where they are." You can start protecting your children today by simply writing a letter urging your congressman and governor to fully fund something called the Adam Walsh Act, named for the slain son of America's Most Wanted host John Walsh. "There is nothing that's a higher priority for America's moms and dads," Ernie says. "This is homeland security."
The legislation, just passed in Congress, makes it a federal felony when a convicted sex offender fails to register. It also creates a national website and database of these offenders, and charges marshals with tracking offenders. The Adam Walsh Act also makes it mandatory for each state to have consistent and uniform laws. Here’s How You Can Make a Difference
First go to the Congress site and type in your 5-digit zip code. You will receive results from both federal and state representatives. First choose Federal and select your U.S. Representatives. Check all that have public email, then copy and paste the email below in the text box with the subject heading and send! You will also be prompted to pick an issue: Choose first Children/Families and second prompt add Crime/Police. Repeat the same for State Representatives. It’s that easy.
SUBJECT MATTER: ADAM WALSH CHILD PROTECTION ACT
Dear Senator and Fellow Congressmen:
As your constituent, I am writing this letter to urge you and your colleagues to act swiftly to fully fund the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. The provisions of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act must be funded now so that law enforcement can protect children and communities from the scourge of convicted sex offenders:
I urge you to fully fund all of the mandates within the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. I am particularly concerned about the following:
1. To implement an effective and comprehensive national registry database and website of sex offenders.
2. To build capacity in the federal law enforcement system to enable law enforcement to track and capture noncompliant sex offenders and bring them to justice.
3. To implement a national DNA database so that law enforcement can accurately and promptly verify DNA evidence.
Citizens must have access to accurate and timely information regarding convicted sex offenders living in their community. The 50 states and the federal government must be afforded adequate resources to build and maintain an effective national sex offender database. A national sex offender database is a critical safeguard to protect America’s children and with each passing day that the provisions of this law are not funded, the danger to children is heightened. When information about the identity and whereabouts of convicted sex offenders is not accessible, accurate and verifiable, our communities are at grave risk.
I strongly urge you to act now to fund the mandates passed in the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act so that our children are kept safe from these dangerous predators and law enforcement has the necessary investigative resources.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent request.
Now do the same for the Governor:
SUBJECT MATTER: ADAM WALSH CHILD PROTECTION ACT
Dear Governor Blagojevich:
As your constituent, I am writing this letter to urge you and your appropriate state agencies to act swiftly to implement the state requirements under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. Although the Adam Walsh Act provided that states have three years to comply with the requirements, delay in implementing these changes will jeopardize the safety of children and the community. Law enforcement needs the resources to protect children and communities from the scourge of convicted sex offenders:
I urge you to fully implement all the state mandates within the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. I am particularly concerned about the following:
1. To implement an effective and comprehensive mechanism to verify the residence of the most high-risk sex offenders at least once every three months.
2. To collect DNA samples from sex offenders who have not already provided them to local law enforcement.
3. To complete fingerprint-based background checks on all foster and adoptive placements to ensure that foster children are placed in safe homes.
Citizens need access to accurate and timely information regarding convicted sex offenders living in their community. The 50 states and the federal government are responsible for building and maintaining an effective national sex offender database. A national sex offender database is a critical safeguard to protect America’s children and with each passing day that the provisions of this law are not implemented, the danger to children is heightened. The states are at the forefront to provide reliable information about the identity and whereabouts of convicted sex offenders. That information needs to be accessible, accurate and verifiable, or our communities are at grave risk.
I strongly urge you to act now to implement the state-directed mandates passed in the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act so that our children are kept safe from these dangerous predators and law enforcement has the necessary investigative resources.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent request.
By doing your part, we can help bring a long overdue change. Thank you.
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View more entries tagged with: Crime, Kids, Safety, Community The Meaning of Love?Posted at 3:00 AM, Mar. 6, 2007This was forwarded to me the other day and I can't help but want to share it. I view it as a reminder to keep things in perspective and that love is something you do, not what you feel.
Touching words from the mouth of babes. Home Improvements That Pay Their WayPosted at 4:12 AM, Mar. 5, 2007Here is a recent article from the Wall Street Journal that emphasizes the importance of budgeting a nominal amount to not only improve your home's energy performance, but stay on top of your home's natural wear and tear.
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