July 04, 2008
Sheraton Edison Hotel Raritan Center Embarks on a Multi-Million Dollar Reinvention
Comprehensive Renovation Occurs in Unison with Sheraton Brand Revitalization
WASHINGTON (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) June 25, 2008 -- The Buccini/Pollin Group – a leading real estate development, management and ownership company, today announced plans for the extensive multi-million dollar renovation – or reinvention – of the Sheraton Edison Hotel Raritan Center. PM Hospitality Strategies, Inc. (PMHS), a hotel management affiliate of Buccini/Pollin, is spearheading the service delivery for the reinvention, while BPGS Construction is tasked with handling the construction completion. Furthermore, the reinvention is being completed in conjunction with Sheraton’s global effort to revitalize their brand with a comprehensive new design of lobbies and guests rooms. The Sheraton Edison will reopen in December 2008.
“We are thrilled to bring Edison and its clientele an innovative, completely reinvented first-class hotel worthy of the area’s history,” states Dave Pollin, President of Buccini/Pollin. “Our plans are extensive so that upon completion, the Sheraton Edison will be a premier business and leisure destination.”
Named for Thomas Edison's Menlo Park lab, Edison, NJ is home to over 400 inventions, including the light bulb, streetlight and the phonograph. Developed in the 1980’s, the Sheraton Edison Hotel Raritan Center was – and remains – one of New Jersey’s most notable hotels in the center of the largest business park east of the Mississippi River.
“Since we began managing the Sheraton Edison in November of 2007 for Buccini/Pollin, PMHS has been in constant contact with the hotel’s clientele,” states Greg Miller, President of PMHS. “From focus groups to demand-based research, the reinvented hotel is destined to be a product worthy of their vision.”
Highlights in the reinvention include a completely new lobby area that will feature a full-service Starbucks coffee outlet; Link @ Sheraton experienced with Microsoft® Internet café; an American-style bistro and upscale lounge and bar; and a fully updated audio/visual infrastructure in all meeting rooms. In the guestrooms, all 276 rooms will have completely new furnishings, flat panel HD TV’s, remodeled bathrooms, and new HVAC controls. Additionally, the Sheraton Edison will be one of the first hotels to be rolling out the Core Performance® (www.coreperformance.com) fitness programming designed specifically for Sheraton hotels.
The Sheraton Edison offers 12,000 square feet of versatile function space. Other amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor pool, spa and sauna.
Located in Edison, New Jersey, the Sheraton Edison is just 14 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport, a half hour from New York City and the scenic New Jersey Shore, and only minutes away from Staten Island. The 12-story hotel is easily accessible from Amtrak, the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Route 287, Route 440 and Route 1.
The hotel’s reinvention is expected to be completed by year-end 2008. For more information on the Sheraton Edison, please visit www.sheraton.com/edison.
ABOUT THE BUCCINI/POLLIN GROUP, INC. (Buccini/Pollin) – Buccini/Pollin is a privately held, full-service real estate acquisition, development and management company with offices in Washington, DC, Wilmington, DE, Philadelphia, PA, Baltimore, MD, New York, NY and Beijing, PRC. Formed in 1993, Buccini/Pollin develops and acquires hotel, office, residential, retail, and parking properties in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the United States. On behalf of its principals, investors and financial partners, Buccini/Pollin has acquired or developed real estate assets having a value in excess of $3.0 billion, including seven million square feet of office, flex office, and retail space in 69 buildings, 23 internationally branded hotels, and 9 major residential communities.
The principals of Buccini/Pollin, along with BPG Real Estate Partners, LLC (real estate investment funds), PM Hospitality Strategies, Inc. (hotel operating company), BPGS Construction, LLC (construction management) and BPG Real Estate Services, LLC (office and industrial property management and leasing), oversee all aspects of project acquisition, finance, construction, leasing, operations, and disposition for its portfolio properties. Buccini/Pollin's ability to rely on the expertise of its own in-house professionals for construction and management efficiencies is integral to the firm's success and its superior investment returns.
PM HOSPITALITY STRATEGIES, INC. (PMHS) is the hotel management affiliate of The Buccini/Pollin Group (Buccini/Pollin). Based in Washington, DC, the company manages all of Buccini/Pollin's hotel assets, providing development, technical consulting, on-site management, and accounting expertise.
Concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic, PMHS manages full-service and select-service hotels in the Hilton, Starwood, Marriott and Choice families of brands. Since the opening of its first hotel in 1996, PMHS has participated in the development and acquisition/renovation of 23 hotels with a market capitalization approaching $1 billion. PMHS is currently pursuing international growth, having recently opened an office in Beijing, PRC. PM Hospitalities Strategies, Inc. is a Starwood Preferred Management Company for Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, aloft and element brands.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:14 AM | Comments (0)
Quality First Home Improvement Inc. Opens Fourth Office in San Jose, CA
Quality First Home Improvement Inc continues to expand its territory, moving rapidly to becoming the largest exterior home improvement company in California.
Roseville, CA (PRWEB) June 25, 2008 -- Quality First Home Improvement Inc., an exterior home improvement specialist, is proud to announce the opening of its San Jose operation. This is the company's fourth location to date. The new office has a complete showroom, with a full construction, marketing, and sales team in place. "We are extremely excited about adding our new San Jose office to our growing roster. Now, together with our Vallejo office, we are able to effectively service the entire Northern California Bay area," said owner Gary Kluck.
Quality First is moving rapidly to become California's largest home improvement company. The company is planning to open three more offices in California this year, and a new heating & air division, to further increase its line of home improvement products.
Future plans include expansion into Nevada and Oregon, and adding additional energy saving "green" merchandise to its current line of environmental friendly products.
Quality First Home Improvement Inc., is a Diamond Certified licensed contractor specializing in a full line of exterior home improvements. The company's headquarters is located in Roseville, California, with branch offices located in Redding, Vallejo, and San Jose, CA. Quality First Home Improvements Inc., utilizes manufacturer certified installers, a full sales and marketing team, and has been rated as a Blue Chip contractor by Referred Excellence, a third party contractor rating company. More info: Call 1-800-859-7494 or visit: http://www.Qualityfirsthome.com
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:08 AM | Comments (0)
GPS Tracking Helps Beat Back Steep Fuel Costs
In an era of skyrocketing oil prices, a company's wisest investment for its fleet is a GPS tracking device, which can save thousands in fuel costs.
Fort Collins, CO (PRWEB) June 24, 2008 -- In an era of skyrocketing oil prices, a company's wisest investment for its fleet is a GPS tracking device, which can save thousands in fuel costs.
"When oil is hitting $140 a barrel and people are predicting prices as high as $200, it can be comforting to know that your vehicles are saving every drop of fuel possible," says Brad Borst of Rocky Mountain Tracking (RMT). "With RMT's numerous GPS tracking features, you can look forward to thousands of dollars in fuel savings every month."
The features of RMT's NavIQ GPS tracker software can, among other abilities, monitor vehicle speed. Every mile per hour increase above the optimum vehicle speed of 50 mph, results in increased fuel consumption by 1.5 percent. Users can also monitor idle time; half an hour of idle time dissipates an entire gallon of precious gasoline.
Most importantly, companies can track routing, ensuring that their vehicles are taking the shortest route between two points. NavIQ, RMT's flagship product, allows users to enter a destination address, find the closest vehicle to that address, and view a detailed map and text routes, with an option to search by fastest route and shortest route.
In addition, companies with employee take-home vehicles can cut down on unauthorized use, with NavIQ-generated graphs and reports of the dates, times and locations of all vehicle use
"For an average fleet of 10 vehicles, companies are saving as much as $8,000 per month with GPS tracking devices," says Borst. "In an economy like todays, every dollar counts, and fuel savings can give your company a genuine edge over the competition."
About Rocky Mountain Tracking, Inc.
Rocky Mountain Tracking was founded in 2003, and our headquarters are based in Fort Collins, Colorado. RMT employs experts who have more than 20 years of experience to develop, maintain, and continuously upgrade our state-of-the art tracking solution. RMT is one of the leading GPS tracking device providers in the United States. Rocky Mountain Tracking's team of experts developed NavIQ, a robust, yet economical fleet tracking software. This software is the foundation for our first-rate GPS vehicle tracking system selection. For more information, please visit http://www.RMTracking.com.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:08 AM | Comments (0)
Vancouver Tech Park Developer Recognized for Green Building Leadership - Discovery Parks Trust Building Certified under BOMA Go Green Program
Discovery Parks Trust was recently recognized by its peers for its corporate leadership in developing and managing environmentally responsible green buildings for BC's growing knowledge economy. Discovery Parks received BOMA Go Green Certification for its Gerald McGavin Building, which was built in 1996. The McGavin Building is a multi-tenant technology transfer facility located on the main campus of the University of British Columbia that provides offices and wet lab space for start-up companies in the technology and life sciences sectors.
Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) June 24, 2008 -- Discovery Parks Trust was recently recognized by its peers for its corporate leadership in developing and managing environmentally responsible green buildings for BC's growing knowledge economy. Discovery Parks received BOMA Go Green Certification for its Gerald McGavin Building, which was built in 1996. The McGavin Building is a multi-tenant technology transfer facility located on the main campus of the University of British Columbia that provides offices and wet lab space for start-up companies in the technology and life sciences sectors.
"Our use of best practices in building management means that our tenant companies can expect improved safety, health, comfort and employee productivity," stated Mark Betteridge, Executive Director and CEO of Discovery Parks. "These are important factors in the knowledge economy where worker shortages are making employee attraction and retention a significant problem for executives and policy makers."
"With the McGavin Building, we are showing that existing buildings can be made healthier and more energy efficient simply by being more conscientious about their ongoing operations, as well as the everyday choices made for preventative and upgrade maintenance. Beginning with the McGavin Building, we fully expect that all of our facilities will meet BOMA Go Green standards by 2010," said Jim Ross, Director of Tenant Services at Discovery Parks, and the lead for its BOMA Go Green certification program. "Aside from the operational efficiencies, which are very important in light of current energy prices, our green buildings provide an attractive home for progressive tenants looking to provide a pleasant and productive work environment for their teams."
While Discovery Parks has been building and managing high-performance buildings for a number of years, its DiscoveryGreen building will set a new standard for green buildings in Canada when it is completed in April 2009. Developed in partnership with Morguard Investments, DiscoveryGreen will add 150,000 square feet of healthy and socially responsible workspace to the Lower Mainland's tight commercial real estate market.
In keeping with its focus on innovative design, Discovery Parks is currently investigating the feasibility of an even greener commercial building design that will replace a significant amount of concrete with engineered wood products constructed from mountain pine beetle (MPB) wood. This new construction style has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by sequestering carbon within the wood while minimizing the use of Portland cement, the production of which is one of the largest single GHG emitters.
"As a partner in BC's Innovation Economy, it's only fitting that Discovery Parks will continue to push the boundaries of design to create buildings that are greener and healthier for our knowledge workers," stated Mark Betteridge.
About Discovery Parks Trust:
Discovery Parks Trust is BC's leading operator of office and laboratory research space for the technology and life sciences sectors. By housing spin‐off companies and those seeking to develop stronger relationships with post‐secondary institutions, Discovery Parks' multi‐tenant facilities provide an essential bridge between industry and academia in BC for knowledge and technology transfer.
A unique social enterprise, Discovery Parks is a private company with a public purpose. It has distributed more than $12.6 million of its operating profits to benefit academic research in BC. A leader in green building development, Discovery Parks built Canada's first LEED‐certified lab building in 2003 and is currently constructing DiscoveryGreen in Burnaby, BC.
In 2002, Discovery Parks was recognized by its peers with the Outstanding Research/Science Park Achievement Award from the Association of University Research Parks. Discovery Parks is also a key contributor to the BC Technology Industry Scholarship Fund, supporting young scientists and technologists in their academic endeavours.
About BOMA Go Green:
The BOMA Go Green program is a national environmental recognition and certification program for commercial buildings in Canada. The program is designed, developed and administered by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada and by BOMA local associations across the country such as BOMA BC. To achieve BOMA Go Green certification, environmentally responsive policies must be established to address key aspects of building operations including energy use, water use, construction waste, recycling, hazardous materials, material selection, ozone depleting substances, indoor air quality, HVAC maintenance and tenant communications.
For more information, please contact:
Mark Betteridge, Executive Director & CEO
Discovery Parks Trust
604-734-7275
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:06 AM | Comments (0)
Basic Concepts Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary with New Website Launch
Basic Concepts, Inc. has expanded its spill containment berm website with the addition of product pages highlighting the economical All Terrain Berm (ATB), Modular Channel Berm, Sentry Wash Down Spill Pad, Fail Safe Plus Spill Berm as well as other new spill control products.
(PRWEB) June 24, 2008 -- Basic Concepts, Inc. has expanded its spill containment berm website with the addition of product pages highlighting the economical All Terrain Berm (ATB), Modular Channel Berm, Sentry Wash Down Spill Pad, Fail Safe Plus Spill Berm as well as other new spill control products.
The All Terrain Berm (patent pending), is the ideal solution for portable, large volume liquid storage. Applications include disaster relief, construction sites, industrial above ground storage tanks (ASTs) containment and the unit may also be used as secondary containment of fuel bladders and waste water bladders. Make sure you watch the Catastrophic Bladder Failure test at Ft. Lee, Virgina where the All Terrain Berm undergoes a worst case scenario test and performs successfully. A link to the video can be found on the All Terrain Berm product page.
The Sentry Wash Down Spill Pad is designed for the mobile wash market. Designed to assist in collecting wash water and prevent it from going down storm drains, the Sentry Wash Down Spill Pad is an effective tool in meeting strict storm water regulations.
The patented Modular Channel Berm provides full site spill containment under pipes, hoses and fittings. The Modular Channel Berm has been helpful with SPCC compliance at oil refineries and portable fueling stations with the U.S. Military.
Developed with the U.S. Military, the Fail Safe™ Plus Spill Berm is a natural line extension to Basic Concepts' spill berm offering. The Fail Safe™ Plus Spill Berm is designed to be deployed where tight turning radiuses exist. The lay flat design of the Fail Safe™ Plus Spill Berm offers the user the ability to drive onto the spill berm from any direction without damaging the side wall. Floatation along the side walls floats the walls up in the event of a spill. The lay flat design is also advantageous in high wind areas.
Additional features of the new user friendly website include a gallery area of spill containment application photos, an informative “How to Buy” page for Government customers and new video of several spill control products in use.
About Basic Concepts
Basic Concepts is a World War II veteran owned small business that manufactures environmental spill containment products. Founded in 1988, the company is celebrating its 20th year of serving a global market one customer at a time. Want to know more about Basic Concepts and its full line of secondary containment berms and oil spill products? Please contact Basic Concepts, Inc, 1310 Harris Bridge Rd, Anderson, SC 29621, telephone 1-800-285-4203 or visit the company website at www.basicconcepts.com.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:06 AM | Comments (0)
The Secret To Building Luxurious Wine Cellars, At A Fraction Of The Time And Labor Costs…
Step by step instructions on building luxurious faux stone wine cellars, with a fraction of the time and labor costs of traditional stone building materials. Texture plus manufactured faux stone panels boost efficiency for both professionals and do it yourselfers alike.
(PRWEB) June 24, 2008 -- Looking for an affordable, do-it-yourself project to add charm and sophistication to your home or restaurant? Look no further! With these instructions and our easy-to-install Texture Plus® faux stone panels, you'll be able to build a classically romantic wine cellar in time for tonight's dinner party.
What You'll Need
Texture Plus® faux stone panels are easily installed using tools found in almost everyone's toolbox. Here's what you'll need to get started:
Screws
Construction Adhesive/Glue (we recommend PL® Premium Construction Adhesive)
Screwdriver (battery-operated/electric preferred)
Sandpaper or sanding block
Caulking gun
Texture Plus® color-matched caulk
Getting Started
Texture Plus® simulated stone siding should be installed on solid backing. To install faux panels, simply run a bead of adhesive along the back of each faux stone panel and at each end. Make sure to spread the adhesive with a spackle knife or other appropriate tool. Use enough adhesive so that the entire surface of the cut edge at each end is covered. We strongly recommend use of construction adhesive and screws in every joint. All joints should be butt joints on straight runs and mitered joints in corners.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Begin by installing the interlocking faux stone panels on the lower right side of the wall. Trim the "fingers" to create a straight edge. To install the faux stone siding, use glue and fasteners. Next, slide the next panel into the first. Dry fit the panel first without any adhesive to make sure it aligns properly. If you need to make any adjustments, you can trim or sand the faux stone panel to create a tighter fit. The next step is to apply adhesive and install the rest of this course of stone panels. When you reach the end on the left hand side, trim the panel at the appropriate point. Take the leftover piece and bring it to the right side and stack it on top of the previous level. This will help you offset the point where the panels join. Continue until you have covered the entire area. For a final finish, use Texture Plus® color-matched caulk to fill all screw holes and space in the WeatherSeal joint. Smooth caulk and wipe away any excess (a wet rag works well) and finish the seams of the wall to complete the project.
Helpful Hints
To save even more time while working with extraordinarily realistic Texture Plus® simulated siding, try these helpful hints from the experts!
We recommend using PL® Premium Construction Adhesive during installation.
Store Texture Plus® faux panels at room temperature or cooler and they will be immediately ready for installation.
Also, you'll want to store Texture Plus® faux brick and faux stone panels on a flat surface in order to avoid 'bowing'.
Whether your restaurant's having an exclusive wine tasting service, or your entertaining friends and family from the comfort of your own home, an elegant faux stone wine cellar adds instant prestige to your dining décor. Now, with the help of extraordinarily realistic faux stone panels direct from Texture Plus®, you can create you're own luxurious wine cellar with less time and labor than you ever imagined possible.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:03 AM | Comments (0)
Children of America Educational Childcare Centers Launches the COA Radio Channel Powered by BAM Radio Network
LOS ANGELES (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) June 24, 2008 -- BAM Radio Network (BRN), a joint project of Moving & Learning and Jackstreet Media, has announced an agreement with Children of America Educational Childcare Centers (www.childrenofamerica.com) to launch the COA Radio Channel. The new channel is being offered to help the families of the company’s current and future centers better understand their children’s needs at every stage of their development from birth through age 8. Now available at www.childrenofamerica.com/parents.cfm, COA Radio will nanocast BRN’s premier program, Body, Mind and Child (www.bodymindandchild.com) hosted by Rae Pica, a 30-year veteran in the field of early childhood education. The program offers insightful discussions with the nation’s leading experts on the issues parent and teachers care about most.
“Children of America is building their chain of educational centers on the best practices in the field of child development,” said Pica. “By launching COA Radio they have moved to help parents become better co-educators of their children, setting themselves apart in the crowded field of early education programs.”
Dr. Vicki Folds, vice president of education and professional development at Children of America, states, "We are very excited and pleased to announce our partnership with Body, Mind and Child in providing relevant and current podcasts that connect our families to early childhood topics and resources."
About Children of America
Founded in 1999, Florida-based Children of America is a leading provider of high-quality childcare and after-school programs with 16 centers in Pennsylvania and Virginia and nine additional centers in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania scheduled to open by the end of year. The company has signed 40 leases over the past year and anticipates signing 50 additional leases slated for execution in 2009 that will launch the opening of several new markets including Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin.
An industry pioneer, Children of America’s curriculums are developed to accommodate key age ranges and include innovative teaching methods such as “Tray Tasking,” a learning tool proven to promote early reading and writing skills. Children of America is a subsidiary of World Wide Child Care Corp. (WWCC), formerly known as International Child Care Corp. (ICCR).
About BAM Radio Network
The BAM Radio Network was launched to address the severe imbalance in parenting practices caused by the "commercialization of parenting" and the emphasis on intellectual development that excludes the critical role of the mind/body connection in early childhood. Created by leading early childhood experts, the programming challenges the popular genre of parenting notions that has given rise to commercial products like Baby Einstein, Brainy Baby and lapware, all of which claim to accelerate a child's mental development in the face of science that suggests otherwise. The network is a joint venture between New Hampshire-based Moving & Learning and Los Angeles-based Jackstreet Media Ventures LLC. The program is distributed through the Affiliate Nanocasting Network.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:03 AM | Comments (0)
Tampa Condominium Development to Introduce European-Style, Clothing-Optional Pool
Eden Brings South Beach Style to Florida's West Coast
TAMPA, Fla. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) June 24, 2008 -- Eden, formerly known as Arbors at Branch Creek, has announced plans to add a European, South Beach-style, clothing-optional pool to its list of amenities. Sales of Eden's 390 units launch this month with prices ranging from $170,000 to $385,000. According to Christine Pirkle, Eden's director of sales, the addition of the pool came in response to a growing demand for properties that offer adults-only recreational areas.
While clothing-optional swimming and sunbathing has been commonplace in Europe for decades, it's only recently become more appreciated in the U.S. Las Vegas hotspots like Caesars Palace, Mandalay Bay, the Wynn, MGM Grand and the Mirage have added adults-only European-style pools in recent years. In Miami, topless sunbathing on South Beach and nude sunbathing at North Beach’s Haulover has long been a draw. In fact, according to the American Association for Nude Recreation, the economic impact of clothing-optional travel contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to the U.S. economy annually.
"We know there are people, including many of our current residents, who will enjoy this amenity," said Pirkle. "Although clothing-optional recreational facilities have become more widely accepted, they are not always easily accessible to those seeking them. We see our pool as an attractive selling point for those who appreciate having the choice of a family pool and an adults-only clothing-optional pool.”
The European-style pool is scheduled to open by the end of 2008 following considerable landscaping upgrades to make the facility completely private from the community's other common areas. Additional privacy measures will also be added. Other renovations will give Eden a decidedly more sophisticated feel. "Our renovations include a transformation of the clubhouse into an edgy, chic, South Beach-style lounge, and we are bringing South Beach's sexy vibe to the pool with the addition of tropical poolside cabanas, lush landscaping and a state-of-the-art sound system," stated Pirkle.
Unlike other clothing-optional resorts in the area that cater to families, Eden’s European-style pool will be its only clothing-optional area and will be restricted to residents age 18 and older. A second pool on the property will also be upgraded and will maintain existing rules prohibiting excess exposure. For more information, please visit www.EdenTampa.com.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:03 AM | Comments (0)
Home Owners Find Reliable Home Improvement Experts with Confidence
Home Improvement Expo's free web service guarantees home owners that a qualified local expert will call them back immediately after a quick 3 step process
LYNBROOK, N.Y. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) June 24, 2008 -- Home Improvement Expo.com, is proud to announce the launch of its completely updated free contractor recommendation service. The online service has been updated to give home owners even more confidence when selecting a local expert.
www.HomeImprovementExpo.com is the country’s ONLY contractor directory GUARANTEEING consumers an IMMEDIATE call back from a qualified, licensed and insured local home improvement expert. The service works in 3 easy steps. Step 1, the consumer chooses their project category and enters their Zip Code; Step 2, the consumer enters their project details and; Step 3, the consumer is presented with a pre-qualified local contractor’s profile, who will then contact the consumer immediately.
“What sets Home Improvement Expo apart from other services is that we consider the home owners needs paramount. Unlike our competition, we only pass the consumer’s information to the matched contractor. We do not sell consumer information to additional contractors or any third parties, eliminating the hassle of unwanted telephone calls,” says Avi Klinger, President & CEO of www.HomeImprovementExpo.com.
The new Home Improvement Expo website does all the work for the home owner, eliminating any guesswork when searching for a qualified contractor. “Deciding on a project, whether a small plumbing fix or a major home renovation, affects a consumer’s largest asset—their home. We are doing most of the work required in selecting the ‘best’ contractor for our consumers and we take our responsibility very seriously. This is why it is so important that whoever we recommend has the right credentials,” says Matt Hansman, Vice-President of Sales, www.HomeImprovementExpo.com.
“Our new website provides consumers improved functionality, which allows them to get contacted by a local contracting expert immediately. We require that all recommended contractors immediately respond to consumer requests. Contractors failing to adhere to this requirement may risk their membership with our service. After all, home owners deserve a quick response that address their needs,” says Klinger.
All contractors are certified with the Home Improvement Expo 'Seal of Approval ' and must maintain a minimum 3 out of 4 star rating based on consumer feedback. Home Improvement Expo membership requires: state and local licensing; general liability insurance; a minimum 2 years of professionally servicing consumers; and a thorough background check.
The new www.HomeImprovementExpo.com has added an expanded contractor profile section which enables consumers to learn about their recommended contractor's achievements through photos and videos. “Our new presentation format shows the expert craftsmanship you can expect, helping to build confidence with your recommended contractor,” says Hansman.
Additional website enhancements include real-time home owner requests delivered via email and text message, enabling contractors to respond to service requests instantly. According to Klinger, “real-time forwarding of exclusive consumer information to a contractor means that a consumer can now be contacted by a contractor in minutes, instead of hours or even days, as is common with our competition.”
About Home Improvement Expo
www.HomeImprovementExpo.com headquartered in Lynbrook, NY, has been recommending certified local contractors to consumers since 2006. Home Improvement Expo’s free web service quickly connects homeowners to certified and reliable contractors who are able to meet their precise home improvement needs. The simple three-step process concludes with an immediate call-back from a qualified contractor. All contractors are thoroughly pre-screened and then certified by Home Improvement Expo before being recommended to consumers. Now, every time a consumer needs to make a home improvement decision, they have the best local contractor to consult with—a Home Improvement Expo recommended contractor. HomeImprovementExpo.com is a division of Contractor Services Network, LLC a full service portal for contractors.
Keyword Tags:
contractor, home improvement, home owners
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Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:02 AM | Comments (0)
Find Bargain Real Estate Online on Fizber.com
It's a good time to go bargain hunting for worthwhile foreclosed properties in your area
Miami Beach, FL (PRWEB) June 24, 2008 -- FSBO website Fizber.com has recently entered into a private-label agreement with Foreclosure.com, provider of the most comprehensive, up-to-date residential foreclosure property information in the United States.
Fizber.com has selected Foreclosure.com to be the website's sole provider of national residential foreclosure data, under a private-label agreement. Fizber.com is one of a growing number of FSBO websites that rely on Foreclosure.com for the latest foreclosure information.
"We've recently signed a private label agreement with Foreclosure.com and buyers can now search approximately 600,000 foreclosures on Fizber.foreclosure.com," said Julia Foster, Fizber.com VP of Marketing. "They can browse by state, city or zip code; compare prices against average listing and sale prices, and more. We're pleased to be building upon our existing successful co-brand partnership with Foreclosure.com"
About Foreclosure.com:
Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Foreclosure.com is committed to delivering the most comprehensive, up-to-date database of residential foreclosure properties in the United States to its customers and business partners through its cost-effective, Web-based subscription service. With established relationships with hundreds of the top lending institutions and government agencies, the company has access to the nation's largest inventory of residential foreclosure real estate, including Real Estate-Owned (REO) properties; Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Fannie Mae, and other government agency and financial institution properties; as well as listings from an extensive network of corporate sellers. On the Net: http://www.foreclosure.com/
About Fizber.com:
Fizber.com is a real estate search engine that provides buyers with the most accurate listings and information possible so that they can make an educated decision based on their search. House hunters use Fizber.com to find real estate, homes for sale, recently sold properties, local school, neighborhood information and much more. Whether you are looking to buy, rent, or lease, Fizber.com provides you with for sale by owner classifieds, foreclosures, and Realtor listings all in one place.
Sellers choose Fizber.com to get the ultimate exposure online; with Fizber, sellers make an ad once, and it's automatically submitted to the 80 web's leading classified sites, enabling homeowners to reap a response that far outweighs the effort they put in. Join Talk.Fizber.com - recently launched Fizber Social Networking Platform.
Visit www.Fizber.com for more information.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:01 AM | Comments (0)
Americas Watchdog Expands Investigation Of Zurn Plumbing Fittings Failing in Homes Nationwide
Americas Watchdog and its Homeowners Consumer Center have just announced the expansion of a nationwide investigation of Zurn brass plumbing fittings. The Homeowners Consumer Center's investigation is aimed at discovering if homeowners have had a Zurn plumbing fitting failure in their home. In this event, they should contact the Homeowners Consumer Center immediately at 866-714-6466. The group would especially like to hear from plumbers or plumbing contractors who have experience with Zurn plumbing products or specific knowledge of failures.
(PRWEB) June 24, 2008 -- Americas Watchdog and its Homeowners Consumer Center is advancing an expaned nationwide investigation into Zurn brass plumbing fittings. The reason the group is investigating Zurn plumbing fittings is because these plumbing parts have been failing in peoples homes accross the US. A class action lawsuit has been filed related to this matter (Case # 07-3652 (ADM) RLE).
The focus of the expanded national investigation is to discover if a plumber or a plumbing contractor has specific information about a Zurn brass plumbing part, or Zurn brass fitting failure. Plumbers with specific information about the Zurn plumbing fittings should contact the Homeowners Consumer immediately at 866-714-6466.
So what is the possible issue with Zurn plumbing fittings?
According to Americas Watchdog, the possible issue with Zurn plumbing fittings involves premature cracking or leaking of Zurn plumbing fittings. Zurn's brass fittings are used in its plastic pipe system, known as a pex system ("PEX"). The fittings have failed prematurely across the country, causing Zurn to stop selling the brass fittings in some areas. The fittings are failing because of stress corrosion cracking and/or dezincification. Zurn blames "aggressive water" even though the fittings have failed on city water and many other types of drinking water supply sources. According to the group, "What scares us the most is there are literally millions of Zurn plumbing fittings that have been used across the U.S. in the last six years & the average homeowner would never know."
Zurn's fittings do not say Zurn on them; instead they say "Q" or "Q pex.
The Law Firm Of Larson King has filed class action lawsuits in several states. Specific information can be gathered by visiting their web site at www.zurnclassaction.com.
The Homeowners Consumer Center's investigation is very interested in hearing from plumbers, plumbing contractors or homeowners in any state.
Plumbers who have experience repairing Zurn Plumbing Fittings should call the Homeowners Consumer Center at 866-714-6566
The group believes possibly millions of Zurn defective plumbing fittings have been used across the U.S. Plumbers who have made repairs to properties with Zurn brass fittings should contact the Homeowners Consumer Center. Individual homeowners who may have the Zurn bass fittings in their home should contact the Homeowners Consumer Center immediately. Homeowners or plumbers can contact the Homeowners Consumer Center anytime at 866-714-6466. The Homeowners Consumer Center's web site is located at http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.com.
Americas Watchdog and its Homeowners Consumer Center are all about consumer protection and corporate responsibility.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:56 AM | Comments (0)
Are Contractors An Endangered Species ?
Thecontractorsside.com announces a members-only contest whereby the best story of a contractor-client problem as viewed by the contractor wins a business coaching session valued at one thousand dollars. Qualified judges from every corner of the country and from the heartland will examine and select the entries. End date of submissions is July 8, 2008. Winner will be revealed on Michael King's Home Talk USA Saturday July 20th at 9:30 am CDT.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 24, 2008 -- Polar bears were just granted "endangered species" classification, and while it's probably a good thing, the certification does little to help another endangered species: the contractor. "It is not hyperbole to assert that the contractor in the United States, and in the world, in general, is being moved, one step at a time, towards extinction," so says Lee W, Dodson, owner of thecontractorsside.com, a resource site for the worldwide construction industry.
The Los Angeles Times has noted recently that "the supply of good contractors is twenty years behind the demand," and yet those who enter the profession have become the most maligned of businesspeople.
In its efforts to gain recognition of the contributions of the small contractor, thecontractorsside.com has worked to reveal the true nature of the business climate for one of the prime ingredients to the economy.
To further that effort, thecontractorsside.com has launched:
Dirty Rotten Client Event
Overview:
thecontractorsside.com in association with BUILDERnews Magazine and filthyrichcontractor.com will give a business consultation to one contractor or contracting business who writes the most interesting story of their encounter with a bad client, supplier, official, or another contractor.
The business consultation will consist of a two hour evaluation of the contractor's business and set up of a viable business model, then it will followed up by two one-hour follow up consultations to make sure the model works.
The consultation will be conducted by Ron Roberts of filthyrichcontractor.com, a well-known and respected business model consultant dedicated to the particular style of the construction business.
The discounted value of the program, available to members of thecontractorsside.com, is $1000.00, and Ron has testimonials that say it's worth $100,000.00 if the construction business is in trouble. By registering on thecontractorsside.com and posting the experience the poster gets it free.
The story does not have to be well written, but it does have to lay out the facts of the business relationship. With well over a hundred years aggregate experience in construction, the event will be judged by people who know the business, a panel of nine regular people from all over the country connected to the business:
buildernewsmag.com
HomeTalkUSA.com
contractors-united.com
4allcontractors.com
filthyrichcontractor.com
AEHCC.com
ondemandcreations.com
thecontractorsside.com
helloworld.com/srstgary
In addition to the opportunity to get the best advice keyed to your particular business, thecontractorsside.com has arranged with BUILDERnews magazine to give a free one year online subscription to the publication to each registered user of thecontractorsside.com up to ten thousand new users or repeat posters.
The magazine is a terrific source for business info, well produced, smart, and professional. It could end up to be the best source for industry news and comment this year. If subscribed to, the year price would be $48.80, by registering and entering, the DIRTY ROTTEN CLIENT gets it delivered monthly right to the poster's computer.
Here's How:
Go onto thecontractorsside.com.
Register. Participation is limited to new registers or repeat posters
Fill out the form.
The poster tells the story. Keeps it clean and factual. Tells what happened. Tells what the problem did to his or her business, what it cost both financially and personally.
Anonymous postings may be requested.
Every post is read and evaluated according to a point system.
Early entry is advised as the competition closes July 8th.
The winner will be announced on Michael King's Home Talk USA Saturday July 20th at 9:30 am CDT. Only one person will know the name of the voted winner, and she will reveal it to Michael King on the air.
Other prizes may be awarded to runners up the same day and time.
Digital BUILDERnews subscriptions will be awarded on a first come, first served basis up to 10,000, and will be automatically subscribed to the email address on the registration page.
If you drive on it, work in it, or live in it, a contractor built it.
"This project is designed to bring the downs of the business out of the shadows," said
Dodson. "We're particularly grateful that publications like BUILDERnews see the problem and are providing tangible support. As we are for the Michael King of Home Talk USA, and the other judges of the event."
Will anybody listen?
"We believe so, but this one project will not be our last stand. We have a couple of other surprises coming within the month." Dodson grinned. "We're waking our members up to the power of the internet. Should be interesting. The market is smart, we want the contractors to get just as smart."
A subsidiary of
Skoshi Tiger, Inc
LEE W. DODSON
323/441-9277 Fax
thecontractorsside @ gmail.com
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:56 AM | Comments (0)
NetGain Follows Web 2.0 to Dramatic Gains in Internet Reach for Commercial Real Estate Investing
NetGainRealEstate.com sees 60 percent growth in worldwide cities accessing Web site.
Mountain View, CA (PRWEB) June 23, 2008 -- NetGainRealEstate.com, the leading independent website providing value-added information for real estate investing, has reported striking growth since embarking on a Web 2.0 socialization program.
As part of a two year business plan, NetGain recently embarked on a campaign to provide users with opportunities to share, interact, and contribute content on the subject of income property analysis. The goal is a global investment community sharing their knowledge and experience with one another.
According to Google Analytics, since embracing Web 2.0 approaches earlier this month, NetGain's Internet reach to countries has increased by 50 percent to 74 and Internet reach to cities has increased 60 percent to 795.
NetGain's co-founder Allen Cymrot states, "There is a thirst in the international income property community for independent, unbiased, value-added information. NetGain's effective response to this need delivered in a dynamic and interactive environment has proven to be an advantageous attraction that transcends borders."
The company's core products consist of regular written analysis of commercial real estate investing, online due diligence for minimizing risk and maximizing ROI on income property, and cap rate recommendations based on three leading economic indicators.
Founded in Mountain View, CA in 2005, NetGainRealEstate.com was established on the premise that investors and others in the real estate world will find value from a steady stream of value-added information that is unbiased, clear and meaningful.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:53 AM | Comments (0)
Palm Coast, Florida Real Estate Market Gains Strength
If real estate had a beta index to measure volatility like the stock market, Palm Coast's beta would be high. Palm Coast real estate peaked sooner and reaching bottom earlier than the rest of the market, according to real estate news website, GoToby.com.
Palm Coast, FL (PRWEB) June 23, 2008 -- The volatile estate market in Palm Coast and Flagler County, Florida has been driven by population growth. Flagler was the second fastest growing county in the country from 2000 to 2007 and Palm Coast its fastest growing small city. "The population surge created a huge imbalance in the real estate market," says Toby Tobin, publisher of real estate news website GoToby.com. (Article) "The initial housing shortage quickly translated into increased prices and housing starts, followed by rampant speculation and over building, resulting in over supply and collapse."
GoToby.com closely tracks Palm Coast lot sales. Unlike many evolving surrounding developments, these lots were platted when Palm Coast, a planned community, was first laid out by ITT in 1969. With roads and utilities in place, they were ready to be built upon. Their number (of the original 45,000, 10,000 are still vacant) and uniformity (most are 10,000 SF) make them a commodity, thus more susceptible to market fluctuations. In 2000, these lots traded at prices between $5,000 and $15,000. The median selling price rose steeply to $77,000. They've since settled down to a realistic median sales price of $30,000.
"Our housing market rose more quickly, it rose more steeply, and it peaked sooner than the market in general," says Tobin. Now it's acting like a leading indicator of recovery. Palm Coast's single-family residential housing market already shows strength while other areas of the country expect their slump to continue for months. Some other Florida markets show similar trends. Since the end of 2007, Palm Coast's inventory of unsold homes declined nearly 20%. The number of pending sales more than doubled. For the first time since 2005, the number of quarterly home sales will increase over the previous year's quarter.
Baby boomer demographics signal that Florida will continue to be a favored second home and retirement destination for that generation. "With Palm Coast situated as the most affordable warm climate coastal market on the east coast, it's likely that more cycles are in Palm Coast's future, with each cycle being above the previous one," says Tobin.
About GoToby.com LLC:
GoToby.com is the popular on-line news source for Palm Coast and Flagler County Florida's residential and commercial real estate markets, offering news, commentary, newsletters, articles, property listings, recent sales, and interesting rumors.
Contact:
Don "Toby" Tobin, Publisher
GoToby.com LLC
(386) 931-7124
www.GoToby.com
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:53 AM | Comments (0)
Callison Design is First to Receive Sustainable Retail Certification
New LEED Pilot Programs Have Far-Reaching Impact on National Retailers
(Vocus/PRWEB ) June 23, 2008 -- Callison, the number one retail design firm in the world, partnered with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), to develop two groundbreaking sustainable models designed for retailers: LEED for Retail and LEED Portfolio, also referred to as LEED Volume.
In an unprecedented effort, Callison led architectural development for both pilots simultaneously to develop a prototype for Wachovia’s regional financial centers, helping to establish the tools and guidelines for the LEED for Retail rating system. The Wachovia prototype received the first LEED Silver Commercial Interiors (CI) and Portfolio certification under the new system.
The LEED Portfolio pilot allows retailers and other volume builders to certify all subsequent projects once an initial prototype has met the established criteria. The pilots are conducted through a rigorous, multi-step process designed to gather feedback, draft, test and ultimately document point modifications and/or alternative compliance paths in new application guides.
“Up until now retailers have been slow to adopt sustainable practices. For the first time, national retailers can build to LEED standards across their portfolio of stores without having to go through the certification process for each individual site,” says Chris Hamilton, Principal at Callison. “This results in an efficient, streamlined process for building sustainable on a large-scale, thus saving time, money and manpower for retailers that want to go green.”
"The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health and productivity," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "Green buildings yield tremendous benefits - they use less energy, use less water and fewer resources, they also have less of an impact on the environment and are healthier places for their occupants."
For Wachovia, the new certification process will allow the bank to open more than 300 branches in accordance with LEED for retail standards by 2010.
Callison has more than 30 million sf of sustainable projects worldwide, of which more than nine million are LEED registered projects. Callison believes sustainable design is a smart business strategy. Through reduced life-cycle costs and increased ROI and brand recognition, smart business strategies fuel sustainable design.
Callison, the number one retail design firm in the world (World Architecture, 2003-2008), plans and designs retail, hospitality, mixed-use, residential, corporate and healthcare projects worldwide. With offices in Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Shanghai, London and Mexico City, Callison is one of the largest architectural design firms based in the United States with more than 800 professional staff. Clients include Nordstrom, Microsoft, AT&T, Harrods, FedEx, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Boeing, HP, Intrawest, Nike, Guess, Franciscan Health System, Seibu Department Stores of Japan, and General Growth Properties. www.callison.com.
Contacts:
Autumn Conrad, Communications Specialist
Office: 206.623.4646
autumn.conrad @ callison.com
Vanessa Gallant, Communications Mgr.
Office: 206.613.4921
vanessa.gallant @ callison.com
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:53 AM | Comments (0)
New Robotic Storage System has Super Abilities
RoboVault Storage Facility Implements State-of-the-Art Technology
Ft. Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) June 23, 2008 -- When we think of the future, we imagine robots, voice activated technology and biometric recognition playing a role in our everyday lives. It has arrived in South Florida with the construction of RoboVault, the first high-tech robotic storage facility of its kind in the world.
RoboVault is a fully automated robotic container retrieval system that safely stores valuables ranging in size from exotic automobiles to precious artwork and other priceless items. Its unique combination of extraordinary storage capabilities and high-tech security features distinguishes RoboVault from all previous storage facilities.
RoboVault developer, Marvin Chaney, is a futurist. He envisioned RoboVault by anticipating the needs of those living in and visiting South Florida. Chaney, has developed self-storage facilities for over 25 years, first in Detroit and then in Florida. With the help of Westfalia Systems, Inc., the German company which produced RoboVault's advanced robotics technology, Chaney embarked on creating the most revolutionary storage facility of our time.
What makes RoboVault so revolutionary?
1. RoboVault is designed to stand up to anything thrown its way - nature or manmade.
The building itself boasts a solid concrete roof, solid concrete and steel reinforced tilt-up wall panel exterior for maximum strength and stability and double pane hurricane impact glass. As a result, the exterior of RoboVault is designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes, with winds up to 200 mph.
2. RoboVault can think.
With Human Machine Interface (HMI), a means by which users can interact with the computer system to create specific commands, RoboVault can quickly respond to security issues and perform rapid diagnostics.
3. RoboVault can create its own energy.
RoboVault's emergency back-up generator can support the entire building with 100% back-up of electrical base for building safety and HVAC for a "business as usual" environment for up to ten days after loss of local service.
4. RoboVault can morph better than a Transformer©.
Storage containers are made of structural steel mesh that allows for proper air circulation and fire safety codes. There are 456 in total ranging from 5x5 , 5x10, 10x10, 15x10 and non-subdivided modules of 20x10 and free-standing positions for larger items, including exotic cars.
5. RoboVault knows who is there at all times.
Its unprecedented combination of technology includes:
*24/7 security monitoring
*Retinal scanning
*Heart beat detection
*Biometric recognition
6. RoboVault is as safe as a Swiss bank.
RoboVault has an adjacent room specifically for safety deposit boxes. The space implements all of the same security measures as the storage, plus a few extra perks!
*Private entrance for clients to drive into the building and access the safe deposit box through another, privately monitored interior entrance.
*Clients also have full access to their safety deposits boxes 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
7. RoboVault is cultured.
The facility also boasts a wine storage facility on the ground floor. The space allows discriminating collectors to incrementally expand their personal cellar capacity.
*RoboVault's wine storage adheres to a strict climate controlled environment meeting wine industry standards of temperature and humidity, providing a storage temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit and maintaining proper humidity levels at 65-70 percent.
*The space also eliminates all natural light and minimizes vibration to eliminate settling disruptions and make sure each wine stays at its best.
Check out http://youtube.com/watch?v=cQLdOKklflI for a background video on RoboVault.
The highly anticipated facility is strategically located just north of Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport at the northwest intersection of I-595 and US 1 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information, please call 954.565.6767 or visit the website at www.robostorage.com.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:53 AM | Comments (0)