Use Solar Shades to Save Money and Enhance Your Home

(NewsUSA) - Large windows make homes feel airy and open -; but windows also let in sun and allow heat transfer, damaging furniture and raising energy bills.Controlling the way light enters the home can make homes more comfortable and less expensive, not to mention more attractive. The experts at Durasol (www.durasol.com), a 25-year-old business that specializes in retractable awnings, solar screens and stationary awnings, offers these suggestions...

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Insulation Keeps Heat In, Cold Out

(NewsUSA) - Heating accounts for 30 to 50 percent of the energy used in the average American home. Unfortunately, many Americans pay for heat only to send warm air billowing out windows, attics, ceilings, floors, doors and garages.Poorly insulated homes prove more difficult, and more costly, to keep comfortable. But choosing and installing insulation can be a simple, do-it-yourself project that pays for itself.How does insulation work? Heat naturally...

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Happy Holidays - From Our Family To Yours!

The Structures Team all vying to be Santa's newest Rudolph (left to right) RP Newton - Production Manager, Deborah Way - Sales and Marketing Coordinator - Dave Hargis - Project Manager, Kristy Gorsuch - Design Manager, Steve Kendrick - Owner, Amy Jenkinson - Accountant Kristy couldn't contain her excitement to get her very own red nose!R.P. with his sad face when Steve told him he couldn't wear his Rudolph nose all day long. Amy eager to be in a...

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Mix Modern and Rustic Pieces For a Stylish Feel

(NewsUSA) - Good home design feels effortless. When inhabitants style rooms to reflect their personalities, rather than the latest design trends, they create thoughtful, comfortable homes. Rather than design "themed" homes, many homeowners blend modern and rustic elements.But there's an art to eclectic design. Some Americans focus entire rooms on a single, prized possession, while others design more neutral spaces. Either way, mix-and-match types...

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Upgrade Your Lighting With These Simple Tips

(NewsUSA) - When it comes to home decorating, lighting proves just as important as paint color. Quality lighting allows residents to perform tasks without eyestrain and creates a warm, comfortable feel.When lighting a room, remember that you will need more than one type of light. You will need to use general lighting, or overall illumination, and task lighting, which helps you perform tasks like reading or cooking without eyestrain. Many homeowners...

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Welcome Home!

We are so excited to welcome Chris and Tamra as they have relocated to their new home on Daniel Island! Chris and Tamra designed their own home and are looking forward to unpacking and settling in to life in Charleston, SC. Their home is absolutely beautiful and we have really enjoyed working with them and are so glad to welcome them into the Structures fami...

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Designing the Home of Your Dreams, California-Style

(NewsUSA) - Each year, many proud homeowners set out to increase the "dream" appeal of their homes - a task that can be made easier and more exciting with inspiration from the annual HGTV Dream Home. The 2009 home, located in beautiful Sonoma, Calif., is full of ideas that can help you amp up the dream quotient of your existing home. Investing time and love in your home can prove to be a rewarding experience whether you're dreaming of a wine-country...

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Five Common Carpet Myths Debunked

(NewsUSA) - Carpeting has been the most popular floor covering in America for decades for good reason -; carpets feel soft, reduce noise and insulate rooms.But some common misconceptions deter people from buying carpets. Before purchasing flooring, consider the following information from Shaw Floors:Myth 1: Asthma and allergy sufferers should not have carpet in the home.Fact: EPA scientists concluded that carpet fibers, in trapping and immobilizing...

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Save Energy, Save Money, Stay Warm

(NewsUSA) - As temperatures dip lower, families can save money and keep warm by making energy-efficiency improvements to their homes.The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released essential tips for saving energy and money this winter to help Americans best prepare and manage their energy usage in a variety of ways.According to DOE, on average, energy-efficient improvements reduce heating bills by 32 percent, estimating a threefold return on money...

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What are League Tables?

As we have discussed in the past, when interviewing with an investment bank you should be prepared to answer the question: Why this bank?There are several elements to answering this questions effectively. You will definitely want to talk about the "Culture" of the bank. This is when you tell your interviewers what their perspective of the institution is. Speak with analysts at the bank to get an...

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Hot Keys: What's a Mouse For?

A friend of mine recently interviewed with a boutique investment bank and a section of the interview included a 1 hour financial modeling exercise. How well prepared are you to build, format, and forecast the income statement of a public company? Do you know the keyboard shortcuts necessary to complete this task in under an hour?During my internship this summer, the full-time analysts explained...

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Foreclosures Open Up New Market

(NewsUSA) - To some, the current real estate market looks dismal. A weak labor market, rising mortgage rates and high energy prices have caused many American homeowners to lose their properties. To others, the real estate markets looks ripe for investment.Deer Park Development Corporation, a company with over 30 years of experience in the real estate market, has developed a new approach for investors hoping to purchase and resell foreclosed properties...

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Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Not because of the food, but because of what the holiday represents – a time to express selfless gratitude. In a year naturally filled with anxiety in the custom home building industry, I have personally witnessed many selfless acts performed to help those less fortunate. This past May, 4 local custom builders, John Wieland Homes, I’On Build, J.D Smith and Structures Building Company, their trade partners and suppliers all contributed time, money and sweaty labor to build 4 houses during a 1 week building blitz...

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How do the Financial Statements Flow Together?

Understanding how the three core financial statements interplay is fundamental to your success in investment banking interviews. Below is a brief description of the three statements and how they connect to one another. Following the explanation you will find a few sample interview questions.Income StatementNet income--the bottom line--flows from the Income Statement to Retained Earnings on the...

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The "Model" Home - The Way All Homes Were Intended to be Used

I'll never forget, after returning from his Builder 20 weekend in 2006, Steve announced to us that we were going to build a "green" model home. Though we weren't really sure of all the details, we were really excited as everything came together. Our main purpose was to have a place where we could meet our clients to work out the details for their own custom home. All of this was created in an effort to simplify the complex custom building process...

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Welcome to the Structures Family!

We are so excited to welcome Alan and Kathryn Murray into the Structures family! This week they purchased our model home located in I'On before it was even listed or officially on the market! What a great "challenge" of quickly moving our model home over to 32 Perseverance Street in I'On which is currently staged and on the market. Give us a call and let's schedule a visit if you're looking to buy, build a custom home or just looking arou...

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Is Your Home Making You Sick?

(NewsUSA) - Americans tend to view their homes as safe havens. What few people realize is that the air in their home can be more polluted than outdoor air, leading to health problems.According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, people spend almost 90 percent of their time indoors. Due to extended exposure, indoor pollution might cause more health problems than outdoor pollution.What causes indoor pollution? Common, synthetic materials,...

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Overcoming Toubled Times

This is a question someone left on an earlier post. We love seeing your questions and comments; we're happy to help answer any questions our readers have.From Anonymous:I would love to hear your thoughts on how to survive if looking for a finance job now... let's face it... if you are beginning the journey in i banking right now... there are a ton of more qualified people to take your spot. What...

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The Company You Keep

Our NAHB Builder 20 club recently held it's bi-annual meeting at Payne & Payne Builders in Cleveland, OH. Builder 20 is a group of approximately 20 professional custom home builders from non-competing markets. We meet twice a year in one of our member's cities, to share ideas and improve our businesses. We discuss business operations in depth, share financial information, systems and construction methods.I'm fortunate to have been accepted into...

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What To Know About Window Replacement

(NewsUSA) - Replacing the windows in your home is a great way to increase windows' energy efficiency and overall ease of use. But how should you choose the best replacement windows? Use these tips to determine the best replacement window for you:- Think Green. Replacing your windows can increase your home's energy efficiency by up to 70 percent. Today's modern double-paned windows can eliminate the need for storm windows.- Look for Strong Materials....

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What's Your Pain Tolerance?

How committed to working in the investment banking division are you?I've been searching around the internet looking for other investment banking resources to share with you and I came across the email below. The email was written on a Sunday morning, apparently after an all-nighter, by a analyst in the Healthcare group of a bulge bracket in New York.Warning: Read at your own risk - you might f...

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The Scoop on Snoopy's Shack

Special thanks to Aaron Austin and the following companies for their generous donation of coordination and hard work that made the Structures/Herlong custom green doghouse possible! 84 LumberBuck LumberCahill ContractingCarolina Tree BrokersCraftsman Services IIEB DesignELILiberty CedarSharon’s PaintingSouthern Foam & CoatingStock Building Supply All the proceeds from the Daniel Island Park Day raffle went to the Rescue Resource Foundation!...

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Ways To Reduce Your Electric Use And Save Money From Utility Bills

Do you feel that nervous feeling in your stomach just before opening that power use bill? It is no surprise gas continues to go up in price, but were you aware that electric prices are going up too?Reduce the amount of energy - 02:17 min.This is not an article about gas vs electric, most homes need and use both. You obviously can not just stop your electric use or your power use. But there are definitely simple ways to reduce the electrical use around the house.The first step in reducing any power use or electric use is simply awareness. Most people...

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Bamboo blinds are gaining popularity

People are looking for ways to find products made of natural materials, even when it comes to interior decorating. Bamboo blinds are gaining popularity for good reason. These items are beautiful, durable and natural. You can find many different sizes and styles in this type of window treatment. Once you begin your search, you’ll understand why bamboo blinds are all the rage.Production of Bamboo Blinds - 01:01 min.Many may think about this option and immediately turn away because they want something with color. Don’t think that choosing bamboo...

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Concrete Providing Foundation For Safe, Healthy Families

(NewsUSA) - Home safety is a major concern for many Americans. But safety should mean more than teaching the kids to stop, drop and roll and double-checking the stove before leaving the house. Americans who are building, or looking to buy, a new home can implement safety from the start by considering the construction of the foundation.When it comes to safety, building materials matter. Americans should consider the area in which they live before choosing a construction material. For example, couples living in hurricane- or flood-prone areas shouldn't...

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Interview Question: Why Investment Banking?