Pros and Cons of Internet Shopping

Written by Ken Austin


Online shopping has become a regular pastime of Americans. Not only is home shopping convenient for most people it also provides much more variety in a smaller amount of time than driving around town might produce.

However, internet shopping has its pros and cons just as anything other advance of technology does. Online shoppers should be careful and aware that just because they feel anonymous while shopping, they may not always be.

Pros of Discount Shopping Online and Other functions of Internet Shopping:

1. Most people can generally find what they are looking for online just as easy if not easier than finding it atrepparttar local department store.

2. Variety is more diverse sincerepparttar 125306 market is global and not local.

3. Prices are sometimes negotiable online sincerepparttar 125307 products might be sold by individuals or auctions.

4. Items are more generally lower priced due torepparttar 125308 high percentage of auctions and discount sites.

Cons of Discount Shopping Online and Other functions of Internet Shopping:

PURCHASING LAND: WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Written by Mercedes Hayes


It doesn't take long to realize that findingrepparttar right piece of property isrepparttar 125305 most important aspect of new home construction. In a development, restrictions and easements have already been sorted out, but if you are looking for a stand-alone piece of vacant land, you're on your own. Here are some ofrepparttar 125306 factors you need to consider before spending your hard-earned cash on a pretty view that might be unbuildable.

THE PERC. No, we're not talking about coffee. But we are talking about percolate. If you are outside of a community, chances are that you will not be connected to city water and sewer; you will have to build a septic system for your own house. The septic system will be designed by a local civil engineer and probably approved byrepparttar 125307 county, but beforerepparttar 125308 engineer knows what kind of septic you need he'll have to take a Perc Test. They will dig a big hole inrepparttar 125309 ground, fill it with water, then clock how long it takes forrepparttar 125310 water to seep intorepparttar 125311 ground. Ifrepparttar 125312 water drains too fast, you have too much sand. If it drains too slow, you have too much clay (or probably rock). There is an acceptable tolerance, outside of whichrepparttar 125313 perc fails. If one perc fails, they dig another hole elsewhere to see if there's any improvement. Sounds simple enough, but in New Jersey you'll spend about $1000 per hole. Ifrepparttar 125314 land doesn't perc, you may be able to find an alternative septic system, but you can be sure it will be very problematic.  

Any wise buyer will makerepparttar 125315 purchase ofrepparttar 125316 land contingent onrepparttar 125317 perc. Don't assume that just because you have a big piece of land that it will perc somewhere; this is not necessarilyrepparttar 125318 case. The cost ofrepparttar 125319 test is usually paid byrepparttar 125320 buyer. However, a motivated seller will percrepparttar 125321 land for you, or even offer an approved septic system. This is a big bonus, and adds peace of mind, butrepparttar 125322 land will be more expensive as a result. Inrepparttar 125323 long run, it's worthrepparttar 125324 extra dollars to bypass this big hurdle. The septic system will be designed to accommodaterepparttar 125325 number of bedrooms in a house, and you cannot add any bedrooms without redesigningrepparttar 125326 system.

Oncerepparttar 125327 land is perced, that hole isrepparttar 125328 spot whererepparttar 125329 septic will be installed. If it's inrepparttar 125330 front yard, you cannot changerepparttar 125331 location without doing another perc. Also remember that nothing can be built on top of your septic field, nor can you plant any trees there.

SETBACKS: This isrepparttar 125332 space betweenrepparttar 125333 property line andrepparttar 125334 building, defined byrepparttar 125335 township. Nothing can be constructed inrepparttar 125336 setback, including your driveway. Some townships require more than 100 feet of setback fromrepparttar 125337 road; setbacks onrepparttar 125338 front and back perimeters are usually larger than those onrepparttar 125339 sides of your property. On your survey, a dotted line usually definesrepparttar 125340 setback, andrepparttar 125341 space inside is calledrepparttar 125342 building envelope. Ifrepparttar 125343 footprint of your intended house and driveway is wider thanrepparttar 125344 setbacks allow, you may have to apply for a variance, or changerepparttar 125345 orientation ofrepparttar 125346 building.

EASEMENTS: Easements arerepparttar 125347 rights given to other named parties for public or private use of a stretch of your land. This may include a gas main that runs through your property, power lines, railroad tracks, water mains, or a strip leading to a land-locked neighbor (this strip would berepparttar 125348 "flagpole" of a flag lot). This easement should be clearly delineated inrepparttar 125349 deed, although common usage has been known to claim precedence over perceived rights. If you'rerepparttar 125350 one who requires this easement for a flag lot, make sure it is in writing before you purchase this land, or you might not be able to access it.  

WETLANDS:  I used to think that wetlands looked like standing water with cattails and ducks. Not necessarily so... in fact, we almost bought three wooded acres of wetlands before a friend gave us a timely warning. Inrepparttar 125351 state of New Jersey, wetlands can be a touchy issue, andrepparttar 125352 determination is made based on vegetation and soil content. If there's a little stream running throughrepparttar 125353 woods, you might be in trouble. Just to be sure, we hired an engineer who dug a row of soil samples, each marked with a little flag denotingrepparttar 125354 edge ofrepparttar 125355 wetlands. When he had finished, there was enough land for Ken and Barbie to build a dream house - inrepparttar 125356 setback, at that. This little disappointment cost us $600, which is a lot better thanrepparttar 125357 $110,000 we would have spent for a disastrous ruin of our plans. There are times when you might be able to get a variance to build in wetlands, but this can be a costly and time consuming process, with no guarantee of success. You could take your chances and build anyway, but ifrepparttar 125358 township gets tipped off, they could stop your project at any point, or even force to to tear down what you have already constructed.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use