Posts Tagged ‘environment’

Are Granite Countertop Companies Safe From Pollution Exposures?

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

As concerns grow about radon exposure and dust from granite countertop installation, it is important to focus on the need for environmental coverage for this class of contractors.

In the last several years, granite has become a fashionable and trendy building material due to its natural beauty, shine, durability, and scratch/heat resistance. Granite is an igneous stone, mainly formed through volcanic material such as magma. It is primarily made of quartz, feldspar, and potassium, and is an extremely hard material that is easier to maintain than marble. Installing granite countertops in homes and offices has created a huge amount of business for granite countertop contractors-the service and installation has become a very lucrative component of the building and remodeling industry. With the prevalence of granite in homes and offices today, there has been some recent concern over the pollution exposures for people working with, and living around, this popular stone.

Measuring and cutting granite takes a great deal of precision and is almost always outsourced to contractors specializing in granite countertop installation. These professionals will take very exact measurements for the countertops and create a template, which is used to cut the stone. As you may imagine, the dust associated with cutting granite is composed of very fine particles that can be extremely hazardous if inhaled into the lungs. When exposed to even low levels of granite dust over a long period of time, there is a potential for different types of serious respiratory illnesses. In addition to countertop contractors having this exposure, many companies will let customers come to their facilities to choose their own slabs of granite for their countertops. Inviting people onto the facility presents an additional pollution liability risk for these companies, since there is usually a large amount of dust on the company premises.

Another exposure concern with granite is the potential for it to emit radon gas into the air. “Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soils, rock, and water. It is the largest source of exposure to naturally occurring radiation…The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) concluded after an exhaustive review that radon in indoor air is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after cigarette smoking,” as explained on the Environmental Protection Agency website. Although allegations that granite countertops may emit toxic levels of radon are still in question, many government officials suggest that homes and offices test the granite for this exposure.

Contractors providing granite products and installation need to be aware of these risks and take the necessary precautions in order to prevent these health hazards and be protected from environmental insurance claims. A pollution policy would help to reduce the potential for an out-of-pocket claim, and would work to further secure the future success and welfare of companies specializing in granite and their employees.

Find out more about Contractors Pollution Liability here and how Beacon Hill Associates can help you.

Why Your Client DOES Have a Pollution Exposure?

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

When you think of pollution exposures, what comes to mind? A toxic waste dump? People in hazmat suits and gas masks?

There is a common misconception in the insurance industry about pollution exposure. “If my client doesn’t deal with hazardous materials they don’t have an exposure.” Yes, I would agree anyone handling radioactive, explosive, toxic or bio hazardous material certainly have an exposure. But in reality, ALL contractors have an exposure to pollution.

As we all know, CGL policies, via exclusion “f”, exclude most claims arising from a “pollution condition”. A pollution condition is generally a release of “pollutants”. Here’s the tricky part; according to many CGL policies, a pollutant is any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant, including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals, and waste. We have heard many examples of carriers citing the pollution exclusion in denying a claim. Here are some examples:

Solid – An excavation/grading contractor unknowingly spread petroleum contaminated soil across a project site during fill operations for a project. The contractor was named in a lawsuit for exacerbating the extent of contamination. After lengthy deliberations, the contractor paid out of pocket $250,000 in clean up costs and defense.

Liquid – A street and road subcontractor paved a new parking lot for a commercial structure. At the end of the day, the tack coat was sprayed onto the sub-base prior to paving. That night a major thunderstorm caused the tack coat to wash off and flow into a nearby stream. The general contractor was responsible for cleanup cost which exceeded $200,000. To recoup these costs the General Contractor withheld payment to the subcontractor. In turn, the subcontractor filed a claim with its insurance company to recover lost revenue. The insurance company denied reimbursement based on the absolute pollution exclusion under the general liability policy.

Gaseous – While performing building renovations, a general contractor used gas powered generators and equipment. The contractor failed to properly vent or contain the emissions from the equipment during operations. Employees working in a nearby area of the building complained of headaches, nausea, and respiratory problems. The results of an air quality study concluded the increased carbon dioxide levels in the building resulted from the construction equipment. The contractor was liable for causing building related illnesses that resulted in 30 bodily injury claims, totaling over $200,000.

Smoke/Dust – A property neighboring a landfill filed a claim stating the traveling dust from the dirt road impeded on his property. A pollution claim was filed and paid in excess of $150,000.

Fumes – A residential contractor disposed of sealant and solvents containing toluene in a covered, enclosed dumpster after performing routine work. In the confined space of the trapped toluene fumes depleted the oxygen levels in the dumpster. After climbing into the dumpster of unknown reason, two 10 year old children were overcome by fumes and died. The contractor faced a claim in excess of $2 million dollars for improper disposal of toluene.

Waste – While installing new overhead electrical lines, a utility contractor had a subcontractor sinking the new utility poles. The subcontractor hit an underground sewer line with an auger while installing the new poles. Through contractual liability, the utility contractor was responsible for the actions of the subcontractor. Cleanup of spilled sewage and repair of the sewer lines amounted to $190,000.

Find out more about Environmental Pollution Liability here and how Beacon Hill Associates can help you.

Aged 50 Health Insurance

Sunday, July 24th, 2011

For anyone who is among the ages of 50 and 65 and you might be going to be searching for well being insurance or are seeking wellness insurance you’ll need some aid. This is really a tough age (not surprisingly what age is not beginning with all the terrible twos) mainly because you’re at a prime age to begin creating well being complications.

Statistically speaking and statistics may be the only language insurance organizations speak, the insurance organization can predict they’re going to invest a lot more on 50-65 year old than a 20-45 year old. For that reason premiums are a lot greater for the older individual.

But, we Baby Boomers are a intelligent group and exactly where there’s a will, there’s a way. So let’s appear at a few of the selections:

In the event you at present have a job and are seeking to retire or begin your own small business, you’ve a couple of avenues it is possible to investigate. Initially you are able to inquire if your corporation will let you acquire well being insurance by way of the firm strategy.

If your organization will let you do this your employer (assuming we’re talking early retirement) may possibly subsidize portion of one’s premiums. If not, you nonetheless get group rates that are a entire lot less expensive than individual rates. In case you are married and your spouse is nonetheless working strongly take into account adding your self to his/her program if that selection is obtainable to you.

The subsequent selection (in the event you at present have a job which gives well being insurance) is COBRA or Consolidated Omnibus Spending budget Reconciliation Act. COBRA lets former workers and their dependents continue their employer’s group coverage for as much as 18 months. The top factor about COBRA is it can be guaranteed.

Your former employer’s insurer cannot turn you down even when you might have a chronic medical condition. The worst factor about COBRA may be the expense. Your employer commonly covers 70% or additional of one’s wellness insurance premium. With COBRA you need to pay the entire premium plus administrative fees.

Market surveys indicate based on an typical premium (for 2007), a former employee would need to pay far more than $373 a month for individual coverage and additional than $1,008 a month for family members coverage.

If you’re not at the moment employed by a firm who gives wellness insurance you will find nonetheless options for you. When you have pre-existing conditions including diabetes or high blood pressure it is possible to obtain coverage via a state high-risk well being program created to assist those with medical conditions that stop them from acquiring insurance. Once again although like COBRA the premiums might be rather high.

You are able to also look at expert organizations you can join or are already affiliated with to see if they offer you wellness insurance policies for members. Simply because these are group plans, the premiums could be much less than what you’d pay inside the individual industry.

Lastly, there is certainly the individual wellness insurance alternative. There has been some progress when it comes to offerings of policies for the 50-65 year age group industry primarily simply because insurers see this age group as a prospective growth industry.

Several Baby Boomers are in superior well being and have greater income than younger individuals. Also insurance businesses hope that retirees will nonetheless acquire their merchandise, like supplemental insurance, even right after they’re eligible for Medicare.

Some of policies at the moment provided may well have premiums as low as $200 per month for individuals who are in very good wellness and willing to pay a high deductible. Numerous insurance suggestions columnists advise combining a high deductible individual well being insurance policy using a well being savings account.

HSA contributions are produced with pretax dollars, and any dollars left over within the account in the end with the year is rolled over for future use. Withdrawals usually are not taxed if applied for qualified medical costs.

Please visit our articles about Aetna Doc Find and Erie Insurance

How To Go About Buying Investment Property

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

Are you interested in buying investment property? Is so, take your time and learn. There is no point in hurrying if you do not understand it yet. You can easily lose your money if you are not careful. Once you get the hang of it, however, you will have no regrets.

This business is not for those who want to get rich quick. Those who are getting into this venture hoping to make a profit overnight should look for some other kind of business. However, those who are patient, can make handsome profits. This is because it is more of a long term investment.

You must understand the market you want to get into. Do not just jump in because you have heard rumors saying it is good. Do your research and satisfy yourself that it is a viable project. This means that you should know the rates, the prices, taxes and everything else associated with the business.

One of the most important things to consider in this business is location. It is one thing that can make you lose or gain a lot of money. Buying buildings from prime areas is profitable but expensive. The alternative is to buy from places you think are soon going up in the market rating.

There are some areas that are not so good but have potential. This happens mostly if there is bound to be a significant development in the area. If you get reliable information of that sort, consider buying a piece there. You then sell it once the prices have gone up.

For a first timer, decide whether you want to be in the unit or houses business segment of the market. You may also opt to try your luck by venturing into both at the same time. These are things you should decide on only after reading the market carefully. Some areas may not be suitable for both.

Now, you come to the final part; the signing of the deed. This should only be done after careful study of the fine print. This is what sometimes reduces the profit you would have made. For example, there may be a restriction in the place that makes it not useful for most businesses. People will fear buying it so.

Some coaching can work in your favor. This should come from somebody with a long experience in the business. The idea of buying investment property is not something you can think about at night and act on in the morning. Trial and error never made anybody good money.

Have a look at our website to learn more about property investment process. You can also find details about the benefits of hiring a property buers advocate, now.

Understanding Rental Income On Property

Friday, July 8th, 2011

The financial boom was slowed by the credit crisis which affected many countries worldwide. Some people however who have seen their rental income on property relatively unaffected or in some cases increase slightly. This is because there is now more of a demand for homes to rent.

Residential letting is a good way to get financial benefits from a home that you own. In the current financial climate many first time buyers find it difficult to get a mortgage. These people have to turn to the rental market for the time being and this is where a person with some extra space or an extra home can make some money.

Whether you are intending to rent out one room or a few houses you are classified as running a business. To that effect it is important to understand what tax payments you will be required to make. In a lot of cases no tax payments will be required if you fall below a certain yearly income threshold. This information can usually be obtained from the local tax office.

Another important thing to consider is insurance cover. As with any business things can often go wrong which is out of your control. Once you decide to try and get a rental income on property then you will need to look into getting landlord insurance. Finding a good deal which provides adequate cover will be beneficial in the long run. These costs can also be factored into the final asking price.

There could be a bit of competition in the local lettings market so your aim will be to stand out slightly and attract the best potential tenants. As well as offering an attractive rent package it is a good idea to make sure that the place is clean and that all appliances are problem free. Having the place decorated in neutral colors has also been proven to be appealing to people looking for a new place to live.

The quickest way to get potential tenants to know that you have a place up for rent is to put an advert on the internet. Many people who are looking for a new home will use the internet for its convenience. In addition you may want to put a small ad in the local newspaper classifieds.

The residential lettings business is a good way to make an additional wage while continuing your current career if you wish, but it can easily be turned into a full time career itself with a bit of extra work. This can also prove to be a relatively simple business to run with some basic knowledge.

Investment Property Buyers, it’s essential to understand the basics of residential letting. Find more information about rental income on property as well as how and where to find the best first home buyers services

How To Go About Finding A New Home

Friday, July 1st, 2011

Finding a new home is not an easy task. There are so many things to consider. Sometimes, you want a place that remotely resembles what you already have. You may also want a bigger or smaller place, depending on your needs. Price will also be a factor. This means that you have to factor in all these considerations.

Long before the day you plan on moving, you should start searching for a place. This is especially true if you want a place in a nice neighborhood. Finding properties on short notice is not easy. You have to give enough time to get it right. Hurrying may mean you getting something you did not really want.

Home prices fluctuate a lot. You have to know the right time for the purchase. When you are interested in a property, compare its prices with those of similar ones in the area. If it is considerably lower, find out why. There may be something wrong with it making the seller lower its price.

There is also the mortgage to think of. The interest rates should especially concern you. This is something that can drive up the eventually cost of your house considerably. For example, you can get a reasonably priced house but get offered high rates. This means your house will still be expensive.

Another thing that should concern you is your credit rating. It is actually connected to the financing rates. If your rating is poor you should work on it long before you apply for the mortgage. This means you have to service all your debts and be ready for the evaluation.

People are always advised to avoid many debts. It is good to live within your means. Few heed this warning though, and many are servicing very huge loans. These are the kinds of things that will lower your credit rating, especially if you have not been repaying them in time.

One way to get the place you want is through an agent. It is not easy to carry this search yourself. The agent will only ask for the details of the house you want to purchase. He then has to carry out the search and give you more than one option to choose from.

Finding a new home should not be an impossible task. After the preliminary actions are done with you should thoroughly inspect the place before you buy it. Do not just give it a cursory inspection; go through all rooms and fittings to confirm their conditions.

Those real estate buyers agent could interest you. We would love to introduce you to this awesome property search right now.

Valuing Investment Properties For Long Term Profit

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

An investment property is real estate or property which is invested in and the objective is to earn a profit or return. A primary residence is not usually included, and this is because these properties are for providing a place to live. When valuing investment properties, you would probably be looking at rental homes, condominiums, apartments as well as businesses such as shopping centers or industrial parks.

As with any other investment such as bonds or stocks, the value might change frequently over an extended time period, however along the way there may be many fluctuations. When planning to own a property over 10 years, then it’s going to most likely appreciate quite a lot, however there will also be the chance of needing to make major repairs too.

This may include things like changing the roof, major home appliances, for example hot water heaters and fridges, wiring and electrical systems, as a couple of good examples. However, you will offset the price of these repairs because there are many years for recouping it.

One way to acquire these types of investment properties is through land auctions, and in these, land will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Before purchasing, you will want to make sure that there are no liens attached, a lien holder is someone such as a bank or individual that has a legal claim if a borrower defaults on the loan.

You usually would like to try and obtain the best deal possible, and you will find several different ways to get this done including networking. Usually the bank personnel in addition to individuals employed in your local municipality might have knowledge of pending house foreclosures, another great source could be realtors. They’re very knowledgeable and may provide an abundance of information for the potential investor.

To be able to be prepared, you always should have your finances in order. When approaching an area lender or bank, the less amount of debt, the greater loan offer you will get. The primary reason behind this really is that loan companies know that people will be more prone to default on rentals instead of their very own house.

Also keep in mind these kinds of investments are usually very complex, however those that have a good grasp concerning the fundamentals, including knowing about liens, land contracts, auctions and depreciation, will typically be in much better position for getting positive returns.

When you are interested in buying investment property, you should have accurate and current details available about the real estate. Obtaining a property valuaiton will help you make a sensible decision.

Buying Investment Property Is A Sound Strategy, But Requires Caution

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

Real Estate is known to be one of the best investment avenues. No more of it is being made, and it cannot abscond, so it is almost certain to appreciate over the medium to long term. As it appreciates it also produces a stream of revenue so the investor benefits steadily on two counts. Buying investment property has made many people substantial wealth.

‘Buy-to-rent’ schemes have become popular amongst people who are securely employed in safe but low paying jobs. They use the security of a first home to buy a second one which is rented to a tenant. The rental income is used to repay the loan, and when that has been reduced a third house is bought and rented out. So a snowball effect is created. Some people earning very modest salaries have ended up with a portfolio of houses bringing in a large monthly income and being worth a substantial amount.

The advantage of this system is that it does not require the sort of hands on management that an ordinary business demands. It is true that tenants must be found and houses maintained. The maintenance tasks can be outsourced and many tenants, once installed, do not require constant attention. Therefore a school teacher may carry on doing his work, for the most part unperturbed as his empire grows slowly around him.

Most people in the real estate world know that locality means almost everything when it comes to investing. For example, a buy-to-rent scheme usually works very well in a university town. Students often need a house for a year or two at a time and then new students arrive and become new tenants.

They might also work well in industrial towns where there are large turnovers of staff working on short term contracts. However, a residence that is out of the way will not necessarily be easy to rent and may remain unoccupied, to the cost of the investor.

Factors beyond the control of individuals can spell good or bad fortune, as the case may be. A tatty area can suddenly become fashionable. Conversely a fashionable area can begin to run down. The canny investor will buy just as a favourable trend gets under way and sell as an unfavorable one sets in.

Buying investment property in a large city centre can seem like a major coup. However, many cases exist where a criminal element has moved in and soon flooded the area with undesirable tenants. In some cases gangs have taken over large blocks from their rightful owners. Whilst the owners pay rates on the properties the criminal collect the rents and make the buildings a no-go area for the rightful owner who loses his whole massive investment.

If you are thinking of getting involved in the business of property investment, knowledge is indispensable. You can hire a property buers advocate to help work through the many details involved in purchasing real estate.

Considerations When Finding A New Home

Monday, June 13th, 2011

Finding a new home is a very difficult problem for people across the globe. Twentieth century political ideologies that assumed state responsibility for housing have failed dismally although some governments still spout piously about ‘providing housing for the poor’. In fact it is in countries where free market principles have prevailed that houses are most readily available for all people.

In China, which professes to have a socialist government ‘with Chinese characteristics’, a class of private ownership has developed, incongruously under a government which in theory does not believe in the ownership of private property. Apparently, one Chinese characteristic of socialism is to behave like a raw capitalist.

Property prices have risen so sharply in recent years that most ordinary people who have not made fortunes for themselves cannot afford a home at all. They have to live with their extended families. The salaries that they earn do not bring them within reach of owning their own property.

In countries where the private ownership of property has existed for some years the situation is less dire. Many people have inherited property from their parents. This simple reality puts them in a good situation to look for a better place to live.

The ownership of property has established wealth for many people who have been born in a country where private ownership has been in force for some time. They are more likely to be in positions from where they can seek to better themselves. The financial conventions are in place to enable people who are earning money to borrow and buy. Once their foot is in the door they may use a home that they own to help them move up market.

Location must be taken into account when looking to buy anew. Properties in an upmarket suburb or complex will be worth very much more than those in a poorer neighbourhood. However, many people like to live near to other people like themselves and will not be happy in a ‘posh’ district. This is why, all over the world, some huge and expensive houses stand awkwardly amidst humble shacks like monuments to ostentation.

In suburbia house tend to stand in stiff series beside streets as though they are thoughtless soldiers without any will of their own. Finding a new home with any individuality is difficult is such a locality. However, a discerning buyer can look for possibilities. There may be a blank wall that faces an attractive view. At little expense it may be possible to turn a house around so that it stops staring at a road and instead faces the sun, waiting every morning for it to rise and shine into the main bedroom.

Discover just how easy it is to find a new home. You can get comprehensive information on the pros of hiring a real estate buyers agent in our article on top property search tips.

Why You Should Be Buying Investment Property

Monday, June 13th, 2011

Despite the current flailing world economy people still believe that buying investment property is a stable and safe thing to do with your money. People are comfortable to enter into it because they have literally gone down that road before. They find it easier to understand than more complex ways of making money and it is tangible

In order for this to work out you literally have to buy the best house that you can afford. This is the only way to ensure safety if the market does crash after your purchase. Location is always key so you have to look into an areas past performance and resale value to see if it could work for you.

To make any money out of buying property you should calculate being able to afford the purchase for between five and seven years at a minimum. Expect to wait as long as four years before showing a profit and remember that it might not sell immediately, especially if the market is down again.

Because of the stagnant housing market anyone who has cash to make an out and out purchase is in luck. They must be prepared to wait for things to turn around to be able to make anything profitable from buying investment assets. When it does though they will make great returns.

Purchasing this type of asset can incur other expenses when bought, sold or transferred so do not undercut what it is going to cost you. There are additional expenses to add to your list such as conveyance costs and transfer fees. There will also be a fee payable if you have to register a bond.

Renting this type of asset to tenants is not necessarily as glamorous as it looks. If you do need to evict them you will also have to find them somewhere else to live if they cannot. The property is going to undergo some sort of damage which you will also have to cover the cost of. Getting your money on time every month could also prove difficult.

Buying investment property is not for the faint hearted and should not be underestimated. It takes financial planning, good insight and proper research in order to pull it off successfully. It takes discipline and patience for it to be profitable, as well as a degree of comfort with the level of risk undertaken.

We believe you should know more about property buers advocate today. We also want to tell you more about property investment to help you.