Property Preservation Training

SIGN UP NOW to attend the new PROPERTY PRESERVATION TRAINING CALL-IN-TALK-SHOW fee based on-line training question an answer program!

This training program is being offered every Sunday from 8:30-9:30pm EDST starting August 29, 2010.

Your questions about Property Preservation will be answered by one or more hosts with years of property preservation and REO field experience.

The fee to call-in and listen or to participate in the talk show is $19.95 per show and a copy of the recorded episode will be e-mailed to participants on request.

HOW TO ENROLL:
1) Send an email to training@cubicyard.com indicating your interest in signing up for the weekly training talk show. This will enable details of the session to be communicated to you via return email. An email request is required for each weekly show.

2) Send payment of your talk-show training fee through PayPal by clicking on the link at the top and following the directions. Once you access this link you will see that your payment can be made directly from a PayPal Account (i.e. if you already have one or if you want to create one) or through a major credit card. The instructions for both options are shown on the page.

Cubic Yard uses Gulf Thunder Corporation’s PayPal account to accept training fees. The fee will appear on your account history as “Gulf Thunder Corporation”.

As an introduction to the technology Cubic Yard will be using for the training classes and other features, I am having an open house today.

You are welcome to drop in and ask your questions or just to gab, if only for a few minutes. I look forward to meeting you. If you do not have a microphone and webcam, you can still participate by texting on the screen.

Please learn to take advantage of this new feature – this is the future of the internet – real time video. You will need a microphone and webcam, built in or otherwise and a high speed internet connection. We have guest speakers lined up for upcoming open houses so now might be a good time to upgrade your equipment or internet connection.

Speaking of upgrading, I just went to a Mac. I love it and so far not a single virus!

To enter the conference room, click here, or click on the Conference Room option under Announcements, Help & News in the right column of the home page.

Use the password : tenam

Thanks,
Terry Platt

This post is the first of what will be a continuing series of short articles designed to inform business owners of tools that may have been previously unknown to the business owner. We are applying the lablel of “tools” to everything that may be of use to the business owner: individuals, groups, associations, government agencies, reference to laws, complaint sites, etc. There will also be short articles intended to stimulate your thought processes and cause you to questions things you see and things you hear; even the things you see printed here.

A new page has been created for you to use as a quick reference to the tools we write about here in the posts. The name of the new page is “The Underdog Toolbox“.

As a business owner, you have a considerable investment in your future. In fact, your future and the future of those you care for, is probably greatly dependent on how well you are able to compete in the marketplace. Facing unfair competition or questionable business practices of others only makes your efforts that much more difficult.

If you have ever questioned the practices of companies you may be dealing with, or considering dealing with, you may want to learn a little about the antitrust laws of the United States. Antitrust complains are investigated by the FTC (Federal Trade Commission” and the following is taken verbatim from their web site which you will find listed in The Underdog Toolbox.

What Is Antitrust?

The word “antitrust” dates from the late 1800′s when powerful companies dominated industries, working together as “trusts” to stifle competition. Thus, laws aimed at protecting competition have long been labeled “antitrust.” Fast forward to the 21st century: you hear “antitrust” in news stories about competitors merging or companies conspiring to reduce competition. The FTC enforces antitrust laws by challenging business practices that could hurt consumers by resulting in higher prices, lower quality, or fewer goods or services.

We monitor business practices, review potential mergers, and challenge them when appropriate to ensure that the market works according to consumer preferences, no illegal practices. What kinds of business practices interest the Bureau of Competition? In short, the very practices that affect consumers the most: company mergers, agreements among competitors, restrictive agreements between manufacturers and product dealers, and monopolies. The FTC reviews these and other practices, looking at the likely effects on sonsumers and competition: Would they lead to higher prices, inferior service, or fewer hoices for consumers? Would they make it more difficult for other companies to enter the market?

Terry Platt introduces himself and talks a bit about www.CubicYard.us

You’ve heard about those little mini-tests some companies use to weed-out contractor applicants first thing. Ever seen one? We recently realized that a good portion of the questions in our Q&A feature were taken from these mini-tests. There’s no sense in letting good questions go to waste so we created our very own qualifying quiz from the Q&A questions.

And, if you’ve ever wondered what was behind the front page at www.WebExam.us, now it’s your chance to find out. We have published this little mini-quiz on our WebExam site. You won’t be able to experience the thrill of printing your own Property Preservation Certification Certificate since the quiz is just a little show-and-tell trial run. You will not be able to get any additional experience of paying online either; because it’s free.

Check it out at www.WebExam.us. Look in the left column for Free Qualifying Quiz.

The term Planned Unit Development (PUD) is used to describe a type of development and the regulatory process that permits a developer to meet overall community density and land use goals without being bound by existing zoning requirements. PUD is a special type of fl oating overlay district which generally does not appear on the municipal zoning map until a designation is requested. This is applied at the time a project is approved and may include provisions to encourage clustering of buildings, designation of common open space, and incorporation of a variety of building types and mixed land uses. A PUD is planned and built as a unit thus fi xing the type and location of uses and buildings over the entire project. Potential benefi ts of a PUD include more efficient site design, preservation of amenities such as open space, lower costs for street construction and utility extension for the developer and lower maintenance costs for the municipality.

Loan Modification

Editor's Blog Comments Off

Dec 122008

Loan Modification

In situations where the servicer does not believe that a repayment plan or forbearance is the appropriate course of action, a loan modification may be considered. A loan modification involves changing one or more of the terms of a mortgage in order to help the homeowner bring a defaulted loan current and prevent foreclosure. This option generally is considered for homeowners whose financial problems are expected to be more long term.

Initial Secure

Editor's Blog Comments Off

Dec 112008

Property Preservation – Initial Secure

What is an initial secure?

What is done at an initial secure?

An initial secure is a work order directing the contractor to preserve and protect the property from deteriorating or suffering any damages until conveyance.

Each company requesting an initial secure will have their own list of services which, when performed, satisfy an initial secure. The differences from one company to another are negligible but important to that company nonetheless. These services generally include:

lock change and lock box installation

removal of interior and exterior trash

boarding of damaged windows and/or doors

remove abandoned vehicles

cut grass, trim shrubs, edge lawn

broom sweep interior

winterize and or de-winterize as necessary

remove snow

take pictures

submit damage and condition report

HUD has not defined nor outlined the services required for an “initial secure“. Therefore, the M&M or national servicing company will have to provide their own definition or outline of services. HUD has published a list of services it lists under the heading of “Minimum Securing Requirements“. Search for the phrase “Minimum Securing Requirements” on Cubic Yard to see that information. Use the quotation marks.

What is an initial secure?

The GTR at HUD is the equivalent of a Contracting Officer Technical Representative at
other agencies, and acts as the Contracting Officer’s representative in all matters
concerning the technical (i.e., not contractual) aspects of a contract. The GTR is often the
department’s primary point of contact with a contractor; is responsible for giving
contractors technical advice and guidance related to the work required by the contract, and
is also the principal judge of contractor performance, including the quality and timeliness
of work and products, and when appropriate, the contractor’s ability to control costs of
performance. HUD uses GTMs to assist the GTRs, but does not equate them to the
contracting officer technical representatives or contracting officer representatives
specified in the FAR.