Looking for a Gay Drug Rehab or Alcohol Rehab in Florida

For years, drug rehab programs and alcohol rehab programs have been opening in Florida. Everything from detox to inpatient addiction treatment and extended or long term care are available for the general public. There have been drug rehab programs for eating disorders, sexual trauma, men and women, but very few drug rehab programs for the gay and lesbian population. Even today, there are only a handful of drug rehab programs that specialize in gay drug rehab or gay addiction treatment and a few more with specialized gay drug rehab components within the actual drug rehab. While there are many more drug rehab programs with gay a component then true gay drug rehab programs, not many of them have staff trained in issues specific to the gay population. Issues such as homophobia, internalized homophobia, coming out and sexuality often go untouched, not to mention, the sensitivity training that must take place for the other members of the staff.

Certain areas more sensitive to Gay Drug Rehab and Gay Alcohol Rehab

I think it is safe to say there are certain areas in the state of Florida that are more sensitive to the gay, lesbian community than others. Some of the areas might include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville. Each of these cities have substantial gay populations and services to match. It stands to reason that opening a drug rehab with a gay addiction treatment component or a gay drug rehab in these areas might be easier to manage due to the community support and ancillary community services

Jacksonville Florida Drug Rehab Opens Gay Addiction Treatment Component

For as long as anyone can remember, there has not been any drug rehab programs with gay drug rehab components in Jacksonville providing addiction treatment services to the gay and lesbian community. This statement is especially true when we speak of gay drug rehab programs. What is sad is that within the Orlando, St. Augustine, Jacksonville area there is a significant gay, lesbian population. We are happy to report that a drug rehab has opened a gay component within its addiction treatment program called Freedom Rings, which can be found at www.lakeviewfreedomrings.com This may be the beginning of a trend in Northeast Florida to begin paying more attention to treating drug addiction and alcoholism within the gay and lesbian community.

Jonathan Huttner is one of the principal partners for Lakeview Health Systems, http://www.lakeviewhealth.com a drug rehab specializing in the treatment of drug addiction, alcoholism and dual diagnosis.

Drug Rehab or Addiction Treatment - What Is the Difference?

Recently a topic of conversation centered on whether there is a difference between a drug rehab and an addiction treatment center. As surprised as people were at the question, it made all of us realize those individuals without knowledge of the addiction treatment business or who have not been in addiction treatment themselves, might be easily confused.

There really is no difference between the two as far as the terminology. When a person mentions drug rehab, they are really referring to a drug rehabilitation program, which is the same as an addiction treatment program, alcohol treatment program or chemical dependency program. All of the above are designed to treat drug addiction and alcoholism, with the only difference resting in the actual services provided, population treated and the philosophy of the program.

Differences in Addiction Treatment Services

While they all generally have residential treatment services in common, it does not mean that each has been licensed to provide detox (detoxification services), partial hospitalization or outpatient treatment. The type of services a drug rehab or addiction treatment center provides is strictly up to the owner and operator and each service must be licensed by the state where the center is located. It suffices to say that the greater the continuum of care, the more likely the center is to be able to meet the patient?s needs.

To ensure one receives quality care when joining an addiction treatment program, a person should contact a drug rehab facility accredited by JCAHO (The Joint Commission of Accreditation for Health Organizations), a standard-bearer in health-care facilities, which assures the consumer that the accredited facility has achieved and continually maintains clinical and professional practices which are superior in its specialized field of treatment.

There are numerous sites about drug rehab facilities on the web and you should evaluate their credentials carefully. RecoveryConnection.org refers people to addiction treatment centers accredited by JCAHO.

Jonathan Huttner is one of the the principals at Lakeview Health Systems, an addiction treatment, alcohol and drug rehab facility

Looking For Los Angeles Drug Rehab Centers

Have you check out the following Los Angeles drug rehab centers?

- Addiction Therapists of Los Angeles which offers outpatient therapy treatment for drug, alcohol and other addictions. The center has John O. Tsilimparis, a licensed therapist

- Alternatives, a gay owned and operated alcohol, drug and mental health program

- Clearview Treatment Programs, an outpatient addiction treatment center.

If you have, what of the many drug rehab centers in san Diego, san Francisco, port Hueneme, Sacramento and several others. These areas have drug rehab centers such as Amity Foundation, Asian Community Mental Health Services, and Beacon House.

Though some of these los Angeles drug rehab centers may be quite expensive, its no excuse for patronizing quack and bogus centers. You can still find cheap and affordable ones among them. Just be patient while searching. Many of these center offer their services at an affordable rate in order to get more clients like you.

The city of los Angeles is big and beautiful but drug addiction is a serious nuisance in the city. The police are having a heck of time curtailing people driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. This is why we have many los Angeles drug rehab centers. These centers are available for you if you want to stay off drugs for good.

But you must not only ensure that the center is fully licensed, you must ensure that the therapist also has a license to practice. This is a must if you want to get the best treatment for drug addiction. Many of the drug rehab centers in los Angeles are either not registered or have unlicensed therapist working for them.

los Angeles drug rehab centers is highly recommended for you if you stay in los Angeles or other areas of California such as San Rafael, Rosemead, Gardena, Woodland, North Hollywood, or Seaside to mention just a few.

I know getting into a drug rehab center is not exciting but you need all the help you can get to stay off drugs. Drug addiction has never done good to anyone. It only makes you miserable at the end of the day. The addict thinks in his or her world. He is under a delusion; believing that every other person is wrong and he or she alone is right.

It?s wise to attend any of the los Angeles drug rehabilitation center near you instead of trying to do it on your own. Its of no use trying since your body has been conditioned to the drugs. so, if your body does not get these drugs, it begins to malfunction. This is why you must attend a drug rehab center.

Ras Reed provides more detailed and free information on his website. Check it out at Drug Rehab Centers Zone

Punishment or Rehab For Drug Addicts?

Addiction is a compulsive craving for drugs, which is uncontrollable and leads an individual to the point of doing anything, whether it is stealing, committing murder or whatever it takes to be able to access drugs.

These drug cravings push people to do things they would not normally do. Their life becomes focused on how to get the drugs and how to keep their drug supply continually replenished. All types of crimes are committed by people simply trying to get drugs.

Residential property theft is high due to drug addiction. The addict will steal anything they can, such as TV sets, microwaves, VCRs, anything that can be turned into quick money in order to buy their drugs. They even resort to stealing from family and friends. Drugs are expensive to buy, so it takes a constant flow of cash to supply their addiction.

The argument goes on as to whether drug addiction is an illness or a crime and whether addicts should be punished or treatment given them to rehabilitate. Since 1914, after the Harrison Act was passed through Congress making it illegal to buy drugs, drug abuse has not slowed down, only risen to the point where there are more addicts today than ever before. In addition, there have been several other laws passed both on the federal, state and local level making drugs illegal, but laws have not deterred drug usage.

Mandatory prison sentences have been implemented to cover first time offenders and also any who offend for the second, third time or more. It was felt that by having tougher penalties in place for offenders this would deter the drug problem, but the stringent laws have not worked, as drug usage continues to escalate.

Federal prisons have around two million inmates with a large percentage of this number convicted of drug abuse crimes. These prisons are already overcrowded, so imprisoning drug addicts only adds to the population count. If all drug offenders were imprisoned, as there are many who are called recreational drug users and these people usually are never arrested, the cost to the country would be astronomical. The estimated cost of putting one drug offender in prison is around $450,000. That figure includes the arrest, cost of the trial and cost to house an inmate. If that $450,000 were used for rehabilitation costs, about 200 people could receive treatment.

By treating drug addiction as an illness and requiring the individual to undergo treatment, this would save society from those who are released from prison, who go back to the streets and resume their former life of abusing drugs and committing crimes. This system only creates a danger for other citizens who are subjected to being victims of their crimes.

The argument for rehabilitation over punishment does show good merit and possibly needs to be seriously considered. It is estimated that approximately 20% of drug addicts in prison could be rehabilitated positively through proper treatment.

At the same time, though, any addict who does commit a serious crime should be imprisoned to receive punishment for that crime. No one is advocating anyone should 'skate free', after committing a serious crime.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Addictions

Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Centers

Rehabilitation refers to a treatment used to heal a body from ailments. Rehabilitation centers restore a patient's confidence and help him regain his original place in society. Patients with an acute history of illness need inpatient rehabilitation centers. They focus on treating patients after a head injury, stroke or similar medical trauma.

These centers provide around-the-clock treatment and supervision. Their progress is continuously monitored. Inpatient treatment programs stand a better chance of success. They also undergo counseling sessions. Many patients develop low self-esteem, which further develops into an inferiority complex. These centers strive to make a person feel both physically and mentally competent. They aim at healing a person, both physically and mentally. They help a patient cope with their sense of depression. Inpatient treatment is carried out with the help of family members and specialized rehabilitation centers.

Inpatient physical rehabilitation centers are well equipped. They provide well-trained nurses. They conduct various therapies to help patients in regaining skills such as speech and mobility. A patient receives therapy to learn communication skills. Various exercises are taught to the patients that help improve their mobility. They use strength training to teach the use of a walker or a wheelchair. They provide treatment aimed at helping a patient carry out his daily activities like bathing, grooming and dressing. The treatment provided in these centers also enables a patient to improve his muscle function. These centers help in increasing a patient's ability to remain independent. Patients are taught to cope and adjust with their lifestyle.

Inpatient physical rehabilitation centers play a major role in boosting a patient's morale and to become more confident. They develop a positive outlook towards life. They become ready to meet the challenges in their life in full vigor. This can be achieved only if patients extend their full support and co-operation to the staff in the center.

Rehabilitation Centers provides detailed information on Rehabilitation Centers, Drug Rehabilitation Centers, Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers, Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Centers and more. Rehabilitation Centers is affiliated with Cardiac Rehab

Alcohol and Drug Rehab: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is the most common diagnosis among adults in the United States today. It is estimated that one out of three depressed people suffer from some form of addiction or substance abuse problem. In addition to the above, there appears to be a common tendency among those suffering from depression to abuse drugs or alcohol as a means of coping with their symptoms. Many of these people end up with an addiction to those substances.

Dual diagnosis can create a very complex situation for both the professional, as well as, the individual. One of the obstacles they face is while the person may feel depressed, there are many drugs, including alcohol that create symptoms similar in nature to depression. The "million dollar" question is, which came first, the depressive disorder or the addiction/alcoholism causing it?

Although there appears to be a clear link between depression and addiction or drug/alcohol use, it is not clear that one necessarily precedes the other. Many times though, the depressive disorder appears first and the person begins to use drugs or alcohol as a means to better cope with the symptoms. This type of self-medication generally leads to addiction or alcoholism with the person in need of drug rehab or alcoholism treatment. Regardless of which issue develops first, they must be treated co-currently in rehab for the person to fully recover.

The most important thing is to work with a physician who fully understands drug addiction, alcoholism and is associated with an accredited addiction treatment center.

Jonathan Huttner is one of the the principals at Lakeview Health Systems, an addiction treatment, alcohol and drug rehab facility. Addiction treatment information and free live help 24/7 is being provided online at RecoveryConnection.org

Drug Rehab And Alcohol Rehabilitation Programs

There are many rehabilitation programs all over the world. They take into account particular features representing the multitude of personalities of the individuals, the cause of the addiction, as well as the chemical that provoked it. Whatever the professionals may suggest as efficient for a drug rehab, they have all agreed that nothing is more important than the motivation of the person that is going to follow the program. The motivation means an individual will to pass successfully to another stage of your life, a better one.

How do you know that you are a drug addict? If your whole life depends on taking or not taking a particular chemical (either legal or illegal drugs), if you wake up in the morning and the first thing that slips into your mind is to get higher, if your whole life is a mess because of your taking drugs, if people around you told you that you are acting abnormal, if you feel isolated by the others because of your decadent life, then it is high time to change something. This something is to check yourself into rehab to get over your addiction. You may choose to become an inpatient or an outpatient, depending on the degree of your addiction. You might need professionals to look after you not only during the period of treatment but also after the treatment, to ensure a successful rehabilitation.

Drug Rehab Programs

There are more types of rehab programs. To choose the best program rehab for you is crucial because your health, your life and even your death may depend on your choice. Here are some alternatives you should think of: Free standing inpatient drug rehab program ? short term program for less severe addictions; Inpatient drug rehab program ? rehabilitation unit ? for severe mental and physical disabilities; Inpatient drug rehab program ? detoxification unit ? in general this program takes place on an outpatient basis, but sometimes withdrawal from either drugs or alcohol presupposes extreme measures to prevent relapse. It is important to help patients to change their old habits, and this may happen only through a longer-term disruption from the environment where everything remembers them of the urge to return to the substance of their addiction; Long term residential drug rehab program ? is important for those who would relapse easily (youth, chronic addicts, patients with more than one diagnosis etc.).

Detoxification

Detoxification is the first level of a drug rehab. That means to withdraw yourself completely from drug dependency. This level has two stages a physical detox and a psychological detox. The physical detox is achieved by medical specialists who help you to get the substance out of your body, heal the damages the substance has done to you, and attenuate the effects of drug withdrawal over your body. The psychological detox or withdrawal is perhaps even more difficult, takes time, and its failure means certain relapse. You have to achieve counseling meetings which may be organized for individuals, for groups or even for families. We must not forget that most addictions are based on the psychological problems of the individuals: solitude, unhappiness, hopelessness etc. However, sometimes the cause may be of physical origin: unbearable pain, physical disability etc. Unfortunately relapse is still a major problem for rehab programs, as statistics say, that 75-90 percent of drug addicts have relapsed in one year after the treatment was completed.

Access some of the best drug rehab treatment resources, together with alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs on RehabCourse.com You are also invited to visit our new website, Cerebral-Palsy-Med.com and learn about the causes of cerebral palsy

Treating Vulvodynia and Vulvar Vestibulitis with Dilators and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation.

Treating Vulvodynia and Vulvar Vestibulitiswith Dilators and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation.

Vulvodynia is a painful syndrome effecting women of all ages. It is diagnosed as pain in the vulvar vestibule area, which could also be described as the entrance to the vagina.

Sufferers of Vulvodynia find it extremely painful to attempt sexual intercourse, wear tampons, and in severe cases they cannot wear tight clothing without several discomfort.

Whilst there is no know cause of vulvodynia there are a number of treatment options available.

One of the most common and successful methods of treating vulvodynia is through physiotherapy specializing in pelvic floor rehabilitation. Pelvic floor exercises coupled with the use of a dilator will decrease the pain experienced as a result of vulvodynia, and in many cases this pain becomes completely manageable and the sufferer can enjoy a normal, healthy sex life.

To start with, you need to practice pelvic floor exercises, the dilator will be introduced once these are mastered.

Step 1: Lying down with your knees slightly bent, draw your pelvic floor muscles upwards towards your pubic bone. You will experience a feeling of tightness inside your vagina. Be sure to take deep breaths and relax all muscles in your legs and stomach.

Step 2. Hold this 'tightened' upwards state for 5 seconds.

Step 4: Release your muscles. Imagine you are going from being 'upwards' to letting go and dropping back down to the ground floor. Rest for 10 seconds.

Step 5. Repeat 10 times.

It can be quite difficult to master this so be sure to practice. If you have difficulty visualising the 'upwards' and 'resting' states, it helps to practice on the toilet. When you begin urinating try and stop the flow of urine midflow then release. This is the same as what you want to be doing during your exercises.

Once you have mastered your pelvic floor exercise of tightening and releasing, then it is time to introduce a dilator. A dilator is essential a small tube,, it comes in various sizes. The greater your pain, the smaller the size of the dilator you should begin with. If you do not have a dilator you can use a clean finger.

Step 1: Apply a small amount of lubricant to the tip of your dilator.

Step 2. Following the same steps as above, lie down on your back with your knees bent. Relax your pelvic floor muscles and insert the dilator as deep as is comfortable.

Step 3. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles around the dilator. Remember to stay relaxed and take deep breathes.

Step 4. Rotate the dilator. Imagine a clock face, hold the dilator in the directions of 3 O'clock, 6 O'clock, 9 O'clock and 12 O'clock.

Step 4. Hold each for 5 seconds then release and rest for 10 seconds.

Step 5. Repeat 10 times.

When first starting it can help to use your finger instead of the dilator. This way you can actually feel your pelvic muscles tightening around your finger then releasing, so you know that you are doing the exercise correctly.

As your pain decreases, go up a size until you are ready to introduce your partner into the exercises and resume sexual contact.

Living with Vulvodynia aka Vulvar Vestibulitis | Symptoms, Treatment, Real Stories

Sally is a sufferer of Vulvodynia and Vulvar Vestibulitis. To find out more about these disorders check out her blog at Living with Vulvodynia aka Vulvar Vestibulitis | Symptoms, Treatment, Real Stories

Rehab Centres

Choosing drug addiction Rehabilitation is a positive step adopted by addicts in reclaiming their normal life. Choosing the right Rehab Center is crucial in the path to recovery.

There are many Rehabilitation Centers available in the country. But the motivation and program of each may be different. Any one center may offer different kinds of programs. If you are on the lookout for a Rehab Center you have to weigh factors like your level of need, severity of addiction, quality of care and aftercare, and also cost of care and expenses

Various types of Rehab programs exist and four of these are as follows:

Free Standing Inpatient Drug Rehabilitation Program - has effective short-term inpatient programs.

Drug Rehabilitation in hospital-based Rehabilitation Unit - suitable to those who have a severe mental or physical disability. The quality depends on the Rehab unit or the hospital.

Drug Rehabilitation in Hospital Detoxification Unit- where the most dangerous part of withdrawal from alcohol or detoxification under medical monitoring takes place. Increasingly, detox programs are being done on an outpatient basis.

Long-term Residential Drug Rehab program ?These are suited to those patients, especially youth, who have a tendency to relapse after short-term treatment.

Detox is the first stage. It is the process of getting the leftover residues of the drug out of the body. It is designed to help with the physical pain of withdrawal. There are two kinds of detox programs- medical detox and physical detox. Medical detox helps to wean the patient away from the drugs. and physical detox helps in the physical recovery from the effects of residues of the drug.

The key to Rehab is to remember that drug addiction has some insidious causes, like unhappiness, hopelessness or physical pain. Rehab must be sought before the addict destroys his life step by step. The family has the responsibly to contact Rehab Centers and cooperate with Rehab programs.

In Rehab, relapse is a major problem. 75%-90% of all drug abusers will relapse within one year of release from a treatment facility. Drug relapse is heartbreaking for the family. Some Rehab Centers offer ?peace of mind? programs. It is long-term effective care, which treats the bio-physical cravings and underlying emotional causes of addiction. A 3-5 month program followed by a 4-6 month follow up is generally recommended for severe addiction.

Peace of mind programs readmit those patients who had left the facility after successfully completing the Rehab program, but are now facing relapse. They have to pay only for room and board.

Long-term aftercare also comes with the option of ?work exchanges? for those who want long-term after-care. In this, after the patient has successfully finished his first Rehab program, he stays back in the facility for another six months as a helper for other Rehab patients in exchange for room, board, a small salary and aftercare.

There are many centers for drug Rehab. Some are genuine, but some may not look after your best interests and will be running on ulterior motives. They may make false claims and promises to dupe you. Hence, you must make wide enquiries, careful examinations and thorough checks before deciding on your Rehab Center.

Alcohol Rehab provides detailed information on rehab, alcohol rehab, cardiac rehab, drug rehab and more. Alcohol Rehab is affiliated with Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers

How to completely rehab your home in 10 days!

 Complete Home Rehab in 10 Days
By Dan Auito

This report is about taking a house and restoring it to an aesthetically pleasing dwelling that has reclaimed its functional utility. In effect, it is the anti-aging medication for bricks and mortar.

This report assumes that you have already or will soon acquire the proper house. The one that is in essence, ripe for rehab. Be selective and sure of the houses potential to allow for a profit after all the hard work is done. I will help you find your house or houses.

In the proverbial nutshell, it helps if you choose a house from the start that has a sound plumbing, heating and electrical system.

Plumbing
Heating
Electrical

These are things that are expensive to correct in relation to the value they return to you upon resale. Most often, people cannot see the inner workings of these systems and they take them for granted.

Very few buyers are going to give you an extra $15,000-$20,000 in your asking price because you have replaced things that they cant see and already take for granted as just a basic component that is buried in the structure. Also, they assume these components to be warranted against defects by you.

After all, it is mandatory in most, if not all states that you fill out a disclosure form that tells the buyer of every defect that exists or ever has to your knowledge. So inspect the systems of your investment alternatives carefully, as they can be expensive to repair and replace, with minimum dollar return value being realized at the sale.

Along these same lines, you should also pay close attention to the following cash vacuums:

Roof
Foundation
Structural Integrity


Here are a few ways to quickly gage a home from its appearance:

Stand across the street from it. Now look at the bones of the structure. Does it look like a sway-backed horse, with the roof sagging in the middle? Does it have flat areas in its design that dont allow water to be drained away quickly?

Water, dampness and rot are the equivalent of cancer to the human body when it concerns a structure. Shingles can be replaced. That wont necessarily stop me from buying. Usually I will use that old roof as a bargaining chip in negotiating the seller down to a lower price. However, if I crawl into the attic and see that the plywood has become rotted and truss members are also affected, its time to move on to my next potential deal. Life is too short and I will never rehab it in 10 days if I have to rip the roof off and rebuild it too.

Some other conditions, such as sagging eves, wavy roof surface, rotten fascia and trim pieces, and insect infestations can be deal killers too, if severe.

Solution: Get into the structural members with a long, sharp, sturdy, standard flat-tip screwdriver and attempt to penetrate structural components that are made of wood. You wont hurt anything if there are no underlying deficiencies. However, if someone has freshly painted over or patched it, that screwdriver is one heck of a lie detector! Use it.

Now, Im not saying people would do that. It may just be the termites have eaten everything but the exterior coating of the wood to conceal their activity whatever the case probe.

There are also tile roofs, metal roofs, cedar shake roofs, hot-rolled roofing, tar and gravel roofs and always a few new high-tech roof coatings. I feel my main concern is whether the decking or the roof support structure has been undermined by water, insects, rodents, poor materials, poor design or craftsmanship, a lack of fasteners, strapping, etc.

Shingles and coatings can be replaced. Just know what is underneath. Thats my criteria. Negotiate lower for needed replacement of roof coverings if you can. I dwell on roofs because it protects everything else!

Next on the list of deal killers is the foundation. The same thing applies to the foundation. I will start by standing back from it and looking at it from a distance. Does this place look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Or are the seams coming apart? Do the windows and doors look square? Are porches, stairs and additions on firm ground as well?


Block homes can tell you very quickly if they are stressed out just by the appearance of the mortar joints. Those giant unsettling cracks can and do tell a story. This does happen and mortar cracks maybe 10-years old. You need to investigate further.

Once again, water is a sign of trouble with foundations because it leads to erosion, rot, mold and mildew. It washes out foundation materials and slabs will crack. It rots sill plates and your walls are no longer firmly attached to a base.

If you have a crawl space, its time to get your coveralls on and get in there. Now, lets use our heads here and I mean this! Before you enter a dark, supposedly uninhabited, infrequently entered, dark and restrictive to movement area, assess the situation. Ask someone who has knowledge of the dwelling if there has been any animal activity that they know of. You may also encounter bees, wasps, ants, spiders, snakes, slugs, mosquitoes, rats, mice and a host of other inhabitants. Beware and be prepared. Its truly another world in some cases.

If you dont want to do it, hire a professional and I do mean a pro, not some Joe who says he is one. For goodness sake, use a licensed professional home inspector to protect yourself in all areas if youre just not sure!

OK, youre a trooper and youre going in. Good for you, Rambo! Youll make it in this business because it takes faith, guts and determination. By getting into this type of situation, youll learn a lot more about every part of the homes you inspect.

You should have a strong flashlight, your trusty screwdriver, maybe some insect repellent and a safety observer standing at the access entry to give you piece of mind. Now you can go to the perimeter walls and inspect where the walls meet the foundation. Look for rot, misalignment, cracks, separations, water damage or any other condition that doesnt appear normal.

While youre down there, look at the other foundational supports, you will see pier blocks and posts, other concrete support pillars and walls, beams, joists and cross bracing, and the underside of sub-flooring. Check this stuffs condition. Does it look original? Is it structurally sound? Or are there some discrepancies that need further investigation? Take a good look and smell!

Dont leave yet. You also will want to look at all that plumbing and electrical that is there as well. Scan the perimeter. Do you see any sunlight coming in from where it shouldnt be? That might be a hole that needs repair. This is common sense land, not computer a chip lab. You can inspect for general condition. Simply follow everything to its logical end, looking mainly at the condition of the different components.

OK, youve made mental and physical notes. Now dust yourself off and go inside the house if everything has checked out so far.
So the roof and foundation have passed your keen eye. Lets look at the rest of the house with respect to its structural integrity. More than half of your structural integrity check at this point is already complete as the roof and foundation are two of the most important components and those have been done. Now you are left with the interior spaces of the structure.

Heres what I do once inside. I stand at the front door with a checklist in hand (www.inspectamerica.com) and I begin to scan the walls, ceiling and floors. Im looking for water stains on all three surfaces, as well as patches that were used to repair or conceal damage. I go through every room and look for signs of damage or concealment.

Any flat floor is a good candidate for my scientific marble test. Ill drop my marble; if it rolls to a corner, that floor aint level, Buckwheat. Thats a simple test but I do want to know that the under-layer or sub-flooring is sound and firmly attached to all those joists, and beams and trimmers and blah, blah, blah.

Soft spongy floors are of concern, creaky floors are annoying and rotten floors are another story. So once again, Im looking at the structural support of the floors. I dont care that the cheap, yellowed vinyl is coming up at the seams. I dont care that the carpet is matted down or thread bare, and I dont mind if the finish is worn off of hardwood floors or tiles are loose.

Floor coverings fall under the label of cosmetics. Thats such a pretty word and thats what you want to concentrate on: cosmetics...more on that in a moment.

So the floors pass my test for sub-flooring and structural integrity is great. Now I can check that the walls are square because they are attached to that floor, and then I can check that the doors all operate properly and are square too.

How much more can there be than that, Dan? Well, let me tell you a few things that can bite you here. Lets say the structure overall is good. By that, I mean you have a solid roof, a solid foundation and sturdy floors and walls.

What is behind those walls? The things that bite you arent usually seen until you get bit. One particular painful bite is finding out your wiring is not grounded or that the circuits are not properly protected. Youre looking for three-pronged outlets and modern plastic-encased wiring made of copper, not aluminum. You want circuit breakers, not fuses. What you really need here is a licensed electrician to do this more in-depth and professionally licensed review of the system.


I have seen more than one Joe Homeowner rehab go up in flames because of a lack of respect for electricity. Licensed electricians bring you up to code and protect your investment. Find a good one and make it a point to shower him or her with praise, attention and money well spent.

They will give you free estimates, so use them as a preliminary inspector with you. If you decide to buy it, use them to do the work that needs to be done.

Plumbers are a breed apart. You would think they use gold for soldering your pipes with the prices they charge. My grandfather was a plumber and I was on the truck with him at nine years old. A plumber may or may not give you a free estimate. With a little digging, it can be done. Just give them the work if indeed you do buy the house.

With plumbers, the only time youre going to need one is if you are doing major system work or the once every ten year hot water heater job. Also the occasional clogged main sewer line to the street.

In todays P.V.C. plastic plumbing kits world, you can hire just about any good all-around handyman to get the job done. If you have to tear through a wall to get at plumbing, building code inspector-man will say, Get a licensed plumber.

Heating and cooling: the air conditioning system, if the house youre inspecting doesnt have adequate heating and cooling, that can become expensive. Lets say you have a flat roof home in a hot climate with window unit air-conditioners, and you intend on bringing this house up to what a modern day home dweller expects.

You may have a problem. Where would you put new ductwork if you dont have attic space to house and route central heat and air? Once again, call in a pro if you need some advice. They do give free estimates!

Heres a point for you to follow up on: the plumbing, heating and air-conditioning guys all drive service trucks. Be on the lookout for those trucks if they are your neighbors; go say Hello and introduce yourself.

Regardless, I have always done this and what I am saying is this: these guys most always work on the side and that means half price. You may have to pull a permit as a homeowner but the savings is substantial. Develop a network of these blue-collar geniuses. They are the guys who will transform your investment fast!

So now you have a solid house. By that I mean, plumbing, electrical, heating and air-conditioning, roof, foundation and overall good structural integrity.

So whats left to do? Call in your army of carpenter ants, from painters to carpenters and flooring installers, yard maintenance and tree trimmers, and handymen of all sorts.

This is the whirlwind tour. Let the demolition guy in first. Order a dumpster for the next ten days. Order demolition man to throw out everything including the kitchen sink. What I am out to do at this point is to clear the decks.

A blank canvass is created for the painters to perform the transformation. They come in at this point and patch and paint. Let them blast the place with their airless paint-spraying arsenal inside and out. Give them 3 days and you have just added a huge improvement to your investment. This is the biggest dollar-for-dollar return you can make.
One cautionary note here: Make absolutely sure that quality paint is used. When it comes to painting, its the labor that kills you, not the material. I insist on Sherwin Williams Super Paint. It is a miracle formula that I am convinced could cover up bullet holes without any patching compound and it lasts forever. Its worth every penny; insist on it!

So my idea of finding the ideal fixer upper is to find those where the structure and systems are fine but it still needs demolition man and the paint brigade. Everything up to this point has been inspection and appraisal of the situation. Once Im satisfied that it is a cosmetic rehab and not the expensive money pit, I send in my cosmetologists.

I wouldnt call these guys that to their face but these are normally men adding residential make-up to the bricks and mortar. Once the painters leave, the flooring guys are right behind them, laying tile and carpet. These guys are out in 2-3 days and my cabinet and handyman plumber are attacking.

Light fixtures, vanities, toilets, sinks, doors, switch plates and outlet coverswham, ten days are up and this house is either held out for rent, lease-optioned or sold for a whole heck of a lot more than the ten grand I put into it, if that much.

You must be somewhat of an appraiser and deal finder. It takes time to recruit your cosmetologists, but you will run across them in your travels. Friends and family usually can provide you with some serious leads. Start networking and talking to tradesmen. Get their numbers and schedule them to descend upon your ugly duckling at certain times and watch the transformation begin.

It took me years to learn these tricks. I did it all myself for years and it always took three months when I did it myself. The sad part is that I thought I was saving money that way.


Can you see how much I actually lost? Here is a quick example. I bought a house for $55,000. Its deficiencies were purely cosmetic. I used other people to do all the work and I pitched in to keep them organized. Ten days later, it was done. I spent a total of $5,000 on materials and labor and it appraised at $90,000 in 10 days!

Thats $30,000 in 10 days, not 3 months. Now marketing time would take 45 days but I know how to do that too, and I will also show you how you can do it too.

There is no doubt about it. This can be done and you can do it. In all honesty, it may take you 30 days to achieve a completed house. Thats may be 3 times what it took me but I am experienced.

Heres a pretty neat way I figured out how to find good cosmetologists (tradesmen). If I know relatively no one in the area, I will ask a local appraiser to suggest who he would use if he were me.

This is an intelligent way to ask that question. I ask it in this form: If you were me, who would you use? Now that triggers a self-preservation mechanism in their brain and they give me excellent people, who are very good at what they do! Try it; it works.

I went to appraisal school and learned a lot. Believe me, appraisers are underrated and treated poorly. They truly are experts at discerning quality and value. They know whom does quality work. Make friends with a competent appraiser and the lenders that accept their appraisals. Hint: Youll get very fair evaluations and their lender approves them.

Marketing, hunting, finding and capturing the ripe for rehab houses is another book entirely. However, dont lose faith because I have written that book for you as well. Here is an excerpt from my other book. It is called Magic Bullets in Real Estate.

There are 4 phases, or lifecycles, to real estate and here is how it often goes.

Phase 1 You will see new construction, bright shiny homes popping up,
landscaping contests, baby strollers and tricycles in the neighborhood.
This is probably going on in the suburbs of the city, as new growth tends
to radiate out at a pace of one mile per year from growing and
prosperous cities.

Phase 2 The same neighborhood now 10-15 years later has aged a bit and
now you see basketball hoops and 2-wheel bikes, as the kids are older
and want more mobility.

Phase 3 The kids are grown and gone with families of their own and now the
parents are riding their own 3-wheel bicycles, trikes to the hip grannies.
Here in Phase 3, youre looking at 25-35 year old homes, where some
people are passing away. Others are just hanging in and some are
moving in with the kids or going to an A.L.F. (Assisted Living Facility).
No doubt, you have outdated homes, deferred maintenance and some
repairs to be made. Here is the beauty of this whole thing. These are my
cosmetology candidates. Heres why! The formally elder owners lived
there and they needed everything to work. They didnt update it. They
just fixed things that needed repair in order to maintain a level of
comfort. They had pest control and the Sears man come annually and
piddled around. So things were kind of looked after in that manner. Buy
here!

Phase 4 Revitalization Thats what happens as a result of you buying your ripe-
for-rehab fixer-upper in Phase 3 neighborhoods. Odds are, you will rent
it out Dan is a 20- year veteran of the United States Coast Guard. also,
lease-option it or it to a young family when it does sell, and guess what?
Yep, out come the tricycles and baby strollers and it starts all over again.

Tricycles
Bicycles
3-wheel bikes (buy here!)
Revitalization

Determine what cycle different neighborhoods are in! Follow cycle 3.


Isnt that a beautiful story; isnt that the truth? Think about your own parents and your own childhood. Now I also want you to think about that brand new young family that is counting on you to treat them fairly and give them a trouble-free home when they buy or rent from you.

The harder and smarter you work, the better quality and value you can provide to others. Dont rip them off. Dont take advantage, dont scrimp and for Petes sake, do your best to do your level best. You need education and help from others to achieve these heights of excellence.
Dan Auito is a dual-licensed real estate agent and appraisal assistant. Founder of a
non-profit drug prevention corporation, a real estate consulting group and is the
author of Magic Bullets Real Estate. This 300-page power-packed book (due
out in late Sept 2004 comes with a website that further supports its readers.
Dan may be reached at magicbullets@alaska.com or by visiting
www.magicbullets.com