Buy & Sell Smart

Every day we hear reports of people successfully selling stuff on our websites. But occasionally we also hear about scammers who surf the classifieds to find potential dupes. The most common type of scam starts out when an overseas or out-of-area buyer pays by cashier’s check (usually for more than the amount of the item) and then requests the balance of the funds via wire transfer. The checks are counterfeit. But before the bank finds out — which can take several days or weeks — the unsuspecting seller has wired hundreds or thousands of dollars to Nigeria or some other distant land, far beyond the reach of local law enforcement.

Although we take proactive steps to combat these scammers, the best defense is a little common sense. Safe Buying & Selling Tips: Buy and sell locally. There’s no substitute for dealing with someone who lives and works in your hometown. Don’t buy an item that you have not seen and touched. Don’t accept checks…

Knowing which air conditioner to buy for a room requires some knowledge as to the size and use of the room. The size of the room, for instance, will tell the retailer how many BTUs (British Thermal Units) your air conditioner should have. These BTUs are affected by the number of people using the room and also by the amount of sun or shade that the room enjoys. Matching the size of the AC to your home is the key to energy savings. So, the first priority is to know what size of air conditioner you need if you are looking for energy efficiency. Having an air conditioner that is too small will mean it runs constantly. Having one which is too large will also mean it runs constantly and will leave the room damp and clammy. Whole House Air Conditioners The most popular type of whole house cooling is central air conditioning. It takes a qualified technician to install this type of air conditioner correctly as it will need to be connected to the duct work. You may find help at the ACC…

As a parent, there are many ‘firsts’ you look forward to in your child’s life. First word. First steps. First day of school. First car. (Gulp!) While a first car may be every teenager’s dream, it means sleepless nights for most parents. To help make the process of buying your teen their first car easier, there are several pieces What's the best car for teenagers? of homework to do in advance. Insurance on teen drivers is significantly higher, especially during their first several years of driving, because of the high risk for crashes with young drivers. Now is a good time to evaluate your insurance coverage and make sure you can get discounts if your child makes good grades, takes driver’s education or goes crash free for a period of time. Insurance rates also vary based on the type of car your teen will be driving, so be sure to check whether a class of vehicle will get a lower rate. Taking your teen to a car lot before you have set expectations and limitations may…

When you install good quality insulation for your home, you can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs. Insulation can be applied around doors and windows, ceilings and outer walls, and floors. Before starting out, conducting an insulation audit is a good idea. You can hire someone to make a thorough check or decide to do it yourself. Compare the thicknesses of insulation you find against the U.S. Department of Energy’s online fact sheet to determine the quality of the insulation you have. Insulate as Much as You Can Properly installed insulation can reduce your electric bill. There is little risk that you will insulate too much, especially in an older home. Air leaks and drafts should be eliminated with spray foam, caulk or weather stripping. If you are worried about air quality, you can hire a technician to check your combustible appliances for emissions. This means that you can have peace of mind that your appliances are not leaking harmful carbon monoxide into you…

When thinking about crib safety, the focus is to prevent accidents and SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, for your baby. Being alert to the possible dangers will help you avert problems before they arise. 6 Ways to Make a Crib Safer You can make a crib safer by being alert to potential problems. The basic requirements of crib safety are: A firm tight-fitting mattress so the baby cannot get trapped between frame and mattress. Most mattresses have adjustable heights which you will need to lower when the baby can stand. No loose screws or other pieces that the baby can swallow. The slats should be close enough that the baby cannot slip through. No corner posts for the baby’s clothing to catch on. No places that the baby’s head can get trapped in the headboard or footboard. Keep any cords from nursery mobiles or nearby blinds out of the way. Has This Crib Been Recalled? If you want to make sure the crib has been tested for safety and quality, look f…

You’ve decided to buy an RV. Congratulations! Now you need to decide if you want to buy new or get a used RV. Either way, you should know the pros and cons before you buy. RVs aren’t cheap. Even a modest travel trailer can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and if you want luxury, you could be looking at around $500,000. That’s when looking for a used RV becomes your best bet. You can always customize that used RV with fancy upgrades: a $14 wall plate does the same thing as the expensive USB charging port options, for example. You do, however, want to make sure you don’t get the wrong used RV. Make sure it’s not too old. Many developed campgrounds actually restrict by age of the RV they allow in their campgrounds. The best bet is to look for something that’s under 10 years old. Also, the older the RV, the more chance of wear and tear, which could become an expensive re…

Most mechanics buy used cars. There’s a reason. Buying a used car saves a lot of money and manufacturer defects have been identified. You can shop around for different models to suit your budget. Asking your mechanic to inspect the car before you make your decision is a good idea to prevent costly mistakes. Here are some things the mechanic will look at if he were buying a used car for himself: External body Look for what a mechanic does when buying a used car or truck. The mechanic will look for signs of rust/corrosion on the body or signs that the car has been in an accident. He will check if the car has an inspection sticker displayed if the state requires it. He will look up the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) report. This report will say if the car has ever had an engine change, suffered flood damage or a rolled-back odometer etc. He will also look at scratches, dents, cracks and uniformity of color of the paint. Differences in shade will show that a part has b…

In times like these, you can’t afford not to advertise. But in times like these, you can’t afford to waste a single advertising dollar. At USA4SALE Networks, we can help you grow and defend your local business through targeted local advertising in our network of community classified sites. Here are four ways we can benefit your business: 1.) Catch More Fish by Fishing in the Right Pond While traditional media outlets have remained stagnant or declined in recent years, people are spending more time online. Our network of classified sites draws visitors throughout central Florida for one primary activity – buying and selling. Our unique layout makes browsing easy – and it’s designed to put your message in front of the right audience at just the right time. We call it contextual targeting. And it gets results. 2.) Rescue Your Customers from the Clutches of the Competition Truth is, we’ve been spending a lot of time with your customers lately. And they’ve been spending time wit…

Knowing which air conditioner to buy for a room requires some knowledge as to the size and use of the room. The size of the room, for instance, will tell the retailer how many BTUs (British Thermal Units) your air conditioner should have. These BTUs are affected by the number of people using the room and also by the amount of sun or shade that the room enjoys. Matching the size of the AC to your home is the key to energy savings. So, the first priority is to know what size of air conditioner you need if you are looking for energy efficiency. Having an air conditioner that is too small will mean it runs constantly. Having one which is too large will also mean it runs constantly and will leave the room damp and clammy. Whole House Air Conditioners The most popular type of whole house cooling is central air conditioning. It takes a qualified technician to install this type of air conditioner correctly as it will need to be connected to the duct work. You may find help at t…