What Exactly Is Oklahoma Title Insurance?

Title insurance protects your claim of ownership of your Tulsa, Oklahoma property. When you buy commercial real estate in the Tulsa, OK area, you count on the paperwork being properly reviewed. You should get a "title opinion" from an attorney. That does not, however, provide you any insurance that the attorney did not make an error or that someone later does not come back and claim an error was made (regardless who is right or wrong.) It is simply the opinion of the attorney you hired.

If you purchase title insurance and someone later questioned your ownership of the property, the title insurance company would be required to come defend your title.

A few things to note:

• Title insurance only covers the period of time before your purchase of the property. It does not cover from the time you purchase and beyond. If you are concerned about problems that might arise after you purchase the property, talk to your title company and ask about appropriate insurance.
  
• Sometimes "exceptions" can be listed in your title policy. These would be things that were known when the policy was written such as, your driveway or storage building being on the neighbor's property.
• Title problems are often called "clouds" which mean your ownership is not completely clear - that someone could raise questions about it. Even if your ownership would not be lost, it can be expensive to remove the "cloud" on your title.
• Title issues can arise from forgeries, improper paperwork filing at the courthouse, incorrectly completed forms, deaths and bankruptcies, lawsuits between other parties, and many other unknown circumstances.

For more information about commercial title insurance in Tulsa, OK, contact Ann Rollins, at Closings of Tulsa, 918-493-2241 or www.closingsoftulsa.com.

Have Tulsa, OK area commercial title problems? and have legal problems as a result of your title or lack of title insurance, contact Chuck Richardson of Richardson, Richardson, Boudreaux at 918-663-5070 or www.richardsonlawfirmpc.com.

For all your commercial real estate needs in the Tulsa, OK area, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Protect Your Business From Fire!

Fire can be a devastating event. It damages everything in its path and can cause serious injury and death. To help protect your Tulsa, OK area business from fire, read on.

• Be prepared ahead of time! Being prepared is probably the most important step of all. This step involves many things. First, make sure you have insurance in the event of a fire. Second, have a fire escape plan with all the necessary items such as escape ladders, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors etc. Third, know and practice your fire escape plan. Take time to discuss what to do in the event of a fire and practice!
• Avoid unnecessary risk! Cigarettes, fire places, and appliances are common causes of fires. Although these are more common in homes, they can still cause problems in a business. Make sure that fires in the fireplace are completely out before you leave. If you use it often, install a screen and glass door for extra safety. Finally, avoid putting appliances near furniture. Appliances and heaters placed near furniture can often overheat and cause a fire to start. When a fire starts from any one of the items above, they often start very slowly and smolder for a long time before actually catching fire and being detected.
  
• Test your smoke alarm! It is very important to test your smoke alarm often to ensure that it is working properly. Also replace the battery at least once per year, even if it appears to be working. If your smoke alarm seems to go off regularly when there is not a problem, such as during cooking, consider moving it a few feet away. If your smoke alarm is 10 years old, replace it.
• Keep Emergency Numbers on Hand! Keep Tulsa, OK Area emergency numbers near all phones in case of fire or emergency. A great place to check is the local phone book.
  
• No matter how much we prepare, we can't completely prevent fires. should a fire occur, remember to call your Oklahoma insurance agent and maintenance professionals to take care of any damage and ensure insurance coverage of repairs.

Contact these professionals for questions or quotes:

Insurance Coverage in Tulsa, OK- Mike Tedford, Tedford Insurance, 918-299-2345 or www.tedfordinsurance.com.
Roofing Repairs in the Tulsa, OK area- Judy Smith, Abest Roofing, 918-587-1426 or www.abestroofing.com.
Fire Damage and Restoration in the Tulsa, OK area- Roger Fisher, PCC Cleaning and Restoration, 918-641-1111 or www.pcccr.com.

Oklahoma State Questions on the Upcoming November Ballot

On November 2, 2010 there will be an election in which 11 Oklahoma state questions will be decided. When there are so many questions on a ballot, it can be difficult to remember the details of each question and how we feel about them. Today, we will discuss the first of the eleven Oklahoma state questions- SQ 744.

SQ 744: The measure repeals a Section of the State Constitution. The repealed section required the Legislature annually to spend $42.00 for each common school student.

Common schools offer pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.

The measure also adds a new Article to the Constitution. It sets a minimum average amount the State must annually spend on common schools. It requires the State to spend annually, no less than the average amount spent on each student by the surrounding states. Those surrounding states are Missouri, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado and New Mexico. When the average amount spent by surrounding states declines, Oklahoma must spend the amount it spent the year before.

The measure deals with money spent on day-to-day operations of the schools and school districts. This includes spending on instruction, support services and non-instruction services. The measure does not deal with money spent to pay debt, on buildings or on other capital needs.

The measure requires that increased spending begin in the first fiscal year after its passage. It requires that the surrounding state average be met in the third fiscal year after passage. The measure does not raise taxes, nor does it provide new funding for the new spending requirements.

This information taken from "Do You Have the Answers?" by Sid Sperry published in Oklahoma Living Magazine.

For more information about SQ 744 or any other question on November 2, 2010 ballot, visit the www.okpolicy.org website.

For your Tulsa, OK real estate needs, contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Protecting Your Tile Floor from Stains

Did you know that there is an easy way to protect your commercial tile floor from moisture, stains, and mildew? Simply seal your tile grout. After tile is installed and grouted, it is important to seal the grout in order to prevent moisture, stains, and mildew from seeping into the grout. Sealing your grout will also enable you to clean your tile less often since it helps prevent dirt from getting into the grout. Here are the basic steps to seal the grout on your tile floor:

1. Wait a minimum of 48 hours after your tile is installed before you attempt to seal the grout. Some installers recommend that you wait 2-3 weeks before sealing. This helps ensure that the grout is completely set.
2. Use a silicone or water based grout sealer and apply with a paintbrush. You can also buy spray on grout sealer for more convenience.
   
3. Remove excess sealer from the tile before it has a chance to dry.
4. Allow the sealer to dry for at least one hour.
5. Apply another coat using the steps above. (Some installers recommend a second and even third coat of sealer)
6. To find out if you need a second or even third coat of sealer, test the sealer by dropping a little water on the grout. If the water beads up, no need for another coat. If it doesn't, simply apply more coats of sealer until the water beads up on the grout.
7. Remember that grout sealer has a potent smell. To avoid the smell, get out of the house for a while until it has a chance to dry and air out. Also, read and follow the directions on the bottle carefully.
8. Reapply grout sealer as recommended. Commercial tile floors might need sealer applied more often so check the usage directions. If you aren't sure, simply check the sealer as you were instructed in step 6. If the water beads up, apply more sealer.
   

For all your Tulsa, OK area commercial flooring needs, contact Jim Ecrette at ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings at 918-252-7711 or prosourcejim@tulsacoxmail.com. Remember to ask for Darryl Baskin's flooring discount.

Protecting Your Tulsa OK Commercial Property.

Thinking of burglary at your Tulsa, OK area commercial property is probably not something anyone wants to do. It can, however, help prevent burglary from occurring. Whatever type of commercial property or business you own, here are some ways that you can keep your property secure.

• Put small items in a safety deposit box or fireproof safe. If using a safe, consider securing it to the floor.
• Make sure all your doors and windows are properly secure and adequate for commercial property use.
  
• Keep the exterior of your property well lit with motion sensor lighting.
• Pretend you are a burglar and try to find areas around your property that you could get in. When you have a list, make sure those areas are completely secure.
• Don’t hide items in obvious locations.
• Install a security system that is monitored at all times.
• Keep a watchful eye out at all times. If you see something suspicious call the authorities.
• Always plan for the worst. Although we hope that we will never experience a break in, always make sure that your commercial insurance is more than adequate to cover loss due to a burglary.
  

To receive a quote for security system installation in the Tulsa, OK area, contact Tory Tipp of TNT Security at 918-313-4074 or torytipp@yahoo.com.

For commercial insurance on your Tulsa, OK property, contact Mike Tedford of Tedford Insurance at 918-299-2345 or www.tedfordinsurance.com.

From Our Top 5 Team: Looking for a Summer Remodeling Project? These Tips Might Help

Looking for a Summer Remodeling Project? These Tips Might Help

Other than vacations, summer is the time of the year most popular for home improvement. The long days and warm, sunny weather make a great time to work on repairs and renovations without much of the hassles and delays that rain and other elements bring.

As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I, along with my team, have years of experience and understand how taking on a remodeling project is beneficial to you, both now and then later down the road should you choose to sell.

For these reasons and more, a good number of homeowners undertake home improvement projects, especially during the summer.

 

Following are tips and projects—both large and small—for homeowners looking to spruce their homes up this summer.

Patios and Decks
What better way to enjoy the warm days than by creating an outdoor living space for the family to enjoy.

 

Decks and patios are among the most popular summer remodeling ideas. There are various factors to take into consideration when deciding on whether a patio or deck is the most appropriate project to undertake. Such factors include soil condition and consistency, site terrain, use, capacity and privacy, as well as the cost and maintenance you are willing to put up with.

Home Maintenance
Throughout the seasons, your home has taken good care of you and your family and now is the best time to give back.

 

Go through your property to evaluate and create a checklist on areas that need mending or replacement. This list is a crucial preparation before calling a contractor or handyman for maintenance/repair services. Some common maintenance and repair include:

• Waterproofing the basement
• Re-caulking and replacing weather-striping
• Cleaning and sealing wooden decks
• Trimming bushes and trees
• Realigning downspouts and gutters
• Repairing the roof
• Cleaning the pool
• Mending the fence
• Sealing cracks along driveways, foundation, walkways, etc.
• Maintenance of HVAC systems

Energy-Efficient Renovation
When it comes to summer remodeling, there's no better way to invest your hard-earned dollars than by making your home energy efficient. An energy-efficient summer remodel is truly a worthwhile endeavor as it will result in years of savings on your energy bills. Some of the common items you can buy and integrate into your energy-efficient renovation include:

• Insulation systems and materials
• Roofs that resist heat gain
• Biomass-burning stoves
• Energy-efficient windows
• HVAC systems with the highest efficiency tier
• Solar panels
• Fuel cells
• Geothermal heat pumps
• Wind energy systems

Taking on one (or more!) of these projects is a great way to give back to your home this summer…and, in some cases, save you a bit of money, too. For more information on home renovation projects, please e-mail our team - and please feel free to forward these tips to any family and friends you think might benefit from them as well.

Sincerely,

Darryl Baskin
McGraw Realtors
Office: 918-258-2600
Mobile: 918-740-0077
Darryl@DarrylBaskin.com
http://www.DarrylBaskin.com

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Preventing Water Damage!

Water damage and leaks can be anything from a minor irritation to a major problem. For some homeowners, the damage caused from water leaks may be covered under their homeowner's insurance policy. For others, the cost to repair these damages is out-of-pocket. No one likes to spends lots of money in repairs, therefore preventing damage is the best way help prevent those excess expenses.

• Occasionally, check appliances that use water. Check for leaks around hoses, underneath for soft flooring and nearby for evidence of water leaks. When leaving the house, don't leave these appliances running. Disconnect or turn off the water to your washing machine before leaving the house for extended periods of time.
• Check sinks, showers/tubs, and toilets for clogs and loose caulking. Also check for soft flooring or water nearby that might indicate a leak.
• Check your water heater for rust and for wet spots on the floor.
• Make sure your roof is in good condition, all soffits and vents allow for good air flow, there isn't any debris on the roof or guttering, and there is no evidence of bent, missing or damaged shingles.
• Before and during cold weather keep faucets off and hoses disconnected from the spigots.
• During warmer weather, have your A/C unit serviced to ensure that it is in good working order.
• Check all caulking and paint on the exterior of your house and around windows and doors.
• Prevent water from sitting around the foundation of your home by filling low spots.
• If you suspect a leak that you can't find, turn off all appliances (that use water), faucets and don't flush the toilet. Record your water meter reading at the beginning and ending of an hour. If the number has changed, a leak is possible.
• Make sure everyone in the household knows where the water shut-off valve is in case of an emergency. Turning this off while away from home for vacation can also help to prevent damage from leaks.

Remember to keep the above tips in mind to help prevent water damage, however when water damage does occur consult with maintenance professionals.

If you suspect roof damage on your Tulsa, OK area commercial real estate, contact Jonathan Knapp of Royal Roofing at 918-398-6500 or www.royalroofingllc.com.

For property drainage solutions and commercial landscaping needs in the Tulsa area, call Nathan Vaughn of Bluum Outdoor at 918-599-8500 or www.bluum.net.

If you have suffered water damage or suspect water damage to your Tulsa, OK commercial property, contact Roger Fisher of PCC Cleaning and Restoration at 918-641-1111 or www.pcccr.com.

For commercial A/C service or for installation in the Tulsa area, contact Stephen Taylor of Air Assurance at 918-258-HEAT or www.airassurance.com.