Friday, November 15, 2013

How to use it? (Part 2)

Initially when I began this post I wanted to personally go through the steps and tips for various CAD programs which I described in previous post however, I found online tutorial videos which were doing a much better job of visually showing the steps.  So after scrapping my original post with written descriptions I am presenting to you a freshly revised post with some powerful tutorial videos!

-below you will find; headings (which are linked to the actual sites of programs), tutorial video, followed by key points I found from video

Floor Panner:

  1. It starts by showing steps to creating structure
  2. At 1:25 how to label rooms
  3. 1:30 assign flooring
  4. 2:30 design exterior such as lawn
  5. 2:40 it begins designing interior rooms
  6. 4:20 furniture items are installed
  7. 6 minutes in they show you 3D version of your design 

PlanningWIZ:


This first video will show the graphics of toolbars and their meanings



This second Video is a walk through of features


 

  1. It begins at 33 seconds telling you about categories of  drop down to the right and how to start from a sample plan
  2.  Then it walks you through a using the rest of the tools

pCon PLANNER:





This video actually has detailed texts running inline with steps to let you know exactly what they are trying to accomplish.





Thursday, November 14, 2013

Why mortgage contracts will not go paperless in the near future.

Our culture is vastly changing, technology advances force our attention in all directions.  Recently, I had a professor speak of his daughter, who was teaching younger children,  She had handed her students paper books which had bullet points for each topic.  My professor explained the student's to be baffled as they all tried to "swipe" the bullet points and then informed his daughter the books were "broken".  This is an example of the nature of the beast if it is capable of digital form odds are, even as a child, that is what we expect to get.  So why not apply this principle to home mortgage contracts?  Bellow I have weighed out the pros and cons from my perspective and a few friends of mine, all of which have purchased a home. Take a good look at the con section and it may easy your frustrations with searching that 10 pound document  the next time you have a question about your mortgage.

Pros:(of receiving digital version of mortgage)

  1. You eliminate the bulk because, who really has a prime location for a hefty legal sized booklet.
  2. Ease in searching for key items in mortgage
    • With a digital version you can find specific terms with ease instead of having to read through twenty plus pages
  3. You can always access it depending on where you store the digital file
  4. If you have a question to ask your financial adviser instead of asking your question and then having to locate specifically where you're looking in mortgage, simply send the highlighted portion to adviser with page location.
  5. Odds are you will reference the document more than if it was a laborious task to find one simple tidbit of information.

Cons:

  1. Digital Documents will have less legal baring than a signed paper copy.
    • Digital Versions have possibility to be altered and therefore a physical copy will always be considered more binding contract than a digital version.
    • Digital signatures have a lesser weight in contracts 
  2. Not everyone has access to computers so if digital was the only form presented to the borrower referencing the document becomes difficult
  3. The simplicity of tradition, it has been done in this fashion for so long lending parties are less motivated to change and adapt to borrowers request of digital versions.
In closing my perspective is to ask for a digital copy as well as physical copy when signing a mortgage.  This gives you the assurance of legality and ease of use.  





Monday, October 28, 2013

Design/Remodel Your Room or Home (Part 1)

Make your renovations or new home seen through your eyes

Past unstable markets and the boom of Pinterest have pushed home owners or renters to be more creative in home design.  Pinterest has inspired many to redesign the space they have or picture the future of a "fixer-up" that falls in their price range.  Envisioning a finished master piece is no easy task if you can't get past the mismatch kitchen cupboard and on the other end if one wanted to build a home where do even you begin?  I have found several sites which are; free to use (at least demo), easy to manage, and most importantly give you the ability to see your design put together.

Key Features:

Demension:
Amongst the CAD (Computer-Aided Design) sites I have found allow the user has access to both 2D and 3D floor plans.  Three dimensional floor plans are a great way to see your plans from all angles, some sites such as Floor Planner, are great for this visual.


Prebuilt Floor Pans:
Looking to optimize your space, this is the feature for you.  Prebuilt plans work wonders for a user who is looking to design a specific room or has a typical layout.  These plans give the bones of a floor plan from here it is up to user to adjust to specific dimensions a room has.  Personally I have used this feature myself to find new ways to rearrange furniture in rooms with many obstacles such as; windows, doors, closets, and outlet placement.


Prints:
For those of you looking to build or remodel and don't know where to start when you meet your contractor, print off your vision and bring it.  Although CAD gives you freedom to design to your hearts content keeping budget in mind because, who wants to be told "It can't be done on that budget"  So my tip keep it simple for the first meeting give the contractor perspective on your style but don't create something so unobtainable you will end up crushed.


Later this week look for Part 2 which will walk through how to use tools on various CAD sites.











Sunday, October 27, 2013

Who am I?

I...

I am Marie Pistek a problem solving fanatic interested in new technologies as it relates to Real Estate markets.  Upon my graduation I am looking to break away from the Midwest and move South in effort to find a career which involves problem solving and pushes me to learn.

Am A Student

I currently attend the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) where in the spring I will graduate with a double major in Management Information Systems and Real Estate.  For the past four years this college has been my home.  UNI has allowed me to find my strengths, make connections, and set goals.



Have A Huge Family 

Family is one of the most important things to me.  My dad is one of 9 children and my mother one of 4.   Not one of my Aunts or Uncles had less than three children.   That being said growing up there was never a shortage of children to play with or new cousins to meet. My summers were filled spending a week at a time at my aunts and uncles houses.  With a family as large as mine it is near impossible to see myself without them.


Am a Traveler


Vacations who doesn't love them?  I have been very fortunate in my traveling endeavors.  Beyond the typical state travels I have visited Ireland and in a few weeks I am bound for the Bahamas.  Ireland is by far the most eye opening travel experience I have had.  The lifestyle is completely different and much more relaxed.  On this trip with my mother and sister we met more family and I do hope to see them again in the future.




Thursday, October 3, 2013

Industry Apps related to the Real Estate Market


In today's modern world every hand has the capability to hold a plethora of information. Whether it be a smartphone, computer, or tablet the user has access to endless resources in a button click or swipe of the screen.   It is imperative to successful marketing to tap into these resources.  The real estate market has not allowed itself to be left in the dust.  It has been an early adapter so to speak which has lead to various well developed mobile apps on across multiple platforms; android, apple and even blackberry.
 

Apps geared to finding housing:

Zillow

Trulia

  

Realtor.com