INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Guided meditation can be very helpful for beginners because someone else leads you in your effort to relax and enter a meditative state. These are usually narrated through instruction, stories, imagery or music and can be accessed via a sound file (mp3, CD/DVD, etc.) on your computer, phone, tablet or by video. Guided meditation uses the senses. You utilize smells, sights, sounds and textures to visualize various methods of relaxation. Often, you follow along as a guide offers directions on how to breathe, relax muscle groups and create a sensation of inner peace. There are many audio apps, CD/DVD and other forms of meditation available now that use binaural beats to facilitate deep meditation very quickly. These beats synchronize brain waves so that the frequencies are altered to help the mind reach various states of consciousness. Concentrative meditation has you focusing your attention on an image, object, sound or positive mantra. You can think of a peaceful beach, a bright apple or a calming word or phrase. The idea is that what you choose to focus on helps block out distracting thoughts.  For your mantra, repeat a word or phrase that calms you. You can choose something like “I feel at peace” or “I love myself” but really anything that makes you feel better will work. You can say it out loud or silently, whichever you prefer.  It can be helpful to place a hand on your stomach so you can feel your breathing while you practice controlled breaths, visualizing or mantra repetition. Consider Japa meditation. It utilizes the repetition of a Sanskrit term or word along with a beaded rosary to meditate. You may also want to try passage meditation, which uses spiritual or inspirational passages to focus and achieve meditation. Meditating this way focuses your attention on the present moment. You bring awareness to what is happening right now and your experience during meditation, such as your breathing. You recognize what you feel, think and what is happening around you without actively trying to change it.  While you meditate, observe the thoughts going through your head and what you feel but don’t judge or try to stop them. Let your thoughts and emotions pass on their own.   Mindfulness meditation works because you are able to forget the past and the future. Stress results from thinking too much about things that are out of our control—things that already happened and things that may happen. With this type of meditation, you are able to stop worrying about everything. You can bring your thoughts and feelings back to mindful meditation by focusing on the present moment. Pay attention to your body. Is your breathing deep and slow? Are your fingers touching? You don’t stop wandering thoughts or feelings--just think about what is happening now.  Try practicing a loving kindness meditation. This is a deep desire for well-being and happiness for yourself. You focus on the feeling of love and well-being in the moment. Then you extend that feeling out to everyone else in the world. Yoga and T’ai Chi are well-known stress relief meditative practices that use movement and breathing to promote well-being. Research shows that they are effective ways to meditate and maintain health.  Yoga uses different movements and a series of postures along with controlled breathing exercises to reduce stress and help you relax. The poses require balance and concentration so you are less able to think about stressors. T’ai Chi is a Chinese martial arts that uses a gentle series of postures and movements to meditate. The movements are self-paced and done slowly in a graceful manner alongside controlled breathing.  Walk and meditate. Slow down your pace and focus on your legs and feet. Observe what the movement feels like as you move your leg and your foot touches the ground. Note whatever sensations arise. If it helps, you can try silently repeating action words that have to do with walking—"lift", "move", "foot down", etc.

SUMMARY: Seek out guided meditation. Listen to brain wave entrainment. Focus with concentrative meditation. Practice mindfulness meditation. Practice a movement meditation.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The average fee for a home inspection is between $350-$500, but the information received from an inspector is priceless. It could be the turning point between a sale and a buyer going back to searching for the perfect home. There are home inspectors that offer a lower price, but you must beware of their credentials, and their business ethics. Home inspectors enter a home and analyze all of the major components that make up a house purchase. Home inspection companies document the safety and overall condition  of a home at the time of the inspection. Home inspections usually take about 3 hours for a  minimal inspection, and 5 or 6 hours in order to arrive at a thorough,  proper assessment. Depending on how old or large a house is, it may take  longer or less time to complete.  Home buyers benefit from attending the inspection. Although a written report is furnished upon completion, it doesn't compare to the hands-on, up-front experience of  going through the house with the home inspection representative. This process is important in order to protect both the buyer and the seller. Homeowners will know the sort of repairs or enhancements that their home needs in order to secure a sale and avoid legal liability for selling a damaged or dangerous property. Knowledge about problems with a home enables the buyer to make informed  decisions on making an offer on a piece of property. Often buyers make  an offer asking the seller to fix certain things or lower the price  based on the home inspector's evaluation. A home inspector must thoroughly conduct a review of the inner and outer areas of a house, including:  Plumbing: While conducting a home inspection, old piping materials, faulty fixtures, water pumps and water heaters are some of the concerns that an inspector will focus on. Plumbing defects are one of the main issues a homeowner and/or buyers will face in terms of repairs. Roof: A home inspection company will check a roof to see if there are any old or deteriorated shingles; as well as any leaks. Homeowners can gauge whether or not a roof should be replaced. Usually tar and gravel roofs last about 15 years, where wood shakes have an average life span of 20-25 years. Structural issues: The overall condition of main structures in the house is also analyzed during a home inspection. The condition of the home's foundation and walls are looked at. Floor joists and rafters are of importance, as are window and door headers. Older houses are checked for sagging and settlement issues. These issues can be priciest for the homeowner to fix, and are very common in older homes.  Heating and air conditioning systems: The heat distribution pipes and air ducts are checked during a home inspection. A buyer will also want to know if operating controls are in good condition, as well as the condition of the chimney. Electrical wiring: During a home inspection, the condition of the electrical wiring throughout the house is a concern. Wire connections and power overload prevention are some of the aspects an inspector will take note of. Water in the basement: When water has entered the basement or crawl space of a home, a host of property problems are soon to follow. This includes mold and/or frame rot. Home inspectors are especially keen on detecting these problems, which are quite visible through discoloration, musty smells, mildew and water leak stains. Chemical concerns: Inspectors look for evidence of radon, asbestos, mold, and lead, which can be dangerous to occupants. If the property uses well water, they also assess the quality of the water to be sure its safe.  Pests: Home inspectors look for evidence of pests like termites that can damage the integrity of the home, as well as other pests like roaches and mice. It is a home inspector's job to find any existing or potential problems with a house. They can lose their license if they fail to report issues, so although it might feel like they're purposely giving bad news, be thankful for the information. If you are the seller, it is important to fix or disclose any issues with the house when you put it on the market. Otherwise, you are potentially legally liable for problems the new homeowner's encounter.

SUMMARY:
Be prepared for the cost. Understand the actual inspection. Know what will be inspected. Be prepared for bad news.