September is the month to check your seals around the house.
• Check the weather stripping around your windows and doors and
make any necessary repairs in preparation for the winter months.
• Make sure your refrigerator door seal is tight.
• Caulk any drafts in your basement, such as around your dryer vent.
• Make sure your roof is in good condition and not missing any
shingles, tiles or slates.
Showing posts with label realtors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label realtors. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
3 important provisions from the recently passed Federal “fiscal cliff” legislation
Here are 3 important provisions from the recently passed Federal “fiscal cliff” legislation:
· Extension
of the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Act was included, providing protection
for homeowners seeking a short sale, a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure,
foreclosure or loan modification. Without the passage of the extension
many homeowners would be subject to additional taxes based on the amount
forgiven. The extension is through 12/31/2013.*
· Legislators also left in place exemptions for profits on home sales, and kept the mortgage-interest deductions.
· Borrowers
with mortgage insurance, from private guarantors or the U.S.
government, will be able to deduct their premiums. That perquisite had
expired at the end of 2011. The change will apply retroactively to 2012
for homeowners making less than $110,000 a year and will remain in force
this year, through 2013.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monthly Home Maintenance - November: Upholstery and Carpeting
• Vacuum all sofas and pillows.
• Spot clean all upholstery and carpeting.
• For extra cleaning, consider hiring a professional service to clean
your upholstery and carpeting.
For a complete 12 month guide, please contact us @ sold@ClarkeTeam.com or 650-489-5399
• Spot clean all upholstery and carpeting.
• For extra cleaning, consider hiring a professional service to clean
your upholstery and carpeting.
For a complete 12 month guide, please contact us @ sold@ClarkeTeam.com or 650-489-5399
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Monthly Home Maintenance – April is for Yards
A_p_r_i_l_ _– _Y_a_r_d_s_ _
• Check your sprinkler systems to make sure they are working properly.
• Cut back any trees or branches that are touching the siding or roof.
• Clear out debris from under decks or porches.
We hope this guide helps make your home maintenance easier. If you would ever like recommendations for professional service vendors that can help you with your home maintenance, please call us at anytime. To request a guide for the entire year, please call or email us.
The Clarke Team
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399
• Check your sprinkler systems to make sure they are working properly.
• Cut back any trees or branches that are touching the siding or roof.
• Clear out debris from under decks or porches.
We hope this guide helps make your home maintenance easier. If you would ever like recommendations for professional service vendors that can help you with your home maintenance, please call us at anytime. To request a guide for the entire year, please call or email us.
The Clarke Team
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399
Sunday, April 1, 2012
April Fools Day Quiz
Every April Fools’ Day we hear outrageously false stories and are challenged to sort out the April Foolery from weird stuff that is actually true. Here is a quiz from the Museum of Hoaxes of actual headlines. Some are April Fools’ Day jokes and others are real news stories. Can you tell the difference?
1_:_ _D_o_n_’t_ _D_i_s_t_u_r_b_ _t_h_e_ _S_q_u_i_r_r_e_l_s_ _
In 1993 city officials in Cologne, Germany imposed a new regulation on people jogging through the city park. Runners were required to pace themselves to go no faster than six mph. Any faster, the city officials cautioned, could disturb the squirrels that were in the middle of their mating season.
•T_R_U_E_ _•A_P_R_I_L_ _F_O_O_L_S_’ _
2_:_ _C_r_u_s_t_l_e_s_s_ _B_r_e_a_d_ _
For those who just can’t stand the taste of crusts, and are too lazy to cut them off themselves, Sara Lee introduced the ultimate in convenience: crustless bread. Available in stores everywhere!
•T_R_U_E_ _•A_P_R_I_L_ _F_O_O_L_S_’ _
3_:_ _P_e_t_ _T_a_x_ _
The city of Philadelphia, faced with a looming budget shortfall, last year announced a new tax targeted at pet owners. The owners will be charged a base fee of $10 per pet, and then $1 extra for every additional pound the pet weighs over ten pounds.
•T_R_U_E_ _•A_P_R_I_L_ _F_O_O_L_S_’ _
4_:_ _P_r_e_h_i_s_t_o_r_i_c_ _P_e_n_g_u_i_n_ _M_u_r_a_l_s_ _
In 1991 prehistoric murals were discovered on the walls of an underwater cave in eastern France revealing that penguins and man once lived side-by-side in that region. Historians, accustomed to seeing prehistoric depictions of animals such as bison and deer, were extremely surprised to find the penguins.
•T_R_U_E_ _•A_P_R_I_L_ _F_O_O_L_S_’ _
5_:_ _V_o_d_k_a_ _B_a_r_s_ _
Recently a Russian beverage company announced a new product designed to appeal more specifically to Russian tastes: chewy Vodka bars. The company hopes the candy bars will compete successfully against popular western imports such as Mars and Snickers bars. The Vodka bars will be available in lemon, coconut, and salted cucumber flavors.
•T_R_U_E_ _•A_P_R_I_L_ _F_O_O_L_S_’ _
6_:_ _B_a_n_k_ _T_e_l_l_e_r_ _F_e_e_s_ _
In 1999 a Connecticut-based bank announced that due to rising costs it would be forced to charge a $5 fee every time a customer visited a live teller. The bank promised that the fee would actually help to improve the quality of customer service.
•T_R_U_E_ _•A_P_R_I_L_ _F_O_O_L_S_’ _
Buying or selling a house is nothing to fool around with. If you’re interested in learning more about today’s real estate market, please feel free to contact us.
The Clarke Team
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399
1_:_ _D_o_n_’t_ _D_i_s_t_u_r_b_ _t_h_e_ _S_q_u_i_r_r_e_l_s_ _
In 1993 city officials in Cologne, Germany imposed a new regulation on people jogging through the city park. Runners were required to pace themselves to go no faster than six mph. Any faster, the city officials cautioned, could disturb the squirrels that were in the middle of their mating season.
•T_R_U_E_ _•A_P_R_I_L_ _F_O_O_L_S_’ _
2_:_ _C_r_u_s_t_l_e_s_s_ _B_r_e_a_d_ _
For those who just can’t stand the taste of crusts, and are too lazy to cut them off themselves, Sara Lee introduced the ultimate in convenience: crustless bread. Available in stores everywhere!
•T_R_U_E_ _•A_P_R_I_L_ _F_O_O_L_S_’ _
3_:_ _P_e_t_ _T_a_x_ _
The city of Philadelphia, faced with a looming budget shortfall, last year announced a new tax targeted at pet owners. The owners will be charged a base fee of $10 per pet, and then $1 extra for every additional pound the pet weighs over ten pounds.
•T_R_U_E_ _•A_P_R_I_L_ _F_O_O_L_S_’ _
4_:_ _P_r_e_h_i_s_t_o_r_i_c_ _P_e_n_g_u_i_n_ _M_u_r_a_l_s_ _
In 1991 prehistoric murals were discovered on the walls of an underwater cave in eastern France revealing that penguins and man once lived side-by-side in that region. Historians, accustomed to seeing prehistoric depictions of animals such as bison and deer, were extremely surprised to find the penguins.
•T_R_U_E_ _•A_P_R_I_L_ _F_O_O_L_S_’ _
5_:_ _V_o_d_k_a_ _B_a_r_s_ _
Recently a Russian beverage company announced a new product designed to appeal more specifically to Russian tastes: chewy Vodka bars. The company hopes the candy bars will compete successfully against popular western imports such as Mars and Snickers bars. The Vodka bars will be available in lemon, coconut, and salted cucumber flavors.
•T_R_U_E_ _•A_P_R_I_L_ _F_O_O_L_S_’ _
6_:_ _B_a_n_k_ _T_e_l_l_e_r_ _F_e_e_s_ _
In 1999 a Connecticut-based bank announced that due to rising costs it would be forced to charge a $5 fee every time a customer visited a live teller. The bank promised that the fee would actually help to improve the quality of customer service.
•T_R_U_E_ _•A_P_R_I_L_ _F_O_O_L_S_’ _
Buying or selling a house is nothing to fool around with. If you’re interested in learning more about today’s real estate market, please feel free to contact us.
The Clarke Team
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Are you ready to apply for your home loan?
Filling out a loan application doesn’t have to be a stressful event. Simply gathering the information you’ll need before you sit down with a loan officer to begin processing your application will save you a ton of time and aggravation.
If you are interested, we’ve prepared a mortgage worksheet that details all the information that you will need. Just call or e-mail us and we’ll get it out to you right away.
And if you haven’t selected a lender yet, we would be more than happy to provide you with proven contacts that have worked fabulously with us and our customers. They are all extremely professional and know how to find the loan that best suits your needs.
We hope to hear back from you soon and look forward to helping with all of your real estate needs.
If you are interested, we’ve prepared a mortgage worksheet that details all the information that you will need. Just call or e-mail us and we’ll get it out to you right away.
And if you haven’t selected a lender yet, we would be more than happy to provide you with proven contacts that have worked fabulously with us and our customers. They are all extremely professional and know how to find the loan that best suits your needs.
We hope to hear back from you soon and look forward to helping with all of your real estate needs.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
A Successful Sale Is Just A Phone Call Away
We like to keep what we call the Three Ps at the top of our mind: Passion, Professionalism and Perseverance. Because we love what we do, we treat our clients the way we would like to be treated ourselves. And we never give up.
These Three Ps are the keys to the success of our clients, and they are also at the heart of our business. Our job as Realtors is to help our clients build personal wealth while making the experience satisfying—and fun! And the sooner we're involved in the planning of your home sale, the more positive the experience will be.
Please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail us, we look forward to putting my expertise to work for you.
These Three Ps are the keys to the success of our clients, and they are also at the heart of our business. Our job as Realtors is to help our clients build personal wealth while making the experience satisfying—and fun! And the sooner we're involved in the planning of your home sale, the more positive the experience will be.
Please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail us, we look forward to putting my expertise to work for you.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Review of the Clarke Team: Excellent.
Review: My mother-in-law interviewed a lot of different people and chose The Clarke Team. It turned out that they also were a client of our shop. I worked with Judy, who was wonderful. She was very detailed and straightforward, which was helpful to me because it was a difficult escrow and she let me handle part of it. The property sold, so everything worked out as expected.
George Huddleston
Reviewed By: George H.
Review Date: 24 Jan 2011
Reviewer Location: Burlingame, CA
George Huddleston
Reviewed By: George H.
Review Date: 24 Jan 2011
Reviewer Location: Burlingame, CA
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Review of the Clarke Team: Patient and Determined. They helped us find our perfect home.
Review: This was our first experience with The Clarke Team and it was much better than I ever dreamed possible.
My husband and I had difficult parameters as far as what we wanted in a house and the price we wanted to pay. We were looking for different things in a home. The Clarke Team helped us find the house of our dreams, which encapsulated the qualities and features that we were both looking for in one house.
Not only did Judy Clarke accommodate a bimodal desire in homes, but she was also entirely positive throughout the process. She handled everything with gentleness and sweetness.
Working with The Clarke Team was an amazing experience. They are the best listeners in the world. They get you the house you want and they have fabulous attention to detail. This attention to detail can provide insight about potential home defects they see. My husband and I had not two but three pairs of discerning eyes to spot the flaws as well as the positive features of the homes we looked at.
The Clarke Team never lost patience or determination to assist us in finding our perfect home.
Marciana and Denis O'Halloran
Reviewed By: Marciana & Denis O.
Review Date: 20 Jan 2009
My husband and I had difficult parameters as far as what we wanted in a house and the price we wanted to pay. We were looking for different things in a home. The Clarke Team helped us find the house of our dreams, which encapsulated the qualities and features that we were both looking for in one house.
Not only did Judy Clarke accommodate a bimodal desire in homes, but she was also entirely positive throughout the process. She handled everything with gentleness and sweetness.
Working with The Clarke Team was an amazing experience. They are the best listeners in the world. They get you the house you want and they have fabulous attention to detail. This attention to detail can provide insight about potential home defects they see. My husband and I had not two but three pairs of discerning eyes to spot the flaws as well as the positive features of the homes we looked at.
The Clarke Team never lost patience or determination to assist us in finding our perfect home.
Marciana and Denis O'Halloran
Reviewed By: Marciana & Denis O.
Review Date: 20 Jan 2009
Friday, November 25, 2011
: A Little Knowledge Will Save You A Lot Of Time and Money
Is it a buyer’s or a seller’s market right now? The answer can turn on a dime and not all buyers are up-to-date with the latest information on market conditions. It almost goes without saying that it can also have serious financial impact on your situation.
As Realtors, it’s our job to track all of the elements that go into creating our current market – from interest rates to supply and demand, to which kinds of houses are selling quickly. Market conditions will often vary even from neighborhood to neighborhood, and knowing this information can put you in a much better position to find better deals and more promising investment opportunities.
We would like to offer you our services and help you find the dream home you are looking for.
The Clarke Team
Realtors
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399
As Realtors, it’s our job to track all of the elements that go into creating our current market – from interest rates to supply and demand, to which kinds of houses are selling quickly. Market conditions will often vary even from neighborhood to neighborhood, and knowing this information can put you in a much better position to find better deals and more promising investment opportunities.
We would like to offer you our services and help you find the dream home you are looking for.
The Clarke Team
Realtors
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Review of the Clarke Team: Working with The Clarke Team was an amazing experience
Review: I am very lucky to work with The Clarke Team. Kelly is my sister in law. Judy and Kelly Clarke are both great and very knowledgeable.
Working with The Clarke Team was an amazing experience. They are the best listeners in the world. They get you the house you want and they have fabulous attention to detail. This attention to detail can provide insight about potential home defects they see. They easily spot the flaws as well as the positive features each home that I visited.
The Clarke Team never lost patience or determination to assist me in finding my perfect home.
Reviewed By: Josephine D.
Review Date: 23 Mar 2009
Reviewer Location: Redwood City, CA
Working with The Clarke Team was an amazing experience. They are the best listeners in the world. They get you the house you want and they have fabulous attention to detail. This attention to detail can provide insight about potential home defects they see. They easily spot the flaws as well as the positive features each home that I visited.
The Clarke Team never lost patience or determination to assist me in finding my perfect home.
Reviewed By: Josephine D.
Review Date: 23 Mar 2009
Reviewer Location: Redwood City, CA
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Review of the Clarke Team: The best decision I have made.
Review: This was my second time purchasing a home. Kelly and Judy made the transaction easy and smooth from beginning to end. We looked at homes with an open mind for sure and she gave me ideas along the way as to how to upgrade them. My budget was small and that meant not the best neighborhoods. She always researched the areas and made sure I new "There is a hospital and four way stop sign there. There are a lot of cars and apartments on this street" And when we found the gem she made sure It was the right choice. Comments like " There is a school 2 blocks away so we should drive by when it gets out to see how busy it is. There are nice well maintained homes and ample parking all around. It has been the best decision I have made to use the Clarke team in finding my Gem. Thank You.
Reviewed By: jessica l.
Review Date: 02 Apr 2009
Reviewer Location: Redwood City, CA
Reviewed By: jessica l.
Review Date: 02 Apr 2009
Reviewer Location: Redwood City, CA
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Review of the Clarke Team: All-around good experience: Quick, effective, and fun to work with.
Review: We decided to use The Clarke Team to sell our house because I knew Kelly from a previous business we had worked in together. I was confident in her personality and sales skills, and knew that she was a results person.
We challenged The Clarke Team a bit because we gave them a month to sell our house. However, they worked quickly and effectively to get things done. Within 4 days, they had an open house, and we received a full-price offer the following day.
They were incredibly organized, had a plan, and their communication was excellent. They managed the selling of our home like a project, setting our expectations in terms of what we needed to do and what we could expect.
The way that they interacted with us was very impressive, as we have had other agents that were not responsive and did not answer our questions. The Clarke Team also was fun to work with. They just get it -- all of the different aspects of the process, from the emotional to the financial/practical, that you are going through.
John Matterson
Reviewed By: John M.
Review Date: 12 Nov 2009
Reviewer Location: Vancouver, BC
We challenged The Clarke Team a bit because we gave them a month to sell our house. However, they worked quickly and effectively to get things done. Within 4 days, they had an open house, and we received a full-price offer the following day.
They were incredibly organized, had a plan, and their communication was excellent. They managed the selling of our home like a project, setting our expectations in terms of what we needed to do and what we could expect.
The way that they interacted with us was very impressive, as we have had other agents that were not responsive and did not answer our questions. The Clarke Team also was fun to work with. They just get it -- all of the different aspects of the process, from the emotional to the financial/practical, that you are going through.
John Matterson
Reviewed By: John M.
Review Date: 12 Nov 2009
Reviewer Location: Vancouver, BC
Friday, November 4, 2011
Changes in the Market
The market sometimes changes in subtle ways that can affect home buying strategies. Sometimes a small shift can tip the market in favor of buyers, and other times towards sellers. Do you know where the market is right now, and are you confident that you will be able to get the best deal on your new home?
We have years of experience helping buyers like you discover the homes of their dreams. We can help you take advantage of market strategies and capitalize on opportunities that will unlock the door to your new home—with less stress and much more satisfaction.
Should you require the expertise of a professional Realtor, please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail us anytime.
The Clarke Team
Realtors
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399
We have years of experience helping buyers like you discover the homes of their dreams. We can help you take advantage of market strategies and capitalize on opportunities that will unlock the door to your new home—with less stress and much more satisfaction.
Should you require the expertise of a professional Realtor, please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail us anytime.
The Clarke Team
Realtors
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Review of the Clarke Team: A dedicated, professional team with high integrity.
Review: I had a property in Half Moon Bay, and it was going to a family that had 4 or 5 brothers and sisters that were fighting among themselves. The land that was going was not expensive. I was surprised to see The Clarke Team go through so much trouble even though there was not much money involved.
Everything was done professionally to make sure that I would not have any issues later on because the brothers were disagreeing. I personally felt bad for having them do so much work for not much money.
Judy and Kelly really work as a team. They are involved in many meetings, and if one was not available the other one would always help. They were always in touch and available to help.
Reviewed By: Wilson S.
Review Date: 07 Jul 2010
Reviewer Location: San Mateo, CA
Everything was done professionally to make sure that I would not have any issues later on because the brothers were disagreeing. I personally felt bad for having them do so much work for not much money.
Judy and Kelly really work as a team. They are involved in many meetings, and if one was not available the other one would always help. They were always in touch and available to help.
Reviewed By: Wilson S.
Review Date: 07 Jul 2010
Reviewer Location: San Mateo, CA
Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!
We all remember dressing up as our favorite superhero, fantasy idol or wild animal for Halloween and canvassing the neighborhood for goodies while either saving the world, escaping from it—or eating it all in one sitting!
Today in many ways we're still on the lookout—not for sweets anymore, but to help people overcome obstacles, find the castles of their dreams and discover hidden treats using our X-ray vision. Well, we don’t really have X-ray vision, but we do have an incredible eye for opportunities!
So if you know of anyone who needs a Realtor who can leap tall buildings in a single bound, please don’t hesitate to mention us.
The Clarke Team
Realtors
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399
Today in many ways we're still on the lookout—not for sweets anymore, but to help people overcome obstacles, find the castles of their dreams and discover hidden treats using our X-ray vision. Well, we don’t really have X-ray vision, but we do have an incredible eye for opportunities!
So if you know of anyone who needs a Realtor who can leap tall buildings in a single bound, please don’t hesitate to mention us.
The Clarke Team
Realtors
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Review of the Clarke Team: They made selling my home in a difficult market a rather pleasant experience.
Review: The Clarke Team was very professional and had very timely communication. They were very thorough. They came up with some good ideas for marketing my property.
Reviewed By: Tim M.
Review Date: 27 Aug 2010
Reviewer Location: Redwood City, CA
Reviewed By: Tim M.
Review Date: 27 Aug 2010
Reviewer Location: Redwood City, CA
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Review of the Clarke Team: A perfect experience.
Review: The Clarke Team was recommended to us. When my husband and I were looking to sell our house, we met with them. They knew a lot about the area and provided my husband with information before he had to ask for it.
My husband and I had different agendas: I wanted to take the selling process slowly and he was on a quicker time frame. They were sensitive to both of us, very respectful and accommodating. It was a great process.
We were lucky to work with The Clarke Team. Judy and Kelly Clarke are both great and very knowledgeable. They were always on the ball.
Reviewed By: Lainee & Leonard E.
Review Date: 27 Jan 2009
My husband and I had different agendas: I wanted to take the selling process slowly and he was on a quicker time frame. They were sensitive to both of us, very respectful and accommodating. It was a great process.
We were lucky to work with The Clarke Team. Judy and Kelly Clarke are both great and very knowledgeable. They were always on the ball.
Reviewed By: Lainee & Leonard E.
Review Date: 27 Jan 2009
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Review of the Clarke Team: The Clarke Team is highly professional and attentive to their clients.
Review: I recently sold my house, and The Clarke Team was with me from start to finish. They are highly professional, and my home sold quickly.
We had a difficult buyer, and The Clarke Team worked with the issues without exposing us to them at all. We did not have to deal with anything because they did it all on their end.
Judy and Kelly were very organized and complete in their service. They guided us through the entire process every step of the way. They prepared my home so well that it was voted best of tour.
The Clarke Team was highly attentive. Even after the home sold they had open houses to prepare for any contingency. They were always thinking of backup plans.
Reviewed By: Deborah S.
Review Date: 09 Jul 2010
Reviewer Location: San Francisco, CA
We had a difficult buyer, and The Clarke Team worked with the issues without exposing us to them at all. We did not have to deal with anything because they did it all on their end.
Judy and Kelly were very organized and complete in their service. They guided us through the entire process every step of the way. They prepared my home so well that it was voted best of tour.
The Clarke Team was highly attentive. Even after the home sold they had open houses to prepare for any contingency. They were always thinking of backup plans.
Reviewed By: Deborah S.
Review Date: 09 Jul 2010
Reviewer Location: San Francisco, CA
Friday, October 7, 2011
Curb Appeal 101
First impressions count in real estate! To get a better idea what kind of face your home presents to a potential buyer, walk outside and up to your front door. How does the front of your home look? Is your front yard neat and tidy? Are your gutters and paint in tip-top shape?
This objective look at your home can let you “see” it through the eyes of buyers. If your home makes a positive first impression a buyer will immediately be drawn in and want to know more. Visual appearance can make the difference between attracting big traffic—or feeling like you’re in a ghost town.
Buyers’ interest will increase when they see an attractive yard and tidy landscaping. Garbage of any kind is a no-no, as are parked cars, RVs, boats, and piles of “stuff” that can ward off all but the most resolute buyers. Trimming your trees and shrubs will allow for a better view from the street, and of course, mowing the lawn and sweeping the entryway will help to make an impact as well.
Simply paying attention to small details like these will help you market your home for top dollar. I can help you discover even more proven techniques to get your home noticed and get you the results you want. Please give us a call or send us an e-mail if you’d like to learn more about how we can help you move your home.
The Clarke Team
Realtors
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399
This objective look at your home can let you “see” it through the eyes of buyers. If your home makes a positive first impression a buyer will immediately be drawn in and want to know more. Visual appearance can make the difference between attracting big traffic—or feeling like you’re in a ghost town.
Buyers’ interest will increase when they see an attractive yard and tidy landscaping. Garbage of any kind is a no-no, as are parked cars, RVs, boats, and piles of “stuff” that can ward off all but the most resolute buyers. Trimming your trees and shrubs will allow for a better view from the street, and of course, mowing the lawn and sweeping the entryway will help to make an impact as well.
Simply paying attention to small details like these will help you market your home for top dollar. I can help you discover even more proven techniques to get your home noticed and get you the results you want. Please give us a call or send us an e-mail if you’d like to learn more about how we can help you move your home.
The Clarke Team
Realtors
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399
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