Volume 9, Issue I                                                                                                                      Spring 2001

FREE ONLINE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO COMPUTER USERS

The Internet has become more important to the business world. In fact, it is a growing part of more people’s everyday lives. Some still think of being able to use the Internet as being a rather expensive proposition, but that certainly does not have to be the case. In fact, it doesn’t have to cost anything at all.

There are three types of Internet services that can be obtained for no charge – that’s right, absolutely free. They are e-mail service, Internet access and Web site hosting.
The key to the availability of these free services is advertising. Just like network television or commercial radio stations, these sources place ads on the Internet user’s computer screen. Therefore their revenue for providing this service comes from a source other than the actual user.

E-mail: You don’t even have to own a computer to get a free e-mail account. Through sources such as Mail.com, Hotmail or Yahoo you can maintain an e-mail address, send messages and retrieve your own messages at any computer that has Internet access.

Internet access: Some of the companies that offer free Internet access include NetZero, BlueLight, Juno, WorldSpy, Freei, Freewwweb and FreeNSafe. Depending on your location, the access number for some of these may require long-distance charges.

Web site hosting: There are literally hundreds of companies that offer free Web site hosting. CNET, an Internet news service, rated its 100 best in this category. At the top of the list were Bigstep, Doteasy, Fws1 and Jumpline.

Needless to say, if you take advantage of these free services there are limitations. Storage of mail is limited on the free e-mail accounts. Hours are usually limited under the free Internet access plans. And the cost-free hosted Web sites tend to have limited ability for some of the more elaborate functions. Some of these free providers may also retain copyright privileges of the user’s stored work. But at those prices, how can you complain? If it’s not enough, you can always upgrade if you’re willing to pay the difference.
Finding out which Internet service best fits your needs may require a little research and decision making on your part. You may even elect to subscribe to a higher level of service for which you pay a fee. But money (or lack of it) cannot be considered a valid reason for not being able to take advantage of the basic services offered on the Internet.

ELLIOTT® & Company Appraisers Accepts Plastic

Effective immediately, participating ELLIOTT® & Company Appraisers offices will begin to accept credit cards on appraisal orders. Visa or Master Card payments for orders will be accepted via fax upon acceptance of the order or upon inspection at the property.

“This change is in keeping within our objective to make our services as convenient and available as possible,” stated company President Charlie Elliott. “Recently we have had a number of requests for the service. It seemed that the timing is right for our company to take the initiative in this area as few if any of our competitors accept credit cards as payment for appraisal services. This move is especially important to our firm and clients since we provide appraisal services in all 50 states throughout the country. Credit and collections becomes less of an issue and collecting cash in advance is no longer the sole method of accepting advance payments.”

The company charges a small additional service charge for transactions involving credit cards.
ELLIOTT® & Company Appraisers has 12 offices located within four states and offers appraisal service nationwide through a network of appraisers. The company appraises residential as well as commercial real estate, and some offices are independently owned and operated.