Go for it - Nov. 11 - Fair Oaks

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Hi dad. I heard the familiar sound of a cable clanging against a metal flagpole the other day and it reminded me of those blustery Saturday afternoons down at the boat docks in San Pedro. The scent of the salty ocean air hung heavy in the harbor as it blended with the pungent aroma from the canvas sails. I know this may sound weird, but my fingers always smelled like barbequed hot dogs after a day at the docks.

Remember the cool picture in the diner of the river that looked and sounded like it was moving whenever it was lit up? How about the time we laughed hysterically at my best friend Vince when he was trying to be cool and then fell into the algae infested water we called the green glick! Kids, it’s never a good idea to have one foot on a boat and the other on a dock, unless of course you’re looking for an excuse to get wet or laughed at.

With Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought that this would be a good time to bring the spirit of both holidays together by expressing my gratitude for all that you did for me and for our country. I hope I’ve thanked you enough for all the love and support you gave me unconditionally. You were a great dad and an excellent role model. I don’t believe I would have this

By Bob Coxwonderful life filled with loving and amazing people had it not been for you. You were always there when I needed you most.

I know for certain that this blessed life I have would not be possible without the bravery and sacrifices of millions of American soldiers just like you who fought for our freedom. When you are born and raised with the freedom we all enjoy, it’s far too easy to take it for granted. I know I do.

Sometimes I wish I would’ve asked you more about your experiences during the war. What were you thinking after you heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor? What was it like going through basic training in the Marine Corp? What islands did you fight on and which battle did you get shot in the leg? What was it like for you when your dad never came to visit you while you were lying in a San Diego hospital bed for a whole year?

When I think about all the tragedies and heartache you experienced before your 21st birthday, it’s sort of ironic that you weren’t legally old enough to drink your sorrows away. Your mom died when you were six, you were separated by over 1,000 miles from your dad and sisters for eight years during the Great Depression, then when you were finally reunited with them in California at age 14, you found out that your dad was an angry and abusive alcoholic who constantly criticized you. Then of course there were the horrors of war you spent the rest of your life trying to forget about. On second thought, maybe it’s better that I didn’t grill you like a news reporter.

I suppose that’s why I’m still amazed at what a fine man and father you were. I’ve heard it said that it’s extremely common for boys to turn out to be like their fathers. Fortunately for me, that didn’t happen to you. You managed to break the chain. While you fought for the freedom we all continue to enjoy, you also exercised the freedom to become the man you wanted to be. That was the best example you could’ve ever set.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 18 years since you took your last breath here on earth. I have so much to thank you for, it’s hard to know where to begin. Thank you for taking me to McDonalds and putting up with my special orders, which always seemed to take forever to get. Thanks for buying me my favorite plastic dinosaurs that day we went to Toy World. Thank you for not making a big deal out of me crying and wanting to leave my friends birthday party when I was five. Thank you for not dying when your doctor told you that you had 5-15 years to live and I was only nine. Mostly, thank you for giving me a better childhood and a better life than you had. Mom said that’s what you really wanted to do, so all I can say to that is mission accomplished.

Bob Cox is the founder and publisher of Go For It Magazine. He can be reached by phone at (916) 266-3115. His email address is [email protected]. Go For It Magazine is owned and operated in Rancho Cordova, CA. Copyright © 2011.

Thanking a Veteran



By Bob Cox

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With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, how great would it be to replace those old, outdated and worn out floors with brand new flooring before you serve that delicious turkey with all the trimmings? You may be thinking that there’s not enough time to get it all done in time before your guests arrive. Well, think again, because I have some great news. We have a flooring company right here in Sacramento who specializes in fast turnaround times, quality workmanship and all at bargain prices! The name of this business is Ralph Opfer Floors.

How do I know this to be true? Because I was able to get the beautiful laminate flooring I wanted for my home delivered on the same day and it just doesn’t get any faster than that! Best of all, I was able to work with Lynn Lawson, the owner herself and she hooked me up with a killer deal on everything I needed at a price that so was ridiculously low, I’m almost embarrassed to tell anyone. So, let’s just keep it our little secret that I got the flooring, the pad and baseboards for $1,000!

With the company called Ralph Opfer Floors, you may be wondering how a woman named Lynn became the owner. To make a long story short, Lynn acquired the business from her father, who happens to be Ralph Opfer. Ralph started the business over 30 years ago and built a reputation for being a bargain hunter. When the time came for him to retire, he passed his business along to the capable hands of his daughter Lynn, who faithfully worked by his side for several years, soaked up everything he knew about the business and the rest is history. Actually, it’s actually her-story, so without further ado, I’ll let Lynn tell you her story.

Q: A lot of your customers have been amazed at how fast you can get their floors done without sacrificing quality. How are you able to get jobs done so quickly?

A: I have a lot of installers who are experienced and can get the job done quickly. Of course, the only question that comes into play that could slow things down is if the customer picks out flooring that’s hard to get. We do have lots of suppliers that are local, so we can get product right away.

Q: If your customer picks flooring that you can get from a local supplier, how quickly can you get it?

A: Oftentimes, we can get the flooring delivered to us on the same day.

Q: How long does it usually take to complete a job, once the customer has picked out the floor and the measurements have been taken?

A: Depending on what it is and how much it is, we can get a job done in a couple of days to a week.

Q: What do your customers like most about working with you?

A: I think it is the fact that I spend the time to listen to what they want and then I will try my best to get them exactly what they are looking for. It feels like we’ve been friends forever most of the time.

The Best Gift is Under the GiftsBy Bob Cox

Beautiful & Affordable Floors by Ralph Opfer Floors

Lynn Lawson (right), the owner of Ralph Opfer Floors truly cares about helping her customers get exactly what they want.


Q: I’ve heard stories about how you sold floors that are less expensive then what your customers originally wanted. Is that really true?

A: After finding out the customer’s needs and exactly what they want, if a less expensive floor would be a better value for them, then I will always recommend the floor that is the best value for what they have to work with.

Q: Do you believe that honesty is really the best policy?A: Yes. I just like to be honest with what I tell people. I don’t

want to be like the stereotypical used car salesperson and try to get them to buy something because I want the sale. I try to personalize it make everybody happy. Of course I want the sale, but that’s not the whole purpose of me doing things. I like to make people happy with their decisions and make sure what they buy is what they want and not what I want them to buy. So that’s a big part of it. There are a lot of places that will sell you flooring just to get the sale and not really care where you’re coming from or what your budget is. They just want the sale and I’m not like that. I like to sleep with a clear conscience knowing I put the customer first.

Q: Doesn’t it take a lot more time to really get to know your customers and find out what they want?

A: Yes, most definitely.

Q: The company you own is called Ralph Opfer Floors, which was named after your father who founded the business. When did your dad get started in the flooring industry?

A: Dad started selling and installing laminate floors in the 1970’s. Before that, he was a real estate broker and a handyman. Dad bought and sold houses and refurbished rentals. When Pergo came into the country in the late 1970’s, he talked the local hardware store into letting him have a space in the corner of the store. Dad sold and installed Pergo out of the hardware store for many years. After moving up to Northern California he became known as “the bargain hunter,” to all his suppliers. He would buy all of their closeouts so he would have deals to extend to his customers. With a warehouse full of inventory, you could always come to Ralph Opfer Flooring to find a bargain.

Q: How did you get involved in the business? A: I got married and moved up here in 1979 and three of

my siblings did as well, so 4 out of 7 children were up here in the Sacramento area. We finally talked my dad and my mom into moving up here. In 1999 my brother helped get the flooring business started up here. By 2002, the business had grown to the point where it needed an office manager and I was in a position to take that challenge on. I learned a lot from working side by side with my dad and brother.

Q: What makes Ralph Opfer Floors really special and unique that you won’t find in other flooring stores?

The Best Gift is Under the Gifts A: The personal attention you get when you come here. When someone comes in looking for flooring, I try to ask as many questions as I can to try to get an idea of what it is they are looking for. I go to quite a few lengths to actually find what people want. I will have customers come in with a piece of wood from an existing floor and they don’t know what it is, but they need more of it. I’ll spend the time researching it and trying to find it, so I can help them get what they want. So yeah, it’s the personal attention… I try to be very honest with people about quality and pricing. I’m also kind of a bargain hunter. I’ll look for specials when people have a certain budget. A lot of times, the budgets won’t fit into what they actually want in their house, so that’s where those special items come into play. You can get some really nice products at lower prices, but it takes time to search for those things. I’ll go to bat for them and try to find what they want in a price range they can afford. We carry every type of flooring you would need, including laminate, hardwood, carpet, tile, and vinyl. I also have a lot of stock in my warehouse of special purchases I’ve made, so customers can come in, pick flooring and leave with it. Cash and carry!

Q: Speaking of deals, do you have any great deals on popular flooring?

A: Yes, we have a big sale on self locking engineered hardwood flooring for $1.99 sq ft. I have over 18,000 sq ft in stock. As well as ½” x 5” hand-scraped engineered birch for $2.99 sq ft.

Q: Would you say your dad is proud of you?A: Oh, I would say yes definitely. I would hope so. I think he’s

very happy that all of his hard work raising me has paid off! Like father like daughter!

Editor’s notes: For more information about Ralph Opfer Floors, visit their website at www.ralphopferfloors.com, their showroom at 10265 Old Placerville Road #14 in Sacramento or call (916) 366-1672.


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Seems like we all have less time, energy and resources to accomplish an ever-growing and challenging list of items on our “to-do” lists. So how do we do more with less? By collaborating with others to the benefit of all. By looking for cre-ative ways to accomplish multiple goals, we can each get more done faster, cheaper and generally have more fun in the process.

The old adage is “many hands make light work”. The Sunday Farmer’s Market at Carmichael Park is a great example. There you will see vendors working with teens from the BeMoney-SmartUSA rent-a-teen program and organizations working with BobsPocket.com to get the word out about events through the Community Booth and the on-line calendar**.

The Market has grown into a huge com-munity asset thanks to the support of many, including our latest “Pocket Partner,” the Fair Oaks Cemetery District. Stop by the Booth to enter our monthly drawing for prizes donated by local businesses (or go on-line to enter). Oh, yes, more collaborative benefits! WWW = Win-Win-Win!

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Doing More with Less

*Visit www.BobsPocket.com for Bob’s Blog & Bio.


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The Top Four Kitchen

Cleaning Tips

From the owners of E-Z Living Cleaning:

Kristy Skondras and Annette Arent.

#1 To remove tough and sticky caked-on food in microwaves,

boil a cup of water, use the steam to loosen all food particles, then wipe clean.

#2 To clean and remove bacteria from cutting boards, put rock salt

and a little water on it, let it sit for 20 minutes, scrub and rinse off.

#3 For tough stains in porcelain sinks, place a paper towel with bleach in

the sink, let it sit for 5 minutes to remove those unwanted stains.

#4 To have your kitchen smelling fresh, light a vanilla candle.

• Interior House Cleaning • Carpet Cleaning • Window Washing

$100 OFF Deluxe Package

$20 OFFSmall House Cleaning

$40 OFFMedium House Cleaning

$60 OFFLarge House Cleaning

20% OFFCommercial Special

DiSCOuntS FOr:Military, Disabled

& Seniors EvEry Day!

New clients only. First cleaning. Call for details. Expires 12/31/11. New clients only. First cleaning. Call for details. Expires 12/31/11.




E-Z Living Cleaning, LLC8611 Folsom Blvd., Ste GSacramento, CA 95826

(916) 381-5490www.ezlivingcleaning.com

FREEEstimates!

No Contracts

Residential • Commercial/JanitorialConstruction Clean-up

Spring Cleanings • Garage Detailing Room by Room OrganizationMove-in/Move-out Cleanings

Closet Cleaning • Windows & ScreensPet Poop Pick-up • More

references available upon request

“We don’t cut corners, we clean them!”

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges facing buyers and sellers in the real estate market these days?

A: Well, I think the biggest challenge for buyers now, especially first time buyers is to understand the process of short sales and realizing that it takes time to negotiate these short sales. They also need to understand the difference between a short sale and a foreclosure. On the seller’s side, they need to understand that the majority of the inventory is foreclosures and short sales, and that is the competition. The key to selling is pricing your property appropriately with regard to the competition.

Q: What’s the best advice you can give to people who are buying a property?

A: They should get pre-approved with a lender. After that, they should get together with a real estate consultant that really understands the market and understands the inventory that’s out there. A good agent will give them a clear and concise explanation about the different types of properties that are out there for sale and explain the most common scenario’s, including foreclosures, short sales and standard equity sales.

Q: What advice do you offer people who are selling and want to maximize the value of their property?

A: The best advice I can give to anyone that’s trying to sell their property is to understand what determines pricing and to price your property appropriately by taking a look at the competition. Also, sprucing up your property to make it more appealing can help. That could be something like doing some simple landscaping out front and doing some light touchups on the interior as well. I would never encourage somebody to do a total kitchen remodel when they’re trying to sell their property. I would suggest doing a light touchup before putting their home on the market.

Q: What should buyers and sellers look for when hiring a real estate agent?

A: Given the real estate environment, it really benefits one to hire a real estate consultant who really understands the market, both the listing and the buying side. I’ve been in the market long enough to understand that the market is changing, so I know both the listing and the buying side. I also understand what you have to do in order to sell your property, whether it’s a short sale or a standard equity sale. With my clients who are buying property, I take the time to explain the difference between a short sale, a foreclosure and what to expect when you’ve put in an offer on a distressed property.

Q&A

With Joel Perez



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Go for it - Nov. 11 - Fair Oaks