Look Learn Lease 2012

THE DAILY COUGAR presents

LOOK

速

AUGUST

2012

LEARN LEASE THE INS AND OUTS OF LEASING FIND THE BEST APARTMENT WITH THESE HELPFUL TIPS

Protecting your Property pg. 10 The Living essentials pg. 15

YOUR SOURCE FOR APARTMENTS, HOME ACCESSORIES & MORE

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eas from d i t

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ONLINE FACULTY/ COURSE EVALUATION http://accessuh.uh.edu

www.las.uh.edu HELP US HELP YOU BY GIVING US YOUR OPINION

survey.uh.edu

2 Look, Learn, Lease! • Summer 2012

UH Look Lease Publication_5x8.pdf

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7/26/12

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Summer 2012 • Look, Learn, Lease! 3

WHAT’S INSIDE:

6 Roommates

8

Making the Move

16 Learn to Lease 18 Moving Out THE COVER

Design: Paul Vilchez THE DAILY COUGAR presents

LOOK

®

AUGUST

2012

LEARN LEASE THE INS AND OUTS OF LEASING FIND THE BEST APARTMENT WITH THESE HELPFUL TIPS

Protecting your Property pg. 10 The Living essentials pg. 15

YOUR SOURCE FOR APARTMENTS, HOME ACCESSORIES & MORE

4 Look, Learn, Lease! • Summer 2012

STAFF

ABOUT LLL!

Look, Learn, Lease! Editor David Haydon Look, Learn, Lease! Design Andres Garcia Farah Hasnie Paul Vilchez

Look, Learn, Lease! is a production of The Daily Cougar, the official student newspaper of the University of Houston. © 2012 University of Houston Student Publications. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the permission of the Director of Student Publications.

Phone: 713-743-5350 E-mail: stupub@uh.edu Web: www.uh.edu/sp To Advertise Call: 713-743-5345

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Summer 2012 • Look, Learn, Lease! 5

TO BE OR NOT TO BE . . .ALONE

By David Haydon - Look Learn Lease Editor

I

f you’re new in Houston, finding a place to live will be difficult. What could prove to be more difficult is finding a roommate, or deciding not to.

A roommate fills immediate needs. Young tenants are disadvantaged when they have no one to help split the bills. Likewise, living alone might cause depression, especially for those who spend too much time browsing the internet for social engagement. For economic and mental health, always opt for a roommate. Remember, misery loves company.

For those who need a roommate fast, there is hope. At certain times of the year, notably May through June and August through September, the options are fierce because of students leaving or entering school. Apartment hunters should be wary during this time, but roommate hunters get a smorgasbord.

Think before contact however. You’re going to get offers from eccentrics, moochers, thieves and most of all, people who can’t pay their half of the rent.

If you have an apartment, rent house, loft, etc., picked already, ask the landlord. They usually get piles of letters and requests for roommates. The landlord can refine your search down to compatible and safer choices.

6 Look, Learn, Lease! • Summer 2012

Once you’ve found a prospective roommate, meet at a cafe and hash things out. Find out if both of you want the same kind of lease. Find out about sleeping schedules, eating habits, jobs, friends, relationships, pets and everything else. Try not to sign a lease agreement with the person only to discover delayed surprises.

The previous advice may do you no good of course if you’re not a social creature.

Consider living alone. It may not save you money, but it will save stress.

The complete solitude and freedom of not sharing space should appeal the most. No need to tell someone to turn down their obnoxious music. No coming home from late night partying. No missing food from the fridge. You can leave your clothes in the dryer and your dishes in the sink for as long as you want and no one will be the wiser.

The last part may not seem so appealing.

If you need an extra pair of eyes to make sure you’re not reverting to your teenage years of clothes on the floor and unwashed dishes, it might be best to bite the bullet and sign a lease with someone. However, if you can afford to have a place by yourself without resorting to talking to a volleyball, there’s nothing to stop you.

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Summer 2012 • Look, Learn, Lease! 7

MAKING THE MOVE (Adapted from an article written by the Texas Apartment Association)

W

hatever your reason for thinking about making a move, you need to keep in mind the costs you’re likely to have. Factor these costs into any decision you make about moving.

Have you fulfilled the terms of your lease?

• If you move out early, you’ll probably be responsible for various charges described in your lease,

I NEED TO MOVE. WHAT’S IT GOING TO COST?

along with any damages to the property.

• This may include a reletting fee (a charge to compensate the property for costs it will incur in trying

Have you added up the hard costs of moving?

to lease your apartment to someone else) and

• You may need to hire movers or rent a truck or

the full amount of rent due during the remainder

other equipment to make your move.

of your lease term. (If your apartment is rented to

• You may also need to buy boxes, packing materi-

someone else, you’ll get credit for any rent paid that

als, tape and other supplies, or offer food and drink

would have been due during your initial lease term.)

to friends you enlist to help you.

Have you considered costs you’ll incur for new

Have you considered other costs you may incur?

deposits?

• Will you need to kennel a pet during the move,

• If you’ll be renting somewhere else, you’ll need to

or stay in a hotel while you look for a place to live

pay another security deposit, and any animal deposit

or wait for movers to arrive with your belongings?

if the property allows animals and you have a pet.

• Will you spend money on meals, phone calls or

• You may also have to pay deposits for utilities

other items while you wait to complete the move?

if you are moving to a new town or changing

• Will you need to spend additional funds on

providers.

transportation if your new home requires a longer commute from school?

Have you factored in costs for transferring your existing utilities and services?

How much time will you invest in moving?

• If you are moving within the same utility service

• Will you need to use vacation time or sick days to

area, you may still have to pay a fee to transfer your

pack and unpack?

service or establish service at your new location.

• If you are self-employed or don’t have paid vacation or sick leave, can you afford to miss work?

8 Look, Learn, Lease! • Summer 2012

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Summer 2012 • Look, Learn, Lease! 9

HELP END AUTO THEFT & BURGLARIES

SAFETY FIRST

By Brandon Whitfield, UHPD Officer

N

othing is worse than walking out to the parking lot after class and discovering that your car has been broken into, or worse, stolen. Unfor tunately, this is a crime that happens all too often. While a professional car thief will be able to steal any car, they will most likely pick the easiest target. The goal of a thief is too be quick and not get caught. In order to accomplish this they must be quick; by taking a few simple steps a thief may very well look past your vehicle and move on to an easier target.

You should take precautions to protect your property by never leaving it unattended in public, and by locking your vehicle when you leave it even for a moment. Hide your valuables by placing them in the glove compartment or the trunk. Also hide any accessories. Thieves know that if charging cables and accessories are in the vehicle than the iPod or GPS system probably is too.

Park in well lit areas or attended parking lots.

UHDPS provides security kiosks in parking lots 12A, 9C and 4A. These kiosks are manned by Security Officers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

10  Look, Learn, Lease! • Summer 2012

Become informed about the kind, frequencies and locations of such incidents. On campus, violent crimes do occur, but they are relatively rare. Most of our thefts are of unattended proper ty or from unlocked vehicles. More information can be obtained through the Annual Crime Repor t and the Daily Crime Bulletins located at www.uh.edu/police.

Most impor tantly we need you to serve as our eyes and ears. A quick and effective response by UHDPS officers is greatly enhanced by accurate and timely repor ts of emergency or suspicious incidents (individuals looking in vehicle windows, pulling on car door handles, etc). Crime prevention includes calling UHDPS when you observe suspicious activity, calling if you are the victim of or become aware of a criminal incident and informing the Depar tment of potential public safety issues. If we are not made aware of an incident, we cannot provide assistance to those in need or work to prevent it from occurring again.

TELL THE OWNER: IF IT’S BROKE, THEY’LL FIX IT

I

f the lease requires management to make repairs, inform the manager in writing and keep a dated copy.

The law requires in nearly every instance that the owner must repair security devices and conditions that materially affect the health and safety of the ordinary resident. Give the manager written notice of the needed repairs, and keep a dated copy. If you don’t receive a response within a reasonable time, re-notify the manager orally and in writing. If you still don’t get a response, you may have legal grounds to exercise statutory rights of lease termination, compulsory repairs, damages, penalties, thirdparty repair and deduct, and attorney’s fees.

(Instead of giving two separate written notices,

you can give a single notice by certified mail, return receipt requested.)

Specific procedures must be followed for statutory remedies, and disregarding those procedures can expose you to a civil damages suit against you by the owner. Repairs of problems resulting in mere discomfort or inconvenience are not covered by the statute. The city building inspector’s office or county health department can be of some help if the condition violates state statutes or local housing codes regarding safety and sanitation.

In the City of Houston, you can contact 3-1-1 (the City’s help line) to reach the Apartment Inspection Division and request an inspection.

Harvest Hill Apartments

Students Welcome Internet Cafe Billiards Entertainment Lounge Student Business Center Walking distance to NEW UT DENTAL COLLEGE Walking distance to Metro Rail System & UT Shuttle Minutes from Downtown, UTMB, Baylor, Rice, U of H, TSU & Prarie View Nursing College 8282 Cambridge Houston, Texas 77054 713-799-9046 harvesthill@myari.net Summer 2012 • Look, Learn, Lease! 11

RENTING FURNITURE. IT MAY BE THE ONLY THING YOU WON’T REGRET DOING FIVE YEARS FROM NOW. FURNITURE FOR NOW.

In college, the less per manent the bet ter. Rel ationships, hair styles, furniture. Skip the mov even ing, lifting and assemb ling and fill your plac stylish, comfortable furn e with iture without lifting a fing er. So, unless you’re sup handy with a screwdriver er or happen to love lifting large couches, giveST us aUD call.EN T

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12 Look, Learn, Lease! • Summer 2012

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Summer 2012 • Look, Learn, Lease! 13

IT’S COLLEGE. WHO WANTS A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT? The last thing you want in college is something else to tie you down. Like furniture, for example. Conventional wisdom has always said to “buy” your furniture simply because there was no better option. With CORT U Student Rentals, you now have that better option. The more you think about it, the less sense it makes to buy. And the more sense it makes to rent.

HASSLE-FREE. WORRY-FREE. HAVING-TO-ASSEMBLE-IT-YOURSELF-FREE Renting from CORT is convenient in so many wonderful ways. Let’s count them, shall we?

1. Everything’s done for you.

2. No assembly required.

3. Readily available.

4. No pain pills or doctor’s bills.

AFFORDABILITY YOUR ECONOMICS PROFESSOR WOULD APPROVE OF. When you factor in the expenses of moving, the gas and the cost of buying new, CORT U Student Rentals is a really smart way to go.

Student packages start at $99 per month. And you can save even more when you add in a roommate. An extra set of bedroom furniture is just $59 more. That’s basically $79 for each of you!

FURNITURE THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU BOUGHT IT. Rental furniture doesn’t have to look like it’s rented. And that’s where CORT U Student Rentals comes in. Choose a simple package of three rooms of furniture or upgrade for even more luxury. Either way our designers will select coordinated, stylish furnishing to create the perfect space for you.

STUDENT RENTA LS 14 Look, Learn, Lease! • Summer 2012

See a true cost comparison.

Visit us at CORT.COM/STUDENT or call us at 713-781-2341 or 281-893-2910.

LIVE RURAL IN SPACE CITY

By David Haydon - Look Learn Lease Editor

M

etropolitan lifestyles don’t have to be the only option in Houston. Plenty of city dwellers get by as if they lived in the backwoods of Texas. Even a firsttime renter can live old-fashioned in their apartment with a little effort and small sacrifices.

Grow your own Food is expensive, and most people don’t buy enough fruits and veggies anyway. Grow herbs in a windowsill. Grow veggies in a fence corner. Even if a windowsill garden isn’t your cup of tea, many cities have outdoor guerilla gardeners, farmers markets where fresh veggies are vended, co-op gardens in park areas and all kinds of green thumb

Old-fashioned cleaning

organizations.

If you want to live unrefined then you’re not going to buy a robotic vacuum cleaner. But simple living

Country cooking

means simple housekeeping, so lose the sweeper

The young person’s kitchen is one of the most se-

mops with disposable heads as well. An old fash-

verely underused rooms in apartments these days.

ioned mop with a wooden handle lasts longer and

For a demographic that loves to eat, it is a travesty

saves you money on refills.

that so few know how to cook.

Invest in sodium bicarbonate (commonly known

Word to the wise: go to a resale shop and find cast-

as baking soda). Used with hot water and a brush,

iron cookware. It will require some elbow grease

baking soda cleans everything from dishes to drains,

and seasoning, but gives more satisfaction than a

skin to teeth, clothes to shoes. Baking soda mixed

Teflon skillet. A crock pot or slow cooker is an ac-

with equal parts apple cider vinegar makes a simple

ceptable accessory for the country cook as well.

hair shampoo. A handful of baking soda to laundry

As for what to put in your skillet and crock pot,

in the wash works wonders. It can completely re-

uncooked brown rice, pinto beans, lentils, popcorn

place toothpaste and makes an excellent deodorant.

kernels and oatmeal are all extremely nutritious and

Drink it as an antacid. Sprinkle it over shower mold.

cheap (when purchased in bulk). The only downside

Mix it in your cat’s litter box. Baking soda is the

is the modest amount of preparation and cook-

MacGyver of household commodities.

ing, which becomes an enjoyable hobby over time.

As for drying clothes, hang a clothesline. Even if you

These raw, unseasoned foodstuffs are also healthier.

use a dryer only once a week, clotheslines save $4

Learn to add spices and flavorings in modesty, and

in quarters per month, and kilowatts of electricity.

try to use the unrefined versions (ungrounded pep-

That makes $208 per year.

percorns, raw sugar, fresh rosemary, etc.)

Summer 2012 • Look, Learn, Lease! 15

BEFORE YOU MOVE IN

LEARN TO LEASE: HOW TO AVOID STRESS AND GET A NEW APARTMENT

By Houston Apartment Association, Inc.

O

ne of the most important decisions a person makes is finding a place to live.

If you are renting, you will sign a lease, which is a legal obligation to live someplace and pay rent for a cer tain length of time (usually six months or a year). There are very few exceptions in which a lease can be broken.

If you have signed a TAA lease, the rental property owner or the company managing the property or the apar tment locator service you used must be a member of the local apartment association governing that area. TAA affiliates are often available to advise you and 16 Look, Learn, Lease! • Summer 2012

are located in the cities listed on the front panel of this brochure. The Texas Apar tment Association refers all resident disputes to the local apartment association governing the property concerned. The Houston Apar tment Association’s Resident Relations Depar tment and renters’ resources can be found at www.haaonline.org. The Texas Apar tment Association encourages and suppor ts fair housing laws. It is illegal to discriminate in housing because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.

If you are a first-time renter, or would like

more information about selecting your rental home and your responsibilities and rights as a renter, visit www. taa.org and enroll in our free online Renting 101 program.

When you fill out an application Once you find a place where you want to live, you will be required to fill out a rental application. In most cases, you will be charged an application fee to cover the cost of running credit checks, verifying rental histories, etc. This fee is non-refundable.

You may also be asked to pay an application deposit. This deposit is applied toward your security deposit if your application is approved. If it is not, the deposit is refundable in most cases. However, depending on the application you fill out, the deposit may not be refunded if you are accepted but decide not to move in, you fail to tell the truth on your application, or for other reasons. If an owner in bad faith fails to timely return an application deposit, the owner may be liable for a civil penalty of $100, three times the amount of the application deposit and reasonable attorney’s fees. There is no statutory deadline for return of an application deposit.

and requests.

Make sure you know the owner’s rental qualifying criteria before you complete an application. An owner is required to make such rental criteria available to you. Texas law provides that a rental applicant will be presumed to be rejected at the end of the seventh day after the owner receives a completed rental application or application deposit, unless the owner notifies the applicant of acceptance by that time.

If the seventh day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, the deadline for notifying an applicant of acceptance is extended until the end of the next day following the Saturday, Sunday or holiday.

Avoiding problems Most disagreements between residents and rental housing owners or managers occur because of misunderstandings about the obligations taken on by each party when apartments or other rental housing is leased.

The best ways to avoid problems are to: 1. Read your lease carefully before signing.

2. Ask questions about anything that is unclear.

3. Put everything in writing, including agreements, notices

After you sign the lease, make sure you get a copy.

Keep a copy signed by you and the owner or manager.

The lease is the most important set of rules to follow if you have a disagreement. Also keep a copy of the apar tment or rental housing rules (sometimes called “community policies”).

“IF AN OWNER IN BAD FAITH FAILS TO TIMELY RETURN AN APPLICATION DEPOSIT, THE OWNER MAY BE LIABLE FOR A CIVIL PENALTY OF $100,THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF THE APPLICATION DEPOSIT AND REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES.” Summer 2012 • Look, Learn, Lease! 17

PACKING UP AND GETTING OUT

I’M MOVING OUT; WHAT SHOULD I DO?

By Houston Apartment Association, Inc.

W

hen your lease term is up, or you must move for some reason, it is important that you take proper steps to ensure that you have fulfilled your end of your lease contract. The following information may be helpful as you prepare to move out of your rental home.

If you must move before your lease expires Immediately notify the manager and offer to help find a new resident. Normally you still will be liable for all of the rent for the remainder of the unexpired lease term even if you’ve quit school, changed jobs, lost a roommate, etc., but sometimes this can be worked out if you find a replacement.

You may also be responsible for a reletting fee if the lease provides for one. This fee is a 18 Look, Learn, Lease! • Summer 2012

liquidated amount for damages to compensate the owner for the time and expense incurred in finding a new resident.

Members of the military or new enlistees may be eligible to terminate their lease without penalty if deployed or receiving a permanent change of station.

Victims of domestic violence may also be able to terminate their lease without penalty, upon showing a court order (or other documentation specified by state law) to the property owner.

If you have not paid your rent 1. You can be given a notice to vacate and the owner may pursue an eviction. (See “Major

steps in the eviction process.”)

2. You can be sued for unpaid rent and attorney’s fees (if the lease so provides).

If you have moved prior to the end of your lease term, the amount of any court judgment against you for future, unpaid rents must be reduced by the amount that the next resident pays in rent for your unexpired lease term.

3. Most leases allow the management to enter and seize items such as TVs, radios, cameras, sports equipment, certain furniture, etc., for non-payment of rent. Such provision is valid only if it is underlined or in bold print in your lease. Without a written lease that specifically gives this right of seizure, the manager must go to court to seize the property.

You cannot be permanently locked out of your apartment for failure to pay rent.

However, the manager may change your locks when your rent is overdue. But advance written notice must be given before the lockout occurs and you must be given the opportunity to pay your past due rent. After the lockout occurs, written notice must be left on the door telling where the key can be picked up at any hour regardless of whether the overdue rent has been paid.

To help assure return of your security deposit 1. Before you leave, give whatever written notice your lease requires. Most leases require at least a 30-day written notice before the end of your lease term. Your security deposit cannot be kept for failure to give such notice unless the provision requiring it is underlined or in bold type in the lease.

2. You must stay for the full term of your lease.

3. You must give written notice of your forwarding address.

4. You must not be delinquent in your rent when you move out.

5. You must leave the premises in a clean condition and comply with any other lease provisions regarding security deposit refund.

6. You cannot deduct the amount of the security deposit from your last month’s rent. If you do so, you can be sued for three times the amount of the deposit plus attorney’s fees.

7. If possible, go through your apartment or other rental property with the manager to check its condition against the “move-in” inventory checklist.

8. Within 30 days of your move-out, your security deposit or an itemized description of deductions must be

mailed to you. If you don’t receive a refund or explanation postmarked within the 30-day period, you may sue for three times the amount illegally held, plus attorney’s fees and a $100 fine.

What can be deducted from your security deposit?

1. Any charge specified in the lease or any charge resulting from your breaking the lease.

2. Charges for damages, wear and tear resulting from negligence, carelessness, accident or abuse on your part. “Normal wear and tear” items cannot be deducted.

3. Unpaid rent and other unpaid charges listed in your lease, such as those for late rent payment, returned checks, missing furniture or fixtures, unreturned keys, etc.

4. The reasonable cost of cleaning if you fail to properly clean before you leave. Many rental properties have written cleaning instructions for you to follow.

5. Any deduction must be listed in a written description and itemization mailed to you on or before 30 days after you leave. However, there is no obligation that you be furnished this information if you have not paid all of your rent or if you have not given your forwarding address in writing.

Summer 2012 • Look, Learn, Lease! 19

TIME KILL: CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Inexact recipe amount 5 Japanese rice wine 9 Calm periods 14 Land in the ocean 15 Personal flair 16 Be of use to 17 Thin wedge for leveling 18 It’s good to have these about you 19 G with a sax 20 Phrase of assured success 23 Church chorus 24 “Fargo” word that rhymes with 25-Across 25 “Well, ___-di- dah!”

27 What a nod may mean 28 Side in checkers 31 Help settle disputes 34 Yard or garage events 36 End-of-the-book section, often 37 Pipe dream 40 In no time ___ (instantly) 42 Nomadic dwellings 43 In a hazardous or speculative manner 46 Nineteenth Greek letter 47 Constellation next to Scorpius 50 Ambulance letters 51 Tour de France thirst quencher 53 Played on TV again 55 Profitable again 60 Shady area 61 Stabilizing structure 62 Victim in Genesis 63 New ___, India 64 Pitchers’ stats 65 Item in a car trunk 66 Vegetable spreads 67 Name on Irish stamps 68 Compass point DOWN 1 Loss of heart 2 “Ain’t That ___” 3 Trombone parts

20 Look, Learn, Lease! • Summer 2012

(Answers on Page 22) 4 Hairychested ones 5 Stitched together 6 Landed 7 Oscar winner Bates 8 Pants length measurement 9 100,000 in India 10 Iris locale 11 Mrs. Hudson, to Sherlock Holmes 12 Marked with stripes 13 Clever like a fox 21 Hailing from Haifa, perhaps 22 “Thar ___ blows!”

26 Witch’s whammy 29 Yale student 30 Cub scout unit 32 Bother or agitate 33 Tattoo artist’s selections 34 Epitome of smoothness 35 Home for a hog 37 Just

adequate 38 Jungle bungalow 39 The RoaringTwenties, e.g.

40 Am for more than one?

41 Hand drum 44 Hawaiian necklace 45 Doodle in music?

47 Middle East peninsula 48 Indy 500 entrants 49 Knee-high’s shorter cousin 52 Where embryos develop 54 Cheer up 56 Great Lakes salmon 57 “Me and Bobby McGee” songwriter Kristofferson 58 Catch wind of 59 Otherwise 60 Trivial bother

The University Eye Institute (UEI) Comprehensive Vision Care on the UH Campus

Even if you’re lucky enough to have perfect 20/20 vision, taking care of your eyes and protecting them against injury or infection is important.

It is also important to wear a pair of good quality sunglasses, as they can block between 99 and 100 percent of UV radiation.

The UEI provides a wide range of services from comprehensive vision examinations to the medical and surgical management of eye disorders.

The University Eye Institute is located at 4901 Calhoun, on the corner of Calhoun and Wheeler Street. The UEI is open to the public, and appointments are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free patient parking can be accessed from the Wheeler Street entrance.

We accept most health and vision plans, including the UH student health insurance.

Visit www.uei.uh.edu for more information or to make an appointment, please call 713.743.2020 See the difference ...See the best Summer 2012 • Look, Learn, Lease! 21

2. Look for security deposit refund restrictions.

3. Look for your rental housing owner’s obligation to make needed repairs. (A requirement for diligence is common.)

MOVING OUT TIPS 1. Check to see how much advance notice you must give before moving at the end of your lease term. (A 30-day written notice is most common when rent is paid monthly. However, some properties may require more notice.)

NOTES

22 Look, Learn, Lease! • Summer 2012

4. Be sure to read any cleaning instructions.

(Cleaning costs can usually be deducted from your security deposit if you fail to follow instructions.)

5. Check on prohibitions against subletting or keeping animals. (Written permission is usually required. Also, there is usually an extra deposit for animals.)

6. Ask the manager to write in and initial any oral agreements or changes in the lease that are agreed to by you and the owner’s representative.

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The University Eye Institute (UEI) Comprehensive Eye Care on the UH Campus

Whether you need a complete eye exam, fashionable eyewear, or contact lenses, you can count on the UEI to provide for your eye & vision care needs. The UEI services range from comprehensive vision examinations to the medical and surgical management of eye disorders.

The University Eye Institute is located at 4901 Calhoun on the corner of Calhoun and Wheeler Street. The UEI is open to the public and appointments are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free patient parking can be accessed from the Wheeler Street entrance.

We accept most health and vision plans, including Macori student health insurance.

Visit www.uei.uh.edu for more information or to make an appointment, please call 713.743.2020 See the difference...See the best