function validateAndSubmit(){
	var bFormSuccess = false;
	var bChecksOk = false;
	var bFirst = false;
	var bLast = false;
	var bPhone = false;
	var bPhoneType = false;
	var bZip = false;
	var bOwn = false;
	var bHelp = false;
	var bFreeConsult = false;
	var bEmail = false;
	
	var strFormErrorMsg = "There was a problem with the following:\n\n";
	
	try{
	
		bChecksOk = ($('opt_1').checked == true) || ($('opt_2').checked == true)|| ($('opt_3').checked == true);
		
		// first name
		$('first_name').value = cleanInputString($('first_name').value,2);
		bFirst = $('first_name').value.length > 0;
		
		// last name
		$('last_name').value = cleanInputString($('last_name').value,2);
		bLast = $('last_name').value.length > 0;
		
		// email
		bEmail = checkForValidEmail($('email').value);

		// zip
		$('zip').value = cleanInputString($('zip').value,9);
		bZip = ($('zip').value.length > 0)  && ($('zip').value.length <=10);		
		
		if($('opt_3').checked == true){
			
			// phone
			$('phone').value = cleanInputString($('phone').value,9);
			bPhone = $('phone').value.length > 0;
			
			// phone type
			bPhoneType = ($('phone_home').checked == true) || ($('phone_work').checked == true) || ($('phone_mobile').checked == true);				

			// own
			bOwn = $('own_a').value.length > 0;
			
			// help
			bHelp = $('help_you').value.length > 0;
			
			
			bFreeConsult = bPhone && bPhoneType && bZip && bOwn && bHelp;
			
			
		}
		else{
			bFreeConsult = true;
		}
		
		
		bFormSuccess = bFirst && bLast && bEmail && bFreeConsult;
		
		if(!bFormSuccess){
			
			if(!bChecksOk){
				strFormErrorMsg += "Please select either \'Free Federal Tax Credit Match Savings Coupon\' or \'Free Report with a 10-Point Energy-Efficiency Test\'.\n\n";
			}
			
			if(!bFirst){
				strFormErrorMsg += "Your First Name is required.\n";
			}
			if(!bLast){
				strFormErrorMsg += "Your Last Name is required.\n";
			}
			if(!bEmail){
				strFormErrorMsg += "A valid Email Address is required.\n";
			}
			
			if(!bFreeConsult){
				if(!bPhone){
					strFormErrorMsg += "A valid Phone Number is required.\n";
				}
				if(!bPhoneType){
					strFormErrorMsg += "Please choose a phone number type (home, work, or mobile).\n";
				}
				if(!bZip){
					strFormErrorMsg += "A valid Home Zip Code is required.\n";
				}
				if(!bOwn){
					strFormErrorMsg += "Please select whether You Own your home.\n";
				}
				if(!bHelp){
					strFormErrorMsg += "Please select How can we best help you.\n";
				}
	
			}
			
			alert(strFormErrorMsg);
		}
		else{
			$('request_estimate').submit();
		}
	
		
	}
	catch(e){
		strFormErrorMsg = "There was a problem with request.  Please reload the page and try again.";
		alert(strFormErrorMsg);
	}

}