Author: Creative Programs and Systems - page 257

Tips To Follow Before You Start Shopping For A Home

Set a Budget: Setting a budget and following it is a key concept when buying a home.  No matter what you are qualified for if you don’t feel comfortable with that monthly payment it will cause you undue stress.  Calculate how much you believe you can reasonably afford to spend each month on housing.  This is the most important aspect in buying a home to be successful.  If you are stretched with a payment that is out of your comfort zone homeownership will become a burden rather than an accomplishment.

Include Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance In the Budget: If you have been renting you may not be familiar with the fact that your mortgage payment is not alone when it comes to expenses related to your mortgage.  Many lenders will roll the principal, interest, taxes and insurance into your monthly payment.  If you have less than twenty percent down, a PMI expense will be added as well.  Make sure you talk to your lender about these extras as they can almost double your monthly payment.

Determine How Much Cash Is Needed At Closing: Typically your down payment should be between five and twenty percent of the cost of the home.  A down payment of less than twenty percent requires primary mortgage insurance, otherwise known as PMI.  The amount you will need in cash at closing includes your down payment, loan origination fees, title insurance as well as other miscellaneous fees.  Be prepared to have a substantial amount of reserve in your savings as expenses tend to creep up throughout the home buying process.

Research Yearly Utility Rates: Moving to a different climate or larger home can significantly change the monthly payment on your utilities.  The last thing that you want is to get into a home that you can comfortably afford and then learn the heating and cooling expenses knock your budget into chaos. 

Eliminate Debt Prior To Purchase: Try to eliminate as much debt as possible before you start the home buying process.  This will lower your debt to income ratio and give you a better chance at a lower interest rate on your mortgage.  It will also free up cash that is being used on old debt to apply towards your home.

Find Out What Your Credit Score Is: You should know your credit score before beginning to look for a home as well.  There needs to be time to repair any discrepancies as well time to increase your score.  The higher your credit scores the better financial risk you appear to be and thus lenders will be more apt to offer you a lower interest rate within the terms of your mortgage.

Get Prequalified:  A prequalification is something most real estate agents require before they begin showing you homes.  A prequalification is the amount that lenders feel comfortable loaning you.  This will give you a base to begin your search.  The amount you have towards a down payment also factors into the overall amount that you have to spend on a home.

Find A RealtorAfter you have taken all of the above steps you are ready to start looking at homes to purchase.  There are many real estate agents available to show you homes but few are qualified to help you through the entire process.   Work with an agent that understands what your needs are.  They should be familiar with the area you would like to live and be able to offer you stats on the neighborhoods, the schools, crime, recreational options and more.  Don’t just work with anyone.  Find a realtor that is willing to go the extra mile in finding you exactly what you want at the price you can afford.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

Choosing A Mortgage Broker To Help You Through The Mortgage Process

An age old question that comes with buying a new home or refinancing comes with finding a mortgage broker that will find you the best rate possible.  What do you need to look for in a mortgage broker?  Is it possible to find a better rate on your own working with a credit union or bank?  In many situations a credit union or bank is perfect however getting your mortgage refinanced or a new mortgage for a new home a mortgage broker is more prepared to find a rate offer and lender that match your need.

One of the best things about using a mortgage broker is that they aren’t only in it to help you find a mortgage but also to provide you with support in your overall financial standings.   In order to do this your broker must make sure that they understand your needs, your situation and your future goals.

The first step to accomplish this is to speak with you at length.  They will ask you about your needs and will inquire about your living arrangements currently.  If you are also selling a home they will want to take that into consideration as you will have additional funds that can be used.  If the broker sees an issue with what you want or thinks that it may land you in trouble financially they will guide you in a direction that is more fitting.  They will not allow you to get in over your head with your purchase.

When meeting with a mortgage broker make sure that they are truly in it for you.  Are they speaking your language?  The conversation should only revolve around how they can help you.  While listening to you they should be engaging and asking relevant questions.  This is the sign of a broker who is looking out for you and your interests.  When working with a bank or other financial situation you may be pushed between several different employees.  Where in reality some of them may know nothing about your situation and not understanding what your needs are.  You should be working with one person who is knowledgeable about your condition and working to find you the best rate with your situation in mind.  Using a mortgage broker you have one individual who knows you and all about mortgages to guide you throughout the process.

After taking in your financial status, your earnings, investments, expenses and other things the broker will get you an optimized mortgage.  Brokers work with a variety of lenders to find you the best rate and mortgage available based upon your situation.  They will then make recommendations to help guide you throughout the process until you are the proud owners of a new mortgage.  Throughout each and every stage they will be able to answer your questions and clear your mind; this alone simplifies the process.

Cross Country Mortgage in Brighton, Michigan provide mortgage services for clients including new home loans, refinancing, reversed mortgages, new purchase home mortgages and home equity loans to the entire Livingston County area including Brighton, Howell and Livingston County. Cross Country Mortgage Brighton, MI at http://brightoncrosscountry.com/.

Packaging and Labeling Design Tips That Help Market Your Product

There are six common rules of package and label design that will help ensure your product stands out over the competition.  The products package and label design needs to market the product on its own as you will not be sitting on the shelf selling it directly.  In this article we will discuss common rules in package and label design that work together to create the masterpiece which will represent your brand and product.  A strong package and label design will help to ensure that your product is chosen before one of the forty thousand competitors.

Clarity and Simplicity

The label on your product should clearly and simply state the answer to these two questions: what is this product used for and what is the brand behind it?  If your product label does not clearly present the answer to these two questions you have a problem.  In less than four seconds the average consumer has decided to purchase or pass on your product.  Your package design should be appropriate for the product category and your label should be clear, simple and stand out.

Honesty

Your label needs to be an honest representation of your product.  Strive to depict your product in a way that is believable and allows the customers to visualize what they are purchasing.  Don’t mislead consumers by depicting your product in a light that is ten times better than it actually is.  Ultimately this will lead to consumer disappointment, which in turn leads to poor sales and a negative brand image.

Authenticity

Great brands all have three things on common: they are original, have their own character and are memorable.  With hundreds of competing products the only way to set your product apart is to be authentic.  Creating authenticity using a product label is not something that advice can really be given on.  It comes from creating something that is visually strong and unique to your product and brand. If for instance, most competitors are using a vertical label with cartoon characters go for a horizontal label using photos or illustrations.  Be unique and different while staying true to your brand image.

In the next installment on the six most common rules of package and label design we will look more in depth into labeling elements that your products shelf impact, extensibility and practicality.  Creating a label that makes the most out of each of these six rules will help to ensure its success.

Anchor Printing, we take pride in offering our clients cut & stack labeling, pressure sensitive labels, roll-fed labeling, shrink sleeves as well as flexible packaging options. Contact us today at http://anchorprinting.com for all of your product label design, printing and packaging needs.

Backyard Safety With Aluminum Fencing

The goal for homeowners is to create a backyard environment that is safe, fun and easy to maintain; a space where the entire family can enjoy.  Designing a space that is kid friendly, pet safe and relaxing for adults is not as complicated as it may sound.   Your backyard landscape design can include a patio, swimming pool and special landscape features that are both family and pet friendly.  With a bit of planning any backyard can be a safe, enjoyable, low-maintenance outdoor oasis for your entire family to enjoy.

Safety is a big concern with all homeowners.  In this article we will focus on the safety aspect of your backyard.  The fun and maintenance aspect are important but only after safety has been considered.

It is important that your home feels safe and that precautions are taken to ensure your family, friends and pets are safeguarded against any eminent dangers.  For instance, if your backyard landscape includes an in-ground pool it is plausible that without proper safety measures in place an accident is more likely to occur.

To limit access to the pool area while children and pets are in the yard alone it is important to install an aluminum fence with self latching gate around the perimeter of the pool and sitting area.  Be sure to only purchase aluminum fence panels that meet the guidelines set forth by the B.O.C.A. as well as any local government or HOA regulations.  A self latching gate is pertinent as it ensures the fence shuts tight and is not left open for children or pets to access the area without adult supervision.

Another safety measure to include in your landscape design is perimeter fencing.  In order to keep the backyard aesthetically pleasing it is important to choose an aluminum fence design that coordinates and compliments your home and landscape.   Aluminum fencing not only keeps unwanted visitors out of your space it also keeps the wanted ones in and safe from elements outside of your backyard environment.  It is not possible to keep track of children and pets each and every second of the day.  A perimeter fence keeps them safe if they should happen to wander out into the backyard without you.

Accidents occur from slipping, tripping and falling as much outdoors as they do indoors.  To prevent such mishaps from happening install non-skid, non-slip surfaces on patio areas, walkways and pool decks that are likely to get wet and where children are likely to play.  You won’t be able to eliminate all slip and fall accidents but non-skid, non-slip materials such as pavers will lessen occurrences.

Avoid all toxic and harmful plants when choosing the vegetation for your landscape.  Azaleas are beautiful but deadly to cats and dogs.  Other plants that cause issues with your pet’s liver and or heart include beauties such as lily of the valley, rhododendron, foxglove and more.  It is crucial in keeping your pets safe that you research the vegetation before it is installed within your landscape design.

Grass is a traditional material to use in landscaping.  However it requires a great deal of maintenance and is not the safest choice in ground cover.  A safer option then natural grass is artificial turf.  A synthetic lawn is even with uniform surfaces helping to prevent accidents that occur in uneven natural grass lawns.  It is less likely to trip, fall or twist and ankle when running and playing on a flat surface.  Artificial turf does not require harmful fertilizers or pesticides either making it a terrific alternative to natural grass.

As a homeowner it is your responsibility to keep your home free of hazards and safety concerns both inside and out.  Follow the tips above to help keep your family, friends and pets safe while exploring the great outdoors.

iFenceUSA offers the widest variety of maintenance-free, no-rust aluminum fences and gates in the industry! Whether you are a pool contractor, a building contractor, an architect, a landscaping professional, or a “do-it-yourself” homeowner looking for exceptional value and installation advice, you’ll benefit by buying wholesale aluminum fences shipped factory-direct to your home or business anywhere in America from www.iFenceUSA.com!

Food Product Label Design Tips

Designing a new food product label is both an exciting and tricky endeavor.  The thrill with designing a great label comes from capturing the unique aspects your product offers over the competition.  The difficult part is constructing a design that is marketable, targets the consumer and prevails over the competition.

Define your target audience: It is crucial to define whose attention you are looking to catch with your products label design. In order to design an effective label you must know what your customers are looking for, what problems they have and how your food product solves it for them.

A food label has to do everything an ordinary product label does and more.  It must support a message of freshness, promote quality ingredients and express just how delicious it is.  Understanding exactly what your customer wants allows you to design a label that represents this using images, text and color.

A perfect example of this is how images of fluffy white clouds don’t speak to consumers looking for sandpaper.  Just like certain colors when used together create certain emotions in us, green and red make people think of Christmas time while pastels make people think of Easter.  If you used green and red on a package of egg shaped Easter candy it wouldn’t entice people as much as colors that are representative of Easter would.

Research your competition:  For your food product label to stand out from the competition it is important to have knowledge of their label designs.  If you are advertising toilet paper think outside the box.  Instead of using images of cotton and clouds like your competitors consider a completely different angle all together.  Look at the other qualities your product offers.  Maybe it is easier for your septic tank to break down or perhaps it is comes in sheets that are perforated more often so you can choose how much toilet paper to use.  Whatever angle makes your product stand out over the competition is what should be represented on your products label.

Take into consideration the products packaging: Shoppers want to see what they are getting for their money.  This is especially true in food products.  Many food products on the market today are packaged in clear see-through containers.  If this is the case, you will want to design a label that does not cover or take anything away from seeing the actual product.  Seeing the tasty treat inside offers more than any picture on a label can.

Emphasize key ingredients and features:  When you are looking at designing food labels it is important to highlight the fresh, quality ingredients as well as essential product features and awards it has received.  What sets your food product apart from the competition?  This needs to be an element focused on when designing food product labels.

Plan for post-sale marketing:  Look at your product label as prime real estate.  Take advantage not only of the space on the front of the label but also the back.  Use a label that offers a peel back function and then list product recipes on the back.  This allows you to show case the product you are selling as well as other company products that are used to create the recipes you feature.  Using all the space available on your food product label is smart marketing.

Marketing food products is fun but not easy.  Follow the tips above to get your products off the shelf and into the customer’s tummies.

At Anchor Printing, we take pride in offering our clients cut & stack labeling, pressure sensitive labels, roll-fed labeling, shrink sleeves as well as flexible packaging options. Contact us today at http://anchorprinting.com for all of your product label design, printing and packaging needs.

Four Tips To Consider When Choosing A Fence For Your Home

  • Define the purpose for the fence: Why are you looking into fencing in the first place?  Are you looking to add privacy, visual appeal, perimeter fencing to keep young children and pets in or to provide a barrier from your pool.

Fencing comes in a variety of materials: wood, aluminum, wrought iron, chain link, vinyl and many more.  Given the right material and correct installation a fence can be a key piece of landscaping that increases your homes property value.  Let the answer to the question above be the guide to the material you choose.  Prioritize your needs for a fence over your wants.

Aluminum fencing tends to work well for a variety of situations and is incredibly pleasing to the eye.  The decorative touches, such as finials and butterfly scrolls, in aluminum fence offer an elegance not found in other types of fencing.  It is often the required choice by homeowners associations.

  • Consider the maintenance required to maintain the fence: Ask yourself how much time and money you are willing to spend to maintain your fence.

Wooden fences require regular maintenance.  Fencing needs to be power washed every couple of years and either painted or stained.  Aluminum and vinyl require very little maintenance which tends to be an appealing option to many homeowners.  To clean vinyl or aluminum fencing all that is required is a gentle water rinse, wiping down any areas that are stained or covered in algae.  

  • Research local city and neighborhood fencing regulations: What rules are in place?  Does your homeowners association require a certain height or type of material with the installation of a fence?  What are the local city ordinances; this is especially important when it comes to fencing around your swimming pool.

If there are rules in place that specify the use of a certain material in your fencing you don’t have much choice.  Many HOA’s require aluminum fencing as it is elegant and withstands a variety of severe weather conditions.  HOA’s stipulate specific rules for homeowners in certain neighborhoods to maintain the subdivisions visual appeal.

  • Hire a professional fence contractor to install your fence: Research professional fencing contractors that install fences in your area.

Many fences can be installed by do it yourself homeowners however if often shows in the end product.  A contractor that specializes in the installation of fencing is your best bet for a quality end result.  It is too expensive to buy materials for your new fence only to ruin the aesthetics of it with poor installation.

iFenceUSA offers the widest variety of maintenance-free, no-rust aluminum fences and gates in the industry! Whether you are a pool contractor, a building contractor, an architect, a landscaping professional, or a “do-it-yourself” homeowner looking for exceptional value and installation advice, you’ll benefit by buying wholesale aluminum fences shipped factory-direct to your home or business anywhere in America from www.iFenceUSA.com!

Creating New Product Labels

As a new product is launched it is crucial that it has an attention grabbing label.  A label that is appealing to consumers is one that will sell products.  With new products entering the market place the buyer’s first impressions are what help move the product and hopefully create a lasting impression for repeat purchasing.  The label needs to be extraordinary to entice buyers into picking the item up and contain all the pertinent information needed to make a purchase.

There is no clear cut formula in label design when it comes to creating a label that will sell your products.  There are however certain criterion that should be considered when laying out the design for your new product’s label.

Colors: The colors used when designing custom labels influence the buying decision of consumers.  Each color and combination of colors works to entice customers to feel certain emotions.  Certain colors such as yellow and red encourage purchasing however these colors aren’t always the best choice.  If you are selling a certain feeling along with your product consider what colors work to create that same feeling and use them in developing your label.

Fonts:  Avoid fonts that are overused.  The goal is to create something unique.  The font that is chosen should also be easy to read and capture the personality of your brand and product.  For instance, if you are creating a label for potato chips look for a font that perfectly describes the crispy texture.  If the chip is bbq flavored consider adding additional font that represents the spicy tang of the flavor.  If the chip is pickle flavored consider using a font that exemplifies the sour, salty nature of pickles.

Company/Product Name: In order to be easily identifiable the label must always contain the company and or product name.  This is a no brainer in marketing.  This should be consistent amongst your company’s product to create a brand that is easy to identify quickly.

Ingredients: If it is a food or drug being marketed the label should contain the ingredients that make up the product.  This will allow consumers to easily identify allergens.  It is also a requirement set forth by the FDA to ensure that products accurately account for all substances used in creating the product.

Label Size/Type:  The type of label used as well as the size will be dependent on the packaging or container of the product.  Will the item require two labels, one front and one back? Should the label cover the entire container of leave some of the container to be seen?  There are many types of label options to choose from such as:  shrink sleeves, cut and stack, pressure sensitive, roll fed and flexible packaging.

Bar Code: A universal code placed on the product label helps to convey valuable information to electronic scanners.  It includes recognizable information to the scanner such as the product name, weight, price and such.

Contact Information: It is essential that your company’s contact information is clearly represented on the label.  This should include the company name, product manufacturer, company address, phone number and email address.  If your social presence is important to the company’s image add that information as well.  The contact information, stated visibly on the label, helps to encourage communication between you and your target market.

The factors above form a foundation that custom label and graphic designers should use to create and manufacture a label that encourages sales.

At Anchor Printing, we take pride in offering our clients cut & stack labeling, pressure sensitive labels, roll-fed labeling, shrink sleeves as well as flexible packaging options. Contact us today at http://anchorprinting.com for all of your product label design, printing and packaging needs.

 

 

Challenges Faced In Product Label Design

There are many challenges that come with creating a label that accurately depicts your product and grabs the attention of your target consumers.  Not only do you need to create a label that is appealing to your market it must accurately represent your company’s brand identity.   This is the challenge graphic designers and label manufactures face when designing a label for a new product; especially when labeling food products.

Your label design must be eye-catching, reliable and unambiguous; this is the key to food product labeling.  This may sound like a simple concept however when introducing a new product to the market creating something that stands out, gets noticed and creates a purchase is far from easy.

Below are useful guidelines to help design an impressive label for your product:

Get to know your target consumer in depth:  When designing a product label you must first verify the target market and their desires.  It is important that there is clarity when it comes to what consumers are looking for before you begin creating a design concept.  It is important to understand the problems your target market are faced with and how your product helps solve them before beginning the label design process.

Decide what your information your label should contain:  The job of your product label is to sell your product.  It is impossible for product manufacturers to personally sell their product to each individual customer.  This is the job of the product label.  Your product should say everything you would want to say to a consumer if you were sitting in front of them.  The label should answer such questions as: what type of product is it, how the product is used and what ingredients are used in its creation as well as other such questions.  Convey the core values of your product on the label.  This is the information consumers look for to make an informed buying decision.

Establish the style of your product:  Part of your company’s brand images are the illustrations, fonts and colors that are used when labeling the company’s various products.  This should be taken into consideration when introducing a new product into the mix.  This will increase brand awareness when consumers are looking to select a product.  Positive brand recognition will bring awareness to new products that are available on the market.  When consider a style it is important to bear in mind the following: label colors, label graphics and label readability.

Graphic designers and label manufactures must work together with companies to create an attention grabbing label for their products.  The products label is the first step in compelling consumers to make a purchase.

At Anchor Printing, we take pride in offering our clients cut & stack labeling, pressure sensitive labels, roll-fed labeling, shrink sleeves as well as flexible packaging options. Contact us today at http://anchorprinting.com for all of your product label design, printing and packaging needs.

 

Installing An Aluminum Pool Fence

Having an in-ground swimming pool installed at your home is the ultimate in luxury and relaxation.  The pool area offers fun, enjoyment and memories that will last your family a lifetime.  It is important that the pool environment is safe to ensure those memories are favorable ones.  The last thing anyone wants to relive is an accident that happens in or around their pool area.  One of the best ways to make sure your pool is safe is with an aluminum pool fence.

Aluminum fence manufacturers offer a wide range of colors and styles to choose.  It is certain that you will find a decorative aluminum fence that compliments the exterior of your home as well as the homes landscaping and area surrounding the pool area.  Aluminum fencing is also easily customizable making it the perfect option to suit any size and shape swimming pool.

As with all pool safety features it is important that it is installed properly.  It is important to select a fence that meets the B.O.C.A. regulations.  It is also crucial that the pool’s fence is installed correctly.

Proper Aluminum Pool Fencing Installation Includes:

An area surrounding the perimeter of the pool clear of objects that children would be able to use to help them climb over the fence.  This can include such things as retaining walls, boulders, trees or other features within the landscape that can be stepped on to ease access over the fence.

An aluminum fence should be installed so that it completely surrounds all sides of the pool.  Some homeowners feel that hedges are enough to properly block children from accessing the area.  This is simply not true and is irresponsible.  The pool area must be completely enclosed with aluminum fencing.

When choosing an aluminum pool fence it is required that the pool is accessible through an entry gate.  The gate must be one that swings closed and latches without additional assistance.  This is ideal to ensure that the gate is latched helping to prevent accidentally leaving the pool gate open and the water accessible to young children or pets when unattended.

Swimming pool safety is of utmost importance to homeowners.  Aluminum fence helps to create an environment that does just this as well as being visually appealing.  Having a fence in place also helps to keep pets and wild animals away from the pool as well as security against vandals when not in use.

iFenceUSA offers the widest variety of maintenance-free, no-rust aluminum fences and gates in the industry! Whether you are a pool contractor, a building contractor, an architect, a landscaping professional, or a “do-it-yourself” homeowner looking for exceptional value and installation advice, you’ll benefit by buying wholesale aluminum fences shipped factory-direct to your home or business anywhere in America from www.iFenceUSA.com!

Safe Swimming Pools With Aluminum Pool Fencing

When it comes to pool safety you can never be too cautious.  One of the leading causes of death among children under the age of five is accidental drowning.  Thousands of young children suffer near-death drowning injuries each year resulting in debilitating brain injuries from oxygen deprivation.  A solid defense against these life changing tragedies is a sturdy aluminum fence.  The addition of an aluminum fence along with safety conscious equipment and behaviors can help to prevent almost all accidents that are pool related.

Installing a solid aluminum fence is only one of the barriers used to separate children and pets from the pool.  It is arguably one of the most important however.  When choosing an aluminum fence it is important to purchase and install a fence that meets all B.O.C.A. regulations as well as the regulations set forth by your local government and homeowners associations.

The following are characteristics to consider when choosing a perimeter fence to purchase and install around your in-ground swimming pool.

Aluminum Pool Fence Requirements

Proper Height:  The minimum height requirement of pool fencing is forty eight inches (four feet) tall.  Decorative aluminum fencing can be purchased in a variety of heights and styles.  Taller fences work better of course to deter older and more active children from accessing the pool area unsupervised.

Sturdy Construction:  The installation of an aluminum fence is permanent.  It is not like other less sturdy pool fencing options such as mesh.  Aluminum is an incredibly durable, sturdy material for fencing and is perfect for the perimeter of a pool.  Aluminum is resistant to rust, chemicals and other environmental factors that it can come in contact with around a swimming pool.  Another benefit of aluminum pool fencing is the ease of maintenance.  No painting or staining is required to keep the fence looking as new as the day it was installed.

A Self Latching Gate:  It is required that any pool enclosure have a self-closing, self-latching gate as well.  Most every style of aluminum fence has a matching aluminum gate designed to compliment it.  When installing the appropriate aluminum gate add a padlock or other type of lock, out of the reach of small children as an additional safety feature.

Correct Bar Placement: The bar placement on your aluminum fence panels are important as well.  The horizontal bottom rail must be less than two inches from the ground.  This is crucial to keeping children and small pets from crawling under it in order to access the area.  It is also important if the decorative aluminum fence style you have chosen has a mid-rail it required that it is at least forty five inches above the bottom rail.

Incorporating the above, as well as the B.O.C.A. pool safety code can all be accomplished with aluminum fencing that compliments the landscape surrounding the pool area.  Aluminum pool fences are easily customized as well.  A reputable online fence retailer will assist you in the planning, designing, ordering and installing your new aluminum pool fence.

iFenceUSA offers the widest variety of maintenance-free, no-rust aluminum fences and gates in the industry! Whether you are a pool contractor, a building contractor, an architect, a landscaping professional, or a “do-it-yourself” homeowner looking for exceptional value and installation advice, you’ll benefit by buying wholesale aluminum fences shipped factory-direct to your home or business anywhere in America from www.iFenceUSA.com!