Livingston Reporting - page 100

Tips For Getting Your Home To Stand Out Above the Rest During the Spring Market Real Estate Flood

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems


Spring has sprung! Without a doubt the optimal time to start looking to buy or sell a home starts now.  It has been proven that the most active months in real estate are April, May, and June.  Here are some ways to improve the chances your home stands out above the flood of homes that will hit the market soon.

Wash Your Homes Windows

A home that sparkles will sell better than a home that doesn’t.  Buyers want to feel invited into a space and when the windows are spotless, and the sun shines in without dirt or streaks you are showcasing your home in its best light. 

Cleanup the Landscape

Take time to rake the yard and remove the debris left behind from dead leaves.  Trimming bushes and tree limbs can also bring a pulled together look to your yard.  It is important to make sure that the vegetation doesn’t appear overgrown or block windows or entrance paths.  Not only is important to showcase the interior of your home but also the exterior. It is important to edge the sidewalks and driveways as well; small details count when you are looking to sell your home.

Add Some Exterior Color

After a long, dull winter a little color helps to stimulate buyers urges.  Yellow flowers are the best option when adding color around your home as it is known to stimulate buying.  It is also a color that people associate with spring.  Purchase some planters and start planting tulips and daffodils galore.  A little natural happy induction in the form of some of spring color never hurt.

Clean Window Treatments and Open Windows

A home should be clean from top to bottom.  It is important to have drapes, curtains, and blinds thoroughly cleaned when listing your home.  Get rid of the dust, the cob webs, and built up grime that has accumulated over time.  Crisp window treatments and a crisp breeze are inviting.  Let spring in!

Clean Carpets, Polish Floors

The carpets throughout your home should be professionally cleaned.  The smell and look of clean carpets is appealing to buyers.  They are looking for a space where they can move right in without having to do a lot of effort other than moving in.  Hardwood floors should be refinished if they are in really bad shape otherwise a solid polishing should bring them back up to the level that buyers are looking for.

This list goes on and on.  The more presentable the home, the fewer issues the home has, the less work the home presents for the buyer, the higher the selling price and the faster the home will move off the market.  Let the professional real estate agents at C21 Lady of the Lakes help you today!  Professional realtors working for you.

C21 Lady of the Lakes is a full-service realtor serving Livingston County and the surrounding areas with all their real estate needs.  More information can be found at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com/.



C21 Lady of the Lakes

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Mistakes That Decrease the Longevity of Your Laptop

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems


Purchasing a laptop isn’t a small investment and can be quite expensive if you need to repair or replace it.  It is important that a laptop is kept in top shape to increases its longevity and effectiveness.  Here are some tips on what to avoid in order to keep your laptop running efficiently for as long as possible.

Don’t Take the Term Laptop Too Literally

Nope, unlike the name states a laptop should never be set on top of your lap.  The truth is that by putting a laptop on your lap you actually decrease the lifespan of your machine.  A laptops processor, which is the brain of the PC, gets hot!  The vent to release the heat is likely to be located on the bottom of the laptop where ventilation is scarce.  This vent if covered by pants or blankets the laptop overheats. Another side effect of putting a laptop on your lap is that dust begins to settle.  Even when this dust is then removed using canned air it is not really removed, it is just shuffled internally which can hurt the processor and internal workings of the laptop as well.

Don’t Forget to Shut Your Laptop Off Occasionally

It is so easy to simply close the laptop lid at the end of the night without shutting it down however this isn’t always what is best for the health of the laptop.  Many of us fall into this trap because the next morning when we want to use it, the computer boots up within seconds.  By shutting down your laptop on a regular basis, it allows the PC to install the fixes that need to run in order to update the software vulnerabilities.  Laptops, like desktops, do not apply the fixes unless the computer is restarted.  For the best results we recommend shutting your laptop down at least once a week (or more).  

Don’t Overlook the Importance of a Surge Protector

Using a surge protector should be quite obvious however, so many people forget to use one when using their laptops.  It is common to hear that you should unplug electronics during storms.  If your laptop is plugged in and lighting hits and the computer is not plugged into a surge protector, you will likely fry your laptop.  

Don’t Disregard the Importance of Installing an Antivirus

This too should go without saying, an antivirus is critical for the protection of your laptop.  Antivirus protection is essential for both laptops and desktops as it keeps the bugs from getting into your systems.  Which let’s be clear, happens all the time when you are surfing the internet.  Malware and virus’s make your computer run hot and can “break” your laptop.  Antivirus should be installed and regularly updated to keep your system safe.

Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT services, IT consulting, residential computer services, custom programming, website design, iphone & android app development, and more.  More information can be found at https://cpsmi.com.



Creative Programs and Systems

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When Do You Know Your Computer Issue Needs A Computer Technician?

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems


There are a number of ailments that can curse your PC.  Most computer issues can be troubleshot at home however more complex computer problems may require professional computer repair by a trained technician.  Do-It-Yourself repairs may seem like a solid idea, however, overtime it may make more sense to take it to a computer repair store.

Software and hardware issues can often complicate the process of computer repair.  When Do-It-Yourselfers start digging into their computers they can often have a difficult time getting the pieces put back together. There are some issues that just need an expert’s touch including some of the issues below.

Blue Screen of Death

The most common ailment seen by the experts at CPS have to do with the blue screen of death, commonly referred to as BSOD.  Not only is it the most common issue to see it is also difficult to fix.  When your laptop or desktop computer screen turns blue it means that the PC’s system has experienced something traumatic in which it had to come to a forced, abrupt stop.  More often than not the problem has to do with the computer’s hardware or driver.  This causes a STOP code to appear (the blue screen of death) and the computer shuts down. 

When this occurs the only way to cure this computer ailment is to take it in to a computer repair store for a technician to diagnosis and repair it.  Through a series of computer diagnostic tests, the technician will be able to determine an official computer diagnosis.  Many issues give the Blue Screen of Death Error Code.  Depending on the error code your computer is displaying, the pc troubleshooting steps differ.  This is one of the reasons it is so important to take it into a computer repair technician over fixing it on your own.

Graphical Errors

Another common issue that is known to occur when you turn on your computer is that the screen is a muddled mess.  Graphical errors may be common, but the necessary fix isn’t always which is why you should take it into a computer repair store for repair and diagnosis.  Graphic issues are most often associated with software.  If your screen looks distorted and the images are not displaying correctly it is time to take your PC in for diagnosis. 

The technician will run some tests to determine if it is a software issue as sometimes a graphic disruption can involve a video card driver. A computer repair technician will have the capabilities to troubleshoot graphical errors.

Other common computer issues that occur which require a pc technician include blank monitors, operating system errors, virus warnings, and such.  Contact the technical professionals at Creative Programs and Systems for any and all of your computer repair issues. 

Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT services, IT consulting, residential computer services, custom programming, website design, iphone & android app development, and more.  More information can be found at https://cpsmi.com.



Creative Programs and Systems

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When Should I Have LASIK Performed?

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems


No matter how young or old you are the health of your eyes is of the utmost importance. Our eye sight is an essential element in our everyday lives.   It is important to remember this when making decisions regarding your vision.  There are many choices when it comes to correcting issues with your vision such as eye glasses, contacts, and LASIK.  When choosing an option that is right for you a lot of people start to consider undergoing the LASIK procedure.  The thing most people are worried about is that they aren’t the right age to have the LASIK procedure performed.  If that is you, keep on reading.

What is the perfect age to have LASIK performed?

Ophthalmologists and LASIK surgeons both agree that a patients age means less than the stability of their vision when determining if they should have laser vision correction performed.  Patients that have has the same prescription for a period of time are most likely ready to have the LASIK procedure done.  This often occurs for patients in their twenties. 

Are there career benefits to LASIK?

Depending on your career, clear vision without the hindrance of eye glasses or contacts can be extremely beneficial.  Athletes are one category of individuals who would have an advantage with laser vision correction.  Contacts are not the same hindrance as eye glasses can be however there is always the concern about losing one or getting dirt in it while in the midst of an activity.

Can my eyesight continue to change one it has been corrected by LASIK?

Your vision can still change once the LASIK procedure is performed.  Laser surgery helps to increase your vision to its best but even after LASIK it can still continue to change naturally over time. Statistics show that about 10% of LASIK patients will need to have touch up procedures performed after LASIK is done. This is especially true the more drastic your vision correction was. 

If you are interested in finding out more about LASIK and how it can benefit you talk to family, friends, co-workers, and the people you trust for LASIK surgeon recommendations.  This allows you to narrow down providers before hitting the internet for reviews and scheduling consultations. 

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to suit your lifestyle and visual needs.  As a leader in laser vision correction and cataract surgery, our goal is to help you achieve the best vision possible without glasses or contact lenses.  More information can be found online at https://michiganlasik.com.



Michigan Lasik

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Improving Water Quality Through Filtration

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems


Take a minute to look inside the tank of your toilet, what do you see?  Do you see a collection of rust, sediment, and/or sand? That same collection of debris is accumulating inside your plumbing and water heater.  It is pretty standard to assume that when any mechanical system in your home becomes saturated with gunk build up the quality of the system and the products of the system are compromised.  The goal for homeowners is to avoid situations where this occurs.  One way this happens is with the installation of a whole house water filter.

When a whole house water filter is installed it can act as a barrier that quietly protects your home.  A filter will prevent crud from settling into the systems throughout your home such as the toilet, water softener, and hot water tanks. 

Benefits of Installing a Water Filter System for Your Home

Layered Protection

With the installation of a whole house water filter system you are layering the protection to your appliances.  You are preventing the sediment from reaching your appliances, plumbing, water softeners, toilets, and such.  Many appliances have small plastic and rubber pieces that are used in the use of different household appliances.  Small amounts of debris will damage seals in appliances over time.  When a seal becomes damaged it will leak and as we all know this ends up costing us time and money.  A filter removes the gunk such as sediments, debris, dirt, and gunk in general.  For homeowners there is an increase in appliance longevity and a piece of mind that your equipment will be reliable for longer. 

Eliminate Unexpected Water Surprises

Both city and well water sources can become compromised from unexpected elements in the system.  When this occurs homeowners can receive quite the surprise at the tap. 

City Water Issues

  • Water Main Break
  • Hydrant Flush
  • New Construction and New Water Connections

All of these events will knock iron and sediment buildup into the water supply.  This in turn creates sludge, orange water, and dirt from coming into your home.

Well water quality is affected by outside sources as well.  The quality of the water can change from season to season. 

A whole house water filter helps to remove the iron that exists in some water sources.  When a water filter is installed the iron in the water is filtered out.  This helps to prevent the staining that occurs on laundry, appliances, faucets, and more.

Filter Operation and Maintenance

Filtration systems function without electricity, without salt, and without waste.  There are no controllers to worry about, batteries to change, or clocks to reset.  In fact, whole house water filtration systems are simple to install and can be added to any water treatment system.  In order to properly maintain a filtration system for your home you will be required to change the filter periodically.  The number of times a filter needs to be changed depends on the quality of the filter, use, and the filters rating.

When choosing a filter consider the following: the physical size of the filter, the Micron rating, flow rate, and filter life.  Larger filters naturally have more surface area which often means that they last longer, increase the quality of the water and water pressure. Larger filtration systems are needed in homes with more than two family members.

The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria, chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins, radon, and more.  More information on our water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron & odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.



Reynolds Water

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Choosing To Replace Medical Equipment Opposed to Repair

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems


There is quite a balancing act that goes on within healthcare facilities when it comes to whether or not medical equipment should be repaired or replaced. Unfortunately there is not one answer to address the issue.  Decisions for repairing or replacing medical equipment such as linear accelerators and CT scanners needs to be done on a case by case basis.  The most important factors being how the decision affects patient care and patient outcomes.

Many professionals involved in the decision to replace or repair medical equipment find weighing the costs and patient interests to be a difficult task.  Facility decision makers need to determine the risks vs the rewards in how long to keep large scaled medical equipment in action.  Preventative and corrective maintenance must be evaluated on a per machine basis to ensure the best decisions are made. 

It is impractical to repair medical equipment when:

Replacement Parts Are Scarce: Replacement parts for LINACS or CT scanners aren’t common off the shelf items that you can find at any medical supply store.  In fact, with manufacturers in a race to keep up with the latest and greatest technologies in equipment they are constantly phasing out older equipment which makes finding parts to repair medical equipment harder and harder to find. This alone makes it scary to rely on older equipment for critical patient care.

The Cost of Service: If medical equipment is not maintained or repaired by in house technicians’ facilities must look at the expense of service plans.  Another factor is that as equipment ages, replacement parts are harder to find if not obsolete.

Patient Care Will Be Disrupted:  When large scaled equipment starts to break down on a regular basis and interrupts patient care this wreaks havoc with patient care.  If this is on-going, it can greatly affect your service and dissatisfied patients will seek care elsewhere.

On-Going Equipment Failure: Sometimes the equipment that you have is a giant lemon.  If it is found that your device is failing time and time again it may make sense to replace it.  Sometimes there is more liability in keeping a piece of equipment around that continues to fail than starting over.

There is a lot that goes into replacing a large scaled piece of medical equipment like a LINAC system, so it is crucial to have a plan in place for when the need arises.  Not only does new equipment need to be purchased, the old equipment needs to be moved out to make room for the new.   It is important to evaluate and reevaluate equipment frequently in order to avoid costly surprises.  This is especially true in smaller facilities with stricter budgets.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment.  Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.



RadParts

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Spring Cleaning To Benefit Your Homes Roof

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems


Spring is almost here, just days away!  That means we are just days away from being able to start cleaning out our flower beads, scooping gutter gunk, and other rituals of spring cleaning.   The snow is starting to melt, and homeowners begin to consider how to prepare their homes for a summer of relaxation.  The more we accomplish in the spring, the less we must consider during the summer.  

It is a known secret, winter weather is our homes enemy, especially our roof.  Our roofs take a beating in every season, but it is especially rough in the winter, with the snow, melt, freeze, ice, melt repeat process. Homeowners should reach out to professional roofing contractors at least once a year for a spring cleaning and inspections.  Regular roofing maintenance helps to increase the longevity of your roofing materials and will improve the aesthetics of your home.  Below are some tips the professional roofers at Kearns Brothers recommend to all our clients.

  • Trimming Tree Branches:  Any tree close to your home should have its branches trimmed on a regular basis.  Tree limbs should not be allowed to touch your roof as they will scrape the shingles and loosen the granules that are in place to protect it.  A decrease in asphalt granules on shingling which will decrease the longevity of your roof. 
  • Pine Needles and Leaves:  A few pine needles and leaves on your roof are fine however, a collection of leaves and needles will cause damage as they hold on to excess moisture.  They need to be removed to prevent mold, mildew, and general issues.  A build up of pine needles and leaves can also block gutters.  To clear your homes roof it is important to be careful not to damage the roofing material.  A light air blower will gently remove the debris without damaging the asphalt shingling.
  • Moss is one of the worst elements for asphalt shingles.  By cutting back tree limbs and removing leaves homeowners can reduce moss.  It is important that sunlight can hit the surface of the roof in order to dry up the moisture that the moss thrives on.  There are chemicals that can get rid of roofing moss however the run off can cause damage to the landscaping plants surrounding the home.  Zinc or copper trips lining the ridge of the home can also help create an environment where moss is unable to grow.
  • If gutters are damaged during the winter, it is crucial that homeowners fix them before spring rains begin.  It is crucial that water can flow through the gutters and away from the home’s foundation. Loose gutters must be secured in order to function properly.
  • A complete inspection of your shingles, chimney’s, and flashing should all be inspected and maintained yearly by a professional roofing contractor. While a contractor is performing a roof inspection, they will look for missing shingles, damage to your chimney, flashing, and vent issues.  Correcting these issues in a timely manner ensures your roof is good to go for many Michigan seasons.

As a full-service home improvement contractor servicing all Southeast Michigan, Kearns Brothers, Inc. offers clients a wide range of services to meet their construction needs including: roofing, siding, window, masonry, chimneys, gutters, and insulation services.  More information can be found at www.kearnsbrothers.com.



Kearns Brothers

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Key Elements To Consider When Deciding On A Home Renovation

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems


Have you started to become flustered by the lack of space or look of your home?  Have you been working with a realtor to find a new home and haven’t been able to find your dream house?  Maybe you are just about ready to sell but your house needs a few updates? No matter the reason, there area options for homeowners looking to hire a professional home contractor when looking into options for updating and modifying their homes to fit their current needs.

Lots of renovations start because your family changes and the layout of the home is not working for you any longer.  Lots of renovations start in one room and then leak into other parts of the house.   Before you know it, you are looking at remodeling your whole house. Obviously, this turns a project that should be easily handled into a great undertaking.

There are a number of decisions that need to be made in any renovation.  Choices need to be made considering the budget, the purpose of the renovation, materials to be used, and so much more. Remodeling your home is an investment that should always be done in a manner that increases the value of your home. That is why having a plan in place prior to starting any renovation is important. 

Any renovation, big or small, should never start because of an idea that jumps into your head one afternoon or a solid Pinterest idea.  There is too much to consider and often ends up leading to mid-project changes.  In remodeling it is crucial to have a plan that allows you to think out every step leading you to improvements in your space.  A well thought-out, well researched renovation requires a plan. 

In order to know what you want it is important to have a vision.  You can determine a lot by looking through magazines, websites, and home improvement stores for ideas. Homeowners have their own desires for what they want from their renovations.  Consider the layout of the home as well as how the space functions.  Make a list of your must haves when creating a definitive plan for your renovation.

The size of the space is also important when considering your renovation.  Are you remodeling a room, a few rooms, or the whole house?  Are you going to add the square footage of the home by adding on or are you renovating within the space you currently have?  These decisions will need to take into consideration of the budget.

Along with the above, consider the style and design of the other room within the house when merging the décor of your renovation.  When hiring a contractor consider their ideas and suggestions.  Local contractors also have industry connections which can help ensure the project stays on a proper time line.  Hiring sub-contractors, plumbers, electricians, and carpenters is simpler when working in conjunction with a contractor that you trust.

JFC Remodeling is a full-service licensed contractor out of Howell, Michigan.  Specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations, flooring upgrades, and home remodeling services.  More information can be found online at https://jfcremodeling.com/.



Jason Foldenauer Construction

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Deciding If Hiring A Wedding Planner Is The Right Thing To Do

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated

There are so many decisions a bride and groom need to make; one of the most important decisions being whether to hire a wedding planner or to go it alone.  We hear so many brides that have decided to forgo hiring a wedding planner regretting their decision in the end.  They go through all the reason why they didn’t think they needed to hire a professional and realize in the end most of those were the same reasons why they should have. 

The Most Common Reasons Brides Decide Not to Hire A Wedding Planner

  • We will bond over finding vendors and going to vendor appointments
  • We will make better more informed decisions doing the work ourselves
  • We can save money
  • We won’t be forced into using the planners go to suppliers
  • We won’t have to run our consideration by anyone else

The Most Common Reasons Brides Wish They Would Have Hired A Wedding Planner

  • Planning a wedding and the mundane tasks involved throughout the process are not always fun.  There are aspects that brides and grooms enjoy such as dinner sampling and cake testing however, they are still involved in those aspects even when hiring a professional planner to assist in making their big dream what they picture.  The part that isn’t fun, finding vendors, coordinating tastings, and keeping track of how much they each cost.  A wedding planners’ job is to allow you to enjoy the fun aspects of wedding planning without the behind the scenes stress.
  • Planning the perfect party for your closest friends and family doesn’t happen without a little stress.  The stress of planning a wedding takes away a lot of the romance.  The last thing you want as a bride or groom is to deal with the stress and exhaustion of dealing with everyone’s drama, opinions, and overall meddling.  Thankfully wedding planners know exactly how to deal with people getting in the way of making your day anything less than perfect.  Their specialty is bringing your dream to life, not your mothers-in-laws dream. 
  • It turns out that choosing vendors to work with is not as easy as most people think it will be.  It turns out that a lot of vendors are very charismatic and are great at telling people what they want to hear vs actual performance.  Wedding planners have a preferred list of vendors because they have actually seen the vendors in action and know who to work with and who to steer away from.  Having seen a vendor performing is a far better indicator of what to expect during your wedding than a simple face to face interview one time.  Yes, you can learn a little from online reviews but who is to say those sources are trustworthy? 
  • Planning a wedding takes a lot of time.  Instead of getting to enjoy your engagement you are running around like a chicken with its head cut off when planning a wedding without the help of a planner.  It is a planner’s job to create the perfect evening for you.  This is what their time is devoted to so that you can focus on your own job and relationship.

This list could go on and on.  When deciding if hiring a wedding planner is right for you and your wedding start by talking to a newly married couple that didn’t.  It will soon be clear how the services of a wedding consultant/planner will benefit you!

Event Planning DC provides full event planning, partial event planning, month-of (day-of) event coordination, event styling/design and decorating services throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with access to local and national vendors who may provide additional services suitable for your event and budget.  We pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality event coordination, giving you and your guests the perfect day, no matter what the occasion including exclusive corporate and non-profit events, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, community events and milestone celebrations.  More information can be found online at https://www.eventplanningdc.com.

Event Planning DC

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Sorting Through The Misconceptions of Reconditioned Products

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

A lot of misconceptions surround products labeled as reconditioned, refurbished, and as-is.  Reconditioned products are products that have been returned to the manufacturer or a third-party company to thoroughly be checked, taken apart, repaired, put back together, tested, and sold.  They are unable to be sold as new without going through the refurbishing process, even if they are in mint condition.  Many electronics, large scaled manufacturing equipment, appliances, and electrical goods are sold in this manner. 

Purpose of Factory Reconditioning

There are a number of reasons that product reconditioning exists. One reason, consumers will return items that are defective or may have become damaged.  Sometimes however there is nothing wrong with the item but once it has been purchased and returned, electric items and manufacturing components can’t be sold as new.  Other times equipment and components are becoming obsolete and the only way to have replacement parts for repair is for manufacturers to refurbish components and manufacturing equipment.  This is common in transformers, panel switches, and bus ducts & plugs.

The Reconditioning Process

Each product reconditioning specialist has their own set of standards that refurbished products and components need to go through before being resold.  Some reconditioned products are sold “as new” which means that they have run through a series of checks and balances to ensure all the issues, cosmetic and functional, are fixed. Other companies disassemble, inspect, repair, reassemble, tests, and then and only then is a product fit for resale.  This is often the case in manufacturing and larger scaled equipment like transformers, disconnect, and such. 

Advantages with Reconditioning

Obviously, reconditioning comes with cost savings over buying new. Manufacturers can’t charge the new prices for products that are refurbished.  Prices will vary on reconditioned components based on the supplier and of course the product.  As do new products, most refurbished products offer a warranty.  It is important to research the warranty and return policy of any reconditioned/refurbished product you purchase.

Difference between Factory Reconditioning and Third-Party Refurbishment

Most often when a product is labeled as “factory reconditioned” it means that it has been refurbished by either the manufacturer or a third-party that is certified.  When you purchase a reconditioned part or equipment you should expect that it has been tested and repaired to meet all of the original standards of a new product.

J & P Electrical Company is a full-service electrical company that supplies contractors, end users, and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned, and obsolete electrical equipment. We purchase a wide range of electrical equipment such as bus plugs, bud ducts, panel switches, substations, and transformers.  More information can be found at https://www.jpelectricalcompany.com



J & P Electrical Company