Livingston Reporting - page 213

2017 Predictions In Real Estate

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Like it or not the environment that we currently live in is one that thrives around the infusion of technology including the real estate market.  2017 is predicted to be a dominating year for real estate.  It is expected that homes will spend less time on the market now into the future than any other time in history.  With advancements in technology surrounding the real estate market all aspects, from finding a home to applying for a mortgage are sure to take less time than ever before.

2017 Real Estate Predictions

  • The speed at which houses sell will increase, the housing market itself will continue to grow but the rate at which this occurs may slow a bit. The reason for this is due to the decline in affordable houses available to those families living within the median income level.  It is forecasted that the availability of affordable homes will continue to decline.
  • Real estate professionals and contractors alike believe that the growth of new construction homes will begin to slow into 2017. There are a number of reasons for this including a shortage of skilled construction workers.  This will ultimately affect the number of affordable starter homes thus leading to an increase in the price first-time home buyers can expect to pay for a new home.
  • With a new president elect set to take over, the economic climate is set to change. Mortgage rates will see a slight hike but should not climb much over four percent.  We should see economic growth and continued inflation which will help to keep rates low throughout 2017.
  • Home loans will become more accessible. Mortgages requiring as little as one to three percent down will be introduced within a variety of financial institutions and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will increase the size of the loans that they will back.
  • Growth in real estate in larger cities will take a back seat to the growth seen in second-tier cities. Commuting into larger metropolises while living in outlying locations will lead a trend in new construction in suburbs.

The concept of moving now-a-days is much different from the past.  It used to be that homeowners would own one or two homes in their lifetimes.  It was important to stay put, build roots and create memories.  Today, with real estate technology easing the transaction more and more people are moving to upgraded homes instead of upgrading the home they live in.

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.

C21 Lady of the Lakes

, , , , , , , , ,

Prepare Now For The Spring Real Estate Rush

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

2017 is the year many people have decided to become homeowners.  Right now is the perfect time to start preparing for your real estate endeavor.  Before the spring real estate season gets on its way it is time to take the necessary steps to make your house hunt successful.

Credit Report:  In order to purchase a house most first time home buyers will need to take out a mortgage.  In order to qualify for a mortgage you will need a decent credit score.  Now is the time to check out your credit report.  Home loan lenders use your credit score to set mortgage terms and interest rates.  It is crucial that an accurate report of your financial history is received when lenders are looking at your most recent credit report.  If there are errors this gives you time to fix the issues before you need to apply for your first home loan.

Budget:  This is a crucial step in buying your first home.  Many times lenders will pre-approve you for a home loan that is way over what you will feel comfortable spending each month.  Create a budget that accurately represents the amount of money you have coming in and going out each month.  The rule of thumb is to not spend more than thirty percent of your take home income on a mortgage payment.  This monthly payment should include both taxes and insurance.  An online calculator can help while you are going over your budget.  Online mortgage calculators can help you to determine how much house you can actually afford.

Down payment: Having a down payment is important.  Hopefully you have been stocking money aside to put towards the purchase of your first home for a while now.  If you have been saving for a down payment in a number of places now is the time to consolidate those funds.  Put these funds into one savings account at least three months prior to buying your first home.  This is beneficial as your mortgage lender will not need to track down where all of the money originated from.

Needs/Wants:  Once you have determined how much you have to put down as a down payment and know how much you can afford in a home it is important to create a master list of needs and wants out of a home.  Some features in a home are negotiable while others aren’t.  It is important to lay out what you need out of a home.  Consider the following things: location, schools, commute time, nearby amenities and housing features such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and more.  Would you rather have a home that is in need of some work or one that is move in ready?  Having a list in place will make it much easier for both you and your real estate agent narrow down the selection of homes to view as you begin your search.

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.

C21 Lady of the Lakes

, , , , , , , , ,

Key Elements To Look For When Buying Refurbished Equipment and Components

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

When it comes to buying equipment to use in manufacturing there are many advantages that come from purchasing used or refurbished pieces.  It is cost effective for companies, both big and small, to buy quality used and refurbished industrial assets for their facilities.  It is also beneficial for a company’s budget to repair large, heavy industrial equipment with less expensive refurbished components verse OEM parts.  Before jumping into purchasing refurbished equipment and components it’s important to take into consideration a variety of factors.

It is always important to choose the right equipment for your facility.  Without the proper equipment your facility won’t run effectively.  Key elements you should look at before purchasing new or refurbished industrial equipment includes:

Is the equipment refurbished or used?

If it is used you will want to ask specific questions that have to do with the number of hours the equipment has been used as well the usage history.  Most equipment has a specific lifespan; certain repairs are known to be expected at certain points throughout its lifecycle.

If it is refurbished you will want to determine the process the company used to refurbish the equipment.  It is important to choose a company that offers quality refurbishing.  Refurbishing is not about cosmetics; it is about bringing a piece of equipment back to life.

What is the manufacturer’s reputation?

The manufacturer’s history and reputation play a role when choosing industrial equipment.  It is important that the equipment is coming from a reputable manufacturer.  Always choose quality and reputation over cost.  It is worth paying a bit more to buy a product from a reputable manufacturer.  Buying a used or refurbished component from a quality manufacturer is better than buying a new off brand with a sketchy reputation.

What maintenance records are available?

All equipment runs better and lasts longer with proper maintenance.  Before buying used equipment as to see the available maintenance records.  Think about it like a car, regular tune ups and oil changes allow the car to run more efficiently and longer.  Well maintained industrial and manufacturing equipment will last longer than one that has not.

Is there physical wear and tear?

Be sure to do a visual inspection on used and refurbished equipment before finalizing the purchase of any large scaled equipment for your facility.  Normal wear and tear is to be excepted even if the equipment has been refurbished.  Visible cracks, corrosion, wear and fatigue on components, especially mechanical ones, indicate issues with the machinery.  These should be big red flags to look for a different piece of equipment to purchase that will better meet your facilities need.

J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company.  At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.

J & P Electrical Company

, , , , , , , , ,

Choosing To Use Refurbished Electrical Components

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

There is a myth circulating around about using reconditioned breakers.  Let’s put it to rest right here and right now.  You are not risking anything to save a few bucks when you are purchasing reconditioned electrical breakers – especially when you find a reputable company to purchase from.

Many manufacturing companies choose to use reconditioned electrical components.  Not only do they cost less over OEM parts, they are also readily available.  For older equipment finding replacement parts may not always be so simple.  Product reconditioning is one way in which manufacturers eliminate unplanned downtime.  Replacing worn or damaged components with newly refurbished components increase safety while decreasing unexpected machine breakdowns.

The process of reconditioning electrical components can vary from company to company.  The basic process of reconditioning electrical components is to bring the component back to its original state.  With quality refurbishment the product is completely disassembled, the components are cleaned, analyzed, reassembled and then a final inspection along with testing is done to ensure the component meets the manufacturers standards.

Depending on the company many times electrical component companies may be willing to lend you a component to use while they refurbish yours.  Refurbishing electrical components can take between three days to three weeks depending on the component and company providing the reconditioning.

Reconditioning isn’t only about cleaning the components but more about upgrading components to include the latest technology available.  Installing upgrades to the system communication center can allow facilities to gather trends and usage information on the system.  Another reason communication center upgrades are important when refurbishing electrical components is the ability to ensure that equipment is running properly and that power usage is similar between machinery.

Refurbishing is economical for numerous reasons.  It isn’t always affordable for manufacturers to completely replace equipment.  Maintaining machinery through refurbishing components allows companies an economical approach at replacing parts and equipment experiencing normal wear and tear through use.

When equipment breaks down because of faulty components it can often cost companies a great deal of money.  Not only do emergency repair services need to be performed, replacement parts need to be found and equipment downtime needs to be accounted for.  Simple updates through refurbishment allow components to be replaced and equipment to be maintained to increase longevity.

Seek out a company that follows stringent electrical component refurbishing guidelines.  Refurbishing requires a lot more than a new coat of paint, cleaning and lubrication.

J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company.  At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.

J & P Electrical Company

, , , , , , , , ,

Spring Renovations: Metal Roofing

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Spring is the time many homeowners begin to consider all of the renovations that they hope to accomplish during the warm summer months.  If you are thinking about a new roof consider metal roofing.  In this installment on roofing for your home we will look into the advantages and disadvantages of metal roofing.

There are so many ways that metal roofing outweighs other conventional roofing materials from the expected life expectancy to fire resistance.

  • Life Expectancy: When metal roofing is installed correctly by a professional roofing contractor should last as long as the house does.  Metal roofing installed properly seals out the water and endures high winds that other conventional roofing fails to do.  Metal roofing is also resistant to mildew, mold, fire, rot and insect infestation.  Most metal roofing suppliers will warranty their product for anywhere between twenty to fifty years.  The paint finish on a metal roof is most often under warranty for upwards of thirty years.
  • Weight: The weight of a metal roof ranges between fifty to one hundred and fifty pounds per square foot. It is possible that your metal roof can be installed right over your old shingle roof without the roofing material being taken off or additional support being added.
  • Installation: Metal roofing comes in multiple shingle sections or as large wide panels which make for easy installation by professional roofing contractors.  The process of installing a metal roof usually takes about two days less than it takes to install other conventional roofing materials.
  • Fire Resistance: Metal roofing has a class A fire resistance rating because metal is a non-combustible material.
  • Conduction: Metal reflects heat from the sun minimizing the amount of heat that enters or exits the house. Metal roofing is perfect for cooling the house in the summer while keeping heat in during the winter.
  • Roof Pitch: Even roofs with the slightest roof pitch can be installed with metal roofing and still not present a potential for leaking.  The minimum pitch should be three inches of rise per twelve horizontal inches.
  • Maximum Shedding: Metal roofing is designed to interlock which makes it resistant to rain and snow accumulation.  The hard, slippery surface allows the snow and rain to gently flow off the surface.

The drawbacks of metal roofing hardly outweigh the benefits but should be considered before investing in a new roof.  It is important to look into drawbacks such as cost, noise, denting and care.

Home Pro Roofing contractors offer a variety of roofing services throughout Brighton, East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Fenton and Commerce Township, including installation of shingle roofs, metal roofing and roof repairs.  You will find them at http://www.homeproroofingmi.com today.

Home Pro Roofing MI

, , , , , , , ,

Asphalt Verse Metal: Which Is Better For Your Homes Roof

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

There are a number of materials available for homeowners to use when installing a new roof.  From asphalt to synthetic there are a number of reasons for choosing one roofing material over another.  In this installment on roofing we will explore a number of universal materials that are popular within the industry along with the pros and cons of installation.

Asphalt Shingling  

Asphalt is the most commonly used material in roofing.  Roofing contractors choose asphalt shingles more often over other types of materials in new roof installation for a number of reasons.  Roofing contractors prefer asphalt shingles mainly because they are economical and easy to install.

Pros:  Asphalt shingles are available in a number of colors to choose from.  They are a widely available material that is inexpensive, easy to install and repair.

Cons: One of the disadvantages with using asphalt shingles is that they often have a shorter lifespan then other roofing counterparts.  The lifespan of asphalt shingles can range from ten years to twenty five years before it is necessary to consider replacement.

Home Styles:  Another major advantage of asphalt shingles is that they are appropriate to use on many different architectural home styles.

Cost and Life Span:  Asphalt shingling is one of the least expensive materials to install in roofing ranging from seventy to one hundred and twenty square feet.  With proper installation and maintained properly asphalt shingle roofs can last up to twenty five years.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is the second most popular roofing material due to its life expectancy and durability.  Roofs constructed using metal is more tolerant of extreme weather conditions.  Roofs made out of metal come in either panels or shingles.  They are made from metals such as aluminum, copper, stainless steel and zinc.

Pros: Metal roofing stands the test of time.  It is outlasts both asphalt shingling and wood while offering high solar reflective qualities.

Cons: The biggest thing metal roofing has going against it happens to be its cost.  Metal roofing can be more than double the cost of asphalt.

Cost and Life Span:  Metal roofing between one hundred and three hundred dollars per square foot although some styles have been known to cost upwards of eight hundred bucks per square foot.  The best thing about installing a metal roof is that they can last upwards of forty to seventy five years.

There are many types of materials to choose from in roofing however asphalt and metal are the most common materials seen on homes in the north.

Home Pro Roofing contractors offer a variety of roofing services throughout Brighton, East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Fenton and Commerce Township, including installation of shingle roofs, metal roofing and roof repairs.  You will find them at http://www.homeproroofingmi.com today.

Home Pro Roofing MI

, , , , , , , ,

Key Elements To Find In Medical Equipment Maintenance Suppliers

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Medical maintenance services ranging from hospital equipment maintenance to clinical equipment services benefit numerous healthcare experts.    Equipment performance solutions are utilized to benefit healthcare administrators, department managers and facility directors.  Whether your position entails obtaining refurbished medical equipment and supplies or to schedule hospital equipment maintenance an established equipment performance schedule will aid facilities in saving lives, time and money.

As a medical equipment service provider it is important to recognize that every client and facility is different and therefore cannot adhere to the same maintenance and repair schedule.  Each client that is in need of services is unique. There are some very specific abilities you should look for when entering into a contract with medical equipment specialists.  The items below will help you in your quest to find a company to work with to service all of your medical equipment from linear accelerators to toilet chairs.

One of the most important qualities you can find in an independent service provider is a twenty four seven service provider.  When equipment breaks down it is crucial that you can speak with an equipment specialists any time of day.  This will ensure that your equipment isn’t down for an extended period of time.

Another quality to look for is a company that utilizes software to keep track of all aspects of services performed on the hospital equipment.  Tracking each piece of equipment and its performance from when it is installed to the minute it is retired will allow you to make better purchasing decisions in the future.  Solid record keeping ensures that equipment does not miss service dates, helps with future budgeting, allows department heads to quickly track equipment and provides easy access to compliance related stats on equipment.

Another quality to look for in a company that services medical equipment is regular reporting.  Standard reports acts as a check and balance on inventory while creating a summary of maintenance and repairs.  This report should also show all repairs that are currently open and scheduled.

Find a medical service provider that offers a number of flexible service coverage options.  Companies most often offer a preventative maintenance plan, a comprehensive service plan or a combination of the two.  This allows companies to service facilities differently depending on their exact needs. Having options allows facilities to protect their budget and service costs.

Many facilities that service medical equipment also provide refurbished and used hospital equipment for sale.  This provides a significant cost savings on equipment purchases.  When working with a service provider that also sells equipment you can be assured you are getting the best of both worlds.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Acceletronics

, , , , , , , ,

Proper Medical Equipment Maintenance

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

The rate at which hospitals are seeing patients continues to grow each and every year.  In order to continue to compete against one another hospitals must maintain state of the art facilities and equipment.  From simple procedures to complex surgeries, patients expect the highest level of patient care available. Physicians and patients alike rely on medical equipment to be in working order for proper diagnosis and treatment.

In order to maintain a high level of care medical facilities must rely on independent medical service companies for proper equipment maintenance and repair.  With regular checks and balances performed on medical equipment, proper repairs can be made right away allowing for fewer mistakes.  Regularly scheduled equipment maintenance and repairs help save time, money, and lives.

The number one concern of any hospital or equipment manufacturer is patient safety.  As part of a quality control routine, hospitals and medical equipment manufacturers regularly calibrate and test machines.  Strict calibration and testing on medical equipment helps with quality control measures, accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plans.  This also helps to increase the longevity on medical equipment such as linear accelerators and ct scanners.

Another vital part in making sure medical equipment is running at its peak performance and is producing accurate results is routine maintenance.  Regular machine maintenance guarantees accuracy in patient diagnosis and treatment.  It is crucial to perform medical equipment maintenance routinely and not just when machines break down.  With annual machine calibration services, routine maintenance and timely repairs medical equipment is sure to run at peak levels and yield accurate life saving results.

Medical imaging displays are becoming critical in displaying fast and reliable test results.  The displays must reproduce images properly while displaying subtle differences.  As a display age’s clarity may diminish.  To ensure the accuracy of the grayscale and ensure the highest level in patient care routine medical equipment calibration must be done.  Keeping the gray scale accurate on image displays allows physicians to make accurate diagnosis.  This can be done by performing regularly scheduled maintenance and calibration.

Medical monitor displays are highly important in the medical community.  It is important that they are displaying images appropriately to avoid difficulty in reading images and prevent misdiagnoses.  Medical display systems must be monitored, maintained and calibrated on a regular basis to guarantee uniformity in test results.  Don’t rely on self-calibrating systems as they do not account for overall uniformity.

To be certain nurses and physicians alike are able to treat patients appropriately it is crucial the medical equipment such as linear accelerators and ct scanners go through frequent calibration updates and routine maintenance and repairs.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Acceletronics

, , , , , , , ,

Key Elements in Food Label Design

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

When manufactures create a new food product you can bet that they have poured a lot of time and money along with a great deal of enthusiasm into it.  With this in mind you can see why marketers place such emphasis on designing a label that communicates this effort to the consumer.  It is important for the consumer to appreciate all that has gone on to bring the product to them and why it should be chosen over the competition thus leading to an increase in sales.

Key Elements In Designing A Food or Drink Label

Let’s face it you aren’t going to be able to personally sit and sell your product to each and every targeted consumer.  You need to design a label to do this for you.  The label must speak to the consumer.  It must give consumers information on what the product is, who should use it, what it tastes like, how it is produced, ingredients used and so forth.  A label with a solid design should portray all of these attributes.

Your label should be designed to portray the look of your product.  Use colors, fonts, images and illustrations to form brand appeal for your product.  The right style, used to design your products label helps to attract the targeted audience for your product and gives it more of a change to be chosen over the competition.  Your targeted market must understand that your product has been created to fill their need.

Never underestimate how important a good copy is to labeling.  Space for copy on the label itself is limited.  It is important to be efficient in the manner in which you are explaining your product.  The right copy gives consumers a compelling reason to purchase your product over the competition.  Be sure the copy is presented in an imaginative and artistic fashion to compel consumers to make a purchase.

The quality of the printing and label material itself is also important in consumer’s perceptions of your product.  The label material should suit the audience.  Consider the abundance of labeling options from flexible packaging to shrink sleeves there is an option that will give your food product the impression it deserves.

Brand consistency is also important when creating new brands in an already highly established brand line.  Consistency in where the product name, logo or description is found is just one way to add uniformity within a brand on a new label.

No matter what size your company is a product label is a major component to the marketing mix and so should be considered one.  Don’t skimp when it comes to label design and manufacturing.

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.

Anchor Printing

, , , , , , , , ,

Label Design Tips To Increase Sales

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Designing product labels for food products can be quite a challenge.  It is important to design a label that depicts the food while capturing the company behind it.  The test comes from creating a design that is marketable that increases sales over the competition for the targeted audience.  Below are some tips that can be employed for food product labels to ensure they keep going through the checkout line.

Know The Targeted Audience

Before you can even begin designing a concept for a food label you must know what your customers are looking for.  What problems do your consumers have and how does your product solve it for them?  Food labels have to do everything a normal product label does and so much more.  Food labels must promote quality and freshness.  In order to design a food label that accurately reflects the product it is crucial to understand what the audience is expecting.  Keep in mind the demographics of your target; anything from age to income level can affect the way a consumer views a product label.

Know The Competition

In a sea of competitors it is important that your product stand out.  Your label should be different from your competition without ignoring the expectations of the consumer.  Meet consumers at the shelf in a fresh and insightful manner that grabs their attention and sets you apart from the competition.

Show The Food

It is one thing to design a label that showcases and image of the food inside but an entirely different thing to actually show the product inside.  Consumers that actually get to see the actual product and treat they are about to taste are more drawn into the purchase.

Emphasize Ingredients and Product Features

Instead of showing consumers the end products showcase the products that went into making it.  Highlight features in an easy to appreciate way on the label itself.  Showcase the features that set your product apart from others on the shelf right next to it.  If your product has won contests or has all organic ingredients the label is the appropriate place to display this information.

Post-Sale Marketing

Never underestimate the power of your label.  From the backside to the inside companies have valuable real estate to use to market their products.  Don’t waste any space when designing your food label.  A valuable way to use the interior of the label is to include recipes or a coupon on their next purchase.

Marketing food products is a challenge but a fun one.  Using these tips when designing your next food label will help to ensure your product moves from the shelf into the consumer’s tummy.

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.

Anchor Printing

, , , , , , , , ,