Livingston Reporting - page 229

Home Improvements That Increase A Homes Market Value

Owning a home is a dream that many people have.  It is believed that real estate is one of the greatest investments that can be added to a well rounded portfolio.  One issue that plagues homeowners is how to invest money into their house to ensure that the expense of the renovation is recouped in an increase to the homes market value.

It is almost impossible to get a return of investment of one hundred percent on home renovations no matter if the budget is two thousand dollars or twenty thousand dollars.  It is however a good idea to invest in renovations that are proven to increase the value of the property.  Building equity into a home is a smart way to invest money.  Smart investments done around the home can pay homeowners back.

Home improvements that improve the energy efficiency of your home are smart choices as they save you money straight away with a decrease in monthly expenses.  They are also smart choices for resale value in that most homeowners are looking for these upgrades when seeking a home to purchase.  Buyers will pay more for “green” renovations.

Some of the best energy efficient improvements that can be made are upgrades in windows, doors and appliances.  By replacing older, worn out windows that leak saves homeowners on average four to five hundred dollars a year with decreased utility payments.  New, properly sealed windows help to keep the temperature in place.  The same is true of installing a steel entry door.  Both replacements can return close to ninety six percent of their initial cost in resale value while saving on monthly utility expenses. Energy star appliance upgrades also offer a great return on investment and can often offer some serious savings in the form of tax credits.

Exterior home improvements also serve as great projects for homeowners looking to maximize their return of investment while increasing the enjoyment that they get out of their home.  Replacing a garage door, for instance, can cost upwards of fifteen hundred dollars.  This home improvement is on average known to bring in an eighty five percent return on investment with an increase in the homes market value.

New siding and updated shutters can give a home a fresh, modern look that makes a home pop.  Many homeowners comment that new siding; a fresh, updated color can make a home that they have lived in for years feel brand new.  The ROI on an improvement such as this can be upwards of eighty percent.

As a homeowner, if you are seeking something a bit more classic out of exterior remodeling install aluminum fencing.  Not only does aluminum fencing increase the aesthetics of the landscape it adds to the homes security.  Over other types of landscape improvements, aluminum fencing is preferred because it is easy to maintain and its presence within the yard is surprisingly powerful to the overall look of the home.  When installed within a well kept landscape, aluminum fencing can alter the entire look of the home’s exterior and increase the market value of your home.

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!

Increasing Your Homes Value

One common goal between all homeowners is to increase their homes value.  The majority of home renovations are intended to increase the enjoyment homeowners receive out of their home.  With any luck these same improvements will add equity to the home as well.  Quality is the key to home improvements.  From aluminum fencing to hardwood flooring, upgrades that are done using top quality materials and installed by skilled professionals will bring an increase in value to your home.

How can you increase your home’s value without breaking the bank?

Exterior Enhancements

The exterior of your home can be enhanced in a number of ways.  Some outdoor features increase the enjoyment of the space for homeowners more than others.  Consider increasing the aesthetics of landscape while adding privacy with the installation of aluminum fencing. Other exterior renovations to consider are updates to siding, new doors for the garage and front door, and landscaping.  Exterior enhancements return up to seventy five percent of the overall initial investment. Homeowners will enjoy improvements to their homes curb appeal while being rewarded with a substantial return on investment.

Fabulous Flooring

At some point homeowners will contemplate replacement flooring.  Whether replacing dingy carpet or worn out vinyl homeowners should carefully consider replacement options that work to accentuate the home.  Hardwood flooring is not the only choice when looking to increase the home’s value.  Quality carpet, ceramic tiling and engineered flooring are all affordable flooring options that improve the homes aesthetic value while increasing the value of the home.  Flooring professionals point out that a thousand dollar flooring investment is likely to add upwards of two thousand dollars back into the homes equity.

Beautiful Bathrooms

Homeowners know that updated kitchens and bathrooms work in their advantage when selling their homes.  What most don’t consider is that these room renovations don’t need to be extreme.  Small upgrades in a bathroom space can really transform the space.  To inexpensively update your homes bathroom consider sweat equity.  Fresh caulk, clean grout, bleach white sinks, toilets and tubs, updated fixtures, and hardware can turn an ordinary bathroom into a space that has a huge impact.

Reduce Rubbish

The number one way to increase the value of your home is to reduce clutter.  The best part about this improvement to the home is that it doesn’t cost the homeowners anything but time.  When a home is free of clutter it not only looks bigger it also appears cleaner.  The perception of outsiders is that the home is taken care of and that maintenance around the home has been performed.  This may not be the reality but it certainly is the perception that others get when coming into a space that is free of clutter.  Even if homeowners are not looking to sell their homes anytime soon there is something to be said for a space that is tidy to call their own.

No matter how you choose to improve your home, whether it is aluminum fencing or updated bathroom fixtures, make sure that the updates will increase the enjoyment you get out of the space.

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!

Radiation Therapy As A Treatment For Cancer

In this installment radiation therapy as a treatment for cancer we will look deeper into why some cancer patients receive radiation and some don’t.  We will also concentrate on how individual radiation therapy differs from patient to patient.

Radiation therapy is administered with two different intents: curative and palliative.  When radiation is given with a curative intent the hope that physicians have is that it will cure the cancer.  The treatment is given with the goal of eliminating the tumor and/or preventing a reoccurrence.  When radiation is administered as a cure it can be delivered alone or in conjunction with surgery and/or chemotherapy.

When radiation is administered with a palliative intent the objective is no longer a cure but instead given to relieve the symptoms and reduce any suffering that may be occurring because of the location of the cancer.  Often palliative radiation therapy is given to patients suffering with brain cancer, when the cancer is pressing on the spine or near the esophagus.

The treatment of cancer is individualized to each unique patient scenario.  Treatment planning begins with a radiation oncologist performs simulation.  During simulation, imaging scans are taken to show the size and location of tumors and the area surrounding the tumor.  There are a number of scans that can be used during this process including CT scans, MRI’s, PET’s and ultrasound.

The most common method involves CT scans.  The process of performing a CT scan is fairly straight forward.  The cancer patient will have pictures taken of the inside of their bodies using a computer that is connected to an x-ray machine.  It is important during any simulation scans that the patient remains still and is located in the exact same location each time.  To help cancer patients stay positioned for longer periods of times, molds and head masks have been constructed.

Once the simulation is performed and the radiation oncologist is pleased with the images obtained they can create a detail plan for treatment.  This plan will include exact details on the size and location of the tumor, the size of the area to be treated, the dose of radiation that will be given, how much of the normal tissue will be exposed and the safest angle to direct the radiation.  Once the plan is approved treatment will begin.

Certain tissues are more delicate than others therefore the method in which radiation therapy is given differs. In some cases radiation is delivered through external beams using a machine known as a linear accelerator or linac for short.  Internal radiation is another method used to provide radiation therapy.  Your radiation oncologist will authorize the best course of action for the specific cancer being addressed.

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.

Reducing Medical Equipment Repair Costs

Is your medical facility looking to reduce the costs involved in repairing medical equipment used to treat patients?  There are three important questions to answer when deciding how your facility will reduce the costs associated with repairing medical equipment.

First, it is important to know the overall expense for annual medical equipment maintenance and repair including repairs that are made in-house, those that are outsources, OEM, T&M and more.  Next, it is essential to determine the cost of long term contracts that are in place regarding maintenance on medical equipment.  Be sure to take note of what type of maintenance and repairs are covered by the long term contract.  The last question that needs to be answered is what the actual cost reduction goal for the facility is.  After these three questions are answered clarity regarding a plan of action in reducing the repair costs of medical equipment in your facility can reached.

Medical facilities are facing a myriad of uncertainties.  There is a need for healthcare facilities to find ways to trim expenses and cut careless spending.  It is vital that medical facilities recognize, measure, implement, and maintain a cost reduction strategy regarding maintenance and repairs to medical equipment in order to remain operational while enduring economic downturns.

In order to find ways to save money a facility needs to understand the cost of their current medical equipment maintenance program.  To clearly see the big picture of the program that is currently in place it is key that all of the contracts regarding equipment maintenance are taken into consideration.  The contracts should be completely understood.  What do the contracts cover?  Are failed parts replaced as a part of the contract? Does the contract fully cover the expense of labor and parts?  Does the plan cover the expenses incurred whether they are in house, outsourced?  What about the time and cost of materials be it new or refurbished?  Reducing the costs within a medical facility are never easy but having a clearer understanding of the bigger picture and overall costs helps.

Take a complete inventory of all of the medical equipment that your facility currently has on hand.  From linear accelerators to CT scanners access the number of pieces, their overall condition, repair history, replacement parts that have been installed and everything in between.  Determine what is still being paid on the contracts.  Many times facilities find that they are still paying on maintenance contracts on equipment that is no longer being used by the medical facility.

One way to cut costs is through this inventory process.  There is no reason to pay on contracts on equipment that is no longer in use at the facility.  By evaluating the current medical equipment in your facility and removing excess unused equipment or canceling contracts on equipment no longer at the facility medical facilities can save a significant amount of money.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment.  We provide high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment.  For more information on low cost parts for repairing Linac equipment find us at http://www.radparts.com.

Budgeting For the Expense of Medical Equipment

One of the biggest issues facing medical facilities is the cost of purchasing, maintaining, and operation much needed medical equipment.  Linear accelerators can cost anywhere between three to four million dollars to purchase.  When budgeting for such large scale equipment, facilities should consider that maintenance on a linear accelerator can average approximately half a million dollars each year.  This figure does not include any of the expense in regards to personal involved in operations.

Medical facilities, especially cancer facilities need to be equipped with state of the art, reliable equipment in order to achieve a high level of patient care.  As medical linear accelerators start to age the machines reliability starts to decrease and errors increase.  The average lifetime of a machine like a linear accelerator or CT scanner is between five to ten years.  Medical machinery errors can often be detoured by upgrades in software or by replacing parts with parts that have been refurbished that bring machine back to its original state.

Many companies that offer linear accelerators for sale also offer maintenance contractors or are affiliated with refurbished linear accelerator part distributors.  There are several levels of support that facilities can choose from.  So many medical facilities are facing budget constraints that they are often left choosing between updates on machine software, operating manuals or continued training for machine operators and physicists.  All of which is above and beyond the initial expense and regular maintenance of the machine itself.

Another dilemma that plagues medical facilities needing large pieces of medical equipment to diagnosis and treat patients is the pressure of production.  Each piece of machinery is expected to pay for itself overtime its lifetime.  The pressure is even more present when used in a profit generating facility verse a non-profit medical facility.

The demands of patient care and quality, error free treatment also plagues medical facilities operation large equipment like CT scanners and linear accelerators.  When treating illnesses such as cancer it is crucial that treatment follows a certain schedule.  Most cancer patients are experiencing enough disruption in life that the last thing they need is scheduling conflicts because of issues pertaining to medical equipment.

It is crucial that through all of the pressures involved with purchasing, maintaining and operating medical equipment like linear accelerators and ct scanners that repairs are done properly.  Medical equipment repair specialists should maintain quality and consistency when faced with these specific issues.  Patient care should remain the top priority with medical facilities.  Repair specialists main objective is to maintain stock of new and refurbished linear accelerator parts, be competent and complete in the work they perform and be decisive when working with medical facilities to ensure proper care and maintenance of large scaled medical equipment.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment.  The mission is to provide high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment.  For more information on low cost parts for repairing Linac equipment find us at http://www.radparts.com.

Signs of Roof Damage After a Storm

Once again severe weather time is here for those of us in the north.  From lightening strikes to thunderstorms, strong winds and sand storms it all takes its toll on the exterior of our homes especially the roof.  Many times homeowners are clueless that there has even been damage to their homes.  Some will only notice damage months after the storms have rolled through.  It is important to identify damage as soon as possible to avoid extensive damage to the structure or foundation of the home.

After a storm has hit homeowners should take time to inspect their roof and home’s exterior.  It is best if small issues are identified and repaired before they become larger and more expensive problems that require extensive repairs.  If you suspect any damage has occurred to the roof after a storm it is best to call in a professional roofing contractor to perform a full inspection of your homes roof.    Most roofing companies offer free inspections or inspections for a fee that comes off the cost of needed repairs.

To assist homeowners we are including signs of roof damage to be aware of after a storm.  If a homeowner can see any of these it is important that they call in a roofing expert for further examination of the damage.

  • Shingling that is bent or folded
  • Shingles or roofing materials that have become dislodged
  • Any part of shingles or roofing materials within the homes yard
  • Roof buckling
  • Discoloration in the shingles
  • Ceiling discoloration
  • Light coming in from the attic space

Some of the damage, after a storm, can be difficult to see from street level.  Take a trip up onto the roof to look for shingling or other roofing materials that have dislodged.  If this is noticed it is important to have the roof inspected properly by a professional roofing contractor.  A contractor specializing in roofing can offer repair services or assist homeowners with insurance claims if a new roof is necessary.

Another common issue, buckling occurs in roofing when a roof is not properly ventilated or when shingles are laid one on top of another.  Noticing spots within the roof that are starting to buckle may indicate that you will need a new roof.

After an extreme wind storm it is possible to find dislodge roofing material in your yard.  One shingle may be easy to replace or repair however when multiple parts of shingling or other roofing materials are seen strewn about the yard it is a completely different issue.

Another sign of damage on a roof is discoloration.  Algae and moss can cause this discoloration and small leaks may occur.  A professional roofing contractor should be employed to restore the roof and treat the problem.

Discoloration on the outside isn’t the only issue that shows roofing damage.  If you see any signs of internal ceiling sagging or water spots it is time to inspect your homes attic.  Any light coming in from the attic space should be immediately repaired to prevent further issues.  This is especially true after heavy rains.

Roofs can be repaired if damage is caught early enough.  These repairs are far more inexpensive then completely replacing your roof which often occurs when homeowners let minor repairs stack up and don’t get properly fixed.  Proper roof care and maintenance will help maintain your roof, foundation and homes structural integrity.

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.

 

2016 Popular Trends In Home Improvements Continued

In our last installment on popular home remodeling trends we discussed several renovating options that are popular for 2016.  These renovations all tend to hold their value and work to increase the overall equity in the home.  Front entry home improvements, replacing garage doors and bathroom renovations work to retain and increase the value in the home.  Other renovations such as kitchen, deck, siding, attics and more will be discussed in this article as other options in remodeling that help boost today’s value of your home.

Kitchen Remodeling:  Minor or major kitchen renovations sell homes.   If you want to increase the chance that your home sells invest in the kitchen.  Buyers are looking to envision themselves in the kitchen when they look at homes to purchase.  The kitchen is the one space within a home that can truly make or break the sale of your home.  Minor kitchen renovations, costing around twenty thousand dollars often are able to recoup eighty three percent during resale.

Updates to the kitchen that work to hold their value the best include: Counter top replacement, cabinetry updates, flooring upgrades, lighting and storage.

Deck Additions: Homeowners are looking to enjoy the nice weather when they can.  A deck is one renovation that can allow homeowners to do just that from the comfort of their own home.  A wooden deck, depending on the size and complexity in design can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars upwards to six thousand dollars with the average falling around four thousand.  Homeowners are apt to recoup about eighty percent of the total cost of adding a deck to the home plus the pleasure you will naturally receive from enjoying the nice weather.

Replacement Siding:  There are a variety of siding options including brink, wood, stone and vinyl.  Vinyl siding is the most popular and least expensive replacement option in siding.  A fresh exterior increases the aesthetics of the homes curb appeal which will enhance the spaces charm and make it more desirable for buyers.

Attic Spaces: Converting an attic space into a bedroom, retreat or space for storage works as a great way to increase the function of your home while adding extra space and value.  Adding a bedroom to a home can return close to seventy five percent of your investment when you do decide to sell your home.  An attic bedroom space is ideal for a return college student or elderly parent.  The storage space that a finished attic space offers to homeowners is invaluable.

Home remodeling projects that are popular and trendy and add to the overall function of your home help to increase the appeal buyers may have to purchase your home.  This can only work in your favor if you ever find yourself selling during a buyer’s market.

Aspen Construction is an innovative building leader specializing in home additions, new construction, bathroom and kitchen remodeling.  For all of your home improvement needs including electrical services contact us today at http://www.aspencoinc.com/.

2016 Popular Trends In Home Improvements

Home remodeling is done either because of personal interested or because of popular trends.  There are pros and cons for doing both that we will focus on.  When homeowners choose to remodel based on trends that are popular in the home improvement industry it may improve the chances the homeowner has at recouping the cost that was put into the remodel.  The focus today will be on popular housing trends in 2016 and how to work in your personal interests and recoup the money you put in.

Front Entry Home Improvements: The addition of a new entry door along with some updates in paint, fresh rugs and a bit of fresh greenery can really boost the charm of your home and the overall appeal of the home’s exterior.

Home entryway updates can cost an average of five hundred to a thousand dollars.  A new front entry door can cost around six hundred and twenty five dollars with paint and rugs running another fifty dollars.  Entry landscaping makes up the rest of this update making one heck of a return on your investment when the time comes to sell.

Bathroom Renovation and Remodeling: Although a bathroom renovation may require more time and money than other home improvement projects it is will also draw in the most attention from buyers.  Bathroom remodeling is also known as one of the best return on investments within the home improvement industry.

If you aren’t looking to do a complete overhaul on a bathroom which can cost upwards of twenty five thousand dollars consider simple updates that easily recoup their value.  Replace sinks, cabinets and countertops along with fixtures to create an update remodel.  Consider a fresh coat of paint and some updated linens for a complete bathroom makeover.

Garage Replacement Door and Remodel: This is a renovation that is not often considered when homeowners think about upgrading the exterior of their homes.   Replacing a garage door and updating the space adds to the total value of your home.  At resale you are apt to collect at least eighty seven percent of what you put into out of a garage renovation.  A new garage door can turn an old outdated exterior into a modern marvel.

Don’t just repaint the garage door replace it.  A garage door replacement ranges from around seven to eight hundred dollars all which is usually recouped within the sale of the home.

For more renovations that are popular in 2016 continue reading our next blog installment.

Aspen Construction is an innovative building leader specializing in home additions, new construction, bathroom and kitchen remodeling.  For all of your home improvement needs including electrical services contact us today at http://www.aspencoinc.com/.

Consult A Bankruptcy Attorney If You Are Thinking About Filing Bankruptcy

There is a certain appeal to bankruptcy.  By the time you have reached the point in which you are considering bankruptcy you have endured countless hours of harassing phone calls from debt collectors and have spent many sleepless nights stressing about making minimum payments.  The idea that you could move forward into a financial future that is wiped completely debt free or with a detailed court ordered repayment plan is tempting.  This is especially true when faced with an overwhelming debt and little means to pay the funds back.

Bankruptcy is of course more complicated than running a few numbers.  There are some long lasting affects that should be taken into consideration before filing for either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.  The impact that bankruptcy has on your credit lingers and impacts a variety of aspects within your life.

Not only does bankruptcy wipe most of your debts away it also makes it difficult to establish yourself financially for years to come.  It will be difficult to open new credit accounts, buy or rent a home, find a company for insurance, get a cell phone and even possibly impact your employment.  In fact most bankruptcy attorneys will tell you that bankruptcy should be considered as a final, extreme method to resolving your financial issue, only considered after trying other budgeting, credit counseling and financial efforts to remedy the situation.

In order to begin the bankruptcy process it is recommended that you seek counsel from an experienced, reputable attorney that specializes in bankruptcy cases.  In order to seek relief from bankruptcy you must first take a step towards credit counseling from a government approved organization.  This must have occurred within six months of filing.  A means test will be performed to confirm that your income does not exceed an amount specified by the state.

After this is accomplished, with help from your bankruptcy attorney you will properly fill out the forms applicable to your bankruptcy situation.  An attorney should be present with you throughout all proceedings going forth.

The type of bankruptcy in which you choose to file for will be directly related to your situation including the assets and property you own, including your home, your income and several other factors.  Those debtors with a consistent income are encouraged to look into filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy over Chapter 7.

Chapter 13 allows individuals with a consistent income to keep their homes and cars which may be lost under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  With Chapter 13 bankruptcy the bank will create a repayment plan to allow you to hold on to certain property.  You must repay certain debts such as outstanding child support, student loans, taxes and other debts that are specified by the court.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy essentially allows you discharge most all of your debts.  Property of value is collected and then sold off.  A trustee of the court will take the funds raised and split them accordingly to creditors.  Certain debts may not be written off such as child support, spousal support, student loans and such.

If you are considering bankruptcy the first step you should take is to meet with legal representation.  They will offer you advice on how to proceed including those items that can hinder your ability to receive a discharge of your debt through bankruptcy.

Bohikian Law Group specializes in chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcies in Michigan. Contact us today to find a bankruptcy attorney that will help you in debt relief at http://www.bohikianlaw.com/ today.

 

Top Vintage items To Purchase

Antiques have increased in popularity within the last couple of years.  The interior design industry shabby-chic movement encourages the use of vintage items in decoration to add character to any space.  Not everyone has caught on to the phenomenon but this article may just change your opinion.  Continue on if you haven’t yet fallen in love with the idea of repurposing items for the golden era of home entertainment.  Vintage items allow you to decorate on a dime while getting quality products that money just can’t buy you now-a-days!

Vintage Art

Most vintage art pieces that can be found at auctions, flea markets, garage sales and the likes are truly interesting.  You can purchase antique art at a fraction of the retail price of a poster.  In fact many vintage art pieces will also come framed in wooden antique frames that can hang the art or be used separately elsewhere in the home.

Antique Canes and Umbrellas

Antique canes and umbrellas are a purchase that serves multiple purposes.  First there is the practicality of a vintage cane or umbrella in everyday use.  Secondly they make a beautiful conversation piece when displayed within your homes entryway.  Antique canes were the go to fashion accessory of the day showing class and sophistication.  When used today in home decorating or for added stability they are sure to be a conversation starter.

Wooden Furniture

The greatest benefit of purchasing older furniture is that it actually made completely from wood.  Unlike furniture that is made today from particle board, formica and plastics.   This means you are not only getting a piece of well made furniture when purchasing antique wood dressers, head boards and more; you are also getting a piece that can be customized with paint and new hardware for your home.

Antique Dishes and Glassware

Matching glassware and dishes are a thing of the past.  Even with fine china mixing patterns is seen as a very chic thing to do.  Purchasing vintage dishes is often done so at a price far lower than you would pay for new.  The best part is if a pieces break there is no worry about replacing it as there is always an abundance of mismatched dishes for sale at antique outlets and vintage flea markets.  The same is true of glasses and stemware.  Stemware that varies in shape and size is a popular option especially if you tend to host gatherings.  Guests can differentiate their drink easily from other guests.

Not everything is better vintage though.  Be wary of furniture that has been reupholstered, vintage appliances and electrical light fixtures.  Upholstered furniture could harbor an irremovable scent or worse yet, bugs!  Lighting and appliances may not be up to today’s electrical standards and therefore should not be used that is unless you are willing to shell out the money to have them refurbished to today standards of safety.

Antique Cane World is an online retailer of antique canes, walking sticks and umbrellas.  Contact us today for more information on antique canes, unique umbrellas and more at http://www.antiquecaneworld.com/.