Livingston Reporting - page 309

Surviving Michigan Winters While Staying Warm

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

This has been such a mild start to our Michigan winter.  Our furnaces have not been pressed to the limit yet but as Michigan winters promise they will.  So with this in mind it is a good time to share tips on conserving energy this winter and to let you know that Airtronic Heating and Cooling professional home heating contractor offer many services from furnace repair to general furnace tune ups and maintenance.

Tips On Conserving Energy This Michigan Winter

  • Start the winter out right and ensure that your heating system is in good working condition.
  • Turn the thermostat down to a temperature between sixty four and sixty eight degrees. This does help to decrease your energy by three percent per degree you turn your thermostat down.
  • Believe it or not on those sunny days, few and far between here in Michigan, you are advised to open the shades and let the sun shine in.  Then at night to keep the heat in make sure to close the blinds and shades.
  • Check window and door seals to make sure that cold air is not seeping in.  Chaulk any areas that feel drafty and if the gap is on the larger side search out products that offer long term sealing solutions at your local home improvement store.
  •  For any door that is not used on a regular basis use a draft blocker.  This could be something simple like a towel rolled up and placed in front of the door or a purchased item made especially for this purpose.
  • Make sure to have a thermostat that can be programmed and run it on a program that runs the heat warmer during the hours you are home and turns the heat down when away and at night while sleeping.
  • Reversing your ceiling fans can also be of benefit in that they help push the warm air into the middle of the room instead of allowing it to rise up.  Thus in turn keeps the warm air where it is needed in the room.

The team at Airtronic can help you save even more money on your heating and cooling needs by installing a new energy efficient heating and cooling system designed specifically for your home.  They also offer a number of services to maintain and repair issues with your homes furnace.

Airtronic Heating and Cooling

Holiday Engagements and Ring Shopping

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

The thing about Christmas time or any holiday in general for all that it matters is that we slow down and take time to visit and spend time with family and friends.  The holiday season is a time when people gather and in turn ends up being a time when many people become engaged.  Engagement ring shopping does spike about a month before the major holiday seasons.   With that being said… Christmas is only 21 days away.
When looking for an engagement ring there are many different aspects to consider.  The first and main aspect to consider is your fiancé to be and her preferences in jewelry. Many women with very simple and classic tastes become overwhelmed with today’s bling.  The main consideration when choosing a diamond size and shape as well as the ring setting is her style and tastes.  You can’t go wrong taking her window shopping before a final purchase is made.
Another tip to consider is online jewelry shopping when it comes to purchasing an engagement ring for your loved one. This is a great way to stretch your wedding budget.  Online jewelry shopping saves you the markup chain jewelers have to help with overhead costs.  It is possible to window shop large retailers and find an identical item online for a substantial difference.  My only warning is to check to ensure no matter where the ring is purchased there is a return policy.  You don’t want to be stuck with a ring if she would really prefer a different style ring.  Good luck shopping and don’t forget to look at some of the latest trends in engagement rings such as halo engagement rings and antique engagement rings.

DaRoche Jewelers

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Buying A Home In Livingston County

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Many things go into buying and selling a home.  Susan Doyle with Real Estate One in Brighton, MI knows this well.  When selling your home or looking into any type of real estate services in or around Livingston County Susan Doyle is the expert to turn to.  Here are some basic tips when looking to purchase a home within the Brighton, Howell, Milford or the surrounding areas.

Tips For Buying A Home

One of the first things to consider is whether or not your future plans allow you to stay in the home for a few years.  This is important to consider with the cost associated with buying and selling a home. It is a good idea to stay in your home for a period of time to recoup these funds.

The next tip to consider is buying a home that you can afford.  Take into consideration the homes price, the taxes, special assessments to the home as well as heating and cooling costs. These bills should all be considered in the payment of the home as they will be a new part of your overall budget.

Consider the school district of the home you are buying.  This is important whether you have children or not. Homes in thriving school districts retain their market value and are much easier to sell when that time comes.

Seek professional help with all of your real estate service needs. The business of selling and buying homes is overwhelming and easy to miss a step.  This is why it is in your best financial interest to hire a professional to assume responsibility for arranging paperwork and other issues that are involved in the purchase and sale of a home.

It is in your best interest to get a pre-approval on your mortgage before you begin your house hunt. This enables you to stick at looking at homes within your budget and not wasting time with homes that are over the budget. Also consider putting the full twenty percent down to avoid having to pay for extra mortgage insurance.

The last piece of advice is to hire a home inspector. The last thing you want to do is to purchase a home only to find out you have bought a money pit.  A simple home inspection before signing on the dotted line can save you a bundle of money and hassles down the road.

Susan Doyle Real Estate

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November Is Here: Tips To Prepare Yourself For The First Snow Fall

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Snow removal is one of the most challenging aspects of cold weather climates.  Anyone who lives where snow is abundant knows the trials and tribulations that go along with large snow falls and efficiently removing the snow from walk ways and driveways.  If you are one of the lucky few you will have a professional at your beck and call to plow you out and ensure that you’re guaranteed accessibility to your home and main road ways.  However this is not always the case.  Some people prefer to save some money and go it themselves only resorting to a snowplowing service company for large snowfalls.  Here are some tips for those do it yourself types when shoveling snow.

1)      When snow shoveling be sure to only pick up a half scoop of snow each time.  This keeps you from burning out quickly and will allow you to stay injury free.

2)      When dealing with large chunks of snow and ice that are frozen together attempt to break the large piece into several pieces. Although this may be rough on your hands and arms it will save your back.

3)      Shovel the snow as it falls.  This will save you from the mass of snow that happens after the snow has fallen and become heavy through the night.  If it is allowed to become wet and harden it will be heavier to shovel.

When it comes to anything over three inches of snow and you have not been able to keep up as it has come down the best option is to look into your snow plowing options.  This is especially true when looking at longer driveway surfaces and private side streets.

Bladerunners Landscape

Keeping Your Home Warm With These Money Saving Tips

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Burr…  It is officially cold outside in Mid-Michigan. If you have not already prepared your home for the chill it is time to do so.  It is time to save yourself some money on energy bills with some low cost tips that will have your family staying warm and not breaking the bank.

The first issue is with the thermostat.  Make sure that you have replaced older thermostats with newer programmable ones.  When your home is unoccupied you can save yourself a good sum in heating and energy bills by lowering the setting ten degrees and increase your home heating.  A programmable thermostat will do this automatically for you.  The same is true at night as well.  Program the thermostat to decrease the heat by five to ten degrees while you are sleeping.  Add an extra blanket to your beds and you won’t even notice the difference.

Another quick and easy step in saving money on energy bills is to lower the thermostat by one or two degrees.  This can lower your bills up to three percent per degree you lower the heat in your home.  Make sure to purchase some slippers on those feet, not allowing your body to get cold in the first place will allow you to set the heat a degree or two lower without noticing a huge difference.

By keeping the garage door shut in the winter you can also help to keep your hot air within the home.  Something this simple can save you a few dollars over the entire winter season.  With energy prices so high every penny saved helps.

Some families prefer to add plastic film to the windows in the home to seal in the warmth and keep out the cold.  This will depend on the age of your windows.  If you have fairly new, energy star windows installed this might not even be an issue.  It might cost you more on plastic for the windows than it saves you in energy costs.

One thing you can do that keeps heat in is to close curtains, blinds and shades.  This helps to insulate the home and keep the heat inside.  Keeping them closed when you are away or sleeping can significantly decrease your heating bills.

These are simple or free tips that can help lower your energy bills.  As always remember to call in a professional HVAC heating and cooling specialist to due furnace maintenance and tune ups at least once a year.

Airtronic Heating and Cooling

Know Your Options Before Purchasing A Medigap Supplemental Insurance Policies

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Medigap Supplement Plans are different from Medicare in that they are policies that are offered by private insurance companies where as Medicare is offered through the government.  Medigap is purchased to do just what the name suggests, fill in the gaps left by Medicare Part A and Part B.

When you are looking into purchasing a Medigap Supplemental Insurance Policy it is important to realize that the policy you purchase should be designed to fit your needs.  This is why it is so important to compare the different plans available to your lifestyle to see which policy works best for you.

It is important to remember that Medicare Part A and Part B only pay for a portion of your care.  This includes part of the hospital care and physicians fees.  Medigap fills in for the services that are needed but not covered to help ensure complete coverage for seniors. One medical disaster without proper coverage could literally bankrupt some seniors living on a small limited budget.

It is worth the time to compare the Medigap Supplemental Insurance policies available in the market.  Remember that the policies that are sold by private insurance policies are all the same and regulated by the United States government. The price you pay may be different depending on the markup from each individual insurance companies but the coverage will always be the same.

123Medigap

Aluminum Swimming Pool Fencing and Your Landscape

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Swimming pools are a common element in today’s backyard landscape. Surrounding swimming pools with aluminum pool fencing is just as common to prevent accidents and to add an element of privacy to the environment. When it comes to your backyard and the pool area you can never be overly safe.  Often time’s swimming pool owners consider a residential aluminum fence for the entire yard while installing aluminum pool fencing to the landscape surrounding the pool area.

Some homeowners choose to add in an extra safety precaution by adding an access control system to gain access to the pool area.  An access control entrance system allows individuals to enter that are authorized via a key code, a card reader or another access system.  This provides extra security within the pool area and helps to ensure that children are only in the pool area when accompanied by a responsible adult.  This is the same basic concept families that have a security system for their homes and add an electronic entrance gate to the driveway are practicing.

Whether you install a pool fence for the safety of the kids that play in your backyard, to prevent animals from accessing the pool or for privacy make sure that you work with a licensed professional fence installation company.  This will help to ensure the fence is properly installed in the least amount of time.

Forever-Fence, SAC Fence

Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling Simplified

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

 

The ideas are endless when it comes to remodeling your kitchen or bathroom.  All it takes is a bit of creativity, a decent budget and some fresh ideas to refresh, modernize and add value to your home.  The hardest part is getting started.  Whether you are hiring a professional contractor in to create what you are envisioning or doing it yourself you need a solid plan on what the goal of the project is; Are you looking to update décor, improve the use of the space or add storage?  Next you need to determine how your goal will incorporate your family’s needs and style.

With a kitchen remodel there are endless ways to modernize a kitchen if you are happy with the original layout and function of the area.  One quick way to add modern touches to your kitchen remodel is with the use of cabinet paint, new hardware and updated appliances.  The difference made with these changes is unbelievable.

For a bathroom remodel one idea that is fun to play with, as long as you are okay with the current layout is to play with color.  You can do this via paint, shower curtains and towels easily without breaking any budgets.  Another minor improvement that can be done in the bathroom space is to update faucets and bathroom hardware.  A little creativity in a bathroom remodel can go a long way.

Of course these are all simple remodeling tips.  If you are looking at completely renovating a kitchen or bathroom and plan on changing the spaces function as well as the overall design keep in mind the end goal.  Look for ideas in catalogs and at home improvement stores.  Many contractors have idea books and pictures of completed jobs that might help to spark an idea within your remodel.

APS

An Ounce Of Prevention Can Save You Gallons With A Flood

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

The one thing that worries more homeowners in the winter than anything else is the thought of their pipes freezing and then bursting under the pressure. The damage that is caused is disastrous.  Water pipes create a mess when they break and water gushes into your home environment.  The water is capable of destroying anything in its path.

When a frozen pipe bursts in your basement quick action is needed to clean up the basement flood.  Many homeowners believe just getting rid of the water will clean the area but this is however only one step in the process.  Any of the homes framing, drywall, paneling and flooring need to be removed and thoroughly dried or the area is at risk for mold and mildew issues to arise.

Now imagine if the pipe burst anywhere other than the basement area.  Flooded basements are one thing but consider if your homes upper level had a pipe burst.  Now you are looking at the risk of water seeping into the floors support and spilling relentlessly throughout the entire home finally reaching the lowest point, the basement.

The best way to make sure your lives are never turned upside down by water flooding your home from frozen pipes that have broken is to prevent the pipes from freezing in the first place. A home that is properly insulated with pipes that have also been wrapped with insulated materials is one that is taking complete measures to ensure the home against frozen pipes that break.

 

Dreamers Inc Restoration

The Best Defense In Home Security

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

What is the best way to protect your home and family against crime and burglary?  Nope, the answer is not to purchase a mammoth dog that is sure to scare thieves away.  However the answer is to secure your home by purchasing and installing a home security alarm system.  There are a number of benefits to having a security and monitoring system installed in your home.  One of the most obvious is the sight of having one makes your home less of a target amongst thieves.

Another benefit to home alarm security systems is that they allow the home to be set up to monitor not only against burglary, but also for carbon monoxide poisoning and fire emergencies.  The monitoring company is employed to then set the wheels in motion and a course of action to begin to contacting local emergency enforcements and deploy them to your home.

Security systems are become a must have in homes today.  They are becoming easier to use and more reliable than ever before.  The glitch’s of home protection have been fine tuned and allow homeowners to go on vacation and feel secure that their home is being watched, go to work at night knowing their families are safe and sound at home and protect families and alert them in case of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.  Home alarms services truly are the gift to give this holiday season to your loved ones to provide security at home.

All Star Alarm