Livingston Reporting - page 312

Things to Do to Save Money during a Kitchen or Bathroom Remodel Project

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Whenever you are going to do a Kitchen Remodel or Bathroom Remodel, there are some things that you need to do to save money. Below, you will find a comprehensive list of my favorite DIY suggestions that can save you a great deal of money during a renovation. These are suggestions that revolve around countertops, flooring, cupboards, sinks, faucets and all sorts of other components to a kitchen or bathroom.

Instead of replacing, sand and stain the kitchen or bathroom cupboards
When you are doing a kitchen remodel or a bathroom remodel, you should always consider sanding and staining your old cupboards instead of just replacing them. Replacing cupboards can be one of the most expensive things to do. It often takes a ton of money, sometimes even tens of thousands of dollars. This is not money that you want to spend during a kitchen remodel a bathroom remodel. It’s unnecessary when you could just remodel your old cupboards to make them look like they were brand-new once again. Fortunately, sanding cupboards is fairly easy to accomplish and once you have done it, you can easily apply a coat of paint or stain to make them look fresh and exciting.

Consider laminate rather than hardwood
A lot of homeowners today are looking to install hardwood in their homes. The problem with hardwood is not that it is a bad product, it’s that it is very expensive. Instead of putting hardwood in your home, why not use a high-quality laminate? You can purchase laminate at very affordable prices online, there are many online sites that can offer you great discounts and savings. The benefit to laminate over hardwood is that it is very inexpensive and it can sometimes be just as durable. Laminate can hold up very well, provided that you take care of it. It’s a perfect flooring option for a kitchen or bathroom, especially if you purchase a high quality laminate instead of going with the cheap stuff.

Find a nice backsplash for the kitchen and bathroom
A backsplash can make the kitchen and bathroom look drastically different. It will make your kitchen and bathroom look like a completely new environment. Pick out a good quality backsplash to use while you are renovating. This will help you substantially and it will make you feel great about what you have accomplished. Try to find colors for the backsplash that are going to match the room and the decor. Make sure that it matches your cupboards, countertop and other features of the room.

Granite is not always necessary when you can go for an alternative
Granite is a very expensive product to put in your home. When you’re using granite as a countertop, you can expect to pay thousands of dollars. Fortunately, there are actually alternatives to granite that can still look great. Some alternatives include sprays that you can get at your local hardware store that you can spray onto your old countertop that it is designed to replicate granite. It will add a nice texture to the countertop and it will make you look brand-new.

APS

Steps In Home Remodeling and Room Renovations

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

The first steps in any home remodel begin at the heart of the home, the family living in it.  With this said there are a few steps to take before you call in the pros that begin with your family.  With any kitchen remodel or bathroom remodel start with looking at exactly what you are looking to achieve out of the project.

Look at putting together a stylebook that combines pieces that each member in the family has input on.  This gives the designers a good starting point at creating the ultimate design to work for your family.  A style book works for any room in your home be it a kitchen remodel or bathroom renovation.  Gain inspiration through magazines, the internet and television.

The next thing to come up with as a family is the goal of the remodel and what the function of the room is intended to be.  For instance, if you are completing a kitchen remodel you need to think about if the space and consider if it will be used for formal eating or casual eating.  Do you want a cozy warm space or a space that is open and inviting?  All of these details are used by the contractor to design a room that is desired by your family.

It is wise to come up with a budget right from the start of any home renovation.  In setting a budget make sure your expectations are in line with it.  You can’t expect brass fixtures on a stainless steel budget.  The same is true with flooring options and counter tops. Corian counter tops are not happening on a linoleum budget.

The same is true when creating a realistic time budget for your project.  Remember that if you change your mind a hundred times throughout the project your contractor will never accomplish a remodel in the initial projected time.  As with any project it is best to approach with realistic goals including the space in question, the time and the budget.  It is a time that can be quite stressful, it will be messy and cluttered the important thing to remember is the end goal, a beautifully remodeled room.

APS

Surviving A Flood

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Flood cleanup is never something that would be considered a good time.  This is especially true because as you are cleaning up the flood damage you are tallying the water damage to you personal items you hold near and dear. Water damage restoration needs to occur immediately after a flood has happened.  A flood constitutes of any amount of water that has saturated your home.  A flood can happen when a pipe bursts, during torrential storms and other weather related incidents.

It sounds super extreme but a flood of even an inch can cause damage to your entire home, the foundation, flooring and structure.  It is important to take correct flood cleanup measures to ensure your families safety.  Water damage professionals will come in and evaluate the flood and cleanup effort with you and your insurance company immediately after the area is declared safe.

They will go through and evaluate the foundation, utilities, heating and cooling systems and personal property.  They will then begin to look at removal of the water and sludge that is present.  It is important to properly remove that water for multiple reasons but most importantly because if the water is removed too quickly there could be foundation damage due to the pressure change. However it is important to get the water removed as efficiently as possible to prevent further damage.  Professional water extraction teams have the equipment and knowledge to provide this service for their clients.  When it comes to flood cleanup it is best to leave it up to the professionals.

Dreamers Inc Restoration

Unlimited Purposes For Fencing Of All Varieties

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Electronic entrance gates and access control entry systems are not used only in commercial and industrial settings any longer.  Gate and fence systems are being integrated into everyday back yards and driveways across the United States.  They offer a unique sense of privacy, security and safety that is not attributed to any other single consumer product on the market.

There are many ways to integrate fence and gate systems into your homes landscape.  One way is the installation of aluminum privacy fencing that borders the entire property line.  This with an added security gate that has access controls allows the maximum amount of control when it comes to the entrance and exit of your property.  This is incredible helpful when it comes to letting children and pets play in the yard unsupervised.

Residential aluminum fencing can be installed in just about any yard for a variety of purposes.  Another way residential clients seek to use aluminum fencing is for the pool area.  When a home has the addition of a pool to the yard it is important to secure the area with some type of pool fence.  Aluminum pool fencing is durable and is basically maintenance free.  A pool fence can be paired with an access entry code system or even a traditional gate with a locking mechanism.  This is important to keep your family and friends safe when playing within the backyard without the supervision it requires to be using the pool.

As with any fencing and gate system the goal is to add to the aesthetics and safety of the surroundings.  This is easily accomplished with decorative aluminum fencing and gates.

Forever-Fence, SAC Fence

What Are the Benefits to Medicare Supplemental Insurance for Seniors?

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Medicare can be an extremely complicated system and it is difficult for a lot of seniors to understand. Fortunately, there are online websites that provide you with information on Medicare Supplemental Insurance. Medicare supplemental insurance is essentially a portion to Medicare that you can sign up to, which provides coverage for medical expenses that are not usually covered in the initial Medicare program. This way, some of your prescriptions and medical expenses can be completely covered by your health insurance, without you ever having to worry about anything.

Medicare supplemental insurance is essential for prescriptions
Do you want to pay for prescription costs out of your pocket? Often times, prescriptions that we pay for on a monthly basis can range up into the hundreds of dollars. Affording this type of payment would be extremely difficult as a senior, when you are likely retired and struggling to pay bills. Fortunately, Medicare supplemental insurance provides coverage for prescription costs. There are some prescriptions that are not covered in the initial Medicare program, this is why you need to sign up to a service like Medicare supplemental insurance.

A lot of seniors forget about signing up to Medicare supplemental insurance
The problem with the current Medicare program is that most seniors forget to sign up for Medicare supplemental insurance. What does this mean? It means that they entirely do not receive coverage for some of their medical expenses. These are their prescriptions, visits to the doctor, visits the hospital or all types of other medical related occurrences. Many seniors are paying for things directly out of their pocket that should be covered by their health insurance program, but they have simply dropped the ball to get informed and sign up to the right types of services. When it comes to Medicare, the government makes this program extremely complicated and there are a lot of aspects to it that you have to get involved with in order to completely understand. It’s like taxes, most people pay a tax professional to handle their taxes when they have complicated aspects of their taxes. Medicare is the same way, you want to get in touch with a professional that can train you on the system and do things for you, so that you don’t leave anything unattended.

Medicare supplemental insurance is essential for people over 65
If you are over the age of 65, Medicare supplemental insurance is going to be essential for you. You are very likely on Medicare already, but you may or may not know about Medicare Supplement Insurnace. As a member of society over the age of 65, you are probably into your retirement and you are thinking about settling down and retiring safely. Retiring safely often revolves around having your medical expenses paid for. As you get older, your medical expenses are going to increase. You will be put on medications and you’ll need to make visits to the doctor to ensure that you are healthy. These types of things should be covered by your health insurance program and if they are not currently covered by your Medicare program, you need to sign up for Medicare supplemental insurance.

Senior Health Direct

Getting The Most Out Of Medicare Supplemental Insurance Coverage

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Seniors turning sixty five are faced with a myriad of decisions to make in regards to their future.  Health care, social security, retirement packages and the list could continue on.  The fact is that truing sixty five is a year full of changes for most seniors.  It is the year you go from being middle aged and classified as a senior citizen.  It is the year the Medicare takes effect for many qualified individuals. Medicare brings on a completely different set of decisions.

When you are sixty five and drawing Medicare benefits it is important to consider adding Medicare supplemental insurance on to your existing Medicare Part A and Part B commitment. Medicare supplement insurance kicks in where Medicare coverage does not.  This coverage is purchased at a premium from private insurance companies to cover the incidentals not covered by Part A and B.

Some of these could include care when visiting another country, private nursing care, blood transfusions or prescription drug coverage to name a few.  It is important that you meet with a Medicare supplement provider to go over exactly what your needs are and what policy would best fit them.  This will ensure you don’t end up with coverage you do not need or will not use.

Senior Health Direct

Medigap Supplemental Insurance Plans

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated

There are so many thing to think about as you approach your golden years; health insurance, age in place modifications and social security to name a few.  It is funny how many people cannot wait to reach the age of retirement but once there find that the myriad of issues affecting them when they were young and their families growing are replaced with issues that aging brings to the forefront.

The concerns of health insurance as you head into retirement age lead you to contemplate the world of Medicare and Medigap Supplemental Insurance plans. Medicare is offered by the United State Government as a guaranteed form of health coverage for those you qualify.  One of the most well known requirements is turning the magic age of sixty-five.

Medicare Part A is given free of premium to qualified individuals where as Part B is offered at a premium. These main parts of Medicare cover the basics such as hospital and doctors.  In order to be covered fully for medical incidentals and out of the country coverage you will need to look into Medigap Supplemental Insurance.

Medigap Supplement Insurance is can be purchased through private insurance companies at a monthly premium.  There are many different plans and packages to examine to determine which plan offers the best coverage to meet the long term needs of participants.  Compare plans and view rates for Medigap Supplemental Insurance anytime online at http://www.123medigap.com/.

Medigap Insurance Plans

Finding the best Medigap Supplemental Insurance Plan; Make the Most of Medicare!

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

They say a picture is worth a thousand words – but an education is worth a million. When it comes to dealing with insurance companies, a little education could be worth drastically more than that. Every day, more and more people – the baby boomer generation – are becoming eligible for Medicare, and will need to wade through the morass of coverage available to seniors through various insurance agencies. And there is no shortage of people to tell you what to do with your money; when it comes to buying Medigap Supplemental Insurance Plans, though, it is best to deal with someone who is an advocate for you, not the insurance companies and other corporations which make their money off directing you to a specific set of insurers.

That is not the mission of Senior Health Direct. For over twenty years, this agency has been focused on Medicare and Medigap programs and insurance products in the senior market. Early on, Senior Health Direct recognized that internet sales would increase exponentially. While most of the net is simply designed to sell a product, their plan is to provide the customer with a one stop portal for buying and understanding what can be a confusing array from a variety of companies offering Medigap Supplement Insurance Policies.

Senior Health Direct’s mission is to help you navigate the Medigap supplemental insurance policies that you will be exposed to; they will help you evaluate the different plans available in your area, and work to secure you better rates than you could normally get, and to easily check the rates from various companies that operate in your area. Their job is to be an advocate for all their customers – not the insurance companies, but you, and to help you choose the best product at the best price.

When it comes to getting Medigap supplemental insurance plans, Senior Health Direct has a series of high value videos which will allow you to quickly learn the ins and outs of the Medicare and Medigap system. These videos should answer nearly any questions you might have, but they also have an excellently trained staff standing by at their number, 855-696-3344. Once you enter a bit of information, it is also very easy to shop the rates of the companies that offer this insurance in your area. This is the best way, along with comparing exact service details of the plans, for an individual to make the best choice.

Don’t base your insurance needs on the first insurance company you talk to – look at them and learn about the different policies and you will have a much better experience both in the short term and in the long term.

Senior Health Direct has made it their goal to act as an advocate to you, not the insurance companies, and your happiness is their success. They have a multi-step process to make sure that you are getting the exact coverage you need, and will help you wade through the fine print of any of the contracts which are available.

123Medigap

Keeping Up with Technology

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Technology is moving at the speed of light. With that comes problems and the solutions that accompany it.  You can’t have faster computers without technicians for computer repair on the new machines.  The same is true when it comes to online business.  You can’t keep up with online business growth if you don’t know how to keep up with it in forms such as search engine optimization. With the growth of technology comes the growth of knowledge that enables us to move forward with it.

 

Computer repair is a large sector of residential business for Computers Plus Service, LLC.  We staff four full-time technicians to handle a variety of computer and networking issues and that are in constant training as technology changes.  We work to repair corporate it computers, computers for residential clients, networking, wiring and server repair.

 

When it comes to your website and web design our dedicated staff works to improve your professional image online with a detailed website that is optimized to bring in traffic and rank well within major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing.  Search engine optimization is a process in which our staff dedicates time to build your site recognition online. The SEO process is one that is developed through time and improved upon with continual effort.

 

For more information on the services that CPS offers to clients you can check out our website at http://www.cpsmi.com or call the office and set up a meeting to sit down and discuss your business networking, computer repair issues and/or website needs – 810-224-5252.

Creative Programs and Systems

Why Your Small Business Should Look Into Website Design For More Business

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

There are many reasons why your average small business should look into having a website. Not only does it help them to promote themselves, but it also provides them a medium in which they can sell products, with very little labor required. Although many businesses are aware that having a website can increase their business, very few actually follow through with having a good one designed in learning about the process of promoting a website properly. It website can bring you new customers, make it easy for you to take orders, and also connect with your current customers more easily. Not only can a website increase your business, but it can also streamline things and make it quite easy as well.

New Customers

The biggest benefit of installing a website for your business is the fact that you were going to be able to bring in new customers. Perhaps you will be able to reach customers that are in your area, but did not frequent your location, per able to find your website online through Google search. The ability to attract individuals that you would not otherwise be able to bring to your physical location is a huge bonus, and allows you to reach many new customers both locally and abroad as well if you are looking to ship across the country. It can be difficult to learn how to target new customers in the beginning, but after you have a feel for you will be able to expand your business by thousands of dollars per month all by using the Website Design process.

Easy to Take Orders

Having a website also makes it very easy for you to take orders. There are many programs out there that allow you to take orders, and then utilize those orders by Jeff shipping out the product. Because there are so many excellent organizational shopping carts available online for your website, selling products online has really never been easier. These products also handle almost all of the tax considerations that you need to take into account as well, which makes an excellent for small businesses.

Connect With Customers

Having the website also makes it very easy for your business to connect with customers. Not only can they e-mail you, but there are systems that you can install that allow them to interact directly with your website. This makes it easy for you to interact and connect with customers that otherwise you would not have any way to contact.

The more time and effort that you are able to put into finding the right web designer, the better off you will be in the long run. Find some in the not only knows how to design, but knows how to design from a marketing standpoint. A website does you no good if it brings in money, but is not optimized for marketing and therefore leaving a lot of money on the table. A website can be very beneficial for small and big businesses alike.

Creative Programs and Systems