Archive for the ‘Real Estate’ Category

Easy Home Projects to Help Keep Warm without Turning up the Heat

02.21.12

With a few quick and easy home projects, you’ll learn how you can save energy in your home without spending a lot of money.  With these simple tips, you’re sure to make your home feel warmer without having to turn up the heat this winter.

1.    Create a simple draft snake by simply rolling up a bath towel and placing under a drafty door.  This quick and easy tool will help to eliminate drafts and keep heat in.

2.    Replace or clean your furnace filters once a month.  Dirty filters prevent proper airflow which increases the demand for energy.

3.    Run your fans in reverse.  Most fans these days come with a handy little switch that can reverse the flow of air.  Switching the rotation to clockwise will actually help to make your home warmer.  As you know, heat rises.  By reversing your fans rotation, air that has become pooled near the ceiling will be circulated back into the living space which can help to cut your heating costs by 10%.

4.    Turn down your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.  This simple task can help to reduce your water heating costs by 10%.

5.    Try installing storm doors and windows.  This can help to increase energy efficiency by 45% since it helps to seal in drafts and reduce air flow.

6.    Just like your car needs periodic tune-ups, the same is true for your heating equipment.  Maintaining a clean furnace that is lubricated and properly adjusted will help to reduce your energy use by 5%.

7.    Fix and or prevent air leaks around window frames by using caulking and weather striping.  This will help to lock in heat during the winter and prevent cool air from leaking during the summer.

8.    Consider boosting your home’s insulation.  It’s one of the best ways you can save energy and money while keeping your home warmer during winter and cooler during summer.

9.    Insulate your pipes to help prevent your water pipes from freezing and to help decrease your hot water bill.

For more great information on simple ways you can help to improve the efficiency of your home, get in touch with Able Restoration.  Able Restoration has years and years of experience in the water damage field.  If your home or business has been damaged by water or is in need of mold remediation.  Visit their website at www.AbleRestoration.net today.

Professional Interior Design Can Transform Your Home

02.17.12

A professionally installed Bedroom by Michael Bond Bedroom Preston, offers a much better quality finished job over a self installed one from DIY retailer flat-packed units. Here a some reasons why a professionally fitted Bedroom is usually a far better decision.
A Greater Selection of Accessories
An expert Bedroom designer and installer is going to have access to a larger selection of accessories, such as in-built shoe racks, shelving, storage solutions and other final details. Sourcing these components yourself is often time-consuming and you’ll realize that components from several companies don’t always fit well with each other. A specialist installer will be experienced with what can be installed and also the best way to employ the space.
Better Design Aesthetics
Professional kitchen designers like Michael Bond Kitchen Blackpool can visualise the final result when arranging the layout of your new kitchen. Frequently it’s tempting to try to fit far more into the available space, however this could result in a kitchen which feels confined, or where doors and open awkwardly into tight spots. There might not be room for the breakfast bar or centre island, and trying to put such features where space is too tight will result in disappointment.Better Access to Technology
With new technologies available for example seamless kitchen worktops, a self-installed kitchen may well not achieve the levels of fit and finish that a professionally fitted kitchen might otherwise attain. Professional class tools and experience will lead to a superior end result than even a capable DIY installer could achieve with with household quality equipment.
Comprehensive Project Management
A professional installer will work very closely with other tradespeople to make certain plumbing related and electrical work is correctly planned in order that installation proceeds as smoothly as possible. Because of this the interruption to your house is going to be over much more quickly than if you were to plan the work yourself. When a DIY project over runs, you could have other obligations to handle, such as a regular job. Do you really want to have your undertaking run into weekend after weekend?
Having your bedroom or kitchen professionally installed is more expensive than an DIY installation, but the paybacks are priceless.