June 2020
Are Home Appliances and System Insurance (Warranties) Worthwhile?
Homeowners have the opportunity to buy home appliance and system warranties that are also known as Appliance and System Insurance. But, these “warranties” are not insurance policies. They are service contracts that cover your home appliances and systems such as heating ventilation, air-conditioning, hot water, electrical and plumbing systems. There is a great deal of debate among financial advisors and consumer advocates as to whether or not the service contracts make sense. Frankly, the decision is highly personal depending on many factors the most important one being, how risk averse are you?
What Isn’t Covered
These service contracts do not replace homeowners insurance and will not protect you against fire, a tree crashing through your roof or other perils covered by your homeowners insurance policy. Service contracts do not give you any liability coverage in the event that someone is harmed on your property.
Most service contracts require that in order for an item to be covered it must be properly maintained. This means for items such as your furnace and hot water heater you may be asked to produce maintenance records should the system need major repair or replacement.
What is Covered
Homeowners can choose levels of coverage.
Level I may only cover major appliances such as refrigerators and stones.
Level II may offer more protection by covering appliances and heating ventilation and air-conditioning systems.
Level III may provide the most extensive insurance by covering all the items in level II as well as homeowner’s entire electrical system and plumbing system.
When Does a Home Appliance and System Warranty Make Sense?
First let’s discuss when a service contract doesn’t make sense.
Renters never need a service contract
Buyers of new homes where major appliances have warrantees and the structure is covered by a builder’sguarantee do not need to obtain a service contract at this time.
If you’re a homeowner who doesn’t fall into either of the two categories above you may want to consider purchasing a home appliance and system warranty. Assuming you get a full warranty, that is a level III contract, you can expect to pay between $350-$500 per year. If you have a service call you will also pay in the neighborhood of $70 as your deductible. So, if you’re $1600 stainless steel gourmet stove stops working the warranty company will fix it, and if they cannot fix it they will replace it, for a total cost to you of $70 (and of course whatever your premium for the year is).
The warranty company is betting that homeowners will not have major repairs or replacements of appliances or home systems. The homeowner of course is betting that they will. As with all gambling bets one party has the advantage, and in this case it is the home warranty company. Basically the homeowner is protecting himself from a catastrophic loss. The protective nature of the warranty program is often confused with a typical homeowner’s insurance program, again it is not.
Folks who don’t like risk may find …
What is a Home Warranty?
For many people, landing your first real estate is one of the most fulfilling and yet most difficult things to undertake. The purchase of your first home is also one of the highlights in any person’s career because it is often seen as a proof that the person has already attained a sort of financial stability as characterized by the capacity to buy and keep a home. Because of this, one of the best practices is to purchase your first real estate with a home warranty.
Your money’s worth
A home warranty is a contract that is often provided by major real estate agents to ensure that you will get your money’s worth behind one of your most major purchases – your home. Here, a contract is signed between you and the agent or party where you bought your home. Any breakdown in the major systems in your house during the time specified in the warranty agreement will be replaced or fixed by the warranty insurance provider. Thus, the home warranty is one of the best ways to ensure that your real estate will be an investment worth the time and effort you have exerted to acquiring it.
For quality investments
The home warranty is often used in conjunction with the home inspector as a means for someone looking to invest in real estate to ensure the quality of the home to be purchases. In home inspectors, the basic idea is to ensure that the home is in a good enough condition to ensure that there will be no major breakdowns after the house has been bought. In the same way, the warranty works to ensure your safety in the case of a home system breakdown, but in this case, after the property has been bought. One of the first things that an experienced real estate buyer will tell the novice real estate buyer or investor is that with houses, what you see is not always what you get. With minimal costs laid out for a paint job, some houses may seem to look like absolute beauties. However, there are sometimes unforeseen and unwanted details that tend to show up only after the purchase. The warranty is a safety net against these.
Other important reminders
Some other important reminders when it comes to home warranties is that these contracts can be used in any number of times by the homeowner, as long as the home system breakdown occurs during the time frame covered by the insurance. Equally important to keep in mind, however, is that the coverage of the home warranty differs from one type of home warranty plan to the next. For this, it is important that you look into the fine print in your contract to see where your home warranty works and where it doesn’t. In general, however, the home warranty does not cover the home system breakdowns that occur as an effect of negligence or improper use of certain appliances. Also, the home warranty will not …
3 Helpful Tips To Prepare Your Home for the Market
Thinking about selling your home? There are ways to prepare your home to properly welcome potential buyers. Here are three things you should do before you put your home on the market.
1. Update Your Landscaping
Getting your landscaping in excellent shape is a great way to signal to homebuyers that you care for your property. Taking care of your lawn, as well as your flowers and trees, can be a big job. Whether your landscaping just needs a minor update or a complete overhaul, expert landscape services Memphis TN will bring your yard up to par, leading to a quick sale when you go to sell your home.
2. Declutter and Clean
When a potential buyer enters your home, they want a clean slate in order to imagine what everyday life would feel like if they choose to purchase your property. This is why your home needs to be decluttered and deep cleaned before it’s ready to welcome homebuyers. Remove all personal items from your house and store them away. Once you’ve taken out the excess clutter, it’s time to deep clean every surface in your home. Do a thorough job of cleaning – buyers will be inspecting your home and you want to make sure that they are impressed from start to finish.
3. Make Minor Repairs
If you’ve been putting off any minor repairs throughout the house, make these small fixes before you put your home on the market. Repair any leaking toilets or faucets, tighten up loose doorknobs and handles and patch any holes you may have in areas of drywall. Taking care of these small details will show buyers that your home is move-in ready.
Take some of the stress out of the selling process by making sure each potential buyer has a great first impression of your home. By following these tips, your home will be prepared for a quick sale.…
Healthy Flooring – The Commercial Environment Issues
“Sick Building Syndrome” is no myth. Some commercial floor coverings are health hazards in several ways. They retain materials which should be removed, and are unhygienic. Some materials can contain various elements that trigger allergic reactions. The materials may deteriorate over time, creating actual physical hazards for users.
Knowing when you need to look at healthy flooring
There are a few classic signs of problem flooring:
People getting repeated minor infections affecting respiration.
Dank or dusty smell in the building
Discolouration of carpeting
Sunlight shows a lot of dust in the air
Very dry, stale environment
Other problems include:
Chemical issues with degraded carpet glue and polymers
Fumes may be absorbed by carpets and released by heat
The natural process: Material gets tramped into the carpet over time. This very fine material is dust, often in surprisingly large quantities. It builds up, eventually getting released by pressure from walking on the carpet.
Chemical issues: Some carpets are synthetic polymers which adversely react to heat, in addition to the natural dust situation. They may release fumes of their own in response to excessive heat or exposure to sunlight.
Health and flooring issues
The dust is a potential source of infection and the fumes are chemical irritants. Microbes brought in on the dust, pollen grains, viruses, and other problems caused by the large amount of micro-particulates in the air can all create health problems. This dust can be a serious irritant, and may affect even people without allergies regularly.
The classic signs an individual is affected by a sick carpet are:
People regularly getting minor infections
Coughing
Dry throat
Sinus conditions
Irritated nose and throat symptoms
Old carpets, particularly heavy weave broadloom, absorb enormous amounts of material over time, and even repeated steam cleaning and shampoos won’t help much. (In some cases, these carpets literally produce mud when steam cleaned.)
Environmental considerations
Environmental considerations for carpet flooring are all practical responses to local conditions.
The issues are:
Durable flooring suitable for the space
Carpet cleaning
Modern design
Good product life
No problems with materials
Sustainable flooring.
One result of research into the issues of carpet health was to look at the life cycle of carpets, and produce sustainable flooring. Modern carpet tiles have individual structural backing, not depending on an underlay, for example. That means the dust can’t sink through the carpet and form increasing deposits underneath, making cleaning these carpets far more effective from the start. They also have much better seals which prevent accumulation of materials.
Choices and options for healthy flooring
You’ll find you can get good quality modern modular carpet tiles which can cover all these issues very effectively at reasonable cost. Modular tiles allow for replacement of carpet in high usage areas with minimum fuss, and prevents problems created by wear and tear. This is the optimum health result, straightforward, quick, efficient and reliable.…
Laminate Flooring: An Attractive Alternative To Hardwood Floor
Explore the maximum range of contemporary flooring solutions before you make up your mind to go for a type. For example, they may be wood flooring, hardwood flooring, bamboo flooring, and laminate flooring, among several other varieties. Choose the one that is a better fit and trendy at the same time.
Durability, suitability, adaptability, and, of course, affordability are the primary concerns for the persons who are planning to give their floors a modern and divine look. If they keep focusing on only hardwood flooring, or bamboo flooring, it is necessary for them to look into the worth of laminate flooring too that can precisely value their investment. This flooring variety has proven to be incredibly durable and bears similarity in terms of looks with hardwood. Most interestingly, making a difference between them from their apparent visibility is next to impossible.
Despite the fact that laminate looks like hardwood, this flooring product does not involve any wood component! It is manufactured by mixing several materials under high pressure. This production process gives them a durability and resilience that actual hardwood is simply devoid of. Most laminate floors have a moisture resistant layer too and this enhances the longevity of the floor. So, if durability is your primary concern, then you could find no better flooring option than that you find in laminate variety. Does it sound to be disbelieving? Then, try it for a smaller space first and check the difference!
Again, when it comes to the construction of the top layer, laminate type excels other types too. A resin-coated cellulose compound is applied over their photographic representations and that helps protect surface appearance. This makes cleaning much easier as opposed to the cleaning process required for the hardwood floors. To clean the latter type of flooring needs their owners to be aware of the cleaning process to the full. Otherwise, the chances of damaging floor finishes like getting scratches, or water moistness, are quite higher. Flooring experts, therefore, suggest buyers to go for the laminate flooring solutions when they intend to install such floors in a high traffic area or on the floor of a bathroom or of a kitchen. In such places, laminate flooring products would fit most suitably.
Budget is a big factor for interior decoration. Affording to an unforeseen budget can be an absurd idea for most of the people who desire to get their commercial or domestic places renovated or decorated with modern flooring products. To the great relief for all of them, laminate type might give them the solution to cut the bills without bringing any major changes over the overall appearance. Everyone must agree with that laminate is simply much less expensive than solid hardwood floors. Furthermore, such products do not require refinishing when other types do once in a while.
If you are a do-it-yourself (DIY) fan, you will be enthused to learn that laminate flooring is the easiest way to get it done. Such products snap easily together while providing you …
Septic Systems: 5 Tips for Taking Care of Your Septic Tank
Many residents of rural areas don’t have connected water and sewer systems, but wells and septic systems. These systems aren’t difficult to take care of, thanks to upgrades present in modern technologies. By following basic instructions and these tips, you can ensure your septic system operates properly for years to come.
Watch rainwater
A soggy and wet septic drainfield won’t properly handle liquid waste, leaving it unabsorbed and not neutralized. You’ll need to plan things like landscaping, gutters and drains to divert away water from the drainfield.
Don’t overload
One of the biggest reasons for septic system repairs is an overloaded system. Make sure your system and drainfield aren’t overloaded by checking regularly for leaks from toilets and faucets, and making necessary repairs. Aerators and flow-reduction nozzles on faucets and showers will help lower water consumption, as will reduce water levels for small laundry loads. Other ways to keep the system from overloading is to run the dishwasher only when you have a full load and to use a displacer to decrease the water needed to flush.
Keep trees away
Another reason to call for repairs is root damage from trees. Tree roots are notorious for damaging septic tanks, which can mean costly repairs. Keeping trees at least 100 feet away from your septic system will discourage these costly damages. Willow and other similar trees have very aggressive roots, so they should be kept even farther from the system and drainfield.
Be careful of what you dispose
Your toilet is not a garbage disposal. You shouldn’t flush (even if you are connected to a municipal sewer system) cat litter, diapers, sanitary items, coffee grounds, cigarette butts and other items, as they can quickly clog your tank. Do not overuse heavy cleaners, as they will kill beneficial bacterium that break down solids. Grease can also clog the drainfield, and make it impossible for the soil to absorb liquids. When that happens, you’ll need a new drainfield. Hazardous chemicals like varnish, gasoline and oils can ruin your system and are a hazard to groundwater sources.
Maintain regularly
If you want your system to work properly, the solids will eventually have to be pumped. The rule of thumb for a family of four with a 1,000-gallon tank is to have it pumped every three to five years. And while you might think it easy to take care of it yourself, never open a septic tank as it contains harmful materials and gases. Always have a professional handle the job.…
Homeowner Warranties – A Good Way to Help Sell Your Home
Would you prefer that you sold your home easily or with great difficulty? In a way, you could call this a trick question since there are many factors that do into making a home easier to sell. Drastically cutting the price of the home below what it is worth would help you sell it but you will not be gaining anything of value. Rather than follow such a method it would be a better idea to look towards other attractive benefits that would make a buyer look into the home. One such method would involve including a home warranty. While not a new idea, the home warranty is becoming more popular these days due to its increased effectiveness.
What is a home warranty? In a way, the concept is not much different than the warranty that would be afforded to a consumer product. It essentially provides a great help to the buyer as it financially covers any errant problems that may occur in the aftermath of purchasing the home. This does not include blanket coverage for every problem that might arise with the home. However, major services and functions will be covered through the warranty.
This is not to say that a homeowner warranty is identical to homeowner insurance. There is a huge difference between the two. Homeowner insurance is designed to cover a large portion (or all) of the value of the home in case of fires, natural disasters, and other such serious situations. A homeowner warranty is significantly scaled back from that but it is still of high value to a potential buyer. The warranty is mainly designed to pay for the costs of replacements and repairs of appliance and major home systems that have become broken as a result of normal wear and tear. The warranty may be called it or it may not. It all depends on how the home handles over the designated number of years the warranty covers after the sale.
As one can surmise, it may be possible to make a home warranty an attractive component to the sale of the home. Consider how the buyer looks at the availability of a homeowner warranty. The buyer sees the presence of the warranty as a huge discount on the home since some potentially expensive repairs are covered. Also, the buyer may feel very confident in the purchase of the home. Rather than looking towards problems associated with the purchase, they might assume that the house is probably in great shape. Why is this? It is because people assume that the warranty is easily offered because there is nothing wrong with the property. Consider this a form of reverse psychology that actually works quite well.
Sometimes you have to take a number of additional steps in order to sell a home. A homeowner warranty can be an excellent component in this regard and that is why it is so helpful to those looking to sell property.…
The Costs of Neglecting Your Septic Tank and System
You always hope you won’t ever have to contact a drainage company to help you replace the septic tank system within your house yet it might happen at some time if you’re not careful. The cost for rectifying your situation and replacing the system is really high and this is not just in terms of money. Look at the cost below and you will find out why it is a good idea to take good care of your system.
It is going to present a danger to one’s wellbeing. When your dilemma has gotten to where the unit has been damaged, the waste products will leak into your home’s ground. You must speak to your local health department because they will need to check out the problem and show you exactly what needs to be done. Waste matter which is not carefully treated could come out of your damaged system that can result in serious illnesses. Hepatitis and dysentery are only 2 examples of those disorders that may be brought about by waste products that are untreated. If you’ve been making use of chemical products for cleaning which are in the tank, these agents also can get into the environment. These kinds of compounds could be very hazardous to animals, people, and also wildlife in the region.
It can cause the waste materials to seep in your home. This is another huge expenditure. You will have certain detrimental waste material that is making its way straight into your drainage area. This can even back up into the house. Just visualize what it will be like and smell like when that waste is coming back up the lines. Cleaning this up would be really bothersome and also a big job. Till the job is completed, you will not be able to make use of your septic system. Just think the inconvenience that it could give. Sure you’ve got neighbors who might permit you to use their toilet but what will happen if you want to go in the middle of the night or if there is an emergency? Not fun!
You’ll likely need to have the system pumped, and this is quite expensive. This should help with keeping the condition from getting more serious simply because it will reduce the waste amount within the tank. This way it can help stop the overflow and thus prevent it from spreading into the area and perhaps your property.
All of the costs which are stated here might have been avoided had the system been able to address the waste it was collecting. The reasons for backup are many, but one really preventable and frequent concern is insufficient bacteria. Those bacteria eat solid waste, transforming it to the form that can be released into the soil harmlessly. Additive treatments for septic systems are on the market so that you can reintroduce the bacteria to the septic system for the conversion of the waste products.
A lot of people think of the monetary cost of …
Home Design Plans – Unique Style Options and Considerations
Choosing the best home design plans is a difficult task. Because there are so many different options out there, it can be confusing to keep track of everything that you have to choose from. Figuring out the best design involves looking at the options, so here are some great ideas to help you start your search for the perfect home design plans:
Architectural: These plans are all about architectural style, providing larger floor space and more unique details that will surely catch the eye of anyone looking at your house. Lofty ceilings and open floor plans are a must-have, along with unique architectural elements that add a touch of beauty and elegance to every residence.
Classic: Classic home design plans feature an upper-market version of traditional weatherboard houses, and are available in single and two storey designs.
Modern: Freestyle houses have a monoplane roof style, perfect for the city or the beach. Having the single plane roof design is more modern and upscale, and there are many different styles and sizes of homes to choose from. Those who enjoy modern function and design will appreciate this style of house.
These are just a few different styles of home design plans that you can choose from.
More important elements of designing a new house are the interior and exterior features. Cladding, brick colour and style, roof style and material, colour steel fascia and guttering to compliment your choice of roof and cladding, garage door and aluminium joinery are just some of the exterior features that you will need to decide upon when customising your home design plans.
In terms of interior features you also have many considerations including: colour of the walls, doors, lever handles and door stops, blinds for the bathrooms, living areas and bedrooms. In the kitchen you need to select bench tops and cabinetry, in the bathroom – taps and shower mixers, and then flooring for the house. There is a wide range of pure wool carpets to choose from, or you may be more interested in wooden or concrete flooring.
Many construction companies offer house and land packages within stunning subdivisions. This offers you the chance to view other houses made by the company, which can offer valuable inspiration when it comes to designing your own house plans. Showhomes are another valuable resource. There is nothing quite like walking through a replica of what could be your future home. It is the best way to get a feel for the space you need and the aesthetics you appreciate.
By taking the time to explore your options, it will be easier for you to find the design that suits your tastes.…
Top Tips For Maintaining Your Wool Carpet
The carpet that you picked for your home was not an easy decision. You had to match the decor of your home, search for the best price, and get it installed. The quality of the carpet may be high-caliber but if it isn’t maintained properly it will not last. You need to ensure that your carpet will last you a long time. Here are the top tips for maintaining your wool carpet.
If you carpet is located in a high traffic area it will collect dust, dirt and trash. One must constantly vacuum to keep it clean. The longer it sits on the carpet the greater it has a chance to become trapped within it and make it harder to clean. This can also cause stains which might not come out.
If you see any dirt, liquids, or food particles on the carpet immediately remove them. This helps to eliminate it from getting worse. Many stains that are stubborn can be cleaned easily when they are fresh. Because the carpet is made from wool material it has a chance to break down and damage the look and quality of the rug if stains are allowed to remain for a long period of time without being cleaned.
Any stain is best removed with a liquid solution that has been combined with water. This helps to lift the particle from the wool. You only need to then allow it to dry after rinsing the cleaning agent out with water. Pat the area with a towel to remove excess moisture.
For any serious stains that aren’t getting relief with regular cleaning agents try steam. You can hire a professional company to perform the service for you for a small fee. Or you can rent or purchase a steam cleaner to do it yourself.
Make sure that you check the label of any chemicals you decide to apply to the carpet. Some contain harsh chemicals that cannot be used. Any oxygen cleansers are one such type that does not mix well with wool material. It erodes the material which may leave it discolored or disfigured. Do not use bleach on the carpet. Even if the carpet is white it is not a good idea.
Wool does not do well in high heat. That expensive wool sweater that you purchase must be dry cleaned. It states to not wash it in high heat. The same is true for your carpet. It cannot take excessive heat as well. It will shrink.
If you take great care of your wool carpet it will last you the length of time that you live in your home. You may decide to change the decor because you want to, not due to any replacement from damage or stains. By using the correct cleaning agents, removing dirt, grime, and stains as they happen you will keep your carpet looking new and fresh. Steam cleaning is the method of final choice that can help you in the case of a dire cleaning …