Know if You’re Covered if a Hurricane Hits? Find Out More Here!

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Jeremy Leake

Hurricanes are something that affect a lot of people. If you get hit with a hurricane would you know what to do or if you were covered? We found this article that we hope will help you answer all of your questions!

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From the article:

You may have heard the optimistic forecasts for the 2014 hurricane season, which began June 1. The Colorado State University team that most notably does these predictions expects 10 named storms, 4 of which will become hurricanes. That???s fewer than the long-term average of 12 named storms and 6 hurricanes per season. So you can rest easier, right?

Not so fast. For one thing, experts at The Weather Channel aren???t quite as positive. They call for 11 storms and 5 hurricanes. For another thing, any of those hurricanes could cause serious damage. That means you could find yourself owning a home in need of serious repairs.

Are you covered under home insurance?
The answer in part depends on the cause of the damage. Standard homeowners insurance doesn???t cover flooding; you???ll need a separate flood insurance policy for that. Check out the National Flood Insurance Program for more information. One caveat: Flood policies don???t take effect for 30 days, so you should act quickly to get your protection in place before the threat ratchets up in late summer/early fall.

But what about wind, the other main source of damage for hurricanes? You???re in better shape there. Standard home insurance policies typically cover wind damage ??? after you meet your deductible.

Do you know your deductibles?
The deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket when you file a claim for damage from a covered peril such as fire or hail ??? or wind. Most people set their policy deductibles at $500 or $1,000, which means that???s the most they???d likely have to pay to repair damage in case of a covered claim.

But it doesn???t always work that way with wind damage from hurricanes. Many policies, particularly for homes in areas along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, have separate hurricane deductibles. These aren???t expressed in dollars; they???re formulated as percentages, usually 1-5 percent of a home???s insured value. For example, the owner of a home insured for $300,000 with a 2 percent hurricane deductible would have to pay the first $6,000 of a claim for hurricane wind damage.

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Have questions about homeowner’s insurance? Then checkout this article about homeowner’s insurance that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.zillow.com/blog/what-is-a-hurricane-deductible-151989/

Planning on Renovating Your Kitchen? Start Here!

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Jeremy Leake

Renovating a kitchen can be a lot of fun. What you don’t want at the end is designer remorse though. In order to help you out we found this article with helpful information on things to keep in mind before starting your kitchen renovation. We hope it helps!

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If you need Hammond dryer vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

If you sometimes have trouble deciding what to make for dinner, a kitchen renovation can feel paralyzing. But take heart: It doesn???t really matter much which backsplash tiles or faucet you choose. As long as you get the big stuff right, you???ll be thrilled with your new kitchen. These five rules will help you get the best result at the right price.

Keep your outlay in sync with your home.
To avoid overimproving, cap your kitchen renovation budget at 15% of your home???s value, suggests John Bredemeyer, president of Realcorp, a national appraisal firm based in Omaha. (Check your town assessor???s site or a real estate site). For budgeting purposes, figure about 30% on cabinets; 14% on appliances; 10% on countertops; 5% on lighting; 4% on plumbing fixtures; 2% to 3% on paint; 1% to 2% on tiles, and 35% on construction costs, such as windows, flooring, and labor.

For a house worth $250,000, that translates to about $11,000 on cabinets, $5,250 on appliances; $3,750 on countertops, $1,875 on lighting; $1,500 on plumbing fixtures; $1,125 on paint; $750 on tiles; and $12,000 on construction costs.

To cut costs, hold on to what works.
You can slash the price tag for any kitchen renovation by limiting how much of the old kitchen you replace. Keeping original windows can save you $500 to $1,000 per window; keeping the original wood floor hiding underneath all of those layers of linoleum and vinyl could save you $2,000. And simply keeping the plumbing fixtures and appliances in the same locations likely means you can reuse existing plumbing, saving you perhaps $200 to $500.

Stay skin deep if you???re moving anytime soon.
If you expect to put your house on the market within a decade, skip the $60,000 renovation and go for a cosmetic upgrade instead. You can have old cabinets painted for $1,000 to $5,000 or refaced with a new wood veneer and new doors and drawer fronts for some $5,000 to $7,000. A new faucet and fresh cabinet hardware can be yours for under $500, new lighting for $500 to $2,000, depending on how far you take it; even replacing Formica countertops with granite might cost less than $4,000.

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Looking for information on countertop choices? Checkout this article about countertop choices that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://time.com/money/4280926/renovate-kitchen/

Do You Know What Routine Maintenance is Necessary for Dryer Vents? Learn Here!

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Jeremy Leake

Preventing a fire in your home is important. Knowing what to do to prevent a fire isn’t as easy. In order to help you out we found this article with routine maintenance you should do to your dryer. We hope it helps!

From the article:

In 1999, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) developed a report called the ???Report on Electric and Gas Clothes Dryers.??? In it, they stated that about 75% of households have a clothes dryer, which means that well over 75 million households in the U.S. have a gas or electric clothes dryer. The report also showed that in 1996 (as a sample year) more than 15,000 fires, 20 deaths, more than 300 injuries and over $80 million in property damage occurred from just dryer fires.

Periodically Clean the Dryer Vent and Exhaust duct
The Consumer Product Safety Commission developed CPSC Document #5022, which outlines actions to reduce the risk of dryer fires from overheated clothes dryers. Let’s review what you can do:

– Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to make sure exhaust air is escaping. You should feel a strong discharge of moist warm air. If you do not feel a strong discharge of air, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked.
– It may be necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer to remove a blockage in the exhaust path.
– Disconnect the ducting and inspect for blockage.
– If the duct has lint buildup, clean the duct.
– Remember to properly reconnect the ducting to the dryer and outside vent before using the dryer again.

Clean the Lint Screen with Each Use
Remove the lint trap filter from dryer and brush it clean to remove lint.
What are the warning signs that dangerous lint buildup is occurring in your dryer and venting system? Symptoms may include:

– Clothes take longer and longer to dry.
– Clothes don’t fully dry.
– Clothes are hotter than normal at the end of the drying cycle.
– The outside of dryer gets very hot.
– The outside exhaust vent flapper does not open very much, indicating low exhaust velocity.
– Laundry room becomes more humid than it is usually.
– Burnt smell is evident in the laundry room.

To clean the lint trap, first, remove the lint trap filter from the dryer and clean it. This must be done before or after each use of the dryer. Then, vacuum the lint trap housing cavity monthly.

Be Careful Not to Dry Clothes Soiled with VOCs
You need to take special care when laundering clothes containing VOCs (volatile organic compound), such as gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents, or finishing oils and stains.

Wash heavily soiled clothing more than once to minimize the volatile chemicals still on the clothes, and, if possible, hang the clothes out to air dry. If using a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that has a cool-down period at the end of the cycle. To prevent clothes from igniting after drying, do not leave the dried clothes in the dryer or piled in a laundry basket.

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Looking for more information on preventing a dryer fire? Checkout this article about preventing dryer fire that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: https://www.thespruce.com/dryer-vent-safety-1824762

Looking to Buy a New Home? Here Are Some Things to Consider First!

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

Buying a new home can be scary and very stressful. Say you’ve found a home that you love, should you just jump in and buy it? Objectively the answer is no. We found this article with several things to consider before putting an offer on a home. We hope that this will help you not have any buyer’s regret. Good luck!

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If you need Apartment complex dryer vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

Visit at various times of day
The windows that let in so much light during the day may be a peeping Tom???s dream at night. That seemingly quiet residential street may be a noisy, highway-feeder street during morning or evening rush hour; or it may be near impossible to get from your quiet street across traffic and onto the feeder street in the morning. The adjacent school may seem like a nice perk if you???re buying in the summer, but during the school year, daily playground noise and extra traffic may be more than you bargained for.

Talk to neighbors
How many people in the neighborhood own their homes? Sometimes it???s hard to tell at first if you???re choosing a neighborhood that???s primarily rental houses.

Get a home inspection
Virtually all houses have defects, according to National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents. Some will be obvious and most will be curable. But knowing what needs fixing can help you negotiate a lower price ??? or at least prepare you for costs you???re soon to incur. Strongly consider getting inspections, too, for lead paint, radon and wood-eating pests.

Ask for utility bills
You may adore the Cape Cod architectural style or the high ceilings and walls of glass in a modern home ??? but those winter heating and summer cooling bills may push your monthly payments beyond affordable. Ditto for the water bills you???ll pay to maintain a pristine landscape.

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In the market for a home and don’t want to use a Realtor? Checkout this article about why you should use a Realtor when buying a home for busy homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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For all the things to consider click here: http://www.realtor.com/home-finance/real-estate/buyers/14-things-to-consider-before-buying-home.aspx

Looking for Easier Ways to Clean and Organize Your Kitchen? Get Help Here!

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

The kitchen is the heartbeat of the home. A lot goes on in there and it’s where people gather. It’s also hard to keep it clean and organize since it’s one of the few rooms that everyone uses. In order to help you out we found this article with 31 different ideas. We hope they help!

From the article:

Carve Out A Spice Niche
Spices and herbs play a big role for many people when it comes to cooking and these petite packages can take up a lot of storage space. Utilizing a spice rack that???s mounted onto the inside of a cabinet door allows you to keep your spices organized and make use of an unused space, leaving you the option to utilize your cabinets for store something else, like your pots and pans.

Use A Tension Rod To Hang Cleaning Products

Clean Your Blender Quickly
After making a smoothie or using your blender to chop up the garlic, you can quickly clean it by pouring in warm water and a tiny bit of dish soap. Top the blender with the lid and turn it on and now it???s all clean! Just make sure to give it a quick rinse after to get rid of the soap residue.

Clean Your Stainless Steel Appliances With Glass Cleaner
Glass cleaner will give your stainless steel sink and appliances the same streak-free shine that it does for glass and mirrors. Using a glass cleaner will also help to remove any fingerprints. Just spray a few times on a microfiber cloth and make like the karate kid by ???waxing on, waxing off???. Rinse thoroughly and dry your towel.

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Looking for garage organization ideas? Checkout this article about garage organization ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/kitchen-hacks-31-clever-ways-organize-and-clean-your-kitchen.html

Looking to Get Rid of Stress in Your Life? Try These Ideas!

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

As parents we all have a lot of stress in our lives. Stress is just a fact of life but how we deal with the stress is most important. We found this article with 10 different stress busting ideas. We hope they help you deal with the stress in your life more efficiently!

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If you need Hammond condos dryer vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

The daily pressures of family life can consume our peace of mind as easily as they consume our energy. How can we find serenity amid the chaos — and hold onto it for more than a fleeting moment? Here are 10 strategies from the experts.

Be Here Now
Like the sixth-grader worrying about the SATs, our minds constantly bring future worries into the present. Richard Carlson, Ph.D., author of Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff (Hyperion), calls this “anticipatory thinking.” “The best way to avoid stress is to immerse yourself in the moment,” he says. And avoid the trap of comparing notes with other parents about how busy you are.

Take a Break
Let’s face it: We’re never going to finish everything on our “to do” lists. In fact, as director of the Stress Program at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, Witkin finds that the average mother runs 21 minutes short per day. Usually, the first thing to go is relaxation time. “We’ll never have any downtime unless we schedule it,” she says. You should be able to complete this sentence: “What I do every day to relax is….”

Just Let Go
“We have to recognize that chaos is a part of life,” says Carlson. “Then we must recognize our own contribution to it. That’s the only part we can control.” The irony is that by taking steps that seem to signify giving up control — like “outsourcing” certain household jobs — you will actually be gaining more freedom to enjoy your family life.

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Looking to create a better work / life balance? Checkout this article with helpful tips for work life balance for busy parents that could be of interest to you.
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For all the ideas click here: http://www.parenting.com/article/10-stress-busting-tips-for-busy-moms

Looking to Start Decorating? Learn How to Start Your Project Here!

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

Redecorating a new or existing home can be a really big project. ALso depending upon how much you’re planning on doing it can cost a lot. In order to help you reduce the stress surrounding such a big project we found this article that breaks down how to start such a big project. We hope it helps!

From the article:

Congratulations. You???ve decided to decorate your home. Now what?

Whether you???re furnishing your first place or redoing the house you???ve owned for decades, decorating can be a challenging task, filled with costly decisions whose outcomes could haunt you for years. How do you figure out what style is right for you? Should you tackle the job yourself or hire a pro? How much should you spend? And what steps can you take to ensure you???ll be happy with the results?

In this series I???ll take you through the entire decorating process, from initial inspirations to final floor plans. We???ll talk about choosing colors, shopping for furniture, arranging furniture, where you should scrimp and where you should spend.

But before you do any of that, look around you.

Take a critical look at your current home. What do you like about it? What do you dislike? Are your feelings prompted by the aesthetics of the decor? The comfort? The fabrics? The colors?

Learn from that. Repeat the things you like, and don???t repeat the things you don???t like just because they???re familiar to you.

Write your list for Santa. Create a wish list ??? your Santa Claus list. Write down everything you would like to do if money were no object. Then figure out which things you can do, which things you can???t do, which things have to be done now and which things can wait.

???If you don???t have that master list, it???s hard to prioritize,??? says interior designer Amy Luff of Viva Luxe Studios in Bristol, Virginia.

Collect photos. Start collecting pictures of rooms you like. Even if you???re going to hire an interior designer, this will help him or her get a sense of your taste.

Naturally, Houzz is a great place to begin, as you???ll have more than 10 million pictures at your fingertips. You can save everything into one ideabook or make individual ideabooks for each room or each aspect of the design (wall colors, furnishings, fireplaces etc.).

Don???t try to do this in one sitting ??? give yourself a few weeks or months to compile your photos, as your tastes might evolve during the course of the exercise. Something that appealed to you on Day 1 might seem trite by Day 23.

Get your better half involved. For many couples there???s often one person who???s more interested in decorating than the other. The other person might say, ???Do whatever you want.???

Do not do whatever you want. Because as soon as you start buying things, Mr. or Ms. No Opinion will suddenly have an opinion. So make him or her spend some time with you at the very beginning just looking at pictures of interiors. ???Spend an hour or two on the computer and look at some things together and talk about them,??? says interior designer Alana Homesley of Woodland Hills, California. As you review each room, ask your partner, ???What do you like about it? What don???t you like about it????

Alternatively, you can each collect a file of images independently, then sit down and compare what you???ve chosen. This way your initial selections won???t be swayed by the other person. As you review your selections together, your differences and similarities will immediately become apparent.

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Looking for information on how much a redesign will cost? Checkout this article about cost to design that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/26609229/list/decorating-101-how-to-start-a-decorating-project

Buying Your First Home? Learn What You Should Buy Here!

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

So you’ve bought your first home, congratulations! Now comes more joy and stress than you can imagine. In order to help you out we found this article with the things that you should buy for your new home. We hope it helps you make it yours!

From the article:

Whether you are getting married, buying your first home or simply moving into your first real place of your own, you will likely find yourself with some shopping to do. A plan can help you stay focused and avoid unnecessary purchases, saving money and time (not to mention clutter) in the long run.

Kitchen
What to choose: Hardworking multitaskers. High-quality stainless steel saucepans and saut?? pans, cast iron skillets, a great set of knives, a wooden cutting board and a Dutch oven that can go from stovetop to oven ??? these are the workhorses of the kitchen and are worth the investment. When it comes to cooking utensils, you can accomplish most cooking tasks with a pair of tongs, a few wooden spoons, a spatula and a ladle.

Small appliances can be quite useful, but think honestly about which you will use frequently and which you could do without. For some, a food processor is essential, while for others it would just sit in the back of a cupboard gathering dust.

What to avoid: Single-purpose tools and gadgets. Picking up specialty kitchen tools may seem harmless at first ??? but it???s a slippery slope, and before you know it you???ll have accumulated a drawer overstuffed with strange unitaskers you hardly ever use. If a tool you already own can get the job done, consider sticking with it rather than buying the ???special??? tool.

Dining
What to choose: Beautiful basics. You really can???t go wrong with classic stainless steel cutlery, white dishes and clear glassware ??? it???s worth shopping around to find sets you really love, because you will likely keep them for a long time. A good set of white dishes and clear glassware can be dressed up or down, and can elevate the everyday. A set of cloth napkins (cotton or linen) can be used every day or for dinner parties, and a tablecloth in a natural color can dress things up further.

What to avoid: China so fancy you???re afraid to use it. Beautiful china can be a lovely way to make a special occasion even more elegant ??? but be honest with yourself about how often you are likely to actually pull it out. Would you use it for a casual gathering with friends, for instance? Or would you ???save??? it for a once-a-year major holiday ??? if you host it, which you might not? Spending more on a really gorgeous set of everyday dishes is probably a better investment ??? and if you really want to add something extra special to your dinner table, consider a set of fancy dessert plates or a beautiful vase.

Decor
What to choose: Plants, mirrors and art. When you are first starting out, you may need to make do with some hand-me-down or budget furniture pieces ??? but everything will look better when surrounded by lush green foliage, colorful artwork and bright, light-enhancing mirrors. Healthy houseplants make any room feel fresher and more inviting, and they clean the air to boot. If you are worried about keeping houseplants alive, get some plant recommendations and care advice from a local nursery, and use a phone reminder to alert you when it???s time to water them.

You can find beautiful, affordable artwork (both framed prints and originals) from local galleries that feature up-and-coming artists, at student art shows and online.

What to avoid: Too many purely decorative items. Focus on getting the basics in place (like a great sofa and proper lighting) before spending on accessories. Even then, consider accessories with a purpose ??? like a big art book or scented candle ??? before picking up that sculptural object.

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Looking for garage organization ideas? Checkout this article about garage organization ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/houzz/2016/03/04/what-to-buy-for-your-first-home/#73c041627014

Looking for Ways to Hide Unsightly Things Around Your Home? Try These Ideas!

Posted on October 2, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

All of us have things in our home that we wish weren’t there or we could cover or hide in some way. In order to help you out we found this article with 36 different ways to hide things in your home. We hope they help you present your home in a way you’d only dream about!

From the article:

Take those ugly household fixtures from ugh to ugh-MAZING.

Hide your cords in trim.
This will make your television blend in seamlessly with your mantel and fireplace.

Use a stenciled pegboard to cover up an ugly wall.
In this situation, there were pipes on the wall so wallpaper or tiles weren???t an option. The pegboard also maximized storage because she was able to hang shelves easily.

Hang a black drop cloth behind your desk to hide a tangled mass of wires.

Turn a low drawer into a pet-feeding hutch.

Turn those nettlesome basement poles into stately columns with molding.

You can actually paint any ugly tile floors you???re not crazy about.

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Looking for garage organization ideas? Checkout this article about garage organization ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/genius-ways-to-hide-the-eyesores-in-your-home

Looking for Some Healthy Snacks for Your Kids That are Store Bought? Try These!

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

Most parents think that it’s important to feed their kids healthy food. Not every parent has the time to prepare healthy food though. In order to help you out we found this article with 18 different healthy snack foods that are store bought. We hope they help and your kids love them!

From the article:

Snacks are awesome because they can help you hold you off your hunger until the next meal. Although light snacking is actually beneficial for you since it helps to keep your metabolism active, poor choices in snacks can hurt your diet. Homemade snacks are great, but sometimes there is just no time in the day to prepare them! Check out these healthy, kid-approved and store-bought snackies to pick up during your next grocery run!

CrunchPak:
Also known as America???s #1 sliced apple, these pre-packaged apple slices are tasty, convenient and adored by many. CrunchPak makes a variety of snack options, but you can never really go wrong with sliced apples and caramel. Yum!

Buddy Fruits:
Fun and cute little pouches, filled with a healthy and delicious treat that is definitely kid-approved! Buddy Fruits only use real fruit juice with no added sugar, no preservatives, no fat, no GMOs, and no added water and is naturally dairy- and gluten-free! This flexible and tasty snack is perfect for a wide range of eaters.

Mott???s?? Healthy Harvest Granny Smith Applesauce:
Applesauce is a snack that can be appreciated by people of all ages! At only 50 calories per cup with no added sugar or artificial sweeteners, Mott???s?? is in the lead for one of the best store-bought snacks! Try sprinkling a little bit of cinnamon on top of this tasty treat, and enjoy!

Quaker?? Popped Caramel Corn:
This store-bought snack by Quaker Oats is gluten-free, has 10 grams of whole grain (per 30 gram serving), and is only 110 calories! This sweet treat is a must-have, so try ???em out!

Stretch Island Fruit Co:
These delicious fruit strips can satisfy any tiny palette for snack time. This company comes out with a huge variety of different flavors that all taste amazing. Each strip has a quarter serving of fruit at only 45 calories.

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Looking for more healthy snack ideas for your kids? Checkout this article about healthy snack ideas for kids/a> that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: https://www.skinnymom.com/18-healthy-kid-approved-store-bought-snackies/