H&d oct 17

FALL HOME

~ Published by Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC

Improvement

A special edition of

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Homes & Design

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Fall home cleaning Now and then, every home gets to the point at which a quick tidy-up here and there just isn’t cutting it anymore. You take a look around, notice all of the surfaces that have gone untouched for far too long, then sigh as you pick a day dedicated to cleaning from top to bottom.

Lifestyle and parenting blogger Ari Adams of Love, Peace and Tiny Feet is sharing some of her top rules to follow to keep both a clean house and your sanity.

do’s and don’ts

Make a plan

Clear your schedule and know exactly how much time you are going to have. Then, prioritize. What projects need the most attention? What are the tasks that need to be tackled to get that project done? Make a checklist and stick to it.

Do get comfortable

Choose an outfit that is comfortable and functional for a day of hard work. Put on your favorite music and get settled. You’re not going anywhere today, so you may as well enjoy it.

Do use the right products

Armed with the proper cleaning tools, chores get done faster. Choose products that do the

SHOTSSTUDIO/STOCK.ADOBE.COM Homes & Design

Cleaning the house, top to bottom, can feel daunting. But with a few smart home cleaning tips and some powerful tools, you can add simplicity and structure to the task.

hard work for you. For example, using Mean Green, a cleaner that’s both all-purpose and heavy duty, means you can use one product on all kinds of messes, whether it’s a sticky spill in the microwave or mold on the patio furniture.

Don’t take unnecessary breaks Stick to your schedule. Maintaining

motivation is key, and it will become more difficult with every minute you stop to relax.

Don’t distract yourself

Plan scheduled breaks but avoid other temptations.

Learn more by visiting www.meangreen.

(STATEPOINT) com.

For all your building and remodeling needs

Page 2

We’ll help you reach them.

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Your next project starts here.

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Insurance products issued or offered by Thrivent Financial, the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Appleton, WI. Not all products are available in all states. Securities and investment advisory services are offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415, a FINRA and SIPC member and a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent. Thrivent Financial representatives are registered representatives of Thrivent Investment Management Inc. They are also licensed insurance agents/producers of Thrivent.

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HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

OCT. 2017

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Now that you have your checklist, it’s time to roll up your sleeves while it’s still nice outside. Whether you’re a DIYer or prefer hiring a professional, crossing these projects off your to-do list will help ensure you’re safe and secure before temperatures drop.

Home maintenance projects to tackle this fall

GMCGILL/STOCK.ADOBE.COM Homes & Design

m The roof Twenty-three percent of homeowners admit

m The gutters Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear of debris. Clogged gutters can lead to major issues like uneven floors, cracks in walls and interior water damage. This type of claim, also known as seepage, is a maintenance issue and often not covered under your home insurance policy. To

See MAINTENANCE, Page 4

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134, or email vicki@southernlakesnewspapers.com EDITOR IN CHIEF: Edward Nadolski SPECIAL SECTIONS: Tracy Ouellette CREATIVE/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Sue Z. Lange ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Vicki Vanderwerff EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Sharon Soch

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Homes & Design

Plus, you’ll catch any problems before winter weather kicks in.

OCT. 2017

Homes & Design OCTOBER 2017 Published by Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC 1102 Ann St. Delavan, WI 53115 (262) 728-3411

they never inspect their roof or have it inspected unless there is a problem, according to the Erie Insurance survey. Unfortunately, replacing a roof is also one of the biggest expenses a homeowner may have if not maintained properly. Nationally, the average homeowner spends about $6,600 to install a new roof, but prices can soar upwards of $20,000.

Don’t be stuck with a hefty roof repair bill.

Have it inspected to see if any shingles are damaged and need to be replaced. The fall season is the optimal time to do so, since roofing is best installed when temperatures are cooler.

HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

Fall is the perfect time to complete those pesky home maintenance projects left on your to do list. If you’ve been putting off these chores, you’re not alone, but it could cost you. In fact, a national survey from Erie Insurance shows many Americans are putting themselves and their homes at financial risk by delaying important home maintenance tasks.

Make sure you’re protected by focusing on these five areas:

Cancel out noise by soundproofing your house Your home is meant to be a retreat from the world – quiet and relaxing.

However, that peaceful setting can quickly turn to chaos when unwanted noise enters the picture.

The good news is that there are several things you can do to prevent unwanted sounds from interrupting your

BY DANNY LIPFORD activities, whether CONTRIBUTOR you’re resting, working or enjoying some much-needed leisure time.

1.

Use soundproofing insulation in your walls and ceilings. This typically has the most dramatic effect in reducing sound than any other strategy. Opt for insulation that has a dense composition and nondirectional fiber structure for better sound suppression.

Many contractors recommend Roxul Safe’n’Sound because it is highly effective and easy to install – even for a do-it-yourselfer.

It also offers superior fire protection and is Greenguard certified for indoor air quality. For best results, install resilient channels before applying drywall.

OCT. 2017 HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

FILE PHOTO Homes & Design

2.

4.

3.

5.

Replace older appliances with quieter models. If your dishwasher sounds like a freight train running through the house, then it might be time to replace it. Fortunately, many of today’s dishwashers are designed with quiet technology, reducing the noise level by half or more.

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You don’t have to put up with a noisy house if you follow six steps.

Decorate with sound-absorbing materials.

A vast array of products are available to help your sound-reduction strategy. Try using decorative acoustic ceiling tiles, carpeting and area rugs or sound-blocking drapes. Opting for materials that absorb sound will help reduce echoes and reverberations from within a room.

• Maintenance

Ditch the hollow-core doors. These often come standard, especially in new homes. Replace them with solid-core models. They’re more expensive but they make a remarkable difference. Some solid-core doors even use premium core materials, such as stone wool, which increase fire resistance, as well.

Keep noise under wraps. Calm the sound of noisy pipes with plumbing insulation.

Air ducts can also cause nuisance sound.

Duct wrap is an inexpensive solution. Apply where possible, and insist on it during the installation of any new HVAC system.

(Continued from page 3) prevent any major issues, clean gutters at least this disaster with a thorough cleaning at least twice a year in fall and spring. once a year. m The dryer exhaust duct Does it take you two to three cycles to dry a load of laundry? If so, you may need to clean your dryer vent. One in five (21 percent) admit they never clean their clothes dryer ducts, unless they have a problem. But lint build-up can catch fire easily. Over 15,000 dryer fires occurred nationwide from 2010-2014, with the majority being ignited by dust, fiber and lint, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Avoid

6.

Let in light, not sound. If you need to replace your windows, you’ll notice a significant difference in the way newer models stop sound from infiltrating your home.

If you’re not ready for the expense, a tube of acoustic caulking and weather stripping can soften unwanted outdoor noise.

For more information, go to www.roxul.com.

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and host of the nationally syndicated TV and radio show “Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford.”

(NAPS)

m The sump pump and pit Sump pumps remove excess water from homes that would otherwise cause property m The fireplace chimney damage. It’s important to clean a sump pump Erie Insurance found nearly half (46 percent) and its pit annually to keep basements dry and of people who own a home with a fireplace never help prevent mold growth and water damage. Do have their chimneys cleaned. However, uncleaned this maintenance project in fall to help protect chimneys are a leading cause of structure fires, against heavy rainfalls and accumulated melting reports the National Fire Protection Association. snow and ice of winter.

So, get the chimney cleaned before the cold For more information on how you can protect weather hits and you find yourself tossing logs in your home through the seasons, visit www. the hearth to keep the house toasty, and then have ErieInsurance.com. it cleaned annually.

(STATEPOINT)

Ready, set, guests!

3 paint projects for fall entertaining “Despite the hectic chaos that comes with the back-to-school season and adapting our family schedules, I find fall to be the perfect time to tackle my home to-do list,” explains Cyndy Aldred, the do-it-yourself paint blogger behind The Creativity Exchange. “It’s perfect because fall is our favorite time of year for entertaining!”

With kids in school and summer travels winding down, fall can be the perfect time to complete quick projects to get your home ready for fall social gatherings. Whether you’re gearing up for the big game or hosting next month’s book club, Aldred offers her favorite paint projects that are sure to wow your guests.

Busy fall schedules often mean more school bags, homework, sports equipment, crafts and holiday decorations around the house. Aldred recommends quickly tackling a cluttered area of your home with a fresh paint job. For example, if you have bookcases in your family room or glass-faced cabinets in your kitchen, Aldred suggests painting the backs of them in a standout color, like the PPG Timeless 2018 Color of the Year, Deep Onyx (00NN 07/000).

“I love this trick because of how the eye is drawn to the color and not the clutter that might be around or behind it,” says Aldred.

Transform your favorite gathering space with a fresh coat of paint

(BPT)

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Kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms are often favorite gathering spaces for friends and family in the home, so they are ideal

spaces to make a great impression with a fresh coat of paint.

“People always gravitate to our dining room when we are entertaining,” says Aldred, “so I love to freshen the space each year with a new paint color. It’s one of the least expensive and easiest ways to get a new look, and I love using a one-coat product to make it even easier.”

Aldred recently used PPG Timeless interior paint and primer in Bluegrass White (30GG 73/048) to update her dining room. For an on-trend look, she went with a flat finish.

“Contrary to popular opinion, a flat finish in a high-traffic entertaining space is durable if you select the right product,” explains Aldred.

With the paint’s outstanding washability, scrubbability and stain resistance, Aldred was sure it could withstand the wear and tear of countless social gatherings.

For more paint inspiration, visit Diy.PPG. com or www.TheCreativityExchange.com.

OCT. 2017

Aldred loves the tried-and-true trick of painting your front door, but she recommends adding an even bigger pop of color with painted furniture. For her front-porch makeover, Aldred painted her porch bench using PPG Timeless exterior paint and primer in a soothing, soft grey, Silver Reflection (50BG 54/017), and added decorative pillows to create a warm and welcoming entrance for a gathering of friends.

With an open front porch, Aldred made sure to use PPG Timeless paint, available at The Home Depot, because it provides good resistance to chipping or flaking and extreme weather conditions. “I found out that this new line of paint uses UV-Protect Technology, which uses the same technology as automotive paint, so it won’t fade in sunlight or dull over time,” says Aldred.

Declutter your home with color

HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

Add instant curb appeal with painted porch furniture

FILE PHOTO Homes & Design

It’s time to embrace fall with a few fresh paint projects to impress your guests and make lasting improvements to your home.

Artisanal elegance for curated design in the kitchen Original, handcrafted décor brings an artisanal elegance to today’s modern kitchen. Designers and homeowners alike are incorporating more one-of-a-kind pieces that bring an individualized artisanship to the heart of the home. These unique fittings and fixtures adapt to multiple style preferences, from modern and contemporary urban design to rustic elegance.

Gold finishes effortlessly bring luxury and style, while knurling details add textured appeal to any artisanal kitchen design.

Curated accents

Hand-painted accessories serve as beautiful statements in the kitchen with each piece containing a story as unique as the individual who created it. Whether decorated with bold colors or a muted palette, hand-painted accessories create striking displays of authenticity and originality. Use these pieces to adorn open shelves or feature them as table centerpieces to further accentuate a curated artisanal design.

Authentic elegance

Handcrafted materials make for eye-catching pieces in the kitchen.

An island created from reclaimed wood transforms a functional aspect of the room into a beautiful piece of art. Live-edge countertops invigorate the wood grain and serve as a centerpiece for entertaining. A hammered copper sink paired with rich gold accessories doubles as a stunning complement to earth tones.

Extend wood elements throughout the entire space with exposed beams and open shelving for a unified look.

Refined fittings

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HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

OCT. 2017

Deemed the jewel of the kitchen, the faucet serves as a focal point

FILE PHOTO Homes & Design

When it comes to the kitchen space, handmade furniture and accessories coupled with exposed natural materials infuse a sense of artistry for unmatched style.

that brings all elements of the space together. The Litze Kitchen Collection by Brizo is inspired by the revival of the arts and crafts movement to meld artisan style with clean and contemporary sensibility.

Every design element – from the

three distinct spout configurations to the unique handle options – makes this collection feel at home in both modern, minimal environments and urban, industrial spaces.

The Brilliance Luxe Gold and split Matte Black/Brilliance Luxe

Custom hardware

Custom drawer pulls and handles make a powerful statement in kitchen design. While seemingly small, these pieces unite all elements in the room’s aesthetic. Handles wrapped in leather bring both textural and visual appeal, while hand-carved wooden pulls cater to rustic elements when paired with exposed brick or mineral gray countertops.

(BPT)

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Bringing sustainability home is as easy as

A is for Audit

B is for Bedding

C is for Compost

Composting is the practice of recycling decomposed organic material waste with manure to turn it into rich soil. By composting in your own backyard, nutrients are restored into the ground and less waste ends up in landfills, waterways and water treatment facilities.

What’s more: landfills cause organic waste to generate greenhouse gasses, so methane emissions are greatly reduced when waste is composted. This practice can also help you save money, since it allows you to purchase fewer soil conditioners and bagged manures for your property. By using down and feather, a byproduct of the food industry, along with creating your own compost by using vegetable scraps, you can make composting a core part of your lifestyle.

These simple steps make it easy to reduce the carbon footprint of your home, and contribute to the overall sustainability of our Earth. By following the ABCs and making these small changes in your everyday life, not only will you be doing something good for our planet, you’ll be helping out your wallet as well.

(BPT)

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Changing your bedding to down and feather can help reduce your heating bill. Down and feather pillows, comforters, duvets and mattress toppers provide superior warmth, which in turn lets you lower the thermostat. You can save as much as 10 percent on your heating bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, by lowering the thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees while you sleep.

Better yet, down and feathers are a natural byproduct of the food industry. So recycling them into warm comforters means the down and feathers do not end up in our global landfills.

Since down and feathers are a natural fill material, they have a lower carbon footprint than products made from synthetic fill materials. They are biodegradable and can be composted along with your food scraps or yard trimmings. Not to mention down and feather products are long-lasting with a lightweight feel, so you don’t have to replace them as often.

For more information about the sustainable benefits of down and feather products, visit the

American Down and Feather Council website at www.DownandFeatherCouncil.com.

OCT. 2017

Do a home energy audit by checking your windows and doors for air leakage, and by checking your pipes – faucets, toilet flappers and valves – for any leaks.

Air leakage from windows and doors can impact your home’s energy use. The United States Department of Energy claims sealing uncontrolled air leaks will save you 10 to 20 percent on your heating and cooling bills.

Check your home for drafty windows and doors and discuss leak prevention options, such as weather strips and caulk, with your local hardware store.

Fixing leaky pipes can prevent gallons of water from being lost every day. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency states that tightening pipes and repairing leaks can

prevent the average household from leaking 10,000 gallons of water per year. These types of leaks are often easy to fix, which can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.

ABC

HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

With 67 percent of consumers from across the globe preferring products from sustainable sources, according to a recent Nielsen survey, creating a more sustainable home is the new normal.

From buying down and feather products to repairing leaky pipes, making your home more sustainable is as easy as the ABCs. Here are three small ways you can make a big difference (and spare your wallet) when it comes to the sustainability of our world:

FILE PHOTO Homes & Design

Switching to down and feather bedding is one key step to adopting a more sustainable home.

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landscaping projects!

Avoiding scammers 5 tips for hiring a roofing contractor

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HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

OCT. 2017

FULLY INSURED • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL 3 Brick Pavers 3 Fertilization 3 Trucking & Deliveries 3 Mulching 3 Retaining Walls

3 Landscaping & Maintenance 3 Patio Installation & Repair 3 Bobcat Services 3 Snowplowing

3 Spring/Fall Cleanup 3 Complete Lawn Care Service

Run if they suggest this Did the contractor vying for your business really just claim to be able to handle a storm-related repair, say, without you paying your required insurance deductible? There’s a name for that: insurance fraud, which you want no part of.

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Office: 262.534.9509

It’s the biggest con being played on homeowners, according to the Better Business Bureau’s new Scam Tracker Annual Risk Report. Some guy knocks on your door claiming to have extra roofing material left over from a nearby job, and offers to fix yours for bupkis.

And you know what you get for bupkis, right?

Invariably, the scammer – who especially loves showing up in areas recovering from major storms – takes the money and runs after doing little or no work.

“You always try to give people the benefit of the doubt,” the Bureau’s Felicia Thompson told a local CBS TV station in Arizona. “Not everybody’s bad, but nowadays you just can’t do that.”

Make certain they’re insured If there’s one thing that’s nonnegotiable it’s that the contractor carry insurance for all employees and subcontractors – and provide a copy of their certificate for your inspection.

“Actually call the insurance carrier to confirm that they are valid,” Angie’s List advises.

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Run even faster if they suggest this While it’s reasonable for contractors to request a modest down payment before work begins – call it “earnest money” – beware if the figure exceeds 20 percent of the bill’s projected total cost.

Should they start talking 50 or even 75 percent, though…

“The red flags of possible fraud are fluttering,” the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud’s James Quiggle has warned.

Know your contractor When it comes to peace of mind, hiring a contractor who’s a member of a reputable roofing manufacturer’s contractor program is helpful. But certification alone may not tell the whole story.

GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, for example, is exceptionally strict about who it designates as its highest-ranking “Master Elite Contractors” – less than 2 percent of roofing contractors have qualified – and you can find one in your area through a quick search on the gaf. com website.

“We have a full vetting process we go through to determine whether they’re the right contractors to put in our program, like making sure they’re licensed and insured where required, and have a history of installing roofs in the local community,” says Jim Slauson, GAF’s vice president of certification program and services.

Communication skills matter A knowledgeable contractor will present a range of roofing shingle and accessory options by price, style and color. Balking at running through them with you is a bad sign.

Oh, and about that Scam Tracker Annual Risk Report. Guess who’s “most susceptible,” as the Bureau delicately put it, to home improvement scams in general?

Men aged 55 to 64.

Now you’re doubly forewarned.

(NEWSUSA)

IRIANA SHIYAN/STOCK.ADOBE.COM Home & Design

Fixing up the workspace By adopting a few design strategies and organizational habits, you can get your best work done from your home office.

How to optimize your home office

The old 9-to-5 isn’t what it used to be. As more companies embrace telecommuting, a growing number of employees are finding that even in the professional realm, there’s no place like home.

Here’s how to set up a home office for success: It’s a good idea to have plans drawn up by an architect. Knowing your exact square footage has tax-savings implications: If your home office is your principal workplace, you may qualify for a home office tax deduction (for what the IRS calls “business use of your home”) based on the overall area of that space. Plus, an architect may be able to see beyond walls to find potential spatial configurations you might not have considered.

Define your workspace

Get comfortable

Online news feeds and day-to-day housework can be distracting. Approach working at home with the same level of professionalism you’d bring to an office setting. Display a clock and wall calendar for visual reminders of deadlines.

Don’t just grab an extra dining room chair. Chair designs have improved thanks to ergonomic research over the last half-century.

Choose one that will keep your posture vertical and your mind sharp.

Get lit

Ideally, your home office will have at least one window, but also invest in a swing-arm desk lamp to provide ample illumination for concentrated tasks.

Clear clutter

Avoid toppling stacks of documents and make the recycling bin your new best friend. A small filing cabinet should be able to hold all your records, and many home furnishings can be repurposed if a filing cabinet feels too corporate.

Grow something

Communicate

Responding promptly to emails and calls lets co-workers know that you’re reliable. Substitute face-to-face time with FaceTime (or another video-enabled communication service). Thanks to such technology, you can share space with co-workers a continent away.

Take breaks

Anyone familiar with water cooler chatter knows that offices are highly social. That’s an aspect of your day that can feel like it’s missing.

So step outside every few hours; wave to your neighbor or walk to a coffee shop.

For more home office tips, visit topicarchitecture.com.

(STATEPOINT)

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Not only are there health benefits associated with keeping plants indoors, they’ll be there when you need to take a break. A little gentle

Keep a schedule

OCT. 2017

Working from home may be an escape from the monotony of cubicle land, but it’s still important to define your workspace. If it’s not possible to turn an existing room into your office, consider using an uncluttered portion of your basement, attic or garage.

A tax deduction applies only to space used

pruning can prove meditative, and can be a good way to refocus.

HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

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exclusively as a home office, so simply putting a desk in your living room doesn’t make you eligible, nor will it prevent distractions.

TO THE environment Be kind Green lifestyle changes that are positively habit-forming

Going green: It’s more than an idea – it’s a fundamental change you make to support the environment and reduce your carbon footprint.

In making this change, you probably started with the small stuff. You turn the lights off when you’re not in the room, unplug devices that aren’t in use and adjust your thermostat temperature regularly. It’s a baseline, and you’re off to a great start, but you can do so much more.

Implementing a green approach can seem like a lot of work, and you may be worried that you won’t be able to keep up with everything you want to do. The trick is to look at your green initiatives not as a to-do list but as a new lifestyle. Once you do that, your green efforts will become habits, and you’ll forget how you went about your day without them.

To support your new green lifestyle, add these five positive habit-forming strategies:

See GREEN, Page 15

FILE PHOTO Homes & Design

Going green is a lifestyle choice and something everyone in the family can help with.

Teach your children the importance of reducing their carbon footprint on the planet.

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HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

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Regardless of the type of home warranty you buy or whom you buy it from, always follow the maintenance guidelines specified for your home’s appliances and systems.

It’s also a smart idea to have those systems and appliances regularly serviced.

FILE PHOTO Homes & Design

All home warranties are not created equal CONTRIBUTOR

Page 11

(BPT)

OCT. 2017

repairs and certain non-mechanical items, such as handles, doors, knobs and shelves.

That doesn’t mean everything is covered, of course. So let’s say your child stands on your dishwasher door and breaks the seal. Sorry, but that is NOT a covered repair, because it is not “normal” wear and tear.

Also, what happens if a repair person comes to your home and, despite his or her best efforts, simply can’t fix something covered under your home warranty?

With an AHS home warranty, if a repairperson can’t fix a covered item, AHS will replace it.

That doesn’t mean you will necessarily get the precise brand and color of, say, a washing machine or dryer. After all, you may have bought your laundry set four years ago, and the manufacturer might not even make those exact same models or colors today.

However, if your washer and dryer do fizzle out completely, AHS will install a replacement that has similar operational features.

What’s more, at American Home Shield, 98 percent of service requests are dispatched to local repair technicians within 24 hours.

Taking both of those steps can prevent many service repair calls and help reduce your overall cost of homeownership.

Ultimately, an excellent home warranty provides you with a solid asset that helps safeguard one of your biggest investments.

Lynnette Khalfani-Cox is The Money Coach at AskTheMoneyCoach.com, an AHS Financial Partner.

HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

Is the price affordable?

Obviously, you’ll want to initially know the Having a home warranty is a smart way to help specifics of how much a warranty will cost you – deal with the inevitable home repair problems that not just for the annual price of coverage, but also all property owners face at one point or another. for future service calls.

After all, a good home warranty can mean When purchasing an American Home Shield getting expert help when your HVAC system needs warranty, you choose a $75, $100 or $125 fee to be fixed, your water heater needs to be replaced, for your service requests, which gives you the or your refrigerator requires a new part. flexibility to pay more or less for your annual But unfortunately, all home warranties are not contract. As with all home warranty companies, created equal. And shopping for a home warranty the price of an American Home Shield warranty can be tough, especially if you aren’t familiar with plan varies based on multiple factors, including the home warranty coverage and providers. specific type of plan you choose and your state of So to find a home warranty that will protect residency. But basic coverage starts at about $300 your home and budget, here are three important and goes up to around $600 annually for more questions to ask, along with a few tips on what to comprehensive plans – a bargain considering the look for in a top-notch home warranty. cost of replacing things in your house that will likely break down at some point.

What’s covered?

When considering cost factors, also ask if all the Some home warranties are only good for items you want covered are included in the base appliances. Others focus on systems within your cost of the plan, or whether you will need to add house, such as your air conditioning, heating or additional items to create the perfect plan for your plumbing systems. The best warranties offer broad home. protection at a fair price, and even allow you to select from various coverage approaches based on Does the home warranty cover just your needs. mechanical components?

When shopping around, inquire about Before you buy any home warranty, inquire exclusions, limitations and non-covered expenses. about the extent of coverage different companies Most, if not all, plans DO have these. For example, may provide based on normal wear and tear of there may be a cap on the amount of coverage for an item – as well as any limitations. a particular item; an environmental disposal fee, Many components of home systems and required in some counties, may be excluded from appliances contain both mechanical and noncoverage; or modifications, not covered under the mechanical features. While the primary goal of home warranty, may be needed to bring a covered a home warranty is to repair or replace covered system up to code or in compliance with new items so that they function mechanically, standards.

American Home Shield covers both mechanical

By Lynnette Khalfani-Cox

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The design decision Remember the old adage that the front door is the most important design element in the home? It’s not true anymore.

In most homes today, the visual impact of the garage door is many times greater than that of the front door. Studies have even proven that your garage door design can affect the appraisal value of your home.

Today, manufacturers offer hundreds of new, unique and stunning looks. Design experts recommend that you choose a door design that blends in well with your home design, complementing its overall appearance. To do that, match the door with your home’s exterior colors, textures and patterns.

To help you with your design decision, the garage door industry has created the free consumer site www.garagewownow.com, which contains dozens of photos of the latest garage doors from many manufacturers. Plus, most manufacturer websites now feature a “door designer” that lets you see how different designs will look on an uploaded photo of your own garage.

New opener decisions The garage door and the opener are two separate items, but they are often purchased together. And since today’s openers offer many more features and accessories than ever before, you’ll have several new decisions to make.

See CURB APPEAL, Page 14

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Page 13

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FILE PHOTO Homes & Design

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If you’re buying a garage door this fall, you’ll be faced with several decisions that you likely never had to make before. Before you call your local garage door dealer to make that purchase, here are some of the new decisions that you need to face.

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AC vs. DC: Openers with DC (direct current) motors, which were rare 10 years ago, are now widely available. DC and AC motors are both durable and reliable, but DC motors are quieter, and they allow the door to soft-start and softstop, instead of clanging to an abrupt stop.

Accessories: Here, the decisions are many.

For example, you can now operate and monitor your garage door from your smartphone.

You can also get a battery backup unit, a real lifesaver in a power outage. When you consider motion detection, music speakers, mini transmitters, automatic deadbolt locks, LED lighting, external keypads and more, you’ll realize how far openers have come.

Page 14

607 MEADOW LANE 1 br , appliances clean, heat & water, $675 month. Call Anita 262-767-0759.

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New thinking on insulation

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(Continued from page 13) Insulation isn’t a new decision, but there is new thinking to consider. “The garage acts as a ‘buffer zone,’ much like the vestibule to a restaurant or a grocery store,” says Joe Hetzel, P.E., technical director for the garage door manufacturers’ association. “An insulated garage door makes it easier to control the heating and cooling costs for the home.”

This new “buffer zone” thinking considers garage door insulation as a must. Fortunately, insulation typically pays for itself. Dow Chemical recently reported that, for every $100 you invest in an insulation project, you generally get a return of $117 in recouped energy costs.

“Once you get an insulated door, you never go back to uninsulated,” says Ed Hermanns, a door dealer in New Jersey and president of the

International Door Association. “Most of our customers today buy an insulated door, and that number seems to increase every year.”

You might be buying a new garage door out of necessity, but as it turns out, it’s a smart purchase. An upscale garage door replacement delivers the highest return on investment for all upscale remodeling projects in the new 2017 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling Magazine.

So, while you have a few decisions yet to make, you’ve already made the good choice to get a new garage door. After you add the latest designs and technology, you’ll have a chance to admire all your choices every time you pull in the driveway.

(BPT)

• Green

(Continued from page 10) Rent instead of buy Whether you’re sprucing up your yard or diving into a home improvement project, there are always machines and tools that you need but simply don’t have. Too often that means buying these items, using them once and then stashing them in the garage or basement.

Renting helps reduce the energy, pollution and waste that goes into making, storing and maintaining machines and tools. Renting is an easy and cost-effective way to locate just the right equipment – think aerators, chain saws, pressure washers and paint sprayers – while helping the environment. Visit RentalHQ.com to easily find a rental store near you.

FILE PHOTO Homes & Design

Renting tools you don’t use often is one way to conserve by reducing the energy, pollution and waste that goes into making, storing and maintaining machines and tools.

Remove wasteful water use The average American uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water each day, according to the United States Geological Survey. Fortunately, there are a number of water-saving habits you can embrace that will reduce your usage as well as your bill. Avoid running the dishwasher or washing machine until you have a full load. Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth, and take a shower instead of a bath. Outside, you should avoid watering your lawn as much as possible and if you do, try to do so in the evening when the water can soak into the soil instead of evaporating in the afternoon heat.

Start the carpool You and your co-workers have talked about

this for years, but nothing ever comes of it because no one wants to take the initiative.

Now’s the time. Announce that you are starting a carpool - volunteer to drive the first week - and invite your friends to join you.

Adopt chemical-free lawn care practices Everyone wants a lush, green lawn, and too many people use chemicals, fertilizers and unhealthy products to achieve their dream.

Resolve to eliminate lawn care habits that harm Mother Nature, such as chemical dethatchers, fertilizers and weed killers. Instead, rent a dethatching machine and aerator to improve your lawn’s health naturally.

You can even rent a chipper or grinder to turn yard debris like twigs, branches, fallen leaves and grass clippings into mulch for planting beds.

Make your own cleaning chemicals You can get the same cleaning benefits without the negative environmental impact by making your own cleaning chemicals from natural sources.

Mineral oil and lemon juice combine to make a great furniture polish, just as vinegar and salt can be used to clean copper or brass. For an all-purpose cleaning solution, try liquid soap, baking soda and tap water.

Recipes for these solutions and more are found easily online, so browse around and you’ll discover the perfect natural solution for your (BPT) needs.

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