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How to make your fireplace more efficient 3 Nothing beats gathering around the fire in winter. Unfortunately, a wood-burning fireplace could be a major source of energy loss in your home, sending your utility bills sky high. However, you don’t need to sacrifice the fire to improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your heating bills; in fact, it’s possible to convert your wood fireplace into an efficient heat source with the following tips. Upgrade Your Fireplace Consider a gas fireplace insert. They generate more radiant heat and are cleaner to maintain than traditional masonry style wood-burning fireplaces, which are a leading source of indoor air loss. “Traditional wood fireplaces add a lot of charm to a home, but they are inefficient -- even when they aren’t in use,” says Andy Tesch, brand director of Heat & Glo, the leading manufacturer of innovative gas fireplaces, stoves and inserts. “A gas fireplace in-
sert is a great alternative to maintain the ambiance a fire creates while enhancing efficiency.” A gas fireplace insert is cleaner, too, creating no ash, soot, or smoke. Models like the Escape from Heat & Glo use energy-saving FireBrick technology to increase efficiency and are low
maintenance, turning on and off with the flip of a switch. Learn more about the benefits of a gas fireplace insert at heatnglo.com/ insertawareness. If you can’t part with the aroma, crackle and act of building a real fire, consider pellet and EPA-certified wood inserts, which can be an easy, clean and
efficient alternative as well. Best Practices If making the upgrade to an insert is not possible, a few simple steps can drastically improve the energy efficiency of your fireplace. Number one, when the fireplace is not in use, close the chimney damper. You’ll prevent
warm air and your money from going up and out the chimney. A flue sealer is an affordable, inflatable stopper that fits below the damper to further seal off the chimney and is a worthwhile purchase. Proper maintenance can also go far to improve your fireplace’s efficiency. Have it inspected, maintained and cleaned annually. Even if you love DIY, you may want to hire a contractor to ensure the job is done safely and thoroughly. Considering adding doors or a cover to the front of your fireplace to help reduce the draft and improve the look. There are many styles available to enhance your interior design. This winter, bring together both traditional charm and modern energy efficiency. A few upgrades and habits will allow you to enjoy your fireplace all winter long, while keeping heating bills low. -StatePoint
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Home ideas for cozy fall living
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With autumn comes crisp falling leaves, fresh brisk air and pumpkin spice aromas. It’s time to prepare your home to spend more time indoors, decorating it with warm, cozy accents to set the tone for the season. Make your home fall-ready with the following cozy ideas. 1. Freshen Up with Soothing Aromas A little “me time” is good for the soul, and sometimes you need to pamper yourself after a long day. Whether the scent is apple cinnamon, pumpkin pie or maple leaf, lighting a candle with your favorite fall fragrance creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, enhancing your sense of calm. 2. Create a Living Room Sanctuary
Transform your living room into an at-home getaway by displaying seasonal throw pillows and blankets, and adorning the space with elements from nature, like a vase filled with leaf stems and crab apple branches. Crank up the cozy factor with homemade hot cider and a crackling fireplace. 3. Refresh Interiors with Paint Give rooms a refreshing update, add color and create contrast in a space with accent walls. Deep colors like navy blue help create a relaxing retreat. Or, take a cue from the changing leaves and opt for warm colors, like mustard yellow or burnt orange. To ensure a top-notch paint job, use a premium brand painter’s tape that will deliver sharp paint
lines, like FrogTape. It’s the only painter’s tape that features patented PaintBlock Technology, which reacts with the water in latex paint and instantly gels to form a micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape to help prevent paint bleed. 4. Innovate with MultiFunctional Appeal Since you’ll be spending more time inside, transform an empty space like a basement or attic into a useful area for the entire family. With a little imagination and a few tools, you can create a vibrant and playful craft room, as did FrogTape Paintover Challenge winner KariAnne Wood from the blog “Thistlewood Farms.” Wood transformed an unused upstairs space in her home into a room
for her children to craft, study and hang out with friends. An exciting, multi-functional space is a great way to avoid cabin fever in the months ahead. 5. Give Guests a Warm Greeting Celebrity designer Taniya Nayak correctly predicted home design elements that incorporate typographic elements would be a key design trend in 2016. This trend is all about setting the tone for a space with inspirational quotes, personalization and warm greetings. Welcome guests by playing up the autumnal theme with phrases like, “Hello Fall” or “Give Thanks” on decorative wooden planks or burlap-textured fabric. Consider using various font types and sizes to achieve a dif-
ferent feel for each block of text. 6. Deck Out Curb Appeal Nothing sets a good impression like an attractive entry way and front door. Greet guests with a festive hello by decking out the porch with pumpkins and planting seasonal floral arrangements along the pathway, or creating a fall-inspired wreath to hang on the door. You can even collect a handful of colorful leaves outside to string together and post along your porch fence for extra curb appeal. For more seasonal inspiration, visit frogtape.com. Get started on your projects now, so you can kick-back, relax and fully enjoy all that the season has to offer. -StatePoint
Home heating tips to save money, energy 5 Will your house be warm enough this winter? With shifts in climate making winter weather harder to predict, it's important to prepare your home for extreme winter temperatures as soon as possible. Here are a few key ways to make your home comfortable and energy efficient. Supplemental Heating Consider reducing energy bills substantially by supplementing whole house heat in the zones of your house used most. For example, why heat the unoccupied foyer to the same degree as the living room where your family spends their time? Focusing your energy use where it is most needed will allow you to lower the thermostat for the central furnace. Known as “zone heating,” this practice saves dollars and energy. Wood Stove A wood stove is a great choice for a supplemental heating product that focuses on specific
rooms of the home. Not only does a wood stove create a cozy atmosphere, but new models are redefining this classic technology to be greener, safer and easier to operate. For example, the QuadraFire Adventure II, an EPA-certified appliance, features Smart Burn Technology, which delivers controllable, efficient heat. It’s the only stove equipped with a programmable wall thermostat that maintains the temperature of your room, helping reduce heating bills up to 50 percent. It also alerts you when it’s time to add more wood, taking guesswork out of the equation. Another option that can help you reduce your heating bill is the Encore FlexBurn from Vermont Castings, which can be burned with a catalyst to increase efficiency by more than 15 percent on the longest burn settings and lowering emissions to ensure you get the most out of each load of wood. For those who want to green
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their home, wood is a good fuel choice, as it’s a renewable energy source that is carbon neutral. Regular Maintenance Your heating system, supplemental heating products and insulation all require regular maintenance to operate at their
highest capacity and keep your home warm at a reasonable cost. Certain tasks you can perform yourself include changing HVAC filters, sealing drafts and ductwork, and weatherstripping windows and doors. You may want to have your
central furnace serviced professionally, however. A handy checklist is available at energystar.gov. For a comfortable and affordable winter, take smart steps to warm your home wisely. -StatePoint
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Tips to keep your neighborhood safe 7 Amid recent headlines, which include mass shootings, terrorist attacks and typical everyday crime, it can be easy to feel unsafe. But individual citizens can take steps to make their homes and communities safer from many types of threats. At Home Does your family have a plan in the event of emergency? The Department of Homeland Security offers every day tips for creating an action plan. Visit Ready.gov to learn more. Then, be sure everyone in your family understands the plan. It may also be a good idea for adults and teens to learn CPR and to teach young people basic concepts like “if you see something, say something.” On the News Recent domestic terror attacks making headlines remind us that nobody should be complacent to the threat of terrorism or extremism. “Terrorism has occurred throughout history, but today it affects the entire world,” says Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, a global terror expert and author of “Global Terrorism and its Effects on Humanity,” an overview of the origins and types of terrorism. He notes that terrorism and extremism can develop anywhere, and that identifying terrorists in your own community can be difficult as they tend to do their best to blend in with their neighbors. But Mumuni offers hope in his more recent book, “Demand by Terror,” laying out ways that a diplomatic response to terror-
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ism may be successful. “No nation wants to look vulnerable or weak and give in to terrorist demands, but the way to resolve some of the violence will not come from military actions alone,” he says. “Diplomacy should be an important tool, too." Local citizens can get in-
formed about the varied nature of terrorism and become vocal advocates for government responses that offer fewer risks and more chances of success. Average citizens can voice their opinions through a number of channels at the local, state and national level, including voting for candidates whose policies
they support. In the Community Be involved in your community, whether that means attending city council meetings and having your voice heard on security issues or getting trained to be a volunteer emergency responder. Many communities offer an opportunity to participate
in “neighborhood watch,” or other crime deterring organizations. Grassroots-level action matters. Take steps at home and in your community at-large to build bridges between neighbors and promote safer streets and neighborhoods. -StatePoint
8 Buying a home? Don’t underestimate location Real Estate
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If you are in the market for a home, you are probably weighing a range of factors, including size, amenities and architectural style. But experts say that the old adage “location, location, location” should never stray from one’s thoughts. “Location not only affects your daily life in countless ways, but it also has an unquestionable influence on the current and future value of your home,” says Charlie Young, president and chief executive officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Young points to The Coldwell Banker Home Listing Report, billed as the most extensive home price comparison tool in the US, as a good place to begin your research. The report, which can be found by visiting bit.ly/ coldwellbanker2016HLR, analyzes the average listing price of more than 50,000 four-bedroom, two bathroom homes on ColdwellBanker.com between January 2016 and June 2016 in more than 2,000 markets.
The findings reveal that while the national average listing price for a sample size home of $320,120 can buy a similar home in nearly 1,300 markets across the country, there are some major outliers on both ends of the price spectrum. In Detroit, the country’s most affordable market, the average listing price of a sample size home is less than $65,000. However, in Saratoga, California
-- the most expensive market -that same size home costs nearly $2.5 million, fueled by the region’s high-tech enterprise. But Young says not to view home prices as a yardstick for quality of life, “You can find a great place to live in most markets. In fact, Detroit has been experiencing a renaissance in the last few years. An invigorated community, culture and a resurgence of young professionals, is
making it an affordable, viable city in which to settle down and build roots.” Another major location factor homebuyers should take into consideration is the local school system. Even if you don’t have a child in the family, schools can play a major role in home value. But remember, location matters beyond pure finances and can affect every aspect of your
life, like the length of your commute, the presence of parks, the walkability of the surrounding area, and the relative safety of the neighborhood. Other factors to consider may include doing a bit of research. How large is the community and does it fit with the type of place in which you want to raise your family? Will your new home be situated near key shopping destinations for daily staples like groceries, dry cleaning and other necessary services? Will your new community wind up costing you more in local taxes or other municipal fees? A bit of advance checking can help you make the best choice for your needs. So while you are counting bathrooms, admiring a newly shingled roof or imagining yourself enjoying a prospective property’s pool, don’t forget location and its potential impact on your lifestyle and your wallet. -StatePoint
Tips for planning your wedding and beyond While making the wedding day spectacular may seem like the main goal for engaged couples, savvy twosomes are also considering how they will build their home and life together after the honeymoon. Luckily, these days, there are plenty of ways to plan your big day and happily ever after at the same time, say wedding trend experts. “Couples who personalize their weddings are also quietly setting a tone for their future,” says Nelson Tejada, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer at Things Remembered, a leading retailer with 50 years of experience providing personalized wedding gifts and accessories. Tejada suggests creating a customized wedding logo to adorn everything from invitations to keepsake items at the reception like champagne flutes and cake servers (items that can be used during future celebrations.)
If you work with a retailer like Things Remembered, you can celebrate your marriage every day by using the logo on needed items for your home, like cutting boards and picture frames. The company also provides the files to the couple, so you can use the logo on items they don’t sell. For example -- the cake! Including your monogram on wedding items like drinkware, the guest book, photo albums and unity candles is another personalized way to celebrate the big day and beyond. Many couples use the same stylized initials on home items like wall art, blankets and aprons, as well as accessories like keychains, wallets and jewelry. Your monogram can also make a fun and memorable addition on items in your gift bag for the wedding party and guests. To thank your wedding party properly, be sure to seek out items they will actually use, such
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as t-shirts and high-quality water bottles like Corkcicle, Contigo or TruHydrate. Attending a wedding? Guests too can help the couple create a life together with personalized wedding gifts that
help make the house a home. There are many useful, beautiful home gifts that can be given a personalized touch. For more ideas for bride and groom and everyone in attendance, visit ThingsRemem-
bered.com/Weddings. When wedding bells are ringing, take care to make that day and every day following oneof-a-kind with unique flourishes that speak to you. -StatePoint
10 Top things every renter should know Real Estate
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Renters may be free of some of the concerns and responsibilities of homeownership, but there are a few considerations they should make for financial security and greater peace of mind. Read Your Lease Whether you’re moving in to a new place or have been occupying your unit for some time, knowing the ins and outs of your lease is crucial. Be sure there will be no curveballs or surprises that you have not accounted for in your budget. Is your rent subject to an increase? By how much and how often? Cross-check local regulations to ensure rent increases are in accordance with the law. Read your lease in order to get a handle on what your responsibilities and rights are as a tenant. Get Renters Insurance Many apartment communities require renters to carry personal liability insurance to cover the property and surrounding structures as a result of damage caused by the renter. This coverage does not extend to your personal property, however. To cover your personal property, a standard renters insurance policy is recommended. Otherwise, unexpected events such as fire, theft, vandalism or
other perils could mean a substantial financial loss to you. However, the small monthly investment of renter’s insurance could save you thousands of dollars down the line. Do your research to determine what policy makes sense for you. Many insurance providers, such as Assurant, offer free online calculators to help you take inventory and determine the level of cover-
age you need. The company also offers its more than 1 million customers nationwide the ability to buy insurance, pay bills, change coverage and file claims online by computer or a mobile device, as well as the option of automatic payments, or even setting the billing date. These convenient options are designed with young people in mind, including some 100,000 Assurant policy-
holders living in student housing. For more information or a quote, visit assurantrenters.com. Perform a Careful Inspection Before moving into your new rental unit or signing a lease, do a careful inspection, noting any existing damage or necessary maintenance. Communicate concerns to the management company or landlord in writing. Free online checklists can guide you on what to look for and record. For example, buckling floors and water stains could indicate water damage -a condition that could lead to property damage. It’s also helpful to take photographs with a timestamp. Do these inspections periodically, as well as when you renew your lease. And remember to also photograph your belongings – or keep your receipts -because any insurance provider will ask for proof of ownership in the event you have to file a claim. You may not own the property, but it is still your home. Staying on top of the space in which you live can offer you greater comfort and greater peace of mind. -StatePoint
How to make a successful offer in today’s housing market
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Prospective homebuyers can get encouraged by the current market. Nearly 68 percent of homes sales today are to individual buyers compared to 53 percent in 2011 when investor and cash deals were at their peak. Still, competition for housing is hot. “In a competitive market, your offer may be one of many. But you can take steps to increase your chances of success,” says Chris Bowden, senior vice president of HomeSteps, the real estate sales division of Freddie Mac. The experts at HomeSteps and Bowden are offering homebuyers five important tips for making an offer in today’s market: Understand your finances. While it’s not nearly as fun as house hunting, fully understanding your finances is critical to helping you determine your price limit and whether your budget can cover necessary upgrades, as well as monthly expenses for general upkeep and utilities, which can run hundreds of dollars monthly. Act fast. When home inventory is low, the sooner you can
make an offer, the better. Get pre-approved if you know you’ll need a mortgage to buy. It will help you act fast and make a confident offer. Make a solid offer. A strong offer will be comparable with other sales and listings in the neighborhood. A licensed real estate agent who is active in the neighborhoods you’re considering will be instrumental in helping you put in a solid offer based on recent sales of similar homes, the condition of the house and what you can afford. Always ask the seller for a home warranty as part of your initial offer. That way, you’ll be covered if appliances or mechanicals fail or break down after you’re in the home. Set your offer apart from the competition by including a letter to the seller, or offer the seller the ability to rent back their home for some period of time after closing. This can be your chance to connect beyond just dollars. Talk to your agent about other ways to make your offer resonate.
Prepare to negotiate. Be prepared for counteroffers. The two things most likely to be negotiated are the selling price and closing date. Given that, you’ll be glad you did your homework first to understand how much you can afford. Your agent will aid the negotiation process, giving you guidance on the counteroffer and making sure that the agreed-to contract terms are met. Get a home inspection. Once you’ve signed the purchase contract, always get an independent home inspection so you know the true condition of the home. If the inspection uncovers undisclosed problems you can typically re-negotiate the terms or cancel the contract. More tips, insights and homebuying resources can be found by visiting myhome.freddiemac.com. While house hunting is fun, homebuying should not be taken lightly. For best results, get prepared. Smart strategies can help you make a successful offer on a property. -StatePoint
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