Random Thoughts

LED Holiday Lights: 6 Need-to-Know Tips

Should you chuck all your good old holiday light strings and buy new LED holiday lights? Here’s how to decide.

1. LED holiday lights save you money. LED lights use at least 90% less energy than traditional holiday lights, according to the U.S. government’s Energy Star program.

That results in a $50 energy savings for the average family during the holidays, says Avital Binshtock of the Sierra Club in San Francisco.

Put it into perspective: The amount of electricity consumed by one 7-watt incandescent bulb could power 140 LEDs—enough to light two 24-foot strings, says Energy Star.

2. But LED lights typically cost more than old-fashioned holiday lights.

• GE 100-bulb string of Energy Star-certified LED white lights: $18.97 at Lowe’s

• GE 100-bulb string of conventional white lights: $8.97

But shop around because a growing number of retailers are offering sales on LED holiday lights and, if you can’t find a sale before the holidays, you can certainly find one after. Plus, prices will surely go down as these lights gain traction.

3. LED holiday lights last and last. LED bulbs can keep your season bright for as long as 100,000 hours, says Cathy Choi, president of Moonachie, N.J.-based Bulbrite, which manufactures LED and regular bulbs. That’s substantially longer than the life of your old holiday light strings.

4. You can string a BIG strand of LED lights. Safety wise, you shouldn’t connect more than three traditional light strings, but you can connect up to 87 LED holiday light strings, totaling a whopping 1,500 feet, Choi says. So blow your neighbor’s display away by cocooning your house in lights:

• You won’t have to buy as many extension cords.

• You can take your holiday lighting display further away from the outlet.

5. LED lights reduce the risk of fire. They stay cooler than incandescent bulbs, according to Energy Star.

6. How about that hue? Some people stick with their old lights because they don’t like the brighter hue that white LED holiday lights emit. But Choi says manufacturers now offer a “warm white” bulb that more closely mimics the glow of an incandescent light. Be sure to read the label to choose a bright or warm white and to ensure what you’re purchasing is Energy Star-certified.

Colored and color-changing LED holiday lights are more vibrant than conventional lights, making your display easier to see from the street, Choi says.

By: G. M. Filisko
Published: December 10, 2010

G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who has survived several closings. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

We Support Small Business Saturday – November 26, 2011

The 2nd annual Small Business Saturday® is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.

On November 26, we’re asking millions of people to Shop Small at their favorite local stores and help fuel the economy. When we shop small, it will be huge. Pledge your support for Small Business Saturday®.

You can receive a one-time $25 statement credit when you register any eligible American Express® Card and use that Card to make a purchase of $25 or more at a small business on November 26, 2011. To be eligible, you must register your American Express® Card.

Don’t have an American Express card? That’s OK! You will still benefit from shopping at an independently owned store by knowing that you are supporting your local community.

When our small businesses are thriving and growing, we are able to attract more consumers and new small businesses to our community. The growth of multiple small businesses can allow the community benefits such as lower property taxes, higher home values, and more maintained streets.

All of us are always looking for the best use from our money and it is next to impossible to not shop at the big box stores and eat at the chain restaurants. While we can still pick up deals and savings, we can help do our part to grow the local economy by visiting stores owned by members of our community.

I urge each of you to find a locally owned business over this holiday season to help our local economy grow!

You can do it. Share your favorite local small businesses and don’t keep them or I  a secret. Happy Shopping.

Five Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Returns

To ensure that recipients are happy with holiday gifts, millions of Americans will rely on gift receipts to enable loved ones to return or exchange a gift seamlessly when the holidays are over. According to NRF’s 2009 Holiday Returns Survey, 58.6 percent of shoppers said they enclose a gift receipt most of the time or some of the time when giving a gift. The survey also found that 87.9 percent of shoppers feel that retailers’ return policies are fair. 

“Whether it’s a toy, an appliance, a DVD or a sweater, gifts of all shapes and sizes can be easily returned when a gift receipt is attached,” said Tracy Mullin, President and CEO of the National Retail Federation. “In this economy, no one wants to worry that a present will be a duplicate, or go unused, so many people are relying on gift receipts to make the returns process easier.”

Although gift receipts make returns easy, many people didn’t need to return a thing last holiday season. According to the survey, more than two-thirds (67.1%) of gift recipients said they did not return any gifts last year, up from the 65.2 percent who went sans returns in 2007. 

NRF’s tips for stress-free returns after the holidays:

1.  Know the retailer’s return policy before you buy. Most retailers have return policies
prominently displayed, especially at this time of year. Gift-givers should read and remember them. If policies are not clearly displayed, ask a sales associate or a manager to explain them to you. Most retailers also outline their return policy on their website.

2.  Save and file all receipts! Receipts are still the key to hassle-free returns. Some retailers will allow consumers to exchange merchandise without a receipt, but oftentimes will only provide merchandise credit for the lowest markdown-price at which the item was sold during the holiday season. Make sure to provide the recipient with a gift receipt to save hassle after the holidays. 

3.  Provide all original packaging and all parts (including tags) when giving a gift. Some retailers won’t accept returns unless the item is in its original package. If you plan to take back a gift after it is unwrapped, resist the urge to open it or play with it. No one wants to buy someone else’s merchandise. 

4.  Make online returns easy! Returns are a part of shopping, no matter where you buy. In addition to the other rules of returns, here are a few things to find out before you purchase a gift online:

-  Know the process: Who pays for shipping the return–you or the merchant? Some merchants will pick up the delivery charges for exchanges, but not for returns; others offer free return shipping on every return.

-  Where to make returns: Does the retailer have a physical store, and can returns or exchanges be made there? Make sure you have the correct address if you need to mail returns back to the company. Some merchants have offsite service centers to handle returns that may be in a different location from where the merchandise is sent.

5.  Be patient. Remember, the week after Christmas is one of the busiest weeks of the retail year. With people’s frustration high and tolerance low, be patient when returning merchandise.

By: Kathy Grannis www.nrf.com/holidays
Published: December 8, 2009

The NRF 2009 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey was designed to gauge consumer behavior and shopping trends related to the winter holidays. The survey polled 8,692 consumers and was conducted for NRF by BIGresearch, November 3-10, 2009. The consumer poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.0 percent. 

BIGresearch is a consumer market intelligence firm that provides unique consumer insights that are gathered online utilizing very large sample sizes. BIGresearch’s syndicated Consumer Intentions and Actions survey monitors the pulse of more than 8,000 consumers each month to empower its clients with unique insights for identifying opportunities in a fragmented and changing marketplace.

The National Retail Federation is the world’s largest retail trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet, independent stores, chain restaurants, drug stores and grocery stores as well as the industry’s key trading partners of retail goods and services. NRF represents an industry with more than 1.6 million U.S. retail establishments, more than 24 million employees – about one in five American workers – and 2008 sales of $4.6 trillion. As the industry umbrella group, NRF also represents more than 100 state, national and international retail associations.

Honoring All Who Served on Veterans Day 2011

As a Naturalized Citizens, Veterans Day always has tremendous meaning to my wife and I. For those who have or had family serve in the US Military, today is a special day of honor. I ask that everyone take a few minutes of their day to thank a veteran for the liberties and freedoms that we are so lavished with on a daily basis.

If you are a US Veteran or an active duty military, make sure to take advantage of the special promotion by Applebee’s. Enjoy a free Applebee’s Signature Entree today. Proof of service is required so do not forget to bring proper identification. 

Message from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on Veterans Day 2011

November 10, 2011

MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

 VETERANS DAY 2011

Tomorrow, at the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month of 2011, we will pause to honor America’s Veterans and celebrate their contributions to our way of life. Few have given more to our Nation than the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces in peace and in war. 

Generation after generation—from Bunker Hill and Bennington to Baghdad and Abbottabad—protected, defended, and preserved the principles and ideals that define our democracy. Across that remarkable sweep of history, today’s America was shaped at Lexington and Concord, Antietam and Gettysburg, in the skies over Midway, on the beaches of Normandy, in winter’s grip at Chosin Reservoir, in the heat of Ia Drang Valley, from the Persian Gulf into Afghanistan and Iraq by those who wore our Nation’s uniforms. Over twenty-two million living Veterans today embody our exceptional character and values as a people—each a line in our Nation’s history, but together many chapters towards today’s future. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs fulfills its obligation to serve Veterans, their families, and survivors of the fallen by living a set of core values defining who we are as an organization: Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence—I CARE. Veterans trust that we will live these values, every day, in our medical facilities, our benefits offices, and our national cemeteries. And VA is committed to serving them. We are privileged to provide the very best in compassionate and quality care and services, delivered by our more than 300,000 employees. 

As we honor and celebrate the contributions of all of our Nation’s Veterans, we take special pride in those Veterans who work here at VA—over 100,000 of us—bringing to our mission the skills, knowledge, attributes, experiences, and unwavering commitment to the well-being of our fellow Veterans. Take a moment and visit VA’s Flicker site to see our photographs and snapshots from earlier times in uniform. You can access those photos today at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/VeteransAffairs/sets/72157627830104759/

I am privileged to join all my VA colleagues in saluting the service and honoring the sacrifices of the special men and women who walk the halls of our hospitals and clinics, offices and Vet Centers each day. God bless our Veterans. And may God continue to bless this wonderful country of ours.

                                                      Eric K. Shinseki

 

6 Tips for Choosing the Best Offer for Your Home

Have a plan for reviewing purchase offers so you don’t let the best slip through your fingers.

1. Understand the process

All offers are negotiable, as your agent will tell you. When you receive an offer, you can accept it, reject it, or respond by asking that terms be modified, which is called making a counteroffer.

2. Set baselines

Decide in advance what terms are most important to you. For instance, if price is most important, you may need to be flexible on your closing date. Or if you want certainty that the transaction won’t fall apart because the buyer can’t get a mortgage, require a prequalified or cash buyer.

3. Create an offer review process

If you think your home will receive multiple offers, work with your agent to establish a time frame during which buyers must submit offers. That gives your agent time to market your home to as many potential buyers as possible, and you time to review all the offers you receive.

4. Don’t take offers personally

Selling your home can be emotional. But it’s simply a business transaction, and you should treat it that way. If your agent tells you a buyer complained that your kitchen is horribly outdated, justifying a lowball offer, don’t be offended. Consider it a sign the buyer is interested and understand that those comments are a negotiating tactic. Negotiate in kind.

5. Review every term

Carefully evaluate all the terms of each offer. Price is important, but so are other terms. Is the buyer asking for property or fixtures—such as appliances, furniture, or window treatments—to be included in the sale that you plan to take with you?

Is the amount of earnest money the buyer proposes to deposit toward the down payment sufficient? The lower the earnest money, the less painful it will be for the buyer to forfeit those funds by walking away from the purchase if problems arise.

Have the buyers attached a prequalification or pre-approval letter, which means they’ve already been approved for financing? Or does the offer include a financing or other contingency? If so, the buyers can walk away from the deal if they can’t get a mortgage, and they’ll take their earnest money back, too. Are you comfortable with that uncertainty?

Is the buyer asking you to make concessions, like covering some closing costs? Are you willing, and can you afford to do that? Does the buyer’s proposed closing date mesh with your timeline?

With each factor, ask yourself: Is this a deal breaker, or can I compromise to achieve my ultimate goal of closing the sale?

6. Be creative

If you’ve received an unacceptable offer through your agent, ask questions to determine what’s most important to the buyer and see if you can meet that need. You may learn the buyer has to move quickly. That may allow you to stand firm on price but offer to close quickly. The key to successfully negotiating the sale is to remain flexible.

By: G. M. Filisko
Published: February 10, 2010

G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who has survived several closings. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

2012 Color Forecast

With only a couple months left to the year, it is time to start planning for 2012.  I am very excited to share the “2012 Color Forecast” with you.  There are 4 key colors, and this will be the first of a series so that I can share in-depth about each color.

NEUTRALS
 Neutral is a color that represents “trust.”  We see neutrals in nature, such as pebbles, bark, and sand.  Maybe the place that you enjoy relaxing the most is in nature – the park, the mountains, or possibly the beach.  Now, think about that special place as you read this!

The grays will be warmer & combined with other neutral colors, such as tan, cream, and black.  We have seen yellow used as an accent color in fashion, but now we will also see it in interiors as well.  It will be combined with either beige or gray.

A lot of texture, such as wood grains and wicker will be used to add dimension to the design.  Birch bark & bamboo will also be part of the design to bring in nature.  Natural fibers such as linen and organic cotton in neutrals will be used for sustainability purposes.

Did you think about that special place as you read this, and how to fit it into your decor for 2012?!

Looking for Ideas to Reuse Old Items? Check out IKEA Hackers

We love it when we find a site that helps us find ways to reuse old items, and IKEA Hackers fits the bill with creative solutions.

IKEA groupies – fans of the world’s largest furniture retailer — can’t bear to part with anything they’ve assembled themselves. So they’re sharing their repurposing ideas on IKEAHackers.net,  a site that encourages recycling and reusing - values close to HouseLogic hearts.

“This site is really about a community of crazy IKEA fans,” the site says.  “We hack, personalize, repurpose IKEA products into the very thing we want.”

For instance, one IKEA-ite turned a shelving unit on it side to create a low play table for her 2-year-old twins (lots of storage underneath). When the kids got a little bigger and wanted a train table, Mom screwed on four coasters to raise the table and make it portable.

“When they are done playing, we simply roll it back against the wall to have more space,” the mom says.

Another IKEA hacker made a colorful coat rack  by screwing Bastis “dog butt” hooks  onto an unpainted, soft wood shelf.

“I picked red, green and black to give it kind of an African/Jamaican theme, “ hacker Nick says. “The assembly is really simple, just a few screws and that’s it.”

What have you repurposed lately?

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon
Published: October 7, 2011

Lisa Kaplan Gordon is a HouseLogic managing editor and builder.

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

Discover the Pros of Working with GVC Mortgage, Inc.

In celebration of Christopher Columbus Day, we want to help you discover the pros of working with GVC Mortgage, Inc. Not only do we have a qualified team of licensed mortgage professionals, but we also work with a great team of REALTORS throughout Northwest Indiana and the Chicago land region.

Although you may hear this often from mortgage brokers, we actually do have a committed team of mortgage professionals who have a vested interest in your home mortgage and the American Dream of homeownership. Every day we are focused on providing outstanding customer service and great mortgage products to our clients and referral partners.

Speaking of great mortgage products and the one that is most widely utillized by home buyers and homeowners in Northwest Indiana and Chicago is an FHA insured home loan. The benefits of this mortgage is that only 3.500% down payment is required for home purchases and the minimum FICO score required is 640. The difference that GVC Mortgage, Inc can provide is that we can go as low as 620 FICO score with compensating factors, as well as higher debt-to-income qualfying ratios. You can get more information at yourFHAhomeloan.com.

In the same manner as FHA insured home loans, we also have the capability to do the standard FHA 203(k) and FHA 302(k) streamined renovation home loan. The benefits of this program allows you to roll into a single FHA fixed rate home loan the costs of home renovations and repairs. We also participate in the FHA $100 Down program that allows you to buy a HUD REO for as little as $100 down with no new appraisal required.

It should be noted that we are not just about FHA insured home loans. We also love our US Veterans and the liberties that they safe guard daily. The best way we know how to support them is to educate them on their earned benefits and how they too can become homeowners. VA offers up to 100% financing with no monthly mortgage insurance to eligible US Veterans. If you’re a US Veteran, you can learn more about VA Guaranteed home loans at homeloanforveterans.com.

Another great home loan option that allows up to 100% financing is offered by USDA Rural Development through their USDA home loan program. If the home is eligible for USDA home loan financing as determined by USDA and the buyer’s household income does not exceed the income limits, a USDA guaranteed home loan can offer a more affordable home loan payment than even an FHA insured home loan. If you would like more information on USDA guaranteed home loans, simply visit yourUSDAhomeloan.com.

We are your home for government home loans. Want to know if you can refinance your home or buy a new home? Call or text me at 512-522-7284 to discuss your personal situation and your home loan options!

 

30th Annual Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton Indiana

It is that time of year again for the annual Wizard of Oz festival in Chesterton Indiana. This year the Wizard of Oz Festival is celebrating their 30^th Year!

The Wizard of Oz Festival is being held September 16-18 2011 in the downtown area of Chesterton Indiana at the intersections of Broadway and Calumet.

The Wizard of Oz Festival brings several events throughout the weekend. Some of these include autograph ceremonies, a 5K run, a parade, a birthday party for Dorothy, as well as many more.

The full event lineup, along with more information about the Wizard of Oz Festival can be found directly at www.ozfestivalchesterton.com.

The events and setup start on Friday September 16 at 2:00 pm so be sure to remember to take alternate routes when visiting downtown.

Events such as the Wizard of Oz Festival is another example of what an outstanding community Chesterton Indiana is and how they bring the residents together.

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