Fall Yard Maintenance

Clean out beds and mulch: Remove dead growth, leaves and weeds that have cropped up. If your perennials have become overcrowded, divide them up so they can thrive next year. To allow nutrients to seep back into the soil, turn over the dirt with a hoe. After beds are nice and clean, mulching will seal in moisture, keep the ground soft, and, well, it just looks nice. There are many different varieties to choose from, and while it may be tempting to simply dump it on your beds, carefully place it around plants so as to not damage them.
Plant! It may seem strange to suggest this now, but fall is great for a second round of veggies, transplanting trees/shrubs, adding perennials or putting in bulbs for spring.
Fertilize: Most areas across the country should plan on fertilizing their lawns, but when and what kind of fertilizer (nitrogen and/or phosphorous) will depend on your temperatures and native grasses. Check in with your local landscaper for more information.
Pruning: Do NOT over prune in the fall. Pruning stimulates growth and if it gets cold where you live, the only kind of trimming you want to do is to remove dead branches or limbs.
Decorate: Summer isn’t the only time to enjoy your backyard. Think about adding a few strings of light, tiki torches or even a fire pit to brighten things up as the days grow shorter.

If you spend a little extra time taking care of the upkeep in the fall, the pleasure you receive from a beautiful landscape all year ’round will be worth the effort!

Natural Disaster

“Homeowners who found themselves in the sights of Hurricane Irene may soon be targeted by scammers looking to profit from their pain.

As attention turns to repair and rebuilding, residents in affected areas should be aware that disasters often attract unscrupulous contractors who will prey on those trying to put their lives back together.

The National Consumer Law Center reported in late 2008 that complaints about contractor fraud to the Louisiana Attorney General’s office leaped to 6,000 in the two years after Hurricane Katrina, from about 150 a year prior to the storm. The counterpart in Mississippi received more than 800 reports of fraud.

One common scheme is for scam artists to ask for an up-front payment and never show up to do the work. A survey by Louisiana State University found that was the case for 61 percent of respondents who had been victims of contractor fraud in the three years after Katrina.

Another big concern is contractors who use poor-quality materials and cut corners, pocketing the price difference from what it would cost to make proper repairs.

And the scams don’t come cheap: 15 percent of respondents to the LSU survey said they lost between $10,000 and $30,000.

The most common problems come when homeowners hire unlicensed contractors who hang signs advertising low-cost work or head to an affected area after a disaster.

“We call them storm chasers,” said Cheryl Reed, director of communications for the consumer website Angie’s List. “Those are people trying to make a buck off of somebody else’s misfortune.”

One common tactic is for contractors to go door-to-door and offer to help. “It’s easy when people are upset and they want to get this started,” said Loretta Worters, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute. “You’re so distraught that you don’t really think about the implications.”

Although homeowners may feel pressured to find someone to make the essential repairs, a sense of urgency can make them more vulnerable. Slowing down and taking the time to check a contractor’s credentials and references can save time and money in the long run.

Here are some tips to help ensure you hire a contractor who will do the job properly:

1. Be suspicious of any contractor who tries to rush you to make a decision, especially on non-emergency or temporary repairs.

2. Send away quickly any contractor who claims to be backed by the government. The Federal Emergency Management Agency does not endorse individual contractors or loan companies.

3. Ask to see the primary contractor’s driver’s license and write down the number and the license plate number of his or her vehicle. Also ask to see the contractor’s proof of liability and worker compensation insurance. Make sure anyone you hire is licensed and bonded, or you could be at additional risk for liability, should the contractor have an accident on the job.

4. Never let a contractor discourage you from contacting your insurance company.

5. Beware of contractors who encourage you to spend a large sum on temporary repairs. Payments for such repairs are covered as part of the total insurance settlement. If you run up a big expense for temporary fixes, you may not have enough money for the necessary permanent repairs. Discuss what’s needed with your insurance agent or claims adjuster. And remember to keep receipts.

6. Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations or get a list of reputable contractors from your insurance agent or company representative. Check out candidates on online forums, and with the Better Business Bureau, your local home builders association, consumer affairs department and your state attorney general’s office before signing a contract. Never give anyone a deposit until after you have researched their background.

7. Don’t pay for work up front. Most contractors will require a down payment, but that should just be a portion of the total bill. And don’t pay anything until you have a written contract. Never sign a contract with blank spaces, which a crooked contractor can alter after you’ve signed the document.

8. Beware of price gouging. While prices often rise as demand increases, you should report exorbitant hikes to local authorities. Get all terms in writing; that includes prices for labor and materials, a precise description of the work to be done, time schedules, guarantees, payment schedules and estimated start and finish dates.

9. Don’t pay with cash and don’t sign over an insurance settlement check to the contractor. Using checks or credit cards creates a record of your payments, which will be helpful if there’s a dispute.

10. Never pay a contractor in full or sign a completion certificate until the work is finished and you are sure the work satisfies current building codes.

11. Report suspected fraud to local authorities. Also, report anyone who encourages you to fabricate an insurance claim to your insurance company, the local police, the state insurance department or the National Insurance Crime Bureau hotline at 1-800-TEL-NICB”

Many who settle on electric powered mower do so for a range of considerations . Many wish to go electric for environmental benefits . As individuals become more environmentally-friendly, many of our buying choices are decided by by whether or not the equipment is good for the planet . An electric lawnmower clearly falls into that category . It gives off no exhaust fumest and doesn’t bring about pollution, in contrast to its petrol counterpart .

Another reason individuals really like electric powered lawn mowers is due to the fact it really is a great deal less noisy to run than petrol lawn mowers. Gas engines really are loud, therefore if you go electric, you won’t disturb other people whenever mowing at the start of the morning hours. Moreover, a person wouldn’t need to put on ear protection to be able to block out the sound made by the loud petrol engine. Gas engines are generally noisy, if you decide to go electric, you won’t disrupt your neighbors when mowing at the beginning of the morning hours.

Electric mowers are know for its easy maintenance. All you really need to do is keep the mower blade sharp and the space underneath the mowing deck clean.

Despite developments in how electric powered mowers are made, they’re still not quite as powerful as gas mowers Mowing a small, level yard, you would not see very much variation in overall performance between an electric powered and gasoline lawnmower. But, when you’ve got big, hilly yards, would certainly be far better off buying a gasoline lawnmower.

Bear in mind the other disadvantage to purchasing a corded lawn mower: having to work with an extension cord. It may not be described as a big issue for some individuals, however it can be troublesome to other people. There have been many instances where folks run over the electrical cord using their lawn mowers . You can easily eliminate this headache by investing in the cordless versions . With the cord-less models, the lawnmower is run by a battery. The battery pack can make the mower substantially heavier . If you suffer from back concerns, it is best to definitely stay away from the heavier mowers .

Ask youself this: can you cut your property using one charge? If not, think about purchasing a model type which includes the removable battery feature and purchase a back-up battery . It will keep you mowing continually without being hindered by having to recharge.

By having a robust gas engine, a gas lawnmower truly makes the most frustrating lawns much simpler in comparison. In cases where an individual have difficulties moving a lawnmower, a self-propelled model will be the remedy. If you do not relish mowing and trimming the turf, having a gas lawnmower will at least make the undertaking less unpleasant for you personally. Gasoline lawn mowers are more powerful when compared to electric mowers. Self-propelled designs help to make mowing and trimming really easy, even on challenging or sloped landscape. Using gasoline mowers, you will have far more upkeep, even so the trade-off makes it worth while to those people with difficult grass.

Lawn Mowers at TigerFDN.com

The closing verdict? Choose an electric mower when you have a small to medium-sized turf that is somewhat level, and you would like a lawn tool that is eco-friendly as well as low upkeep. Choose a petrol lawn mower if you need the ability to plow through rough terrains and huge lawns, and do not care about the noises and servicing needed with gas lawn mowers.

Small holes in it can be filled but a large hole requires a patch – removing the portion of damaged drywall and replacing it with a new piece. Here is the step-by-step process for installing such a patch, which will take a couple of days to complete.

You will need:
A new piece of drywall to use as a patch
A keyhole saw
Pencil
Sharp knife
Drywall compound
Putty knife
Sandpaper

1. Use a keyhole saw to cut out the damaged portion of wall. Cut out a crude square.

2. Cut a patch from the new piece of drywall. It needs to be 4 inches larger than the hole in the wall; so if the hole is a square with 6 inch sides, the patch needs to be a square with 10 inch sides.

3. Lie the patch face down and draw lines 2 inches in from each side. You should finish up with a tic-tac-toe pattern on the back of the patch, with the centre square being the same size as the hole in the wall.

4. Score along the lines, removing the rear paper and breaking off the gypsum rock, leaving the front sheet of paper in place. You will now have a piece of drywall which fits into the hole, but has a sheet of paper on the front with overlaps to the existing wall. The patch needs to be just slightly smaller than the hole will go into.

5. Apply plenty of drywall compound around the hole and on the inside of the edges. Push the patch into the hole and squeeze the excess compound out, using it to smooth down the paper onto the wall. At this point you need to be careful not to put pressure on to the patch otherwise it will be pushed into the wall, leaving a depression in the surface.

6. The patch must now be left to dry overnight.

7. Once dry, the patch can be sanded down to remove the high points. A second, very thin, layer of compound is then applied over the entire patch.

8. The patch is again left overnight to dry.

9. A final sanding down will be needed to produce a smooth finish, which can then be painted over.

The hole in the wall has now been patched and should look as good as new. The hardest part of a drywall repair is getting a smooth finish; the amount of mess on the rear of the wall is irrelevant because it will never be seen.

Written by Andrew Michaels as found on his site at Helium.

“Remodelers can help find the best methods of saving energy in your home with an assessment, like a home energy audit,” explained Greg Miedema, CGR, CGB, CAPS, CGP, a remodeler from Tucson, Ariz. “Tightening the house to reduce air leakage by adding insulation, fixing ducts, and installing a more efficient heating and air conditioning system can help save on energy bills today while also reducing next year’s tax bill.”

The expanded federal tax credit refunds 30 percent of the product replacement cost up to a total of $1,500. It can be used not only for HVAC systems, insulation and water heaters but also for windows and doors and insulation as long as the new products meet IRS qualifications. In some cases, installation costs may also be used to claim the tax credit.

Home energy audits can cost as little as $500, which remodelers say is an expense that pays for itself – and more – with savings from efficiency upgrades. And homeowners may be able to combine federal tax credits with local and regional incentives to maximize savings.

Here’s one example: Insulation improvements may be one of the easiest and most affordable ways to save on energy costs. Upgrading inefficient insulation (from R-19 to R-38) in the attic of a two-story, 2,000-square-foot Chicago home might cost around $1,000, but the tax credit brings that down to $700. Add that to Chicago’s MidAmerican Energy residential energy efficiency rebate program, which can return up to $600 spent on insulation or other energy-efficiency upgrades, and the cost drops to $100 – meaning a two-year payback period for the $51 estimated annual utility savings for this project.

Inspecting the ductwork, caulking and heating and cooling systems for possible upgrades or enhancements also help to provide additional energy savings, Miedema said.

Homeowners also can use the tax credit for heating and cooling components. For example, upgrading a standard 10-year-old air conditioner to today’s federal minimum 13-SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) model may cost about $5,500 in Phoenix, but does not qualify for the tax credit. Spending as little as $2,000 more for a higher-efficiency air-conditioner (such as 16-SEER) earns the homeowner the $1,500 energy-efficiency federal tax credit. Plus, the local power company provides a rebate starting at $425. With the tax credit and utility rebate, the cost difference can be paid back in a couple of years, while the homeowner may enjoy utility bills savings for years to come.

With the credit, tankless water heaters are comparable in cost to traditional gas water heaters, but last as long as 20 years and are 30 percent more efficient, according to Eugene Lamana, residential business manager at Rinnai, a manufacturer of tankless water heaters and other gas appliances based in Peachtree City, Ga. Savings depend on local energy prices, but home owners may also save with less frequent replacements. When the credit is included, homeowners can save $100 per year on their water heating expenses, he added.

“These are just some examples of how the energy-efficiency tax credit helps consumers save money in making home improvements and cutting down utility bills,” said Miedema. “Homeowners should contact a professional remodeler near them for advice on installing tax credit-qualified improvements in their home.”

Homeowners can use an energy-savings simulation from the NAHB Research Center at http://energysim.toolbase.org to determine likely costs of upgrades and savings. Information on rebates from utility companies and other state and local government incentives is available at DSIRE.

In addition to expanding the 25C tax credit, the Wind, Solar, Geothermal and Fuel Cell (25D) Tax Credit for renewable energy products now provides larger incentives for installing geothermal heat pumps, solar panels, solar water heaters, small wind energy systems and fuel cells. Although the upfront costs are high for these products, the tax credit is 30 percent and there is no cap on their cost through 2016. Taxpayers can claim the credits on IRS Form 5695.

Written by Realty Times Staff as found in Craig Lilly’s Newsletter.

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