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Should you chuck all your good old
holiday light strings?
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LED lights stay cooler than incandescent bulbs, reducing the risk of a
fire. Image: Cal Crary/Photonica/Getty Images
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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.
Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/lighting/led-holiday-lights-6-need-know-tips/#ixzz1gApbbmRV
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Five
Reasons Why You Need A Buyers Agent
To someone who is new to real estate, a buyers agent can be a fairly
unpopular concept. The idea of a real estate agent to assist the party who is
selling the property is fairly common. However, there are agents present in
the industry for the purpose of helping individuals to purchase real estate
as well. if you still haven't recognized why a real estate buyers agent may
be instrumental, below are 5 of the most notable factors that you should
consider if you are having second thoughts about hiring one.
Guidance:
Most people looking to buy a property would probably have little experience
unless they are in the industry. Having a buyers agent
means you will have a proficient, highly knowledgeable individual in the
field of real estate capable of giving you advice on a broad spectrum of
aspects in the field of real estate. Having a buyers agent for this purpose
alone will help you make a more educated decision.
Negotiation Skills:
Most buyers agents will be handling the deal and communicating with the
seller. Any individual proficient in the real industry will most likely be a
good negotiator. Having a buyers agent at your side means that you will be
able to get the best possible price as your buyers agent will look to
convince the seller to reduce the price.
Works with your best interest in mind:
Based on the aforementioned points, a genuine real estate buyers agent who is
performing his job adequately will look to find you the most appropriate properties
based on your preferences for the lowest possible price.
Resourceful:
Real estate buyers agents are resourceful. They are well connected with other
individuals In the industry giving them accessibility to properties that are
not publicly available. This could result in you finding the perfect property
without any competition and thus for a potentially lower price.
They cost nothing:
While this is the final point, to some it may be the most important. Buyers
agents usually don't charge anything from the buyer itself. They are provided
a part of the commission (usually 50%) from the commission that the real
estate agent (seller) receives. This may perhaps be one reason why
individuals are skeptical about using their services however based on the way
they carry out their profession, it provides maximum benefit to the buyer at
no cost.
These are 5 of the main reasons to hire a buyers agent. If you decide to use
a buyers agent, you should benefit from them, however be sure to hire a
genuine, experienced buyers agent.
10 Steps to Complete a Home Inventory
When choosing
homeowners insurance, most consumers think more about the value of the home
than about their prized possessions inside. When determining coverage needs,
it is important to know all the "stuff" in your home that warrants
special protection. Insurable items do not only include luxury items like
jewelry and art, but also fun purchases that support personal passions
such as gourmet cooking gadgets, designer handbags and high-end electronics.
"A home inventory assures you know exactly what you own, and what it's
worth, before you need to make a claim," says NAIC President and Iowa
Insurance Commissioner Susan E. Voss. "Our research, however, suggests
almost half of all Americans don't have an inventory of their possessions.
Our new iPhone® app makes it easy to document your stuff. Knowing what you
own will help you choose the right coverage in the first place."
- Make a list of possessions, including
‘celebration' purchases such as jewelry and fine art.
- Think about family heirlooms, collections and
furniture. Also consider items related to everyday leisuretime, from
flat-screen televisions to custom guitars.
- Take note of common place items such as toys,
CDs and clothing. And do not forget items you may only use occasionally
such as holiday decorations, sports equipment, tools and high-ticket items
kept outside your home such as landscape art and swingsets.
- Attach copies of original sales receipts and/or
appraisal documents to your inventory. Be sure to note model and serial
numbers.
- Group your possessions into logical categories,
i.e., by hobby, by room in your home.
- Carefully photograph or videotape each item and
document a brief description including age,purchase price and estimated
current value.
- Remember to open drawers and closets to
document what's inside.
- Store your home inventory and related documents
in a safe, easily accessible place such as a secured site/file online, a
fire-proof box or in a safe deposit box. You may want to share a copy
with your insurance provider so he or she can make necessary updates to
your coverage.
- Review and update your inventory annually and
whenever you make a significant purchase.
- To get started, download the free myHOME
Scr.APP.book app for iPhone® users by visiting the iTunes® App
Store or searching ‘NAIC' in the app store from your phone. Or click here for a simple home
inventory checklist.
Source:
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
November Property Stats
This graph shows the available number of Single Family properties as of
November 30, 2011. The graph then depicts out of the total number of
available how many of these listed properties are Traditional, Bank Owned or
Short Sale.
This graph includes the breakdown of the median listed price of available
Single Family properties.
This graph shows the number of Single Family properties that closed escrow
during November 2011 and out of that total number, the number of closings of
Traditinal, Bank Owned or Short Sale listings.
This graph includes the breakdown of the median sales price for closings for
November 2011. Traditional listings continue to close at higher pricing but
as the other graph shows Traditional properties also have the smallest number
of actual closings.
Email
me at diane@dianesellsvegas.com or
call me at (702) 460-9502 for more information regarding the market.
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Why Use a REALTOR®?
The REALTOR® mark shows that
your real estate agent is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®
and adheres to a strict Code of Ethics. There are many reasons to use a
REALTOR® to help you buy or sell a home. Here's one:
A REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening your
local marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing
properties.
For information on choosing and using a REALTOR®, click here.
Pending Home Sales Jump in
October
Washington, DC, November
30, 2011
Pending home sales rose strongly in October and remain above year-ago levels,
according to the National Association of Realtors®.
The Pending Home Sales
Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, surged 10.4
percent to 93.3 in October from 84.5 in September and is 9.2 percent above
October 2010 when it stood at 85.5. The data reflects contracts but not
closings.
Lawrence
Yun, NAR chief economist, said improved contract activity is a hopeful
sign. “Home sales have been plodding along at a sub-par level while interest
rates are hovering at record lows and there is a pent-up demand from buyers
who normally would have entered the market in recent years. We hope this is
indicates more buyers are taking advantage of the excellent affordability conditions,”
he said.
View Full Article
Safe Holiday Tips
WHILE
SHOPPING:
- Park in a highly
visible well-lighted space.
- Lock your vehicle
both when driving and parked.
- Have your car keys
in your hand and be ready to open the car door immediately.
- Place all shopping
bags, packages and gifts out of sight.
- Always know where
you are parked, so you don't spend unnecessary time walking around the
parking lot.
- Look inside and
under your car before entering.
- Avoid carrying large
amounts of cash – use a check or credit card.
- Don't overburden
yourself with packages. This will help deter pickpockets or purse
snatchers.
- Don't park next to a
van or truck where people can hide.
OUT
FOR THE EVENING:
- Turn on lights, a
television or radio so that it appears that someone is home.
- Secure all doors and
windows, even if you're only gone for a few minutes.
- Holiday gifts should
not be displayed where they can be seen from the outside.
HOLIDAY
TRAVELING:
- Ask a neighbor to
watch your house.
- Use automatic timers
for your lights.
- Stop your mail and
newspaper deliveries.
- Arrange to have snow
shoveled (if necessary) while you're away.
- Notify your local
police department and leave a number where you can be reached in case of
an emergency.
WHILE
DRIVING:
- Watch out at
intersections and stop lights. They're favorite spots for troublemakers.
- Keep car in gear; if
you're threatened, blow the horn, then drive away. Leave enough space
between you and the car in front of you to pull around if necessary.
- Keep windows rolled
up.
- Keep doors locked at
all times.
- Keep valuables out
of sight.
- If followed – don't
drive home. Go to a police station, fire house, gas station or public
place.
- If your car breaks
down, stay with the car and accept NO rides. If someone stops to help,
ask them to call the police. Use a cell phone if available. Keep vehicle
well maintained and gassed up.
- And remember --
gasoline and alcohol don't mix.
Holiday Cooking and Fun!
Getting Ready for the Holidays?
Visit the NorthPole.com for
Holiday activities, fun and recipes! Be sure to check out my favorite
cookie recipe!
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