Kitchen Cabinet Makeovers

Have you ever wished you had more storage space in your kitchen? Who hasn't? One of the easiest ways to do that is to upgrade your old cabinets with full extension roll-out shelves and/or replace old drawers. Ron Strong, President of Strong Roll-Out Shelf and Drawer, Inc., a Diamond Certified company, says most kitchens have inaccessible or wasted space that can be converted to make your life a lot easier and increase storage capacity. And upgrading cabinets is much less expensive than a remodel but still adds value to your home.

A typical kitchen pantry cabinet with three or four shelves will have loads of dead space between shelves and inaccessible space towards the back. With an upgrade to full extension roll-out shelves, you can add five to six shelves for more levels of accessible storage. Replacing old drawers with longer, full extension drawers can add 20% more storage to the same space.

Don't Panic When Check Engine Light Comes On

Have you ever been driving your car and suddenly you notice that the amber-colored check or service engine light has come on? Some people might "panic" and stop, thinking if they continue it will cause damage. Rob Service, owner of Central Automotive Service Center, a Diamond Certified company, wants to reassure us that this warning light is not designed to scare you. The early warning system, which monitors the transmission, emission controls, and engine, is indicating that you may need your vehicle repaired soon.

If the light comes on and the car is otherwise running normally, first check your fuel tank cap. A leak there can turn the warning light on. Another tip is to turn off the engine, restart it and see if the check engine light comes back on. If it does, go see your mechanic. If the vehicle is running okay, you should be able to drive it to the shop.

Ask Pool Contractors for Proof of Insurance

Most pool contractors say they carry liability insurance, but can they prove it? If you're spending thousands of dollars on a new pool, you want to make sure the contractor has liability insurance for several reasons. According to Tony Cisek, owner of Riviera Pools, a Diamond Certified company, the insurance protects the homeowner in case someone is injured on the property while the job is underway. For pool contractors, the policy also covers you in case the pool is not properly completed.

Ask the pool contractor to FAX you its certificate of liability insurance. (By the way, Diamond Certified verifies this insurance as part of the certification process.) Once you receive it, check the date on the certificate to make sure it's current. If you're especially particular about protecting yourself, the insurance company can officially name you as a co-insured party on the policy. The fee for this is around $150.

Is Slate Roofing Right for Your Home?

No, probably not. Unless you have a home with the following attributes, it is not for you.

First, you need a structure strong enough to bear the weight. Slate can weigh anywhere from 7 to 20 pounds per square foot. Another consideration is the pitch of the roof. A certain minimum pitch is required by law. And finally, a slate roof, which can be expensive, may not be within your budget.

What makes slate roofs so special is that they’re built to last at least 100 years. All the flashing is copper and lead, and even the nails are copper. All design work, such as ridges and valleys must be cut by hand.  The slate is waterproof, however it is accompanied by heavy felt paper. What is interesting, even though we don’t see much slate in America, it produces some of the best slate in the world.

Beautify Your Home from the Inside Out

Does the inside of your home need a little spiffing up?  Have you thought about upgrading the interior doors to achieve a fresh look? Replacing inside doors and/or the hardware, can transform your home and it’s not as expensive as other types of remodeling.

The door from the kitchen to the dinning room, for example, can be made of frosted or fluted glass, or you can add designer handles to match the interior design of your home. You can replace a hollow core door with a solid one to help reduce noise levels. The children’s room can have a chalkboard built in to the door to encourage a budding artist. Most of the time existing doorframes and old jambs can be used to further reduce the cost of these wonderful and functional home improvements.

Keying in on Lock Bumping

Criminals now are breaking into homes and buildings by unlocking doors through a method called lock bumping or key bumping. According to Joe Schoepp, owner of Crown Lock and Safe, a Diamond Certified company, about 90% of all locks can be opened by hand-filing a blank key, inserting it into the lock and then knocking it (or bumping it) with the head of a screwdriver or piece of wood. The tapping eventually unlocks the lock.

Mr. Schoepp suggests a number of ways to safeguard your property. First, you can buy "bump-proof" locks such as those made by Medeco. These high security locks also prevent unauthorized key duplication. Another suggestion is to add a non-keyed lock to the inside of your doors for when you are home. Finally, if you only use a door for exiting, you can fill the keyhole with glue. Use clear silicone glue, so the lock is not permanently disabled.

Key Pointers on Buying New Condos

A new condo may be your very first home, a vacation home, or a place to live after downsizing from a larger house. The two main questions people have about condominiums are about living in such close proximity to others and understanding the homeowners’ association rules.

Make sure you review all the fine print in the CC&Rs, (codes, covenants and restrictions) which cover everything from whether you can have pets to where you can park your car at night. Talk to people who already live there about the community and what they like and don’t like. Inspect the models for quality throughout (sloppy paint, ill-fitting trim) and ask if the builder had a third party inspection done. If not, talk to the county building inspector to get learn more about the builder’s quality of construction.

Give Your Doctor a Check-Up

If you've had the same doctor for a long time and you're generally satisfied with the care you've received, chances are you have never checked on his or her license with the State Medical Board. Most people haven't, according to Public Information Officer Candice Cohen. This Board licenses all doctors practicing in California, and the website, www.mbc.ca.gov is considered one of the best in the country in terms of information provided to consumers.

What can you find out about any doctor? Most importantly, you can verify that the State has not filed any formal charges against the physician. The Board will post felony convictions along with disciplinary actions. When I used the website recently, I was disappointed that specialties were not listed on an individual doctor's record, but that is coming soon. The consumer information section is also useful with articles on Internet prescriptions, medical marijuana laws, and rights concerning medical records.

Do You Want Whiter Teeth?

Whitening your teeth is one of the most affordable, safe and conservative ways to improve your appearance, and it's good for your gums too. You can go to your dentist's office or a clinic specializing in bleaching teeth, or you can buy a do-it-yourself kit at the drug store or on the Internet. The active ingredients in all bleaching products used for whitening are basically the same peroxide based materials, according to Dr. William R. Hummer, D.D.S., a Diamond Certified professional.

The difference is in the concentration, time in contact and application process. You can use a higher concentration of the bleaching agent over a shorter period of time or use a lower dose over a longer period of time. Either way you will still see an improvement with patience and diligence. If your teeth are sensitive do it for a shorter time or more days between treatments.

Home Inspectors Should Look High and Low

You are not getting your money’s worth if a home inspector is in and out of the house in an hour or two.  Experts home inspectors tell me that a thorough inspection of the average 1200 square foot structure should take three to three-and-a-half hours and should always include a visit to the attic and crawl spaces.

In the attic, for example, the inspector might find broken rafters, improper venting, mold or old compressed insulation that is no longer effective. Under the house, it’s common to find standing water near improperly directed downspouts and leaking pipes. The house framing should be checked to see if it’s bolted to the foundation and that the floor framing is properly secured. Ideally, the inspector’s final written report should include glaring safety issues, major concerns, improvements needed and problems that require monitoring. This report can be useful to buyers, sellers and homeowners who are planning a major remodel.

Buy the Right Surveillance System

Surveillance systems for homes and businesses are very popular because they are effective crime deterrents. Sammy Sze, manager of Cypress Video Surveillance Systems, Inc., a Diamond Certified company, suggests that if you just want to keep an eye on your own kids and pets, all you need is an inexpensive do-it-yourself (DIY) system. A typical DIY system includes 4 identical cameras, a monitor, and an optional recorder.

However, for security applications against vandalism, thefts, burglaries, and trespassing, professional-grade equipment is required. Trained surveillance specialists can advise you how to secure your property by making the right choices on the number and model of cameras, installation locations and camera angles. A word of caution - some locksmiths, phone installers and other companies may pose as surveillance experts and merely sell you low-quality DIY systems. If you're making a significant investment, make sure you find a specialized surveillance company.

Choosing Your Assisted Living Community

It’s not unusual for families to look at assisted living communities after spending the holidays with an elderly relative.  Many of these facilities facility receive calls after the new year and every family should take the time to look at several places before making a decision.

Evaluate the “little things” during your visit. Many tours are designed to show you the best features of the building. Attention to detail matters.  Is there a friendly atmosphere about the community? Is there happy eye contact from staff?  Do the residents seem well cared for?  Ask how the community helps residents maintain an independent life-style while getting help with daily needs. Is there a nurse on staff every day to oversee and troubleshoot resident needs?  Finally, families should expect administrators and other staff to be available should they wish to discuss their loved one.