Posts Tagged ‘leaf’

Selling something? Maybe trying to sell your house? Here is the fourth of our top 5 projects to boost your home’s value for resale.

July 28th, 2010

Have you already decided to move rather than remodel only to realize, like so many others in the same boat, you are still thinking about remodeling anyway? Why? To make your house more appealing to would-be buyers, cut the time it takes to sell it and maybe even get more cash in hand when you sell is why. While you’re remodeling that other part of the house why not tuck in a new master bedroom suite above the addition? You’ll get all of your money back when you eventually sell your house, right?

Not so fast. While many home-remodeling projects are a great way to add value to your home, not all of them are ironclad cash-back guarantees. Before you invest a significant amount of your precious home equity into remodeling projects, it’s wise to do a little homework on what kind of payback you can expect for various home projects in your area.

A good place to start is the Cost vs. Value report published annually by the National Association of Realtors, or NAR, and Remodeling magazine. The report provides a synopsis of the top projects, the average costs of the projects and their average rate of investment return at resale. It also gives you a city-by-city guide on what various home projects will pay back at resale. Real estate experts caution that these numbers can differ significantly depending on your state, city or even neighborhood. So use these numbers as a starting point, but consider getting the advice of a Realtor and/or remodeling contractor before you commit to a big home project. These experts can familiarize you with remodeling payback figures tailored to your state, city., or town.

The fourth project of five to potentially boost your home’s resale value is a mid-range siding replacement. This more modest variation our first ranked project (upscale siding) includes replacing 1,250 square feet of siding with new vinyl siding and trim.

Average payback: 95.5 percent of cost
Estimated job cost: $7,239
National average resale value: $6,914

The value of this project is in its immediate curb appeal: New siding cleans up a house quickly. However, vinyl may not be appropriate and could actually detract from a home’s value in historic neighborhoods or upscale areas where traditional wood siding is still the preferred material.


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Selling something? Maybe trying to sell your house? Here is the third of our top 5 projects to boost your home’s value for resale.

July 26th, 2010

Have you already decided to move rather than remodel only to realize, like so many others in the same boat, you are still thinking about remodeling anyway? Why? To make your house more appealing to would-be buyers, cut the time it takes to sell it and maybe even get more cash in hand when you sell is why. While you’re remodeling that other part of the house why not tuck in a new master bedroom suite above the addition? You’ll get all of your money back when you eventually sell your house, right?

Not so fast. While many home-remodeling projects are a great way to add value to your home, not all of them are ironclad cash-back guarantees. Before you invest a significant amount of your precious home equity into remodeling projects, it’s wise to do a little homework on what kind of payback you can expect for various home projects in your area.

A good place to start is the Cost vs. Value report published annually by the National Association of Realtors, or NAR, and Remodeling magazine. The report provides a synopsis of the top projects, the average costs of the projects and their average rate of investment return at resale. It also gives you a city-by-city guide on what various home projects will pay back at resale. Real estate experts caution that these numbers can differ significantly depending on your state, city or even neighborhood. So use these numbers as a starting point, but consider getting the advice of a Realtor and/or remodeling contractor before you commit to a big home project. These experts can familiarize you with remodeling payback figures tailored to your state, city., or town.

The third project of five to potentially boost your home’s resale value is a minor kitchen remodel. This consists of giving a functional, but dated, kitchen a makeover. It includes new cabinet doors and drawers (with cabinet boxes left in place), a moderately priced wall oven, cooktop, countertop, sink and faucet and resilient flooring.

Average payback: 98.5 percent of cost
Estimated job cost: $14, 913
National average resale value: $14,691

Along with bathrooms, kitchen updates are almost always among the smartest remodeling projects for resale value. Home buyers seem to gravitate to the kitchen first when they’re looking at a house and even appraisers give extra credit to houses with updated kitchens. However, homeowners can go too far. For example, they might put granite countertops and top-of-the-line stainless-steel appliances in a very modestly priced house. Those improvements aren’t going to help the home’s value in the long run, and the owner definitely isn’t going to get their money back when they sell.

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GutterBrush: Worth its weight in gold?

May 13th, 2010

Probably not. But there is no mistake about what’s in this gold plated vending machine.  Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace Hotel became the first place outside Germany to install “gold to go, the world’s first gold vending machine”. Those in the Gulf region who can clearly afford it can now grab “gold to go”, much like a latte or donuts, from a hotel lobby in the United Arab Emirates. Now when the gold fix strikes all you need to do is find one of these machines and presto, gold! Only one day after its inauguration, the shiny machine attracted many spectators of many different nationalities who had gathered to watch whenever an enthusiast was struck with the urge to splurge on a bar of the precious metal. The gold rates are constantly updated inside the shiny machine — itself gold-plated — in the hotel’s lobby, courtesy of a built-in computer connected to a dealer which sells gold online.

How far we have come from the days of the California gold rush!

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This has nothing to do with questionable investments by banks.

April 27th, 2010

GutterBrush can prevent this from happening.

GutterBrush can prevent this from happening.

Excessive amounts of water overflowing from your gutter system could cause a number of serious problems around your home, some of which could cause you hundreds if not thousands of dollars to repair. But there are just some things that no gutter protection system, even GutterBrush, can solve. One of those situations is a heavy deluge of rain that courses down a roof’s slope and into the gutter with such force that it can not be properly channeled into the gutter and out the downspout. However, leaking or overflowing gutters should never be ignored and a properly installed and clean gutter system should function to move water safely down the gutter and out the downspout in every other type of rain. If they leak or overflow during normal conditions perhaps we can help you to maximize the effectiveness of your gutters and gutter protection system during normal rainfall conditions.

First, if your house is fairly long where the gutters are continuous along the entire length and the only downspouts are on both ends this could cause some over flowing and leaking to occur. Most homeowners prefer this gutter/downspout configuration for aesthetic reasons because a downspout does not have to be installed right in the middle of the house which is usually right near the entrance to the house. However, often times only having a downspout at the end of the gutter system leads to the inability for the gutter system to handle the volume of rain that is falling. An effective solution to this problem is to have the one end raised just as high as you can so that the flow will be sufficient for the water to exit the preferred main exit end before ever running over. You can also investigate the installation of a large gutter on your home’s exterior to accommodate larger volumes of water flow.

Second, make sure your gutters are not leaking as this can lead to the misidentification of the problem you face. To quickly and effectively repair a leaky gutter, first remove debris and wash out the gutters with water. Second, apply a silicone gutter seam sealant to gutter seams, exposed nail/screw heads, and minor holes as needed. Third, you should absolutely replace any section of gutter that is pitted or rusted through. Fourth, make sure that all gutter sections are secured properly to the fascia boards and replace any rotted fascia boards as needed. Fifth, install drip flashing around all roof edges. Finally, fill the gutters with water using a garden hose to check for leaks and proper drainage. Next time it rains watch the gutters for leaks and overflows. If water still overflows the gutters, then you may need to adjust the slope towards the downspouts and or add additional downspouts as previously mentioned. In addition, you might consider installing larger downspouts that will help prevent gutter overflow but these should be coupled with the installation of downspout extensions to divert water away from the house structure in order to avoid costly water damage to your property.

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Making Spring Chores More Fun With The GutterBrush Guys, Ltd.

March 9th, 2010

Making Spring Chores More Fun With The GutterBrush Guys, Ltd.

The GutterBrush Guys, Ltd. (www.gutterbrush.com) enjoy being outside and completing important home improvement/maintenance projects very much. But we are also always mindful of the safety of ourselves and those around us. Take a moment and consider taking health and safety precautions when raking the lawn, cleaning gutters and performing other outdoor chores. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) taking a few simple steps and precautions can keep you from becoming injured while out of doors doing chores this autumn. “Many people work vigorously in the yard during the spring season, and it often takes a toll on your body,” AAOS spokesman Dr. Laurence Laudicina, said in a news release from the academy. “Raking the lawn and cleaning out the gutters are popular seasonal chores that can lead to falls or strain to your back and upper body.” In 2008 in the United States, about 617,000 people suffered injuries caused by rakes, other outdoor garden supplies and ladders, the U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission noted.

So to help everyone avoid becoming one of those statistics we wanted to pass along some of the tips presented by the AAOS:

•Warm up for at least 10 minutes with some stretching and light exercise before beginning work in the yard.

•Use a rake that’s comfortable for your height and strength. You can prevent blisters by wearing gloves or using a rake with a padded handle.

•Make sure that hats or scarves don’t block your vision, and watch out for large rocks, low branches, tree stumps or uneven surfaces.

•Vary your movements and alternate your leg and arm positions often. When picking up leaves, bend at the knees, not at the waist.

•Wear shoes or boots with slip-resistant soles.

•Don’t overfill leaf bags, especially if the leaves are wet. You should be able to carry bags comfortably.

•Don’t throw leaves over your shoulder or to the side. That kind of twisting motion places undue stress on your back.

•Inspect ladders for loose screws, hinges or rungs, and make sure it is free of mud, dirt or liquids.

•Make sure all ladder legs rest on a firm, level surface. Don’t use ladders on uneven ground or soft, muddy earth.

•Always face a ladder when climbing and descending.

•Confirm that the ladder is fully open and locked before you climb it.

•Angle ladders about 75 degrees from the ground.

•Don’t sit or stand on the top of the ladder or on its pail shelf.

•Use the right ladder for the job. Step stools or utility ladders are good for working at low or medium heights, while extension ladders should be used outdoors to reach high places.

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Is Google Street View A Valuable Tool For Building Your Service Based Business? Yes.

February 24th, 2010

No matter the size of your  business the costs involved in the preparation of estimates for prospective clients are significant. They can also take up a considerable amount of time and effort adding even more to your cost of doing business. While charging for an estimate as a means of getting back some of the initial outlay in resources is not a best practice, eliminating the inefficiencies and waste by utilizing available technology can result in less expenditures of finite resources.

This is where utilizing Google Street View may be very beneficial. How so? That is an excellent question.

First,  you can usually see what the street was like and if parking was available. This allows for proper planing to assure an on time arrival which is a great way to start off the relationship with the potential client. Second, it often allows visibility into the type of property where the estimate is going to be made. This also allows for some strategic planning prior to arrival on scene. Third, if you are in the roofing industry this technology often allows you to see exactly which type of roof is present on the property as well as other important roofing variables needed to make a sound estimate. This information can allow you to be prepared to offer a customized estimate to the potential client without having to take unnecessary time to do so due to already having knowledge of the roof type. Fourth,  you can often determine obvious structural defects from the photos available. Again, this type of due diligence saves you time on site but also helps you to project a very professional image. Fifth, using this technology allows you to be completely prepared in terms of what equipment you will need to make the best estimate possible. For example, Google Street View may allow you to determine what size ladder(s) may be needed to make an inspection/estmate. Finally, this technology allows you to capture an image of the property for any client files you may be keeping for the estimate and any subsequent work.

I suggest you give this technology a look to see if you can implement it to make a very positive impression on your prospective clients.

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While Passengers Must Pay $8 for Blankets and a Pillow on American Airlines The GutterBrush Guys, LLC. Are Keeping Prices At 2009 Levels!

February 9th, 2010

So now passengers must pay upwards of $8  for a blanket and pillow on American Airlines? An interesting business strategy would be to lobby the TSA to prohibit passengers from bringing their own blankets and pillows to drive revenue from this new plan. While charging for what used to be included in the price is becoming the norm in many industries it is good to be able to hold our pricing here at GutterBrush Guys, LLC. to 2009 levels. Perhaps the airlines could learn a thing or two from us. Unlikely seeing that American Airlines announced, without any fanfare last week, that it would eliminate free blankets in coach and sell an $8 packet that includes a pillow and blanket starting on the first of May this year.

Why would a company that does business in an increasingly reviled industry make this type of move? It seems that American Airlines predicated its decision on consumer surveys. Wait. We are supposed to believe that customers said they were in favor of this added charge in an an increasingly less than enjoyable consumer experience on the airline with the worst-in-the-nation on-time performance, deplorable acumen in baggage-handling or the grotesque state of its fleet of aircraft? Forgive me but I remain skeptical.

While other airlines also charge for various items to make flights more comfortable it seems that no one is asking the consumer what they want. If they did they would likely find out what we have discovered. People want to be treated fairly and with honesty as well as getting the product they were promised. There is no room for deception or taking advantage of your customer base and their disposable income pool. Perhaps when more customers abandon those companies that deliver a less than stellar customer experience those that do will have a chance to shine brighter than ever before. Until then enjoy your $8 blanket and pillow.

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Would you like some extra radiation with your security checkpoint experience?

February 5th, 2010

Airport body scanning raises radiation exposure while using gutterbrush simple gutter guards does not. Because safety is always a priority in our pursuits and because we travel a bit we wanted to share the risks associated with airport body screening.

An inter-agency report (Inter-Agency Committee on Radiation Safety report, which is restricted to the agencies concerned and not meant for public circulation) stated that  governments must explain any decision to expose the public to higher levels of cancer-causing radiation while also suggesting that pregnant women and children should not be subject to scanning, even though the radiation dose from body scanners is “extremely small”. The group putting this report forward includes the European Commission, International Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear Energy Agency and the World Health Organization.

Please keep in mind that an accurate assessment about the health risks of the screening won’t be possible until governments decide whether all passengers will be systematically scanned or randomly selected, the report said. Governments must justify the additional risk posed to passengers, and should consider “other techniques to achieve the same end without the use of ionizing radiation.” However, President Obama has suggested using upwards of $734 million to implement airport scanners that use x-rays and other technology to detect explosives, guns and other contraband.

“There is little doubt that the doses from the backscatter x-ray systems being proposed for airport security purposes are very low,” Health Protection Agency doctor Michael Clark said by phone from Didcot, England. “The issue raised by the report is that even though doses from the systems are very low, they feel there is still a need for countries to justify exposures.” So what is the risk?

Most of the scanners deliver less radiation than a passenger is likely to receive from cosmic rays while airborne, the report said. Scanned passengers may absorb from 0.1 to 5 microsieverts of radiation compared with 5 microsieverts on a flight from Dublin to Paris and 30 microsieverts between Frankfurt and Bangkok, the report said. A sievert is a unit of measure for radiation.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has said that it ordered 150 scanners from OSI Systems Inc.’s Rapiscan unit and will buy an additional 300 imaging devices this year. The agency currently uses 40 machines, which cost $130,000 to $170,000 each, produced by L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. at 19 airports including San Francisco, Atlanta and Washington D.C. Oddly enough the U.S. TSA has not ordered a single linear foot of gutter protection such as gutterbrush to protect their gutters at airports across the United States.

This will never happen with gutterbrush simple gutter guards

This will never happen with gutterbrush simple gutter guards

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We know what the new Apple Ipad Can’t do. Do you?

January 27th, 2010

It can’t protect your property from costly damage caused by clogged and overflowing gutters! And for about the same projected price of the Ipad you can protect your entire home from clogged gutters all without a battery or yet another charger! But to be fair there are a whole host of things that the new Ipad can do that a gutter protection product like GutterBrush cannot do. These include: browse the web, read and send emails, load and view photos, watch videos and DVDs, listen to music, play games, read emails and it will run most of the 140,000 iPhone applications. But it still cannot protect your gutters from filling and clogging with debris! Regardless, the newest Apple device is 1.3 centimeters thick and weights 680 grams; it is thinner and lighter than any other laptop or notebook.

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GutterBrush Guys on Facebook?

January 21st, 2010

Who are these GutterBrush Guys Anyway?

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/GutterBrush-Simple-Gutter-Guard/211318087199?ref=ts

and solve the mystery!

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