Home Security Systems

I know that I live in a very safe area, but that doesn't mean I'm immune to a possible burglary. Also, I live in an old house, and who knows what's going on with the electrical in the walls. The threat of a fire is what is making me look into a home security system. If a fire broke out while no one is home, before the fire department is notified, it may be too late to salvage the house and, most importantly, my dog.

So I began my search by researching all the large companies in my area. They all seem somewhat similar: low cost for installation, $30-45 per month in monitoring fees. So far, I had one in-home consultation, and thankfully, the salesman was not too pushy and actually left the contract for me to peruse. I have the following issues, which I think might be universal amongst all these security companies:
- Length of contract (the one I have is for three years, and the policy they have if you move is not included in the contract)
- Do the authorities actually come when called by the monitoring station? I'll have to call and check. Also, if it's a false alarm, is there a fine?
- Equipment repairs. The contract I have states all repairs are paid for by me- even though the contract states I do not own the equipment in my house. Does that sound fair to anyone?

I should schedule visits with more security companies, but I'm really hesitant to do so. I hate high-pressure sales, and if they refuse to leave me the contract to read on my own, there's no way I'm signing. So I fear I'll just waste time. Since I'm really primarily concerned with just a fire alarm, I'm also considering looking into local companies that offer monitoring. Maybe they would just install a fire alarm, but I am also going to assume that if the equipment comes free/cheap, I'll have to sign at least a three year deal. I'm not sure what I will do.

Dryer Safety

I recently read this article about cleaning your dryer vent, and it made me realize a couple of things:

1) I haven't cleaned out the vent in three years, and
2) the vent I have in place is regarded as the riskiest type that could lead to a fire.

Being the paranoid sort I am, I immediately went out to purchase a vent that was at least a step above the foil vent I currently have. I ended up buying a semi-rigid metal vent that has yet to be installed, because I may be reconfiguring the laundry room, thus needing a vent of different size (and possibly upgrading to the recommended heavy metal vent). But I did clean out the existing vent, and even shortened it so that there is much less area for lint to become trapped, which I hope will lessen the threat of fire.

Crown Moulding Part 2

Overall, the mouldings look good. I had to join the pieces on all four walls, and only on one of them is it noticeable. However, there are gaps on various areas of the walls and ceilings, due to non-square angles and warps in the walls and ceilings. A few areas could be fixed with caulk, but some are just wide, unless I first insert shims or something. I think Ill leave as is.



So was it worth the $80 I spent? Upon first glance, I think it really does make the room seem nicer. Will I get $80 more when I sell the house because of this? I doubt it, but maybe it is a nice touch that makes a potential buyer more comfortable.

Crown Molding

Since I've been on vacation all week, I figured I'd do something I've been wanting to try: crown molding in my bedroom.

To make it easier, I bought bought corner blocks so I don't need to do any miter cuts, which is very helpful to me because I'm sure the walls are not 90 degrees. To do a room that is 12' x 12', the cost for materials is about $100, which I thought was high. The corner blocks did add almost $30 to the cost.

So far, I've painted the molding. This week I hope to actually attach it all.

"Cash for Caulkers"

You may have heard about the so-called "Cash for Caulkers" program that is being discussed in Washington now. Though no details have yet been released, it's supposed to give rebates of up to $12,000 to homeowners who make enrgy efficiency upgrades.

I'd love to get some free money and make my home more efficient, but I'm not sure this is the best thing to do right now- asking people to spend money that is not theirs so that a few sectors really reap the financial rewards. Not everyone in the country is a homeowner, but everyone in the country could actually benefit from the upgrades. So I'm undecided. I'll have to see what the details are before deciding if this a smart move and if I can take advantage of it.

I've already read some comments from people hoping that this would be retroactive- because what about the people who got that new roof or new windows last year, and struggled to do so?

10 Easy Ways to Save Money

As the self-proclaimed Thrifty Homeowner, I'm always on the lookout for ways to save money when it comes anything involving my home. I've compiled a list of 10 quick and cheap ways you can keep more of your hard-earned money (or learn to spend it more wisely).

-Insulate Hot Water Pipes - Doing this should cost you less than $10, and it will lower your fuel bill and increase the speed at which hot water reaches your faucets.
-Research the Value of Your Improvements - Before undertaking that costly upgrade or renovation, take a look at the estimated percentage of costs that can be recouped. You might be surprised at how much or how little you might get in the end.
-Track Your Home's Value - Even though I don't have immediate plans to move, I like to keep track of my house's market value. Though they are not always accurate, these online tools can also help you decide if you really should do that improvement you were thinking about.
-Refinance Your Mortgage - Rates are at or near record lows. As long as your credit score is above 740 or so and you have 20% equity in your home, you shouldn't be paying more than 5.50% for your 30 year mortgage.
-Compost Your Waste - To save money on soil additives, begin collecting your yard and food waste in a covered tub outside your house. In a few months nature will take its course and you'll be able to pull out nutrient-rich matter you can use in your garden or planting beds.
-Replace Your Bulbs with CFLs - Everything you read nowadays stresses that you should change out conventional bulbs for CFLs because of their cost and energy savings. This year, I think most of the CFLs on the market are finally at a point of acceptable cost and quality.
-Use Ceiling Fans in the Winter - Ceiling fans not only help to save energy and costs in the summer, but also when you have your heat on. Set them to spin clockwise and turn them on at a low setting. Hot air rises, so the fans help to push down and circulate that air you paid to have heated.
-Be on the Lookout for Free Stuff - I get my mulch from the town recycling center, trade books at the library, and explore my local Freecycle's site before I purchase many items.
-Consider Renting Equipment Instead of Buying - Break the habit of automatically buying items that will be used once or seldom. If you can't get it for free (see above), look into renting it instead.
-Use a Programmable Thermostat - They cost $40-80, yet they can save you money by automatically turning down the heat or AC when you're out or sleeping.

Fall Update

If you've been wondering what I've been up to: I haven't been doing much in the home improvement realm lately.

Now that the weather is turning cold here, it's a good time to tackle some indoor projects. But I really have nothing left on my list. What I do need to do is renovate how the house looks on the outside. I plan to use the winter months to plot my plan of attack!