Akron Canton Region Airport, OH

Gary Collins, dryer exhaust expert, answers questions about how to have an energy efficient clothes dryer

Akron, OH - As with any new appliance purchase, consumers are concerned with energy efficiency with they choose a new model. Gary Collins, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard in Greater Cleveland, Ohio, was recently interviewed. When asked what to look for in a clothes dryer, Gary said, "Your clothes dryer is one of the most expensive appliances to operate. The most energy efficient feature on new models is the automatic sensors that shut the dryer off when the clothes are dry. Not only does this prevent over-drying your clothes so they last longer; it also keeps the dryer from running longer than it needs to, saving energy."

The next question we asked Gary was about gas versus electric; which is less expensive to operate? Gary answered, "Generally speaking, gas dryers cost about half as much to operate as electric dryers. Your local appliance store should have information about the operating costs for both gas and electric on the model that you are considering."

Knowing that clothes dryers produce a lot of heat and that they vent the hot air to the outdoors, we asked Gary why homeowners don't use the additional heat for their homes. Gary explained, "By law, all clothes dryers must be vented to the outdoors. The combination of heat and moisture from a clothes dryer can produce mold which is harmful to your health and damaging to your home. If you have a gas dryer, then there is also a concern of carbon monoxide."

Gary also spoke to us about proper dryer exhaust ducts, "The dryer exhaust duct should be 4 inches in diameter and have a smooth interior. We no longer recommend the use of vinyl or plastic; dryer vents and ducts must be made of rigid metal. Short and straight is the rule for dryer venting and optimum air-flow. Bends of 45 and 90 degrees and extra long dryer ducts slows down the air-flow and puts additional stress on your dryer. When the dryer overworks it uses more energy to do its job."

As the interview concluded, Gary advised us of proper maintenance of the dryer duct system. "Professional dryer vent cleaning is recommended at least once a year to keep the system working properly. No matter how energy efficient your new clothes dryer is, it will cost an additional $200 - $300 per year to operate if it is not getting proper air-flow. When dryer lint accumulates inside the dryer, around the drum, motor and heating element, you have a potential fire hazard.

Gary Collins, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Greater Cleveland specializes in dryer vent cleaning, maintenance, repair and alterations, while educating consumers on preventing clothes dryer fires. Visit http://dryerventcleaningcleveland.blogspot.com/ for more information.

Contact:

Gary Collins

Dryer Vent Wizard of Greater Cleveland

Phone: 440-360-0631

Email: gcollins@dryerventwizard.com

Website: http://www.dryerventwizard.com

WELCOME SPRING, WHEN LIFE COMES ALIVE IN EVERYTHING!

The Spring Real Estate Market is upon us-and it did arrive. The phone is ringing! Our DeHOFF office is busy and it feels terrific. We Realtors are out in full force and it is so nice to see everyone literally running through the office halls again- working contracts, hurrying to showing appointments and all the various details that never seem to stop when we are in the Spring market. We had the faith. We hoped it would not pass us by. Like clockwork it arrived by early March.

Is it just the promise of warm sunny days and colorful landscaping coming alive that brings the buyers out? I think that is always part of the allure of considering a home purchase. Spring is a time of renewal and change. In chilly Ohio, we also have had much time to get winter cabin fever within the walls of our homes. We reflect what we love and what we don't love about how we are currently living our life's at home. Lifestyles change-we outgrow our homes and the "need it" and"want it" changes. Life is about change.

This Spring we have a new allure drawing folks to the housing market. It is the terrific interest rates. And for the moment they are even lower than a few days ago. FHA is reported to be at 5.25% on a 30 year fixed mortgage with a credit score of 620 and 3.5% down. FHA can be a great opportunity! I have had many clients choose a FHA loan. Speak to a loan specialist- who knows what your personal situation may allow. If you are shopping in the Stark County, Ohio area and need a lender recommendation-call or email me. I would be happy to share my contacts. My best professional advise is don't start shopping until you make initial contact with a lender. You want to know you are headed in the right direction. Many buyers look at too much or less home than the lender will recommend. And frankly, some folks are not aware of how credit scores now work. What was considered a good score previously is now a fair score. While that sounds harsh, it is really only an adjusted back to the days of old-before the foreclosure crisis. The good news is that housing money is plentiful and is being loaned. It wasn't so long ago that 8% interest was common and 10-20% down payment was expected.

And there's more! For the "first timer" aka the first time home buyer more great news. It is the popular homeownership tax credit that the Federal Government rolled out. How does $8,000. sound? Who is eligible? The true first time home buyer and anyone who has not had ownership interest in a home for a period of 3 years previous to the day of the 2009 purchase. This program will end before the end of 2009, so if you qualify- time for serious thought...seriously! I would be happy to email you the flyer I have on this program. It includes all the details in an easy to understand format. My email: poster@dehoff.com

With all this good news, some sad news: the arrival of the Spring Real Estate market has fooled a few home shoppers because they over thought the home the worked so hard to find...only to let another buyer make the decision for them. The other buyer offered a contract and bid to win! The decision was made for both of them. We DeHoff office Realtors have shared many of those stories the last 2 weeks. Back to shopping they go. Real Estate is local, so do not get too caught up in the national news about destressed home sales. Learn what is happening in your area. In Canton, Ohio/Stark County, Ohio "things are happening". Welcome Spring!

Is it time to move up into your next home? Is it time to stop renting and invest in your future, not your landlords? No matter what your personal situation is, this may be the time to "get moving". Don't look back and say could of and should of. Let's Go Home Shopping!

3/13/09 Pam Oster, DeHOFF REALTOR www.officialstarkcountyhomes.info 330.936.3480

The Temple of Heaven in Beijing,
built in 1420, has no straight
lines - a Feng Shui characteristic

I am a REALTOR in Canton, Ohio not Canton, China- so I need some help. I would love to learn more about FENG SHUI. I have read about it many times, and often participated in discussions about it. As a REALTOR who works with New Construction, I have had clients who built with Feng Shui in mind. My recent open house allowed me to discuss it with someone who knows much more than me. It has renewed my interest in learning much more. The potential open house buyer was Asian and "the where" was important to him. It would allow a home purchase consideration or deem it unsuitable- and forgotten. That is pretty powerful! Apparently the art of placement is crucial. The front door had to face and open in a certain direction. This lovely Jackson Township home had it all wrong.

A few weeks later, I looked through some old notebooks. I had made notes on the topic of Feng Shui; likely from a Sunday afternoon at Border's Books. My daughter and I spend countless hours there when she was school age. I am sure my notes are the "for dummies" version, as I was overwhelmed with the fascinating information. I still am. This may be a wise new way to explore 2009 and beyond;both as a homeowner and a real estate professional.

Here is what I learned previously:

The basic tools of feng shui (at a very elementary level, I am sure), is : COLOR, SOUND, LIGHTING, ART, GROWING, WATER FEATURES, WIND-SENSITIVE OBJECTS, MIRRORS & CRYSTALS. A few additional comments I wrote are that COLOR adds emotional, physiological and cultural content. LIGHTING, including Fireplaces and garden lighting, brings more life energy into the environment. MIRRORS and CRYSTALS circulate energy.

My notes made further mention of color. For Red, I wrote the meaning was attraction,warmth and strength. Perhaps that is why so many of our favorite Asian restaurants have red in the decor. Green reflects health and potential.

At it's most fundamental, most of us have read that in order to achieve harmony, five elements are important. They are- water, wood, fire, earth and metal. They can determine the balance and equilibrium within your home. I have so many notes on those elements individually. Yin and Yang are other terms we have often heard. I encourage you to learn more by doing your own research.

Make it your best year! I would love to have you share with me what you know about this topic.

-Pam Oster, DeHOFF REALTORserving Canton,Ohio and surrounding Stark County,Ohio 2/11/09

Where do you want to live? View ALL available homes in Stark County and beyond:

www.officialstarkcountyhomes.com

As I sit at my computer, flipping between real estate work and the CNN site, I have many other thoughts in my cluttered brain. I am not alone in having the economy foremost on my mind. Those of us in the Housing Industry wait impatiently as we check our favorite news media to get updates on the current stimulus status. The industry I am proudly apart of, has much on the line. All Americans do, of course. For my fellow Realtors and I-we are homeowners and real estate business owners. We live the American Dream and we help others live the American Dream of Home ownership. We strongly believe that what we have lobbied for is needed, as nothing else seems to make sense, given the current problem with the U.S. economy.

So in my easily distracted brain fog, I goggled Stimulus. This is one of the items that came up. Wikipedia's site link says: Stimulus may refer to: Stimulus (physiology), something external that influences an activity; Stimulus (psychology), a concept in behaviorism; Input to a system in other fields; Economic stimuli, incentives and fiscal policy

Another link from Wikipedia says: In physiology, a stimulus (plural stimuli) is a detectable change in the internal or external environment. When a stimulus is applied to a sensory receptor, it elicits or influences a reflex via stimulus transduction. A stimulus is often the first component of a homeostatic control system.

Easily distracted, after checking CNN's web site once again and no new updates- I moved over to Oprah's web site. Make fun of her if you will, but the most influential folks are drawn to her media power and spiritual influence, and she has some of the best guests at times. When it is a topic I find of interest, I often really enjoy her show. While Tom Cruise made me so happy years ago, I can't say I enjoy watching him jump on Oprah's couch and my youthful theory of years ago still stands-"Tom just sit there and look pretty". I think he lost me on that couch, perhaps. Even if you do not watch Oprah, the spoof of Tom jumping for joy over Katie Holmes has been replayed many times. I think perhaps Tom has become a carachture of himself. But he is not the first man to disappoint me. Thank heaven, I still have my humor in tack on this tense business day in American history.

In January 2009, I watched an Oprah show that I was extremely drawn into, and the guests were unbelievable. I was inspired as the timing was perfect. It was the start of the New Year and "Change". So, then as today, I think about our new President , America's opportunity for moving forward, my only child starting her new life as a Kent freshman and where am I in all this both personally and professionally. I went to Oprah to get inspired. I needed some personal stimulus! The richest woman in America can be all bad...or wrong. I can't say that I can tell you much about what her current home page speaks of today or what today's 4:00 show will be about... but I did quickly see information (a recap) from a gentleman who was on that inspiring show last month. I believe the topic was about taking control of your Happiness. Happiness was most definitely the topic at hand within her Best Life Series for '09. The guest was Rabbi Shmuley. The show had several spiritual and religious leaders on it, however it was more about spirituality than religion.

I read on and remember that show....

One of the Rabbi's quotes was: "Happiness can never be a goal in life-it is the natural byproduct of a life full of purpose and meaning." The Rabbi went on to say...Stop focusing on your happiness. Focus instead on whether your life is full, rewarding and meaningful. Other key points include:

Surround yourself with a structure of selflessness. Find joy in a life of service, he says. "Giving your love to people and focusing on others will naturally bring happiness into your life" ..."Foster creativity, promote teamwork and mentor others-rewards and promotions will come along in due time."

Bring spirituality into your daily life. Try meditating, attending church or praying. Spirituality doesn't always have to do with religion, he says.

Spend more time "being" than "doing." "A great way to do this is spending time with your kids playing and goofing around and just enjoying spending time together."

Laugh at yourself a little."Try not to be critical of yourself, and celebrate your everyday successes," Rabbi Shmuley says.

You know I just had to know what Wikipedia says, so in a flash here it was: Happiness is a state of mind or feeling such as contentment, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy. [1] A variety of philosophical, religious, psychological and biological approaches have been taken to defining happiness and identifying its sources. Philosophers and religious thinkers have often defined happiness in terms of living a good life, or flourishing, rather than simply as an emotion. Happiness in this older sense was used to translate the Greek Eudaimonia, and is still used in virtue ethics.

I will now take time to meditate on this all- a break in my day. Perhaps it is only me that sees a connect-the- dots pattern between the two terms of stimulus and happiness as we move forward into 2009. How are they different and also alike, in meaning?? "Change" is in the air- I feel it!

We all need to take a step back.... see where we have been and were we are going.... and what is important to us, what we want for our families, and how we can be a positive force in our workplace and our community.

Pam Oster, DeHOFF REALTOR

Have your best day!! 2/10/09

Spring is coming-have faith!

The winter thaw is here and even with the risk of a little more snow or ice, the worse should be behind us.

With Valentines Day approaching this weekend, thoughts of love is in the air- and also SPRING FEVER. Some of us head south for a little touch of warm weather and get inspired to get the warm weather wardrobe ready when we return. Others do the home wardrobe change.

The best way to welcome the season change is do a little home decor change. Add some fresh spring colors to your home. Go meek or wild. Done right, it will wear well right into the end of summer. Subtle changes are all you need. Fresh colors do not have to mean bright colors, either. And it can be done on a budget! No need to hire a personal decorator. And if you need that guidance, take an afternoon off (even a Sunday afternoon) and turn on HGTV or similar. It is not hard to find inspiration. Even an afternoon at Border's Books can add just enough super power to your confidence to try something different. There is so much potential for change, in every home. READ ON....

One of the easiest and fun season alterations is your window treatments. Retailers have so many design/print/color options available;many by famous designers at discount prices. Martha Stewart and Rachael Ashwell are just a few of my favorites. Retail competition has brought prices down to a range that you can afford to rotate your purchase selections every 6 months. Lightweight fabrics allow a easy breezy warm weather feel. Have some fabric laying around? A no-sew iron on tape hem and use of clip-style curtain rings over rods are an easy project, too. Lampshades do well with a seasonal face lift as well.

Slipcovers are another great idea. Have 2 sets on hand. Pet owners like myself, have washable slipcovers as part of the plan already! The convenience of change is great for decor and also keeping the furniture fresh and clean through out the year. The best thing I ever did was purchase furniture with slipcovers. My splurge was to buy trendy yet practical furniture from Arhaus. The slipcovers were on my "must" list. Previous to that, I bought after-market slipcovers to best fit my old furniture. They have improved greatly through the years, I have noticed. Add a shabby chic summer print for the upcoming season. If none of this is possible-just change out your pillows or pillow covers. A great option is to get vintage fabric from the Goodwill or similar (old curtains perhaps) and create new pillow covers. You might even be surprised who you know that sews and will offer a hand. It is a great "girls night" project. A friend of mine often brings wicker furniture into the home during the summer months-a terrific idea that matches her bungalow style. With adorable fabric cushions, it adds so much charm to the living room.

Accessories are the cheap and quick change bonus. This can be the fun part, as anyone can manage this detail- often without leaving the home. We all have things around the house that we forget about. And some things can be reinvented. What unique things do you have that can be turned into a flower vase or a potted plant holder? Nothing says spring like fresh flowers and greenery. I once turned an old clear glass ceiling light globe into a vase of roses. It had a decorative cut glass design. I trimmed the roses to a short stem length and it was stunning. Rug changes are also a great consideration as the warm weather months approach. Move to less use of them, perhaps. Or if required in your home, go to a more natural texture/material or softer color. Don't forget about the candles, either. Put away the evergreen candles till next season. You likely have something tucked away for use now. If not, there are so many great fresh ideas in candles at all retail stores. The Dollar Stores can be a great source. I once purchased a candle that was from the Hallmark Store originally.

Slightly more ambitious? Paint is the answer. Talk about a room attitude adjustment! The nice thing about paint is it is cheap enough that you can have major impact on a budget. Maybe even have an accent piece of painted furniture stored for seasonal change. Thrift stores and similar offer the perfect opportunity to do that on limited funds. Painting just one wall an eye-catching color is a fast and effective way to create a focal point that will allow you to retain the color already on the other walls. Most colors have great contrasting color selections to chose from. Get a paint chart and get to work. Now that the paint detail has been done or passed on-look at your wall art. Alternate prints to reflect the seasons or your color changes. This is a great opportunity to really have some fun. Take your family out for the day and bring the digital camera. Take some photos that can be turned into art work. Many photoshop program can even take your photos to the next level. Quality photo frames in large sizes, are easy to find on sale and many photo developers offer poster size specials for under $30.

Do not be paralyzed by your decorating fears. Once you start with a simple project, you'll be keep going-I promise. It is fun and you are the director of this production, so do not take it too seriously. This is your home and should be a reflection of your tastes and personality. If you get started now, before you know it it will be 68 and sunny. Then you can get to work on your sitting porch or special garden spot. Make sure you set up at least a small little outdoor spot for enjoying time just for you-you deserve it. Outdoor living spaces are in fashion, especially as we spend more time at home in this economy.

You will be so pleased with your work, I will bet you will proudly invite friends and family into your home again.

And if you are close to listing your home for sale, de-clutter and make these seasonal changes to make your home a "wow" to potential buyers, in the busy spring selling season. Enjoy!

-Pam Oster, DeHOFF REALTOR , serving sellers & buyers in Stark County, Ohio www.pamosterhomes.com