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How To Pick Carpeting
Most home owners pick carpeting that looks and feels good in the showroom - but just because it makes a good first impression doesn't necessarily mean that it will last long.
How to choose...
Key decisions about fiber and style must be made to find the right carpeting for you, and there are many trade-offs to consider, including price, appearance and longevity.
Decision 1: Fiber. Nothing affects carpeting's longevity more than the material. While a well-chosen, well-cared-for carpet can last 10 to 15 years or longer, a poorly chosen or poorly treated carpet can significantly degrade in less than five years.
Nylon carpeting has a pleasant feel, is relatively durable, holds its color well, is resilient under the weight of furniture and is resistant to mildew and mold. It is somewhat stain-prone, but this risk can be minimized by making sure that it has an effective stain-blocking treatment. Nylon carpeting costs $8 to $30 or so per square yard.
Olefin, also known as polypropylene, lacks the soft, luxurious feel that many home owners desire, but it's extremely strong, stain-resistant, colorfast and moisture and mildew resistant. Olefin is an appropriate choice for high-traffic areas and areas that are somewhat exposed to the elements. Olefin typically costs $8 to $25 per square yard.
Polyester carpeting is very soft, thick and luxurious - more so than similarly priced nylon carpeting - and retains its color well. Sometimes it is made from recycled plastic bottles, which makes it an environmentally friendly choice. Unfortunately, it is prone to crushing - sometimes within five years. Cost is generally $10 to $15 per square yard.
Triexta is a new and appealing subclass of polyester that is rapidly - and deservedly - gaining market share. It's as durable as nylon, yet softer and extremely stain resistant. Triexta fiber is produced only by DuPont under the carpeting brand names Sorona from DuPont and SmartStrand from Mohawk. Prices run $18 to $30 per square yard.
Wool carpeting is extremely dense and luxurious to the touch. It has a beautiful soft and natural appearance and takes dyes very well, so home owners are likely to find precisely the color they want. It also is strong and relatively stain-resistant. But its high cost, $40 to $100 per square yard, has reduced wool carpeting to a minor niche product.
Decision 2: Style. When carpeting is made, the yarn is in loops. If those loops are cut, exposing yarn ends, the result is "cut pile" carpeting. If they're not cut, the result is a "loop" carpet. In general, cut-pile looks and feels softer, while loop carpeting is more durable.
Decision 3: Quality. Once you have settled on a fiber and style, compare the available options side by side. Assuming the fiber and style are the same, the carpet that is denser is likely to be more durable. Push the carpeting fibers down with your palm, and see which brands or versions feel thicker. Push your thumb down between the fibers, and compare the size of the bald spot exposed. The smaller the bald spot, the better the carpet.
Decision 4: Installation and padding. Order a carpet pad with at least a six-pound cushion - that is, a padding that weighs at least six pounds per cubic foot. Order an eight-pound cushion if you're installing low-pile carpet. A quality carpet pad helps carpet look and feel good longer. Installation and padding typically add $4 to $10 per square yard to the cost of carpeting.
When installers arrive, confirm that the carpeting and carpet pad are what you ordered. Disreputable suppliers occasionally try to substitute a lesser product. The padding weight should be indicated either on the padding itself or on labels attached to the rolls. Make sure installers use new tack strips around the room's perimeter. Not replacing existing tack strips suggests that the installer is cutting corners. After the removal of the old carpet, the old tack strip might have bent tacks or be missing tacks.
Check the condition of the sub-floor when the old carpeting comes out. Carpeting can hide problems such as dry rot or mold. If so, reschedule the carpet installation and have these issues dealt with first.
Beware of Cyber Bandits
You may think your cell phone or electronic gadget is safe, but think again. Wherever you are, there are cyber bandits lurking to invade your privacy, steal your identity and even take your money. Here's what you should be aware of:
Location applications: Smartphones feature GPS and geolocation applications that provide driving directions and share your whereabouts with friends.
A hacker can use these applications to gain access to your location information. They can stalk you, kidnap you or even figure out when you're out and burglarize your home.
Don't post your location on services such as Facebook and Twitter. For maximum security, disable your smartphone's location services entirely. Mapping, weather and other location-based apps still should work when you enter your location manually.
Eavesdropping: You receive a text message that appears to come from your bank warning of a problem with your account. But when you click a link in this text message, it actually downloads software onto your phone that lets a criminal listen in on future calls, read your text messages, see photos taken with the phone, track your location or even listen to in-person conversations when the phone is nearby.
The criminal could gain access to your e-mail and computer files, too, or even your credit card or bank account information if you use the phone to make online purchases.
Never click a link in a text message unless you are certain that the message was sent by someone you trust.
Camera viruses: You connect your digital or video camera to a public computer to upload pictures to Facebook or photo-sharing Web site. But while you're uploading your pictures, a virus is secretly loading itself onto your camera.
When you connect the camera to your personal computer at home, the virus will infect it, too, giving the hacker access to every file stored on the computer plus a record of everything you type on the computer from then on.
Never attach your digital camera or video camera to a public computer. Use your computer's security software to run an antivirus scan the first time you connect a new digital photo device to your computer. You should never let anyone attach his/her camera to your computer.
Copier copying: You make a copy of your tax return at a local copy shop or you print out a copy on your workplace printer. Many copy machines and high-end printers now have digital memory that saves digital records of documents printed. Anyone with access to this device could print out a duplicate copy.
Avoid copying sensitive documents on workplace or public copiers. Do not sell or donate a printer that has document memory if it has been used to print sensitive information.
GPS detours: You connect your GPS navigation device to your computer to download a software update. This new software secretly reports your travels to a criminal, who could use the information to stalk you or determine when you go out so that he can burglarize your home. Be extra cautious and only download GPS software updates from the Web site of the company that made your GPS unit.
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Don't do it without getting my FREE Comparative Market Analysis! It will give you an accurate idea of the current market value of your home, as well as helpful tips on how to prepare your home for sale. And, of course, there's no obligation or high-pressure. Just call us today.
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Interesting Facts About China
Chinese men outnumber women by 39 million -- over ten times the population of Los Angeles.
China has the world's biggest mall...but it's been 99% empty since 2005.
If he spent his entire yearly income on housing, the average Beijing resident could buy 10 square feet of residential property.
China has more pigs than the next 43 pork producing countries combined.
Chinese consume 3 million cigarettes every minute.
80% of US toys are made in China.
Shanghai built 1,500 miles of road in the past decade. That's three Manhattan's worth of streets
China is planning a train system that will link London to Beijing in two days, traveling 200mph.
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Real Estate Corner
Q. Is it better to rent than to buy?
A. There are a lot of answers to this question, and the answer differs for everyone.
When you rent you don't usually have the responsibility of maintenance and repairs but you are severely limited in what you can do with the property.
If you want to have pets, plant tomatoes, put up a swing set, or install a hot tub, those can be good reasons to buy.
If you intend to stay in one place for the long-term, buying is also better than renting because housing is undervalued in many areas, selling for less than the cost of replacement construction, and rents are rising at a faster pace.
A homeowner is free to alter his property however he pleases (within reason) and there are big tax benefits to buying. In a rent vs buy comparison, after six years owning is financially better than renting.
In addition, mortgage rates are dirt cheap by historical standards and there are many homes to choose from. And even though it seems unlikely these days, it is still a good bet that the home you buy today will be worth a lot more years from now.
Many people are forced to rent in this economy because their credit score or financial condition does not enable them to obtain the necessary financing to make a home purchase.
When moving to a new city, some people opt to rent for a time before buying to get the "lay of the land". This can be a good idea if you have no knowledge of the city.
I'd be delighted to discuss this in more detail or answer any other questions you may have about real estate. Feel free to call us today.
