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Home Improvement Blog - On the Level is a home remodeling & repair blog to keep you informed on the products and trends that we see in the field.
We were recently thrilled to discover a new green blog that covers everything from eco-couture to sustainable building. EcoNewsNetwork.org knows we recognize the importance of buying sustainably and taking care of the Earth. They seem to understand that we go green when we can and have the desire to be greener and gentler, but sometimes just need more guidance to propel us on our way.
That's why they arm us with small bursts of info and cool products and advice so we can start living more responsibly in steps large or small.
Some blogs that stood out were:
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"And here are the keys to your former home. Now if you could just turn over the deed..." |
Homeowners staring down the barrel of the foreclosure gun now have a stay of execution option that will keep them in their homes. Fannie Mae's recently announced Deed for Lease Program™ permits homeowners facing foreclosure to sign a lease to stay in their home in exchange for...the deed to their home. What was it they said about "desperate times?"
The program is aimed at those homeowners who don't qualify for a loan modification or other loan-workout solutions. In order to qualify, the home must be a primary residence, the borrower must be released from any subordinate liens, and the new market rental rate cannot exceed 31% of the borrower's income.
Leases created under the program are up to 12 months, with the possibility of a term renewal or a month-to-month extension after that.
After a little digging on FM's B2B sister website, efanniemae.com, I learned that once the deed has been turned over and the lease signed, Fannie Mae (the deed holder) reserves the right to market the property, even as the ex-homeowners are residing in their ex-home.
A call into Fannie Mae yielded little else in the way of specifics on the Deed for Lease™ (or D4L, as they call it) as the program is so new. While I'm not overly excited about the idea of exchanging a deed for a monthly rent, I suppose it beats getting snookered by a Loan Modification Scam or some other hoodwinkery.
What's your take on the Deed for Lease™ Program?
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Even the bathtub can't protect them from the Chinese Drywall invasion... |
Does your home contain contaminated Chinese Drywall? This testing advice from the New York Times can help a homeowner determine if he or she is one of the thousands in over 30 states with the poisonous plasterboard.
Some ways to tell if you have Chinese Drywall in your home:
- Sulfuric smell. (Also a sign that you have descended into the less-favorable Afterworld. It's best to inspect for fire, brimstone and the tortured souls of the eternally damned to eliminate this possibility)
- Blackened metal on bathroom fixtures and copper wires, coils and pipes. (Excessive blackening may also be the work of an enthusiastic cook in the home with a penchant for Cajun recipes.)
- Appliance failure due to corroded wiring. (Could also be failed payments on electric bill, or a burglar at the electrical panel having trouble finding the main circuit breaker).
On a serious note, there are some legitimate health concerns surrounding the contaminated product, and some of the signs that your home has Chinese Drywall include headaches and difficulty breathing.
Take the test, just to be safe.
If you do have it, you can choose to rip and rebuild, or there's a new treatment option that involves decontaminating the home with chlorine dioxide. The jury is out on that process, though.
Have you tested your home for Chinese Drywall?
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The Heroes at Home program helps support military families across the country. |
We just want to applaud Sears Holding for launching its "Heroes at Home" Wish Registry, a program that gives support to military service members, veterans and family members. Sears customers can use the Heroes at Home website to make donations and buy gift cards for the more than 20,000 registered servicemen and women, military family members and veterans. Donations can also be made at Sears Hometown Stores retail locations across the country. Donation methods include converting Citi Reward points to donations, swapping old cell phones for free 60 minute calling cards that will go to a military family and turning in unused gift cards as a donation.
Visitors and donators can also view registered family profiles and post direct messages of support to military families.
With veterans and military service members facing a higher rate of unemployment than the civilian population, the Heroes at Home program is an easy way for the rest of the country to ease the burden of those returning from war and service and say "thank you" for the daily sacrifice they make on our country's behalf.
Sears Hometown Stores will also be launching a Food Drive on November 8th, so stay tuned.
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Take that, termites! |
The new R-Plus Insulation from Terminix is like the kid in high school who did everything well. As most plodded along pulling B's and girls' braids, this Renaissance Man hit home runs for the baseball team, played drums for the popular high school rock band and wrote brilliant plays in rhyming iambic pentameter. So does Terminix's new insulation relegate all others to the realm of mediocrity. What, your insulation only keeps out the cold? Boooooring.
Here's a bulleted list of what R-Plus has going for it:
- Saves the environment. R-Plus is made from 87% recycled materials, like old newspapers.
- Kills termites. The insulation is bonded in a patented process with boric acid, which controls pests like termites, cockroaches, ants and silverfish.
- Qualifies for Federal Tax Credit. You could save up to $1500 by purchasing R-Plus.
- Saves up to 20% in heating and cooling costs. R-Plus is Energy Star-rated. Ever heard of it?
It's quite a resume. Sadly, R-Plus could not be reached for comment. It was volunteering at the local soup kitchen before heading off to a Chemistry study group.
Would you consider R-Plus for your insulation needs? How about for Homecoming King?
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It's all fun and games until the hen turns out to be a rooster. |
Although we at BobVila.com are probably more likely to encourage homeowners to build and maintain their own chicken coop, I felt a sense of obligation to share with the world the potential pitfalls of such an endeavor.
This persuasive piece by a New York Times writer may give some folk second thoughts about raising chickens in their own backyard. It turns out there's a little more to it besides tossing some feed around every now and then and finding new ways to incorporate the dozens of daily fresh eggs into the family's meals.
No, there are diseases, predators, hens that won't lay, and the occasional case of gender identity -- just imagine when that grown hen you expected to start churning out eggs begins crowing at the break of dawn. Small wonder many municipalities have ordinances against roosters.
So read up and get the pros/cons list ready.
Who has some chicken-raising horror stories to share?
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They Hammered Out a Deal
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Looks like the little fish just ate the shark.
In a deal announced today, Stanley Works is buying Black & Decker for $4.5 billion. And Stanley Works CEO, John Lundgren is being named CEO of the combined company.
According to the companies, the deal views the housing market in a comeback stage and the DIY and construction markets in a lagging position.
The merge is good news for the folks at Stanley's headquarters in New Britain, Connecticut where the combined company will be based, and bad news for headquarters employees at B&D in Towson, MD where the companies have stated most job cuts would be based.
While both tool manufactures, the companies have little overlap in product lines and expect regulatory and and shareholder approval shortly.
This was a huge tool purchase. Here is my question:
What was your largest tool purchase and was it a good investment?
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