First Choice Title - December 2015 Newsletter

Are Extended Warranties Worth the Cost? 

Extended warranties offer consumers longer terms of coverage on service, repair and replacement for their home's appliances than the standard out-of-the-box warranty from the manufacturer. These warranties are highly profitable for retailers, as they can run up the total cost of your purchase by $100 or more, with very few claims being filed per year. Are they actually worth it?

You can argue the benefits both ways.

In the fast paced world of home electronics, by the time the extended warranty expires, future technology will far outclass today's. Digitaltrends.com states that household electronics have seen great improvements in product reliability, making the price of most extended warranties about the same as a repair bill. The same is true with most appliances today too.

Consumerreports.com agrees. Their data concludes that the likelihood of most home appliances needing repairs in the first three years is less than one in five. And most defects will reveal themselves within the first year of use, while the manufacturer's warranty is still good.

That said, extended warranties should be purchased for some items, including those that are difficult to repair or high-priced items that would be painful to replace. These include high ticket items like a $6000 Viking gas range or pricey hi-definition plasma TVs, suggests smartmoney.com

Since extended warranties do make so much profit for retailers, they are very aggressive about selling them to customers. If you're tempted, follow this rule -- the cost of the warranty should be no more than 10% of the purchase price.

And if you decide to skip the warranty, be prepared to shoulder the cost for assessment (service calls), repair (time in labor plus parts) and shipping. Though it's more of a hassle, this can be the most cost-effective measure. If you have a warranty option of $250 and you experience only one instance in the life of your appliance where it needs $100 of work, you could save $150, or 60%.

Ultimately the choice and risk are yours to assume. Extended warranties can be worth the cost in terms of peace of mind, but only if it's for a product you don't intend to change for a few years. 

By Realtytimes.com

Mantel Decorating Do's and Don'ts 

Mantels are usually the focal points of any rooms they're found in, and there's nothing like creating an eye-catching display to really make the most of them. They're the perfect spot for everything from flowers to candlesticks to photo frames and treasured objets. Here are some important tips to remember when decorating a mantel. 

DO treat the mantel as you would a piece of furniture. Consider its shape, structure, color and style before you decide how you're going to decorate it. 

DON'T forget to make sure your mantel display is in keeping with the overall style of the room. Whatever you have on it needs to compliment the mantel itself and the rest of the room. 

DON'T use a completely random assortment of items in your display. Find items that compliment each other in some way.

The objects should connect to each other through color, style or theme. 

DO use items of different shapes and sizes. Start with taller items at the back and use smaller items as you work your way forward. 

DO layer items in front of each other. Layering creates depth and that's important in every kind of vignette or display. 

DON'T completely hide items when layering. Items in the foreground should overlap those behind - but you still need to be able to see the item in the back. 

DO create a formal display with symmetry. A very classic look is to place one significant item in the middle and then flank it on either side with matching items (vases or candlesticks for example). 

DON'T think that a balanced display has to consist of matching items.

Several lightweight items on one side can be balanced with one visually heavy item on the other. 

DO give your display room to breathe. You don't want so many items that it looks crowded or cluttered. When too many items are forced together they get lost and no longer stand out. 

DO remember that in most displays odds are usually better than evens.

Placing similar objects together in a group of three or five usually works better than grouping them in pairs. 

DON'T just put any old items on your mantel. Include things that have meaning to you in some way.  

DO lean items like framed art and mirrors against the wall. It creates a relaxed and casual type of display. 

DON'T use items that are all the same shape. Create balance by mixing shapes within a display. For instance, a stack of elegant boxes can be topped with a small sculptural item to give a little more interest to the overall look. 

DON'T use too many materials at one time. For instance don't mix gold, silver, pewter, glass, wood, or more at any one time. Try to limit it to two or three finishes at a given time. Ultimately, trust your own eye. It will tell you when enough is enough. 

DO change your mantel decor with the seasons. Mantels are focal points all year round, but the great mantle displays that can be created in the fall and around the holidays can't be beat! 

DON'T fret if you don't have a mantel. Beautiful second-hand mantels are available at second hand stores like the Habitat for Humanity Restore, or you can make a DIY faux mantel. 

By About Home

Broward County Residential Sales in November 2015

  

Real estate sales statistics for November 2015, show the number of sold homes increase by 16.23% compared to the same time last year. The average sales price increased by 15.90% to $378,852 for the month of November. The median sales price increased by 6.54% to $285,000, and market times dropped by 9 days compared to November 2014.

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Phone (954) 433-7680

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