40 The Courier sun • at home • june 11, 2015 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com at home Summer projects to spruce up your home Warmer weather and sunnier days are on their way and many homeowners are itching to begin home improvement projects. If you are one of them, consider these areas of your home when prepping for spring. Windows and doors From a full window replacement to a simple coat of paint, updating your windows and doors can have a big impact on your home. If your windows felt drafty this winter, it may be time for replacements. Replace your old single-pane windows with energy efficient double-pane windows. Double-pane windows can help you save on heating and cooling bills; they help keep the temperature in your home consistent year-round and help protect your furniture, carpet and window treatments from the sun’s fading rays. Need to bring some fresh color into your home but don’t want to paint? Try updating your blinds or shades. From different styles to colorful fabrics, blinds and shades can add a pop of color to your room. Motorized blinds and shades with Pella Insynctive technology come in more than 300 style and color options so you can find the right fit for your home’s decor. Your front door is a major focal point of your home, enhancing your home’s curb appeal. Make a bold statement and improve your home’s energy efficiency with a new ENERGY STAR-certified front door. Consider options with decorative glass accents, and sidelights to add more natural light while maintaining a sense of style and privacy. Looking for something even easier? A new coat of paint to your existing door is a quick and easy way to give your home a fresh, new look. Give Pantone’s Color of the Year marsala a try, or get inspired by your favorite Pinterest collection of favorite front doors. Gutters and downspouts Excess water near your foundation can cause thousands of dollars in damages. Luckily gutter cleaning and downspout repair is fairly low-cost. After all the snow melts, you’ll want to make sure to clean your gutters and clean out any debris that may keep spring rains from flowing freely through your downspouts. Along with replacing damaged gutter or downspout sections, you’ll also want to make sure you have added downspout extenders to ensure water is draining far away from your home’s foundation. Extenders should reach at least five feet into your yard. Gutter covers can also be added to minimize debris from gathering in gutters throughout the year. Air conditioning It may be a few more months before you’re turning on the A/C, but spring is a great time to start getting your cooling system ready. Often you have to call in the pros for air conditioning work but things like spraying off any overgrowth or debris, cleaning coils and changing filters are fixes you can easily do on your own. Also, trim back any shrubs that are near by. Keeping the outdoor unit clean from debris will boost your A/C system’s efficiency. You can keep part of your indoor duct work clean by removing register covers and wiping clean any of the visible parts. You’ll need to contact a professional for a full duct cleaning. Courtesy BPT “United We Succeed” MAKING MORTGAGES EASY N0%-3% Down Payment on qualifi ed programs NDebt Consolidation on qualifi ed programs NMay help with low fi co scores on qualifi ed programs NRefi nance even if you owe more than what your house is worth (HARP) * N Reverse mortgages 888-888-5721 48-02 25th Ave., Suite 404 Astoria, NY 11103 *The interest on the portion of the credit extension that is greater than the fair market value of the dwelling is not tax deductible for Fed income tax purposes. The consumer should consult a tax adviser for further information regarding the deductibility of interest charges. This offer is made by United Mortgage Corp, Corporate Offi ce - 25 Melville Park Road, Suite 100, Melville, NY 11747, 800-462-4862, which is not affi liated with your current lender nor is it an agency of the federal government. United Mortgage Corp. is approved by HUD/FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae. This is not a government form. This is not a credit decision or a commitment to lend. All proposals and approvals are subject to underwriting guidelines. Rates and programs are subject to change at any time. Licensed Mortgage Banker, New York Department of Financial Services - NYS Banking License # B500336 NMLS, Company Identifi er NMLS #1330. Branch NMLS# 1281062.
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