Are You Sleeping in a Sanctuary?

by Faith Ranoli
Host of Heart & Home Thursdays, 1pm PT on http://www.healthylife.net

The one room in the house where we typically spend the most time is the bedroom. We sleep or rest on average seven hours a night, usually our pet sleeps just as long as we do in the bedroom with us. This time of rest is essential for the body to regenerate, and to renew itself.

Many studies have shown the importance of a healthy immune system and it's reliance on a good night's sleep. But what if your bedroom is emitting an energy field that has a toxic impact on your body's or your pet's body's energy field?

Will your body or our pet's, find that rest and regeneration it needs to keep you healthy? Most people do not think about the electrical or magnetic fields surrounding them, especially when sleeping.

Here are 8 things you can do to create a safer environment in which to sleep:

o Move your digital clock at least 6 feel from the bed.

o If crating a pet use a plastic crate and pay attention to the outlets that are near where you have placed the crate.

o Ensure your home's electrical system is grounded and in good working order.

o Move electrical appliances such as lamps, radios, TV's and cell phones away from the bed.

o Turn off all wireless devices, digital baby monitors, cordless phones, wireless headsets, and Bluetooth devices.

o Only use an electric blanket or waterbed heater to warm the bed then turn them off.

o Replace metal box springs with non-metal platforms.

o Install an electrical demand switch that turns off the electrical power to outlets around your bed.

Things to know when hiring a contractor

by Faith Ranoli

Do you have home remodeling projects? What if you've watched the building TV shows and know you do not want to end up like some of those people. How do you protect yourself? How do you bring your project in on time and on budget? Most importantly, how do you hire a team to accomplish your goals of bringing your dream into reality on budget?

Here are some tips to help you hire the right people and avoid common pitfalls. The best advice is to be prepared and do your due diligence.

Before you start your project:
Hire a home inspector to assess the property for hidden needed repairs. Speak with professionals to help you lay out the project, perhaps an architect, designer, the kitchen or bath staff at the big box store, look at magazine and search the Internet for ideas and products.Depending on your time commitment and level of involvement you may choose to hire a remodeling coach to help interface with contractors or to oversea the project or to help you do some of the work.Once you have a plan of action think about your budget, hold back 10-15% for the unexpected, if you don't spend it on surprise repairs then you can upgrade fixtures or other materials towards the end of the project.

When hiring a contractor:
Ask friends or professional contacts for contractor referrals, check with your home insurance company carrier or Realtor for their vendor list. When talking to contractors ask for proof of insurance, workman's compensation insurance and state licensing. Call and verify all insurances and ask for certificates of insurance before you start the job. Call and verify the contractor is in good standing with the state licensing board. Call and verify the contractor and the company name are in good standing with the Secretary of State's office and the Better Business Bureau. Use the Internet and research the contractor and his company. Ask to see their driver's license and car insurance. Ask for past customer references from each contractor, call those customers and ask to see the finished work.

During the bid process:
Obtain bids from at least three qualified contractors. Ensure the bids are made on the same job specifications and quality of materials. Obtain a land and cell phone number, street mailing address not a post office box, an email address and website address for each contractor and make sure this information is reflected on their bid. Each bid should have a start date, end date and payment breakout dates. Ask for the bid to be broken down into labor and materials for each phase of the project.

Drawing up the contract:
After selecting your contractor(s)ask for the contract and look for:
-- A start date and end date with a clause detailing the process if the contractor cannot meet the end date. The work description encompasses the total project they bid on, all the details are written into the contract.
-- A payment schedule, based on finishing phases of the project.
-- A plan for obtaining permits where needed.
-- A lien release from all subcontractors and material suppliers, do this before paying for any work.
-- A means to track changes to the project. Unexpected repairs or changes to the original design will crop up, a way to track those changes is necessary because it will most likely change the cost of the project. A form filled out by the contractor and signed by both of you is recommended.
-- A clause for touch ups and warranties.
-- A labor and material price breakdown for each phase of the project.
-- A means of negotiating if the job is not done to your agreed upon contract.

Remember, anything you sign is a contract. When the job is completed, do not write that final check until you have the signed and completed permit from your local building inspection office. Also, have others look at the finished project and look for touch ups. You've been looking at the project daily and you might miss something, a fresh eye will help you see the touch ups needed while the contractor is motivated to make those repairs.

Tune in to Faith Ranoli’s, Heart & Home radio show, Thursday 1p.m.PT

10 Tips on Discouraging Home Break-ins

by Faith Ranoli

In the United States each year over 6 million homes are robbed while residents are on vacation. The majority of those breaking into homes are opportunists, they see something and they take it. Usually working on impulse and taking low risk items.

According to the Burglary prevention council, 28% of summer break ins are performed by someone who watches the home for daily routines and wait for the occupant to leave on vacation before breaking into the home.

The home items most often taken are, tools, cameras, credit cards, sports equipment, jewelry, TVs, computers and laptops, DVD players and stereo equipment.Here are a few simple things you can do to reduce your risk of break ins:

1. Create a neighborhood watch, your neighbors are your extra set of eyes when you are away from home, know your neighbors and know each other's schedules. Let a neighbor know when you are leaving and when you will return, alert the police too, they will do additional drive bys at different times of day.
2. Lock your doors, especially the door from the house to the garage and the side yard to the garage. Lock fence gates. Lock all your windows too.
3. While away disable your overhead garage door opener and lock the overhead door to the track.
4. Use timers to turn on lights and TVs throughout your home, set them for the times you would normally be using the lights or TVs.
5. Use outside lights, a well lit home will discourage would be robbers, they will go to a dark home first.
6. Stop the mail, milk delivery and newspaper.
7. Close shades, what a thief can't see they can't take.
8. Install an alarm system or at least put an alarm company's sign in your yard.
9. Monitor your answering machine message and your trash. Don't indicate you are away from home and don't put out the trash with the box from the new flat screen TV.
10. Have a home safe and lock up important papers with your account numbers, social security numbers, check books and extra checks, any jewelry or other small valuables.


Tune in to listen to Faith Ranoli on the Heart And Home Show, Thursday 1p.m. PT on www.healthylife.net