c OLLEGE

P ARK Neighborhood Association

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.CollegePark-Richardson.com

March 2016

Neighborhood Yard /Garage Sale

Weekend of April 29 - May 1st Each resident can decide what days they want to participate We will have signs out for the entire weekend Yes, it’s time to clean out the house, garage & attic, & get ready for the big event There will be advertisements on various websites & signs on major street corners.

SPECIAL NOTES: You will have to put out your own sale sign.

Proceeds are yours, not the HOA You do not have to register with the City (HOAs will handle for neighborhood) The city will ticket you for cars parked in the alleys & blocking normal traffic Better idea is to direct the traffic to the front of your home or near a corner You may also hold your sale in the front of your home, if you like To register your home, contact Patti Glenn at 972-699-1615 or pattiglenn@tx.rr.com

2

Notes from the President

Patti Glenn pattiglenn@tx.rr.com 972-900-9188 or 972-699-1615

Spring is almost here. I am still wondering where was winter, but I am certainly not complaining. I saw on the news that this will go down as the 4th warmest winter on record. However, I have heard that with our mild winter, we may have a bug problem in the spring/summer. For the second year in a row, Richardson has made the list of Top 10 Healthiest Housing Markets in Texas, compiled by SmartAsset, an online data company. As a sign of the health of the North Texas economy as a whole, every city in the top 10 is located in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex (Richardson placed sixth). SmartAsset measures market health by the average number of years residents spend in homes, home values, ease of sale and the costs associated with home ownership. According to the study, Richardson homeowners have lived in their houses for an average of 12.7 years, the longest amount of any of the top 10 cities. Since opening last year, the Bush Central Barkway dog park has proven very popular among Richardson dog owners. The park was recognized at the state level with the 2016 Texas Recreation & Park Society (TRAPS) Park Design Excellence Award at the TRAPS Annual Institute & Expo in Galveston. The award was the second for the park, which received a regional TRAPS award last year. The award recognizes the dog park for its overall outstanding design elements, functionality, and for the collective cooperation & coordination among the City of Richardson, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Oncor Electric in the development & completion of the park. Police Chief Spivey was pleased to report that overall crime in Richardson continues to follow the downward trend begun in 2009, lower than state & national averages in property crime & far lower in violent crime. Among the highlights for crime prevention are the 755 Crime Watch volunteers. The Video Crime Watch program now has more than 200 registered residents. RPD has solved cases thanks to citizen cameras in the program. Free tax preparation assistance, sponsored by AARP, will be available in Richardson every Monday and Friday thru April 15 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.— Monday sessions will be held in the Library’s Basement Program Room. The Friday sessions are held at the Senior Center. IRS-trained volunteers will be on hand to help with basic tax returns, particularly for elderly, handicapped & non-English-speaking taxpayers. Participants should bring records related to the 2015 tax year, along with a Social Security card and a 2014 tax return. No reservations needed; participants will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. McKamy Spring Park has become the latest location in the Richardson area to have a State of Texas Historical Marker. The new marker stands atop McKamy Springs inside the park, once a popular watering hole for Native Americans and early Texas settlers. The park is located amidst the Brick Row development west of the intersection of Spring Valley Road and Greenville Ave. McKamy Spring Park joins eight locations in the Richardson area with a historical marker. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) board members unanimously agreed to rename the Bush Turnpike light rail station as “CityLine/Bush Turnpike Station,” in an effort to draw attention to the nearby CityLine development. Station signs and DART maps will change to reflect the new name beginning next month. If you are thinking about remodeling, I have a rather long article, “Save on Your Remodel” by James Glave from This Old House Magazine. If you would like a copy of this article, please send me an email – pattiglenn@tx.rr.com

3

CRIME TIPS

YARD OF THE MONTH

Chris & Peggy Williams

1207 Edgewood

HONORABLE MENTION

Mike & Dawn Walters

1101 East Berkeley Our thanks to Callaway's Nursery, located on

Plano Road, north of Campbell, for sponsoring

Crime Watch Patrol Stats

FOR FEBRUARY

Patrol Hours 72,25 (This includes both patrol and meeting hours)

Types of Observations Open Garage Doors 25 Suspicious Persons 0 Other Property Observations 10 Suspicious Vehicles 6

House Checks 7

The following people patrolled this month Dieter Paul, Rick Skaggs, Dale Klosterman, Ben

Parlapiano, Peggy Williams, Chuck Laird, John

Partlow, Gala Partlow, Jerry Silverman, Len

Foster, Lonna Rae Silverman, Gordon Melton,

Patti Glenn, Art Kaplan, Sara Bostelmann and

Kathy Hill.

We had 9 CWP Members that attended the Crime

Watch Patrol meeting with RPD

Our Neighborhood Patrol Officer

Ed Coleman (Cell) 214-282-0843

Call Officer Coleman for

General Assistance To Report Minor or Unusual Activities Cars on the Street

For Emergencies, call 911

Crime Watch Patrol has volunteered to install locking mailboxes. You provide the material & they will install it for you. If interest, contact Chris Williams at (469) 274-3500 or chriswilliams2120@sbcglobal.net

Crime Tip: Install 4 inch screws on your door frames and the strike plates. Do this on all your doors including the inside garage door. This will slow a potential burglar down and make him choose another target. Crime Tip: A number of folks have comments on the number of car burglaries in the last several months. These burglaries have occurred both on the street and in the driveways. Many of the vehicles were left unlocked. Please lock your car regardless of where you park it. Another way to deter burglaries is to keep the neighborhood well lite at night. If you do not already keep your front porch and driveway lights on at night, I encourage you to do that for you and for a brighter neighborhood. You can buy dusk-to-dawn or motion detector sockets that screw into your currently installed outdoor lights. You then screw your regular light bulb (including LEDs) into the dusk-to-dawn or motion detector socket. These special sockets are not expensive – I priced them at Batteries Plus Bulbs and they are about $12-15 each. I am sure they are also available at Lowe’s & Home Depot. I have my front porch lights on dusk-to-dawn and my back lights on motion detectors. Burglars don’t like light so the more light we have in the neighborhood at night, the better. The additional cost of electricity is very, very small -

Richardson Police Department will be conducting a Crime Watch Patrol Class on March 23rd, 2016 at 10:00am to 2:00pm. Please get your applications in now if you would like to attend the training. This class will give you the necessary training to help make Richardson, Texas an even safer place to live and work! Feel free to call me with any questions. Thank you! The application can be found at www.cor.net. Click on "Crime Prevention" then on Crime Watch Patrol. There is a link that says "click here to apply" Lee Rhinebarger Community Liaison Officer Richardson Police Department (972) 744-4938

College Park Market Analysis Summary as of 03/9/16

Active Listings 6 (Includes 3 pending & 2 under option) Avg list price $249.9K Avg price/sq ft $106.47

Sold past 6 months 24 Avg sold price $238.3K Avg price/sq ft $107.29

Please note this does not include “For Sale by Owner” Properties

After doing some analysis, I have determined that there is no significant difference between looking at just College Park and combining College Park, College Park North, College Park East, and Town North Park subdivisions so going forward I will do the CMA on this slightly larger area to give a better idea of the market in our area. If you would like additional information or a market analysis of your property, please contact me at

972-900-9188 pattiglenn@tx.rr.com

CPNA - Dedicated to improving our neighborhood & community

Membership dues covers June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016

Our College Park Neighbors (All neighbors, not just homeowners) are invited to join CPNA!

Mail dues of $35.00 to Treasurer Lynne Patterson

PO Box 851021 Richardson, TX 75085

Questions? Lynne Patterson 972-890-1031

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

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CPNA OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE HEADS 2015-2016

President Patti Glenn 972-699-1615 pattiglenn@tx.rr.com 972-900-9188 cell Vice President John Pantzer 903 720 4795 john.pantzer@vanquint.com Secretary Sharlee Skaggs 972-690-3172 sharlee@mac.com Treasurer Lynne Patterson 972-890-1031 lynne.patterson@yahoo.com Parliamentarian Jerry Silverman 972-231-2300 ljstex@att.net Welcome Comm. Kathy Hill 214-533-5295 kathyhill0878@yahoo.com Beautification/YOM Dale Klosterman 972-644-1583 daleklosterman@sbcglobal.net Beautification/YOM Pam Young 214-415-4132 youngp99@att.net Newsletter Helene Levitan 972-519-0270 hdlevitan@gmail.com Crime Watch Patrol Kathy Hill 214-533-5295 kathyhill0878@yahoo.com AT LARGE Member Chris Xeros 972-740-4151 cxeros@tx.rr.com AT LARGE Member Chieu Mai 972-235-0028 maihennhouse@sbcglobal.net AT LARGE Member Peggy Williams 972-680-2863 pjwillia@sbcglobal.net

C ALLOWAY’S

5 Continued in next column

Spend Spring Among the Splendor of Your Own Backyard Oasis

One of the busiest gardening months of the year is

here, and Calloway’s Nursery wants to help you

create a lush, thriving landscape in your own

backyard! March is a great month to plant almost

every kind of landscape plant. The sooner you

plant, the quicker the plant will start getting

established. The benefit of March plantings is that

your plants get to take advantage of the moderate

temperatures & it allows your plants to reach their

peak performance sooner. Come discover one of

Calloway’s favorite shrubs: ReBLOOM Azaleas!

They bloom in the Spring, again in Summer, all the

way until the first hard frost!

Calloway’s Nursery is receiving weekly shipments

of fresh nursery stock & this is the prime time to

buy & plant. A few great early season flower

choices are Sweet Alyssum, Geraniums,

Begonias, Hibiscus, & Petunias. With an array of

colors to choose from, these stunning flowers are

sure to make your garden a true showpiece!

Also, be sure to shear back Asiatic Jasmine, if

needed, to encourage new growth from the

base. Begin fertilizing Roses every 4 to 6 weeks

until September with Calloway’s Professional

Rose Food. And don’t forget the importance of

pruning those Roses!

March is also the perfect time to develop a

barefoot-soft lawn! By applying Calloway’s

Premium Lawn Food to your lawn as it just starts

growing, it will provide the necessary nutrients for

a healthy, thriving lawn. Fertilizing your lawn

during it’s growing season results in thick, healthy

turf strong enough to choke out many undesirable

weeds. Calloway’s fertilizer has a “quick-release”

element that gives the grass a quick boost to get it

growing, & then slowly releases the proper

nutrients over a 90 day period. And the best thing

about fertilizing your lawn? That beautiful, rich

emerald green color that signals the start of

Spring!

Saturday, March 12th - Enhance Your Landscape with Beauti-

ful Groundcovers Saturday, March 19

th - Hort Couture®: Fabulous Flowers

Fresh from the Runway Saturday, March 26

th - Tips & Tricks to Beautiful Roses

Saturday, April 2nd - How to Add Color to Your Shade Gar-den Saturday, April 9th - Explore and Endless Array of Flowers from Proven Winners® Come see P. Allen Smith at Hurst location at 1:00pm Saturday, April 16

th - Perfect Perennials for Texas Gardens

FREE IN-STORE CLINICS

Saturdays at 10:15 am at all Calloways

Be sure to apply a pre-emergent weed preventer in

March. Come in to Calloway’s & pick up a bag of

Bonide Weed Beater Complete, which will any

stop new weeds from sprouting, as well as help

combat weeds that you can see! And don’t forget

– once you get started with this first pre-emergent

application in March, and follow-up applications in

May and September, you are well on your way to a

weed free lawn!

6

Continued on page 8, bottom right column

5 SIMPLE TAX PREP TIPS FOR YOUR 2015 TAX RETURN

4. Attach a schedule explaining big-ticket items. Here is a tip that I would bet your accountant never told you. You are allowed to attach a schedule or statement explaining anything on your tax return. This could greatly reduce your chance of an audit. Here is an example: There was a couple who claimed $25,000 worth of dental expenses as a medical expense deduction. Sounds high, right? It caused an audit. What if I told you this bill was for braces for three kids & dental implants for both spouses? That doesn’t sound as bad. Had this couple attached a statement showing the services that comprised the $25,000 of dental expenses, with an itemization of these expenses, they likely wouldn’t have been audited. 5. Absolutely get a tax tracker. I often get asked what self-employed people & employees who need to account for their expenses can do in order to bulletproof their tax return from the IRS & state. The answer, according to the IRS, is to have a tax tracker. A tax tracking system can be a written log associated with paper receipts & documentation, or an application found on your smart phone. It should have the following: A. A mileage log integrated with a GPS system. It would be best if the tracker automatically turned itself on & off when you make a business stop so you don’t forget to turn it on. It should show both the business & personal mileage, as well as the address of each stop & an explanation for each business stop. Simply noting that a stop was made for business or personal reasons isn’t enough & is not tax compliant

B. It should have an expense log showing all the tax questions required for the deductions. For example, entertainment should show: • Who was entertained? • What type of entertainment was involved (e.g., business gift, meals, etc.)? • What was discussed with some degree of specificity? • What was the date of the entertainment & business discussion? • Where did the entertainment occur? • How much was the entertainment? Again, simply showing the amount & place of the entertainment isn’t enough.

Sandy Botkin, CPA, Esq.,the author of Lower Your Taxes: Big

Time and Achieve Financial Freedom: Big Time.

Tax season is upon us! Let’s face it…preparing your tax return isn’t fun. As a result of all of the “tax reform” & “tax simplification” laws, filing a return today is more complicated & stressful than ever (the word “tax” is in the word “taxing” for a reason). Even worse, the error rate of filed returns is very high. In my experience, most people would not withstand a close scrutiny of their returns. Below are five tax tips you can use to make it simpler than ever to file your tax return this year.

1.Assume you will be audited every year. Although audits have been greatly reduced as a result of IRS budget cuts, self-employed individuals have a higher chance of being audited than employees. If you as-sume you will be audited each year when you pre-pare & file your return, you will be more prepared if the IRS comes knocking at your door. Have receipts for everything noted on your tax return & be sure you have picked up all of your income. Don’t forget the income reported to you & the IRS on the 1099 forms that you get from your broker, bank, & corporations. The IRS matches the income reported to them against your return, so leaving any income out is a great way to get flagged. 2. Always file your tax return electronically or use a tracking service to send it to the IRS. When the IRS doesn’t get a tax return from you, it sends a big red flag for them to inquire what happened. This is like putting a big red flag in front of a bull (and we all know how that ends). Thus, I strongly recommend you either send your return electronically (the best way) or use either Federal Express® or UPS® tracking. I have seen cases where the courts will waive penalties when the taxpayer can prove they sent the return to the right address, even if it was never received by the government. 3. Always check that you signed your tax return & attach the correct forms. It’s amazing how many people fail to sign their tax return or don’t file the correct forms. These are two of the top red flags for an audit according to the IRS. Failing to report all of your income is another major flag.

7

Don’t Miss These Home Tax Deductions

By: Dona DeZube – Houselogic.com

Here are the tax tips you need to get a jump on

your returns.

If you itemize your deductions, you may get back some of the money you spent on mortgage interest & property taxes. Owning a home can pay off at tax time. Take advantage of these home ownership-related tax deductions & strategies to lower your tax bill.

Mortgage Interest Deduction

One of the neatest deductions itemizing homeowners can take advantage of is the mortgage interest deduction, which you claim on Schedule A. To get the mortgage interest deduction, your mortgage must be secured by your home — and your home can be a house, trailer, or boat, as long as you can sleep in it, cook in it, & it has a toilet.

Interest you pay on a mortgage of up to $1 million — or $500,000 if you’re married filing separately — is deductible when you use the loan to buy, build, or improve your home.

If you take on another mortgage (including a second mortgage, home equity loan, or home equity line of credit) to improve your home or to buy or build a second home, that counts towards the $1 million limit.

If you use loans secured by your home for other things — like sending your kid to college — you can still deduct the interest on loans up $100,000 ($50,000 for married filing separately) because your home secures the loan.

Prepaid Interest Deduction

Prepaid interest (or points) you paid when you took out your mortgage is generally 100% deductible in the year you paid it along with other mortgage interest.

If you refinance your mortgage & use that money for home improvements, any points you pay are also deductible in the same year.

But if you refinance to get a better rate or shorten the length of your mortgage, or to use the money for something other than home improvements, such as college tuition, you’ll need to deduct the points over the life of your mortgage. Say you refi into a 10-year mortgage & pay $3,000 in points. You can deduct $300 per year for 10 years.

So what happens if you refi again down the road?

Example: Three years after your first refi, you refinance again. Using the $3,000 in points scenario above, you’ll have deducted $900 ($300 x 3 years) so far. That leaves $2,400, which you can deduct in full the year you complete your second refi. If you paid points for the new loan, the process starts again; you can deduct the points over the life of the loan.

Home mortgage interest & points are reported on Schedule A of IRS Form 1040.

Your lender will send you a Form 1098 that lists the points you paid. If not, you should be able to find the amount listed on the HUD-1 settlement sheet you got when you closed the purchase of your home or your refinance closing.

Property Tax Deduction

You can deduct on Schedule A the real estate property taxes you pay. If you have a mortgage with an escrow account, the amount of real estate property taxes you paid shows up on your annual escrow statement.

If you bought a house this year, check your HUD-1 settlement statement to see if you paid any property taxes when you closed the purchase of your

house. Those taxes are deductible on Schedule A, too.

PMI & FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums

You can deduct the cost of private mortgage insurance (PMI) as mortgage interest on Schedule A if you itemize your return. The change only applies to loans taken out in 2007 or later.

What’s PMI? If you have a mortgage but didn’t put down a fairly good-sized down payment (usually 20%), the lender requires the mortgage be insured. The premium on that insurance can be deducted, so long as your income is less than $100,000 (or $50,000 for married filing separately).

If your adjusted gross income is more than $100,000, your deduction is reduced by 10% for each $1,000 ($500 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return) that your adjusted gross income exceeds $100,000 ($50,000 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return). So, if you make $110,000 or more, you can’t claim the deduction (10% x 10 = 100%).

Besides private mortgage insurance, there’s government insurance from FHA, VA, and the Rural Housing Service. Some of those premiums are paid at closing & deducting them is complicated. A tax adviser or tax software program can help you calculate this deduction. Also, the rules vary between the agencies.

Continued on next page

8

Vacation Home Tax Deductions

The rules on tax deductions for vacation homes are complicated. Do yourself a favor & keep good records about how & when you use your vacation home.

If you’re the only one using your vacation home (you don’t rent it out for more than 14 days a year), you deduct mortgage interest & real estate taxes

on Schedule A.

Rent your vacation home out for more than 14 days & use it yourself fewer than 15 days (or 10% of total rental days, whichever is greater) and it’s treated like a rental property. Your expenses are

deducted on Schedule E.

Rent your home for part of the year & use it yourself for more than the greater of 14 days or 10% of the days you rent it & you have to keep track of income, expenses, & allocate them based on how often you used & how often you rented the house.

Homebuyer Tax Credit

This isn’t a deduction, but it’s important to keep track of if you claimed it in 2008.

There were federal first-time homebuyer tax credits in 2008, 2009, & 2010.

If you claimed the homebuyer tax credit for a purchase made after April 8, 2008 and before Jan. 1, 2009, you must repay 1/15th of the credit over 15 years, with no interest.

The IRS has a tool you can use to help figure out what you owe each year until it’s paid off. Or if the home stops being your main home, you may need to add the remaining unpaid credit amount to your income tax on your next tax return.

Generally, you don’t have to pay back the credit if you bought your home in 2009, 2010, or early 2011. The exception: You have to repay the full credit amount if you sold your house or stopped using it as primary residence within 36 months of the purchase date. Then you must repay it with your tax return for the year the home stopped being your principal residence.

The repayment rules are less rigorous for uniformed service members, Foreign Service workers, & intelligence community workers who got sent on extended duty at least 50 miles from their principal residence.

Don’t’ Miss These Home Tax Deductions, cont’d

Energy-Efficiency Upgrades

The Nonbusiness Energy Tax Credit lets you claim a credit for installing energy-efficient home systems. Tax credits are especially valuable because they let you offset what you owe the IRS dollar for dollar, in this case, for up to 10% of the amount you spent on certain upgrades.

The credit carries a lifetime cap of $500 (less for some products), so if you’ve used it in years past, you’ll have to subtract prior tax credits from that $500 limit. Lucky for you, there’s no cap on how much you’ll save on utility bills thanks to your energy-efficiency upgrades. Among the upgrades that might qualify for the credit:

Biomass stoves

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

Insulation

Roofs (metal and asphalt)

Water heaters (non-solar)

Windows, doors, and skylights

File IRS Form 5695 with your return.

PREP TIPS FOR TAX RETURNS, cont’d C. A good tracker should also have an integrated camera for you to take pictures of receipts. IRS & most state tax authorities will accept digitized documentation, especially after seeing all of the lost records due to Hurricane Sandy.

D. A good tax tracker should have educational tips & tools for tax planning & compli-ance. Knowledge can be crucial when filing taxes & one idea can save you thousands of dollars. In fact, we have seen that simply keeping track of your ex-penses can save you significant money in otherwise lost deductions

E. A good tax tracker should have easily accessible reports that you can send to your accountant via email or memory stick.

Bottom Line: Tax season doesn’t have to be a headache. Even audits can become more efficient as a result of proper planning. Following these five tips will make your life simpler & less “taxing.”

Houseplants that do double duty clearing out pollutants in your indoor air

10 Clean-Air Plants for Your Home

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) First popularized during the Victorian era, the Boston fern features feather-like leaves & curved fronds that are well suited to indoor hanging baskets. It's considered one of the most efficient air purifiers, but it can prove a bit difficult to maintain because of its need for constant moisture & humidity.

How it Helps: This fern works especially well in removing formaldehyde, which is found in some glues, as well as pressed wood products, including cabinetry, plywood paneling, & furniture. (Some studies also show it can remove toxic metals, such as mercury & arsenic, from soil.)

***********************************************************

Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) Also known as mother-in-law's tongue, this sharp-leafed plant thrives in low light. At night it absorbs carbon dioxide & releases oxygen (a reversal of the process most plants undergo). Pot a couple & put them in your bedroom for a slight oxygen boost while you sleep.

How it Helps: In addition to helping lower carbon dioxide, the snake plant rids air of formaldehyde & benzene. ***********************************************************

Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) This fast-growing vine has a reputation for flexibility. You can pot it with something to support it, plant it in a hanging basket, or train it to climb a trellis. Dark green leaves with golden streaks & marbling make it an eye-catching addition to a home or office.

How it Helps: Like many other vines, it tackles formaldehyde, but golden pothos also targets carbon monoxide & benzene. Consider placing one in your mudroom or entryway, where car exhaust fumes heavy in formaldehyde are most likely to sneak indoors from the garage.

***********************************************************

Wax Begonia (Begonia semperflorens) Place in an area with abundant sunlight & this semi-woody succulent will produce pretty clusters of flat white, pink, or red flowers during the summer.

How it Helps: The wax plant is a heavy hitter in filtering out benzene & chemicals produced by toluene, a liquid found in some waxes & adhesives, according to a University of Georgia study conducted last year.

9

Projects like installing new carpet & painting walls can release chemicals that pollute indoor air. Luckily, some houseplants moonlight as efficient purifiers. For the best results, put as many plants as you can care for in the rooms you use most, says environmental scientist Dr. Bill Wolverton. That means you'll want at least two plants (in 10- to 12-inch pots) per 100 square feet of space; if you're in the middle of major renovations, aim for more plants. One tip: Be sure not to overwater, as too much soil moisture can lead to mold growth.

Here are smart options you can buy at your local nursery. To learn more, pick up Wolverton's new book, "Plants: Why You Can't Live Without Them" (Roli Books; $25).

English Ivy (Hedera helix) This hearty, climbing vine thrives in small spaces. It also fares well in rooms with few windows or little sunlight.

How it Helps: Its dense foliage excels at absorbing formaldehyde—the most prevalent indoor pollutant, says Wolverton—which shows up in wood floorboard resins & synthetic carpet dyes.

***********************************************************

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) Among the few air purifiers that flower, the peace lily adapts well to low light but requires weekly watering & is poisonous to pets.

How it Helps: This year-round bloomer rids the air of the VOC benzene, a carcinogen found in paints, furniture wax, & polishes. It also sucks up acetone, which is emitted by electronics, adhesives, & certain cleaners.

***********************************************************

Lady Palm ( Rhapis excelsa)

An easy-to-grow, tree-like species, the lady palm

may take a while to start shooting upward. But once

it does, its fan-like patterned leaves will add charm

to any spot.

How it Helps: Easy on the eyes, this plant

targets ammonia, an enemy of the respiratory

system & a major ingredient in cleaners, textiles, &

dyes.

Continued on page 10, right column

10

5. Strategic art. An option to create space without reflection is an art piece with a vanishing point. Vanishing points are the artistic translations of infinity. You feel like you're walking down a long hallway, but in reality it's a two-dimensional creation made to look like unrestricted territory. Your eyes travel along this surreal corridor to places unknown while everything else stays put. Where will it take you?

6. Optical illusion. Yes, you can literally use smoke & mirrors to make any room appear bigger by putting a candle in front of a reflective surface, but if this isn't your taste, go a different route. Make your living space reflect your style, above all else.

If you're prone to dark colors, then go for it. Bright &

packed to the gills calling your name? Have fun filling

the room with fun & fancy. You be you.

Tips to Make Your Living Room Look Larger

A living room is for l-i-v-i-n-g, not an opportunity for claustrophobia. If you're feeling the pinch of a not-so-spacious gathering area, take charge. Transform a small, yet soon-to-be-mighty living space into a welcoming license to chill with these tricks of the trade. 1. Draw the eye up. One way to accomplish this is with ceiling art. A sparse, light etching will complete the task without all the drama.

While you're up there, hang or install a shelf. If you're hankering for storage or display options, but the floor is occupied, rise up. Similar to the decorative ceiling option, a shelf high above the surface will command elevated attention.

2. Reduce the accommodation clutter. Instead of 15 seating options in your living room, fill small spaces with one expansive piece of furniture. Sectional sofas or traditional couches with large ottomans equip you & your guests with resting areas without the fuss.

3. Get clear. Anything transparent will fool the eye, creating the illusion of space. Glass-topped tables or glass lamp bases, reduce definitive edges, allowing the line of vision a free pass to keep moving. Another permeable perspective for a larger space is see-through furniture. Lucite has reclaimed its respect & is back from the mid-modern days with fervor. Designers like Alexandra Von Furstenberg are adding contemporary updates to acrylic, bringing a classic adaptation into today's living rooms.

4. Mirror, mirror on the wall, are you the best option of them all? Maybe, maybe not is my immediate answer. Yes, they reflect light, but they also reflect unsightly elements as well.

First consider what the mirror will be reflecting. Feng Shui aside, because there are so many conflicting opinions of what is right according to the ancient tradition, look at what you are bouncing back twice. If it is lovely, then by all means, double the vantage point. But, if it's not an ideal vista, try something else. Do you have an east-facing window? Adding a mirror to an opposite wall will act as double shot of el sol.

Clean Air Plants for Your Home cont’d

Red-Edged Dracaena (Dracaena marginata) While this slow-growing shrub can get quite tall (up to 15 feet), it's relatively compact & will make the most out of whatever floor space you can offer it. For best results, keep one in a room with high ceilings & moderate sunlight, & water occasionally. Its red-trimmed leaves will deliver a dose of unexpected color.

How it Helps: This plant will take care of gases released by xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde, which can be introduced by lac-quers, varnishes, & sealers.

*******************************************************

Spider Plant(Chlorophytum comosum) A good option for beginning gardeners, the spider plant reproduces quickly, growing long, grassy leaves as well as hanging stems, which eventually sprout plantlets—hence its arachnid-inspired name.

How it Helps: Put a spider plant on a pedestal or in a hanging basket close to a sunlit window & you'll benefit from fewer airborne formaldehyde &

Essential Questions to Ask Yourself Before Tackling a Renovation

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6. How important is sustainable design to you? Sustainable development & increased energy efficiency are great for the environment & in the long run can be great for your wallet too. It’s important to understand any possible trade-offs & costs of sustainable design before you begin the renovation process.

7. What’s your color preference? Let your designer know about your color preferences right off the bat. What colors do you like best? Do you prefer bold & bright tones or are you more comfortable with warm & muted tones? Do you like to see lots of color on every surface or do you prefer your furniture & art to speak louder than your walls? Color has been shown to affect people’s moods, so know how it affects you.

8. What’s your flooring preference? Like a good pair of shoes, what’s underneath your feet is vital to the look & feel of your home. There are so many options these days; how you use your space will dictate which is the best one. Do you prefer hardwood, engineered wood, stone, porcelain tile, laminate or carpet? Let your designer know your floor preferences, because it will be easier to select other finishes once the flooring is determined.

9. What are your storage requirments? Decisions

about storage will likely stem from other questions you have to ask yourself. Such as, how much stuff do you already have? How much stuff are you planning to buy? And how much stuff are you willing to get rid off? Storage requirements are important to consider at the start of any renovation, since it can be difficult (requiring a lot of reconfiguration) & expensive to add storage solutions at the end of a project.

10. What type of materials do you love? Whether you prefer sleek & shiny surfaces, like lacquer & glass or subtle matte finishes will affect just about all the material & finish selections throughout your home. Countertops, floors, doors, walls, you name it — all of these items come in a variety of materials, so discover which ones fit your personality & style best. Continued on page 13, right column

No one knows you better than yourself, so to get the remodel you truly want, consider these questions first

Gillian Lazanik Houzz Contributor

The better you communicate with your interior designer, architect or contractor before you start your renovation, the easier the process will be. If you take the time to consider what you truly want from your remodel before the demolition begins, it will end up saving you time & money. Ask yourself the following 13 questions for a smoother renovation process & results more likely to meet your vision.

1. What rooms do you want renovated? This one seems like a no-brainer, but bear in mind that renovating one space will affect the adjoining spaces as well. If you renovate only your open kitchen, for example, will the dining or living area connected to it feel dated afterwards? Even if your budget or schedule demands a one-room-at-a-time approach, it’s important to consider how one renovated space will affect the next & to plan accordingly.

2. How much can you realistically afford to spend? Does your budget include tax & consultant fees? Does it include accommodations for you if you need to move out for a few months? Does this number include appliances, lighting fixtures & furniture? There are costs outside of your construction budget that you won’t see from your contractor. You need to let your designer know if your budget is inclusive of all these expenses.

3. How will you use the room you’re renovating? For example, will your living room be a place for entertaining guests or entertaining yourself with a large flat-screen television? Do you consider the kitchen a shared living space for the entire family or a space where the chef has the run of the land? These decisions will dramatically change the design, look & function of the room.

4. What’s your design style? Do you like modern, transitional, contemporary or traditional? Peruse photos on www.houzz.com to get an idea of the type of design style that speaks most to you. All of the photos on Houzz are categorized by style. Discover your favorite.

5. What are your accessibility considerations? Does anyone in the family have a disability, or do you envisage staying in the house for a long enough time that mobility issues might one day come into play? If so, it might be better to factor this into your renovation now than have to deal with it later.

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Tips for Winning Negotiations with Your Contractor

Big home improvement projects can leave a big hole in your pocket, but you can lower your costs by negotiating with the contract price & terms. If you are looking for ways to cut the price of your contract work, take a look at these five tips for winning negotiations with your contractors.

Research Always make sure to verify contractors' credentials & experience before you hire them. If you are comfortable working with a contractor with less experience & less time in the trade, you may be able to secure a much lower price. Just understand there may be a quality & time tradeoff. You can also research the costs of the materials needed for the project for a bargaining chip. A material cost list will help you decide whether or not the contractor is charging higher prices for the supply portion of the project.

Shop Around It's hard to tell whether you are getting a great deal on your home improvement project without having anything to compare the price to. For a good idea, get at least three comparable bids or estimates for the project. Contractors may be willing to lower their cost or negotiate particular terms in the contract if they are competing for the work. Make sure to provide the contractor with as many project details as you can & read each estimate thoroughly.

Buy Your Own Supplies Many contractors offer to buy the supplies needed for the project & implement them into the cost in the estimate or bill you for them later. Contractors often buy supplies from the same supplier, meaning they may not be getting them at the best price. Save yourself money by offering to buy the supplies yourself to make sure you are getting the best deals.

Timing The cost of your home project will depend somewhat on the season you want the work done. You might be able to save money by seeking estimates during a slow construction season & contractors will be more willing to negotiate the costs. If you live in colder climates & you want to add a room to your home, consider calling contractors for an estimate in the winter. The work may not be able to start until warmer weather, but you may be able to snag a lower cost since the business is currently slow for the contractor.

Run If You See These Contractor Red Flags

Are you ready to build your dream home, or maybe just a beautiful outdoor deck? Then it's time to find a contractor to do the work. Your home is one of your most valuable investments, which is why it is vital for you to pick a dependable & honest contractor to com-plete the work on your home. Make sure to watch out for these six contractor red flags.

No References Before you hire a contractor, make sure to check out his or her references. Word of mouth is a strong selling point for contractors looking for repeat business & new business. Reputable contractors will be more than happy to provide you with a list of references from those who were satisfied with the work the contractor did.

Payment Demands A huge red flag to look out for is a demand for the payment upfront. You should never pay for the work until the job is done & you are satisfied with the completed project. Some contractors may ask for an upfront payment, but reputable & trustworthy contractors will never ask for the full amount upfront. Also beware of contractors asking for only cash payments — this leaves no proof of the payment & you will not be able to get your money back if the project isn't completed or done to your liking.

Low Pricing Just because a contractor is offering you a low price for the work doesn't mean the work will be of good quality. Make sure to do research so you know at least a ballpark figure for what you'll be paying, so that you will be able to gauge whether the price offered is too low for high-quality work.

No Proof of Insurance Contractors should always carry personal liability & property damage insurance. If the contractor you hire fails to have insurance, you will be liable for any property damage or injury that occurs on the job site.

No License in Your State or Area Licensing qualifications vary by state & local area, so it's important to make sure that the contractor is licensed to work in your state & your area. Check out your local building department to learn more about the specific licensing requirements needed in your state & local area.

Continued on page 14, right column

Continued on page 14, right column

13

How to Create the Perfect Home Office

Whether you are using your home office for running your own business, working from home on certain days, or just as a place for paying bills & organizing your schedule, you'll want to make sure it's a productive space that you feel comfortable in. Check out these six ways to get the perfect home office.

Pick a Good Location You will be spending hours in your home office, so make sure that you don't limit yourself to a space that is small, dark & without natural light. Make sure that your home office isn't in a high-traffic room where you will find yourself distracted. Depending on how you work best, you may need a room that is completely silent or you may want a room that has some background sound.

Make the Space Functional Your shelves, desks & storage should be easily accessible but not overwhelming. Consider your workflow & what items you absolutely need handy at your desk before investing in specific furniture for your home office. Your home office furniture should complement the rest of your home's décor. Make the space your own by adding personal touches.

Invest in a Comfortable Chair You will spend countless hours at your desk, so make sure you treat yourself to a comfortable, ergonomically correct & beautiful office chair. Every penny you spend on a chair that keeps you comfortable while working will be worth it. The last thing you want to do is develop back problems because you chose a chair that has poor back support.

Give Yourself Access to Light You'll want to make sure that your home office has plenty of natural light, which will allow you to cut down on eyestrain & headaches. Position your computer monitor so there is no glare from any windows or overhead lighting. Place a small lamp on your desk to give yourself extra light.

Choose a View Place your desk in a space with a view of more than just a blank white wall. You'll want something to fix your eyes on while you're taking a break from work. It would be ideal if your desk could face a window, but in case your home office doesn't have a window in an ideal spot for a desk, make sure to decorate with a pleasant painting or other items you would enjoy seeing above the desk. An inspiring quote is another great option.

11. What type of stone is right for you? Do you like engineered quartz, which is an engineered material? Or do you prefer granite, which is a durable stone that can be graphic & beautiful? Have you considered butcher block, which adds warmth & interest? Or perhaps marble, which is classic & always in style but requires a lot of maintenance. The type of stone or composite stone you select can set the tone for your entire kitchen or bathroom remodel, so make sure to familiarize yourself with all the options.

12. What’s your cabinet door style? Do you like the look of clean slab doors, glass doors, Shaker-style doors or French-style doors, just to name a few? Your door type preference will help direct the design of all of your millwork in your kitchen & your bathrooms & of built-ins in any other places that you may be adding.

13. What are your appliance preferences? Gas or electric, commercial or standard, high-tech or manual, single oven or double? Appliances can be some of the most expensive purchases in a renovation, so you want to ensure you make the right selection that meets your needs & desires.

Manage Your Technology Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do to glamorize your computer, printer & speakers, but you can hide the cords. Make sure your equipment is close to outlets, so they are easy to access if you need to unplug cords. Encase the cords on your desk in a nice fabric cord cover & feed the cords into a desk grommet. Then tame the jungle of cords on the floor with tubing or a wire organizer that is attached to your desk & lifts the cords off the floor.

13 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself Before Tackling a Renovation, cont’d

14

Cleaning Solutions You Never Heard Of

Tips for Winning Negotiations with Your Contractor, cont’d

Approach the Contractor as an Ally If you approach the pricing as if the contractor is against you, this will establish a negative relationship. Treat contractors as allies & they will work with you to find the price that works with your budget. Show them respect & ask for changes that may help you save money on the projects. For example, you may be able to find less expensive countertops or a different type of flooring for a better cost.

Run If You See These Contractor Red Flags, cont’d

Refusal to Provide a Bid If the contractor will not provide a bid in writing that outlines the cost of labor & materials, timelines, payment terms & a detailed description of the work to be done, then run — fast! This means that after the work has been completed, you may end up being charged much more than you should be. Make sure to get a bid in writing before you hire the contractor to do the work. Hiring the right contractor may take a lot of research, but you will be glad you took the time to look up the facts before hiring anyone. The best place to start looking for a contractor is to reach out to family & friends to see whom they have used & what their experiences were.

As we become more & more aware about the effects of household chemicals on our health & on the environment, it is becoming easier than ever to find alternatives to using store-bought cleaning supplies. Most of the commercially produced products contain chemicals like ammonia & bleach & even though they clean well they can damage the nervous & respiratory systems & be harmful to both your family & your pets.

With a few simple ingredients & a little time, you can make your own cleaning supplies that not only reduce the number of toxic substances in your home but will even save you money.

Most of the non-toxic cleaning supplies use the same basic ingredients such as castile soap, white vinegar, baking soda & essential oils. For baking soda & vinegar, consider stocking up on larger sizes of these items from either a restaurant supply store or a warehouse store — not only is it more economical, but once you start making your cleaners at home, you will want to be able to refill your supply easily. Granite Cleaner

1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol 3 drops of castile soap 1 cup water 5-10 drops of essential oils (for scent) Put the rubbing alcohol into a 16 oz spray

bottle. Add the soap, essential oil & water. Shake to combine.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner 1/2 - 3/4 cup baking soda 8 - 10 drops tea-tree or melaleuca essential oil 1/2 - 3/4 cup distilled white vinegar Pour the baking soda directly into the toilet

bowl, then add oil, then vinegar. Let sit for 10 minutes & scrub with toilet brush.

Soft Scrub Make this in small batches & store in an

airtight container so that it does not dry out between uses.

3/4 cup baking soda 1/4 cup castile soap 1 tablespoon water Combine the baking soda & soap. Add the

water & stir to make a paste-like consistency. Use a sponge to scoop out the scrub & use to clean tile, sinks & other hard surfaces.

Oven Cleaner 1 1/2 cup baking soda 1/2 cup sea salt 1/2 cup washing soda Filtered water (to make a thin paste) 1/2 cup white vinegar 10 drops melaleuca oil Preheat your oven to the lowest temperature

possible & then turn it off. Mix baking soda, sea salt, & washing soda in a

small bowl. Add melaleuca oil then add vinegar to the mixture — it will fizz a little. Slowly add water until you have a thin enough paste to spread in your oven. Leave the paste in the oven overnight & wipe it out in the morning.

With a few ingredients & a little ingenuity, it is inexpensive & easy to make at home a non-toxic version of these common (and most chemical-laden) cleaning products.

Did you know that your home’s garbage disposal needs to be cleaned regularly? During use, food particles & residue can be left behind & cause the unit to have an unpleasant odor.

The good news is that you don’t have to buy special, expensive products to do the job. Your disposal can be effectively cleaned with common items that you probably already have in your kitchen.

Ice cubes - One of the best ways to clean the disposal is with ice cubes from your freezer. Simply put a few handfuls of ice into the unit, then turn it on & run some cold water while the cubes grind. You’ll definitely hear the cubes working!

Ice & rock salt - You can also add a cup or so of rock salt to the ice cubes for some extra scrubbing power. Remember to run cold water when you turn the disposal on.

Baking soda & vinegar - A simple mixture of baking soda & vinegar is also a good cleaning method. Sprinkle about a half-cup of baking soda into the disposal, followed by a cup of white or apple cider vinegar. Let the mixture bubble up & sit for 5-10 minutes, then turn on the disposal & run water to distribute the mixture throughout the unit.

Citrus - Any type of citrus peel is a good disposal deodorizer. Lime, lemon, orange, tangerine, & grapefruit peels will all help refresh your sink & system. Be sure to cut the peels into small enough pieces for the unit to handle, then turn on the unit & run water while the peels grind.

Borax - You can also sprinkle a few tablespoons of borax into the disposal, followed by running water.

Hot water & dish soap - Another method of disposal cleaning requires only hot water & dish soap. This method can be particularly helpful if you have noticed an unpleasant odor coming from your unit. Using the sink stopper, plug the disposal drain & add a generous squirt of dish detergent to the sink. Run hot water into the sink until it is at least halfway full. As you release the sink stopper, turn on the disposal & let the entire sink contents drain into the unit while it runs. This method helps fill the disposal with soapy water to reach the upper portions of the unit, which often don’t get cleaned by other methods. It also helps clean the disposal drain line, which can harbor food residue & odors.

Boiling water - Pouring boiling water into the disposal, by itself or following some of these other methods, can help loosen stubborn food particles.

Dish soap & baking soda - It’s also important to clean the drain crevices around the disposal as well as the rubber splashguard around the drain. You can use dish soap or baking soda to do this. Use a dish brush or toothbrush to scrub underneath the splashguard flaps. 15

Thrifty Ways to Clean Your Garbage Disposal

Creative Lighting Options That Will Brighten Any Room

Your mood is greatly affected by light, whether you realize it or not. It's why depressed people like to sit in the dark & some people get the winter blues. Is your home like the dark side of the moon? If so, try these five creative lighting options to help brighten any room & your mood. No. 1: Recessed lighting Recessed lights are a perfect way to brighten up a dark hallway or den. Usually found in the ceilings of modern-day kitchens, recessed lights, when spaced correctly & evenly, emanate what feels like natural light. They come in a varie-ty of colors, but white lights are best for brightening up a room. No. 2: Spotlights Spotlights are small lights fitted into the ceiling & are similar to recessed lights except that they are meant to highlight or "spotlight" a particular part of a room. Say you are happy with your overhead lights in your living room or kitchen, but you want to spotlight the area over the sink or above a nice painting in your den. Using spotlights is a great way to brighten a room & highlight a focal point. No. 3: Table lamps It sounds simple, but table lamps not only brighten a room but allow you to control how much light you get. Different colored lamp shades will enable you to create an ambiance depending on whether you want soft lights to relax under or a bright room in which to host company. Use three-way bulbs at different wattages so you can adjust the mood. Turn on just a few lamps — or turn them all on to give the room energy & vibrancy. No. 4: Faux windows It's not very expensive to cut out a hole in the wall & install a new window in a windowless room. However, if you don't want to go that route, try faux windows. Faux windows use LED backlighting to create the sense of natural light in a home. You have likely seen these windows in a bar or restaurant & they usually come tinted or colored. No. 5: Solar tubing Finally, solar tubing takes natural light from outside & funnels it into your house through your walls. These are perfect for rooms that get no light — like basements or cellars. You can get the same effect on a top floor by installing a skylight. The best thing about these lighting options is that they are energy-efficient & many new mod-els can actually store energy from the sun for reuse. In tandem with your new lighting options, consider painting your walls in light colors & adding neutral-colored furniture in tans & browns. These will boost the impact of your new lighting fixtures. Start brightening your room today!

Leave These Home Improvements

to the Pros

16

Making home improvements yourself is a great way to increase the value of your home without having to pay a contractor or technician. But you don't want to take on every project yourself. Whether they're complicated, dangerous or flat-out illegal, these are the jobs Bob Vila says you should leave to the pros.

Install a gas stove Anything involving gas can be dangerous, so you'll want to hire a plumber to install the gas line. But gas stoves also require electricity to operate correctly, so you'll want to hire an electrician to modify the electrical circuit, as well.

Replace light fixtures If your changes will affect the electrical wiring, your safest choice is an electrician. Faulty wiring is one of the leading causes of house fires & on top of the trauma of a fire, your insurance company could deny your claim if work wasn't done by a licensed professional.

Remove old insulation In older homes, insulation could contain asbestos, which can be harmful to your health. Hire an asbestos abatement team to protect yourself & make sure the asbestos is removed & disposed of lawfully.

Knock down a wall Creating an open floor plan may seem simple, but your city could require a permit if the wall is structural. Call a specialist to determine if this is the case & check with your municipality before you start swinging.

HVAC repair Licensed professionals must undergo a thorough training & certification process to handle expensive HVAC systems & potentially dangerous chemicals such as Freon - the type of training you probably don't have. Plus, unlicensed repair work could lead the manufacturer to void your warranty.

Hot water tank replacement Anytime you're dealing with electricity & gas lines, it's a good idea to let a pro handle it. "Because of the permits, code adherences, safety regulations & risks - like possible carbon monoxide emissions - a licensed plumber is required to take on this home task," Vila says.

Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Reducing pollutants in the home can improve your overall health & help reduce the symptoms of respiratory illnesses, such as asthma & allergies. Follow these simple tips to improve the indoor air

quality in your home & help you breathe easier.

Change Furnace Filters The air filter in your furnace traps many of the particles contained in the air in your home. Air filters are given a rating on the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) scale. A higher MERV rating translates to a better filter that can trap smaller particles in your air. MERV 1-4 filters are very inexpensive & do little to improve your air quality. MERV 5-8 filters are of medium quality & are sufficient for most residential applications. MERV 9-12 filters are of high quality & are ideal for those who suffer from allergies & asthma.

Vacuum Away Dust A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter removes chemicals & allergens that accumulate in household dust. It traps toxins & contaminates and ensures they don't get blown into your air through your vacuum's exhaust, thereby improving your indoor air quality. Run the vacuum over each area several times to ensure the optimum removal of dust. Use an upholstery brush on upholstered surfaces & don't forget to vacuum the corners of your rooms & underneath your furniture. As an added dust-busting bonus, turn on your thermostat's fan setting while you vacuum & leave it on for 15 minutes afterward to help remove dust that is sent into the air by the vacuum's agitator & exhaust.

Reduce Chemical Cleaners Synthetic fragrances found in products such as laundry detergent, household cleansers, & air fresheners contain a large number of chemicals that can significantly decrease your indoor air quality. Plug-in air fresheners alone can contain up to 20 different volatile organic compounds or VOCs, some of which are regulated as toxic by the federal government. Use mild or all-natural household cleaners whenever possible & rely on natural ingredients, such as lemons & baking soda, to remove household odors.

Plants As Decoration Household plants do an excellent job of absorbing chemical pollutants in your air. Ferns, aloe, spider plants & bamboo palms are four sturdy plants that can reduce VOCs & many other chemical pollutants in your home's air. If you have pets or children, make sure the plants are non-toxic in case of ingestion.