TheAuthorsDesk.

Spring has sprung! Even more important than buds, birds, and bees, spring brings buyers! When buyers are looking for a placeto nest, they would really rather not see problems. As it turns out, nearly every home inspected has problems or imperfectionsof some sort or size. Most issues are very minor and simple to correct. Almost all are a result of deferred maintenance.

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I love bedspreads, don’t you? A comforter can be used for the winter months but the bedspread is brought out ofthe linen closet in the spring when it’s warming up and the whole world is freshening and renewing itself outside. Abedspread is available in most any color, pattern or fabric and it can be one of the most expensive items youput in your bedroom. Did you know that these expensive pieces of fabric do not fall under the Care Label Rule?The Care Label Rule of 1971 requires clothing manufacturers and importers to attach care labels to their products. They must givefull instructions on how to satisfactorily care for the products one time, or clearly state that it cannot be cleaned. Thelabel also needs to warn against things that could be harmful such as using an iron or using hot water. Ilove the care labels because it gives me a clear indication of how to clean things. I have been surprised onmore than one occasion when the label said dry clean only and I would have thrown it in the washing machine.You may find care instructions on a temporary label, a piece of paper in the plastic, hang tag, or somewhere onthe package so check clearly before you throw anything away.

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Small is beautiful and convenient and so is the portable air conditioner as it can be shifted from one place tothe other very easily. Read on to find out all the other advantages.

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Some of the most unique and individual décor consultants can be found in smaller centers, but for a truly competitive fieldthat will supply window treatments for your home, you’re looking at the larger cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.

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Fans extending from the ceiling have been around for centuries and the modern ceiling fan as we know it today hasbeen used since Victorian times. Savvy homeowners use the ceiling fan in every room imaginable. They like their looks as wellas how comfortable they make them feel. Why keep all of this style cooped up inside? Take the ceiling fanoutdoors to the patio for a focal point of a great outdoor room. Look at your patio furniture and the styleof home before you purchase an outdoor ceiling fan. If you own a log home, you wouldn’t want a futuristicblack enamel ceiling fan or the contemporary pastel home in South Beach may not look good with dark oak fan blades.A Victorian mansion speaks of a matching outdoor ceiling fan that fits the period of the house. You get the idea,common sense and your decorating style will dictate which fan you go with. Lighting kits are available for these fans butI prefer your outdoor lighting to come from other sources. My husband and I think it feels much cozier when aglaring ceiling light isn’t shining on us. There are great looking area lamps and sconces that will compliment your ceiling fan.Let a fan be a fan when it comes to the patio.

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If you’ve ever had carpets or vinyl flooring you’ve probably had your share of stains, spills, and rips that no matterwhat you do, you can’t quite wash out. Or perhaps the family pet has scratched the carpet edging, or evenworse - had a bathroom mishap on the children’s favorite playing area?

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What exactly is mold? There are over 100,000 different kinds of mold in the world so it is literally everywhere. Moldsare organisms and are members of the fungus family. Mushrooms, mildew and yeast are also part of this lucky family. Theyhave been given the job in nature of decomposing dead plant material such as leaves, bark, wood etc. If we didn’thave mold we would be finding ourselves totally covered by a pile of leaves. We also wouldn’t enjoy eating cheese orusing penicillin because they wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for mold. However, as with some family members, we love them whenthey aren’t visiting our house. We enjoy talking on the phone or sending e-mails, but they need to stay at theirplace. When mold starts digesting organic material in the home, that’s where the problems occur.

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