Weiss Homes

Still Renting?

January 26, 2012 – 11:41 am
  You Can't Afford NOT to Buy a Home! Over the last ten years, the cost of rental housing in the U.S. has increased an average of 3% per year. That means that an apartment or home renting for $750 per month will cost more than $978 a month in ten years. According to economists, rental rates are projected to grow 6.1% on average in 2012, and then grow higher and higher in the following years! If rent continues to increase at 6.1% per year, a home renting for $750 per month will cost more than $1,277 per month in ten years. If you rented the same home or apartment for ten years, the total amount you would pay for rent is almost $120,000!*   [caption id="attachment_297" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Projected rent based on 6.1% annual increase"][/caption]  When you're ready, we're here to help.    

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Third Year in a Row for Rising Rent

January 10, 2012 – 10:09 am
Apartment rents are expected to jump again this year as the U.S. economy creates more jobs and demand for rental housing grows. A 2012 increase would make the third straight year of rising rents. More annual increases are expected as apartment builders hustle to catch up with demand. Job growth is driving rents higher. IHS Global Insight expects the U.S. to add an average of 150,000 jobs a month this year compared with about 133,000 a month last year. New jobs spur household formation. Read the full article at  http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/story/2012-01-05/apartment-rents-rising/52397240/1 Don't get stuck paying more for your rental, consider buying a Brand New Weiss Home today! Find out more at www.weisshomes.com

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

It’s Time To Winterize Your Home!

September 14, 2011 – 8:54 am
With children back in school and football season underway, Michiana will soon be blanketed in the warm hues of autumn. As leaves change colors, with bonfires and hayrides as favorite fall activities, remember your home needs attention too, before “Ole Man Winter” arrives. Follow the checklist items below during the fall each year. Winterize your outdoor irrigation system by following manufacturer’s directions for draining your sprinkling system. If your system type needs to have water lines blown out, call a professional to do that work for you. Apply “winterizer” fertilizer to give your lawn a boost to get through the cold months and then come back lush and green next spring. Clean your gutters and downspouts, making sure water flows freely through important home drains. Twigs, leaves and other debris can form clogs that allow water to spill over and damage your roof and/or home interior. In the winter, formation of ice dams ...

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Fire Pit Safety

August 2, 2011 – 5:22 pm
The hot days and warm nights of August bring perfect times to gather family and friends for a cook-out around a backyard fire pit! Where should you put a fire pit where it can be enjoyed safely? Some envision it as part of their backyard garden, or planting a wood-burning fire pit in the middle of the yard, or adding a grill rack to make it dual purpose. A variety of design ideas can be found for you to add the perfect outdoor gathering spot. Local hardware stores have all the necessities for do-it-yourselfers to build a brick or stone seating area around a fire pit or fireplace. Many retailers have outdoor furniture designed especially for socializing. Some homeowners prefer to add a fire pit to their existing patio or deck for entertaining. For a traditional look and feel of a wood-burning pit, there are protective and beautiful brick or ...

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Bicycle Safety

July 5, 2011 – 4:22 pm
Do you wear a helmet when bicycling? If not, you should! Here's why: If you fall off your bicycle  from a standing position, your head could hit the ground at 11 miles per hour. Although that may not sound like much, remember that would be a human head shielding our brains from potentially fatal damage. Bicyclists should also wear light or bright colored clothing made from breathable fabrics to keep comfortable when riding. Wearing dark clothes after dark makes you extremely difficult for drivers to see. Reflective gear and flashing LED clip-on lights allow drivers to see you more quickly. In addition, many cycling shops carry accessories such as biking gloves, padded seats, and water bottles/holders to keep you comfortable while biking. And, be sure to wear properly fitting shoes that don't interfere with bike pedals. Bicyclists need to follow all rules of the road and use the common hand signals to indicate ...

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Firework Safety

June 30, 2011 – 1:53 pm
By following a few common sense rules, you can help you and your family stay safe this Fourth of July! First, choose a safe location to light your display and make sure you are away from buildings and flammable materials. Then, follow the directions on how to light the fireworks you buy, and always be sure what you purchase is legal to use in your area. Finally, keep a garden hose ready, just in case you need to quickly extinguish an unwanted flame! Be safe, and enjoy our holiday, honoring America!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Energy Efficiency

June 29, 2011 – 8:47 am
In an older home, what good is a high efficiency furnace if all that warm/cold air is lost through old windows and doors? Our building techniques, from the roof over your head to the concrete floor below, ensure an energy efficient home each and every time. As a matter of fact, each individual Weiss home withstands a rigorous Energy Star inspection, and our home owners receive a comprehensive, detailed report for their records. And, did you know that “passive solar heating” is a fancy term for lots of natural daylight warming your home? Now THAT’S energy efficiency at its best!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Edging Your Yard

June 8, 2011 – 3:06 pm
Most people appreciate the beautiful, thick, and lush lawns that begin to appear this time of year; so they feed, water, and trim their grass regularly, and “wish” it would look as nice as their neighbor’s yard. But, it doesn’t… What is the one thing they forget that leaves these “great lawn wannabes” looking shaggy? Edging. Edging tools are available to remove the grasses along the edge of your property, keeping a clean and crisp look to your property lines. Many lawn trimmers have an edger setting if you don’t want to buy an actual edger. Inexpensive manual edgers are available, too, but require a lot of muscle-power to use, and are easier to use only right after a lot of rain. Try edging to see if that doesn’t give your lawn a “finished” look!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Quick Window-Cleaning Tips

May 19, 2011 – 9:23 am
How to wash winter away and get a streak free shine! Brush the dirt. Before you spray any liquid cleaner, pull back the blinds or curtains, open the window, and inspect its sill, frame, and tracks for obvious crud and cobwebs. Sweep out debris using the small-handled brush that comes with your dustpan. If you skip this step, you risk a mess later, since loose dirt can stick to your wiping towel and smear the glass.) Also handy is a cloth-wrapped screwdriver for flicking out dead bugs or hard-to-reach gunk. De-grime the screens. If you leave yours in year-round, give them a once-over now, so that dried-on dirt doesn’t blow into your house the first time you open the windows for ventilation. You don’t need to take down the screens and hose them off. Just run your vacuum with its dusting-brush attachment over the side that faces in (side to side, then ...

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

TIPS FOR GETTING ORGANIZED

April 25, 2011 – 2:22 pm
Home organizing doesn’t have to take large blocks of time. Concentrate on one drawer or section of your closet at a time. Before you know it, your entire home will be done. Here are a tips to get you motivated and to begin: 1. Make a checklist of the order you will tackle the rooms in your home. Begin with a room that will make the biggest difference for you. 2. Gather some cardboard boxes and trash bags for the items you plan to donate, sell, or put in the trash. 3. If you are someone who needs to celebrate small successes along the way, start small. However, if you are a person who says “Let’s get this done now, start with the biggest chore. For example, in my bedroom, I begin by tackling the nightstand drawers and then move on to the dresser and the chest. 4. Empty one drawer ...

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »