Author: Cameron

How to Find the Best Recruiting Software

Recruiting software is a huge aspect of most modern companies’ hiring processes. How do you find the best candidates for a given field in the most efficient way? For most recruiters, using the top recruiting software is how you do that.

After all, most companies fill out their ranks using some of these recruitment programs. Here are some of the top recruiting software suites.

How to Find the Best Recruiting Software

LinkedIn

Popular social networking site LinkedIn is a great way to recruit new employees. Potential candidates using the social media site will have a lot of the information you need right their on their page! Important info, such as their resume, work history and notable contacts, are all front and center.

LinkedIn is like networking at lightspeed. You can quickly see professional connections across the internet and figure out who knows the right people and has the right experience. If your field is highly focused on networking and prior experience, LinkedIn is a great tool for recruiting.

Indeed

Indeed job boards are responsible for the majority of interviews that take place in the US. The site allows for a great user experience for both employers and candidates. It’s easy for candidates to find your job postings based on their criteria. Likewise, employers can filter applicants based on several criteria.

If you’re looking for applicants with a certain level of education, that’s easy to filter for. Number of years in a relevant field? It’s easy to click through and get that info. The popular job board is also a first-stop for many job-seekers, meaning you know your posting will get a high amount of visibility here.

Monster

Much like Indeed, Monster offers a great user experience. While not as popular or prolific as Indeed, Monster gives your job postings still more visibility, making them that much more likely to be seen by qualified candidates.

While it can be difficult to find the right person for the job, tools like Monster, LinkedIn and Indeed have your back. If you’re looking to fill a tricky position, try using these sites today to fill out your company with the top people.

April 14, 2021
She Changed Her Life in Just Two Years with This Online Nursing Degree:

One of the most popular forms of online education is found in the nursing field. While many people are interested in a medical profession, one of the most commonly sought degrees in the field is in nursing. Today we’re going over nursing degrees, online courses and what you need to know to start a career in nursing.

Online Degrees in Nursing

The Basics

Many who seek out an online nursing degree do so when looking to change careers. However, there’s nothing wrong with going back to school (or going for the first time) online. Online degrees offer a number of flexible benefits for people looking to squeeze schooling in between full-time work and taking care of family.
For one thing, online degrees often offer more flexible and affordable curriculums. Affordability is an often overlooked but critically important aspect of higher education. Millions of Americans are saddled with tons of student loan debt. The less debt you take on pursuing your degree, the better.

Why Nursing?

Nursing is an incredibly popular field for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s rewarding, real work that keeps people engaged. You help people in the most direct way: by tending to their health. Working as a nurse can be very rewarding and offers a number of career options. Nearly all forms of medical care have need for nurses to work as support staff for doctors, surgeons and specialists.

Nursing isn’t nearly as specialized or time-consuming to learn as some other medical professions. As such, a larger number of people find nursing an appealing career option. A nurse need not attend medical school for six years the way certain medical professions require. This makes it more likely to appeal to the schedule and budget of the average working American as a degree choice!

Online Degrees

Seeking out an online degree can be a very flexible process for busy adults. While nursing degrees are traditional four-year degrees at accredited universities, many offer programs that allow you to squeeze in those credit hours in a shorter amount of time.

For instance, if you’re dedicated and take on a large course load, you could likely complete a full nursing degree in two years. Even working at a fast but measured pace could see sufficiently talented students acquire a nursing degree in three years.

However, keep in mind that it can be very difficult to take on such massive amounts of classwork while also juggling your full-time responsibilities. If you have a full-time job or children, consider taking a nursing degree at your own pace.

Careers in Nursing

Another big reason why nursing remains an enduringly popular online degree is the wide field of careers such degrees open up. Nurses are needed in nearly all forms of doctor’s office and medical field. Pediatricians, general physicians, surgical wards, specialized clinics and everything in between has need for nursing support staff.

In short, if you acquire a degree in nursing, you’ll likely encounter no difficulty in finding steady work. Beyond the steadiness, nursing work is engaging: you’ll likely be performing a vast array of tasks, varying in activities and keeping you on your toes.

Average Pay

On average, nurses can expect to make around $70,000 per year, depending on their field. Keep in mind, however, that number could vary widely depending on a number of factors. For instance, amount of experience, field of expertise, location and qualifications can all be massive determining factors in salary.

Nurses can expect to find full-time work more readily than some fields, as well. Such full-time work is likely to include benefits from vacation time, PTO, medical insurance and dental coverage and likely other benefits that vary from employer to employer.

October 6, 2019
He Cut His Motorcycle Insurance IN HALF starting in 2021

When it comes to riding on the open road, motorcycle enthusiasts take things seriously. However, a lot of insurance companies don’t treat bikes with that same seriousness, and it seems like they treat their motorcycle insurance as a spin-off of their auto insurance. However, choppers in cars don’t have a lot in common, so why should their insurance policies?

Your bike is your baby. We get that. No one wants to think about their bike getting banged up, but on the chance it happens, you want to have only the best insurance on your side. You also don’t want to be spending an arm and a leg insuring the thing. To help you make a good call on who you go with for your motorcycle insurance, we’ve broken down a few of the best options on the market today.

Markel

When you need your motorcycle insured, it makes you feel a lot better if you’re going to people who specialize in just that. Markel’s been specializing in motorcycle insurance for over 40 years now, and they cover every type of bike, from dirt bikes and scooters to cruisers and touring bikes. Got a big old trike you need insured? They’ve got you. Maybe you’ve got a sport bike or a big twin you need insured? Markel insures it.

Markel also offers a bunch of ways to get discounts on your policy by taking care of your bike. Since you already take care of your bike, this means you’re likely to get most, if not all, of these discounts. They include things like anti-lock brakes, anti-theft alarms, renewal, safe driver and the like. Essentially, if you’re treating you bike right and taking care of it, you’re going to see a lot of discounts. If you’re looking for the best overall insurance policy to protect you and your bike, Markel’s got what you need.

Safeco

If you’re looking to keep the costs down while still getting the best insurance for your bike, you’re looking for Safeco. If you think you haven’t heard of them, that’s probably not the case: they’re in the Liberty Mutual group, so you can trust their reputation. They cover bikes of nearly all varieties, much like Markel, from cruising bikes all the way to moped. Notably, they don’t cover racing bikes or bikes used in competitions.

The best thing about Safeco, for the discerning customer, is that they offer very inexpensive coverage that helps you keep your peace of mind. You’re not sacrificing good coverage for a low price: they just have good prices. If you’re a Harley Davidson owner, they even offer new bike replacement in the event that your bike gets totaled. That’s a hard deal to pass up!

Allstate

If you’re a younger driver, or you’re insuring a younger driver in your house, Allstate is a great insurance company for motorcycles. They offer a few unique programs that make them ideal for younger riders. They have their Allstate Rider Protection Project, a safety training program that helps teach young riders about the safest ways to operate their bikes. This is a huge benefit, as a number of younger riders might not have access to the unique educational resources available through this course.

Allstate also offers a First-Accident Waiver for motorcycle policies. This means that after your first accident on a motorcycle, they won’t raise your premiums. They also offer a wide variety of discounts for a number of behaviors. There’s discounts for safe driving, multi-policy discounts, discounts for belonging to approved motorcycle associations, and even discounts for completing motorcycle safety courses.

October 5, 2019
Trouble Sleeping? Try These Life-Changing Natural Sleep Aids!

You’re finding it tough to get to sleep at a reasonable hour. Even when you do manage to get to sleep, you’re finding it difficult staying asleep for the full six to eight hours you need to get good rest. You’re sick of waking up groggy and tired and you’re looking for something to help you get some decent sleep. Well, you’ve come to the right place! Here are some of the best natural sleep aids to help you sleep soundly.

Natural Sleep Aids

Almost half of us are sleep deprived – but not because we don’t want to sleep. Sometimes we simply can’t fall asleep or stay asleep due to a range of biological forces and lifestyle choices. You know how it goes: You put your head on the pillow and it appears as though the mind suddenly goes into overdrive.

Regularly sleeping fewer than seven hours per night increases the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, unhealthy eating habits that can lead to other chronic illnesses. Increased and better sleep, on the other hand, can lower levels of stress, and improve mental clarity and memory. Improved sleep also affects our immune systems, encourages better eating habits and weight management.

Meditation for Sleep

Healthy sleep has more to do with quality of rest than quantity of hours.Sleep meditations help create the inner conditions needed for a truly restful night. Because when we settle the mind, we rest the body—and that restfulness is what makes it easier to wind down and drift off. The mind’s tendency to get caught up in thoughts is perhaps strongest at bedtime, when we suddenly stop and be still. Meditation trains us to be less in our head and more aware of the present moment.

Most Americans don’t sleep enough, and this can lead to fairly serious mental and physical health problems. Meditation for sleep is a specific, guided experience that offers a natural sleep aid all on its own, allowing us to let go of the day—everything that’s happened and everything that’s been said — so that we can rest the mind while simultaneously resting the body. That’s why using guided meditation apps, such as Headspace as a tool for better, deeper, longer sleep can be a game changer, especially if you’re someone who has insomnia. Try it, it can change your life!

Exercise

Our first natural sleep aid is really quite straightforward: get plenty of exercise throughout the day. Nothing can keep you awake quite like being full of restless energy and having no way to burn it off. When you’re feeling restless, anxious and full off too much energy, it’s time to hit the gym and burn those emotions along with some calories.

Not only will this help you to feel better and burn off some anxiety, it’ll also help you sleep better. Your mental state is likely to improve just from a routine of exercise, along with your physique. When you’re constantly hitting the gym and getting into great shape, you’ll find it much easier to get to sleep and sleep through the night.

Good Diet

This one goes hand-in-hand with the exercise step. Get a better diet going! Try to eat bigger meals earlier in the day, and then taper down to a smaller dinner. If you can, try to not eat within four hours of when you’re trying to get to sleep. This keeps you from getting too stimulated before laying down for bed.

Another thing to look out for is your caffeine intake. Make sure you’re not having caffeine within six hours of when you’re trying to sleep. If you drink energy drinks, stop! Those are terrible for you. Likewise, don’t drink sugary, caffeine-filled sodas all day, either. If you need a pick-me-up in the mornings, black coffee is a fine way to do it, but switch to tea later in the day to taper down your caffeine intake.

Melatonin Supplement

Alright, we’re certain you didn’t come to this article for us to tell you “eat better and work out,” so here’s something you might not have tried yet. Melatonin is a hormone your body creates when it’s later in the day and it’s time to get ready for bed. Often, insomnia is caused by a lack of this hormone in the body, so supplements can help regulate healthy sleep.

Melatonin is also great for those who have to sleep during the daytime for work. While we don’t recommend shift work like this, it’s often hard to choose one’s own schedule. If you have to sleep during the day and work at night, melatonin supplements are a great way to pull that off.

October 2, 2019
Medicare: How to Get Dental Coverage

Roughly a quarter of people over 65 claim they haven’t seen the dentist in over five years. That’s a horrible statistic, and one that needs to be addressed. Dental health is incredibly important to your body’s longevity and your overall wellness. Opting to skip out on the dentist is a surefire way to miss changes in your health and even find your teeth slipping into poor health with cavities and gum degradation.

As you get older, your dental health only becomes more important. If you’re worried about the cost of dental coverage, maybe you’re looking to find coverage through Medicare. Unfortunately, there is no straightforward way to get dental health coverage through Medicare, as the federal program doesn’t really support dental coverage. What does it cover, then?

What Part A Covers

Medicare Part A can cover some emergency dental procedures that are received at a hospital. These must be defined as “emergency or complicated” procedures, and they have to be deemed “necessary” by a doctor at the time the procedure is undertaken. In these very narrow cases, Medicare Part A will be able to cover the procedure.

The section of Medicare that covers this type of coverage, Section 1862 (a)(12) of the Social Security Act, hasn’t been updated at all since 1980. However, it deems that specific dental procedures can be covered. An example provided would be a jaw reconstruction required as a result of an accident, such as a car accident. This doesn’t cover normal dental surgeries like root canals, even in situations where the patient is in extreme discomfort.

Preparation

The only other time that Part A could cover a dental procedure would be if a patient needed an oral examination in relation to a kidney transplant or a heart valve replacement. This would only come up if hospital dental staff performed the examination. This is a highly unusual case, and more of a corner case than actual dental coverage.

Another rare instance when Part A might cover medical expenses would be in the instance that required an extraction in preparation for a radiation treatment for certain neoplastic issues in the jaw. In short, this just means that some tumor-growth related diseases that are located near the jaw have procedures covered by Medicare.

What Part B Covers

Part B could also cover oral exams related to heart valve replacements or kidney transplants, in certain cases. Namely, if a general physician conducts the oral exam, instead of hospital dental staff, Part B would cover the exam instead of Part A. That being said, there are actually more rules about what Part B won’t cover in regards to dental health than what it will cover.

Specifically, this means that any medical services that would replace, remove or otherwise give attention to teeth can’t be covered. This includes pre-denture tooth pulling and normal dental procedures. Likewise, Part B explicitly doesn’t cover any procedures related to teeth or supporting teeth structures unless treatment of them is for a non-dental condition.

What This Means

This means, in short, that there is no real dental coverage offered through Medicare. If you’re retirement-age and in need of dental medical attention, you can’t get any help through Medicare. In the case of someone who is older, on a fixed-income and in need of a dentist, their best option would be to go through open enrollment in October to find health insurance that covers dental procedures.

Other options could include trying to find budget dental coverage online, or speaking with local dentist’s offices to see if any of them have advice on how to proceed with dental issues that need attention.

September 4, 2019
Is Your Weed Killer Giving You Cancer? Roundup Lawsuit Awards $289 Million!

Monsanto, the company that makes Roundup weed killer, is in a bit of hot water recently due to new lawsuits over their weed killer formula. The first case to go to trial, wherein former groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson sued the company after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, resulted in the plaintiff being awarded a $289 million verdict.

This has led to a sudden surge in interest in the Monsanto Roundup case. Class action suits are now underway for people who have used Roundup and then been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There are legal teams offering free case reviews, and many people who have been affected may be owed money from litigation against Monsanto.

Is Roundup Dangerous?

At the time of this writing, the only organization to outright state that glyphosate is a potential carcinogen is the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Their findings hold that glyphosate, the main chemical found in Roundup, is a “probable” carcinogen. Interestingly enough, the EPA continues to deny the potential health hazards of glyphosate.

In fact, the EPA recently published (and hastily took down) a paper with numerous inaccuracies claiming that glyphosate was actually not a carcinogen. In 2013, the EPA changed regulations defining what the safe level of glyphosate in soybean and oilseed crops was, allowing Monsanto’s product to be marketed as “safe”. This has led to some lawsuits alleging that the EPA has been doctoring research on behalf of Monsanto.

Global Context

Monsanto is a global mega-corporation that operates all around the world. The class action suit against them is a major factor in recent protests against the company’s business practices. Globally, the company has come under harsh scrutiny in places like Germany. There, many people are protesting the projected merger between Monsanto and German company Bayer.

Ostensibly, the merger is to increase Monsanto and Beyer’s global reach and to pool their considerable resources. Many have speculated, however, that the move is to allow Monsanto to hide its name by operating globally as just “Bayer.” This would allow Monsanto to avoid negative associations with its old name, while rebranding itself as a clean and respectable agriculture company.

Bans

In France, Roundup was banned in 2015 following many protests including professional chefs. In an open letter, over 100 chefs in France wrote “citizens cannot stand by and watch their plates be filled with chemicals.” The Netherlands joined France in banning Roundup, and the two have been pressuring the EU to ban the product altogether.

The EU voted against a 15-year license for glyphosate recently, and instead only offered an 18-month extension to the product. In light of the current class-action suit and other litigation going on in America, however, it is likely that the product will be pulled before long.

Similar Suits

Many lawsuits are ongoing in relation to glyphosate’s potential status as a carcinogen. Monsanto themselves have sued the state of California for allegedly “falsely listing” glyphosate as a carcinogen. Quaker Oats, another mega-corporation involved in agriculture, has also been sued over “deceptive labeling.” The plaintiffs in that case are claiming that Quaker Oats labelled products “all-natural” when they had traces of glyphosate residue on them.

Numerous other similar suits are cropping up in the US legal system as products like baby food and wine are also found to contain traces of glyphosate. As these cases unfold, it becomes clear that use of Monsanto’s Roundup product is likely to prove rather costly for several companies.

What This Means

For individuals, this means if you’ve been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after being exposed to Monsanto’s Roundup product, you could be entitled to monetary compensation. It would be worth contacting a relevant legal team to have them review your case.

August 30, 2019
Biggest Mistakes People Make When Buying Laptops

If you’re shopping for a laptop for your kids going back to school, or just looking for something to help you with productivity, there’s a lot to choose from. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for laptops on the lower end to distance themselves from competition in the form of tablets and even smartphones. As such, tons of weird gimmicks have started showing up on laptops across the entire market, and they can be hard to sift through.

When you’re shopping for a new laptop, there are a few basic mistakes you’ll want to take care to avoid. Whether they’re experienced tech junkies or relative newcomers, here are the basic mistakes that people make when they’re shopping for a new laptop.

Paying too Much

Some of the higher-end laptops you’ll find are downright amazing. However, that doesn’t mean that every expensive laptop is a good deal. If a laptop feels like it’s straining your budget for you to fit it into your purchases, it’s likely rocking some features that are completely unnecessary. Don’t get suckered in to paying a huge upcharge for a 4K display, 4TB of memory and 12GB of RAM when the laptop is going to be used for taking notes and watching YouTube videos.

Along this same line of reasoning, make sure you know what display resolution you’re comfortable with. If you want to use a laptop for lots of Netflix streaming, video games and photo editing, you might want to opt for the full 4K resolution. However, if you’re buying for a student so they can write research papers and check their email, then you might go for a 720p screen that costs less than half the price.

Undershooting Your Needs

On the flip side, if you buy a laptop entirely based on “oh, this is the cheapest one I could find!” then you’re likely going to get what you pay for. If your laptop barely has any storage or RAM, then you’ll find it quickly running out of usefulness for you. Likewise, if you need a lot of applications running at once but opt for a dual-core processor over a quad-core processor, just because the dual-core was cheaper, you’ve only short-changed yourself.

When you’re buying a laptop, have a good idea of your needs. When you know what you need, then it’s easier to set your price point. If you undershoot what you need, then you’ll have issues on you hands that you won’t be able to fix until you just buy the laptop you should have bought in the first place. Likewise, if you overshoot and buy something hilariously overpowered for what you need, then you’ve wasted a ton of money on bells and whistles that aren’t helping you.

Not Trying it Out

Would you ever buy a car without test driving it, or a home without touring it? If you would, then, congratulations on your huge piles of disposable cash. However, people with normal budgets try things before buying them, and your laptop should be no exception. The prevalence of online buying has made this a bit less common in recent years, but this is a disturbing trend. It’s important that you try out any complex piece of technology before you buy it.

The feel of the keyboard, the speed of the processors and the appearance of the resolution are all important things to see in person. Even minor touches, like the shape and weight of the laptop, are hard to gauge just by looking at stats and dimensions on a cold web page. Little things like the sensitivity of the touch pad or the lack of certain features might not jump off the page at you, but would be immediately apparent if you tried the device in-person.

August 16, 2019
Buying an RV? What You Should Know

One of the most enduring and fun pastimes that Americans enjoy during their vacation time is going camping. However, camping can be a bit inglorious: slumming it out in a tent in the woods is a bit harder to do once you’re out of your twenties. So, what’s a lover of the great outdoors to do? Well, the simplest solution would be to buy an RV, so you can bring a little bit of home with you when you go camping!

RVs are quite the investment, though. It’s important that you know what you’re getting into before you buy an RV. To that end, we’ve compiled a quick guide of things you should know before you buy an RV. Get ready to hit the road and the campground in style!

Be Selective

It’s okay to take your time when you’re looking to buy an RV. Check out all the options available to you, take it slow and easy, and don’t fall in love with the first camper you see. It’s easy to fall for a hype sales pitch, but don’t let it convince you to buy something you’re not sure about yet. An RV is likely the second-most expensive thing you’ll ever buy, after your home. As such, it’s important you’re as discerning with your RV as you were when you bought your home.

Keep a lookout for substandard components. Maybe the plumbing isn’t ideal, or the water pump is outdated. Check the cabinets out and double-check the build quality on the furniture. This is a huge purchase: it’s okay to take a year or more doing research and weeding out the campers you know you don’t want before you find the one you do.

On the Lot

When you’re going in to buy the RV, make sure you know when to buy. The best time to hit the dealership is towards the end of the month, or the end of the year. That way, you’re close to the deadline for some of the dealership’s quotas and sales targets. This gives you a lot more power in negotiating. When the power is in your hands, you can negotiate much more freely.

Start by haggling for around thirty percent off the sticker price of the RV. If you can get the price down around that region, you’ll be in good shape. It’s important that you know to walk away if you can’t find a good price with the dealership you’re at. Let the salesperson know that you’re willing to walk away and work with their competition if they won’t work with you.

Or Buy Used

If you don’t feel like fussing with a dealership, you can try to buy an RV used. RVs are unusual in that they’re luxury items, but their value depreciates rapidly once they’re purchased. After being driven off the lot, they can drop as much as 25% in price on the spot. As such, if you’re willing to shop around and deal with secondhand sellers, you can likely find RVs for as much as half off their MSRP.

When buying used, make sure you check the living quarters thoroughly and ask the owner for all the paperwork showing the proper upkeep and maintenance of the RV. They can be a big hassle to keep up with and maintain, so if the person you’re buying from is done with the RV and wants to get rid of it, you’ll likely find it easy to haggle for a better price on the camper. Be aware before you buy any RV that repairs can be costly and can take a lot of time, so be ready for a big responsibility. If you put the work in, though, they can be huge fun!

August 16, 2019
2020 Chevy Corvette: A Real Corvette Under $60,000?

Corvette: the name alone conjures up images of low-slung, aggressive performance vehicles. Clean body lines, aggressive tuning, monstrous acceleration. Corvette. The last thing you think of when you hear the name Corvette, though, is “under $60,000,” unless it’s 1978 and we’re not adjusting for inflation. Believe it or not, though, Chevy has delivered on their promise: the base trim of the 2020 ‘Vette comes in at a cool $59,995, including the destination fees.

Keep in mind that this doesn’t include taxes or fees, which will inevitable bump the price up above that $60,000 mark. But, to Chevy’s credit, this is a Corvette, and it’s coming off the showroom floor for less than $60,000. That’s impressive, to say the least. But, what are you getting for your money? Is this a water-down car with the ‘Vette emblem slapped on it, or a refined and distilled version of the much-vaunted performance vehicle?

Drivetrain

The most important part of any Corvette is under the hood. In the case of the 2020, all trim levels benefit from the same beautiful 6.2-liter V8 that pushes out 490 horsepower and rips 465 pound-feet of torque. If that isn’t enough power for you, every trim level can opt for the $5,000 “Performance” package to get 495 horses and 470 pound-feet. No matter which engine you go for, this thing can fly.

If you were worried that the lower price tag on the base trim meant it would be getting a half-baked version of the “main” engine, fear not. That 6.2-liter V8 is running under the hood of the base trim, too, and it can punch out some serious power. If you’re looking for a car to make some noise and haul some boogey, the 2020 ‘Vette has you covered at all trim levels.

Interior

Tons of interior options are available on the 2020 Corvette. These include six different interior schemes, along with six distinct seatbelt colors. Your ‘Vette will feel unique and distinct from any others you see on the road: there are even two optional upgrades for the seats, of which you have the choice between three different styles. It’s unlikely you sit in any Corvette that looks just like yours after you pick all of your favorite customization options.

If you opt for the 2LT trim, which starts at $67,295, you get a ton of interesting upgrades in the cab. These include wireless charging for your devices, a color heads-up display, heated and ventilated seats, navigation and satellite radio. On the safety side, this trim level also packs blind-spot monitoring, a backup cam that can be displayed on the rearview mirror, and even a front-facing camera to keep you from biting the curb and scuffing the paint.

Standard Equipment

If you’re not interested in picking up the 2LT trim level, however, you still get a ton of bang for you buck at the base trim level. Standard equipment includes LED headlights, an 8-inch infotainment screen and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other great amenities include a killer Bose sound system, power seats with tons of maneuverability and even two-zone climate control to help with picky passengers.

As for standard safety equipment, the 2020 Corvette will come complete with rear parking sensors standard. Other fun standard features include a 12-inch gauge display, keyless entry and keyless start, a powered-adjustable steering wheel, an HD backup cam and even a 4G LTE wi-fi hotspot. In short, even when you’re getting the base 1LT trim, it’s hard to call this a “watered-down” anything. This is a full-fledged, comfortable, exciting and blisteringly-fast Corvette, through and though. It just happens to have a much more wallet-friendly sticker price than it used to. We call that one a win!

August 15, 2019
Window Replacements: What You Need to Know

Windows are a huge part of the flow of any home. After all, no one wants to sit in a dark, windowless room. People love natural light, seeing the world beyond their windows and taking in the sights outside their home. However, your windows could be costing you a lot of money, or letting in bugs and other pests. If your home’s got older windows, you might need some window replacements. Here’s what you need to know about getting new windows installed in your home.

Window Replacements

Older Windows

Older homes tend to have more traditional, old-school windows with simple wooden windowsills. The issue with these old-style windows is that they don’t get a good seal between the wood frame of the window and the wood of the seal itself. This results in your home’s internal temperature being more difficult to maintain. It loses cool air in the summer, and lets heat out in the winter. This is bad for a number of reasons.

For one thing, this means your power bill is going to be higher than it has any business being. For another, if your HVAC is constantly running at full-tilt to try to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, it’s unlikely you’ll get the same lifespan out of the appliance that you would if it were being run more normal amounts. In turn, this means that older windows just straight-up cost you more money.

Pests and Bugs

Another issue with old-style windows is that their lack of a proper seal allows bugs and other pests to easily wiggle their way under the window. While having newer windows isn’t a surefire way to keep bugs out, it does offer one more line of defense between your home and an ant or termite problem. If you’ve been seeing lines of ants crawling in under your window, you know it’s time to get some new windows installed.

What Kind Should You Get?

Older windows are different from modern ones in more ways than just the sill. The actual glass panes on older windows are single-pane, and typically made from real glass. Modern, double-pane style windows are more energy efficient, as they radiate less heat, and they’re usually not made from real glass. Instead, they’re created from translucent materials that are much safer. If you’re looking to replace your older windows, we suggest you use newer, double-pane style vinyl windows.

As far as cost goes, modern, energy-efficient windows tend to cost around $500 to install, though the price in your region could vary based on cost of living. That said, these types of windows are notably more affordable to get installed than older, wooden-style windows, which can cost around $900 to replace. While these may look more “classic,” they’re not exactly a good deal for your wallet.

Appearance vs Cost Effectiveness

Many homeowners love the look of classic, wood-frame, single-pane windows. They look traditional, classy and even a little romantic. However, updating from your older windows to this style can be tremendously expensive, cost-prohibitive just to install. Beyond the sheer installation cost, there’s the other expenses these windows could cause you.

For instance, in the case of your power bill, older style windows will be running the bill up. Heat radiates much more easily through a single glass panel, and wooden frames don’t create strong seals. This means that a draft could get going under the window, resulting in escalating power bills. Not to mention, if the windows are allowing pests underneath, you’ll have to pay even more for an exterminator to remove the problem. In short, unless you’re willing to part with a lot of cash, we recommend sticking with modern, double-pane windows.

August 15, 2019