3 commonly-asked questions about home warranty insurance plans
3 commonly-asked questions about home warranty insurance plans

Owning a home comes with several unexpected expenditures, which are not always covered by your homeowners’ insurance. In such cases, it proves handy to opt for a home warranty insurance plan, which is designed to cover what your homeowners’ insurance doesn’t. A home warranty insurance plan is considered to be the foil to your home insurance when the certain perils that wreaked havoc on your home—water damage, earthquake, floods, or mold—are not covered by your home warranty insurance. 

Here are certain things you should know about home warranty insurance plans that will help you arrive at an informed decision.

How is a home warranty insurance plan different from homeowners’ insurance?

For starters, homeowners’ insurance covers damages that are caused by certain defined perils, such as straight-line winds, fire, burglary, hail, and other property claims. It even covers certain types of water damage. However, homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover the expenses that are associated with appliances or home system failures unless these failures are caused by the said peril.

Home warranty insurance, on the other hand, covers things that aren’t covered by homeowners’ insurance. These are essentially service contracts that pay for the cost of repairs or replacement of appliances, built-in appliances such as heating and air conditioning, and plumbing, when they cease to function. It typically costs around $250-$500 annually but can run closer to $1,000 depending on what plan you choose. 

How does home warranty insurance plan work?

A home warranty insurance plan works in a similar fashion as the product warranty for any appliance you might have purchased. When you opt for a home warranty insurance plan, the company pays for the repairs and replacement of the specific components of your home which are included in the policy, such as your HVAC system, furnace or boiler. You will have to pay an annual fee which is used for dispatching a contractor to your house for repairs whenever a problem arises. 

What factors are covered by a home warranty insurance plan?

It is essential for you to know that home warranty companies tend to offer several tiers of coverage, and these are some of the common things that are covered:

  • Basic coverage includes the cost of plumbing systems, dishwashers, oven ranges, garbage disposal, exhaust or ceiling fans, sump pump and water heaters, built-in microwaves or tubs, and heating and electrical systems. 
  • If you opt for enhanced coverage, it would include central air, clothing washers and dryers, refrigerators, and garage door openers. These items would be covered if you pay its additional charges.
  • You can even choose from the optional warranty coverage, such as well pumps, pools and spas, standalone freezers, septic systems, and central vacuums. 

Before you decide on a home warranty insurance plan, ensure that you shop around for it.

  • Top foods that boost skin health

    Atopic dermatitis, commonly referred to as eczema, is a skin condition that triggers itching, inflammation, and rashes on the skin. The symptoms are chronic and quite erratic, meaning they can develop without warning. The rashes also increase the risk of skin infections, mainly due to exposed skin. Eczema can be managed with a few topical treatments, prescriptions, lifestyle changes, and even by including the following foods that boost overall skin health.

    Healthy fats 
    Omega-3 fatty acids naturally prevent dry skin by providing moisture from within the body. These good fats also help lower skin inflammation and prevent acne flare-ups. Salmon, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and herring are excellent choices loaded with zinc and omega 3s. Vegetarians can supplement this intake by including more avocados, soybeans, walnuts, chia seeds, and flax seeds.

    Fresh veggies
    Spinach contains the highest concentration of folates and B vitamins that lower the risk of carcinoma and help repair skin DNA. Kale is a superfood when it comes to boosting anti-aging properties of the skin with vitamins A, C, E, and K. Broccoli and Brussels sprouts are some other vitamin C-rich veggies to include in daily foods. Popular non-green alternatives like carrots and pumpkin are also rich in vitamin A, beta carotene, and essential skin-repairing compounds.

    Fresh fruits
    Tomatoes (yes, it’s a fruit) are rich in lycopene and vitamin C. These compounds mainly protect the skin from UV damage and boost collagen strength to repair skin. Also, fruits like oranges, apples, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and cherries are excellent low glycemic options. They don’t trigger spikes in blood sugar levels. Such spikes lead to increased inflammation and sebum production, which are the main causes of breakouts and acne. Red grapes, rich in resveratrol, can also help slow down the effects of aging and lower the risk of free radicals that cause cell damage.

    CIBINQO™ for atopic dermatitis – New FDA approval
    Developed by Pfizer and marketed under the brand name CIBINQO™, this prescription has recently received FDA approval for treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. The oral medication can be taken only once a day as directed by the doctors. It is suitable for use with topical prescriptions for managing symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

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  • How to use Google find ancestry records for free

    One of the most common ways to search for ancestry records is typing a basic query in Google. Most genealogy websites offer premium services and even if you manage to find free resources, there are a number of limitations that can stall your search for ancestry records because of the sheer complexity of the task in hand. In the end, the mighty search engine “Google” is the perfect choice to find remote links to your family history and ancestry. Who knows, a simple search could reveal you are related to Royalty and are next in line, sounds tempting doesn’t it?

    So how can you make the most of a globally recognized search engine and turn it into your personal family history resource to sift through mountains of metadata and find what you have been looking for? The answer lies in the following search tips.

    Search trick 1
    To limit the number of search results you can use quotation marks in your search query. Quotation marks help you narrow down page requests and query hits. Most genealogy sites have online ancestry records that are open to public access and Google can narrow down the names from search query more efficiently using quotation marks.

    Search trick 2
    You can use the minus sign to ensure that the search engine does not throw up redundant information. Place the minus sign directly before every word in your search query with no space in between to exclude such data. This trick helps you to eliminate the possibility of getting duplicate hit because of common ancestor names.

    Search trick 3
    You can also get site-specific results by typing “site: SITEURL” before a term or group of terms to receive targeted results from that particular website. For example, if you want to receive specific page results from the Ancestry Records official website, simply enter site: ancestryrecords.com “yoursearchname” to get filtered results.

    Search trick 4
    Select a date range to narrow down specific site results. If you know the time period in which you want to track your family’s lineage and progress, simply put the year in your search query.

    You might be wondering if it is even possible to get accurate results from a simple Google search query to track down results from billions of ancestry records. Note that there are many additional factors that determine the success or failure of your search query. While it is impossible to anticipate the hiccups you might face, these simple tricks can shed some light on your family history with one or multiple leads till you find a reliable source of information, naturally for free.

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  • Assurance wireless cellphones: An overview

    Federal Universal Service is a government support lifeline program. Assurance Wireless is a Federal Lifeline Assistance program presented by Virgin Mobile. Individuals who get qualified based on the state-specific eligibility criteria or federal can own Assurance Wireless cell phones.

    Assurance Wireless is available in many states in the US like Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and many more states across the country.

    Once the application of a particular applicant gets qualified for an Assurance Wireless government phone, depending upon the state rules, he/she would be eligible to get a free Android smartphone, with striking and attractive calling and data plans like 350 minutes of talk time and unlimited text messages for absolutely free. The user can get more benefits at a low monthly cost or through Virgin Mobile top-up cards wherein extra minutes can be added. Additionally, the user would also get 500 MB data usage for every month. Virgin Mobile top-up cards are almost available from thousands of retailer stores across the USA.

    Assurance Wireless stands at the top level of cellular service leaving behind some established and well-known names such as SafeLink Wireless because of its unique offers and its association with Virgin Mobile, Sprint, and Nextel. Through the Federal Lifeline Assistance program, the user can get a free cell phone.

    From state to state, the eligibility rules can slightly differ. However, those people who participate on any of the below government aid plans qualify for the cell phone from the Assurance Wireless:
    – Medicaid.
    – Food Stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).
    – Supplemental Security Income.
    – Section 8 of Federal Public Housing Assistance.
    – Tribal TANF
    – Tribal Head Start
    – Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
    – Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
    – Veterans Pension and Survivor’s Benefit

    Cell phone plans
    Assurance Wireless phones have eye-catching offers and provide modern cell phones with standardized features like, call waiting, voice mail, and caller ID. Their basic tariff is available as a free phone with 350 free minutes calls with unlimited national text messages every month (plans may differ in certain states). Additionally, the user can top up by using Virgin Mobile top-up cards or PayPal to attain the bonus talk time service.

    There are a dozen of wireless phone service providers in the state. Get yourself analyzed and pick the best plans and phone provides details from the state page to stick with the best deals within your budget.

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  • 3 famous coins coveted by coin collectors

    Whether you are an enthusiastic numismatic or a novice, or whether you are into American numismatics, world coins, bullion or ancients, there are probably certain coins that are you covet than all coins. There are some coins that are the crème de la crème in the world of numismatics. Not only are they significant in terms of their value, but these coins are quite rare.

    Each of these coins have interesting stories attached to them, which adds to their value. Avid coin collectors covet these coins not only for their artistic value, but also for their historical significance. It is quite interesting to note that all these coins are worth more than their face value.

    1955/55 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent
    This coin is an error coin. Nonetheless, keen Lincoln penny collectors have an avid interest in this coin. This coin was the result of a simple error during minting. While minting this coin, the United States Mint used a coin die that had two impressions that were offset from each other. After minting, a batch of this coin (about 20,000 to 24,000 coins) were mixed with a batch of correctly minted coins. Since, it was not worth melting the whole batch of pennies, the mint decided to keep the doubled die cent in circulation. However, after the story was published in newspapers, many people pulled the coin from use.

    $1 Million Gold Canadian Maple Leaf
    This coin is the first, and perhaps the only, million dollar coin to have been ever minted in the world. With 3cm thickness and diameter of 50cm, this coin was minted by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2007. It is made of 3527 ounces of 99.999% pure gold. On one side, the coin has an impression of Queen Elizabeth II. On the other side, it has three maple leaves printed on it. There are five of these coins, owned by investors all over the world. The last of these coins was auctioned at a value of approximately $4.02 million in June 2010.

    1974 Silver Dollar
    The first dollar coin minted by the newly formed US Federal mint is worth approximately $10 million. This coin made of 10 percent copper and 90 percent silver was issued by the US Federal Government in 1794 and 1795. Also known as the Flowing Hair dollar, this coin has an image of the bust of Liberty with flowing tresses. The most expensive coin possessed by a private collector, this coin is quite significant historically.

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  • Selection criteria for portable medical alert devices

    Portable medical alert devices or personal emergency response systems are devices that are catered toward seniors to equip them with a greater sense of independence. What’s best is that these devices provide the much-needed peace of mind to the caregivers. Effective portable medical alert devices are especially helpful as they act as a reliable reassurance in an emergency. Typically, most portable medical alert devices have easy interface and functionalities, prompt response, and sturdy equipment that helps seniors feel safe as well as independent at the same time. While most portable medical alert devices have amazing features, it gets increasingly tricky to choose the best portable medical alert devices out of the lot. Here are some of the things you must consider while picking the most effective portable medical alert systems.

    Consider your needs and requirements
    The best way to find the perfect portable medical alert device includes identifying your requirements. For instance, if the senior is prone to falls, wearable devices with buttons may work the best. The call for help feature on such devices can help get prompt alerts in emergencies. For seniors undergoing treatment, it is best that you buy portable medical devices with medication reminders and features that monitor health status. Additionally, if the senior is active and someone who drives, the best device would be the one with activity monitor and GPS location detector. Similarly, based on your needs, you can choose to buy devices with additional features like home security, fitness tracking, check-in services and home security monitoring.

    Features to watch out for
    It is a fact that some portable medical alert devices are more sophisticated than the others. Some of the useful features to invest in include extended range of up to 400 feet, extra back up in the event of power failure, multiple contact options, and extra help buttons at accident-prone areas. You can further base your buying decision on the type of device you may need. You can choose from a pool of waterproof options, wearable devices, and comfortable devices that are non-obtrusive and safe to be worn all day long. Other important features to consider include water resistance, range, mobility, and connectivity.

    Cost
    While this is a crucial factor that can affect your decision, it is essential you look beyond the price of only the device. It is also important that you consider the overall cost of the particular device and avoid devices with elaborate and complicated pricing policies and additional hidden fees. Ensure you look for a brand that does not charge extra fees for shipping, installation, servicing, activation, and repair.

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  • How to find the best furniture store

    Are you going to remodel your house? Do you want to give a new touch to your boring house interior? Are you regularly surfing the internet while seeking new ideas? If your answer is “YES” for all above questions, then you should prepare few things for a great renovation.

    The task of renovating a house is not only limited to changing the color of walls and buying everything new. You should also decide a place of everything if you don’t want to compromise the look of your house. The furniture is also an important element of home decor that you can’t avoid. Apart from proving comfort, the furniture also adds utility to your interior and enhances the beauty of your place.

    Unique furniture always grabs the attention of people and complements your house. But, buying the best furniture items is not an easy task at all. You need to find a good place like Aarons furniture store, to get the best deals.

    But, how can you find the best store without losing your patience? Well, it is not too difficult as you think. You can find a good store in minutes if you know the right procedure. Do you? If you don’t, then here we have arranged few steps, which will help you in finding the best store.

    Search online: The internet is the best way to find anything in seconds. It allows you to check the websites of different service providers and you can also see their collections. The online stores also provide the estimate of rate and you can limit your budget according to price. Visiting a website can also give you an idea of latest trend and price as well. So, start your research on the internet and browse through some of the deals offered by stored such as Aarons furniture store.

    Collect reference: You can ask friends and relatives for a good furniture store. Moreover, you can also collect references via newspaper ads and online websites. After collecting references, you can shortlist 4-5 names, which perfectly suits your needs and provides a budget-friendly furniture option. So, it is important that you have a list of different stores to allow you to compare things and find only the best.

    Visit: After browsing and finding out about the best stores, you should also pay them a visit. A store visit can give you an idea of their quality and give you brand assurance. Moreover, a physical visit helps in making a good conversation with the owner and you will get more information about the latest furniture. You can also ask for custom services if you want to design a furniture according to your specifications.

    Check offers: If you want to keep all the savings in your pocket, then never forget to ask for current and popular running offers. Every good furniture store provides amazing discount and exchange offers to their regular customers. It helps them to boost their sales and gives you the upper hand to get the best design at a pocket-friendly price. So, never leave this opportunity and always check the offers of stores especially Aarons furniture.

    Quality: Apart from price, the quality is a must. If you want furniture with a long life, then you should check the quality. Good quality furniture never needs short time maintenance and reduces the cost of repair. Moreover, you don’t need to replace furniture after using it for a very short time because with quality comes durability. So, you can relax because you will get the best value for your money if you invest them at a right place like Aarons furniture.

    These are the five simple steps, which will help you to find a reliable store. So, take these steps into consideration and make your purchasing outstanding.

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  • 5 luxury hotels in Las Vegas that offer a deluxe experience

    Elvis Presley summed up best when he sang about making it in Las Vegas, “All you need’s a strong heart and a nerve of steel…”  With its bright shiny lights and never-ending nights, the City of Las Vegas or Vegas as it is popularly known is every glamor-seeking vacationer’s paradise. If you have the money to splurge, Vegas has everything to give a holiday loaded with extravagance, thanks to its casinos that offer high-stakes games all night long, concert shows that feature A-list headliners, spas with the most luxurious and unique amenities, and restaurants that serve some of the best steaks in the world.

    Moreover, the city is slowly emerging as a vibrant arts center. In 2013, the city launched the When Life Is Beautiful Festival that showcased the artworks of international and local artists and muralist. Because of this festival, you will find a number of outdoor art galleries across downtown Vegas. Thus, you will experience decadence as well as a vibrant culture in Las Vegas. Nonetheless, the city is still known for its ultra-glam hotels and resorts. If you are looking for luxurious stay experience, here are some of the popular and best luxury hotels in Las Vegas you can check out.

    Skylofts at MGM Grand
    With a per-night rate of around $992, the Skylofts is one of the best luxury hotels in Las Vegas. It is located at the top of the MGM Grand. Designed with stylings similar to the ultra-luxurious New York lofts, the rooms at Skylofts give guests a spectacular view of the entire city. The hotel offers guests a private chauffeur-driven limousine to pick them up from the airport as soon as they land in Vegas. A private elevator takes the guests to their suite, where they will have a personal butler service, an espresso machine, an infinity spa tub, and a universal remote control that lets the guests control the lighting and the temperature of the room. Guests can also ask for apartments with private plunge pool or a fully functional kitchen.

    Four Seasons Hotel
    If you are looking for a quiet and peaceful luxurious stay, the Four Seasons Hotel is the best luxury hotel in Las Vegas. Although located centrally in the Las Vegas Strip, it is far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. Designed in Art Deco style, the hotel has a private entrance from the Las Vegas Boulevard. Some of the most well-known restaurants and bars in Vegas are located inside this hotel. The per-night rates are around $240, and the place is family and kids-friendly.

    Wynn
    With dazzling artsy interiors and a fantastic light show at night known as the “Lake of Dreams”, the Wynn Hotel offers guests some of the most elegantly designed and spacious rooms, signature restaurants, glitzy nightclubs, and luxury shopping experience. This is one of the best hotels in Las Vegas with its own on-site 18-hole golf course. With per-night rates starting at $260, the Wynn offers its guests exclusive concierge services, same-day laundry services, and housekeeping services. The hotel has a 110,000-square-foot casino where guests can try their luck at various high-stakes games.       

    Bellagio
    Well-known for its more than 1,200 dancing water fountain that enthralls all the visitors in Vegas, the Bellagio is one of the classiest luxury hotels in the Strip. The interiors are surrounded by the artworks by popular contemporary artists and the entire resort has been designed with an elegant European theme. All the rooms, suites, and villas in the 67 acres of the resort give guests a wonderful view of the Lake Bellagio as well as the glitzy city. With its award-winning restaurants, spa, custom-made ultra-luxurious bed linens, and bathrooms with Italian marble, the Bellagio offers an opulent experience to its guests. The per-night rates start at $260 approximately.

    Palazzo Resort Hotel
    When it comes to the best luxury hotels in Las Vegas, the Palazzo Resort combines the best of Bellagio and the Wynn. It houses one of the most famous spas in the world, the Canyon Ranch Spa and an extravagant shopping complex that caters to haute couture brands. Located in the north side of the Strip, the Palazzo offers its guest dining experiences from some of the best chefs in the world.  The per-night room rates are around $210, and the hotel is child-friendly.

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  • Why should everyone get pool solar covers?

    Pool solar covers are eco-friendly and an economical way of reducing the water usage of pools, thereby saving both natural and financial resources. However, these are not the only advantages that they have. Read on to know how pool solar covers are advantageous.

    • Water heating
      Pool solar covers trap the UV rays of the sun inside bubbles and then use this heat to warm up the pool. However, for this mechanism to work efficiently, the bubbles of air must be facing towards the surface of the pool.
    • Reduced cost of energy
      By using solar covers, there is a decrease in the use of heaters, which reduces utility expenses. Furthermore, if the pool is situated in an area that has access to a lot of sunlight, then the heating cost can be entirely cut off.
    • Reduction in evaporation
      A regular pool does absorb heat from its surroundings, but this warmth does not stay. This is because uncovered pools are prone to evaporation. The use of these covers helps block this evaporation and retain the heat from the sun in the water.
    • Saves water
      Once the evaporation has been lessened, the amount of water dissipating from the pool over a certain period of swimming also declines. Consequently, this reduces the amount of water that needs to be refilled to stabilize the levels. With the help of pool solar covers, this volume can be reduced by 50%.
    • Extending the swimming period
      A pool cover ensures that the swimming pool maintains an optimum level of heat for a prolonged time than it would have normally been. This means that even later on when the temperatures are beginning to drop, water remains warmer. Though the duration depends on the climate of the area, it can be guaranteed that the pool will remain warmer, allowing you to spend more time in it. 
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