American Road Trip Contest

(PRWEB) May 18, 2012

Car Rental Express is excited to announce they have extended their contest entry submission period for the American Road Trip Contest until May 31. The contest, which includes the chance to win $ 2,000 and a 14-day, all expenses paid road trip adventure for two from Los Angeles to New York City, will now accept entries until the end of May.

“The entries we’ve received up until this point have been extremely creative,” says CRX spokesperson Stan Levy. With that being said, Levy reminds applicants that they must complete the full online application in order to be eligible for the prize. “It’s important to note that the contest requires more than just a name and address.”

Creativity and social media smarts are what will set an entry apart from the pack – contest finalists will be selected by the public using social media voting tools from June 1 to June 30th. To enter, simply visit the Car Rental Express Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CarRentalExpress and click on the “American Road Trip” button.

1.    Completely fill out the entry form.

2.    Upload a photo of yourself, with your vehicle and a noteworthy landmark.

3.    Write why you are best suited to win this amazing prize (at least 100 words, please)

Need some inspiration to get started on your entry? Check out an entrants YouTube photo montage of a great American road trip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M0KlC_Krdw&feature=youtu.be

To view other entries, click here: https://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/188454/voteable_entries?view_entries=1

After Public Voting determines the finalists, CRX judges are looking for original, thought provoking, funny and/or interesting stories that clearly explain why you’re a road-tripping warrior. The lucky winner is required to share their experience with the CRX online community during their cross country adventure. As Levy explains, “we’re hoping that the winner will take our entire CRX family along for the ride via photos, videos and status updates.”

Winners have two weeks to drive from LA to NYC any way they wish during July or August. Winners will be driving a 2012 Toyota Corolla provided by Super Cheap Car Rental of California. The only requirement is that they check in (both online and in person), to a minimum of 10 CRX agencies along the way. Each stop at a CRX location will earn the duo a $ 100 prize. Other prize perks include transportation for 2 to L.A., 14-nights hotel accommodation, a 14-day premium car rental and a 14-day food and gas allowance and return from N.Y.C. “This will be an adventure of a lifetime for two lucky travelers.”

The American Road Trip Giveaway is open to persons residing in Canada and the United States who are at least 21 years of age. To view entries, or to submit your story, click on the banner at the top, when you visit Car Rental Express online at http://www.carrentalexpress.com.

About Car Rental Express

Car Rental Express (CRX) is the only car rental website dedicated to independent car rental agencies and mid-tier franchisees. CRX agencies have a global renter base in excess of 250,000 unique visitors each month. Agencies are Renter Rated by consumers just like you, to help others select the price and agency that best suits their needs.

http://www.carrentalexpress.com

http://www.expressitech.com

About Contest Car Rental Sponsor – Super Cheap Car Rental

Super Cheap Car Rental provides cheap, long-term car rentals to professionals, foreign travelers and students in the Los Angles, San Francisco, San Jose and Orange County Areas. A family owned and operated business, Super Cheap prides itself on giving you the TOTAL price up-front (including all taxes, and coverage).

http://www.supercheapcar.com

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Phoenix, Arizona (PRWEB) May 11, 2012

The team at EuroMed Foundation, an Arizona cancer center that specializes in insulin potentiation therapy, is excited about the positive results it is seeing. To help more people learn about the effectiveness of its alternative therapies, EuroMed is now sharing success stories from patients on its website.

Dr. Robert Zieve, who is certified in the use of insulin potentiation therapy (IPT), says patient stories can help Web visitors better understand the treatment process.

“Some of our patients have chosen to share their courageous stories online to help other people who are struggling with cancer,” Dr. Zieve says. “Patients are often relieved and comforted to discover they are no alone.”

EuroMed Foundation’s website includes video testimonials from patients who have battled breast cancer, prostate cancer and ovarian cancer. In addition to explaining the treatment process at EuroMed, the videos give personal insights into how cancer affected each person’s physical and emotional state and how many of them had previously been through traditional cancer treatments without success.

“Patients who come to our practice often say that they had lost hope,” Dr. Zieve says. “We provide a comprehensive treatment process that is aimed at restoring hope and helping people get back to leading active, healthy lives.

“Since many of the people looking for alternative cancer treatments live far away and cannot visit our practice easily, our video testimonials help them better understand our treatment modalities and advanced preventive programs. Hopefully, people who watch the videos will be encouraged by knowing that other people have had success with our innovative treatment programs.”

EuroMed’s website also provides written accounts of patients’ experiences. Dr. Zieve says he hopes people will be able to find at least one story that is in some way similar their own. This will allow them to better understand how the treatment process works.

“We have included stories from people with a variety of conditions and backgrounds in order to reach a wider number of patients,” Dr. Zieve says. “Whether someone is interested in a holistic cancer treatment or simply wants to learn about preventive steps, we want everyone to feel welcome and encouraged at our practice.”

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The EuroMed Foundation (http://www.euro-med.us) is a cancer center in Phoenix, Arizona. It specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer using conventional and alternative therapies from around the world. The doctors on staff are all trained in alternative cancer therapies such as Insulin Potentiation Therapy, Hyperthermia, Homeopathic Immune Modulation, Ozone Steam Sauna Therapy and many others.

Attachments

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

New York, NY (PRWEB) April 27, 2012

Ellery Homestyles is pleased to share fresh ideas that are sure to make any home more summer friendly! Summer always brings new styles to home fashion, and Ellery is right on trend with innovative window treatments for the home.

Nothing represents summer decor better than Parasol Indoor/Outdoor curtains! These beautiful curtains are durable enough to withstand weather, rust and the harsh effects of the sun. Available in vibrant, playful colors for summer – put these panels indoors to bring a touch of nature in, or hang them outside to complete any patio decor.

If beating the heat is the goal this summer, check out Eclipse Curtains! Eclipse blackout curtain panels are the perfect way to keep harsh rays from disturbing a summer slumber. In addition, Eclipse Curtains can help reduce cooling costs, by keeping cold air inside – where it belongs!

Keep a fresh, odor-free home all summer with Curtain Fresh curtain panels. These curtains have an innovative technology imbedded in the fabric to continuously neutralize unpleasant odors created by cooking, pets, smoke, must and mold. This technology was developed with the makers of Arm & Hammer® and is the perfect way to create a stylish, fresh home.

No summer checklist will be complete without these fabulous curtains!

Ellery Homestyles is a leading supplier of branded and private label home-fashion products to major retailers – offering curtains, bedding, throws and specialty products. Our proprietary brands deliver innovation in fashion, function and design and include Eclipse™ – the voice of authority for energy-saving, noise-reducing, blackout curtains; Curtainfresh™ – innovative curtains with odor-neutralizing technology developed in partnership with Church & Dwight, maker of Arm & Hammer®; SoundAsleep™ room-darkening curtains, The Official Curtain of the National Sleep Foundation; ComfortTech™ – the only blankets constructed with premium 3M™ Thinsulate™ Insulation, providing luxurious style, lightweight comfort and superior warmth; VUE™ – the home fashion brand that presents Ellery’s “point of view” on fashion trends and design, Waverly® – the oldest continuously advertised home fashions brand in America recognized by consumers for its distinctive traditional looks; Historic Charleston Collection™ – the distinctive home fashions brand that is steeped in historic Charleston’s decorative arts culture and LinenHouse Australia – the leading brand known for innovative, intriguing designs in luxurious bedding, throws and accessories. Ellery is a global company headquartered in New York City with a 375M square foot distribution center in North Carolina and offices in China, India and Pakistan.

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Houzz Best of Remodeling Award

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) May 07, 2012

EnvironmentalLights.com, an online retailer for high-quality, energy-efficient LED lighting, has been awarded “Best Of Remodeling” 2012 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design. The LED lighting company was chosen by the more than 1.2 million registered members of the Houzz community.

The Houzz “Best Of Remodeling” award for 2012 is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction award winners are based on homeowner members who rated their experience working with remodeling professionals in 12 categories ranging from architects, and interior designers to contractors and other residential remodeling professionals. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the 1.2 million members, also known as “Houzzers,” who saved more than 16.5 million professional images to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site and iPad/iPhone app.

EnvironmentalLights.com won the Customer Satisfaction category for their “Best of Remodeling” Award. Primarily serve lighting designers, architects, electrical contractors and other professionals, EnvironmentalLights.com scours the globe for best-in-class LED lighting products and distributes them from their headquarters in San Diego and satellite warehouses throughout the United States.

“We put our efforts into not only the best products, but the best team,” said Greg Thorson, president and CEO of EnvironmentalLights.com. “Our sales engineers provide expert advice in the selection and design of lighting systems, and work hand-in-hand with their customers until the installation is complete.”

EnvironmentalLights.com offers a broad spectrum of under cabinet lighting, rope and strip lighting, light bulbs, landscape lights and other LED lighting solutions for commercial and residential applications. You can purchase their products at EnvironmentalLights.com and follow them on Houzz.

“With 3.5 million monthly unique users and 80 million monthly page views, Houzz has rapidly become the largest community of active remodelers, providing homeowners and design enthusiasts with first-hand advice from Houzzers who have been through the renovating and decorating process,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of marketing for Houzz. “This is a real stamp of approval for EnvironmentalLights.com from the Houzz community and we’re thrilled to welcome them to this elite group of ‘Best Of’ winners.”

With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like EnvironmentalLights.com, but also those whose work visually aligns with their own design goals. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and evaluating their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.

About EnvironmentalLights.com

EnvironmentalLights.com is a leading resource for sustainable, energy-efficient LED lighting products to meet the needs of business, commercial and residential clients. The company offers a broad spectrum of light bulbs, strip and rope light, under cabinet light systems, Christmas lights, dimmers, controls and necessary hardware for any lighting project. For more information, visit http://www.EnvironmentalLights.com.

About Houzz

Houzz (http://www.houzz.com) is the leading online platform for home remodeling, providing inspiration, information, advice and support for homeowners and home improvement professionals through its website and mobile applications. Houzz features the largest residential design database in the world, articles written by design experts, product recommendations, a vibrant community powered by social tools, and information on more than 1.2 million remodeling and design professionals worldwide who can help turn ideas into reality.

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

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ASPEN, CO (PRWEB) May 04, 2012

The Aspen Cycling Criterium, scheduled for May 20 and offering more than $ 3,500 in prize payouts, will be held in the heart of downtown Aspen May 20 and runs heats of athletes at speeds of 28 mph and higher around a .9 mile track with sharp curves on road bikes. Travelers flocking to this mountain resort for the event are booking private vacation rental homes in Aspen through Colorado Vacation Rentals instead of traditional hotel rooms to enjoy their late winter festival in comfort.

This time of year outdoor enthusiasts come to Aspen together for springtime recreation like the Cycling Criterium, and many will be staying up to 10 days for the event. Folks are opting out of the expensive hotel stay and lodging in one of the many extraordinary Aspen vacation rental homes available through ColoradoVacationRentals.com at a much lower rate than a hotel room.

“The beauty of an Aspen vacation rental, besides the cost savings compared to a hotel stay, is the comforts of these beautiful villas, chalets, condos and homes that private property owners in Aspen make available to visitors,” Romano says. “Vacationers have access to all the amenities that go with a private home, such as the kitchen, laundry, separate bedrooms for privacy, and often some great extras like a fireplace, game room, or a hot tub overlooking the slopes.”

ColoradoVacationRentals.com has listings for short term – one night, one weekend, or one week private vacation rental accommodations in Aspen and throughout Colorado year round, as more and more travelers are seeking new alternatives to the expense and limitations that go with booking a hotel room.

For more information, visit ColoradoVacationRentals.com.

About Colorado Vacation Rentals:

ColoradoVacationRentals.com is among the fastest-growing web destinations for travelers seeking rental properties anywhere in Colorado. This collaborative site matches property owners with vacationers looking for the perfect rental property. The site now features improved search options and educational tools for renters and property owners.

The mission of Colorado Vacation Rentals is to connect travelers from all over the world with property owners in Colorado by providing detailed listings of properties, and a safe and efficient way of communicating right on the website. Powerful search tools allow renters to narrow down listings in order to find the vacation rental of their dreams. Prospective renters can research, compare and book cabins, villas, houses, ski chalets, condos and other great vacation properties anywhere in Colorado.

Visit the ColoradoVacationRentals.com website to learn more about Colorado vacation properties.

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Solar Panels on Home in Oshara Village Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico (PRWEB) April 30, 2012

Natural Homes and Renaissance Builders of Santa Fe, New Mexico are building the state of the art Solar Homes, bringing together energy conservation and Solar Electric generation with Solar Panels on the roof. This combination has resulted in homes with a net annual utility bill of around zero. With five new homes in construction or final planning stages, these new net Zero Energy Homes cost roughly what a conventional home costs and come with State and Federal tax credits, some as high as $ 20,000.

The State of New Mexico developed the BGNM program (Build Green New Mexico), which is similar to the federal LEED program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) designed around a super insulated building envelope, Heat Recovery Ventilation System, efficient lighting and highly efficient appliances and equipment. The base house saves around half the energy compared to a modern home built to the present code.

Renaissance Builders than adds between 1.7 to 5 Kilowatts of Solar Panels on the roof further reducing the energy used by the home. Some families that have moved into these homes are very aware of their energy use and have operated their home at net zero annual energy cost. At the time of the Real Estate crash of 2007, natural gas cost roughly twice what it does today. Adding high energy costs to mortgage costs was too much for many home owners to pay and tripped many of them into foreclosure setting off the cascade of events leading to the real estate collapse we are still dealing with today. Many banks have recognized that a home with relatively stable energy costs is a good investment and can eliminate one possible trigger of economic problems, making these homes more secure collateral for a bank financing home mortgages.

New Mexico Bank and Trust recently closed on a construction loan for a new Solar Home to be built in the La Tierra area of Santa Fe, finding that even in this market, this energy efficient home appraised for substantially more than it is being built for. Even though there is still significant competition between existing homes, there is no competition for the super-energy efficient homes that Renaissance Builders is offering. Alan Hoffman of Natural Homes of Logic Real Estate said “We have been very pleased with the number of people that recognize that insulating themselves from wildly fluctuating energy costs is a good decision for their family.”

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Studio City, CA (PRWEB) April 26, 2007

Home safety, self-defense, do-it-all … just get safe! Discovery Home Channel’s Toolbelt Diva, Norma Vally spreads community awareness with safety tips and ‘how-to’ advice at The Home Depot in Huntington Beach on May 19th, 2007. Learning can be fun and you can do it!

Who:

Norma Vally, “Toolbelt Diva”- Discovery Home Channel

Huntington Beach Police Department, Presenter: Lieutenant Craig Junginger

Women’s Transitional Living Center, Inc., Presenter: Rocio Watson, Executive Director

Aikido of Rossmoor, Women’s Self-Defense Demonstration – Presenter: Derek Nakagawa 4th degree black belt in Aikido

CPTED Security Consultants, “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design”

Huntington Beach Fire Department, Presenter: Fire Captain

What: Norma Vally’s Get Safe! Home Safety For Women Hosted by The Home Depot

Join Norma Vally, star of Toolbelt Diva (Discovery Home – Fridays 8 PM ET/PT) and author of Chix Can Fix: 100 Home Improvement Projects and True Tales from the Diva of Do-it-Yourself to find out how to protect yourself and your home! Expert speakers will join her in offering information on crime awareness, self defense, domestic violence awareness, and fire prevention. Whether you live alone, your husband travels a lot, or you just want to feel more secure in your home, spend your morning with Norma and her guest speakers to become empowered to take charge of your home and personal safety.

Hands On Workshop:

Norma will arm attendees with the know-how and skills to:

Install a peep-hole
Add bolt locks to doors and change locks
Mount motion sensor lights…and more!

There will be a Q&A raffle, with great prizes – including Norma Vally’s book, “Chix Can Fix: 100 Home Improvement Projects,” T-shirts, and Ryobi Power Tool Kit for correct answers to the safety discussions and demos!

Where:

The Home Depot- Huntington Beach (parking lot stage event)                    

7100 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 * 714-596-2944

When: Saturday, May 19th, 2007 * 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Why: To empower women with knowledge and information on how to Get Safe!

For media interviews/interest, please contact Stacey Kumagai, Media Monster Communications, Inc. at 818-506-8675. For information on Norma Vally visit http://www.chixcanfix.com.

Contact:

Stacey Kumagai, Media Monster Communications

818-506-8675        

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

BeClose

Metro Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 23, 2012

“Is Mom sleeping well?” “Did Dad wander outside in the middle of the night?” “What if my aunt isn’t well, but doesn’t want to be a burden? She has a panic button, but what if she can’t or won’t push it if she needs help?” “How will I know if my grandmother is really okay—or just telling me what I want to hear?”

BeClose, the affordable wireless technology system which provides safety and independence for the elderly, hears from caregivers every day about the stress and strain of the responsibilities of caring for aging loved ones. Comprised of a base unit and wireless sensors placed throughout the house, BeClose offers caregivers the peace of mind of knowing that their elderly family members are going through daily routines and that nothing is urgent or out of the ordinary.

Today, the company is unveiling new features, including a web-based caregiving dashboard, which makes BeClose the first in the field to offer actionable, common-sense interpretations of what’s going on in their elderly loved ones’ homes presented in a way that gives caregivers quick and easy snapshots of in-home activity. Clients will now be given user-friendly summaries of trends in sleeping, eating, and activity levels.

“Caregivers can rest assured that we’ll let them know if something important happens,” says Liddy Manson, President of BeClose. “The entire reason for BeClose’s existence is to answer the stark needs of caregivers, while providing the elderly the life at home they desire. We set out to create an affordable system that gives the information every caregiver needs—that their mom or dad is safe. And if anything is amiss, they’ll find out immediately. We take reams of raw data, and make sense of it so that caregivers don’t have to.”

Once installed, the BeClose system of wireless sensors spends two weeks learning about the resident’s activities and patterns (eating, sleeping, comings and goings), and determines his or her typical routine. Using that data, the dashboard will report any changes in routine to the caregiver—either events that need immediate attention, or more subtle changes over time that might be important.

Example of BeClose Intelligent Algorithm at work:

Your mother usually:

    Sleeps from about 11 PM to 6 AM;
    Takes a 2 hour afternoon nap
    Leaves the house on average 3 times a day
    Opens her refrigerator 5 times in a 24 hour period
    Makes one trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Using this data, the BeClose intelligent algorithm knows to let you know if something is out of the norm – on the dashboard with alerts in red (causes of concern), yellow (notable events), or green (routine events). If it’s a red alert, caregivers also receive a text, email, or phone call.

In a time when nursing home care averages $ 77,000 a year, assisted living costs $ 200 per day, and live-in nurses can cost thousands per month, BeClose is determined to help the elderly live at home for as long as they can.

BeClose cost savings

A recent report found that BeClose system will allow US families to keep their older family members at home for 2 years longer than they would have otherwise, realizing significant savings for the family. (See box.)

Personal Emergency Response Systems (“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” buttons) might seem like an easy solution. But they usually fail in real-life situations—either because the elderly person isn’t wearing the button, is too disoriented to push it, or is reluctant to call 911 and summon an ambulance and all of the commotion that comes with it. A 2008 study suggests that residents fail to push their buttons in 80% of accidents, a staggering failure rate.

“At BeClose, we know that state-of-the-art technology can take families from a state of fear and crisis management to a truly collaborative, connected way of caregiving. Residents can have the independence they desire, while receiving a safety net broader and more user-friendly than anything previously available,” says Manson.

About BeClose™

BeClose™ is a breakthrough remote home monitoring system designed to allow people to age in place independently while giving their family members and caregivers the peace of mind of knowing that they are safe. The system of wireless sensors is fully customizable and tech-friendly, and is based on a research and development partnership with Alarm.com, the nation’s leading in-home wireless monitoring system, serving more than 500,000 homes and businesses nationwide. BeClose headquarters are outside of Washington, DC. For more information, visit http://www.beclose.com

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Orange County, CA (PRWEB) April 19, 2012

In the old days, homeowners made fireplaces the central focus of the room by arranging furniture around it. These days, a fireplace and television can compete with each other in a room when located on opposite walls. During family gatherings, a warm, enticing fireplace is the focal point. On game day, however, the same room becomes a viewing theater. What to do when one room has polar opposite functions?

Homeowners now have access to the panel TV. These wonders of technology can be hung above the fireplace and eliminate the need to constantly rearrange and shift furniture. Many homeowners have capitalized on this hot trend and taken it one step further by utilizing custom entertainment centers designed to combine the TV and fireplace into one striking feature. In doing so, they also create a space to store media equipment and hide unsightly cable and power cords.

“We’ve seen an increased interest in combination fireplace/entertainment centers during recent years,” says Greg Booy, who as owner of Haus Werks has helped many homeowners solve functional dilemmas in great rooms and living rooms. “Today’s customized wall units can incorporate a fireplace, television, library, and artwork. They all collectively work together to provide relaxation, warmth, ambience, and entertainment.”

Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a fireplace/entertainment center:

Determine the Size and Features

Advanced planning will offer the most comfortable viewing arrangement. Measure the dimensions of the space including length, width, and depth. Be sure and leave enough space between the entertainment center and sitting areas to ensure a quality viewing experience. Also determine what electronic devices, media equipment, DVDs, and other knickknacks will be housed in the entertainment center. A contractor can help check each piece of media equipment for size and ventilation requirements to help select the best locations.

Consider the Style and Design

A wide variety of styles, designs, and finishes are available to match any décor. If a homeowner prefers a classic look, a traditional fireplace/entertainment center with sophisticated molding, fluted columns, flanked with bookcases may be a good choice. Or entertainment centers can complement a modern décor by utilizing a sleek stainless steel fireplace and flat front cabinetry. The options are limitless.

With 25 years of experience and an extensive portfolio of fireplace surrounds, mantels, shelves and fireplace/entertainment centers, Haus Werks can help homeowners choose the perfect fireplace environment that reflects their personal style. As a small company, they give each client the personal attention they deserve, help them come up with a solution, and then execute it themselves.

In addition to fireplaces, Haus Werks also offers remodeling, room additions, bath and kitchen remodels, tile and wood floors, plumbing, electrical, drywall, painting, windows and doors, patio covers and much more. To learn more about this exceptional company, please visit their website at http://www.ochauswerks.com.

About Haus Werks

Haus Werks is a small, family owned company that prides itself on providing the best craftsmanship, adding value to their client’s homes and life. With an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau, their clients can feel confident their project will be done right the first time and in a timely manner. Haus Werks serves northern Orange County, including the City of Orange, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Seal Beach and the surrounding area.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Indianapolis, Ind. (PRWEB) April 13, 2012

Has your home been invaded by flying or crawling bugs? Brace yourself. It’s going to get worse.

“Highly rated pest control companies tell us their phones are ringing off the hook – and it’s still two months before the bugs usually arrive,” says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List, which offers consumer reviews on local service companies. “That mild winter most of us enjoyed seems to be to blame.”

Searches for pest control companies on Angie’s List were up 48 percent in March 2012 compared to March last year.

Among the early unwanted guests are carpenter bees, carpenter ants, common ants, spiders, clover mites, bees and wasps, gnats, flies, drain flies, lady beetles, stink bugs and boxelder bugs.

Next up, experts predict fleas, bees and winged termites, commonly known as swarmers.

“If you are already seeing evidence of these pests, you need to start working now to get good help,“ Hicks said.

Ignoring or waiting out the bugs isn’t a good idea – termites are blamed for more than $ 5 billion in damage to wood every year. Depriving insects of places they can breed can go a long way to keeping the bugs at bay, though, Hicks said, suggesting homeowners:

    Keep grass, trees and bushes trimmed;
    Eliminate standing water;
    Keep pet food, garbage and windows and doors tightly sealed; and
    Keep gutters clear.

Qualified professional pest control companies are trained to spot the pest issues you have and tailor treatment to address them specifically. They will also minimize your family and pets’ exposure to harmful chemicals. Some companies offer eco-friendly options that reduce harmful chemical use while still effectively addressing the pests.

Costs range across the country and based on the needed service. Generally, one-time treatments will be less than $ 200. On-going service can be about $ 110 for quarterly treatments, less for monthly treatments.

Tips for hiring an exterminator:

    Many states require exterminators to be licensed. Check with your state pesticide agency to determine your area’s requirements. Ask to see the license before making a hiring decision.
    Hire companies whose employees are bonded to be sure you will be reimbursed in case of damage.
    Ask for a detailed plan to identify the types of pests that need to be controlled, the extent of the infestation, the best removal method and steps to lower the risk of future infestations.
    Hire a company with a strong track record. Check reviews on Angie’s List and ask friends and relatives for recommendations.

Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 550 service categories. Currently, more than 1 million subscribers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine, helpful online articles about home improvement projects, and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.