LONG FENCE AND HOME
Best Replacement Windows in Maryland, Virginia, DC
April 26, 2012
Our owners are in Scottsdale, AZ this week! Not only are they soaking up the sun, they’re also attending ProVia Door’s Platinum Club 2012 conference. This means that we’ve received platinum recognition for being a top provider of our energy efficient doors!
Long Doors increase your home’s value, enhance your family’s safety and provide a lifetime warranty. Once you put your doors in our hands, you’ll never have to worry about them again!
April 26, 2012
Home Improvements That Qualify for Tax Credits
With the change in political power comes a change in the tax code. You may or may not be aware of many of the improvements which you are now allowed to deduct from your taxes. Of course, the tax code isn’t the easiest thing to understand, and you first need to see which improvement you make qualifies for a tax deduction or tax credit.
The Basics
A tax deduction reduces the amount of your income that is taxable. So, if you make $29,000 per year and receive a $1,000 tax deduction, you are actually being taxed on $28,000. If you fall in the 30% tax bracket, you will receive 30% of the $1,000 back, or $300.
However, if your improvement qualifies as a tax credit, the savings are much more substantial. Say you make the same $29,000 per year. But now, a tax credit takes $1,000 off the amount you owe, compared to the $300 you received before!
The Energy Tax Credit
To qualify for the Energy Tax Credit, you need to have a signed statement from the product’s manufacturer indicating their products qualify. If you live in a region with wide temperature swings like Maryland, you may have a high need for energy efficiency during the heat of the summer months and cold of the winter months. This credit is available when you purchase energy-saving:
- Geothermal heat pump
- Solar energy systems (available through Long Fence and Home)
- Wind energy systems
- Fuel cells
The federal government allows homeowners a credit of 10% of the cost of these improvements, up to a maximum of $500.
Tax Deductible Home Improvements
The rules regarding home improvements are not necessarily black and white. Some home improvements that are tax deductible include medical renovations that are helpful to a person in need, but don’t necessarily increase the long-term value of the home. Examples of tax-deductible improvements for handicapped individuals include:
- Ramps for wheelchair access
- Widened doors and hallways
- Installing railings and support bars for bathroom safety
- Lowering counter and cabinet height
- Adjusting electrical outlets and other fixtures
To protect yourself from an audit, obtain a signed statement from a doctor detailing why the modifications you would like are medically necessary. Keep in mind that medical home improvements are only tax deductible after they have exceeded 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. If you have medically-related home improvements to make, make them all in one year in order to maximize your benefit.
Tax Facts to Keep in Mind
If you have a lot of improvements planned, you can obtain the funds you need to modify your existing home with an FHA 203(k) loan. When you’re price shopping for different lenders, make sure you find a mortgage banker — they handle the loan process in house so there is no middle man and no fees — that’s licensed in all types of Maryland home loans, like New American Funding.
Non-Tax Deductible Improvements to Consider
While you may not be able to cash in on the tax credit for these improvements right now — it expired in 2011, but may come back — the long-term cost savings that come with them are reason enough to make the switch to the eco-friendly alternative.
- Windows
- Doors
- Siding
- Insulation
You lose about 30 percent of energy through cracks or slits in your windows and doors. Having your windows and doors replaced with energy efficient ones will help you lower your heating and air conditioning bills and create a better insulated home to combat the temperature swings. Look for the Quantum2 from Serious Windows for your replacements as they are one of the most energy efficient windows available today and block about 99.7% of harmful UV rays. The Quantum2 was chosen by the Empire State Building in New York, NY when it decided to undergo an energy retrofit for its 6,514 windows in 2010.
About the Author
Erin Everhart is a blogger, writer and marketer for 352 Media Group where she works closely with the Maryland home loan lender, New American Funding. Originally from Atlanta but born and bred a University of Florida Gator, Erin is an avid tennis player, music nerd, travel junkie and one of the few people who actually likes grammar.
April 6, 2012
This month, Long Fence and Home donated to March of Dimes to support babies who are born prematurely. When our graphic designer asked if we’d support her son’s teacher who is walking for her premature nephew, we absolutely wanted to share in the giving! Thanks to the research made possible by March of Dimes, Ryan was able to have the surgery that saved his life. Go Ryan!
If you want to donate to help Ryan, visit marchforbabies.org/clesinski and click Donate Now!
March 21, 2012
The U.S. Postal Service introduced a new integrated marketing campaign to advertise its direct mail and shipping services for small businesses that are both easy to use and affordable, at the Washington, DC headquarters yesterday.
John DePaola, president of Long Fence and Home, joined Paul Vogel, president and chief marketing/sales officer at the U.S. Postal Service to speak on behalf of small businesses at the press conference. The Every Door Direct Mail program, used by Long Fence and Home last fall and to be used again this spring, features a simple online system to help small businesses reach out to new and existing clients in a low cost way.
 - Long Fence and Home President, John DePaola, Speaks at U.S. Postal Service
For a local company, the Every Door Direct Mail is especially effective in targeting exact neighborhoods and demographics.
“Three years ago, I think we all know, the world changed in business,” DePaola said. “What we’ve found is that it wasn’t so much the recession that posed challenges for us…but that there was now a smattering of medium to get your message out.”
DePaola discussed the options potential clients have when they consume data. Should companies advertise on iPhones or the Internet? Billboards or circulars? Direct mail or TV? Radio or satellite? And is it possible to do everything at once?
For many companies, Every Door Direct Mail helps get back to basics.
“[The program] provides an efficient way to achieve market coverage by focusing on the key areas where there is a need for home improvements,” said DePaola.
Vogel agreed, emphasizing the U.S. Postal Service’s continual commitment to developing new tools for small businesses to reach their consumer.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and the Postal Service plays and important role in enabling their growth and commercial success,” said Vogel. “We are providing a suite of mailing and shipping services tailored to the needs of small businesses to help them compete for customers and run their operations more efficiently.”
January 9, 2012
Earlier today, we posted about our partnership with GuildQuality, an innovative third party measuring customer satisfaction for homebuilders, remodelers, contractors and real estate companies. Aside from taking us paperless for our client surveys (which is awesome), GuildQuality also provides great insight on our long standing strong points, potential areas for improvement and the mindset of the clients we work with every day. Read the full post here.
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