NAPSI)—Even as federal tax credits for traditional heating and cooling systems have decreased, incentives for geothermal systems remain considerably higher—at 30 percent of the installed cost of the system with no limit. In fact, homeowners can take advantage of the federal residential renewable energy tax credit through December 31, 2016. What’s more, the credit is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2009 and can be used in combination with utility rebates and state tax incentives to make geothermal systems more affordable than ever.

The savings associated with operating a geothermal system are just as attractive. By taking advantage of the abundant source of free solar energy stored in the earth to heat and cool a home, a geothermal heating and cooling system can save homeowners as much as 70 percent on their cooling bills in summer. The system can also provide supplemental hot water, saving homeowners even more. Instead of being extracted from the ground to preheat hot water, the heat comes from the house.

A geothermal system offers a number of other benefits, including even distribution of heating and cooling for improved comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, improved indoor air quality, quiet operation, little to no maintenance and a life span that exceeds 24 years.

To qualify for the tax credit, residential systems must meet ENERGY STAR requirements. Homeowners can file for the credit by completing the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit, Form 5695. A copy of the form, as well as an informative brochure that explains the federal tax incentive and a listing of those products that qualify for the tax credit, is available on the WaterFurnace website at www.waterfurnace.com.

To learn more about federal tax credits and the many other benefits that a geothermal system offers, visit the site or talk to a WaterFurnace expert at (800) GEO-SAVE.

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Energy Tips

(NAPSI)—There’s a new resource to help keep older adults safe and warm during the cold weather months.

A new brochure, “Winter Warmth and Safety: Home Energy Tips for Older Adults,” provides tips about preparing a home for winter weather and saving money on energy expenses, including:

• Make sure your home is energy efficient by installing a programmable thermostat and sealing and insulating ducts. More advice is available from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program at www.energystar.gov.

• Take advantage of special heating assistance funds and utility no-cutoff programs.

Learn More

For a free copy of the brochure, call (800) 677-1116 or download it at www.eldercare.gov.

The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, administered by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

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How to keep your car running for years longer than most

(ARA) – If you’ve been in an auto dealer’s showroom recently, you won’t be surprised to learn that the average price of a new car is approaching $30,000. While there’s no getting around the price you have to pay for a new automobile, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure you won’t have to make the same investment again anytime soon.

By doing the little things to maintain your car on a day-to-day basis, you can do everything in your power to make your car last long past the day you make your final payment on that car loan.

“Time and miles are the two forces fighting to destroy every car,” says Tom Taylor, engineer and vice president of RockAuto.com. “Giving the car an occasional wash and wax is nice but really not as important as regular maintenance. Driving and maintaining your car as if it needs to last for at least 200,000 miles or 20 years is a smart way to preserve the value of an expensive asset.”

Storage
If you have a garage, make it your car’s permanent home. Reserving a garage space for your car instead of household items that could be stored elsewhere will help you avoid the accelerated wear and tear caused by prolonged exposure to the elements.

If you store your car in a partially protected carport or use a car cover, regularly inspect underneath your hood for signs of vermin. “I recently needed to replace a fuel injector connector that a rat gnawed off our 20-year-old family van after it was left unattended in a carport for just a few days,” says Taylor. “Rats and mice like a nice warm engine bay and they chew constantly to wear down their ever-growing teeth.”

Scheduled maintenance
Your car’s maintenance, engine oil, radiator antifreeze and other components might differ significantly from your last car. Following the maintenance schedule laid out in your owner’s manual is important to protect your vehicle. The photos in the RockAuto.com online auto parts catalog can help you become familiar with the maintenance parts for your specific car. Making sure items like filters, struts and brake pads are replaced when needed will help protect other components, saving you money and unnecessary wear.

Drive smart
Occasionally kicking up your heels is fine, but consistently accelerating too fast can put unnecessary strain on your engine and other moving parts. Stopping or cornering too quickly can prematurely wear out your brakes and suspension. If you’re starting your car in the cold, take it easy at first – letting your car idle won’t help protect your car, but driving a little more methodically than usual while your car warms up will.

Drive less
You don’t need to cut out the annual family road trip – highway miles are among the easiest miles you can put on your car. But eliminating unnecessary trips in everyday life can have noticeable results since the starting and stopping associated with short trips can be tough on your car. Take care of all your errands in one trip, walk with your kids to school if it’s close to home or ride the bus to and from work. If you can cut down on driving by 5 miles per day for 10 years, you’ll save 18,000 miles of driving. Taylor estimates that those miles are worth $4,000 in parts, depreciation and gas. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also put less stress on your vehicle, which should extend its lifespan.

When shopping for a new car, you might be able to save hundreds of dollars by comparison shopping and finding the best price. But good maintenance and driving practices can save you thousands if it means you won’t have to buy another car for 20 years.

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Save money with an ‘enlightened’ roof – and decorate too

(ARA) – Enlightenment isn’t just a state of mind – it can also be an important energy-saving state of being for your home’s roof. By “enlightening” your roof, you can use less energy, save money, and dress up the interior of your home at the same time.

All roofs protect us, and the interiors of our homes, but they can do so much more. They can be the collection and distribution point for an inexhaustible supply of free natural light and energy.  

A roof that uses Energy Star qualified venting skylights, for instance, admits healthful natural light while providing passive ventilation through the natural “chimney effect” of rising air. This is not an insignificant consideration especially in kitchens and baths that have higher moisture and humidity levels than other areas of the home.  

Another kitchen- and bath-specific issue that skylights help address is the need for privacy. Many modern homes are built on small lots, in very close proximity to neighboring houses. “Light from windows is rarely enough, especially in places where lot sizes are small,” says Jennifer Powers of design firm Scott-Ulmann.

Areas of the home where traditional skylights with blinds might not work – such as hallways, closets and small, interior baths – can still admit natural light through less expensive Sun Tunnel tubular skylights. And optional light kits turn these units into 24-hour sources of light.  Low-profile flat glass models that blend unobtrusively with the roof, and domed models, all offer a fast, easy, less expensive way to transform a home with natural light.

In addition to light and ventilation from above, if you add an Energy Star-qualified solar water heating system your roof will work even harder for you. And, in addition to monthly power bill savings, these solar thermal systems qualify for tax credits and other savings that significantly reduce the payback time it takes to recover the initial cost.

Solar power attic fans are also a cost-effective roof addition that helps to reduce mechanical cooling costs while removing damaging moisture from the home.

In addition to the functional qualities these and other roof improvements offer, there are also aesthetic considerations.

Skylights offer room-changing drama and decorating flair while adding natural light from above.  And skylight blinds are now available in colors and pattern choices to mix and match with room decor giving homeowners another interior design tool. Blinds not only dress up a room but also provide light control while increasing the energy efficiency and usefulness of skylights.  

According to skylight manufacturer, Velux America, the addition of blinds can increase the overall energy efficiency of the units by 37 percent. They recommend closing the blinds on high heat/sun days in the summer to reduce potential solar heat gain and, on cold winter nights, closing them to provide an extra layer of thermal insulation to keep warm air indoors. Skylight blinds, as well as the units themselves, can be controlled manually or with a remote.

Modern, low profile skylights are unobtrusive and as dependable as vertical windows.  Information about units with a 10-year no-leak installation warranty, plus an installer locator, is available at veluxusa.com. There’s also a free mobile phone app there to help homeowners see how skylights and blinds would look in rooms in their own homes.

The Velux Skylight Planner App is available for iPhones, iPods, iPads and Android phones.

For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency visit energystar.gov, and for independent agency information visit nfrc.org or efficientwindows.org. For remodeling information visit nahb.org/remodel or greenhomeguide.org.

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Savings on Prescriptions

(ARA) – Patients looking to save money on their prescription medications are sometimes unaware of the resources available to them that can help ensure they get the medications their doctor prescribes at the appropriate co-pay.

Those patients with health insurance that includes a prescription drug plan have access to certain brand and generic medications, based on their formulary. However, when it comes to cost-saving options for prescriptions, there are several ways patients can lower their bill from the pharmacy.¹

Know Your Formulary
There is a reason your formulary is also called a preferred drug list, as it includes those preferred brand and generic medications, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which are covered by your health plan at different co-pay levels. Therefore, medications not on your formulary may cost you more.²

Commonly, formularies have a 3-tiered system, where Tier 1 represents the lowest co-pay for brand-name drugs and generics, with higher co-payments for Tiers 2 and 3.²

Create a list of medications you are currently taking and compare it to your formulary. Knowing which medications are on your formulary and at what tier will help you better work with your doctor to prescribe preferred medications that are appropriate for you, which in-turn will add up to savings.³

In the case of branded medications, some are considered to have excellent formulary coverage. For example, NEXIUM® (esomeprazole magnesium), a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), has excellent formulary coverage for 2011 with 72 percent of patients with private insurance, Medicaid or Medicare Part D having access to it at the Tier 1 or Tier 2 level.⁴

Look for Prescription Savings Cards
Some brand-name drugs offer their own savings cards, extending additional discounts to patients prescribed these drugs, potentially lowering their co-pay. After making a list of your medications, visit the websites for these drugs or call the manufacturer to see if they offer a savings card and if you are eligible to use one the next time you fill a prescription.

One example of a brand-name prescription savings card is for the medication NEXIUM. The NEXIUM Savings Card offers eligible patients instant discounts on their prescriptions for NEXIUM, potentially saving the patient up to $600 annually, with most patients paying $18 each on up to 12 prescriptions of NEXIUM.^5,6 The card does not require activation or program enrollment. Patients can simply download one from purplepill.com or receive a card in the mail by calling 1-800-503-9880, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 6 pm ET.^5,6

Enroll in Patient Assistance Programs
Another valuable resource to help lower the cost of prescription medications is enrolling in Patient Assistance Programs (PAP). These programs are offered by states and pharmaceutical manufacturers to assist patients in accessing medicines they need to stay healthy, sometimes at little to no cost to patients. As every program is different, it’s important to check the eligibility requirements to see if you are able to enroll and begin saving on your prescriptions.⁷

Register for Mail Order
Finally, mail order is an additional savings method that you can enroll in, depending on the options in your health insurance, which offers discounts on the prescription medications you take on an ongoing basis.⁸

You should speak with your health insurance company to see if there is a mail order program that is a part of your plan and if you are eligible to participate. In some cases, enrolled patients can order up to a 90-day supply of medications at a discounted price, and with the convenience of not having to visit the pharmacy to refill a prescription.⁹

All of these options for saving on prescription medications are readily available either on your health insurance company’s website or the websites of the medications you are taking.  Work with your doctor to discuss options that meet both your medical and financial requirements so you are getting the treatment that is best for you.

Important Safety Information about NEXIUM

• Symptom relief does not rule out the presence of other serious stomach conditions
• Talk to your doctor about your risk for:

• bone fractures if you take multiple daily doses of NEXIUM for a long period of time
• low magnesium levels if you take NEXIUM for a long period of time

Approved Uses for NEXIUM

NEXIUM is prescribed to treat the symptoms of acid reflux disease, which typically include persistent heartburn on 2 or more days per week, despite treatment and change of diet.

For many people, NEXIUM is also prescribed to heal damage to the esophagus called erosive esophagitis. This damage may be caused over time from stomach acid wearing away the lining of the esophagus. Only a doctor can diagnose this condition. With NEXIUM, most erosions heal in 4 to 8 weeks. Your results with NEXIUM may vary.

Please read the full Prescribing Information on purplepill.com and discuss it with your doctor or health care professional.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

¹ Blue of California. “Drug Formulary.” Available at https://www.blueshieldca.com/bsc/pharmacy/faqs/pharmacy_faqs_drug_formulary.jhtml. Accessed on March 15, 2011.
² Aetna. “Build in ways to save on prescription drugs.”  Available at http://www.aetna.com/employer-plans/sas/healthysavings/pharmacy.html. Accessed on July 19, 2011
³ BCBS of Tennessee. “Top 10 Ways to Save Money.” Available at http://www.bcbst.com/learn/pharmacy/top-10.shtml. Accessed on July 19, 2011
⁴ Data on file, # [1247300, 1045404]: Fingertip Formulary database as of May 24, 2011.
⁵ Atlas # 1245901: Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions, Dynamic Claims, six months ending March 2011. Accessed on May 23, 2011.
⁶ Atlas # 1315801 7/11.
⁷ RxAssist. “Frequently Asked Questions About Patient Assistance Programs.” Available at http://www.rxassist.org/faqs/default.cfm#1. Accessed on July 25, 2011.
⁸ WebMd. “Beyond the Pharmacy: Online and Mail Order Prescription Drugs.” Available at http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/beyond-the-pharmacy-online-and-mail-order-prescription-drugs. Accessed on July 20, 2011.  
⁹ BCBS of Michigan. “Mail Order Prescription Drug Program.” Available at http://www.bcbsm.com/member/prescription_drugs/mail_order.shtml. Accessed on July 20, 2011.

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Slowing the gas price roller coaster

(ARA) – Gas prices are on a roller coaster ride again. A bargain these days is anything under $4 a gallon, which is especially difficult since it’s summer and everyone’s hitting the road for vacations. Inching closer is fall’s “back-to-school” drive cycle. In short, there is a lot of driving ahead and higher gas prices are now the norm, so it’s time to look at ways to alleviate the pain at the pumps.

A good place to start is eye-level with your feet – your car’s tires. You may look at tires as black, round utilitarian objects, but truth be told, these technical wonders – when properly maintained – are gas saviors that can slice hundreds of dollars off your annual gasoline bill, according to Dan King, Yokohama Tire Corporation’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.

“The first thing is to always make sure your tires are properly inflated,” says King. “Tires that are underinflated by eight pounds per square inch (psi), for example, can reduce vehicle fuel economy by as much as 2 percent and tire tread life can also be reduced by as much as 25 percent.”

King says for the best driving savings and safety results, make checking the tire pressure a monthly routine. “It only takes five minutes,” he says. “If you’re not doing it once a month, chances are you’re driving on under-inflated tires.”

Use the tire inflation numbers usually labeled inside the driver’s door, fuel door, glove box or in the owner’s manual. (The number on the tire’s sidewall is the maximum inflation pressure.) Over-inflation reduces the tire’s contact patch with the road, while under-inflation puts extra weight on its sidewalls and causes an unsafe increase in tire temperature.

Certain types of tires – ones with low rolling resistance (LRR) – can help save fuel, too. “LRR tires are designed to minimize the energy wasted as heat while the tire rolls down the road,” King says. “That results in improved fuel efficiency. Studies show driving on LRR tires alone can save about $100 annually.”

Yokohama’s AVID ENVigor tire is a good example of the expanding LRR tire technology. “It’s an excellent low rolling resistant tire that saves fuel and combines performance, comfort and long treadlife,” King says.

King also offers other fuel-saving tips:

* Keep your tires properly inflated. Once a month, when the tires are cold (at least three to four hours after the vehicle has been driven), check tire pressure with a reliable tire gauge. Be sure that the valve stems have a plastic or metal cap to keep dirt out and seal against leakage.

* Replace your air filter. A clogged air filter blocks the air needed to burn fuel efficiently and wastes gas.

* Keep your car tuned-up according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule to keep all systems in good working order, which can optimize your mileage.

* To prevent skidding and hydroplaning, tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch. An easy test: place a penny into a tread groove. If part of Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread, you’re driving with the proper amount of tread. If you can see all of his head, you should buy a new tire.

* Built-in treadwear indicators, or “wear bars,” which look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread will appear on the tire when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch. When you see these wear bars, the tire is worn out and should be replaced.

* Visually check your tires for signs of uneven wear. You may have irregular tread wear if there are high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Consult your tire dealer as soon as possible.

* Tires should be rotated at least every 6,000 to 8,000 miles and the alignment should be checked once a year. Misaligned tires can cause the car to scrub, which lowers mileage and causes unnecessary tire wear.

* Slow down. For every five mph you go above 60 mph, you’re using more gas, and, ultimately, paying even more for each gallon of gas.

For additional tire care and safety tips, visit www.yokohamatire.com or www.rma.org.

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Renovating your home? Renovate your insurance

(ARA) – Whether you are upgrading a kitchen, adding on a master suite, or gutting a newly purchased structure, you need to reassess your insurance needs both before and after your renovation.

It’s common to plan every major step of the renovation. But one thing that’s tough to plan for is the unexpected. What if an oily rag left unattended starts a fire and your home goes up in smoke? The remodeling work done to date may have an impact on your homeowners insurance – unless you let your insurance agent in on the plans ahead of time.

For example, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company policyholders are required to let their agent know about any renovation projected to increase the replacement cost of your home by more than $25,000 in order for the crucial full-cost replacement coverage to remain in force.

“Your insurance company and your agent can help you find gaps in your coverage related to remodeling and establish appropriate replacement costs,” says Don Soss, vice president of personal insurance at Fireman’s Fund. “We can also make sure your contractor and subs have adequate liability insurance in case of damage to your property from poor workmanship or carelessness.”

In addition, risk managers at the insurance company can provide advice to minimize the possibility of fires, theft, and mishaps. Good risk management practices also minimize potential project delays. This may be a good time to add security and safety features such as water flow monitoring devices or upgraded burglary and fire alarm systems.

One of the most common issues is maintaining a secure environment during the work phase. For example, contractors often disable a home’s existing fire alarm system because dust and particulates generated by construction tend to trigger false alarms. It is important for temporary measures such as fencing and alternate alarms to be in place to keep the property secure.

Demolition debris should also be secured so it can’t become airborne in high winds. Toxic or explosive materials need to be stored and handled appropriately, and rebars should be capped to prevent injury to workmen and residents.  

Often, the family moves to temporary housing during a remodel. It may be a good idea to put art collections and other valuables that could be damaged in an offsite secure storage facility for optimal protection.

Even before your work is complete, your agent can go over your current homeowners insurance and make sure you have the replacement value of your home updated. This will reflect increases in construction materials and labor, changes in building codes, installation of new safety devices, changes in square footage, and custom features and appliances.

Top tips for homeowners considering a renovation:

1. Contact your agent before construction starts for coverage of your remodeling work and the value of your completed home.

2. Make sure your contractor and subcontractors have adequate liability insurance. Many contractors carry the generally recommended limits of at least twice the replacement value of the home.

3. Ask the contractor to maintain adequate safety and security devices such as fire and burglar alarms.

4. Save all records related to your project (receipts and appraisals). Store copies of these records in a secure off-site location. Videotaping your house and possessions is also recommended.

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Collaboration with professor to help increase stormwater control area success.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation and N.C. State are combining forces to improve stormwater control in an area affecting N.C. State, Meredith College and the N.C. Museum of Art.

“By combining our resources with the renowned research capabilities of N.C. State University, we are developing innovative solutions for improving water quality – and in turn, helping to protect one of our state’s most valuable resources,” said Matt Lauffer, program manager for NCDOT’s Highway Stormwater Program, in a press release.

The project aims to benefit the House Creek watershed, an area that collects pollutants from cars and other ground sources when it rains. House Creek is one of several stormwater control projects NCDOT monitors annually. The construction is taking place near the intersection of Wade Ave. and Interstate 440.

Dr. Bill Hunt, assistant professor and extension specialist with the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, will be working with NCDOT to develop methods to reduce the amount of pollutants.

Dr. Hunt has assisted since 2000 with the design, installation, and monitoring of over 90 stormwater best management practices (BMPs), including bioretention, stormwater wetlands, innovative wet ponds, green roofs and permeable pavement.

Julia Merchant, NCDOT communications officer, said this is not the first time NCDOT has partnered with N.C. State. Past collaborations involved, among others, breakthroughs with biodiesel research conducted by the University.

According to NCDOT, for the $300,000 House Creek project, funded through the Highway Stormwater Program, engineers will use stormwater filtration methods such as a bioretention basin, which will use sand to filter out pollutants in the water.

After installation of the stormwater control measures is completed, which will take approximately three weeks according to NCDOT, N.C. State researchers will continuously monitor the system’s effectiveness at improving the House Creek water quality.

SOURCE:Technicianonline.com

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A contractor with a long history of problems has been found in contempt for violating a court order that banned him from paving work in North Carolina, Attorney General Roy Cooper said.

“Businesses that rip off consumers and violate court orders time and time again have no business operating in our state and should face full punishment under the law,” Cooper said.

Tommy Edward Clack has repeatedly pressured consumers into paying too much for shoddy driveway paving. For years, Cooper’s Consumer Protection Division has fought to stop Clack from scamming North Carolina homeowners. In June of 2010, Cooper won a court order permanently barring Clack and his associates from all residential paving work in the state.

But Clack violated that ban, and at Cooper’s request Wake County Superior Court Judge Michael J. O’Foghludha this week found Clack guilty of civil contempt. He must repay his two victims $79,600 or go to jail for at least 90 days. That 90-day period can be renewed if he still has not repaid them.

Judge O’Fughludha also cited Clack for criminal contempt for failing to show up for his civil contempt hearing as ordered. Clack must appear before Wake County Senior Resident Superior Court Donald W. Stephens on June 27 at 10:00 AM to show why he should not be found in criminal contempt and ordered to jail for an additional six months, plus pay a fine.

The order of civil contempt was granted based on information from two homeowners who said that Clack charged them for driveway work after the ban was in place. An 81-year-old homeowner in Chatham County paid Clack $7,600 to pave her small driveway in July of 2010. In March of 2011, a Greensboro homeowner paid Clack $72,000 for driveway work. Clack allegedly used false names in both cases to try to hide his identity and evade the ban, calling himself Ray Tillman and Tommy Clark.

Consumer complaints to Cooper’s office illustrate how Clack usually operates. Clack claims that he is already in the neighborhood and will charge them low price because he has materials left from other jobs. Clack’s crew then begins work as soon as the contract is signed and completes the job quickly using poor quality materials.

Under state law, consumers have three days to cancel most purchases sold door-to-door, but many consumers who’ve dealt with Clack say they didn’t feel like they could cancel once the work was underway. Consumers who tried to cancel and get a refund report that Clack is generally uncooperative.

Clack initially operated in the Wilmington area. Cooper first filed suit against Clack in 2007, winning an injunction in March 2008 that compelled him to pay $50,000 and correct previous substandard paving jobs. Clack then relocated to Greensboro, where more problems surfaced. That led to a November 2008 court order that required him to wait at least four days after a written contract was signed before beginning work.

Read more: Garner News - Poor Paver held in contempt and must face his day in court

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Tips for making your home office comfortable and functional

(ARA) – When you start a home business, you will probably set aside one room or area of your house to be your office. This is the place where you’ll handle general business, customer relations, shipping and delivery of products and services, payroll and many other details that pertain to your company.

Of course, this room is also in your house, so you want to make sure it looks good in case you have customers stop by, or if friends or relatives stay over.

Setting up your office so that it is functional and looks nice is important, but because you’ll be spending a lot of time in there, you should make it comfortable as well. Here are some tips on how to make your home office functional, yet fun and stylish.

* If you have young children at home, designating your office separate from the rest of your house with a closed door, or a standing partition, can help your children learn that you are “at work” and not to be disturbed unless they have an emergency. If you plan to use your office space for family business as well after work hours are over, consider making a sign indicating you are busy working to hang on the door or partition.

* Your desk probably will be where you spend the majority of time in your home office, which means you need it to match your style perfectly. Your office chair needs to be comfortable, but you also want it to match the decor as well. You can choose a HON Volt or HON Ignition chair, picking from over 30 different fabrics and colors, allowing you to match your decorating scheme and comfort levels. Visit www.officedepot.com/customdesign to see how a HON chair can enhance your home office space.

* Decorate your office in colors and materials that will help keep you operating efficiently, but also allow you to enjoy the time you spend working. For example, yellow is considered to be a stimulating color, orange encourages creativity and green provides a calming influence. Depending on the energy level you would like to have in your office, consider using file folders, binders, pictures and wall paint to bring colors into your office that would enhance your professional emotions and behaviors.

* Keeping your home office picked up is key, especially if you pace while talking on the phone or while brainstorming a business idea. Make sure all your electronic cords are bundled and tucked away under your desk so you aren’t tripping over them while chatting with a client on the phone.

* Get organized with a cubby hole or filing drawer system, which will help keep the paperwork off your home office desk area and also help you find filed information quickly and easily if you were to have a customer catch you by surprise on the phone. These items are available at office supplies store such as Office Depot.

As you get your company up and running in your home office, don’t forget to add little personal touches to make it feel even more comfortable. After all, you might be spending a lot of time in your office, so there’s nothing wrong with having inspirational photos or a desk plant or two to provide you with the pleasant atmosphere you need to get your work done.

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