Doors

Windows Plus provides exceptional service when installing one of the most used parts of your house…your front door. Patio Doors are available in designs from French doors to traditional models and are engineered to operate smoothly for many years without maintenance.ÊStorm Doors provide superb protection against the harsh elements while providing a stylish fresh look to your home’s entry. ÊPrecision Entry Doors provideÊstyles, finishes, and hardware to complement any home.

Windows

Windows Plus provides exceptional products for improved energy efficiency, operating ease, durability, safety and security. To achieve an extraordinary personalized look for your home, select from a myriad of options, grid styles and decorative glass systems.

PLAYING DEFENSE IN YOUR HOME

Learning how to be defensive serves many purposes in life, and no place better than in your home. Burglars have many agendas, but they cannot play if they have no way. Statistically, people are careless with home defense. Price shopping may drive a homeowner to purchase flimsy, cheap hardware for windows and doors. Laziness may breed poor habits, such as failing to lock windows and doors on leaving the home. But, in today’s craziness, none of us can afford to slack when it comes to personal security.

No matter where you live, you are vulnerable. Predators roam and prowl the least suspecting places. But, a cautious individual may be spared pain and suffering from a burglary or worse, an attacker, by taking certain, consistent measures.

Do not leave your doors and windows unlocked. When you leave your home, whether for a minute or a day, be sure to lock all windows and doors. A burglar enters in a brief few seconds, so why make it easier for one to enter your home, invade your space and privacy, and above all, threaten your person and property?

Don’t answer a doorbell or knock at your door without knowing who it is first. Do not let yourself be a target for a scam. Never let unknown people into your home. Whether you are in a small town where “there is no crime,” or in a populated city, these rules apply equally.

Keep your valuables out of sight and be sure to have them written down with pictures and serial numbers in a safe for insurance and police purposes.

Do not hide a house or car key outside of your home. Instead, find a trusting neighbor for these purposes.

Do not leave a ladder or any other similar item in sight that a burglar could use to access the upper level of your house.

The U.S. Department of Justice has indicated that as many as 30% of all homes will be invaded over the course of the next 20 years. Do not let yourself be a statistic. Be smart at all times and practice safety for you and your loved ones.

If you have any questions about how Windows Plus can help you safeguard your home, contact Reg or Tom at 703-956-6172.

Summer 2011 – Windows Plus Newsletter

“When the Storms Come, They Come a-Running”

Storm chasers. What this can mean to you is that wanna-be “contractors” chase homeowners when the storms hit, expecting to get your business, or at least, your money. Be very cautious in these situations. Know your contractor: Check out the company, ask for referrals for the company and the installers, request identification from anyone who will be working in your home, review the contract for the work to be done, find out about the company’s insurance, guarantees and warranties, inspect work in the neighborhood where the contractor has completed work, and ask for receipts. And, you just cannot be too careful. “Don’t throw caution to the wind.” Call Windows Plus for your home improvement needs – 703-916-8372 or 703-956-6172.

Home Repair Scams

Following is a statement that we received from a crime prevention officer in Fairfax County. It is very important information for all residents: “”Please be aware of increased activity with home repair scam suspects in our area. I have been involved with several of these cases in the past weeks.Ó Ð from one of our CIS Detectives here. Remember solicitors need a license, never pay upfront for work to be done at a later date, and when possible consult with a neighbor or family member if the price seems high or unreasonable.”

Crime does not discriminate, so everyone is vulnerable. Please take extreme precautions to protect you and your loved ones. When we work with residents, we provide our licensing information, addresses, contact data, contracts, references and insurance information. Please request this sort of documentation from anyone who will be working in or around your home. Safety matters. Call Reg or Tom with your questions on home improvements in your home. 703-916-8372 or 703-956-6172. Thank you for keeping your community safe.

We See the Light

The economy, a standard word in many of our conversations for the past several years, sadly enough. We did not experience a simple down-turn of the economy; rather, it hit us head first, a verifiable trainwreck. We melted down financially and the effects are lingering in our backyard. But, I think we can see the light. Consumers have begun to spend, little by little. Homeowners are improving their homes, albeit carefully and more methodically than before. Politicians talk green and efficient and the population is trying hard to react positively to making changes and hoping for a strong impact personally. In the window and door replacement industry, there is great hope. Some consumers are looking at financing options as a way to complete those much-needed home improvement projects. Others are beginning to plan their home improvements, perhaps putting them off for now until they feel more confident about their own job status and the market, but their interest is peaked at the thought of greater comfort, security and efficiency. At this juncture, Windows Plus is here to help you no matter what stages you are in on your own home improvement projects. Call Reg or Tom at 703-956-6172 and discuss your options. Let us be there for you at these critical times.

2011 Energy Tax Credits

Not like they used to be, but the home improvement energy efficient tax credits live on. For a primary residence, a homeowner who replaces windows and doors is entitled to a credit up to 10% of the cost for a maximum of $500.00. ÊHowever, the maximum for windows is capped at $200.00. ÊThese credits are in line with what used to be the norm, but in the last 2 years, under the Recovery & Reinvestment Act, homeowners were entitled to claim a credit up to 30% of the material costs for a maximum of $1500.00 credit for these improvements. Again, labor costs are not included in the credit formula. So, do not dismay, merely take advantage of these credits by replacing your older and draftier windows and doors. For more information on how Windows Plus can help you maximize your energy savings, contact Reg or Tom at 703-956-6172. Thank you always for your referrals and continued business.

Windows Plus News Interview

Recently featured on the Arnette Report, owners Reg Wayland and Tom Camarca talk about their experiences as tradesmen in the construction industry, their early projects and how they started and developed Windows Plus into the company it has become today.

And, How’s Remodeling Going?

The remodeling forecast for 2011 is on the rise, although homeowners remain cautious about spending, naturally, as they wait to feel good about the market. It is all about “feeling good,” and that’s when consumer confidence rises and the market strengthens.

Likely, only modest gains in the home improvement market will be realized as there clearly is still a stalled housing recovery. This information comes via the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. The indicator is intended to provide a short-term outlook of the home improvement spending for a quarter and predictors for the remaining three quarters of the year. As reported in the recent edition of “Qualified Remodeler,” the recent volatility in the housing market will be reflected in consumer spending patterns.

What does this mean for you exactly? How do you determine whether this is the right time to improve your home so that you can benefit from the greatest energy efficiency and comfort without impinging upon your retirement or other funding needs?

Windows Plus is here to help you make smart choices in your home. While we appreciate the need to soften expenditures and remain careful about using monies from savings accounts now, rather than guard the monies for future needs, the benefits to replacing old windows and doors, siding and other exterior treatments, may just be greater than the burden of spending.

To ensure that you are taking the right turns for your home at this time, please call on our experts, Reg and Tom, owners of Windows Plus, for some advice that pertains to you and only you and your home. Reg and Tom know their business because it is their business. Call us today at 703-916-8372 and have some peace of mind about your home, your greatest investment during your lifetime. ÊEnjoy the spring and all that it brings!

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