These stressful economic times have forced many people to tighten their budgets, cut down expenses, and find cheaper alternatives to goods and services.  While there is nothing wrong with any of these practices, going about it the wrong way can ultimately cost you more than it should have to begin with.  Predators are always on the lookout for unsuspecting homeowners that are unaware of the current laws and regulations that are there to protect them from deceptive practices. If you’ll like to see for yourself what I am talking about check MSNBC’s video expose “Home Wrecker” at http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=msnbc&vid=c435f953-78e0-4716-a6d8-1a57f23b05ae you will be shocked to see just who you could be allowing to work on your property.

Every year, The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs receives thousands of complaints from consumers that have been taken advantage by unscrupulous contractors.  Complaints range from failure to start or finish a project after taking a deposit, to missed deadlines and shoddy workmanship amongst many others.  There is a way to minimize your exposure, protect yourself and weed out these so called “contractors”, and its called “The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act”.  This measure is designed to protect you, the consumer, from fraud, deception and misrepresentation.  In addition to this, the “Contractor’s Registration Act” requires home improvement contractors to register with the state or they will not be issued municipal construction permits or be allowed to perform home improvement work in New Jersey.  The contractor is required to file a disclosure statement with the Consumer Affairs director, stating whether he/she has been convicted of any crime.  Any crime relating adversely to activities regulated by the Consumer Fraud Act will be grounds for denial of a Home Improvement Contractor license. A Home Improvement Contractor is an individual or company involved in many tasks which include but are not limited to renovating, installing, replacing, installing, constructing and demolishing residential or noncommercial properties.  They include those who work on swimming pools, roofing, additions, patios, landscaping, painting and much more. 

How can you protect yourself you ask?  For starters be proactive, educate yourself on the task at hand and take the following steps to minimize your exposure: 

• Contact Consumer Affairs at 1-888-656-6225 to check that the contractor is registered and to see if there are any complaints filed against them. 
• Get written estimates from a few sources.  This is where it gets tricky and you can become the victim of a deceptive “Low Baller”….  When comparing prices make sure the services and materials are comparable… if one of the bids is too low compared to the others, there must be a reason! Nobody works for nothing…therefore investigate before assuming you are getting a great deal. 
• Ask the contractor if they have Liability Insurance (as required by law), Worker’s Comp insurance and inquire if there will be subcontractors involved in the project.  You as the homeowner is at the highest risk of losing the most if an accident happens and the contractor is not fully covered.  Do not cut corners; protect your home and investment!
• Ask for references.  Speak to past clients; ask key questions such as job completion, unexpected costs, neatness and whether they would use the contractor again.
• Ask about professional affiliations and confirm their status.

• And most importantly…Do not pay for the entire project upfront.  Typical payment arrangements are 1/3 deposit, 1/3 halfway through the job and the remaining third upon completion.  While it’s NOT advised to pay in cash, if you do, make sure to obtain a detailed receipt with the date, all the company information, printed name and signature of the contractor.

Once you have secured the right contractor know the law and follow these steps:

• Any projects over $500.00 require by law a written contract.  The contract must include the business name, registration number, address, start date and completion date. In addition, the contractor must also provide you with a copy of his Certificate of Insurance, which should include all of the insurance company’s information for your review. 
• Request a detailed description of the project, name brands or quality of materials to be used.  Also make sure all guarantees and/or warranties are included.
• Ask for a lien waiver, which is a receipt stating that the workers or material suppliers will not ask you for money once you have paid the contractor. 
• If for any reason you wish to cancel the signed contract, you have up to midnight of the third business day after you receive the contract to do so.  This must be done in writing, either personally delivered to the contractor or sent via registered or certified mail with a return receipt requested.
• And lastly, make sure all applicable permits have been filed.  Especially nowadays with the real estate and loan changes in place, a simple thing like this could obstruct the sale of your property in the future.

If you come across a problem with your project, always try to give the contractor a chance to resolve it.  It could be a harmless oversight or a miscommunication issue. If you find the problem is not being resolved contact Consumer Affairs at 1-800-242-5846 and request a complaint form or file online at http://www.nj.gov/oag/ca/ocp/ocpform.htm

The following links will aid you in researching contractors:

Home Improvement Contractors search: http://www.state.nj.us/cgibin/consumeraffairs/search/searchentry.pl?searchprofession=1301

Denied and Withdrawn applications:  http://www.nj.gov/oag/ca/contractors/denial.pdf

Abandoned applications: http://www.nj.gov/oag/ca/contractors/abandoned.htm

Moral of the story…due your due diligence and shop the right way…do not assume the cheaper way is the best way to go.  While there are many reputable companies out there that can offer better pricing than others, this is accomplished by their capacity at achieving efficiency, and leanness in their business structure and not because they are cutting costs and sacrificing the integrity of the project.  An uninsured, unregistered contractor is not looking out for your best interests and could end up costing you much more money and heartache if the project goes awry.  Times like this make people do desperate things, do not become the victim of a shady contractor.

Energy efficiency is a key issue in today’s economy.  Federal data places New Jersey’s residential rates at the 9^th highest in the nation. In addition to utility shut offs rising 15% in the last year alone, studies have shown electric rates have doubled since 2004. 

A key benefit to Low Voltage systems is its energy efficacy and safety.  LV operating expenses are approximately 1/3 less than line voltage.  With LV systems there are an array of lamps, in different low wattage and beam spreads which allow for more precise and interesting lighting effects while consuming much less energy than line voltage systems.  It is safer to operate, cable lines are easy to reposition, the fixtures are unobtrusive, and systems are designed for wet locations.  

While a LV system might be a safer choice for a homeowner, it is still recommended to have it professionally installed.  Key issues such as voltage drop, photometrics, and a landscape’s growth pattern are all aspects that should be considered when planning and executing a system’s layout.  Working with a lighting designer will help organize and prioritize all the current and future plans of a home’s expansion.  

As the weather warms up and with the Fourth of July festivities quickly approaching there are many wonderful eco-conscious décor ideas to help you create a memorable party. You can start by creating a festive atmosphere with energy conscious lighting and décor.  Check out GKI Bethlehem’s 5” LED Starlight spheres; they are rated for indoor and outdoor use; come in Red/White and Blue and have 12” leads.  Hang them from trees, or even create a canopy effect above open decks. 

For decorating indoors, GKI’s LED Starburst light sets morph from Red to White and Blue; perfect for decorating porches and covered entrances.  If you feel like you need more…wrap up your trees and cover your shrubs with GKI’s LED 5mm wide angle Flex-Change light sets.  This product features removable and inter-changeable bulbs with corrosion proof fittings.   It allows you the flexibility to create different color and bulb style light set combination. This is a great lighting choice for all season décor.  So light your place up with abandon because not only are these lights awesome, but they are also Energy Star certified! 

Security at home is a key issue especially during these economically stressful times

A properly illuminated home is a great burglar deterrent.  Research shows the process of breaking and entering takes about 60 seconds and that property crime makes up more than ¾ of all crime in the US. In 2007, FBI reports estimated close to 10 million property crimes offenses with 60% of the occurrences happening at night.  It is because of all these facts that insurance agencies and law officials alike recommend all areas surrounding the home being well light to discourage robbery attempts.

The trend of outdoor entertaining and the extension of people’s home into their outdoor living areas is more than a fad, it’s here to stay.  More and more people are spending time at home rather than vacationing, so naturally enhancing an outdoor living area with lighting is a necessity for both security and safety reasons. A home is considered to be a sanctuary and like so; people need to feel safe and secure at night while spending time in their outdoor spaces. 

Low voltage lighting systems are an investment worth making towards burglary prevention. LV lighting systems offer low levels of even illumination, unlike the glaring lights of line voltage systems that shine a bright light and cast large shadows in the surrounding areas.  Properly planning and laying out the system will ensure to address important security areas, such as front walkways, back doorways, ground level windows and dark driveway areas.  Illuminating a home’s façade and surrounding landscape not only accents a properties’ features and but also addresses all these security issues. 

With the nation facing tough economic times, commercial clients will be gravitating towards conservative and classic themes that will convey the warmth and emotional appeal of the holidays.  Less thematic displays have great appeal in that they can be used for many years and be updated and embellished in the future. With that said, this by no means reflects a cookie cutter look, but quite the opposite.  Clients are looking for unique and interesting holiday displays to draw consumer traffic, focusing on quality not quantity.

Fiberglass pieces, overhead decor and displays that can adapt to a many areas have become a strong selling point. Clients are looking for displays that can be set up in a variety of locations, not just in the center court, in the event that the area might be leased out at a later date to temporary retailers or kiosks.

A smart way a commercial venue can reap the most benefits out of a holiday display is by utilizing large, attention-getting décor pieces placed at key locations. The displays should be visible from a distance and have impact so that they are remembered by consumers. 

A new device called Zone Control, from Advanced Bridging Technologies, allows you the freedom to wirelessly control multiple zones of your low voltage landscape lighting from up to 500 feet away.  Unlike the old methods that forced you to install a second transformer, the Zone Control converts a single or multi-tap transformer into a multi-zone control center.  It allows the consumer to control all the zones at the same time or up to 3 individual zones separately. This way lighting can remain on in certain areas while being turned off in adjoining zones.  

Zone Control is compatible with all major landscape lighting transformers; it comes equipped with a 10 year backup battery and built-in real-time clock that adjusts for daylight savings.  It is easy to install and also offers additional energy savings to the consumer by further reducing light hours of operation.  This product is a wonderful addition to low voltage landscape lighting systems worth checking out!

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) with the cooperation of Universal Distribution Center LLC, of Edison, NJ announced on March 4^th, 2009 a voluntary recall of the product called Holiday Ultra-Brights Lights.  The recalled lights are 50 count strings in either clear or multicolored bulbs. The packaging is a white and red box with the item # (CH81648 or CH81658) written on the back above the bar code.  The reason for the recall is that the light strings have undersized wires, which can easily pull out of the light sockets and plugs becoming exposed causing a risk of electric shock and fire hazard. The holiday light strings were sold for $2 in discount and dollar stores throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania from October 2008 through December 2008.  So far, no incidents have been reported.  Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the holiday lights in question and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. 

Light FX, LLC only uses commercial grade lighting and décor and does not sell or use the above mentioned product.  Our goal is to make the public aware of products that may pose potential fire and electrical hazards so that they may be addressed prior to becoming a problem.     

ColorWave LED’s, an exciting product in the market, uses multicolor LED’s to create wonderful lighting effects. It utilizes a micro-controller based circuit patented by Holiday Creations. This circuitry provides increased efficiency by directly controlling an alternating current (AC) source thus eliminating the need for transformers.  Additionally, since the circuit uses AC current to control the LEDs, it allows for all other strings plugged into the same circuit and plugged in at the same time to be automatically synchronized.  The durability and high efficiency of this product makes it well suited for year round use in commercial and residential decorating applications.

Rather than flashing abruptly from one color to the next, ColorWave’s individual lamps fade gradually between colors.  Currently this product is available in different sizes and four color combination, Red/Green, Blue/Yellow, Blue/Green, and Red/Blue.  An example of how this technology works goes like this:  The Red/Blue starts red and gradually fades to blue passing through the intermediary colors that includes mauves and purples. Additionally, ColorWave LED’s come in commercial and retail sets.  The commercial sets have an additional benefit not available in retail sets.  They have a function adapter which allows for a pause at any color in the spectrum, as well as twinkle.  So if you are someone who prefers the solid color option but would like to change colors often, this product would offer you all these benefits for one price.

Think of the wide range of holiday decorating possibilities this product has to offer! You are not only restricted to using them for Christmas decorating since they change color gradually, you can utilize them for 4^th of July, St. Patrick’s Day, outdoor parties, graduations, etc. There is no end to their uses. 

The Red/Blue sets would look great for decorating 4^th of July festivities!  Decorate tables, rooflines, porches.  Lighting is one of the most important factors in creating a party’s atmosphere, with ColorWave’s; you’ll keep your guests in awe.

Hanukkah festivities… The Blue to white are perfect!  They are both classy and mesmerizing.

For Christmas decorating, you could use ColorWave M5 lights to create a moving row of evergreen trees or shrubs. You could decorate an outdoor tree with large commercial shatterproof ornaments and light it up; the gradual color changes would accent your décor and make it look different with every color that goes by. 

Not only are these LED lights beautiful, but they also save you money and provide you with a safer alternative to incandescent bulbs, due to them staying cool to the touch.  They are energy efficient and built to last for many years, making them an ideal eco- friendly decorating product.  So next time you contemplate lighting up one of your events call a professional holiday decorator and ask for this great product.  You won’t be disappointed.