Outdoor play sets come in a variety of styles and a wide price range. Parents can choose from traditional swings and slides to rings, towers, forts, etc. You can find sets as low as $200 to more elaborate sets costing thousands of dollars.

Angie’s List is the nation's premier provider of consumer reviews on local service companies including playground equipment.

Common materials for outdoor play sets:

• Plastic: A popular material for toddlers.
• Wood: Wooden sets typically support 120 pounds or more per child and last about 15-20 years. When selecting a wooden set, ask what the wood has been treated with and be sure to avoid such treatments that contain arsenic or chromium. Consider redwood and cedar - they are good at repelling insects and are less likely to splinter.
• Metal: More cost efficient, but weather may wear them down faster Look for a set made of heavy duty galvanized steel with a lifetime guarantee against rust.

Before you purchase and outdoor play set, Angie's List says consider these tips:

• Size up your yard: Your yard will determine the type of playground equipment you choose. Consider the size of the unit in comparison to your lawn. You don’t want the play set to take up the whole backyard. There are many smaller sets available – not all playground equipment is gigantic. Avoid sloping areas to help prevent equipment from tipping over. Select an area that is away from trees, wires, etc. Position the equipment away from direct sunlight.
• Do you have clearance? The homeowner is responsible for permits, approval from homeowner’s associations, etc. Check that you have clearance to build the set.
• Playground design: As you choose the play area, consider picking a spot that will keep children out of the sun. You also want a spot where it is easy to keep watch over them. Lay out your playground allowing at least 6 feet of open space around the equipment. Also, choose a location with proper drainage.
• Ask your kids: As you browse playground sets, consider whether it will easily transform as your child grows. Have your children test the equipment in various materials since they will be using the equipment. Are they climbers? Do they enjoy pretend play, or want to play in the sand? Choose equipment based on your child’s age and equipment that it meets the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines.
• Playground costs: There is a variety in costs for different materials. Do you have the skills o build the set or will you hire help? Ask if the set is delivered and installed by an installation crew or left for you to set up.
• Factor in safety: Injuries from falls can be reduced by placing your equipment on softer surfaces such as wood/rubber mulch and sand. Materials should be 9-12 inches deep. Add more material to the surface once or twice a year.
• Maintenance checkup: Weather can affect the condition of the play set. Periodic hardware tightening is required and sealing the set is strongly suggested. It’s also a good idea to regularly check the set for frayed ropes, signs of rot and peeling paint. Occasional sanding may be needed if the wood becomes splintered.

Angie’s List tips for saving money on outdoor play sets:

• A great way to save money on playground equipment is buying a used set. We’ve heard from highly-rated companies on Angie’s List who move their sets from one location to another. Their installers know how to dismantle equipment so re-assembly is easier and they know how to level according to the yard. One Angie’s List member was able to save thousands of dollars and tons of manual labor by on a swing set by buying a used set, and having a professional move it across town. The cost of the swing set would have been more than $3,300. The member had the swing set moved to her home and the best part about it is that the set has a lifetime warranty. Before the company moved the swing set, they inspected it and replaced any pieces of wood or joint fixtures that needed to be repaired or replace – at no cost to the member. So after the swing set was moved, they gave it the once over with the power washer and a fresh coat of stain – they had spent less than $1,000.  That is more than $2000 in savings!
• There are companies and sell and install new equipment and others that just install the equipment you buy from a separate store. A professional playground installer can save you time, money and take the stress out of a large backyard project. While it may seem like more money up front, consider that it may take you a day or more to install, but will only take a professional installer a few hours. And if you’re thinking about installing the playground equipment yourself you need to be really honest about your skills and your time commitment. This is not something that you can put up overnight.

For more advice on playground equipment, watch this video.

Interest rates are at a 50-year low, causing many homeowners to consider refinancing. 

Before signing on the dotted line, Angie's List, the nation's premier provider of consumer reviews, including mortgage companies, offers the following advice.

Angie’s List 10 Tips:

1. Check your Credit: Lending guidelines have tightened up, making borrowing much more difficult for people with low credit scores. Before you refinance, pull your credit report and double check that the information is accurate and up-to-date. If there are any discrepancies, work with the credit reporting agency to have those cleared up before you inquire about a loan. While credit scores where once a contributing factor in determining the cost of credit, they have now become the overriding factor.
2. Determine the Value: You now need more equity in your home in order to refinance. Expect the lender to request an appraisal and don’t be surprised when they bring in an appraisal management company to find a 3rd-party appraiser.
3. Lock it In: By holding out in the hopes rates will go down further, you risk your home depreciating more or your financial situation worsening.  Look for a lender who is willing to lock in a rate for at least 60 days.
4. Get quotes in writing: Email is fine, but be sure your mortgage consultant gives you rate information in writing so you’re not surprised by a rate change when you go to close.
5. Eliminate PMI? Private mortgage insurance is required whenever a conventional loan exceeds 80 percent of the value of the home. You can eliminate PMI if your home has at least 20 percent equity, based on a current appraisal. You can avoid paying PMI on a new loan by making up the difference at closing or by taking out a second mortgage for the difference.
6. Borrow more? If you have the equity in your home and it makes good financial sense to do so, consider borrowing additional money against your refinanced mortgage to pay off higher interest debt. This could save you substantially over the life of the loan, plus the interest you pay on your mortgage is tax deductible, which is not the case on auto loans and other credit-based interest you pay. Again, consult with your mortgage professional to determine if this is best for you.
7. Research your lender: Use an independent mortgage consultant, who can get multiple rate quotes with one credit pull. Check Angie’s List to read other consumer reviews of local mortgage professionals. Visit the local Secretary of State website to learn more about that broker’s credentials.
8. Disclose all Income: If you rely on cash income from tips, etc., it’s important you account for all of that income to better your chances of qualifying for a loan.
9. Ask for Closing Cost Guarantee: Beware of any lender that will not give you a written guarantee on the closing costs they estimate. Your costs could end up coming in a lot higher than initially disclosed. If costs do change, ask your mortgage professional for an explanation before you agree to anything. Include closing costs into your loan to avoid paying out of pocket.
10. Know your Rights: Customers are entitled to a three-day grace period during which they can pull out of a deal. The lender must be notified in writing of the rescission within three days of the date of closing and has 20 days to return the customer’s fees.

 

Keeping your carpets clean is not only a simple way to rid your home of hidden dust and allergens, it also keeps your carpets looking better and in better shape for longer, so you won’t have to shell out a hefty chunk of change to have them replaced before their time has come.

Angie's List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies, went to its highly rated carpet cleaners for advice on the different cleaning methods available and tips on hiring the right cleaner for the job.

There are several different types of professional cleaning available:

• Dry cleaning and steam cleaning are the two most popular types of carpet cleaning techniques.  Some companies use a combination of hot water extraction – or steam cleaning – followed by a dry clean pass, in which a removable pad lifts any lingering soil.
• Steam-cleaned carpets can take 4 to 6 hours to dry, whereas the dry system by itself takes about an hour.  A combination of both helps reduce the drying time and offers a more effective cleaning. If a dry cleaning can’t clean a heavily soiled carpet by itself, a steam cleaning usually can.
• Other companies use a non-toxic carbonation-based cleaning system that requires 1/6th of the water steam systems use.  Those typically dry in 2 to 3 hours.
• With so many carpet cleaning techniques available, it’s important to check which method is approved by your carpet’s manufacturer to prevent from voiding your warranty. 

Angie's List tips for hiring a carpet cleaner:

• Before work is done: Check the status of the company on Angie’s List. Obtain a written contract with the total prices and statements of guarantees that the cleaning company offers.  Most reputable companies will return if stains show back up after they leave, so ask about any guarantees before you sign a contract.
• Prepare your home: If you can take a few steps to prepare your home for the carpet cleaners, it will help shorten processing time and return the carpet to normal use sooner.  Move as much furniture out of the way as you can, and remove small items and breakables from tables and floors.
• Note areas that need extra attention: Show the company any problem areas and spots or pet stains that need special attention.
• Watch those coupons: Read the fine print on coupons offering discounted room cleanings.  Ask the carpet company for their definition of a room size.  Typically, a room is considered a single-purpose area less than 250-square feet.  Stairs and hallways are not considered part of a room.
• You should call on them, not vice-versa: Be wary of companies that solicit business door-to-door or via telephone.  Most reputable carpet cleaning companies don’t resort to these tactics.  If their work is good, they stay busy.

10 Questions  to ask prospective child care providers:

Here are Angie’s 5 tips to help your child achieve a stress-free experience at the stylist:

• Many music instructors have a professional accreditation or hold a degree in music education, but not all do.  Ask for the instructor’s credentials.
• Ask the prospective instructor for references from current students and their families.  Also, word-of-mouth references from friends, family and Angie’s List could help you avoid hiring an instructor who might not be the right fit.
• Consider bringing along the child to the initial interview with the prospective teacher so you both understand the teacher’s philosophy and policies and to get a feel for how their personalities fit.  If the interaction between the student and teacher is less than harmonic, that could be reflected in the end result of the lessons
• Many music teachers offer discounts to families with multiple children enrolled.
• Just like with schoolwork, children in music lessons need plenty of study and practice time.  Often, children need motivation to practice.  Be willing to supervise, enforce and even participate in practice. If your child is starting new lessons at the beginning of the school year, agree on a firm practice schedule and stick to it. “Sometimes, it takes time for them to catch on,” offered one music instructor. “But once they do, it’s awesome!”

These three industries are essential in the current housing climate. For more detailed tips, click on each link.

• Appraisals: The appraisal reporting process has become much more important and thorough, as lenders are requesting more data and a deeper analysis from appraisers. As a homeowner, you may have reason to question the value of your home on various occasions. You may plan to sell it, appeal your property tax assessment or undertake a major home renovation project. A recent nationwide poll by Angie’s List found that nearly half of all respondents believe their home decreased in value during the past year.
• Mortgage companies: What was simple just a few years ago has become much more complex. Home sales are at their lowest level in more than a decade, and the housing crisis has made it difficult to secure a mortgage. For consumers with good credit, however, now is actually a good time to buy. Angie offers some tips on finding a mortgage company you can trust and on securing a loan – even if you don’t have stellar credit.
• Real estate agents: The housing slump has thinned the herd of agents out there and those who have survived are working harder to sell their customers’ houses. Clients should expect their real estate agent to have a market plan specific to their home. Angie offers plenty of tips on choosing an agent and on why communication between the client and agent is so important in this industry.

Driver's education teachers recommend getting kids enrolled as soon as they're legally able to get behind the wheel. In many states, that age is 15, but it varies. The sooner they get their permit to drive, the more practice they’ll have before getting their “real” license.

Tips for finding the best driver's ed program for your child:

1. Driver’s education is typically offered year-round, but you may want your child to learn how to deal with inclement weather conditions as well as getting the basics down. So schedule accordingly.
2. Check state’s regulations on student driving. Determine how much behind-the wheel driving time and classroom time is required. Make sure the curriculum your school uses is approved by the state.
3. Some schools offer driver's education as part of their curriculum or during summer school. But there are also private driver's education programs available.
4. Before enrolling, visit the school, talk to the instructors and get a look at the vehicles to be sure they’re well-maintained.
5. Schedule the road test as soon as you can after the course ends to allow for extra time just in case your child has to take it again.
6. Check Angie's List to see reviews on driver's education programs in your area before enrolling your child.

• Your agent should design a marketing plan just for you. Get a copy, review it, make suggestions if appropriate, and hold your agent to it.
• Communication is key. Good agents will contact you about your home sale/purchase status at least once a week; often more. Anything less is a sign of a lazy agent.
  
• Do a little Web surfing to be sure your home is really being marketed. If you can’t find it online, or you find it only on one site, (especially if the marketing plan calls for more) talk to your agent.
  
• A good agent will update you not only about your house, but also about similar houses in your area that have sold or gone up for sale.  You have to know your competition to beat it.
  
• An experienced agent should advise you about whether you need to update and how to properly stage your home for open-houses and showings.
• Check real estate reviews on Angie's List before you decide on a Realtor.