• Hold the mail: Mail falling out of the mailbox is one of the biggest indicators that you’re not at home. Have the post office hold your mail and stop your newspaper delivery for a few days. Or consider having a neighbor you trust pick up your mail for you. 

• Think like a burglar. Take a walk around your property with a close friend or neighbor who is not too familiar with your house to help you identify the possible locations for a break in. 

• Lights on: Buy a timer so that lights inside your house can be turned on automatically at night so that it appears someone is inside your home. 

• Don’t close all your drapes: Drapes that are closed shut during the daytime are a sure sign to potential burglars that you’re not home. It also allows them to move around your home unseen after they enter. 

• Alarm your company: If you have a home alarm, tell the company you will be away. Provide a phone number where you can be reached. 

• Turn your telephone ringer down or off: A burglar is less likely to hear the ringing that someone is not home. Also, don’t leave an outgoing message saying you’re on vacation. 

• Ask for help: A trusty neighbor can make your home look occupied by parking in your driveway. Leave them an extra key and the number where they can reach you. If you’ll be gone for more than two weeks, ask your neighbor or hire a lawn service to mow your yard or consider hiring a house sitter. 

• Hire help: Consider hiring a house sitter who will make it seem that your house is still occupied. 

• Lock your garage & shed: These areas typically contain tools and ladders that can be used to break into your home. 

• Secure all entryways: Make sure all doors, windows, and pet entrances are locked.

• Lock up valuables: Transfer valuables to a safe deposit box.

Depending where you’re going and what cancellations costs are, consumers may be smart to buy travel insurance. Most people assume they are covered no matter where they are, but many policies won’t cross the border with you.

How to determine if travel insurance is right for you:

1. Do you risk losing more money than you can afford?
2. How far in advance are you planning? A year or more in advance leaves plenty of time for problems to come up.
3. Will one snag derail your entire trip?
4. A fee to change a domestic flight is usually small compared to one for an international flight.

General types of coverage:

• Trip cancellation: This is the most common type of travel insurance. It generally covers non-refundable payments if a trip is canceled or interrupted due to unforeseen circumstances such as a sickness, death in the family or another matter listed in the policy.

• Trip delay: This coverage provides reimbursement when a trip is delayed.

• Emergency medical/health expenses: Many HMO medical policies do not cover travel abroad. Medicare almost never covers healthcare in a foreign county.

• Lost baggage: This would provide coverage if your personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged during a trip.

Travel insurance policies vary greatly so it pays to compare among companies. Policies can cost on average 5 percent to 9 percent of the total trip expense depending on coverage levels.
To get the best deal, Angie says to consider these tips:

• Check your current coverage: Check your health, life and homeowners insurance. You may find you’re already covered. Also many airlines still re-book or give credit for canceled flights.

• Shop around: There are many companies that offer insurance to choose from so do your research. Check online and with travel agents. Be careful of protection plans offered through tour companies and cruise lines. In many cases, you won’t be covered if the company goes bankrupt.

• Read the fine print: Before you buy, make sure the risks you want to cover are covered. Also in most situations, it pays to get your insurance immediately after booking a trip because many exclusions kick in after a certain period of time.
  

Allergy season is upon us, and more than 50 million Americans are engaged in a five-month battle to keep away from the triggers that cause itchy eyes, runny noses and asthma attacks. While you might think your home offers a respite from pesky triggers like dust mites and mold, it may be harboring more harm than you know.

Allergy-proof your remodel:

• Enclose the work area: Hang plastic sheeting over the doorways in rooms where work is underway. Don’t carry the sheeting through the house when the project is complete; it will leave allergens behind in the home. Push it through the closest window.
• Leave during installation: If possible, stay out of the house until fumes disappear. Indoor irritants are at their highest levels when carpet is being laid, or when hard woods are being varnished.
• Keep the work area well ventilated: Open windows and set up fans to push the air out.
• Check your ducts: During a project, your duct work may be exposed. Ducts should be tightly sealed to reduce air leakage. While it’s still not clear whether cleaning air ducts can improve air quality, consider having the ducts cleaned after a project; it may pick up more particles than usual.
• Wear protective clothing: For do-it-yourselfers, use a mask and goggles during any project that creates a lot of dust.

Allergy-proof your home:

• Replace your flooring: Replace carpet with hardwood, tile, linoleum or any hardwood flooring. It’s easier to keep hardwoods clean and dust mites and other allergens have nowhere to hide. If that isn’t an option, use low-pile instead of high-pile carpeting.
• Avoid upholstered furniture: Upholstered furniture traps allergens and is difficult to clean thoroughly. Instead, opt for leather, vinyl, wood or furniture with removable slipcovers that can be laundered.
• Install shades or drapes: Dust and dirt that collects on window blinds is difficult to clean. Consider shades that are made of a fabric that you can throw into the washing machine.
• Prevent mold & mildew: Install a HEPA filter in your central air-conditioning and heating system. Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms to reduce humidity levels.
• Paint bathroom walls: Molds can grow underneath wallpaper, so consider paint or tile. If you must wallpaper your walls, choose waterproof wallpaper.
• Choose alternative building materials: Pick paints, varnishes and other materials with low volatile organic compounds. Consider buying solid wood cabinets instead of those made of particleboard. Solid wood is less likely to emit harmful fumes.
• Control bugs & rodents: Cockroaches can trigger allergies and asthma. If you notice any pests, consult with a pest control expert. Ask about pesticide sprays; they may contain chemicals that cause irritation.
• Keep on top of routine maintenance: Regularly clean/replace filters and dripping pans. To avoid mold growth, check for plumbing leaks.

Allergy-proof your yard:

• Ward off weeds: Ragweed is a common allergy inducer. Hire a lawn service to get rid of weeds from your yard and garden. Fertilize your lawn to grow thick grass that will obstruct highly allergenic weeds.
• Plant low-allergy plants & trees: Plants with bright flowers cause fewer allergy problems because they rely on insects to transfer pollen. If you’re unsure about a tree in your yard, take a cutting to a local nursery. Most trees and shrubs that produce allergenic pollen bloom at certain times of the year; ask about blooming times of these plants.
• Tend the lawn: Trim the lawn more often and keep it short; it decreases pollen production. Consider having someone else mow the grass.
• Be careful handling mulch & compost: You may find mold and mildew in the garden. Some common places are in compost and bark mulch. Dead leaves under shrubs can also harbor mold.
• Monitor the time & weather: Pollen counts are at their highest in the early morning hours and on warm, dry, windy days. Gardening on cool, cloudy days, or an hour after the rain, may be your best bet because rain washes pollen out of the air.

Vehicles that are driven gently and serviced regularly last longer and experience fewer problems.

• If you read nothing else in the car manual, read the preventative maintenance schedule and follow it. You'll save in the long run by detecting problems in their early stages. If you're pressured to buy a service your manufacturer doesn’t recommend, chances are you don’t need it. You may need a new technician, though.
• Driving the speed limit will increase your fuel efficiency. Don’t race from red light to red light. Avoid sharp turns, slamming on the brakes and other habits that put stress on your car.
• Avoid driving on an empty tank. The bottom of the gas tank collects sediment from gasoline which can travel into the nearby fuel pump and result in low fuel-efficiency.
• Schedule an annual maintenance check shortly before your area’s most extreme weather sets in.
• Equip your car with an emergency kit of high-energy snacks, bottled water, shovel, blanket, cell phone battery charger, tire repair tools, flashlight and flares.
• Don't skip regular oil changes, which should be done every 3,000 to 4,000 miles on most cars. Check your owner’s manual to see if your car has a specific oil type, and make sure your mechanic uses it.
• A car wash does more than just clean your car. Regular washing, especially the underbody and in the winter for cold-weather areas, makes an enormous difference in a car’s longevity. Brake fluid and fuel lines run along a car’s underbody, which is subjected to a lot of dirt, water and salt -- all of which lead straight to rust.
• Keep a detailed log of any issues and when they occur; like bad weather or a particular speed. This detail will help your mechanic diagnose the problem. Related: How to avoid auto repair hassles
• Regularly monitor your tire inflation and mileage to save money at the gas pump and in the repair shop. Proper tire inflation helps you get better gas mileage. A drop in fuel efficiency is often the first warning sign of a problem, so monitoring your mileage can catch a problem before it gets too big (and expensive).
• If your "check engine" light flashes, stop the car as soon as possible. Driving even a few miles with an engine problem can wreak major havoc and cost you more in the long-run.
• If you're planning a road trip, take your car to a reliable auto repair shop for a thorough check-up two weeks before your vacation. Make sure to let them know you'll be taking a road trip in the near future, so if there's an issue, you'll have time to get it addressed.

Make sure your grill is in good working order before heading out to the patio with the brats, burgers and buns.

1. Annual check up. While emergency calls can be made, it’s best to have a yearly service call to ensure your grill is in good shape.
2. Repair or replace? Lifespans vary greatly, but typically you get what you pay for. Regardless of price, replacement parts are available for most grills. It’s time to replace your grill when its casting (the lid and bowl) is rusted.
3. Clean and spider free. Before you fire it up for the season, give your grill a good scrub to get rid of food, grease and – spider webs. Spiders are attracted to the smell of propane and they can take up residence in the venturi tubes and valve openings, blocking air and gas flow and leading to uneven cooking and possible safety hazards.
4. Use the right tools. Invest in sturdy, flame retardant accessories, like spatulas, tongs and brushes (avoid using a stainless steel brush on a porcelain-enamel finish).
5. Test drive. Give your grill a test run a week or two before the day of the big barbecue to make sure everything is in good working order. That way, if it does need a new part or repair, you’ll have it working in time for the big cookout.
6. Fuel check. Check that you have enough gas or coals for your grill before you fire it up. You can add a gauge to your propane tank to help detect levels. For charcoal users, generally use about 30 coals per pound of meat, with the charcoal extending about one inch beyond the area where the food is.
7. Low salt diet. Avoid seasoning while grilling. Salt acts as a corrosive and can help contribute to rust.
8. Keep it clean. Once you’ve pulled the food from the grill, allow any excess food to burn off and then clean the grill with a brass bristle brush. Clean the grill while it’s still warm. It’s far easier to clean than waiting until food and grease settles and hardens. Clean the drip pan regularly.
9. Protect your grill. Use a water-resistant cover when not in use and store it out of the elements during the winter.
10. Don’t treat your grill like a second-class culinary citizen. It’s an appliance just like your stove or refrigerator and with proper maintenance and care, it can give you decades of great use.
11. Check all gas supply lines with a mixture of one part water and one part soap detergent. With heat control knobs in the “off” position, turn on the gas supply. Apply the mixture to the connections. If bubbles appear, the connections aren’t properly sealed. Tighten connections, or replace hoses.

Angie’s List surveyed 75 service companies including roofers, painters, asphalt driveway installers, window and lawn care companies. Ninety-five percent said rising petroleum costs are affecting their bottom line.

Roofers told us prices for asphalt shingles are increasing anywhere from 15 to 50 percent and paint costs are increasing by $3 a can, and in some cases as much as $10 a can.

In addition to asphalt shingles and driveways, petroleum is used to develop a number of other products including vinyl windows and siding, plastic pipes, lawn fertilizer, paint, oil filters and tires.

According to the survey, companies say prices for asphalt driveways, sealers and rubberized crack fillers have increased 30 to 70 percent. Lawn care companies report fertilizer has increased 20 to 30 percent.

• Companies should be upfront about passing along the costs. Most customers will understand if they’re made aware ahead of time.
• Be flexible: Don’t be surprised if you’re paying more for a product that is not petroleum-based. It’s costing more for companies to get shipments too.
• Practice some patience: You may have to wait longer for your custom order to be shipped. Most suppliers won’t send half-full trucks as a result of high gas prices.
• Know what you're paying for: Insist on itemized charges related to material costs so you know exactly what you are paying for.
• Comparison shop: If you're just getting started on your project, add material cost questions to your list of things to ask about, and don't be afraid to negotiate.

*75 service companies responded to the survey. Responses are representative of service providers rated on Angie’s List, but not the general public.

Not everyone is looking for the same thing in a doctor and choosing the one who best meets your needs is one of the most important decisions you will make. Here are some suggestions:

• Take stock of your needs — Carefully consider such things as bedside manner, proximity to your home, experience, accreditations and you and your loved one's particular conditions.

• Make a list of possibilities — Check your health plan’s list of covered professionals first. Then check reviews and ratings on Angie’s List, along with recommendations from friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and other health care professionals you trust.

• Questions to ask — Make sure to tailor these to your individual needs when seeking out a new physician:
  
  • What type of insurance does the office accept? Do you offer a discount for patients who choose to self pay?
  • Which hospital(s) does the physician have privileges at?
  • Is the physician board certified?
  • Who covers for the doctor when he or she is not available?
  • How long does it take to get an appointment?
  • What is the average time patients are in the waiting room before being seen?
  • What do you do if you have an urgent need for care?
  • For common medical problems, does the doctor, nurse or physician assistant give advice over the phone or by e-mail?
  • If testing is required, can you have that done in the office or do you have to go somewhere else? Will the physician's staff arrange the appointment for you?
  • How are prescription refills handled?

• Check the record — The American Medical Association’s DoctorFinder can help in checking a physician’s credentials, while state medical boards will have information on doctors and other professionals who require licensing and may even have data on disciplinary action. Check the Federation of State Medical Boards for a state-by-state listing. For many MDs, visit the American Board of Medical Specialites and click on “Is Your Doctor Certified?” For osteopathic physicians, visit the American Osteopathic Association.Certification is a good indicator of experience, though not the only yardstick of quality.

• Meet in person — Make an appointment for an initial consultation and see what kind of fit they are. A health care professional should be willing to answer all your questions. If you have particular medical conditions, find out how experienced they are in treating those conditions. If you use or participate in any alternative medicines or treatments, see if they’re comfortable with them.

• Follow your gut — Ask yourself if the doctor listened carefully, answered in terms you understood, showed respect, made you feel comfortable, addressed the specific health problems you came in with and asked your preferences about different kinds of treatment. Is this someone you’re willing to entrust your health with for the long term?

Source: Angie’s List research; U.S. Agency for Health Care Quality