Sooner or later every homeowner gets bit by the remodeling bug and wants to take steps to improve their domicile. Finding a remodeling contractor close to home is easy when you use the Internet as a research tool. Performing a search for remodeling phrases (i.e. ‘bathroom remodeling Indianapolis‘) will provide a list of local remodeling contractors. It is not recommended to choose any particular contractor until you get them to answer several questions. Company history questions can help you determine their overall level of remodeling experience (including: How many projects have you finished? How long have you been operating?) If you are looking for trendy designs, ask questions about their design capabilities: How many architects and designers do you have on staff? Can I see portfolios of their work? Don’t forget to inquire about project costs and financing: Do you have a fixed price contract? Do you have a financing partner, if so who? You will also want to ask them about their construction process to see if they are knowledgeable: Will there be ongoing project management? Will I receive a construction schedule and blueprints? You want to be sure a provider will stand behind the marketing promises they make: Do you have a time completion guarantee? How long is your construction warranty? Are you insured? A quality company should also be willing to provide independent ratings and customer referrals.

Retailers across the region have given Chicago much to consider this holiday shopping season. Black Friday has long been a day of significant savings for Chicago area shoppers. Stores have opened their doors early Friday morning following Thanksgiving – rewarding consumers who are willing to lose a little sleep in search for savings. Stores have also extended their sales into the following Saturday and Sunday for additional savings opportunities.

As the Internet has gained in popularity over the past several years, retailers have added one more day to extend Black Friday — Cyber Monday — where customers can enjoy savings by shopping on store websites. Once the domain of early Internet shopping pioneers; all major stores offer savings on their websites on Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday (and Internet shopping in general) allow Chicago area households to buy goods from merchants across the country. For example, consumers in search of a Beautyrest mattress or Serta mattress can go to Internet mattress retailers like The Mattress Factory.

This year retailers have expanded post-Thanksgiving sales even further, by turning Black Friday into a week-long event, and even opening their doors on Thanksgiving. Most companies opened their doors Thanksgiving evening, while a few were as bold as to open up Thanksgiving morning. In addition to longer sales, the size of the promotions are increasing. For years gift sets have been used as incentive for making cosmetic purchases. This year more types of purchases earn free gifts. Numerous stores are offering gift cards, while others are using electronics. The Mattress Factory is giving away flat screen televisions on qualifying mattress purchases. The purchase of luxury mattresses, like the iComfort mattress and Beautyrest Black can mean a free TV as big as 42″!

Will these increased sales efforts result in increased revenue for retailers? If they do, we can count on even more aggressive sales next year.

The time has arrived for you to purchase a new mattress, so you prepare yourself for the barrage of choices You will no doubt encounter numerous advertisements claiming to have the best mattress for your needs. Advertisements are filled with claims of superior support and exceptional comfort – vague marketing claims at best. Educating yourself in the various types of mattresses can help you navigate the options when you visit mattress stores. Following is a brief explanation of the different types of mattresses, which should help you focus your comparison efforts. Innerspring Mattress: These mattresses contain steel tempered coils that provide support based on tension of coil framework. When comparing innerspring mattresses, your budget will dictate the level of luxury you can get. Pocket Coil Spring Mattress: Some mattresses provide an alternative support system that is comprised of individually wrapped coils. The individually wrapped coils allow for more conformity of your body, and reduce motion transfer to your sleeping partner. Foam-Based Mattresses: These are comprised of singular/multiple layers of foam material instead of metal-based springs. By conforming to your body, foam-based mattresses (i.e. Tempurpedic mattress) provide comfort and reduces transfer of motion. Since some foam-based mattresses sleep hot, you should look for those that contain heat-dissipation options. Natural Latex Mattresses: Made from latex rubber, these types of mattress provide an alternative to foam-material. If you suffer from foam-based allergies, a latex mattress can provide similar benefits without the discomfort. However, nothing beats a test-run, so head to a local mattress store and try them out to determine your final pick.