Here’s our guide for making the right choice for your home.

Windows or HVAC? When you’re looking to make energy improvements for your Denver-area home, these may be two things that come to mind. But what will provide you the most bang for your buck? Here’s a comparison of potential costs, facts on energy efficiency and homeowner satisfaction to help guide your decision:

Windows

Happiness Factor

According to the 2017 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of REALTORS®:

• 42% of people replace their windows to improve energy efficiency while 42% are looking for better functionality and livability.
• 83% of homeowners want to stay home more after completing the project.
• 77% feel a major sense of accomplishment following installation.

Energy Efficiency

• When it comes to energy efficiency, it’s important to know when your windows were manufactured. Windows manufactured before 1975 lack the energy efficiency of modern windows. The benefit of replacing for energy efficiency can be great when newer windows are installed in your home.
• Windows represent a major source of heat loss in your home. Newer windows feature multiple panes, vinyl frames and low e-glass that help minimize heat loss, condensation, and air leakage, which means your home will be more comfortable even on super warm or super cold days.

Cost for New Windows

• All-new vinyl windows for an average home (2,450 square feet) runs more upwards of $15,000 according to the Remodeling Impact Report. However, you can recoup almost 80% of the cost in added home value.
• You’ll also see savings on your energy bill—up to 15% per year, according to the Efficient Windows Collaborative.

HVAC Systems

Happiness Factor

According to the 2017 Remodeling Impact Report:

• 56% of people replace their windows to improve energy efficiency while 42% are looking for better functionality and livability.
• 77% of homeowners want to stay home more after completing the project.
• 55% feel a major sense of accomplishment following installation.

Energy Efficiency

• HVAC systems can last more than 20 years. But those that have been in operation for that long are generally less energy efficient than newer models. That’s important because heating and cooling your home accounts for more than 40% of your home’s energy bills.
• Newer furnaces allow for better energy efficiency in your home by distributing air more evenly, cycling less frequently, and operating more reliably.
• Older furnaces may also have holes or cracks that could cause carbon monoxide gas to enter your home.
• Replacing your HVAC system may need to be paired with other home-improvement projects, such as adding insulation and a programmable thermostat and sealing leaks in your ductwork, to maximize energy efficiency.

Cost for New HVAC System

• A new HVAC system for an average-sized home will cost around $10,000, according to the Remodeling Impact Report. However, you can recoup almost 67% of the cost in added home value.
• You’ll also see savings on your energy bill—as much as 20% when you increase the energy efficiency of your furnace.

Our Recommendation:

If you can afford only one home improvement project in 2018, we recommend replacing your furnace, or installing a new heating system, especially if yours is more than 10 years old. You will pay less for the up-front replacement cost, recoup more than 65% of that if you sell your home, and save as much as 20% on your monthly bills.

Be sure to consult with a HVAC installer to determine the best furnace for your home. A professional can help determine the right-size unit, comparable ductwork, and the best fuel source for your home.

Remote offices and employees have changed the way we work and the technology we work with. While remote work and satellite offices open up a whole new talent pool, allow employees greater freedom, and boost employee morale, there are some negatives. The biggest issue we’ve seen with remote employees relates to security and the secure transfer of documents and data.

Your remote employees will require the same access to your data and software as those working in office, but this can open up a can of worms when it comes to protecting sensitive information related to your business.

This is where file server products come into play. FTP servers and Managed File Transfer (MFT) allow your employees to share documents and data freely, even when they’re not in the same location.

​FTP vs. MFT

FTP servers perform two main tasks: get and put. By this, we mean that you can put files on the FTP server or get files from the FTP server. The only caveat is that you want to be sure these are not sensitive documents, since FTP servers are known to be less secure. However, if you’re simply looking for a way to upload non-confidential reports or documents or permit your clients to download documents that don’t require heavy protection, then FTP can be a quick and cheap solution for your business.

​If you are dealing with confidential information or any documentation that falls under regulatory compliance, using an FTP server won’t be enough. Credit card data, medical records, or government documentation can all fall under a range of regulatory compliance, such as HIPAA or PCI. In this case, you will want the more robust and secure Managed File Transfer.

While you will see a considerable increase in price and implementation complexity, Managed File Transfer software offers a significantly more secure method of transferring files with other added benefits.

Benefits of MFT

Managed file transfer services provide advanced business needs when you have sensitive information that needs to be protected. MFT solutions do more than simply encrypt your files, they also offer support for secure protocols and the refusal of unsecure

connections, perimeter security, hacking detection with automated shutdown, support of security policies requiring complex and expiring passwords, and support and compliance of current regulations and privacy standards.

Beyond this impressive list of security protocols, MFT also offers a variety of automation, compliance, auditing capabilities and High Availability environments. You can also find many managed file transfer services that offer even more features, such as workflow, data loss prevention and more.

What this means for your remote employees

An MFT solution will allow your employees the security to work quickly and be comfortable in the knowledge that they are protected by the same rigorous standards as those applied to your in-office team. This will prevent any data loss or damaging data breaches that could negatively affect your company and put your customers and employees at risk.

We all know that while working from home sounds like a good idea, it can also be a challenge due to a number of reasons. For example, if you have somebody working for you you will need to learn to monitor employees working from home. It is so easy to get distracted by various things when at home, and separating home from work is not always that easy. Below you will find a list of ideas to help you to enjoy working from home even more than before and ensure that it remains this way for a long time.

1. Make sure that you have a dedicated home office in your house. I know that it can sometimes be easier said than done, but even a very tiny room dedicated solely for the purpose of getting the work done can make a huge difference in your life. When not in use the room can be locked so that you avoid the temptation of constantly checking your emails when you are not supposed to work. I cannot stress how important this step is and how having a little private space can make a huge difference in your life.

2. If your house is filled to the brim with items, whether useful or not, you might want to consider cleaning up a little. Various places such as storage facilities including storage units San Antonio can be of huge help to feel more like you are in control over your belongings. Just remember that whatever you put there you can always get back later, so it has nothing to do with getting rid of things for good.

3. If you are a parent working from home, remember that while working you don’t have to be taking care of your young children. I know that many people opt for that sort of solution, but I am strongly against it unless you are really short on money. The idea of being able to combine working from home and being all the time with your children might sound fun, but in reality you will be getting interrupted often, and your kids will probably only get mediocre care, which is not something you should aim at.

Business owners who want to really wow their customers and make their brands increasingly successful this year need to put marketing at the top of their to-do list. To ensure that you can take your company’s marketing efforts from average to exemplary this year, consider incorporating some or all of the following techniques into your organization’s existing advertising plan:

1. Develop A Content Marketing Strategy.

Content remains one of the central factors which determines how successful your online marketing efforts will be. Because content is one of the primary mediums that a prospect will engage to see what your brand is all about, you want to get in the habit of consistently producing absolutely incredible blog posts, web articles, and videos. Because there are millions and millions of distinct approaches to the content production and publication process, developing a content marketing strategy is prudent and advantageous. Your strategy should incorporate any steps and systems that consistently lead to a substantive return on investment (ROI). For example, if you note that your target market really enjoys reading content in listicle format, you should probably get in the habit of regularly publishing articles with a bullet-point list format.

2. Tap Into The Power Of Guerilla Marketing.

In addition to placing primacy on the development of content marketing strategies which enable you to connect and convert members of the target audience more efficiently, make sure that you tap into the power of guerilla marketing. This marketing methodology is amazing because it involves the ongoing use of unequivocally innovative advertising strategies that generate results in part because they shock the viewer or reader with their originality. There are at least four types of guerilla marketing that a business owner might deploy. They include:

• Outdoor Guerilla Marketing. This form of advertising contributes to a preexisting urban environment. It could include anything from placing temporary artwork on the street to placing a removable item on a statue.

• Indoor Guerilla Marketing. This type of marketing transpires in indoor spaces like university campus buildings, shops, and train stations.

• Event Ambush Guerilla Marketing. This technique involves promoting a brand at a notable event such as a sporting game or concert. Typically, this type of marketing is executed without requesting permission from the sponsors of the event.

• Experiential Guerilla Marketing. This marketing format can incorporate some or all of the aforementioned strategies. The key distinction is that the advertising modality requires individuals to interact with the brand. Because engagement accelerates brand awareness as well as the relationship-building process, experiential guerilla marketing can play an integral role in converting an individual from customer to long-term buyer.

3. Implement Web Optimization Techniques.

One final marketing technique you can deploy to make your brand an increasingly impressive, influential force is the implementation of web optimization strategies. These strategies will ensure that your website maintains the distinct edge and accessibility necessary to generate substantive traffic. There are millions of web building tips you can use to get the traffic optimization process underway. One is making it easy for people to shop on your website through the use of an online shopping cart system provided by companies like 1shoppingcart.com.

Conclusion

Business owners who want to retain their existing clients while also gaining new customers need to focus on developing marketing strategies that will engender the desired outcome. Three marketing strategies that you should consider integrating into your existing advertising campaign include developing a content marketing strategy, tapping into the power of guerilla marketing, and implementing web optimization techniques.

If the days of paper files in legal offices are entirely over, their days are definitely numbered. Most state and federal courts have already transitioned to paperless systems in complex cases, and it may not be long before even simple divorces and other uncontested cases are handled entirely online.

Law offices do not need to keep up with these changes. Rather, law offices need to stay ahead of these changes. It is very difficult for law firms to play catch-up in the IT game and remain competitive in other areas. This kind of proactive thinking eliminates the need for costly rebuilds or constant shopping for new office organization systems. What features should your office’s case management software include?

Security

The duty to protect confidential information is not limited to oral conversations, in most cases. Typically, attorneys have a duty to safeguard any client or case-related information, including:

• Bank records,
• Fact statements,
• Expert reports, and
• Property inspection reports.

Federal laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, may come into play as well.

At a minimum, all data should be password protected and encrypted. Also, be wary of case management providers that outsource security to third parties, because even if a vendor drops the ball, the responsibility usually resides with the lawyer.

Accessibility

Sometimes, security and accessibility are at odds with one another. Multiple security layers and single-terminal access provide almost ironclad security, but your employees must be able to access and use this information. Otherwise, there is no point in collecting the data in the first place.

It’s possible to have a system that meets both these objectives. For example, a double password is not much of an obstacle for everyday users to overcome, and it’s usually also possible to block access if the user tries to use a new device and does not properly authenticate it.

Personnel policies are important in this area as well, especially if your office allows employees to work remotely and bring their own devices to work. Have clear policies about items like ZIP drives and unsecured Wi-Fi connections, apply the same rules to everybody, and enforce them both fairly and quickly.

Scalability

Expansion is part of the five or ten-year plan in pretty much all organizations. Alas, layoffs and cutbacks are often a fact of life as well. Your system should be able to handle either expansion or contraction. It should be robust and, if possible, free of licensing and other restrictions which can impede movement in either direction. The system should also work seamlessly with other IT legal systems, such as Bankruptcy Pro or Summation.

A scalable, secure, and accessible software system is good for everyone. Firm administrators will pull their hair out if the system is not sufficiently scalable, clients will go elsewhere if they do not feel that their data is secure, and workers will go elsewhere if the system is difficult to use. So, a good choice here helps ensure prosperity for your office or division for years to come.