lynnielynnie@netzero.net

This past month here in NY we have had some nice days that made us all want to get our lawns, gardens and plant beds ready. I perused the local newspaper ads to see who had the best prices and for us the local Valu Home center won out. The price for an off brand weed and feed couldnt be beat. We also decided to buy other gardening products like soil, grass seed, plant seeds, hoses and gardening tools. The store is not a big store like Lowes and Home depot but they carry things that the big chain stores dont and the prices are great too. Even though the selection may be smaller dont discount this store.

When we needed some new furniture for my sons bedroom, we decided to shop at Value city furniture. My son was only 5 at the time and kind of rough on things so we did not want to invest a ton of money on something that he could potentially ruin. The furniture itself is nice looking but not of the best quality. The drawers on the dressers and night stand are kind of stapled and glued together and the bottoms of the drawers are made of a thin particle board. My son is now 7 and 1/2 years old and the furniture still looks nice but the bottom drawers are starting to seperate. The furniture is good for short term but not the type of furniture that you will pass down for generations.

We had hired these movers in the past to move ourselves and my Aunt. So naturally recently when we moved I made the phone calls and got the estimates from many movers. M&J movers was the most affordable out of all of them but their prices had increased considerable in the two years before that we had used them. The movers that come are excellent. The whole team that comes moves quickly and efficiently. They wrap the furniture to protect it and I can say the three times that we have used them they have never broken, chipped or even scratched anything.

We recently moved into a new house and wanted all the carpets replaced. I shopped around and found the carpets I loved here. Someone had bought some off the roll so I was able to get the rest of the rug at a great price. The rugs at the full price would have cost over 4000 dollars but I got the fantastic price of 2300 dollars including the best pad and installation. The installers came when they were suppose to. My new rugs look beautiful and feel great under my feet. Whenever someone comes over they always comment how nice our rugs feel and look. A great company!!!

Last year in our old house we were redoing the bathroom and decided to order our new tub, vanity,sink, mirror, toilet etc from their showroom. They did have a great selection but I have to say the prices are quite high. I did pick out what I wanted and was quite pleased. I was told when everything would be available and was told that most items would take 6 weeks. I didnt like the wait time but said okay anyway. Six weeks later I was told a couple of items would be 2 weeks more. It is now 8 weeks later and I am told everything is in. We go to pick up everything and take it home. When we get home we find that the cabinet we ordered is the wrong height, the handles we ordered are not the ones given to us and now we have to wait again to get the right items in. Since my husband was doing the work himself it was just a nuisance, had I been paying a contractor to do the work I would have been more upset.

We recently had a bee problem that we needed taken care of. There were bees buzzing all around our house and we found we had a nest in the roof. We called the buffalo exterminating to come out and take care of it for us. The company has been excellent. They came out and sprayed extensively. They have since followed up with me and come back out to respray to make sure all of the bees are gone. A great company that has gone above and beyond.

After searching and reviewing stoves I decided on the maytag stove at home depot. There was a promotion going on for a free gift card and free delivery. I had to hunt around to find someone to even order the stove. Finally found someone and they didnt know how to order the stove the right way. They had to get the manager. Then after all was paid for they told me that it would be delivered a couple of days later. The day came and went and no stove. It was delayed another day. The stove finally showed up. Two days after I received it the oven door started squeeking horribly like it was a fifty year old stove. I called the store they said they couldnt do anything. I had to call the warranty company and have them come out to fix it. I was so annoyed. The stove was two days old and it shouldnt be doing that. The store should have stood by the product they sold me and gave me a stove that didnt squeek. Instead I had to wait for the company to come out and fix a new stove. Something isnt right with that. Now the stove is 10 months old and for the last 6 months the oven light hasnt worked. I used the oven light like 5 times at the most and it stopped working. The stove and home depot are a disappointment to me.

We had recently purchased a new house but the bathrooms were in desperate need of a makeover. We went to Lowes and found everything we needed. My husband was replacing all the tiles on the floor and walls, buying a new toliet, vanity, sink and bathtub. With any home improvement there are always the little extras that are needed too.Lowes had a great selection as well as great prices. Each day we went there we found something we liked at a sale price. We hit the makeover at a great time. They were doing away with different product lines so they were reducing most of the stuff we needed and wanted. The sales people were readily available to us and were knowledgable and helpful. From a do it yourselfer point of view this store is tops on customer service, selection and prices.