Ways to Keep Your Home Safe

Did you know there are ways to make your home less appealing to potential thieves? According to statistics from the FBI, a burglary occurs every 14.6 seconds with 65% of break-ins occurring during the day.

There are some easy and inexpensive ways you can make your home less vulnerable. Check out the list below.

• Make sure all your doors are locked. Windows too! Don't leave a spare key in any obvious place - better to leave with a neighbor or family member.
• Don't forget to lock the door from the garage to the inside of the home.
• Keep decorative bushes and shrubs clear from doorways - making it hard for anyone to hide while trying to break in.
• Make sure the outside of your home is well lit and consider motion detector lights.
• Leave a secondary vehicle parked in the driveway so it looks as if someone is home during the day.
• If going out of town, stop the mail and newspaper. Have the garbage can brought back up to the home after pick-up by a neighbor.
• Install a home security system and advertise its presence!

There's no way to completely protect your home so have a list of all your valuables for insurance purposes. Keep valuables out of plain sight!

Hot Spring for Home Sales

The National Association of Realtors reported the 5^th consecutive month of increased pending home sales – the highest number since the peak of the housing boom in 2006!

Pending sales, or homes under contract, are up 10% over last year according to the latest monthly data from May of this year. These numbers round out a strong spring season with data showing the trend to continue through the summer. 

Sales volume is up as well as sales price. The average home price is up 7% over last year.  First time buyers are re-entering the housing market – making up 32% of all buyers – an increase of 27% from a year ago.

So what does this mean for you? Now is the time to buy! Home prices will only continue to rise as sales continue to increase. Enjoy the AC in your car and come look at our new homes this weekend!

Fireworks Safety this 4th of July

Besides red, white and blue, cook-outs, and the day off from work - the celebration of the 4th of July is synonymous with fireworks.

Whether you plan on attending festivities where fireworks will be featured or intend to shoot some off yourself, safety should be your top priority.

Heed these tips below to make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable 4th!

• Obey all laws regarding the purchase and discharge of fireworks
• Read labels on fireworks before lighting
• Have a bucket of water and water hose nearby in case of emergency
• Always light and shoot fireworks one at a time
• Never relight a firework that did not go off the first time
• Do not point a firework at someone or throw a firework
• Fireworks should be handled by adults only
• Avoid alcohol use when lighting and discharging fireworks
• Dispose of used fireworks by thoroughly wetting and storing in a metal trash can overnight

Safe Fun this Summer

Hot weather often means finding relief in the water. Whether it’s the ocean, pool or lake, follow these tips for a fun and healthy summer!

• Never swim alone. Always enjoy the water with a buddy.
• When boating always wear a life jacket! Don’t rely on life jackets alone. Make sure everyone knows how to swim.
• Make sure children are always supervised by another adult – even with life guards present.
• Stay away from pipes or drains.
• Ensure that everyone stays hydrated and continues reapplying sunscreen.
• If you have a pool at home make sure it is protected by at least a 4 foot fence, keep furniture and toys away from the pool.
• For an additional precaution – become certified in CPR through your local hospitals or Red Cross.

Summer House Hunting

Summer is full of exciting to-do’s – go on vacation, enjoy the warm weather, buy a home? Summer is a great time to buy a new home for many reasons – here are just a few.

• Bring the Kids Along! – With school out, it’s a great time to get family input on the neighborhood and home. Make sure the whole family is excited about the home before you buy.
• Learn the Neighborhood – During the cooler months, there is less likely to be much activity in the neighborhood. Summer is a prime time to meet potential neighbors as they enjoy the longer days and bright sunshine.
• Get in Before School – If you find a quick-move-in home you could be in before the school year starts up again and life gets more hectic!
• Less Competition – As other potential buyers are busy with vacations and summer activities you’ll enjoy less competition for your time and more attention from builders and agents.

Are you shopping for a new home this Summer? We can help! Talk with us about our new homes!

How to Stay Cool This Summer

Looking for creative ways to beat the summer heat? We’ve got a few!  So take a break from the A/C for a while and try one of these new ways to keep cool.

1. Adjust ceiling fans so they run counter-clockwise pulling hot air up and away!
2. For a quick cool down play ice packs on pressure points at your wrists, neck, elbows and behind the knees.
3. Drink a glass of water before bed to make sure you’re well hydrated and comfortable.
4. Choose cotton clothing and sheets over synthetics.
5. Keep your blinds and curtains drawn during the day to keep out the warming effects of sunlight.
6. Take a lukewarm shower before bed – too cold and your body will overcompensate by creating more heat.
7. Visualize the cool! Close your eyes and think of a wintry, snowy landscape. This mental image will cause a cooling reaction in your body.

If you don’t already own a new home – that may be the best way to stay cool this summer. New homes are more energy efficient and perform better during extreme temperatures. Just another reason to buy new!

Preparing for Storm Season

May 30th marked the official start to the 2015 Hurricane Season which runs through November 30th.
Fortunately forecasters are predicting a below average storm season.  Though hopefully our area will be spared any significant storms, summer is a good time to make sure your home and family are prepared for bad weather of any kind. Read on for a few tips to keep your family and property safe from inclement weather.

Outdoor Prep:
Keep trees and shrubs trimmed to prevent damage from strong winds
When storms are predicted, bring in and outdoor furniture or décor
Know your evacuation routes in case of a major emergency

Food Safety:
Have a three day supply of non-perishable food items at all times. Make sure a working manual can opener is also available.
An appropriate water supply is 1 gallon per person per day for at least three days.
In the event that you lose power, keep your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible. They will stay cold for about 4 hours. Make sure the temperature in the refrigerator stays below 40 degrees.

Emergency Kit:
Have a household emergency kit including
Battery powered or hand cranked radio
Flashlight and batteries
Matches in a waterproof container
First aid supplies
Moist towlettes and garbage bags
Paper and pencil
Important family documents and contact numbers
Required medicines

Being prepared is the number one way you can protect your family from bad weather.  For more information visit the National Weather Service page on Hurricane Preparedness here - http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php