Aug 13, 2020 | Real Estate Tips
When making plans for a fun-filled vacation, you shouldn’t forget implementing certain home security measures to ward off thieves. Nobody wants to return home only to find that intruders had ransacked the residence from top to bottom.
If you’re going away on vacation, make sure you protect your home against break-and-enters with these five tips.
Alarm Intruders With Audible Deterrence Measures
Installing a professional home security alarm is one of the most cost-effective ways for people to protect their homes when they are away.
Buying and setting up the right system will ensure that the proper authorities will be notified if thieves break in or attempt to force their way in.
While determined crooks will be hard to discourage, most would-be intruders will look for easier targets if they inadvertently trigger a loud, piercing alarm that attracts too much attention from anyone who could call the police.
Make Forced Entry Difficult With Solid Doors
Some thieves will take a very direct approach to break-ins by simply trying to force their way through a locked door. If the exterior doors are hollow, thieves will have a pretty easy time getting through. This is why it is important to install solid doors rather than hollow ones; solid doors are much harder to break through.
If you’re concerned about intruders forcing their way through your hollow doors, your best recourse is to upgrade to solid doors. Upgrading will cost a pretty penny, but the added protection they will provide will be well worth the investment.
While getting solid doors installed, you can go one step further by investing in good locks, deadbolts and reinforced strike plates.
Do Not Advertise Your Departures
A pile of newspapers at the front door or a mailbox full of mail and flyers will be proof positive to crooks that no one’s home. Homeowners who are going to be away on vacation should ask neighbors or other people they trust to collect their mail while they are away.
If having a neighbor collect your mail isn’t an option, go to the post office and request that mail service to your home be suspended until you get back. It is also best to suspend newspaper deliveries for the vacation period as well.
Neighborhood Watch To The Rescue
One great home security solution that won’t cost a penny is having neighbors who look out for you. Homeowners would do well to ask trusted neighbors to keep an eye on their property while they are away on vacation. Tell those trusted neighbors to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity and to call the authorities if necessary.
Protect Sliding Doors With This Simple Trick
Before heading off on vacation, you should safeguard the sliding glass doors in your home by putting something like a metal rod in the track. This way, thieves will not be able to force the door open.
Vacations are a time to unwind and to have some fun. However, responsible homeowners will do what it takes to make their residence less attractive to would-be thieves while they are away.
For more information on how to safeguard your home, or to get answers to your pressing real estate questions, contact your trusted real estate professional for prompt and practical advice.
Aug 12, 2020 | Real Estate
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm. Millions of people all over the world have been infected and businesses have ground to a halt. During this time, it is important for everyone to take a breath, pause, and look at their insurance policies.
The reality is that the economic crisis is following in the footsteps of the obvious public health emergency. In order for everyone to hold their finances together, it is important to explore all of the options. This includes looking at insurance policies.
Business Interruption Insurance
One of the first policies or riders that everyone has to look for is called business interruption insurance. This is an insurance policy that might be able to assist companies that are struggling with reduced revenue streams due to interruptions in their normal business operations.
For example, if a business is forced to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this might fall under the category of business interruption insurance. This can help businesses bridge the gap until they can reopen again.
Civil Authority Clauses
This is a feature that is common in property insurance. This insurance claim can be triggered if government policies restrict the entry of people onto the property of the policyholder. If this restriction leads to lost income, then the insurance policy can be triggered. Everyone should check their policies to see if this clause is included as this can provide funds to businesses that might not otherwise be able to stay open.
Defensive Policies And Riders
Finally, defensive policies are often put in place to help companies defend against lawsuits that might be filed against the company related to injuries and illnesses. Without a doubt, there will be a slew of lawsuits filed related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Defensive policies can help companies cover legal fees, settlement costs, and other expenses related to these lawsuits.
Defensive policies are also called D&O insurance (Directors and Officers Insurance) as well as General Liability Insurance. It is important to read the insurance policy carefully to see if these policies are included.
Businesses need to explore every available option when it comes to reopening. These insurance policies can help them survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aug 11, 2020 | Real Estate
While businesses have fallen on hard times during the past few months, there are signs that the economy is going to start to recover quickly. This could mean that homebuyers are entering the market again as well.
With summer being a historically hot time for homebuyers all over the country, there are a lot of experts saying that buyers need to get ready for a bidding war.
There are not a lot of homes on the market right now, as sellers are still a bit reluctant to put their homes back on the market with the economy just starting its recovery process.
The end result is that there is a disconnect between supply and demand. This imbalance is causing home prices to climb upward as homebuyers get into a bidding war.
Homebuyers Might Be Surprised
Many homebuyers are surprised that prices are actually rising instead of falling. When the last recession hit, home prices actually fell significantly. This is because mortgage defaults were the cause of the last recession, which is why home prices fell so dramatically.
The cause of this economic downturn is different. Due to a limited supply of homes, this is leading to more competition among homebuyers. This leads to more competition, handfuls of offers for a single home, and a bidding war. In order to find the right home, there are a few tips that homebuyers need to keep in mind.
Put Forth A More Competitive Offer
Those who are looking for a home right now need to place themselves in a position to compete against multiple offers from other homebuyers. Some of the most important tips to follow include:
- Hire a local expert who understands the state of the market right now who can help homebuyers find the right home. Right now, the real estate market is not normal. It takes an expert to understand the ins and outs of buying a home in this market.
- Get pre-approved from the market to make sure the offer looks serious to the seller. Those who get pre-approved from a lender will demonstrate a strong desire to buy, pushing their offer to the top.
There are ways to put forth a competitive offer even in this challenging real estate market.
Aug 10, 2020 | Financial Reports
Economic readings released last week included construction spending, public and private-sector job growth, and government reports on initial and continuing jobless claims. Freddie Mac also released its weekly report on average mortgage rates.
Construction Spending Falls in June
Commerce Department reporting for June showed lower construction spending for the fourth consecutive month, but spending fell by -0.70 percent as compared to May’s negative reading of -1.70 percent. June’s construction spending was $1.36 million at a seasonally adjusted annual rate.
Residential construction spending fell by 1.50 percent in June as public construction spending fell by -0.70 percent. Analysts said that construction spending has held up relatively well in the pandemic as spending was up 0.10 percent year-over-year in June.
Public and Private Sector Jobs Growth Slows Sharply in July
ADP reported 167,000 private-sector jobs added in July as compared to 4.31 million jobs added in June. A resurgence in coronavirus cases contributed to the downturn, as consumers, employers and workers remained cautious and followed state and local guidelines for minimizing exposure to the Covid-19 virus. The leisure and hospitality sector led the falling private-sector jobs growth rate by adding 38,000 jobs in July as compared to approximately two million jobs in June.
The government’s Non-farm Payrolls report posted 1,76 million public and private sector jobs added in July, which surpassed the expected reading of 1.68 million jobs added but fell short of June’s reading of 4.79 million public and private sector jobs added.
The national unemployment rate decreased to 10.20 percent in July and was lower than June’s reading of 11.06 percent and the expected reading of 10.60 percent. While higher than pre-pandemic unemployment rates, July’s lower reading was good news amid overall economic hardship.
Mortgage Rates Reach Another Record Low; Unemployment Claims Mixed
Freddie Mac reported another week of record-low mortgage rates. The rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 11 basis points lower at 2.88 percent. Rates for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 2.44 percent and were seven basis points lower; rates for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages averaged four basis points lower at 2.90 percent. Discount points averaged 0.80 percent for fixed-rate mortgages and 0.40 percent for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages.
Initial state jobless claims fell to 1.19 million from the prior week’s reading of 1.44 million first-time jobless claims filed. Continuing state jobless claims were also lower than for the prior week with 16.10 million claims filed; 17.00 million ongoing jobless claims were filed the prior week.
What’s Ahead
This week’s scheduled economic reporting includes readings on inflation, retail sales, and consumer sentiment. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and new and continuing jobless claims will also be released.
Aug 7, 2020 | Around The Home
Whether you happen to be a painting pro or you’ve never dared to pick up a roller, there are a few tricks of the trade that professionals use to make a paint job look its best. If you want to take an old, outdated paint job and turn it into something you can be proud of, here are a few tips from those who know best.
Start With A Perfectly Smooth Surface
If you’re trying to rush through it, sanding might seem like an unnecessary step in re-covering your walls, but it’s very important in order to level out the spackle paste and ensure that no ridges will appear in the paint around the nails. According to one professional painter, you should start by sanding from the baseboard to the ceiling with a fine grit sandpaper, and then move on to a horizontal sand that will make for a smooth wall finish.
Forget About The Plastic
The proper floor coverage while painting is just as important as the paint when it comes to getting the job done properly, so opt for a large canvas cloth instead of linens or plastic. Paint on linen can sink through to your floor and stain it, while paint on plastic takes a long time to dry and may end up smearing all over other things. A canvas cloth will keep any paint splotches away from your floor and ensure they aren’t tracked throughout the home after they fall.
Stick To One Wall
It can be tempting to get done the rudimentary step of completing the corners and trim before you move on to painting, but this can actually make for a less smooth finish. Instead of finishing one task at a time, complete the corners and trim on one wall and immediately reach for the roller. This is something professional painters do to ensure that the brushed and rolled paint will blend together more seamlessly.
There are a few simple steps you can follow when painting a room that will make it look like a professional did the job. By using a canvas cloth to cover your surfaces and sticking with one wall until the job is done, you should have a smooth new surface you can be proud of. If you’re currently painting your home and preparing to sell, you may want to contact one of our local real estate agents for information about your options on the market.
