According to the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) there will be significant updates to water heater energy factor (EF) requirements. Due to the new requirements, all residential water heaters will require a higher energy factor. Continue reading 2015 will bring a new energy efficiency rating for water heaters
Tag Archives: insurance
Facing the financial aftermath of a divorce, Part 1
No matter how you twist and turn it, starting over after a divorce is not easy. Not only will be the assets divided but also the liabilities most of the time. Many times, it will hit a woman much harder than a man. Traditionally the man is the one who holds all the credit because traditionally they are the âbread winnersâ of the household. This does not hold true 100% of the time but it is close to 95% of the time.
Continue reading Facing the financial aftermath of a divorce, Part 1
DONâT BECOME A VICTIM AFTER A STORM
Many here in the United State have received a beating by mother nature at some time or other. Some in the path of straight line winds, others tornadoes, and some face flooding.
Let me throw out a warning.
After every storm there will be âhandyman storm chasersâ who knock on your door. Many are not licensed, bonded, and insured in your state. Be aware of these scammers. They are out to take your money leaving you high and dry.
Some of the possible red flags that a contractor is not a reputable contractor are
- Driving a truck with an out of state license
- Cannot give local referrals to call
- âforgotâ their contractors licenses at home
Some questions you should ask for are:
- How long have you been in business?
- Please provide me proof of insurance, bonding, and contractors licenses
- Please give me 72 hours to go over your written contract with my adviser
Donât do anything verbally or through a handshake. Put EVERYTHING in writing!
The best way to find a reputable contractor contract
- your Insurance Company,
- your local REALTOR,
- your State Licensing Agency,
- local Home Builders Association or
- through the National Association Of The Remodeling Industry (NARI).
All of them are glad to help out.
Why is my house not selling?
Have you ever driven though a neighborhood and noticed For Sale signs coming and going but there is that one house that has not sold and it is still sitting there waiting for a buyer?
I spoke to a friend of mine the other day who actually sold his home as a for-sale by-owner and he had his house sold within 4 days. His neighborâs house has been on the market already for several months.
Most the time you hear agents speak about location, location, location.
Many times you cannot control the location of your home unless you are willing to pick it up and move it. With trending neighborhoods, a good location might turn into an undesirable location and an undesirable location may turn into the new hot spot. Location is one of those things you cannot control so focus on the things you can control.
What is under your control?
- Cleanliness of the inside and outside
- Yard maintenance
- Property maintenance
- Interior decoration
Have your ever gone to the grocery store with the intention of picking up only one item and discover when returning to your car you had many items, but not the one you wanted? Think of your home like that grocery store. It is up to you and youâre listing agent to spark the interest of a potential buyer to as many characteristics of your house as possible.
In a store, the end caps at the end of each isle have a specific purpose and your end cap is the exterior of your home. The purpose for the end cap, and your exterior of your house, is to entice the buyer to take a look inside. The stores use high profit items to lure you to the end cap and all of the sudden you are inside the isle and see other things you think you would like to have.
Each item in each isle is strategically placed on the shelves. Have you ever noticed the more reasonable priced items are on the bottom shelve and the more lucrative items are right at eye height? Your isle is the interior of the house. So letâs put the more âreasonable pricedâ items like personal pictures, trophies and additional clutter on the very bottom of the shelve (storage) and put the more buyer appealing items at eye height. And remember, sometimes less is more.
The next time you go grocery shopping check out the lighting in the store. Have you ever noticed that the store has different types of lighting? Some areas have a more cool looking lighting and others have brighter lighting. Now translate this to your house you want to sell. The more inviting the lighting is in your house the more appealing it looks to the buyer.
Keep this in mind! Think of your home like that of a grocery store. It is up to you and youâre listing agent to entice the buyer to make them shop.
When you have any questions, or would like to have the Settles Team help you make your home look more appealing to a buyer, contact the Settles Team.
When shopping for Home insurance, know what is in your policy.
Before I continue with this information let me give you a disclaimer; I am not an insurance agent or an attorney. For legal advice or any advice regarding this topic contact your insurance agent or legal counsel.
In one of my blogs I discussed how to keep your home insurance low, but have you ever thought about what should be listed in your policy?
I get it. Some of the polices are written with such fine print that it would take a microscope to read it. How many layman really understand the legal mumbo jumbo contained in their insurance policy. A great Insurance agent can help you navigate the legal wrangling of your insurance contract.
Some things you should look for when you compare insurance policies.
Flood insurance: Many insurance policies do not cover floods of any kind. Even when you are not in a flood zone you might consider adding flood insurance to your policy. Floods not only happen naturally but also could be side effect of developments or construction in the general area.
Does your policy cover to âbringing your property up to codeâ in case of damage? Why is that important?
If your home was built 10 to 15 years ago it is possible that it may not meet current local code requirements. During the last 10 to 15 years many zoning ordinances and building codes have changed. To bring a home back up to zoning ordinances and building code standards could be a very expensive out of pocket expense when it is not covered by insurance. Typically, during the rebuilding process, buildings must be rebuilt to the new codes.
Another thing to look for in your policy is liability coverage that covers not only accidents, but also assault and battery. Regardless of how much we like our neighbors, friends, and family, when we invite them over to our home they may bring with them their personal life we might not know about. If they decide to duke out their disagreement on your front lawn you could be liable for damages or injuries they sustain. You need to make sure you are covered.
I would like to add another thought. Just because you paid off your mortgage does not mean you should drop your insurance coverage. What you should do is send a âpaid in full letterâ from your mortgage company to your insurance company so they can take your mortgage company off the policy. In some cases they will reduce your payment as long as you are personally occupying the house.
For more information on insurance related items contact your insurance agent or when you are looking to lower your rate contact one of the agents listed on our resource page. For any Real Estate related questions or concerns contact the Settles Team. We are never too busy to answer any of your questions or address any of your concerns.