Category Archives: About the house…

Home and auto insurance coverage is steadily increasing

The severity and frequency of insurance claims, along with the cost of goods and services are why carriers are raising their base rates…and your coverage may not be keeping up with inflation. Rising replacement costs means that what used to be covered by your policy may no longer be sufficient.

Attached are two flyers from the Hanover Insurance Group that explain why rates are increasing and underwriting is tightening up.
Understanding Trends Impacting Homeowners Coverage

Why you may need more home and auto coverage.

Why You Should Test the Air Quality of Your Home

If you’re wondering if those sniffles and low-grade headaches you or your family are experiencing could be due to air-borne allergens, you may be surprised to learn that there could be another cause. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 90% of our time is spent indoors, so breathing problems could be caused by poor air quality in your home. If you test the air quality in your home, you may get some surprising answers.

Purchase air quality sensors that test for the following:

  • Humidity: can increase the potential for mold and mildew growth.
  • Temperature: high temps can cause insufficient humidity and health risks.
  • Volatile organic compounds: chemical pollutants can come from building materials, carpet, and other installations.
  • Particulate matter: dust mites and other allergens are airborne.
  • Air quality index: this measurement is provided by the EPA for both indoor and outdoor air quality.

Air quality sensors test for toxins, harmful gases, and pollutants as well as specific problems such as carbon monoxide, a toxic gas. The sensors take in air, run algorithms to capture the number of particulates, store the data and prepare it for analysis and read out.

The EPA recommends that you monitor your health symptoms for a few weeks to identify improving or worsening symptoms. If you’re nauseous and confused, carbon monoxide may be present, while allergies tend to present with a scratchy throat or watery eyes. Lastly, buy a good air purifier to help remove particulate matter from the air.

Will Your HOA Allow Your Home Business?

Homeowners’ associations (HOAs) are formed by the owners of units within a community to manage, maintain and improve quality of life for residents and increase their property values. And there are four things all HOAs hate—strangers, traffic, safety issues, and anything that might cause declines in property values, such as home-based businesses.

Out of 32.5 million small businesses, about 19 million are home-based or began at home, according to The U.S. Small Business Association. Following the pandemic, many workers found that they want to be their own bosses, but this is a growing issue for HOAs that prohibit homeowners from using their properties for commercial purposes.

While it’s fine to have a home office business such as accounting or search engine optimization, your HOA won’t allow you to use your home for obvious commercial use such as manufacturing, storing large equipment, or making or receiving frequent deliveries. HOAs don’t want people coming and going to your house, or for trucks and cars to crowd the streets and parking spaces. It makes your neighbors feel put upon, inconvenienced, unsafe, and less confident in the security of their community.

As an existing homeowner, you should have a copy of your HOA’s governing documents and by-laws, covenants, conditions, and restrictions—so you can see where your HOA stands on the issue. If you’re considering choosing a home in an HOA-managed community, make certain you review the association documents as a condition of your inspection.

Protect Your Plumbing

If you haven’t had to hire a plumber lately, you may not know how much it costs to have one come out and fix a problem that was preventable. First-time homebuyers and new homeowners will really benefit from knowing what to do to prevent household water troubles.

The first thing you need to learn is where your outside water shutoff valve is. That way, if you have an indoor leak from a broken water line or a drip that won’t turn off, you can prevent possible water damage before you call the plumber.

There are also items you should never flush down the toilet. Don’t feel fooled by products like baby wipes, feminine products, facial tissues and makeup removal sheets, and clumpable cat litter that are advertised as flushable. They contain plastic fibers that could clog plumbing, so stick to toilet paper that doesn’t clog pipes. Don’t pour anything down the sink that isn’t water soluble, and that includes oils and damaging chemicals. Older plumbing has narrower pipes, and/or you may not have enough water pressure to send some items along their way.

Waste disposals can pulverize a lot more foods than in the past, but you’re much safer avoiding feeding them anything fibrous such as banana peels, breads or fruits with seeds, starchy foods like potato skins, or foods with nuts. Run water as you put items in the disposal and give them enough time to grind thoroughly. Stuff a sliced lemon down the neck for freshness.

How to Care for Your Home’s Fixtures

If you’re like many first-time homeowners, you may be watching your pennies by using the same cleaner on all your countertops, stainless appliances, porcelain sinks and tubs and other fixtures. But you can easily strip finishes, set stains and make other mistakes by using the wrong product. Here are some inexpensive and proven old-fashioned solutions for cleaning your surfaces.

A gentle diluted dishwashing liquid or soap and water will clean anything well, including wood cabinets. Just be sure to rinse and dry the surface with a soft cloth to prevent streaking. Don’t use bleach, glass cleaner, or abrasive cleansers on any countertop.  Use cutting boards, spoon rests, and trivets to protect your surfaces from accidental knife cuts, stubborn food stains, and heat damage from pots and pans.

Countertops – For granite, quartz, soapstone and marble countertops, don’t use acidic (lemon, ammonia) or abrasive cleaners, bleach or glass cleaner. To attack stains, make a paste with baking soda and warm water. Apply and let it sit for five or 10 minutes, then rub the paste gently into the stain. Gently rub in a little mineral oil occasionally to make the finishes last longer.

Stainless appliances – Soap and water work best. After drying with a soft dishcloth, apply a little mineral oil to cut down on streaking and fingerprints.

Porcelain sinks and tubs – Bleach strips porcelain finishes, so use hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar to clean without scrubbing. For stubborn stains, use a little Naval Jelly and rinse thoroughly afterward.

Keep Heating Costs Down This Winter

In fall 2022, experts warned that heating costs will be the highest in 10 years as households pay nearly 18% more this winter. Between the 2020-21 and 2022-23 winters, home energy costs increased by 36%. So, what can you do to stay warm and save energy costs?

Check your home for air leaks:

  • Nearly one-third of a home’s heat loss occurs through windows and doors.
  • Air can leak through electrical outlets, baseboards, and attic hatches.
  • Caulking leaks can save the average household up to $166 per year.
  • Weather-stripping windows can save up to $83 per year.

Next, check your energy usage habits: 

  • Lowering the thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours at night can save as much as 10 percent on your heating bills.
  • A smart thermostat saves about $180 per year in energy costs.
  • Just one LED bulb can save you $50 over its lifespan. Multiply that by the average number of light sockets in a home – 40 for a savings of $900.
  • A gaming console uses at least 10 times more energy to stream a movie than a Roku box or smart TV app.

 Water Heater Tip!
Lowering your water heater from 140 degrees to 120 degrees will save as much as $400 annually.

9 Tips to Save on Your Heating Bills This Winter

As the leaves begin to turn and cold evenings drift in, heating costs may have entered your mind. Fall is the perfect time to make improvements to save on heating bills this winter. Some of these might be larger projects, while others you can do in a few hours. Go through these tips to save on your heating bill this winter, and see which ones make sense for you.

1. Get an Energy Audit 

If your home heating bills are high, it can be difficult to know where to start. Many local utilities as well as private businesses offer energy audit services to give you a better idea of what improvements offer the best return on investment. Consumers Energy, for example, offers a home energy analysis program to give you an expert opinion on where you can reduce all energy costs, not just your heating bill.

2. Rebates from Energy Upgrades

If you’re considering taking on bigger projects to save on your heating bills this winter, rebates can help reduce the upfront costs. Many utilities offer rebate search services, such as these home energy rebates from Lansing’s Board of Water and Light. This way, you’ll benefit from lower heating bills in the winter while also reducing the costs of energy improvements themselves.

3. Insulate the Attic

When it comes to reducing heating bills in the winter, many people go straight for windows and doors. While this is an area of heat loss, it’s usually not the primary area of heat loss. Since heat rises and since your roof and attic have much more surface area than your windows and doors, most heat loss occurs through your attic and roof.

We all know that heat rises, which is why higher spaces in your home are generally warmer. As you might expect, the warm air doesn’t just park in your attic, though. The process of convection causes it to rise, and then radiation and conduction causes it to escape through the roof, windows, and walls. While it’s impossible to completely stop this from happening, insulating your attic can help to reduce the effect. You might be able to do this yourself, or you might want to hire a contractor.

4. Upgrade Windows 

While attics are responsible for a majority of heat loss, windows are also a culprit, especially in older homes. If your windows are single pane, they’ll lose heat through radiation faster. Double-pane windows, as the name implies, use two panes of glass, with an insulating layer in between. Upgrading to double-pane windows is a significant investment, but it will significantly save on heating bills, and help to lower cooling costs in the summer.

If you have double-pane windows, but you still feel drafts, consider adding weather stripping. If you’re not sure exactly where the draft around your window is coming from, there are two easy tests you can try. First, close the window on a dollar bill or a piece of paper. If the paper is stuck, your seal is tight. If you can move it easily out, your seal is worn-out. If you suspect the glazing around the window is worn-out, use a smoke test. Light an incense stick, hold it near the window, and see how the smoke moves to track a draft.

5. Seal Windows 

If you’re not ready for a full-scale window overhaul, you can add an extra layer of sealing yourself. Clear plastic insulation is made to go over your windows in the winter, and you can install many types of this yourself. Some types stick on, other types require heat, such as a hair dryer, to fit tightly to the window. Make sure those unexpected fall heat waves are over before you start this project, since you won’t be able to open the windows again until you take the plastic off in the spring.

6. Turn Down Thermostat

This is a pretty obvious way to save on heating bills, but it’s easy to underestimate the difference it can make. The Department of Energy estimates a 1% heating bill savings for every 1 degree you lower your thermostat in the winter. This doesn’t mean that you need to wear two pairs of socks all winter long, though. Lowering your thermostat 5 or 10 degrees during the eight or ten hours when no one is home can add up to significant savings. You might also lower your thermostat while you sleep. With about 16 to 18 hours of significantly lowered heating costs, you can feel better about keeping your house warmer while you’re there.

If you’re tired of coming home to or waking up in a cold house, consider installing a programmable thermostat. Many models now allow you to set timers, so you can start warming up the house an hour before you get home or wake up.

7. Update or Tune Up Furnace

You can save on heating bills by reducing the heat escaping from your home, or by improving the efficiency of the heat source itself. If your furnace hasn’t been updated in over ten years, consider making a replacement. Scheduling a tune-up in fall can also help your furnace stay at full efficiency. This might also reveal any problems that could cause a shut-down in the winter. Finally, replace your air filter. A dirty air filter will make your furnace work harder than it needs to.

8. Reverse Ceiling Fans 

In the summertime, ceiling fans should spin counter-clockwise at a high speed. In the wintertime, switch this; run fans clockwise at a low speed. You can usually reverse the fan’s direction using a small switch on the side. Blowing air around to stay warm may seem counter-intuitive, but this interrupts the process of convection. As warm air rises, the slow, clockwise ceiling fan essentially pushes it back down around the edges, and pulls cold air up, without creating a strong current. In summertime, a fast, counter-clockwise fan keeps cold air down by creating a strong downdraft at the center.

9. Insulate Ducts

Heating ducts move warm air throughout your home, but they won’t do this efficiently if they’re not well insulated. Add insulation around ducts and seal any leaks on or around the ducts themselves. This will help warm air move along its intended path with minimal heat loss.

With some tips to save on heating bills this winter, hopefully the cold season doesn’t seem quite so intimidating. Plan out home improvements you can tackle this fall and you’ll be ready for a snug and cozy winter.

Five Ways to Discourage Burglars

camera.largeThere’s more you can do to discourage burglars than an alarm system when you’re away. Burglars look for easy targets, where they can get in and out quickly. They pick a house and watch it to learn your comings and goings and for signs that you’re gone. So what can you do? Make it harder for burglars.

Smart Phone Security. Make cameras visible and install them in more places than the front door. You can access your security cameras anytime, anywhere and get alerts when visitors are detected. You can store video clips and recorded audio to the cloud.

Neighbors. Meet your neighbors and exchange numbers. Watch their homes when they’re gone and ask them to watch yours for any suspicious activity. Have your neighbor pick up mail, flyers on your door or packages left on your doorstep.

Trash. Burglars look through trash for valuable personal records and through empty boxes to learn about purchases, such as pricey new electronics. Make sure to shred important documents you wouldn’t want them to get ahold of.

Lighting. Motion detector lighting is startling and may discourage a burglar from entering your home. It’s worth it to keep your home well-lit with landscape lighting that illuminates windows, doors and walkways. Use on-off light timers, T.V. flicker simulators and large dog bark recordings to simulate that someone’s at home.

Vehicles. Many burglars break into cars to get addresses and other information. Keep your car and glovebox locked. Don’t leave your garage opener visible. Instead, pair your opener with your smartphone so only you can access your home.

Can Someone Steal Your Home Through Title/Deed Fraud?

With the information available in public records, cunning thieves may be able to forge documents that will give them access to the deed and title to your home.  This fraudulent ownership may allow them access to the equity in your home and possibly sell the home to someone else. While this seems highly unlikely, it is not impossible, and there are ways for homeowners to protect themselves.

Do you need to spend money on a service?

Fraudulent-Quitclaim-Deeds (1)These ads claim that anyone with forged signatures and fake IDs can file paperwork with the county’s register of deeds to transfer ownership of your property to themselves or a third party.  They then use your home as collateral against a large loan to steal your equity.  When you fail to make payments on the loan, the lender can place a lien on your home preventing you from selling, refinancing, or passing the home on to heirs.  As the ads state “Don’t lose your home or life savings.”

Home Title Lock is one of the services that says it will monitor your home’s deed 24/7 to prevent title fraud; it costs $15 a month ($150 annually).  But you can protect yourself for free.  Many Michigan counties now provide a consumer notification service.  You simply register and you will quickly receive an e-mail or text any time a document is recorded on your property.

Ingham County has a free deed fraud alert system in place.
Property Fraud Alert

Eaton County has a program called Fraud Sleuth.
Eaton County Fraud Sleuth

Clinton County uses Fraud Guard.
Fraud Guard

You don’t need to pay a company to protect you from criminals who put their names on your home title. You can protect your home for FREE.

Surprising Features Homebuyers Want in 2022

Picture1Virtual interior designer/home stager Stuccco.com has compiled a wish list from numerous online sources that experts say homebuyers want in 2022. Many popular features aren’t what home sellers may think. Before you upgrade your home to sell, consider these top five homebuyer preferences:

  • Laundry rooms
  • Exterior lighting
  • Ceiling fans
  • Patios or decks
  • Walk-in pantries

Laundry rooms. Homebuyers don’t want to go down to the basement to do laundry, so make room somewhere on the first floor. Including a built-in table for sorting is a good idea. Realistically, many Lansing area homes have a basement laundry.  Paint the surrounding wall a light color and make certain the area is well-lit.

Well-lit outdoor living spaces. Homebuyers want exterior lighting (87%), patio (82%) and a front porch (81%), a rear porch (75%) or a deck (75%). Landscape lighting adds a luxurious glow to outdoor spaces as well as an extra element of security.

Ceiling fans. With the sudden rise in energy prices, it’s not surprising that homebuyers want lighting fixtures to do double duty as an air conditioning aid, especially when cooling or heating a larger home.

Walk-in pantries. Homebuyers want to be able to stockpile food and paper goods. They want to open the door to the pantry and see at a glance what’s on hand.  Not everyone has a large enough kitchen to support a pantry.  Consider reorganizing a nearby closet that currently houses miscellaneous items.

Homebuyers also prefer two-sided kitchen sinks over farmhouse sinks (81%.) They want a full bath in the living area (80%) and kitchens open to the dining room for less formal dining (85%.)

Homebuyer preferences are changing home design. The National Association of Home Builders reports that new home buyers want bigger homes which now average 2,524 square feet.