How do you protect your home from the bad guys?
Keep your home and family safe - home security is not that hard. Take these easy steps to protect your home from the bad guys!
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Wishing for Summer Breezes
Does Winter have you dreaming of a warmer climate? Maybe you wish Spring would hurry up and just get here already!! You're not alone!
Though it feels like we've all been stuck in a never-ending cycle of frigid temperatures, this Winter weather can't last forever. It is easy to get lost in the doldrums of staying indoors for so long. Good news is just around the corner. Warmer temps will be here soon!
Time to get that front porch ready for some good times this Spring and Summer!
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Protecting Home Sweet Home
Home is where the heart tends to wander this time of year. And while you are away visiting family and friends your home is where the bad guys want to go. In cities ( and country homes ) across the continent thieves are helping themselves to your Christmas gifts. Protect your home - take some easy security steps before you leave for GrandMa'a house.
Had snow? Shovel your steps and walk - or call the neighbor kid to do it for you. Leave a TV or radio on before you leave. Choose talk radio if you have a station like that in your area. Leave a few lights on timers to give the bad guys the idea that there are people inside. The burglars want easy pickings - so don't make their lives any easier. Put a Big dog bowl with the name - Jaws or Killer on the back porch.
One homeowner left a note to the plumber on their back door explaining that the snake was loose inside. And could they please come back later? Speaking of signs - get a little yard sign indicating you have Brinks or some other Security System. How about a sign urging all visitors to "Smile for the camera!" Motion detector lights are well worth the price. And most are easy enough to install.
Had snow? Shovel your steps and walk - or call the neighbor kid to do it for you. Leave a TV or radio on before you leave. Choose talk radio if you have a station like that in your area. Leave a few lights on timers to give the bad guys the idea that there are people inside. The burglars want easy pickings - so don't make their lives any easier. Put a Big dog bowl with the name - Jaws or Killer on the back porch.
One homeowner left a note to the plumber on their back door explaining that the snake was loose inside. And could they please come back later? Speaking of signs - get a little yard sign indicating you have Brinks or some other Security System. How about a sign urging all visitors to "Smile for the camera!" Motion detector lights are well worth the price. And most are easy enough to install.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Christmas Baking
The Holidays are the perfect time for cooking up some of your family's favorite comfort foods! The pleasing aroma coming from the kitchen warms many a home this season. Enjoy your time with family and friends! Share some love this Christmas - straight from your oven.
Check out these ideas for sharing some of your Christmas baking!
Check out these ideas for sharing some of your Christmas baking!
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Save Money Heating Your Home
Autumn is in the air - ringing in a beautiful blend of cooler temps and nature's colors. Autumn is a great time to start preparing your house for Winter.
Try these tips to save your money and feel more comfortable as colder weather approaches.
Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration. Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing
When you are home and awake, set your thermostat as low as is comfortable.
Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows. Seal the air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets
Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration. Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing
Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows. Seal the air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets
Monday, September 23, 2013
Let The Buyer Beware
The prospect of losing your home to foreclosure can be absolutely terrifying. The reality that scam artists are preying on the vulnerability of desperate homeowners is equally frightening.
Many so-called foreclosure rescue companies or foreclosure assistance firms claim they can help you save your home. Some are even brazen enough to offer a money-back guarantee. Unfortunately, once most of these foreclosure fraudsters take your money, they leave you much the worse for wear.
Fraudulent foreclosure “rescue” professionals use half truths and outright lies to sell services that promise relief and then fail to deliver. Their goal is to make a quick profit through fees or mortgage payments they collect from you, but do not pass on to the lender. Sometimes, they assume ownership of your property by deceiving you, the homeowner. Then, when it’s too late to save your home, they take the property or siphon off the equity. You’ve lost your home to foreclosure despite your best intentions.
Foreclosure rescue firms use a variety of tactics to find homeowners in distress: Some sift through public foreclosure notices in newspapers and on the Internet or through public files at local government offices, and then send personalized letters to homeowners. Others take a broader approach through ads on the Internet, on television, or in the newspaper, posters on telephone poles, median strips and at bus stops, or flyers or business cards at your front door.
The scam artists often use simple and straight-forward messages, like:
“Stop Foreclosure Now!”
“We guarantee to stop your foreclosure.”
“We have special relationships within many banks that can speed up case approvals.”
“We Can Save Your Home. Guaranteed. Free Consultation”
“We stop foreclosures everyday. Our team of professionals can stop yours this week!”
Once they have your attention, they use a variety of tactics to get your money:
The scam artist tells you that he can negotiate a deal with your lender to save your house if you pay a fee first. You may be told not to contact your lender, lawyer, or credit counselor, and to let the scam artist handle all the details. Once you pay the fee, the scam artist takes off with your money.
Sometimes, the scam artist insists that you make all mortgage payments directly to him while he negotiates with the lender. In this instance, the scammer may collect a few months of payments before disappearing. Bait-and-Switch
You think you’re signing documents for a new loan to make your existing mortgage current. This is a trick: you’ve signed documents that surrender the title of your house to the scam artist in exchange for a “rescue” loan.
The scam artist may promise to negotiate with your lender or to get refinancing on your behalf if you pay a fee up front. Instead of contacting your lender or refinancing your loan, though, the scam artist pockets the fee and files a bankruptcy case in your name – sometimes without your knowledge.
A bankruptcy filing often stops a home foreclosure, but only temporarily. What’s more, the bankruptcy process is complicated, expensive, and unforgiving. For example, if you fail to attend the first meeting with the creditors, the bankruptcy judge will dismiss the case and the foreclosure proceedings will continue.
If this happens, you could lose the money you paid to the scam artist as well as your home. Worse yet, a bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years, and can make it difficult to obtain credit, buy a home, get life insurance, or sometimes get a job.
Where to Find Legitimate Help:
If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage or you have gotten a foreclosure notice, contact your lender immediately. You may be able to negotiate a new repayment schedule. Remember that lenders generally don’t want to foreclose; it costs them money.
If you’re looking for foreclosure prevention help, avoid any business that:
* guarantees to stop the foreclosure process – no matter what your circumstances * instructs you not to contact your lender, lawyer, or credit or housing counselor * collects a fee before providing you with any services * accepts payment only by cashier’s check or wire transfer * encourages you to lease your home so you can buy it back over time * tells you to make your mortgage payments directly to it, rather than your lender * tells you to transfer your property deed or title to them * offers to buy your house for cash at a fixed price that is not set by the housing market at the time of sale * offers to fill out paperwork for you * pressures you to sign paperwork you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand.
If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage or you have gotten a foreclosure notice, contact your lender immediately.
Save your money - and your home. Avoid foreclosure scam artists
Many so-called foreclosure rescue companies or foreclosure assistance firms claim they can help you save your home. Some are even brazen enough to offer a money-back guarantee. Unfortunately, once most of these foreclosure fraudsters take your money, they leave you much the worse for wear.
Fraudulent foreclosure “rescue” professionals use half truths and outright lies to sell services that promise relief and then fail to deliver. Their goal is to make a quick profit through fees or mortgage payments they collect from you, but do not pass on to the lender. Sometimes, they assume ownership of your property by deceiving you, the homeowner. Then, when it’s too late to save your home, they take the property or siphon off the equity. You’ve lost your home to foreclosure despite your best intentions.
Foreclosure rescue firms use a variety of tactics to find homeowners in distress: Some sift through public foreclosure notices in newspapers and on the Internet or through public files at local government offices, and then send personalized letters to homeowners. Others take a broader approach through ads on the Internet, on television, or in the newspaper, posters on telephone poles, median strips and at bus stops, or flyers or business cards at your front door.
The scam artists often use simple and straight-forward messages, like:
“Stop Foreclosure Now!”
“We guarantee to stop your foreclosure.”
“We have special relationships within many banks that can speed up case approvals.”
“We Can Save Your Home. Guaranteed. Free Consultation”
“We stop foreclosures everyday. Our team of professionals can stop yours this week!”
Once they have your attention, they use a variety of tactics to get your money:
The scam artist tells you that he can negotiate a deal with your lender to save your house if you pay a fee first. You may be told not to contact your lender, lawyer, or credit counselor, and to let the scam artist handle all the details. Once you pay the fee, the scam artist takes off with your money.
Sometimes, the scam artist insists that you make all mortgage payments directly to him while he negotiates with the lender. In this instance, the scammer may collect a few months of payments before disappearing. Bait-and-Switch
You think you’re signing documents for a new loan to make your existing mortgage current. This is a trick: you’ve signed documents that surrender the title of your house to the scam artist in exchange for a “rescue” loan.
The scam artist may promise to negotiate with your lender or to get refinancing on your behalf if you pay a fee up front. Instead of contacting your lender or refinancing your loan, though, the scam artist pockets the fee and files a bankruptcy case in your name – sometimes without your knowledge.
A bankruptcy filing often stops a home foreclosure, but only temporarily. What’s more, the bankruptcy process is complicated, expensive, and unforgiving. For example, if you fail to attend the first meeting with the creditors, the bankruptcy judge will dismiss the case and the foreclosure proceedings will continue.
If this happens, you could lose the money you paid to the scam artist as well as your home. Worse yet, a bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years, and can make it difficult to obtain credit, buy a home, get life insurance, or sometimes get a job.
Where to Find Legitimate Help:
If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage or you have gotten a foreclosure notice, contact your lender immediately. You may be able to negotiate a new repayment schedule. Remember that lenders generally don’t want to foreclose; it costs them money.
If you’re looking for foreclosure prevention help, avoid any business that:
* guarantees to stop the foreclosure process – no matter what your circumstances * instructs you not to contact your lender, lawyer, or credit or housing counselor * collects a fee before providing you with any services * accepts payment only by cashier’s check or wire transfer * encourages you to lease your home so you can buy it back over time * tells you to make your mortgage payments directly to it, rather than your lender * tells you to transfer your property deed or title to them * offers to buy your house for cash at a fixed price that is not set by the housing market at the time of sale * offers to fill out paperwork for you * pressures you to sign paperwork you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand.
If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage or you have gotten a foreclosure notice, contact your lender immediately.
Save your money - and your home. Avoid foreclosure scam artists
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