Halloween Tips For A Safe Evening

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No matter your age, Halloween is a festive time of year. Decorating your home with spooky jack-o-lanterns and haunted displays add to the fun.

October 31st gives individuals many great excuses to dress up as their favorite characters, and eat as many sweet treats as they’d like, so you wouldn’t want your evening tainted by a Halloween mishap.

This is why it’s important for homeowners to take precautions on All Hallows’ Eve to ensure that their home, and all of their little trick-or-treaters, have a safe evening.

1) Before heading out of the house on your trick-or-treating adventures, make sure to go over a safety game plan with your kids. Inform them to stay in well-lit driveways and pay attention to street traffic.

2) Candles are Halloween staples as homeowners often use them to create a spooky glow on their homes by lining them along their walkways. This same effect can be achieved with LED lights. Candles pose a risk as lots of little feet will be walking around your home, and they can be knocked over and cause harm to your property or to an individual.

3) If you have a loose porch step or railing you’ve been meaning to fix, now is the perfect time. Your front door will be inhabited by tiny ballerinas and ghouls for the evening, so making sure all dangerous or hazardous conditions are repaired will be important to ensure safety.

4) Don’t forget your pets. Unfortunately, a fun spooky Halloween for you can be an actual terror for many pets. Create a safe environment for your pets as the constant doorbell ringing and stream of visitors can spook them right out of the front door. A confined space like a crate or small room they feel they can guard and protect may be more comfortable for your pet.

5) Halloween is also an optimal time to look over your home’s insurance coverage. As visitors come to and from your home, you are opening yourself up to potential lawsuits, so making sure you are sufficiently covered is important.

Now that you’ve taken the proper measures to safeguard your home from any catastrophes, you’re ready to enjoy a fun family filled evening!

Get Your Home Fall Ready!

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The leaves are changing and the weather’s getting chillier. That can only mean one thing; fall is here!

In order to get in the spirit of the season and prepare for cooler weather, we’ve compiled a list of fall prep must dos. Check off each of our home ready tips, and you’ll be sipping a pumpkin spice latte snuggled by your fire place in no time!

1. Get Cozy

Blankets make life more comfy. Pull out your down comforters and fluffy blankets and get your bed ready to go for the cold nights ahead.

2. Clean Things Up

Who says deep cleaning your home is an activity just for spring. Fall cleaning can help get your house prepped and decluttered for cooler weather. Make sure there’s no clutter stored near heaters, furnaces or other heating appliances.

3. Let There be Fire

You may want to hire a chimney sweep to get your fireplace in tip top shape for the cold weather season. Unfortunately, fires are more likely during the fall and winter. Keep your home and family safe by taking necessary safety precautions with your chimney and fireplace.

4. Fill in the Gaps

Make sure all gaps around windows and doors are sealed up. Weather-stripping and caulk can help, so that your home stays insulated and warm during the cold months ahead; don’t make your furnace work harder than it has to.

5. Perform an Appliance Checkup

As temperature drop, it’s important to be able to keep your home warm and comfortable. Check your boiler or furnace and replace filters. Also, test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide devices. Safety is key!

Are Mortgage Rates on the Rise

Are Mortgage Rates On The Rise?

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Mortgage rates change daily, but by historical standards, rates are still looking pretty good. However, according to the Federal Reserve’s September minutes, rates are expected to increase, and some experts believe a rate hike is on the horizon.

According to data from Bankrate, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose minimally to 4.07% from 4.06%; this time last year it was 3.62%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 3.33% from 3.32%, and the adjustable-rate mortgage declined to 3.54% from 3.55%.

If you’re in the market for a new home or a refi, now may be an optimal time to act. Although rates have increased slightly, they are still alluring. Head over to amerisave.com and take advantage of our great rates today!

Don’t Forget Curb Appeal

Don’t Forget Curb Appeal

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When updating and putting work into their house, homeowners spend a great deal of time and money on the inside. However, while a home with a beautiful interior is important, don’t forget about its exterior. Just like when meeting new people, first impressions matter. Spending time improving your home’s curb appeal can increase your home’s value just like a kitchen update would. In fact, the National Association of Realtors report that a $330 lawn investment could increase the value of your home by $1000.

Check out our tips on boosting your curb appeal and put even more value into your home!

Tip #1 Pressure wash

Over time, your home collects dirt that can make it look old and uninviting. A good deck and sidewalk pressure wash can get it back to looking as good as new.

Tip #2 Update and accessorize

There are many front porch accessories that can make your home look inviting and new. Standard home address numbers, light fixtures and mailboxes could make your home look outdated, and now may be the time for an overhaul.

Tip #3 The front door

Want to give your home a pop of color? How about painting the front door as an inexpensive fix, or if you  have room in your budget, replace the old door with something a little more modern. Don’t forget to clean and polish the door knob. Beauty is in the details!

Tip# 4 Plant flowers

Nothing makes a home feel more homey than a beautiful garden. Plant flowers, plants and trees and increase your home’s beauty as well as its energy efficiency!

 Tip #5 Get rid of the garbage

Trashcans are important, but they are an eyesore. Hide them around the back of the home instead of parking them out front or install a fence to camouflage them.