Beating the Heat

Temperatures are rising and so are those monthly utility bills. While living in the South pretty much makes air conditioning a necessity - there are ways to supplement your a/c with less expensive or free cooling options.  Here are a few to try:

1.  Cover up your windows with blinds or drapes to keep the sun and warmth out.

2.  Close doors to rooms that aren't used often to keep the A/C where it is most needed.

3.  Use ceiling fans or box fans to supplement the cool air flow.

4.  When cooking - always use the exhaust fan to get hot air out of the room quicker. Try grilling for less indoor heat!

5.  Switch sheets and blankets to cotton - a cooler material that will make sleeping easier.

There are many more drastic ways to keep cool. From putting your bedsheets in the freezer to sleeping in a hammock.  While this may not be the way you want to go during the summer, there are ways to lessen the load on your air conditioning
while staying cool and comfortable at home.

What are some of your favorite ways to stay cool?

Mother's Day Craft Ideas

Get right to Mom's heart this Mother's Day with these cute and thoughtful crafts.  Having the kids involved will make the day even more special.

1. Paint an old mason jar to use as a vase. Have the kids add their own special touches with paint, stickers or glitter.  Then fill with a beautiful display of flowers.

2.  Use family photos to create a Mother's Day scrapbook. Have the little ones sign their name or if they are older, write a sweet message to Mom.

3.  Bake Mom's favorite dessert! It can be something simple like pudding with cool whip and sprinkles. Just make sure there's no clean up!

4. Go on a nature walk and put together a treasure box of all your favorite finds! Rocks, leaves or sticks transform when a child tells Mom about them.

5. Have each child make a coupon for a free hug, kiss, or for making the bed. Something age appropriate and fun that Mom can cash in weeks later.

No matter how you choose to celebrate the Mom's in your life - make sure the gesture is heart felt and genuine. There's no better gift!

Tips for Fixing Your Credit

A strong credit score is a vital part of achieving financing on your new home.  The better your credit score, the better your interest rate and loan terms.  So what does this mean if you're credit score is less than perfect?

Don't let your credit score hold you back from buying the home of your dreams. There are things you can do to improve your credit score starting today!

1. Pull a copy of your credit report and look for errors. There can be errors on your report that can change the way your credit score is calculated.  Look for incorrect late payments or incorrect debt amounts owed.

2.  Continue to pay your bills on time. Set up reminders if you need to. Don't miss a payment or send in payments late.

3.  Begin to pay down debts whenever possible. Start with debts that have the highest interest rates first.

4.  Don't open too many new accounts or close inactive accounts.  Show stability in how your credit is maintained.

5. Keep your credit card balances low and pay them off each month as possible. Don't use too many credit cards. Just increase the credit rate on the current cards you used.

Improving your credit score will take time. It's not an instant fix but if you take the steps above you'll show banks that you are less of a risk and more likely to pay back your mortgage on time and in full.

Playground Safety Tips

Warmer weather and longer days mean summer is right around the corner. As schools let out playgrounds become a great source of exercise, fun, and meet-ups with friends.  To really enjoy playgrounds keep these safety tips in mind.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 200,000 children ages 14 and under are treated in emergency rooms for playground related injuries. 20,000 of those are traumatic brain injuries.  The most common cause of injury is falling - about 80% of all injuries are related to falls from slides, swings, climbing walls or monkey bars.

Before taking your children to a playground look for the following safety features:

- The ground cover under playground equipment should be one of the following recommended materials: wood chips, mulch, sand, shredded tire, rubber mats or pea gravel.

- Look for potential tripping hazards such as tree roots or stumps.

- Inspect equipment for possible sharp objects such as bolts or hooks.

What can you do at the playground to make it a safe experience for your child?

- Dress your children appropriately - tennis shoes or closed toe shoes, no helmets, drawstrings or necklaces.

- Actively supervise your child and keep them in your line of sight.

- Look at the recommended age range of play equipment and keep younger children on age appropriate equipment.

- Keep children who are not swinging away from the swings to avoid getting hit.

- Apply sunscreen and keep fluids available.

Playgrounds are a great way to enjoy being outdoors - make sure they are done right so you and your family can have a wonderful and safe experience.

Research Before You Buy

Shopping for a new home is a big decision. It involves many different emotions and factors - where to buy, what to buy, how much to spend? Once you find the home you're looking for you don't want to have any regrets once the closing papers are signed. This blog can help you learn from some of the top home buyer regrets so you can avoid them and enjoy the home buying experience before and after you move in!

According to NerdWallet, who conducted a survey on home buyer regrets found that one of the main issues for home buyers is not doing enough research before the purchase. This includes researching the home, the builder and the financing process.

One of the main areas of stress and confusion was repeatedly the process of obtaining a mortgage. Buyers in the survey said the were unaware of all their options, unclear about the process and upset about hidden fees.  You can better prepare yourself by meeting with a finance specialist with a list of prepared questions.  Research loan options and use online calculators to determine your desired monthly payment and down payment.

In a similar study conducted by the real estate website Trulia, home buyers regretted not buying a larger home. The focus on getting the exact location sometimes outweighed other home options or even the ability to afford a larger home in a different neighborhood.  Looking at other locations can provide opportunities for more bedrooms and bathrooms.

Another popular regret was not putting enough money down for a down payment. While this may help you get into a home quicker it may result in larger monthly payments or even the need to pay mortgage insurance.  A larger down payment can help you feel financially secure later on as you're living in your home and paying the monthly costs.

Doing your research can help you avoid these common home buyer regrets and fully enjoy your new home!

April is New Homes Month!

In the home building industry, April is New Homes month! It's a time to educate consumers on the benefits of owning a new home. So what are the benefits? Here's a quick breakdown of why buying NEW is best!

1. New homes are built to the latest standards in building codes which means newer homes are more energy efficient than older homes. Save on your monthly utilities!

2. New homes are built with today's buyer in mind - open floorplans, more outlets, phone charging stations and more!

3. New homes offer more safety features than older homes including smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and low or no VOC paints.

4.  New homes require less maintenance than older homes and come with a home warranty for your peace of mind.

5.  New homes offer the opportunity to personalize your home before you move in. Give your new home a touch of your unique style and flair!

Why would you be interested in buying a new home?

Storm Season Preparedness

In light of the recent bouts of severe weather it is important to establish a plan of preparedness before inclement weather arrives.  Spring is a volatile season and can bring heavy rains, strong wind and occasionally the threat of tornadoes. Peak tornado season in the south is March through May.
Here are a few ways you and your family can prepare for dangerous weather conditions.

- Understand the terminology. A tornado watch means that conditions are such as a tornado could appear. A warning means that a tornado has been sighted either on the ground or by radar. With a tornado warning take shelter immediately.

- Develop a communications plan.  Talk with your family about what to do during severe weather before it happens. Decide where to go when tornadoes are threatening and where to find emergency supplies.

- Have an emergency kit. Create a kit with items such as flashlights, bottled water, a NOAA battery powered radio, flares and first aid items.

- Choose a safe space in your home.  The best place to be during a tornado is in an interior room on the first floor with no windows. This may be a half bathroom or closet.

- Be aware of your surroundings.  Monitor the weather and take the threat of severe weather seriously.  Understand school closing policies and have emergency contacts available to help if needed.

Being prepared is an important step in being safe. Do what you can to protect your family from inclement weather conditions.  For more information and ideas visit the following websites:

https://www.ready.gov/tornadoes

http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/tornado

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html