HIgher Security, Lower Bills, Safer Home

These are some simple Home Owner Tips that we feel every Home Owner should think about and remember to ensure a great living experience and the highest home value possible.

• Use a thermostat with date and time settings to cut down on electricity use, especially when on an extended vacation, it is good to save money on electricity while you are not home. Also setting your air conditioning/ heating lower during sleeping hours can cut down on you electricity and natural gas bill
• Use the best qualified contractors available to ensure that every dollar you put into your home will come back to you as savings and/or increased home value
• Using energy saver appliances and windows can cut down on utility costs and also increase your home’s value
• If there are any dead trees near your home make sure to have a professional look at them to assess the risk to your home
• When leaving your home for an extended time, make sure to put a hold on newspapers and mail (or have a trusted neighbor get your mail for you) to avoid looking like no one is home. This is a simple tip to increase the security of your home while you are gone.
• Consider a home security and/or heating and a/c system with Smartphone or laptop connect ability, this allows you to check on your home while away for an extended period and will give you greater peace-of-mind while away.
• Smoke detectors are not the only preventative safety device that should be in your home; remember that carbon monoxide detectors are virtually the same price but can save lives.
• Also remember to check the batteries in all safety devices periodically and regularly.
• Remember to keep gutters clean and cleared out to avoid roof damage and overflow issues with heavy downpours
• Empty faucets and hoses during winter months to avoid burst pipes and broken hoses
• During winter months in Michigan it is easy to think that simply shoveling your driveway and walkways will keep your family safe from slips and falls, but when the snow melts in the afternoon sun and freezes at night black ice can and will form. Consider using a melting agent on your driveway and walkways to avoid any injuries to your family, friends, mail carriers, and any other visitor coming to your home.
• Remember to use surge protectors for major appliances without their own circuit, work areas with computers and office appliances, television and entertainment areas, and anywhere a surge is likely to happen. All it takes is a small surge of electricity for all the items plugged into a socket to be destroyed, and the bill can add up fast when a laptop, workout equipment, or television are ruined.