Safety is a hot topic around Halloween with tips like checking your child’s candy for signs of tampering and adding a glow stick to their costume to make sure they can be seen. 

Unfortunately, trick-or-treaters aren’t the only ones out and about on Halloween night. Criminals too take advantage of the opportunity to freely roam neighborhood streets looking for their own treats – easy targets. 

Property crime rates spike by an average of 24 percent each Halloween, according to a study by Travelers Insurance. The majority of insurance claims were for theft, with 60 percent occurring at the home and 21 percent offsite, the remaining 19 percent of claims are for vandalism. 

Keep your home safe from vandalism and theft this Halloween. Taking just a few precautions will make your home less appealing to criminals looking for an easy score. 

Keep the lights on

Take advantage of human nature to protect your home. People are far less likely to commit a crime if they can easily be seen doing so. Keep the exterior of your home well lit to eliminate the opportunity for anyone to sneak around. 

Pay special attention to lighting around the front and back doors, and any other access points or areas people shouldn’t be lurking. Motion-sensitive lights are great for these spots if you don’t want to keep lights on all night.

Install a Security System 

The mere presence of a security system can be enough to deter a criminal from choosing your home. Most burglars take alarms and outdoor cameras into account when choosing a potential target. According to a survey of hundreds of inmates convicted of burglary, 83 percent said they would try to determine if an alarm was present before attempting a burglary. 

If it’s not seen beforehand, a security system can stop a crime in progress if your house is broken into. Half of offenders surveyed said they would discontinue the attempt if they discovered an alarm while attempting a burglary. 

Use smart cameras to detect lurkers

The latest in smart home technology takes security to the next level. New outdoor cameras use AI to determine and deter threats. These smart cameras can differentiate between people and animals, only alerting you when an actual threat is detected. 

If someone is snooping around your home, the AI will recognize them as a lurker. If they are in camera view for too long, the camera will beep alerting the criminal they are being watched. Two-way voice also lets you communicate with the individual to ask what they want or scare them away. 

Advanced night-vision technology means your security cameras have a clear picture and your home is protected all night long., even on Halloween. 

Speak with a security expert to learn more about protecting your home with the latest smart home technology.

Fall is the favorite season of many Americans. In addition to the treats and traditions we look forward to each year, autumn offers the perfect temperatures to spend time outdoors. Time you can spend investing in and improving your home. 

The weather is generally mild in the fall. It can be cloudy, but there isn’t usually a lot of rain. Temperatures cool down and stay more consistent without fluctuating heavily from day to night.  the perfect weather to tackle these home improvement projects. 

We know there’s a lot on your plate right after a move. While some things like giving your garage a face-lift can wait, others like updating your address with key companies and agencies needs to be done quickly.

Memorize your new address by changing it with these government agencies and service providers.  

The Postal Service

The first place you’ll want to change your address is with the USPS®. You can do this in person at any post office or via the Official USPS Change-of-Address web page. There is a $1.05 fee, but the good news is it’s the only update that will cost you. 

IRS

It’s no surprise the IRS wants to keep up with your current address. Download and print Form 8822 from the IRS website. Page 2 of the form includes a “Where To File” section with the IRS address to send the completed form based on the state of your previous address. 

Department of Motor Vehicles

Updating your driver’s license and vehicle registration are legally required after your move. Timeframes and fees vary by state, so be sure to look up the rules where you live. In most states you can skip the trip to the DMV and update your address online.

Social Security Administration

If you receive Social Security or Medicare benefits, log in to your Social Security account to update your address online. 

Voter Registration

Be sure you can cast your vote at your new polling location come election time. Each state makes its own voting rules, including how to update your voter registration. Visit the Election Assistance Commission site to find voter registration information by state. 

Financial Services

You want to update your address everywhere you manage money like banks, investment services, credit card companies and loan issuers. Don’t forget to update payment services like Venmo and PayPal.

Insurance Providers

Update your billing address with health, dental, and life insurance providers to keep your coverage up-to-date. Don’t forget to update the address for your car insurance too. 

Employer

You want to make sure your address is up to date with any company that pays you! Plus updating your contact information will keep you in HR’s good graces.

Medical and Professional Service Providers

Doctors, dentists, veterinarians and lawyers will need an updated billing address on file to avoid any payment issues. 

Online Retailers and Subscription Boxes

You don’t want to miss a package or a recurring payment. Update your mailing and billing address with online retailers and subscriptions.  

Streaming Services

Speaking of recurring payments, you’ll want to update your address with any streaming services you use like Netflix or Hulu. 

Apps

You’ll want to update your address on any app that stores a default home address including map, ride sharing and food/grocery delivery apps to make sure you and your dinner arrive at the right place. 

Create Your Own Checklist

Everyone is a little different, so this is not a comprehensive list. Personalize your change-of-address checklist list by adding other service providers, organizations and agencies that contact you via email or need an accurate billing address on file.

Why Air Filter Subscriptions Are a Must for Homeowners!

When was the last time you changed your home’s air filters? If you have to think about it, it’s probably been too long. Regularly replacing your home’s air filters is a crucial step to maintaining personal health as well as the health of your home’s HVAC system. Let’s be honest. It’s hard to remember to do something you only need to do a few times a year. That’s why subscribing to an air filter subscription service, like Second Nature, is a must for homeowners. Let’s dive into some of the benefits of having filters sent right to your door when it’s time for a change by subscribing to an air filter subscription service that gives you access to the best air filter for home use.  

First, Let’s Start With Why

Replacing your air filters is crucial to ensuring a healthy home. Cooking, cleaning, and even just moving around your home or interacting with your pets can release tiny pollutant particles into the air. By replacing your filters on time, you’re maximizing the air quality within your home. 

You may think that because you keep your home nice and clean, your air quality must be clean as well. Unfortunately that’s not the case. Your home’s HVAC system and air filters will collect pollutants like skin cells, pet dander, and even hazardous particles from household cleaning products, hair products, and nail polish. They build up faster than you think and replacing your air filter is a great way to ensure your family is breathing clean air. 

Save Time

Like any other subscription service out there, Second Nature filters will save you time and money. How? Let us paint you a picture. It’s Sunday afternoon, and you’ve decided that after 12 months, it’s time to change your air filters. You get in your car, head over to your local hardware store, and walk to the air filter aisle only to have no idea what sizes you need. Now you have to go back to your car, drive home, measure your filters, then drive back to the hardware store and back home. Before you know it, you’ve spent three hours on a task that really shouldn’t take more than a few minutes! With Second Nature, you get the best air filter for home use delivered automatically when it’s time to replace them, and you only have to  the size you need once!

Save Money

Over time air filters build up dust and become clogged. When your filters become clogged, your HVAC system is at serious risk of damage from overheating. Over time, your HVAC system can become clogged from a combination of moisture and dust that air filters can prevent. To avoid costly repairs to your heating and cooling system, replace your air filters on time. 

How Often?

Changing your air filters will depend on various factors like the number of pets you have, activity level, and more. You can choose to get your second nature filters shipped on a custom schedule to make sure you’re breathing the best air. We recommend changing your filters every three months or every two months if you have a pet. If you have more than one furry pet, replace your air filters every 30 days. With timed delivery, new filters show up at your door right when it’s time to change them. Keeping your home’s air quality healthy and your HVAC system running optimally.

Options

One of the great things about choosing Second Nature filters is their wide variety of inventory. Second Nature has a filter for every size and shape, making them one of the best air filter subscription services available. What’s even better is their pricing options. They categorize their filters by how much they can trap.Let’s take a look.

• “Catch Some” 
  • Second Nature’s “Catch Some” air filters are great for those wanting to catch some of the bigger annoyances like dust and pollen. 
• “Catch More”
  • The “Catch more” Filters take filtration to another level by catching pet dander, dust, and mold.
• “Catch All’
  • The “Catch All Filter” is ideal for those wanting to catch all of the particles they can, including cooking oil and cigarette smoke. And you guessed it! The “Catch-All” filter will keep your air the cleanest!

The options don’t stop there. You can protect your drinking water supply with Second Nature’s fridge filters. They have two different filter options that focus on taste, odor, and contaminants. There is an overwhelming amount of fridge filter options. Second Nature’s filter buying guide makes it a simple process. Now that you know how to keep your HVAC system running smoothly, check out other ways you can optimize your home here! 

New Home Checklist 

Buying a new home is an exciting and frustrating process. It’s easy to get lost in the joy of closing that new home deal. We’ve compiled a list that will help you identify what to know and prepare for with your new home, allowing you to enjoy that new home high without forgetting to prepare yourself for any mishaps down the road. Let’s dive in! 

Locate circuit breakers 

Circuit breakers play a more important role than people realize. How do circuit breakers work? To put it simply, they cut power to your appliances when there’s too much current flowing through them. Without circuit breakers, homes across the country would experience regular electrical issues. We’re talking about fire-level electrical issues. So, yeah, they’re important. In the case that your circuit breaker has to step in and save your home, you’ll need to know where they are located to bring power back to your appliances. After you locate your circuit breaker, or breakers if your home has more than one, we suggest writing down the location or creating a map that clearly labels where you can find them. After you’ve done that, consider using a magnet and placing it on your fridge. Pro tip: make sure the areas in front of and below your circuit breaker are free of clutter and easily accessible. It’s also a good idea to label your circuit breaker. If your breaker box doesn’t have a space for labels, you can use duct tape and a sharpie to mark which switch connects to which room.

Know where your GFCI outlets are and how they work

Think of CFCI outlets as mini circuit breakers. Osha describes a GFCI, or ground-fault circuit interrupter, as “a fast-acting circuit breaker designed to shut off electric power within as little as 1/40 of a second. It works by comparing the amount of current going to and returning from equipment along the circuit conductors. When the amount going differs from the amount returning by approximately five milliamperes, the GFCI interrupts the current.” So when you’re drying your hair and you draw a little too much electricity, your GFCI outlet steps in and saves the day before any damage is done. Here are some places you’re likely to find GFCI outlets:

• The exterior of your home
• Bathrooms
• Garage
• Kitchen

Over the years, new regulations have required more and more GFCI electrical outlets within new homes. So don’t be alarmed if your new home has more or less than your previous home. GFCI outlets are a simple install for most electricians if you’re interested in adding them to your home. If you want to ensure your home is safe, try to use your GFCI outlets over your non GFCI outlets.

Locate gas and water valves

Locating your water and gas shut-off valves is another critical step to take after closing on your new home. In fact, every member of your household should know where these shut-off valves are. In the event of a busted gas or water pipe, every second wasted locating the shut-off valves could mean thousands of dollars more in damage. Consider creating a map similar to the one you make for your circuit breaker. Store them in the same spot to ensure no extra time is wasted in the event of an emergency. 

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors 

It’s always a good idea to replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your new home. After that, make sure you replace the smoke detector batteries yearly and the carbon monoxide detector batteries every 6 months, as suggested by FEMA. We recommend setting aside a stash of batteries to be used only for these devices.

Identify your storm shelter and plan

Everywhere in the United States experiences some form of bad weather. Make sure you have identified a shelter in the case of high winds or a tornado. Try to keep the area clutter-free and easily accessible. Here are some items you can store in your shelter location for safety:

• Food
• Water
• Radio
• Flashlights
• Dry clothes
• Pet food & leashes

You likely never need to use these items, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Be sure to research the climate in your new area and tailor your shelter and supplies storage to cover any form of bad weather or natural disasters that you could realistically expect.

Create a seasonal home maintenance checklist 

Creating a home maintenance checklist is crucial! Regular maintenance will keep your home in good shape and help maintain value. Don’t slouch on completing seasonal maintenance like cleaning the gutters, landscaping, and pool maintenance. Also, don’t forget to winterize your home when the time comes. Covering up faucets and sealing window and door cracks are just two ways you can prepare your home for the cold weather. Take care of your home, and your home will take care of you!

Make a list of home improvement projects

After you’ve tackled everything on this checklist, you’re ready for a new project! Take a walk around your home and make a list of home improvement projects you want to do like replacing countertops or flooring. Prioritize them by need and doability to figure out which projects you need to budget for first. 

More Moving Help

Now that you know what to look out for, it’s time to download your checklist, which you can find here! If you found this blog to be helpful, check out our garage transformation blog here!

The typical home garage is designed with one key purpose in mind: To protect vehicles. While most garages provide adequate protection for vehicles, they offer little in the way of comfort, utility, or an inviting appearance. Many have a dull concrete floor, poor lighting, and bare walls. They rarely feature any type of built-in storage and are often unbearably hot or freezing cold depending on the weather.

The good news is that you can easily transform your cold, drab garage into a neat, attractive space to store your possessions. Best of all, you can turn your garage into one of the brightest and most organized areas of your home while spending little in the way of time or money. Below are nine ways to transform your garage in your new home.

1) Apply Epoxy Flooring

Epoxy can be a difference-maker for your garage floor. In addition to enhancing the appearance of a drab concrete floor, the protective properties of epoxy can add years to the life of your garage floors. Here are just a few of the many benefits of installing epoxy flooring in your garage:

• Cost-effective: You can make it an inexpensive DIY project with a kit from amazon or find a contractor to do it for you.  
• A strong, protective finish: Epoxy’s strength and durability enable it to protect your floors while being highly resistant to staining. 
• Choose from a variety of colors: From earth tones to bold, vivid colors, you can choose from a host of different colors for your garage.
• Minimize flaws and defects: Epoxy coatings have a smooth finish that hides flaws and imperfections that often exist in older garage floors.
• An eco-friendly choice: Epoxy coatings require little in the way of raw materials and last for years, thereby preserving resources.

2) Install Garage Shelving

The path to a neat, organized garage begins with organized storage space. Installing shelving in your garage is one of the best ways to maximize space and minimize clutter in your garage. Garage shelving also enables you to make use of space on higher sections of your garage walls. Advantages of garage shelving include the following:

• Protection: Storing your belongings on shelves keeps them off the floor where they are more vulnerable to moisture and pests.
• A wide selection of materials: You can choose from prefabricated shelving, metal racks, wooden shelves, plastic shelving, and other options.
• Many shapes, sizes, and colors: Depending on your storage needs and garage space, you can select shelves that are small, large, narrow, or wide.
• Aesthetically pleasing: Shelves help keep your garage free of clutter and presentable to visitors. 

3) Stock Up on Storage Boxes

Once you have your shelves in place, you can begin filling them with your possessions. Storage boxes can be easily stored on garage shelves and can help you maximize space by enabling you to stack them. Here are a few tips to help you keep your boxes organized:

• Stack according to need and accessibility: Place boxes containing rarely used items on the highest shelves or on the bottom of a large stack.
• Label each box: You can avoid a lot of searching and frustration by labeling the contents of each box. Remember to leave the label facing out.
• Consider plastic storage bins: If your new home is in a humid area or prone to pest infestations, you may wish to switch over to plastic bins.

4) Mount Garage Hooks

Garage hooks provide a convenient way to organize a variety of items. They are available at most department stores and hardware stores, and are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors to accommodate your tools and garage space. Prices start at just a few dollars for smaller hooks and the majority of models can be installed in a matter of minutes. 

5) Store All Your Tools in a Tool Chest

Few things are more frustrating than needing a hammer or screwdriver and being unable to find it. Homeowners are not always the best about keeping their tools organized and properly stored. They may use kitchen drawers, mudroom cubbies, or laundry room shelves as storage spaces, which can make tools difficult to track down when they are needed in the future. A tool chest eliminates these pitfalls while offering the following benefits:

• A central solution: A tool chest provides a single location for all your tools so you know exactly where to go to find them.
• Protection: Many of today’s tool chests have a locking mechanism to help keep high ticket tools safe and secure.
• Organization: Tool chests often feature small bins and drawers for key accessories and components such as drill bits and nails.

6) Invest in an Air Compressor

Driving a vehicle with tires that aren’t properly inflated is dangerous and can affect your vehicle’s performance. But it’s not uncommon for drivers to head out the door anyway and pay to put air in their tires at the nearest gas station. Once you invest in an air compressor, you don’t have to worry about taking this risk. Investing in an air compressor for your garage offers the following advantages:

• Utility: You can easily fill the tires on your vehicles, trailers, ATVs, motorcycles, and bikes to keep them ready for use on the road.
• Cost savings: You can avoid paying the fees that many gas and service stations charge to use their public air compressors.
• A small footprint: Advances in technology enable compressors to accomplish more with a smaller footprint, using little garage space.

7) Update Your Garage Lighting

Your gorgeous updated garage will look even better once you improve your outdated lighting. Many garages still have their original lighting sources, which often use incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. This type of lighting is inefficient and costly, as bulbs need to be replaced frequently. Incandescent bulbs also emit a lot of heat, which can make them difficult to work under. Switching to LED lighting offers long-term cost savings, as well as the following advantages:

• Improved energy efficiency
• Enhanced visibility
• Cooler lighting
• Adjustable

8) Boost Your Comfort with a Heater or Fan

Now that your garage is starting to look great from top to bottom, it’s time to make it feel great. This is especially important if you live in an area marked by extreme temperatures or seasonal fluctuations. Today’s best garage heaters are portable, low-maintenance, and affordable, with prices starting just over $100. You can expect to pay a bit more for systems that offer both heating and cooling properties, but you can conserve space in your garage by investing in an all-in-one unit.

9) Mount a Retractable Extension Cord

Retractable extension cords are an especially welcome addition for homeowners who would like to use their garage to complete woodworking projects or restore vehicles. You can find models that sell in the $100 range, though some models with optional features may cost more. Here are some benefits of retractable extension cords:

• Easy to mount: Most people can mount a retractable extension cord quickly and easily on their own. You can even find videos online.
• A hassle-free design: A retractable cord eliminates the hassle of gathering, coiling, and storing long cords each time you use them.
• Fast access to power: With a retractable extension cord, you can have access to power from any location in your garage.

Final Thoughts 

By introducing the changes above, you can make the most of your new home’s garage without breaking the bank. But don’t forget the importance of maintaining your garage. Set aside one or two days per year to walk through your garage and do the following:

• Declutter: Remove old boxes, broken tools, and unused items from your shelves to create space.
• Clean your floors: You can keep your epoxy floors looking like new by cleaning them with a solution of ammonia and warm water.
• Take inventory of your tools: Go through your tool chest at least once each year to make sure all of your tools are present and intact.

Keeping your garage neat, clean, and organized doesn’t have to be difficult or costly. By starting off on the right foot when you move into your new home, you can turn your garage into the best-kept space on your property.