Homeowners insurance is one of those things we only think about when the premiums come due. That is, until something happens to your home and you need to file a claim only to discover something you thought would be covered is not covered at all. In this episode, we debunk 7 common myths about homeowners insurance including whether flood damage and mold are covered, whether everything in your home is covered, and who is responsible to file a claim if your neighbors tree falls in your yard. We also discuss if this insurance is required by law, if bundling is always the best option and if your coverage should match your home value.

The cost of room and board at college and universities continues to climb. Add to that the complications that Covid have brought to group living on a college campus and you may be considering buying a condo or home for your college student a possible solution. We discuss the timing of making a purchase (you should be looking at year out from when you need the property), location as it relates to where the student will be spending time on campus versus purchase price and whether you will want to use a property management company to maintain things.

Whether it’s the result of a storm or burst pipe, when your basement floods you are left with a mess to clean up. Taking quick action can help minimize the amount of damage and prevent mold and mildew and we share 9 key things you need to do. Starting with making sure your basement is safe to enter by turning off any power to removing the water, drying things out and reviewing the exterior of your home to prevent future issues we share tips from experts to help you act quickly.

If you are buying a home and getting a mortgage, or refinancing an existing mortgage, you will need to have an appraisal completed. You know an appraisal is an important part of the home buying and selling process, but you may know exactly what is covered during an appraisal. We share what an appraiser is looking for when they come out to your home, how they determine the appraised value of a home, how long it take, who pays for it and what happens if the appraisal comes in low.

The home buying process is just that – a process! For some buyers it can feel like a long road to go down before you get success but knowing the steps involved and what to expect can make the process easier and more enjoyable. We share the 8 common steps that include finding the right agent and getting pre-approved to making and offer, negotiation and moving in.

There are a lot of moving parts during the home buying and selling process that could lead to a deal falling apart not the least of which are inspections, appraisals and even one party getting cold feet. The good news is that 96% of home sales make it to the closing table so that means the odds are in your favor that your deal will be just fine but it also indicates that 4% of deals have issues that have the parties walk away. We share not only the 6 main reasons why a home sale fails but tips to help you avoid them.

Summer storms knocking out power can be inconvenient, but what happens when the home you are buying or selling becomes damaged by storms? We discuss what sellers should do in the event their home is storm damaged while on the market and in a word it is: disclosure. Sellers want to be sure to disclose any damage that was done and what repairs and remediation was done to the home. We share the options available to buyers and that ranges from walking away from a deal to negotiating and working with the seller to see the deal through. We also talk about what causes flooding in homes and what a homeowner can do to help protect their home and the role local municipalities play in preventing flooding.

We share 5 easy and proven upgrades you can make to help improve the aesthetics of your home and increase its value. From soft, neutral paint on the walls to resurfacing kitchen cabinet to shaping up your outdoor space, we give you idea to help you quickly update key areas in your home. We also discuss how to review your home as a buyer would to help you stage it more effectively.

There are several things you should do when moving into your new home to help insure you have a safe and secure environment. We discuss the importance of changing or re-keying your doors and resetting passcodes for digital entry systems to your home as well as changing the batteries and checking that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working. We share why you should check your hot water heater and dryer vent as well as checking that your house numbers are easily visible to first responders, We also cover what to look at when it comes to landscaping and lighting and the easiest tip which is to introduce yourself to your neighbors.

Open houses have long been a method to market a home and keep sellers happy, but in today’s market and when done correctly, they can be an effective way to help buyers have a level playing field and sell a home quickly. We discuss what goes on to strategically market an open house home (it is more than directional signs and balloons), whether open houses on weekdays get results and what the future looks like for open houses.