Dec 20, 2017 | Homeowners
Hopefully, this will never happen to you. But, there are circumstances – a fire, for example – when you and your family would need to exit through a window.
It pays to be prepared for that eventuality.
Your first step is to determine which windows are safe to use as an exit. There should be at least one on each level.
The windows you select will need to provide enough space for a person to climb through (at least a 20 inch opening). Make sure everyone knows which windows are “safe exit” windows, and how to open them. Keep in mind that windows may have screens, so ensure everyone knows how to remove those as well.
For a second floor window, consider purchasing a portable escape ladder. These are compact and easily stowed in a closet or under a bed. When you need it, it hangs off the sill and expands into a ladder all the way to the ground. It’s not designed for everyday use, but it will get you and your family out!
Rehearsal is a good idea. You want everyone to know how to get to the nearest “safe exit” window – especially in the dark.
Finally, keep your windows in a good state of repair. According to the National Fire Safety Association, windows should open easily for everyone, and should not have anything in front of them that will prevent or delay a quick exit.
Nov 23, 2017 | Homeowners
You don’t have to win the lottery to get wealthier. Anyone, on virtually any income, can simply adopt these habits:
1. Save a little from each paycheck. Tucking away just 5% of your income can build up your savings substantially over time.
2. Use coupons. 82% of consumer goods companies issue coupons, yet only 23% of shoppers use them. Coupons can cut a grocery bill by an average of 15%.
3. Avoid credit card debt. Interest rates on those are famously high and can cost you a lot of money each year.
4. Feast at home, not at restaurants. It’s fun to go out to a nice restaurant occasionally. Just don’t make it an expensive habit. Buy a gourmet packaged meal instead. Combine it with a bottle of wine and you have a feast!
5. Watch out for automatic renewals. It’s all too easy to forget to cancel a subscription to a magazine you no longer read — until, of course, you’re charged again!
These simple habits can help you become wealthier in 2018.
Nov 17, 2017 | Homeowners
Although homeowners are generally aware that there are real costs associated with their living space, they don’t always notice how much their clutter impacts their ability to use it. To make the most of your home’s potential, consider ways to create more storage room to keep items that are not in use out of the way.
For example, purge closets and drawers, one room at a time, and donate unused items to charity or sell them online or through a neighbourhood sale. Store out-of-season clothing items in sealable space-saving bags that collapse when attached to a vacuum hose. Consider items that would be considered mementos or keepsakes by others, and pass them along. Also, identify photos and documents that can be archived digitally and saved in the “cloud” or computer storage. Finally, consult with a home-renovation retailer or storage expert to examine in-closet system installations.
Oct 2, 2017 | Homeowners
According to a recent study, the average homeowner pays more attention to kitchen stove safety than they do BBQ safety. But, the fact is, a BBQ mishap can be just as devastating. So, it pays to know the latest safety tips.
- Keep BBQs at least 8 feet away from your house.
- Check for venture tube blockages regularly. (Spiders are notorious for spinning webs in there.)
- Clean the grill frequently to prevent flare ups. A grease fire on the grill can continue burning even after you’ve turned the BBQ off.
- Don’t position your BBQ close to foliage, such as under a tree or next to shrubs.
- Never BBQ in an enclosed area, such as a garage, even if the space is well ventilated.
- Avoid leaving the grill unattended, especially when cooking greasy foods such as sausages, beef burgers or steaks.
- Do not let children BBQ.
Finally, make sure your BBQ is turned completely off after use. It’s a good idea to double-check this when making the rounds and locking up your home for the night.
Experts say you should treat a BBQ as you would a camp fire — with care.
Jul 12, 2017 | Homeowners
If you enjoy frequent outdoor grilling, you may be relying on the use of a heavyduty brush to keep your cooking surface clean and free of residue accumulated from just-finished or previously prepared foods. Many of these brushes have fine bristles made of metal for a more thorough scrubbing. Users should be very cautious about using these. There have been a number of reports indicating that some bristles can break off and subsequently get picked up by fresh food placed on the grill, creating a very serious hazard if they become ingested by an unsuspecting dinner guest. For safety’s sake, consider replacing fine metal bristle-brushes with a heavy metal gauge brush with more easily detectable bristles, or a steel-wool scrubber or synthetic cleaning pad designed to remain intact during heavy scouring.
Jul 5, 2017 | Homeowners
To fully enjoy your summer vacation, take appropriate precautions to ensure that home security features are in place in advance of your departure. Consider the following suggestions:
A) Ensure that doors and windows cannot be easily compromised using basic burglary tools by installing secondary locks such as deadbolts and bars, as well as a reliable monitoring system that will alert your smartphone, a neighbour, or your local enforcement agency should a compromise occur.
B) Check that your lighting systems are intact, by verifying that your interior and exterior timers and motion detectors are fully operational, and ensuring older bulbs are replaced.
C) Trim bushes back to prevent concealing exterior access points, lock up or store ladders, and make sure mail and parcel deliveries are suspended (but don’t cancel your scheduled pool or landscape maintenance program).
D) Have a neighbour park a car in your driveway, and look in on your property including inside your garage on a regular basis.
