Category: Life at Home

1. Choose Outdoor over Indoor Activities

The CDC recommends outdoor over indoor activities as a safer alternative to indoor activities this Halloween. Some popular safe suggestions are pumpkin patches without hayrides, outdoor costume parades, reduced contact trick or treating, and small outdoor gatherings. Indoor costume parties and haunted houses are considered to put you and guests at a higher risk of sharing germs.

2. Plan for Social Distancing

While outdoor events are certainly safer, it’s still important to practice social distancing as much as possible. If you are visiting a pumpkin patch, try and leave space between your party and others. If you or your children are participating in a costume parade, make sure each contestant stays 6 feet apart. The same goes for any small gatherings you may attend or host. The CDC recommends even greater distance for any events scary enough to get guests screaming, as this could potentially send germs flying even further. For trick or treating, setting out treat bags or candy bowls for children is a great option to spread joy while keeping your distance to prevent the spread of germs!

3. Mask Up!

Halloween is a time when both fun and frightening masks are already common! The CDC suggests that decorative masks are not a safe substitute for medical masks and that a medical mask should still be worn in any sort of public space, and for trick or treating, even if it’s underneath a costume.

4. Keep Sanitizing

When out and about for holiday fun, remember to wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer after making contact with surfaces. This is particularly important when visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where others may have touched produce right before you, and if you are going to the door and knocking or touching doorbells. The good news is that candy is not thought to be a high-risk factor for the spread of COVID, so parents don’t need to worry about disinfecting it all once they get their little ghouls and goblins back home!

5. Stay Local

The CDC recommends staying within your own local community as much as possible this year, to prevent possibly spreading COVID between different areas. We are also all advised to take our local directives into account and base our activities around the prevalence of outbreaks in our areas. Someone in an area with no known incidences, for example, has a wider range of safe activity options than a person in a highly impacted area. Some extra cautious suggestions for Halloween fun are yard decorating, virtual costume parties or contests, pinatas at home or scavenger hunts distanced around neighborhoods, and a good old-fashioned pumpkin carving or scarecrow making.

Whatever your situation looks like this Halloween, we can all still honor traditions and make spirited holiday magic while keeping ourselves, loved ones, and communities safe. Wishing everyone a safe, fun, and very Happy Halloween, from First Home to your home! Find more information on current CDC guidelines here.

Here at First Home Mortgage, we continue to provide the highest level of customer service while adhering to social distancing guidelines. Our innovative communication technologies allow us to exceed your expectations while keeping everyone as safe as possible. If you are considering purchasing or refinancing a home, please contact one of our Loan Officers today!

Welcoming a new bundle of joy into your family is an exciting milestone, but as they get older and more mobile and curious, it’s important that you make sure your home is safe. Babyproofing, or kid-proofing, your house is a great way of minimizing risk and ensuring your little one stays healthy and safe. Here are some helpful tips for how to best babyproof your home.

Secure Furniture and Décor

Your child may be small, but in many cases, it doesn’t take much to tip over a large piece of furniture which can severely injure them. Heavy and large pieces such as dressers, bookshelves, TV stands, and TVs are particularly at risk of toppling over. To avoid this, anchor this kind of furniture to the wall. Make sure heavy picture frames and other décor are properly hung so you don’t risk having them fall. Avoid placing items on tables using tablecloths and runners as your child may be able to pull on them and knock things off. Putting corner guards on furniture can also protect your child from hurting themselves if they bump into something.

Protect Against Water and Electricity

Water and electricity pose a drowning, burn, and shock risk. Cover all electrical outlets and avoid leaving cords within your baby’s reach. To minimize the chance of your child pulling on cords, try keeping furniture in front of plugs so they’re less accessible. Avoid using power strips unless they’re kept up high and out of your little one’s reach. When it comes to water, restrict your child’s access in order to minimize drowning risk. Keep toilet lids shut and consider buying a lid lock to ensure they can’t open it. Never leave water in the bathtub after bath time. While sinks are generally too high up to be accessed by your baby, you can use handle locks so your child can’t turn on the water by themselves. Make sure your water heater is set to no higher than 120 degrees to prevent scalding and burns. It’s also important to keep electrical items away from water so there’s no electrocution risk.

Beware of Choking Hazards

Putting things in their mouth is one of the ways young children start to explore the world. If your little one gets their hands on something small, they can, and often will, try putting it in their mouth which presents a serious risk of choking. Toys with small parts, jewelry, batteries, nails, and bolts, magnets, push pins, paperclips, and coins are just a few of the everyday items that can pose a choking risk. Make sure these are out of your child’s reach and check between cushions, under rugs, and on low surfaces to double-check that nothing hazardous is still accessible. Medications, chemicals, alcohol, soaps, and detergents, and paint not only pose a choking risk, but a risk of poisoning as well, so be sure they’re secured by keeping them up high when possible and always locked away.

Restrict Where They Can Go

Even when you try your hardest, your busy life can make it difficult to keep eye on your little one at all times. When set up correctly, baby gates are a great way to make sure they stay safe and are only able to access certain rooms. Keep doors that lead outside locked (using top locks and bolts when available) and use doorknob covers to stop them from opening doors they shouldn’t.

Don’t Forget About the Outdoors

When it’s done right, babyproofing should make it all but impossible for your child to make it outside on their own. However, you should still do what you can to make your yard and surrounding areas safer should they somehow end up outdoors. Make sure landscaping equipment is put away and secured. If you have a pool, it’s essential that it be fenced in and have a locked gate. There are even pool alarms you can get that will sound when someone enters the water should your child manage to make their way to the pool.

Go Room by Room

Check out every room of your house to ensure all potential hazards have been taken care of. Getting down on your hands and knees can help you view space from your child’s perspective and may uncover risks you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. From there, you can create a list of things to do and buy to make each room safe. There are many online guides that detail safety tips by room, like this one from SafeWise.

Make Sure Your House is Safe for Everyone

Beyond the typical child-proofing measures you can take, you should ensure your home is safe for everyone in it. Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries and are functioning properly. Have your home utilities and systems periodically tested and serviced to ensure they’re in working order. Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen or near the fireplace. Consider adding a home security system. The more you do to ensure your home is safe, the happier and healthier your whole family will be, including your child.

Are you puppy proofing instead? Check out our blog on how to pet-proof your home here.

Now that fall is officially here, it’s time to start thinking about switching up your décor to fit the new season. Check out these ideas for decorating your home this fall!

Try Out Different Patterns

Beyond the traditional red, orange, and green color palettes, fall is a great time to play around with various patterns. Plaid and tartan are very popular for fall and allow you to use different and often unique color schemes.

Let the Light In

As it starts getting dark earlier, you’ll likely find yourself using additional light sources more often in place of waning natural lighting. Use candlesticks on your dining room table and spread scented candles around your home. String lights are another fun way to add light to any room or outdoor space.

Up Your Cozy Factor

As temperatures begin to drop, many of us start spending less time outside and more time bundling up indoors. Use blankets and pillows as accent pieces in your home. This can be a great way to utilize interesting patterns and colors in an eye-catching yet functional way.

Bring the Outside Indoors

Fall is one of the most visually striking seasons. Bring a piece of the lovely fall foliage inside by displaying leaves, acorns, and pine cones in some way; try creating a wreath or using them in a table spread. Flowers aren’t just for spring and summer; there are some beautiful flowers that bloom in fall. Mums, pansies, marigolds, black-eyed Susans, and asters are just a few of the fall flowers that can enhance the look and feel of your home. When it comes to decorative fall produce, we all know pumpkin is king. While they’re definitely a great option, don’t be afraid to think outside the pumpkin-shaped box and explore other types of products such as flint corn, corn husks, gourds, and apples. These can be a beautiful addition to your front porch or a table centerpiece.

Go Online for Inspiration

Thanks to the internet, we have seemingly endless information at our disposal. There are so many places online where you can source decorating ideas. Pinterest is a great place to start for visual inspiration but there are countless other sites and blogs you can browse. Check out HGTV’s favorite fall decorating ideas and Country Living’s best fall decorating ideas to turn your home into a seasonal escape.

Have Fun with It

Regardless of whether you stick with traditional fall decorating motifs or try something new, the most important thing is that it makes you feel like the look of your home is elevated and helps you embrace and celebrate the new season. If you have kids—and even if you don’t—you may want to emphasize the “spooky” aspects of fall and things associated with Halloween such as ghosts, witches, mummies, vampires, jack-o-lanterns, and even candy. What matters most about your decorating is that it makes you happy!

If you’re interested in buying a new house or refinancing your current home, contact our experienced loan officers today for more information!

When a new furry friend enters your life, it doesn’t take long for them to become an important member of the family. Animals, especially young ones, can be very curious and easily get into things they shouldn’t. It’s important that you take steps to protect your pet from hazards in your home and from potential damages caused by your pet. Here are some tips for pet-proofing different areas of your home.

Throughout the Home

In many ways, your pet is a lot like a little kid. Think about the steps you’d take to make your home safe for a child. If there are areas of your home you don’t want your pet to access, consider using a pet or baby gate to restrict where they can go. You may even want to use childproof latches to stop them from using their paws to open cabinets and drawers. Like you would for a child, beware of small items they can easily swallow such as batteries, coins, magnets, buttons, paper clips, and anything with small removable parts. Try keeping electrical wires and cords out of your pet’s reach so they can’t chew through them, or at least try making a habit of unplugging things when they aren’t in use to minimize the risk of electrocution. The tidier you keep your house, the less likely your pet is to get into something they shouldn’t. When it comes to house plants inside and out, do your research; some flowers and plants (including lilies, tulips, and azaleas) are poisonous to animals and can make your pet critically ill. The ASPCA has a list of toxic and non-toxic plants you can review.

Kitchen

Keep your food up high and secure where your pet cannot access it. The ASPCA has a list of food to avoid feeding your pet so you can take extra care securing foods that are more likely to make your pet sick. Beyond the well-known chocolate, these foods include avocados, onions and garlic, grapes and raisins, coffee, nuts, salt, and gum. Even when food isn’t harmful to your animal, the wrapper or packaging it comes in could be. Watch out for little things like twist ties and can tabs that your pet could easily swallow. For extra safety, you may want to use a gate to keep your pet out while you’re cooking so they don’t get under your feet and they stay away from any hot surfaces or open flames

Laundry Room

Always check to make sure your pet hasn’t gotten into the washer or dryer before loading them. Keep laundry detergent, bleach, and other chemicals up high and out of reach. It’s best to keep your laundry in a basket to minimize the risk of your pet chewing on or even swallowing small articles of clothing such as socks. When swallowed, things like strings and buttons can cause digestive issues.

Bathroom

Keep any and all medications, soaps, cosmetics, and cleaners up and out of your pet’s reach. Make sure your toilet lid is kept closed to stop your pet from drinking from the toilet. Don’t leave your pet alone when there’s water in the tub or shower to prevent drowning.

Living Room

If your pet is particularly rambunctious, you may want to secure your furniture to the wall to avoid potential tip-overs which could injure your animal or someone else nearby. If you have children, keep their toys tucked away when not in use so your pet can’t chew on or swallow them, especially small toys. If you’re concerned about your pet damaging upholstery, there are couch and chair protectors you can buy so they can’t scratch or chew your furniture.

Bedrooms

Keep your clothes and shoes out of your pet’s reach so they don’t have an opportunity to chew on them. Be careful what you leave on nightstands if it’s at eye level or within swiping reach of your animal. Make sure your pet isn’t sleeping in any drawers or closets before closing them. If you have a very small or senior pet that sleeps in bed with you, you may want to purchase a ramp or set of steps to help them get into bed easier.

Outdoors

If your pet has access to a pet door, it’s essential that you have a fence or other barrier in place to keep them within your yard. Check your fence for any gaps or holes where your pet might be able to get through. Be careful and follow directions when using pesticides and other chemicals as these can make your pet sick if they come in contact with them; keep your pet inside when working with chemicals outside and store all chemicals up high and away when not in use. After your pet has been outside, especially in tall grass, it’s important you check them for pests such as fleas and ticks.

Are you looking to purchase a new home or refinance your current home? Reach out to one of our loan officers today to get more information!

The outbreak of COVID-19 has changed the way we do most things, real estate included. While it may not be the most ideal time to sell a home, it’s also not a bad time. Demand for homes is up, and with mortgage rates near all-time lows, many interested buyers are jumping at the chance to find their dream home. Here are some tips for safely selling your home during a pandemic.

Offer Virtual Tours

A virtual tour could consist of anything from a simple live walkthrough with an agent to a full 3D recorded house tour. These in-person walkthrough alternatives allow a potential buyer to really get a feel for what a house is like without physically stepping inside. Ask your realtor for more information about how to set up virtual tours of your home.

Don’t Forget About Staging

Staging is an incredibly important part of the home selling process, but not everyone wants a stager entering their home during this uncertain time. Some professionals are offering virtual staging services where they can seamlessly add décor to images of your home digitally. If virtual staging isn’t for you, consider taking a DIY approach and staging your home for photos or videos yourself. Items such as blankets and throw pillows, mirrors and framed art, plants, and decorative containers can really elevate the look of a room. Check out these helpful DIY room staging tips from HGTV.

Use the Extra Time in Your Home to Transform Your Space

Most of us are spending more time than ever in our homes. Take advantage of this time by tackling some home improvement projects. Transform unused space in your home into a spare bedroom, home office, or gym. Upgrade your backyard to include a patio or garden. Build the fence you’ve always thought would elevate your outdoor space. The possibilities are seemingly endless.

Take Extra Precautions for Face to Face Showings and Meetings

While it’s great to have virtual options, they aren’t always going to be the best choice for you depending on your unique situation. When welcoming people into your home, be sure to sanitize before and especially after. In their Coronavirus guide for Realtors, the National Association of Realtors offers guidance for what to do before, during, and after in-person showings. First and foremost, you should check state and local mandates and executive orders for any specific requirements regarding in-person showings. During the showing, they suggest maintaining social distancing, limiting the number of people who may attend at one time, hand washing and sanitizing as well as removing footwear at the start of the tour, discouraging the touching of any home surfaces such as handles and light switches, and avoiding handshaking. If possible, keep a log including names, dates, and locations for contract tracing purposes should someone contract COVID-19. Following a showing, you’ll want to wipe down all surfaces visitors came in contact with. For more suggestions, check out our tips for disinfecting your home.

If you have questions regarding financing your home now or in the future, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our experienced loan officers.

Owning a rental property can be a great investment, but do you know how to properly prepare a space for tenants? Check out these tips for getting your home ready for renters.

Give It a Thorough Cleaning

It’s essential that you clean your house prior to renting, ideally when looking for renters but certainly before anyone moves in. This should go beyond your regular cleaning routine and get to things that are easily neglected or put off such as cleaning carpets, changing air filters, and scrubbing baseboards. You can do it yourself or hire a cleaning company; all that matters is that the job gets done well and from top to bottom.

Perform Inspections

This is another task you can do yourself or leave to a professional so long as it’s done correctly and thoroughly. Inspect your home and everything in it to be sure everything functions properly and is move-in ready. Make sure the structure of your home is in good shape; check out all your ceilings, windows, roofing, floors, doors, walls, systems (plumbing, HVAC, electrical, etc.), and other structural components. Keep an eye out for mold, cracks, and water damage. If the rental comes furnished, make sure there aren’t any issues with furniture on top of checking that all of the appliances are working properly. If you uncover any problems, be sure to have them fixed as soon as possible.

Spruce Things Up Inside and Out

Even if everything works fine, you may find there are still improvements to be made. Lay a fresh coat of paint on all your walls, do some landscaping outside, update lighting fixtures, and make other changes to refresh the space. You can even consider upgrading countertops, cabinetry, and appliances. While improvements and renovations can get expensive, they can also increase the amount of rent you can charge as a result.

Make It Safe

A potential renter wants to know they’re living in a safe and secure home. Be sure to change the locks, make sure all smoke detectors are in working order, and equip the kitchen with a full fire extinguisher. If you don’t already have one, consider installing a security system. Installing motion sensor lights outside is an easy way to give your tenants more peace of mind when they walk outside at night.

Check Your Mortgage for Additional Requirements

Depending on your lender and mortgage type, you may be required to notify your mortgage company before renting out your home. These requirements should be listed in your loan contract; consult a loan officer if you have any questions. You may need to follow up with information about the tenant or provide proof of additional insurance if stated in your contract. When in doubt, contact your lender.

If you’re interested in buying a rental property or have questions about renting your mortgaged home, reach out to one of our experienced loan officers to learn more!

Between volatile summer storms and hurricane season, mother nature can wreak havoc on your home. It’s important to know how to prepare should severe weather strike.

Perform Outdoor Maintenance

Maintaining the area around your home is one of the best preventative measures you can take before encountering severe weather. Clear long or dead tree limbs, especially those close to your house or power lines. Make sure the trimmings are properly disposed of so they don’t end up in the street amid high winds. Your gutters need to be cleaned and have downspouts facing away from your home so water can drain properly. If you know a strong storm is coming ahead of time, you may want to install temporary protection on critical areas of your home such as windows, doors, and roofing. Check to see that your fences are secured properly and either anchor outdoor furniture or bring it inside. Regularly maintaining your yard will save you time and stress should a hurricane or other serious weather system chart a course towards you.

Create a Storm Emergency Kit

Natural disasters can strike without warning; having an emergency kit stocked and stored can make all the difference in an emergency. At a minimum, your kit should include things like 3 days’ worth of water (at least 3 gallons for a gallon a day), non-perishable food, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a radio, and batteries. Consider your family and any unique needs you have. If you have children, you may want to include books and games to keep them occupied. Once you’ve created it, keep your kit somewhere secure and easily accessible. Periodically check any electronics in your kit to ensure they still work, and make replacements as needed. Consult the Department of Homeland Security’s guide to creating an emergency kit for more information and suggested provisions (including updates from the CDC in light of the COVID-19 pandemic) and to create a family emergency plan.

Check Out Your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy

Familiarize yourself with your homeowner’s insurance policy. Make sure you know what is and isn’t covered and upgrade your coverage if necessary. Many standard plans don’t cover damage caused by flooding or earthquakes, so you may need to purchase additional coverage if you live in an area particularly susceptible to them. Understanding your insurance policy prepares you for handling claims should your home incur any damage as the result of a storm. You can even include important insurance documents in your emergency kit.

You can find more of our blogs and other resources here!

With the ongoing pandemic, we have to be more creative than ever when it comes to finding ways to stay entertained in and around our homes. Outdoor movie nights are a great way to take advantage of warm summer evenings while still social distancing. Here are some tips for how you can make this happen in your own backyard!

Use a Projector

When it comes to the logistics of showing a movie outside, projectors are your best bet. This allows you to connect to a computer or phone to use any number of streaming platforms which greatly expands your movie options compared to using DVDs with a TV. Use a portable movie screen or take a DIY approach and hang a sheet yourself. If you’re going the DIY route, you can even create your own smartphone projector using a shoebox and magnifying glass!

Decorate

Set the mood and create some ambiance with decorations. You can hang string lights or lanterns for a pop of light. A citronella candle will not only provide subtle lighting but help ward off mosquitoes and other pests. Also, consider a themed movie night and decorate accordingly. If you’re having guests, you can get even more elaborate with the decorations by rolling out a red carpet or offering invitations in the form of tickets. You can make your movie night as minimalist or extravagant as you want.

Get Comfy

The ideal seating solution will depend on your unique space. For some, lawn chairs will work best. Take advantage of any patio furniture you may already have. You may want to spread out blankets and lawn cushions for a relaxed and cozy setup. Creating DIY cardboard cars is a fun activity for kids and makes them feel like they’re attending a drive-in movie in your own backyard.

Don’t Forget the Popcorn

No movie night is complete without snacks. No matter your audience, you can’t go wrong with some sweet and salty treats and soft drinks. You can offer a signature drink for adults and a non-alcoholic version for kids. Stick with popcorn in its classic form or try something different like these popcorn chocolate chip cookies.

Check out our blogs for more information, resources, and guides to make the most of homeownership!