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Homeowners insurance companies adjust rates from time to time based on a variety of factors. Some of those factors are directly related to individual policyholders, and others have nothing to do with specific homeowners. If youve received a letter from your insurance company informing you that your rates will go up soon, you might be able to get them back down.

Why Do Insurance Companies Raise Rates?
If your insurance company sent an inspector to your home and shortly afterward informed you that your premiums would go up, its probably because your home needs repairs. For example, damage to the roof and foundation can make your house more likely to suffer serious damage in a storm. If you make repairs now and provide proof to your insurance company, it may consider your home less risky and reward you by lowering your premiums.

Filing several claims, especially in a short period of time, can cause an insurer to raise your premiums. In addition, a large number of claims submitted by people in the same town or neighborhood can raise your rates, even if you didnt file a claim yourself. An area that is prone to severe storms or has a lot of burglaries often means higher insurance rates for everyone.

Your insurance score, which companies use to set rates, depends partly on your credit score. If your credit score has dipped, paying down credit card balances and making payments on time can boost your score and may eventually lead to lower homeowners insurance premiums.

Sometimes insurance companies raise rates across the board if they paid out unusually large sums of money for claims related to natural disasters. Insurers may also increase premiums if construction costs have risen substantially because settling claims will be more expensive. Companies want to spread the cost around to everyone so they can still earn a profit.

What to Do About a Planned Premium Increase
If your homeowners insurance company has notified you that it plans to raise your rates, call to ask why. If the insurer mentions any reason specifically related to your home or your area, look for changes you can make. For example, if there have been a lot of break-ins in your neighborhood recently, offer to install deadbolts and a security system in exchange for a reduction in premiums. Repairing your home to make it less susceptible to storm damage can also lower your rates.

You might qualify for discounts if you have multiple policies through the same company, havent filed a claim in several years, or are a first-time homebuyer or a senior citizen. Ask your insurance company if you qualify for any discounts. If you currently have a low deductible, raising it could automatically lower your premiums. Explore all options with your insurer.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Homeowners flush a lot of things down their toilets without considering the potential plumbing issues it may cause. If theyre lucky, theyll only have to use a plunger to tackle a minor clog. But if a major issue arises, they may need to call a plumber and pay for costly repairs.

Whether your home has a septic tank or sewage line, there are certain items you should never flush. To prevent unnecessary clogs and damage to your homes plumbing, take some advice from the pros. Harts Services, a Tacoma, Wash.-based plumbing company, shares its list of the top items that shouldnt go down your toilet:

Dental Floss. Not only is floss non-biodegradable, but it can also tangle up with other debris and turn small clogs into big ones. If flushed into a septic tank, floss can wind itself around a motor and cause it to burn out.

Paper Towels. It may seem okay to flush paper towels because they look a lot like toilet paper, but flushed paper towels are one of the leading causes of clogged pipes. They’re made to be very absorbent and are considerably thicker than toilet paper.

Sanitary and Baby Wipes. Although many of these wipes say they’re flushable on the package, its advisable to throw them out instead. The fibers in the wipes are much thicker than those of toilet paper, so they don’t break down the same way and can contribute to a clog.

Q-Tips or Cotton Balls. Cotton may seem like it’s harmless, but just like sanitary wipes, cotton does not break down enough to make it through the pipes. Cotton can clump together and get stuck, causing a backup.

Fats, Oils and Grease. Flushing food waste is a bad idea that will lead to any number of plumbing problems. When hot, these substances are in a liquid state, but once they cool, they congeal and build up on the sides of the pipes.

Feminine Hygiene Products. These products expand when they come in contact with liquid. This means, when flushed, they absorb more water and get stuck in the pipes.

Kitty Litter. It may not seem that bad since it’s cat waste, but kitty litter is made of clay and sand, which will create major problems for plumbing.

Adhesive Bandages. These products are non-biodegradable and can easily stick to pipes and cause issues.

If you have any question about an item youre thinking about flushing down the toilet, Harts Services advises to remember that when in doubt, throw it out. Otherwise, you may end up paying for costly repairs that couldve easily been avoided.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Theres nothing wrong with spending a little extra when it comes to furnishing your home. No matter what your personal style is, investing in quality home goods can make all the difference in your everyday life. Whether its time to decorate your new house or youre simply looking to make some upgrades around your current residence, here are several household items that are worth splurging on.

Quality Bedding
Considering we spend a third of our lives in bed, you shouldnt think twice about treating yourself to a luxurious mattress that you look forward to curling up in at the end of the day. Furthermore, with a set of fine linens and plush pillows, you can ensure the best possible sleep each night and feel ready to tackle the day every morning.

Fluffy Towels
As a rule of thumb, its a good idea to replace your towels every two years or so. Once theyve lost that fluffy feeling and become scratchy, youll know its time to make the upgrade. While it can be easy to overlook, theres no going back once youve had the tactile experience of drying yourself off with a soft and absorbent Egyptian cotton towel.

Quality Cookware
When it comes to the tools you use for making your familys food, its worth going with heirloom-quality cookware. Cast iron or stainless steel are typically the gold standard when it comes to pots, pans and skillets because they last forever and distribute heat evenly. Additionally, with cast iron you have the ability to sear an item on the stove and then put it in the oven without having to change pans.

Stylish Window Treatments
Because they have a major impact on the aesthetic in each room, you want window treatments that get you excited. Whether you opt for curtains, blinds or shades, this feature contributes to the form and function of your home, so you can feel good about investing in high quality treatments.

Elegant Dishes
Your dishes are another item that your going to be using every day, so make sure that you choose a set you love. From family dinners to holiday gatherings, these are the real centerpiece of your dining room table.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If you dont have the time to water your yard or dont want to deal with the hassle, installing a sprinkler system could make things easier. It could be pricey and you would need to take precautions to prevent damage and expensive repair bills.

Reasons to Install Sprinklers
The primary reason why homeowners install sprinklers is convenience. You could program an irrigation system to water your lawn on a schedule so that you wouldnt have to remember to do it, take time out of your day to spray the yard with a hose and hope that each area got the right amount of water.

The best time to water a lawn is before sunrise. That prevents the water from evaporating too quickly and gives it plenty of time to be absorbed by the grass. If youre not typically an early riser, getting up before dawn to water your lawn probably doesnt sound appealing. With a sprinkler system, you wouldnt have to.

A sprinkler system could be set up to deliver different amounts of water to different zones based on the types of grass and plants. An irrigation system also has rain and moisture sensors to avoid overwatering. Since the sprinklers would provide the right amount of water to each area at the right time, you could avoid using too much water and lower your bills. By directing water to the appropriate locations, you could prevent runoff on your driveway.

Many people dont like the chore of watering a lawn and would welcome the opportunity to buy a house with a sprinkler system. Installing a system now could increase your homes future resale value.

Downsides to Consider
Sprinkler systems require regular maintenance and occasional repairs. Sprinkler heads may simply get pushed out of alignment and need to be adjusted, or they may be damaged by lawnmowers, pests, and tree roots and have to be replaced.

If you live in an area with cold winter temperatures, freezing could be a problem. A sprinkler system would need to be winterized to prevent major damage. The amount of work and the cost would depend on the type of system you chose.

The best time to install a sprinkler system is shortly after home construction and before grass and trees have been planted. If your yard has already been landscaped, it would need to be dug up to install a sprinkler system, which could significantly add to the overall cost.

Is a Sprinkler System a Smart Investment?
An irrigation system could make lawncare easy and convenient, but the upfront cost could be significant, especially if you have a well-manicured yard that would need to be dug up and then restored. You could also face significant repair and maintenance costs, but they might be outweighed by lower water bills and a better price when you sell your home. Talk to a professional and weigh the pros and cons.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Location is extremely important when it comes to real estate. In addition to choosing the right city, you need to think about the location of a house within a neighborhood. A home on a corner lot has several potential pros and cons.

Size

Corner lots are generally larger than other lots in the same neighborhood. That means more room to entertain guests and for your kids to play, as well as more space for a pool or garden. It also means more landscaping and more fencing to maintain, which can be expensive and time-consuming.

Since corner lots tend to be larger than average, houses built in those locations often have different floorplans and yard configurations than others in the neighborhood. A house could have larger rooms, the garage could be in a different place or the front yard could be bigger than the back.

Noise

On a corner lot, you might have significantly less noise from your neighbors than you would if you were sandwiched between two homes. On the other hand, your house would be located along two streets. In a busy neighborhood, noise could be a problem.

Foot Traffic

Pedestrians walking in a neighborhood often cut across lawns in corner lots to save time. School districts frequently assign corners as bus stops. People walking and standing on your lawn may tear up the grass and leave trash. Dogs that are being walked on a sidewalk often veer off to a yard on a corner.

Light

Having fewer neighbors means your home would have more natural light. Neighborhood light poles are usually placed on corners and headlights from cars turning the corner could point directly at your house. Depending on the layout of the house, light at night might interfere with your sleep.

Parking

If you invite groups of guests over and your house doesnt have a large driveway, people will have to park on the street. With a house on a corner lot, guests could park on two adjacent streets, rather than trying to fit all their cars on one road.

Other Downsides

Since corner lots border two streets and may have sidewalks on both sides, they may be assessed more for property taxes than houses located between two other properties.

If residents are responsible for shoveling sidewalks in front of their property after a snowstorm, youll have a lot more work than your neighbors, both because of the length of the sidewalk and because plows often push snow onto corners.

Burglars often target homes on corner lots since there are fewer neighbors and since its easier to get away with streets on two sides.

Is a House on a Corner Right for You?
A property on a corner lot has many potential pros and cons. Depending on a specific house youre considering and your preferences, some of these may be a big deal and others may be of little or no importance. Before you buy a house, discuss these issues with your real estate agent.

Published with permission from RISMedia.