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A home inventory is a list of all your possessions, including descriptions, models, serial numbers, estimated value and other information.

It can be useful if you need to file a homeowners insurance claim, and can help you figure out if you have enough property coverage.

Go through each room and compile a list of your belongings.

Taking photos or videos can make the process easier.

Include your policy number and insurance claims phone number, but not your home address.

Keep at least one paper copy outside your home or store the inventory electronically.

Remember to add items to the list as you acquire them to keep it up-to-date.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Spruce up your own backyard and inspire your children to get outside and away from their screens.

Treehouse

For kids, there’s almost nothing more fun or classic than climbing a tree, and having a hangout in the treetops makes it that much better! Make this a DIY project at your local hardware store or hire a pro for a more luxurious look.

Swingset

A staple in almost every suburban backyard, a swingset is a great way to get your kids outside. Some sets include slides and monkey bars, and many different styles of swings, such as a classic seat, a tire and even specialty seats for two!

Pool

On a hot summer day, having a pool to jump in, play in and cool off is enticing, both for kids and adults. Even purchase pool toys, such as floats, pool noodles and even a basketball hoop for days full of fun in the sun!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Choosing a city to live in can be easy, but it can be a little more difficult to narrow it down to a neighborhood.

Without leaving your couch, however, you can explore a neighborhood through these three social media sites on a computer or with smartphone apps:

Facebook
Facebook’s City Guides are a hidden feature that can help you find places in a neighborhood where locals go. It’s like an insider’s guide to the best kept secrets of a local area.

To find it on the website, search for “City Guides Facebook” or “City Guides” and the name of the city you want to explore. On the mobile app, open the Explore tab and look for City Guides.

Scroll to the section “Places The Locals Go” and you’ll see restaurants, cafes and other attractions that locals rate highly on Facebook. Upcoming events and popular attractions can also be viewed.

If you have Facebook friends who have visited the city or live there, their names will be listed. Reach out to them for more neighborhood tips.

Instagram
The Places tab will help you get a visual feel for neighborhoods from photos that have been tagged with a location. When typing in a search on a desktop computer or on the mobile app, look for “Places” on the far right.

Also called geotagging, Instagram gives you photos of areas that may have been added only seconds ago. Search for a city under Places and you’ll see an almost never-ending stream of photos of the community and people who live there.

Twitter
Advanced Search in Twitter will help you find hyper-local blogs, news sources and people passionate about what’s happening in their neighborhood.

To get to it, click on “Search Filters” after doing a search, then click on “Advanced Search.”

Type in the name of the community you want to explore to see what’s happening now or very recently. You can also look in the News and Photos tabs for updates.

Advanced Search can also be used to find recent posts from people who live in the city you’re looking at, possibly for tips on what locals are doing in their neighborhoods.

I hope you found this helpful. Contact me for more home and real estate insights and info.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Many homeowners know the feeling of unease that accompanies finding mice or other rodents in their home. Whether in the kitchen, attic, basement or dining room, a rodent sighting can incite surprise and fear in even the most composed homeowner. Unfortunately, these common pests are resourceful creatures that can enter a building or home through the smallest opening or crack, and they require very little space to travel inside. In fact, mice can easily fit through spaces as small as a nickel!

Rodents seek shelter indoors, especially during the cooler fall and winter months, and once inside can cause more than just an unpleasant infestation. Rodents put homes at risk for electrical fires by gnawing through wires. More frequently, though, rodents serve as vectors, carrying bacteria, such as salmonella, on their bodies and contaminating food sources, kitchen surfaces and equipment.

Fortunately, there are 10 simple steps homeowners can take to prevent rodent infestations:

Install door sweeps on exterior door, and repair damaged screens.
Screen vents and openings to chimneys.
Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including areas where utilities and pipes enter the home, using caulk, steel wool or a combination of both.
Store food in airtight containers, and dispose of garbage regularly.
Keep attics, basements and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation and windows.
Eliminate all moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains that provide the perfect breeding site for pests.
Inspect items, such as boxes, grocery bags and other packages, brought into the home for rodents.
Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house, and keep shrubbery trimmed and cut back from the house.
If you suspect a rodent infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest professional to inspect and treat the pest problem immediately. Rodents are known to reproduce quickly, and a small problem can turn into a big issue overnight if left untreated.

Source: National Pest Management Association/PestWorld.org

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