• Know what you can comfortably afford: The first thing to keep in mind is that your new home shouldn’t be one you can’t afford. First step is to review your finances and your credit history. It is important to view your history through the eyes of the lender that will be approving your loan. In your decision also take into consideration the principal, interest, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and private mortgage insurance. This will help you make sure you will be able to cover the cost of your new home and have enough of a financial “cushion” to live comfortably after that. The rule of thumb is that you can buy housing that runs about two-and-one half times your annual salary.
• Estimate Upfront Costs: Depending on the loan program you select, you may have to provide a down payment. You need to consider if you will need to pay closing costs, moving costs, home maintenance, or other expenses, be sure you have properly saved for this.
• Don’t buy if you can’t stay put: If you can’t fully commit, don’t think about buying. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner even in a rising market.
• Buy in a district with good schools: In most areas, this advice applies even if you don’t have school-age children. This can be a big decision maker, for other buyers if you are ever looking to sell your home.
• Choose carefully between points and rate: When picking a mortgage, you usually have the option of paying additional points. The portion of the interest that you pay at closing is in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you stay in the house for longer it is generally better to take the points. The lower the interest rate is, will save you more money in the long run. For this you should seek help from a professional before making any decisions.
• Before you start house hunting, get pre-approved: Getting pre-approved will save yourself the grief of looking at houses you can’t afford and put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house.
• Hire a home inspector: While your lender will require a home appraisal, it would be in your best interest to point out the potential problems that could require costly repairs down the road. You should hire an engineer with experience in doing home surveys in the area where you are buying.

Now that you have finally made the decision to purchase a home, you have a lot to look forward to. This can be one of the most rewarding and stressful decisions of your life. Take the time to really make sure you are making the right decision for you and your family. To learn more about National Movers Month visit us at Connect Your Home or call (888)566-3979.

• Install Baby Proofing: If you have young children you need to make sure that your new home is baby proofed. If they are in a new setting they will crawl around and explore, to limit the chance of having an accident make sure you can baby proof as much of the house as possible and set up gates blocking them from the rest of the house until you can properly baby proof everything.
• Check for fire extinguishers: That was probably not something that you thought you needed to pack, but there’s a possibility that your new home might not have one. Even if your new home does come equipped with a fire extinguisher, consider getting a new one. Fire extinguishers last about 5-15 years but to be on the safe side, start your new life in your new home with a new fire extinguisher.
• Inspect the yard: If the new home you are moving into comes with a play set, patio furniture or other outdoor items that you and your family will be using, make sure they pass an inspection before you allow your family and friends to start using the equipment. If most of your children’s playing will take place in the front yard, purchase warning signs for the driveway alerting delivery trucks that children are playing in your yard.
• Stock up on emergency supplies: If you’re moving from an apartment to a house you might need more flashlights, batteries or other emergency provisions that you didn’t have before.
• Have an emergency evacuation plan: Determine a meeting place away from the house and designate a neighbor’s home as a place to go if you need to evacuate. Be sure that all smoke detectors are in good working order. Often times Security Service Providers offer free carbon monoxide and fire monitoring for new and existing customers.

These tasks may seem small and unnecessary but they will help in case there is ever an emergency that arises. To learn more about Home Security and Moving Safety Tips visit us at Connect Your Home or call (888)566-3979.   

• Donate excess belongings before you move across country. Not only can the big move be deducted on your tax return, so can the items you donate to charity. Be sure to find a reputable charity to donate to and get a receipt.
• Determine how much stuff you have to move. If you are renting a truck and driving across country yourself, talk to the truck rental agent about how many rooms will fit in the space allotted and give them a general list of the items you are taking with you. They can help you determine what size moving truck you will need and how to fit it in your budget.
• Decide on a company to rent the moving truck from and get moving rates. By sharing the list of items you want to take with you, rental truck companies can give you a moving quote on how much each size moving truck would cost to rent. Price shouldn’t be the only deciding factor when you make your decision on who to go with, you’ll also want to consider the condition of the moving truck as well.
• Start early and try and ask friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc for their spare boxes and moving supplies. You will need to think about bubble wrap, packaging tape, and moving blankets to pad your belongings.
• Once you have you moving day set, start mapping out your cross-country moving route. When planning your cross-country route, make sure you have the 1-800 phone numbers or all major hotel chains along the way. Or if you plan to save money and stay with friends along the way make sure to have that plan set in stone.
• Start getting your “helper” in order, meaning your friends and your families that will help you pack and move boxes on the big day. Cross-country moving isn’t a small undertaking and you’ll certainly want to do it right the first time. Pack the boxes in first, then appliances, then furniture, then leftover bulky/awkward stuff if you want to fit as much in as possible.

Before you start the trip make sure to stock up on snacks and drinks that will last 3-4 days, so you don’t need to stop as often. Put the map somewhere that can be easily accessible. Don’t forget to take your time and not rush while driving a big truck. To learn more about Moving Safety and Money Saving Tips visit us at Connect Your Home or call (888)566-3979. Do you have a move cross-country planned?

Some of the common causes of Alarm System Malfunction:

• Using incorrect keypad codes.
• Failing to train authorized users.
• Wandering Pets
• Re-entering the home just after leaving without disarming (assuming the exit delay is long enough to compensate).
• Objects hanging by or around motion detectors.
• Weak system batteries.
• Faulty equipment.
• Acts of nature (strong winds, electrical storms, etc).

Take these steps to reduce False Alarms:

• Properly train all users (e.g., babysitters, relatives, children, visitors, etc).
• Secure doors and windows before turning on alarm.
• Inform the monitoring center of new pass codes and aiming codes, and new or removed authorized users.
• Service and maintain the system (including batteries) properly.

If there is a question about whether or not your security system is working properly, contact your service provider immediately. The most common reason for a false alarm is human error, so make sure your family and everyone that will be in and out of the house knows how to properly engage and disengage your alarm systems. For more news and updates on Home Security Services visit us at Connect Your Home or call (888)566-3979. Do you know how to properly use your security system?

“If there will be any changes to your service you will be contacted by your company. You won’t hear this information from someone who knocks at your door, and especially someone who tries to scare you. Try and remember the name of the company the person is representing and file a complaint with BBB.”- BBB website. Here are a few tips offered by the BBB to avoid this potential scam:

• Always think safety first: If you are at home alone and don’t recognize the person at your door, don’t open it. If they are a legitimate company they will leave a brochure or business card.
• Be aware that you may be targeted: Be aware that with this scam in particular, if you do have a home security sign in your front lawn that you may be at risk of being targeted.
• Check with your existing provider: Always, Always, check with your own security company or other company first. You can even ask the sales representative to wait while you do. If they are telling the truth, they will have no problem waiting.
• Beware of scare tactics: They may not work on everyone, but if you are alone, elderly or just don’t like confrontation you may be intimidated to signing up for something against your will. If you believe that this type of business practice is happening in your neighborhood, please call the police and let them know.
• Tell your Neighborhood watch: If you have a neighborhood watch established in your neighborhood, let them know about the potential scammers. BBB offers to come out and speak with the group about this matter.

If there are any changes to your service you will be contacted by your company. You will not receive this information from someone knocking on your door and especially someone who tries to scare you. It is important to try and get the name of the company the person is representing and try and file a complaint with the BBB and if they get especially threatening, the police. To learn more about the latest in Home Safety News visit us at Connect Your Home or call (888)566-3979. Has this every happened to you?

• Check for loose-fitting plugs that can overheat.
• Put safety covers on all unused outlets accessible to small children.
• Walk around the house and touch all outlet plates. If any of them are hot to the touch or discolored, there may be a dangerous heat buildup at the connections.
• Never remove the third prong, the ground pin, to make it fit into a two-conductor outlet. This could lead to an electrical shock.
• Use the proper sized light bulb that is recommended for a fixture or lamp.
• Make sure bulbs are screwed in securely because loose bulbs may overheat.
• Extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis—improper use is a major reason for home fires.
• Replace smoke detector batteries twice a year.
• Keep all electrical appliances away from water such as sinks, bathtubs, pools or overhead vents that may drip.
• Do not operate any electrical appliance with wet hands or while standing in water.
• Keep clothes, curtains, toys and other potentially combustible materials away from radiators, space heaters, heating vents and other heat sources.

Experts say that it is a good idea for homeowners to have their homes evaluated one a year by a licensed electrician at least once a year. The tips listed above are all things you can do as a homeowners to stop tragedy before it happens, but for the bigger things it would be smart to let a licensed electrician take care of that for you. To learn more Home Safety Tips visit us at Connect Your Home or call (888)566-3979. Check out the video below for more tips on your homes electrical safety.

• Finance Department: In this position you will be assisting the director of finance. You will work alongside our local installer, and finance department to help with daily accounting and operational tasks.
• Marketing Department: Our Marketing department consists of web and print designers, programmers, copywriters, SEO specialists, social media experts, and affinity program coordinators; you’ll have a chance to work on projects that touch each specialty in order to help launch new campaigns.
• IT Department: This position will support both the front and the back end of the company with technical road blocks and new services that are implemented. This position will keep you busy every second you spend here!
• Sales Department: This position will allow you the hands on training to learn the ins and outs of our sales and customer service teams. You will spend learning all there is to know from our floor reps, managers, and our VP of Sales.
• Operations Department: You will be working closely with our VP of Operations, the finance department, and the sales floor to help forecast, cultivate reports, and prepare seasonal industry trends for the company.

So if you are a self-starter  with a passion for learning more about the company in addition to enhancing your business and interpersonal skills that can be applied in school and through professional development in the future we want to hear from you. Or if you are creative, ambitious and want to work for a great company that wants to help you grow, then give us a shout—we want to hear from you! To learn more about the internship positions available at Connect Your Home visit us online or send your resume to hr@connectyourhome.com.

• Take care of address change details first: Save yourself the annoyance of doing this after you move. This can take a little while to start forwarding to your new address, so as soon as you know what your new address is going to be fill out a change of address form and send it a few weeks before you move.
• Make a master list of moving tasks: It is always easier to do things with a list in front of you. A month before you move, make a list of all your To Dos and they will be easier to accomplish. You will feel a sense of relief when you are able to check off your last To Do and enjoy your new house.
• Don’t pay for packing supplies: Moving can break the bank in more ways than one. Don’t spend money on moving supplies also. Try out your local convenience stores as well as hardware stores to see if they have any extra boxes or moving supplies. Often times they may even offer to set some aside for you. Also when you are done unpacking, lay everything flat to make sure you got everything out.
• Plan new rooms as you unpack the old ones: You won’t be able to exactly replicate the rooms exactly. However this opens up for new ideas for your new home. If you are looking to keep things very similar, take pictures of your old rooms before you take anything down. Another helpful hint is to also take pictures of the electronic hook-ups to help you put them back together.
• Line up professional movers: If you’re short on time, hate the idea of waking up downstairs with countless boxes, or are moving across the country then you should look into hiring a professional moving company. While some moving companies can be expensive, they don’t have to be. Make sure you get quotes from several different companies, don’t be shy about the fact that you’re shopping around. Often times when companies are aware that you are shopping around may result in a lower quote.
• Ask your friends for help: Doesn’t matter if you hire movers, or if you don’t you will still need extra hands to help you carry items out of your old house and into your new one. If you plan to rely heavily on friends to help with your move, you need to make sure they’re committed to your plight. If you are looking for your friends help, try and schedule your move at a time that is convenient for them.
• Get your place in tip top shape: If you’re moving into a rental or fixer-upper, there might be some plans you have for your new place. If you are hoping to paint, do minor repairs, conduct extensive renovations or simple give the place a nice squeaky-clean shine, try to do so before you move in to your new place?  Any projects you are hoping to do will be much easier before you move in.
• Read up on how to drive a rental truck: There are several things you need to think about before driving a rental truck or van, read up on how to drive it before you get out on the road. The truck with have different blind spots and is much wider than what most people are used to. Take every precaution possible.
• Have Rugs, Drapes and Slipcovers cleaned: This is the perfect time to also clean your items that are usually getting cleaned. If your couch has a cover that can be removed, you can send that cover and the cushion slipcovers to the cleaners for a good washing. Same goes for your rugs, drapes, shower curtains and any other large or fabric items.
• Purge: Set up a plan for purging the pile of junk that has collected in your closets and spare rooms or the basement. If your house is full of stuff you never use, set up a schedule and time to address each pile of junk over the next few months before the move. You can go online and find charities that will benefit from all the extra clothes and useful items.

May is National Movers Month and if you have a move coming up make sure to set schedules, time frames and goals to help make your move go as smoothly as possible. To learn more about the latest Home Service Updates visit us at Connect Your Home or call (866)989-3474. Do you have a move coming up?

Another unexpected company is jumping on the bandwagon claiming that they need to honor the privacy and security promises they make to their customers. “While we wholeheartedly support a more secure Internet, CISPA has a broad and alarming reach that goes far beyond Internet security,” the tech company wrote to Forbes reporter Andy Greenberg. “The bill infringes on our privacy, includes vague definitions of cyber security, and grants immunities to companies and government that are too broad around information misuse.” If the act does get passed it will not allow NSA or Homeland Security any additional surveillance authority but it will open the passage ways to an all new era of information sharing between companies and government agencies—with limited oversight and privacy safeguards. Nothing has been decided yet, but until it does Mozilla is simply asking the Senate to consider the issues at hand with stakeholder input before moving forward with this legislation. To learn more about Internet Security visit us at Connect Your Home or call (888)566-3979. What do you think of the CISPA Act?

• You can utilize this function from either your computer or your smart phone.
• You can use it as a way to not only protect you and your family, but to also check past history. This means you can set a four digit pin that can be used by multiple users such as your housekeeper, babysitters, a friend who is watching your home, etc. This way you can see exactly when they entered and when they left.
• You can program your ADT monitor to automatically notify you via email and/or text message alerts when the alarm or sensor has been activated. If you are alerted the ADT monitor will tell you which part of your home was signaled, like the front door, the back door, the garage, the front right window, etc.

May is still National Moving Month, the official start of the household goods industry’s peak moving season, as well as summertime. The time period between Cinco De Mayo and Labor Day as the traditional “Busy Period” in the U. S. If you are thinking about making a move visit us at Connect Your Home for moving tips and to learn more about Home Service Providers available in your area. Do you have plans to move this summer?