Joe Sells The Poconos
During the fall and winter months, many homeowners light their fireplaces to help keep their homes warm and cozy. Plus, as countless movies have taught us, fireplaces can provide optimal ambiance for a romantic night in with a significant other.
However, unless precautions are taken, improper use of fireplaces could lead to house fires or carbon monoxide poisoning. To help you enjoy a fireplace safely, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the following tips:
1. Be sure the firepla...
Power outages occur for various reasons, including utility blackouts, downed power lines and severe weather. During an outage, using a portable generator can help you meet your basic power needs, such as providing some lighting or keeping your fridge running and food from spoiling. However, improper use of a generator can pose safety risks, including fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you plan to rely on a generator the next time your lights go out, follow these safety tips from the National...
Depending on where you live, dangerously low temperatures and mounds of snow are par for the course during the winter. Not only can a winter storm impact our daily lives, it can also do a number on our homes.
While we can’t put a halt on the change of seasons, we can take the proper measures to ensure that our homes are prepared for whatever Old Man Winter has up his sleeve.
Pay attention to the roof over your headOne of the biggest concerns during a winter storm is the roof. In fact, snow can...
Anyone can be a victim of homeowner identity fraud, including wire, mortgage, and title insurance fraud. The financial implications can be damaging and long-lasting.
Use these tips to protect yourself from being scammed and defrauded.
Wire fraud
Wire fraud usually happens during the closing phase of a home purchase. Homebuyers are typically busy with their last-minute to-do lists and unwittingly become victims to wire fraud activity.
Phishing and spoofingThe scammers scour the internet for pend...
Protecting your identity online requires more than just ignoring spam emails from unknown senders, especially when it comes to using WiFi. Whether at home or in public, most people nowadays use wireless networks to save data on their phone plans or avoid spotty internet connections. However, this convenience comes at a risk. If you’re not careful, hackers might access your WiFi connection and compromise sensitive information stored on your device and in online accounts.
To help keep your inform...
More than any other season, power outages can happen out of the blue during winter—and they can be costly, both financially and emotionally. Last February, for example, a massive storm hit North America, affecting states from coast to coast, including the South. Half the country was under weather warnings at one point, and the storm created hundreds of billions of dollars in damage.
That marked an extreme example of winter’s wrath, of course. But it’s a reminder that a winter weather emergency...
There’s nothing like the excitement of moving into a new home. There is a lot of promise to this fresh start, from decorating the living room to planning the first home improvement project. However, it’s essential not to overlook the importance of improving your home’s security after moving in. Use these tips to help heighten the safety of your new residence.
Change the locks
As soon as you come into possession of the keys to your new home, changing the locks on all the exterior doors should be...- 1
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