Thursday, May 28, 2020

Get Ahead of the Home Inspector!


One of the things we are often asked by sellers is how they should get their homes ready for an inspection, and the best answer is to think like an inspector. As social distancing restrictions are being eased, more and more sellers are ready to get their homes on the market. So to help you get market ready and think like an inspector, we've included a chart with the most commonly found home inspection flaws. Don't wait until it's inspection day. By checking and addressing these items ahead of time you may save yourself from unwanted delays and re-inspections. If you're thinking about buying or selling a house, give us a call, we LOVE homework!

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Stay Cyber-Safe While Working From Home



Even as most states are beginning to relax stay-at-home orders, many of us are adapting to what is likely a long-term shift to working and attending classes virtually. For the foreseeable future the new normal will likely include using platforms such as Zoom and FaceTime to communicate with clients, coworkers and educators. Now, more than ever, online security is critical and we want to help you and your family stay cyber-safe with these valuable tips.

WHAT'S IN THE BACKGROUND?
  • Try not to showcase valuable items while you're online. Most of us don't pay too much attention to what's behind us while we're in a virtual workspace, but someone else could be.
  • Avoid having photos, signs or other items that could identify your location. 
  • Don't forget that you're online with others. We've all heard stories of situational unawareness and people changing clothes, eating meatball subs and taking a bathroom break while in a meeting or virtual classroom. Don't be that guy!
AVOID BEING ZOOMBOMBED:
Zoombombing is when a hacker can hijack a Zoom call and post offensive content. There's a few precautions that you can take that will help avoid this.
  • Disable the participant's ability to share audio and video recordings.
  • Block late callers from automatically joining the meeting.
  • Use a different Zoom ID for every call.
  • Require participants to hold in a Zoom Waiting Room until the call starts.
BEWARE OF SOCIAL ENGINEERING POSTS:
  • Avoid posts that could be designed to elicit information that is often used for passwords or security questions. 
  • Questions like: "What was your first car and the color?" or "What year did you become a parent?" or "Post the city you met your spouse in." These all seem like harmless social media posts, but in the wrong hands they can help someone access your personal information.
CYBER SECURITY EXPERTS ALSO RECOMMEND DOING THESE THINGS:
  • Mix it up often! Change your passwords regularly and do not use the same password for multiple sites or logins.
  • Consider using a digital background for Zoom calls...who doesn't want to be sitting on the beach while at work!
  • Cover the camera or close your laptop when you're not using it. Computer cameras can easily be hacked.
  • Use common sense. If something seems strange, end the call. It's better to apologize than to be a victim!

Thursday, May 7, 2020

NATIONAL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK


 It's hard to believe that hurricane season begins in just a few weeks, especially with all of the craziness that 2020 has already thrown at us! But despite our sincerest wish that we could just skip this level of Jumaji, we've decided that getting prepared for the inevitable is definitely the better idea. 

We've included some great tips provided by the National Weather Service for getting your family and home hurricane ready. 


You can find more information by visiting the links listed below. Stay safe everyone!

https://www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness
https://floridadisaster.org/planprepare/preparing-for-the-2019-hurricane-season/

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

MAKE YOUR HOME A CALMING OASIS

With so many people now working from home and following current social distancing guidelines, many of us have found the time to start those DIY and home improvement projects that we've been putting off for so long. Two of the biggest trends in current home improvement projects have been creating more functionality and an environment that is comfortable and relaxing to spend time in. Realtor.com shared a great story full of tips from an interior designer on how you can make your home a calming oasis. Check it out and let us know what you think. 
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/how-to-create-a-calming-oasis-at-home/

Could a Government Shutdown Affect Your Home Purchase?

With the deadline for congress to reach an agreement upon us, how could a government shutdown affect your upcoming home closing? We are hope...