Watch Out For Insurance Scams and Red Flags!

Hurricane Sally blew through the Gulf Coast leaving a huge mess to clean up in her wake. Anyone who has lived through just one of these storms knows that there is an extreme timeliness to documenting damage and alerting insurance companies, but be mindful that with the storms often come the sharks hoping to take another bite out of your post storm misfortune. 

How Can You Protect Yourself?

The best way to protect yourself is to stay educated on the process, document everything and follow your gut. If something feels off, it probably is. Here are a few more suggestions to help you stay sharp during the stressful clean-up and repair process.

1. Alert your insurance carriers about damage immediately after storm.
2. Take photos and videos of EVERYTHING. The more documentation that you have, the better.
3. Make only absolutely necessary emergency repairs yourself and save the receipts for the materials used. Anything more than this could be excluded by the insurance company.
4. Correspondence should be in writing (email/text) whenever possible. This creates a dated trail of interactions. 
5. Take notes of verbal conversations including, dates, times, names, etc...
6. NEVER give anyone your original documents. Make copies that can be shared, snap a picture with your phone and share it or scan the document to a PDF to be shared. 
7. Use caution if asked to sign an “assignment of benefits” or AOB. This gives insurance rights to third-party vendors. 
8. Stay local when looking for repair quotes and contractors, and take the extra time to check their BBB rating read reviews. 
9. If it sounds to good to be true, chances are that it is!

Attracting Fall Buyers

Have you been thinking about selling your home this fall? The real estate is market is hot, hot, hot right now, and with kids heading back to school and the holiday season not yet upon us, this is a great time to sell a home.

Here are some helpful tips to help attract home buyers in the fall season.

Curb Appeal With an Autumn Flare

Mums, marigolds and pumpkins oh my! The most popular fall flowers are chrysanthemums (or mums), and they come in a wide variety of vibrant fall colors. With very little attention (this is important because I forget to water plants) their blooms stay colorful for a long time and they add a nice touch of autumn to your porch. Add in some marigolds, a nice planter and some pumpkins or gourds as accents, and you've created a curb appeal worthy of fall!

Make It Sparkle

Having a neat and tidy lawn when potential buyers stop by is important. Remember, you want to showcase your home and you only get one chance to make a first impression! So make sure that leaves and debris are cleaned up regularly and don't let plants, bushes and trees become overgrown. Make sure that leaves and limbs are trimmed back from the walkways and don't block the windows. Also, dusty pollen covered screens, dingy streaked windows and dirty siding and walkways can really be turnoff for buyers. It might not seem like a big deal, but having windows that sparkle and a freshly cleaned exterior will help catch a buyers eye! Take the time to pressure wash your home and walkways and clean the windows and screens inside and out before marketing your home.

Do An Appliance Check

Living in Florida, we all know that just because the calendar says "fall" doesn't mean that the weather agrees. September and October usually fall into one of two categories, hot or less hot. That being said, make sure that your HVAC filters have been changed, test your heating system (even though you probably won't turn it on until January) and make sure that your drain line is clear. Making sure these things are in good working order now will help you avoid any surprises later!

Make It Smell Like Fall

The sense of smell is one of the strongest human senses and it has strong ties to memory. They way your home smells when a buyer walks in has a lot to do with how they remember your home after they leave. Fall is a great time for fragrances (think maple chai latte or  freshly baked pumpkin bread) but keep it light and it's best to stick with one scent (two if you have a second story). Too many scents or overpowering fragrances can be a turn off or give the impression that you are trying to cover up another smell, so keep it simple.

Bring On the Squirrels and Fall Y'all 

Fall decor is fun and there are so many creative ways that you can add autumn accents to your home without breaking the bank! If you haven't already discovered the value section located in the front of Target stores, you're in for a treat! And I'm sorry in advance because you'll likely become an addict once you've experienced it! You don't have to go squirrel crazy, but little things like putting miniature pumpkins or gourds in a large bowl or adding autumn silk flowers to a rustic wooden box make great table accents. Adding a few extra pillows or a warm throw blanket in neutral tones to your couch, chairs or bed can create a cozy setting in any room. And if you have a fireplace, a "Welcome Fall" sign on the mantel and mums on the hearth are the perfect additions to make your home look like autumn is here.