Water Safety

Hot weather often means finding relief in the water. Whether it’s the ocean, pool or lake, follow these tips for a fun and healthy summer!

• Never swim alone. Always enjoy the water with a buddy.
• When boating always wear a life jacket! Don’t rely on life jackets alone. Make sure everyone knows how to swim.
• Make sure children are always supervised by another adult – even with life guards present.
• Stay away from pipes or drains.
• Ensure that everyone stays hydrated and continues reapplying sunscreen.
• If you have a pool at home make sure it is protected by at least a 4 foot fence, keep furniture and toys away from the pool.
• For an additional precaution – become certified in CPR through your local hospitals or Red Cross.

Summer Home Buying

Summer is full of exciting to-do’s – go on vacation, enjoy the warm weather, buy a home? Summer is a great time to buy a new home for many reasons – here are just a few.

• Bring the Kids Along! – With school out, it’s a great time to get family input on the neighborhood and home. Make sure the whole family is excited about the home before you buy.
• Learn the Neighborhood – During the cooler months, there is less likely to be much activity in the neighborhood. Summer is a prime time to meet potential neighbors as they enjoy the longer days and bright sunshine.
• Get in Before School – If you find a quick-move-in home you could be in before the school year starts up again and life gets more hectic!
• Less Competition – As other potential buyers are busy with vacations and summer activities you’ll enjoy less competition for your time and more attention from builders and agents.

Are you shopping for a new home this Summer? We can help! Talk with us about our new homes!

Stay Cool With These Tips

Looking for creative ways to beat the summer heat? We’ve got a few!  So take a break from the A/C for a while and try one of these new ways to keep cool.

1. Adjust ceiling fans so they run counter-clockwise pulling hot air up and away!
2. For a quick cool down play ice packs on pressure points at your wrists, neck, elbows and behind the knees.
3. Drink a glass of water before bed to make sure you’re well hydrated and comfortable.
4. Choose cotton clothing and sheets over synthetics.
5. Keep your blinds and curtains drawn during the day to keep out the warming effects of sunlight.
6. Take a lukewarm shower before bed – too cold and your body will overcompensate by creating more heat.
7. Visualize the cool! Close your eyes and think of a wintry, snowy landscape. This mental image will cause a cooling reaction in your body.

If you don’t already own a new home – that may be the best way to stay cool this summer. New homes are more energy efficient and perform better during extreme temperatures. Just another reason to buy new!

Preparing for Inclement Weather

May 30th marked the official start to the 2015 Hurricane Season which runs through November 30th.
Fortunately forecasters are predicting a below average storm season.  Though hopefully our area will be spared any significant storms, summer is a good time to make sure your home and family are prepared for bad weather of any kind. Read on for a few tips to keep your family and property safe from inclement weather.

Outdoor Prep:
Keep trees and shrubs trimmed to prevent damage from strong winds
When storms are predicted, bring in and outdoor furniture or décor
Know your evacuation routes in case of a major emergency

Food Safety:
Have a three day supply of non-perishable food items at all times. Make sure a working manual can opener is also available.
An appropriate water supply is 1 gallon per person per day for at least three days.
In the event that you lose power, keep your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible. They will stay cold for about 4 hours. Make sure the temperature in the refrigerator stays below 40 degrees.

Emergency Kit:
Have a household emergency kit including
Battery powered or hand cranked radio
Flashlight and batteries
Matches in a waterproof container
First aid supplies
Moist towlettes and garbage bags
Paper and pencil
Important family documents and contact numbers
Required medicines

Being prepared is the number one way you can protect your family from bad weather.  For more information visit the National Weather Service page on Hurricane Preparedness here - http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php