home protection

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Copy of Life Insurance Awareness Month

One of the added benefits of insuring your home with The Prewitt Group is knowing that your valuable possessions are protected when you’re away. Whether you’re traveling for the holidays to be with friends and family or taking a much-needed vacation to warmer weather, the following tips can help put you at ease and ensure an enjoyable return to your home.

  • Leave faucets dripping if temperatures dip below freezing where you live.
  • Set your thermostat to 65 so you won’t be unnecessarily heating your entire home while you are away.
  • Leave porch lights on to deter potential thieves. If you have access to timed lighting, which can turn on and off to make it seem like someone is home, use this added step to prevent theft during the holidays.
  • For those with a live Christmas tree, make sure it’s properly watered, turn the lights off and unplug them before leaving.
  • As online shopping increases each year, many of your gifts may be delivered during the season. If packages might be delivered to your home while you’re away, many carriers will allow a delayed delivery for your return. You might also have a friend or neighbor bring them inside for safekeeping.
  • Double-checking that all windows and doors are secured is essential. Additionally, for those who have a home security system, setting it before you leave is the last step to making sure you feel comfortable during the holidays away from your home.

Last holiday season, a record-breaking 112.5 million travelers hit the road. That means the risk associated with sharing the roadways increases. The following tips will aid in preparation for your own holiday travels.

  • Keep presents, or anything of great value, hidden away in the trunk or covered.
  • Have your car serviced a few days before traveling to make sure it’s in tip-top shape.
  • Keep in mind that traveling earlier in the day will allow access to service stations, or if necessary, use roadside assistance to provide fixes for troubles you may have without hindering much of your progress.
  • Make sure you have warm blankets and a few snacks in case there are delays due to traffic during your travels, or if a flat tire leaves you waiting in the cold for longer than expected!
  • Always have a phone charger in your car.
  • Lastly, share your itinerary with family so they know when to expect you. Having an alternative route to combat any excess traffic or delays can ensure you arrive before dinner is on the table.

The Prewitt Group extends warm wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.

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As temperatures begin to drop, check for drafts near doors and windows and insulate each area. Weatherstrips and caulking can help with closing those drafty places.

Fans can help circulate warmer air in a room. By changing the directional switch and lowering the speed on the fan, this will help push the warmer air throughout with adding cooler air to the space.

Dusting both vents and radiators and clearing any furniture near vents will provide adequate space for air to flow throughout the home.

Note the temperature indoors when you feel the slight chill that makes you reach for the thermostat and keep it one to two degrees warmer. This will help you be more comfortable.

Have a basket of warm blankets in the common rooms you and your family spend the most time in so when the first cool front comes through, the first instinct might be to grab a throw or blanket instead of turning on the furnace.

A few additional tips can save money and help to further winterize your home –

  • Check your fireplace before the first fire.
  • Close doors to unused spaces in your home.
  • Protect any plants that might live outdoors or bring them inside before freezing temps arrive.
  • Replace air filters.
  • Protect your pipes from bursting with insulation.
  • Cook at home, the warmth from the kitchen will help warm other parts of the home, too.

The Prewitt Group encourages everyone to prepare for the changing temperatures and seasons, it can save you money by lowering power bills and preparation is priceless.