December 5, 2022

Winter Home Maintenance In North Texas

During the colder months, it’s important to make sure your home is prepared for winter weather. Here are some month-by-month home maintenance tips for the winter season.

January:
⦁ Check your home’s exterior for any damage or wear caused by the winter weather. This may include cracks in the foundation or siding, or leaks in the roof. Repairing any damage now will help prevent further damage and costly repairs in the future.
⦁ Inspect your heating system and replace any dirty air filters. This will help your heating system run more efficiently and save you money on your energy bills.
⦁ Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace any batteries that are low or dead. These safety devices are essential in keeping your family safe, so it’s important to make sure they are in good working order.

February:
⦁ Check the weatherstripping around your windows and doors to ensure it is in good condition and sealing properly. This will help keep the cold air out and the warm air in, saving you money on your energy bills.
⦁ Clean out your gutters and downspouts. With the winter weather, it’s possible that leaves and debris have accumulated in your gutters, which can cause problems with water drainage.
⦁ Inspect your fire extinguishers and replace them if they are expired or damaged. It’s important to have working fire extinguishers in your home in case of an emergency.

March:
⦁ March can be a windy month in North Texas, which can take a toll on your roof. Inspect your roof for any missing or damaged shingles, and make any necessary repairs to prevent leaks. Have a professional inspect your roof after any major wind or hail events. Give us a call for a roofer recommendation.
⦁ Check your outdoor plumbing: As the weather warms up, it’s a good idea to check your outdoor plumbing for any leaks or other issues. This includes your hose bibs, sprinkler systems, and any other outdoor plumbing fixtures.
⦁ Clean your patio and deck: March is a good time to clean your patio and deck in preparation for outdoor entertaining. Sweep away any debris, and power wash the surfaces to remove any dirt or stains.

 

 

Property Fraud October 10, 2022

FRAUD ALERT – Is it REAL or RECYCLABLE?

 

You have probably heard the advertisements on TV or received a mailer from a company alerting you that your home could be stolen away by some crafty thief. The claim is that someone might forge documents to transfer ownership of your house right out from under you!  The perpetrators use scare tactics showing people being evicted from their own homes by the sheriff! It’s a sensational story, but not the whole story. They leave out important information just to sell you a service. The service would monitor your home against unauthorized ownership transfers. Home Title Lock, one of these companies, even got on local news stations to legitimize their claim of you needing this protection. Aura.com is another company getting in on the band wagon. This is not new either, at the start of the pandemic many people were reporting on this.  Do you need to worry about this new threat?

NO

As your trusted real estate advisors, we would certainly alert you if you needed additional protections. The truth is your title policy is that protection. It is insurance against claims by any others to your right of ownership, from the beginning of recorded time to when you purchased. The scam here is that someone will try to record a fake deed and transfer ownership away from you.

SO

What can you do to hedge against this new scary story?  Simply go to your county website and search for “property fraud” and you’ll find a community service, provided by the county, allowing you to set up a fraud alert on your property…FOR FREE!  With your title policy you received when you bought your home protecting your past, the fraud alert to protect your future, the odds are ever in your favor!

Oh, and by the way, Beth and I are always happy to research into something you get in the mail, just snap a picture of it and we can tell you if it’s real or recyclable!

 

  • Roger Steinke, REALTOR
  • CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Co.
  • Have questions?  682-777-5748