Thinking of Buying an Older Home? Here Are Some Things to Keep in Mind When searching for the next house to call home, there's a lot to consider. Opening your home search to older constructions can increase your options, however older homes may be harboring issues beneath the surface. Here are some things to consider (and have inspected) when purchasing an older home. Foundation and Structural Issues Due to their age, older homes should be inspected thoroughly for foundati

4 Easy Ways to Add Colorful Curb Appeal Update your home's curb appeal with pops of color that add a cheerful touch this time of year. Get a Step Up with Railings Chipped, tired railings can make a home look outdated and unkempt, but making those pieces look new again is a relatively quick and easy project. Keeping the railing monochromatic in a color that complements the rest of the house's paint and trim creates a clean look. If you want to add some variety, use a secondar

Be prepared in the event of a natural disaster Natural disasters can strike without warning. Take steps to prepare in the event that your home is impacted by a flood, hurricane, tornado or any other unexpected event. Use these four steps to assemble your disaster-readiness plan: 1) Ask yourself the big questions. How will you receive emergency alerts and warnings? Where will you shelter in your home? Where would you go in the event of an evacuation? How will you communicat

"Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go ..." Or maybe for your family, holidays signify a cruise to tropical destinations or a chance to hit the slopes at a ski resort. Wherever you're heading this holiday season, keep your home safe in your absence with these three simple tips: 1. Keep the lights on. Pick up a few inexpensive light timers. By programming different lamps or light fixtures to come on at different times, you can create the illus

Know your risk What An earthquake is the sudden, rapid shaking of the earth, caused by the breaking and shifting of subterranean rock as it releases strain that has accumulated over a long time. Initial mild shaking may strengthen and become extremely violent within seconds. Additional earthquakes, called aftershocks, may follow the initial earthquake. Most are smaller than the initial earthquake but larger magnitude aftershocks also occur. Earthquakes may cause household it