Category Archive for : ‘Home Maintenance’

This week September 22nd marked the first day of fall here in New England. Pumpkin spice lattes are back, leaves are beginning to change and the cooler air is just starting to roll in.  Fall in Massachusetts is always a beautiful time of year with great temperatures for outdoor activities and important projects. If you are looking to fill up your fall weekends we have a couple suggestions below:

Fall Fun!

Stop at an apple orchard. Massachusetts has no shortage of beautiful farms & orchard. Be sure to go early for your

Summer is finally here and Massachusetts’ homeowners know it’s a perfect time to catch up on home maintenance tasks both inside and outside of the house. Across Southeastern Mass, this Fourth of July weekend is looking a bit too chilly for the beach, making it a great opportunity to tackle some projects that it will otherwise too hot for as we get deeper we get into the summer.

These summer maintenance tips will help keep your home looking great for all seasons:

Wash your windows: Wash all interior and exterior windows to let

Mold is a fungus caused by excess moisture that can be damaging to your home, as well as a significant health hazard. Though most molds grow outdoors to breakdown plant and animal matter, they can travel inside by way of open windows and doors, air conditioning systems and on pets, clothing and shoes. Once inside your home, mold needs a moist food source, such as lint, ceiling tiles or wallpaper to grow.

Mold can look like spots and can be many different colors. If you see or smell it, remove it;

Dropping Temperatures

When outside temperatures begin to drop, one of the most costly consequences is the increased energy it takes to maintain a comfortable home temperature. Though it may be tempting to simply lower the temperature on a thermostat, family members may revolt and there are several ways to lower your utility bill while staying warm and cozy. With this in mind, consider these tips to reduce your monthly utility bills in the winter

Look for and seal any areas where heat may escape from your home, especially around windows and doors.
Use

4 Ways To Prepare Your Home For Storms

1. Update your home inventory in case a storm causes damage to your home or possessions.
2. Inspect outside your home for any damage that could contribute to a water leak.
3. Prepare a disaster kit & create shelter & evacuation plans.
4. Call FBinsure at 508-824-8666 to review your policies & ensure that you’re financially protected.

Increasing your deductible is an area where you can save significant amounts of money on your home insurance. The Typical home deductible is $1,000.  Increasing your deductible to $2,500 can save you up to 12%.  $5,000 can save you up to 26%.  It is important to have that money as disposable income if you choose to go with the higher deductible because, of course, you will be responsible for the first $2,500 or $5,000.

Do not put in small claims that could be paid out of pocket. I see this all

Did You Know?

Ice dams are caused by uneven heat loss from your home in wintry conditions refreezing melted snow. This causes the roof to warm above freezing temperature, which allows snow to melt and then re-freeze before it reaches the roof’s edge.  If this cycle repeats consistently, an ice dam forms and water builds up behind it. As the water collects it can cause expensive water damage.

Often the water that ice dams push into homes travels around wall and ceiling cavities until it finds the path of least resistance to escape. By the time you see

The season is changing fast and cold nights and snowy days are upon us.  The winter season can be the most challenging season for us all.  The added stress of the holidays combined with less than perfect weather, certainly provides a most challenging season to deal with.  Bearing through Winter is exactly what we do.  We clench our teeth and push through until it’s time for that clock to spring forward again.  Amongst everything else that we need to do for this cold season, protecting your home from future claims

In the Northeast, the term “ice dam” is met with grimacing faces and curse words. Many people have just started work on the home repairs needed due to the havoc wreaked over this past winter. With repairs in full swing, now is a good time to think about making improvements to your home to protect yourself against future ice dam issues. It is better to make these improvements now while your home is already being repaired than to wait and make these improvements after your home is repaired and looks

With a massive blizzard bearing down on the northeast, I thought it might be a good time to share some tips on how to prepare for a power outage in the cold weather. High winds and 2 feet of snow means downed power lines, falling trees, and more. Listed below are some tips to help you prepare for Mother Nature’s fury.

Put fresh batteries in all flashlights and portable radios and place them all in a central location for easy access. Also charge your electronics in advance of the storm.
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