From Dennis and Jane Guertin | Guertin Family Realty
GuertinFamilyRealty@gmail.com | (952) 442-1300 | www.GuertinFamilyRealty.com
Greetings,
Do you have travel plans for this summer? Here's a list of handy pre-travel preparation tips that will help keep your home safe and your journeys stress-free.

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Dennis and Jane Guertin
(952) 451-4989 Dennis
(952) 451-5217 Jane

Pre-Travel Tips to Keep Your Home Safe



 
1. Make Sure Your Home Is Still Insured While You're Away
 
The Vacancy Clause:
 
Did you know that the Vacancy Clause in your home insurance policy can modify your coverage if your home is unoccupied for an extended period of time?
 
For example, a Vacancy Clause may state that if the home has been unoccupied for more than 30 or 60 consecutive days, the policy no longer covers damage due to "vandalism and malicious mischief".  Excluded coverage may even include water damage and theft.
 
Questions to ask about your policy:
 
- Is "vacant" defined as having no occupant, or no occupant and no contents?

- Is your home considered occupied if you have a house-sitter?

- Can certain coverage, i.e., water damage from a one-time event such as a ruptured sink water supply line, be excluded because the home was unoccupied at the time?
 
The bottom line: It's a good idea to check your policy's Vacancy Clause before leaving for any extended trip.
 
 
 
2. Tap Into Some Old-Fashioned Home Security




 
High tech and remote security systems are the norm these days, but older techniques are still relevant when it comes to making your home less of a target to criminals.
 
"Old school" security tips that still work:
 
- Arrange with a neighbor to pick up packages left at your door.

- Ask someone to move your garbage bins away from the curb after collection day.

- Put your mail on hold.

- Use automatic timers to turn lights on and off.

- Make sure valuable items are not visible from windows.

- Arrange for lawn care while you're gone.

- Ask a neighbor to park a car in the driveway occasionally.

- Remove any spare keys hidden outside. (Most burglars know where to look.)
 
 
 
3. Prevent Water Damage While You're Away
 
 
Water under pressure can quickly create a mess in any home. (Think about how much damage a ruptured washing machine hose could do in just a few hours!)
 
Fortunately, it's easy to avoid this risk with some simple proactive maintenance.
 
Before traveling:
 
- Replace rubber or plastic hoses with braided hose, which is more reliable.
 
- Inspect fittings to make sure they're fastened tightly.

- Look for rust on metal fittings that could indicate problems.

- Install an automatic shut-off device, such as the Floodstop, at the clothes washer.
 
If no one will need to use water at your home while you're gone, it may be easier to simply shut off the main water supply.
 
 
 
4. On the Road: Keeping Pets Safe in Hot Weather
 
 
If a furry friend is part of your summer travel plans, you may already know how challenging it can be to make sure they're comfortable and safe when they need to be left in the car.
 
 
Helpful facts:
 
(Temperatures are in Fahrenheit.)
 
- A vehicle can become lethally hot on a 65-degree day if it's parked in the sun.
 
- A car can heat up to 104 degrees in only 10 minutes when it's 85 degrees outside. It can reach 119 degrees in half an hour.
 
- Studies have shown that leaving car windows cracked open makes very little difference and cranking the air conditioner before turning off the car works for only a few minutes.
 
- Breezy days are especially deceptive. A person getting out of the car may feel cool enough to put on a jacket, but radiant heat can still make the car very uncomfortable or even unsafe in a short period of time.
 

Tech to the rescue:

Electronic vehicle temperature sensors that alert you if the temperature in your vehicle gets too high are sold by a number of companies. (Just search for "pet RV temperature sensor".)
 
Most require a subscription and some require a specific data provider, so shopping around and reading reviews will help you find the one that best fits your needs.
 
 
What the lawyers make us say: The information here is not presented as expert legal or financial advice. Please use your best judgment and consult professionals when necessary.
Recent Market Highlights

- U.S. home prices rose 20.6 percent year-to-year in March, according to a recent S&P/Case-Shiller report.  They rose 20.9 percent year-to-year in April, according to CoreLogic, a data and analytics company.

- The national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is around 6 percent.

The April Pending Home Sales Index fell 9.1 percent year-to-year, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
View Our Featured Home Listings
 Links that Make Life Easier

Sometimes real estate-related, sometimes not... these are assorted links that come in handy:

The 5 Best RV Pet Temperature Monitors - Review
This review page compares five pet vehicle temperature monitors. (Just note that the author gets a small commission if people buy via links in the article.)

Renovation Cost Guides
A quick way to get an estimate of the cost for a wide variety of renovations, from the Houzz website.

Famous Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad
A light vegetarian meal with peanut butter dressing and a hint of ginger - perfect for summer lunches and potlucks. 


The Lighter Side

Screenshot courtesy of A Smile a Day.
 
One squirrel plus one rubber ball adds up to plenty of fun in this cute video taken from a backyard window.
 
Click here or on the image above to watch the video on the A Smile a Day Facebook page (you do not need a Facebook account to watch it).
 
 
Your Resource for Real Estate
Are you thinking of buying or selling a home in the next year, or could you use some remodeling advice? Even if you just need the name of a good service provider, please remember that we're always here to help you. We welcome the opportunity to serve you, your friends and associates with our expertise and recommendations.

Please give us a call today at (952) 442-1300 if we can be of assistance!
Have a great day,


Dennis and Jane Guertin
Broker/Owner, REALTOR®, SFR, CBR, e-PRO, GRI, BA
Guertin Family Realty
GuertinFamilyRealty@gmail.com
www.GuertinFamilyRealty.com
Dennis:  (952) 451-4989
Jane: (952) 451-5217

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The information here is not presented as expert legal or financial advice. Please use your best judgment and consult professionals when necessary. If you are working with another agent this is not an attempt to solicit that business.
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