How to Shop For Homeowner's Insurance

How to Shop For Homeowner's Insurance Tips & Tricks As a homeowner, you have a choice when it comes to buying insurance on your home. You have a choice of companies and coverage. Your real estate agent or escrow agent might recommend an insurance company, but it's a good idea to shop around to get the best coverage and price for homeowner's insurance. Ask your friends, family and colleagues what insurance company they have. Ask them if they are happy with the company, if they have any complaints, and if they have filed any claims. One of the most common complaints consumers have about insurance companies is how a claims process is handled. The coverage you purchase will cover your home, your personal property, other structures such as a shed or a fence, medical payments and loss of the use of your home. Here's some guidelines to help you when you are ready to purchase homeowner's insurance. But first, many people question why they need homeowner's insurance. Why Do You Need Homeowner's Insurance? If you are financing your home, your lender will require it. If you're paying cash for your home, it's still a good idea to get insurance. Here are the five common parts of homeowner's insurance coverage you need to know about: 1. Dwelling or Structure - Ask yourself how much it would cost to rebuild your home in its current location if there was a total loss. Your homeowners insurance should cover the cost of building you a new home. Your insurance agent should know your neighborhood and be familiar with the replacement cost. Remember, earthquake and flood coverage are purchased separately. The amount of you pay for this portion of your homeowner's insurance is what will pay for damage to your home and to any structure that is attached to your home, like a garage, patio or balcony. The amount of this coverage should be the same as the replacement cost of your home. Remember that this coverage is not the market value of your property - it does not include the land. 2. Personal Property - The portion of your homeowner's insurance policy is based on the contents of your home - your personal property. Make a list of the items you own including appliances, TVs, computers, laptops, printers, sound systems, furniture, clothing, jewelry, outdoor equipment such as lawn mowers, and sports equipment like golf clubs, golf carts, etc. It's not easy to put a value on the items, but you can estimate by finding the receipts when you bought the items or go online and find out approximately how much the items are worth. It's also a good idea to videotape the contents of your home. We never really think about what we have until something terrible happens like a robbery, fire, tornado or other natural disaster. The amount of coverage for your personal property is usually based on the amount of insurance you have on your home. The percentage of personal property coverage varies. Some insurance companies offer 50% of your dwelling coverage as the limit of your personal property insurance, while other companies offer more or less. For example, your dwelling (home) coverage is $150,000. The insurance company will allow 50% of that amount to insure your personal property or $75,000. Be sure to ask your insurance agent what the percentage of coverage is for insuring your personal property. 3. Other Structures - Other structures include sheds, carports, fences, unattached garages. You should consider insuring other structures on your property. If you have other structures, ask your agent how much will be added to your insurance policy to cover the items. 4. Medical Payments - You can purchase coverage that will cover medical payments for anyone that gets hurt on your property. If someone comes to your home for a visit and slips and falls or gets hurt, this portion of your policy will help pay for their medical expenses. 5. Loss of Use - You can pay an additional amount for insurance coverage to cover the cost of the loss of use of your property. If your home is damaged due to a tornado, fire, flood, etc., you can pay for insurance that will help you pay for some of your living expenses if you have to stay in a hotel while your home is being repaired. Bottom line, be prepared and armed with knowledge when you're ready to buy homeowner's insurance. A trusted and knowledgeable insurance agent will help you determine the amount and type of homeowner's insurance coverage is best for you and know that you know the different types of coverage, you'll be in a position to make a good decision. Elena Serafin Rich Cosner & Associates (951) 536-2721 www.elenaserafin.com realtorelenaserafin@gmail.com Cal BRE# 01938435 If there are problems with how this message is displayed, click here to view it in a web browser Elena Serafin © 2017 — Powered by Elevated Network If you prefer not to receive further emails please click here to unsubscribe Write us at: 12335 Baseline Road, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739

NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY – First Friday in February

NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY National Wear Red Day is observed annually on the first Friday in February. Heart disease and stroke kill one in three women. These diseases are 80 percent preventable according to Go Red for Women’s official. Realtor Elena Serafin Ca BRE#01938435 Office:951-536-2721 Web ElenaSerafin.com

How To Make Your Own Pet-Friendly, Natural Cleaning Products

How To Make Your Own Pet-Friendly, Natural Cleaning Products Tips & Tricks The traditional cleaning products sold in stores are often full of harsh chemicals that may cause harm to both you and your pets. Even if you don't experience respiratory distress or itchy skin immediately after using these products, long-term exposure to the chemicals that they contain may increase your risk of developing asthma, allergies and even some forms of cancer. Pets who are exposed to chemical cleaning products sometimes suffer from kidney failure and respiratory distress. Protect your family and your pets by replacing these cleaning products with your own homemade versions. These four homemade cleaning solutions are made with natural and affordable ingredients, and they can tackle any cleaning project just as well as store-bought cleaners. Scouring Scrub This scrub is ideal for bathroom sinks and tubs, and anywhere else where you need a little extra help scrubbing away grime. Combine 1 ½ cups of baking soda, 1/3 cup of lemon juice, ¼ cup of salt, ¼ cup of natural dish detergent, and ½ cup of vinegar in a large mixing bowl. Mix until uniform, and then transfer to a resealable container to keep on hand for future cleaning projects. Wood Polish and Cleaner There's no need for chemical-laden furniture polishes when you have this natural mixture on hand. In a bottle, combine ¾ cup of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, and 10-12 drops of lemon essential oil. Shake well, and shake again before each use. To polish your furniture, just pour a small amount of this mixture onto a soft cloth, and buff the surfaces using a circular motion. The olive oil really makes your wood glisten, and it adds natural moisture to keep it looking like new for years to come. All-Purpose Glass and Surface Spray Use this spray to clean your windows, mirrors, table tops and other hard surfaces. In a spray bottle, combine 1 ½ cups of water, 1 ½ cups of white vinegar, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 5-6 drops of lemon or orange essential oil. Spritz this mixture directly onto the surface than needs cleaning, and wipe it away with a soft cloth. It's great for removing dust and smears. Super Disinfectant Spray When you want to both clean and disinfect a surface, this mixture is the perfect choice. You can spray it on a counter-top after the cat has walked across it and know that you have killed the germs. It's also great for cleaning toilets. Just pour approximately ½ cup of the mixture into the toilet bowl, let it sit for 5 minutes, and then scrub well with a toilet brush. To make your disinfectant spray, combine 2 cups of hot water, ¾ cup of white vinegar, 1 tablespoon of borax, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of natural dish detergent in a bowl. Stir until the ingredients are dissolved, and then transfer to a bottle. These four cleaning products are capable of tackling even the toughest household dirt and grime. Make yourself a batch of each, and keep them on hand in your cleaning cabinet. Never again do you have to spend your hard-earned dollars on expensive and potentially harmful cleaning products from the store. Elena Serafin Rich Cosner & Associates (951) 536-2721 www.elenaserafin.com realtorelenaserafin@gmail.com Cal BRE# 01938435 If there are problems with how this message is displayed, click here to view it in a web browser Elena Serafin © 2017 — Powered by Elevated Network If you prefer not to receive further emails please click here to unsubscribe Write us at: 12335 Baseline Road, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739

NATIONAL HEAVENLY HASH DAY

NATIONAL HEAVENLY HASH DAY National Heavenly Hash Day is celebrated annually on February 2nd. When it comes to defining Heavenly Hash, the only ingredient that seems for certain is a variety of marshmallows, marshmallow creme or whip. Nearly every brand of ice cream has their version of Heavenly Hash and recipes range from fruity salads to chocolate bars with nuts. Realtor Elena Serafin Ca BRE#01938435 Office:951-536-2721 Web ElenaSerafin.com

How to Stage Your Home for an Open House

How to Stage Your Home for an Open House Tips & Tricks Any real estate agent will tell you that one of the best ways to sell your home fast is to have an exciting open house. Prospective buyers will be more likely to make an offer on your home at an open house event if you properly stage your property. This will take some hard work on your part, but you will see positive results. When you begin to stage your home for the real estate market, there are some steps that you should take to make your event successful. Clean the House A clean home is a home that sells on the real estate market. Cleaning carpets, waxing floors, dusting, and scrubbing are all essential to making your home appealing to house hunters. No detail is too small when it comes to cleaning your house. That is why it important not to forget about things like cleaning out the fridge and organizing cabinets. If you don't have one already, make a space in your home that has cleaning products neatly organized. This will demonstrate that you have taken steps to keep your home clean and well maintained during the length of your ownership of the property. Make Necessary Repairs Buyers taking a serious interest in your home will want to thoroughly inspect your house both inside and out. One of the most important steps for staging your home for an open house is to make any and all needed repairs to the home. Leaking faucets, holes in the walls, and broken light fixtures are just a few repairs to consider. Walk through your home as though you are the prospective buyer, and take note of any damages that would make you think twice about making a new home purchase. You may also want to have your real estate agent walk through the home with you to help catch anything that you might have missed. Clean Out Storage Areas It is tempting to fill the garage, attic, and closets with items that you don't want laying around during the open house. This is a big mistake, as visitors to your home will want to inspect these areas to determine how much storage space your home can offer. Organizing these spaces will allow you to emphasize the available space in your home, making it more attractive to buyers. Simplify Your Home Décor New home-buyers want to envision themselves living in your home, which can be difficult if your home is filled with personal mementos or unusual interior design choices. Photos on the refrigerator, vacation souvenirs on shelves, and any other highly personal knickknacks should be packed neatly away in your storage areas. If your walls are not painted in neutral tones, you should consider painting before your open house. A little girl's hot pink bedroom might not be appealing to a buyer that has three sons. The key to simplifying your home décor is to create a space that allows anyone to picture living in your home. Allow for Light and Fresh Air Well-lit rooms often appear larger than they actually are, so be sure to open curtains and blinds wherever possible. You should also replace any light bulbs that are burnt out and add light fixtures to any dark spaces in your home. A few hours before your open house, you should open a few windows to allow fresh air to circulate throughout the home. Although you do want your home to smell pleasant, you should avoid overpowering air fresheners. Heavy scents may give the impression that you are trying to hide something. Don't Neglect the Outside of the Home Your front yard is the first thing that people are going to see as they approach your home, so it is your first chance to make an impression on potential buyers. Clean up any clutter in the front yard such as bicycles or lawnmowers. Make sure that your grass is trimmed and that the outside of your home is clean. If you can afford it, consider hiring a landscaper to give the exterior of your home a more finished look. The open house is your first date with potential buyers, so make sure to make your home stand out as a neat, clean, and welcoming place to live. Following these steps will help guarantee that your house sells quickly for a fair price. Elena Serafin Rich Cosner & Associates (951) 536-2721 www.elenaserafin.com realtorelenaserafin@gmail.com Cal BRE# 01938435 If there are problems with how this message is displayed, click here to view it in a web browser Elena Serafin © 2017 — Powered by Elevated Network If you prefer not to receive further emails please click here to unsubscribe Write us at: 12335 Baseline Road, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739

If you are looking to sell or buy a home or property

If you are looking to sell or buy a home or property, it is essential that you hire a local real estate agent. Local realtors will have experience with listings in your neighborhood and will offer you the expertise you need when buying or selling a home. Your real estate agent will be able to give you the most accurate value of a property regardless of whether you are selling or buying. Often, he or she will have dealt with dozens of properties in the area, thereby, bringing specific market experience to the transaction. In addition, your real estate agent will be familiar with other local professionals who you may need to complete the transaction. For example, your realtor can refer you to an appraiser, contractor, mortgage banker or escrow officer. You will need these professionals to complete your transaction of selling or buying a home in and your real estate agent is an excellent source for establishing these contacts. realtors are also familiar with local housing laws and will help you close the transaction smoothly, with the most lawful and appropriate contracts, disclosure agreements and the like. He or She will also be able to clarify any industry jargon that you may not understand. Your agent will have access to hundreds of homes that he or she can show you. It is important to connect with an agent who is very familiar with properties in the specific neighborhoods you are interested in. Once you outline your desires and specifications, your real estate agent will be able to show you the most qualified homes that fit within your vision of where you would like to live. Likewise, if you are selling a home in , you should hire one of many realtors to help you. He or she may already have buyers who may be interested in purchasing a property in your neighborhood. Furthermore, your real estate agent will be able to use the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and other property listing systems to advertise your home or condo for sale to other potential buyers. All of this will increase your chances of selling your property fast. Realtor Elena Serafin Ca BRE#01938435 Office:951-536-2721 Web ElenaSerafin.com

NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY – February 1

National Freedom Day, always observed on February 1st, celebrates freedom from slavery. It also recognizes that America is a symbol for freedom. It honors the signing by Abraham Lincoln of a joint House and Senate resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution President Lincoln signed the Amendment outlawing slavery on February 1, 1865. It was not ratified by the states however, until later on December 18, 1865.