The day after Thanksgiving every year the shopping malls and retail stores flood with people trying to find the best deals on products ranging from coffee pots to barbie dolls.  Whether you are shopping for holiday gifts or for things for yourself, you might want to check out the deals online this week.  Most stores offer the same prices online as they do on the web and the best part- you can completely avoid the crowds!

Here are some sales on home-related products you might find useful this Friday:

Best Buy- deals on TVs, cameras, GPS devices, DVD’s laptops and Video Games

HomeInsurance.com- save up to 20% on your home policy by insuring your car with the same company

Kmart-sale items include men’s and women’s clothing, jackets, toys and games

Home Depot- Black Friday Savings Event includes deals on grills, Christmas trees and more- the first 50 people to spend $350 or more get $50 off!

Lowes Home improvement- sales on power tools, shop vacs, and appliances

Linens and Things-Going out of Business Sale on duvets, bed skirts, vacuums, towels, pillows, etc.

For more deals, visit blackfriday.info.  Happy Shopping!

Programmable thermostats are all the craze recently as a new way to save energy and money when it comes to heating and cooling your home.  Energy Star claims that programmable thermostats can save you a few hundred dollars each year on your energy bills if used correctly.

What makes it different than a regular thermostat?

Programmable thermostats are designed to be programmed by the homeowners so that they can adjust their heating and cooling levels to conserve energy when the don’t need as much.  For example, during the winter time a programmable thermostat might be programmed to heat  the house at 70 degrees when you are home but only heat the house to 65 (producing less heat, less energy) when you are not home or sleeping. The same applies for the summer.  A programmable thermostat might be programmed to cool the house to 78 degrees while you are home but and to cool the house to 82 while you are at work or sleeping.

3 Types of Programmable Thermostats

There are three different types of programmable thermostats on the market today. To select the model that works best for your household, think about your schedule and how often you are home and away from home.  Visit Energy Star’s site where they explain the 3 model types.

A few years ago, deep fried turkeys became the craze around Thanksgiving time. But are they really worth the danger?

According to The U.S. Fire Administration, cooking was the cause of roughly 1300 reported home structure fires on Thanksgiving night 2005.  That is about 3 times the daily average!

The USFA claims that many of these fires occur becasue homeowners are busy entertaining guests while food is left unattended in the kitchen. However, one of the most recent culprits of spikes in Thanksgiving  cooking fires is the turkey fryer.

Why is the turkey fryer so dangerous?

1- Many models on the market pose a great danger of being easily tipped over

2- They contain a high quantity of cooking oil at high temperatures

Not only can turkey fryers cause devastating burns- but they have been responsible for extreemly destructive dwelling fires.

Cook Safe this Thanskgiving! Here are some tips for safe cooking:

• One major cause of turkey fryer accidents is that the turkey is not completely thawed, which can create a volatile situation. The National Turkey Federation recommends refrigerator thawing: allow approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of bird thawed.
• Use your turkey fryer outdoors, away from buildings and any material that can burn. Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks or in garages. Make sure to place the fryer on a flat surface.
• Never leave the fryer unattended. If you don’t watch it carefully, the oil may catch fire.
• Never overfill the fryer, and make sure to leave adequate room for the oil displaced by the turkey.
• Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use. And, even after the food is on the table, remember: turkey fryers remain dangerously hot for hours.
• Always use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when using a turkey fryer. And, even though they may look silly, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
• If a fire breaks out, never use water to try to put it out. Adding water to a grease fire will only make things worse, quickly, and could result in significant fire damage, as well as devastating injury. Make certain you keep a fire extinguisher on hand, but if the fire appears unmanageable, call 9-1-1 for help, rather than fighting it yourself.
• Always use cooking equipment tested and approved by a recognized testing facility.
• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• Keep anything that can catch fire - potholders, towels or curtains - away from your stove top.
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire.
• Never use a wet oven mitt, as it presents a scald danger if the moisture in the mitt is heated.
• Always keep an oven mitt and lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Don’t remove the lid until it is completely cool.
• If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you and your clothing. Have the oven serviced before you use it again.

 Look for the logo!

“The average home causes twice the greenhouse gas emissions as a car making homes a huge opportunity to reduce green house gas effects” - Maria Vargas, Spokesperson for Energy Star

We sat down with Maria Vargas, spokesperson for  the Energy Star program from the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A) and got some really amazing tips for saving on energy costs this winter while also helping to save the planet.

Some Background- Energy Star started in 1992 as an effort on the part of the E.P.A. to  promote more energy efficient homes, products and buildings. Today, over 50 different types of products as well as new homes, hotels, school and hospitals can earn an Energy Star Rating.

An Energy Star Rating means that the product, home or building is:

• more energy efficient
• is cost effective (costs less or equal to a similar non-energy star product)
• does not lack in performance

Top Ways to Save on Energy and Go Green this Holiday Season:

1- Buy and correctly install a programmable thermostat that has an Energy Star logo.  “Homeowners can save about $180/year by using a programmable thermostat,” said Vargas.

2- SEAL UP- the average home has so many leaks around windows, doors, and pipes that it is equivalent to leaving a window open all year round.  Use caulk, get better windows, insulate your attic and basement.  All of these will help.

3-Make sure your heating equipment is working properly.  Replace your filters regularly!  “Dirt and Neglect are the #1 causes of system failure,” said Vargas.  Get a professional to check your system once a year and if your system is more than 15 years old- you should consider buying a newer, more energy efficient model.

4- Switch to energy efficient light bulbs.  Lighting consumes 20 percent of your energy bills every month. Switching to energy efficient bulbs can save you a great deal of money on your bill.

5- Lastly, give the gift of green!  If you are planning on purchasing a television, game system or other electronic equipment as a gift this season, look for the Energy Star logo!

Scan through our Winter Checklist to make sure you are protecting your home from the elements this season:

 Check the walls, attic and basement for adequate insulation
 Find and seal any gaps around doors and windows where warm air can escape
 Feel around electrical outlets and switch plates for cold air or drafts and add insulation where necessary
 If you have old, drafty windows, consider replacing them with energy efficient double-paned windows
 Clean gutters and downspouts
 Have a contractor check your roof shingles and check for loose gutters
 Replace the filter in your furnace
 Have wood stoves and chimneys cleaned early in the season
 Check your home for any vents that may have been opened for the warn weather
 Disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets
 Make sure you have a shovel and other necessary winter supplies

Crescent Communities, a real estate development company based in Charlotte, NC- released an article this week where they explore the top nine home trends for 2009.  Some of the trends show a definite change of direction in homeowners’ priorities. The Top 9:

• Less Square Footage
• Room for Storage
• Outdoor Living
• Maximum Mobility Design
• Female-Friendly Design
• Green and Healthy Homes
• Smart Homes
• Revolutionized kitchens
• Office Space

For a more detailed explanation, I highly recommend the full article here.

These trends say a great deal about how insurance premiums may be affected in the future. New homes are often rewarded with new home discounts.  New-home owners will also reap home insurance premium benefits from having less sqaure footage.

Agent@HomeInsurance.com

Jan,

While I can’t speak on behalf of all lenders, I can say that if one lender is requiring flood insurance- most others will most likely do the same.  The reason this holds true is because lenders usually base their flood requirements for each customer on the type of flood zone the home is in. They access maps from FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program to see if the flood zone is a low, moderate or high risk flood area. Most lenders require that customers whose homes lie in a moderate-high risk zone carry flood insurance.

While you may find a lender who’s requirements differ from another- you may want to heed the warning of the cautionary lender. If your home lies in moderate-high risk flood zone it is always in your best interest to stay protected and purchase flood insurance.

Check out our latest press release on flood insurance for more information.

Thanks,

Your Agent@HomeInsurance.com

Only months after Hurricane Ike, Farmers Insurance is planning to impose a double-digit rate hike for hundreds of thousands of Texas homeowners. The rates are set to take place on February 16th 2009 and will affect homeowners from two of the company’s largest subsidiaries.

Homeowners across the state are highly against the timing of the  rate increase as they feel they are already hurting from the current economic crisis. Consumer groups are calling on State insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin to reject the proposal.

A spokesman for the commission said they will weigh all sides in the matter before making a decision whether to block the higher rates or let them go through.

Representatives from Farmers Insurance claim that the rate increase is caused by the rising cost of labor and materials. The company claims that the rate increase was well in the works before the two major hurricane losses (Ike and Dolly)  devastated homeowners across the state.

Texas homeowners already pay some of the highest homeowners insurance rates in the country. In 2005, Texas homeowners paid on average $1,372 per year for home insurance. Texas home insurance premiums  in 2005 were 79% higher than the U.S. average of $764.

THE TOP TEN MOST EXPENSIVE AND LEAST EXPENSIVE
STATES FOR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, 2005

Rank	Most expensive states	Homeowners average premium (1)	Rank	Least expensive states	Homeowners average premium  (1)
1	Texas (2)	$1,372	1	Idaho	$457
2	Louisiana	1,144	2	Utah	477
3	Florida	1,083	3	Oregon	491
4	Oklahoma	996	4	Wisconsin	495
5	D.C.	963	5	Delaware	498
6	Mississippi	939	6	Ohio	531
7	California (3)	895	7	Maine	553
8	Rhode Island	849	8	Washington	589
9	Alabama	847	9	Iowa	594
10	New York	842	10	New Mexico	605

President elect Obama claims to support legislation that creates a cap on insurance company losses from major hurricanes or other major storm losses. If insurance companies are protected from the major financial losses associated with these storms, they may be more willing to write policies in Florida, Louisiana and other disaster prone states.

What does this mean for homeowners?

If major companies that are currently refusing to write policies in states like Florida and Louisiana begin insuring homeowners again, the home insurance rates may decrease, creating more affordable home insurance for these homeowners.

Top 3 Most Expensive States for Homeowners Insurance:

• Texas $1,372
• Louisiana $1,144
• Florida: $1,083

If and when this bill will pass is uncertain at best. Some insurers don’t support the government’s intervention in the marketplace which has stalled the bill from passing in the Senate. One group however, coastal homeowners, we know are rooting for this one.

The two presidential candidates have very different views on health care and health insurance. With Election Day only one day away and with all of the different issues on the table- take a few minutes to brush up on each candidate’s stance on health care and insurance and let us know which plan you support and why!