Home Care Tips

Fast Facts

A Pew Research Center survey conducted in March 2026 found that 71% of homeowners reported having experienced an increase in home insurance costs over the last few years. This is backed up by earlier findings of two studies: A 2025 report by the Consumer Federation of America found that home insurance premiums had increased, on average, by close to 25% between 2021 and 2024, while a Bipartisan Policy Center report released the previous year revealed insurance rates had increased 40% faster than inflation between 2017 and 2022.

(Sources: Pew Research Center, May 2026, Consumer Federation of America, April 2025, and Bipartisan Policy Center, June 2024)

National Insuranc...

5 Important 1st Steps for New Homeowners

Fast Fact

Did you know that mortgage rates at the end of April 2026 are lower than they were a year ago, creating more opportunities for buyers to enter the housing market? (Source: freddiemac.com/pmms)

Celebrating New Homeowners Day: Why It Matters 

New Homeowners Day, celebrated every May 1st, honors the achievement of owning a home and the sense of security it brings. It recognizes that a home is more than just a place to live – it’s where families grow, memories are made and everyday life happens. The day is especially meaningful for those who have worked hard and waited a long time to finally achieve homeownership. 

Buying a home is a m...

Fast Fact

Did you know that 95% of homeowners and single-family renters believe that a home affects the health of its residents YET, according to the U.S. Census, 45% of homes across the US have at least one health hazard, making the home one of the most dangerous places for U.S. families? Some of these hazards can cause illness, injury or even death. (Source: nchh.org)

Check Your Home, Protect Your Family during National Healthy Homes Month

April is National Healthy Homes Month. It’s a perfect time to inspect your home for any potential issues that could impact your home’s health and that of your family, as well as to address them. For example, the air inside your home can sometimes...

Changing Your Clocks Is a Perfect Time to Power Up Your Smoke Alarms

Fast Fact
 
Did you know that roughly 3 out of 5 fire deaths take place in homes that have no (or no working) smoke alarms?

Make Daylight Savings a Home Safety Reminder

Daylight Saving Time begins this year on Sunday, March 8th and what better time to remember to test your smoke alarms around your home and change their batteries.

Each spring, when Daylight Saving Time begins, we set our clocks ahead by one hour. This is why we say “spring forward.” When we “fall back” in November, as Daylight Saving Time ends, it’s another great reminder to do the same.

We get it—testing and swapping out the batteries in your smoke ...

Nobody thinks about their dryer vent until clothes take three cycles to dry and your laundry room feels like a sauna. That fluffy lint trap you pull out? That's just the opening act. The real lint party is happening deep in your dryer vent, and it's getting wild in there.

If towels are still damp after an hour or your laundry room smells like burnt toast, you've ignored it for too long. All that buildup makes your dryer work harder than climbing the cables of the Ravenel Bridge—and it's also a real fire hazard!

Clean your dryer vent regularly—including the duct, not just the lint trap. Your wallet and fire insurance company will thank you. 

The good news?

A quick cleaning means cl...

You can keep your home in top shape with simple tasks throughout the year. This month, be sure to:

1. Clean the vent duct for your clothes dryer. Fires created by clogged dryer vents are one of the most common causes of house fires.
2. Test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
3. Make sure you and your family members know the location of all gas / electrical/ water shut-off valves.
4. Examine your thermostat. Clean the heat sensor, contact points, and contacts; check your thermometer's accuracy and replace if necessary.
5. Pull out your refrigerator and clean behind the unit. Be sure to clean off the coils.
6. Replace or clean forced heat and A/C filters.
7. Check your fire extinguisher...