Greetings,
Here are some summertime tips to help you enjoy the season, whether you're at home or on the road. Stay cool out there!
Brooks Beaupain
206-778-4663 Direct
Cool Summertime Home and Travel Tips

Reverse the Ceiling Fan for Better Cooling

Did you know that reversing the direction of a ceiling fan can improve its cooling effect? Making the blades spin counter-clockwise causes the air to be pushed straight downward, which creates more of a breeze.

Tip: The experts at the Simple Dollar recommend buying ceiling fans that have a blade angle of 12 to 14 degrees for rooms where you don't want papers to be blown around, and over 14 degrees for general use rooms. A 44-inch fan is sufficient for most medium-sized bedrooms or kitchens, according to their website.


Is Your Home Insured While You're Traveling?



Many homeowners who depart on summer travels don't realize that their home insurance coverage may change if they are gone for more than 30 or 60 consecutive days. The "Vacancy" clause in any home insurance policy explains the details, which vary by company.

For example, a Vacancy clause may state that if the home has been unoccupied for more than 60 consecutive days, the policy no longer covers damage due to "vandalism and malicious mischief" (including fire or theft - yikes!) Some insurance companies consider a home occupied if you have a house-sitter, while others do not.

"Vacant" homes (typically defined as having no furniture or occupant) are treated differently, as explained in this helpful Insurance.com article. Either way, it's a good idea to check your policy's Vacancy clause before leaving for a long trip.


This Swimming Pool Escape Ramp Saves Wildlife

The FrogLog is a clever little device that has saved thousands of wild animals from drowning in backyard swimming pools. Invented by a wildlife biologist, it provides a floating step and a ramp so that frogs, squirrels, and other animals can haul themselves out of the water and get back to dry land.


Image courtesy of www.FrogLog.com

(Amphibians are water-friendly, but will die if exposed to chlorinated water for too long.) Many of the people who leave rave reviews on the FrogLog website say it should be standard poolside equipment, and it would certainly make a great housewarming gift for anyone who has bought a home with an outdoor pool.

The best deal in terms of price and guarantee right now appears to be directly on the FrogLog website.


Keeping Pets Safe On Road Trips

If a furry friend is part of your summer travel plans, you already know the dilemma: how to keep them safe when you need to pop into a store on a sunny day? Here are some stats that are useful to know:
  • A car can become lethally hot on a sunny day even if the outside temperature is only 65 degrees F.
  • When it's 85 degrees outside a car heats up to 104 degrees in only 10 minutes, and to 119 degrees in half an hour.
  • Studies have shown that leaving car windows cracked open makes very little difference.
There isn't a simple solution to this problem, which is getting more and more media attention. Ultimately it may sometimes require being willing to lose the car's contents and leaving the windows wide open to keep Fido safe from heat stroke.


For Late Summer Flowers, Consider Sage




Ornamental sage (also called Salvia) is a colorful addition to an outdoor or container garden for anyone who'd like a fall-blooming flower. Salvia comes in many different varieties and colors, with some that are hardy down to Climate Zone 4.

Late-blooming flowers like this are also good for migrating hummingbirds, which tend to transition from an insect-rich diet to a more nectar-based diet prior to their journey in the fall, according to EcoWatch.

Here's a good list of ornamental sage varieties categorized by Climate Zone hardiness.

Recent Market Highlights

- U.S. home prices rose 5.6 percent year-to-year in May, according to a recent S&P/Case-Shiller report. They rose 6.7 percent year-to-year in June, according to CoreLogic, a data and analytics company.

- The national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is around 4 percent.

The June Pending Home Sales Index rose .5 percent year-to-year, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Note:  Housing statistics based on closed sales typically reflect market conditions of two or three months ago.  To find out what's going on right now in your local market, please contact me directly.


Contact Me for Market Information
Are you curious about your home's current market value, or do you have a question about home buying? Just reply to this email, or call me at 206-778-4663.
Links that Make Life Easier

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

Plants for a Colorful Shade Garden
HGTV's suggestions for colorful plants that thrive in shady areas.

Overview of State "Hot Car" Laws
See which states have laws that allow law enforcement officers and/or the public to break into cars to rescue animals in danger.

Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Sriracha Slaw
A fun grill recipe that's light enough that you may not have to take a three-hour siesta after the meal. :)



The Lighter Side



Here's a funny gallery of unusual sights that pet owners have been treated to upon waking up in the morning. Click here or on the image above to see the pictures
on the family-friendly LittleThings website.

Your Resource for Real Estate
I welcome the opportunity to serve you, your friends and associates. Please give me a call today or simply reply to this email if I can be of assistance!

Brooks Beaupain, REALTOR®, ASP, GRI, CNE
Windermere Real Estate/East, Inc.
Brooks@windermere.com | 206-778-4663
www.BrooksBeaupain.com


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