10 Signs Your Home is Running with Rodents

It no longer matters what season it is, rodents always seek shelter and warmth within accessible homes and properties. While bigger infestations easily make themselves known, it is better to catch mice and rats before their population has the chance to increase. But, how can you tell if there is a problem? Here are some tell-tale signs that your home is infested with rodents.

  1. Chew Marks

Have you noticed tiny chew marks on cardboard, wood or other items around the home? Rodents of all shapes and sizes are well-known for gnawing on everything from skirting boards to wires.

  1. Something Smells

When a rodent dies inside a home, the smell is strong. If you notice a rotting odour, give us a call to help find and remove the dead rodents and other pests. Pest Free Australia offers effective rodent control products so make sure to check it out.

  1. A Musky Odour

Typically, an infestation of rodents is accompanied by a rather musky odour. The smell usually grows stronger as the infestation gets worse.

  1. Droppings

Rodent droppings tend to be the most common signs of infestation – and the easiest to spot. Mice droppings are about a quarter of an inch long and have pointed ends. They’re usually small and dark brown in colour. On the other hand, rat droppings can be much bigger – around three-quarters to half an inch long – and vary in size and shape depending on the kind of rats that are hanging around your home. If you need to clean up rodent droppings, make sure you wear gloves and a mask.

  1. Pets Behaving Strangely

If your cats or dogs are scratching at the walls or behaving strangely in certain parts of your home, it may be a sign of rodents. Take note of where in the house your cats or dogs are acting off so that you can guide a pest technician.

  1. Tracks

Another obvious sign of an infestation is small rodent footprints. These are usually noticeable in areas where dust collects, and tracks are easy to identify.

  1. Allergies

Determining the root-cause of allergies can be pretty difficult, but pest allergies are frequently overlooked. Rodent droppings and fur can also cause allergic reactions in some people. In fact, the majority of allergists believe that a pest-free home can combat regular allergy problems.

  1. Holes

Rats and mice sometimes gnaw minute holes in thin materials and walls to create entry points into your home and make their way around.

  1. Noise

Gnawing, scampering noises and sounds of scratching may be tell tale signs of rodents. You’ll usually hear noises inside walls, ceilings and in the attic.

  1. Grease Marks

Rodent’s fur is oily and can leave grease marks and streaks on the surfaces they scurry across. Be on the look out for these unexplained marks around your home.

Rodent infestations are hazardous and costly. If you have an active infestation or you think one could occur in your home, get the professionals in to inspect the property and find a solution.

A Brief Overview of the Reverse Mortgage Application Process

If you have ever heard of a home equity conversion mortgage (HECM) then you have heard of a reverse mortgage because they are the same thing. And, if you have heard of them, you have probably heard that they are a favorite mortgage type among retirees, but why is that? What makes reverse mortgages so special? Here is a brief overview of the reverse mortgage application process which will help you understand the difference between an HECM and a traditional home loan.

 

Types of Homes Which Qualify for Reverse Loans

The first thing you must know about reverse mortgages is that owning a building does not mean you can automatically qualify for such a loan. The building you own must be a private home or a condominium with four apartments or less in it. You must also live in the building yourself and use it as your primary residence. Additionally, the home must be valuable enough to warrant a lender loaning money based on its equity. That is one reason why a home with an existing mortgage is ineligible unless you are willing to use some of the HECM money to pay the first loan off right away.

Personal Qualification Requirements for Reverse Mortgages

On a personal level, you must be at least 62 years old in order to obtain a reverse mortgage on your home. Also, it must be your primary residence, not a secondary living space like a vacation home. Additionally, you must live in it, so you can’t obtain a reverse mortgage on a rental property unless you also continue to live in the home at the same time as your renters. In the event that you are signing the loan with someone, such as your spouse, that person must also be a resident of the home and must also be at least 62 years of age.

Why Reverse Mortgages Are Beneficial

One reason a reverse mortgage may be beneficial to you is that you will have flexibility over the payments you receive from your home equity. You can get a lump sum right away when you need it, or you can set up your reverse mortgage to pay you a little bit each month. In some cases you may also be able to set up a line of credit, allowing you to borrow exact amounts against your home value when you need them.

Another reason why reverse loans of this nature are considered beneficial is that they don’t have the same rigid repayment structure as traditional loans. Therefore, if you get an HECM, you won’t have the added financial burden of an extra ongoing bill each month. In fact, depending on your established loan terms, you may actually receive payments from one month to the next.

Federally-Controlled Versus Private Reverse Mortgage Lenders

There are several reverse mortgages available through federally-controlled lenders such as the jumbo reverse mortgage program. However, private reverse loan lenders are also in operation. Most legitimate private lenders charge higher fees than government-sanctioned lenders. You must also be careful when choosing a lender because some scam artists masquerade as legitimate lenders of reverse home loans.

How a Reverse Mortgage May Impact Your Family

You must consider your family when deciding whether or not to obtain a reverse mortgage. Although your family members’ assets will be safe if you pass away while there is still a loan balance, your home itself will not. Your family members will be faced with the decision of whether or not to pay the balance or allow the sale of the home. Therefore you must ask them if they would be willing or able to cover the loan balance in the event of your untimely death. You must also consider the fact that your family may not receive any money if the home is sold unless the amount of the sale is higher than the remaining loan balance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Reasons Why Diets Shouldn’t Be Temporary

When you think about dieting, dreams of quick fixes and short-term habit changes spring to mind. If you’re serious about your health, however, diets should never be quick or short-term. Discover five good reasons why diets shouldn’t be temporary and get some healthy tips for finding your perfect long-term diet plan.

Drastic Diets Put Your Body in Starvation Mode

It’s easy to assume that eating fewer calories while maintaining the same level of activity will prompt your body to burn that excess fat. In reality, when you go on a drastic diet and severely limit your calorie intake, your body goes into starvation mode. This can slow your metabolism, causing you to burn less energy, lose muscle, and put any weight loss on pause. In contrast, a healthy eating plan can help you lose weight slowly and steadily, without any starvation.

Restrictive Diets Can Compromise Your Nutritional Intake

Restrictive diets severely limit your calorie intake, which prevents you from getting essential nutrients. Without enough carbs, proteins, fats, and micro-nutrients, your body can’t function properly. Rather than compromising your nutritional intake, adopt a healthy eating plan that gives you the right balance of nutrients to meet your weight loss goals.

Quick-Fix Diets Discourage Lifelong Healthy Practices

Image via Flickr by Destinasjon Trysil

Quick-fix diets claim to offer results overnight or in a few days. In doing so, they discourage you from adopting healthy practices that keep you feeling and looking great for the rest of your life. In comparison, following a healthy diet and exercise plan with the LifeSum app encourages you to make nutritious meals and regular workouts a way of life.

Short-Term Diets Don’t Get to the Root of the Problem

If your bad eating habits have caused you to put on weight, the cause of those extra pounds might go beyond overeating. Going on a short-term diet might help you lose those extra pounds temporarily, but you’ll probably gain them back just as quickly if you don’t do some soul-searching. When you make long-term changes to your diet and exercise plan, you’ll be able to get to the root of the problem, determine why you’re overeating, and make healthy changes that stick.

Fad Diets Can Cause Unhealthy Eating Habits

Temporary diets won’t give you an adequate chance to examine your unhealthy eating habits, but fad diets can actually encourage dangerous patterns of consumption. If the diet you’re considering requires you to eliminate entire food groups or limit eating to once a day, it probably won’t help boost your health in the long term. Make a point of avoiding fad diets, and put your health first by finding a low-carb, high-protein, or even Mediterranean eating plan that works for you.

Temporary diets falsely promise immediate results, but in most cases, they only wreak havoc on your body, compromise your eating habits, and cause your energy levels to plummet. Instead, commit to a long-term diet and exercise plan, and look forward to building a strong body and a healthy mind.

 

SmartPhone Safety for Children

As a parent it’s scary letting your child use social media and browse the internet. The world is becoming more and more accessible every day, and with that, so are our children.

My 3 oldest children (18,17, and 10) all have their own smartphone and of course, my teenagers are active on social media. If my 10-year-old had it his way, he would have SnapChat, a YouTube channel and more right now.

With stories hitting the headlines every day it’s more important than ever to know what your child is doing on their smartphone.

Today, children are online from as young as three years old, with the average age of a child receiving their first smartphone being just 10.3!

According to statistics, a quarter of children have pretended to be older in order to get an account online, while it’s also claimed that almost a third of parents allow their kids to use the internet freely without any restrictions.

However, while this all sounds scary, it doesn’t have to be, and children can play care free on their smartphones and online with your own supervision.

The infographic below highlights the steps and measures you should take to ensure your child is safe playing on their smartphone…

 

 

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How to Protect your Children on their Smartphones at Fix Apple Now

Save on Maintenance at Paul Conte Chevrolet

Help keep your Chevy running properly by visiting the Chevrolet Certified Service experts at Paul Conte Chevrolet in Freeport, NY for regular maintenance and repair.
 
Take advantage of their current service offers and check back regularly for more Chevy service coupons. Save on oil changes, tires, brake repair, batteries and more. Paul Conte Chevrolet offers a wide range of auto repair services and Everyday Value Pricing.
 
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