adding smart home technology to your home

This is the Year of the Smart Home

You come home from a long day’s work to your empty home, but it’s ready for you. The thermostat is set to your favorite temperature, all of the lights are dimmed, and the dishwasher is quietly running. The sprinklers are watering your lawn and the dog is sleeping in his bed after being fed by the automatic dog feeder.

This may sound like a scene from a movie, yet this could be your reality if you join the smart home trend.

According to CNBC, 2017 will be the year of the smart home, with over 80 million smart home devices being delivered worldwide. These products include devices for the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home security, and even the yard.

Popular Smart Home Products To Watch For

With…

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buying homes with mold and mildew

If you're buying a home in this area that's more than ten years old, mold (or fungal growth) is a topic that may come up. But the truth is, mold is rarely as serious a problem as some would have you believe.

Here are three important things to understand about mold:

1. Mold is Everywhere

Mold is actually quite common. In fact, it's everywhere. There are more than 100,000 different species of mold, and there is likely mold on every surface you touch and in the air you breathe. Most of the time, it's harmless, though people who suffer from allergies may be more susceptible to mold-related health problems.

When it comes to mold in the home, again there are many different kinds, and it takes a qualified specialist to properly identify molds.…

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Andrew Palumbo - new construction real estate specialist

Andrew is one of the founding members of the My NC Homes team. He specializes in new construction transactions, but also loves helping first-time homebuyers reach their longtime goal of owning their own home.

Becoming a real estate agent was a natural fit for Andrew. Growing up, he loved going to the job site with his father and eventually followed in his footsteps by getting involved in the family’s construction and real estate business. During this time he became a licensed appraiser and general contractor for condominium, luxury homes, and vacation homes. After several blustery winters in Vermont, he and his family moved to the Triangle region in search of a better climate.

Why Specialize In New Construction?

Many people think that…

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what you need to know about flood insurance

When buying a home, something you need to know is whether it’s located in a floodplain. Knowing what and where they are can help you make better decisions about buying a home and obtaining the proper insurance. You may think of floodplains being limited to areas affected by hurricanes and tropical storms, and while this is true, floodplains can exist almost anywhere there’s low lying land and rain.

How To Know If You're Home Is In A Floodzone

By definitions, a floodplain is any area that is likely to have flooding from rising water levels in a river, a stream, lake, or tidal area. It may surprise some people to know that flooding is the biggest natural disaster that occurs in the United States.

An area can get flooded from several causes,…

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Renovating your home to age in place

When it comes to retirement, there are a lot of things people look forward to, like golf, travel and hobbies. But they don’t look forward to moving into assisted living facilities. Many prefer to "age in place" and stay in their existing homes as long as possible.

This may sound like a daunting, expensive proposition, but a little planning can go a long way, according to Joe Norwood, owner of Manor House Renovations. "People don’t want to move from their home when they retire," said Norwood. "But most aren’t proactive when it comes to future-proofing their homes as they age."

Joe Norwood is a "Certified Aging in Place Specialist" and Manor House Renovations is one of the Triangle area’s leading home remodeling companies, focusing on modifying…

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Safety tips during the holidays

The holidays are a joyous, fun-filled time of year, but they’re also a time to think about safety. With all of the shopping, parties and traveling, everyone is in a hurry during the holidays. With so much activity, it’s easy to overlook the safety of you and your family. Here are some tips to help you to stay safe over the holidays.

Safety In The Home

  • If you have a natural Christmas tree, be sure the lighting is UL approved and that the wires are not frayed or damaged.
  • Put your tree in a solid base that will prevent it from falling over easily when children or pets get too close.
  • Keep your live tree well watered to prevent it from drying out and becoming a potential fire hazard.
  • Be sure to test your smoke alarms to ensure they are…

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Home ownership risks to avoid

Being a homeowner means that there is always some element of risk involved. The risk is not only what can happen to you, but also the liability you may incur when accidents happen on your property, or even on someone else's property.

Each of these potential problems can raise your homeowner's insurance costs, or may even prevent you from obtaining coverage. Here are some things you need to consider in terms of reducing your risk:

Keep Swimming Pools Safe

While swimming pools can be a lot of fun for the family, and a great way to cool off in the summer, they do come with some additional insurance risks.  Someone could fall on the deck and get hurt, or a child could wander into the pool area and drown.

The result could be high medical bills,…

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Home improvements you shouldn't do yourself

It’s nearly time for the kids to head back to school, which means that there’s still a little bit of time left for ambitious homeowners to do some home improvement projects as a family. One of the things that Pinterest and blogs are great for is inspiring homeowners to be creative and tackle some home projects themselves, but when it comes to home improvements, there are some things are best-left to the professionals.

Trimming Or Removing Trees

Pruning a tree that’s no taller than you or a small shrub is east to do yourself, but as soon as you need a ladder to reach the leaves or need to remove large branches, you should probably leave it to the pros. Removing trees or trimming them will require power tools and considerable heights. A good tree…

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If your home was built before the mid-1960s, there's a good chance it has an underground storage tank for the heating oil used as the fuel for the furnace. This heating oil was usually stored in underground storage tanks (USTs) near the homes. Oil trucks would come to the homes and top off the USTs periodically during the winter months.

The Problem: Tanks Can Corrode & Leak Over Time

Over time, people switched to above-ground tanks or to electric furnaces or furnaces powered by natural gas. But the underground tanks still sit on the properties and may still have some oil in them. So what is the problem? Well, the tanks are made primarily of steel, which will corrode after about 20 or 30 years of use. Holes develop in the tanks, and the oil leaks out…

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The holiday season is a time for family, friends, food, and fun. Unfortunately, it’s also a time for thieves. With so many people exchanging gifts, thieves know that homes are full of Christmas- Protect Your Valuablesnew electronics, jewels, and other valuables at this time of year. So, as the holidays wind down, it’s a good idea to see what precautions you can take to protect your valuables.

Year Round Suggestions

Don’t make stealing easy. The harder you make it for thieves to get to your valuables, the more likely they will abandon your home for an easier one. Let’s look at steps you can take to discourage any potential thieves.

  1. If you have a security system, use it every night and whenever you are away from home during the day. Make sure that there are security signs by…

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