“Friday,

The golden child of the weekdays.

The super hero of the workweek.

The welcome wagon to the weekend. “

If you are heading out this month on your annual road trip or weekend getaway, we would like to remind you on the importance of protecting your home while you are gone.

Contrary to popular belief, spreading the word that you will be gone is actually beneficial. Let us explain…do not post it on social media but advise a relative or friend who can monitor the home for they days you won’t be there.

 Do a walkthrough ensuring that every lock is turned and window shut. A tip most people forget is to put their mail on hold, as a piled up mailbox is a sure tell indicator no one is home. The most common security measure is installing a motion censored light.

Lastly, do not forget to protect your valuables in a safe or bank box before you leave.

Happy traveling!

Energy bills can go through the roof in the summer but rising temperatures don’t mean your costs need to climb too. The great news is there are ways to quickly cut down on energy spending by at least 25 percent with these helpful tips.

1. Avoid Humidity inside – High humidity can make it feel a few degrees warmer inside. Get rid of excess moisture in the air by using range hoods when cooking. Take shorter, colder showers with the bathroom fan running.
2. Get Smart technology – “Smart” thermostats automatically adjust to weather and learn your living patterns so that your home is cooled when needed and off when no one is home.
3. Use fans – A fan is great to use in conjunction with AC to help circulate the air more efficiently. In fact, because a fan can evaporate perspiration from the skin, it can sometimes feel just as effective as AC.
4. Go dark – Keeping shades and curtains drawn during the hottest times of the day (between noon and 4 p.m.) can help keep the room cool and limit your usage of the AC unit.
5. Put Down Roots- Planting trees or high shrubs outside the sunniest spots in the home is a natural way to reduce heat indoors.
6. Find A New Normal – Most homeowners won’t notice the difference if they leave the thermostat a few degrees warmer than their norm and soon they will acclimate to it. By doing this you limit how many days your system will be on and in return save yourself some money.
7. Stick A Film On It – Tinting uncovered windows or screen doors that are facing the sun can keep heat out during the summer months and cool your house down.

Lowering your bill is easy; it just takes some simple planning and preparation.

It’s that time of year again! Let the games begin, the Olympic Games that is.

Held every four years as an international sports competition, qualifying countries play every sport from swimming to soccer as they vie for a spot on the winner’s podium.

This year the Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo with opening ceremonies commencing on Friday July 23, 2021. Will you be watching?

Go team USA!

Western Mutual and Arizona Home would like to invite all mortgage professionals in and around the Arizona area to the annual mortgage expo being held in Chandler at the Wild Horse Pass Casino. This event will take place on Thursday July 22, 2021 from 9AM to 2PM. Attendees will sit in on multiple seminars from mortgage industry leaders. This one-day event will count as your continuing education and many exhibitors like us will be there to show you new industry trends and one of a kind programs like ours. If you are interested, please contact our Affinity department directly for your invite code that will allow you to register for free!

Call toll free: 1-(800)-234-3659 or visit them online at ezaffinity.com         

We are in the heat of summer, literally. With temps rising…so will our electric bill as we all run to turn the AC on.  However, an increased demand for power to run our units during this hot weather can cause the power lines to overload and create a power outage.

It is important that you take action as prolonged power outages not only affect you but your community. They can disrupt communication channels, close retail stores, gas stations and banks. With no electricity, your food could spoil and you could find yourself unable to use needed medical devices.

• Take an inventory of the items you need that rely on electricity and plan for batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs should the power go out.
• Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life.
• Sign up for local alerts and warning systems. Monitor weather reports.
• Determine whether your home phone will work in a power outage and how long battery backup will last.
• Have enough nonperishable food and water to last a minimum of 3 days. Keep Ice bags in freezer so that you can keep perishable items in cooler or sink.
• Use a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so that you can know the temperature when the power is restored. Throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.
• Keep mobile phones and other electric equipment charged and vehicle gas tanks full.

Let us know your tips for staying prepared during these hot summer days.

Taking preventative measures when it comes to your home is the best way to ensure that you avoid any unforeseen accidents and costly repairs.

Giving your plumbing system regular attention can help to prolong its life and actually make it run better than before. The following are recommendations that you can implement and help protect you home from the inside out.

Don’t over use chemical drain cleaning products – These products can sometimes do more harm than good, primarily when used to treat a recurring problem. Overuse can actually erode cast-iron drainpipes and create a bigger blockage plus leaky pipes.

Combat future clogging – Avoid plugging up any of your lines by knowing what goes down your drains. Keep kitchen drains clear of grease and any food scraps, prevent hair build-up in bathroom drains, and ensure only toilet paper goes down toilets.

Hard water is hard on pipes – Water with a high mineral content shortens your plumbing’s overall lifespan. Hard water can also corrode joints and fittings, so the faster you fix the issue the better. A simple and easy to implement fix would be an electric water softener. 

We hope you have a happy and safe grilling season!

Don’t forget to check out our other videos on YouTube by searching Western Mutual.