Owning a home is a great accomplishment, but it can also be a hassle with unexpected issues that can cause major damage. Knowing these simple maintenance habits can help save you a headache and money.

1. Do not ignore the signs

Ignoring signs such as a crack on your wall or floor can signal an even greater problem like a slab leak. Pay attention to these indicators and repair or inspect quickly to avoid expensive repairs.

2. Looking thoroughly at your home

Not visiting unused areas of your home such as the attic, storage or basement can lead to discovering some damage that may have been prevented if noticed early. Make a habit to inspect these rooms.

3. Appliance maintenance

An easy way to avoid costly claims is to schedule annual cleanings for any appliances that contain vents or coils. These appliances are typically used the most such as your dryer or refrigerator.

4. Neglecting basic systems

One of the most common mistakes is not servicing low-maintenance appliances like central cooling units or HVAC systems that require a tune-up from time to time.

5. Not paying for home warranty or insurance

Despite your best efforts, your air conditioner will need repair and your pipes may need to be replaced. Keeping up with your policies that protect your home and understanding your coverages is one of the best precautions anyone can take.

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree!

‘Tis that time of year again to take a trip and find the right one, the right Christmas tree that is. According to Statista.com, over 30 million pines get sold every year. Along with this new house plant’s beauty and joy, it can also pose some home hazards… but most of which can be completely avoided with the right care.

When purchasing a real tree, check for freshness and avoid purchasing dry brittle trees. If you are going the artificial way, purchase one that is labeled “fire resistant”.

When placing your tree in the perfect spot, avoid areas where heat sources are felt. Additionally, choose lights that are labeled for indoor use. And most importantly always check water levels in your tree base, and never allow it to become completely evaporated.

When decorating, plastic or material base ornaments are most safe if you have hard floors but also if you have little ones or pets.

We hope these tips ensure that you will have a safe and happy holiday!

Cyber Monday is the second busiest day for shoppers and makes up for nearly 10 billion dollars of all sales during the holiday season. Deals begin the Monday following Thanksgiving for this e-commerce holiday which has grown drastically over the years since it began in 2005. Almost all retailers with an online site and including those who are strictly online offer huge discounts to consumers just in time for Christmas. This year is scheduled to be an even better year for online retailers as Covid has made many of us experts in the virtual realm.

Make sure to take advantage of these deals and cross those items off your gift list.

For months now our closets has been stuffed with all the rain coats and puffy jackets as we await cooler weather. But once the first leaf falls…we will all run to pull them out along with our umbrellas and rain boots. Leaving us to put away our spring and summer clothes in what will become a weekend project.

Storing seasonal clothing is not an easy task and filling up cardboard boxes to put in storage is not the way to go. Here are five tips on how to properly store it.

1. Clean your clothes before putting it away, make the effort to wash them to remove perspiration stains and/or perfumes. That goes for bedding too.
2. Organize your clothes in groups, outerwear, beach wear, etc. Each pertaining to its own storage box.
3. Say no to plastic or cardboard! You don’t want your clothing to soak in the smells of the containers. Also, your clothes need to breathe. Look for linen or clothed based boxes.
4. Pretreat for moths. Consider adding moth balls or lavender sachets to your containers for extra protection.
5. Store in a cool and dark places like an attic or basement as those are ideal places to prolong the shelf life of your items. This makes them ready to use the following year.

Well, Thanksgiving may look a little different, but this year in particular, the Thanksgiving holiday reminds us to appreciate and celebrate what’s truly important. Remember to soak in the moments however it is that you decide to spend it.

We at Western Mutual and Arizona Home are thankful for our Western Mutual family, our policyholders, and we especially want to express gratitude for all essential and frontline workers throughout this year.

From all of us here, we wish you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving!

Wake up and smell the coffee! It’s National Espresso Day.

And what better timing than now, with Thanksgiving meal to prep and plan, and holiday shopping in full swing.

Check out your local coffee chains for deals and discounts and raise a cold one (cold brew that is) for a happy and healthy holiday season.

Thanksgiving this year may be a little different but one thing is for sure, lots of delicious dishes. But with fryers going, busy home kitchens, and lots of distractions, Thanksgiving is consistently the highest day of the year for home claims. We want to share some tips on how to safely put out a grease fire if one were to occur in your home.

1. Do not use water! This will cause a flare up and actually spread the fire faster as it increases in size
2. Turn off the heat source. The grease or oil ignited in the first place because it got too hot. So turning off the heat source is a good first step, if you can do it safely
3. Cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet. Leave the cover on until it has cooled
4. Douse the grease fire with lots of baking soda. Have baking soda nearby at all times when cooking as it can successfully put out a grease fire
5. Keep a Class-B fire extinguisher in your home at all times and if the fire is uncontrollable call 911

Whether you’re thinking of selling your home or simply looking to increase the aesthetic of your property, we have some tips on improving that curb appeal.

The first rule of curb appeal is that you have to take care of the yard, simply put…go green.

Aside from having a manicured lawn, you could invest in some flowers, plant a seasonal garden or even a new tree. These are all cost effective and functional options to enhance the look of your home.

Rule #2 is to actually clean the curb. Repaint or touch up your address, rake away trash and power wash your driveway and walkways.

Also, updating entryways and windows is highly important in creating a strong first impression. This may include getting a new garage door, updating shutters or painting the house.

Lastly, focus on the small details, like replacing your mailbox, adding a water feature like a fountain, walkway lights and a sensor motion light.

Curb appeal is about cohesion and style. While it may take some time and money, your home will thank you.

Winter break is upon us and the feeling of cozy festivities is all we can think about. But with holiday travel being limited or avoided this year, you may be looking for alternative forms to entertain their kids.

One idea is a Family Handprint Christmas Tree! Using green construction paper, trace all family member’s hands and cut out, then arrange them all facing down in a tiered pattern with the larger hands on the bottom tier and smaller hands on top tiers to look like a Christmas Tree! Add a yellow construction paper star on top and you have a personalized family holiday craft. Other ideas are personalized ornaments, paper turkeys, and cinnamon reindeer (we encourage you to google or pinterest search for examples and additional ideas). These crafts can all be completed with items you already have at home and are sure to keep kids enjoying themselves for hours.

Share photos of your favorite holiday craft!

Happy crafting and warm wishes!

Freedom, defined as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants to. This one word describes why we honor are more than 17 million United States veterans and stand by the 1.3 million active duty members for their service and heroism. Without their sacrifices, we as a nation would not be able to enjoy the freedom we have become accustomed to. So from all of us here at Western Mutual…we say thank you on this special day.