• The Recovering Pessimist | The Home Emergency Contact List #HomeWithJoy | www.therecoveringpessimist.me | #amwriting #recoveringpessimist #optimisticpessimist #HomeWithJoy #HomeDepot #Lowes #Target #Homeowner #Homeownership #AtJoysHouse #HomeWithJoyFaves #WelcomeHome #homedecor #HomeMaintenance #Pinterest
    Home With Joy

    The Home Emergency Contact List #HomeWithJoy

    No matter how much you prepare, a home emergency of some kind will happen. There’s a chance that a home emergency will occur while you aren’t home.

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    I was supposed to be out with friends. I ended up staying at home. I was watching TV when I heard a loud POP followed by a burst of water.

    I jumped up and started looking at the ceiling in each room because the water heater is in my attic ?

    It wasn’t coming from the attic.

    I walked into my bathroom. and my heart sank. Water was pouring from under the sink. My house didn’t have a shutoff valve nor did I have a water key. I grabbed a bucket to collect the water to pour down the shower drain. In the midst of dumping water, I called a plumbing company to come over. The plumber came out about an hour after I called. Turns out one of the valves under the sink was incorrectly installed. It was fixed that night.

    If I wasn’t at home and couldn’t be reached, who would my neighbors call in an emergency (other than 911)? Not too long after the plumbing disaster, I created a document with the contacts’ names and numbers that someone would need in case of a home emergency.

    Here’s who I have listed on my home emergency contact list:

    • Neighbors (including their house numbers and/or house descriptions)
    • Plumber
    • Local power company
    • Contractor/Handyman
    • Exterminator
    • Home security provider
    • Home insurance provider
    • Realtor (she’s a human phone book)
    • Home warranty provider

    I printed that bad boy out and taped it to the fridge. There’s no way in hell that it can be overlooked, lol! I implore you to create a home emergency list and put it in a place that’s easy to find. Being a homeowner is stressful enough. If you can ease some stress, by all means, do so.

    Take care,

    Joy

  • The Recovering Pessimist | How Escrow Works #HomeWithJoy | www.therecoveringpessimist.me | #amwriting #recoveringpessimist #optimisticpessimist #HomeWithJoy #HomeDepot #Lowes #Target #Homeowner #Homeownership #AtJoysHouse #HomeWithJoyFaves #WelcomeHome #homedecor #HomeMaintenance #Pinterest
    Home With Joy

    How Escrow Works #HomeWithJoy

    What is escrow?

    Think of escrow as a piggy bank. A portion of your monthly mortgage payment goes into your escrow account to cover payments for your real estate taxes and insurance. When your real estate taxes and insurance are due, your mortgage provider will disburse those payments from the escrow account.

    Keep in mind that real estate taxes are based on the assessed value of your home and may change based on that assessment. Your mortgage provider will perform an escrow review at least once a year to make sure there’s enough money in the escrow account to cover your taxes and insurance.

    Did you know that state and federal laws & mortgage providers require that escrow accounts hold a minimum balance?

    The required balance, tax assessment, and recent disbursements are all considered during the escrow review. If the assessment reflects a surplus (more money in the escrow account than you need), your mortgage provider will notify you if a refund is due.

    If the assessment reflects a shortage, there are 2 options for paying the shortage:

    1. Pay the shortage in full.
    2. Spread the shortage over 12 months, which would increase the monthly mortgage payment.

    Sidenote: You can pad your escrow account throughout the year by making monthly escrow-only payments. I take the amount of my last escrow shortage and divide it by 12. That’s the minimum amount I put into my escrow account each month.

    I hope this provides some clarity regarding escrow. If you have any questions, let me know. I’ll try my best to answer them.

    Until next time,

    Joy