Homeownership

Getting a new puppy is exciting for everyone in the family, but it's also a big responsibility everyone needs to tackle. To celebrate National Puppy Day on March 23rd, let's talk about how to puppy-proof your house from your newest addition to the family! Here are a few tips from our REALTORS® for keeping your puppy safe and your home chaos-free.

• Keep your trash secured. Trash is one of the number one puppy magnets in your house. Not only does it smell good (to your pup), but it's like a huge toy box full of things to explore and smell and eat! Trash cans that tuck away into drawers are popular in Nassau County homes for sale, but if you don't have one, you can invest in a heavy-duty trash can with a lid. Smaller trash cans with lids and foot pedals can also be purchased for bathrooms and bedrooms.
  
  
• Tape up or cover up your cords. Cords are perfect for chewing, or at least so thinks a teething puppy! You can prevent your pup from a dangerous situation by making electrical cords inaccessible. While it's not possible to put most cords out of your puppy's reach, you can cover them with heavy-duty cord protectors or tape them to the baseboards.
  
  
• Store drugs and chemicals out of reach. Unless you have small children (the two-legged variety) and still have child locks installed on the cupboard doors, your best bet for keeping your pup safe is to store medications and dangerous chemicals up high. Utilize upper cupboards and medicine cabinets, even if it's something you'd normally keep under the sink. Don't keep hazardous drugs and chemicals on top of countertops, even if that seems high enough to keep out of the puppy's reach, as bottles can get knocked over and roll onto the floor where the puppy would have access.
  
  
• Keep things off the floor and out of reach. It's time to start training everyone in the house not to keep anything on the floor, as anything within the puppy's reach could quickly be carried off or chewed up. This includes shoes, laundry, and even kids' toys. Many Suffolk County homes for sale have plenty of cupboards and closet space for organizing things that shouldn't be on the floor, but be sure to discuss with your children how important it is to put things away properly after using them.
  
  
• Use baby gates to limit movement. It's difficult to puppy-proof the entire house, but fortunately, you can utilize baby gates to keep the pup confined to a safe area when you're too busy or distracted to supervise. For instance, if the kids' bedrooms aren't puppy-proofed, a baby gate on the stairs can keep pup downstairs with you during the day. A puppy playpen is also great for keeping the pup on hard floor for easy cleanup or to keep him away from hazards elsewhere in the room.
  
  
• Provide plenty of toys. Puppies have a legitimate need to chew as their adult teeth come in, so providing dedicated dog toys can protect your possessions from damage by giving your pup something he's allowed to chew. If you catch him chewing something he shouldn't be, firmly tell him "no," and then give him one of his own toys to chew on instead.

Like with raising kids, puppies need lots of space to burn off excess energy. Has your little family outgrown your current home? Contact us today to start searching for your (and your pup's) dream home.

If you're ready to give your home a thorough cleaning, our REALTORS® suggest you start with a bottle of distilled white vinegar. It's an affordable, natural cleaner that easily cuts through grime, bacteria, and mildew, and it's perfectly safe to use on a variety of household surfaces throughout your home.

• Make Your Kitchen Sparkle
  Your kitchen is a busy place. In addition to a buildup of grease, grime, and bacteria on appliances and surfaces, your kitchen may have lingering odors from your stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, disposal, and trash cans. Cleaning your dirty kitchen with white vinegar is easy and fast with these cleaning tips.

  • Stove and Oven – Vinegar's acidity cuts right through grease and grime. Mix ½ vinegar and ½ water in a spray bottle, spray your stovetop and the inside of your oven and let the mixture sit for 10 minutes, then remove with soapy water.

  • Microwave – Clean your microwave by placing ½ cup vinegar and ½ cup water in a glass bowl. Heat the liquid for 2-3 minutes until it boils, then wipe away food spatters.

  • Refrigerator – Throw out the toxic chemical cleaners around food. Use equal parts vinegar and water on a dampened cloth to clean your refrigerator shelves, racks, and crisper drawers.

  • Dishwasher – Vinegar dissolves food debris and mineral deposits. Pour 1 cup of vinegar on the dishwasher floor (beneath the racks), then run the dishwasher through one cycle while empty.

  • Disposal – Pour vinegar onto a small scrub brush. Sprinkle baking soda on the brush and into the disposal, then scrub to remove built-up grime and stinky odors.

  • Trash Cans – Before adding a new trash bag, spritz the can and lid with a vinegar and water mixture, then wipe clean. This routine will get rid of smelly trash can odors for good.

You can even clean stainless steel and enamel pots and pans with equal parts vinegar and water. Pour the mixture in, bring it to a boil, and old stains will disappear.

• Disinfect Your Bathroom
  When cleaning your bathroom, full-strength vinegar or slightly diluted vinegar will eliminate bacteria around toilets, tub and shower drains, and fixtures.

  • Toilets – Pour 1 cup vinegar in the bowl and let sit overnight. The next morning, sprinkle the toilet bowl with baking soda or Borax powder, scrub the bowl, then flush.

  • Tub and Shower Drains – To kill bacteria, pour ½ cup distilled white vinegar down the drain and let sit for several hours. Pour hot water down the drain and clean the area with soapy water.

  • Showerheads and Faucets – If you have sediment buildup on showerheads and faucets, pour white vinegar into a plastic bag, then secure the bag to showerheads and faucets with a twist-tie or rubber band. Ensure the vinegar covers the fixture opening and leave the bag on overnight.

• Refresh Your Floors and Rugs
  Vinegar provides a natural, chemical-free solution that removes dirt, grime, and pet odors from floors and rugs.

  • Wood and Tile Floors – Add ½ cup vinegar to 1 gallon of water to clean wood, laminated, and ceramic tile floors. Vinegar should be avoided on natural stone floors and countertops due to high acidity, which will etch into the stone. 

  • Rugs and Carpets – To remove unpleasant pet odors from rugs and carpets, mix ½ cup vinegar to 1 gallon of water, spray the rug/carpet, then sprinkle it with baking soda. Let it dry overnight, then vacuum.

If you're looking for Nassau County homes for sale or Suffolk County homes for sale, contact us to help you find the perfect fit.

Owning a home means taking care of minor problems before they become major difficulties. When you buy a new home, however, getting to know everything about it can lead to a few surprises. Our REALTORS® offer the following tips to help you handle some of the more common emergencies you may find yourself dealing with.

• Know Where Your Shut-off Valves
  When you find a home you like out of the many Nassau County homes for sale, one of the first things you will want to do is find shut-off valves. These will include the main shut-off valve for water, as well as the gas line if your home has one. If the home is all-electric, know where the fuse box is located. In many situations, especially with broken pipes, knowing where the main shut-off valve is the best way to stop the water so damage will be kept to a minimum.
  
  
• Keep a List of Professional Technicians/Contractors Close at Hand
  Every agent has a list of professional technicians or contractors to repair the different features in your home. When you're thinking of buying one of these Suffolk County homes for sale, ask your agent for repair techs and contractors they recommend. Having a plumber, roofer, electrician, and an HVAC repairman on speed dial is the best way to get repairs underway before too much damage can be done.
  
  
• Make Sure to Keep a Well-Stocked Tool Box
  Many people prefer not to work on the things in their homes. Some, however, love to tinker around and are quite capable of making small repairs on their own. Always have a fully stocked toolbox on hand with a hammer, mallet, screwdrivers, pliers, and any other useful tool you can think of. They will come in handy if you ever have to put something together or try to make a few quick repairs until a professional can make it out to your home.
  
  
• Teach Your Family Safety First
  Whenever you move, the first thing you should do is talk to your family about safety. Discuss the best exit routes from various areas of the house and designate a safe space to meet outside your home. Have a list of phone numbers ready if they would ever have to call a technician or repairman. Always teach your family safety first.
  
  
• Know When to Call for Help
  There are times when emergencies take place that are simply outside of our capabilities to fix. Know when to call for help. Usually, a quick glance will tell you whether or not you should even attempt the job. Calling in a repairman isn't admitting defeat. It's simply deferring the job to someone who has had more training.

When you are ready to find the house of your dreams, call the realty agency that will always put you and your family first. Contact us so we can get the process started!

Who doesn't love gadgets? From the electric can opener to the microwave oven, we've been obsessed with small appliances for decades. With so many options to choose from, we can easily overwhelm the storage space in our kitchens. To maximize the space in cabinets and on counters, our REALTORS® suggest selecting appliances that do double duty. Here are their top picks:

• Multicooker
  Hands down, this gem beats all the competition for versatility. Far from that sickly avocado-green crockpot that used to reside in the little cabinet above grandma's refrigerator, this appliance allows you to brown meat, cook quickly with pressure, slow-cook while you're at work, cook perfect rice, ferment cheeses and yogurt, and even hard-boil eggs. If the most sophisticated model is a little more expensive than a less adaptable version, consider the number of appliances it will replace. Be sure to retain the recipe book that will likely come in the package for ideas you may not even have considered.
  
  
• Immersion blender
  Perfect for entertaining, this handy tool allows you to go from yuletide eggnog to summer margaritas without that bulky blender taking up counter space for the six months in between. It's perfect for quick healthy smoothies for breakfast on the go. Most regular blenders don't incorporate enough air to whip cream or beat egg whites. The immersion blender will make that process quick and easy with a fraction of the cleanup efforts. Add a simple attachment, and it will even chop herbs. It's happy hiding in a drawer instead of taking up the corner of the counter. You can even get a cordless model!
  
  
• Toaster oven/air fryer combination
  You can make your toast for breakfast, heat up last night's pizza for lunch, and roast a chicken with vegetables all in this unique oven without heating up the house like a conventional oven. It's also much friendlier to your energy bill. It's perfect for cooking meals for one or two people and can serve as additional cooking space for large gatherings. You can enjoy air-fried foods in a fraction of the time and with a fraction of the calories. Healthier fried snacks? Who wouldn't appreciate that?
  
  
• Indoor grill
  Imagine grilled meat and veggies on a cold New York Sunday afternoon. You might be too engrossed in that football game to appreciate the delicious grill marks on your panini, but you'll definitely taste the difference. Switch between a griddle for eggs and pancakes to a grill for greasy meats. From full breakfasts to steaks or pork chops for dinner, the indoor grill can handle it all, and without creating a pile of dirty pots and pans. Its relatively small size makes it easy to store.
  
  
• Stand mixer
  Bulkier than some of our other options, the stand mixer can be excused for its size because it's such an important asset for anyone who bakes. A high-end model will have a generous array of attachments designed to process specific foods, from a dough hook for kneading heavy bread doughs to a wire whip meant for high air incorporation. Some models include pasta makers and meat grinders. An added bonus is that it will likely be available in a variety of colors to compliment the kitchen decor, letting it grace the countertop beautifully.

Whether you are considering one of the lovely Nassau County homes for sale or one of the Suffolk County homes for sale, these appliances will all be welcome additions to the perfect kitchen. Contact us when you're ready to find the perfect place to install these and other handy new devices. 

Putting up your Christmas tree and lights was fun, but the fun stops, and stress kicks in when it's time to take them down. Storing holiday decorations can easily go from full-blown fun to frustrating. However, Our REALTORS® have compiled five simple and practical tips to help you correctly store your holiday decorations.

• Buy an Ornament Chest for Your Christmas Ornaments
  An ornament chest is the best way to store your Christmas tree decorations and ornaments since it contains several layers that allow you to categorize each item. These layers offer easy access to the ornaments when needed.
  
  Before putting your decorations in, consider placing a cloth on the chest to prevent the movement of the ornaments. You can also use padding or tissue paper to prevent the decorations from brushing against the chest surface and scratching.
  
  
• Get a Box for Artificial Christmas Trees
  If you bought your artificial Christmas tree during the holidays, the highest chances are that the tree came packed in a box. Since the box is already a correct fit for your tree, you can use it to store the tree.
  
  When packing the tree, you will be using opposite steps as you did when unpacking it. Bundle up each branch and ensure the tree remains straight as you pack it in. Alternatively, you can use ceiling hooks to hang your tree in the garage.
  
  
• Storing Ceramic Houses and Figurines
  Undoubtedly festive ceramic houses and figurines add a gorgeous display during the holidays. However, they can be challenging to pack. Similar to ornaments, they are fragile and are sometimes attached to lights. Therefore, packing them needs you to pay attention to detail to avoid damage or breakage.
  
  Ceramic houses, figurines, and other glass ornaments should be handled and stored as fragile items. Get bubble wraps, carefully wrap them in, and keep them in a box. Seal the box tightly and if possible, remember to label it as fragile and store the box on other bulky boxes.
  
  
• Ensure Your Lights Are Tangle Free
  Christmas lights can be hard to store since they are long and contain little garlands. No matter how carefully you roll them up, they will end up tangled. When storing them, you should ensure they are tangle-free to prevent interfering with the wiring or making ends. You can use delivery boxes to keep your lights.
  
  Cut your box or cardboard into rectangular shapes. Hang the rectangular pieces and wind your lights around the craps. Otherwise, you can use water bottles as storage for beaded garlands. You can also try using a pill organizer to store any spare light bulbs you have.
  
  
• Storing Wrapping Paper and Other Supplies
  Did you know that those garment bags you use to store wreaths can have a different use? Use a garment bag to hang up your wrapping paper and other supplies. Besides making them easy to access, they will remain dust-free during the year. 
  
  When it comes to storing supplies like ribbons and tapes, you can use a shoebox to keep everything organized and in one location. A shoe box makes it easy to color organize ribbons and notice when the tape supply runs low. 

Ready to own your home in Long Island? Go through Nassau County homes for sale and Suffolk County homes for sale to find an ideal home for you. Contact us once you do and get started with the buying process. 

You may think that once the snow begins to fall, it's too late to start on home improvements, but our REALTORS® would advise you otherwise. You may not be able to do much outdoors, but inside is another story. In fact, if the work you need requires a contractor, you may be able to find one offering lower rates as available jobs dwindle. Whether you have just purchased your home or are getting the house ready for sale in the spring, several projects will make you more comfortable now and increase your profits later. 

• Insulating the Attic
  You may not even need to hire a contractor to make your home more comfortable, decrease energy costs and get a great return on your investment. The ROI comes in at a whopping 116.9 percent. Add to that a tax credit of up to $500. If you thought this project was too pricy, you might be surprised that it could cost under $400 to purchase and install. With numbers like that, you are looking at a project that literally pays for itself.
  
  
• Update the Thermostat
  This is a project that works for any budget. Prices for programmable thermostats range anywhere from $30 to $300 but will save you from $10 to $20 a month. There are plenty of options available, some even offering remote control. You can reduce energy consumption when no one is home and adjust the temperature to your comfort level so that you walk into pre-programmed comfort. A seasoned do-it-yourselfer may be able to install one, but most homeowners will need the services of an electrician. The good news is that the cost will be minimal as the process takes minutes to complete. 
  
  
• Stop Air Leaks
  You can reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home by simply sealing air leaks with caulking or weatherstripping. For just a few dollars, you can eliminate most drafts. You'll want to caulk spaces around doors and window frames, paying attention to pipes and vents as well. Add or update the weather stripping to seal moveable components such as sliding glass doors and windows. This project takes a little time but doesn't require particular skills or experience. For less than $30, you can dramatically affect the comfort and energy efficiency of your home.
  
  
• Repaint the Interior
  If you are selling soon, this is a great time to inspect the walls and fill in any dings or holes. Choose white or another neutral color that will work with any color scheme, so potential buyers can readily picture their own belongings in the house. You may find this easier if you declutter the rooms first, putting collections and other personal items you are not using in storage. This will give you a good jump start on your own move, too. The size of the house and the quality of paint will dictate the cost, but on average, you can paint for under $500 and make the home look larger and cleaner to potential buyers.
  
  
• Give Doors a Facelift
  What's the first thing a buyer will see when entering the house? Inside and out, doors take a beating. Fingerprints and scuff marks make them look old and tired. A fresh coat of paint, new hardware, or even just cleaning up aging brass can make the entire home look more inviting. This cost-effective project will cost between $30 and $200.

If you're thinking of adding your house to the Nassau County homes for sale or Suffolk County homes for sale, contact us for more ways to boost your profits.

Whether you live in a large country estate or a chic city condo, adequate storage is a necessity. Most homeowners feel they never have enough storage regardless of their home's size. With help from our REALTORS®, you can discover some creative storage solutions for your home.

Your living room serves as an entryway into your home and a gathering area for entertaining. While many Nassau County homes for sale feature large, inviting living rooms, they may lack sufficient storage space for your needs. Take a look at easy ways to add storage to your living room.

• Invest in an Entertainment Center
  Entertainment centers are useful in living rooms because they can serve multiple purposes. As well as housing your TV, streaming boxes, and remotes, they provide valuable storage space. Entertainment centers are a great place to display books and magazines, decorative items, artwork, framed family photos, and special keepsakes that add interest to your living room.
  
  
• Install Built-In Bookshelves
  If you're an avid reader with an extensive collection of books, built-in bookshelves are a perfect storage solution. Leather-bound books and colorful book jackets add interesting colors and textures to any room. However, built-in bookshelves are not just for books. They're also ideal for displaying beautiful pottery and china, hand-blown glassware, antique accessories, paintings and drawings, and family mementos that brighten your day.
  
  
• Use Seating with Built-In Storage
  Buying a sofa with built-in storage drawers or benches and ottomans with hidden storage compartments can double your living room's storage capacity. Benches and ottomans with hidden compartments are great for extra seating when you have parties and large gatherings. They also provide quick and easy storage for throw pillows, blankets, and accessories that need to be put away when you want to declutter your living room.
  
  
• Turn Window Seats into Storage Areas
  Many older Suffolk County homes for sale have unique features like sitting nooks and window seats built below large windows. If you're lucky enough to have a built-in window bench, the space underneath the seating can be used for storage. You can add drawers or turn the seating top into a flip-top bench to access the space beneath. If the walls at each end of the seat are deep enough, they can be outfitted with built-in shelves to hold books, photos, accessories, and reading lamps.
  
  
• Re-Purpose Old Storage Items
  If you're looking for a way to increase storage and add a nostalgic flair to your living room, look for old items you can re-purpose to fit your design style. Instead of a new modern entertainment center, find an antique hutch with a large storage compartment behind doors and built-in shelving. Instead of a mundane coffee table that lacks style, look for a vintage wooden or leather truck that can serve as your coffee table with added storage below. 
  
  
• Stock Up on Baskets and Storage Bins
  You can find a wide variety of affordable baskets and storage bins in different sizes and finishes to help with your storage needs. Wicker baskets, colorful woven or fabric baskets, and galvanized bins are great for storing small items and hiding clutter. They're ideal for smaller living rooms since they easily fit on bookshelves and on or under coffee tables and end tables. Whether storing extra throw pillows or toys for kids and pets, baskets and bins make great inexpensive storage solutions.

If you're interested in buying or selling a home in the New York area, contact us for information on available homes and prices that fit your lifestyle. 

Your home is your castle. When it's invaded by an uninvited pest that won't leave, our REALTORS® understand how frustrating that can be and how much of a disruption it can cause. Many pests are difficult to dislodge, and since changing the locks isn't an option, we strongly recommend taking preventative measures that will work.

Whether you buy Nassau County homes for sale or Suffolk County homes for sale, one of the first things you want to consider is pest control. The more effort you put into keeping pests out, the less effort you'll need to spend kicking them out down the road.

• Start by sealing any holes or cracks in the siding or masonry. Pay close attention to door jams and window frames where small cracks can form as the foundation settles. If you discover any cracks, apply the appropriate caulk, weatherstripping, or sealant to the surface. This will have the added advantage of improving the energy envelope around your home.
  
  
• It's also advisable to clean up your attic, garage, and crawlspace. These three areas are breeding grounds for ants, mosquitos, flies, mice, and other pests. The cleaner these three spaces, the less attractive they are for uninvited houseguests with wings or fur.
  
  
• Make sure to clean up the kitchen and pantry. It's best to secure food in airtight containers to help minimize the odors that can attract pests. You'll also want to make sure to keep these areas free of crumbs and other food debris that pests can munch on as they scout new places to move into.
  
  
• Skip the pet door and making sure Fido is regularly groomed. Pet doors create easy access for mice, roaches, raccoons, and other pests; removing the door denies them a potential point of entry. And, while you're removing the pet door, be sure to securely install the bug screen on the windows and patio doors. This will help keep bugs of all shapes and sizes from moving in. 
  
  
• Stay on top of your landscaping. Keep trees properly trimmed, mow the grass, and ensure that piles of leaves and other yard waste don't grow into small mountains. Left unattended, these piles will rot and attract all manner of pests that can easily multiply and move in when you're not looking.
  
  
• Speed up the process. Once you remove the breeding grounds and food sources, it can take a while for pests to disappear. Place traps and poison for them to nibble on, but be sure to put these traps and substances in locations where pets and children can't access them.
  
  
• Hire an exterminator. If you've tried all these pest-proofing measures, and the rats, mice, flies, and other pests still haven't taken the hint, hire the professionals to deliver a permanent eviction notice. Exterminators are highly effective at eliminating pests. But remember: If you don't solve the infestation's root cause(s), you can expect the pests to return in the future.

Are you looking for a new home? We can help. Contact us, and we'll do our best to give you the information you need.

These days, many of us are busy and pressed for time. When we do finally get the chance to be home and relax with family, we don't want to be burdened by chores and extra housework. Thankfully, the latest smart home technology is helping to address this issue. Our REALTORS® recommend considering the following devices to help simplify your at-home routine.

• Smart Speakers
  Adding a smart speaker to your living room or great room can make it so much easier to listen to the music and podcasts you love. When you're getting ready to do the dishes or tackle that email inbox, you can simply talk to the speaker and tell it what to play. Or, you can scroll through options via the speaker-coordinated app on your smartphone. You won't have to worry about losing the remote or getting up to adjust the volume.
  
  
• Smart Light Bulbs
  Isn't it annoying to be all settled in on your couch, and then realize you need to get up and adjust the lights? Smart light bulbs can fix this dilemma. You can use voice commands to turn the lights on and off or to dim the lights. Some smart light bulbs even light up different colors on command! Switching to smart light bulbs can save money on energy, too, since you're more likely to actually turn the lights off when you don't need them. 
  
  
• Smart Vacuums
  Robot vacuums have been around for a while, but more recently, smart vacuums have become an even more convenient way to keep your home clean. The vacuum will keep humming along and cleaning your carpet, regardless of whether or not you're home. It will send you a message on your smartphone if it gets stuck, if it finishes cleaning, or if it needs any other input from you. There are even smart vacuums made specifically for people with pets and those with hard floors.
  
  
• Pet Cameras
  When you're gone for long periods during the day, you might worry about your pet. Having to run home every few hours and check on them can become a burden. But a pet camera can allow you to check in on them from the convenience of your smartphone. Some smart pet cameras even let you talk to your pet remotely. This can help you calm your pet down during a storm or make them feel less lonely while you're away.
  
  
• Smart Coffee Maker
  Do you ever wish you could wake up to coffee, already made in your own kitchen? Maybe you could even sleep a little longer if you didn't have to spend 10 minutes making coffee every morning. A smart coffee maker can solve all of these problems. You can program it to make coffee for you at a certain time of day. If you're at work and know you'll want another cup as soon as you get home, you can use your smartphone app to tell the coffee maker to get working. Imagine how much you'll save on visits to the coffee shop!
  
  
• Smart TV
  The latest smart TVs let you change channels, turn up the volume, pause the show, and more — all with your voice. Of course, you can use an app on your phone for control, too, if that's what you prefer.  Your TV experience will be that much more relaxing.

What do you think of these smart home innovations for your Long Island home? If you're looking for Nassau County homes for sale or Suffolk county homes for sale, our agents can help. Contact us to learn more about our services.

As pet owners, the last thing we want to think about is our furry family members getting hurt in a fire. Sadly, over half a million pets are affected by house fires each year, and over 1,000 of those house fire incidents are started by pets. Having a pet fire safety plan is an invaluable and essential way to save your home and your pet. July 15th is National Pet Fire Safety Day, and our REALTORS® have put together these tips to inspire you to develop a fire safety plan that includes your pets.

Preventing Your Pet from Starting a Fire

• Extinguish Open Flames
  Never leave pets unattended around open flames on candles and fireplaces. Candles are great for a relaxed evening, but with a curious furry pal or a wagging tail, they can be quite the danger. You may want to switch to a battery-operated flameless candle to save your pet and property from needless harm. If your pet loves to cozy up near the fireplace, consider an enclosed gas fireplace or pet gate to ensure they keep a safe distance.
  
  
• Remove Stove Knob
  A stove or cooktop is a major cause of fires started by pets. A curious pet who climbs around the kitchen can hit a stove knob, turning up a flame or turning on the gas. Be sure to remove knobs or use knob covers before leaving the house. Secure young or untrained pets in crates or behind baby gates to keep them away from potential hazards when you're away from home.
  
  
• Secure Electrical Cords
  Electrical cords can be tempting to a playful kitty or pup. And sometimes, pets think that the cords are chew toys. Of course, your best bet would be training them to stay away, but securing the wires and cords will ensure they'll have no chance of sparking a fire or electrocuting your pet. Use ties to bundle cords or enclose them in a conduit. Also, dispose of or repair damaged cords.

Prepare in Case of Fire

• Upgrade Your Smoke Detectors
  While it's obviously important to ensure your home has functional smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, you may want to think about using monitored smoke detectors for pet fire safety. These devices are connected to a monitoring center. In a situation where a fire breaks out when you're not at home, emergency responders would be alerted and dispatched immediately to rescue your furry companion.
  
  
• Make an Emergency Plan
  If a fire starts, you may have as little as two minutes to evacuate your home. As such, it's important to create and practice a fire evacuation plan with your pet. Identify all the exits for your escape route, place one family member in charge of the pets, and have leashes and pet emergency items stored near an exit. Run a scenario where you find your pet and get them out of the house and also practice exit open access drills. This will help them get used to coming outside when their name is called out.
  
  
• ID Your Pet
  It's important to microchip your pet or get them a collar with an ID tag. Proper and updated information can help ensure your pet is found and returned home safely if they flee because of the noise and danger of house fire.
  
  
• Keep Your Pet Near an Exit
  You may enjoy giving your pet a free run of the house, but keeping them in a designated area close to the exit provides a better chance of getting out in case of fire. You can achieve this by crating your pet or creating a space in the foyer. If you don't crate, you need to know where your pet likes to nap or hide when stressed or scared.
  
  
• Get Pet Fire Safety Stickers
  Place pet fire stickers on the front and back windows of your home. These will let the firefighters know how many and what kind of pets are in the house.

If you're looking at Nassau County homes for sale or Suffolk County homes for sale, we understand that you'll be making your pet part of the home-buying process. Our REALTORS® love animals and can help you find a home that's perfect for all family members, including four-legged ones. Contact us today to learn more.