Be Prepared!

Have you heard those words while growing up? I heard it when I was a Boy Scout many years ago. As a realtor and a father, the lessons learned from my Boy Scout days are still relevant today.

Are you prepared to be a homeowner or home seller or a parent?

As we celebrated Father’s Day this past weekend, I am humbled by my children. How much I do not know and how much I have learned from them through the years. Was I prepared to be a father? Not all the time. But through the years I am becoming better.

How can you prepare yourself as a home owner in every situation? Do you have an exit plan for financial, natural, emotional or physical disasters? Life happens…when life throws a curve ball at you, are you prepared?

If you lose your job, do you have an emergency fund to help you with your mortgage payments? Do you have water, food and supplies set aside if there is a natural emergency? How about losing a loved one?

Here is a basic checklist that is relevant for any emergency:

1. Have money saved for emergency. Check with your accountant for the amount you need to survive in case of a job loss or some other event that may stop you from having a pay check.
2. Have water and food supplies in your home in case of a natural emergency. Each family is different with the consumption of food and water. A week supply will be the bare minimum.
3. Have a supply of batteries and flashlights at home and in your vehicles.
4. Don’t run your vehicles with empty gas tanks. Can you imagine if there is a need and you are not close to a gas station?

There are way more than just the four listed. Please check our blog from time to time for more tips and information on how to be prepared.

Homeowners, do you have a tool box set aside for work around the house? It is better to do a quick fix on little cracks and problems.  Don’t wait till they become major disasters. So what do you need to prepare in a tool box?

Everybody needs a hammer, some nails, screw driver, wrench, duct tapes, measuring tape, spackle and putty knife, pliers, multi purpose scissors and knife and level.

As parents we need a first aid kit that includes allergy relief medicine, fever reducing medication, bandage, tweezers, sterile gauze pads, liquid antiseptic or wipes, anti-biotic ointment, itch relief medicine and gloves. Sounds simple yet many of us do not have them ready or we have some missing pieces.

Being a realtor in New Jersey, I have encountered many homeowners who are not prepared for the curve ball. Divorce happened and loss of a loved one can occur too. I witnessed a wife or husband at a loss, because they were never prepared to have a Plan B or Plan C.

Are you able to face challenges when they come? Do you have a Plan B or C that takes care of your home ownership or home selling strategies? Do you need to speak with a realtor about your housing needs?