There are plenty of elements to consider when making the decision to buy a home, but those considerations shift slightly if a buyer wants to begin a family in the house. After all, parents with young kids have different needs than a single homebuyer. Here are a few things to think about when choosing a home for your growing family.

Recently, my youngest daughter, McKenna, passed her driver’s test. She absolutely loves her newfound freedom. Sometimes, a bit too much! She isn’t afraid to drive anywhere. I’m constantly reminding her that she’s a new driver and that we need to continue working together on developing her driving skills. It's a fact: teenage drivers account for more auto accidents than any other age group.

Picture this. You’re driving through town in your 1969 Pontiac Firebird and everyone you pass is stopping and staring as you go by. Now if you want them to be staring because your collector car is in impeccable condition and not because your car squeals every time you touch the brakes, please take the time to make sure you’re taking proper care of your investment.

For many, the fall season is a busy time of year. High school, college, and professional sports are in full swing. Kids are participating in homecoming festivities and many families are making trips to their local pumpkin farms. These activities don’t leave much time to get your home projects completed before the snow flies.

Autumn is a great time of year to enjoy your new motorcycle license. Enjoying the vivid colors and sights of the season helps riders truly appreciate how this experience is simply different from riding inside a car. Unfortunately, that difference can also put new motorcycle riders at greater risk of harm during this time of year. Animals often jump out onto the road in front of vehicles during these months, and they can be harder to spot as the days get shorter. Car drivers may be protected in these instances; motorcycle riders, however, are at much greater risk of harm.

House fires are something most homeowners live in fear of, but today’s technology can help you ensure the safety of you, your family, and your home. Here are five high-tech ways you can reduce fire risk.

As the days get shorter, and the leaves start changing, you may be tempted to light a fire in your wood burning fireplace. While it’s enjoyable to sit and relax by a nice, warm fire, if you haven’t had your chimney inspected or cleaned this year, I would recommend holding off.

If you’ve watched the news lately, there has been significant coverage on wildfires, severe storms, and most recently, Hurricane Florence. As we transition through the seasons, we encounter different perils that could pose risk to our vehicles.

Swat, splat, bang. These are common sounds at my house. The reason for these sounds is mosquitos are invading us. I don’t recall them ever being this bad! Strong storms accompanied by heavy rain, and warm temperatures in Wisconsin at the end of August have caused the mosquito population to explode!

Last week’s blog identified areas of your property you should inspect after a severe storm. Some of those areas include roof, siding, outdoor structures, and fallen trees.