Virtual tours can provide a safe alternative to traditional home showings and open houses during the pandemic.

Purchasing a new home can be stressful even during the best of times. But navigating the process during a global pandemic is a whole new challenge. Buyers and sellers are still making it happen, however, with help from smart adaptations like virtual home tours. This alternative to traditional showings and open houses allows you to view a prospective home through a live video from the comfort of your own home.

Real estate agents and sellers can use video calling apps such as FaceTime or Zoom on their phone to give you a walk-through of the home. It’s a great option for potential buyers in areas where in-person showings are currently restricted or for those who aren’t comfortable entering someone else’s home right now. During the tour, the agent will virtually guide you through each space, pointing out specific features and answering questions as you go along. “You’re going to get so much more information with a guided tour than you could ever get from a rendering or by taking a virtual tour by yourself,” says Rachel Stults, a housing expert at Realtor.com.

Participating in a virtual home showing isn’t as simple as taking a virtual museum tour, for example, where you can just sit back and enjoy the view. There are a few things you should know ahead of time, including how to prepare and what to look for during the tour. These expert tips will help you make the most of your virtual home tour so your socially distanced homebuying experience runs as smoothly as possible.

1. Write down a list of must-haves.

As with a traditional home showing, knowing what you want going in can help ensure a successful tour. Scott Campbell, a real estate agent with RE/MAX United, suggests writing down a list of wants and needs beforehand. “That way, the agent can get through those concerns first, and you don’t have to worry about forgetting anything during the tour,” says Campbell. Your list could include requirements for the layout, such as a finished basement or a first-floor laundry room, as well as more cosmetic features you love like crown molding or hardwood floors.

2. Have a floor plan handy.

Trying to tour a new space via video can be confusing, as it’s often difficult to discern how rooms are oriented and connect. To help keep things straight, Stults suggests having a floor plan of the home handy so you can follow along during the tour. If available, the plan can also provide a reference for each room’s size and ceiling height. Consider printing out the floor plan ahead of time so you can make notes on the home’s layout if needed.

3. Ask the agent to be your eyes, ears, and nose.

Apart from how the home looks, its sounds and smells are also crucial factors to consider, but these can be nearly impossible to detect over video. “On a video tour, you can’t smell if there are any strange odors, or you might not be able to hear the neighbor’s dog constantly barking outside,” Stults says. “These could be deal-breakers, so this is where it’s crucial to ask your agent to be your nose and ears for you.” Have the agent point out any squeaky floorboards, creaky cabinets, pet odors, musty basement smells, or other issues you might not be able to identify through a video call. You can also ask the agent to open up closets and cabinets, show you the view from windows, or zoom in on nooks and crannies, Stults says.

4. Gather critical details.

Whether conducted in person or virtually, a home showing is your opportunity to gather more specific information about the property that might not be included in the home’s listing. During your virtual tour, have a notepad and pencil on hand so you can jot down important details. Ask the agent for specifics, then make note of details such as where electrical outlets are located, the age or brand of appliances, and the type of lighting in each room.

5. Ask as many questions as you’d like.

Throughout your tour, don’t be shy about requesting more details. “You can ask as many questions as you need to in order to feel like you’ve got a good grasp of the space,” Stults says. Your agent will likely offer lots of important information upfront, but asking additional questions during the tour can help you create a fuller picture of the property without actually seeing it for yourself.

6. Tour the outside.

Don’t forget to ask to see the outdoor areas of the home. This includes the front and back yards, deck or patio space, and any outbuildings including garages and sheds. Check out the condition of the driveway, siding, roof, and other exterior elements, which could be expensive to replace. Make note of the existing landscaping, any concerns about lawn care needs, and if the property includes a pool or hot tub.

7. Be patient.

Conducting the home-buying process during a pandemic is a new challenge for both buyers and agents, so you can expect to experience some bumps along the road. “Being patient and understanding is key as we all get through these difficult times,” Campbell says. Try to remain patient throughout any technical difficulties, and know that the tour might take slightly longer than usual since you’ll likely be asking more questions. It might not be a perfectly seamless process, but a virtual tour can provide a safe home tour option for everyone involved.

We get it: No one wants to think about death—for us or the ones we love. And a lot of people equate life insurance with death. And while it IS there if the worst were to happen, it can also do so many other things, and doesn’t have to break your budget while doing it. Check out these great reasons to consider life insurance:

1. It’s part of a sound financial plan.

Insufficient coverage has severe consequences for many families. Our 2019 Insurance Barometer found that four in 10 households without any life insurance would have immediate trouble paying living expenses if their primary wage earner died. Life insurance helps with planning for your loved ones’ long-term health and happiness, providing you with peace of mind that your loved ones are financially protected.

If someone would suffer financially when you die, you need life insurance just like you need a savings or checking account. The money from the policy’s death benefit can help your family meet many important financial needs like funeral costs, daily living expenses and college funding.

2. It’s not as expensive as you think.

Many consumers believe that life insurance is either too complicated or too expensive to consider, creating a barrier to ownership with only 57 percent of people owning life insurance in 2019. In actuality, life insurance is inexpensive and much more accessible that you think. For a healthy 30-year-old, for example, they can get a 20-year term life insurance policy with $250,000 of coverage for about $13 a month. When you break it down life that, it’s easier to budget for and less scary to think about.

3. It can build cash value over time.

Permanent life insurance has a cash value or cash-surrender value, which means it can build cash value over time in addition to providing a death benefit to your beneficiaries. Just like most retirement and tuition savings plans, cash values can accumulate on a tax-deferred basis and be used in the future for any purpose you wish—a down payment on a home, college tuition or even income for your retirement.

This can be a good option as the borrowing rates tend to be relatively low and it’s not dependent on credit checks or other restrictions. Keep in mind, though, you’re ultimately responsible for repaying any loan as set out, to make sure your beneficiary receives the death benefit you had envisioned for them.

4. Life insurance can be more than just life insurance.

Riders to a life insurance contract or a specific kind of policy, can enhance coverage. For example, you could have a life insurance policy, sometimes called a hybrid policy, that includes a long-term care benefit to pay for long-term care services. If this is something you need down the line, you can take advantage of it, otherwise there is a death benefit for your beneficiary. There are a number of different riders available that can help you customize and boost your coverage.

5. It can help maximize your retirement.

If the financial obligations you had when you first purchased a permanent life insurance policy have ended, your policy can take on a new life and benefit your retirement. Structured correctly, your policy can provide supplemental retirement income via policy loans and withdrawals or even options for long-term care benefits.

Life insurance can also maximize a pension by supplementing a surviving spouse’s income, or established into a life insurance trust to allow you to pass on to your heirs outside of your estate (often avoiding both estate and income taxes).

So, what are next-steps? Why not do a quick calculation to see how much life insurance you may need with our online Life Insurance Needs Calculator here. And then plan on talking to an insurance agents about your needs and budget—remember, they will help you free of charge with no obligation.

by Maggie Leyes | January 8, 2020 | Life Insurance

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year, more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger go to U.S. hospital emergency departments with injuries associated with playground equipment. More than 20,000 of these children are treated for a traumatic brain injury, including concussion.

As the weather warms up and trips to the park become frequent, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the risks on playgrounds and how you can prevent injuries.

Check for Playground Hazards

Nearly 80% of playground injuries are caused by falls. Watch out for these potential hazards when taking kids to the playground, and report any hazards observed.

Improper ground surfaces: Surfaces around playground equipment should have at least 12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand or pea gravel, or mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials. Playgrounds should be free of exposed concrete footings, rocks or tree stumps.

Overcrowded play areas: The area under and around play equipment should be a minimum of 6 feet in all directions while swing set areas should be twice the height of the suspending bar both in back and front of the swings. Structures more than 30 inches high should be at least 9 feet apart.

Unprotected elevated areas: Platforms higher than 30 inches should have guardrails or barriers.

Head entrapment spaces: Openings between rails, bars, rungs and even ropes of cargo nets should be less than 3 1/2 inches or more than 9 inches.

Sharp points and edges: Playground equipment should be free of protruding bolt ends, “S” hooks, and other sharp points and edges.

Visit the American Academy of Pediatrics webpage on playground safety to learn more.

Avoid Strangulation Hazards

The American Academy of Pediatrics cautions that children should not wear or play with anything that could get caught on equipment and become a strangulation hazard.

• Never attach or allow children to attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines or pet leashes to play equipment
• Leave sweatshirts with drawstrings and necklaces at home
• Remove bike helmets when playing on the playground

Be Cautious of Too Much Sun Exposure

The National Program for Playground Safety reports that only 3% of public playgrounds assessed had full sun protection from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., peak exposure hours, while 30% had partial shade. The remaining 67% of public playgrounds were exposed to full sun during the peak hours.

• Limit playtime at peak sun exposure time and familiarize yourself with the signs of heat illnesses
• Avoid burns; if playground equipment is hot to the touch, it is too hot for your child’s bare skin

Allow Only Age-Appropriate Activities

The Consumer Product Safety commission lists age-appropriate equipment in the Public Playground Safety Handbook. And remember, there is no substitute for parental supervision, especially for young children.

Originally posted by National Safety Council (NSC)