Homeownership » Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty

How We Protect Our Coastal Property

January 25, 2016 by admin Leave a Comment

Living by the beach is fun! It’s more than fun, it’s a privilege. We bought our North Carolina coastal home about 5 years ago and love living on the beach but it does come with some drawbacks. Nothing to keep us away, mind you, but if you want to enjoy your coastal property to the fullest it’s good to know how to protect it.

How We Protect Our Coastal Property

Coastal properties will experience effects from the elements since these homes are so close to the salt water and surf. Knowing how to protect your home will keep it in top shape for years. Here’s what we do to protect our coastal home.

Make sure we are insured. This is the top thing all coastal homeowners should do. Make sure you have the proper insurance and if you’re unsure of what you need, talk to a professional insurance agent that handles oceanfront homes. These agents should know their stuff and know what to request. Earthquake and flood insurance is usually separate, although not a lot of extra money onto your homeowners insurance. Tell them where you are located so they know if you are in a flood plain or any additional protection you may need. Make sure the insurance covers all your valuables in case of complete destruction. Ask if the property is in a coastal dune area. Ask about protected land around your home and how it’s cared for.

We monitor for erosion. Erosion can happy faster than you might realize. In fact, the Coastal Resources Commission as a rule that allows property owners to temporarily protect imminently threatened oceanfront structures. “An imminent threat is when the erosion scarp reaches within 20 feet of the property or when the thing conditions increase the risk of imminent damage to the structure”. [NCDENR] Sandbags can provide a temporary protection but more permanent protection may require beach bulldozing. This might be used to create a temporary dune or berm in front of the home and to shore up a building’s foundation. While relocation of the structure is highly unlikely, erosion is something to be aware of and considerate of a yearly basis.

We protect our windows. Storms, damaging winds and high surf can create a threat to unprotected Windows and allow destructive elements into the home. You want to take proactive steps to protect your windows and this may actually reduce your insurance premiums. There are different ways to protect your windows during the storm by using window film, plywood, storm shutters or high impact glass. High impact glass are layers of tempered glass with plastic film sandwiched between. The windows can crack without shattering when struck maintaining the structural integrity.

Inspect any new building. If you’re going to build anything new including a deck, an outbuilding or remodel or add on to your existing home make sure you have the proper permits and that it is inspected.

I hope you enjoy your new coastal property and you can enjoy it for years to come as long as you make sure you protect your home and be aware of the potential issues that could arise by living on the beach.

Thank you to our friends on the beach in Sunset Beach NC for their information

Image by Flickr

Home Improvement Tips to Living a More Green Life in 2016

January 11, 2016 by admin 1 Comment

Most of us want to be a little kinder to the environment and with more energy saving appliances, techniques and innovations out there, your entire home can be more eco-friendly. It might be expensive to completely convert your home to green living all at once but doing little things step-by-step can really make a large impact in your energy costs and in the environment around you. Here are some home improvement tips and innovations to living a more green life in 2016.

Lighting and electronics.

It’s no great secret that these two items use a the most electricity and energy in a home. Lighting alone can account for up to 12% of your annual energy bill. Smart lighting, dimmers and sensors can cut this cost by about 60%. It can be very easy to add in some simple sensors in each room so that the light comes on or off with movement. You might install some dimmers to control the lights or if you’re really fancy, set up your lighting to your smart phone or mobile device, which notifies you when lights or certain appliances are left on if you’re not home.

Thermostat.

The thermostat has always been a great way to save on energy costs and more innovations are coming out every year with new technology to control and manage the temperature in your home better. Thermostat such as the Nest works with movement in the house so if there is no movement, the temperature will drop to whatever you set it to. This is great when you go away for the weekend, at night or if there’s no movement during the day. The Nest will sense when there’s no one in the house and either turn the temperature down or to whatever you’ve preset the temperature at. This device can also be controlled by your smart phone or mobile device so that you can turn on the heat a couple hours before you get home. This type of programmable thermostat can save up to 23% in energy costs a year.

Batteries.

There are plenty of solar charge batteries out there including those for your car, solar panels, and electrical devices in your home. You could choose a large item such as the Power wall, which cost about $7000 but provides electricity generated by solar panels, storing energy that can be used during evening hours of the backup energy supply source or a sort of generator. You can simply use solar charge batteries or rechargeable batteries rather than going through the slew of batteries and then throwing them away into landfills.

Solar panels.

Solar panels have always been a great way to conserve energy and use the source that we have readily available to us. There are systems called “Community Solar Power” where consumers no longer have to pay for installation costs to enjoy the benefits of solar power but that they actually might be giving back to the utility companies in additional energy. Speak to your local community or city about ways that you can benefit the community and city by installing solar panels yourself.

There are simple ways both expensive and inexpensive to reduce your carbon footprint on this planet. If you’re simply looking to save energy costs yourself, start with lighting and heating. By energy Star appliances and high-efficiency washers, dryers and dishwashers. By doing your part you not only save yourself money but you save a little bit of the planet as well.

Flood Facts, Myths and Tips on Flood Insurance

January 4, 2016 by admin 5 Comments

Living along the beach in Brunswick County means there could be a possibility of flooding. Most Oceanside homes are built on stilts to protect the property in case of high tide or mild tsunamis but there are ways to prepare for a flood, react to a flood and tips on finding the right flood insurance.

First up, it’s important to know what your homeowners insurance covers. If you purchase your home through financing the bank will want to make sure that the property has the proper insurance. Many homeowners insurance is don’t cover flooding and there may be stipulations and restrictions. The federal government offers a disaster assistance only when the president declares a major disaster for a particular area. Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood insurance as a standard coverage. It may cover it if you have a leaky pipe but not an act of God.

Winterizing Your Oceanfront Home

December 22, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

Living by the beach certainly has its benefits but it also has disadvantages as well. Homes on stilts, so the sea air and erosion can all create wear and tear that is more rough on an oceanfront home than a landlocked home. Here are some ways to winterize your oceanfront home.

#1. Check the roof and windows for any leaks or faulty seals.

#2. Remove any debris from gutters that could prevent water from flowing freely in the downspout.

#3. Add on extensions to downspouts to avoid excessive water around a crawlspace or foundation.

#4. Add more insulation in the attic.

#5. Trim back any overhanging limbs or bushes away from the roof or siding. Plants should not be touching the siding as they can collect moisture and leak up into the slats on the side of the house.

#6. Clean out window tracks so that dirt will not prevent moisture from draining to the outside.

#7. Use dehumidifiers in crawlspaces, attics and garages to cut down on the excessive moisture from living by the ocean.

#8. Keep pests out by repairing any screen vents or crawlspace tears.

#9. Wrap any exterior piping or plumbing with additional insulation and cover up exterior faucets to prevent freezing and cracking.

#10. Inspect the fireplace and chimney. Make sure flues open and close properly and hire a professional chimney sweep if it’s been several years since you’ve had a cleaning. Make sure there’s no animals or birds and ensure that the flashing is secure and leakproof.

#11. Shutdown the exterior sprinkler system if you have one to prevent any cracking over the winter.

#12. Change out all the batteries in smoke detectors, portable radios and carbon monoxide detectors.

#13. Check the status of your generator if you have want to make sure that it’s ready to go in case of an emergency.

We want you to stay safe this winter and by taking the time to winterize your home you can be sure that your home will treat you well this coming spring and summer. For more information about oceanfront homes, especially around Sunset Beach North Carolina please contact us today.

How to protect your home before, during and after a flood

How to Protect Your Home Before, During and After a Flood

October 13, 2015 by admin 6 Comments

We’ve had a lot of rain lately and if you’re like most people in North Carolina and South Carolina get probably dealing with a lot of water on your property. The tips I’m going to provide you today may not be important now but it can prepare you for a flood in the future, make you more aware of your surroundings and protect your home.

Before a Flood

If we know a flood is coming or a lot of rain you’ll want to monitor your surroundings and the local radio weather station. If there’s a flash flood warning you want to get to higher ground immediately and out of any low-lying areas subject to flash flooding. Flash floods can hit instantly and carry you away quickly.

You want to make sure you have an extra drinking water, fill clean containers and have a little bit of extra food that doesn’t require a new refrigeration. You’ll also want to make sure you have first aid supplies, a small amount of cash, toiletries, battery-powered radio, extra batteries and flashlights.

You want to make sure that you are prepared to evacuate and have a secure place that you can go and contact other family members or friends. Move any valuables or furniture to higher levels if possible and move any hazardous materials such as paint, oil and pesticides to hire locations. Disconnect electrical appliances and tie down any exterior items such as lawn furniture, garbage cans or movable objects.

Consider obtaining flood insurance. It does not add very much on to your homeowners insurance and can really save you should you be caught in a flood. If you do get flood insurance, write down your policy number, phone numbers of your agent, and your insurance company’s main member and keep it with you at all times.

During

If you have found yourself in the midst of a flood you still want to stay alert and not drive anywhere if you don’t have to. Make sure your vehicle has enough fuel though and follow recommended routes. You want to know these evacuation routes before flood hits. Be especially cautious at night and if water rises around your car leave the vehicle immediately climbing to higher ground. Never drive through any flooded roadways and never try to walk or swim through flowing water, it can move much faster than expected.

After

If you’ve recently been through a flood continue listening to the weather radio until it is safe to return. Do not visit disaster areas or hamper any emergency response teams. Follow all recommended routes to and from your home and stay away from washed out roads. If the building has been flooded you want to check for safety before entering and any structural damage. Turn off any outside gas lines at the meter tank and don’t enter a building that has been flooded until building officials have cleared it.

If you have flood insurance, take pictures of the damage, both of the buildings and its contents. Seek medical care if need be and seek out the American Red Cross for any additional food, clothing and shelter. Wells should be pumped out before drinking and throw away any food or medicine that has been contaminated by floodwaters.

You’ll want to clean and disinfect anything that got wet and keep children away from flooded areas. Keep the power off and tell an electrician has inspected and approved the electrical devices in your home.

Preventing

There are a lot of ways to prevent flooding of your home. You want to fix any leaks immediately, close up any foundation cracks with masonry caulk, and clear all gutters and drains that could carry water away from your home.

Considering investing in a battery powered sump pump to pump water out of your home or basement.

Anchor your fuel tanks so that they do not float, rupture or release fuel. And prevent a sewer backup by installing septic line check valves which allow waste to flow only one direction. If you live on a slope, consider installing French drains, which collects water in your yard and labor to safely away from your house.

Finally, catalog all your possessions using a digital camera and create a home inventory for insurance purposes.

Flooding is a reality for many people that live along the coastline but with our recent rain people that may not have experienced a flood before are now in the midst of cleaning up. We want you to stay safe, healthy, and enjoy your home for years to come. [Source] Image by U.S. Geological Survey

How We Protect Our Coastal Property