What’s the best way to prepare your home to seal out hurricane damage this season? There are simple steps you can take to reduce your home’s risk of damage before a hurricane or any intense storm hits.

I connected with a home construction & residential waterproofing expert, David Baur at Grace Residential Building Materials, and gathered these four vital tips to save your home and your money.

Many of us are now, or soon will be, helping our parents downsize and move. I have experienced it and I am sure many of you are about to go down that journey too. In fact, as the Baby Boom generation retires, the U.S. population age 65 and over will jump nearly 80 percent in the next twenty years. By 2030, the elderly will account for one-fifth of the total U.S. population.

Did you know there are actually professionals that specialize in moving seniors? They are called Senior Move Managers® and they assist older adults and their families with the daunting process of downsizing and moving to a new residence. 

‘Tis the season of moving. Although summer is not traditionally “the season of giving,” if you are one of the 40 million Americans moving this summer it is the perfect opportunity to be a summertime Santa. While you are packing up all of your belongings, you can also be opening up your spirit of giving. In fact, the act of giving while you move will actually make your move easier.

Visit www.MoveForHunger.org, a non-profit organization that will connect you with a local moving company that will deliver your non-perishable food donations to your local food bank for you.

It’s May and you are probably thinking of Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day celebrations. But did you know May is also National Moving Month? It “may” not be a reason to celebrate, but certainly moving will be on the mind of millions this month. Nearly 40 million Americans move in the summer and begin planning their moves in May. If you are one of those households on the move, there is no reason to panic. Unlike the popular perception, it doesn’t need to be a stressful and overwhelming process.

As spring arrives, the moving truck arrives! Many of you are currently in the process of looking to buy or rent a new home. Perhaps, you want to cut down on your commute, or you are changing jobs? Many of us time our move for when the kids will be out of school. Just like the birds and the bees, we get moving in spring! Since it’s the time big life decisions are made and real estate activity is really kicking off now, my team at NorthStar Moving took a look back at 2014 and compiled the top 10 cities Americans moved to and top 10 cities Americans moved from last year.

Just moved into your new home? Starting a new job? Ready to take on the exciting new chapter? Well, before you step out the door, think about your four-legged housemate. They may not be feeling so settled and could feel deserted if you leave them in the new, unfamiliar surroundings. Not to mention what they might do to your new home while you are away! Now is the time to hire a pet sitter for Fido. But before you just Google “pet sitter” it’s important to understand the difference between a professional pet sitter and dog walker; and a “hobby” pet sitter and dog walker. After all, you don’t want to bark up the wrong tree.

Tired of the old paint colors, the piles of catalogs, over-stuffed closets and toys that your kids haven’t touched since 2013? Is your 15-year-old just not loving the Winnie the Pooh theme room? Well, then it’s time to room swap! Most of us move homes every 5-10 years, but many stay put for decades. Moving is the time when we get rid of the most stuff, so if you haven’t moved in 5 or 10 years, things are piling up! Remember when you first moved into your home?

Are you deep into tinsel and mistletoe? A bit pre-occupied with your holiday to-do lists? Is all the sparkle distracting you and your little ones? Be sure to keep an eye out for trouble, your little ones can reap havoc with holiday décor. Whether you are singing “Feliz Navidad” or “Dradle Dradle Dradle,” we can all agree this is one of the greatest times of the year. If parents aren’t careful though, it can also be one of the most dangerous times. I checked in with the child safety experts at Boo Boo Busters to talk Santa safety to ensure that the holidays and New Year are filled with joy.

December? Yep, December is here and you know what that means! A busy and joyous month filled with holiday festivities, shopping, decorating, baking and Santa’s to-do lists that you better check twice. While December is filled with cheer, it’s also filled with dangers for your pets. In fact, it is one of the most dangerous times of the year for your dog Dasher and your cat Blitzen. That’s why I called upon Dr. Anthony George, doctor of veterinary medicine and certified veterinary acupuncturist, to guide us through all of the dangers our holiday décor and holiday foods can create for our best four-legged friends.

Whether you are a parent of two-legged loved ones or four-legged furry loved ones, it is critical to be aware of the true spookiness that is hiding behind all the ghostly fun. So I called upon two experts that have simple tips for a safe, scare-free Halloween to keep your children and pets safe.