The do-it-yourself (DIY) home security market has grown in popularity and sophistication. Some security providers report up to 30% of new product sales are comprised of DIY security products.

DIY home security is an excellent choice for homeowners who want to have total control over security equipment and costs.

Get the Most Out of Your DIY Home Security

While DIY security may seem like the perfect solution, it must be purchased from a reliable vendor and installed properly to gain maximum security benefits. Ignoring vital best practices could result in a security breach.

Let’s take a look at the top four security safeguards for your DIY equipment.

1. Educate yourself (and your loved ones) on products. Because you’ll be handing installation and setup of your DIY security devices, carefully read product specifications. Know your devices’ capabilities and features, and operation best practices. Improper installation and use will result in ineffective security.
2. Secure your network. Because many DIY security devices are wireless, ensure protection of your network and security devices from hackers. Strong passwords, antivirus software and basic Wi-Fi best practices will safeguard your network.
3. Discourage robbers. Even if you’ve implemented DIY security, complement it with tricks to give the illusion that you’re home, even when you’re not. Tactics include putting lights on timers or adjusting them remotely via smartphone, tablet or desktop, regularly collecting mail, and keeping your yard well landscaped. This will discourage anyone who could be canvassing your neighborhood looking for empty homes.
4. Prioritize monitoring. Some security vendors offer connectivity to a monitoring center, which contacts emergency personnel once they’ve confirmed with the homeowners there’s a crisis. Make it a priority to work with a vendor who provides this service so you can ensure there is always a direct connection to police, firefighters and other authorities.

Above all, it’s essential to connect with your trusted vendor. The best DIY home security equipment meets your needs, and industry standards and best practices. Your vendor can help you assess the latter, giving peace of mind in your product selection.

The standard home insurance policy as it’s designed performs very well in protecting the assets of the average homeowner. The policy provides coverage for the dwelling and also the personal property of the residents. Additionally, home insurance policies offer personal liability coverage for protection from third-party claims and lawsuits.

However, because it is a standardized form utilized by the majority of homeowners, the policy will sometimes fail to properly insure risks that are somewhat unique. Nowhere is this more apparent than with unusual or high-value personal possessions that have limited, if any, coverage on the standard home insurance policy. Thankfully, the insurance industry has created personal floater policies to address the problem.

Limitations of Home Insurance for Unique and Valuable Items

In the typical home insurance policy, the dwelling and most of the contents are covered up to the amount specified on the policy. The only limit on items such as furniture and appliances is the total limit insured on the policy with no separate cap on the value of each individual item. Unfortunately, there are a number of other items that have very low limit caps on the amount recoverable from the policy. As an example, the following items usually are limited in the coverage available:

• Money, coins, and medals, including that are part of a collection – limited to $200 in any one loss
• Securities, checks, cashier’s check, travelers checks, money orders, and other negotiable instruments, manuscripts, and passports – limited to $1,000 in any one loss
• Stamps, trading cards, and comic books, including any that are part of a collection – limited to $2,500 in any one loss
• Firearms – limited to $2,500 in any one loss due to theft
• Silverware and goldware – limited to $2,500 in any one loss due to theft
• Electronic data processing equipment – limited to $5,000 in any one loss

The limits may sometimes vary from insurer to insurer, but these items are commonly covered with low sublimits, if covered at all. Many policies completely exclude jewelry and furs, while others may offer a small limit, such as $500 for the loss of any such items. Artwork and rugs are also commonly covered at lower levels than their full value if they are items of any significant cost.

All of the above items can generally be covered on a floater policy that is purchased separately from the home insurance policy. The floater is given its name due to the nature of the items covered, as they are not permanently affixed and may very easily be moved from one location to another. Even though other items in your home may meet this definition, the home insurance policy only shifts items of particular value to the floater policy for appropriate coverage.

Securing Floater Coverage

Most items that are not easily or appropriately insured on the standard home insurance policy can be insured on a floater. Different insurers will offer different types coverage, and often, multiple floaters will be necessary to cover varying items. If you have both valuable artwork and jewelry, you will likely need dedicated floaters for each category of items insured.

It’s unusual to have one floater policy cover very different types of property. When purchasing a floater policy, it’s a good idea to check around, as your standard home insurance company may not always be the best option. Unlike the standard policies (home insurance, personal umbrella, and personal auto), floaters are often unique to the property covered and there are sometimes very limited options for securing coverage. The more unusual your property, the more challenging it will be to find a good policy.

One of the benefits of floater policies is their superior coverage terms when compared to the standard home insurance policy. In many instances, floaters will cover property without any deductibles, and can offer better pricing than the standard home insurance policy. However, terms are less standardized with floaters, so it’s important to fully understand what you are purchasing before securing a policy.

Things to Consider from Your Floater

Some policies provide a blanket limit, which is the most the insurance company will pay in any one loss. Other policies will specify an amount for each and every item being insured. There are advantages and disadvantages to either option, but the decision will come down to cost and risk tolerance. If you want to insure at the lowest price, you will likely have to accept a lower blanket limit and hope that you don’t lose everything in one incident. If you are seeking the maximum coverage, a defined limit per item is the way to go, but will cost much more in premium. A hybrid approach is to have particularly high value items insured for a specific amount with the remaining items falling into a blanket limit.

When setting up your policy, you want to know exactly how you will be paid in the event of a claim. With most high value items, it’s common to have an appraisal of the insured items to pre-determine their value. With the agreed upon amounts scheduled onto your policy, there will be no dispute at the time of the loss. However, you should pay attention to any significant appreciation of your property, as you will need to update your policy with the newer, higher values.

The very nature of items insured by a floater policy presumes they can easily be moved from location to location and, therefore, the policy generally does not set such limitations on coverage. Ideally, policies with worldwide coverage are the best, as you need not worry if your jewelry is lost or stolen while on vacation overseas. Worldwide coverage is not always automatic, so you should inquire prior to purchasing a policy.

Even though your items may be insured on a floater policy, your insurance company would prefer that you not lose them in the first place. Many companies will offer loss control services to help you protect your property. They can offer suggestions and advice on how best to secure your valuable property to prevent loss or damage. These services are generally free of charge and are included in your premium. In some cases, the policy may actually place certain requirements on you to remain insured, such as storing your jewelry in a safe when they are not being worn.

Purchasing a Floater

The cost of a floater policy depends on several factors, primarily the value being insured and the nature of the property being insured. Items that are susceptible to damage or loss can be more expensive to insure. Most companies offering floater policies have established pricing based on their historical experience with loss of the type of items insured and will offer you a premium based on their assumptions. The more unusual your item, the more likely you will pay a higher premium, as insurers have less experience. As with other insurance policies,

If you find that your regular home insurance company can offer a floater policy, you might enjoy a multi-policy discount. Even if you go to a different company for your floater policy, you might still end up with a multi-policy discount if you purchase more than one policy for your many different insurable items.

The first step in purchasing a policy is to check with your current insurance company to see if they offer floaters. If they do, they can help you effectively separate out the values that would otherwise be on your home insurance policy, eliminating any double charges for the same items. If you need to find another insurance company, checking with independent insurance agents can open up the possibilities to more insurers.

For certain items, special interest groups or clubs may be of assistance. You may be surprised to find that there are Internet groups and forums devoted to just about any type of collectible items. These groups are often great sources of information for insurance to cover their specific hobby. Sometimes the manufacturer or retailer of certain products may also offer suggestions or even an insurance program already designed to insure your items. After all, it’s likely that you are not the first person to try and insure your item.

If you have anything that is of particular value, it’s always a good idea to check on the possibility of insuring it with a personal floater. The worst thing to do is to rely on the home insurance policy for insurance coverage on unusual or high-value property. Personal floaters can usually do the job better and cheaper.

August is National Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. While you’re likely focused on back-to-school shopping and planning, this is a reminder to schedule your annual eye exams as well. Eye exams are especially important at a young age since good eyesight leads to better learning.

How can an eye exam help my child?

Eye exams can identify a number of complications that are easily treated early on. Children’s eye exams can not only tell you if your child needs corrective lenses but can also spot astigmatisms and “lazy eyes” and correct them.

When should I schedule my child’s first eye exam?

The American Optometric Association (AOA), recommends that a child’s first eye exam should be at six-months old. At this age, doctors can ensure that your child’s eyes are developing normally.

The AOA suggests school-aged children receive annual examinations, especially outside of school-offered vision screenings. As children grow, their eyes can change quickly, so annual check-ups are a great way to spot and track any changes.

How can I pay for my child’s eye exam?

Paying for glasses and contacts can be expensive. However, vision insurance can help cover the costs of eye exams, as well as part of the costs associated with glasses and contacts.

How can I get the most out of my vision insurance?

There are multiple ways to get the most out of your vision insurance aside from scheduling annual check-ups. At your checkup, ask to try on glasses so a doctor can give you accurate measurements for your glasses size. Consider buying glasses and contacts online rather than at the eye doctor. Purchasing online is most often the cheaper route, and sites like Warby Parker even offer a free home try on the package.

A recent survey DealerRater conducted for Automotive News looked at the different ways car buyers deal with negative equity on their trade-ins. It found that the majority of consumers deal with this all-too-common situation in the worst possible way. 

Automotive News-DealerRater Survey

The Automotive News informal survey, conducted by DealerRater, looked at the most common actions that buyers take when trading in a car with negative equity ("negative equity" is when your car's value is less than the loan balance).

From May 5th to the 24th of this year, DealerRater interviewed 88,874 consumers who visited a dealership to shop or to have their car serviced. Of those, 46,700 respondents traded in their previous car when they bought or leased their most recent vehicle.

Over one third (37 percent) of those 46,700 respondents said they had negative equity in their trade-in. Here is how those buyers dealt with that situation:

• 54 percent rolled their negative equity into their next loan or lease.
• 21 percent "took some other action" (Automotive News did not specify what these other actions were).
• 19 percent increased the amount of their down payments.
• 6 percent opted to buy or lease a different vehicle than they had originally planned to.

Over half of the buyers polled rolled the debt into their next loan or lease. From a financial point of view, this is disappointing since this is the worst way to deal with this situation. Not only does it make your next loan or lease more expensive, it can put you in a debt spiral that's hard to escape.

Avoid Trading in a Car with Negative Equity at All Costs

Having negative equity is sometimes also referred to as being "underwater" or "upside down." Regardless of the word you use, negative equity is a growing problem with loan amounts rising and loan terms increasing.

Having negative equity isn't typically an issue if you plan to keep your car for a while and/or pay off the loan in full. It only becomes a problem when your vehicle is totaled, stolen, or you want to trade it in halfway through the loan term.

Let's look at an example of why being upside down can present an issue if you want to trade in your car. Say you have a balance of $12,000 left on your auto loan, but the vehicle is only worth $10,000. This means you have $2,000 worth of negative equity—and it isn't going to just disappear. Your options are to either deal with it now or deal with it later.

If you want to trade in your car, rolling the balance over into a new loan means paying on the new vehicle, plus the $2,000 from your last car. This means you're making payments on two cars at once, and your monthly payment and interest charges will be larger, as a result.

Worse yet, it typically means you'll be further upside down in the new loan. Rolling negative equity into a new loan just compounds your problem, which can create a debt cycle that can quickly spiral out of control.

For these reasons, every expert on the subject, including the team here at Auto Credit Express, will tell you that trading in a car with negative equity should always be viewed as a last resort option. This statement rings more true for those dealing with less than perfect credit, especially considering the higher than average interest rates these borrowers face.

Instead, it will be in your best interest to look at these alternatives:

• Cover the negative equity out of pocket.
• Find a new car with a big manufacturer rebate attached. If you don't have the cash to cover the difference out of pocket, this is a good alternative to explore.
• Hold off on trading in your vehicle until you are no longer underwater or you have paid off the loan. Try making larger payments than your minimum amount to take care of this faster.
• Try to sell the car yourself to get more than you would if you were to trade it in.

The Bottom Line

In an ideal world, you would always have equity in your vehicle so you could avoid this situation. Because negative equity is a common issue, however, it's best to figure out a way to avoid trading in a car when you are upside down in your loan. Buyers, especially those dealing with credit issues, should do whatever it takes to avoid this situation.

Another car buying roadblock can be your credit. Having bad credit or no credit can make it difficult to get approved for a car loan. Luckily, Auto Credit Express is here to try to make that process easier.

We connect car buyers to local special finance dealerships that know how to work with challenging credit situations. Our service is free of charge and obligation, so go ahead and get started by filling out our car loan request form right now.

While home warranties can be an additional level of protection for your home, some homeowners may have chosen not to purchase one and others may not even know what one is. If you’re wondering how a home warranty could help protect your home, here are five misconceptions and myths debunked.

Myth #1: “I don’t even know what a home warranty is, so I probably don’t need one.”

The more you know about the home systems and appliances in your home that may be covered by a home warranty, the more you may likely appreciate the value. Home warranties usually cover big-ticket items, like your furnace, air conditioner, plumbing, electrical systems and appliances — some of the essential things you use on a daily basis. A home warranty may help cover the repair or replacement of covered items that break down due to normal wear and tear.

Myth #2: “A home warranty is expensive; it’s not worth it.”

Have you ever thought about how much it would cost if you were to replace a major home system?  According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of replacing a furnace may range from $2,298 to $5,550. Generally, a basic home warranty may cost you between $350 to $500 a year.

Myth #3: “I don’t need a home warranty, because I have all new appliances.”

Unfortunately, new items may break down, too. Without a warranty, you may be leaving yourself open to a potentially expensive repair on a new appliance.

Myth #4: “I maintain all my appliances and systems, so I would never need a home warranty.”

Breakdowns can happen unexpectedly, even to the most attentive homeowners. Routine maintenance can be a great thing and certainly helps, but it is no guarantee that things may not go wrong.

Myth #5: “I have homeowners insurance, so I don’t need a home warranty.”

This is a common misconception. Homeowners insurance and a home warranty are two separate things and offer different coverage. Homeowners insurance may cover things that happen due to an unexpected event, such as a fire or theft. But a home warranty is a service contract that provides for the repair or replacement of covered items when they break down due to normal wear and tear — things that can happen to just about any homeowner at some point.

Make sure to weigh all of the facts, and then decide if a home warranty may be right for you and your home.

Drivers who miss between one to two hours of the recommended seven hours of sleep nearly double their risk of a crash, according to research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

If you don’t get at least seven hours of sleep, sleep deprivation could cause you to get into an accident. The AAA Foundation found that sleep-deprived drivers had a steadily increasing risk of being involved in a collision in comparison to drivers who slept for the recommended seven hours or more before getting behind the wheel:

• Six to seven hours of sleep: 1.3 times the crash risk
• Five to six hours of sleep: 1.9 times the crash risk
• Four to five hours of sleep: 4.3 times the crash risk
• Less than four hours of sleep: 11.5 times the crash risk

Sleep deprivation similar to being drunk

Sleep deprivation can seriously impair your ability to drive. In fact, the study found that drivers who get less than five hours of sleep share the same crash risk as someone who is driving over the legal limit for alcohol.

“You cannot miss sleep and still expect to be able to safely function behind the wheel,” said Dr. David Yang, executive director for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Our new research shows that a driver who has slept for less than five hours has a crash risk comparable to someone driving drunk.”

One in three adults sleep less than seven hours a day

While 97 per cent of drivers told the AAA Foundation they viewed drowsy driving as a completely unacceptable behaviour, nearly one in three admitted that in the month leading up to the survey, they drove when they were so tired, they had a hard time keeping their eyes open.

“Managing a healthy work-life balance can be difficult and far too often we sacrifice our sleep as a result,” said Jake Nelson, director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research for AAA. “Failing to maintain a healthy sleep schedule could mean putting yourself or others on the road at risk.”

No matter how much you open your windows or how loud you turn up your radio, you can’t trick your body into staying awake. In fact, you could easily fall asleep behind the wheel without even realizing it.

And while caffeine can make you more alert, the effects usually wear off quickly if you’re sleep deprived. Coffee or other stimulants cannot substitute sleep, and the AAA urges drivers to prioritize getting plenty of sleep (at least seven hours) into their daily schedules.

Signs that you are drowsy

When you are drowsy or tired, you are less alert and your reaction time is impacted. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation notes eight signs that you are too tired to drive:

• You have difficulty keeping your eyes open.
• Your head keeps tilting forward despite your efforts to keep your eyes on the road.
• Your mind keeps wandering and you can’t seem to concentrate.
• You yawn frequently.
• You can’t remember details about the last few kilometres you have travelled.
• You are missing traffic lights and signals.
• Your vehicle drifts into the next lane and you have to jerk it back into your lane.
• You have drifted off the road and narrowly avoided a crash.

Penalties for drowsy driving

Though there appears to be no specific law in Canada that targets driving while fatigued, you could easily catch the eye of the police if you’re driving while drowsy—even if you’re not involved in a collision. If you’re not able to stay in your lane, or if you run a red light or make an unsafe lane change, you can end up with a ticket.

And while tickets come with a one-time fine, they can also affect your auto insurance premiums for years to come, as they stay on your driving record for at least three years.

Then, of course, if you’re involved a collision, the penalties for driving while fatigued are more serious. You could be charged with dangerous driving, careless driving or even criminal negligence.

Don’t risk it; get the sleep you need to drive safely behind the wheel.

Installing a home security system is essential in order for you to protect your home, family, and valuable possessions. Having a home security system installed affords you the peace of mind you need in order to live without fear for your home’s safety.

However one of the most important things you need to consider when installing a home security system is the type of monitoring plan you wish to have. Here are a few things you should know when you’re trying to find the best monitoring plan for your home security system.

What is Monitoring?

To put it simply, monitoring refers to the way in which your home security system communicates with a device or center which monitors the information it is receiving. Essentially, a monitoring center processes the information to determine what action or steps need to be taken in the event of a security breach.

Types of Monitoring

When it comes to monitoring for home security systems there are generally two different types of monitoring methods: personal and professional. Personal monitoring is very rare and is usually carried out when you’ve purchased and installed a lower grade home security system. This type of monitoring involves all of the information from the home security system being redirected to you directly. That means you have to keep a vigilant eye on what is happening in your home in order to keep on top of things.

If your attention slips and something happens during that time, nothing can be done because you were the monitoring center so to speak. It was your responsibility to identify a threat and report it to the relevant authorities.

As you can see, this type of monitoring is very cumbersome on the homeowner and can prove to be grossly ineffective in most cases.

The other method of monitoring is professional. This means that the alarm company is the one keeping a tab on all the signals that your house is emitting. If there is a security breach or threat, the alarm company will inform the relevant authorities and help will be sent to your home right away. Alarm companies pride themselves on having fast response times which is what makes them so attractive to customers. The faster the response time, the less likely it is that you and your family will incur serious harm, damage, or losses.

Things to Keep in Mind When Looking for a Monitoring Plan

With respect to monitoring plans, they are typically divided into two broad categories: basic and advanced/interactive. The two different plans differ in how much control you are afforded. The general features of the two plans are outlined below.

Basic Monitoring Plans

If you’ve just gotten a home security system, basic monitoring packages are a great way to start out. This is especially true in today’s day and age because now, the more advanced packages require smartphone and tablet use. If you don’t have a smartphone, basic monitoring is perfect for you.

Advanced and Interactive Plans

These plans are a little bit more complex and give you the chance to be more involved with the monitoring process. If you want to be kept in the loop with everything that’s happening in and around your home, these sorts of monitoring plans keep you updated via your smartphone or tablet. You can expect to get texts and alerts as to the status of your home, remote access to various home security features, as well as access to the cameras and sensors if there are any.

What to Expect from any Monitoring Plan

Generally, all monitoring plans have certain key features. Some of these include:

• 24/7 monitoring and surveillance of your property for everything from break-ins to the state of the environment. This means that your monitoring system is also keeping an eye out for things like excess carbon monoxide, water levels, and smoke.
• Primary contacts – These are generally two numbers which the alarm company calls first in the event of a security breach or problem.
• Secondary contacts – If they can’t get in touch with your primary contacts, the company will attempt to get in touch with your secondary contacts. You can give up to five numbers as secondary contacts.
• Cellular connection – This is the means by which your alarm system forms a connection to the monitoring service. It uses cellular connections as opposed to landlines which aren’t very reliable. A landline can be cut by a burglar to try to cut you off from protection. Cellular connections don’t require wires and are therefore a more reliable way to connect to your monitoring service.

How to Choose Which Monitoring Plan is Best for you

Choosing which monitoring plan is best for you involves a consideration of your personal preferences and circumstances. For instance, are you looking to have more control over what’s happening inside your home when you’re not around or are you comfortable with giving that responsibility solely to the monitoring service?

There are certain cases and situations in which a more interactive/advanced system would be more effective. These include:

• When your kids are at home alone
• If you’re going on vacation and want to keep tabs on the house
• If your elderly parents are living with you and you want to monitor them

In these cases, being able to see and know what’s happening at home while you’re away is very beneficial.

As you can see, what monitoring plan you end up choosing largely depend upon what degree of control you want over the surveillance of your home. If you’re looking to be more involved, an advanced plan is best for you; if not, you can easily settle for a basic plan.