Protecting Important Documents Short & Simple • © 2016 Thinkshortcut Publishing, LLC • Created by MarketingZoo.com But if you don’t, get a cloud-based storage account that has plenty of storage space for your needs and start scanning those documents. And when the unthinkable happens, when you do have a fire, flood or mold damage, don’t forget there is professional assistance for you: Call your disaster restoration pro for help. Protecting Important Documents It’s natural. It’s human nature. You don’t really think about this very often. What are we talking about? Water, fire and smoke damage. There is one very important action you should take right now in preparation for the unthinkable. That’s right, protecting your important documents, such as your birth certificates, marriage license, financial papers, insurance policies and similar documents.   Most homeowners keep all their important papers and documents in what they consider a safe place, such as in an organized folder in a home office or secure location where they know exactly where everything is. Unfortunately, that’s not really very safe when there is flooding or fire and smoke. Others might utilize a water and fire proof safe, which is a great idea. Yet there is something additional you can do to 100% guarantee your important documents are safe no matter what happens. Scan them and put them on the “cloud.” You may already do this, and if so, congratulations. No matter what happens to your home, your documents are safe and can be accessed from any device connected to the internet. Keep them organized in online folders, and make sure those in your family who should have access to them have username and passwords they can use in an emergency. You should still keep the originals as safe as you can, of course.

Stressed-Out Lawns 3 copy Short & Simple • © 2016 Thinkshortcut Publishing, LLC • Created by MarketingZoo.com “Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.”  — Phyllis Diller Stressed-Out Lawns Remember how lush and green your lawn was in the spring and early summer? You loved it. Then August hit and things started to go downhill from there (unless you carefully and regularly watered your lawn, that is!)   Now that summer is quickly fading away, it’s time to start thinking of what you can do to keep your lawn in good condition and prepare it not only for the rest of the year, but also for the next growing season. The first thing to remember is not to cut grass too low. You have mowed your lawn a dozen times or more, and you are tired of it, right? That’s normal. So your inclination might be, “Well, the lawn is almost done so I’ll just cut it shorter and cut it less frequently.” Don’t forget that taller grass is able to withstand the elements better, not just less rainfall but also fighting off invading weeds. This is a good time to aerate your lawn. You can hire a professional lawn company to do this for you, or rent a machine for do-it-yourself lawn care enthusiasts. This opens up the soil so moisture can penetrate and help roots to draw moisture and nutrients into the visible grass blades. This helps the lawn continue to grow through the fall and even prepares it for the next spring. Lastly, consult your local home improvement center and determine, according to where you live and winter weather conditions, the type of fertilizer treatment you can use in the fall to prepare your lawn for winter. Studies show that fall fertilization practices is really good for the health of your lawn. Hurry up, before the snow flies!