Keeping A Germ Free Home During Flu Season

Flu season can be a dangerous time of the year. We all like to think our home is safe and germ free, but germs can be lurking everywhere! Thankfully, there are ways that you can keep your home germ free during the flu season and keep your family healthy and safe!

High-traffic Areas

There are some spots in your house that receive a lot of traffic, such as faucets, doorknobs, remote controls, toys and toilets. These are areas where germs build up quickly. That is why it is important to disinfect these areas often. Once someone from your family comes into contact with the flu virus, they can easily spread it to other areas of the house. Try to keep it from spreading by cleaning these high-traffic areas.

Disinfectants

When you want to get rid of dirt, soap and water will do the trick. However, when you want to get rid of germs, you are going to need something with a little bit more power. That is where disinfectants and sanitizers come into play. These types of cleaning products are used to kill viruses and bacteria. Keep in mind, however, that disinfectants need time to work. Sometimes they need between a few seconds to a few minutes. Read the directions on your disinfectant product to ensure that you get the maximum benefit from it.

Take Out the Trash

During the cold and flu season, your family is going to use a lot of tissues. As a result, your trash will be filled with dirty tissues that are simply overflowing with germs. This is why it is extremely important to empty your trash can often. Also, ensure that your family members do not leave their dirty tissues lying around. This is just asking for more germs to spread to other surfaces.

Be sure to keep these tips in mind when it comes to keeping your home germ free this flu season. Just remember, there is no sure-fire way to stop the spread of the flu. Thus, as soon as you notice signs of being infected, you should contact your doctor right away for treatment. The sooner you seek treatment for the flu, the quicker you can get back to your normal life!

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Why Getting Pre-Approved for a Mortgage is Important

While plenty of people pick out the house they want and then go to the lender for a mortgage, this is actually quite backwards. If you are hoping to purchase a home soon, getting pre-approved for a mortgage should be the first item on your list. Here are some reasons why this will make buying a house a much less painful experience with a pre-approval in hand.

Establishing a Purchase Range

There is no sense in viewing homes you cannot afford. Getting a pre-approval will give you an idea as to how much you can reasonably purchase, so there will be no let-down later in the process. Having a range to use when house hunting will save you time and frustration, as well as save the time and frustration of homeowners and your realtor. Your pre-approval amount will also tell you how large of a down payment you will need, which is largely dependent on how much you are approved to borrow.

Finding Credit Problems First

Some people decide to buy a home and have one picked out, only to find out that their credit is destroyed and they don’t qualify for a mortgage. In another scenario, you may think you are prepared to buy and find out your score is only 20 points from being within prime range. Getting a pre-approval first will tell you what you can reasonably expect to be offered from lenders. Then, you will be able to make your own decision about whether or not you want to focus on some credit repair before taking the plunge.

Allowing You to Move Quickly

If you are searching for the perfect house and find it without being pre-approved, another person can swoop in and buy it before you can get all of your paperwork in order. This is not uncommon at all, as many people find the house, make an offer and close within 30 days. If you want to be able to snap up the right house for you, having a pre-approval can help speed the process.

Getting a pre-approval for a mortgage is important because it will save you time and effort. If you need to do some credit repairs first or gather some documentation, you won’t have two realtors and a homeowner waiting on the process. If you are serious about home ownership, having a pre-approval in hand will make it easier for everyone involved.

Pre-Approval

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