During the winter, you may enjoy relaxing with your family in front of a roaring fire. Many homeowners think it makes sense to store firewood inside the house, near the fireplace, where it’s easily accessible, but that can actually lead to problems. 
You Don’t Want to Bring Insects and Animals Into Your Home
If you store wood inside your house, you may also bring in some uninvited guests. A stack of firewood can serve as shelter for insects, including termites and spiders, as well as mice, snakes and other small animals. If they get loose in your home, you may have to hire a pest control company to get rid of them and pay a contractor to repair damage they cause. 
Firewood Needs to Season
Wood has to season, or dry out, before it can be used as firewood. Wood filled with moisture won’t burn long or produce much heat. It can also produce a lot of smoke and release carbon monoxide, as well as creosote, which can lead to a chimney fire.
Where and How to Store Firewood
Freshly cut wood should be stored outside, where it can season. There isn’t enough airflow in a typical house for wood to dry out thoroughly. Wood stored outdoors may take six months or longer to dry out enough to be burned in a fireplace or wood stove.
Keep firewood at a good distance from your house so that insects and animals living in the wood pile don’t have easy access to your home. Choose an area with good air circulation. 
Storing wood right up against the side of your house may seem convenient, but it can be dangerous. If a spark from a barbecue, a fire pit, an unextinguished cigarette or another source causes the stack of firewood to go up in flames, your house may soon follow. Stacking firewood next to the house can also limit air circulation, which can allow mold and fungus to grow.
Store firewood on a pallet or rack at least a few inches off the ground so the wood doesn’t come into contact with moisture that could cause it to rot. Arrange logs in rows, leaving enough space between them to allow air to circulate, and stack them about four feet high with the cut ends exposed.
You can use a firewood cover or tarp to protect the top of the stack from rain and snow, but leave the sides uncovered so the wood is exposed to air and sunlight and able to season. If you decide to store wood in a shed or barn, make sure the building has enough air circulation for the wood to dry out.
Only bring enough firewood for one day at a time into your house. Don’t set logs near the fireplace, as  a stray spark could cause them to ignite and your entire home could catch fire.
**We are really careful about this over at my house! Thanks, RISMedia!

Ever wish you could become one of those rare morning people? The ones that wake with a start, feeling refreshed and energized. The ones that get in that morning workout or wrap up some work before many of us even hit the snooze button for the first time. Here are five tips to help you   achieve that early bird status!

1. Create a morning schedule. Physically write down the things you’d like to complete in the morning and set a time for each. Then stick with it. Once you force yourself out of bed early one or two weeks consistently, you’ll find it gets easier and easier to do.
2. Let the light in. Whether natural or artificial, light tells your brain its time to get up and get going. If your room lacks large windows where you can open the blinds up, consider investing in a timed lamp or alarm clock with a light.
3. Prep and eat breakfast. Although there are many of us who chose the skip breakfast, it is key to perking up your energy in the morning. Try prepping protein-focused meals the night before or grab a yogurt or fruit and try to consume it right after you wake.
4. Get your body moving. Whether it’s a short walk around your neighborhood or a rigorous 5:30 am spin class, getting your blood pumping will help wake up your body and has a ton of other benefits, like stress and anxiety reduction.
5. Feed your mind. Stimulate your brain and do something you enjoy first thing in the morning. Try reading a favorite book, catching up on the news, doing daily meditation, or setting intentions.

Outdated kitchen? Overrun backyard? Unusable basement space? If you have a home renovation project on the mind, the first thing you have to consider is how you are going to finance it. Here are the most common options to make your dreams become a reality.
  Cash. Paying in cash is the most straightforward financing option, just save until you have enough money to cover the expenses. This will help eliminate spending outside your budget; however, it can also extend your timeline.
  **Mortgage Refinance. If you’ve been making payments on your home for a few years and your interest rate is higher than current market rates, you may be eligible for a mortgage refinance, reducing your payments and freeing up some money.
Cash-Out Refinance. You can tap into your home equity and borrow up to 80 percent of your home’s value to pay off your current mortgage plus take out more cash to cover the renovations. This option is encouraged only when you’re making improvements that will increase the value of your home, as it can add a lot of interest and fees.
  Home Equity. Getting a home equity line of credit allows you to borrow money against the value of your home. You receive usually up to 80 percent of your home’s value, minus the amount of your loan.
  Retirement Funds. Homeowners can consider pulling money from a 401K or IRA account, even though they aren’t specifically meant to cover a home renovation. This option might incur additional penalties or tax payments, but may be worth it when making improvements that will benefit them financially in the long run.

Check with a mortgage professional like Nick Fuller at Stonegate Mortgage if you are considering refinancing! {508-717-1294}

​Refinancing your mortgage is something most homeowners consider at least once throughout the lifespan of their home loan. It allows you to pay off your previous loan by applying for a new one that has better financial advantages. While there are many good reasons to refinance, here are five common ones.

• Scoring a lower interest rate. The number one reason homeowners decide to refinance is to secure a lower interest rate on their mortgage. Not only does this save you money in the long run and decrease your monthly payment, but you can start building equity in your home sooner.
• Using an improved credit score. Even if interest rates have not dropped in the market, if you’ve improved your credit score over the last few years, you may be able to reduce your mortgage rate.
• Shortening the loan’s term. If interest rates are decreasing, there is a chance you may be able to get a shorter loan term with little to no change in your monthly payment, allowing you to pay off your loan sooner.
• Switching from an adjustable rate to a fixed rate. If you chose an adjustable-rate mortgage with great introductory rates when you initially financed your home, that rate may increase significantly over the years. By switching to a fixed rate while interest rates are low, you can protect yourself from future increases.
• Cashing out home equity. If there is a big purchase or payment on the horizon, such as funding a wedding or going back to school, your best option may be to use the equity you’ve built in your home to borrow money at a lower cost.
• Call NICK FULLER at Stonegate Mortgage 508*717*1294