SHANNON VINNICK
Sales Associate/REALTOR®
Realty Executives Oceanside
We've all had the experience: You answer the phone even if you don't recognize the caller's number. The individual answering the phone is friendly, greets you by name, and begins to inquire about your personal or financial situation.
There are some unwanted calls that are more bothersome than hazardous, like those from telemarketers, but there are other calls that might be scams that cause serious identity theft or major financial loss.
Because of this, exercise caution.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has offered the following advice to help consumers stop robocalls that are unwanted and stay away from phone scams:
• Don't take calls from strange numbers. If you do, end the call right away.
• It's possible that the phone number of an incoming call has been fictitiously changed, or "spoofed," to persuade you to pick it up. Remember: Just because Caller ID displays a local number doesn't guarantee the call is coming from a local number. Additionally, hang up the phone if you answer and it's not the person you were expecting.
• Hang up if the caller or a recording urges you to press a button to stop receiving calls after you answer the phone. This tactic is frequently used by scammers to find potential victims.
• Never answer a question with "yes." Scammers might be able to capture the response and use it as a voice signature to approve unauthorized phone charges.
• Never respond to unexpected calls or if you have any reason to be suspicious by giving out personal information, such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mothers' maiden names, passwords, or other identifying information.
• Hang up and contact the number on your account statement, in the phone book, or on the company's or government agency's website to check the validity of the request if you receive a call claiming to be from a company or a government agency. A legitimate supplier would typically provide you a written statement before calling you, especially if they are demanding payment.
• If someone is pressuring you for money or information right now, proceed with extreme care.
• If your phone service includes a voicemail feature, be careful to secure it with a password. Some voicemail providers are set up to let you listen to your messages if you dial your own phone number. If you don't create a password, a hacker could impersonate your home phone number and access your voicemail.
• Check into apps that you can download to your mobile device to block incoming calls, and inquire with your phone provider about any call-blocking features it may offer.
Unwanted calls are the federal agency's top consumer complaint, and phone scams are growing more prevalent and inventive, said the FCC.
Keep these suggestions in mind the next time your phone calls. Always err on the side of caution to safeguard your pocketbook and identity.
While achieving world peace is a noble goal, if you want to bring some serenity into your life, start in your bedroom. Your bedroom is more than just a place to sleep; it's also where you wake up, and the atmosphere there can determine how the rest of your day will go. Here are five suggestions for making your bedroom more peaceful.
Pick soothing hues. While you might prefer the fire hues of red or orange, when choosing shades for your room, go with calming, serene colors like light blue or a soft gray.
Choose simple patterns. Keep the unique, interesting patterns for the throw cushions in the living area. Reduce busy patterns in your sleeping area because they can make us feel crowded and stressed.
Get rid of clutter. Keep your bedroom clutter-free, from laundry to large furniture, to make it a haven. Before going to bed, spend a few minutes putting away whatever you took out. Then, lock the closet doors, reposition the books on the shelves, and get ready for bed.
Bring in the natural world. Houseplants can improve mood and increase the amount of oxygen in the space. Place a few low-maintenance plants where you can see them as you wake up, such as a fern or ficus.
Choose the appropriate lighting. Blackout curtains are excellent for blocking obtrusive light, but they can also interfere with your sleep cycles by preventing your body from waking up at its regular time. Find a set of blackout curtains that block out light while allowing you to awaken naturally in the morning.
September 6, 2023 – Flagler County is pleased to announce that the grand opening ceremony of the State Road 100 Pedestrian Bridge will be held at 3:30 p.m. September 19 (Tuesday) and the public is cordially invited to attend.
“We are very excited that the pedestrian bridge is open, and we want to celebrate it with the community,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito. “I’ve been out there and have had the pleasure of meeting people on the trail enjoying the new addition. Some expressed their gratitude the bridge was built because they use the amenity a few times a week.”
While there is no parking at the bridge itself, Flagler County has arranged two options for parking
The bridge, along with its associated two-plus miles of trails and sidewalks that round out the project, link the Lehigh Trail, State Road 100 and Old Kings Road South sidewalks, conservation lands in Graham Swamp, and the Flagler County owned property known as Bulow “Parcel D,” which is currently in the planning and design phase to develop the Bulow Creek Headwaters Regional Park.
The process for the project – that spent years on the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Alternative Priorities ranking list (also referred to as TAP projects) – began in 2018 when the Board of County Commissioners approved the $1.5 million design phase.
The cost of the project, which largely comes from federal and state grant funding, is as follows:
Follow Flagler County Government on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FlaglerCountyGovernment.
Read the full article here: https://www.flaglercounty.gov/Home/Components/News/News/906/
Luxury Home located in the desirable Toscana gated community. This stunning concrete block home with tile roof offers the perfect blend of elegance, privacy and modern amenities. Boasting a myriad of desirable features, including heated & cooled salt water pool, whole house water solutions system, Sprinkler system, bidets in all baths, 2 large propane tanks for gas range in kitchen, electric fireplace, garage floor coating, full visual and audio surveillance system with monitored alarm, custom window treatments throughout. The high ceilings, windows and sliders that allow abundant natural light contribute to the overall ambiance of spaciousness and sophistication. The separate pool room and bath create the perfect working office or guest area, for those wanting that extra privacy. The oversized paver driveway and patios, mature landscape, pergola with marine grade privacy screens, along with black fencing add an elegant touch to the exterior, enhancing the overall curb appeal. Call today to view this home before it's gone!
Anywhere and at any time of the year, flooding can happen. You could still be in danger if you don't live close to any water. Every year, hurricanes affect huge sections of the nation, and a heavy downpour could flood your backyard or home.
Even a small amount of water has the potential to do serious harm. A few inches of water can flood your basement and harm the foundation of your home. Water can harm electronics, furniture, rugs, hardwood floors, and other belongings. The price tag may potentially be in the thousands of dollars.
Does Flood Damage Fall Under Homeowners Insurance?
Many consumers wrongly think that flood damage is covered by homeowner's insurance. Typically, that is untrue. In most cases, only if you obtain a separate policy under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will you be protected against flood damage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) oversees the program. The majority of towns and cities take part in the NFIP. If you want to know if your neighborhood participates, you can search online. A private insurance company's policies are also available through an insurance agent for purchase. Don't put off buying flood insurance until a major storm is predicted. Normally, policies don't go into effect until 30 days after being signed. You must make preparations and buy flood insurance before the start of the storm season.
Flood Insurance Cost
The cost of flood insurance varies based on a number of variables. One is the likelihood of floods in your neighborhood. Your rates will be greater than those in a low-risk location if you reside near a body of water. Whether you opt to insure just the property or also decide to include its contents in your insurance will determine the cost of the policy.
When is it necessary?
You could be forced to buy flood insurance in specific circumstances. If you reside in a high-risk location and have a mortgage with a federally regulated or insured lender, your lender will compel you to buy flood insurance. If you reside in a low-risk location, a lender may not require flood insurance; nevertheless, some lenders do still demand that homeowners get coverage.
Defend Yourself Against Flood Damage
Flooding is a possibility everywhere, albeit some locations experience it more frequently than others. You could still be at danger even if you don't reside in a high-risk area. A few inches of water might completely destroy your yard and do serious structural damage to your home. In the event of a calamity, having flood insurance can help you secure your house and your belongings.
