Now that summer is officially on its way, it is time to ensure your home stays well maintained. While a top to bottom inspection is required every spring and fall to check for any damage and prepare for the upcoming months, it is important to think of this as a year-round necessity.

While it might seem difficult to fit Home Maintenance inspections into your already busy schedule, the voice of Franklin still rings true: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What costs you a hundred dollars today might end up costing you thousands later if rain or wind or sun damage compounds a problem.

Alicia on “Home Maintenance Being an Investment”

“As someone who has moved numerous times, I can say that keeping your home in great condition does not just keep the value of your home, it increases it. Making sure that no moisture is allowed inside the walls keeps mold from building up. Keeping leaky faucets from dripping keeps the finish in the tub and sinks from eroding. You can get closer to your asking price when potential buyers see that you have maintained your house with great detail while other sellers have not.”

Sarah on “Managing the Maintenance”

“Keeping your home in great working order can seem incredibly daunting. If that is true for you, break the job into monthly parts. Schedule to drain the hot water heater in February and tackle the gutters in April. Clean the dryer vent in May and change the batteries in your smoke detectors in July. The added benefit is that you are aware of how the home is being maintained throughout the year which will allow you to catch any new problems at their inception.”

Here are a few tips to help you with your essential needs.

#1 Button Up the Ends

Protecting all the items within the home is job one. Therefore, you need to check the roof and the basement (or bottom floor) first. Check the vents, skylights and splash blocks as well as the tiles for any leaks. And keep those gutters clean. Then, check to see if any moisture is seeping in around the foundation or if there are any chinks in that armor that will lead to leaks. If you have a basement, just the fact of standing water should be enough to send up a warning signal.

#2 Get a Basic Set of Tools

You should have the tools you need for minor repairs. The good news is that you can get that set for $200 dollars or less. Get a toolbox and fill it with: a hammer, a pry bar (which is very multi-purpose), vise-grips, regular and needle-nose pliers, a set of screwdrivers, tape measure, a level (your first clue that there is a problem you do not notice is if things are no longer level), a 3/8th-inch reversible drill with bits, and a utility knife. And please, wear safety glasses. The other bonus is that these will help you with any arts-and-crafts projects you want to do.

#3 Know Your Limitations

Jobs should fall into three categories: what you can do, what a handyman can do, and what you need a specialist/contractor for. There is no way to prescribe these categories for you as everyone has a different level of ability. But even if you feel that simple jobs are outside your range, you can learn from the person you hire. Pay attention and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Then, next time, you can do it yourself and your hard-earned money will stay in your pocket.

We’ve all done it, probably more than once.

Whether it is coast to coast or down the street, Americans move and move a lot. According to the US Census Bureau, the average American changes houses once every five years. Given our nomadic tendencies, you’d think we’d have a system for minimizing headaches and maximizing efficiencies. Yet anyone who has moved is almost certain to have multiple horror stories — we hear about them all the time. And we’ve certainly experienced our fair share of nightmares – between the two of us, we have moved 26 times! While we can’t promise that it will ever be easy, we have learned that with a bit of pre-planning and some creative thinking, most of the biggest pitfalls can be avoided.

Alicia on ‘Overcoming Inertia’

‘Although the actual moving day may be weeks or months away, your move actually begins the day you decide to change your residence. The impending day is likely to produce a fair amount of anxiety. You know you should be getting organized, but it can be a daunting, even overwhelming prospect, so many people procrastinate until the last possible minute. Knowing where to start is truly half the battle. We’ve got two simple tasks that you can do right away that will help you overcome procrastination and organizational inertia. The first is: create a master calendar to plot out the major events. Keep it in one central place and use it to write down everything from cable appointments to house closings.

It’s much easier to stay on top of all the details if you also can see the big picture. The second is: have each family member over the age of 6 pick one closet and make a pile of items to give away or throw away before you move. The simple act of deciding what not to take often makes it easier to start thinking about what you will take.’

Sarah on ‘Keep a Notebook’

‘Moving is by definition, a period of flux. It can be incredibly challenging to stay on top of all the bits of information that inevitably accompany a move. Most people just jot down critical information (from telephone numbers to bids to emails) on slips of papers or post-it notes…and waste hours searching for them later. You’ll eliminate half of the headache of a move if you get one notebook that can serve as the central repository for all notes, numbers and notices.’

Here are three more moving tips that will help you get ready for that big day:

#1: Create a YUNKâ„¢ Box
YUNKâ„¢ stands for ‘You Never Know’. Set aside and label one moving box for just that purpose. You might throw in a remote control that you still have but are not sure what it goes to. Put in those plastic ‘do-hickeys’ in the kitchen that probably make something work. You will surely find a home for some of these things when you unpack at the new place.

#2: Consider What You Need to Open
First Put aside one box for items that you will want to get to first and label it ‘Open Me First.’ We like to include things like toilet paper, garbage bags, box opener, paper towels, pens, and screwdrivers. Make sure to put this in the moving truck last so it is easy to get to right away.

#3: Pack a ‘Gift’ Box!
Whether you’re single or have a family — take few minutes to pack a small gift box to open on your first day in the new house. Include some of your favorite items — ones with sentimental value and things that make you smile. Write a quick note to yourself (or have each family member write a note to the entire family) with your wishes for your life in your new home and your top 5 favorite memories of your old home.

It’s hard to believe that the winter season is close upon us. But alas, within a few short weeks it will be here. Cooler months bring a unique set of challenges for homeowners, in particular: keeping it warm and keeping it safe from the elements.

A good many people (us included) get overwhelmed just thinking about what to do to prepare their home for winter. On the surface it can seem like a daunting task. But the minute you take a step towards the goal, you quickly realize your perception of the job was much worse than the reality.

Here are ten simple things you can do to get your house buttoned up for winter. We recommend picking one or two related to keeping your house (tips 1-5) warm and checking off all the tasks related to keeping it safe (tips 6-10).

1. Invest in a draft snake. According to the US Department of Energy, drafts can sap anywhere from 5% to 30% of your energy use. A draft snake or a rolled up towel under the door can keep the cold air out, and the heat sealed in. There are lots of cute empty cases available on Etsy these days, like this bright and cheery striped one for $18. Fill a case with orphaned socks and old t-shirts, or rice and beans.

2. Swap out summer drapes. Your windows can also be a culprit when it comes to energy-sapping cold air sneaking its way into your house. Solve this problem by putting up heavier drapes place of your breezy summer curtains, and using weather stripping on the bottom of the windows. Focus on the handful of windows that are causing the bulk of your problem. {image via: Houzz}

3. Test your furnace before your need it. You don’t want to be stuck on the first cold night of the season with a malfunctioning furnace and no available appointment times. This week give your system a workout. While you’re at it, swap out old filters. It takes two minutes but makes a difference in air quality as well as the efficiency of your system.

4. Swap out your summer screens for glass and/or storm windows. This chore typically elicits a lot of groans. It is one of those jobs that sounds like a much bigger headache than it actually is. If you’ve been procrastinating on this front, break the task down into smaller ones. Swap out two per day over the next week. If you’re lucky enough to have helping hands, line the family up this weekend and turn the process into a contest. The person who changes the most screens in 20 minutes wins something (an ice cream treat, control of the remote for the week, get out of chores for the next week, etc.).

5. Tweak ceiling fans. Reverse the switch on your ceiling fan so it blows upward, towards the ceiling. Doing so will move the hot air that has risen up back down and save you money on your heating bill. {Cool ceiling van via: G Squared Art}

6. Clean out your gutters. Autumn is sure to leave plenty of leaves to be removed, which can cause problems later on when winter arrives. Clogged drains can create ice dams, which can back up and leak into your house. Skip the gym and get a workout the old fashioned way this weekend. For a detailed how-to, check out this post on DIY Life.

7. Check your winter tools. Did you slog through last winter without an ice scraper in your car? Do you have a functioning snow shovel or snow blower? Now is the time to take a quick inventory of what you have and ensure it is in good working order. If you need anything, now is the time to head to the store to stock up.

8. Stock up on salt. You do not want to be caught empty-handed during the first snowstorm of the season. Head on over to your local hardware store or home superstore and stock up on a bag or two. {image via: Chicago Snow Salt}

9. Trim tree branches. While this is a good thing to do in general, this is especially true for those that might be hanging too close to the house or electrical wires. Remember, they are easily weighted down when covered in ice and snow. They might not be as safe as you think. Here’s a good tutorial on how to prune a tree.

10. Swap out batteries in alarms. We always recommend swapping out batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors the same day you set the clocks back. Make an appointment with yourself for November 6th to do just that.

Have you already got your house buttoned up for winter? Or are you putting off regular pre-winter maintenance? If the latter, what’s stopping you?

Is Renting Better Than Buying?

by Amy Suardi, of Fruga-Mama.com and Buttoned Up’s Savings Expert

I confess that I’m 40 — whoops, make that 41 — and I have yet to buy a house. Not that I don’t want to. Lack of funds and a vagabond lifestyle have conspired to keep us writing those rent checks, even as we raise a family.

I do look forward to buying a place someday. Partly because it just feels good. Partly because I want to live free of a landlord’s whim.

But not all agree that buying a house is the best investment.

Is a House Like a Mutual Fund or a Used Car?

Emily Peck of the Wall Street Journal’s Juggle column argues in Why Homeownership is a Bad Idea that, “One of the lessons of the housing bust has been that a home is not a sure-thing investment. A point driven home recently by WSJ.com columnist Brett Arends, who writes that the real return on buying a home is lower than buying government bonds.”

That said, buying a house is not just a financial decision. Amidst warnings not to overspend, marketing genius Seth Godin points out in How to Buy a House:

A house is not just an investment, it’s a place to live. This is the only significant financial investment that has two functions. Things like cars and boats always go down in value, so most of the time, if you’re investing, you’re doing it in something that you don’t have to fix, water, fuel or live in.

You’re probably not going to be able to flip your house in nine months for a big profit. Maybe not even nine years. So … imagine that there is no financial investment, just a house you love. And spend accordingly.

Finally, Get Rich Slowly has a thorough article that explains ways to figure out whether renting or buying is more advantageous for you: Does Renting Make Sense?

You can also try the New York Times Rent Vs. Buy Calculator.

Reasons to Rent Instead of Buy

As home prices continue to fall in mid-2010, analysts are arguing more than ever that the American Dream may have to be redefined. Besides the gloomy predictions that homes may no longer serve the dual purpose of living space and nest egg, here are some more reasons why you might consider renting your abode:

1. The obvious: You don’t have a down payment, you can’t afford the mortgage installments, or you can’t qualify for a loan.
2. You might be moving in three years or less. These days, the amount of time you need to stay in a house for it appreciate enough to cover inflation and closing costs might be much longer.
3. You are not handy, you don’t have a green thumb, and you don’t ever want to unclog a gutter. (I have admit, I love being able to call the management company when the furnace breaks, the sink drain is slow, or the dishwasher goes kaput.)
4. You are new to a city and you know very little about area. Renting can be a great way to buy time as you figure out where you really want to live. (A house is not an island. Finding the best neighborhood should be the first step in your search.)

On the other hand, if you’re not good at socking money away for the future, buying a house is like forced savings. The down payment and all those mortgage checks can be like making deposits into a savings account (as long as you stay in the house long enough not to lose money).

After almost ten years of renting and moving, my husband and I are hoping to settle down next year. Since we are planning on staying put, we will probably buy.

Having had experience living in apartments, condos, townhouses and single-family homes, we kind-of know what we want. And that’s a good thing when you plunk down your life savings.

Amy Suardi has written about finding low-cost movers and good rental houses on her blog, Frugal Mama.

Homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance is a necessity; it covers you for unexpected occurrences ranging from robberies to fires.

However, when it comes to assessing whether or not you have adequate coverage, the devil is in the details. For example, did you know that the majority of these plans do not cover floods or earthquakes or that some cover fire damage but not wildfire damage? With more and more extreme cases of weather and natural disasters, it is more important than ever to review your coverage and be certain that you have the best level of protection you can get given your budget constraints.

Here are 5 tips for getting your home insurance organized.

1. Watch What You Claim

Did you know that if you keep making small claims over and over, you may exhaust your insurance funds more quickly than you anticipated or be dropped from the plan? It may also cause your premiums significantly increase, in which case paying for that roof repair out of your pocket may be smarter financially. Look carefully at your plan before you make a claim or talk to your agent to find out all of the nitty gritty details on small claims and their effect on your coverage.

2. Take Inventory

Do you know exactly what is in your home? First of all, write down from memory everything of value in your living room from electronics to DVDs. Now take that list to the living room. Did you remember it all? Now imagine doing that for your entire home after a fire rips through your home. Everyone has valuables; they are so much more than just artwork or televisions. Think about your CD’s, iPods, clothing, outerwear, golf clubs, Corningware, picture frames.  They are all valuable and worth something. Get organized and go through your home and take an inventory of everything in your house room by room. Take photos, keep the proofs of purchase for anything in your home over $200, get appraisals done on all luxury items like jewelry, and keep it all in an easy to grab binder that you can take with you at a moment’s notice. The other reason this step is important is you may find that you are carrying insurance for $25,000 worth of goods in your home, but actually have close to $50,000 worth of items in the house. You can also hire an insurance appraiser to go through your home after you take inventory if you would like. At the bare minimum, however, having the inventory log of the valuables in your home will get you a lot more in reimbursement if the worst does occur.

3. Determine Exactly What IS Covered

Insurance packets and their corresponding websites are not written for the layperson. They can be highly confusing, full of legal mumbo-jumbo, and contain asterisked scenarios such as “If your home is damaged in a fire you are covered for X amount of dollars.”* The small print under the asterisk then clarifies along the lines of *Note: Unless you own a red car, a monkey, or have ever eaten at Dale’s Deli.” These papers can be overwhelming, so schedule an appointment with your agent and discuss the ins and outs of your current coverage. To make the conversation easier, bring your valuables binder to talk about your home inventory, and discuss events that aren’t covered by your current plan, like sewage, hurricane, flood, earthquake, etc.

4. Equip and Prepare

Owning Insurance is one piece of the puzzle, but you can also take insurance into your own hands with proper emergency planning and preparation. For example, if you live in an area that has frequent wildfires, you should clear the brush around your property on a regular basis.  You may also want to consider applying a coat or two of fire deterrent paint.  If you live in a hurricane prone area, do you have proper roofing reinforcements and windows installed? Even if you don’t live in an area with extreme weather, simply having an alarm system means fire departments will be quickly alerted of flames and police of burglaries. These safety defenses also have an added bonus: they can lower your insurance rates dramatically.

5. Have an Insurance Assessor on Deck:

Keep the contact information of a trusted insurance assessor who is not affiliated with your insurance provider in your valuables inventory log. If you ever need to file a claim, have that third party assess your damage immediately. Cover your bases and fight back by having another professional document the claim and cost so you get what you rightfully deserve. Your home is your safe haven, your livelihood. You should do everything you can to protect those assets by planning ahead

Recent hurricanes battering the Caribbean and southern United States and another Sept. 11 commemoration remind us of our fragility and the importance of getting emergency plans buttoned up.

September is National Preparedness Month, and it’s time to get your home and family ready for any event. It can be difficult to overcome the natural inclination to think “it won’t happen to me.” Getting organized and being prepared doesn’t have to involve backbreaking work. It simply means assembling the tools and resources you’ll need if the unexpected occurs.

Sarah on “Know Your Community”:

While we would put a large amount of trust in our local governments and their emergency preparedness, it is important to research their public-policy procedures for your reference. If a town/city evacuation occurs, which roads are deemed the safest? What do the sirens for each kind of emergency sound like? How does the school handle a national emergency? Being well-informed is the best way to handle any difficult situations. Also, find out emergency procedures in your workplace. For more information, log on to www.ready.gov.

Alicia on “Document the Essentials”:

Have the basics for survival, listed below, but get your documents in order ahead of time as well. Put together a binder of the most critical information for your family and home; keep it handy. The binder should contain items such as your roofer’s phone number to check for wind damage or appraisal information for furniture damaged in a flooded basement. It should be organized so even your child knows just where to look for all of your contact numbers. If it’s too daunting to make your own binder, versions such as Life.doc, Valuables.doc, Pocket.doc and Pet.doc can help you organize the essentials quickly and easily. Having this family, pet and home information at your fingertips when the worst happens can be reassuring during an unsure situation.

Here are three steps to prepare your family for anything:

# 1. Make a plan.
Have a family emergency plan. Designate specific meeting places both close to home and farther away, such as a neighbor’s home and Grandma’s house in the next city. Make sure each family member has a telephone number and e-mail contact for an out-of-state person whom everyone can contact and relay news to. In addition, prepare a list of pet-friendly family members or hotels, in case you have to evacuate. Keep these resources in mind when stocking up extra food and first-aid supplies.

# 2. Have the right supplies on hand.
Keep a supply of water, food and batteries in a waterproof container; replace this supply every six months. Store at least 3 gallons of water per person per day, canned food and a can opener in a dry, accessible place. Keep at least half a tank of gas in your car at all times in case of an evacuation. Know the best routes, avoid roads that easily flood and keep maps of alternate routes. Have enough prescriptions and over-the-counter medications on hand to last six weeks. Keep some cash on you, because ATMs and banks may be closed or not working.

#3. Get insured.
Find out the best ways to prepare your home for flood, wind, earthquake or any other elements. Get organized and be sure you document the valuables in your home, taking inventory of its contents with photos and video. Photograph the home itself, inside and out. Be ready with the proper insurance and ask what is covered and what is not. For example, with Florida basic insurance, you may be covered for tropical-storm wind damage, but flood insurance is an extra premium. If you rent, purchase renter’s insurance to cover your possessions; your landlord’s homeowners insurance will not cover it.

Staying on top of all of your valuables is a difficult task.

With hurricane, tornado and fire season coming up, however, it’s a good time to take stock of exactly what you have in your home. Itemizing valuables isn’t necessarily on the top of anyone’s ‘To Do’ list, but when something unexpected happens, such as a natural disaster or a burglary, you need to have documentation of what you own in order to get properly reimbursed. Determining exactly what to catalog is often the most overwhelming part of putting together a home inventory, since the sheer number of things you own seems insurmountable, or you may think what’s valuable to you may not seem valuable in the eyes of an insurance company. Unfortunately, delaying getting organized only sets you up for a bigger disaster should something unforeseen happen.

Alicia on ‘Getting Insured’

‘First things first: get insured! Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance typically covers the market value or the replacement value of your house and its contents. It can be difficult to put a dollar figure on household furnishings, and it’s tempting to estimate low to avoid big premiums. However, if unique or expensive possessions are stolen, broken or damaged, you’ll be happy to get financial compensation. Also, be sure to review the amount of homeowner’s or renter’s coverage you have every year to determine whether it is too much or too little for your current needs. (In other words, be sure that new plasma TV is insured!)’

Sarah on ‘Overcoming Inertia’

‘As always, the hardest part of putting together a list of your valuables is just getting started. The best way to get the ball rolling is to break the task down into bite size chunks that aren’t as overwhelming. Break it down so you are only focusing on one room at a time, and do maybe one item per day for the next 30 days. A great organizing tool is Buttoned Up’s Valuables.doc, available at Target, which separates the lists by room (dining room, bedroom, kitchen, etc), and has pre-formatted pages for listing item descriptions, purchase information, and replacement costs.’

Some valuable tips on cataloging your valuables.

#1. Some Is Better Than None
Not only is it better to have an incomplete inventory than no inventory at all, but it’s also a fair bet that your inventory will change over time- so a ‘perfect’ list won’t be that way for long. So ditch that devil on your shoulder; don’t let the thought that you must have a totally comprehensive list stop you in your tracks.

#2. Apply the 80/20 Rule
Get momentum working in your favor by focusing your energy on the most important items. There are likely to be a relative handful of items that represent a disproportionate share of the value of your cumulative items. Catalog those items first, You can always fill in the smaller items once you have the basic list in place. A good rule of thumb for selecting which items to catalog is to focus on those items worth at least $500 and those items that cannot be easily replaced or have sentimental value.

#3. Start a Master List
Walk from room to room and jot down all those items in each room that you would want to replace after a fire, flood, earthquake, tornado, hurricane or burglary. You can create one master list or one for each room, whichever seems more natural to you. You the list(s) as your own personal catalog of the items you need to catalog in more detail. To lighten the load, consider breaking the list in half and asking your spouse/partner to catalog half the items.

8 TIPS FOR INCLUDING UNIVERSAL DESIGN IN YOUR HOME

By Kathy Passarette of Creative Home Expressions and Buttoned Up’s Home Expert

Universal design is the approach that all spaces, features, and aspects of all things designed be usable by, and marketable to, people of all ages and abilities. Universal design is different from accessible design. Accessible design means products and buildings that are accessible and usable by people with disabilities. Universal design, also called “lifespan” design, recognizes, respects, values and attempts to work for the broadest spectrum of human abilities.

Keep these tips in mind when renovating, or building new construction, to give your home universal design; not just for you, but also for any guests or family that could find these features efficient and comfortable to use when visiting your home. Most of these features involve fairly subtle changes that would only add a small amount of cost to a renovation, and some of them can be put into place in existing homes.

 Use lever-handle knobs instead of round knobs. Besides making it easier and less painful for those with arthritis, levers can open a door with an elbow when your arms are full of groceries.

 Raise electrical outlets. While most electrical outlets are placed fairly close to the floor, this can pose a hazard to children and difficulty for older folks.

 Lower light switches. Moving light switches further down the wall so that children can reach them, and older people don’t have to lift their arms as far.

 Wider hallways and doorways. While aesthetically pleasing, they also allow for more functionality whether for a wheelchair, walker or even maneuvering a large piece of furniture.

 Step-showers, with no lip or tub wall separating them from the rest of the bathroom.

 Stacked closets that could be converted into an elevator, as the need arises.

 Under-counter dishwasher and refrigerator drawers. These appliances provide low physical effort.

 Install good task lighting. Extra lighting can help eyes that are aging, and also make the house feel brighter.

Do you have a decorating question? Send your questions to Kathy Passarette at kathyp@creativehomeexpressions.com and put “Buttoned Up” in the subject line. Kathy will answer your questions right here on Buttoned Up.

Kathy Passarette is an Interior Decorator based on Long Island, New York. For more information please visit www.creativehomeexpressions.com.

Almanacs and weather services have forecasted that we may be in for some severe weather this summer, whether you live in the Southeast, the Central Plains or the Southwest.

And while those are just predictions, we implore you to get organices and get prepared now. We may never be able to predict with much accuracy when and where a major storm or weather event will hit next, but when it’s upon you, it’s usually too late to as much as you would like to get ready for it; as the old proverb says: ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ We know it can seem like difficult and daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be.

Alicia on ‘Make Room for One Night of Prep Time Prime Time’

‘If it’s not planned, it rarely gets done. So the first, and easiest, step in getting organized to be prepared is to schedule time to discuss the issue with your family. We estimate that it will take three hours to develop a plan that will have you ready for anything. Instead of zoning out in front of the boob tube, schedule a ‘Prep Time Prime Time’ for your family and use that three hour block you’d normally be watching TV to discuss your needs and work together to get the basics in place. If that is impossible given extracurricular activities and competing schedules, try to make one week ‘emergency preparedness week’ and have your family spend 30 minutes a night (ideally right before or after dinner) going through the steps together.’

Sarah on ‘Avoid Analysis Paralysis’

‘A lot of people get paralyzed when putting an emergency plan together because they want it to be ‘perfect.’ So they either get a tiny fraction of the process started and stop, or they don’t get started at all. Unless you are a psychic and already know in advance every eventuality for which you must prepare, your plan may not be ‘perfect.’ But given the choice to be 80% or 90% prepared versus not at all prepared, you can and should choose the former. The trick is to organize the basics of your plan first and then from there you can layer on details as and when you see fit.’

Three Elements of a Good Emergency Plan

To help you get over any initial fears or inertia, we’ve outlined the three critical elements to a good emergency plan.

#1: Make an Evacuation Plan
Take the time to discuss as a group your plan and once you have landed on the ‘winner’, ensure that everybody is aware of it and knows exactly what to do, where to go, and who to contact. This plan should include your pets. If you are likely to head to a shelter to ride out the storm, you should know that most don’t allow pets inside, so you need to plan for their safety too. Also, make sure everyone has an out of state contact (friend or relative) to call and check in with in case you cannot all connect directly with each other.

#2: Stock Up
If you’re without electricity or running water for days after the storm passes, you’ll have a tough time unless you have stocked up on canned goods, water, flashlights, and batteries. You’ll want to have a battery operated radio on hand as well so you have the latest information as it comes across the wires.

#3: Have Records Ready
You can’t grab your filing cabinet and take it with you in an emergency. But you can grab a binder such as the Life.doc (www.getbuttonedup.com), an accordion folder or laptop computer that has your most important information in it, so it’s with you wherever you end up. The most critical sections include: basic medical information, insurance information (what policies you have and who to contact), and financial information (what accounts you have and who to contact).

Why is that that the only time we think to get prepared is when disaster is breathing down our necks?

So often we hear about hurricanes, fires or other disasters and think, ‘I should really put a few things together in case of an emergency,’ but never actually get around to doing anything about it. It’s a universal problem driven by two things. First, for many of us, it’s difficult to be sure of what is needed or how to put it together in an organized fashion. And second, the thought of something bad happening to our loved ones is often too difficult to consider. These are fears worth overcoming.

Alicia on the importance of getting informed

The most important step in getting prepared is to read up on the topic. There are many websites out there that can help you wrap your head around what exactly you need to get ready for anything. One of the best sites for this is the Department of Homeland Security. We recommend that you spend enough time on the site to gain the confidence you need to get started.

Pay particular attention to the following areas:

• Assembling a kit of emergency supplies — what’s necessary and what’s not?
• Making an emergency plan — what are the important components of a plan?
• Preparing for communication gaps — where should you look for important directives and how to you stay in touch if phones aren’t working?

Sarah on getting it done

One way to make the entire task seem less daunting is to keep in mind that it will take you less than 3 hours to get prepared for the unexpected. That’s right, isn’t your family’s safety worth one night of prime time TV? And if that still seems overwhelming, break it up into smaller bite-sized pieces. Assign one week as ‘emergency preparedness week’ and have your family spend 30 minutes a night (ideally right before or after dinner) going through the steps together. Once everyone agrees on what to do, write it down and post it in the house. Think of how much worry this will save you all down the line.

These three organizational tips are designed to help you get the basics in order.

#1: Remember the ‘Big 4′
Water, food, cash and a first aid kit are the foundation of any emergency kit. Make sure you have enough of each of these things to last each person in the house at least 5 days. Imagine how much suffering could have been avoided in the recent hurricanes if people had prepared a family emergency kit stocked with these amenities.

#2: Engage the Entire Family
Getting prepared should be a family event, not a burden for one person to carry. It’s in everybody’s best interest to know what’s been done and to be invested in the process. Make sure each family member has a job to do and encourage them to get it done within a week. One person can buy flashlights, a whistle and lots of batteries, another can find a radio (battery operated) in the house and make sure it still works, and someone else can clear out space in the pantry, garage or basement to store all of the emergency supplies.

#3: Get ‘Extras’
Think about any items that are critical to you and that may not be easy to get for a few days in an emergency and have extras on hand. Some important things to consider are prescription medicines taken regularly, glasses and contact lenses including saline solution and contact case, and baby items such as formula and diapers.