Monthly Archives: November 2021

House

How-To: Staging Your House to Sell

If you’re preparing to sell your home, you’re in the right place. We’re here to provide you with 8 helpful house staging tips so you can make the most of your space and grab the attention of prospective buyers.

1. Focus on the curb appeal.

Curb appeal is huge when it comes to first impressions. Some good and relatively cheap ways to make the outside of your home more attractive are to repaint the front door, lay fresh mulch, add more greenery, get a new welcome mat or make your porch presentable by adding some outdoor furniture.

2. Make sure your house smells its best.

You might not have considered the importance of how your house smells, but it can have an immediate effect on the way the buyers feel and think. Making sure your house is full of pleasant aromas gives a good first impression. This can be done by using a diffuser, candles, fragrant flowers, plug‐in air fresheners and more.

3. Don’t overdo the furniture.

Get rid of clutter to make your rooms look bigger and more spacious. When potential buyers are walking around the house, they’ll want plenty of space to check it out without running into things, so avoid crowding the space. Next, rethink the placement of your furniture. All spaces are different so there isn’t a universal rule but be sure to place the furniture in a way that creates good traffic flow but still makes the room feel cozy.

4. Add some upgrades to your kitchen.

The kitchen is usually the make‐or‐break space for buyers, so if you’re going to update anything in your home, the kitchen is the best place to start. Clear clutter off the countertops, consider updating your backsplash, repaint the cabinets or replace the sink. All these things can make a big positive difference to the overall look of your kitchen.

5. Un-personalize your home.

Now’s a good time to remove those personal items like family photos, collectibles or your kid’s artwork. Replace them with generic decorations that will allow potential buyers to picture themselves in your home.

6. Lighten and brighten each room.

Now is a good time to improve the lighting in your home. You want your space to look welcoming, so don’t just depend on one lightbulb to light the entire room. Add accent lamps and replace the bulbs for a brighter, warmer feel.

7. Clean the bathroom, then clean it again.

The best way to turn potential buyers away is to have an unappealing bathroom. This means you should deep clean it, de‐clutter the counterspace, display new towels, add a candle and some cute counter décor and you’re good to go.

If your next step is to apply for a home loan, our mortgage experts are here to help. Contact us to learn more and good luck staging and selling your home!

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

NMLS #407724

cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Advice for Retirees

It’s been proven that senior citizens are a much easier target for hackers because older folks didn’t grow up in the current world of technology. Whether you’re a senior looking for some advice or you have an older loved one who you want to look out for, these cybersecurity tips are important for everyone to remember.

Don’t Overshare Information

Social media is a great way to stay connected to family and friends, especially if they don’t live nearby. Keep in mind that what you post online is public for the world to see, so just call or text someone directly if you’re sharing personal
information.

Be Careful Online Shopping

If you’re online shopping and a retailer asks for unnecessary information, be cautious. Keep in mind that no online store will ever ask for your social security number. Also, it’s not a great idea to buy from an unfamiliar retailer, so do your research beforehand and check reviews to make sure the seller is legit.

Use Strong Passwords

As nice as it is to have an easy‐to‐remember password, it also makes it much easier for someone to hack your account. If remembering multiple strong passwords gets difficult, you can use a password manager. Make sure your password:

  • Doesn’t include personal information
  • Includes numbers, special characters, upper and lowercase letters
  • Isn’t too short

Beware of Public Wi-Fi

Using free public Wi‐Fi is convenient but can be a bit dangerous depending on what you’re doing. The public airwaves
allow hackers to potentially intercept the data you’re sending online. This can include intercepting data such as your
credit card info, name and address, so play it safe and use your home Wi‐Fi network for things like that.

Be Cautious with Emails

Spam emails are usually easy to point out, but phishing is where it gets tricky. If you receive an email from an unknown
sender, don’t click on any links or reply without verifying who it is and whether they’re a trusted sender.

Ask for Help

If you have a family member or friend who is tech‐savvy, don’t be afraid to reach out to them for help if you’re unsure of something. When it comes to technology and cybersecurity, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

For all your financial needs, Peoples Bank & Trust ready and willing to assist you. Visit our website to learn more and
contact us with any questions!

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

Money Mistakes to Avoid

Money Mistakes to Avoid in Your 30s

Now that you’re out of your 20s and you’ve most likely been working for a few years, you may have come up with some new financial goals for the decade. Maybe you’re still hanging onto some bad money management habits that developed in your 20s and you’re ready for a fresh start. Keep reading to learn what to avoid in this new stage of life.

Avoiding the Thought of Retirement

It may seem like retirement is still lifetimes away, but it’s extremely important to invest in your future. Participate in your 401(k) plan at work and open an IRA if you haven’t already. If you are struggling to save for retirement, aren’t sure where to start or don’t know how much to save, speak to a financial advisor for some assistance.

Bad Credit Card Habits

Getting out of the credit card trap can be quite a struggle, especially if you’ve been in it for years. Credit cards are a good thing if you use them wisely but using them to pay for something you can’t afford will only do damage. If you have credit card debt, make it a priority this year to pay it off.

Buying Things You Can’t Afford

It’s not uncommon for those in their 30s to start purchasing the items that they’ve wanted since they were in their 20s. Since 30‐year‐olds usually have more money than they did in their 20s, it can be tempting to spend more than necessary, especially on big purchases such as:

  • House
  • New car
  • Expensive meals
  • Wardrobe

Make sure you’re still living within your means, and you also continue to save your hard‐earned money for the future.

Living an Expensive Lifestyle

You are who you surround yourself with, and if the people you hang out with are big spenders, it can be dangerous. Social events can quickly turn into money pits if you’re with people who like to go big. There’s nothing wrong with having friends who spend lots of money, but just be aware of how they’re influencing and affecting you financially.

Don’t let your 30s be another decade of financial lessons learned the hard way. Break free from the bad habits of your 20s and enter the next decade with financial freedom – Peoples Bank & Trust believes in you!

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

Christmas-gifts

Wallet-Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas

You want to give your friends and family something special for the holidays, but you don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend. Don’t worry because there are still lots of thoughtful gifts that won’t hurt your wallet. Plus, these are all practical gifts that your loved ones will get lots of use out of!

1. Self‐care products: Throw a cute stocking together including holiday‐themed facemasks, lotion, lip balm, a candle and whatever else you think they may like.

2. Jewelry: A necklace or a cute pair of earrings doesn’t have to be expensive. Look in places like Target to find affordable yet stylish jewelry.

3. Board games: This is a great gift for any age since there are games made for both kids and adults. If you’re participating in a white elephant gift exchange, consider buying a fun game that everyone in the group can play together.

4. Grooming kit: If the man you are gift‐hunting for has a beard, a grooming kit is a great option so they can stay fresh and maintain their look.

5. Coffee essentials: This one is for all your coffee‐loving friends out there. Get a cute coffee mug along with their favorite coffee grounds, creamer or syrup, or throw in a gift card to their favorite coffee shop.

6. A book involving something they’re passionate about: There’s a book out there for just about anyone, so find something you think they’d enjoy reading.

7. Subscription: Spread out the spending by paying for a monthly subscription to a streaming service they’re interested in. You can limit this as much as you’d like, too. For example, tell them you’re giving them a one‐year Netflix subscription.

8. Framed poster: You can find both frames and posters for cheap, and this is a great idea for someone who needs some extra home décor. If it’s for a significant other, you can make it meaningful by framing a map pinpointing where you first met.

9. Kitchen supplies: If you have a friend who loves to cook or even someone who just moved in and could use necessities, kitchen supplies are a great idea! A rolling pin, whisk, measuring cups, serving utensils, mixing bowls,
cutting boards and so on would be perfect gifts.

10. Plants: Who doesn’t love a cute succulent for their desk or nightstand? If they’re not big into caring for plants, you can always opt for fake ones to spruce up their home décor.

11. New wallet: If you’re shopping for a guy in your life, having a nice, leather wallet is always a staple.

12. Bottle of wine: Pair someone’s favorite bottle of wine with a cute wine glass and you have yourself a classy and thoughtful gift.

13. Homemade holiday treats: You can’t go wrong with gifting sweets. Bringing your loved one their favorite holiday‐themed treats is guaranteed to make just about anyone’s day.

We hope you find some reasonably priced gifts for your friends and family, but most importantly, spend quality time with the people you love. Happy holidays!

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender