HOMEOWNERS Protecting The Value Of Your Home (NAPSA)—Being prepared for the worst may help homeowners get the best resale value for their properties. Economists found making a house disaster resistant can make it more desirable to potential buyers and increase its value. The Institute for Business & Home Safety offers the following tips to increase your home’s protection: Making your home disaster resistant can protect it from the elements and increaseits resale value. Tornadoes and Hurricanes Replace gravel and rock landscaping material with shredded bark. Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Remove weak branches and trees that could fall on your house. Be prepared to protect win- dows and doors with shutters or plywood. Makesure doors are properly bolted. Wildfires * Install 4-inch, non-combustible screens over vent or eave openings. Space trees at least 10 feet apart. Remove dead trees and shrubs, properly dispose of waste. Water Damage Repair all leaks and cracks around windows and doors and in walls and roofs. Direct exhaust vents to the exterior, not the attic. Keep your home’s humidity to a minimum. For more detailed information, visit www.ibhs.org.
