BEEP BEEP BEEP …

It is always the wee hours of the morning when it happens …

BEEP BEEP BEEP.

GAH! Stumbling in the dark to find the silence button. Where are the batteries? How do you disconnect this thing? WHY IS IT STILL BEEEEEEEPPPPING?

AH, THE FIRE ALARM.

Am I alone or has this happened to you?

One of the ways I have learned to sidestep this situation is with simple routine changes that avoid this low battery debacle altogether:

My daylight savings checklist!

Change your clocks: Fall Back

• Test and replace batteries in these devices if needed:
• Smoke Detectors
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Check flashlight batteries and replace as needed
• Check your First Aid Kit and replace expired items
• Check your Emergency Kit and replace expired items
• Replace HVAC filters and schedule seasonal scheduled service
• Check the pressure of fire extinguisher and recharge or replace as needed
• Check kitchen water filter and replace as needed
• Clean oven and stove
• Vacuum dust from your refrigerator coils to help keep it running efficiently.
• Go through pantry and throw away any expired food
• Check the expiration dates on medications in medicine cabinet
• Clean out dryer hoses
• Reverse direction of ceiling fans
• counter-clockwise in summer so air blows down
• clockwise in winter so air blows up
• Inspect childproofing measures in home if necessary
• Check the following items in your car:
• Lights
• Windshield wiper blades
• Fluids
• Check tire pressure and treads
• Stock your car Emergency kit for cooler temps
• Update your computer’s virus scanner
• Flip mattress (If you have a pillow top mattress you can rotate it instead)
• Re-evaluate your home’s insurance policy
• Review and your family emergency plan – FEMA has a great tool available for download here

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT.

What am I missing? Do you have a similar checklist?

Remember that Daylight Savings ends on Sunday, November 1st!

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS PRO TIP:

THE HOUR DIFFERENCE CAN BE JUST ENOUGH TO THROW YOUR INTERNAL CLOCK OFF AND DISRUPT YOUR ROUTINE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR CHILDREN. TO MAKE THE TRANSITION A LITTLE EASIER, MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO BEGIN ADJUSTING THE WEEK BEFORE. TRY INCREMENTALLY INCREASING YOUR CHILDREN’S BEDTIME BY 15 MINUTES EVERY OTHER NIGHT, STARTING THE WEEK BEFORE THE CHANGE (AKA THIS WEEK). THEIR LITTLE BODIES WILL THANK YOU, AND YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY GET TO ENJOY THAT EXTRA HOUR INSTEAD OF HAVING THEM POUNCE YOU AWAKE AT 5AM!

I hope my checklist was helpful. As always, if you or someone you know is thinking about buying or selling, be sure to give us a call. Our business grows primarily through word of mouth, so please do share with your friends and family! Your referrals are the bread and butter of our business, and we appreciate each and every one.