The top home improvement tip continues to be de-cluttering your space. Buyers will open every door to examine the nooks and crannies of the property. Make sure closets are neat and as empty as possible- a buyer should be able to open all doors without having anything tumble out on their head.

The second most popular is lightening and brightening the home. Buyers examine every inch of a home when they are viewing it for the first time. If a home is dark and difficult to view, most buyers won’t want to spend any time in it. Dark homes are dreary, uninviting and unwelcoming. There are three types of lighting: accent, ambient & functional. Having all types of light will create a warm, welcoming home. That’s 3 strikes to any potential buyer who walks in the door.  For more natural light, make sure to keep all furniture away from the windows so it doesn’t block any light.

The DIY improvements to achieve a higher ROI could be a reflection off difficult economic times. With many houses falling into foreclosure or entering the market as a short-sale, there is a lot of inventory that could use attention.

Rounding out the top DIY home improvements are repairing any electrical and plumbing problems, landscaping, staging your home to make it look good to buyers, shampooing and replacing the carpets, repair floors, paint interior walls, update kitchen & bathroom, and paint the exterior of the home.

Whether you’re selling your place or looking for a new one, there is no place like your Orange Count home. And, as one of the most important purchases you’ll ever make, your home needs a solid insurance plan that offers protection from all kinds of unforeseen events. The professionals at Blackwell Insurance Agency have decades of experience in helping homeowners in Orange County and throughout California protect their biggest investment. Contact us today for more information.

The Orange County Register reported that housing tracker DataQuick Information Systems assessment of California foreclosures- when lenders seize homes to pay off delinquent mortgages- fell to the lowest level in 4 ½ years during the first quarter of 2012. That’s a 29.7% decline from last year.

According to the report, California had 30,262 homes lost to foreclosure in the first quarter, compared to 43,052 previously. The drop marks the lowest level since the summer of 2007. The following 2008 summer peaked at 80,000.

Default notices, filed after a homeowner missed at least three monthly payments, also fell to 56,258, down from 68,239 a year ago.

Other number crunches have found the same results: ForeclosureRadar and Irvine –based RealtyTrac all reported declines in defaults and foreclosures during the opening months of the year. The lower foreclosures rates come as a surprise, especially as foreclosure rates increase in other states.

Furthermore, the positive wave is expected to continue. Orange County housing observer Steve Thomas of ReportsOnHousing.com likewise predicted that a second wave of foreclosures won’t materialize.

“For those that have been banking on a wave of foreclosures to hit the market, it is time to face reality and put that surfboard away,” Thomas wrote in a recent report. “There simply is not going to be a new wave of foreclosure activity.”

You’ve weathered the ups and downs of the housing market. Through economic ups and downs, your number one priority is to protect your family’s home. When it comes to orange county homeowners insurance, nobody does it better than Blackwell Insurance Agency, a family-owned and operated agency in Orange County, California. We serve clients with one goal: to provide real peace of mind by offering quality Personal insurance, Business Auto, and Surety products and services all at affordable rates. Contact us today for more information.

Engineers from the University of California San Diego constructed a five-story building complete with an operating room, elevator, fully stocked kitchen, and a heavy air-conditioning unit, placed atop a “shake table” on the outskirts of San Diego, according to the New York Times. The shake table is a rectangular hydraulic platform designed to mimic the shaking motions of an earthquake.

On April 17 at 10:30 am, the shake table released the equivalent of a one minute 6.7 magnitude earthquake, to match the Northridge quake that hit Los Angeles in 1994.

Here’s the boring part- the building barely moved. No shattered glass, broken windows, or any damage was visible whatsoever. Furthermore, inside the building, no heavy equipment hit the operating room and upon initial inspection the elevator was still functional.

The shake table then simulated an 8.8 magnitude earthquake to mimic the Chilean one in 2010 with the same results: nothing. The non-exciting results are attributed to seismic safeguards that were incorporated into the buildings; cylindrical rubber bearings that act as shock absorbers for buildings in earthquake prone areas. Known as base isolators, the safeguards absorb much of the shaking, preventing it from affecting the building and averting significant damage.

The experiment is part of a 5 million dollar project paid for by the Seismic Commission and the National Science foundation. The project is focused on the effect of huge seismic events on schools, hospitals and municipal buildings.

While the results are promising, the base isolators that protected the building are scarce in California; only 30 buildings in the state have them- and none of those are personal homes.

Protect your family from the effects of an earthquake with Blackwell Insurance Agency. Especially in California, getting earthquake coverage (which is typically excluded in standard homeowners insurance), can protect your home and household possession against any earthquake damage. Contact us today for more information.

In a new trend in luxury automobiles (according to the Wall Street Journal), companies are going out of their way to convey to customers that SUV’s don’t have to be huge gas devouring machines. Conscious of the wallet-gripping times, many luxury car brands are rolling out smaller versions of the popular model. For example the BMW X1, on display at the New York Auto Show in early April is classified as a subcompact vehicle and will be the smallest luxury brand utility vehicle on the U.S. market.

Land Rover and its Range Rover have pushed the new Evoque model. It is the smallest, lightest model ever offered under the Range Rover name and gets 28 mpg on the highway.

The smaller models will also come with lower prices too, making it easier for younger consumers to cross into the luxury brand market- BMW’s X1 starts at 31,545.

Other brands have begun to shrink their luxury SUV’s as well. General Motors Co.’s Cadillac brand and Ford Motor Co.’s Lincoln brand are both coming out with smaller models.

The new models mark a decided shift away from large, honking models that have been integrated into American culture. The change comes at a time where rising gas prices make fuel-efficiency is a top priority.

From Chevys in the 1960s to BMWs today, cars remain one of the biggest purchases our clients will ever make – regardless of the size. That’s why they come to Blackwell Insurance Agency, an expert source of Personal Orange County auto insurance for decades. Contact us today for more information.

The riskiest demographic of drivers by far, 35 percent of all deaths ages 16-19 are related to motor vehicles. This statistic is even higher for drivers in their first couple months. Yet, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 73 percent of teenage drivers owned their own cars. With the prevalence of teenage drivers behind the wheel, choosing a car that fits the family budget and eases safety concerns becomes paramount.

Teenage drivers are a paradox to their parents. Buying a car for your loveable liability must factor in both safety and cost. You want it to be safe, but few families can afford buy brand new cars outfitted with the latest safety features.

A Forbes article recently reported on the best used cars for teenage drivers- the list included the least expensive cars that earned top marks in IIHS crash tests, rated more than 20mpg, and have better-than-average reported reliability. The top choices include the Audi A3, Honda Accord, Ford Taurus, Nissan Rogue, Honda Civic and Hyundai Santa Fe. (See Forbes.com for the full list and slideshow).

Whether it involves protecting your teen driver or buying a car yourself, you want to know that you’re protected every step of the way. Cars remain one of the biggest purchases you will ever make, and that’s why they come to Blackwell Insurance Agency, an expert source of Personal Auto Insurance in Orange County and San Diego county for decades. Contact us today!

According to the Orange County Register, the county’s Health Care Agency found that residents born in 2008 can expect to live 81.5 years. That is nearly four years longer than the national average, and six months longer than the state average. There are differences across the board depending on geographic area and gender. San Juan Capistrano, for example, in south Orange County had the highest life expectancy at 85.2 years. Women also will live longer, projected at 83.2 years versus men at 79.6.

Granted, this isn’t a get-out-of-jail free card that will guarantee you another turn around the Monopoly board. There are multiple factors that play into your individual life expectancy. Diet, exercise, and mental health & well-being can all affect your life expectancy. In the spirit of health and longevity, below are some health tips compiled by the Center for Disease Control on how to get the most out of your life.

Eat healthy. Redundant but crucially important. Vary your diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains every day. Avoid processed carbohydrates (white bread), and limit your sugar intake.

Be active. 2 ½ hours of your week (minimum) should be spent in activity. So pick the one that works for you. Go running. Join a sports league. Walk with a friend. Take a yoga class. You’ll be more relaxed and have more energy. Not to mention exercise can reduce high blood pressure and your risk for heart disease.

Manage stress. Stress can affect both your physical health and overall well-being. Create a balance between work, home & play that works for you. Take time to relax and unwind and try to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night.

In addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you’ll want to protect your investments. Nothing will give you better peace of mind than know you are taken care of. From your first car to your retirement home, at Blackwell Insurance Agency we know these are more than just monetary investments- they are family milestones. We opened our doors in Orange County over 50 years ago to offer quality, affordable personal insurance products to protect everything from your home, auto, and other valuable possessions and we are still doing that today. Contact us today for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.

While it is undoubtedly a blessing to have your young ones at home again, it is an adjustment period for both of you. Four (give or take) years ago, your teen was still financially dependent, living under your roof and under your explicit rules. Now they arrive fresh with the taste of freedom and distinct ideas about how they want to live their lives. Here are a few tips to parents and college students navigating the murky waters of post-college living situations.

Make a Plan. Be sure to lay out guidelines. Establish a date for their departure. Go over their resume and help them identify career goals. Don’t let your grad skate through a couple cushy years before making them take responsibility. Trust me, they’ll thank you later.

Bills, bills, bills. Part of the appeal of moving home is the chance to save boatloads of money. However, saving money is entirely different from letting your child bounce along scot-free on your paycheck. Educate your college grad on their personal finances, student loans, and how to manage their money. Establish a timeline for assuming bills so that your grad is prepared to handle their finances when they do vacate the nest.

Patience. You will be annoyed. There will be conflict. They will have picked up some dirty habits (days-old pizza left to mold in the bedroom? Really?!). This is also the first time they will have to make some hard decisions about their lives entirely on their own. Be patient, listen to them, and try to educate your grad the best you can on the life skills they didn’t learn in their college courses.

When they do finally move out permanently, you’ll want to protect them every step of the way. Whether it’s renters insurance for their first apartment or insuring their first home, we’re here to help.  Blackwell Insurance Agency is a multi-generational, family-owned and operated business whose doors first opened in Orange County, California more than 50 years ago. Our family history means we understand you, wherever you (and your college grad) are in life. We welcome the opportunity to earn your business. To learn more, or for a free quote at no obligation, call us at (866) 574-5301.

Here in California, we have the luxury of living where many dream of vacationing.  Sunny days, gorgeous beaches, snow capped mountains, rugged deserts; California’s unique geographical landscape has a little bit of everything. And in case you’ve forgotten the lesson in plate tectonics from your geography class in elementary school, we are also one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the country. As the horrific tsunami in Japan reminds us, preparation is key.

Southern California alone records about 10,000 earthquakes (some too small to be felt) according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Insurance Information Institute ranked the top 10 costliest earthquake/tsunamis to date. Two of the top 10 were in the United States; California was home to both of them.  The 1994 Northridge earthquake is second behind Japan with the 1989 San Francisco earthquake coming in eighth.

Most standard home insurance policies do not cover earthquakes.  Even worse, only 12% of homeowners in Southern California actually have earthquake insurance. With the beautiful advantages that come with living in California, there also is a price.  The unique diversity of the region also is one of the most seismically active regions in the world.

Insuring the safety of loved ones, homes, and livelihoods depends on the factors of the region we live in.  It is important to not only have homeowner’s insurance, but to have a comprehensive policy that reflects particular needs of the area.  In the case of Southern California, earthquake insurance is one of those needs.

Let the specialists at Blackwell Insurance Agency to point you towards the most appropriate coverage at the lowest price.  We love getting to know our clients, and we’d like to get to know you.  Call us toll-free at (866) 574-5301

(Statistics in article provided by the Insurance Information Institute and the U.S. Geological Survey)

Like sitting as a computer all day, it is important to practice proper positions. The two main goals of ergonomics are health and productivity which can help prevent repetitive strain injuries that can develop over time and lead to long term disability.

As motorcyclists, it is important that we understand the fit between us and our equipment. One of the best sites to help you figure out how you should position yourself is http://cycle-ergo.com. This website is designed to simulate a person’s riding posture on any motorcycle or scooter.

Does your back hurt after a long ride? Here is a video that can help adjust your spine and stretch out those muscles that you didn’t know you had.

Blackwell Insurance endorses healthily living and proper posture so that you can continue to enjoy your motorcycle experience. Let the specialists at Blackwell Insurance Agency get you started on the road to a Orange County Motorcycle Insurance policy that fits both your wheels and your wallet. Call us toll-free at 1 (866) 574-5301.

Protects From Financial Disaster
Floods, theft or fire damages can leave your home in rubble. Homeowners insurance policy can help cover the repair or replacement costs of your home in the midst of destruction. After you pay your deductible, your insurance will help you to restore your life back to some semblance of normal with your home and family life.

Gives You Added Security
A home is a huge investment and disasters that occur due to natural events just cannot be avoided for the most part. Having that added security of homeowner’s insurance will allow you to not be so stressed when you are faced with a disaster, because you know that you will be able to take care of any repairs or replacement that has to occur. While no one wants their home to be damaged, having insurance can take away some of the stress and worry.

Homeowner’s Insurance is Largely Affordable
Insurance is known as being very expensive, but homeowner’s insurance can be very budget-friendly. While health insurance can run you into the thousands of dollars each year, a homeowner’s policy will cost you less than a thousand dollars a year for a three bedroom, two bath home. There is really no excuse for you to not carry homeowner’s insurance, simply because it is so affordable. If you want to take care of what you have, homeowner’s insurance can be just the thing.

Easy to Obtain
While some types of insurance are difficult to get, homeowner’s insurance is not that way. As long as you own a home, you are going to find someone willing to help you insure that home, whether through your mortgage company or not. It will be a necessity for you to have insurance if you are financing your home, so if you are unsure of which insurance company to go with, ask your mortgage lender who they recommend in your area.

Liability Coverage Can Be Essential
Another great benefit to homeowner’s insurance is that it can also cover your liability if someone is injured on your property. In addition, you can be covered if you injure someone else or their property with your own homeowner’s insurance. This can go a long way to helping to keep you protected in this lawsuit happy society that we all live in these days.

There is no place like home. And, as one of the most important purchases you’ll ever make, your home needs a solid homeowners insurance plan that offers protection from all kinds of unforeseen events.

The professionals at Blackwell Insurance Agency have decades of experience in helping homeowners in Orange County, San Diego County, and throughout California protect their biggest investment. We’ll build a policy just for you, selecting among components such as:

• Replacement Value of Your Home
• Personal Property Coverage Amount
• Personal Liability
• Special Coverages

Give Blackwell Insurance Agency a call toll-free at (866) 574-5301. And remember, combining your Homeowners coverage with your Auto insurance qualifies you for a multi-policy discount!