Associates Today

Your Good Health:
TIME TO WINTERIZE YOUR HOME

It takes a little time, but it doesn’t have to take a lot of money to prepare your home for winter. The change of weather in fall is the perfect time to get ready for those freezing temperatures and prevent damage that could cost you a bundle.

HEATING
→ The best tip that costs nothing is to change your ceiling fan to go clockwise instead of counter clockwise. Most fans have a setting to rotate the blades to create an updraft that circulates air better in the winter.

→ Replace filters and clean your vents. HVAC filters and clean vents mean easier airflow and greater efficiency.

→ Insulate in all the important places: Attics, basement, exterior walls and crawl space. For an economic solution, use recycled denim or wool insulation.

→ Get a smart thermostat. It knows when to turn down the heat when you are at work or asleep (you can decide the temperature) so you can save both energy and money.

WINDOWS AND DOORS
→ Try a window insulation film kit. It’s not pretty, but it completely seals up your windows and it’s very inexpensive.

→ Use weather stripping on windows and doors, and caulk gaps in siding, doors and windows.

→ Draft guard your doors. The crack between the door and the floor can let cold air in and warm air out. Guards cost about $10, or you can simply use a rolled-up towel at the bottom of the door.

→ Get storm doors and windows for another layer of glass protection from the cold.

WATER
→ Wrap your pipes so they don’t freeze and burst causing a lot of damage. Warmer pipes also mean your water heater won’t work as hard.

→ Flush out the water heater through the drain valve. Sediment and other tiny materials can settle in the bottom over time and need to be cleared out.

→ Clean your gutters so leaves and debris don’t clog up, making it hard for precipitation to flow through. Do one last cleaning in late November or early winter after all the leaves have fallen.

OTHER IDEAS
→ Repair ducts in your home.
→ Get a chimney balloon.
→ Plant conifer trees to work as a wind break.
→ Buy thermal curtains.

WORKING WITH A REAL ESTATE AND MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER

Buying a home can be an exciting process, but it’s also a long one and you may need some help navigating it. A mortgage loan officer can help you through the financial side of purchasing a home, while a real estate agent can focus on finding the perfect home.

The Role of a Mortgage Loan Officer
Mortgage loan officers will walk you through your entire home loan journey—including the pre-approval process and helping you choose the ideal mortgage. Mortgage loan officers are licensed and have regular training, and you can trust our credit union mortgage team to act with your best interests in mind.

You can speak with a credit union mortgage loan officer today to learn more about the home loan process. Or, go to our website to start learning about the home buying process: www.abecu.com.

The Role of a Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent, or REALTOR©, is an experienced partner when it comes to the process of buying and selling a home. Your agent helps you negotiate pricing, bidding, and any contingencies in your contract. Local real estate agents have good knowledge of the surrounding neighborhoods and can give you an advantage when searching for a home.

HomeAdvantage ties the home buying experience together.
Our HomeAdvantage program can assist in the home buying process from start to finish, like helping find available homes in your area and pairing you with a great real estate agent and mortgage loan officer (it even offers cash rewards after closing). Learn more about finding the right real estate agent through HomeAdvantage.

When you sign up with HomeAdvantage, free now through October 31, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a free iPad. Get all the details here.

Questions about opening an account or just want to learn more about our loans, mortgages, and other services? Contact Teresa Evans at tevans@abecu.org or reach our Columbus branch at 1-614-888-2299. Become a member today! ABECU is an equal opportunity lender.

NEWS & INFORMATION FROM YOUR IT TEAM

Office 365:
Users may access the newest Office 365 applications from any device by going to https://www.office.com using their full e-mail address with the password to sign on

Office 365 applications include
→ Outlook (email)
→ Word
→ Excel
→ PowerPoint
→ OneDrive
→ SharePoint

What is OneDrive?
OneDrive is a Microsoft cloud storage service that lets users store personal files in one place, share them with others, and access them from any device connected to the internet. OneDrive will replace Box to store personal files.

What is SharePoint?
SharePoint is a secure Microsoft cloud storage service that lets users store, organize, share, and access information from any device connected to the internet.  SharePoint will replace Box to share and collaborate files, folders, and documents.

UPCOMING TRAINING VIA EMAIL:
Okta SSO (Single Sign-On) – Training from your IT Team on the use of Single Sign-On
Office 365 – Continue to roll out Microsoft Office Applications
SharePoint Training – Training from your IT Team on the use of SharePoint
OneDrive Training – Training from your IT Team on the use of OneDrive

Monthly Tip & Trick

How to change your email swipe options in the new Outlook email application
1. Open your Outlook app. Select the stacked lines in the top left and then select the settings gear icon
2. In the settings, scroll down and select the “Swipe options”
3. Select your swipe option to change (left or right). Then you can select what you want the email to do when you swipe it