Community Weekly Report 33 by d-mars.com

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COMMUNITY WEEKLY REPORT

Volume 3, Edition 33

Inspire, Inform & Educate

August 18 - August 24, 2022

Page 3

HBCU News The Propel Center and the Walt Disney Company Announce a New Collaboration Designed to Curate the Next Cohort of Storytellers and Innovators at HBCUs D-MARS.COM INFO MAIN OFFICE: 7322 Southwest Fwy., Suite 800, Houston, TX 77074

Page 2 Smart Homes Make Life Easier, but Are They Keeping You Safe?

Page 2 Tips to Attract Buyers When Selling Your Home

Phone: (713) 373.5577 Email Us: contact@d-mars.com Visit Us Online www.d-mars.com

2 | August 18 - August 24, 2022

Community Weekly Report REAL ESTATE

Smart Homes Make Life Easier, but Are They Keeping You Safe? By d-mars.com News Provider

omes in the United States continue to get smarter as many people frequently use voice assistants, smart doorbells, smart appliances, and more to make life easier. Now, as the smart home evolution continues, homeowners want more than just convenience - they want smart devices that help keep them safe, too. The ability to protect your home and your family will always be a priority. In addition to everyone staying safe and healthy, you want your home to remain strong and secure. Smart devices can now help with this as they are working to detect threats and provide alerts of fire, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, air quality concerns, water pipe freezes, leaks, and more. A Harris Poll survey conducted on behalf of Kidde, the #1 most installed fire safety brand in North America, found that today people are more connected than ever, with 83% of Americans having at least one smart device in their home and three in five smart device owners relying on those devices to keep their families and them safe. These technologies grant homeowners and renters confidence with 69% having peace of mind that those devices will alert them in real-time when an issue arises. One issue that is a top concern is fire protection. Every 23 seconds, a fire department in the U.S. responds to a fire somewhere in the nation, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Unfortunately, three out of five

home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. CO poisoning is another common safety concern as it's a potentially deadly gas with no smell. Every year, at least 430 people die in the U.S. from accidental CO poisoning and approximately 50,000 people in the U.S. visit the emergency department annually due to accidental CO poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smart home devices and alarms can help detect threats and provide you and your family alerts to common safety concerns such as smoke and CO, as well as additional threats such as water leaks, frozen pipes, and indoor air quality issues. Comprehensive technology is transforming how these issues are monitored and how you are alerted, giving you elevated peace of mind.

For example, the new Kidde HomeSafe™ suite of products includes a Smoke + CO Alarm with Indoor Air Quality Monitor. This alarm detects smoke, CO, adverse temperature, humidity levels, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), which include harmful particles in the air that can lead to health issues. Another option is the Water Leak + Freeze Detector which helps prevent frozen pipes and alert property owners to water leaks that can lead to mold, mildew, and compromised property integrity, not to mention potentially extensive repair costs. These Wi-Fi-enabled devices include smart features that can be connected to consumers' Kidde app, which allows for real-time alerts to be sent directly to a smartphone, even if you're not home. Additionally, the HomeSafe products are compatible with some of the most popular voice assistants, offering the use of voice commands to check alarm status and connection. Mobile alerts also allow you to notify your emergency contact of a potential threat (911, friends, and family), and you can silence false alarms when you are home, like when you accidentally burn your toast. Kidde's HomeSafe products provide greater control and more confidence, right at your fingertips. In today's world, having a smart home should mean keeping your family healthy and safe. It's about having the technology and features you need to give you the confidence to protect the people, places, and things that matter the most. Source: BPT

REAL ESTATE

Tips to Attract Buyers When Selling Your Home By d-mars.com News Provider

reparing your home for sale may start with ideas for staging the house or spackling and painting over nail holes, however, it also requires a considerable amount of planning and organization. Before opening your home to tours, either virtual or in person, be aware of what buyers might notice. "Getting your home ready for sale may seem like an overwhelming task, but it's important to make your home as attractive as possible," said Bonnie Lee, vice president of property claims at Mercury Insurance. "Not only does it give a favorable first impression, but it also shows that the home was well maintained and cared for. Most buyers expect to tour and eventually purchase a clean, well-cared for home." Walk through each room of your home and take note of what needs to be cleaned, repaired or replaced.

Eliminate Eliminateclutter clutter For many homeowners, the beginning of the home selling process is the chance to clear out any unwanted items. Take this time to throw away, donate or sell items that are no longer purposeful. Remember that potential buyers are likely to open closet doors and built-in cabinet drawers to determine the amount of storage space available, meaning you won't be able to simply store unwanted items in a closet. Buyers want to visualize themselves and their belongings within the living space so depersonalize and remove any large visual distractions such as large, distinct artwork or family photos. Bulkier items such as furniture can change the perceived size of a room. Make sure buyers are able to walk around living spaces without bumping into furniture. If you don't plan to take certain large items with you, check if your local municipality will pick them up.

Deepclean cleanyour yourhome home Deep Before scheduling tours of your home, do a deep clean, especially in areas like the kitchen and bathrooms. Home buyers are savvy and can detect when candles or air fresheners are being used to mask unpleasant scents of a home. "A home that hasn't been cleaned can be perceived as needing a lot of work or has underlying serious problems like water or structural damage," Lee said. "Keeping your home clean will boost

that ever-important first impression and maximize the selling cost."

aren't scraping shingles off of your roof or blocking gutters. Keep walkways and driveways free of clutter such as gardening tools or children's toys. Replace or repair any damaged screens or windows and make sure that any house numbers are visible. "A well maintained outdoor area that has been properly cared for is not only aesthetically pleasing but can also be a reflection of how well the home was cared for overall," Lee said.

Makesmall smallrepairs repairs Make

GetaaCLUE CLUE Get

Wear and tear from everyday living is normal. However, fixing these small repairs before listing your home might be a slight inconvenience for you, but might be seen as part of a larger, underlying issue to a potential buyer. Thoroughly go through each room of your home and touch up any dings on baseboards or doors. Make any minor repairs like filling in and repainting any holes left in the walls from hanging items. Check for leaking faucets or running toilets and replace any worn or damaged caulking around sinks, showers, bathtubs or windows.

A Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report provides a detailed history of any insurance claims that may have been filed on the house within the last seven years. While this report is extremely useful to buyers, it can be equally important to sellers. "Sellers whose homes have had no insurance claims within the last seven years can use a CLUE report as a selling tool. It gives potential buyers the assurance that they are not buying a home with a history of problems and increase a seller's chance of selling their home quickly," Lee said.

Curbappeal appeal Curb

Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can request a copy of your CLUE report from LexisNexis by calling 1-866-312-8076 or by visiting consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com.

Your home's exterior is the first thing buyers see as they approach the house. Trim any trees or shrubs outside of your property, especially along walkways, for a well-manicured look. Inspect any trees around your home to make sure they

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Source: BPT

August 18 - August 24, 2022 | 3

Community Weekly Report EDUCATION & CAREER

HBCU News The Propel Center and the Walt Disney Company Announce a New Collaboration Designed to Curate the Next Cohort of Storytellers and Innovators at HBCUs By d-mars.com News Provider

he Propel Center, a first-of-its-kind ideation hub for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), recently announced an exciting new collaboration with The Walt Disney Company designed to prepare promising young innovators for careers in the arts, media, entertainment, and hospitality industries. Revealed at the 2022 HBCU Philanthropy Symposium in D.C., the announcement detailed how Propel and Disney will work together to provide meaningful support, mentors, internships, and a guest speakers series as part of the expansive opportunities being made available to the future storytellers and innovators from underrepresented communities. Through this collaboration, Disney will also work with HBCU faculty and other industry leaders to codevelop curriculum that will position students for successful recruitment into these desired professions. The initial curriculum will focus on the areas of technology and hospitality where Disney has a significant number of entrylevel career opportunities. The hope is to create a bridge between the academic training students receive and the job opportunities available to them in the industry.

Photo Credit: Disney

Photo Caption: The Walt Disney Company announces a collaboration with the Propel Center in support of the next generation of diverse storytellers and innovators. Pictured are the Disney and Propel team, with Drum Major Mickey Mouse.

"The launch of this new collaboration with The Walt Disney Company positions the Propel Center to continue its important work of providing unprecedented opportunities and access to HBCUs," said Anthony Oni, Education Farm's board chairman and the founder of Ed Farm and Propel. "This collaboration is much more than an important moment. It's also an opportunity to invest in HBCUs in ways that advance student learning and opportunities; while participating in the HBCU tradition of developing transformative leaders." "At Disney, we know that technology

and hospitality play a huge role in telling great stories and creating seamless consumer experiences. We want to give HBCU students the opportunity to build the skills necessary in these areas to help them succeed in their careers," said Jennifer Cohen, executive vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility, The Walt Disney Company. "With the help of Propel's network and expertise, we hope to reach more students and empower them with the experience and confidence to push storytelling forward." Synonymous with pushing forward,

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"The Propel Center is a bold and transformational initiative impacting the entire HBCU ecosystem," said Waymond Jackson, CEO of Education Farm. "Through cutting-edge curriculum, innovative technology, trending thought leadership, and other opportunities such as the ones this exciting new Disney collaboration presents, Propel aims to elevate how HBCU scholars see and experience the world. By equipping them with the resources, training, and tools they need to become leaders who advance equity, transform the talent pipeline, and tell their stories, we are ensuring that they are prepared to fill and create the jobs of the future." This collaboration with Propel is part of the Disney Future Storytellers initiative. Through social investments and collaborations such as these, Disney is increasing access to careers in storytelling and innovation for those who have been historically underrepresented. From arts and STEM programs for school-age children to scholarships, storytelling, and technical skills-building programs for teens and young adults, Disney is helping today's youth to pursue their dreams, build their talents and skills, and become who they imagine they can be. Source: PropelCenter.org

4 | August 18 - August 24, 2022

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