Spring and summer are the most popular times of year for home buying and selling.  If you are considering selling your home, it’s a good idea to take a critical look at it before you list.  Many people think that boosting your home’s equity costs a lot of money.  Truth is there are many things you can do for very little money and get top dollar for your home.

Painting the interior walls of your home can add significant value

Lincoln Savings Bank and Century 21 LSB Real Estate have come up with some ways that you can increase the value of your home before putting it on the market. So take a look, then get to work!

(All figures taken from HomeGain’s 2009 survey of 1,000 realtors across the country. While this data is a few years old, it can still give you a good idea of which projects to go after)

Clean and De-clutter- buyers want to visualize themselves in your home, and that’s hard to do with a lot of your stuff in the way. Make sure carpets are cleaned, all cabinets, drawers and closets are cleaned and organized, and keep your bathrooms sparkling. Average cost: $100-200, home price increase: $1500-2000, realtors recommending this: 98 percent

Replace or shampoo carpets- your carpet should appear clean and not come with an odor. Those that are odorless can be cleaned, while smelly carpets should be replaced with an odorless and neutral color carpet. Average cost: $400-500, home price increase: $1000-1500, realtors recommending this: 97 percent

Brighten things up- the more light you can get into your home, the better. Clean all windows, shutters, blinds and drapes, install the brightest light bulbs possible at the right wattage and prune trees to make sure they aren’t blocking any light. Average cost: $200-300, home price increase: $1000-1500, realtors recommending this: 95 percent

Tame the yard- landscaping is a must since many buyers will judge a home based solely on “curb appeal.” Remove all clutter and dead/dying plants, trim/prune grass, bushes, hedges, trees, and edge and trim to give the yard a nice boundary. Average cost: $300-400, home price increase: $1500-2000, realtors recommending this: 94 percent

Give your home interior a fresh coat- whether it’s touching up or completely repainting a room, getting it right means prepping right. Repair nicks or cracks in the drywall, sand down patched areas prime, and be sure to use a quality paint. Average cost: $500-750, home price increase: $1500-2000, realtors recommending this: 94 percent

These are just a few ideas to add value to your home equity. Updating kitchens and bathrooms are also great ways to make sure your home sells at the price you want.

If you have any home improvement loan needs, or you just need help getting your home on the market, we would be glad to help! Just call any of our locations and allow our team to help you work through your problems. We hope to hear from you soon!

As the saying goes, “It’s all in the details.” That statement is truer than ever when it comes to a wedding. Planning a wedding can be a huge task, and there are things that can fall through the cracks. However, Lincoln Savings Bank wants to shine a light on these things so you can factor them in to your plans. 

Taking care of the minor details can help make your big day memorable

Register at the Right Places

Don’t leave this important aspect of your wedding to chance. Here are the top 3 places to register for your wedding:

• Bed, Bath and Beyond- fine tabletop and giftware, cookware, electronics
• JCPenny: kitchenware and bedding
• Kohl’s: cookware, food prep supplies, bedding and bath 

Unexpected Costs

Everything may be fine and dandy until you get your wedding bill. Be sure to keep these unexpected costs in mind in the planning process:

• Sales tax- ranging from 6 to 10 percent, it adds up quickly, especially on larger purchases
• Gratuities and tips- from caterers to cake deliveries to hairdressers and others helping with your wedding, these can add up in a hurry
• Postage- while Forever stamps and a regular size envelope only cost 44 cents to mail, your specialized invitations and envelopes could cost up to a $1 per invite
• The guest list- since most expenses for guests are per person, more guests equals a higher bill 

Wedding Insurance

This is becoming more popular for those paying for a wedding. You’ve put down your deposit for the caterer, but what if they go out of business before your wedding? What if you have to reschedule because of weather or another natural disaster? It may seem like a pessimistic view, but these things can and do happen.

We hope that you find these items helpful when it comes to planning for your big day. You can always count on Lincoln Savings Bank to help in any way that we can, whether it’s helping with joint accounts or providing the means necessary to have the wedding you deserve. Please feel free to give us a call or come by any of our locations to learn more!

No one can deny that weddings are wonderful events. Aside from the whole reason behind the wedding – two people professing their love to each other now and into the future – there’s the church or ceremony site, the music, the flowers and everything else that makes a wedding memorable. 

Tying the knot is becoming a pricey event.

Weddings can also be a bit of a burden financially speaking, regardless of who is actually paying for them. In 2012, the average cost of a wedding was $28,400, or about the price of a nice new car! Cost varied by location, as those in Manhattan spent $76,687 and those tying the knot in Chicago dropped $49,810 on average.  Wow! 

If you or your son/daughter is getting married this wedding season, here’s a breakdown of the things that could run up the price of the big day based on 2012’s averages:

• Reception venue: $12,900
• Reception band: $3,000
• Photographer: $2,400
• Florist/décor: $2,000
• Wedding/event planner: $1,800
• Ceremony site: $1,700
• Videographer: $1,600
• Wedding dress: $1,200
• Rehearsal dinner: $1,100
• Reception DJ: $1,000
• Limo: $700
• Wedding cake: $560
• Groom’s tux: $230

However, don’t let these numbers scare you. There are plenty of great resources for do-it-yourself wedding items that can really help you save. The social network site Pinterest is one example that helps you do everything from make your own invitations to creating wedding and reception playlists.

And as always, you can turn to Lincoln Savings Bank if you need extra financial guidance. Our financial experts are great resources to help you budget and finance for the big day!

Don’t hesitate to contact any of our branches for more information.

Alright, it’s finally vacation time! You’ve been planning, saving and counting down the days and now it’s finally here.  You’ve thought of everything, right?  You have your rooms booked, activities planned, travel plans made, cash in your wallet, emergency credit and debit cards ready and you are feeling great! 

Be prepared to keep your vacation from turning into this!

But…you’re probably forgetting about something.  Or a few things.  With every vacation there are always a few unexpected costs that pop up along the way.  We’re here to give you a reminder so that your vacation can go as smoothly as possible. Be sure to keep the following things in mind for your vacation:

Gratuities and tips- working with a lot of service people during your trip, opportunities to tip are plentiful, so be sure to factor this in when thinking about how much cash you need.

Transportation- getting to your destination is one thing, getting around while you’re there is another. Have you taken account for how you’ll be getting around?  Consider whether it makes sense to take public transportation, a cab or maybe a rental car.  Maybe you’ll want to rent bikes for a day or take a ferry/boat ride, or perhaps do some horseback riding? 

Unplanned activities- so your destination city’s annual jazz festival is this weekend and you just happen to be a jazz aficionado? Plan a little extra into your budget for these last-minute activities.

Emergencies- most vacations happen without anyone making a trip to the hospital, but you never know. Just like unplanned activities, accidental injuries can and do happen.  Make sure you’re ready with insurance cards and any health records that may be needed.

Food and drink- whereas cruises include food, they often don’t include drinks like water, soda or alcoholic beverages.  On other trips the cost of food and drink may be different than it is at home, so it’s a good idea to research those costs ahead of time.

Internet- this varies by hotel or destination, but many require you to “purchase” internet access. While it’s not much, it’s tacked on to your overall bill and taxed as well.

Are there any costs that you’ve run into that we didn’t include? If so, keep those in mind as you plan financially for your trip.  If you need help with anything regarding your trips, from getting cash to ordering traveler’s checks, Lincoln Savings Bank can help.  Just stop by any of our locations!

Wherever you go this summer, we hope you and your family have a wonderful trip!

Ah, summer jobs.  Who hasn’t had a couple of those when they were in high school or college? From taking tickets at a movie theater to de-tasseling to fast food order taker, they can be a drag or they can be fun. Regardless, all summer jobs require something more than the need to make money: somewhere to put it.

Serving is just one of many common jobs for teens

Lincoln Savings Bank has a few options available to make sure your kids, whether they are in high school or college, have somewhere to safely and securely keep their hard earned income from their summer jobs.

Savings Account- there are few skills more important than teaching your child how to save and manage money. With this account, your kids can learn how to be responsible with their money by learning proper saving techniques, making savings goals, depositing money and watching their account grow.

Checking Account- if your child is ready for the responsibility of using their own ATM or Debit card and tracking their spending, this account gives kids the tools they need to take the next step in their financial lives.

We all want our children to grow and mature, and financial management is a lifetime skill that should be started at a young age. Talk with your kids about the value of saving, having emergency money and creating goals. This will help to ensure they become smart money managers throughout their lives.

If you have any questions or want to get a child started saving today, just come by the Lincoln Savings Bank nearest you today!

For many people, our home is the most valuable asset we own.  We take pride in making it look nice and spend hours maintaining it each year.  However, the majority of us probably couldn’t answer some very basic questions about the insurance policy that protects it in the case of an event that damages or destroys our home.  How much coverage do you have for your dwelling and personal contents?  Do you know how much coverage you have for your other structures like detached garages or storage sheds?

See our full home insurance infographic here

Studies show that as many as 59 percent of homes are underinsured.  That’s a frightening statistic!  At LSB, we want to make sure you know and understand your homeowner’s policy so you won’t be surprised or disappointed if you ever have a homeowners claim. 

On a basic homeowner’s insurance policy, there are 6 areas of coverage you should know and understand:

DWELLING - The amount of DWELLING coverage you purchase should be enough to cover the cost of rebuilding your home in the event of a complete loss.  Don’t confuse this amount with the market value of your home, as the market value includes the value of your land.

PERSONAL PROPERTY - Typically a home insurance policy will provide 50-70 percent of your DWELLING coverage towards contents/personal belonging coverage.  You may want to purchase more depending on the value of the personal belongings in your home.  If you own jewelry, art or other expensive personal property you will want to consider a scheduled endorsement for those items.

OTHER STRUCTURES – This coverage is typically 10 percent of the DWELLING coverage.  This covers detached garages, storage sheds, and fixtures attached to the land including fences, driveways, sidewalks, patios and retaining walls.  You may want to consider whether the standard 10 percent would be adequate for your situation.

LOSS OF USE – This coverage provides reimbursement for living expenses incurred if your home is destroyed or damaged and other living arrangements are necessary while repairs are made.  Most standard home insurance policies will provide coverage up to 20 percent of the DWELLING coverage.

PERSONAL LIABILITY – This protects you or covered family members against lawsuits. Standard home insurance policies will typically include a minimum of $100,000 for each liability claim but some homeowners may take out an extension for additional protection against liability lawsuits.

MEDICAL PAYMENT – This coverage, commonly referred to as MedPay, will cover medical costs in the event that someone is injured on your property and does not want to sue you.  Typical MedPay coverage will cover $1,000 per injured person but an extension of this coverage is available.

Find out some interesting facts on homeownership and review the important parts of your policy by checking out our Homeowners Insurance Infographic at http://www.mylsb.com/webres/pdf/LSB-Homeowners-Insurance.pdf.  If you are unsure of your coverage for any of these main areas under your homeowner’s insurance policy, we strongly encourage you to contact your insurance agent to discuss your coverage. 

Are you interested in learning how you can save money by bundling your auto and home insurance?  Take a few minutes to request a quote from LSB for your auto or homeowners insurance here: http://www.mylsb.com/insurance/Quotes/request-quote.aspx.