What Is the STAR Exemption and How Do I Apply
STAR stands for School Tax Relief. It lowers the school tax portion of your property tax bill if you own and live in your home as your primary residence. You apply once…
For owners
Owning a home on Long Island
Maintenance, projects, and the seasonal work that protects the biggest thing you own. Useful whether you are selling in five months or staying for twenty years.
How Do I Prepare My Generator Before Winter Storms Hit
Start your generator now, while the weather is still mild, not in the middle of a January nor'easter. Run it under a light load, check the oil, and make sure you have…
How Do I Winterize My Outdoor Faucets Before Winter
Shut off the water supply to every outdoor faucet before the first hard freeze, then drain the lines and store your hoses. On Long Island that usually means having this…
How Do I Lower My Suffolk County Property Tax Bill
You lower your bill two ways. You file a grievance to challenge your assessment, or you make sure you are getting every exemption you already qualify for. Early fall is…
What Does a Cesspool Inspection Actually Test
A cesspool inspection checks how full the tank is, whether waste is draining into the surrounding soil the way it should, and whether the structure itself is cracked or…
What Should You Do Before Switching From Oil to Gas Heat
Call your gas utility first to confirm a line runs to your street, then get two or three quotes from licensed heating contractors before you sign anything with your oil…
When Should You Schedule Your Oil Tank Inspection Before Fall
Schedule your oil tank inspection in September, before the first cold snap sends every oil customer on Long Island calling for the same appointment. A tank check now…
How Long Before Winter Should You Service Your Heating System
Book your heating tune up in September, not November. Every oil and propane company on Long Island gets flooded with service calls once the first real cold snap hits…
Two identical houses, two different tax bills
In the Town of Smithtown you can find two nearly identical homes a few streets apart carrying tax bills hundreds of dollars a month different. That difference matters…
Nassau and Suffolk Run Their Property Tax Grievances on Two Different Clocks
If you own a home on Long Island, the window to challenge your assessment is short, and it does not open or close on the same day in Nassau as it does in Suffolk.
The Grant Money That Can Cover Your Cesspool Replacement on Long Island
If your Long Island home runs on a cesspool or septic system, there is real grant money on the table right now to help you replace it.
Your Deed Is Public Record. Here Is the Free Alert That Watches It For You
Nassau and Suffolk County both offer free, simple tools that tell you the moment a document gets filed against your home, and most Long Island homeowners have never…
The Fine Print That Could Cost You Thousands After the Next Long Island Storm
A new state rule changed how hurricane deductibles work on Long Island, and most homeowners have no idea what their policy actually says.
Why Your PSEG Bill Keeps Swinging This Summer, and What You Can Actually Do About It
Your electric bill on Long Island moves every month for reasons mostly out of your hands, but there are real programs that put money back in your pocket right now.
Long Island Homeowners, Your Lawn Is Draining Our Only Water Supply
Every drop of drinking water on Long Island comes from underground, and the way we water our lawns is putting real strain on it.