How to Prep Your Home For a Bad Storm

Just because summer is over doesn’t mean we don’t have to worry about hurricanes anymore. Hurricane season lasts until late November, so there’s still that potential risk for a big storm to hit Long Island. Make sure you and your family are well prepared for any storm mother nature throws your way!

Take Care of Your Trees

It can be as simple as trimming any tree branches that hang over the house or as vital as taking down a dying tree. Trees can be the source of much of the damage caused during hurricanes. The extreme winds will overpower any weak trees in your yard, causing them to fall onto your home!

Secure Outdoor Furniture

If you know a storm is coming, start packing your outdoor furniture somewhere safe. Umbrellas and chairs will get lost in the storm! Temporarily hide them away in the shed or use weights to keep them in place.

Protect Your Valuables

Keep important documents and photographs somewhere safe during the storm. Keep them out of areas of the house that might be subject to flooding. If you have to evacuate, leave important items with a family member or friend that will keep them safe for you while you wait the storm out!

Create an Emergency Kit

You never know what will happen during a storm or how bad it will truly be. An emergency preparedness kit will ensure basic necessities are available to you and your family at any moment's notice. It should include enough water for everyone, food to last a long time, battery-powered flashlights and radios, as well as a first aid kit.

Create a Family Emergency Plan

It’s important to stay together during a major storm. If there is ever a circumstance where you get separated from your family, pick a place that could be the family’s meeting place once the storm passes. Also keep a few numbers from friends or family outside the storm area as emergency contacts.


Here at P.T.R.C., Inc., we are determined to help our clients pay the lowest amount of property tax as required by law. Contact us today to see how we can help you: info@ptrc.com

Checklist For Your Home in the Fall

The days are getting shorter and the air is getting colder, which means it’s time to prep our homes for the winter. This includes taking care of any potential weak trees and making repairs to the exteriors of your house. Don’t let winter storms catch you off guard, start early and check these projects off your fall bucket list:

Take Care of Your Trees

Fall and winter can bring about some rough storms on Long Island. If you have any weak or dead trees on your lawn, they could potentially fall over. Keep an eye out for signs of a dying tree, such as obvious decaying and branches falling constantly. Fallen trees can cause serious damage to your property.

Clean Out Your Gutters

While autumn leaves are certainly beautiful, they’re not so pretty when they build up in your gutters. Too many leaves can result in your gutters clogging, which will cause water will fill your water collection channel Without working gutters, you may experience damage to your roof.

Make Exterior Repairs

You may have forgotten to make little repairs here and there to the house over time. It’s important to work on these spots before the weather gets too harsh. Look for any damage on the sides, roof or foundation. Once winter does hit, you’ll be stuck in a tough (and cold) spot if those aren’t dealt with.

Seal Any Gaps

During the colder weather, outside critters love to find easy ways to get inside where it’s warm. Seal any small or large holes leading to the outside to keep these pests out. Use hardware cloth or caulk to seal items in place. Check around your doors, windows and attic vents for access points.

Stock up on Winter Supplies

Long Island has had its fair share of harsh winters. Make sure you’re prepared by getting your winter supplies now rather than later. This includes sturdy shovels, scrapers for your car and emergency kits. Have one kit for your house and another for your car to stay safe!

Check For Winter Safety

Make sure your driveway and stairs outside your home are in good condition. The winter weather can make it dangerous to walk around on damaged walkways. Also, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and get some salt for when it gets icier outside!

At P.T.R.C., Inc., we’ve made it our mission to ensure our clients pay the lowest amount in property tax as required by law. Since 1990, we’ve been recognized as fair and honest, and our clients benefit from the close working relationships we’ve established with the assessing units over the years.

Common Confusions Regarding Property Taxes

“I love paying taxes” — said no one ever. Homeowners may feel hesitant about paying their property taxes,  especially when it feels as if they’re in the dark about exactly how much they’re paying and why. Without further ado, allow us to break down some of the confusion:

What Are Property Taxes?

If you enjoy your town’s local park and well-paved roads, chances are you’re seeing your property taxes in action. Property taxes are collected and used by local governments in order to provide public services to your community (remember that really nice park you love to walk your dog in?).

In fact, a large sum of the money collected from property taxes also goes towards funding local police and fire departments, as well as public school districts.

Is Paying Property Taxes Mandatory?

If you want to keep your home and stay in the government's good graces, then the answer is yes! Every homeowner has to pay property taxes. Even if you own other types of property (such as farmland or rental property), you’ll have to pay property taxes.

How Do I Pay Them?

If you’re making payments on your mortgage monthly, chances are you’re already paying your property taxes as well. A typical mortgage payment usually includes principal, interest, homeowner’s insurance, and property taxes.

How Do I Find Out How Much I Owe in Property Taxes?

The amount you’ll pay in property taxes is based on two things:

The Local Property Tax Rate

The amount you pay in taxes depends on what your local government’s property tax rate is. The tax rate for a condo in New York City, for example, will differ from a house in Suffolk County.

Tax rates aren’t as permanent as you may think. Property reassessments can change how much you’ll pay — so be sure to stay up to date and prevent letting a higher tax bill take you by surprise.

Assessed Value of Your Property

This is not the same as the price you paid for your home or the amount you can sell it for. These prices are considered the ‘appraised’ or ‘market’ value of your home.

The assessed value of your home is typically lower than the market value and is set by your local government’s property assessor. This is a good thing because you’ll actually pay less in taxes based on the lower value of your home.

Am I Paying Too Much?

To some, paying any taxes at all is too much. However, how do you know if you’re paying too much in property taxes, and is that backyard actually worth the extra money?

Property taxes can be a budget booster, and with more property comes higher property taxes. The easiest way to decide if you can afford your potential new home’s property taxes is to compare the tax rate to your household’s take-home pay. Your monthly mortgage payment, which, remember, includes your property taxes, should be no more than 25% of your household’s take-home pay.

At P.T.R.C., Inc., we’ve made it our mission to ensure our clients pay the lowest amount in property tax as required by law. Since 1990, we’ve been recognized as fair and honest, and our clients benefit from the close working relationships we’ve established with the assessing units over the years.

Celebrate Fall on Long Island

‘Tis the season for farms, hayrides, apple cider donuts, and more! Mark your calendars for these local events and celebrate autumn all season long on Long Island Amityville Apple Festival Oct. 6, 10 am.-4 pm, Amityville Apple lovers unite at this delicious event! Indulge in pies and pastries made from fresh-picked New York apples. You can also grab some fresh apples for yourself and the family. Accompanied by vendors and live music, it’s the perfect event to satisfy your festive needs. Montauk Fall Family Festival Oct. 12, 13, 11 am-5 pm, Montauk This year is the 38th annual Montauk Fall Family Festival, and you don’t want to miss out on this classic! Get crafty at the beautiful sand art and street painting, or get competitive at the traditional clam-chowder contest! Complete with a 30-horse carousel, it’s an event you’ll want to experience! Fall Harvest Festival & Street Fair Oct. 19, 11 am-6 pm, Babylon Babylon’s 27th annual street fair promises to excite those of all ages! From face painting to live music from performing stages, there’s something for the whole family. Local bakeries and restaurants will come together to offer delicious food options. With both petting zoos and pony rides options, you’ll want to spend the whole day there. Rain date is Saturday, October 26th. Oysterfest Oct. 19, 20, 11 am-6 .m, Oyster Bay Oysterfest is the second-largest annual event on Long Island. It includes live entertainment, pirate shows, amusement rides, and their iconic oyster eating and shucking contest. If you’re not the biggest fan of oysters, don’t worry! They also have a wide array of food vendors and beer options. Have a very happy fall, from all of us here at P.T.R.C. Inc! At P.T.R.C., Inc., we’ve made it our mission to ensure our clients pay the lowest amount in property tax as required by law. Since 1990, we’ve been recognized as fair and honest, and our clients benefit from the close working relationships we’ve established with the assessing units over the years