It’s so easy to be drawn into buying the latest and greatest tech. One of my goals is to give you ways to get more out of the tech you already own. Take Amazon Prime.
If you signed up to shop this year’s Prime Day sales, don’t miss out on all the perks that come with your membership. Tap or click for my favorite hidden Prime benefits, including free, unlimited full-resolution photo storage and 5 GB video storage.
Of course, freebies are always great. We regularly round up all the tech upgrades you can get without paying a dime. Tap or click for 15 freebies you’ll use anything from free office software to free audiobooks.
Tech time and money savers tend to slip under the radar. Here are five I think you will love.
4. Get the highest Zestimate for your home
The real estate market is on fire throughout most of the country. Even if your home is not for sale, your home likely has a basic listing on Zillow.com. The most important part of that listing is your home’s estimated value or Zestimate.
Zillow’s algorithms compare your homes to similar sales in your area. A home’s Zestimate has always been a point of contention. It’s seemingly either on the mark or too low.
Obviously, you want that Zestimate to be as high as possible. To get started, register with Zillow and claim your home. Zillow gets many home facts from public records such as lot size, square footage, and number of bedrooms, but these numbers are not always correct.
To raise your Zestimate, make sure the listing is complete and accurate. Pay particular attention to upgrades that influence the home’s value such as a remodel, view, and extras like a pool or gated property. You can add a full description of your home along with photos and videos. Make sure you complete the section marked, “What I love about this home.”
But do be careful. Divulging pertinent details can give wannabe thieves easy access. Don’t upload a floor plan or post photos that include expensive items or security system locations.
5. Share your home movies without Facebook
I hear from callers on my national show all the time who want to share home movies without using Facebook. Uploading and sending via email is a major hassle. The solution? Set up a private YouTube channel.
It’s fast, easy, and free. When you’re ready to share, all you need to do is shoot links to your friends and family.
On YouTube, you will see two options for sharing: Private and unlisted. Private videos can only be viewed by those with whom you share a link. Unlisted means anyone could technically watch the video, but it won’t come up in search results or on your channel page.
Tap or click here for steps to get your own YouTube channel up and running.
Bonus Tip: How Bezos, Musk, and Buffett pay no federal taxes and a bonus for anyone who owns a home
Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Explains” on Apple, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast player.
ProPublica obtained IRS information showing how billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Warren Buffett pay little in income tax when compared to their massive wealth — sometimes, even nothing. I sat down with an experienced tax accountant who works with wealthy clients to get the scoop. Plus, we talked about special tax credits to lower your taxes.
Tap or click here to listen to this 30-minute podcast now.
What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call Kim’s national radio show and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to or watch The Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet, television, or computer. Or tap or click here for Kim’s free podcasts.