Home

American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 47 member Ken Gruberman used to think online flower orders were costly and would arrive late or not at all, but the Union Plus Flower Discount Program through Teleflora has changed his mind. 

Gruberman has worked in the field of music preparation for 50 years. He is currently involved in getting music out of a composer or arranger’s mind and onto a printed page for either performance or recording. This year Gruberman will receive a Lifetime Membership Pin for being an AFM Local 47 member for 50 years. 

When Gruberman initially saw the Union Plus discount email advertising their Teleflora offer for Valentine’s Day this year, he thought the offer almost seemed too good to be true.

“I know that Union Plus stands behind their partnerships, and when I saw the promotion, it stood out for me because the photos looked more alluring than similar offers,” he said.  

Gruberman clicked on the email link and immediately felt impressed by what he saw on the special Union Plus web page—a page you could only access via the special offer email. 

“It had items that were not on the regular Teleflora pages (I checked), and the prices were as spectacular as the arrangements,” Gruberman said. 

For about the same cost as he’d spent in the past, he received an expertly crafted, beautiful arrangement in a spectacular vase that “actually brought tears to my wife’s eyes when it was delivered,” he said. 

Gruberman said he was also kept apprised of his order’s progress and was even able to talk to the hometown florists doing the work. The flowers are always hand-delivered locally and have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Gruberman does not drive due to an eye condition. In the past, ordering flowers online has been more convenient compared to coordinating a ride to a local florist and then figuring out a way to sneak the surprise into the house without being seen. 

“Thank you Union Plus for supporting union members, for giving us discounts we can really use and that enhance our lives, and for always being there when we need you,” Gruberman said.

Gruberman is also grateful for access to other Union Plus benefits including the Union Plus Credit Card Program. He said its initial appeal was the low interest rate and the option for hardship help in case of job loss, disability or a strike, not to mention the cash-back rewards.

He is also enrolled in the Union Plus Wireless Discount Program for his AT&T plan. “AT&T coverage is our lifeline when we travel, so this is really appreciated,” he said. 

“Unions are having to fight to stay relevant to a new generation and aren’t always able to offer benefits to their membership as they used to,” Gruberman added. “To have an umbrella organization like Union Plus stepping up to fill that gap? As the ad says, ‘priceless.’”

Order beautiful flower arrangements and gift baskets through the Union Plus discount program and make someone’s day. Flowers are perfect for birthdays and holidays, and is a lovely way to say, "Get well," "Thank you!” or “Congrats.” Union members, retirees and family members save 20% to 25% by visiting unionplus.org/flowers or calling 888-667-7779.
 

MYTH: THE BORROWER HIRES AN APPRAISER

TRUTH: OK, when we say borrower – we really mean buyer, right? And of course, the buyer wants your appraisal to come in on the lower-end because that opens up the table for further negotiations. But, just to set the record straight – the borrower is responsible for the cost of the appraisal, but they don’t hire or manage the appraisal process – the lender does that. Because, ultimately, the lender wants to make sure they’re making a good investment when lending money to your buyer.

MYTH: MONEY I PUT INTO MY HOME TRANSLATES DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR INTO A HIGHER APPRAISAL

TRUTH: Your home improvement projects might increase your home value, but maybe not. It’s up to the market to determine what kind of value they place on a home upgrade.

MYTH: APPRAISERS SET THE VALUE OF THE HOME

TRUTH: Appraisers don’t set the value of the home; they create a credible opinion of how the market will value the home. What someone will pay for the home ultimately determines the value.

We hope this information will help you better understand the appraisal process and the purpose it serves.

And, as always, when you find that perfect home — don't forget the Union Plus Real Estate Rewards program and the Union Plus Mortgage program to help you with your home buying process. 

Here are some quick and easy ways to tell if there might be an underlying issue with the home. Obviously, if you sense something might be wrong, you will need to pay an inspector (or a special service company) to investigate and confirm an issue.

Foundational

• Cracks in the driveway, foundation or sidewalks
• Drainage systems not pointing away from the house
• Yard sloping towards the house
• Standing water near the foundation
• Trees with roots close to the foundation
• Cracks in the walls
• Windows or wall corners not square
• Gaps on top of interior doors when closed

Water or Mold

• Musty smell
• Cracks around windows
• Peeling paint
• Leaking faucets, bath tubs or toilets
• Water stains on the walls
• No bathroom ventilation
• Missing tile caulk

Roof

• Ceiling stains
• Missing, cracked, curled or warped shingles

Electrical

• Lights that flicker or short-out
• Main panel condition (rusty or damaged in any way)
• Exposed wires

Plumbing

• Water stains in bathroom around plumbing
• Low water pressure
• Drains empty slowly
• Noises when you turn on the water
• Bad odor by the sink

With these tips, we hope you’ll be able to spot any big issues before your closing day. And, as always when you decide you’re ready to buy a home, don't forget your Union Plus benefits:

• The Union Plus Mortgage Program offers competitive interest rates on a wide range of mortgage options, plus special benefits including hardship assistance for union members. 

• With the Union Plus Real Estate Rewards program, you could get $500 for every $100,000 in home value if you use a real estate agent approved by SIRVA.*

“I love it,” said Branca. “It’s independent, I’m outside and I can be really goal oriented with myself.” 

Branca is a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Branch 2572, in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. She has a solid relationship with her union.

“I know my union reps well, and it’s a good community of postal workers,” said Branca. “They’ve been great to me, and they look out for all of their employees.”

As she began walking her mail route from house to house, and knew the USPS was going to be the stable, fun job she envisioned, she accelerated her goal to purchase her own home. It’s a moment she’d been working toward since adolescence.  

Branca also knew where to turn first for such a major, life-changing purchase. 

“After I found the house I wanted, I went straight to Union Plus,” said Branca. “It was literally a five-minute conversation. The Union Plus Mortgage Company representative took my information, I told him what I was willing to pay for the house, and I was pre-approved on the spot.”

Branca didn’t stop there. She went ahead and shopped for other loans. No one could touch Union Plus Mortgage Company. 

“No one could come close to Union Plus,” she said. “And because I had a big enough down payment, they shared closing costs, and it all happened so fast.”

For qualifying members, special benefits for first-time homebuyers as well as: 

• A $500 gift card after closing for purchasing or refinancing a home
   
• Special hardship mortgage assistance from Union Plus in the event of income loss due to disability, unemployment or strike/lockout.

For more information, visit unionplusmortgage.com. 

Members were asked a series of seven questions about their thoughts on the AT&T Signature Program, including questions about whether they would recommend the program to other members and which program benefit they liked most.

Members ranked the following program benefits highest:

1. 15% discount on the monthly service charge of qualified wireless plans^{2
   Req’s valid proof of membership with AFL-CIO member union. Indv. member must be acct. holder. Add’l restr’s apply. See 15% details below.}
    
2. Supporting more than 150,000 unionized workers at AT&T
    
3. 20% discount on select accessories from AT&T^{3
   Exclusions and other restrictions apply. See below for 20% details.}

Members also expressed satisfaction about the ease of using the program. 

“It’s easy to sign up and saves money,” said OPEIU member Suzanne Finn.  

UFCW member Debra Hoehing also commented positively about the program.

"It's a great benefit for being a union member," said Hoehing.

For more information on the AT&T Signature Program Discounts through Union Plus and how union members can save on wireless, visit unionplus.org/att.

Organize and Disregard

Before you put your home on the market, you should start organizing for your move. Not only will you get a head start on move day, having an organized home will help keep your house in order for showings. Do some of the heavy lifting now and disregard things you don’t think you’ll be moving. Remember that people are going to try to envision what their lives will be like in your home, so the less clutter and personal items – the better.

Store

Think about renting a storage unit in order to clear out some of the clutter from your home. If you’re not ready to get rid of things, a storage unit could be a good compromise.

Have a Plan

Work with your real estate agent to create a plan for showings. Ask that they schedule them for during certain days/times, that way you are able to clean and prep your house for those specific time slots.

Buy Storage Tubs

After you organize your home, consider having a few empty storage tubs available in your garage or a closet that can be used to hide clutter or items at a moments notice. Even if you set aside certain showing times with your realtor, there will be one-off times when a buyer won’t be able to accommodate your request.

Clean

Know that during this time, you will need to clean your house more frequently than usual. If you don’t have time to do this, you might want to consider hiring a cleaner to help you every few weeks during busy times. The goal is to keep up with it, so you don’t have to do a deep clean before every showing. Be sure kitchens, living rooms and bathrooms are cleaned well – as those spaces are very scrutinized by buyers. And above all else, try to enjoy the adventure. Even though keeping your house “show ready” can be a difficult task – the prospect of moving onto your next adventure will make it all worthwhile.

Are you in the market for buying or selling your home?  Check out the Union Plus Real Estate Rewards Program.  You can  earn $500 cash back for every $100,000 in home value when you use a real estate agent, approved by SIRVA.

“I love airport customer interactions,” says Chris Mercado, a Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) lead officer, assistant training officer and American Federation Government Employees (AFGE) TSA Local 618 member. “No matter what travelers think of us, I like turning the tables on their perception of us and delighting them.”

As a union steward, Mercado has mediated disputes, served as an advocate and played a role in the transition of leadership when his local’s president passed away. An active recruiter of new union members, he makes union benefits the focal point of his pitch.

“AFGE organizers made joining easy. They told me about the union benefits up front,” said Mercado. “I never forgot that, and so when I recruit, I make sure to point out the AFGE benefits.”

Mercado’s thorough knowledge of the union benefits came in handy when a need arose nearly overnight. Mercado’s wife Katelin, a manager of a storage facility where the couple received free housing, was informed by the owner that he was selling. She lost her job, and they lost their apartment.

“I immediately looked up my AFGE benefits to see what they could do should we decide on buying a home,” said Mercado. “The Union Plus Mortgage Company (UPMC) got me pre-approved right on the phone, and then they helped me every step of the way. Just 31 days later, I took the keys to our new house.”

Throughout the process of home buying, Mercado says the Union Plus Mortgage Company team constantly reassured him and checked up on him to see that he was getting the best deal.

“They got us in a house so fast, they answered every question, it was amazing,” said Mercado. “I asked so many questions as we started shopping, and every time, Union Plus was there.”

Mercado uses his AFGE benefits to save money and access grants and awards for most areas of his life and he encourages other union members to do the same.

“I’m a member of the Motor Club, I have pet insurance through them, and I use the Union Plus Mobile App all the time,” said Mercado. “For every big-ticket item, I turn to my AFGE benefits first.”

As for his house, Mercado is grateful and excited. He and his wife have never had so much space, and it’s become a retreat from the rigors of his work.

“We found this beautiful home and it is really the best for us,” said Mercado.

The Union Plus Mortgage program, with financing available through Union Plus Mortgage Company, is available for all eligible union members. UPMC is union-owned and staffed by knowledgeable loan officers.

For qualifying members, special benefits for first-time homebuyers as well as:
• A $500 gift card after closing for purchasing or refinancing a home
• Special hardship mortgage assistance from Union Plus in the event of income loss due to disability, unemployment or strike/lockout.

For more information, visit unionplusmortgage.com

While you're updating those manual clocks around the house, don't forget to do your semi-annual household safety checks. Our daylight saving safety checklist can help protect your home and family from preventable accidents.

Inspect Your Fire Extinguishers 

• Make sure extinguishers are easily accessible.
• Check the tamper seal and pull pin. If the seal is broken or the pin is missing, replace the extinguisher or have a certified fire extinguisher technician inspect it.
• Look for physical damage and debris in the hoses and nozzles. Replace the extinguisher if it shows signs of damage or corrosion.
• Have fire extinguishers professionally inspected once per year.

Check Your Garage Door Sensors

If they are not working correctly, a closing garage door could harm belongings or people in its path.

• Test the automatic reversing mechanism by placing a piece of wood, such as a 2×4, on the ground in the door's path as it's closing. The door should reverse one or two seconds after hitting the wood. If it does not, refer to your owner's manual on how to make an adjustment to the opener's sensitivity or contact a professional garage door service.
• Test the photoelectric sensors by placing an object in front of them as the door is coming down. The door should immediately reverse. If it does not, check the sensors for alignment, dirty lenses or damage.

Test Your Smoke Alarms

• Push the test button to make sure the alarm sounds.
• See how the alarm responds to smoke: Light a match and blow it out directly under the alarm, or use an aerosol smoke can if the detector is out of reach.
• Have someone stand as far away from the smoke alarm as possible to be sure it's audible.
• Change the batteries twice a year.
• Replace the device every seven to 10 years — earlier if the alarm sounds weak or doesn't emit noise after you change the batteries and perform multiple tests.

Practice a Family Fire Drill

• Pick a place to meet outside that everyone can remember.
• Follow your fire escape plan. If you don't have one, map out how you will exit each room in the event of a fire.
• Practice the drill at night when family members are asleep. This will help prepare them for waking up to smoke alarms and getting out of the house quickly.

Update Your First Aid and Emergency Preparedness Kits

• Check expiration dates and replace old contents.
• Make sure flashlight batteries work.

1. Network Strength

   AT&T has the nation’s largest and most reliable network in the country. 

   Coverage not avail. everywhere. Based on overall coverage in U.S. licensed/roaming areas. See coverage details below.

2. Union Solidarity

    AT&T is the only nationwide unionized wireless carrier. When you choose AT&T, you’re choosing to support the more than 150,000 union members employed there.
    

3. Wireless Discounts

   AT&T offers union members exclusive discounts on wireless with the AT&T Signature Program discounts through Union Plus.
   
   Plus, when you switch to AT&T, you can get up to $650 in credits per line when you trade in your smartphone, and buy a new one on AT&T Next. 

   Each line reqs elig. port-in, trade-in, purch., & svc. $650= min. $5 trade-in credit/promo card (for AT&T products/svc only) + prepaid card (w/in 90 days) for device balance/early term. fee amount less trade-in. Fees, charges & restrs apply. See SWITCH TO ATT details below.

   Ready to switch and start saving? Head to your local AT&T store with this coupon, or visit unionplus.org/att today.

LEARN MORE
 

Whether it’s a first home or next home, the Union Plus^® Mortgage program, with financing provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, provides union members, their parents and children access to a wide range of home loan options to meet a variety of needs, plus special benefits designed for union families. And, you can also find the homebuying tools and information you need every step of the way.

Location, Location, Location

This first step is to understand your needs:

• What areas of your city/county appeal to you?
• Do you want to live in a neighborhood, or is having land important to you?
• Do you want to be near schools, shopping, or public transportation?
• How close do you need to be to your job?

Make a Wish List

Before you start looking at houses, make a list of the home features that are most important to you.

• How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? Are you downsizing or planning for a growing family?
• Do you prefer the look of a two-story home, or do you want a one-story with everything all on one level?
• Would you like an older home with character in an established neighborhood, or are you drawn to the benefits of a newly constructed home?
• What kind of amenities and features would you like? How about a gourmet kitchen or a fireplace?
• What about the exterior: siding, brick, or stucco?

Most homebuyers need to make compromises, and it's helpful if you already know which items are "must-haves" and which are simply "nice-to-haves." You can download our Wish List (PDF)* to help you prioritize.
When you’re ready to start looking at homes, consider using a real estate agent. While it’s easy to search for homes online today, you’ll receive invaluable information and assistance by working with a licensed real estate agent.

Getting Prequalified

In addition to considering what you need and want in a home, it’s helpful to know how much you may be able to borrow to buy a home. A prequalification lets you estimate how much you may be able to borrow, but is not a commitment to lend so it doesn’t require a credit check or mortgage application.

If you have any questions about the homebuying process, loan options, or would like a free prequalification, contact a Wells Fargo Home Mortgage consultant today. If you are considering refinancing, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage has options for you too!

And remember, after closing on a loan through the Union Plus Mortgage program, you’ll be eligible for special benefits that include receiving a My Mortgage Gift^SM award from Wells Fargo - $500 for buying a home or $300 for refinancing your home, for use at participating retailers – and access to mortgage assistance through Union Plus in times of hardship such as layoff, disability or strike.^1,2 Keep in mind that parents and children of union members are also eligible for certain benefits.

Click here to learn more about the Union Plus Mortgage program, talk to a Union Plus Mortgage Specialist at 866-802-7307 or request a personal consultation.