Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small data files placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow the website to remember information about your visit — such as your preferred language or whether you have accepted a notice — so that you have a smoother experience on your next visit.

Our website also uses localStorage, a similar browser-based mechanism that stores small pieces of information directly on your device without an expiry date. Unlike session cookies, localStorage data persists until you clear your browser storage or we remove it programmatically.

2. How We Use Cookies & Local Storage

We keep our use of browser-stored data as minimal as possible. The table below describes the categories of cookies and localStorage entries we use, along with their purpose and duration.

3. How Your Consent Is Stored

When you first visit our website, a cookie consent notice appears at the bottom of the screen. Your choice (accept or decline non-essential cookies) is recorded using localStorage under the key homestead_cookie_consent.

This entry stores only a simple value (accepted or declined) and the date of your choice. No personal identifiers are attached.

Because this uses localStorage rather than a session cookie, your consent preference persists across browser sessions on the same device and browser, until you clear your browser storage or change your preference.

4. Third-Party Technologies

Our website may include content or functionality provided by third parties. These third parties may place their own cookies on your device when you interact with their content. We do not control these technologies and cannot alter them.

Examples of third-party content on our website include:

• Google Maps — an embedded map on our homepage to help you locate our office. Google may set cookies when you interact with the map. Please refer to Google's own cookie and privacy documentation for details.
• Google Fonts — we load typefaces from Google's servers to ensure consistent display. This involves a request to Google's servers, which may log your IP address. No cookie is set by this request.

We encourage you to review the cookie and privacy policies of any third-party services you interact with on our site.

5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

5.1 Through Our Website

If you wish to change the cookie preference you gave when you first visited our site, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page and we will reset your consent record. A refreshed notice will then appear on your next visit.

5.2 Through Your Browser

You can manage, block, or delete cookies and localStorage entries at any time through your browser settings. The steps differ by browser, but are usually found under Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and site data or similar.

Please note that blocking essential cookies may affect the normal functioning of our website — for example, the consent notice may reappear on each visit.

5.3 Useful Browser Links

• Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
• Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
• Edge: Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Cookies and site permissions

6. Do Not Track

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. At present there is no agreed industry standard for responding to DNT signals, and our website does not alter its behaviour based on these signals. We continue to minimise data collection regardless.

7. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time, for example if we add new features to our website or if the law changes. Any updates will be reflected on this page with a revised date. We encourage you to check back periodically.