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Fire can be a devastating and deadly event and in 2008 there were more than 403,000 residential fires costing upwards of $8 million in property damage and causing close to 3,000 deaths according to FEMA. There are some simple preventative measures you can take to hopefully reduce the risk of it happening to you.
- First and foremost are having smoke detectors on every floor of your home and near the bedrooms. Be sure to change the batteries twice a year and test them once a month. Remember smoke alarms are your first line of defense!
- You should also have your heating appliances, particularly the furnace, checked by a professional annually. This also includes having your chimney and fireplace hearth cleaned once a year.
- Clean up all clutter both indoors and out. Remember paper and dry brush is highly flammable. Keep your firewood 30 feet away from the house.
- Be sure to have multipurpose chemical fire extinguishers on each floor and near your furnace and water heater and that each family member knows how to use them. Check them for leaks monthly.
- When you have a fire in your fireplace NEVER leave it unattended and put it out completely before going to bed. Use a fireplace screen to avoid sparks escaping.
- Do not overload your outlets and keep power bars and extension cords at a minimum.
- Remember that lamps as well as candles are fire hazards and not to place combustible materials nearby and extinguish them upon leaving the room.
- DO NOT smoke in bed and if you must smoke in the house be sure the cigarette or cigar is completely out before leaving it in the ashtray. You should even consider splashing the ashtray with water to be sure there are no embers.
- Be sure to supervise all children and keep matches and fire-starters out of reach.
- If you are remodeling try to use fire-resistant materials such as asphalt-fiberglass and spark-guards.
These are 10 tips that should decrease your risk of a home fire. You should still be prepared for a disaster though. Take pictures of all of your things for insurance purposes and keep receipts of big purchases. Keep important papers in a fireproof safe. Consider creating an emergency bag with your essentials nearby so that you can grab that (and NOTHING else) on the way when your alarms go off. Have an evacuation plan with exit routes for each room and be sure every family member knows it.
Categories: Property Upkeep
While kitchens are supposed to be the sites of scrumptious smelling feasts, they are also the place of some of the worst odors in the home. Most of these offensive odors linger near kitchen accessories and appliances. Here are some ways to help keep your kitchen smelling sweet.
- Garbage Cans: Try using cans with lids and stick Simple Human Charcoal Filters under the lids. They cost about $4 for two and you can recharge them with sunlight.
- Refrigerator: Place a bowl of used coffee grounds or a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract on your lowest open shelf. Replace when dry in a few days.
- Stove: Turn on your range hood before your burner. This will suck up some of the dried on grease particles that melt down into gasses when they heat up. Also change your range hood filter regularly.
- Garbage Disposal: Pour a glass of water down it to clean the blades and then grind up lemon or orange peels.
- Dishwasher: If you don’t fill up your dishwasher every day, don’t leave the half-full load to rot. Instead run the light rinse at least with no soap. The heat and steam will remove most of the food. If your dishwasher smells when it is empty, you may need to get in and clean out the filters and parts along the door or bottom.
These are all tips that work when your kitchen is already cleaned of course. Nothing eliminates odors like a good scrub down, so be sure and use products specific to the appliance you are cleaning and don’t be afraid to get down and dirty once in awhile!
Categories: Property Upkeep · Uncategorized
Realtor.com
A mere $13.5 million will buy you the famous Tuscan style villa in the Beverly Hills Post Office neighborhood used in the reality dating show “Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch” on VH-1. According to the LA Times, the network leased the over 15,000 square foot gated home for the dating show in which Chad Ochocinco, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, picks a partner from a group of 85 women. The number 85 is significant in two ways: one it’s his jersey number and two it was the inspiration behind his name change from Johnson to Ochocinco.
The hilltop mansion is ideal for entertaining with winding, dual staircases in the entry, parking space for 100 cars, a massive front room with 28 foot ceilings and a drop-down projector with a 15-foot retractable screen. The pool and spa are bordered by a two-story guesthouse and features both indoor and outdoor fireplaces. The 2 acre property boasts 9 bathrooms and bedrooms altogether along with sweeping views of Franklin Canyon Lake and canyons. If you want more, the adjacent lots are also being sold for $3 million and $1.5 million respectively. The whole enchilada encompasses 10 acres.
Ochocinco’s reality show premiered Sunday and is already being billed as one of the summer’s “must-watch” shows by MSNBC. The NFL star will whittle the women down to 16 as they will then compete in a tournament style dating competition in order to win his heart. Ochocinco got his reality television start on season 10 of “Dancing With The Stars” on ABC, but is more widely known for his play (and antics) both on and off the football field. Want a better look at Ochocinco’s newest partner, the Beverly Hills home? Watch his VH-1 show or contact real-estate guru Lynne Duquette.
Categories: Uncategorized
When the real estate market’s bubble burst, the first to pay the steep costs were the working class. The trend spread to the middle and upper-middle class and now it seems to have even hit the upper-class. More than one in seven people with home loans exceeding $1 million are delinquent, while only one in 12 people with loans less than $1 million are delinquent according to CoreLogic. While original loans for mortgages less than $1 million have a delinquency rate of 10%, those over $1 million are at a whopping 23%. Of course these are quite possibly second homes or investment homes, but several are the residents of the rich and sometimes famous.
This may not be because they can’t pay, but rather that they don’t want to. Wealthy people are defaulting on mortgages in increasing numbers much of the time on purpose. They are just deciding to walk away from what has become a bad investment. These are called strategic defaults and are growing at alarming rates. Many of the upper-class are not worried about being sued or other consequences including government scare-tactics for doing so. Loan defaults and foreclosures can have devastating and lasting affects on both the economy and local communities. Some of these communities may never recover. This may not concern the wealthy as they have other options that most do not have. They will most likely not have any future ramifications for defaulting. This puts a lot of pressure on the average Joe to try to stay above water and carry the economy forward.
Categories: Real Estate Trends · Uncategorized
Becoming a homeowner has many benefits to you personally. It is most likely the single largest investment you will ever make and can serve as a vessel to help you build wealth. You will also benefit from tax breaks in the form of mortgage interest and property taxes. This does not even take into consideration the personal memories and piece of the American dream you receive in buying a home. Home ownership is not just good for the individual, but also benefits the community and economy.
Home owners tend to be more involved in their local community than renters since they feel as if they own a piece of the neighborhood. Owners are more likely to engage in local politics, crime busters or neighborhood watch and community organizations as well as maintain social networks and contribute to the work force. Homeowners strive to support local schools and local outreach programs more often than renters do. Homeowners want to make their neighborhood and community a better place to live and most have a vested interest in this.
Buying or building a home also contributes to the economy. When having a house built you are creating demand in the construction sector for both unskilled and skilled labor as well as increasing the need for manufacturing jobs that supply equipment and materials. Businesses like mortgage banking, real estate and home furnishings are also stimulated with the building of new homes. Taxes at the local and federal level are collected from workers, businesses and sales tax from building materials which also drives the economy. Homeowners also spend money on housing services, appliances and other materials further benefiting the economy.
Categories: Uncategorized
With the heat index rising across America this summer, people are striving to find ways to keep cool. Several cities in the country are already in triple digits and power companies are warning of black and brownouts looming. Many methods to stay cool are costly however. Here are ten tips to cool off and keep your electricity bill lower:
- Clean air filters! Dirty filters will slow air-flow. Individual and wall units should be cleaned monthly.
- Check all the seals around your house. Use weather-stripping and caulk to seal any leaks around doors and window frames that could be letting your cool air out.
- Hire a certified technician to inspect your HVAC. This should be done once a year to make sure your unit is at top-performance.
- Set your thermostat to allow higher temperatures during the day. Doing this can drastically lower your bill if you can stand a little more heat during the day.
- Use fans wisely. Fans can create a breeze and cool you off, but be sure to turn them off when you leave the room.
- Switch incandescent lightbulbs for florescent ones. Not only will this lower your energy bill, it will florescent bulbs generate less heat.
- Close your blinds. Blocking the sun will keep rooms cooler, making your air-conditioner have to work less.
- Limit the use of major appliances during peak heat times. Turning on the oven, dryer and dishwasher tend to make your air unit work harder to keep rooms cool. Also unplug smaller electronics when they are not in use. Even when they are not being used but are plugged in, they still generate heat and suck electricity.
- Shop around for your energy provider. If you live in a state where the electric industry is regulated you may not have a choice, but if you don’t be sure to compare prices between competitors.
- Have your bill fixed. Most utility companies have an option where you can fix your bill to pay the same amount every month to avoid spikes in cost during peak months. Many also offer time-of-use plans that charge less during off-peak hours than peak. Be sure to investigate these options fully to see which one (if any) will work for you.
Categories: Property Upkeep · Uncategorized
Contractors are tradesmen with a lot of wiggle room in their prices and budgets. You have to remember when hiring one that almost nothing is set in stone and that although they are probably honest people, they are also trying to maximize their profit and in many cases limit hassles and more work. These are three of the most common lies or stretches of the truth a contractor may say to you, what it really means and what you can do about it.
- Small jobs don’t really need a permit and not getting one can save you money on property taxes. EVERY job requires a permit if it installs wiring, plumbing lines or walls. If you are not adding tons of square feet you most likely won’t see any change in your property taxes. What the contractor really means is that they don’t want the hassle associated with obtaining the permit. They may even ask you to obtain the permit yourself, but don’t do it as you will then be liable for its compliance. You should insist on the permit and expect to pay several hundred dollars extra for it.
- Prices are set-in-stone. Most of the time this is not the case. The contractor is trying to maximize his profit and if he thinks you will pay it, he will most likely ask. The best way to find out what the actual going rate is is to get several bids and let your contractor know you intend to do this.
- You need to pay for materials up front. Wrong again. Established contractors and tradesmen have up to 90 days to pay their suppliers. This most likely means that the contractor is behind on bills from a previous job or that he has had his credit revoked. You can offer to pay up to 10% or $1,000 (whichever is less) up front, but no more. If one of your parts for a job is special order, offer to pay the supplier directly.
Keep these things in mind when hiring a contractor for any job around your house. Be sure to also check them out with the Better Business Bureau and read any complaints that have been filed.
Categories: Property Upkeep
If you are a tenant, have tenants or have ever been a tenant, you know the cardinal three things you ALWAYS tell your landlord about: fire, blood or flood. This is to say that if you have any kind of fire or fire damage in your rental property, you need to inform your landlord. In the same sense, if you have water damage or flooding you also need to alert your landlord. These are both instances where you as a tenant are required to alert your landlord immediately so that things do not get worse or so that any preventative measures to stem the damage can be implemented. In the case of blood, you need to assess why you were injured. Is the home or property unsafe, or were you at fault? If it is the former, be sure to start documenting your case and inform you landlord so that he or she can take the necessary steps to make the property habitable and safe. Below is a list of events that are in the gray area, where as a renter you may not be sure if you should call your landlord or handle things yourself.
- Mold: Most mold that you can see (usually in the shower or bathroom) can be dealt with easily without involving the landlord. This mold is usually caused by poor ventilation or cleanliness. The moral here is to be a better housekeeper. The mold you need to worry about is the kind that is in the drywall or floorboards that you can’t even see.
- Smoke Alarm Malfunctions: Make sure to check the wiring and/or batteries before calling your landlord. There is nothing more embarrassing than involving them when it was something so simple you could have taken care of on your own. If you have checked for batteries or easy-fix wiring and it still doesn’t work, then you should contact the landlord for sure. Most states have a law requiring that they install and have working smoke detectors.
- Friends Staying Over: If your friend is going to crash with you for a weekend or a few days, you do not need to inform your landlord. If they are planning on staying longer than 2 weeks though you will need to let the landlord know so that they can be screened and added to lease if needed.
- Getting a Pet: It goes without saying that if your lease has a “no pets” policy that you may not get a pet without asking your landlord to reconsider. If, however, there is no such policy you do not need to inform them when deciding to bring home a new pet. Be sure to check your lease for restrictions and stay within them. Some leases will also have a clause stating pets are ok with landlord consent, so be sure to check with them and pay the necessary deposits if they are required.
- Having a Baby: You are not required to inform your landlord if you are expecting or bringing a baby into your rental home. This does not count against occupancy limits nor does an infant justify adding a new person to your lease.
- Roommate Issues: If you are having problems with your roommate, like they are not paying rent or cleaning up after themselves, this is not something to share with your landlord. He or she will have their own lease agreement and it is the responsiblity of the landlord to deal with their portion of rent payment and not yours. As for your roommate being annoying or messy, that is your problem and will have to be worked out without the interference from the landlord. There is nothing they can do about it.
All of these situations are ones that do not require landlord notification or involvement in most cases. You need to read your lease and be aware of what the fine print says however. Each lease is different and some may require notification for some things and not others. If your landlord uses a property management company they may want you to contact them with non-emergency issues. Be sure you know the method of contact your landlord prefers for both emergency and non-emergency issues that arise.
Categories: Property Upkeep · property management
There are a lot of great places out there. Places to live. Places to visit. Heck, even places that are just great to drive through. Then there are places you might just consider avoiding altogether. The country with the highest suicide rate? Yep. Highest rate of animal attacks? Probably don’t want to go there. Most active volcano? Having clouds of ash disrupt our air-travel is bad enough. Now sure, some of these places might also have great reasons to visit. But wouldn’t you rather know the whole picture? Keep reading →
Categories: just for fun
The first-time home buyer tax-credit that expired in May and was originally put in place by Congress in an attempt to revitalize a struggling economy and housing market apparently fell into the wrong hands on multiple occasions. 14,100 occasions actually. According to an investigator for the US government, 1,300 inmates took advantage of the tax-break costing the country $26.7 million. One of the scams used had taxpayers filing for the credit 67 times on one home sale (Associated Press).
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is supposedly looking into the matter and is disturbed by its implications. The IRS claims that due to its aggressive actions they have denied 400,000 questionable claims and opened 150 criminal investigations. This did not alter the fact that prison inmates still were able to cash in on the $8,000 tax credit. 241 of these inmates are serving life-sentences. Apparently prisons are not required to provide information on inmates to the IRS and many do not. The IRS is asking them now to expedite the investigation.
According to the National Association of Realtors, the tax-credit enabled the sale of 1 million homes that would not have been possible without it. Hopefully the IRS can uncover all the wrong-doers and expose all the fraudulent claims so as not to take away from those of us that honestly deserve these kind of breaks.
Categories: Uncategorized
