Real Estate Curve

1. PAINT: Few things will enhance the salability of a house quite so much as painting the outside. Before painting, scrape or water blast any blistered or peeling paint; repair gutters and down spouts and replace wood showing dry rot. Wood, trim work, gutters, and wrought iron should receive primary attention.
2. FRONT ENTRY: Give special care to this area. This is where buyers get their first opportunity to make a close inspection, and they will pick it apart looking for flaws, so eliminate them. All woodwork should be freshly and neatly painted, including the door if necessary. Replace a badly worn or broken doorbell button. Polish the door brass. Repaint or replace an unsightly mailbox. Put out a new or clean door mat. Do a thorough weeding and pruning job on any flower beds near the entry, and try to have some flowering plants growing.
3. YARD: Mow and trim the lawn. Weed flower beds; remove or replace dead plants or trees. Water regularly during the growing season. With desert landscaping, make sure that no underlying plastic is exposed, that rocks and sand are tidy, and that weeds and grass are removed.
4. DRIVEWAY, GARAGE/CARPORT: Clean up grease or oil spots; remove the soil at least, if not the stain. See that the garage door opens freely and that the automatic door opener is in good working order. If possible, don’t park cars in front of the house or in the driveway, and try to have very few parked cars on the street near the house. Recreational vehicles or boats should be in the garage or carport or behind a fence in the back. Derelict cars or ones being overhauled, should not be visible from the street and preferably should not even be present.
5. FENCE: A few missing stakes or slats are real eyesores to buyers, yet are usually inexpensive and easy to fix. Repair, paint or stain as necessary.
6. ROOF: Remove visible debris or toys. Straighten the television antenna if necessary. Remove any tree branches bearing on the roof.
7. AIR CONDITIONERS/EVAPORATIVE COOLERS: Repaint or replace any rusted exposed metal. Correct improper draining.
8. PATIO: A nice spread of outdoor furniture looks very appealing. If necessary, borrow from a friend to enhance showability.
9. SWIMMING POOL: Adjust chemicals until the pool sparkles. Hose dust and cobwebs from filtration equipment. Store chemicals and tools neatly.
10. ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM: OSDS Ordinance passed in September 1999 by the Wayne County Commission requires that an on-site sewage disposal system be evaluated prior to time of sale or transfer of property (please click here for complete information: OSDS Evaluation and Maintenance Ordinance)

LOOK AT THE BASICS AROUND THE HOUSE

1. LIGHTS: Every light socket in and around the house should have a good bulb of adequate wattage. Don’t overlook those outside; in the garage; utility room, halls, closets, or over the kitchen sink; and in the oven and exhaust hood.
2. SWITCHES AND FIXTURES: Repair or replace wall switches, outlets, and light fixtures that don’t work, replace any broken switch plates. Note: If you are not fully competent to handle these repairs, call in a professional.
3. APPLIANCES: Those that will be sold with the home should be in good working order. If specific equipment does not work and you do not intend to repair it, point this out.
4. PLUMBING: Badly chipped or irreversibly stained sinks and tubs should be re-enameled, patched, or replaced. Leaky or excessively noisy toilets should be fixed, as well as any dripping faucets.
5. SPRINKLER SYSTEMS: These should be working properly with no defective heads.

ARRANGE FOR A SPACIOUS LOOK

One of the best and least expensive ways to improve the show ability of your home is to open as much space as possible. Openness stimulates positive feelings in buyers. Overstuffed rooms or closets give the impression of being smaller than they really are. You can’t change the size of what you have, so try to present it in a pleasing way. If necessary, rent a mini-warehouse to store your extra belongings in while the house is on the market.

1. CLOSETS & STORAGE AREAS: One of the most frequently voiced requirements of buyers is for closet and storage space. Open up your storage areas by getting rid of items you aren’t using.
2. COUNTERS & CABINETS: The same principle applies here: Over crowding gives the impression of inadequacy. This applies to bathrooms and kitchens, with the kitchen being most important. Store infrequently used counter-top appliances. Do some prudent discarding in cabinets.
3. GARAGE: Buyers will pay a premium for a garage if they can visualize it being of value to them, but it’s hard to sell the virtues of a garage when it is filled to overflowing. If your garage has become a two-car attic, move the excess to a mini-warehouse for the duration.

HINTS ON HOUSEKEEPING

The following comments touch only on areas often neglected or overlooked.

1. BATHROOMS: Few places in the home can get so dirty so fast, and yet few things will “unsell” a house as fast as dirty baths. Vanity, sink, faucet hardware, and mirror are the focal points, but other potential problems might be soap residue in a shower, a moldy shower curtain, accumulated dirt in the track of the sliding shower door, soiled or missing grout, stained toilet bowls, and dirty or battered bath mats.
2. KITCHEN: Like baths, kitchens get dirty all by themselves. Most buyers will inspect this area carefully, so extra time invested here is well spent. Clean the stove inside and out. Replace badly stained or corroded reflector plates under the heating elements on electric range tops. Don’t neglect the kitchen exhaust hood; buyers frequently check this area as a clue to general housekeeping.
3. WINDOWS: Clean windows are an absolute necessity if a house is to look its best, yet this is very often overlooked.
4. WATER HEATER & SOFTENER: Perhaps because it is so unusual, a sparkling clean water heater or water softener really impresses buyers – and it takes so little time and effort.

SNIFF OUT UNPLEASANT ODORS

1. WET TOWELS AND WASHCLOTHS: Residents of a home frequently aren’t aware of what a potential source of bad odor these are. Replace all used towels with fresh ones before a showing.
2. SOILED CLOTHES: When the house is being shown, keep dirty laundry out of the living area; move it to the utility room, garage, or storage area. This applies especially to a diaper pail.
3. GARBAGE: Take all trash and garbage out of the house, particularly any food-related discards for the kitchen, and make sure no potatoes or onions are going bad under the sink or in the pantry. After running garbage through a disposal unit, grind up part of a lemon to add a fresh smell.
4. SEWER GAS IN THE HOUSE: Do whatever is necessary to correct this problem before the house is placed on the market.
5. CATS & DOGS: As a first step, move the cat’s litter box out of the house. And be sure to clean up after the dog before any showings.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

1. VALUABLES: You may have valuable possessions that you like to display in your home, but when the house is being shown to strangers is not the time. Never leave small valuable items lying around on counters or visible in closets or cabinets. Get them out of sight, if not out of the house. Don’t invite a problem.
2. EXCLUSIONS FROM THE SALE: Make a note now of the items you do not intend to include with the sale of the house. Freestanding items generally are not included, but when in doubt, spell it out. Some items that often cause misunderstandings are light fixtures, draperies, large mirrors, water softeners, garage door openers, and television antennas.
3. KEYS: As you are readying the house for the market, make a note to gather all the keys for the house, including keys for doors, deadbolts, garage doors, and any padlocks around the property.
4. INSTRUCTION MANUALS: As with keys, gather manuals and warranties for the mechanical equipment in the house – kitchen appliances, water heater and softener, air conditioning and heating units, evaporative cooling units, pool and filtration equipment, and electronic air filters.

TIPS FOR SHOWING

1. LIGHTS: Open all draperies unless there is an objectionable view. In most rooms, you should turn on lights for a bright and cheerful look. Lamps and indirect lighting are preferable, but use overhead lights if that’s all there is in a particular room.
2. LIGHT SWITCHES: If some wall switches operate wall outlets, plug in a lamp or radio to demonstrate that the switch works. When a buyer flips a switch and nothing happens, he instinctively suspects a problem.
3. AROMAS: Set out some fresh flowers, both for their appearance and fragrance. Right before an agent showing, place a small dish of vanilla extract in your oven at 250 degrees.
4. CLOSETS: Keep doors closed except for walk-in closets. Have those doors slightly ajar and turn on the lights to draw attention to this special feature.
5. POSTERS & SIGNS: We live in a tolerant age, but don’t take a chance on offending a potential buyer. Remove all signs or posters that might be considered offensive.
6. ASHTRAYS: Dirty ashtrays are both unsightly and a source of objectionable odor to nonsmokers. Keep them clean.
7. UTILITY BILLS: Have copies of the past 12 months’ bills available, or at least a written summary of the amounts paid monthly for the period.
8. PETS: Get them out of the house, if not off the property. Some people don’t like dogs, and nobody likes muddy paw prints on a clean suit or dress. Cats can be just as objectionable to the person who doesn’t like them, and invariably a cat will single out the cat-hater to use as a rubbing post.
9. MUSIC: Soft background music will help create a relaxed mood that prompts buyers to linger and enjoy, but no music is better than loud music. Never have the television on when the house is being shown.
10. YOUR PRESENCE: Most buyers will not relax and closely inspect a home if the owners are present, so try to arrange to turn the home over to the salesperson. If you must remain at home, refrain from talking unless questions are directed to you. All too often, a seller will jump in to point out some special feature, fearful that the salesperson might overlook it. But, please bear in mind that some of the most successful sales people will say little or nothing during showings, and for two reasons: First; they have made their selling points before entering the house; and second; they want the buyers to discover some things for themselves in order to build excitement. The Salesperson also knows the buyer’s temperament. So trust the Salesperson’s professional judgment.

Make sure that the outside of your house is looking as good as it can be. If any work needs doing, attend to it before you put your house on the market – you could have an email from a customer who saw your advert on the My Property For Sale website within the first few hours, be ready.

We recommend that you go and stand outside your property and have a good look and see your property from a buyers point of view. Also walk up and down your road and take in all the other properties; see how they look, what properties stand out more than others and why. Instant improvements can help a sale; a nice fresh coat of paint on your door, or new upvc facias can really make an impact.

If you have a front garden and path leading to your front door, invest in a few flowers, place them in a pot or hanging baskets to brighten up the area (This is a good idea when you take your pictures for your advert) also attend to the path, clear all the weeds and any stray litter or leaves, also sweep up outside your property. Let your perspective buyers see that your house has been looked after! Also remember you can take all the flowers to your new property so you cant lose.

When you reach your front door there are still a few checks to be made;

• Does the front doorbell work
• If it has a doorknocker, is it sturdy and polished
• Does the door open smoothly and quietly
• When you have let a potential buyer in can you close it easily
• What comes into view in your property next

By running through this short and simple check list and attending to any problems that arise, you have already got past the first step and the biggest. If your property does not look good from the front, people will just browse when they drive past and may not bother even knocking the door at all. Even worse, if they did ring your doorbell but you couldn’t hear it because you never replaced the batteries when you said you would. You must be prepared to move from that property in the next 6-8 weeks so anything that needs doing, do it now.

If you do not follow our guide you are leaving yourself open to a much lower offer than what your property is actually worth. People want to buy your house and move straight in and relax, not arrive with their toolbox to start work immediately, do it all for them, it is well worth going that extra mile.

The Entrance

Once the front door has closed you need to show people around your lovely clean bright property. That’s right, we did say lovely clean bright, because that is how it will be on the days leading up to your sale. Buyers may wish to contact you and wish to view the property the same afternoon, and you need to be prepared for that. This is so important because a lot of people cannot really take in the size of the rooms that you have to offer when they are all filled up with personal belongings, try not to have to many family photos on the wall either, as these can be very distracting to buyers who will end up looking at all the photos instead of the house.

Right, back to the closing of the front door.
A nice rug to wipe your feet on is a good idea, after that, look around, are you standing in darkness, does it look to plain, should you brighten it up. It is okay if someone call in the day to view your property, but what if they call at night; is there enough lighting in your hallway to really brighten it up. A simple fix is to check the wattage of your light bulbs and replace them with brighter ones if needed. Always make sure that your light fittings have lampshades if required, a hanging bayonet with a bright light bulb is not the affect you are after.

Okay so we are walking down the hallway, are the floorboards squeaking on your every move, is the carpet moving a little, or worst of all is the hardwood floor gently lifting in any areas. When you are showing people around your house, always introduce them to the room and let them go into the room first, this way they get full impact of the size and decoration rather than you standing in the way. All the rooms must be in tip top condition.

The Living Room

The first room to be viewed is generally the front room, this is where most people sit down with their families and relax, so you need to have the mood set for this, nice lighting is essential, no matter how nice your rooms look, if you have not got the right lighting it cannot achieve its maximum potential. We suggest softer lighting for the front room; some nice tall floor standing lampshades can give a fantastic effect.
The carpet needs to be 100% clean, either call in a professional carpet cleaning company, or you can hire the equipment from your local hire shop. You will be amazed at the dirt they suck up. Remember that you need a day or so for the carpet to dry thoroughly.

During the day curtains should be evenly seperated and tied back to the wall. All unnecessary items should be removed from the floor to give the impression of space. A good tip is to have some nice relaxing music in the background. If you can when you clean the carpets, you can get your sofa and chairs done at the same time. If the chairs are a little scruffy who could always cover them with a neutral coloured throw.
Stand in your own front room and look round and see for yourself what catches your eye, maybe you can enhance on this or if it need be, store it away. Make sure that there is no paint on any of the electrical sockets or light switches in the house. You can remove this with a filling blade or scraper. Check for fingerprint marks around the sockets as well, you can normally remove these with a cloth.

The Dining Room

Try to achieve the effect that you are having your buyers round for a meal; lay the table with your best plates, put all your cutlery on the table, lay some napkins, really lay it on. Some nice candles will really help as well, this will make the room look fantastic. Make it so potential buyers will want to sit and have their meals here in the future; again some soft music can really set the mood and nice side lighting.

The Kitchen

We will now visit everyone’s favourite room, the kitchen, the heart of the property. You can really sell your house here if you play your cards right here. This is a room you should really make you proud.

Stand back for a while and study your kitchen, is it full of pots and pans that you never use, blenders and mixers that were used on the first day of purchase and then laid to rest. If the answer is yes box, them up and put them in the loft or out of the way. You need a kitchen that they could produce a TV cookery show from.
Remove all items from your work surface and your sink; clean the surface and all taps and splash backs. Next look in the cupboards and see what you can do without; you need to do this because your buyers will be doing this to see what storage space they have available, and you need to show them that you have plenty. The cooker should be next on the agenda, empty it out and put all the shelves to soak, clean the oven inside and out as best as you can and replace the shelves, set correct time.

Next, we need to look at all the white goods that are going to be left with the property, i.e. washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge freezer, dishwasher, all of them will need cleaning and remove any out of date or smelly foods from the fridge and throw them away.

Add some more colour to your kitchen by introducing some fresh flowers in a nice vase, little things really do make a difference. Clean the windows inside and out and wash the floor so it not sticky or greasy. If you have wall units with lighting underneath switch them on and turn your main lights off, it really looks cozy and relaxing. We know everyone says the same but offer your buyers a drink and put a fresh pot of coffee on or even better, have it on just before they come round so as soon as they come in the front door they can smell the aroma.

Closets

Downstairs bathroom is next on the list, this needs to be cleaned thoroughly so get stuck in.If your bathroom is small, it is often a good idea to decorate it in light colours or all in white, if you have a towel rail then hang some towels on it, and choose a nice coloured toilet roll to decorate the room, again some flowers can do the trick.

Going Upstairs

If your property is a house, we will now carry on with the checklist upstairs; walk up your stairs and check for any creaking noises. Again, clean the handrail and polish, remove any family photos that you may have hanging up and replace them with various prints.

After the climb up the stairs, take 5 minutes and look round, but look around through the eyes of a buyer. What takes your attention; is it the crack in the wall or the mirror that has never been straight, note it down to be fixed. If you have children maybe they have put stickers on the doors, these will need to be removed and washed and maybe painted.

The Bedrooms

We shall now enter into the main bedroom. Everyone wants to have a nice bedroom especially a large one, so if you have any large wardrobes that are taking up to much space or light remove them and all the other personal things that you have lying around; space is what we need to show.

Always make sure that the bed is made and is dressed with your best covers, if the viewing is taking place in the evening, put your bedside lights on and turn the main light off. Let them walk in the room first so they can see what a relaxing room it is, then you can turn the main light on if needed.

Take a good look out of your bedroom window as well and look at the view, is there anything in your garden that you didn’t spot at ground level but you need to attend to. Remember, if you can see it, your buyers will as well. There is no need to go through every bedroom detailing what to do because this small reference is enough to cover all the bedrooms in your house.

Outside

The garden is our next stop. To get this in ship shape is not an overnight job, it requires a bit of time and work, but it will pay off. Most of us have grass in our gardens, this will need to be cut and all the verges need to be trimmed. All dead flower heads need to be removed and thrown away, if you can fork the soil to generate some air and body into the soil, it really does make the flowers stand out more.

If you have decking in your garden make sure that it is not damaged in anyway and if possible, give it a fresh coat of preservative; decking is a good selling point in the garden.

Ponds need to be attended and kept clean by removing all weeds. Your garden shed needs to be tidy and sometimes you can hang your garden tools on the walls of the shed to give more space on the floor. Pathways and stones need to be kept clean from weeds to give your property an overall first class appearance.

The last thing on the list to prepare for selling is the garage; nowadays figures show that most people don’t actually keep their cars in the garage anymore. Garages are generally being used for storage or as a workshop. It is still worth giving it a sweep and if you do have a flat roof, check its condition; if it is damp get the necessary work carried out before you show to any buyers. Some flowers in a basket look very attractive on a garage wall.

“How long has it been on the market”? This is a question many buyers of real estate ask. The thought behind it is often one of two things. Either there’s something wrong with the home or the pricing is too high. Both of these notions may need clarification. Let’s deal with the first thought.

Under the closest scrutiny one could argue that there is something “wrong” with every home. The real question here is: – does pricing of the home reflect what is being offered. In this case what is “wrong” with a home may be exactly what makes it “right” for some one who appreciates the opportunity and the reflected price.

Regarding the thought of over-pricing, it must be considered that where a home is extremely unique, a long marketing time may be necessary in order to obtain market value while pursuing a buyer with the same unique interest. On the contrary, with atypical homes, a long period of time on the real estate market may point toward inferior marketing but mostly toward over-pricing regardless of what is “right or wrong” with the home. However, sometimes when homes are reduced and buyers ask “how long has it been listed” the proper response is “at that price only…weeks”. By illustration and a bit of exaggeration to make the point, suppose a home is on the market for 2 years at $300,000 and the seller reduces it to $250,000. Then, while the buyer is asking “how long has it been listed”, there are 5 offers being presented, followed by the hollow apology “Sorry it’s sold”.

It is obvious then that both notions for “time on the market” may be incorrect. While you can always make an offer and succeed, it’s always best to ask yourself “does the pricing of this home reflect what is being offered” to avoid disappointment. Your REALTOR® will usually provide a real estate pricing analysis of the home in order to help you make the determination.

Title Insurance companies provide insurance for buyers and mortgage lenders against several kinds of title risks that can affect real estate trades including survey errors, legal description errors, negligence, forgery, liens and other encumbrances. Many lawyers now prefer their home buyer clients take out title insurance even if there is a recent survey.

While title insurance represents one more cost burden for closing, there are some cost savings enjoyed because title insurance was purchased. For example you would not need to pay for these otherwise required expenses:

• Zoning compliance certificate
• Tax certificate
• Hydro, water and gas certificates
• Law Society levy

This cost savings can amount to between one half to two thirds of the title insurance cost, depending on the title insurance provider and the area involved. In 2003, title insurance cost is about $300.

For information about local Title Insurance companies in your area and for an update on the cost or features contact your local real estate agent or lawyer.

Especially for an older home, and even for a newer one, a home inspection is a valuable service to a home buyer. A home inspector will walk you through a 1 ½ to 2-hour visual inspection of the home to determine its condition and that of its systems. Inspectors will assess which components are not performing properly as well as inform the prospective buyer of areas where repairs may be needed in the future. Inspections are also a good way to get a better understanding of the upkeep required on a variety of systems such as furnaces, plumbing and roofs.

Following the inspection, the buyer should be given a written home inspection report of the details of the inspection, plus a maintenance schedule and an estimate of the lifespan and replacement cost of the home’s systems. Home inspectors typically go over this report with the home buyer.

Your real estate agent can assist you by supplying names of home inspection companies and their contact info. When selecting from this list it is important that you enquire about the reputation, number of years in the business with experience in residential construction, and if they are a member of an association that will investigate consumer complaints. Note there is no formal licensing of home inspectors, but many home inspection companies adhere to the standards of practice established by the Canadian Association of Home Inspectors.

Before you start looking for a home, you should be aware of the real estate closing costs involved and be able to have most of these funds available before you even start the search. Besides the minimum 5% down payment, which the mortgage company requires, you will need to have the following amounts at hand.

Lawyer’s fees and expenses: normally $900 to $1100
Land Transfer Tax: varies, but on a $100,000 home, costs about $750
Home Inspection: $275-$350 not mandatory, but an excellent idea
Bank Appraisal Fee: $250, but the bank may waive it
Mortgage Application Fee: $250, Banks can sometimes waive this
Mortgage Insurance Premium: ranges from 0.5% to 3.75% of the mortgage amount
Survey: $600 – $800 if necessary
Estoppel Certificate: $50, but only applies to condos
Service and Utility connection: depends on the company

This summary of closing costs for real estate are meant to provide an assist to you but should not be relied upon. For a closer examination of costs it is best to contact your real estate agent or lawyer.

Why are lawyers required when you buy real estate? It is not a legal requirement to use a lawyer, but it will save you a lot of time and frustration and make the sale much smoother. Lawyers specializing in real estate will be well worth the cost. For their fee, they will:Search the property’s title to ensure there are no existing mortgages or liens registered against it;

Search the City Zoning Department to make sure the property complies with zoning;

Search gas, water and hydro records to determine whether there are any appears or work orders attached;

Determines if property taxes are paid;

Prepares the land transfer tax affidavit;

On closing day, goes to the Registry Office to register the deed and mortgage.

In addition to their fee, you are responsible for the lawyers “disbursements”. These include fees the lawyer paid on your behalf, plus any long distance calls, photocopies, etc. Other closing costs include your share of the property taxes, and leftover heating oil, if applicable. The Statements of Adjustments will itemize all amounts.

Many real estate transactions require bridge financing. This occurs when the closing date of the home you are selling may not match the date of the home you are buying. In fact you may not receive the proceeds from the sale until after you want to purchase. With a “firm” sale of your home you can usually “borrow against the sale” of your home. This is what is referred to as bridge financing or obtaining bridge loans. This financing (the bridge) is advanced and then paid back once the sale of your own home closes at a later date. It is replaced by the new and “final” mortgage.

Bridge financing loans are often necessary because of conflicting interests on the part of buyers and sellers with regards to their own timing. This is especially the case when the sale of other homes may be involved. It also occurs when closing dates of home sales do not match by design. In some cases home buyers want to take possession of the home they have purchased prior to the closing of their own home sale so that they can perform renovations before moving into it.

The cost of bridge financing varies. There is certainly mortgage interest cost – similar to regular mortgage loans. There may also be a set up fee, which is sometimes negotiable, depending on the circumstances.

One way to prepare for the costs of owning a home beyond the mortgage payment, insurance and taxes, is to know the expected life expectancy of your home’s components.

Such knowledge doesn’t supersede the use of a home inspector when buying a home, new or old, but it can help you develop a savings plan so you are prepared for the inevitable.

Sooner or later you’ll have to repair or replace many of your home’s parts — inside and out.

Knowledge of components’ life expectancies is what homeowner associations use, in part, to build a reserve fund designed to spread, over time, the cost of the inevitable.

When the roof goes, the appliances conk out, or the paint begins to fade, it’s a lot easier to come up with the cash if you’ve already got some socked away for just this kind of rainy day.

Last year, the National Association of Home Builders, along with the Bank of America developed the “NAHB/BoA Home Equity Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components” to help you take the guess work out of preparing for the worst.

The report suggests you use the timelines as a general guideline. Local weather conditions, use habits, regular maintenance — or the lack of it — can all affect the life expectancy of many components.

Personal tastes for contemporary upgrades, remodeling needs and other factors may also dictate replacing parts before their useful life time is up.

In any event based on a comprehensive telephone survey of manufacturers, trade associations and researchers NAHB developed information about the longevity of housing components.

From the foundation to the rooftop, here’s a quick look at how long, on a national average, some of the most common home components are expected to last.

If you’re planning to put your home on the market in time for spring, now’s the time to get it ready to show.

But wait, it’s still a buyer’s market. What can you do to catch the buyer’s eye and get them to make an offer?

It’s going to take more than a fresh coat of paint and a new welcome mat. A buyer’s market raises the stakes, and you’ll find you need to do a lot more work on your home than you think, if you want to get the highest price possible.

You’ve heard that you should clean, paint and repair, but that may not be enough. If your home is cluttered and in disrepair, buyers won’t pay top dollar.

Knowing how buyers reason should help you pick which updates are most likely to help you sell your home.

Let’s take the most basic selling suggestions and explore why these are such important mantras.

  Do you know why you will not be killed or maimed by carbon monoxide? What steps have you taken to ensure this toxic, odourless, colourless gas — universally known as The Silent Killer — does not become an unwanted guest in the spaces you consider safe?You may have taken precautions in one area, but all these essential locations must be equally safe: your home, garage, cottage, ski chalet, car, recreational vehicle and workplace. The same cautions apply when staying with friends or away on holiday.

Each year, adults, children and families fall prey to this deadly gas. Symptoms of this fatal invisible contaminant have often been mistaken for those of flu by family members and physicians. Even exposure to low levels of CO can cause health problems, brain damage or death. What specific actions have you taken to be sure tasteless, toxic CO cannot leak into your sleeping rooms and other spaces where you live, work, play and breath?

The blood test for exposure to CO detects the degree of poisoning by measuring the level of carboxyhemoglobin, a compound formed when CO combines with red blood cells to replace oxygen in your blood. This reaction reduces the oxygen supplied to the brain, heart, vital organs and other body tissues. CO poisoning symptoms include:

• Headache, dizziness, blurred vision
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle weakness
• Confusion and compromised judgement
• Fatigue and extreme sleepiness

Infants, small children, pregnant women, unborn fetuses, frail or unwell adults, people suffering from heart or respiratory problems, and pets may succumb to poisoning more quickly and exhibit symptoms sooner.

Carbon monoxide is a by-product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, that is, there is not enough oxygen available to completely consume gas, oil, coal or wood. CO is produced in car exhaust, poorly-ventilated gas heaters, indoor fires and tobacco smoke. You’re vulnerable if you are near, or you breath air that is near, a fuel-burning gas furnace, boiler, engine, water heater, open fire or oil burner.

The danger from CO is two fold:

1. Poor installation or maintenance, or equipment breakdown can produce this invisible gas.
2. Poor ventilation can cause the gas to accumulate or to enter areas of human activity.

The solution is to attack both these failings in all the spaces you and your family use. Which of the following safety steps have you taken to protect yourself and your family?

• Visual and auditory alarms that sound before dangerous or fatal CO levels are reached are essential. Install officially-approved CO detectors with low-level alarms, according to manufacturer recommendations, inside bedrooms and on every level. Maintain the detector by regularly testing each unit, replacing non-rechargeable batteries and cleaning as directed by the manufacturer. (Smoke detectors are not CO detectors. Avoid installation in areas where conditions may trigger false alarms, like humid bathrooms or directly above fuel-burning appliances which may release CO on start-up. )
• Insist on proof that all fuel-burning equipment and required flues are properly installed, according to manufacture guidelines and building codes.
• Read the manuals to learn which annual check ups and what regular maintain is recommended by manufacturers of furnaces and other equipment. Do not try to save money by do-it-yourself maintenance when you have not been trained to service fuel-burning appliances. For instance, professionals know how to read flame colour on a natural gas furnace, water heater or stove to be sure combustion does not produce CO. Hire professionals to inspect flues, pipes and connections annually and to keep them clear of animal nests, rust, cracks, leaves or ice.
• Ensure proper ventilation for fuel-burning appliances, particularly in newer homes with higher standards of insulation and air exchange, so unwanted gases cannot accumulate inside.
• Make sure your appliances are not time-bombs, since out-dated appliances and furnaces may not just be energy hogs, they can also produce CO.
• Never operate a charcoal barbecue, gas-fueled chain saw, fueled camping gear or other equipment that could produce CO inside your home, garage or tent.
• Never leave a car running in an attached garage, particularly with the door closed, and ensure the house is sealed against garage fumes.
• Never use a gas stove or oven as a heating source, even in an electrical black out.
• If you are a tenant, make sure your landlord does all of the above or call your local municipal office to find out what you can do to ensure your living space is CO free. (Many municipalities have CO detector installation bylaws.)
• If you are a landlord, make sure you carry out all of the above, and instruct tenants on how to continue the CO safety zone into their own unit.
• Pay attention to complaints of nausea, muscle pain, headaches, dizziness and fatigue from yourself, family and guests.
• Carry out regular drills (perhaps when you practice fire escape routes). Then, if a CO alarm sounds, everyone knows what to do—get outside, breath fresh air as quickly as possible and then call 911. Because the gas has no smell, treat every alarm as a danger warning.

Compliance with this CO prevention and detection list, in all the spaces you enjoy with your family and friends, will allow everyone to breath freely and safely.

Written by PJ Wade

Government Grants Reviewed

Date: Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Our consumer advocacy group reviews and rates government grant programs. We started this site as an informative resource for people looking for real, free government grant money.

What are Government Grants? 

A government grant is free money that the government is required to give away.  Every year, the government gives billions of dollars to individuals and businesses, just like you, to buy a house, start a business, pay for college, buy equipment, pay salaries, buy school supplies, get out of debt, buy clothing, pay for camp, pay for music or art lessons, paying off your medical bills, pay for gas for your car, and anything else you can dream of.

Do Grants have to be paid back?

No! Grants are money that the government is freely giving you, to spend on whatever you want. 

Who can get a Government Grant?

Any person who is a United States citizen or resident is able to receive a free government grant.  The government is required by law to give away the money it collects each year, money that came from your income taxes and it uses grants to give the money away.  However, only about 15% of available grants are even applied for! The process to apply takes only a few minutes and it’s free.

Don’t Grant Programs usually cost $30 – $170?

Yes.  To make up the time, effort, and expenses, most companies that provide programs to find and apply for grants usually charge $30 – $170.  However, we approached the top three companies as a consumer advocacy group, and were able to get them to give you the same software for Free! These programs make finding and applying for a grant completely easy, and makes the average time to search and apply for a grant about two minutes.  Get grants from $50,000 – $1,000,000 or more, free, that you never have to pay back.

Saturday 9th February could be the day when first-time buyers looking for a home in or close to Chelmsford receive the extra boost they need to get a foot on the property ladder.

Barratt Eastern Counties is holding a ‘Dream Start Day’ at its developments The Tower, in the centre of Chelmsford, and at The Hawthorns, close to Witham, just nine miles away.

These days are being held to tell first-time buyers about the amazing Dream Start offer that allows them to buy a new home for just 75% of the price. An independent financial adviser will also be on hand to give guidance on money matters.

Rebecca Littler, Sales and Marketing Director for Barratt Eastern Counties comments” “Dream Start is our best ever offer for first-time buyers. It’s a really fantastic deal that is only available on selected homes for a short period of time. I strongly recommend that anyone interested should come along to our Dream Start days to find out more.”

Dream Start buyers pay only 75% of the purchase price; the remaining 25% is deferred, without interest or rent, for up to ten years or until the house is resold.

As an extra incentive, if anyone reserves a home at The Tower or The Hawthorns on Saturday 9th or Sunday 10th February, Barratt will even pay the stamp duty and legal fees up to £1,000.

Barratt’s The Tower is in a superb position, close to the Chelmsford town centre and adjacent to the railway station; trains to London’s Liverpool Street take just 35 minutes.

The one and two-bedroom apartments have a contemporary open-plan layout and are fitted to a very high standard. With a three-storey sky-lighted atrium in the heart of the development, roof terrace, private gym and concierge service, The Tower is setting new standards for homes in Chelmsford.

Dream Start prices (75% of the full selling price) at The Tower start at just £150,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.

The Hawthorns, just off the A12, combines a lovely location, opposite open fields and surrounded by countryside, with great accessibility. Barratt is building a wide selection of apartments and houses and is offering two-bedroom apartments under the Dream Start scheme, priced from £130,495 (75% of the price).

Some homes at both developments are ready for immediate occupation.

For more information, visit Barratthomes.co.uk.