The wind is really picking up outside and it looks like there might be even more wind in the forecast later in the week. Below are some tips to help keep you and your home safe in a windstorm.
- Go out in your yard and collect any loose items that may blow away in a storm. Lawn chairs, lawn ornaments and even trampolines are example of items that tend to take flight in storms.
-Check out your fencing around your home that might need repair to assure the wind does not further damage it and potentially let your pets out of the yard.
- Be sure to check for loose or missing shingles on your roof or chimney flue caps which may have become loose. Damaged or loose flues can allow deadly carbon monoxide to enter a home.
-Be sure to have trees and branches trimmed back from your home to prevent damage when wind may batter them around.
-Have at least a 72 hour supply of food, water, flashlights, batteries, medicine & etc in case of power outages & the potential inability to leave your home due to blocked roads or other issues.
-Check your windows for cracks that may leave your windows vulnerable during a storm. If a window has a small crack it can sometimes spread in extreme winds causing it to shatter.
- After a storm be sure and remove debris from yard as this can attract insects and lead to problems in and around your home.
Hope everyone stays safe and warm in tonight’s windstorm!
When your house goes into foreclosure, do they inspect it and decide if it is a tear down or do they just sell it as is?
Answer:
If it is a straight foreclosure: homeowner doesn’t make payments, lender goes through the legal process and ends up with the house, what happens next looks something like this.
Lender tries to determine value by having several real estate agents do BPOs (broker price opinions) or having an appraisal.
Lender contacts a real estate agent to assess the condition of the property and make recommendations. Usually this is an agent with whom they work regularly, so s/he knows how the lender prefers to approach a foreclosure. Sometimes a professional inspection will be done.
Lender determines how much more money they are willing to invest. If the home is newer and can be cosmetically improved, they may do so. If the home is in terrible condition, they may sell it as is. If the home is liveable except for some minor issues, they may have those done. At a minimum, they usually have the property cleaned up if needed.
Different lenders have different procedures – there is no one size fits all answer. In our area, I don’t believe I have ever seen a lender tear down a structure, but I understand this does happen elsewhere
The weather this morning is cooler and Fall is in the air. While i was thinking about getting my home ready for the Fall and Winter months I remembered a great home tip I came across while reading All You Magazine’s December 2010 issue .
“Change the blade direction on your ceiling fan in the colder months. (from counter-clockwise to clockwise) creates an updraft that recycles heat throughout the room.”
Source: Sara Sicotte budgetsavvydiva.com
I have lived in homes with wood heating my entire life and some how managed to miss this great advice. Most ceiling fans have a switch on them which you can use to change the directions of the fan’s spin. Don’t forget to clean your fan blades before reversing the direction, or you might have some unwelcome dust bunnies flung around the house.
Living in the Pacific Northwest rain can cause potential water damgage in your home but that there are also many other water sources other than rain that can damage you home. Below is a wonderul article courtesy of Jefferson Livingston at Pillar to Post Home Inspection Services to help you educate yourself on potential water damage in your home.
Water damage can come from a variety of sources: storms, flooding, broken water pipes and lines, leaking washing machines, and more. This can lead to mold and odor problems, and worse. If left unmitigated, water damage can eventually cause structural damage, which can entail significant costs to repair and can even affect a home’s value.
Prevention is the first defense against water damage. Here are some basics on preventing water damage and its effects:
Water supply lines to and from washing machines and dishwashers should be regularly checked for leaks. Both the hoses themselves and the connections should be examined. Even a small leak can cause water damage over time, so any leaks should be repaired immediately. If the laundry room is located on the main floor or above, damage to the floor and ceiling below can be especially problematic.
Tank-style water heaters are prone to leaking, especially after several years of use. Over time, the bottom of the tank can rust out, causing a serious leak. Ideally, an overflow valve should be installed that will conduct leaking water to a pipe that will drain either outside or to an appropriate interior drain.
Another common source of water leaks is the icemaker supply line; this should be checked as well.
Be aware that pipe leakage can occur inside the walls or ceiling and may be impossible to detect visually before damage has already occurred.
Gutters and downspouts should be checked to ensure that water is flowing away from the home’s foundation. Make any adjustments, and check the flow again using water from a garden hose.
Water leak detectors can be installed at floor level near water heaters and interior air conditioning units. Simple, inexpensive wireless models are widely available and will sound an alarm when water is detected on the floor near these appliances.
For more information on home inspection services, Jefferson Livingston at Pillar to Post would be happy to help. www.PillartoPost.com/nwwa.com
With Labor Day coming up this weekend many home owners are planning on leaving home and heading out of town. Below is a timely list of tips I received via email from Jefferson Livingston at Pillar to Post Inspection Company.
An empty home is the ideal target for break-ins and burglaries, especially during the summer months. Vacation should be a time to relax and unwind, but the thought of leaving your home and valuables unattended can cause stress and anxiety. Take the time to secure your home before you leave so your mind can be at ease while you are gone.
Below is a list of some of the most important things you can do help make sure that when you return you will find everything just as you left it.
Inform a trusted neighbor that you are leaving town. For short trips request that they pick up and store your mail and paper deliveries.
For longer vacations, call your newspaper service and have your paper delivery placed on hold. Make sure to stop by the post office and request that your home mail delivery is stopped until you return.
Make arrangements for someone to cut the grass, and to keep bushes and shrubs maintained especially around the front of the house.
Inform your alarm company that you are going on vacation.
Turn the volume down on your phone so passerby will not be alerted to unanswered calls. Avoid leaving messages on your answering machine that could alert callers to your vacation status, and turn off the volume.
Automatic timers for your light fixtures are an inexpensive purchase that should be set to your usual evening schedule. Televisions and radios can be put on timers to provide noise.
Leave a car in the driveway if possible, or ask your neighbor to park there occasionally.
Check the locks on all doors, windows, and fences. If you have a garage, lock it, if there is an automatic opener, unplug it.
Leave the blinds and curtains open as if you were home.
The day you leave for vacation try to make your departure as unobvious as possible. For road trips load your car up in the garage with the garage door closed. For airplane travel arrange for early morning or night time flights when your departure from your home will not alert witnesses that your house will be unoccupied.
Prepare for the worst by taking an inventory of your most valuable possessions. Pack jewelry and smaller objects into a safety deposit box.
Thanks Jefferson Livingston for the awesome tips! For additional resources, please contact your local Pillar To Post office at 360-392-8731 or pillartopost.com
The wind is really picking up outside and it looks like there might be even more wind in the forecast later in the week. Below are some tips to help keep you and your home safe in a windstorm.
The weather this morning is cooler and Fall is in the air. While i was thinking about getting my home ready for the Fall and Winter months I remembered a great home tip I came across while reading All You Magazine’s December 2010 issue .
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