Home Improvement for Women

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s also a common site of potential fire hazards. Prevent kitchen fires by following these simple safety tips:

Don’t leave the kitchen in middle of a cooking project. If you must leave briefly, turn down the heat and return to the kitchen quickly.

Keep flammable items such as plastic, paper items or dish towels away from from the stovetop.

Douse matches, cigarettes or cigars with water before dumping them in the kitchen trash.

Install ground fault circuit interrupters on all the electrical outlets in your kitchen. These devices will automatically shut off faulty circuits.

Turn pot handles inward to prevent hot pans from being pulled or knocked off the stove

Keep fire extinguishers handy and know how to use them.

Following these simple steps is all you need for cooking safety in your kitchen Barbara’s Way!

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a silent threat in some homes. This deadly gas is odorless and invisible. Each year, nearly 300 people die of carbon monoxide poisoning in their homes. Any heating, cooking, or power equipment that uses fuels such as oil, natural gas, coal, wood, propane or gasoline produces carbon monoxide.

You can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by proper care and use of household appliances and equipment. Never use a gas grill inside your home or garage, or use your oven or stove to heat your home. If your home has an attached garage, you are also at risk.

Install carbon monoxide detectors as an early warning sytem in your home. Carbon monoxide detectors function differently from smoke detectors and will not provide early warning of a fire. Your home needs both carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.

Installing Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Install a UL certified carbon monoxide detector, available at home and hardware stores.

Choose good mounting locations. Detectors should be located near a gas furnace, near sleeping areas and in close proximity to an attached garage.

Following manufacturer’s instructions, mount the detectors to the ceilings or walls in each of your predetermined areas.

Carbon monoxide detectors use a chemical to detect and react to the presence of carbon monoxide. The chemical breals down and needs to be replenished after a certain period of time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maintaining your carbon monoxide detectors.

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes flu-like symptons, including headache, nausea, dizziness and shortness of breath. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning in your home.

1. Call your local fire department or 911.

2. Open windows and doors to ventilate the room and then leave your house.

3. Seek immediate medical treatment for anyone with severe symptoms.

You would have to have been living in a cave these past few months if you haven’t heard about the increase of foreclosures that have come on the market. Some states, like California and Florida, seem flooded with them. The tri-state area has its share, too.

There are foreclosure bargains on the market around, but you have to be prepared with information and cash if you are serious about buying one. Don’t expect to get a house for free banks want to make as much as they can, and even government foreclosures are not giveaways (although they can be cheaper than a bank-owned home).

That said, you can find great deals, especially if you are willing to put in a little TLC (foreclosures might have problems, starting with general neglect, depending on long they have been on the market). Here are a few points to consider as you start your search.

Finding foreclosuresGovernment foreclosures, organized by state, can be found at hud.gov; the IRS lists them as well. These homes must be purchased and lived in or held for two years by the purchaser. Bank foreclosures can be found through banks, obviously just go in and ask to see their listings and via real estate agents. You can also use paid listing services that specialize in foreclosures, but in this market it’s not really necessary.

The processEach state has its own set of foreclosure laws. Don’t go it alone and consult a lawyer before you make a bid. And make sure you have the money to pay for the property. Most government foreclosures are sold on a cash basis. Bank foreclosures can be financed, but you need to be ready with pre-approval. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage also forces you to determine exactly how much you can spend on a property.

Check out several homesLook at multiple foreclosures to get a sense of condition and price. You will see a wide range of homes in various states of disrepair. Some foreclosures will be a great shape and many recently built homes have fallen into foreclosure or are available for short sale (which is when an owner cannot pay the mortgage and the lender accepts less than the total amount due on the mortgage from a buyer). Others may be in drastic states or neglected, in disrepair or even victims of vandals (including angry homeowners). So be prepared and keep an open mind.

Get an inspectionThe market is still sluggish so you do have time for this very important step: Hire a licensed home inspector to walk through the property to check the physical condition of the home?s foundation, roof, plumbing, electrical system, appliances and structure. The inspector will provide you with a written report that details any issues and the cost to repair them. Factor those costs into your bid. And don’t bite off more than you can chew and make sure you have a contractor lined up to make repairs and renovations if you decide to move forward.

Know the rulesIf you decide to terminate the purchase agreement for any reason, you could lose your initial deposit or down payment ? or both. So always read the fine print of any contract you sign, discuss it with your real estate agent and lawyer and understand exactly what your getting into.

Buying a foreclosure could be your ticket to a beautiful home at a great price. Good luck!