Would you like to update your home, but you’re worried about sinking a lot of time and money into it?
Here are some quick and inexpensive alternatives.
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What Do You Do After You’ve Inherited a Property?
We have the answers to all the important questions you may be asking yourself if you’ve just inherited a property.
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If you find yourself as a personal representative or an heir of a property as an estate, there are five very important questions you’re probably asking yourself right now. Today, we’ll be examining the answers to each of them:
1. What is the best option for you to proceed? More specifically, do you want to keep the property, rent it out, or sell it? If you want to sell, you should consider taking advantage of our Certified Pre-Owned program to bulletproof the transaction and perform your fiduciary responsibilities as a representative or trustee of the estate. For more details about our CPO program, you can watch this video. An appraisal lets the representative know the home’s value and also ensures that no errors can dispute the trustee’s actions. Not to mention, it gives you peace of mind in setting that value.
2. What should you do with all of the belongings in the home? We know packing experts and other trusted resources who can assist you with moving these things into a pod or a storage unit. They’ll also do a deep clean of the home for you.
3. What if you’re not local? Our trusted resources ensure that the folks who are assisting have been recommended by other locals and have a solid reputation.
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We’d be glad to be the solution to simplify your life
so you can deal with what’s really important during this time.
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4. What if you need repairs done? Any handyman tasks or other improvements can be done remotely with our help. We can also organize and stage the home for you.
5. Who can you trust to help? We’ve been trusted to help by thousands of clients in southeastern Michigan, so we’d be glad to be the solution to simplify your life so you can deal with what’s really important during this time.
If you have any other questions or would like more information, please feel free to call or email us anytime. We would love to help you.
How to Help Protect Your Home from Fire
While there may be two types of smoke detectors available for your home, replacing them every ten years is encouraged no matter the type. Today we are providing even more fire protection options.
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Did you know that the American Society of Home Inspectors recommends buying a new smoke detector every 10 years? It is news to us, so we thought that we would share more.
To start with you should know that there are two types of detectors. There are ionization and photoelectric which use different types of sensors. Ionization detectors are more responsive to flaming fires. Meanwhile, photoelectric are more responsive to smoldering fires which could mean the difference between getting your family out of a burning house.
Ionization smoke detectors are less susceptible to alarming when you burn your pizza in the oven. You can tell if you have an ionization smoke detector by looking at the model number on the back. If the letter “I” is in the model number or there is any mention of radioactive material, it is an ionization detector.
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Ionization detectors are more responsive to flaming fires while photoelectric detectors are more responsive to smoldering fires.
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If you and your tenants really want to be safe, there are some things which you should consider.
1. Install both kinds of smoke detectors.
2. Check the batteries on a regular basis.
3. Install interconnected wireless detectors with battery backup.
4. Alert your phone of any smoke in the house with the Nest functions.
5. Locate smoke detectors in every bedroom and on every floor.
6. It is recommended you change your unit every 10 years.
7. You can install sprinklers in your home.
A member of the Ann Arbor Fire Department recommends Kidde smoke and CO alarms.
For updates on fire safety, you can check the Consumer Product Safety Commission to get the most recent publication. And, if you have any questions about this you can contact your local fire department.
If you have any questions relating to your home or real estate in general, please give us a call, text, or send us an email. We would be happy to help in any way that we can. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
Fire Extinguisher Safety Tips
Fire safety is a huge part of homeownership, so today I’m here with Doug Armstrong from the Scio Township Fire Department to go over fire extinguisher safety.
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Today I’m here at the Scio Township Fire Department with our expert, Doug Armstrong, to talk about fire extinguisher safety.
Where should you place a fire extinguisher?
Fire extinguishers should be placed throughout the house in areas where a fire is likely to occur or where they can be readily accessible as you’re exiting your residence. The kitchen, bedroom, hallways, and the garage near a doorway are the best spots. You want to make sure you can safely get out of the house if the fire extinguisher doesn’t take care of the problem.
Is it true that fire extinguishers have a certain lifespan of usefulness?
Fire extinguishers in department stores or office buildings usually have a metal top and get inspected every year by a fire and safety company to make sure they are still usable. Residential fire extinguishers have a plastic top and a gauge to tell you whether it’s fully charged or not. You want to check to make sure the the needle on the gauge is in the green, which means it’s in service and ready to go. The recommended life on a fire extinguisher is about 10 to 12 years, and you want to shake it once or twice a year to make sure the power inside expels when you go to use it. Once you break the seal, the propellent will leak out, and that fire extinguisher will no longer work.
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You want to make sure you can safely get out of the house if the fire extinguisher doesn’t take care of the problem.
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How does a fire extinguisher work?
There are actually four steps to operating a fire extinguisher, and the acronym P.A.S.S. makes those steps easy to remember.
- Pull the pin.
- Aim.
- Squeeze the handle. This gets the power moving.
- Sweep. Aim at the base of the fire.
Again, once you have broken the seal and used the fire extinguisher, it can’t be used again, so you might as well use the remaining contents to ensure the fire is out.
Also, make sure you dispose of the fire extinguisher properly by bringing it to a fire and safety company. Here in Scio Township, that would be Spears Fire & Safety, 287 Jackson Plaza Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Their phone number is (734-663-4133). They will recycle fire extinguishers for $6, but they will waive that charge if you purchase a new one when bringing in your old one.
We see a lot of fires where people have gone right past a fire extinguisher to exit the building, which causes a small fire to grow. That’s why it’s so important to practice using a fire extinguisher so they are comfortable with one should a fire occur.
As a residential homeowner, the best kind of fire extinguisher you can buy is one that is rated for A, B, and C type fires. The fire extinguisher should have both those letters and pictures of those types of fires on it.
If you have any questions for Doug, you can reach him at 734-665-6001.
As always, if you have any real estate-related questions, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!
As a homeowner, it’s important to maintain your property. However, you don’t always have the time or funds to make the improvements you may desire.
To make things easier for you, we’ve assembled a few quick and easy tips to spruce up your home:
1. Try updating your house numbers. This quick fix will really set you apart from your neighbors and makes your home easier to find. There are many options to choose from, so get creative.
2. Paint an old piece of furniture. This can turn an outdated nightstand or chair into a new stunning addition.
3. Paint your front door. Try something that compliments your house or be daring with a bold color.
4. Seal the sidewalk. Cracks and gaps in sidewalks and walkways can quickly expand throughout the year. Not only will a patch job make your pathway look nice, but it will also make it safer for visitors. Fix your sidewalk and driveway with a patching compound specifically made for cement.
We hope that these suggestions help to improve the curb appeal of your home. If you’d like more tips or any information regarding real estate, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.