Home Fire Safety For First Time Home Buyers Part 12 of 12 A Checklist, if your a First Time Home Buyer or a Move up Home Buyer,fire safety sure should be a major concern to you, and your family.
The U.S. has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world. Home fires sure can endup causen death and injury. Last year in the United States.
There were 3,320 folks that lost their lives as a result of fires.
There were 16,705 folks injured as the result of a fire.
There were 118 firefighters killed while on duty.
Fire killed more Americans than all natural disasters combined.
Eighty four percent of the deaths occurred in homes.
An estimated 1.5 million fires occurred in 2008.
Many fires are caused by misuse or poor maintenance of electrical devices, careless use of candles, smoking in bed and kids playing with matches and lighters.
Home Fire Safety For First Time Home Buyers Part 12 of 12 A Checklist, all areas of your home:
Its a good idea to cover unused electrical outlets.
Arrange electrical cords so that they don't dangle loosely or entagle with one another.
If your home has radiators, the covers should be made of a non-heat absorbent material.
Wood stoves and fireplaces should have screens to prevent sparks from reaching flammable materials.
Chimneys should be cleaned and inspected by a reputable professional every year.
There should be a smoke detector installed on every level of your home, in the hallways leading to the bedrooms. For an extra precaution, you should have them installed in every bedroom or sleeping areas.
Set the thermostat on water heaters between 130 to 135 degrees fahrenheit.
You sould formulate an escape plan for every room in your home, with an alternate plan in case the first escape route is blocked by fire. Be sure to practice these escapes until every member of your family can perfom them in their sleep.
Only use space heaters on non-combustible surfaces and least three feet from the furniture and walls.
Store all flammable and combustible products in a cool, well ventilated area and locked securely out of the reach of kids.
Your basement and garage:
Flammable liquids such as fuels should not be kept in your home.
Keep paints thinners and all other combustible chemicals out of the reach of kids. Ideally, these materials really should be kept in a locked metal cabinet, away from all heat sources.
Keep dirty rags in a metal can and dispose of them, by following the same disposal directions of the products they were used with.
When not in use, lawn mowers and all gas powered equipment should be stored empty.
Keep electrical outlets covered and do not leave anything plugged in, when not in use.
Store gasoline only in approved containers.
Home Fire Safety For First Time Home Buyers Part 12 of 12 A Checklist, your kitchen:
Turn pot handles in while using burners on your stove.
Store cleansers and other chemicals out of the reach of kids, preferably in a locked cabinst.
Make sure that kids are in a safe location when your cooking with hot liquids.
Keep cookies and all sweets away from your stove.
Make sure electrical cords are not hanging over the counters and appliances are unplugged when not in use.
Keep a fire extinguisher near the farthest exit from the stove.
Never use water to douse a flaming pot. Smother with a cove or a baking sheet, or use a fire extinguisher.
Your bedroom:
Keep your bedroom doors closed while sleeping.
The use of candles in a bedroom is the most common fire source of a residential fire.
Be prepared to exit a bedroom in case os a fire. If at all possible, have an alternative route than the bedroom door to exit a bedroom, like the window if required. Have a emergency window ladder in the bedroom, in an accessible location in any bedroom thats on a second or higher floor of your home.
Post 626 - 23 Nov. 2009
By the time we complete the Inspection, you will know the Home or Commercial Property better than the owner does!
God Bless America, The Land We Love
A home inspection from Baker Home Commercial Properties Inspections and Consulting, will give you peace of mind, so you and your family can enjoy the things you like to do!
Knowledge is Your Power For The Freedom of a Worry- Free Home!
When buying, renting a Home or Commercial Properties when Relocating in or to Sullivan County, New Hampshire, Windsor County, Vermont, or nearby Counties. When "Good Enough" Isn't, call Baker Home Commercial Properties Inspections and Consulting to schedule, Your New Hampshire and Vermont Home or Commercial Property Inspections!
Replica of the Susan Constant, one of the three ships the Engish Virginia Company sent to start a colony in the New World in Jamestown, VA. Approximately a 3 hour drive from Lynchburg, VA.
I wanted to clean the cabinet under the kitchen sink. I just wasn't planning on doing it today.
My Friend Murphy decided to pay me a visit this morning- I was about to make coffee when I saw the puddle of water on the kitchen floor. I was hoping it was from a melted ice cube but no such luck. I opened the cabinet under the sink to find the TINY TITAN compact hot water heater hissing and the floor of the cabinet soaking wet. This little heater only holds 2 1/2 gallons of water but this morning it's seemed like 100.
Things like this always happen when my husband's out of town, so the first thing I did was unplug the unit. One surprise a day is enough of a shock. My husband installed several shut off valves so I was able to cut the source of water going to the tank. I've also turned the dishwasher on several times to empty the tank faster- in theory. (Home inspectors, anything else I should be doing?)
We built the house on a slab and our kitchen is a good 50 feet from the hot water heater. It was taking forever to get hot water to the kitchen sink so my husband installed the compact hot water heater. It has different temperature settings, is a reliable source of hot water and for six years it's worked well. It's a great solution for our home and we'll get a replacement. And I'll check with the manufacturer regarding their warranty. For a repairman's opinion of hot water heaters, click the link HOT WATER HEATERS .
I'm fortunate to have been home to catch this. Remember to turn your water main off when you leave on vacation or if you're going out of town for the holidays. Now I need to go find the fan- we don't want mold issues too. Keep smilin'.
Will Rogerssaid We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by.
I appreciate the men and women who have and are serving our country! An easy way to show your support for those currently serving overseas is with the Let's Say Thanks program. Sponsored by the Xerox Corporation it allows you to send a free postcard to an active member of the military. There are many different hand drawn post card designs and sentiments to choose from. With the holidays coming up, I think of all the husbands, wives and children who are separated from their loved ones who are serving. It's a simple gesture and one I'm sure is very much appreciated.
Don't forget RED SHIRT FRIDAYS and wear red in support our troops on Fridays!
As of today, April 30th is 164 days away. April 30th is the last day that a Purchase and Sales Agreement may be signed by all parties to take advantage of the federal tax credit for home buyers.
Out of those 164 days we need to subtract out days that most of us do not work - Let's see what is ahead of us:
Thanksgiving
Christmas
New Years Day
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Presidents Day
Super Bowl Sunday
March Madness
Start adding in school vacations, days off, sick days, St. Patricks Day, Valentines Day, etc. and all of a sudden the 164 days is shrinking fast. Can you think of any I have missed?
Let's get moving on spreading the word about the tax credit for home buyers. What are you doing to get the word out?
HOW AWESOME IS THIS! October was Fire Safety Month and I posted about the BARK 10-4 Program where you can donate a pet oxygen mask to your local fire department. I used paypal and donated a mask to my local volunteer fire department in Forest, Virginia. I just received notification that THE MOST PET OXYGEN MASKS EVER (I counted 143!!!) had been shipped to the following fire departments:
Alpine Fire Department Blue Ridge Fire Department Plainfield Fire Department Town of Sheboygan Falls Fire Kohler Village Menasha Town Fire Department Pickerel Fire & Rescue Squad Whitewater Fire Department Town of Greenville Fire Dept Milwaukee Fire Department Richard Hansen Fire Chief Lewis County Fire District #5 Easton Fire District #3 Bothell Fire Department Fire District 1 DJ Evans, Fire Chief Springfield Fire Station Bailey's Crossroads Volunteer Fire Depart North Pointe Fire Station #39 Station 12 - Volunteer Organization Scruggs Volunteer Fire Department Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Forest VA FD Ebony Volunteer Fire Department Matewan Fire Department Fire Deputy Chief Virginia Beach VA Public Safety Dept., Pearland Fire Department Waco Fire Department Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal Midlothian TX Greenville Fire Department Freer Volunteer Fire Dep & Ems Travis County Emergency Service District #9 Village Fire Department Flower Mound Fire Station 2 North Montgomery County Fire Dept Frisco Fire Department Administration: Station No 1 Flat Creek-Bethesda Volunteer Fire Department Lonas Fire Station #12 Munford-Atoka Fire Department Sulphur Springs Volunteer Fire Dept City of Cookeville Fire Department: Chief Nashville Fire Department Lexington Fire Fairview Fire Station #14 Conway Station 1 Fire Dept. Greer Fire Dept - Charlestown Fire District Newtown Square Fire Company Lititz Fire Company No 1 Conneaut Lake Volunteer Fire Department Station 3 Mont Alto Fire Co Independence TWP VOL Fire Department Reliance Fire Co Greater Valley EMS Elfinwild Volunteer Fire Company Franklin Park Volunteer Fire Department Union township Vol fire dept Hampden Twp Volunteer Fire Co Clarendon Fire Department Mifflinburg Borough: Mifflinburg Hose Co #1 Lowell Rural Fire Department Yukon Fire Department Norman Fire Department Tulsa Fire Department Sharon Township Fire Department Cincinnati Fire Department Upper Arlington Fire Division Norwich Fire Department Scioto Twp Fire Department Coolville Fire House Bath Fire Department Harrison Township Fire House Coolville Fire House Bellbrook Fire Department Mason Fire Station No 1 Washington Township Fire Dept Fire Department Village of Ottawa Hills: Fire Department Bloomfield Hills Fire Department Lawrence Cedarhurst Fire Department Hook, Ladder and Hose Co., No. 1 Lily Dale Volunteer Fire Department Walker Fire Station Unionville Volunteer Fire Department Pine Island Volunteer Fire Department Oswego Fire Department Ransomville Fire Co No 1 Jackson Volunteer Fire Co Gordons Corner Fire Co South Wall Fire Rescue, Long Branch Fire Department Allendale Volunteer Fire Department Holland Township Volunteer Fire Company Oakland Fire Department Colonia Fire Co Ho Ho Kus Fire Department River Vale Fire Department FIRE CHIEF Acworth NH Somersworth Fire Department Epping Fire Department Concord Fire Department North Conway Fire Dept: Fire Station Juniata Fire Department Station Hubert Volunteer Fire Department Winston-Salem Fire Department Cary Fire Department Denver Fire Department Harrisburg Fire Department Sidney Volunteer Fire Department Reidsville Fire Department Cary Fire Department Beaufort Fire Department Montana City VFD Marble Hill Fire Department Knob Noster Fire Department Ballwin Fire Department David Frazier Jr Chief of EMS & Fire Services Lake Elmo City Fire Department St Michael Fire Department City of North Branch: Fire Dept Montevideo Fire Department Fire Station No. 1 Bemidji Fire Department Auburn Hills Fire Department Rochester Fire Dept Niles Fire Dept Bloomfield Township Fire Department Ottawa Hills Village Fire Department Pepperell Fire Department Andover Town Fire Department Acushnet Fire Department Stoughton Fire Department North Attleboro Fire Department Weymouth FD Provincetown Fire Department Oxford Fire Department County of Anne Arunde FD Level Fire Dept Fallston Vol Fire Co Kent Island Fire Department Long Reach Fire Station 9 Neck District Fire Co Kennebunkport Fire Dept Bowdoinham Fire Department Fire CHIEF Shelby Township
I know times are tough, but if you're considering making a donation to a local cause this holiday season, please consider Bark 10-4. Our pets thank you.
Are you confused by all of the talk about the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit? Not sure if you qualify?
This short video from RE/MAX highlights the points of the $8,000 First Time Tax Credit Extension and Expansion:
-Extends the $8,000 first time Home Buyers Tax Credit if you're under contract by April 30, 2010
and close by June 30, 2010
-Up to $6,500 tax credit for current homeowners who have lived in their homes (as principal residence) for 5 consecutive years of the last 8 years and close on their new home by June 30, 2010
-Income level of $125,000 for single buyers, $225,000 for joint buyers
- Military members and those who've been deployed overseas for at least 90 days in 2008-2009 can claim the credit if they're under contract by April 30, 2011 and close by June 30, 2011.
Flood water from Hurricane Ida in Virginia this past week- I spent the weekend in Surry, VA where many of the roads in this section of Virginia cut through marsh land. The photo above is from a beautiful swamp in the Surry, Isle of Wight area which is normally very tranquil. The ground was saturated after days of non-stop rain, causing a washout of sections of roads including Route 10 in Virginia. The ferry from Surry to Williamsburg was closed for several days.
The creek overflowed it's bank and fast moving water washed out the gravel road. Water was at least 18" deep, the gravel base had been washed out causing huge potholes and creating a dangerous situation. Locally, when the Timber Lake Dam broke several years ago after days of rain, people crossing flooded roadways were killed.
If you ever come across a FLOODED ROAD like this, be aware:
As little as one foot of water can move most cars off the road.
Just six inches of fast-moving flood water can sweep a person off his or her feet.
Most flood-related deaths occur at night and are vehicular.
Urban and small stream flash floods often occur in less than one hour.
Tropical cyclones pose significant risk well inland due to fresh water flooding.
Chicken Normandy is one of the family favorites, real comfort food.....It's suppose to be prepared the night before and refrigerated for the next day. I've done that once, it's just as good if you prepare and cook the same night. I don't use extra salt in cooking so you might want to add to the filling. This is a great dish to take to a party.
CHICKEN NORMANDY
Crust
2 packages of Stove Top Chicken Stuffing Mix (prepared)
Filling
3 cups of cooked, diced chicken
1 cup chopped onion (sauteed)
1 chopped celery (sauteed)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 eggs
1 cup milk
Topping
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup (10.75 oz)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Prepare stuffing mix and spread 3/4 into the bottom and sides of a greased 13x9x2 baking pan. Combine chicken, onions, celery and toss in mayonnaise. Spread chicken mixture over the bottom crust and top with remaining stuffing mix. Beat the eggs and milk and pour over the top. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. When ready to cook, remove foil, spread top with cream of mushroom soup and bake at 325 for 40 minutes. Top with shredded cheese and bake for 10 more minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes and gravy. Substitute leftover Thanksgiving turkey for the chicken.
Homes for sale in Lynchburg, Forest, Bedford County, Campbell County or Smith Mountain Lake. Check below for local information on schools, restaurants and things to do in the Lynchburg, Virginia area.
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As little as one foot of water can move most cars off the road.
