safety: I wonder what this is . . . - 05/17/08 02:59 PM
I would guess I'm typical of most home inspectors, I find 90-95 out of 100 homes I inspect without one of these. In fact I had a new agent when I found one similar to the photo ask "I wonder what this is . . . " This is a anti-tip
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safety: Home Invasion in Rita Ranch Leads to Murder - 05/16/08 03:07 PM
Although I had been hearing that there have been several home invasion attempts in the past few weeks in Rita Ranch, it has only been recently that the perpetrators were successful. Last Sunday night, they forced their way into a home and killed a 47 year old man. The rest of
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safety: What the Chimney Sweep Has To Do With Luck - 05/14/08 09:55 PM
There’s a reason Mary Poppins had to fall in love with a chimney sweep--she was a lucky girl.
Europeans firmly believe that nothing is a better predictor of good fortune than the sight of a passing chimney sweep. The English hire them to be guests at their weddings, and in Germany
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safety: Oleanders - Highly Poisonous - 05/14/08 12:55 PM
It is amazing to me as I go about showing homes how few people seem to be aware of the fact that Oleanders are highly poisonous to both humans and animals. They are found all over here in Tucson, AZ, most likely because they grow quickly and are quite hardy. Of
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safety: Business Safe - 05/12/08 12:53 PM
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has launched BusinesSafe, a new anti-terror initiative designed to provide Florida businesses with domestic security information to protect assets and safeguard local communities. The first of its kind in the nation, BusinesSafe allows members of the private sector to register for free electronic
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safety: Do You Want to Keep Your Children Safe on the Net? Then Try This! - 05/10/08 10:40 AM
Are your children blogging and/or social networking on the net? If so, you really need to check out this website http://www.netsmartz.org/ if you want to keep your kids safe on the internet. This site is an interactive, educational safety resource from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Boys
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safety: Sometimes my Rig is "off site storage" - 05/09/08 09:35 PM
Karen Otto's post prompts me to write and share another way we need to be safe. Last week while parked in a covered garage, my car was broken into. Fortunately, they didn't get much value for their efforts. It took two days to realize what I was missing (my bag with
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safety: Sleep in Bed! Not Behind the Wheel of a Car! - 05/09/08 06:31 PM
"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. This results in an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. These figures may be the tip of the iceberg, since currently it is difficult to
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safety: Some of the defects that I have found with warm air systems! - 05/07/08 09:25 PM
Knowledge is the Power for Your Freedom to a Worry Free Home! These are just a few of the deficiencies and defects, that I have found in warm air systems. The fan belt is loose or damaged. The filter is dirty, it's missing, loose or sometimes it's damaged. Asbestos in or on the system. Dose not
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safety: 6 Reason to Use a Real Estate Professional - 05/07/08 09:06 AM
There always seems to be lots of talk about why people shouldn't use a real estate professional in their property transaction. I thought it would be a good time to look at the flip-side and see why you should use a real estate professional to take care of all your needs.
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safety: GPS - 05/06/08 11:40 AM
Real estate agents who leave their global positioning systems (GPS) attached to car windows and dashboards while they aren't in their vehicles are enticing thieves. It used to be CD players, speaker systems, radar detectors, satellite radios. Right now, it is GPS systems. They want anything they can sell for quick cash. Read this
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safety: Ouch! Be Careful when Showing! - 05/03/08 08:26 PM
Typically I am very cautious with my buyers, warning them about uneven terrain, big steps, debric, etc etc. I go ahead of them so if anything jumps out, it gets me! And today it did!! First off, I dropped a giant metal storm shelter door on my foot! YEEEEEOWWWWWWCH! I limped through
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safety: May is Deck Safety Month - Is Your Deck Safe? - 05/03/08 07:55 PM
You may have seen some northwest news coverage about a couple of decks that collapsed recently. An interesting note is that May is considered "Deck Safety Month". So what better time than now to take a look at your deck and make sure it's safe! Many people know the importance of a good
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safety: Why do we need to be protected? - 05/03/08 07:21 AM
During this home inspection the other day, I walked into the master bathroom to find a hair dryer, plugged in and sitting inside the sink. This is just one reason why we have safety devices. People not using their heads. I checked the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI's) circuits and found
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safety: Saftey Alert - A Powerful & Deadly Killer - 05/01/08 09:43 PM
Thunder rumbles while the sky darkens...time to seek shelter from the powerful & deadly killer - Lightning! After living in Oklahoma (part of tornado alley) I have a deep respect in regards to storms, especially lightning. Lightning is a deadly natural phenomenon, very powerful. An actual lightning strike lasts less than
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safety: Opt-Out of Pre-Approvals, Junk Mail, etc. - 04/30/08 05:21 AM
Good Morning! I have had a few issues come up lately with clients that have involved either identity theft, in smaller ways - such as folks taking out cell phone accounts in their names to bigger ways such as Capital One doing a 'soft-pull' on a client 54 times in 2
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safety: Tips To Keep Women Safe!! - 04/29/08 08:22 PM
A friend sent me these tips after I was mugged many years ago. I now use these tips to help keep me safe in the world. Please pass it on to others if you think it is helpful!1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your
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safety: Home Safety Issues - 04/28/08 02:03 PM
I find safety hazards in many homes that I inspect, new and old. Here are some of them: Plumbing: Hot and cold water lines reversed are more common than you think. So are water faucet temperatures exceeding 130 degrees, which is an extreme scalding hazard especially for children. Lower the
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safety: "How's My Driving?" Never Mind, Don't Ask - 04/28/08 11:38 AM
I'm sure most of us have seen those decals on the back of business vehicles asking us to report them to the big, bad "800" number if their driving wasn't up-to-par. I'm sure most drivers are courteous and this decal is redundant. But for the few who seem to have forgotten the
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safety: BE A SAFE SELLER! - 04/25/08 10:44 PM
Safety Tips for Sellers Contact me with all your real estate needs in Crossville Tennessee! View my website: www.pamelabridges.com Email me: pbadams1@frontiernet.net
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safety: Serious about safety! - 04/23/08 05:51 PM
I live in Texas and have been practicing real estate for over seven years. I have admittedly put myself in some really stupid situations. Trying to learn from my mistakes, I try to check all bases to consider safety first. I let everyone know where I am at all times. I
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safety: I.C.E. - 04/22/08 01:45 PM
A while back someone sent me an email talking about the program I.C.E., IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. It was started by a British paramedic, and has grown across Europe and North America. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_case_of_emergency). The idea is that each person enter into their cell phones a few emergency contacts, with "ICE1", "ICE2"
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safety: An 8-ft Tall Child, Dog or Cat? - 04/22/08 12:29 PM
I love to laugh and my job as a home inspector provides many opportunities for this. Last week I came across this in a garage. If you look above the spring you'll see the laser sensors for the garage door. I wrote about laser sensors in The Eye of the Tiger. The laser sensors
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safety: Be S.M.A.R.T. and Be Safe - 04/21/08 05:34 PM
There has been an increase in burglaries near our neighborhood. Our local Gilbert, AZ Police Department is introducing a program to help us better protect our property and vehicles. The Moore Team does more than just sell real estate, we want to make a difference in people's lives so, I'm sharing this will all
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safety: Ok, so there's this naked guy who wants to list his house... - 04/19/08 11:05 PM
...and you're the agent who shows up to check it out. Hmm... perhaps a poor choice of words. Our Greater Greenville Association of REALTORS(R) recently sent out a warning about a gentleman (I use the term loosely) in a subdivision in Simpsonville who calls up female agents, tells them he is
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safety: Google & phone numbers, SCARY!!! - 04/16/08 01:31 PM
I received this email this morning and want to pass it on to the ActiveRain community. As Business professionals, we have to do self promotion which entails getting our contact info out to the consumer. It is just the nature of business especially with real estate, nothing we can do about it.
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safety: Olympia Hospitals Rank in Top 5% - 04/15/08 07:54 PM
According to a recently released study by Healthgrades (http://www.healthgrades.com/), Olympia's St. Peter Hospital, as well as Capital Medical center were ranked among the top 5% nationally in patient safety. The study looked at over 5000 hospitals and analyzed over 41 million patient records. Of the nine Washington hospitals that landed in the
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safety: safety when showing vacant properties in Las Vegas NV - 04/15/08 04:46 PM
http://www.pennysproperties.com/Just a reminder not to let your gaurd down when showing properties. at one time we were concerned about who we allowed in our car. NOW with all the vacant homes on the market we have had a number of squatters hiding out in these homes. lots of vandalism with the
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safety: My Cousin Vinny's Home Inspection - 04/15/08 04:02 PM
I remember the line from the movie "My Cousin Vinny" where Vinny is examining a witness in court and states, "Well, I guess the laws of physics cease to exist on top of your stove." Well it appears I encountered this during the weekend. If you look right above the microwave, the bottom
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safety: Argghhh Matey, Walk the Plank! - 04/15/08 10:06 AM
It's quite common to see the furnace located in the attic in this area. When the furnace is in the attic there should be a light in case someone needs to work on the unit and there should be a platform so you can get to the unit and have access
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safety: Do you drink and drive? - 04/15/08 06:58 AM
Me either! But I do "cell phone" and drive, and last night it dawned on me the dangerousness of this habit. I went to see a client a couple towns away. When I left, I gave my husband a call to let him know I was heading home. We started talking and I
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safety: Not All Smoke Alarms Are The Same - 04/14/08 09:54 PM
Since my last blog was on safety, how about one more? According to one recent television news special, today's smoke alarms work great for adults but are not effective in waking up children. New England news station WHDH-TV tested traditional smoke alarms on various children from ages 1 to 11. They found the children
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safety: Safety First - 04/13/08 04:34 PM
Today I was doing an Open House. My parents stopped by and my Dad ( a former detective) did his usual Dad/cop thing and said " Remember if some guy ever wants you to show him a room you let him go in don't go in first." I was like yeah,
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safety: The importance of proper deck construction - 04/13/08 07:13 AM
The importance of proper deck construction Recent TN deck collapse - Link Recent SC deck accident - Link Many consumers and home owners don't think it will ever happen to them. When you think about it, most decks aren't used on an everyday basis. But it only takes that one 4th
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safety: Bracing for the Big One - 04/11/08 06:08 PM
Another earthquake safety item in California are braces for the water heaters. The braces keep the water stationary during an earthquake to prevent the unit from falling over or from a gas line, water line or electrical line from breaking. Most people are familiar with earthquake braces and that two are required.
However
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safety: Automatic Gas Shut Off Valves for Earthquakes - 04/11/08 05:53 PM
I still don't see very many of them but there is a relatively new safety item called an automatic gas shut off valve. It is a valve that goes on your gas line, near the meter, that will automatically shut off in case of an earthquake (obviously a California issue). Here's what
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safety: Safety is in the details - 04/09/08 07:55 PM
Safety is always important in the home, especially with little people around. There are so many hazards for those young ones to find their way into that it's a wonder we can make it through to adulthood! I see a lot of great things parents do to keep their infants and toddlers safe.
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safety: Are you prepared for an emergency? - 04/09/08 02:55 PM
ARE YOU PREPARED IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY! Accidents or emergencies can arise at any time and it is always good to be prepared. The above are examples of things that would come in handy just in case something were to happen. This tip brought to you by: Your Crossville Tennessee real estate source.
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safety: Suspense at 2:00 am - 04/09/08 10:48 AM
Imagine that after a late night/early morning session with the computer and a few comments to AR blogs that you hear a Sheriff's helicopter circling in the distance. You go outside to check it out a notice that the circles are getting closer and closer to your house. Now the helicopter is
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safety: Great Views vs. Safety Issue - 04/09/08 07:16 AM
One of the American dreams is to own that wonderful home with the great water views. In our area of the country there are several ways people are able to accomplish this great feat. Due to the high amounts of rain we may receive at a time, developments are required to
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safety: Small Children on Construction Sites...What are Parents Thinking? - 04/08/08 10:26 PM
Invariably we are summoned to perform a construction phase inspection for customers interested in ensuring their home is being assembled in a quality-like manner. This is usually not a challenge at all until the loving parents bring toddlers or small children. Folks, this is not a friendly environment for adults let
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safety: Identity Theft - 04/07/08 11:22 PM
Fears of Identity Theft What you can do to prevent Identity Theft Shred financial documents: Shred anything that may contain your private information! Do Not let your credit card out of your sight! Sign the back of your credit/debit cards, Some people like to sign their cards with "Ask for ID" or "CID".
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safety: Agents please be careful - 04/06/08 07:37 PM
Daily Real Estate News | March 21, 2008Ex-Con Admits Killing Real Estate ProAn ex-convict admitted during his arraignment Thursday that he strangled a real estate practitioner who showed him a house in the small town of Cambridge, Wis.James A. Hole, 34, of Brookfield, Ill., told the Jefferson County, Wis., judge that 71-year-old Ann
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safety: Protect Yourself! - 04/04/08 03:06 PM
When selling a property it is imperative that your your home is as safe as possible. There are professional theives that contact agents to view homes. They obviously are not wanting to see these homes to purchase, but to see what type of items they can pick up. They may have visited during an
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safety: Shoreline Open House Safety Tips for For Sale by Owners - 04/03/08 10:09 PM
Open House Safety Tips An open house can be a great sales tool, but it also exposes you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time. Stay safe by practicing these guidelines. Call the local police department and ask them to have a squad care drive by during your open-house hours.Check your cell
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safety: Safety First! - 04/03/08 01:24 PM
Just another reason for us to be very careful as Realtors. Our office has several policies we use when going out with buyers or listing appointments. First and foremost if you don't feel comfortable take an associate with you. If you are uneasy with a prospective buyer, tell them you need
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safety: Does the Right Hand Know What the Left Hand is Doing? - 04/02/08 11:17 AM
I came across this the other day during a home inspection. Air Conditioning condensers have a data plate which has various information on it. One part being the maximum and minimum breaker or fuse size allowed. This particular data plate indicated the minimum size was 30-amps and the maximum size was
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safety: A fellow Realtor® became Victim in Lakeland, FL - Don’t become a Victim! - 04/02/08 10:20 AM
My fellow Realtors®, yesterday one of our Realtors® became victim to a robbery here in Lakeland, FL. During the walkthrough at the apartment, one of the prospective clients grabbed her and threatened to kill her with a box cutter if she did not cooperate. They robbed her car and valuables, such
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safety: Chim Chim-e-ney Chim Chim-e-ney Chim Chim Cha- OUCH! - 04/01/08 02:32 PM
I couldn't help but think of Mary Poppins and good old Dick Van Dyke when writing a post about chimney vents. Unfortunately this is not a funny situation. The silver cylinder is the vent for the chimney. Of course fires burn in a fireplace and the combustion gases, heat and smoke
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safety: How to Keep your Head in a Deadly Situation - 04/01/08 08:46 AM
I just listened to an awesome story that I thought you'd love! When you are in a very compromised situation the tendency is to react in fear an anger. This is really quite a refreshing story! Take a few minutes and listen to Julio Diaz on how he handled being robbed
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safety: In Memoriam - 03/31/08 07:24 AM
Last week a Wisconsin Realtor lost her life showing a vacant home. Featured in our local paper was the story of another local Wisconsin Realtor murdered a couple decades ago, who's killer was never found. There are also stories circulating of Realtors beaten, robbed or raped at vacant home showings. Let's
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safety: Electrical Wiring Tips at Home - 03/30/08 04:15 PM
Electrical safety is many times overlooked. When in fact it's one of the most important safety hazards in your home. With todays technology it seems as though everything needs power. If you own a computer you know what I'm talking about. Go ahead take a peak behind your computer desk and
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safety: Phishing Scams - 03/30/08 12:31 PM
This blog is written to warn the public. Phishing scams are very common especially in today's internet age. According to wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing, it's an attempt to fraudulently acquire sensitive information and for those of you who fish will understand that this attempt is made by throwing out bait and wait and
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safety: Strangers with Candy - Do You Show the House or Not? - 03/28/08 08:51 PM
Your phone rings. Somebody wants to see a house...right NOW. What do you do? It happens all the time. Some "stranger with candy" calls and wants to see a house. Of course, we all know the "candy" is the commission we're already spending in our heads. A cruise in the Caribbean sounds
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safety: Would you like some Marshmallows with that Furnace? - 03/28/08 08:06 PM
Well I encountered another one just last week. The infamous recalled horizontal attic furnace (isolated to California from what I've read). Here's the issue (in a nutshell): The Torrance Fire Department noticed they were going to fires that seemed to start in attics. They then realized that certain furnaces were located in the
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safety: Are You Retaining Water? How About Your Retaining Wall? - 03/28/08 07:26 PM
That's a trick question of course (that is the second question). Retaining walls naturally retain water because the soil soaks it up. But have you really ever thought about how heavy water is? Think about how heavy a gallon of milk is (okay, I admit it, I don't know the actual
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safety: Only YOU can prevent neighborhood explosions - 03/28/08 05:09 PM
"Only YOU can prevent neighborhood explosions" by Rob McQuade, ABR, Sacramento REALTOR®Sacramento Real Estate I just got word from a friend in Minneapolis about an explosion a couple blocks from her home. The cause? A portion of the gas line in a vacant home was damaged by copper thieves stripping out wiring.
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safety: Trade A Night Out To Shelter A Child - Houston Bay Area - 03/26/08 09:46 PM
Would you forgo a night out to provide shelter, meals, clothing and other necessities to a child for one night? Just $45.00 will provide such comforts for a child escaping a home of violence. Would you help the mother who is removing the child from that awful place? Imagine if we
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safety: Rape-defense class - Oviedo - Starting April 8, 2008 - Adv. Registration Required - 03/24/08 12:41 PM
In an attempt to keep young women safe the Oviedo Police Department has teamed up with the Oviedo Optimist Club by offering RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) - a class for those 14 or older. The four-week class, which is limited to 20 students, will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, April 8-29, at the
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safety: AGENT PERSONAL SECURITY...AGAIN! - 03/22/08 09:00 AM
Once again, my background may be my salvation! Touring multiple $400,000+ homes in the Woodbridge area, many foreclosure and short sales and the majority vacant, staying alert BEFORE entering a home is a MUST for ALL AGENTS! Even though listing agents put a lock box..(more and more likely a combination lockbox)...on the front
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safety: Why do cars and trucks hit motorcyclists and bicyclists? - 03/22/08 06:26 AM
I just saw this short test that demonstrates one very big reason. Take the test... see how you do. What an eye-opener! It's been a few years since I rode my bicycle regularly. But I had more close-calls with cars and trucks than I care to remember. Even so, I failed this
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safety: Please be carefull. It can't be said enough! - 03/20/08 09:22 PM
A 71 year old Real Estate Agent was killed Tuesday night and left in a vacant house after showing it. The man that she met there has been arrested. It could have been me or you! Just a Reminder 1. If possible, get a copy of your client's driver's license or some other form
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safety: Do you Purell? - 03/19/08 11:52 PM
I have to say that when I go out to show properties, I often wonder who was there before me. I wonder if they had the flu, if they have (well you know anything THAT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE!) Every time I leave a property with a customer, I offer them
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safety: Oak Grove MN Homes for Sale, Does it come with Bears? - 03/19/08 04:10 PM
Well, yes - there could be black bears in Oak Grove MN, especially in the spring. They are extremely fond of bird feeders, but are usually gone by mid-July or so. Since most of the long time residents of the area would like to avoid the need for a legal bear
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safety: Dog Bite Prevention Part 4, OH NO! Here Comes Butch, And He Doesn't Look Happy! - 03/17/08 08:33 AM
OH NO!! Here comes Butch, and he doesn't look happy! There are usually warning signs before a bite occurs, but these can be very subtle and might be missed. Signs that the dog is telling you "I am nearing the end of my patience" may include: He turns his head away from you
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safety: Carbon Monoxide: Avoidance & Prevention - 03/16/08 12:36 PM
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safety: OK, I have an REO Listing…Now What; Or What is an Occupancy Check? - 03/15/08 02:05 AM
OK, I have an REO Listing…Now What; Or What is an Occupancy Check? I can remember the thrill I get every time I receive a text message on my cell phone that I have been assigned a new REO listing. It really is exciting, and yet unlike any other listing
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safety: Home Inspectors, Realtors, Have You Seen This ? This is not a Cosmetic Issue. The Danger's of Plaster - 03/12/08 10:05 PM
I am a home inspector living in Greensboro NC, working in the Peidmont Triad area since '92, doing remodeling and plaster restoration. When I first came back home (here) from Chicago and began my own restoration buisness, I kept seeing a peculiar crack in the ceilings of homes of certain vintage.
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safety: 1031 Exchanges - Important Questions to Ask RE: Security of Funds - 03/12/08 08:55 PM
It's important to understand that currently the Qualified Intermediary "QI" industry is unregulated in most states. I have compiled some important subject areas you should explore when considering using a particular QI. It is critical that you ask the HARD questions of the business who is going to be holding your client's
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safety: Read and Beware...Sickos are out there ! - 03/10/08 11:27 PM
I thought this article should be shared with the AR community. Anyone else out there have some safety tips to share? Arrest Made In Rape, Stabbing Of Real Estate Agent CORONA, Calif. Authorities say a real estate agent was raped and repeatedly stabbed by a man she was showing a vacant home in Corona.
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safety: New deck fasteners to watch out for - 03/10/08 10:44 PM
Recently, I have seen builders using a product called "LedgerLok" fasteners to secure decks at the ledger board. Where before the common practice was to use 1/2 inch lag bolts, now it is not all that unusual to see these screws in place. Since I was ingorant about their installation, I called the
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safety: Free service to keep your loved ones (and clients!) safe - 03/10/08 10:19 PM
I have always been kind of a nut about safety. It's nerdy, I know, but it's just one of those things I can't help. As a result, one of the services I have been including for my clients has been to run their appliances through the Consumer Product Safety Commission database to
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safety: Smoooookin' (or at least it could be soon) - 03/10/08 01:56 PM
Now you have to say the title of this post like Jim Carrey did in the movie "The Mask." Smooookin' That's they only way to get the true effect. Sometimes items that need correction are very simple, yet the danger if they aren't are very serious. I saw this the other day while
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safety: Flirting...with disaster. A word on Realtor Safety - 03/10/08 01:15 PM
Damn we're good looking! We are in an industry chock full of hotties. And that is no accident. The most successful sale people in the world are those who exude confidence. And, by definition, those who exude confidence are sexier than others. It's an occupational hazard to be sure. Men who work-out,
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safety: Strangers and Vacant Houses: Another Agent Assaulted - 03/09/08 02:35 PM
Last week a California real estate agent was forced at gunpoint to enter a vacant house in Corona by a prospective buyer. Per the news report, the agent had an appointment to show the home and when she arrived he pulled a gun, and forced her inside the property where she was assaulted,
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safety: Do You Still Have That Spark? - 03/09/08 01:06 PM
Well hopefully your chimney doesn't. I see this all the time. It's a chimney without a rain cap or spark arrestor. Here's what one looks like. Without this an ember from the fireplace can go up the chimney and land on the roof or nearby vegetation and cause a fire. Also, rain can enter
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safety: Give 'em a Hand - 03/09/08 06:42 AM
Many people seem to take hand rails for granted. Sure, when you're young you go up the stairs two-at-a-time and hardly every touch the hand rail. But as we mature our bodies aren't what they used to be. So I think the elderly and disabled are many times forgotten when it comes to hand
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safety: On Thin Ice ~ Late Winter Fishing Danger - 03/07/08 01:52 PM
Twice within the past 24 hours I have read reports of dramatic rescues of ice fishermen who fell through the ice, most recently on Greenwood Lake. Thankfully there have been no fatalities, but the potential of death by drowning or hypothermia are all too real. Maybe it's time to get off the ice. I understand the
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safety: Safety 101 - 03/05/08 10:10 PM
\As an Exclusive Buyer Agent, I've been through a lot of listings lately. Here's a list of some of the lovely things I've come across lately. Don't they look pretty! They smell pretty too. (not) Mr. and Mrs. Seller, please don't leave these burning unattended in your home. Can you spell
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safety: Get a Whiff of That! - 03/03/08 06:44 PM
I came across this the other day at an inspection: The two pipes are called flues, one was for the water heater and one was for the furnace. These flues are where the combustion gases terminate to the exterior. However the issue is the openable windows. The flue and window to the
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safety: PROTECT YOURSELF !!! - 03/03/08 01:53 PM
THIS WAS AN E-MAIL THAT WAS SENT TO ME FROM A FRIEND... I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH SENDING OUT TO ALL OF MY AR FRIENDS......... SO THAT WE ALL REMEMBER HOW TO PROTECT OUTSELVES & FAMILIES! Crucial Because of recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of thesethings to do in an emergency
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safety: REALTOR® Safety: Use Your Fear -- It's Your Best Weapon - 03/03/08 11:38 AM
Every time I do an open house, the little voice in my head runs down the checklist: Unlock all the doors so you can get out if something happens. Check. Keys and phone in your pocket. Check. Don't go into a room in front of somebody where you can be trapped. Check.Shoes I can run in. Check.I
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safety: What's going on in Fayette County - 02/29/08 04:48 PM
I believe it was the October 2005 issue of Money Magazine that touted one of the cities in Fayette County Georgia as the 6th best place in the nation to live. Recently I have been hearing so much negative vibes about Fayette. I need some positive news and attribues to give
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safety: Scary Open House - 02/28/08 01:16 PM
I hate to have to share what happened to an agent in our office on Sunday. But it exists and you need to be aware. Shared with permission. No names. True Story. There has been quite a few scary situations happening in our area lately. Read Krista's Post about a possible situation. And
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safety: Extreme Makeover - Home (Inspector) Edition - 02/27/08 04:35 PM
I went from this: To this: And for $1,999.99 and 6-months of your time, you can too! Okay, so where am I going with this? I had been using the first mask shown to go into attics and crawlspaces. Then I read an article about how cheap the first masks are and that they
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safety: Consumer ALERT: New Variations of Phishing Email Being Sent -- Beware! - 02/26/08 10:43 AM
The "phishing" industry is morphing their tactics as people are becoming wise to their past methods. These criminals learn quickly and are becoming more sophisticated in ways to fool you.I just received the following message from a bank. I immediately knew that it was bogus, since I did not have an account with
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safety: Securing Your Home... What You Need To Know! - 02/24/08 10:51 AM
Think your home is safe just because the door is locked?... Think again! Safety experts are reporting that a technique called "lock-bumping" works on more than 90 percent of homes. With the digital underworld abuzz about this new threat, safety experts say it's time to key in on safety solutions... Good deterrents include electronic
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safety: Water Heater Earthquake Bracing - 02/22/08 11:48 PM
Almost everyone in California is familiar with earthquake bracing for their water heater. However there are two situations I come across frequently where they braces have been installed incorrectly or one brace is missing. First, if a blanket is used for the water heater then the blanket must be installed overthe braces.
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safety: Update on my first AR Client. - 02/22/08 06:37 AM
I guess this is a good example of the negative side of self promotion! If you haven't read my previous post, Is This My First AR Client?, you should in order to catch up since this is the result. After being alerted byJayne Dodgson (thank you very much!) I realized my initial suspicions
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safety: Stove Safety - 02/20/08 03:26 PM
According to the court-approved agreement, Sears will notify nearly 4 million customers who may have bought stoves between July 2000 and September 2007 that they either can get anti-tip safety brackets installed for free or receive gift cards or reimbursements of up to $100 to qualifying customers. http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/02/20/stove.tipover/index.html I write this up
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safety: Does someone you care for work in a dangerous job? - 02/17/08 02:47 PM
Our son recently started working with a commercial building company. He was working in our home building company where he was never off the ground more then 15 feet. Now he moved into steel erection. where he is walking around on 6" beams that would have me frozen in place. Of course as parents we
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safety: Have you changed the locks on your house? - 02/17/08 01:46 PM
When was the last time you changed the locks on your house? How many people have had access to your house in the last 5 years. How many spare keys do you think are out there? I always advise my clients to change the locks on their doors as soon as possible. Top
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safety: Motorcycle and Truck Collision - 02/16/08 09:06 PM
This isn't really about Real Estate, other than giving your motorcycle clients something to think about. Also, I do not know if this is for real or not, but I think it is. I got it in an email. A truck was traveling down the highway at around 1 o'clock in the morning
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safety: New Jersey Identity Theft Protection - 02/16/08 08:56 PM
The New Jersey state government is actively developing and implement laws to protect the local individual against identity threats. Just as with the federal government, the NJ state government is focusing on making it harder to illegally obtain identity information by requiring users and holders of identity information to maintain proper protection procedures. New Jersey
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safety: Realtor Murdered in Vacant Home | CT Realtor Safety | REMAX Agents mourn loss of young Realtor - 02/15/08 12:57 AM
A young woman working at a RE/MAX in Canada was recently found murdered in a vacant home that was selling for $964,000. The details of the investigation are yet to be released, but it is known that she was showing the home to someone who called in previously, wanting to see
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safety: Agents And Home Owners BE ALERT! - 02/13/08 09:49 AM
This is an email from a very good agent who has over 12 years of experience. It can happen to you. Agents always know who you're dealing with, if uncertain lock them out and call your listing service or home office. Homeowners- NEVER let anyone in unless they are accompanied by
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safety: 1031 Exchanges - Security of Funds - KNOW YOUR QI - 02/12/08 05:16 PM
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safety: 1031 Exchanges -- Security of Funds -- CRITICAL!!!! - 02/12/08 05:15 PM
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safety: A Shocking Death of a Young REALTOR - 02/12/08 06:28 AM
From the RE/MAX Mainstreet site a reminder again to be very careful. This is so very sad. Canadian Associate's Slaying Highlights Realtor Safety When 24-year-old Sales Associate Lindsay Buziak went to show an upscale home on Feb. 2, she reportedly told colleagues she had an uneasy feeling about the meeting. Buziak, of
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safety: My House Almost Went Up In Flames Today! - 02/11/08 07:06 PM
Today I did not have an inspection scheduled in the morning so I thought I'd help out with the dishes. I loaded up the dishwasher and the started on the hand washed items. After about 10-15 minutes I smelled something weird. I stopped and looked around and saw something by the
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