What Everyone Should Know About Houses

Dorie Dillard Austin TX - older homes in Dallas and Fort Worth are often built before the 1980's. When staying in Austin I frequently stay at the Heywood Hotel on the East Cesar Chavez side and it's surrounded by old homes and restaurants. 

When my buyer fell in love with the old house in Dallas with a one car garage, no utility room, small closets he thought it didn't matter. When I mentioned my concerns over the aluminum wiring and highly recommended a Home Inspector and perhaps an Electrician too, he went ahead and made an offer but didn't buy and we moved on to another city. 

Wayne Martin - The "For Your Protection Get a Home Inspection, "form is mandatory here too. However, the buyer is given an opportunity to check the box if they choose not to. I never had an Investor have a home inspector. But this buyer I had was not an investor. He was a dad who shared custody. He thanked me. 

Big risk! Big loss if something happens.

Joe Jackson - you have no idea how happy I was to read your comment. Thank you!

May you also have a "super fantastic week," good health, and all good things come your way. 

Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho - Even when you take necessary precautions, things happen. What happened to me was traumatic. I had nightmares sleeping in the hotel, worried about my son who had to come home but not to a home but rather a hotel while I worked a 9-5 job and a part-time job at night, and the hotel cleaning crew refused to clean the room if I wasn't there to remove the dog.

My nightmares were compounded by a previous fire. At the time, my spouse and I rented a room at a hotel too far away from home and we were sleeping when the hotel caught fire. I was pregnant with my son. We couldn't get out through the door and found out the fire started in the room across from us. Our only way out was through the window (which did not open and our room was on the second or third floor). What saved us was he carried a gun and shot out the windows for us to get out on a ledge and waited for help to get down. I was taken to the hospital and my son was born a few months later premature. 

George Souto - very true! However, when you are on a very tight budget, overwhelmed by trauma, having to take care of personal business when you're an employee knowing you're being monitored, you have no cell phone, and are required to be at work without conducting personal business, it is very stressful. Two jobs wasn't enough. I needed the insurance company to pay the claim but had no choice but to wait. Being displaced for settlement is very stressful. My main focus was trying my best to stay in control and be the parent to my children. 

Eileen Burns - a fire leaves scars on our brain that can't be extinguished. The house where I lived from being brought home from the hospital until the day I got married got struck by lightning. It struck the dining room chandelier. I was about the same age as when your house caught fire. Parents shielded their kids back then and we were left in the dark. Counseling did not exist for anyone I know!

Like Chicago, NY had and still has many old buildings. My grandparents/parents' house was built after the Chicago Fire in the 1880's. It also caught fire before I was born and was rebuilt. My parents are also deceased, and I wish they would have told me more about what happened. Our memories are all we have left.

We lived on the second floor. It scared me to just walk down them and scrubbing them on my knees backwards was even worse. I can't imagine how you did it by crawling down the staircase on your tummies. Just the thought of it makes me shiver.

Whether it was Chicago or NY winters were always cold and windy. Your poor dad. To be sick in bed and have to go through that too, must have been a nightmare for all of you! Your mother was brave. I can picture you crying and scared. Not knowing what was happening. Why it happened. What about daddy? Too much for a young child to have to experience. Yet, like many kids we were obedient and followed whatever our mother told us to do. Those foggy, distant memories linger. 

My house fire in 1994 really shook me to the core because of the thought of what could have happened alone at home, if he had stayed in bed while I was working. 

Being choked by smoke + anxiety and fear are dangerous combinations. Yes. Smoke smells lingers long after the fires are extinguished. I remember pleading with the fireman to p-l-e-a-s-e let me have some clothes, but he refused to listen or give me anything. All he would say is it is smoke damaged and there is nothing salvageable that you would want to keep and wear again. After reading your story, perhaps the fire department learned more as time went by and knew more about smoke, including second hand smoke than the public. 

I have survived too many fires - which I am thankful for and I would not wish that on anyone. If your house was an electrical fire, then it might have been aluminum wiring. All I know is that I was told the wires were burning inside the walls before the major fire occurred and that was the reason things were burning, such as the blow dryer and the electricity was acting strange. It was my vacuum cleaner that left a large scorch in my bathroom off my bedroom that evidently was the final warning that I did not pay attention to. I had to tell the fireman and the insurance adjuster everything I recalled in the best sequences of events that I remembered. 

I am glad you and your family survived. I know how frightening that was for all of you. This is another reason why I take Home Inspection Reports seriously and pay attention to anything that seems odd. Be safe. I am open for conversations anytime. 

Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty - I think every real estate agent should be aware. Buyers depend on Home Inspectors and real estate agents. A fire due to aluminum wiring is very serious. 

Dave Halpern - I don't believe in mickey mouse repair work either. Electricity is nothing to fool with or take chances. I would always recommend a Certified Master Electrician. 

Thank you, Diana Dahlberg - Reducing risk is something every agent needs to know when selling houses and home owners too. 

Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089 - A house fire is something I don't wish on anyone. Being displaced. Trying to remember everything you owned with proof and receipts is mind boggling. And the things one must do without advanced notice due to tragedy is unlike anything you can imagine. Be safe my friend.