How to Avoid a Holiday Decorating Disaster

‘Twas the day after Thanksgiving, when all through the home
Through boxes of holiday gear we started to comb.
Decorations and lights were strung up without care,
Not an outlet was empty, no power strip bare.
When down in the living room there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but…
…smoke and fire – oh dear!

Very few traditions are as unique to the holiday season as the practice of decorating our homes and yards with twinkling lights and festive decorations. While they definitely add to the magic of the season, some of our favorite holiday traditions also increase our risks for holiday fires and injuries.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to ensure a safe, bright and happy holiday for your family. Give your holiday story a happy ending with these simple reminders from the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).
If you are purchasing new decorations, shop only at reputable retailers, and check to make sure the products have been approved for safe use by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Consider buying LED-type lights, which use less power and burn cooler than traditional incandescent lights. Always follow the manufacturer’s use and care instructions that accompany your decorations.

Carefully inspect each electrical decoration and extension cord before use; discard any damaged items. Cracked sockets, bare or frayed wires, and loose connections may cause a serious shock or fire. Determine how many outlets are available and where they are located. Avoid overloading outlets, which can overheat and also cause a fire. ESFI recommends never connecting more than three strands of incandescent lights together. Do not pinch cords in windows or doors, or under heavy furniture, which can damage the cord’s insulation.

There are a few extra things to consider when decorating outside. Always use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)-protected outlet outdoors. Make sure all decorations and extension cords are marked for outdoor use. Exercise extreme caution when decorating near overhead power lines. Use a wooden or fiberglass ladder instead of metal, which conducts electricity. Keep yourself and all of your equipment at least 10 feet from power lines. Outdoor extension cords and lights should be kept clear of standing water and snow throughout the season.

Christmas trees are an important holiday tradition for many families. If purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree will stay green longer and is less of a fire hazard than a dry tree. Heated rooms dry out live trees rapidly. Place the tree at least three feet away from all heat sources, including fireplaces and space heaters. Be sure to keep the stand filled with water. For artificial trees, look for the label “fire resistant,” indicating that the tree is more resistant to burning. Decorate your tree, live or artificial, with non-combustible or flame resistant materials. Never use burning candles on or near your tree.

Whether your house is the most festive one on the block or you prefer a more low-key decorating style, make safety an important part of your decorating tradition. Don’t let your holiday story end with a decorating disaster.
Electrical safety awareness and education among consumers, families, employees, and communities will prevent electrical fires, injuries, and fatalities. Visit ESFI’s Virtual Home to learn more about home electrical safety.

Source: Electrical Safety Foundation International

Article submitted by Brennan Purdy of State Farm Insurance

My vision is to be an insurance professional whose actions are driven by keeping the customer's best interest as my primary goal. My staff will treat all my customers in a caring, friendly, and professional manner. My office will provide warm, efficient, and seamless services to our customers at all times. I expect my business to be comprised of knowledgeable, multiple-line customers who see my office as their first and best choice for all their insurance and financial service needs

For more information on these and other home safety tips, stop by my office or visit www.brennanpurdy.com. My office is conveniently located in downtown Bethel. 203-798-7300.                   211 Greenwood Avenue , Bethel, CT 06801

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Featured Home of the Week is at 125 Norton Road in Easton  for $1.4M. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

This Week's Edition of National Real Estate News 12/17/2012 (Video)

This week's national real estate news update -  - Declining foreclosures (Finally!) Concerns about the impending fiscal cliff, and mistakes NOT to make when pricing your home for sale.   Click here for more- about smart home technologies, home buying strategies and interest rates.

Click here for this months newsletter and our video news channel.

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like: Find out more about Judy here

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Home Fires; Prepare Now for a Fire-Safe Heating Season

Heating is the Second Leading Cause of Home Fires; Prepare Now for a Fire-Safe Heating Season.

With fall comes cooler temperatures and the resulting seasonal increase in the number of home heating fires. To help Americans understand the nature of the heating fire problem, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) today issued a special report: Heating Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010). Developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center, the report is based on data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).

According to the report released by the U.S. Fire Administration  on Residential Heating Fires :

•    An estimated average of 50,100 heating fires in residential buildings occurred in the United States each year and resulted in an annual average of approximately 150 deaths, 575 injuries, and $326 million in property loss.
•    Heating was the second leading cause of all residential building fires following cooking.
•    Residential building heating fires peaked in the early evening hours between 5 and 9 p.m. with the highest peak between 6 and 8 p.m. This 4-hour period accounted for 30 percent of all residential building heating fires.
•    Residential building heating fires peaked in January (21 percent) and declined to the lowest point during the summer months from June to August.
•    Confined fires, those fires confined to chimneys, flues, or fuel burners, accounted for 87 percent of residential building heating fires.
•    Thirty percent of the non-confined residential building heating fires occurred because the heat source was too close to combustibles.
Home heating fires are preventable! As heating season gets underway in many parts of the country, the USFA would like to remind everyone of the following safety tips:
•    Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
•    Use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
•    All heaters need space. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
•    Plug space heaters directly into outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip.
•    Install and maintain carbon monoxide (CO) alarms inside your home to provide early warning of CO.
Heating Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) is part of the Topical Fire Report Series. Topical reports explore facets of the United States fire problem as depicted through data collected in NFIRS. Each topical report briefly addresses the nature of the specific fire or fire-related topic, highlights important findings from the data, and may suggest other resources to consider for further information. Also included are recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues addressed in the report or that put the report topic in context.
For further information regarding other topical reports or fire prevention, visit the USFA website.

Article submitted by Brennan Purdy of State Farm Insurance

My vision is to be an insurance professional whose actions are driven by keeping the customer's best interest as my primary goal. My staff will treat all my customers in a caring, friendly, and professional manner. My office will provide warm, efficient, and seamless services to our customers at all times. I expect my business to be comprised of knowledgeable, multiple-line customers who see my office as their first and best choice for all their insurance and financial service needs

For more information on these and other home safety tips, stop by my office or visit www.brennanpurdy.com. My office is conveniently located in downtown Bethel. 203-798-7300.                   211 Greenwood Avenue , Bethel, CT 06801

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Featured Home of the Week is at 125 Norton Road in Easton  for $1.4M. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Sandy Hook Elementary- Our Prayers Are With You

Mere words cannot  express our grief for all those affected. Please keep all victims, survivors, first responders, rescuers, and the innocent children and adults in your prayers.

Connecticut Financing Update and Today's Mortgage Rates 12/14/2012

Rates are very appealing!  MBS are up +1/32 (FNMA 30-yr 3.0 at 104.20), which is about 4/32 higher than yesterday at this time. First unfavorable and later favorable repricing took place yesterday. This morning, November CPI fell 0.3% from October, below the consensus of -0.2%, and it was 1.8% higher than one year ago.  My personal recommendation is for everyone to start locking in rates for their home purchases or existing home loan refinancing if you are closing in the next week or so.

Today's Mortgage Rates

Conventional 30 year fixed          3.625%                APR 3.68%

Conventional 15 year fixed          3%                      APR 3.082%

Conventional 5/1 ARM                3.375%                APR 2.831%

Conventional 7/1 ARM                3.25%                  APR 2.787%

The above rates are based on a loan amount of $417,000 for a single family home, a borrower’s middle credit score of 780 and a 20% down payment.  If you would like a customized rate quote for your own specific loan scenario then please feel free to email me at nima@primeres.com or call me directly at 203.913.6016. 

 

As a lending professional, Nima Rezvan meets a wide range of real estate lending needs, whether it be a first time purchase, second home purchase, or refinance. He welcomes the opportunity to serve your needs with quick and accurate real estate financing advice. With his expertise and knowledge, he will make sure you understand the features associated with the loan program you choose and that it meets your unique financial situation.

With more than 10 years of mortgage lending experience, Nima specializes in  Conventional Mortgages,  Jumbo Loan Financing, Refinance, First Time Home Buyers and Federal Housing Administration/Veterans' Administration (FHA/VA)

782 Clinton Avenue

Bridgeport, CT 06604

Phone: 203.913.6016

Email: nima@primeres.com

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Featured Home of the Week is at 125 Norton Road in Easton  for $1.4M. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY