NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • Volume 13 • Issue 48
RE WEEKLY RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE • FARM • COMMERCIAL • AREA DEVELOPMENT 515-233-3299 • 317 5th Street, Ames • All REALTOR® ads within are REALTORS® licensed in the State of Iowa
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• AREA DEVELOPMENT • FARM • COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE 317 5th Street, Ames State of Iowa 515-233-3299 • ® licensed in the ® are REALTORS All REALTOR ads within
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RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE • FARM • COMMERCIAL 515-233-3299 • AREA DEVELOPMENT • 317
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day is about to get better business is about to get better
Maybe all your business needs is a strong cup o’marketing.
515-232-2160 | www.amestrib.thrivehive.com
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 28, 2018 • Page RE3
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TIPS OF THE WEEK TIP OF THE WEEK
3-D PRINTING
PESTS
READY FOR WINTER?
NEW TECH BENEFITS
PREP THE EXTERIOR
Apply the following tips from York HVAC to get your home ready for winter:
In addition to expanded design options, 3-D printing offers several other benefits, according to Kohler, including:
Some tips from Terminix on keeping pests out of your home this winter:
• To avoid frozen burst pipes, shut off any water lines tied to outdoor spigots and your sprinkler system if you have one. • Be sure your furnace is ready for the season. If it isn’t up to the test, replace it now before winter arrives. • Get a home energy audit to idenitify energy waste and provide suggestions on how to correct them.
• 3-D printed objects are structurally stronger because they are free of connection weaknesses and assembled to specifications. • 3-D printing utilizes only the amount of material necessary to create the object. The result is less waste and reduced environmental impact, which also favorably impacts a project’s bottom line.
• Seal possible entry points that could act as an access point for pests. • Keep your home’s exterior clear of debris. • Store trash in secure, sealed trash cans. • Check for signs of pest activity. — Brandpoint
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 28, 2018 • Page RE5
Fire safety for the home find an electrician to upgrade your breaker panel if you use lots of appliances and electronics. Inspect electrical items for problems: Frayed cords, melted or blackened outlets and damaged plugs. Connect space heaters directly to the outlet, never to an extension cord. Inspect your insulation.
Home insulation, normally a good thing, becomes risky when installed too close to recessed light fixtures and other electric devices. For protection, add a cylinder of flashing 4-feet or more wider than the fixture.
Thanksgiving is the biggest day of the year for fires in the home, with Christmas Day and Christmas Eve as close runners-up. [Wikimedia Commons] By Laura Firszt More Content Now
S
orry to bring this up just as we're looking forward to the festive season, but did you know house fires increase as the weather gets colder? Thanksgiving is the biggest day of the year for conflagrations in the home, with Christmas Day and Christmas Eve as close runners-up. Let’s keep the holidays happy with these house fire safety tips.
House fire prevention Cook ultra carefully. Unattended cooking — espe-
cially frying — is the number one cause of house fires. The National Fire Protection Association warns never to leave the kitchen while doing any type of cooking, and not to cook while sleepy or tipsy. Don’t smoke indoors. Smoking is another leading source of house fires. Even if you can’t quit, at least don’t smoke inside the home … and never, ever, ever smoke in bed. Use electric devices safely. Avoid dangerous overload;
Ensure furniture is firesafe. Modern materials
like engineered wood and synthetic upholstery can be hazardous. Check furniture’s fire resistance; certification by the Upholstered Furniture Action Council or California Bureau of Home Furnishings means it’s less combustible than the norm. Position at least 3-feet from heat source or open flame. Clean your chimney and fireplace at the start of the season. This helps remove flammable substances, such
as creosote deposits or animal nests, which could cause a chimney fire.
Fire protection technology Install smoke alarms near all sleeping rooms. Dual sensor house fire alarms detect smoldering fires as well as flames. They may alert you with a voice warning (which wakes sleeping children more reliably than a simple beep or siren) or a low-frequency sound or strobe lights (for hearing-impaired household members). Test alarms monthly and replace batteries twice a year. Install a home sprinkler system. Installing a sprinkler system in your residence cuts down on flames, smoke, and heat if a house fire occurs. The NFPA reports
BIGSTOCK
civilian death rate from fires drops 81 percent in homes with fire sprinklers. Injuries to our heroes, the firefighters, are also substantially reduced. Mist-type systems minimize water damage. Use smart house technology. Set up an early warning to your mobile phone for dangers like sudden extreme rises in indoor temperature (which may indicate a house fire), flood or intruders. Connect to your local first response station. Also useful: A motion-sensing device which switches off the stove when you’ve left the kitchen. Scan vital documents. Scan birth certificates, house deed or homeowners insurance not kept in a safety deposit box, then store securely on the Cloud. This simplifies replacement should fire destroy the originals. Register your will online with your state or private will registry service.
Low-tech safety prep Close your door. Keeping bedroom doors shut at night dramatically slows the spread of house fire. The UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute's public awareness campaign encourages everyone to "take the pledge" to close their door. I've taken the pledge. Please join me. Keep exits clear. Every sleeping area should have at least 2 doors or windows to get out (or let first responders in). Store an emergency ladder next to each upper-story bedroom window. Ensure your house number is easily visible. Make sure the digits are not faded, obscured by dirt or paint, or covered by foliage. This may shave all-important seconds off emergency personnel’s response time.
Keep a fire extinguisher on hand for small, contained fires, like trashcan flare-ups. Teach your family the PASS
formula:
• Pull pin. • Aim nozzle at fire’s base. • Squeeze trigger. • Sweep nozzle side-to-side. Get out fast. Don’t stop to grab prized possessions — your life is worth more. Have a household evacuation plan, reviewed via regular fire drills. Call the fire department once you're safely outside.
Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.
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When you’re ready . . . and it’s time to look beyond Online photos . . .
Visit a Real Open House! See This Week’s Complete Open House Schedule with Ames Open Houses Mapped for your convenience!
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Page RE8 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Realtors, do you want to reach a wider group of potential buyers? Advertise in the RE Weekly. In print and online.
Call Ali Eernisse 515-663-6956
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