An Accident Just Waiting to Happen

You’re now considering putting your home on the market. You have done some painting, spruced up the interior and exterior and everything appears to look superb. However, many have forgotten one thing; the potential hazards that may exist inside and outside their homes. One must walk around your home to see if there are any possible areas where someone could trip, fall, break a leg, etc. whether it is a purchaser, agent, home inspector or appraiser, or even a friend or neighbor. The U.S. is the most litigious country on the Globe and lawsuits are commonplace, especially today with all that is going on in the world. There have been so many lawsuits due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Businesses like cruise lines, nursing homes, and others have had to be extremely careful with their safety and hygiene issues to keep their clients free from diseases and exposure to Covid-19. This has been an extremely taxing and challenging situation for all businesses and the costs have had a tremendous impact on the bottom line to keep people safe and healthy. Businesses have a legal duty to keep their premises cleaned regularly, sanitary, and safe for the public. Product safety has been and is a major concern and must be kept up to date so as not to pose an unreasonable risk to users. When using products, proper instructions must always be provided and adhered to for the safety of the public.

I would suggest that you should walk around your home to see what hazards exist, as you also are liable for anyone coming into your home, who might get hurt or worse result in death; even if you note “enter at your own risk.” toys, small objects on the floor, sharp corners, slippery floors, loose carpeting, or anything else that might cause harm to a visitor should be addressed and alleviated, especially when beginning the showings of your home for

Your Social Security

I mean when I say you are the one trying to get “unwarranted” benefits.

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BY PHILIP A. RAICES

sale. Once you have rectified any issues inside your home, then take a stroll around the exterior of your property to see what hazards might exist to cause future issues and potential lawsuits. Most important are your sidewalks and front and rear walkways. Is the cement, slate or pavers level on your sidewalks level? Are there any slabs that would cause anyone to trip and fall, potentially breaking a leg, or arm, or worse hitting their head causing them to have a concussion? This is your responsibility (not your local village or town) to make sure you protect the public from irreparable harm and injury. You should make sure that your homeowner’s insurance provides adequate coverage in the event of a claim. I always suggest to my seller clients to have an umbrella policy above their normal homeowner’s insurance, to provide higher limits of coverage, especially if you have assets and substantial income, for greater protection from potential lawsuits.

Many years ago, my first home was on North Road in Great Neck. We lived there for 8 years and decided to sell. I was working in my other business and was not home when showings were scheduled. One day an agent came in with a client to show and the agent stubbed her toe on our bricked area where our wood-burning stove was located in our living room. Unfortunately, she had broken her toe and initiated a lawsuit. I imagine our insurance covered the issue and things were settled. But since then, we carry an umbrella policy as one’s assets and income grow, one needs to carry enough insurance to be protected. One never knows who may come onto your property and what they do for a living and/or their income. What if a surgeon, CEO, CFO, or any high-end individual comes onto your property and has an unfortunate accident due to negligence on your part in keeping your residence safe for the public. They can’t work for an extended period of time or much worse die, your liability becomes a major problem and the costs inherent in a lawsuit. No one wants anyone to be hurt, but in today’s world, things happen and the only way to minimize and avoid major or even minor issues, is to make your property as bulletproof as possible from any and all liabilities. Most important is that insurance costs have risen dramatically over the last few years, especially if you are in a flood zone area. Check and see what you need to do before the next major storm or hurricane were to hit to make your home more sound, leak, and waterproof, by making sure the grade of your property is slanted away from your foundation, the roof is in excellent condition, windows are caulked and sealed properly. Gutters and leaders need to be free of debris, especially going into the fall, when leaves begin falling, so water doesn’t back up into your soffits, causing water damage inside your walls and home. So before listing your property for sale or even if you aren’t considering selling, survey your residence to determine if there are any hazards to you or the public, that might cause harm and injury to anyone, or increase your exposure to greater insurance costs. Replace, fix, and repair those issues that you may see so your coverage will not have to be used. Lastly, you might even consider having a home inspector check your home out from top to bottom to be sure of what is right and wrong with your place, especially if it is more than 20 years old. It will be the wisest and bestspent money that you will make.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 40 years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S.) and in 2022 has earned his National Association of Realtors “Green Industry designation for eco-friendly construction. He will provide you with “free” regular updates of sold and new homes in your town via the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island (MLSLI) or go to https://WWW. Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search on your own. For a “FREE” `15 minute consultation, as well as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached. He can also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and our Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.

You can email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your request or ideas, suggestions or interview you for a specific topic and a Q & A for a future column with your name, email and cell number. He will email or call you back and respond to your request ASAP as long as he has your complete name, cell, email and/or full home or business address. Again, for a “FREE” 15 minute consultation, he can also be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.Com to answer any of your questions and concerns in selling, investing, purchasing, or leasing residential or commercial property.