Making Your Home More Safe, Secure in ‘06

So, what’s your resolution for the New Year?

Losing weight? Exercising more? Forget about it. Let’s focus on something that might actually happen, and that is enormously beneficial — keeping your home safe and in good working over, conserving time, money and energy in the process. As with all resolutions, realistic goals are easier to achieve. Prioritize your home improvement projects according to importance, protecting yourself from injury — financial and physical — above all else. With this in mind, the Florida Home Loan staff has put together a list of attainable goals for 2006…

MAKE SURE FIRE AND SMOKE WILL BE DETECTED
Rule #1: Get smoke detectors, if you don’t have them already. Rule #2: Look carefully at the ones you currently use. Simple as it sounds, it’s shocking how many people don’t do it.

Older homes often have them in common hallways outside bedrooms, but this alone does not provide adequate projection. The devices should really be installed on every level of the house — including the basement and every individual bedroom. No matter how many you have in your home, consider replacing them with newer models if yours are more than a decade old. New models often contain wireless systems that will trigger all alarms if one goes off, enabling children and seniors (who would, theoretically, be less likely to wake up) to be that much safer.

If you have enough smoke detectors, and they are in the right places… sorry, this safety step doesn’t end there. Check them at least once a month and be sure they are dusted, cumbersome as it may be to do so. The alarms are of no good if they aren’t functional, after all, and dust will take its toll over time. Testing them with actual smoke — not just the “test” button, which only determines if the power is on — is also a good idea on occasion.

AVOIDING THE SLIPS AND FALLS
It may surprise you to learn (or perhaps you know from experience) that an inordinate number of Floridians injure themselves at home each year. Slips and falls that could be easily avoided are among the leaders in this undesirable category. The leading area of occurrance? You got it, the bathroom. A simple “non-skid” mat that costs under $10 is a great idea to keep trips to the tub accident-free. The other way to minimize problems in this realm is — sorry, guys — to clean the thing regularly. Hey, at least it’s cheap.

While Florida real estate owners are, by and large, free of the ice and snow that compound the problem up North, other nasty sources of injury are pathways and decks upon which mold and slimy moss grow. The stuff is especially prone to dark places, such as steps and corners. A mild mixture of bleach, laundry detergent and water — again, cheap stuff you probably have on hand anyway — can clear these areas up quickly. A power washer makes it even easier, as does a coat of sealer during the less humid months.

UNDERSTAND CARBON MONOXIDE
Scarily, the first warning sign of this colorless, odorless gas is often death. It is a byproduct of poor combustion, and you can (and should) do a lot more to combat it than not running the car in the garage with the door shut. Protect yourself by having all fuel-burning appliances (stove, water heater, furnace, et cetera) tested. Flames should burn bright blue, and anything short of that serves as a negative indicator. Most utility companies will perform inspections on these applicances for free or for nominal fees, so take advantage. There are also detectors that can (and should) be installed, throughout the house, relatively cheaply.

If you are in the market for a Florida home loan for the first time, make certain that you check an existing property for potential carbon monoxide threats during the home inspection. Be advised that an inspector may not perform adequate tests unless asked (and, possibly, paid additional money). They are not requried by law to test for many things a new buyer would consider important, making it vitally important to read the fine print.

UPGRADE EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Motion sensors are not only a great way to guard against theft, but to project yourself from stumbling in the dark and hurting yourself. As much as this may seem like the understatement of the year, statistics show that most homes do not have exterior, motion-activated lights and that thousands of injuries take place every year as a result. They can be installed as add-ons to most existing lighting fixtures, at relatively little cost. Low-voltage path lighting is another way of preventing both negative scenarios without racking up the electric bills. Consider other ways to combat rising utility costs by making your home more environmentally friendly.

REMEMBER THAT HURRICANE SEASON IS ANNUAL
All is right with the world in Florida right now, as the mild temperatures and reasonably long days are enough to make just about everyone else in the U.S. jealous. But come late summer, the storms (such as last year’s Katrina, Wilma & friends) will invariably strike again. Be sure you are prepared, whether that means reading over the complex policies set forth by your condo association, reviewing your personal homeowners insurance policy, or completing any repairs that will keep you safer and stave off wind and rain-initiated damage in 2006.

FOLLOW THE MARKET
Okay, so this last piece of advice doesn’t pertain to your home as a physical entity. But maybe it indirectly will. Even if you are not a first-time buyer looking to purchase your first place, your ability to stay on top of market trends could allow you to best leverage your home equity to embark on additional home improvement projects. A low interest rate makes all the difference in this game. You may also be able to refinance your property (or purchase a second, investment property) if Florida home loan rates stay lower than expected. Bottom line? It can’t hurt, so stay on top of things! Good luck in 2006!