Why You Should Create a Home Inventory Whether You are Selling or Not

A home inventory is an excellent way to expedite the claims process after an insured theft, damage, or loss. This inventory can take several forms, but usually it’s a list of the insurable items in your home, along with information about each item’s value. If you do experience a property loss, your inventory will assist in the settlement of a covered loss or claim. Here are a few tips to help get you started.

Choose A Method

There are several ways to create an effective home inventory.

Perhaps the easiest do-it-yourself solution is to make a video walk-through or take a series of photographs of your home. This visual record can stand alone as your inventory, but for added security combine the photos with another inventory method. For example, you could fill out a home inventory checklist (pdf). Appropriate versions are available online or through your insurer.

There are several digital methods as well. To customize your information, create a home inventory spreadsheet on your home computer. For greater efficiency but a bit less flexibility, purchase a home inventory software program or sign up for an online inventory program. Look for programs that walk you through the inventory process, including attaching digital photos.

The most convenient method – but also the most expensive – is to hire a home inventory company. If you choose this option, be sure to check the credentials of candidate companies carefully.

What Items Should You Include?

Your home inventory should support the claims process for events ranging from the total loss of your home by fire, or other named perils, to the burglary of a few specific items.

A good way to ensure proper coverage is to move from room to room, recording items as you go. Pay special attention to the most valuable items, such as antiques, jewelry, and electronic equipment. Also, don’t forget to include items in your basement, attic, garage, and any detached structures such as tool sheds.

If you have any questions about which possessions are covered by your policy, contact your insurance agent.

Record Information

To establish the ownership and value of your property, your home inventory should include as much of the following information as possible:

•What: Identify the insurable items in your house, either by room or by type. Provide a brief description of each item, including brand name, model name, and serial number. Establish ownership by attaching receipts and/or photos whenever possible. Update your inventory regularly to add or remove items.

•When: Record the purchase or acquisition date for each item. Attach receipts, when possible.

•How much: Attach receipts, credit card statements, or other documents of transaction. For appraisals on items such as antiques, art, jewelry and collectibles, be sure to include the name and address of the appraiser.

Make Backup Copies

Don’t let your home inventory become part of a property loss. Whichever inventory method you choose, be sure to keep a copy in a bank safe deposit box or other secure location away from your home.

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

And a note From Judy: If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

$26 Billion Dollar Foreclosure Settlement

Exciting news this week for struggling Homeowners, the States Negotiate a $26 Billion Agreement for Homeowners. See the article in the New  York Times by clicking here.

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  To learn more about Only Closings and how they can help you quickly close a property transaction, call them at 203-563-9677 or visit them online at www.OnlyClosings.com

*The content within the "Tip-of-the-Week" is strictly for informational purposes and not intended to be interpreted and/or used as legal advice. Only Closings and OnlyClosings.com is a service provided by Tamara L. Peterson Attorney at Law LLC.

And a note From Judy: If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Do You Have Hard Water in Your Connecticut Home?

Water "hardness" refers to the level of minerals found in a home’s water supply.  Hard water results when an excessive amount of minerals, chiefly calcium and magnesium, are dissolved into water as it passes through soil and rock. The degree of hardness becomes greater as the mineral content increases. Hard water presents numerous mechanical and aesthetic problems in homes, but it is not considered a health hazard to humans.

 

Identifying Hard Water

The best way to determine whether or not a home has hard water is to have it tested. For homes served by municipal water systems, you can ask the water supplier about the hardness level of the water they deliver. Private water supplies can be tested for hardness. However, hard water (especially if it is excessively hard) can be detected by inspectors and their clients through the negative effects it has on a home. The most common problems associated with hard water are:

• poor washing machine performance. Clothes washed in hard water often look dingy and feel scratchy or stiff. Continuous laundering in hard water can damage fibers and shorten the lifespan of clothes;
• a mineral ring around the tip of a faucet or in a toilet bowl;
• unsightly, whitish scale deposits in pipes, water heaters, tea kettles, pots, silverware and dishes;
• calcification of taps and shower- heads;
• inefficient and costly operation of water-using appliances. Pipes can become clogged with scale that reduces water flow, ultimately requiring pipe replacement. Crystalline deposits (limescale) have been known to increase energy bills considerably;
• soap curd and scum in washbasins and bathtubs. Bathing with soap in hard water leaves a film of sticky soap curd on the skin, which may prevent removal of soil and bacteria. Soap curd on hair may make it dull, lifeless and difficult to manage. Soap curd also interferes with the return of skin to its normal, slightly acid condition, and may lead to irritation; and
• limescale in solar heating systems. Solar heating, often used to heat swimming pools, is prone to limescale buildup, which can reduce the efficiency of the electronic pump.

Hard Water Concentration Levels

Descriptions of water hardness correspond with ranges of mineral concentrations, as measured below in parts per million (ppm):

Description of Water Hardness Level

Harness Level	Concentration of harness minerals in grains per gallon (gpg)	Milligrams per liter (mg/l) or parts per million (ppm)
Soft	less than 1	less than 17
Slightly Soft	1 - 3.5	17 - 60
Moderately Hard	3.5 - 7	61 - 120
Hard	7 - 10.5	121 - 180
Very Hard	more than 10.5	more than 180

Note that since water's acidity and temperature partly determines the behavior of hard water, a single-number scale does not adequately describe the realistic effects of hard water on household components.

Hard Water and Human Health

The World Health Organization reports, " There does not appear to be any convincing evidence that water hardness causes adverse health effects in humans. In contrast, the results of a number of epidemiological studies have suggested that water hardness may protect against disease." The report further states that hard water often contributes a small amount toward total calcium and magnesium human dietary needs. 

Geographic Distribution of Hard Water in the U.S.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, softest waters are in the Pacific Northwest, parts of New England, the South Atlantic-Gulf states, and Hawaii. Moderately hard waters are common in many rivers of Alaska and Tennessee, in the Great Lakes region, and the Pacific Northwest. Hardest waters (greater than 1,000 mg/L) are measured in streams in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Arizona and Southern California.

Treatment:  Softeners and Conditioners

Water softeners remove unwanted minerals through an ion-exchange process. Incoming hard water passes through a tank of ion- exchange beads that are super-saturated with sodium. The calcium and magnesium ions in the water attach to the resin beads, replacing the sodium, which is then released into the water. The softened water is subsequently distributed for use throughout the house, but it may be unsuitable for drinking due to its high sodium content.

In water conditioners, by contrast, calcium ions remain suspended in the water as small particles, but their tendency to form limescale is diminished. This system allows the benefit that the calcium, which is a good dietary mineral, remains in the water. Water conditioners are more controversial and they do not work in every situation.

In summary, the common problem of hard water is easy to spot and mitigate.

by Nick Gromicko and Rob London

Nick Gromicko, FOUNDER. http://www.nachi.org
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) is the world's most elite, non-profit inspection association.
President, ComInspect, www.cominspect.com
Director, Master Inspector Certification Board, www.certifiedmasterinspector.org
Author, 15 books and Co-Host of  http://www.NACHI.TV

And a note From Judy: If you have a question about buying or selling a home in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

USEFUL LOCAL LINKS:

About Local Water Quality

Water Quality Reports

 

Don't Fall into the Trap of Listing Your Home For the Highest Price

It's time! You have decided to put your home on the market, and of course you want to get the highest price possible. Agents want to get you the highest price possible, too.

BUT....

You must look at the comparables, and past sales history for your town and your style of home, along with a square footage analysis.  A detailed analysis will most certainly point to the correct number for the market, but  you may not like what the numbers point to,  and there are many agents who will tell you what you want to hear, rather than tell you the truth.

They do that to ensure that they will get the listing, and control the sale. The only problem is that if you list with the "highest bidder", your home will not sell, because it will be overpriced for the market.  This is a trap that way too many home sellers fall into.  That is, listening to the agent and hiring the agent who cannot back up their claim to be able to get you the highest price for your home.

The appraiser that comes out on behalf of the buyer's chosen bank will only look at comparable sales within the last six months. If you or your agent are comparing your home with a sale that happened outside of that six month window, remember, the appraisers will not even consider that. So on the off chance that you do get a buyer for your home at a price that is higher than the market would generally bear,  a low appraisal would negate that sale. You have heard of appraisals that come in low?  Either the transaction falls apart, or you will have to reduce your price. It becomes a big mess.

When you interview  an agent to price your home, remember  these facts. the highest price that am agent tells you  is not always the correct figure,  or most honest one.

If you would like an honest market evaluation, contact me. You  can most certainly make future plans with confidence with me.

And a note From Judy: If you have a question about buying or selling a home in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Connecticut Condominium Unit Owners Need Property Insurance, Too

You finally decided that your residence should be a condominium. Condos can be an appropriate choice for a number of reasons – fewer maintenance worries and no yard work are only some of the benefits. But, what about insurance on your property?

In most cases, homeowners insurance differs from condominium unit owners insurance. Homeowners insurance protects the building structure and the items inside, whereas condominium unit owners insurance protects the items you keep within your unit. Also, unit owners insurance may be needed to protect any additions or alterations you have made to your unit.

Know your responsibility. The condominium association insures the building structures and the common areas, like the club house or the swimming pool with the master policy. But master policies vary widely and it’s important to read the bylaws and know what is covered by your association and what items are your responsibility to insure.

As a unit owner, there are several insurance coverage options to consider.

•    Personal property – protects personal items such as clothing and furniture
•    Building property – protects the additions or alterations you made to your unit
•    Loss of use – coverage for the necessary costs to maintain your standard of living after a major fire, tornado or another insured catastrophe
•    Personal liability – protects you if someone makes a claim or brings a lawsuit against you for bodily injury or property damage for which you or a member of your family are responsible
•    Rentals: If you own a unit that is rented to another party most of the time, ask your insurance agent about any special insurance coverage arrangements

Learn to protect your personal property while living safely within your condominium community.

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