Tom Ferry and Judy Szablak- Top Real Estate Trainer and Top Agent

Have you heard of Tom Ferry? .....Well, most home buyers and home sellers may not have heard of this brilliant man, but if you are in the real estate industry, his name is synonymous with success. So why do we mention him?

Yours truly, Judy Szablak,  met with Tom Ferry today in order to gain additional sales expertise, and discuss top sale strategies. By the way, Tom is one of the top three real estate trainers in the entire country.

Experts will tell you that education and training make the best agents, and Judy believes that her continued commitment to education and training is one of the biggest reasons she has remained so successful in her 28 years of experience in the real estate industry.

As a homebuyer or  home seller, you certainly deserve the best agent possible to handle your real estate needs. Best of all, Judy  doesn't charge any more for her services than the vast majority of agents.

Tom Ferry is a world-class success coach, motivational leader and best-selling author. Not only does he do a great deal of training for RE/MAX agents, he  coaches many of the top agents across the country.

If you are looking for a top Fairfield County Connecticut real estate agent who continually strives to strengthen her abilities, and with a proven track record, contact Judy today.

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County Connecticut? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

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

The Real Estate Market is Up- or Prices Have Dropped Again. Will the Experts Make Up Their Minds?

Oh.... so many analysts, and even more opinions as to what the real estate market is doing, or not doing, or going to do. Read one report, and everything is rosy. Read another, and the market is worse off than it was nine years ago.

Up, down. Good, bad. Rosy, bleak. The "noise" is deafening.

There are (probably TOO) many companies and/or agencies besides the experts and analysts that report on the real estate market.  Do not trust everything that you read. Even the most seemingly reliable of sources do not get it right. Professionaly speaking,  I would consider the top three most reliable national real estate market sources as:

Case-Shiller, Realtor.org, and Zillow* (but only for its Zillow Home Forecast, and NOT for individual home values)

The Case Shiller indices comes out on the last Tuesday of every month and has a two month lag time.  S&P/Case Shiller  covers 20 MSA's (Metropolitan Statistical Areas).

Realtor.org has two reports that are of significance - The Pending Home Sales Index released on the fourth Thursday of the month- which is a forward indicator of properties scheduled to close, and the Existing Home Sale Report, which is  released on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Both reports are for the month prior.

Zillow does a great job of forecasting, although if you type in a homes address to obtain a value, there is a good possibility it will NOT be correct. They do disclaim a margin of error for individual home values, but again, their easy to understand and  substantive forecasts/reports are well researched and quite informative.

Bear in mind that while the national reports are relevant in large areas, real estate still is QUITE  hyper local.  I read a report today (that prompted me to write this article) where I could not believe what I saw- What one  organization calls mid-tier properties in various towns would be considered the LOW END in those towns. I won't call them on the carpet for it- they did their best. It's just plainly wrong. All of the data they included certainly looked like a lot of work, but I know full well that none of it is relevant. The shame is that unsuspecting readers will assume that the information is correct, and base VERY IMPORTANT decisions on that.

If you live in , or are intending to live in an area, look for a consistency in reporting by a local agent who has a good handle on the market. (Like me!)

We service Easton, Fairfield, Norwalk, Trumbull and Westport, as well as their surrounding areas, and our market reports are delivered weekly, with monthly , quarterly and annual recaps. Check our local town blogs for that towns market forecast, too.

When you want local expert reports, TheCTrealtyBlog.com is the place to go to get them. When you need a local expert realtor, we are here for you, too.  Just contact us when you're ready.

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Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County Connecticut? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

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

Your Connecticut Home And The Dangers of Lightning

It is hurricane season,  and the storms have been upon us  or a few days. While most people are aware of the threat of lightning, and the damage it can cause, there may be a few things you didn't know about it that are of the utmost importance.

Lightning is the "visible discharge of static electricity within a cloud, between clouds or between the earth and a cloud," as defined by Underwriters Laboratories. Lightning is unpredictable and a serious threat to buildings and their occupants virtually everywhere.

 

Facts about lightning:

• Benjamin Franklin invented the first lightning rod in 1752 –- a kite outfitted with a metal key -- while waiting impatiently for the completion of a church on top of which he would mount a lightning rod.
• Lightning comes up from the earth –- as well as down from the cloud -- from high vertical features such as chimneys and trees.
• A typical lightning bolt carries 50,000 amps, tens of millions of volts, and can reach 50,000° F. “Superbolts” may be 100 times more powerful than typical bolts, and travel much farther, too; one such superbolt went from Waco to Dallas, Texas, after having traveled about 118 miles.
• According to the National Weather Service, of the 34 people killed by lightning in the United States in 2009, all were outside when they were struck. Thus, homes provide a great deal of safety against lightning strikes. Interestingly, the same report indicates that 82% of lightning casualties were male. 
• Permanent injuries caused by lightning strikes are predominantly neurological and can include sleep disorders, attention deficits, numbness, dizziness, irritability, fatigue, depression, and an inability to sit for long periods of time.
• Between 2002 and 2005, lightning caused an annual average of $213 million in property damage.

Types of dangers from lightning to houses and occupants:

• damaged appliances from power surges;
• electrocution risk for occupants;
• fire risk to the building and occupants;
• damage to the structure from water used to douse the fire by the fire department; and
• damage to the structure and endangered health from mold colonies, if the building was not dried quickly following fire suppression.

Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST)

CSST is a relatively new type of gas tubing that has been widely installed in houses and in commercial applications in recent years. Its small diameter makes it flexible and relatively easy to install when compared with traditional, rigid, heavy-walled pipes, although this same quality is believed to make it susceptible to fire due to lightning strikes. Lightning that travels down the CSST can burn holes in the tubing and allow gas leakage and fire. In the worst cases, gas leaks have led to disastrous gas explosions. CSST has been found to be susceptible to damage from direct and even nearby lightning strikes.

These claims have lead to a class-action lawsuit against manufacturers of CCST (Titeflex, Ward, OmegaFlex and Parker Hannifin) installed in homes as of September 5, 2006. Plaintiffs claim that the CSST tubing is not thick enough to prevent becoming damaged in the event of a lightning strike, and that CSST manufacturers failed to warn consumers about such dangers. The defendants claim that CSST is safe if properly installed, in accordance with local codes and the manufacturers’ instructions. According to the Lightning Protection Institute, dangerous CSST has been installed in more than a million homes in the United States.

Identification of CSST

Typically, these products may be visible in attic spaces, along floor joists, above basements, or connected to exposed appliances, such as water heaters. The piping can be identified by its manufacturer’s mark, each of which are listed below:

• OmegaFlex's CSST is stamped with the marks “TRACPIPE” or “COUNTERSTRIKE.”
• Parker Hannifin's CSST is stamped with the mark “PARFLEX.”
• Titeflex's CSST is stamped with the mark “GASTITE.”
• Ward's CSST is stamped with the mark “WARDFLEX.”

Additional bonding to ground is recommended for houses with CSST.

 

Safety tips for clients during thunderstorms:

• Unplug sensitive appliances, such as computers and telephones, from electrical outlets and phone lines. Surge protectors are helpful, but they should not be relied upon during a storm.
• Stay off corded phones, computers, and other electronic equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity. If you are unable to unplug them, turn them off. Lightning may strike nearby electric or phone lines and enter your home.  
• Unplug other appliances, such as air conditioners.
• Stay away from windows.
• Avoid washing your hands, bathing, doing laundry, and washing dishes -- activities that put you in direct contact with running water.

Lightning Protection Systems

Lightning protection systems are devices intended to divert lightning into low-resistance paths to or from the earth and away from non-conducting parts of a structure. For specific inspection instructions regarding these systems, see the National Fire Protection Agency’s NFPA-780.

Lightning Rods

Metal rods are fastened to the building to intercept electric discharges that might otherwise strike a building component itself, such as a chimney or metal roof. Electrical discharges striking the air terminal are directed through metal conductors to a grounding system and thence into the earth.

 

Controversy has existed for centuries concerning whether lightning rods should have blunt or sharp tips. Recent studies have found that moderately blunt metal rods are better lightning-strike receptors than sharper rods or very blunt rods.

 

 

In summary, lightning can be very dangerous to homes and occupants, although devices and measures exist to limit this danger.

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

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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.

Transferring Homeowner's Insurance When You Move in CT

We all know how stressful moving can be: There’s a massive list of tasks to perform. So it’s no surprise that making new insurance arrangements might not jump out as your first priority.

But do yourself a favor: Don’t wait. The process isn't as tough as it seems. Below are a few key questions to investigate about moving and insurance. They don't cover everything, but they should get you going in the right direction.

1. Have You Talked To Your Agent?

If you're happy with your insurance company, give your agent a call. Your agent should be able to tell you whether you'll need to find a new agent and how to transfer your policies to your new address.
If you want to find a State Farm agent in your new neighborhood, you can use the Find an Agent app to search by ZIP Code. You'll see a map of offices and a list of agent profiles, including contact info.

2. What About New Insurance? And Transferring Insurance?

Talking with an agent is the best way to find out what you’ll need to do to get new insurance or transfer your insurance to your new address. Your agent will also help you understand insurance requirements in your new location.
If you're moving between states, keep in mind that insurance coverage varies across states. For example, in California, due to the high frequency of earthquakes, you need to take special precautions to make sure your home is safe and secure in case an earthquake occurs. That’s not the case in Indiana! Different states also have different auto insurance laws, and if you’re moving to a new state, you’ll need a new auto insurance policy – plain and simple.
Most state laws require you to have homeowner’s insurance before you even buy a home. If you’re covered by State Farm, you should be able to get a prorated credit from your old homeowner’s policy when you’re signing up for a new one in a new state.

3. Are Your Possessions Covered While You’re Moving?

Depending on how you've chosen to move – hired movers, rental truck, a portable container, or DIY in the back of your old Honda – your property may or may not be covered between the time it leaves your home and arrives at its final destination. Some homeowner policies will cover your property everywhere, regardless of whether it’s in your home, or in a moving truck. Other policies won't cover anything once it’s out your door. So double-check your policy or call your agent.
If your own insurance policy won't cover your property, you can get coverage through your moving company. By federal law, moving companies have to offer supplemental insurance for your property that will cover a set percentage of replacement costs, but you’ll need to increase that amount to get full coverage.

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

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Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County Connecticut? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

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

Did You Know That Septic System Insurance is Available?

If the house of your dreams has a septic system, and you know nothing about them,  AND the fear of the unknown just makes you too nervous to move forward, rest peacefully and go ahead and buy that house. There IS such a thing as septic system insurance.  

If you haven't grown up in a house with a septic system, or have some concerns about having a septic system in your new home, this is a terrific option that not too many people know even exists.

While I cannot tell you that this particular company insures systems outside of Connecticut, I do know that they service Fairfield County and Southwestern Connecticut.

Their program will insure your septic system for up to $25,000 for repair and/or replacement and has a $500 claim deductible.  AS I understand pricing plans differ, but they are all affordable.

There are also some prerequisites, including an inspection by a certified Septic Inspector, and a mandatory cleaning, but it is certainly worth a call or inquiry.

If you have a question about buying a home, and want an agent that has answers, Call me. Simple as that.

Judy Szablak and/or REMAX make no express warrantees regarding this insurance.  If this is something you are interested in, contact this company, or other companies that offer plans that suit your needs.

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County? We'd be honored to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

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