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Home Security

Don Scott

2008-07-01 15:11:00

Question: When buying a house is there really a need to have additional home inspections other then the actual appraisal?

Answer: Absolutely, depending on the financing you’ve selected, there should be at least 2 or 3 separate inspections on the home you’re looking to purchase. The obvious and first should be your own basic inspection; the second should be performed by a professional whole-house inspector. Back to the financing, should you select a government loan (FHA or VA), a third inspection may be required, and should come at the time of the appraisal, which in reality amounts to a “mini-inspection.” Please do not rely on the appraisal as your only inspection of the property! Many home buyers, for whatever reason, maybe the desire to save the $200 to $500 which is normally what a good inspection would cost, or due to simple ignorance, have spent large amounts of money repairing items that any good home inspector would have made them aware of. Remember when buying a home any offer to purchase should be contingent upon (subject to) a whole house inspection with a satisfactory report. Please do not let anyone (the agent, your family or friends, and especially the seller) discourage you from having the property thoroughly inspected! Not only will you rest much easier after your family has moved into the house, a professional inspection can give you an escape from a contract on a defective house. -If the contract is written contingent on an acceptable inspection, any defects in the home must be either repaired or compensated for. If you are not happy or dissatisfied, you have the option to cancel the contract. Remember inspections are for your peace of mind, they are designed to disclose any defects in the property that could affect its safety, comfort, or resale value. They are not however designed to disclose cosmetic deficiencies, such as an interior wall that may need some paint touch up. Items of this nature are something you should be prepared to determine on your own that will need attention: don’t expect a whole house inspection to reveal them to you. Another very important thought, do not wait until you have placed an offer on a house before you search for a quality home inspector. There is usually a time limit in the contract designating when the inspection must be completed by (typically between 7 and 14 days). If you start trying to find an inspector after the offer you may not be able to find an acceptable one that can schedule an inspection in the time frame required. At this point you will only have two choices: go with an inspector that is not your first choice, or run the risk of running past the deadline for the inspection (which could void any chance having the seller take care of repairs). Neither is an acceptable alternative!

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Home Security

Don Scott

2008-04-01 12:10:00

QUESTION: Most people think of attic insulation only in the winter months, is it necessary in the summer as well?

ANSWER: Since hot air rises most people think of attic insulation only during the winter months, and its association with heat. Remember insulation is a material used to slow down heat flow, and it works all year long to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient. In the winter, it slows heat loss and helps prevent condensation build up in your home. During summer months, insulation reduces heat gain and helps keep your home cool. Adding insulation to your home can cut your heating and cooling. Before you add any insulation to your attic, you need to know how much insulation is already there. This is simply done by measuring the thickness of your attic’s existing insulation. Older homes normally have between 3” and 6” of fiber glass blanket insulation. As a way to maximize the energy efficiency of both new and existing homes, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published R-value recommendations based on specific heating and cooling needs and the cost of energy across the country. R-30 value is normally the minimum; however with the Kansas extremes, most recommend at least an R-49 value. It’s important to know that the DOE recommendations represent the necessary R-values to optimize your home’s energy efficiency. You may find that these recommendations differ from the building codes. State energy codes are merely minimum insulation requirements for new construction. If you’re going to be adding insulation yourself the following tips can make the job much easier, safer, and more efficient. First, some temporary flooring should be laid across the joists to provide some footing, and a temporary work light should be used to offer adequate lighting. Install the insulation at the outer edge of the attic space and work toward the center. This allows for more headroom in the center of the space, where cutting and fitting can be done. It’s also a good idea not to get “insulated into a corner” where it will be hard to get back to the attic entry way If the joist cavities are completely filled, lay the new insulation in long runs perpendicular to the direction of the joists, and use leftover pieces for small spaces. If the cavity is not completely filled, use the appropriate thickness of insulation to fill it to the top, and then add an additional layer of insulation in the perpendicular direction. The insulation should extend far enough to cover the tops of the exterior walls, but should not block the flow of air from the eave vents. To make sure the eave vents aren’t blocked, attic vents or baffles should be installed to provide unrestricted air flow from the soffit to the attic. Insulation should be kept three inches away from recessed lighting fixtures unless the fixture is marked “I.C.” (Insulated Ceiling), which is designed for direct contact with the insulation. If insulation is placed over an unrated fixture, it may cause the fixture to overheat and perhaps start a fire. Also, the insulation should always be installed at least three inches away from any metal chimneys, gas water heater flues or other heat-producing devices. Around masonry chimneys or other areas that have small openings, stuff these spaces with small pieces of unfaced insulation, which will not burn

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Home Security

Don Scott

2008-04-01 11:37:00

Question: What are some things I can do this spring to make my home safer, especially if small children are involved?

Answer: There are several things to do this time of year, one of the most important one is to have the HVAC unit serviced and cleaned. To get ready for the spring showers make sure the gutters are clear and the downspouts extend out at least 5 feet from the house. You might have to add a little dirt around the foundation to assure that water runs away from the house. Inspect the walkways and sidewalks to see if any of the winter freezing has shifted any cement and made any trip hazards. Since we changed the clock did you check your smoke detector battery? You should have and you need to test it at least once a month Regarding safety and children here are some things you might want to consider. The National Center for Health Statistics says that children under 14 are seven times more likely to die from an accidental injury than a homicide. However, many parents have the misconception that violent acts (things over which they have no control) such as kidnappings, shootings and drugs pose greater dangers to their children than injuries, according to polls. Nonetheless, injuries are the number one killer and disabler of children. Today there are things parents can do to control the impact of many injuries. One out of every four children suffers a preventable injury that requires medical attention. There are things that can be done to prevent these kinds of serious injuries. Turn down your water heater thermostat to between 120 degrees and 125 degrees to prevent scalding; this will also save on your heating bill. Did you know many houseplants are toxic? Find out which ones are and, if you have any of them, remove them from your home. This, I feel is very important, make the garage off limits. But just in case, be sure any potentially dangerous items are stored out of reach and/or locked up. And please remove firearms from your home. If you must have them, keep the ammunition locked in a strongbox stored away from the gun. Remove or keep tightly closed 4- to 6-gallon buckets or pails; a child can fall into this size bucket and drown in just a few inches of water. Everyone is aware of childproof covers on electrical outlets, but do we use them? Keep hallways and exits well lit and clear of obstructions. Shorten cords on window blinds, or use cord windup devices to prevent strangulation hazards. Keep windows and doors locked to keep kids from climbing out or jamming their fingers. Make sure doors that are in frequent use cannot be locked. Use foam devices that cling to the door’s edge and prevent crushed fingers. We’ve all seen this happen in the movies where someone runs into, or through a sliding glass door. It’s funny there, but not in real life, this contributes to many serious injuries. Apply decals or decorations to sliding glass doors. Here’s something most never think about, but this is a contributing factor to many falls inside the home. Throw rugs or area rugs sliding or bunching up causing one to trip. Attach nonskid backing to area rugs. Stairways are one of the most dangerous places in the house for small children or even the elderly. Install a self-latching lock on your basement door. If you do not have a door, put safety gates at the tops and bottoms of stairways. Gates--especially the one at the top--should be well secured so they won’t give way when pushed. Stay away from accordion gates that can pinch fingers. Keep stairs free of clutter, and remember carpeted stairs are much safer. These are just a few things to think about, but remember common sense goes a long way to keeping your house safe, and comfortable. More next month.

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Home Security

Jimmie Alcorn

2003-07-01 13:54:00

:  There must be a dozen or more home security companies in our area. Can there be that much difference between them? 

Question:  There must be a dozen or more home security companies in our area. Can there be that much difference between them?  Answer:  Aside from the obvious things you would want from any company such as reputation, experience, and professionalism, there are some things on the system itself that can be important.  1. Products need to meet or exceed industry standards such as an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listing. 2. Be sure the system has a solid warranty package.  If something does go wrong, there will be no hassles in getting a replacement product. 3. Price is always a concern.  When getting quotes, be sure to compare apples to apples. Some companies advertise entry level systems that provide minimal protection as a 'leader' item.  This may be fine for a studio apartment. However, a system for a home requires more. Be prepared to purchase additional items that will customize the system for your home. This may mean adding additional burglary protection, fire protection and convenience such as a second or third keypad. When customizing your system… determine what is best for your family and your situation. It is important to discuss what type of protection will best blend into your lifestyle. Are there particular areas of your home that will need additional security? If so, you may want a system that offers partitioning capability. This means that the system can be set up so security in certain special areas can be different from the rest of the house. For example, if you have valuable jewelry in your bedroom or a gun room that needs to be protected, the system can keep these areas armed, even when the rest of the house is disarmed. 4. Choose a system that is easy to operate. You want to combine the most advanced technology with the simplest operation. What good is a system if it's so complicated you find it hard to use? The easiest systems to use report the status of each zone in plain English, requiring no blinking lights or numbered codes. For instance, if your son left a window open, the keypad would signal, "Fault - Pete's Bedroom Window," eliminating the guesswork. This issue of simplicity is especially important if younger children are going to use the system. Some products can be programmed so that a child can press just one button instead of a four digit code to operate some functions of the security system. Once you have selected the features you would like, you should be familiar with how a security system operates. The brains and communications of the system are contained in the control panel. This panel is a metal box housing the electronics and is often hidden from sight, in a closet for example. Various kinds of sensors are connected to the control panel from their locations around the home. There are sensors for two basic types of protection: perimeter and interior. Perimeter protection sensors are located at the vulnerable entry points of the home, such as doors and accessible windows. These would include magnetic contacts and glassbreak sensors. Interior sensors detect motion inside your home. One example would be a Passive Infrared Detector (PIR) which detects motion through body heat. There are also devices called dual technology detectors. In order for these to sound an alarm, two technologies have to be tripped such as PIR and microwave. These are traditionally used in harsh environments. Smoke and fire detectors are other types of interior protection since they are located inside, usually high on walls or ceilings. When a sensor reports a "catch" to the control panel, it analyzes the report to determine which sensor it came from and whether the problem is an intruder, fire or an emergency. After this quick analysis, the control panel can sound a siren or activate lights, and can alert a 24-hour monitoring service, which in turn can verify the alarm and dispatch police, fire or medical help as necessary. Typically, the monitoring service is notified by a digital message sent over regular telephone lines. To protect against phone line failures or line cuts, a radio service known as AlarmNet provides additional security and will permit a signal to be transmitted even if the phone line is cut. To operate the alarm system, you use the security keypad. From the keypad you give commands to the control panel to activate or deactivate the system. The most traditional form of a security console is the keypad. This is often located near frequently used entrance doors.

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Home Security

Jimmie Alcorn

2001-07-01 16:07:00

Question: There must be a dozen or more home security companies in our area. Can there be that much difference between them?

Answer:  Aside from the obvious things you would want from any company such as reputation, experience, and professionalism, there are some things on the system itself that can be important.  1. Products need to meet or exceed industry standards such as an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listing. 2. Be sure the system has a solid warranty package.  If something does go wrong, there will be no hassles in getting a replacement product. 3. Price is always a concern.  When getting quotes, be sure to compare apples to apples. Some companies advertise entry level systems that provide minimal protection as a 'leader' item.  This may be fine for a studio apartment. However, a system for a home requires more. Be prepared to purchase additional items that will customize the system for your home. This may mean adding additional burglary protection, fire protection and convenience such as a second or third keypad. When customizing your system… determine what is best for your family and your situation. It is important to discuss what type of protection will best blend into your lifestyle. Are there particular areas of your home that will need additional security? If so, you may want a system that offers partitioning capability. This means that the system can be set up so security in certain special areas can be different from the rest of the house. For example, if you have valuable jewelry in your bedroom or a gun room that needs to be protected, the system can keep these areas armed, even when the rest of the house is disarmed. 4. Choose a system that is easy to operate. You want to combine the most advanced technology with the simplest operation. What good is a system if it's so complicated you find it hard to use? The easiest systems to use report the status of each zone in plain English, requiring no blinking lights or numbered codes. For instance, if your son left a window open, the keypad would signal, "Fault - Pete's Bedroom Window," eliminating the guesswork. This issue of simplicity is especially important if younger children are going to use the system. Some products can be programmed so that a child can press just one button instead of a four digit code to operate some functions of the security system. Once you have selected the features you would like, you should be familiar with how a security system operates. The brains and communications of the system are contained in the control panel. This panel is a metal box housing the electronics and is often hidden from sight, in a closet for example. Various kinds of sensors are connected to the control panel from their locations around the home. There are sensors for two basic types of protection: perimeter and interior. Perimeter protection sensors are located at the vulnerable entry points of the home, such as doors and accessible windows. These would include magnetic contacts and glassbreak sensors. Interior sensors detect motion inside your home. One example would be a Passive Infrared Detector (PIR) which detects motion through body heat. There are also devices called dual technology detectors. In order for these to sound an alarm, two technologies have to be tripped such as PIR and microwave. These are traditionally used in harsh environments. Smoke and fire detectors are other types of interior protection since they are located inside, usually high on walls or ceilings. When a sensor reports a "catch" to the control panel, it analyzes the report to determine which sensor it came from and whether the problem is an intruder, fire or an emergency. After this quick analysis, the control panel can sound a siren or activate lights, and can alert a 24-hour monitoring service, which in turn can verify the alarm and dispatch police, fire or medical help as necessary. Typically, the monitoring service is notified by a digital message sent over regular telephone lines. To protect against phone line failures or line cuts, a radio service known as AlarmNet provides additional security and will permit a signal to be transmitted even if the phone line is cut. To operate the alarm system, you use the security keypad. From the keypad you give commands to the control panel to activate or deactivate the system. The most traditional form of a security console is the keypad. This is often located near frequently used entrance doors.