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Real Estate Information |
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Fire Pit Safety: 6 Tips You Should Know
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wood or gas fire pits, chimineas and patio heaters are great for extending your outdoor fun well into autumn, but they also pose potential dangers. Follow these tips to warm up fall evenings without fear:
- Carefully choose where you put the fire pit. Keep fire pits and other heat sources away from flammable items like house sidings, deck railings, patio umbrellas and awnings. Be careful that you don't situate a fire pit near outdoor structures that contain flammable liquids, such as storage units with lawnmowers and their fuel. Move portable propane and electric heaters well out of the family's traffic path to prevent them from being knocked over.
- Keep an eye on kids. Children love fire pits, whether the family is roasting hot dogs or just snuggling together. For safety's sake, establish a 3-foot "safe zone" and teach kids never to go closer than that. Be sure there's at least one adult who's in charge of knowing where children are at all times.
- Use appropriate cooking tools. If you plan to roast food over an outdoor fire pit, be sure you have appropriately sized tools. Longer skewers are a must when you're reaching over an open flame.
- Dress for fire pit success. Don't wear loose-fitting jackets around fire sources, and keep blankets and throws away too.
- Know the best wood to use. Soft woods like pine and cedar are more likely to pop and throw sparks when they burn. Seasoned hardwoods are a safe bet when piling up your fire pit kindling.
- Prepare for an emergency. No matter how careful you are with your fire pit, accidents can happen anytime. Make sure you always have a fire extinguisher nearby to quickly squelch any flames that go awry. Always turn off and unplug electric heaters and turn off propane sources before you call it a night.
Learn more about fire safety at the U.S. Fire Administration. And visit statefarm.com for tips on the safe use of gas fire pits.
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Getting a fair appraisal in a tough market
Friday, September 9, 2011
Since the real estate market took a downturn, some people have complained they couldn’t buy, sell, or refinance a home because an appraiser used bank-owned (REO) or short-sold homes as comparables in the valuation process, which dragged down the value of their home. While using REO and short-sold properties can lower the value of a home, some homeowners are upset that their county assessor will not use these properties as comps for their property taxes.
Making sense of the story
In California, some assessors will consider distressed sales when looking at comps, but it varies widely by county, neighborhood, and house. In general, assessors will always look at non-distressed sales first and if there are enough, disregard REO and short sales. However, if there are not enough standard sales, or the home is in an area dominated by distressed sales, the assessor likely will take these properties into account.
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Under Proposition 13, property is assessed upon a change in ownership at its fair market value. That is usually the same as the sale price. However, with distressed property, the sale price may not equal fair market value.
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Between changes of ownership, assessors can raise values only by an inflation rate, not to exceed 2 percent per year, plus the value of major improvements or additions.
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Under Prop. 8, owners who think the market value of their property has fallen below its assessed value can ask for a temporary reduction to the fair market value.
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Homeowners who think their homes are worth less than the assessed value can usually ask their assessor for an informal review. If they are still not satisfied, they can file a formal appeal with their county’s assessment appeals board by Sept. 15 or Nov. 30, depending on the county.
Robyn Garrison
ERA Excel Realty
Broker 01415802
951-763-2535
805-312-0369 Cell
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