Real Estate Information Archive

On average each you around a 170 people die from C O (Carbon Monoxide) produced by non-automotive consumer products says the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission.  C O is called the “Invisible Killer” because it’s a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas.

As of January 1, 2013 rental property in California is required to have a C O detector in the home and all residential property is required by law to have a C O detector too when it is sold after January 1, 2013.

 What is carbon monoxide (CO) and how is it produced?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. Products and equipment powered by internal combustion engines such as portable generators, cars, lawn mowers, and power washers also produce CO.

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?
Because CO is odorless, colorless, and otherwise undetectable to the human senses, people may not know that they are being exposed. The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever). They include: 

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Dizziness 

High level CO poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms, including:

• Mental confusion
• Vomiting
• Loss of muscular coordination
• Loss of consciousness
• Ultimately death 

How should I install a CO Alarm?
CO alarms should be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. CPSC recommends that one CO alarm be installed in the hallway outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area of the home. CO alarms may be installed into a plug-in receptacle or high on the wall. Hard wired or plug-in CO alarms should have battery backup. Avoid locations that are near heating vents or that can be covered by furniture or draperies. CPSC does not recommend installing CO alarms in kitchens or above fuel-burning appliances.

What should you do when the CO alarm sounds?

 

Never ignore an alarming CO alarm! It is warning you of a potentially deadly hazard.

If the alarm signal sounds do not try to find the source of the CO:

• Immediately move outside to fresh air.
• Call your emergency services, fire department, or 911.
• After calling 911, do a head count to check that all persons are accounted for. DO NOT reenter the premises until the emergency services responders have given you permission. You could lose consciousness and die if you go in the home.

Should CO alarms be used in motor homes and other recreational vehicles?

 

CO alarms are available for boats and recreational vehicles and should be used. The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association requires CO alarms in motor homes and in trailers.

"Do's" for carbon monoxide detector placement:

• Place detectors in or near sleeping areas - where the sound of an alarm will easily wake people up
• Place detectors on each level of a residence
• Place detectors as per manufacturer instructions
• Carbon monoxide is roughly the same weight as air and over time distributes throughout a room, so a detector can be placed at any height in any acceptable location - preferably at eye level and definitely where the alarm can be easily heard
• For added protection, place a carbon monoxide detector 10 to 15 feet (3 to 5 meters) from the furnace as well as other fuel burning sources
• in unheated basements, attics or garages
• in areas of high humidity (bathrooms, showers, laundry areas)
• where they will be exposed to chemical solvents or cleaners, including hair spray, deodorant sprays, etc.
• near vents, flues or chimneys
• within 6 ft (2 meters) of heating and cooking appliances (which can give off a small volume of carbon monoxide when starting up which can trigger false alarms)
• near forced or unforced air ventilation openings
• within 6 ft (2 meters) of corners or areas where natural air circulation is low
• where they can be bumped and damaged
• where directly exposed to weather

"Do nots" for carbon monoxide detector placement:

To avoid damage to the detector and to reduce false alarms, do not place carbon monoxide detectors:

• in unheated basements, attics or garages
• in areas of high humidity (bathrooms, showers, laundry areas)
• where they will be exposed to chemical solvents or cleaners, including hair spray, deodorant sprays, etc.
• near vents, flues or chimneys
• within 6 ft (2 meters) of heating and cooking appliances (which can give off a small volume of carbon monoxide when starting up which can trigger false alarms)
• near forced or unforced air ventilation openings
• within 6 ft (2 meters) of corners or areas where natural air circulation is low
• where they can be bumped and damaged
• where directly exposed to weather

 For more information us the link below to go to the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission website.

 http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/Carbon-Monoxide-Questions-and-Answers-/

1. Accepting the buyer with the highest offer without regard to the other contractual terms.

2. Not properly handling mu1tiple offer situations with multiple buyers.

3. Not properly handling back-up offers.

4. Entering into an agreement with no earnest money deposit from the buyer, or a very small amount.

5. Entering into an agreement before verifying the buyer's financial ability to dose escrow.

6. Not disclosing known material fact affecting the value or desirability of the property.

7. Not providing the buyer with legally required disclosures.

8. Not obtaining the buyer's written acknowledgment of disclosures.

9. Not considering whether to require the buyer to remove contingencies.

10. Not excluding items from the sale that the seller wants to keep.

The crooks are really getting good.

Snopes.com http://www.snopes.com/ says  this is true.  

Link to this scam: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp

This one is  pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except  the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your  card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading.  By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card  Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One  of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was called  on Thursday from 'Master Card'. The scam works like this: Caller:  'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud  Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been  flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify.  This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank).  Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a  Marketing company based in Arizona ?'

When you say 'No', the  caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your  account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range  from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags  most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to  (gives you your address), is that correct?'

You say 'yes'. The  caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you  have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the  back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.'

You will  need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6  digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'

Here's the  IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The cal ler then says, 'I need to verify you are in  possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and  look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of  your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that verify you  are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use  to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will  ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3  numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the  card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card.  Do you have any other questions?' After you say No, the caller then  thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do, and  hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they  never ask fo r or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on  Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we  glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam  and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to  our card.

Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and  closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the  3-digit PIN number on the back of the card Don't give it  to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly  for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that  they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the  information sin ce they issued the card! If you give the scammers your  3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by  the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you  didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to  actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable  is that on Thursday, I got a call from a 'Jason Richardson of Master  Card' with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't  let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by  VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily!  They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is  happening. 
  

A modest gain in the level of home sales is possible over the next couple of months, and an improvement is forecast for the second half of this year as more buyers are able to access affordable mortgages, according to the latest forecast.The Pending Home Sales Index rose 6.3 percent to 88.2 from a reading of 83.0 in March. It's the highest index figure since last October. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said pending sales contracts have picked up notably in areas undergoing significant price drops. "Bargain hunters have entered the market en masse, especially in areas that have experienced double-digit price declines, but it's unclear if they are investors or owner-occupants," he said. "Sharp price reductions are leading to a quicker discovery of price equilibrium points. The West is already seeing year-over-year gains in pending contracts."

To read the complete forcast and pending home sales index at NAR "click here"

For those facing difficulty keeping up with house payments, or perhaps already in receipt of a notice from their lender, a free workshop will be held on Saturday, May 3, at 10:00 a.m. in the Brea Community Center. Experts from Consumer Credit Counseling Services will conduct a Home Foreclosure Workshop to explore practical options. For the rest of the information click here.