Pelham - Windham News September 24, 2010 - Fall Home Improvement 7 Keep Your Property Safe When You Are Not There H
ome and business own- ers can reduce their chances of property dam-
age by taking measures ahead of time to protect their unoccupied house or business, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). The number of vacant homes in the U.S. rose from 14 million in 2008 to 19 million by the first quarter of 2010, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. In addition, the number of vacant commercial properties also has risen significantly in the past few years.
“Property protection measures are crucial for vacant buildings,” said Julie Rochman, IBHS presi- dent and CEO. “Even relatively minor damage, such as water intrusion, that goes undiscovered and/or unrepaired can quickly grow into a serious, much more costly disaster.” The IBHS brochure, Is Your
Home Alone? Keep It Safe When You’re Not There, provides
guidance on measures property owners can take to protect their vacant homes. Some of the key things homeowners should do if they know their house will be vacant include the following: • Keep wind and water out – make sure that tree branches are cut back five to six feet from roof and wall surfaces. Check for any signs of roof leaks and have any leaks fixed. If the home is in a hurricane- prone region where debris impact protection is required for new construction, make sure that the windows and doors are protected. Be sure to secure outdoor furniture and other objects that could become damaging missiles in high wind.
• Keep it cool – this has been an exceptionally hot summer in many parts of the country, and thermostats in vacant homes should be set to no higher than 85 degrees to prevent high temperatures and humidity
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he lilac print wallpaper in your bedroom may not be your style. And if your house is on the market, that lilac print wallpaper is probably not your prospective buyer’s style either. Removing wallpaper is easier than you may think and it has a big impact on a home’s appear- ance. In fact, removing aging, sagging wallpaper is one of the least expensive ways to improve a home’s resale value and shorten its time on the market, according to a survey of real estate appraisers. “While many people dread
removing wallpaper, it’s one of the simplest ways to give a room a fresh, updated look,” says Rust- Oleum brand director Andrea Top- per. “And, with a little know-how and the right tools, it’s easier than most people think.” Topper offers this advice for “painless” wallpaper removal in three easy steps: Step 1 - Score the wallpaper:
Most wallpaper has a waterproof surface, so it’s necessary to score it so the wallpaper stripper can penetrate and loosen the glue underneath. Use a wallpaper scor- ing tool like Zinsser PaperTiger, a palm-held tool that perforates the
wallpaper without damaging the wall. Move PaperTiger in a circular motion to make as many holes as possible, using light pressure. The more holes you make, the faster and easier it will be to remove the
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wallpaper. Step 2 - Apply a wallpaper stripping solution: Next, apply a wallpaper stripper like Zins-
from damaging furniture or other contents.
• Shut off the water and gas – water heaters, appliances, and pipes (PVC and copper) can leak or burst, which can cause major damage in a home left unattended. The best protection is to have the water shut off. When the water is turned off, be sure to also shut off the power or gas to the wa- ter heater (or the gas company can do this for you).
• Leave electricity on – advise the utility company of the vacancy. Ask to be notified in the event of high usage or an emergency.
• Install exterior and interior mo- tion or timed lighting – this will act to ward off potential animal infestation and criminal activ- ity, and to give the appearance of occupancy.
• Try to make the property ap- pear occupied – this will help reduce the risks of vandalism or other crime.
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• Arrange for maintenance of the exterior by mowing lawns, taking care of shrubbery, and removing leaves. Important Tips: If your house has a fire protection sprinkler system, it will be deactivated if you shut off the water. Conse- quently, in that case, you should leave the water on to the house and concentrate on turning off water to appliances, such as an automatic icemaker or a washing machine. You also may want to turn off water to toilets to prevent water use from any toilets that may start running. For business owners, IBHS’ Steps to Protecting Vacant Com- mercial Property provides guid- ance on what business owners can do to protect their vacant property. In addition to the steps listed above, IBHS recommends: • Advise local fire and police departments that your building is unoccupied, and provide them with keys and/or contact information in the event of an
emergency.
• Advise your premises’ alarm company of the vacancy, cre- ate new security codes, and update contact information.
• Install exterior and interior mo- tion or timed lighting, to ward off potential animal infestation and criminal activity, and to give the appearance of occu- pancy.
• Change locks and/or install new tapered deadbolts if copies of exiting lock keys were given to prior tenants or vendors.
• Remove hazardous materials from the property, such as pol- lutants, chemicals, or com- bustible materials to prevent explosion, leaks, seepage, or contamination. Visit
www.DisasterSafety.org for more information about how to make your property more resistant to a variety of disasters, big and small.
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