home utilities blog

College Kids, First Apartments & Safety
Your all-grown-up little girl is moving into her first apartment. She’ll be fine! But won’t you sleep better if you know she’s prepared for anything? Make her apartment safer with the following safety checklist:

Smoke & carbon monoxide detectors. Smoke detectors should be located on each floor of the apartment and in each bedroom. Install a carbon monoxide (CO) detector in hallways near bedrooms and near fuel-burning heat sources, such as furnaces, ranges, and water heaters. Make sure the CO alarms are not blocked by furniture or draperies. Install new batteries when you move in and test each detector.

Fire extinguishers. Keep one in the kitchen and on each floor of the home. Make sure she knows how to use the extinguisher!

Pilot lights. If any appliances (stove, furnace, water heater) have a pilot light, review pilot light safety with your teenager. For example, don’t store flammable liquids or materials nearby. Never use insect foggers or “bug bombs” in a home with a lit pilot light as it can cause an explosion. If a pilot light will not stay lit, it could be malfunctioning or leaking gas. If there are any urgent safety concerns regarding gas leaks, contact the gas department or the fire department.

Doors & windows. Make sure all the doors and windows lock properly and can be opened in the event of a fire.   If windows are painted shut, fix them. If the windows cannot be opened, make sure she stores a hammer or something nearby to break the window in the event of a fire.

Emergency numbers. Keep a list of emergency numbers near the main phone. Look up the local numbers for the police and fire departments to call directly in case calls to 911 are put on hold. In the U.S., call 1-800-222-1222 for Poison Control. Include emergency numbers for utility companies, including gas, electricity, and water. Don’t forget the number to report power outages. Include the number for campus police.

Cell phones. College students may want to program some emergency numbers into their cell phones. Good examples are the number for campus police or roadside assistance.

Security system. The best home security systems are monitored and provide peace of mind for your son or daughter in college and for you.  Let Allconnect help you compare monitoring companies in your area.

Cover this safety checklist with your kids going away to college to provide peace of mind for you and your new college student.

The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that no child under the age of 12 be left at home alone. But, even a 12 year old needs some guidance and precautions to stay safe when they’re at home alone. Whether it’s an occasional occurrence or a permanent solution, here are tips to make your home safer.

• A security system may provide the greatest peace of mind. You know that you will get a call in the event that the alarm goes off, whether it signals a break-in, a fire, or that your child has pushed the ‘panic’ button for some reason. The police or fire department are also dispatched immediately if the alarm goes off.
• If you’re considering a security system, check out our previous post for tips to choose the best home security system. Wondering if you can afford a system, compare home security services for your address with Allconnect.
• Change the batteries and test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors every six months.
• See “Choosing the Best Door Lock for Your Home” by State Farm to determine whether you have safe locks. Do they deter would-be intruders? Do they allow quick exit in the event of a fire?
• Do you have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, in your garage, and on every level of your home? If there is a fire, do you want your child to attempt to use the fire extinguisher or do you want him to simply leave? Consider your child’s age, strength, and ability to react in a stressful situation and make sure he knows exactly what he should do.
• Consider the role of the phone in safety situations. If the home loses power, cordless phones will not work. Make sure you have an old-fashioned phone or a charged cell phone that will work during a power outage. If you do not have a landline, emergency services may not be able to trace the call. Make sure your child is able to give the address and directions to the home from a cell phone.
• Compile a list of emergency numbers: police, fire department, all of your contact numbers (your direct line, cell phone, a main office number), neighbors’ phone numbers, and poison control. For an older child, you may also wish to include emergency numbers for utility companies just in case there should be a water leak or gas leak.

Following these tips for keeping your home safe for your kids after school can help provide peace of mind.

Your home is likely the largest investment you’ll ever make. As a prospective home buyer, you should hire an expert to help ensure you are making a sound investment. You might spend the next 30 years paying for it.

A home inspector can help a homeowner see beyond the lovely wood floors, crown molding, and trey ceilings to determine whether a house has a solid foundation and discover any potential safety issues or required repairs.

What Does a Home Inspector Do?
A home inspector should evaluate a home from roof to foundation. This includes testing major appliances, such as the dishwasher, air conditioner, and furnace. Home inspectors should look for evidence of current or previous water leaks, test for gas leaks, and test electrical outlets. They should note the presence of mold.

Home inspectors should also inspect attics, living spaces, basements, garages, and crawlspaces. They should report anything that does not meet current local building codes. This covers all aspects of the home, ranging from electrical wiring to spacing on deck rails.

In addition to listing problems with the home (whether a leaky roof or a dripping faucet), home inspection reports should evaluate major systems. For example, the report should note the age and the average life expectancy of the furnace so the homebuyer can estimate upcoming major expenses.

When in doubt, a home inspector should refer clients to specialists. For example, most home inspectors will test the air conditioner to see if it cools properly. If it doesn’t cool to a certain temperature within a certain time frame, the inspector should recommend you have an A/C specialist check out the system.

What is Outside the Scope of a Home Inspection
Before hiring an inspector, ask him for a full list of items that he will not assess. Do not assume the inspector will inspect pools, outbuildings, or sprinkler systems.

A home inspector may notice evidence of termites during a routine inspection. However, inspectors that are not trained in this area  could easily miss an infestation. Therefore, a homebuyer should hire a certified termite inspector to complete a termite inspection prior to closing on a home.

The home inspector is also not trained to provide an appraisal of the home. This is a separate report, and it is based on a comparison of recent sales data of comparable local homes to the home being appraised.

Allconnect can assist with your move by offering free mover quotes, an online change of address form, and help transfer your essential home services. You can also compare services available at your new address to make sure you are getting the best deal.  See tips to help you during your move.

Get a Green Start in Your New Home
Moving is hard work. It is also hard on the planet. All that trash, all the packaging. What can you do to reduce the impact of your relocation?

Use Eco Friendly Recycled Boxes

• Check with local retailers, including grocery stores, wine stores, and big-box stores like Wal-Mart and Target.
• If you don’t mind picking up a few boxes at a time, check with smaller retailers and restaurants.
• Post a “Wanted: Boxes” request on Freecycle to see if free boxes are available from someone in your area.
• Try UsedCardboardBoxes.com to purchase quality used cardboard boxes.
• Check craigslist for free or cheap moving boxes.

Make sure you pass the boxes along to someone else who can use them!

If you prefer, reusable moving boxes are available to rent in some areas from ZippGo and RentAGreenBox.

Choose Packing Materials Carefully

• Reduce the amount of disposable packing materials you use. Try wrapping breakable kitchen items in cloth napkins, washcloths and hand towels, which you’ll be packing anyway. You can also use sheets, T-shirts, and pillows to protect breakable items.
• If you need disposable packing materials, try newspaper and grocery bags you’ve saved (which you can later recycle) or re-use bubble wrap or packing peanuts from a local retailer.
• You can recycle packing peanuts after your move. Visit http://www.loosefillpackaging.com to find drop-off locations.

Consider Eco Friendly Travel Logistics

• Fewer trips in fewer vehicles means less pollution. Hire a mover or rent a moving truck to reduce the CO2 impact of your move.
• Planet Green — Move Across the Country the Eco-Friendly Way
• International Association of Certified Home Inspectors — Eco-friendly Relocation

Keep Trash Out of the Landfill

• Start sorting and packing early so that you have time to donate or  recycle anything that you are not moving.
• Donate items to local churches, charities, soup kitchens or food banks, shelters, or daycare centers.
• If you don’t have time to drop off items to donate, call a local charity to see if they will pick it up, place it near the curb with a  “free” sign, or list it on Freecycle.
• Sell items on craigslist or eBay; hold a garage sale.
• Dispose of hazardous substances responsibly.  Check Earth 911 for places to dispose of items like paint, electronics, batteries, cleaning supplies, and light bulbs.

Allconnect can assist with your move by offering free mover quotes, an online change of address form, and help transfer your essential home services. You can also compare services available at your new address to make sure you are getting the best deal.  See tips to help you during your move.