FOR YOUR SAFETY, WHAT YOU DON'T SEE OR SMELL

FOR YOUR SAFETY, WHAT YOU DON'T SEE OR SMELL CAN KILL YOU!!!

This is what can kill you. It is so imparative that you have a smoke alarm and a Carbon Monoxide detector.
Today I speak with confidence and experience that this is REALLY IMPORTANT. Not just if you have a gas furnace, stove, dryer or any kind of fuel burning source of heat. You live inside you should have one, and I think most of us do!!!

Today I had a distress call from one of my client's tenants. ( I am a property manager and real estate agent) They own a home and rent out the apartments. The owners do not live in the area. So I am here to help whenever they need me. The home has an apartment in the basement and the rest of the house is rented out separately. The Tenant in the basement called me at 9 am today to say the alarm was going off in the house and she was still sleeping. Needless to say, I told the tenant I would be right over. I get there and the door to the garage was open and the house all closed up. I go talk to the tenant in the basement. The tenant said the alarm had been going for about 30 minutes. I knew right away that it was not the basement apartment. ( instinct) It is an emergency, so I can enter the other apartment. The main floor tenant was not home. I enter the home and the smell just about knocked me over. The air was definitely not right. CO, you can not smell though. All the lights were on and the furnace was off, but the house was really hot. A little dog was very busy barking at me and the cat just looks at me. Good thing. This meant they were still alive. I first check the whole house to make sure no one was sleeping or unconscience. No one was. I check the furnace and the hot water heater. I touch nothing ( be sure not to, not even a light switch, in case of leaking gas, then an explosion could happen). I did turn off the detector. It comes back on in a few minutes. There is no smoke so we call Enbridge. They arrive about an hour later. The technician opens the door, takes a reading and say STAY out of the house. We leave the doors open to air out the house. He is getting a really high ready of CO. He is not sure where the CO is coming from. To make a long story a little shorter, after about two hours of airing out the house and taking more readings, the level final gets down to zero. Now it is safe to go in the home and stay. It is a wonder how the little dog or the cat even lived through this. The levels where so high it would have killed a human. It is a good thing that the tenant in the other apartment called me. We likely saved the animals lives. The tenant in the basement, in this case was not in danger, because the apartment was a legal conforming apartment to todays building code and completely sealed up apart from the rest of the house. After all inspections by the gas technician and my heating contractor they found nothing wrong with the gas lines, furnace, or gas water heater in the house. This is puzzling you may say. However after speaking with the main floor tenant, I learn that they had a car running in the attached garage. As soon as they opened the door into the house, the wind sucked the CO right into the house, like a vacuum and set off the alarms. It filled the entire house including all the duct work.
The moral of this story is two fold.
1. NEVER run your car in your attached garage, and
2. ALWAYS  make sure your smoke and CO alarms are working. Check them at least every six months or more often, is better.

I have one on every floor of my home, plus one in front of all the bedrooms. Plus I have a two fire extinguisher, for different types of fires.

Praise God for the basement tenant calling me today, good thinking.

Thanks for reading this and have a great day!

Also be sure to call me for all your real estate, rentals and property management needs. I am always glad to help out, when I can.
705-733-5821
Joseph Talbot



Carbon monoxide
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search


Carbon monoxide (CO), also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It can be toxic to humans and animals when encountered in higher concentrations, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal biological functions. In the atmosphere it is however short lived and spatially variable, since it combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and ozone.

Tub Spout Video

Last week, I described how to fix a tub spout that isn't cooperating.  Now you can see exactly how to do it. 
Fix a Stubborn Tub Spout (Video)

Helpful Tip of the Week

TIP OF THE WEEK, MAINTAINTANCE TIP

In 2012 I am going to try and give you a tip of the week. You might see Home Maintenance, Building & Design, or Renovation/Retrofit topics. Please let me know if any of this is of any interest to you or helpful. Be sure to suggest a topic if you have a need. I would like to help as many people this year as possible.

Your tip: 

Have you ever had a tub spout/ diverter that has become stubborn and was hard to pull up to divert the water to the shower head. Well here is an easy way to fix it. Take off the tub spout turn it upside down and spray the whole inside with Olive Oil... Yes it works. I have done it with my own at home. Let it sit for a minute and then reinstall it. If you are not sure of how to remove your tub spout give me a call I would be happy to walk you through it or show you.

Be sure to stop back here often, I will have other tips weekly.

Also please remember if you are thinking of selling or buying give me a call or email

So no matter where you are, whether it is in Creemore, Collingwood, Stayner, Wasaga Beach, Clearview, Grey Highland, Lake Eugenia, Newlowell, or town of Blue Mountain or anywhere in between. This is my area that I work and know well.
If you are from out of town and want to sell or buy, I can referr you to a great REALTOR in you area. I have colleagues all over the country to help you.

Thanks for stopping by to read this, I hope that this is useful to you.

Have a terrific day!

A YEAR IN REVIEW

From the Mls stats of the  

Georgian Triangle Real Estate Board

So the stats for the year of 2011 are in. The sale price of the average home is up aproxiamately 3% over 2010. Aproxiamately 35% of homes listed for sale, are selling. That has remained that same from 2010. There are a number of factors to keep in mind when using these stats and other stats. Average price is based on all price ranges. The higher priced homes bring up the average. As does the cheaper homes bring down the average. That is where my expertise comes into play. Helping you determine the value of your home. Based on comparables, conditions, location and so much more. Not just average sale price. As far as what the year 2012 has in store for the real estate market, it is all spectulation. We know right now the interest rates are expected to remain low, for now. This makes it a good time to buy in that regards. There are many Micro markets, throughout the province. Some are very strong and others are not as robust. So when you read in the newspaper or online about what the future will hold or what is happening in Real estate now, keep in mind it is a good idea to consult a professional REALTOR. Just like to would for anything else that involves large sums of money or your future.

If you have any questions about these stats or would like the full report, by all means give me a call, glad to help. If you are interested in buying or selling a home or know someone who is, I would like to the opportunity to help you determine when the best time is to get started. I can also help you determine what may be the best thing for you, when it comes to selling. For some folks it may be better to renovate or retrofit their existing home, to accommodate changing life style or mobility. I want you to get the Extraordinary service you deserve.

Be sure to check out WWW.CLEARVIEWLISTINGS.COM and http://jtalbotrealestate.blogspot.com/ There are some informative articles there that may be able to help you with real estate or building. If you would like to information or an article on a certain topic or something to do with a building problem you have, let me know I would be happy to assist you.

Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to read this.

Have a great day!

Joseph Talbot, ABR®, ASA, SRES®, AGA, Sales Representative

RE/MAX Clearview Inc., Brokerage, Independently Owned & Operated

202 Montreal St., Stayner, ON L0M 1S0

Office: 705-428-4500 Direct Line/Text: 705-733-5821

http://www.clearviewlistings.com jtalbot@remax.net

http://jtalbotrealestate.blogspot.com/

"Ordinary Joe, Extraordinary Service

If you need a builder, designer, architect, heating contractor, electrician, plumber or any other contractor give me a call first and I will help you out!

SOLAR VENTING

Helping you save money!!!

Solar power roof venting is a great way to reduce the amount of unwanted heat and moisture in your attic. This is done with free energy. There is a small fan that extracts the heat and moisture and puts it outside.

This will also extend the life expectancy of your roofing material.

This type of venting will also help reduce the amount of ice damming on your roof due to heat loss.

It will also increase the amount of air movement which help dry out any potential mold growth or wood rot from moisture.

 In the summer it will help cool the attic tempurature and help reduce energy consumption on your air conditioner.

If you are interested in more information on Solar Venting for roofs. Give me a call or an email.

Also for no Pressure Real estate experience, call me today!
Or if you have any real estate or building questions, I would be glad to answer them.
Thankyou very much for reading this and have a great day!

Joseph Talbot,

Another Very Unique Building project,

Another Very Unique Building project, designed by a local Architect, Jim Campbell of Rockside Design and built by Custom Builder, RTalbot carpentry, of Creemore.

This project was build just outside of the very picturesque village of Creemore in the hills on prime real estate land. The views from this home are worth a million.

This custom addition and renovation was very extensive and rewarding. The  project ended up with approximately 6000 square feet of beautifully designed living space.

The roof structure you see in the video was about the most challenging of the entire project. It all went well. The roof was large squared timbers in an X pattern with 2" tongue and groove boards on top, plus insulation and ventilation. It was built on the ground and then craned up two storeys. There were four corner points of the walls that the roof sat on. It had to be axact on the ground so that it would sit perfectly in its final resting position. The very cold and windy winter days were just one of the elements that had to be contended with.

The entire project, not just the roof, took just over a year to complete. The home was designed and built to take advantage of the incredible views.

If you are interested in having a home designed and built in the Creemore hills, Mulmur, Collingwood, Grey County, or Wasaga Beach area, call us today. We will help you get the process started. If you need a Design/Architectural firm to get the design started and confirmed, now is a great time to have a free consultation. I will personally walk you through the process. With our many connections and extensive experience we can make sure the project gets done effectively.

So whether you are interested in buying vacant land to build that perfect vacation home, permenant residence or you would like to buy one ready to move into. Call me Joseph Talbot of Remax Clearview Inc. brokerage. I am local and know the area well and what to look for and avoid in a property in the Creemore, Stayner, Collingwood, Mulmur, Blue Mountains, Wasaga Beach and Grey County areas.
I look forward to meeting with you.
Have a terrific and successful New Years.
All the best to you and your family.

Call today 705-733-5821 ( text)
email jtalbot@remax.net
http://www.clearviewlistings.com/

WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER !!

Seeing as we are in this together;

I figure, I might as well do the best that I can. So my goal here at Remax Clearview Inc.,  is to provide you with the very best service that I can. You likely would want someone with great experience and specialized education in Real Estate and building. Not all Agents are created with the same Expertise in the field.

Well that is why I am striving to achieve designations. Just so you know that when you work with me you are getting someone with the skills and knowledge, in the industry, that matter. I now have four designations to serve you better. I strive to increase our position in the Real Estate transaction.

It does not matter to me whether you are buying or selling a property worth more then a Million or one that is worth less than 100 k. It is all the same to me, when it comes to service. I take pride in who I am and what I do as a professional. So why should you care? Well, I'm glad you asked.

Following is a short description of what all these designation mean for you.

ASA = ACCREDITED SENIOR AGENT.
 
            Provided and taught by the The Real Estate Academy Inc.
            In short, what this means is that I have been trained to work professionally with
            the mature or senior demographic. Helping seniors or the boomers plus, can
            involve alot of extra care and knowledge. Items such as wills, estates,
            probate, downsizing, Universal Design and transitioning from one residence to another
            come into the grand picture. This all requires someone with special knowledge and
            experience and not all agents have it.

SRES = SENIOR REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST

              Provided and taught by the National Association of REALTORS, this
              designation is similar to ASA. Designed to educate agents how to help 
              deal with the Senior market and their families with professionalism and
              consideration. There are more items to deal with when working with the
              50 plus buyer or seller and their families.

AGA  =  ACCREDITED GREEN AGENT

            Provided by the National Association of Green Agents and Brokers, this
            emcompasses professional training on ENERGY EFFICIENCY of a home.
            How does this translate to you as a seller or buyer? It helps me determine
            ways to help you to save money in your hydro usage & gas comsumption, ways
            to keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and
            ways to keep your home safe and healthy.

ABR  = ACCREDITED BUYER REPRESENTATIVE.

             Provided by the National Association of REALTORS, this course helps
             to improve an agent's negotiating and positioning skills for their buyers, 
             enabling the buyer to reap the benefits of the professional training and
             experience of the ABR, while treating the seller fairly and with respect.

How does this all help you? Well, information is worth alot when it come to dealing in real estate. Having an agent that is well informed and comes with special designations is well worth the time spent on your behalf.

Remember not all agents are trained the same. Not all agents upgrade their knowledge with designations or skills that are relevant. I want to be on your side, helping you when you buy or sell a home.

From the first time we meet and we commit to a business relationship, we are in it together until we finish to deal. But that is still not the end, most of my clients choose to be a part of my Client Appreciation Program.

So whether you are buying or selling a home in the Stayner, Creemore, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Mulmur, Town of Blue Mountain or Grey Highlands areas, contact me as soon as possible.

I provide fast, competent service that helps you leverage your position in the Real Estate deal.  You deserve great service.

Also if you are interested in near future in buying or selling a property, why not call me and become part of my Client appreciation program? Very valuable information is sent out on a regular basis, by mail or email. This is a free service. Be informed in advance!

Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy day to read this.

All the best and Merry Christmas and Happy New Years.
705-733-5821 by phone or text.
jtalbot@remax.net

THIS WAS WRITTEN BY JOSEPH TALBOT AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY