JUST SOLD. MYRTLE BEACH RESORTS! Call Dargan Real Estate Today! 843-712-2585
Archives for November 2013
Top Real Estate Websites
There are thousands of websites on the Web that offer a wealth of information about real estate. Here’s a list of the best.
1. Zillow
Zillow is real estate marketplace that offers a living database of more than 110 million homes (including homes for sale–by owner and agent, homes for rent, homes in foreclosure, new homes, and pre-market homes), mortgage and refinancing tools and calculators, advice forums and message boards, local information, and more.
2. Yahoo! Homes
Yahoo! Homes is partnered with Zillow and also offers a database of homes for sale. It also offers the latest news stories about “Must See Homes,” home finance, and home projects.
3. Trulia
Trulia has an interactive website that is easy to use. It also offers a large database of homes available and helpful search tools. The search feature gives users the ability to search specific areas for crime rates, schools, and more. Users can even sign up for alert notifications when nearby houses are sold or prices are cut. In addition, users can post questions for local residents to answer.
4. Realtor.com
Realtor.com offers real time MLS listings that are updated every 15 minutes. Users can find out how much homes are going for in a specific area and view a summary of statistics about the local real estate market. Advice and news articles are also available.
5. Homes.com
Homes.com offers a property database like the ones above it. In addition, the site offers an Idea Gallery to give users inspiration (and helpful information) for many different areas: Celebrity Living, Curb Appeal, Decorating, DIY Improvement, Entertaining, Green Living, Guides/Checklists, Holidays, Home Buying, Home Living Tips, Home Values, How-To, On The Move, Organization, Renting A Home, Selling A Home.
**The sites listed above are the top five most popular real estate websites as calculated by Alexa‘s Global Traffic Rank & U.S. Traffic Rank from both Complete & Quantcast.
Childproofing Your Home
You probably have heard and are aware of many of the suggestions listed below. However, if you’ve just moved into a new home or you’re moving into a new home in the near future–there may be certain things you’ve never thought about before because they didn’t apply at your old home. It’s always a good idea to remind ourselves to practice safety measures in our homes.
- Install safety latches on all cabinets and drawers.
- Use the stove’s back burners, and always turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to keep them out of reach.
- Keep kitchenware and appliances out of reach and away from tables and counters.
- Put visual reminders (like Mr. Yuk stickers from poison prevention centers) on potentially hazardous or poisonous items.
- Install toilet locks to keep toilet lids closed. (Children can lean over and fall in toilets easily, and it only takes one inch of water to drown.)
- Install anti-scalding devices on faucets and shower heads to prevent burns. Also, set the water thermostat on 120 degrees. (It takes only three seconds for a child to get third degree burns from water temperatures of 140 degrees.)
- Unplug hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons, and hot rollers after use to prevent electrocution and to keep away from curious children.
- Cover unused outlets with protective plugs or caps. Make sure outlets in the kitchen and bathroom are updated with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI’s), which turn off electricity if appliances fall into water. For outlets in use (especially ones low to the ground), there are devices that make it difficult to unplug the appliance.
- Use safety gates at both the top and bottom of stairs (don’t use ones with expanding pressure bars), as well as in front of doors to rooms filled with hazards.
- Use doorknob covers to keep children away from rooms or other areas that are hazardous (such as swimming pools).
- Put corner and edge bumpers on furniture and other items (like fireplace hearths) to protect against injury.
- Keep furniture away from high windows (to keep children off windowsills). Screens aren’t strong enough to keep children from falling through them.
- Make sure that window blinds do not have looped cords and always lock blinds in place (whether they are up or down).
- Prevent furniture from tipping over by securing bookcases, shelving, and heavy furniture to walls with brackets and anchors. When storing items, put heavier items on low shelves.
- Use smoke alarms on every level of your home to alert you to fires and smoke.
Do you know of any other great safety measure for childproofing your home that we may have missed? Share them with us!