Home Sweet Hazards

Safety expert Dan Hannan says there are more dangers than people realize lurking in their houses.  He offers valuable tips on how to avoid trouble at home.

How serious a problem are home accidents?  Almost half of accidental deaths occur at home. The top causes are poison, falls, electric shocks, and fires. Home accidents are responsible for more than 3 million injuries, including about 55,000 fatal injuries, nationwide every year. That’s more fatalities than from workplace and automobile accidents combined.

In his book Preventing Home Accidents Dan talks about the “ABCs” of how a home accident occurs. “A” is the activator, the event that starts you on the path to an accident, say an argument with a family member, lack of sleep, or talking on your cell phone. “B” is the behavior, the event that occurs because of A, and “C” is the consequence of that behavior, namely the accident. An example would be you have an argument with your spouse, you then go into your garage to build a cabinet.  When you’ve had the activator, the argument, you’re not mentally on task, so maybe you don’t check to see if the saw guard is in place. That behavior, that failure to make proper decisions, results in an accident, one that could be fatal.

Before starting a task, everyone should go through a simple hazard analysis. Think about the steps involved in your task and identify potential hazards. If you are going to clean out the gutters, what are the steps involved?  Take a look at the ladder:  Make sure it is working properly. When placing it against the house, make sure you have proper footing, it’s leaning at the proper angle, it’s tall enough that you can reach safely. It only takes a couple of extra moments to break down the task to insure safety.

Sounds like common sense. Why don’t more people do it? If you do something dangerous and you don’t get hurt, you’re going to keep doing it that way, probably until something bad does happen.  Being safe is a skill that needs to be learned and practiced.

Gradual Recovery for Housing and the Economy Expected in 2012

Although the housing market struggled to maintain an even footing in 2011, gradual improvement is expected in 2012 and beyond, according to projections at a residential forum here at the 2011 Realtors® Conference & Expo.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors®, said home sales should be stronger. “Tight mortgage credit conditions have been holding back home buyers all year, and consumer confidence has been shaky recently,” he said. “Nonetheless, there is a sizeable pent-up demand based on population growth, employment levels and a doubling-up phenomenon that can’t continue indefinitely. This demand could quickly stimulate the market when conditions improve.”

Yun projects growth in Gross Domestic Product to be 1.8 percent this year, then rising moderately at a rate of 2.2 percent in 2012. With job growth of 1.7 to 2.2 million next year, the unemployment rate is expected to decline to 8.7 percent by the second half of 2012.

Mortgage interest rates should gradually rise from recent record lows and reach 4.5 percent by the middle of 2012.

“Housing affordability conditions, based on the relationship between median home prices, mortgage interest rates, and median family income, have been at a record high this year,” Yun said. “Very favorable affordability conditions will dominate next year as well, which will probably be the second best year on record dating back to 1970. Our hope is that credit restrictions will ease and allow more home buyers to take advantage of current opportunities.”

Existing-home sales are forecast to edge up about 1 percent this year, and then rise another 4 to 5 percent in 2012. Based on NAR’s current projection model, existing-home sales would total 4.96 million in 2011.

NAR presently is benchmarking* existing-home sales, and downward revisions are expected for totals in recent years, although there will be little change to previously reported comparisons based on percentage change. There will be will be no change to median prices or month’s supply of inventory. Publication of the improved measurement methodology is expected in the near future.

New-home sales are expected to be a record low 302,000 this year, rising to 372,000 in 2012. Housing starts are forecast to rise to 630,000 next year from 583,000 in 2011. “Although a double-digit growth in new-home sales and housing starts sounds encouraging, the projections remain historically soft relative to long-term underlying demand,” Yun explained.

With falling inventory, the median home price should rise in 2012. “Home prices have yet to show a definitive stabilization pattern in most areas. Still, given an over-correction in prices, there likely will be moderate appreciation in 2012,” Yun said.

“Once home prices turn positive on a sustained basis, consumer confidence will rise and help the broader economy to improve,” Yun added. “If we could maintain sound and reasonable mortgage underwriting standards, the market would be able to avoid a future big boom and bust cycle, but mortgage standards remain overly stringent.”

Also speaking was Richard Peach, Senior Vice President at the Federal Reserve Board of New York, who said the economy is under-performing. “Nearly two-and-a-half years since the end of ‘the great recession,’ the economy continues to operate well below its potential,” he said. “Among the significant structural impediments are the legacy of the housing boom and bust, and fiscal contrition at the state and local level.”

Peach said the current business cycle remains 7 percent below its peak and is longer than other recession cycles since 1953. He added the employment to population ratio is historically low, and there’s been a shift in the distribution of income with corporate profits up strongly while employment compensation is down.

Peach believes there is a sizeable level of shadow inventory that will result in rising foreclosures. “My idea is to allocate certificates to 2.5 million service members who served in Afghanistan and Iraq that could be used as a downpayment on a foreclosed home in the Fannie or Freddie portfolio,” he said. This would help to absorb the inventory and stabilize the housing market.

RETIRING TO WINTER HAVEN

Our beautiful city of Winter Haven welcomes our beloved Snowbirds and Retirees!
Here are a few of the activities our sunny city has to offer you this Fall and Winter!

Cruisin Winter Haven: Car Shows with 50's music on the 1st Saturday of every month from 4-9pm

Bike Night:  For Motorcycle Enthusiasts! Live Music on the 3rd Saturday every month starting at 5pm

Pickin In The Park:  Listen to folk music played on guitars and banjos on the first Friday every month from 6:30-8pm

Drum Circle: Enjoy our local drum artists featuring unique music on the 2nd Friday of every month at 6:30pm
Also, you are always welcome to tour our other local hotspots!

The Famous Winter Haven Water Ski and Museum Hall of Fame: open daily from 10 am to 5 apm and Saturday from 10am to 3 pm

Winter Haven Theatre: Enjoy our theatre for live presentation: Call for tickets and times 863-294-show

Winter Haven Art and Gallery Exhibit:  Tour through the Chain of Lakes Civic Center and view our local artists' at their best.

Again, welcome to our beautiful city of Winter Haven, home of the Chain of Lakes!! WE are glad you are here!!

Do You Practice Safety While Showing Properties?

• Be sure to use the lockbox property-key procedure that has been established to improve real estate agent safety. A reliable, secure lockbox system ensures that keys don’t fall into the wrong hands.

• Show properties before dark. If you are going to be working after hours, advise your office manager, another agent or Broker of your schedule. If you must show a property after dark, turn on all lights as you go through, and don't lower any shades or draw curtains or blinds.

• Try and call the office once an hour to let people know where you are.

• On your listings, if you think it may be some time before the property may sell, get acquainted with a few of the immediate neighbors. You will feel better knowing they know your vehicle, and they will feel better about the stranger (you) who frequently visits their neighborhood.

• Prepare a scenario so that you can leave if someone makes you uncomfortable.  Examples: You’ve missed a call from your office, you left some important information in your car, or another agent with buyers is on his way.

• In showing a property, always leave the front door unlocked for a quick exit while you and the client are inside. As you enter each room, let the client enter first and stand near the door.

• Women, lock your purse in the car trunk before you arrive. Carry only non-valuable business items (except for your cell phone), and do not wear expensive jewelry or watches.

• Park at the curb rather than in the driveway. You will attract more attention running and screaming to the curb area. It is much easier to escape if you don't have to back your vehicle out of a driveway. Besides, parked in a driveway, another vehicle could purposefully or accidentally trap you.

These are helpful tips to practice ALWAYS!  No one wants to become a statistic.  Unfortunately there are bad people out there and keeping this tips at the forefront will increase your safety AND awareness!

Kick Off To Family Week

The Butler Team at Brokers Realty would like to invite everyone to join us at the 5th annual Family Week on November 12, 2011. Saturdays kickoff celebration will be held at Central Park in Downtown Winter Haven. Start the morning off at 8AM with a 5k/1 mile walk/run. Booths providing food, games and prizes will be set up. Stop by ours and register your child for our free give away (one each a boys and girls scooter). Entertainment will be provided throughout the event from 9AM until 1PM. Don’t miss out on this fun family event with something for all ages. Additional events are planned throughout the week. Come on out and please stop by out booth and say hello.

Don’t Wait for January to begin a New Year’s Resolution!

The trick in losing weight is getting past the life habits that keep us where we are physically.  Getting out of our daily routine and trading it for a healthier lifestyle is important and the primary reason it becomes overwhelming for most women.  The good news… weight-loss is the same for everyone!  It is the approach that has to be different.  Fun fact … approximately 83% of all pounds that melt away are about what you put in your mouth as food.  Join us at the Chain of Lakes Complex on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. or Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. to learn more about the “REAL LIFE” solutions to diet and weight-loss at Boxing For Life.

Jane Waters Thomas, owner will be celebrating her 10-year anniversary of “taking back my life” through weight-loss and fitness this February.  She lost 170 pounds and has successfully kept if off.  Let her show you how to do it, too.

OCTOBERFEST 2011 IN WINTER HAVEN

The taps were flowing and Band Haven was playing for an awesome night in the Park.  Beautiful Fraulein’s and lots of Herr’s sporting the typical gray or green alpine hats carrying their Butler Team mugs.  Great to see the town celebrating the season in October where you can party in public!  The Butler Team was there handing out mugs, pretzels, candy and raffling off a wonderful gift basket filled with German goodies.  I’m sure the lucky winner will be surprised when they receive their basket!  The Butler Team had a great evening and said we will be doing this again.  Auf Wiedersehn!