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Carbon monoxide poison is a silent danger that claims over 400 lives in the U.S. annually, as well as over 20,000 visits to the emergency room, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To keep your family safe, know the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning:

Headaches
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Fatigue

“Safety is our top priority at DTE Energy, and we urge residents to be particularly alert to carbon monoxide danger during the fall and winter heating season. It’s when CO exposure most frequently occurs,” says Brad Burcz, senior safety and health engineer, DTE Energy. “One of the best defenses against CO poisoning is to install a carbon monoxide alarm near all sleeping areas in your home. If dangerous levels of CO are detected, an audible alarm will alert you.”

DTE offers the following tips to prevent CO poisoning in homes and businesses:

For businesses, install carbon monoxide alarms in main areas away from vents and appliances or equipment that produce smoke or steam.
Replace batteries in CO alarms annually.
If a CO alarm is activated, or the presence of carbon monoxide is suspected, immediately get out of the house or building into fresh air, and if necessary, seek medical attention.
Ensure all fuel-burning appliances are operating and venting properly.
Get an annual furnace inspection by a licensed professional.
Check yearly to verify flues, vents and chimneys are connected, in good condition and clear of debris.

Like this update? As your local real estate professional, I can provide more great tips like this and answer any real estate information questions you may have. Contact me today!

Source: dteenergy.com

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre going to start each day on the right foot, you need a master suite with a suitable dressing area. This is especially true when you have an overflowing wardrobe or simply like to take your time getting ready before you leave the house. Whether you have a spacious walk-in closet or a designated dressing room, here are a few tips to add a touch of luxury when picking out your outfit.

Motorized Closet System
No one enjoys digging through piles and piles of clothes each morning, only to have to re-fold them later. A motorized closet system will spare you that headache by allowing you to sift through your wardrobe with the touch of a button. These days, hanging rods and shoe wracks can even be integrated with a smart home system and controlled via your mobile device, making the start of your day that much easier.

Secure Your Valuables
Its no secret that closets and dressing areas are a popular place to store expensive items, like jewelry, watches and handbags. Installing a biometric safe that requires your fingerprint to unlock will keep your valuables safe and deliver you the ultimate piece of mind. Plus, theyre easy enough for you to open when you need to without having to worry about keys or combinations.

Add a Steamer
If you want to skip having to constantly iron or go to the dry cleaners, then a steam cleaner might be your new best friend. You can have clean and freshly pressed clothes in a few minutes and can even control todays cutting-edge systems over your smartphone, the LG Styler.

Smart Mirror
For those who are multi-taskers, a smart mirror will make a great addition to your dressing area. In addition to showing your reflection while putting together the perfect outfit, a smart mirror can also help you get caught up on the news, check your emails or make sure that youre dressed appropriately for the days weather.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Scams no longer take place solely on email and by phone. Billions of people worldwide use social media, which unfortunately provides the perfect grouping of unsuspecting victims for scammers. While many post on social media daily, the majority of users have difficulty spotting scams before theyve been compromised”and within the real estate space, users can lose out on more than just data, risking not only their safety, but their belongings and money, as well.

Heres what consumers should look out for on social media:

Fake Listings and Rentals
Theres a reason for the saying, Its too good to be true. Oftentimes, consumers see a rental or listing for an incredible, low price. While the photos may look great on Facebook and Instagram, this should be the biggest indicator that the property may not be legitimate. Where renters or buyers have to be most wary is communicating with the agent or owner who posted the listing. If there are any requests to wire funds up front, or for sensitive information such as Social Security numbers before even seeing the property, consumers should walk away and report the incident to the police.

This is where working with a vetted real estate agent comes in handy. Agents can help consumers determine if a listing is legitimate or if it appears to be a scam. Additionally, agents work with other licensed agents who are listing rentals or properties for sale, ensuring transactions and all involved parties are valid and safe. By working with unvetted online leads, consumers put themselves at risk.

Scammers Impersonating Real Estate Agents
This can go both ways. With social media, it can be difficult to vet an individual. Anyone can go online and say he or she is a real estate agent. Social media users today need to be savvy when hiring someone. Here are some red flags to look for when people claim to be real estate agents on social media:

No formal business page
A lack of online reviews
No link to a website with their license number
No references to real estate on their social media pages
An unwillingness to meet in person

In essence, consumers should never meet someone in person without first identifying who theyre speaking with. Furthermore, money should never change hands before a property viewing and until legitimate contracts are involved.

Most real estate agents use social media these days to stay in contact with past clients and reach new ones. Unfortunately, there are also some real estate scammers looking to take advantage of people online. Before working with someone found on social media, consumers should do research to ensure a person or company is legitimate.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre living in an apartment in the city, or even a small house in the burbs, your kitchen is probably not very spacious. With limited storage and counter space, its easy to put style aside and only focus on function.

But, just because your kitchen is on the small side doesnt mean you cant give it character. Here are some tips to spice up the style in your tiny kitchen:

Add a Pop of Color
Adding a bright color to your kitchen can be done in many ways. If you have a small island or breakfast bar, consider adding colored stools. Display vibrant bowls and jars on your countertop and put them to use, holding fruit or storing tea bags. Even find a matching teapot to display on your stovetop. Or, you can take another approach with color and paint your cabinets for a more dramatic look.

Bring in Patterns and Textures
From patterned tiles to an eye-catching backsplash, adding a pattern can easily make a small room feel larger than life. Go for a Medditerranian look with a tile backsplash either all across your counter space or only on an accent wall, just behind the sink or stove. Add a stylish rug – or two – to bring some texture into the mix and tie the room together.

Utilize Functional Decor
When youre confined to such a small kitchen, especially since most of the action happens here, anything you choose to add to your countertop should serve a purpose. Utilizing your decor is the best way to ensure youre not sacrificing style for space. Wooden or marble cutting boards are always useful and can sit on your counter discreetly, while bringing in natural elements. Also, consider using pretty bottles for products that get daily use, such as olive oil or vinaigrette.

Dont Forget the Details
When styling your kitchen, its easy to overlook some obvious aspects. Hardware, for example, can be changed to fit the theme or tone of your kitchen. Whether youre going for a more modern look or a country style, there are plenty of faucets out there to completely update your sink. Also, adding new knobs and pulls to your kitchen cabinets can make a huge difference to the overall feel of the room. Though these are minor updates, in a small space, every inch counts.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre an avid art collector, then you are probably aware that the biggest threat facing your collection is damage that occurs while in transit or during installation. However, the last thing you want to deal with during an already stressful moving process is having one of your favorite works of art improperly cared for. When its time to package the collection and ship it to your new address, here are few helpful tips to keep in mind.

Get Art Insurance
Before you do anything, make sure that every valuable item is insured because even the act of packing can potentially harm a delicate canvas painting. Fine art insurance will keep you covered in the event of catastrophe and, while youll hopefully never need it, the fact of the matter is that accidents do happen when priceless artwork is being transported.

Art Handlers
Unless youve received professional training, this is probably not the time to show off your DIY skills. Moving a masterpiece is a serious undertaking and there are services readily available to handle it every step of the way. Whether its just one piece or an expansive collection, these companies will use custom-made crates to mitigate risk and carefully install your art upon arrival at your new home.

Qualified Movers
If you have a beloved collection but may not feel its necessary to bring in professional art handlers, at the very least its important to make sure that your moving company has experience with valuable items. From inherited antiques to your childrens first drawings, irreplaceable items come in many forms and your moving company needs to understand the significance of each and every piece.

Climate-Controlled Storage
Sometimes, logistics require that your artwork be put in storage, either for short or long term, before being installed in your new home. If thats the case, its essential to choose a facility that knows how to care for precious works and can provide climate-controlled storage.

Published with permission from RISMedia.