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Every year, hundreds of people are killed and thousands of others become ill due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide detectors can save lives, but many people dont have them in their homes.

What Makes Carbon Monoxide Dangerous?
Carbon monoxide keeps the blood from carrying enough oxygen to vital organs. A person who has been exposed to carbon monoxide may initially experience flu-like symptoms, such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, weakness and fatigue. Higher levels of carbon monoxide can cause a person to become disoriented or lose consciousness. Even a small amount of carbon monoxide is dangerous.

Where Does Carbon Monoxide Come from?
Carbon monoxide is produced when carbon-based fuels, such as wood, coal, gasoline, oil, propane and natural gas, are burned. It isnt dangerous in a well-ventilated area, but the gas can cause problems in a confined space.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Can Save Lives
A carbon monoxide detector will sound an alarm if unsafe levels of the gas are detected. Carbon monoxide may go unnoticed without a detector since it is odorless and colorless.

You should have at least one carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home (including the attic and basement if you have them), near each bedroom, and in or near an attached garage. Dont put a detector near a window, in a humid area or in a place where it could be exposed to direct sunlight.

Some carbon monoxide detectors are battery operated or plug into wall outlets, while other models can be connected to a home security system or monitored through a smartphone app. Choose carbon monoxide detectors approved by Underwriters Laboratories or another safety certification organization, check them as recommended by the manufacturer and replace the batteries when necessary.

If a carbon monoxide detector goes off, get all people and animals out of the house and into fresh air immediately. If anyone has flu-like symptoms, call an ambulance. Dont re-enter the house until the authorities have told you its safe. If you dont know why the carbon monoxide detector went off and officials arent able to determine the cause, have any appliances that burn carbon-based fuel inspected and repaired or replaced if necessary.

How to Prevent the Release of Carbon Monoxide
Have your heating system, chimney and fuel-burning appliances regularly inspected and maintained. Dont use a stove or oven to heat your home or use a grill or stove designed for outdoor use indoors. Dont warm up your car in the garage, even if the door is open, because carbon monoxide can build up to dangerous levels. Pull your car out of the garage before warming it up. Dont run any gas-powered equipment indoors unless the area is well ventilated.

Protect Your Family
Carbon monoxide can be produced by common appliances that are found in virtually all homes. The gas can be lethal, and it often goes undetected until its too late. If you dont have carbon monoxide detectors in your home, install them to keep your family safe.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are three different types of workspaces that youre likely to find in luxury homes.

Traditional Study

A traditional study will always be appealing to luxury homeowners who want a secluded area where they can get work done without being distracted.

Work Station

All it takes is a quiet alcove in the living room with enough space for an adequate desk. If you prefer to have some activity around you while working, this is an excellent option.

Separate Studio

Whether its a guesthouse, annex or in-law suite above the garage, youll have a work area with enough space for everything youll need throughout the day.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Those considering purchasing a new home may want to consider becoming a condo owner. Popular with every homeowner”from first-time buyers to retirees”condos offer many advantages over a traditional stand-alone property. Below are the top three.

Affordability: If you’re looking for a newly built home, a condo is likely to be less expensive than a stand-alone property. Why? Condos are often smaller in size than homes containing comparable numbers of bedrooms and baths. In addition, condos often share many building elements such as walls and roofing, so the cost of construction is often lower, resulting in lower pricing.

Low Maintenance: Condo life is a low maintenance life, as living in a condo means you’re likely paying Property Owners Association dues (POA), which cover many maintenance items such as landscaping, pest services, roofing, painting, and driveway repairs. Having so many services covered is appealing to busy professionals, parents of young children and retirees who may not feel up to mowing and raking. POA fees are typically relatively inexpensive, and for those too busy or tired to take on tasks alone, they are well worth the cost.

Amenities: Condos are all about top-notch amenities. From swimming pools and restaurants to golf courses and clubhouses with workout centers, many of today’s condo developments are filled with fantastic features. Expenses for building and maintaining these amenities are typically shared among condo owners, so you can enjoy these lux amenities at a very minimal cost.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A word that anyone who is going through a house sale should know is contingency.

And along with that, understand that just because a bid is accepted, doesnt mean that the deal is going to go through.

How it works: A bid is made with the understanding that it is contingent on having the house inspected, with the buyer needing to approve the results.Contingencies are part of any standard contract and define the efforts that must be done before a deal is finalized in addition to the inspection, such as financing, insurance and agreed-upon repairs.

All of this is necessary because if something that was agreed upon is not done as stated, the potential buyer has an out. For instance, suppose the sale was contingent upon the seller taking out the living room carpet or fixing a crack in the chimney, and those werent done by closing time, well then, the buyer is not required to go through with the deal.

Theres also something called a financing contingency, which is on the onus of the buyer, and states that they must secure an acceptable mortgage or obtain other means of financing to buy the home. This becomes a safety net for the seller that ensures the sale will go through. If not, an agreed-upon fine will be imposed, and the seller can re-list the home.

Then, theres an insurance contingency that ensures the house and new buyers will be able to get insured. This isnt as prevalent, but for those buying in areas with a history of toxic mold, earthquakes or floods, insurance carriers no longer automatically issue a policy, so the contract can be contingent on applying for and receiving an insurance commitment in writing.

Other popular contingencies include the seller asking that the deal be made contingent on him or her successfully buying another home, or the buyer making the deal contingent on selling his or her own home.

A home sale contingency can be riskyto sellers as theres no guarantee that the other home will eventually sell. Even if the contract allows the seller to continue to market the property and accept offers, the house may be listed under contract, making it less attractive to other potential buyers.

Obviously, the most significant part of any contingency is putting it all in writing. Your REALTOR will be able to lead you through what needs to be done.

A home transaction is one of the most important things you may ever do, so make sure you take all the proper steps to ensure you get what you pay for.

Published with permission from RISMedia.