Remodel to Reduce the Risk of Fire

Every year over 40,000 fires are caused by home electrical wiring. These fires result in more than 350 deaths and over 1400 injuries each year. One of the major causes of these fires is arcing faults. In recent years builders have been required to install Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) breakers in newly constructed properties. But if your home is more than a few years old it may be vulnerable to arcing faults. Remodeling or updating your home to include these devices can reduce the risk of expensive or deadly electrical fires.

Arcing faults occur in damaged or deteriorated wires and cords. Damage occurs from many normal circumstances as well as mistreatment of wires. Natural aging and exposure to heat vents and sunlight can speed up deterioration. Wire insulation can be punctured while hanging pictures or by cable staples. Cords can get caught in doors and under furniture. Poorly installed outlets and switches as well as furniture being pushed against outlets can also cause arcing faults. Faulty arcing generates high temperatures that can ignite nearby home materials like wood, paper, and carpets.

The Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) is an electrical device designed to protect homes from fires caused by these arcing faults. Conventional circuit breakers only respond to overloads and short circuits; so they do not protect against arcing faults. The AFCI circuitry continuously monitors current flow. Once an unwanted arcing condition is detected, the AFCI de-energizes the circuit to reduce the risk of fire.

Some of the new circuit breakers include AFCIs in their design. They combine traditional overload and short-circuit protection with arc fault protection. Other designs also include the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) to reduce the risk of harm even further. The GFCI protects people from severe or fatal electric shocks. Ground faults occur when electrical current leaks from a circuit. If a person’s body provides a path to ground for this leakage, the person could be injured, burned, severely shocked, or electrocuted.

The National Electrical Code requires GFCI protection for certain electrical receptacles. AFCI protection on most circuits in the home must be protected in 2010. A combination AFCI and GFCI can be used to satisfy the NEC requirement for protection if it is specifically marked as a combination device.

Protect your home from the risk of fire! Update your home with AFCI and GFCI protection. For more information about AFCI installation and requirements review the AFCI Fact Sheet

New Study: Who is Most likely to File for Bankruptcy?

What factors make someone more likely to file for bankruptcy? Is it their race? Is it their religion? Is it their age group? Could it be because they are poor? Because they are whealthy?

A new study, conducted at Brigham Young University, demonstrates that high bankruptcy rates are directly tied to state policy. http://byunews.byu.edu/archive09-Jun-bankruptcy.aspx

The study shows that bankruptcy rates depend on the state's law. Some states garnish wages for debts owed while some do not. Other states report bankruptcies while some show it as an informal debt. The study demonstrates that these 2 factors would account for 50% of bankruptcies.

In the book "The Tipping Point," author Malcolm Gladwell illustrates how people's behaviors can be effectively enhanced by changing their environment. Utah had the highest bankruptcy rate back in 1999-2000. Was this because the people were more flaky? No, it was the laws regarding bankruptcy and garnishment. It can all be curbed.

In Utah about half of bankrutpcies result in a foreclosure. In order to curb foreclosures and bankruptcies, we need to revisit the laws surrounding them.

Where to Buy/Sell this July

The Hottest months of the year for Buying/Selling a home are quickly coming to a close! Children are out of school and families planning to move need to find their new home before the next school year starts. Combined with the current buyer's market and government incentives, these summer months are the hottest months of the year to sell your home.

Based on last month's statistics we can predict where the highest level of demand for homes will be this month. These Hot Spots are the area of Utah where homes sales are heating up. If you're living in one of these Hot Spots and are considering selling your home, now it the best time to capitalize on current demand and get things moving. Those living in these hot spots can get top dollar for their home!

If you are juggling the idea of moving this summer, it is time to quit tossing the idea around and make it happen! The excellent government incentives and mortgage rates can assist you in getting the perfect home that meets your needs. These Hot Spots are also prime locations to buy because you can count on a stable home value and being able to sell if you ever need to.

#1. Sandy (84093) Price Range: $100K - 200K
Sales History Current homes for Sale

#2. Woods Cross (84087) Price Range: $100K - $200K
Sales History Current homes for Sale

#3. Centerville (84014) Price Range: $200K - $250K
Sales History Current homes for Sale

#4. Salt Lake City (84109) Price Range: $200K - $250K
Sales History Current homes for Sale

#5. Salt Lake City (84105) Price Range: $250K - $300K
Sales History Current homes for Sale

Sales History for all Zip codes and price ranges