Organizing Your Home for health and wealth

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Organizing Your Home for health and wealth

• Ken Tremblay
• Jacque Miller
• Elisa Shackelton
• Laura Au-Yeung
• Colorado State University Extension
• 2008

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Health Risk for American Families

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  has reported research results that show indoor
  air is two to five times more polluted than
  outdoor air.
• Most people spend as much as 60 of their time
  inside their homes air quality conditions in
  your house can affect attitudes and health.

More information? www.epa.gov/iaq
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• We all want to feel safe and healthy
• in our home.
• Accident prevention
• Routine maintenance
• Being prepared for emergencies

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Importance of Household Record Keeping

• Information is easily accessible
• Store and keep track of important house
  documents, manuals, warranties
• Assist in working with professionals tradesmen
  (tax consultant, real estate agent, plumber,
  electrician, etc)
• Record facts about the property, the house
  structure, its systems
• Keep records receipts of property improvements
  for tax purposes resale
• Update records of maintenance tasks service
  history for this house

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• Provide peace of mind
• Identify safety health-related concerns
  issues for indoor air testing and emergency
  action plan
• Having these records will make future maintenance
  house projects
• much easier, save time, save money.
• It is one of your greatest investments and
  investments and proper care
• contributes to family health and wealth.

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House Records Organizer What happens to this
house stays with this house

• 3-inch, D-ring binder with 12 section tabs
  plastic insert pockets
• Acknowledgement and Copy right page
• Purchasers of this publication may make unlimited
  copies of designated pages used for record
  keeping. No changes or additions may be made in
  the content before copying. This publication may
  not be copied or reprinted in its entirety for
  the purpose of resale or as a substitute for
  purchase.
• Section tabs each with listing for suggested
  documents warrantees to store
• House Repair Improvement Log for tracking job
  descriptions, contacts, cost
• House Item or Material Inventory for specific
  information for finishes, fixtures, equipment

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General House Information

• Title certificate legal description
• New home warranty
• Homeowners association
• Property plan house floor plans
• Physical description (photos)
• Insurance information
• Inspection reports
• Engineering reports
• Zoning land mineral rights
• Garage opener key inventory

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Indoor Air Quality Testing

• Asbestos-containing materials
• Household hazardous materials
• Molds mildew observations
• Radon test reports
• Lead-based paint test
• Smoke CO alarm systems
• Pest control management
• Termite/bug inspection reports
• Hazardous substances
• Inspection reports

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Help Yourself to a Healthy Home
Protect Your Childrens Health
www.healthyhomespartnership.net
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Property Landscape

• Landscape plan drawings
• Grass maintenance records
• Shrubs trees flowers garden
• Sprinkler irrigation system
• Fountain waterfall pond
• Soil test report
• Water test report
• Driveway walks patio
• Fence stone walls
• Yard equipment maintenance
• Weed management
• Wildlife management

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House Exterior

• Exterior finishes (paint stains)
• Siding aluminum, vinyl, brick
• Foundation
• Porch deck patio
• Roof gutter/downspouts
• Chimney(s)
• Doors
• Windows skylights
• Garage/carport attached sheds

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House Interior

• Wall treatments (coverings/paint)
• Flooring
• Light fixtures
• Window treatments
• Front door special doorways
• Tiles mirrors murals
• Cabinets built-in storage
• Other surfaces

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Climate Control

• Central room air conditioning
• Heating system
• Additional heat source
• Fireplace(s)
• Alternative energy (solar)
• Ventilation (fans)
• Thermostat
• Insulation
• Duct work

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Plumbing Systems

• Plumbing pipe location
• Connection to water
•  Water heater
• Plumbing fixtures
• Laundry fixtures drain
• Water treatment system
• Sewer septic wells
• Spa hot tub pool

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Electrical Systems

• Sketches of electrical wiring
• Incoming power sources
• Panel box
• Switches outlets
• Smoke CO alarms (hard-wired)

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Home Technology Systems

• Cable Satellite
• Phone lines jacks
• PC networking Internet
• Intercom system
• Home security system
• Home entertainment system

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Major Appliances

• Major kitchen appliances
• Garbage disposal
• Washer dryer
• Whole house vacuum
• Other built-ins (microwave)

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Emergency Preparedness

• Vital phone numbers
• List of emergency supplies
• Contents of safe
• Record of escape routes
• Fire extinguisher(s)

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Creating a Program in Your Community

• Identify committed partners
• Agencies
• Community-based organizations
• Property owners
• Contractors and trade people
• Establish program objectives
• Solicit input on issues of concern
• Consider the interests and priorities of partners
• Collect data to better determine community
  situation
• Marketing
• Funding
• Evaluation

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Habitat for Humanity Education Series

• Seminar One
• Keep Household Clutter under Control
• Safe and Healthy Household Cleaning Products
• Household Maintenance
• Why Organize Household Records/House Records
  Organizer
• Seminar Two
• Home Fire Safety
• Indoor Air Quality and Environmental Safety
• Children and Home Safety
• Seminar Three
• Emergency Preparedness
• Being a Good Neighbor

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• Questions?
• Thank you!
• More information
• Healthy Colorado Homes
• http//healthycoloradohomes.colostate.edu