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Myke Leatham | Brazos County Realty

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8 Most Common Causes of House Fires and How to Protect Your Home

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Whether you’re new to Bryan-College Station or you’ve been living in this part of Texas for a while, it’s essential to learn about everyday occurrences in your neighborhood and city. House fires are important to pay attention to while living in South-Eastern Texas, as everything from appliances to lighting can spark problems. Once you’ve invested in fire insurance, review these common household fire hazards and learn the best practices for preventing house fires.

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Fire Insurance for Your Bryan-College Station Home

Even if you do everything you can to prevent home fires, accidents can happen when you least expect them. One of your first moves after buying a new house should be investing in fire insurance, so you can live comfortably in Bryan-College Station knowing that your property is protected. Once you’re covered with fire insurance that suits your budget and lifestyle, you can take the precautions outlined below to avoid a fire damage in your home. You also have the option to go the extra mile and carry out a home inspection prior to buying a new place to control for fire hazards before you move in.

8 Biggest Causes of Home Fires in Bryan-College Station

Here are the 8 biggest causes of home fires in Bryan-College Station with a number of fire safety tips geared toward keeping homes in this part of Texas safe and sound.

Cooking Equipment

Cooking equipment is one of the culprits behind home fires. Overheating pots and pans, especially ones left unattended, can be quite flammable. In order to practice safe cooking habits, stay in the room while your food is on the burner. Also keep flammable items like paper towels, oven mitts and dish towels away from the stove.

Appliances

Appliances are a second cause behind house fires. Electric appliances like toasters can malfunction, over use electricity and wear out unexpectedly. Because frayed cords, water leaks and more create problems with your appliances, check them for warning signs. Lastly, be sure to keep them up-to-date to offset potential fire hazards.

Children

Children are a third explanation behind home fires. Curiosity can lead to open flames from matches and lighters. Luckily it’s easy to put these gadgets out of reach. Take an extra step of precaution by creating an escape plan for you and your family, and practice it twice a year to encourage fire safety.

Smoking

Smoking is a fourth element to consider in house fires. Cigarettes and cigarette butts can cause furniture, clothes and more to catch on fire. If quitting smoking is too large of a feat, opt for large, deep ashtrays and make sure to always extinguish your cigarettes.

Heating

Heating is a fifth origin of home fires. Built-in and portable heaters can become hot enough to melt and burn nearby objects. If you happen to need a heater during the winter months, keep furniture, curtains and linens away from it. Also, make sure the system is working properly by testing it first.

Wiring

Wiring is a sixth root of house fires. Old wires, electrical issues and water leaks can administer sparks that lead to open flames. Whether you’ve invested in a house or condo, hire an electrician or check in with your landlord regularly to make sure your wires are in working order.

Lighting

Lighting is a seventh source for home fires. Lamp shades and light fittings encompass bulbs that can overheat. When you’re using artificial light sources in your home, set lamp bases where they won’t get knocked over. Be sure to turn them off when they get too hot.

Candles

Candles are an eighth cause of house fires. They’re often set up near flammable items and left unattended. For the moments when you want a nice ambiance and a sweet scent, keep kids and pets away from lit candles. Be sure to blow them out before leaving the room. And remember to cut long wicks and keep flammable objects away from lit candles.

Next Steps

The 8 biggest causes of home fires in Bryan-College Station are important to have top of mind when creating a safe living environment for you and your loved ones. Because everyday items like cooking equipment and candles can lead to disastrous fires when left unattended, it’s best to stay alert and do everything you can to avoid accidents in and around your home. Check out our helpful list of insurance companies to find the right agent for your home protection needs. If you have any questions about these common causes of home fires or fire safety tips for your home in general, please don’t hesitate to contact the team at Brazos County Realty today.

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About Myke Leatham

I’m so glad you found me – your College Station and Bryan, TX real estate source! When you choose to buy or sell a home in College Station/Bryan, TX or other surrounding areas using our expert services, you will receive a free consultation to determine your needs, free listings, and free reports sent to you by email. These weekly reports will show you how hard the members of my team are working to accomplish your property goals, and we guarantee the best service and consultation you have ever experienced. You’ll find the best community information for the College Station, Texas region right here.

It’s nice to know YOUR Realtor will still be of service after the sale.

Experience Counts: Broker/Owner of Brazos County Realty
Over 25 years of sales experience. With past ABR, GRI, CRS, & Epro designations.
Continuing education in real estate: Education is paramount in an ever changing industry like Real Estate. Myke has taken over 1000 hours of real estate specific courses which include but are not limited to: Residential Appraisal, Marketing, Law Contracts I & II, Finance, Residential Inspections, Principles and Practice, Law of Agency, Code of Ethics, Bankruptcy/Easements/Surveys/and Probate, Home Warranties, 1031 Exchanges and hundreds of hours of extensive real estate training.

Reputation: SALES LEADER since 1998; Top Producer 2000 through 2009. Listed among the top agents in the county. Consistently ranked among top realtors for total sales volume out of 900 realtors for commercial and residential real estate in the Bryan/College Station, TX area. When Myke represents buyers, she presents all viable options to her clients, including those properties that are not officially listed, but could be available for sale based on her inside information. Her expertise lies with investors and marketing homes of all price ranges in College Station/Bryan to local, national and global buyers, across all major media channels and through her extensive, personal network of contacts.

Myke is among the top 1% of all Realtors in North America!
She has earned the Designations of ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative), CRS(Certified Residential Specialist), GRI (Graduate of Realtors Institute)CHMS (Certified Home Marketing Specialist), and E-pro (Certified Internet Professional)
Fewer than 3% of all Realtors nationwide earn these certifications. They are not only a symbol of Myke’s commitment to this business, but these designations are your assurance of a skilled, trained real estate professional.

Myke is a consummate real estate professional who not only understands the art of deal-making, but also the art of relationships. She makes the process of buying and selling homes an uplifting and fun experience. She has a tremendous appreciation for Bryan and College Station, its rich history, and Texas A&M traditions having lived in the area for 25 years. Her knowledge of Bryan/College Station’s real estate market and market trends is unparalleled. Having been personally involved with clients through their remodeling, purchasing and selling processes, she knows intrinsic quality and value when she sees it. When she doesn’t see it she lets her clients know, without hesitation.
Myke’s proven track record and affiliations in the field of real estate demonstrates her high level of professionalism.

* High energy and enthusiasm
* Aggressive marketing
* Expert negotiating skills
* Ability to listen and ascertain customer’s desires and needs
* Fun to be with
* Internet savvy
* Because Myke is an experienced investor, she quickly helps her customers locate and define good business opportunities. No one likes the feeling of being ‘sold to’ so Myke provides as much information as possible to help you make the right decision.

Personal Commitment:
I am prepared to go the ‘Extra Mile’ for you, because I understand the financial and emotional significance of purchasing and selling your home. I will carefully listen to your desires and arrive at a workable plan. I believe sensitivity, listening, and service are important keys to success.
Whether you are buying or selling a home or you are just curious about your home’s market value, I’d be happy to provide my market expertise and intelectual property without obligation, or meet with you to evaluate your home for future reference. I want my customers to have a great time and enjoy the total process of purchasing or selling property. It gives me great pride when my customerspass my name on to their friends and family. I will continue to work hard to make sure critical information is available at www.AggieRealEstate.com and I invite all interested investors to search my site for cash flow opportunities. I will dedicate my time and talents to helping you achieve your goals. It is my goal to make your buying and selling experience extraordinary. Look closely and you’ll see how much I love meeting and working with people. You’ll experience the difference in working with an experienced and dedicated professional.

Personal information:
Michelle goes by ‘Myke’ and is the proud mother of 6 children – 3 girls and 3 boys. Her husband is David Leatham. They met at Brigham Young University. They have been married since 1977. David is a finance professor, and Associate Head over graduate studies in the Agricultural Economics Department at Texas A&M University, and speaks fluent Spanish. They have lived in College Station since 1983 and loved every minute of it. Myke loves to quilt, sing, swim, ‘sing’, bake bread, ‘sing,’ garden, ‘sing’, sell real estate, and ‘sing some more’ :-). Family, church, and real estate consume most of her time. Truth, honor, integrity, kindness, loyalty, gratitude, and service are very important words to her.

Slogan: ‘Let Myke Help You With Your HOMEwork!’

Referrals: The highest compliment I can get is when you pass my name on to others or post a kind remark on the internet. When you send your friends and family my way, I’ll always provide them with the highest quality of service that I know you would appreciate. Thanks in advance for all your support and friendship.