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Judy Kivela
Broker/Owner
    Years of Experience: 27

    CRS: Certified Residential Specialist
    GRI: Graduate REALTOR® Institute
    CDPE Certified Distress Property Expert, SRS
    WHS: Workforce Housing Specialist

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Kivela Montana Realtors
3100 Harrison Avenue
Butte, Montana
406-491-5777

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Condos

Holiday Candle Safety in Your Butte Condo

Sunday, December 6th, 2009

More festive candles are used in your Butte condo during the holidays than at any other time of year, so it’s important to review the safety rules. Here are few tips to keep your condo safe:

Candle Placement Preparation

It may sound silly, but you need to prepare before you light that candle. First figure out where you want to place the candle in your Butte condo.

  • Find a heat resistant surface.
  • Make sure there aren’t any books, papers, curtains, or bedding nearby.
  • Watch out for flammable holiday decorations.
  • Keep the candle away from windows and vents, and check for signs of a draft.
  • Place the candle where children and pets can’t reach and where it isn’t likely to be bumped into.

Getting Ready to Light the Candle

  • Before burning the candle, review the manufacturer’s instructions. Most recommend that the wick be trimmed to ¼ inch before lighting.
  • Make sure to use only approved candle holders. Using an unapproved glass holder could cause it to burst and send glass everywhere.
  • Place candles at least three inches apart so the additional heat doesn’t cause them to melt improperly.

Burning the Candle

Now that the candle is lit, make sure to never leave it unattended.

  • Watch the candle to see if it smokes or flickers a lot. This could be a sign that the candle isn’t burning properly.
  • Leave about two inches of wax when you extinguish the candle. Most manufacturers recommend that you don’t burn the candle all the way down.

Putting the Candle Out Safely

The safest way to put out a candle is with a candle snuffer.

  • Don’t use your fingers or blow out the candle; the flame may travel and cause a fire.
  • Never use water to put out a candle; the wax may splatter and burn you.
  • Wait until the wax is cooled before you move the candle.

Candles are a beautiful way to decorate for the holidays in your Butte condo. By following these simple safety suggestions, you can help to ensure that your holidays are happy and safe.

If you’d like to be in a new condo before the next holiday rolls around, I can help. Call me at 406-491-5777 or email me at [email protected] for more information.

Links:

Heat resistant: http://www.candle-safety.org/

Candle holders: http://www.ehow.com/articles_4355-candles-candle-holders.html

Candle snuffer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candle_snuffer

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Posted in Condos | No Comments »

Save Your Life and Your Butte Condo

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

If you live in a smaller place like a Butte condo, you may be ignoring a very important part of your home. Worse, your home may not even contain this significant piece of technology. It’s small, it seems insignificant, and it can save your life.

It’s the smoke detector, and paying attention to it can literally mean a difference between life and death. Many people have them, but don’t take care of them. Others don’t have them at all, thinking a Butte condo is small enough they would notice a fire if it started. Here are a few “to-dos” and tips to taking care of your smoke detector:

  • First and foremost, if you don’t have one, get one! For that matter, it’s always best to get a smoke detector for as many rooms in the house as needed. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines to find out how far your particular brand can sense smoke and buy accordingly.
  • Use the “test” button! Every smoke detector comes with a button to test whether it’s working or not. If it doesn’t beep when tested, the batteries should be replaced. If you replace the batteries and it still doesn’t beep, replace the detector.
  • If you’ve had a smoke detector for more than ten years, replace it! Even these handy gadgets run down and lose sensitivity.
  • Change the batteries bi-annually. For many, it works to remember to change them on the day Daylight Saving Time begins and the day it ends.
  • Keep your detectors clean! Vacuum all the little particles that can clog up the sensors and make the detector inoperative. If you do this once a month, the chances of them failing are much less.
  • Replace smoke detector batteries any time the detector chirps.
  • Always pay attention to the manufacturer’s guide when installing, testing and cleaning.

Although these tips may seem common sense, they’re also easily forgotten. Taking care of the smoke detectors in your Butte condo can literally be the difference between life and death.

If you’re looking for a condo with important safety features, I can help! Call me at 406-491-1234 or email me for more information.

Links:

Get a smoke detector:  http://www.consumersearch.com/smoke-detectors

Daylight Saving Time:  http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/faqs/qdaylite.htm

Replace the batteries: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4780147_replacing-smoke-detector-batteries.html

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Posted in Condos | No Comments »

20 Space Saving Ideas for Your Butte Condo

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Living in a Butte condo can be a lot of fun, but it can also be an exercise in frustration when it comes to having enough room for all your items and making your home look its best.  Here are a few tips to keep you from losing your mind:

1.  Use an ottoman for your coffee table.  It can double as storage.

2.  Put shelves above the doorways rather than somewhere else on the wall.

3.  Low bookcases along the back of your couch can double as a couch table.

4.  Use glass shelves in deep-set windows as additional storage space for knickknacks.

5.  Buy larger, but fewer, pieces of furniture.

6.  Use a magazine rack.

7.  Leave the views of windows and doors uncluttered.

8.  Stay away from bright, vibrant prints for furniture fabric.

9.  Use corner bookcases where possible.

10.  Remember that, with a [city] condo, less is more.

11.  Maximize space in the kitchen with apartment-size appliances.

12.  Consider under the counter appliances or a pullout pantry unit.

13.  Use magnetic strips to wall-mount large knives.

14.  Consider a futon or Murphy bed rather than a huge mattress.

15.  If you have a big bed, use the space underneath as storage.

16.  Purchase pull out drawers or storage bins as under-the-bed storage areas.

17.  Add shelving and wall cabinets to your bedroom to minimize clutter.

18.  Use knobs and hooks in your bathroom for hanging towels or robes.

19.  If you have the room, use a tall thin corner tower in your bathroom for towels and cleaning products.

20.  Use a clothes hamper rather than a basket.

Just because you live in a Butte condo doesn’t mean you have to feel crowded or settle for a less than gorgeous décor.

If you’re considering buying or selling a condo, I can help.  Call me at 406-491-5777 or email me for more information.

Links:

Use an ottoman

http://www.indobase.com/home/furniture/funiture-ottoman.html

Use a corner bookcase

http://thecornerbookcase.com/

Under-the-bed storage areas

http://home-organization.suite101.com/article.cfm/under_the_bed_storage

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Posted in Condos | 1 Comment »

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