OKAY – I know this article does not have any Political Substance. However maybe it will make us all think just a little more about that 2012 elections and who mwe want to lead our country back into prosperity. Have fun reading this re-post of Mr. Will’s Blog and let your mind drift a bit and think about who you will be supporting this election and why. Please don’t just vote for your you think your friends and family say they are voting for get engage in the process America and let’s all make a difference. Let’s show the politicians who really has the the power ” The American Voters – The People”

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama’s socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.
The professor then said, “OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama’s plan”. All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A…. (substituting grades for dollars – something closer to home and more readily understood by all).
After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little..
The second test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F. As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else. To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed. It could not be any simpler than that.
Remember, there IS a test coming up. The 2012 elections.

These are possibly the 5 best sentences you’ll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:
1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.
2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!
5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

Ed Will

Oklahoma Disability Exemption

Re: Section 9 of Oklahoma House bill 154.7/1131

Would you believe Oklahoma is the only State that offers Tax Exempt Status to veterans with 100% disabilities?

This program benefits nearly 9,600 Oklahoma Veterans who have sacrificed their lives and health for this Country.  These veterans are exempt from all sales tax which includes:  City, County, and State that shall not exceed 25,000 per year, per individual.  Americans are united in their belief that Congress and the President have a responsibility to make sure that veterans receive their benefits after service.  This exemption is the latest attempt from Oklahoma to accommodate those who have sacrificed for our nation.  This tax exemption is the least that any State can offer to those men and women who have given their lives and time.

Oklahoma should be the catalyst for this nation who owes their very existence to men and women veterans that have served their country with honor and valor in times of war and peace.

House Bill 1131 allows surviving spouses of veterans with a 100% service connected disability to keep the Veterans Sales Tax Exemption.

As a retired Viet-Nam Veteran, I can truly say that spouses of disabled veterans endure severe hardships when their love one’s die in defense of our nation.  The freedom Americans enjoy should not die with the warriors; it must extend to the surviving spouses.

Again Oklahoma leads the nation with new household personal property tax exemption that is offered to 100% service connected veterans or their surviving spouses.

Our service members returning from the mid-east and their devoted families relocating or returning to Oklahoma are also entitled to 100% motor vehicle tax exemption, 100% disable veteran property tax exemption, Oklahoma tuition aid grant, Oklahoma National Guard Tuition Waiver, and many other benefits that are inclusive to Oklahoma.

In today’s world, we welcome your move to a State that honors our veterans.

How to Not Pay Too Much for Your Home

Whether you are buying your first home, or your fifth, the process of buying a home is a detailed, time-consuming venture. At the same time, it’s an emotional period laden with difficult choices. You want to ensure that the home you purchase meets your family’s needs now, and in the future. Each of these decisions often involves money. When you consider all that money represents, you’ll want to ensure that you don’t pay too much. This article helps you become a savvy buyer, by pointing out some of the pitfalls inherent in the home-buying process. These include such things as knowing what you want before you begin shopping, taking your time to shop, choosing the right realtor, and remaining objective while viewing potential homes. With this information, you’ll be closer to finding your ideal home. 1. Before you shop, develop a needs vs. wants list Everyone has a picture of an ideal home. This would include all the features you not only need, but have long desired. However, when it comes time to buying a home, the desires cost more. While it’s nice to think about having a beautifully landscaped backyard, or a solarium, perhaps even some built-in appliances, these are usually considered luxury items, which can add considerably to the price of your home. That’s why it’s a good idea to develop a needs and wants lists. With this list, begin with items you really need like adequate space, garage and number of bedrooms. For most people, basic needs should be considered first. After that, you could consider additional desires, if you can manage these benefits financially. With such a list in your hands, you’re less likely to be caught up in the excitement of the pursuit. You’ll have a good idea of what you want, within you price range, and if you can afford those additional items. 2, Get pre-approved prior to shopping Visit your financial or lending institution prior to home buying. Quickly, you’ll know the amount of mortgage you’ll receive. Be sure to get a mortgage commitment in writing. Most importantly, you’ll tell sellers that you are a serious prospect. Depending upon market conditions, a seller may lean towards an unconditional offer. You’ll have less negotiating power if you have to wait for mortgage approval. Banks and financial institutions have developed many programs especially for home buyers, be that first-time buyers or those with equity in their homes. When you review your needs and objectives with a lending officer, you’ll be one step closer to purchasing your home.

Congress has extended tax deductions for homeowners paying private mortgage insurance through 2010. But to qualify for the deduction you must have bought or refinanced your home since Jan. 1, 2007. Families with adjusted gross incomes of up to $100,000 can deduct 100% of their insurance premiums, much the same as they deduct property taxes. The deduction is then phased out up to an adjusted gross income of $110,000

Mortgage insurance guarantees lenders will be repaid if the borrowers default. It’s almost always required if you hold less than 20% of the equity in your home.  Your equity is the difference between your home’s market value and what you owe on your mortgage (and home equity loan, if you have one).  The annual premiums run about 0.5% to 0.75% of the outstanding balance, $500 to $750 a year for every $100,000 you owe.

9 Steps to Cancel PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance)

1. Are you qualified? Most people can cancel PMI once equity in their home reaches 20 percent. Some types of loans, such as government insured FHA and VA loans, require PMI for the life of the loan. If in doubt, call your loan servicer to find out your options. 2. Do you have enough equity? 3. Has your home risen in value? If home values in your area are rising quickly, your equity will reach 80 percent more quickly. Mortgage servicers are not required to consider your homes current value but may do so. 4. Have you made extra payments? The other way to add equity is to make extra payments. Have you made any additional payments and applied them to principal? 5. Do the math Estimated value minus mortgage balance = equity. Equity divided by estimated value = percentage of equity. If you come up with a figure of 0.20 (20 percent) or greater, and your estimate is accurate, there’s a good chance you can drop PMI and save. 6. Call your lender Talk to someone at your lender’s customer service department to inquire about procedures for PMI removal. The formal request will likely have to be in writing, but calling first might save you some false steps later. 7. Write your lender When you make your written request, ask your lender to provide, in writing, the minimum amount the property will have to be valued at to qualify to have the PMI dropped. 8. Get an appraisal Most lenders require a formal appraisal of property — at your expense — before they will approve a request to drop PMI. Ask your lender if it has any specific requirements for the appraisal or appraiser that must be met. The company, rather than you, might have to order the work, for example, even though you’ll have to pay the tab of approximately $200 to $350. 9. Final precautions Make sure your loan is up-to-date before making the formal written inquiry to your lender. The lender will consider your payment history when deciding whether to drop PMI. Also, if the property has been converted into rental use, higher percentages of equity are required

What Is Covered – Part B

• · Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening (Preventive Service): A one-time screening ultrasound for people at risk (like people who have smoked). Medicare only covers this screening if you get a referral for it as a result of your “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam. You pay coinsurance.
• · Ambulance Services: When you need to be transported to a hospital or a skilled nursing facility for medically necessary services, and transportation in any other vehicle would endanger your health. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Ambulatory Surgery Center Fees: Facility fees for approved services at an Ambulatory Surgery Center (facility where surgical procedures are performed, and the patient is released the same day). You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Blood: Pints of blood you get, starting with the 4th, as an outpatient or as part of a Part B-covered service. The first three pints aren’t covered. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Bone Mass Measurement (Preventive Service): To help see if you are at risk for broken bones. This service is covered once every 24 months (more often if medically neccessary) for people who have certain medical conditions or meet certain criteria. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Cardiovascular Screenings (Preventive Service): To help prevent a heart attack or stroke. This service is covered every 5 years to test your cholesterol, lipid, and triglyceride levels. No cost.
• · Chiropractic Services (Limited): To correct a subluxation (when one or more of the bones of your spine move out of position) using manipulation of the spine. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Clinical Laboratory Services: Including certain blood tests, urinalysis, some screening tests, and more. No cost.
• · Clinical Research Studies: To help doctors and researchers find better ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat diseases. Clinical research studies test new types of medical care, like how well a new cancer drug works. Usual patient care costs are covered if you take part in a qualifying clinical research study. If the item or services isn’t covered outside of a clinical research study, the cost of the investigational item or service may nor be covered. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Colorectal Cancer Screenings (Preventative Service): To help find precancerous growths and help prevent or find cancer early, when treatment is most effective. One or more tests may be covered…talk to your doctor.
• · Diabetes Screenings (Preventive Service): To check for diabetes. These screenings are covered if you have any of the following risk factors: high blood pressure (hypertension), dyslipidemia (history of abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels), obesity, or a history of high blood sugar. Tests are also covered if you answer yes to two or more of the following questions: • Are you age 65 or older? • Are you overweight? • Do you have a family history of diabetes (parents, siblings)? • Do you have a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or did you deliver a baby weighing more than nine pounds? Based on the results of these tests, you may be eligible for up to two diabetes screenings every year. No cost.
• · Diabetes Self-Management Training (Preventive): For people with diabetes. Your doctor or other health care people must provide a written order. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Diabetes Supplies: Including glucose testing monitors, blood glucose test strips, lancet devices and lancets, glucose control solutions, and therapeutic shoes (in some cases). Syringes and insulin are only covered if used with an insulin pump, but may be covered by Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Doctor Services: Services that are medically necessary or covered preventive services. Doesn’t cover routine physical except for the one-time “Welcome the Medicare” physical exam. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Durable Medical Equipment: Items such as oxygen, wheelchairs, walkers, and hospital beds needed for use in the home. For certain equipment, such as wheelchairs and hospital beds, Medicare pays rental fees for up to 13 months (36 months for oxygen). After this, you own the equipment, and Medicare pays for maintenance. For Medicare to cover your equipment, you must go to a supplier that is enrolled in Medicare. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies. In some cases, if you buy the equipment without renting it first, Medicare pays no part. New: In 2008, you may have to use certain Medicare-contract suppliers to get certain durable medical equipment in some geographic areas. Call 1-800-633-4227 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-800-633-4227     end_of_the_skype_highlighting for more information. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-877-486-2048     end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
• · Emergency Room Services: When you believe your health is in serious danger. You may have a bad injury, a sudden illness, or an illness that quickly gets much worse. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Eye Exams: For people with diabetes to check for diabetic retinopathy once every 12 months. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Eyeglasses (Limited): One pair of eyeglasses with standard frames (or one set of contact lenses) after cataract surgery that implants an intraocular lens. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Flu Shots (Preventive service): To help prevent influenza or flue virus. This is covered once a flu season in the fall or winter. The flu is a serious illness. You need a flu shot for the current virus each year. No cost.
• · Foot Exams and Treatment: If you have diabetes-related nerve damage and/or meet certain conditions. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Glaucoma Tests (Preventive service): To help find the eye disease glaucoma. This is covered once every 12 months for people at high risk for glaucoma. You are considered high risk for glaucoma if you have diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, are African-American and age 50 or older, or are Hispanic and age 65 or older. Tests must be done by an eye doctor who is legally authorized by the state. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Hearing and Balance Exams: If your doctor orders it to see if you need medical treatment. Hearing aids and exams for fitting hearing aids aren’t covered. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Hepatitis B Shots (Preventive service): To help protect people from getting Hepatitis B. This is covered (three shots) for people at high or medium risk for Hepatitis B. Your risk for Hepatitis B increases if you have hemophilia, End-Stage Renal Disease (permannt kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant), or a condition that lowers your resistance to infection. Other factors may increase your risk for Hepatitis B, so check with your doctor to see if you are at high or medium risk. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Home Health Services: Limited to reasonable and necessary part-time or intermittent skilled care or continuing need for physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-related pathology ordered by a doctor and provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency. Home health services may also include medical social services, home health aide services or other services, durable medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen, and walkers) and medical supplies for use at home. No cost for home healh services. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies for dirable medical equipment.
• · Kidney Dialysis Services and Supplies: Either in a facility or at home when your doctor orders it. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Mammograms (screening) (Preventive service): A type of x-ray to check women for breast cancer before they or their doctor may be able to feel it. Screening mammograms are covered once every 12 months for all women with Medicare age 40 and older. Medicare covers one baseline mammogram for women between age 35 and 39. You pay coinsurance.
• · Medical Nutrition Therapy Services (Preventive service): Medicare may cover medical nutrition therapy if you have diabetes or kidney disease and your doctor refers you for the service. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Mental Health care (outpatient): To get help with mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Includes services generally given outside a hospital or in a hospital outpatient department, including visits with a doctor, clinical psychologist or clinical social worker, and lab tests. Certain limits and conditions apply. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies. Note: Talk to your doctor if you feel sad, have little interest in things you used to enjoy, or have thoughts about ending your life.
• · Occupational Therapy: Services to help you return to usual activities (such as bathing) after an illness when your doctor orders them. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Outpatient Hospital Services: Services you get as an outpatient as part of a doctor’s care. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Outpatient Medical and Surgical Services and Supplies: For approved procedures. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies. Pap Test and Pelvic Exam (includes clinical breast exam) (Preventive service): To check for cervical and vaginal cancers. Medicare covers these screening tests once every 24 months for women at low risk, and once every 12 months for women at high risk and for women of child-bearing age who have had an exam that indicated cancer or other abnormalities in the past three years. No cost for the Pap lab test. You pay coinsurance for Pap test collection, and pelvic and breast exams.
• · Physical Exam (One-time “Welcome to Medicare” Physical Exam) (Preventive service): A one-time review of your health, and education and counseling about preventive services, including certain screenings and shots and referrals for other care if needed. Important: You must have the physical exam within the first 6 months you have Part B for it to be covered by Medicare. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Physical Therapy: Evaluation and treatment of injuries and disease using various procedures, such as exercises and testing, when your doctor orders it. It may also include heat, light, and ultrasound therapy. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Pneumococcal Shot (Preventive service): To help prevent pneumococcal infections (like certain types of pneumonia). Most people only need this preventive service once in their lifetime. Talk with your doctor. No cost.
• · Practitioner Services: Such as services provided by clinical social workers, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Prescription Drugs (limited): Includes certain injectable cancer drugs or immunosuppressive drugs. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies. Note: See Part D for additional Medicare prescription drug coverage.
• · Prostate Cancer Screening (Preventive service): These tests help detect prostate cancer. Medicare covers a digital rectal exam (You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies for the exam) and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test once every 12 months for all men with Medicare over age 50. No cost for the PSA test.
• · Prosthetic/Orthotic Items: Including arm, leg, back, and neck braces; artificial eyes; artificial limbs (and their replacement parts); breast prostheses (after mastectomy); prosthetic devices needed to replace an internal body part or function (including ostomy supplies, and prenteral and enteral nutrition therapy). For Medicare to cover your prosthetic or orthotic, you must go to a supplier that is enrolled in Medicare. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Rural Health Clinic and Federally-Qualified Health Center Services: A broad range of primary care services usually provided on an outpatient basis. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies for rural health clinic services.
• · Second Surgical Opinions: Covered in some cases for surgery that isn’t an emergency. in some cases, Medicare covers third surgical opinions. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Smoking Cessation (counseling to stop smoking) (Preventive service): Covered if your doctor orders it. Includes counseling for 2 cessation attempts within a 12 month period if you are diagnosed with a smoking-related illness or are taking medicine that may be affected by tobacco. Counseling for each cessation attempt includes up to four face-to-face visits. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Speech-Language Pathology Services: Treatment given to regain and strengthen speech skills when your doctor orders it. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Surgical Dressings: For treatment of a surgical or surgically-treated wound. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Telemedicine: In some rural areas, under certain conditions and only in a provider’s office, a hospital, or a federally-qualified health center. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Tests: Including X-Rays, MRIs, CT scans, EKGs, and some other diagnostic tests. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Transplants: Including doctor services for heart, lung, kindey, pancreas, intestine, and liver transplants under certain conditions and only in a Medicare-certified facility. Bone marrow and cornea transplants are covered (under certain conditons. Immunosuppressive drugs are covered if Medicare paid for the transplant, or and employer or union group health plan that was required to pay before Medicare paid for it. You must have been entitled to Part A at the time of the transplant and Part B at the time you get immunosuppressive drugs, and the transplant must have been performed in a Medicare-certified facility. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, check with the plan for information on transplant coverage. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies. Note: Medicare drug plans may cover immunosuppressive drugs, even if Medicare or an employer or union group health plan didn’t pay for the transplant.
• · Travel (health care needed when traveling outside the United States): Limited to medical services provided in Canada when you travel on the most direct route through Canada between Alaska and another state. Medicare also covers hospital, ambulance, and doctor services if you are in the U.S., but the nearest hospital that can treat you isn’t in the U.S. (The “U.S.” includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa). In some limired cases, Medicare may pay for services you get while on board a ship within the territorial waters adjoining the land areas of the U.S. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.
• · Urgently Needed Care: To treat a sudden illness or injury that isn’t a medical emergency. You pay coinsurance, and Part B deductible applies.

Jim Bigelow 918-640-4657      www.jimbigelow.com                    jim@jimbigelow.com

Coldwell Banker Select

What is Medicare?

What Is Covered – Part A

This and succeeding sections outline the coverage for “Original Medicare” Part A (Hospital Insurance), Part B (Medical Insurance); Part C (”Medigap”/Supplemental Insurance); Part D (Prescription Drugs); and common Medicare Advantage Plans.

Since the topic includes many details and options we have presented the basics to help you understand the coverage. Please research all the details applicable to your location, in more depth, before selecting and enrolling in a specific Plan.

Part A (Hospital Insurance) Covered Services

• Blood: Starting with the 4th pint of blood you get at a hospital or skilled nursing facility during a covered stay. The first three pints are not covered.
• Home Health Services: Limited to reasonable and necessary part time or intermittent skilled care or continuing need for physical therapy, or speech-related pathology, ordered by the doctor and provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency. Home health services may also include medical social services, durable medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen, and walkers), and medical supplies for use at home.
• Hospice Care: For people with a terminal illness who are expected to live 6 months or less if the disease runs its normal course. Coverage includes drugs, medicinal and support services from a Medicare approved hospice, and other services not otherwise covered by Medicare (such as grief counseling) for terminal and related conditions. Hospice care is usually given in your home (or other facility where you may live). Medicare covers some short-term inpatient stays (for pain and symptom management) and inpatient respite care (care given to a hospice patient so that the usual caregiver can rest).  
• Hospital Stays: Semi-private room, meals, general nursing, and other hospital services and supplies. This includes inpatient you get in acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, inpatient care as part of a clinical research study, and mental health care. This doesn’t include private-duty nursing or a television or telephone in your room. It also doesn’t include a private room unless medically necessary. Inpatient mental health care in a psychiatric hospital is limited to 190 days in a lifetime.
• Skilled Nursing Facility Care: Semi-private room, meals, skilled nursing and rehabilitative services, and other services and supplies (only after a 3-day minimum inpatient hospital stay for a related illness or injury) for up to 100 days in a benefit period. To get care in a skilled nursing facility, you must need skilled care like intravenous injections or physical therapy. Medicare doesn’t cover long-term care or custodial care in this setting.

Jim Bigelow    918-640-4657       www.jimbigelow.com               jim@jimbigelow.com

Coldwell Banker Select

What is Medicare?

Medicare is a United States Government-sponsored health insurance program available to people in the following categories:

• age 65 or older; OR
• under age 65 with certain disabilities; OR
• any age with End-Stage Renal Disease      (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant).

Most people get their coverage through the ORIGINAL MEDICARE PLAN. (Unless you choose otherwise, this is the plan you will be enrolled in.)

How It Works

Sign Up for Either Original Medicare  OR  A Medicare Advantage Plan

Original Medicare Plan has four (4) Parts:

Part A: Hospital Insurance helps cover the following:

• Inpatient Care In Hospitals,
• Includes Critical Access Hospitals and In-patient Rehabilitation Facilities,
• Inpatient Stays In A Skilled Nursing Facility      (not custodial or long-term care),
• Hospice Care Services,
• Home Health Care Services,
• Inpatient Care In A Religious Non-Medical Health Care Institution      (coverage is related to non-medical, non-religious parts of care).

Part B: Medical Insurance helps cover medically necessary services like:

• Doctors’ Services,
• Outpatient Care,
• Other Medical Services That Part A Doesn’t Cover       (such as Physical and Occupational Therapists),
• Some Home Health Care,
• Some Preventative Services

Part C: Medigap -or- Supplemental Insurance Plans, and

Part D: Prescription Drugs.

Medicare Advantage Plans are a package providing the same services as the Original with added services and options.

As an alternative to the Original Medicare Program, Medicare Advantage Plans are a package providing the same services as the Original with added services and options.

Jim Bigelow    918-640-4657 www.jimbigelow.com               jim@jimbigelow.com

Coldwell Banker Select

7 Steps for Removing Mold From Listings

What Is Mold?

Mold is a type of fungus made up of tiny microscopic organisms that can grow practically anywhere, such as on ceiling tiles, wallpaper, wood, paints, carpet, and insulation. It multiplies via spores and shows itself in a variety of colors, from greens to browns to pinks, grays, blacks, and yellows. The most common mold growth area in the house is the bathroom, since mold grows on moist materials.

If you spot mold in one of your listings, you’ll first want to size up the problem, and then create a plan for safe and complete removal.

If the mold is found in a small area, less than 10 square feet, removal can be a do-it-yourself project. Here’s how:

1. Wear a face mask, goggles, and rubber gloves. Don’t touch mold with bare skin.

2. Seal off the area to prevent the tiny spores from spreading to other parts of the house during the removal process. Open the windows and cover heat registers and ventilation ducts.

3. Wash the affected hard surface areas with a mild detergent solution, such as laundry detergent and warm water. As an added step, wipe the area with a solution of a quarter-cup bleach and one quart of water. (Warning: Do not mix ammonia and bleach; the fumes can be toxic.)

4. Dry the surface completely. Use fans and dehumidifiers or natural ventilation.

5. Apply a borate-based detergent solution. Don’t rinse. This will help prevent the mold from growing again. (Look for “borate” listed on the ingredient labels of laundry or dishwasher detergent.)

6. Don’t take shortcuts. Never paint or caulk over moldy surfaces. The paint will peel and the mold will resurface.

7. Call a professional. Just when you think you finally won the battle against mold, you might see dormant spores reappear or even spread to clean areas of the house, particularly if proper removal procedures weren’t taken. You may need to call a mold remediation company to resolve the problem.

Sources: The Truth About Mold (Dearborn, 2008) by Susan C. Cooper and Mike Buettner; EPA; Washington State Department of Health

Jim Bigelow    Bigelow Group  Realtors  918-640-4657 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            918-640-4657     end_of_the_skype_highlighting

www.jimbigelow.com               jim@jimbigelow.com

Coldwell Banker Select