Tips Before Buying a Lake Home

Purchasing any property will likely be a major significant decision. Buying Lake Property is no different, matter of fact it may take more research and due diligence. What you probably don't know is that there are many factors that come with purchasing lake property that makes it more unique than just any regular property.

• Always try to physically see the lake property. No matter how many photos you see or how detailed the description; nothing can substitute seeing it in person.

• Hire a licensed Realtor. One who is an expert with Lake Homes or Lake Property. Some simple research is all that is needed. Make sure they are in fact an expert and live in the community. The benefits are overwhelming and it will not cost you a dime!

• Find out how much pricing differs per county or location of property on the lake. You'll always pay more for full views, deep water, and flat lake lots.

• Get as much documentation on the Lake Property as possible. Surveys, Plots, Tax Records, Disclosures, Set Backs, anything along those lines.

• Determine what type of lake it actually is. Does the lake fluctuate in water levels? How does that affect your access to the lake?

• Check to see if there are any flood plain restrictions. If you build or buy in a flood zone you may have a tough time getting insurance.

• Check to see if there are any covenants or restrictions. You may want to increase your dock size or add an out building, but will not be able to due to an association.

• If you are purchasing a resale lake home or are building a new construction lake house, definitely get it inspected by a licensed home inspector.

• Get a termite inspection

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ray_Thor

Top Sun Safety Tips

The sun's ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer. Protect yourself and your family with these 4 simple steps when you are out having fun.

1. Quick tips for a good sunscreen
Ingredients matter - learn if your brand leaves you overexposed or damaging UVA rays, if it breaks down in the sun, or if it contains potential hormone-disrupting compounds.
 

                                      Avoid These                  Look for these

Ingredients                    Oxybenzone                            Zinc

                                      Vitamin A (retinyl                   Titanium dioxide

                                      Palmitate)                      Avobenzone or Mexoryl SX

                                      Added insect repellent

Products                        Sprays                           Cream

                                      Powders                         Broad-spectrum protection

                                      SPF above 50+              Water-resistant for beach, pool

                                                                             and exercise

                                                                             SPF 30+ for beach and pool

2. But first things first - do these before applying sunscreen.
The best defenses against getting too much harmful UV radiation are protective clothes, shade and timing. Check out the checklist:

• Don't get burned - Red, sore, blistered (then peeling) skin is a clear sign you've gotten far too much sun. Sunburn increases skin cancer risk - keep your guard up!

• Wear clothes - Shirts, hats, shorts and pants shield your skin from the sun's UV ras - and don't coat your skin with goop. A long-sleeved surf shirt is a good start.

• Find shade - or make it - Picnic under a tree, read beneath an umbrella, take a canopy to the beach. Keep infants in the shade - they lack tanning pigments (melanin) to protect their skin.

• Plan around the sun - If your schedule is flexible, go outdoors in early morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky. UV radiation peaks at midday, when the sun is directly overhead

• Sunglasses are essential - Not just a fashion accessory, sunglasses protect your eyes from UV radiation, a cause of cataracts.

3. Now put on sunscreen - here are the essentials, beyond the quick tips
Some sunscreens prevent sunburn but not other types of skin damage. Make sure yours provides broad-spectrum protection and follow our other tips for better protection.

• Don't be fooled by a label that boasts of high SPF. Anything higher than "SPF 50+" can temp you to stay in the sun too long, suppressing sunburn but not other kinds of skin damage. FDA says these numbers are misleading. Stick to SPF 15-50+, reapply often and pick a product based on your own skin, time planned outside, shade and cloud cover.

• News about Vitamin A. Eating a vitamin A-laden vegetables is good for you, but spreading vitamin A on the skin may not be. New government data show that tumors and lesions develop sooner on skin coated with vitamin A-laced creams. Vitamin A, listed as "retinyl palmitate" on the ingredient label, is in 33 percent of sunscreens. Avoid them.

• Ingredients matter. Avoid the sunscreen chemical oxybenzone, a synthetic estrogen that penetrates the skin and contaminates the body. Look for active ingredients zinc, titanium, avobenzone or Mexoryl SX. These substances protect skin from harmful UVA radiation and remain on the skin, with little if any penetrating in the body. Also, skip sunscreens with insect repellent - if you need bug spray, buy separately and apply it first.

• Pick a good sunscreen. EWG's sunscreen database rates the safety and efficiency of about 1,700 products with SPF, including about 600 sunscreens for beach and sports. We give high ratings to brands that provide broad-spectrum, long-lasting protection with ingredients that pose fewer health concerns with the body absorbs them.

• Cream, spray or powder - and how often? Sprays and powders cloud the air with tiny particles of sunscreen that may not be safe to breathe. Choose creams instead. Reapply them often, because sunscreen chemicals break apart in the sun, wash off and rub off on towels and clothing.

• Message for men: Wear Sunscreen. Surveys show that 34% of men wear sunscreen, compared to 78% of women. Start using it now to reduce your cumulative lifetime exposure to damaging UV radiation.

• Got your Vitamin D? Many people don't get enough vitamin D, which skin manufactures in the presence of sunlight. Your doctor can test your level and recommend supplements or a few minutes of sun daily on your bare skin (without sunscreen).

4. Sun Safety Tips for Kids
Kids are more vulnerable to sun damage. A few blistering sunburns in childhood can double a person's lifetime chances of developing serious forms of skin cancer. The best sunscreen is a hat and shirt. After that, protect kids with a sunscreen that's effective and safe. Take these special precautions with infants and children:

Infants
Infants under 6 months should be kept out of direct sun as much as possible. Their skin is not yet protected by melanin. So when you take your baby outside:

• Cover up - Wear protective clothing, tightly woven but loose-fitting, and a sun hat.

• Make shade - Use the stroller's canopy or hood. If you can't sit in a shady spot, put up an umbrella.
 
• Avoid midday sun - Take walks in the early morning or late afternoon

• Follow product warnings for sunscreen on infants under 6 months old - Most manufactures advise against using sunscreens on infants or urge parents and caregivers to consult a doctor first. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that small amounts of sunscreen can be used on infants as a last resort when shade can't be found.

Toddlers and Children
Sunscreen plays an essential part of any day in the sun. However, young children's skin is especially sensitive to chemical allergens as well as the sun's UV rays. When choosing a sunscreen, keep these tips in mind:

• Test the sunscreen by applying a small amount on the inside of your child's wrist the day before you plan to use it. If an irritation or rash develops, try another product. Ask your child's doctor to suggest a product less likely to irritate a child's skin.

• Slop on sunscreen and reapply often, especially if your child is playing in the water or sweating a lot.

• Choose your own sunscreen for daycare and school. Some childcare facilities provide sunscreen for the kids, but you can bring your own if you prefer a safer, more effective brand. Share EWG's safe sunscreen tips and product suggestions with your child's caregiver.

Sun Safety at School
Sometimes school and daycare policies interfere with children's sun safety. Many schools treat sunscreen as a medicine and require the child to have a written permission to use it. Some insist that the school nurse apply it. Other schools ban hats and sunglasses on campus. Here are a few questions to ask your school:

• What is the policy on sun safety?

• Is there shade on the playground?

• Are outdoor activities scheduled to avoid midday sun?

Teens
Teenagers conveying bronzed skin are likely to sunbathe, patronize tanning salons or buy self-tanning products. Not good ideas. Researchers believe increasing UV exposure may have caused the marked increase in melanoma incidence among women born after 1965. Tanning parlors expose the skin to as much as 15 times the UV radiation of the sun and likely contributed to melanoma increases. Many chemicals in self-tanning products have not been tested for safety; the major self-tanning chemical, dihydroxyacetone, is not approved by FDA for use in cosmetics around the eyes.

Tan does not mean healthy. Here are a few more tips for teens:

• Make sunscreen a habit for every outdoor sport and activity

• Find sun-protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses that you like to wear.

• To parents of teens: Be good role models - let your teen see you protecting yourself from the sun.

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