Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or seasoned property owner on the hunt for a new home, you may be familiar with the process of vetting a house for potential issues. Doing your due diligence upfront can help prevent any future surprises, and nowadays it’s essential to be aware of the potential climate risks in the area you’re looking to buy in.
With bouts of dry weather cropping up in cities like San Jose, CA, and Aurora, CO, wildfires and the risks they pose can be worrisome to homebuyers. Fortunately, with the right questions, there are ways to find out your level of wildfire risk before sealing the deal on your dream home. Here are the top 5 questions to ask before buying a home in wildfire territory:
1) Has this home ever burned in a wildfire?
Wildfires can strike an area that has burned before, and even if a home seems far from a wildfire-prone area, a fire can quickly spread from building to building. If the house you’re looking to purchase is in an area that has seen wildfire before, especially if you’re looking to purchase a home in one of the top 10 cities most at risk for fire damage, you’ll want to do your research to determine the level of wildfire risk you may face in the future.
Start by researching the area for past and active fires. The National Interagency Fire Center has mapped out all of the fires from 2007 to 2021. The wildfire risk map shows any active wildfires and how many acres are burning at the onset of each fire. And if you’re a homebuyer in California, a new law requires sellers in designated high fire risk areas to disclose conditions that make the home vulnerable to wildfires, if the home was built before 2010. Check with your local zoning office to see if a building permit was filed for the property. Permits for structural changes can also help determine if the house was rebuilt at any time, but keep in mind that structural changes can occur from factors outside of a wildfire.
2) What is the risk of this neighborhood burning in a wildfire?
When buying a home, it’s important to know what fire zone your house is located in. The highest-risk zones for wildfires are locations where vegetation and homes meet. Older buildings, buildings made of wood, or proximity to flammable vegetation are all factors to consider when determining the wildfire risk of a neighborhood.
The key to buying a home in wildfire territory is to be as prepared as possible. Start by taking the time to make sure that the community is fire safe. Check with your city to see if they have prevention and mitigation procedures in place to prepare homes against the threat of wildfires. Speak with your local fire department, agency, or community group and ask about the fire history of your community, wildfire evacuation plans, drought conditions, and even heat risks. You can also check out your city’s wildfire risk score to see its impact on your neighborhood and surrounding areas. Find this information on Redfin for every city, neighborhood, county and zip code when searching for listings under the housing market insights section. Such as this example from San Jose, CA’s housing market.
3) What could make this home vulnerable to wildfires?
Weather conditions such as drought, extreme heat, high winds, and any surrounding vegetation in the environment can all impact how fast a wildfire spreads. Check if the home has defensible zones around it to reduce the number of fuel sources for a wildfire. Don’t forget that building materials, such as wooden roofs or single-pane windows, can also cause a home to be more susceptible to igniting a fire.
Protecting your home starts with small, manageable steps, and luckily there are many low-cost improvements you can make to fireproof your home from wildfires. You’ll want to start with the roof since it’s the most vulnerable part of your home and work your way down. Clean out your gutters and clear any flammable materials such as dead leaves to prevent the risk of debris from igniting and causing a wildfire.
4) Is this house built with fire resistant materials?
When buying a home in wildfire territory, look to see if there has been wildfire risk reduction work on the house. Since the roof is the most vulnerable part of your home, check to see if the seller disclosed whether fire-resistant building materials such as concrete and clay tiles, metal, slate, or composite shingles were used. If not, you can also consider negotiating for repairs like replacing the old roof with fire-resistant materials as they will give the entire structure a better chance of surviving a fire. Speak to a professional to help determine what materials are best for the roofs in your area. Multi-pane or tempered glass windows will also provide additional protection during a wildfire and reduce the chances of breakage from extreme heat.
5) Will your homeowner’s insurance cover damage from a wildfire?
Typically, your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover damage from fire, including wildfires. For example, if a wildfire damages your house, the policy will include coverage to help repair or rebuild the home and other structures, pay for temporary housing, and replace belongings. The cost and extent of coverage can vary with the wildfire risk in your geographic area.
Check your policy to understand your deductible and specific coverage details for wildfire damage to your dwelling, personal property, other structures, and landscaping such as trees or shrubs. Some insurance companies may increase deductibles, charge higher premiums, cap payouts, or even decline to issue policies for homes in higher-risk areas. Should your insurance company decline to issue coverage for fire damage, you’ll need to purchase a separate wildfire insurance policy.
While taking an extra-long vacation the question may arise of whether or not it’s worth the trouble to rent a car. The other options are typically public transportation like busses and trains, or private cars like taxis.
However, renting a car for a month-long vacation could get pricey, and public transportation denies the freedom of setting a custom schedule. Taxis also get expensive as they add up. There is a third option, and it may make more sense than the others, which is buying a used car.
The complications of renting a car
Renting a car from an agency, like Avis or Enterprise, comes with a host of headaches. On vacation, the last thing anyone needs is more headaches. There are various fees, and the car must be returned by a certain time. Travelers must set aside a couple of hours of their final day to return a car to its rental agency.
In some countries, breaking a traffic law means the police request a renter’s information from the rental agency. The agency then charges the renter a fee for providing that information. Costs for the car itself can be extravagant as well. A car big enough for four people, plus their luggage from Avis for a month in Barcelona would cost $4,500.
Why buying a car on vacation is a viable option
Depending on where the vacation is, buying a car is not only a viable option, but is worth considering. Buying a used car grants total freedom, and while there may be some extra leg work with getting insurance and paperwork all settled, it might take the same amount of time as it would renting a car.
France even sanctions buying a new car for $30 per day and at the end of the term they buy it back, to sell to a rental agency, according to Adventurism.tv. If going the used car route, at the end of the trip the car can be donated or sold. There are some interesting prospects for used cars in foreign countries.
Some countries require citizenship or residency to buy a car, but if in the U.K, it’s possible to buy a car and insure it without residency. From there, it’s possible to stow the car on a ferry over to France and drive around the continent. Finding a car for sale isn’t difficult either. The Facebook marketplace has several choices for as little as 1,000 euros. It can be difficult to buy a car in a foreign country and drive it on the street legally, but certainly, there are options.
Buying a car while on vacation only makes sense if the trip lasts for a month or longer. It can be cheaper than going through a rental agency. Some rental agencies won’t report damage to a car if it’s been in an accident. It will continue renting it out to customers, hiding the damage behind some bodywork. Whatever the case may be while traveling, know there are options other than renting.
As the entertainment industry shifts its distribution strategy to let people buy or rent movies closer to—or simultaneously with—their release in theaters, you may find yourself amassing a larger digital library than you’ve had in the past. But when you buy a movie from a digital service like Amazon Prime Video or Vudu, does it really belong to you? What if you buy a song on iTunes or download one to your phone from Spotify? Are these files yours forever? If you cancel the service or, as unlikely as it may seem, one of these huge companies goes out of business, what then?
The answer is a little complex, but the short version is, no, you don’t actually own the digital media files that you purchase. This doesn’t mean you’re imminently at risk of losing every digital movie and TV show you’ve ever bought at the whim of a megacorp, but it is possible. Here’s what you need to know.
What it means to “own” digital content
What do we mean, exactly, when we talk about owning something digital? Everybody knows—or hopefully everybody knows—that it doesn’t mean you can turn around and sell that digital item to someone else, broadcast it, or otherwise distribute it en masse. You don’t need to dig far into any terms-of-service agreement to find such actions expressly forbidden.
For this discussion, to own a digital file is to be able to watch or listen to that content anytime you want, with no further payments, in perpetuity—or at least as long as you can get a device to convert that ancient 4K video file into something that your brand-new holodeck on your space yacht can read.
By that definition, well, you still don’t own anything. Not really. What you’re purchasing in most cases is a license to watch that video or listen to that song. Effectively that license is good for as long as it really matters. I mean, let’s be honest: If an 8K sensurround remaster of The Lord of the Rings comes out in 2030, are you going to care about the 1080p version you bought on Vudu?
Let’s take a look at the FandangoNow/Vudu terms of service, which are fairly typical. I’ve bolded the important parts.
When you order or view Content and pay any applicable fees, you will be granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-commercial, limited license to access, use and/or view the Content in accordance with any usage rights contained herein and additional terms that may be provided with your devices and/or with such Content (“Usage Rights”).
Pretty standard stuff. You can watch the item as often as you want, but the terms specify that you can’t “sell, rent, lease, distribute, publicly perform or display, broadcast, sublicense or otherwise assign any right to the Content to any third party.” You probably already know this: Just because you purchased and downloaded a movie doesn’t mean you can burn it to a DVD and sell the DVD—among other reasons, because you would have to crack the digital rights management on the file, which is also expressly forbidden. Digital rights management, or DRM, allows a company to restrict what you can do with a digital file, such as preventing copying or permitting you to watch it only a certain number of times.
In the FandangoNow/Vudu terms of service, there is one additional section worth looking at, under “Viewing Periods”:
Fandango’s authority to provide Content to you is subject to restrictions imposed by the movie studios and other distributors and providers that make Content available to Fandango (“Content Providers”). These Content Providers may designate periods of time when Fandango is prohibited from renting, selling, enabling downloading and/or streaming certain Content to you, including Fandango/Vudu Purchased Content, and you agree that these limitations can limit your Content access.
The “including Fandango/Vudu Purchased Content” part is the big one. What this means is that if Disney, for example, decides it doesn’t want to allow Vudu to sell its movies anymore, the company can have Vudu turn off Disney movies. Unlikely as that may be, theoretically the service could block access to movies you’ve already purchased—as the terms state, “[Y]our ability to stream or download Content may terminate if our licenses terminate, change or expire.”
Here’s how Amazon says the same thing. Again, the bold emphasis is mine:
“Availability of Purchased Digital Content. Purchased Digital Content will generally continue to be available to you for download or streaming from the Service, as applicable, but may become unavailable due to potential content provider licensing restrictions or for other reasons, and Amazon will not be liable to you if Purchased Digital Content becomes unavailable for further download or streaming.
A case about this is working its way through California courts.
And here is Google’s version, for media content sold through its Play store:
Content that you purchase or install will be available to you through Google Play for the period selected by you, in the case of a purchase for a rental period, and in other cases as long as Google has the right to make such Content available to you. In certain cases (for example if Google loses the relevant rights, a service or Content is discontinued, there are critical security issues, or there are breaches of applicable terms or the law), Google may remove from your Device or cease providing you with access to certain Content that you have purchased. For Content sold by Google LLC, you may be given notice of any such removal or cessation, when possible. If you are not able to download a copy of the Content before such removal or cessation, Google may offer you either (a) a replacement of the Content if possible or (b) a full or partial refund of the price of the Content. If Google issues you a refund, the refund shall be your sole remedy.
Interestingly, Google says that it may offer you a refund if it deletes your content without asking.
How likely is any of this to happen? Not very, which we’ll discuss in a moment.
Here’s what you definitely don’t own
There is some media content that you are absolutely, flat-out renting. On the music side, Spotify is a good example. If you cancel your subscription, you no longer have access to any files you’ve downloaded to your phone. Your subscription lets you lease these files, with no option to buy. The music industry loves this arrangement, by the way, as you’re continually paying to listen to the same songs, albeit a fraction of a penny each time. I’ve singled out Spotify, but all streaming music services are like this—in contrast to download services such as iTunes or Amazon Music (see below).
Streaming video, obviously, is another category in which you don’t own anything, even if you download content to watch on your mobile device or computer. For example, if you cancel your Netflix service, anything you’ve downloaded gets locked out, just as with Spotify. The same with Disney+’s Premier Access. Even though you’re paying a price that’s closer to a purchase fee (usually $30), it’s still more like a rental that’s accessible only as long as you keep your Disney+ subscription.
Going one step further, if you go to a different country, even if you’re just on vacation, you might get locked out of content you could watch in your original country. A VPN might help with that by geoshifting your location; then again, it might not.
So what does this all really mean?
It’s unlikely that any corporation would willingly nuke the presumed assets of millions of customers, despite how much these companies might love for you to buy all your movies yet again. The backlash would be substantial, and the resulting lawsuits would likely take years and millions of dollars to resolve. Corporations, for the most part, would be reluctant to alienate and anger such a huge customer base.
That’s not to say it couldn’t happen. Just take the squabbles between Roku and Warner, or Roku and Google, as two of many examples in which consumers are forced to deal with the fallout between bickering companies.
A more likely scenario is that a media company goes out of business. In this case the most probable course is that some other corporation buys up the digital-media portion of the business and carries over your right to watch the content you bought. This already happened with Vudu, which was owned by Walmart for over a decade and is now owned by Fandango Media, a corporation itself owned by NBCUniversal and WarnerMedia … which are owned by Comcast and AT&T, respectively.
But if you’re still worried about losing access to your purchased content, the solution is to go physical. It’s a lot harder for companies to stop you from watching a physical disc, though that has been tried in the past. Although digital rights management is built into Blu-ray and DVD players and receives periodic updates via the web, if you don’t connect the player to the web, it should be able to continue playing any compatible disc format. Some discs even come with a code that unlocks a digital copy, which is certainly convenient—though as we’ve discussed, you can’t expect those copies to last forever (most discs even have a date by which you need to activate the code).
Audio is even easier. Shocking as it may seem, you can still buy CDs. Rip them to a hard drive, and you have digital copies for as long as your hard drive lasts (and presumably, the CD will last even longer). Alternatively, you can buy and download DRM-free music and convert it to whatever file format you like or trust. iTunes and Amazon Music files are DRM-free, as are the downloads from many smaller music sites, many of which offer even higher-quality audio files. For older music downloads that have DRM, you can typically convert them to a DRM-free format such as FLAC or WAV.
So, no, you don’t own your digital files, and theoretically you could at some point be prevented from watching or listening to them. In reality, your digital collection is probably safe for the foreseeable future—but if the very idea of a company locking you out of your movies and music makes you angry, we suggest embracing physical media such as 4K Blu-rays and CDs, which will likely survive any digital-media apocalypse.
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One thing’s for sure, babies need a ton of stuff. From big-ticket items like strollers to everyday baby essentials the list of must-haves can feel endless—and expensive.
Renting, borrowing or buying used baby gear can be a good alternative for parents browsing on a budget. Many families sell gear their baby has outgrown, meaning there’s plenty of stuff up for grabs at bargain prices (if you know where to look!). Eager to save some cash, but don’t want to compromise on quality? You’re in luck—many retailers list open-box and gently used items on their sites. “Open-box gear is almost like new, the box has just been opened. Think: A parent opened their new stroller, didn’t like the color, and returned it before ever using it, says Kristin Langenfeld, the CEO and co-founder of Good Buy Gear. Gently used gear has been previously loved and may show signs of general wear and tear, but is still in perfect working order. Another benefit of shopping second-hand? It reduces carbon emissions and puts money back into the pockets of parents—win-win.
But, before you give away your whole house (or fill it up with someone else’s stuff!), it’s important to note that some used items can pose safety risks to babies and young children. For one thing, “safety standards change on a regular basis so some items may not comply with newer regulations,” says Lauren Crosby, MD, a pediatrician at La Peer Pediatrics in Beverly Hills, California. Despite the risks, many parents seek out easily accessible, high-quality second-hand baby gear. Luckily, many online marketplaces and “recommerce” sites have emerged to meet this growing demand. Here, you’ll find the best places to buy and sell baby gear online—plus, safety tips and a list of items you should always buy new.
Baby Gear You Should Buy New
If you can’t resist a bargain, you might be tempted to buy all of baby’s essentials second-hand. But there are some baby products that should definitely be purchased new. “Parents should be careful with high chairs, bouncy seats, swings and play yards, as they are often the subject of recalls,” says Crosby. You should always buy these three items new:
• Car seats. A car seat is an essential piece of gear for new parents; they can be expensive, but this is one item that should be bought new. In order to comply with stringent crash safety standards, all car seats have expiration dates listed in their manuals (in general, they expire within six years, but it may depend on the manufacturer). To that end, purchasing a car seat without a manual is a major no-no. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), parents shouldn’t use a car seat if they don’t know its history. “A car seat may appear to be in good shape, but there is a chance it may have been in a car accident so its safety may have been compromised,” says Crosby. If you do opt for a used car seat, Crosby advises researching the expiration date, checking for potential CPSC recall notices and only purchasing one from someone you know and trust.
• Cribs, cradles and bassinets. Crib safety standards are constantly changing, so it’s best to buy one new. In June 2011, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) adopted a slew of new safety requirements and banned the sale of drop-side rail models (so do not buy this type of crib second-hand or new). The AAP also advises against purchasing antique cribs. “Antique cribs may be appealing but they don’t conform to current safety standards, and may even be finished with lead paint,” says Crosby. Crib slats should be spaced no more than 2 3/8 inches apart, the crib sides should be at least 26 inches above the mattress support in its lowest position, there should be no drop-down rails and headboards and footboards should be solid without decorative cutouts, explains Crosby.
• Crib mattresses. A mattress of any kind should always be bought new. “A crib mattress could be worn, meaning it won’t provide proper firmness. Plus, it could be dirty and there is no good way to clean a mattress,” says Crosby.
Baby Gear You Can Buy Used
Wondering what products are safe to buy second-hand? You can buy most baby gear, “as long as it goes through a proper quality and safety inspection,” says Langenfeld. Here are three types of gear that are generally considered safe to buy and sell used:
• Strollers. Strollers don’t have expiration dates, meaning they are typically safe to buy used. However, it’s important to inspect secondhand strollers thoroughly and always check to see if that particular model has been recalled. Make sure its wheels and brakes are working properly, the seat reclines and that all of the straps are functional.
• Baby clothes. It’s okay to buy used baby clothes, but make sure they are clean, and check for choking hazards like drawstrings or decorations that could come off.
• Toys. Toys that are in good condition and are easy to clean can be bought secondhand. However, Crosby advises against buying toys with batteries that are easily accessible to children, as battery ingestion can be life threatening.
Safety Considerations When Shopping for Used Baby Gear
There are certain safety considerations you should be aware of when purchasing baby products that have been resold. Regardless of the product, “always look for signs or wear and tear [and] choking and strangulation hazards, and only use baby gear as directed per the product instruction manual,” says Crosby. Read on to discover more important safety tips.
• Check recall notices. A product recall occurs when an item has a manufacturing defect or poses a safety risk to the user. Before you make a purchase, check to see if the model has been recalled on the CPSC website or at Recalls.gov.
• Purchase used baby gear from a trusted supplier. Local markets and online auctions can be a good place for seasoned thrifters to source second-hand products. But when it comes to baby gear, Langenfeld advises parents to buy from a trusted friend or third party: “That way, you know you’re purchasing from a reliable source, and can ditch the back-and-forth messaging and meet-ups with strangers.”
• Inspect the product for safety hazards. If you are shopping in-person, inspect items thoroughly. Keep an eye out for the following safety hazards: Peeling paint or rough edges on furniture, gear or toys with loose parts, plastic products that are cracked or damaged and garments with frayed or threadbare material. If you’re shopping online, make sure the product images are high-quality so you can get a sense of overall condition.
• Check for missing parts. Avoid items with missing parts as they may not function properly and replacement parts could end up costing you more in the long run.
• Clean products before use. Many used baby gear sites inspect and sanitize each product before posting it for resale, but some don’t—so it’s important to clean items before use. Some products have specific cleaning requirements, but, in general, you can use soapy water, a cleaning spray or an anti-bacterial wipe to sanitize an object with a hard-surface.
• Wash soft furnishings and clothing before use. Put secondhand clothing, cloth diapers, fabric baby wraps or any other soft furnishings in the washing machine as soon as you bring them home.
The Best Places to Buy and Sell Used Baby Gear
Ready to start your search? Here are six of the best places to find used and open-box baby gear online. From dedicated “recommerce” websites to online marketplaces, these destinations offer tons of options for savvy shoppers.
Good Buy Gear is a powerhouse in the world of recommerce. The online marketplace allows users to buy and sell top-quality open-box and gently used gear for babies, toddlers and kids. Launched in 2016, the female-owned company prioritizes safety at the heart of its operations. The site features top-rated brands like UPPAbaby, BabyBjorn and 4moms. Each piece of gear undergoes a comprehensive safety and quality assessment by a team of gear experts, who also check for missing parts, imperfections and cleanliness. If a product isn’t up to scratch, it won’t be accepted for sale, meaning parents can shop with complete confidence. Plus, each item listed on their site is cleaned using eco-friendly, child-safe products. Want to declutter your home and earn some extra cash? Good Buy Gear will collect used gear from your home and sell it for you—stress free! Commission rates are based on a sliding scale, meaning sellers keep up to 80 percent of earnings from high-end items. Bonus: Nationwide shipping is available for most items, and the company has a 14-day return policy.
Next up is eBay, the original online marketplace loved by bargain hunters and thrifters alike. The site has a section dedicated to baby gear, and handy filters help you search by brand, condition, price and age. Shoppers can use the “buy now” button to purchase items with one click, or make an auction bid for the chance to score a major bargain. Listing an item for sale is super-easy, thanks to the eBay app. Simply snap some photos and write a title and product description, and you’re good to go. One major bonus is that eBay takes less than 10 percent in commission fees per sale. However, unlike many other sites selling used baby gear, eBay does not assess the quality of the items listed, so be sure to read the product descriptions carefully.
Update your child’s wardrobe on a budget with thredUP. The online consignment and thrift store offers huge savings on second-hand kids’ clothing. The site has high-quality standards, so items are only listed if they have no visible signs of wear and tear. Clothing is categorized by age and gender, making it easy to find the perfect outfit for your little one. Ready for a wardrobe revamp? Order a free clean-up kit, fill it and mail it back using the enclosed shipping label. When your items are sold you can cash out or get a shopping credit. Studies show that buying a used garment reduces its carbon footprint by a whopping 82 percent—so it’s an eco-friendly option to boot. The commission fees range from 20 to 95 percent of the sale price.
Searching for used baby gear in your local area? Check out Weepea. The online resale community helps parents connect to buy and sell baby gear and kids’ furniture. Shoppers can filter the site by location to find items for sale nearby, pay online via credit card or Apple Pay and then collect their purchase directly from the seller. The process is equally straightforward for sellers: Simply fill out a form to list an item for free, and Weepea will connect you with a buyer from your local community. Once the transaction is complete, Weepea takes a 20 percent commission from the sale.
Facebook Marketplace is another great place to source used baby gear in your local area. It’s an online destination where users can buy, sell and trade items. There’s even an entire section devoted to baby and kids’ items, which you can filter by location, condition and price. Bonus: Anyone with an active Facebook account can list or buy items with no hidden fees.
Shop: Facebook Marketplace
Browse a curated selection of overstock, open- box items and gently used baby gear on Rebelstork. Before being listed for sale, all items are inspected by a team of trained experts and each product is categorized using the site’s handy condition guide. Need to offload stuff baby has outgrown? Contact Rebelstork via the website, and they’ll pick up your unwanted items, photograph them and sell them for you. Rebelstork’s commission fees vary depending on the price of the product listed for sale, but sellers can earn up to 80 percent of the sale price. One thing to note is that Rebelstork is based in Canada, and does not offer pickup or delivery in the US.
Lauren Crosby, MD, FAAP is a board-certified pediatrician with La Peer Pediatrics in Beverly Hills, California. She is also a member of and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Crosby earned her medical degree from UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles, California.
Kristin Langenfeld, is the CEO and co-founder of Good Buy Gear. She holds an electrical engineering degree from the University of Waterloo and has over 15 years of experience leading, building and launching worldwide products in mobile and tech start-ups.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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