Page 6 - Martin Downs Bulletin - December '23

Page 6, Martin Downs

Tip Of The Tail

Pet Safety For The Holiday can range from an upset stomach to neurologic signs such excitement gets too stressful (Sometimes, you may want

Season as tremors to coma and even death. Coffee contains caffeine to join him!). Family and guests are coming and going,
so watch out for open doors and windows to prevent pets
and theobromine, which are harmful to pets and can cause
acceleration of heart rate and breathing or even seizures. from escaping. Be sure your pet has a collar with tags or a
Bread dough and other yeast products can produce alcohol microchip. Discourage visitors from feeding your pets treats,
and cause intoxication. Dough can also block the intestinal we want our pets to enjoy the holiday season with us – not
tract or cause bloating. Macadamia nuts can cause increased with vomiting and diarrhea.
body temperature, muscle stiffness, increased heart rate and The Palm City Animal Medical Center wishes you all a
tremors. Pets seem to be attracted to alcohol, so don’t leave very Happy and Healthy Holiday Season.
drinks unattended. It is no joke to get a pet drunk; and serious Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical Center
intoxications have occurred. Small amounts of antifreeze can is dedicated to providing the best possible care for your
be fatal. Potpourri/potpourri oil can cause severe burns and pets. With focuses on compassionate care in surgery,
ingestion can affect the nervous system. physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative medicine,
A few other, often overlooked, dangers include electric extensive diagnostics, and emergency service, Palm City
shock from chewing on Christmas lights or other electrical Animal Medical Center combines exceptional medical
cords and traumatic injuries from cats climbing trees or care with a caring philosophy for pets and their owners.
children climbing pets. For more information, call (772) 283-0920, visit www.
Pet safety is especially important during the holiday Holiday festivities can get stressful. You should provide palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on Facebook
season. We must remember our four-legged and winged a special quiet place to which your pet can retreat when the at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.
family members. Holiday festivities present situations
which can be hazardous to your pet, so a little precaution is
necessary for making this season a happy time for everyone. Real esTaTe
You may be surprised by what your pets can get into during
the holidays, but your veterinarian won’t be. We have seen
almost everything! Plants, gifts and decorations are just
a few of the seemingly harmless things that can change a Treasure Coast Real Estate that the seller only would pay 2.5 percent instead of
celebration into an emergency trip to the veterinarian. 5 percent.
If there is one rule, we should follow this time of year Report That might sound exciting to the seller until they ask
… this is it: Anything they can swallow, they will swallow! themselves who is going to procure a buyer for their
Obstructive foreign bodies are things our pets eat that lead Will The Massive Realtor Lawsuit Ruling Change How property if they don’t get paid. The answer is simple:
to partial or complete blockage of their gastrointestinal Real Estate Is Sold? nobody.
tract. We have seen animals that have ingested needles, As sellers that have tried to save a commission by
fish hooks, rocks, a spoon and even razor blades. These By Jim Weix doing a For Sale By Owner have discovered, there
objects can get stuck anywhere from the mouth and lips, all A recent lawsuit, is no free lunch. Most buyers use an agent, and the
the way to their back end. Pay special attention to plastic known as Sitzer/ seller ends up paying a commission. If the buyer has
toys, especially those with small removable parts, strings Burnett, centered no agent, the buyer knocks off 6 percent of the offer
or loose wires. Batteries are caustic and potentially highly around the National price.
toxic. They can cause obstructions or lead to chemical Association of Realtors When the smoke clears on this lawsuit and the
burns. Linear foreign bodies are among the most dangerous (NAR) participation copycat lawsuits that will follow, it is very likely that
we encounter! Strings, tinsel and ribbons can obstruct or rule and the practice sellers will no longer have to agree to pay the agent
even cut through the intestines. Tree ornaments can result of agent commission that procures the buyer. This means that the buyer will
in cuts. They can be swallowed whole or contain toxic dyes sharing. Under the rule, have to pay their agent. They will most likely do this
or chemicals. Crayons, markers and pencils are usually in order to advertise a by requiring the seller to reimburse them.
non-toxic, especially if made for children, but can result in property in the Multiple If the buyer is getting financing this creates another
vomiting or diarrhea. Listing Service (MLS), the seller’s agent must offer problem. Lenders finance real estate, not commissions.
Many things can be poisonous, including plants, compensation to buyer agents. The aim is to attract For example, if the property appraises for $400,000,
decorations and even foods that are safe for people to eat. more people interested in purchasing a home. the lender is not going to base the loan on a value
Mistletoe is very toxic and can cause intestinal upset, heart When it sells, the listing agent’s commission, which of $410,000 because the borrower needs to pay a
arrhythmias, breathing problems, seizures or a coma. All typically averages between 5 and 6 percent of the sales commission. The easiest way to do that is to reduce
of the plant, especially the berries, is poisonous. Holly is price and is paid from the proceeds, is split with the the purchase price to $390,000. In other words, the
moderately to very toxic, especially berries and leaves, and buyer’s agent. But the plaintiffs in the lawsuit alleged, seller pays.
results in severe vomiting and diarrhea or nervous system and the jury agreed, that this practice unnecessarily Will the lawsuits shake up the real estate industry?
depression. Poinsettias and all parts of the Christmas tree are increased the real estate transaction cost for sellers. You bet! The future of real estate will be interesting,
only mildly toxic. Does this mean that sellers will no longer have to and I welcome it. Just remember that there is no free
Decorations are beautiful, but potentially dangerous to our pay the agent that procures a buyer for their property? lunch.
pets. Snow spray, fireplace colors (fire salts) and Angel Hair I doubt it. Feel free to call me if you would like to discuss
(spun glass) are only slightly toxic. The fluid in Bubbling Lights Let’s say a seller lists their property. As it is now, your options. I can be reached at (772) 341-2941 or
(methylene chloride) can be lethal if inhaled or ingested in large they agree to pay a commission, of say 5 percent. The jimweix@jimweix.com.
amounts. Tree preservative varies in toxicity by brand, so read listing agent and seller also agree to compensate the Jim Weix is a broker associate with The Keyes
the label carefully. New tinsel is non-toxic, but in the past, it agent that procures a buyer half of the commission, so Company. Jim has 25 years of experience selling real
contained poisons such as metallic cyanide. So be careful if your each agent gets 2.5 percent. The seller still only pays estate full-time. If you have questions or want the
decorations have been passed down from relatives. 5 percent. services of an experienced expert, you can reach Jim
Chocolate isn’t just dangerous to our waistline; it is The lawsuit is complicated, but in short, it says that at (772) 341-2941 or jimweix@jimweix.com.
dangerous to our pets. The danger varies with the type of the seller doesn’t have to pay the 2.5 percent that goes
chocolate. Unsweetened baker’s chocolate is the worst, then to the agent who procures a buyer. This would mean
milk chocolate, and white chocolate is the least. Toxicity

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