Real Estate Information

If you’re preparing to paint the interior of your home this spring, the first question I would ask you is, “What are you painting for?” I don’t mean to suggest you avoid the project, or switch from paint to wallpaper.  I’m asking first if you’re painting for yourself, because you want to brighten up the family room or because you’ve always wanted a lavender bedroom suite.  Maybe you’re planning for a move, and you’re painting to clean up the walls before listing your home for sale.  Maybe you’re painting the walls in a rental property you own as part of your investment portfolio.  What are you painting for?  If…

You're doing it for yourself – You’ve always wanted mango walls in the dining room, chestnut in the study, and yes, lavender in the master bedroom.  Ask yourself a few planning questions up front.  What’s the scope of your project?  Are you doing one room?  Two?  Ten?  I won’t tell you not to use ten colors in ten different rooms, but I will ask you to reconsider.  Think less is more.  Too many colors can make a home feel chaotic.  This video will help you understand the basics of color scheming, line-of-sight combinations (standing in your mango kitchen and looking through the archway into your chestnut study, for example), and proper pairing of wall color with a room’s accents and furnishings.

You can spend as much or as little time as you like just deciding colors.  One of the best ways I’ve found to help the process is what I call “living with it.”  Once you and your spouse have narrowed your choices for any particular room down to, say, your top three, get a sample of each of the choices.  Paint a six by six inch square patch of wall, larger if you like, with each of the colors on a section of wall that you will see every time you step into the room.  Then “live with it” for a few days, or a week, or a month.  Try to monitor your initial reaction to the colors each time you step into the room.  Which color jumps out and grabs you?  Do you find your eyes drawn to one color over the others?  How about your other family members or co-habitants?  What do they think?

Next time I’ll have some tips for choosing paint colors when you’re preparing to sell your home and when maintaining rental/income properties.

Maybe your family is growing, or maybe one day you woke up to discover you and your spouse are empty nesters.  Either way, you’ve decided the time is right to put the house on the market.  There’s just one problem: the distress caused by all the hubbub and showings to potential buyers at all hours of the day hasn’t gone unnoticed by the family cat, who is suddenly doing his business everywhere but in the box.  To make sure your feline cooperates with keeping the house clean, you’ll need an out-of-the-box solution.  You don’t have to look much further than an old real estate maxim: Location, location, location.

Be sure to move the cat box to a nice private area of the home.  Cats like to be alone when nature calls; that’s why it’s important to keep the litter box out of high-traffic areas.  You will want to continue prohibiting the family dog from having free access hovering about the box as well.  The key is putting the litter box in a location where it’s neither the very first thing buyers see when entering your home, nor the very last thing they see before they leave.  Negative first and last impressions are difficult to overcome when accompanied by unpleasant odors.  If you keep this in mind, you’re likely to place the box where the kitty will be happier as well.

Place an old area rug or carpet remnant under the box.  Cats love to dig and scratch around the litter box; tile, hardwood, or basement cement floors aren’t the best choice.  The texture of a rug under paw makes the litter box that much more attractive to the cat, likely helping you to reaffirm that as the place to go when it comes to doing his duty.  Likewise, you can place a few sheets of aluminum foil in areas where kitty may have had recent accidents.  As much as cats love the feel of a rug under their paws, they hate the feel of aluminum foil.  Hide the foil before showings, and return it to problem spots afterwards until kitty becomes retrained to the new box location.

Click here for more dos and don’ts on re-training your cat to his litter box.

This is NOT a do-it-yourself project to take on ill-advised.  Garage door torsion springs are under a tremendous amount of torque, and their replacement poses a serious safety hazard.  I’m certain there are a number of you out there who will choose to do this home repair yourself.  My hope with this article is that by helping you understand how the garage door and springs work together you will eventually decide to just go ahead and call in a professional should your garage door springs ever break and need replacing.

Standard 16 X 7 garage doors can weigh 150-200 pounds or more, so don’t think for a minute that little garage door opener from Sears is doing the heavy lifting on its own.  In fact, the counterweight created by the torsion springs balance against the weight of the door so all the opener has to do is give that little extra umph to raise and lower the door on its guide tracks.  Take away the springs and you have a giant guillotine on your hands.

Most two-bay garage doors use two torsion springs to get the job done.  Even so, after thousands of ups and downs they still can break.  When they do, one or the other spring can snap, usually not both at the same time.  If the break happens while the door is part way up gravity will take over and the door will come crashing down.  That is why it is always important to stand clear of a garage door whenever it is in operation.  That goes double for children and pets!

Still not convinced?  Watch this video starting at about the 45 second mark.  It shows a torsion spring wound to the point of snapping.  Imagine that force behind one of the winding bars in these videos.  At a minimum that’s a trip to the emergency room for a broken hand.

Here’s your garage door safety checklist.

Every home should have a fully stocked first aid kit.  You can always purchase a pre-assembled kit that will contain most of what you’ll need for first response situations at home.  The downside is these kits can be more costly than assembling one yourself, and you’re subject to whatever the manufacturer decided to include with their product.

Here’s a great video on putting together your own first aid kit.  You’ll want to start with a container that’s large enough to keep all the supplies together in one place, yet highly portable so the kit can be moved easily from room to room and even outside for outdoor accidents.  Tackle boxes are always a great choice.  Here’s a list of the standard items to include in your first aid kit compliments of the Red Cross.  For home kits, one item worth including that is often overlooked is a flashlight.  When assembling your kit, keep in mind the types of activities you and your family often participate in.  For example, if your family hikes and camps frequently be sure to stock supplies in your kit to address campfire burns, poison ivy, and insect bites.

If you’re assembling a travel kit think about including an old cell phone and charger.  Most adults have cell phones nowadays, but this will insure you always have a phone handy in an emergency.  I found this great webpage worth sharing with your family on tips for calling 911 from a cell phone.  It’s completely different from calling from home, and knowing the difference in an emergency, as they say, is priceless.

The end of the year is always full of resolutions and predictions.

Resolutions are very personal.  I’m going to lose 20 pounds and exercise twice a week this year; I’m going to play more golf; I’m going to save more money for our dream home.  And so on.  Resolutions are special and unique and often private.  They are also completely under our own control.  When January 1 arrives we can choose to follow-through with them or not.

Predictions are different.  They are guesses – sometimes informed, educated guesses, sometimes not so informed.  And they concern things that are outside our own personal and immediate control.  That’s what can make predictions scary at times, much like the turbulent Real Estate market of the past five years.

Here are a couple of informed, educated predictions and their supporting data concerning the economy and housing market of 2012 and beyond that show we may be headed in the right direction:

• Lennar Corporation reports three straight quarters of order growth which they say suggests the market may be ready for a rebound.  Lennar is the third largest home builder in the United States.
• 200,000 jobs were added in December 2011, and unemployment fell to 8.5% prompting Scot Melland, CEO of Dice Holdings, a provider of career websites to say, “We're headed in the right direction.”

That’s not to say we’ve heard the last of the negative news.  The road is still bumpy, and we’re sure to hit a few more chuck-holes along the way.  But people working and homes selling are definitely the way to set off into the new year on the right foot.

A running toilet is not just an annoying intrusion on an otherwise nice, quiet evening at home; it is also a hidden water waster, which you can translate as money waster.  Whenever you hear the toilet running, I want you to picture water coming into your home from your utility provider, through the home’s web-work of plumbing and into the top of the toilet’s water tank, then flowing right back out the bottom of the tank, down the waste-water line, never to be seen nor heard from again…until the arrival of your next monthly water bill.

The bad news: you have a defective/damaged flapper.  The good news: it’s an easy and inexpensive fix you can do yourself.  And what’s more, you won’t need any tools!  How’s that for a do-it-yourself project?

Turning off the water fill valve behind the toilet will make inspecting the current flapper much easier.  You’re looking for evidence that either the chain is too short, there is something obstructing the flapper thus keeping it from properly sealing against the water drain seat, or simply a damaged flapper.  This video will help you identify exactly what’s happening in your case.  If by chance it’s not the flapper that’s the problem, here are some other possible common issues with toilets that are relatively easy to diagnose and fix yourself.

Happy plumbing!

Mortgage rates fell to their lowest point ever at 3.91% for 30-year fixed loans.  15-year fixed rates matched last week’s at 3.21%.  Fees/Points were at .7 and .8 respectively.  The previous historic low mark for the 30-year fixed was back in 1971.

Although the country’s ongoing foreclosure problem continues to depress home resale values, there have been signs that the overall housing market is poised for a rebound.  The question is, When?  Many experts seem to believe it might be 2013 before we see things really begin to turn around.  Regardless, the simple fact that the debate is happening seems to have helped nudge rates down to their current point.

Overall home prices fell 2.8% in the month of October 2011 compared to October 2010.  We’ll have to wait for November’s final numbers to come out.  The bottom line though does look promising.  The national free-fall in home values that started in 2006 is slowing, supporting the argument that the rebound, though long in coming, is around the corner and in the distance.

It takes more than boxes and tape for a successful move into a new home – it takes planning, organization, and a little help.  Here is the first of two installments with some packing and moving tips that will ensure a minimum-stress, minimum-trouble, maximum-efficiency move.

1. Start early.  Begin saving empty boxes well in advance of the big day.  Visit local grocery stores and ask for their good used boxes, but be sure to take a pass on boxes that have produce residue or traces of odor.  Purchase good packing tape; duct tape doesn’t adhere very well to a cardboard surface.  You want to make sure what you put inside the box stays there until you’re ready to unpack.  Visit your dry cleaner and ask for some used plastic garment bags.  These can be used to protect clothing on hangers from dust; and tied off at one end, they double as trash bags.
2. Pack up any off-season belongings you may have first.  If you’re moving in June, go ahead and pack up your Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations, and winter weather wardrobe.  The more you can get done ahead of time, the better.
3. Pack heavier items, like books or music CDs in smaller boxes; pack lighter items in larger boxes.  The fewer boxes you have to move the better, however you don’t want to pack boxes so heavy you risk a back injury.  Be sure to securely tape boxes as well.  We’ve already covered this, but it bears mentioning again.  An over-packed box bursting open on its way to the moving truck is not the way to start moving day.
4. When packing, label the box with a permanent marker for the room it is being moved into, not the room it is moving out of.  You may have two children currently sharing one room who will now each get their own bedroom in the new house, or you may have decided to store some items from your basement into your new spacious garage.  Label individual boxes for the appropriate destination room.

Check back next week for Part 2 of “Packing and the Move” for more tips.  In the meantime, here’s a great comprehensive moving checklist to help keep important tasks from falling through the cracks.

Pergo laminate flooring is a popular alternative to hardwood nowadays.  It’s easy to install, easy to keep clean, and very affordable.  Yet compared to the natural beauty of a stained hardwood floor, detractors will insist, "It’s just not the same."  Today’s Do-It-Yourself enthusiasts should consider the pros and cons of both products before committing to cover their floor with either.  Here’s how they stack up against one another:

Hardwood

Pros:    Can be sanded and refinished if damaged

            Adds to property resale value

            Can last well beyond 20 years

            Completely unique natural wood-grain, non-repeating pattern

Cons:   No warranty

            More expensive

            Installation must attach to subfloor

            May need finishing once installed

Pergo

Pros:    Generally 15 year warranty against stains and fading

            More affordable

            Stronger than wood

            Lasts up to 20 years

            Resistant to wear and scratches

            Easy floating installation

Cons:   Cannot be refinished

            Must be replaced if damaged

            Print pattern on finish repeats after several boards

The choice between hardwood and Pergo has as much to do with personal taste as it does cost, ease of installation and maintenance, or resale value.  Ask yourself, “What is the norm in my neighborhood?”  Not to keep up with the neighbors, but if hardwood floors are the norm then that may very well be an expectation of incoming buyers for your home in the future.

Everyone deserves a nice long vacation, and if you’re fortunate enough to be able to take the time off during the holidays then by all means pack up and go!  Yes, sometimes it’s nice just to stay home, watch a movie, complete the little renovation project on the powder room you started last spring, or maybe just catch up on some sleep – whatever suits you.  That’s not what I’m talking about here.  I’m talking about hitting the road, getting away, and in particular traveling during the holidays.

Whether you’re venturing cross-country or just across the state, one thing to keep in mind when traveling during the holidays is the safety and security of your unoccupied home while you’re gone.  That brings up two main concerns: accidents and burglary.

Accidents are the easiest to mitigate.  Start with turning off the main water supply valve in your home.  One of the top insurance claims throughout the year is water damage, and a burst pipe while no one is home to take care of it right away is no way to start the new year.  Also, turn off your water heater and its gas supply.  Not only does this prevent potential gas leaks, you’ll save money on your energy bill.  Everyone’s equipment is different, so refer to manufacturer’s directions first when considering any of these practices.  Here is a complete checklist of things you can do to minimize the chances of an accident occurring while you’re away.

The best way to deter burglary is to minimize opportunity while making it appear the house is operating just as it would any other day.  Stop newspaper delivery for the time you’re away so papers don’t start to pile up on the front porch.  Put house lights on timers.  Park a car in the driveway.  Remember, business as usual is the message you want to broadcast to the outside world.  Even then, burglars are always out during the holidays looking for opportunities.  Don’t make it easy on them.  Hide spare car keys, jewelry, and other valuables in shoe boxes or behind the canned vegetables in the pantry.  Have a trusted neighbor stop by periodically to monitor the house, or consider hiring a house sitter for the week!

Take a few extra steps for your peace of mind before your vacation and enjoy the holidays!