MAY 20, 2020 • Volume 15 • Issue 21
RE WEEKLY RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE • FARM • COMMERCIAL • AREA DEVELOPMENT 515-233-3299 • 317 5th Street, Ames • All REALTOR® ads within are REALTORS® licensed in the State of Iowa
O n l i n e a t w w w. A m e s Tr i b . c o m / r e a l e s t a t e w e e k l y
Page RE2 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, May 20, 2020
The new
victory garden By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
T
he attraction of home gardening coupled with anxiety about food supply in a pandemic has resulted in a renewed interest in victory gardens. “It seems as though they’ve been making somewhat of a comeback for the past 10 years since the last recession, when a lot more people wanted to grow their own food to save money,” said Diane Blazek, executive director of the National Garden Bureau. “But of course, until now, there was no reason to call it a victory garden. Now, it’s again a way to save money and also ensure a food supply that is both good and healthy.” When COVID-19 hit, many feared they would not be able to visit grocery stores so they moved to their garden to provide food. “I like to say we are not at war this time, but then again we are waging a war against this virus and we all want a victory by being successful in our gardens,” Blazek said. “What better way to spend some free time
while at home than sprucing up your outdoor space and planting something to feed you and your family?” “Victory gardens are making a comeback during this time for a lot of reasons,” said gardening enthusiast Emery Weber, a senior industrial designer with Fiskars who has helped create their garden and yard care tools. “Gardening vegetables and herbs can help people cut back on their time at the grocery store, while still ensuring they have fresh items to work into home-cooked meals and at-home cocktail hours. At the same time, gardening is also a productive and relaxing activity that makes this trend feel like a win-win for time at home.” “I think a large percentage of the population has been on the fence about trying home gardening, and the recent pandemic has been the tipping point where many people have decided ‘OK, it’s time to try this gardening thing out,’” said Shelby DeVore, founder of the blog Farminence. Gardening is something nearly everyone can manage, and no experience is necessary. “You can begin as large or as
small as you want or as you feel comfortable,” Blazek said. If you don’t have the space start with one small (but not too small) container. “You can have one container or 100. Just depends on how much space you do have and what you want to grow. Then buy some potting soil and a few plants and you’re off to a great start,” Blazek said. “Just go for it. Don’t overthink it,” DeVore said. “You’re going to grow some plants that are going to look awesome and be super productive. You may also grow a plant or two that doesn’t turn out so hot. That’s normal, and it may not even be anything that you did.” Often a planting fails because of things that may have been out of a gardener’s control, she said. “Take the time to do a bit of research on the plants that will thrive well in your local area,” Weber said. “We know it can be tempting to buy seeds for anything you’d like to eat, but a little research will go a long way in getting you the results you want.” The main consideration is the sun. “For a beginning gardener, just go
with the basic knowledge that vegetables need sun to grow,” Blazek said. “Yes, there are some vegetables that can grow in less than six to eight hours of sunlight per day, but for a beginner, go with the sun. You’ll be more successful.” The second thing is the growing medium. “Buy or make a good quality potting soil and make sure you fertilize as needed,” Blazek said. “Check resources for exactly what and how much, but if you have good soil, fertilizer and of course water, you have a great start.” Check your plants daily. “Your vegetable plants will give you clues as to whether they need some help,” DeVore said. “If you only check them every other day or every three days, you may miss those clues. Look for wilted leaves, yellowed leaves and stems, dropped fruit or flowers, and pests. If you notice signs of a problem or your plant just doesn’t look right, look it up and seek help. Don’t wait around to see if the problem fixes itself.”
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REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, May 20, 2020 • Page RE3
Page RE4 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Overdone
kitchen trends
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
A
classic recipe may stand the test of time, but kitchen trends come and go. To find out what’s lost its welcome, a variety of experts shared what overdone designs they would like to see less of in the future.
farmhouse kitchen. “The eclectic mix of natural materials provides a much more inviting ambiance,” he said. “The problem is that most people think you can just drop a farmhouse sink in and call
for TheClose.com. “If you ever decide to swap them out for something flush mounted, you’re going to have to either replace your countertop or your lower cabinets. That’s quite the large investment for a sink.” Careful of color “Blue or, even worse, red or green cabinets seemed to have a brief moment in the sun last year, but something tells me this was more to stroke a designer’s ego rather than offer a livable solution for homeowners,” L’Eplattenier said. “People want warm, minimalist and professional looking kitchens with open shelving, natural stone or wood elements, and high quality appliances. Bright blue cabinets are going to age just as gracefully as the avocado green cabinets your grandmother had in the ’70s.”
Getting chilly “The icy grey and white color scheme that has been requested by homeowners for years has reached its saturation point,” said Sarah Barnard, owner of Sarah Barnard Design in Santa Monica, California. “Clients who once sought out pale palettes with Scandinavian influences are ready to return to the vibrant colors and textures of the natural world. Consider Forest Stewardship Councilcertified American walnut cabinetry paired with handmade tile in autumnal hues for a warm and inviting space that inspires and uplifts.”
it a day. If you’re going to emulate this trend, do it right and make sure it looks cohesive.”
Less is less “I’m tired of the modern minimalist look: the spotless white quartz countertop with high-gloss cabinets and simple stainless steel hardware,” said Caleb Liu, owner of House Simply Sold, which flips homes in Southern California. “Everything is constructed at 90 degree angles. This look is very popular in newer luxury apartments and I hate it. It feels cold and lifeless.” A better alternative is the
Stuck with a sink Trendy for a couple of years, farmhouse and modern apron sinks are impractical when it comes time to renovate. “These sinks have one fatal flaw that many homeowners probably never thought of when they pulled the trigger on their Joanna Gaines-inspired country chic kitchens: Apron sinks are almost impossible to replace with anything else but another apron sink,” said Emile L’Eplattenier, chief real estate analyst
Let me vent “Stainless steel vent hoods are out of style. Now, buyers want a much cleaner look,” said Jeremy Spillman, owner of Spillman Homes. “Kitchen design is transitioning to built-in hood vents that either add another detail to the kitchen design or are built in discreetly and take the hood out of sight and mind.” Goodbye all-white “While white cabinets will never go out of style, the sterile all-white kitchen with white counters and backsplash tile is too plain and hard to keep clean,” said Carla Gaeta, owner and lead designer at Gemini Design Group in New Jersey. “I recommend using white cabinets as the base but adding some color to the mix. Use a backsplash tile that will create more interest and a dash of metal in the hardware to brighten and contrast against the white.”
“Kitchen design is transitioning to built-in hood vents that either add another detail to the kitchen design or are built in discreetly and take the hood out of sight and mind.” Jeremy Spillman, owner, Spillman Homes
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, May 20, 2020 • Page RE5
How to get rid of, prevent By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
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ANTS
esky little creatures, ants will take any opportunity to come into your home looking for food and water, and because they’re social creatures they’ll bring their ant friends, too. Just killing the ants that make your home their home isn’t enough. “Ants are very common and a big problem inside homes and businesses across the states. Obviously the winter slows their activity but in the warmer climates they stay active all year,” said Jerry Schappert, an associate certified entomologist and owner of The Bug Doctor in Ocala, Florida. In summer ants can show up in overwhelming numbers in kitchens and bathrooms searching for food and shelter. “There are quite a few species in America but only around a dozen or more that will readily infest a home” including acrobat, Argentine, big-headed, carpenter, crazy, fire, ghost, little black, odorous house, pavement, pharaoh, rover, thief and white-footed ants, Schappert said. Some are exotic, invasive nuisances without natural predators. Other local species are more desirable because they compete with destructive imported types like the red fire ant. “Some like the carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) can and will damage a home; however the Florida carpenter ant (Camponotus floridanus) is not considered destructive, although it can inhabit wood already damaged by rot or termite,” Schappert said. Ant types vary geographically. “Treatments vary as much as the ant. It’s always best to get the proper Identification first. Not doing so can mean a lot of wasted time and money,” Schappert said. For example, spraying a pharaoh ant situation almost always doubles the problem. “Part of their defense when a perceived threat hits is to split the
colony. Now you have two nests. Spray again? Four,” Schappert said. To identify an ant, try to get a good cell phone shot. “The closer and more magnified the better,” Schappert said. Email it to a local pest control company, which can help classify it. The key to keeping ants out is to make your home less open and attractive. “As a general rule if homeowners reduce conducive conditions, their chances of having ants attracted to the home is less,” said Schappert, who offered these tips: • Keep shrubbery and trees from touching the house. • Seal any obvious gaps, cracks or potential points of entry into the home. • Keep grass trimmed low if it is up against the house. • Move log piles or other materials that sit undisturbed for long periods away from the home. Garbage storage is a big attractant if kept outside but near the home as are uncleaned grills, especially if right next to the house, Schappert said. There’s a multitude of DIY products available that are safe to be used around people and pets. “Armed with the knowledge of what their ant eats, where they prefer to nest, etc., DIYers can feel reasonably confident they can win the battle with ants. Read and follow all label instructions,” Schappert said. One major problem with treating ants on your own is that people often do not read labels. “If they do, the tendency to double the mix rate or spray on all the surfaces causes a potential problem. Studies show that doubling the mix rate does not make the ant any deader,” Schappert said. Almost all ant infestations can be dealt with from the outside, except when the problem has festered too long. “That said, we approach each ant call we get from the outside in first. Works very well,” Schappert said.
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REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, May 20, 2020 • Page RE7
Trends in
bathroom remodeling By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
B
athroom remodels are one of the biggest projects a homeowner can undertake, but they add value and make a home more liveable. A new report from Fixr that includes insight from a collection of the country’s top bathroom design experts looks at the latest bath trends and what’s influencing them. The main reason homeowners choose to remodel a bathroom is because of outdated design. All those beautiful images on Pinterest and home design sites are making our bathrooms look worn and outmoded. “I think that’s natural given our current access to media. We see countless pictures of really up-to-date bathrooms, and it throws older ones into very stark relief,” said Cristina Miguelez, remodeling specialist for Fixr. “That, coupled with the fact that technology for bathrooms is all about increasing convenience and pleasure in the space, it makes people really want to update an older room.” Bigger is better when it comes to bathroom size, according to the report. “The average bathroom in the United States is around 40 square feet, yet people were saying that the size they most wanted to remodel/ install is 100-plus square feet,” Miguelez said. “That’s exceptionally large for a bathroom! Given that the average cost of remodeling a bathroom is around $200 a square foot, going up to 100-plus square feet makes for a very expensive remodel.”
The average cost of a 100-squarefoot master bathroom with tile walls and flooring, new fixtures, double vanity and walk-in shower with separate tub is around $20,000, but can be higher or lower depending on where you live, Miguelez said. Over the years bathroom sizes haven’t changed much, but they are changing. “Master suites are becoming more common,” Miguelez said. “Those are the really big bathrooms that people want. But, the numbers still aren’t there yet to say that more people have bathrooms of this size. Just that they are becoming more popular.” Bathrooms are uniquely personal spaces, but people agreed on a few things. Low maintenance materials are at the top of the list, along with floating vanities and freestanding tubs. “I would say that overall people want a contemporary design,” Miguelez said. If thinking about resale, timeless appearances are best, as are easy-to-maintain materials. “A bathtub is also a musthave,” Miguelez said. Just not any old bathtub, though. “People really want soaking tubs and freestanding tubs, not the old alcove tub/shower unit or any kind of jetted tub,” Miguelez said. People also avoid overhead or harsh lighting and difficult-to-clean materials, she said. “This is an exciting time to be updating a bathroom. There are more technologies and materials out there that are meant to work for you than ever before, including self-cleaning toilets. If you’ve been putting off an update, now is a great time to make the plunge,” Miguelez said.
Page RE8 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, May 20, 2020
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