AUGUST 16, 2017 • Volume 12 • Issue 33
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
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Summer maintenance checklist What you need to take care of your home now
[MCN ILLUSTRATION]
By Laura Firszt More Content Now
Update your driveway Is your concrete driveway showing signs of wear, such as cracking, pitting, or spalling? Or don’t you have a drive at all? Summer is the ideal time to install or resurface a driveway (not to mention a concrete parking pad, patio, sidewalk or garden path). Why? Well, concrete needs the right weather conditions to cure properly. (Curing refers to a process of controlling the water content after installation, which strengthens the concrete and avoids cracks due to shrinkage.) A stretch of several dry days with the temperature above 50 degrees is just right.
A
TTENTION, HOMEOWNERS! Summer vacation is interrupted to bring you this public service announcement: Your home needs you. While you’re relaxing and having fun, your house is working hard to keep you safe and comfy. But in return, it needs a little TLC from you. Summer is the perfect time to take care of the following essential tasks on your home maintenance honey-do list.
[WIKIMEDIA COMMONS]
Install energy-saving windows and entry doors Have brand-new energy-saving windows and entry doors installed this summer and you’ll reduce your carbon footprint and save on HVAC bills all year round. Obviously, you will find it more comfortable to tackle this type of project in July than in January when your hands will be freezing. Equally important, though, is the fact that installation in warmer temperatures will also permit your caulk to adhere properly, sealing up air leaks and making your new windows or doors even more energy-efficient, in summers and winters to come. Get your roof in shape The bright midsummer sunshine is wonderful, but not when you can spy it twinkling merrily through the holes in your roof. Roof holes mean leaks, and leaks mean the looming possibility of serious water damage in your home’s near future … not to mention the negative effect that mold and mildew can have on your family’s health. So take action now and get your roof in shape — repaired or, if necessary, replaced — before the cold and snowy season (yes, we’re talking winter) comes around once more.
Repair or replace your garage door After months of routinely opening your garage door only twice a day as you drive to and from work, suddenly these days you seem to need to get into the garage all the time – working on summer projects, taking out bicycles and kiddie pools, or hauling out the lawn mower and other garden equipment. If you notice that the opener is not working as smoothly as it should … or the whole door is becoming sun faded and worn … consider repair or replacement. A new insulated garage door can help you cut heating costs. Un-invite insect and rodent ‘guests’ While you are happily entertaining friends at a gala summery barbecue, your home may be forced to host visitors of the less welcome variety. Insect and rodent pests such as termites, cockroaches, and mice will damage property and may even carry disease. Others, like bed bugs, are just plain annoying. And no, generally these critters will not die off even when the temperature drops. Effective pest control treatments often require airing the house out afterward – which is much pleasanter in balmy weather than in a blizzard. Laura Firszt writes for networx.com. [BIGSTOCK]
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, August 16, 2017 • Page RE7
DEAR MONTY
Should we sell our home to a house flipper? to buy our home, as he flips homes. Is selling to a flipper a good idea?
RICHARD MONTGOMERY
R
eader question: We are planning to sell our home and asked a handyman to give us an estimate of the costs to fix several issues that are likely to cause a buyer to offer less money. He did provide us with a detailed estimate of the cost and also offered
Monty’s answer: The question will often be answered with a very quick “no.” In reality, the answer can also be “yes.” The people who say “no” do not know your situation. Your question provided no information about your circumstances, information about the local real estate market, and whether or not you have received opinions on the value of your home from multiple real estate agents or appraisers. The main disadvantage with selling to the flipper is selling at a price below market, without the benefit of market exposure. The best method to determine if selling to a flipper is right for
you is knowing the best price you could expect, and the lowest price you should expect. Then you can decide if this option is right for you. This article explains how to find your home’s range of value at https://dearmonty. com/determining-a-homes-value/. Circumstances where a flipper adds value There are many times when the top dollar is not the homeowner’s motivation. The motivators may be a quick sale, no complications, no uncertainty, unsuccessful past efforts, and more. A better job; inherited property; a property that does not qualify for a mortgage; an owner in foreclosure; a home with fire
damage; no money for repairs; and others, that create the motivation. Check out a guaranteed sale There is a difference between the two. A cash buyer is just that — they pay cash, close in 10 days, buy as-is, and do not charge a commission. With a guaranteed sale, the home seller is given time to obtain a higher price, with pre-agreed price reductions over time, like 90 days. If no retail buyer is found, the wholesale buyer has guaranteed the sale at a predetermined price and date. Exposure at a higher price often finds a retail buyer. Email Richard Montgomery at DearMonty.com.
TIPS OF THE WEEK Efficiently water your garden
Combat pesky flies
During the hottest days of the year, the success of your garden depends on how well you water it. To make the most of every drop, follow these tips from anoregon cottage.com: • Use a soaker hose to saturate the ground in your garden bed for 2-4 hours every 5-7 days. Check your soil periodically. If it is moist 1 inch deep, you are using enough water. • Place five to eight layers of newspaper — or one layer of cardboard — on the ground, then apply your soaker hose and cover it all with mulch. This will make your soaker hose more efficient.
If you have too many houseflies buzzing around your house, follow these tips from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: • Because flies lay eggs on organic waste, it’s important to immediately clean up any food scraps and residue, as well as pet waste. • Check screens for holes, and examine windows for any gaps and cracks that could be letting in flies. • Hang flypaper in infested areas where there is little to no air movement, within 6 feet of the ground.
Are we paying fair price for water?
Bathroom remodeling tips to make your home safer
Each year more than 240,000 water mains break, wasting 12 percent of the nation’s water. As the infrastructure system continues to age, that percentage stands to grow. A survey by water utility pump manufacturer Grundfos for the Who Runs the Water that Runs America Initiative finds 50 percent of Americans believe they’re paying a fair price for water. Only 2 percent report they should pay more when comparing their water use to their bill. Those in the utility sector tell a different story, with 70 percent reporting they aren’t generating enough revenue to cover their costs and fund infrastructure improvements. To learn more about the situation in your area, contact your local utility.
According to Gold Medal Service, a home plumbing, heating, cooling, electric service company, there are many things homeowners can do to adapt their bathroom so it is safer for anyone with limited mobility. Consider installing non-slip tiles and get rid of loose rugs. While walk-in tubs are ideal, a seating area in a shower is also a good feature, and surfaces in the tub/shower should also be non-slip. — Brandpoint
[FREEPIK]
Use Pinterest, Houzz to find stylish storage options If after a big declutter effort, you may still have essentials and other items you can’t or won’t part with. Search online for solutions to everyday storage problems, as sites like Pinterest and Houzz can be great resources. Pinterest reports that 93 percent of its users shop the platform for new ideas, and 87 percent have made purchases based on things they have seen on the site. — Family Features
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, August 16, 2017 • Page RE7
DEAR MONTY
Should we sell our home to a house flipper? to buy our home, as he flips homes. Is selling to a flipper a good idea?
RICHARD MONTGOMERY
R
eader question: We are planning to sell our home and asked a handyman to give us an estimate of the costs to fix several issues that are likely to cause a buyer to offer less money. He did provide us with a detailed estimate of the cost and also offered
Monty’s answer: The question will often be answered with a very quick “no.” In reality, the answer can also be “yes.” The people who say “no” do not know your situation. Your question provided no information about your circumstances, information about the local real estate market, and whether or not you have received opinions on the value of your home from multiple real estate agents or appraisers. The main disadvantage with selling to the flipper is selling at a price below market, without the benefit of market exposure. The best method to determine if selling to a flipper is right for
you is knowing the best price you could expect, and the lowest price you should expect. Then you can decide if this option is right for you. This article explains how to find your home’s range of value at https://dearmonty. com/determining-a-homes-value/. Circumstances where a flipper adds value There are many times when the top dollar is not the homeowner’s motivation. The motivators may be a quick sale, no complications, no uncertainty, unsuccessful past efforts, and more. A better job; inherited property; a property that does not qualify for a mortgage; an owner in foreclosure; a home with fire
damage; no money for repairs; and others, that create the motivation. Check out a guaranteed sale There is a difference between the two. A cash buyer is just that — they pay cash, close in 10 days, buy as-is, and do not charge a commission. With a guaranteed sale, the home seller is given time to obtain a higher price, with pre-agreed price reductions over time, like 90 days. If no retail buyer is found, the wholesale buyer has guaranteed the sale at a predetermined price and date. Exposure at a higher price often finds a retail buyer. Email Richard Montgomery at DearMonty.com.
TIPS OF THE WEEK Efficiently water your garden
Combat pesky flies
During the hottest days of the year, the success of your garden depends on how well you water it. To make the most of every drop, follow these tips from anoregon cottage.com: • Use a soaker hose to saturate the ground in your garden bed for 2-4 hours every 5-7 days. Check your soil periodically. If it is moist 1 inch deep, you are using enough water. • Place five to eight layers of newspaper — or one layer of cardboard — on the ground, then apply your soaker hose and cover it all with mulch. This will make your soaker hose more efficient.
If you have too many houseflies buzzing around your house, follow these tips from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: • Because flies lay eggs on organic waste, it’s important to immediately clean up any food scraps and residue, as well as pet waste. • Check screens for holes, and examine windows for any gaps and cracks that could be letting in flies. • Hang flypaper in infested areas where there is little to no air movement, within 6 feet of the ground.
Are we paying fair price for water?
Bathroom remodeling tips to make your home safer
Each year more than 240,000 water mains break, wasting 12 percent of the nation’s water. As the infrastructure system continues to age, that percentage stands to grow. A survey by water utility pump manufacturer Grundfos for the Who Runs the Water that Runs America Initiative finds 50 percent of Americans believe they’re paying a fair price for water. Only 2 percent report they should pay more when comparing their water use to their bill. Those in the utility sector tell a different story, with 70 percent reporting they aren’t generating enough revenue to cover their costs and fund infrastructure improvements. To learn more about the situation in your area, contact your local utility.
According to Gold Medal Service, a home plumbing, heating, cooling, electric service company, there are many things homeowners can do to adapt their bathroom so it is safer for anyone with limited mobility. Consider installing non-slip tiles and get rid of loose rugs. While walk-in tubs are ideal, a seating area in a shower is also a good feature, and surfaces in the tub/shower should also be non-slip. — Brandpoint
[FREEPIK]
Use Pinterest, Houzz to find stylish storage options If after a big declutter effort, you may still have essentials and other items you can’t or won’t part with. Search online for solutions to everyday storage problems, as sites like Pinterest and Houzz can be great resources. Pinterest reports that 93 percent of its users shop the platform for new ideas, and 87 percent have made purchases based on things they have seen on the site. — Family Features
Page RE8 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, August 16, 2017
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