SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 • Volume 15 • Issue 38
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
Online at www.AmesTrib.com/realestateweekly
SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 • Volume 15 • Issue 38
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, September 16, 2020
HOME HELP CLEANING
D E C O R AT I N G T I P
GARDENING
NO NEED TO RINSE DISHES BEFORE USING DISHWASHER
MAKE STAYING HOME FEEL LIKE A VACATION
PREVENTING TOMATO ‘CATFACING’
Many have put vacations on hold due to the pandemic, but using clever decor, you can make your home feel like a vacation destination.
Catfacing is the malformation of the blossom end of the tomato. According to BobVila. com, “it is caused by temperatures (below 58 degrees Fahrenheit) during fruit development or excessive nitrogen in the soil. It also can come from pollination problems or damage to the flower during or just after pollination. Cultivars that make large tomatoes are most susceptible to this condition.”
Throwing a dirty plate with food residue still visible directly into the dishwasher might seem counterintuitive, but many dishwashers and detergents are up to the task. Rinsing your dishes then washing them in the dishwasher can be a waste of water and energy. Detergents can remove most food particles from dishes, so, instead of wasting time and water making the plate look clean, simply discard any large pieces and load.
“Use naturally occurring textures from your favorite vacation spot in your home,” recommends HGTV. For a home reminiscent of beach vacation, for example, “a set of driftwood table lamps [can be] used to accent a natural wooden table in [a] sundrenched dining room. Pull more inspiration from the space and incorporate elements like the weathered, white-washed wicker chairs and bamboo chandelier.” Umbrellas, beachy hues and cushioned, rattan seating can add a luxurious and exotic feel to your backyard. Try creating an outdoor bar for extra resort vibes.
To prevent catfacing, plant resilient varieties of tomatoes, ensure overnight temperatures are warm and will continue to be throughout growth, and avoiding high-nitrogen fertilizer. More Content Now
Page RE4 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, September 16, 2020
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, September 16, 2020 • Page RE5
Page RE6 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, September 16, 2020
DEAR MONTY
When the listing agent and seller are great friends
R
eader guarantee? What question: happens if it fails We just in two years? put an offer on The repair on the a house, and we plumbing should be are under conpermanent. Your tract. The listing skepticism regarding agent and seller the friendships is valid. are great friends, While the seller’s live on the same reluctance raises a street and have red flag, it does not known each other mean the contractor for many years. is dishonest. There RICHARD MONTGOMERY is also no harm in a They are friends with a contracsecond opinion. tor who does As the buyer, it work for them. Following my home would seem that you can dictate the inspection, some items came up. choice of contractors, as you are the one The roof needs replacing. They want that will be living with the outcomes. to certify it will last five years, and we If the agents do not like each other, agreed, using a third-party roofer. They those feelings can sometimes creep into did the certification on their own and the transaction. Both may be competing stated the roof still has seven to eight to see who can “out-protect” the other. years of life. They used the same roofIf the negotiation drags on, be ing company that installed the roof, a mindful of the consequences of the friend of the listing agent’s contractor. inspection contingency expiring. The plumbing is backing up. We asked to have a third-party plumber An alternate solution diagnose and repair. They said they 1. Propose a second opinion on would be using their contractor for the condition of the roof. It takes the those repairs. My agent looked him up, seller’s roofing contractor off the hook and he is a class B residential and comif the roof fails earlier and gives you mercial contractor with no plumber the comfort you need to proceed. certification. The listing agent, who has 2. Propose a second opinion from been uncooperative with our requests, your plumber. Your plumber may agree responded that their class B contracwith the seller’s contractor or find he tor would be making the repairs. missed something. If he missed someThey are unwilling to use third parthing, the seller must agree to escrow ties we choose to evaluate. They state your plumber’s estimate, and you their contractor will perform the will hire the plumber after closing. plumbing repairs. We don’t feel their To check on the agent attitudes, response is a fair resolution. Finally, suggest a meeting directly with the my brother was in town, so we rode by seller to work out the details. Conthe property over the weekend and ran sider the pros and cons of walking into the seller’s wife. She texted their away if the resistance continues. agent who showed up while we were there and told me their guy would fix Richard Montgomery is the author of everything as long as my agent didn’t “House Money - An Insider’s Secrets to blow it. What are your thoughts? Saving Thousands When You Buy or Sell Monty’s answer: It appears that throughout the negotiations, there has been little or no direct communication between you and the seller. Is the roof certification a written
a Home.” Follow him on Twitter at @ dearmonty, or at DearMonty.com.
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, September 16, 2020 • Page RE3
Page RE4 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, September 16, 2020
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, September 16, 2020 • Page RE5
Page RE6 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, September 16, 2020
DEAR MONTY
When the listing agent and seller are great friends
R
eader guarantee? What question: happens if it fails We just in two years? put an offer on The repair on the a house, and we plumbing should be are under conpermanent. Your tract. The listing skepticism regarding agent and seller the friendships is valid. are great friends, While the seller’s live on the same reluctance raises a street and have red flag, it does not known each other mean the contractor for many years. is dishonest. There RICHARD MONTGOMERY is also no harm in a They are friends with a contracsecond opinion. tor who does As the buyer, it work for them. Following my home would seem that you can dictate the inspection, some items came up. choice of contractors, as you are the one The roof needs replacing. They want that will be living with the outcomes. to certify it will last five years, and we If the agents do not like each other, agreed, using a third-party roofer. They those feelings can sometimes creep into did the certification on their own and the transaction. Both may be competing stated the roof still has seven to eight to see who can “out-protect” the other. years of life. They used the same roofIf the negotiation drags on, be ing company that installed the roof, a mindful of the consequences of the friend of the listing agent’s contractor. inspection contingency expiring. The plumbing is backing up. We asked to have a third-party plumber An alternate solution diagnose and repair. They said they 1. Propose a second opinion on would be using their contractor for the condition of the roof. It takes the those repairs. My agent looked him up, seller’s roofing contractor off the hook and he is a class B residential and comif the roof fails earlier and gives you mercial contractor with no plumber the comfort you need to proceed. certification. The listing agent, who has 2. Propose a second opinion from been uncooperative with our requests, your plumber. Your plumber may agree responded that their class B contracwith the seller’s contractor or find he tor would be making the repairs. missed something. If he missed someThey are unwilling to use third parthing, the seller must agree to escrow ties we choose to evaluate. They state your plumber’s estimate, and you their contractor will perform the will hire the plumber after closing. plumbing repairs. We don’t feel their To check on the agent attitudes, response is a fair resolution. Finally, suggest a meeting directly with the my brother was in town, so we rode by seller to work out the details. Conthe property over the weekend and ran sider the pros and cons of walking into the seller’s wife. She texted their away if the resistance continues. agent who showed up while we were there and told me their guy would fix Richard Montgomery is the author of everything as long as my agent didn’t “House Money - An Insider’s Secrets to blow it. What are your thoughts? Saving Thousands When You Buy or Sell Monty’s answer: It appears that throughout the negotiations, there has been little or no direct communication between you and the seller. Is the roof certification a written
a Home.” Follow him on Twitter at @ dearmonty, or at DearMonty.com.
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, September 16, 2020 • Page RE7
Page RE8 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Kale and cabbage
the fall color and winter garden Left: Ornamental cabbage’s pinks and purples color the fall and early winter landscape. Above: Ornamental Kale Glamour Red displays a vivid intense color in the fall garden. [THE GREAT BIG GREENHOUSE/NATIONAL GARDEN BUREAU]
By Carole McCray More Content Now
P
lant ornamental kales and cabbages for texture and color in the fall and winter garden. I planted several varieties and placed them in containers, the garden and even a window box. Surprisingly, they weathered well in zone 7 and were not removed until early spring the following year. The ornamental kale and cabbage are not grown for flavor, but when added to your autumn garden, they lend a decorative touch through the winter. Frilly,
but not delicate, they survive the erratic weather patterns from late fall through the spring. The plants are showy and come in an array of colors. You will find them in shades of deep purple, pink, red and white. They are not heat-tolerant, but they can tolerate the cold, and can survive winter temperatures as low as 5 degrees F. The colors of ornamental kale and cabbage are made brighter when they experience light and moderate frosts. Ornamental kales and cabbages complement so many other fall plants. Pair them with chrysanthemums, the russet sedums, fall pansies and asters to
echo the palette of autumn’s rich tones. There are many possibilities for displaying kale and cabbage to brighten the fall and winter garden. Try grouping kale and cabbage in pots at an entryway, in window boxes with dwarf evergreens or planted in a large container in the garden to serve as an attractive accent. The best time to purchase ornamental kales and cabbages is in September. Look for plants with a short rosette-type stem. To avoid plants becoming root-bound, purchase the largest plants available. If temperatures are not cool when planting, the plants can become leggy and lose their color. Often planting before cool weather will subject the plants to cabbage loopers that bore holes in the plants. Striving for color in the winter months gives gardeners the opportunity to do just that with ornamental kales and cabbages. Carole McCray resides in Cape May, New Jersey, and is an award-winning garden writer who has been writing a monthly garden column, The Potting Shed, for regional newspapers for nearly 20 years.
Cool-weather crops Here are the 10 best cool-weather crops for a productive fall garden, according to GardnersPath.com: 1. Kale 2. Collard greens 3. Arugula 4. Peas 5. Beets 6. Kohlrabi 7. Bunching onions 8. Rutabaga 9. Cauliflower 10. Carrots