10-07-2020 Real Estate Weekly

OCTOBER 7, 2020 • Volume 15 • Issue 41

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 RE4 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Oct ober 7, 2020

HOME HELP PEST CONTROL

D E C O R AT I N G T I P

GARDENING

DEALING WITH DRAIN FLIES

TRAYS CAN GIVE COFFEE TABLES A POLISHED LOOK

QUICK TIPS

Drain flies are a small moth-like insect, so named because the congregate and breed around the drains of sinks and showers, where stagnant water and bacteria accumulate.

These pests reproduce in about 48 hours, so an infestation can quickly arise. Here are some natural, chemical-free ways to get rid of them, according to This Old House: • Pour boiling water down your drain. This is the easiest method. Simply pour boiling water down your drain one or two times per day for about a week. Use caution when dealing with hot water, and pour slowly.

• Use baking soda, salt and vinegar. Combine these household ingredients and pour it down your drain. Let it sit overnight. The baking soda’s expansion due to the vinegar will allow it to reach more areas than boiling water. Flush out the pipe with boiling water in the morning.

• Soap, water, sugar and vinegar. “Add a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of water, sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Leave the bowl out for a few days close to the drain to attract the drain flies to the sweet solution. The thickness of the added soap will trap the flies in the water.”

• Use apple cider vinegar with plastic wrap. Fill the bottom of a bowl, cup or jar with about an inch of apple cider vinegar and stretch plastic wrap across the opening. Punch small holes in the top of the plastic. This will let the drain flies in but not allow them to get out.

• Seal your drain with duct tape. “Seal off your drain with duct tape overnight for several nights in a row to catch the flies that try to get to the surface.”

In addition to helping you cut down on clutter, trays can give your coffee table a polished look. The Spruce recommends filling “a decorative tray with a short stack of hardback books, a box for your remote controls, a set of coasters and a pretty object or two for a grown-up, lived-in look.” A tray also lets you pick up and move all your stuff at once for cleaning or entertaining.

Here are some more tips from Planet Nature to keep in mind when gardening: • Under watering is better than over watering plants. A dry plant is easier to revive than one with drowned roots.

• Earthworms love natural and organic fertilizers and soil amendments. “Earthworms are extremely beneficial in the vegetable garden; increasing air space in the soil and leaving behind worm castings. Do what you can to encourage earthworms in your soil.”

• If your soil is healthy, your plants will be better able to resist diseases and pests, reducing the need for pesticides.

More Content Now

Page RE6 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Oct ober 7, 2020

Don’t see your home in the

RE WEEKLY Then contact a Realtor® today, because you are missing out on over 39,000+ potential buyers seeing your property for sale.

STORY TY COUN

PMENT ERCIAL • AREA DEVELO GE • FARM • COMM RESIDENTIAL • ACREA Street, Ames 99 • 317 5th ® licensed in the State of Iowa 515-233-32 are REALTORS ® within All REALTOR ads

RE WEEKLY

JANUARY 11, 2017 Volume 12 • Issue 2

JANUARY 4, 2017 1 Volume 12 • Issue

RE WEEKLY

STORY

RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE • FARM 515-233-329 9 • 317 5th • COMMERCIAL • AREA DEVE LOPMENT Street, Ame ads within are s

COUNTY

All REALTOR ®

w w. A m e s Tr Online at w

ib.com/rea

lestatewee

REALTORS ®

licensed in the State of Iowa

kly

home in Don’t see your

the

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® because Realtor today, Then contact a 00+ potential out on over 39,0 you are missingO nyour l property for sale. buyers seeing i n e a t w E ww

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Page RE2 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Oct ober 7, 2020

DEAR MONTY Questions about FEMA flood plain designation

RICHARD MONTGOMERY

R

eader question: The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently redrew the flood plain map for my municipality, which now places my home in a flood plain. Most of my immediate neighbors have obtained a letter of map amendment.

A LOMA removes a property from the flood plain and also eliminates the mortgage lender’s requirement to purchase flood insurance. Since I do not have a mortgage and am not concerned

about flooding, I do not intend to buy flood insurance. In the future, when I decide to sell my home, will not having a LOMA complicate the sale? Will not having a LOMA for my property make it more difficult for a buyer to obtain a mortgage? Will not having a LOMA adversely affect the asking price for my property? If I go through the expense of getting a LOMA, does it remain in effect when the property sold, or is it only valid as long as I own the property?

Monty’s answer: Most buyers will be required to have flood insurance, and many cash buyers will want it.

Questions answered Q: In the future, when I decide to sell my home, will not having a LOMA

complicate the sale?

A: Yes, to the extent that it takes time to get the LOMA from FEMA. FEMA has 60 days to complete the process. Sixty days and the possibility FEMA would not grant the request would deter a significant percentage of prospects for proceeding.

Q: Will not having a LOMA for my property make it more difficult for a buyer to obtain a mortgage?

A: Yes, because lenders will not approve a mortgage loan in a floodplain without flood insurance or a LOMA. Q: Will not having a LOMA adversely affect the asking price for my property?

A: It may or may not. There are a variety of factors that could influence any impact on your asking price.

You are far more likely to get pushback in an individual negotiation.

Q: Does a LOMA remain in effect when the property sold, or is it only valid as long as I own the property?

A: The LOMA will “run with the land.”

The bottom line A licensed land surveyor must certify your elevation is high enough to take you out of the flood plain.

Visit DearMonty.com.

REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Oct ober 7, 2020 • Page RE3

Page RE4 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, October 7, 2020

HOME HELP PEST CONTROL

DECORATING TIP

GARDENING

DEALING WITH DRAIN FLIES

TRAYS CAN GIVE COFFEE TABLES A POLISHED LOOK

QUICK TIPS

Drain flies are a small moth-like insect, so named because the congregate and breed around the drains of sinks and showers, where stagnant water and bacteria accumulate.

These pests reproduce in about 48 hours, so an infestation can quickly arise. Here are some natural, chemical-free ways to get rid of them, according to This Old House: • Pour boiling water down your drain. This is the easiest method. Simply pour boiling water down your drain one or two times per day for about a week. Use caution when dealing with hot water, and pour slowly.

• Use baking soda, salt and vinegar. Combine these household ingredients and pour it down your drain. Let it sit overnight. The baking soda’s expansion due to the vinegar will allow it to reach more areas than boiling water. Flush out the pipe with boiling water in the morning.

• Soap, water, sugar and vinegar. “Add a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of water, sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Leave the bowl out for a few days close to the drain to attract the drain flies to the sweet solution. The thickness of the added soap will trap the flies in the water.”

• Use apple cider vinegar with plastic wrap. Fill the bottom of a bowl, cup or jar with about an inch of apple cider vinegar and stretch plastic wrap across the opening. Punch small holes in the top of the plastic. This will let the drain flies in but not allow them to get out.

• Seal your drain with duct tape. “Seal off your drain with duct tape overnight for several nights in a row to catch the flies that try to get to the surface.”

In addition to helping you cut down on clutter, trays can give your coffee table a polished look. The Spruce recommends filling “a decorative tray with a short stack of hardback books, a box for your remote controls, a set of coasters and a pretty object or two for a grown-up, lived-in look.” A tray also lets you pick up and move all your stuff at once for cleaning or entertaining.

Here are some more tips from Planet Nature to keep in mind when gardening: • Under watering is better than over watering plants. A dry plant is easier to revive than one with drowned roots.

• Earthworms love natural and organic fertilizers and soil amendments. “Earthworms are extremely beneficial in the vegetable garden; increasing air space in the soil and leaving behind worm castings. Do what you can to encourage earthworms in your soil.”

• If your soil is healthy, your plants will be better able to resist diseases and pests, reducing the need for pesticides.

More Content Now

REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Oct ober 7, 2020 • Page RE5

floor color advice

There’s another thing — gloss level.

The higher the shine, the more it’s going to show wear over time. The trend for the last 10, 15 years has been lower and lower gloss.

What’s a color profile that will always be in style?

Honey and butterscotch are timeless.

I’ve been in the industry 20 years and that color family continues to be the No. 1 bestseller. It’s a tone that allows you to redesign around it — not too dark, not too light. You can really accessorize it well.

Should homeowners first choose flooring and design the room around it, or vice versa?

That’s up to the individual. However, floor color affects the feeling of a room;

Left: Bengal Bay Coffee hardwood. Above: Park City Snowcap hardwood. [MANNINGTON]

By Laura Firszt More Content Now

O

ver-the-top trends in hardwood floor colors are certainly striking. Deep grays, whitewashes, and brightly painted colors add a touch ... er ... bucketload of drama to your home — but will you still love them tomorrow? Which new hues can stand the test of time? And what are the best hardwood floor colors to install for resale? I recently interviewed Dan Natkin, Mannington vice

president, Hardwood and Laminate, and self-described “wood nerd.” Here’s Dan’s expert advice.

What are today’s popular hardwood colors?

What we call “naturals” and “modified naturals” are the hottest hardwood floor colors. Tones have gotten a lot lighter.

The gray trend began a few years ago, but the initial grays were very steely in color; today it’s more natural, a very light and subtle color. At the same time, red tones have faded out of favor.

a heavy dark floor tends to bring a room in and make it feel cozier. A lighter floor makes the room seem more open. So it depends what you’re going for. Are you trying to create an intimate space or an open feeling?

Do you recommend particular colors for different needs — say, empty nesters vs. families with young kids?

Generally, it’s a matter of personal

taste. If you’ve got a very active family, though, I’d stay away from the darkest tones. With really dark, almost black floors, if you get a little nick here or there, it’s going to jump out like someone’s shining a light on it. When you have kids and pets, the lighter to mid-tones are definitely the way to go.

What would you recommend for resale?

Although there are so many options on the market that homeowners can really take some design risks, if you’re looking forward to resale, don’t go too crazy. Stay in that traditional color palette — naturals and honeys. They tend to resell better than a floor that’s got red, green, and blue all mixed up.

Should kitchen floors be lighter or darker than cabinets?

That’s an individual choice. But if your cabinets are white or off-white, a mid to darker floor serves as a nice complement. If your cabinets are very dark, let the floor be a little lighter to open up the space.

What do you think about trends such as whitewashing or painting wood floors?

I’ve seen whitewashing come and go probably three times in my career already.

As far as painting or other “out-there” colorations, I think you may get bored with it. Personal styles tend to change over time and that’s one that kind of locks you in.

Generally, I advise: “Wood is not a floor covering, it’s a flooring. There’s a difference. When you have a floor covering — vinyl, for instance — you may change it out every 5-7 years. In wood, you’re making a more permanent decision, so my recommendation is that you pick something that’s going to stay in fashion for quite a while.”

Do you have a favorite color?

I’m a traditionalist. Muted colors with hints of gray are my favorite, though it depends on the setting.

Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.

Page RE6 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Don’t see your home in the

RE WEEKLY Then contact a Realtor® today, because you are missing out on over 39,000+ potential buyers seeing your property for sale.

STORY TY COUN

PMENT ERCIAL • AREA DEVELO GE • FARM • COMM RESIDENTIAL • ACREA Street, Ames 99 • 317 5th ® licensed in the State of Iowa 515-233-32 are REALTORS ® within All REALTOR ads

RE WEEKLY

JANUARY 11, 2017 Volume 12 • Issue 2

JANUARY 4, 2017 1 Volume 12 • Issue

RE WEEKLY

STORY

RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE • FARM 515-233-329 9 • 317 5th • COMMERCIAL • AREA DEVE LOPMENT Street, Ame ads within are s

COUNTY

All REALTOR ®

w w. A m e s Tr Online at w

ib.com/rea

lestatewee

REALTORS ®

licensed in the State of Iowa

kly

home in Don’t see your

the

RE WEEKLY

® because Realtor today, Then contact a 00+ potential out on over 39,0 you are missingO nyour l property for sale. buyers seeing i n e a t w E ww

DIRECT MAIL +

ONLIN

. A m e s Tr

lestateweekly

AmesTrib.com/rea

ib.com/r

ealestat

eweekly

DIRECT MAIL + ONLINE AmesTrib.com/realestateweekly

REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Oct ober 7, 2020 • Page RE7

Page RE8 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Oct ober 7, 2020

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In print and online.

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