OCTOBER 9, 2019 • Volume 14 • Issue 41
RE WEEKLY RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE • FARM • COMMERCIAL • AREA DEVELOPMENT
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• AREA DEVELOPMENT • FARM • COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE 317 5th Street, Ames State of Iowa 515-233-3299 • ® licensed in the
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Page RE2 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, October 9, 2019
DEAR MONTY
Neighbor’s waterfall is destroying our fence
RICHARD MONTGOMERY
R
eader question: We bought a home
a year ago built in the ‘80s. A problem has surfaced with the back block fence. The neighbors have a water feature and waterfall that abuts their side of the wall. The structure is leaking water and creating problems on our property. The soil on our side of the wall is continually mushy, and the wall is slowly disintegrating. We can see through some of the mortar joints in the blocks. What can we do?
Monty’s answer: When you purchased your home, did you notice the seepage when you inspected the property? Is the leak new, or has it recently intensified? Were you furnished with a seller condition report? There may be another party or two that share some responsibility. If you discover a real estate agent was derelict, or the seller was aware of the leak, it could help defray the repair costs. The circumstances play a critical role in applying the law and reason to rectify this situation.
Seek to understand —then be understood Once you establish the ownership, most neighbors will be engaging, reasonable and anxious to repair the leak in the wall. You want to ascertain if your neighbors know about the leak. Have you met the owners? Consider approaching them and explaining what you are experiencing on your side of the fence. It
will not be a shock if they are not aware of it. The fountain could appear normal on their side. Ask them if their water bill is higher than usual. They may have wet soil on their side as well. Do either of you have a survey that can be used to find the survey stakes? The exact location of the wall is essential. Does it straddle the lot line or rest totally on one side or the other. Determining who owns the fence is the first step in seeking resolution because if the entire wall is on their property, it is their responsibility. If neither of you has a survey, consider asking a registered land surveyor to identify the corner stakes. Simultaneously, ask three unrelated contractors for a bid to identify the source of the leak, the best solution and the cost to repair the leak and the wall. If you want to farm the entire job out to one company, a landscape company will
find the appropriate tradespeople. This article at http://bit.ly/2LCy4i6 offers more help.
An uncooperative neighbor In the unlikely chance the neighbor snubs you and is uncooperative, obtain the survey and review your purchase documents. When you know the location of the wall, the decision will be easy if the wall does not sit on both parcels. If it does, gather the estimates and go back to the neighbors. If they remain uncooperative, consult with an attorney to consider your choices. Richard Montgomery is the author of “House Money - An Insider’s Secrets to Saving Thousands When You Buy or Sell a Home.” He is a real estate industry veteran who advocates industry reform and offers readers unbiased real estate advice. Find him at DearMonty.com.
TIPS OF THE WEEK REAL ESTATE
COUNTERTOPS
GARDENING
TIPS FOR A SMART FLIP
SAVE MONEY BY PAINTING
PLANTING BULBS IN THE FALL
House flipping can overwhelm even the most confident investors. According to Matt Woodley, founder of MoverFocus, investors should not spend more than 70% of the anticipated value of the property. This includes the cost of purchasing the property and making repairs. This rule provides a safety net for investors in case real estate value does not rise.
Painting a laminate countertop is a low-cost option for those wanting to update their kitchen. According to HGTV, first sand down the surface, wipe away the dust and dry it. The countertop can then be painted with primer and paint roller, followed by one to two coats of paint. Seal the surface with polyurethane after the paint has dried. When the polyurethane is dry, sand the countertop with a moist sanding sponge until the countertop is smooth. Then reapply and sand the polyurethane two more times.
As fall descends, gardeners can get a jump on spring by planting colorful bulbs for the coming year. According to Diana Stoll, garden writer for the Daily Herald, gardeners should plant bulbs two to three times as deep as they are tall. Bulbs require dry conditions during their dormant phase and should not be planted in low spots or adjacent to perennials, which require constant moisture.
Woodley also says a flipper should invest in the most vital aspects first, like the foundation and roof.
— More Content Now
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, Oct ober 9, 2019 • Page RE3
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Page RE4 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Steps for an indoor
herb garden
Popular herbs for indoor gardening • Basi Basil: Genovese is the most popular variety. I like it to make pesto and top vari pizza and pasta off with the pesto. pi Spicy globe, Thai and lemon are S other choices, and opal basil is one I o use u to make herbal vinegar, giving it a pale lavender tint. • Chervil: A curly leafed herb, it pairs C nicely with egg dishes and as a delicate garnish to a plate. garnishto • Chives: Potato dishes, soups and stews are enhanced with its oniony flavor. • Dill: Its feathery foliage is flavorful on fish and potato salads. Mint: Spearmint and peppermint are • Mi familiar to most; however, orange and fam pineapple are pleasant mints, espepi cially for winter teas. ci Oregano: A zesty, pungent herb for •O Italian and Mexican dishes. flavoring av Parsley: A culinary staple, the curly • Pa leafed plant is the most flavorful. Rosemary: Pine-scented rosemary • Rosem complements chicken, oven-roasted comp potatoes and pork. pot
By Carole McCray More Content Now
G
ardening indoors with herbs is a way to keep summer’s fresh flavors in your favorite dishes. Enjoy adding a snippet of fresh basil for a hearty tomato sauce or a few cuttings of thyme or sage to flavor the Thanksgiving stuffing, all possible with an indoor herb garden. For cold climates, bring herb plants in before a hard frost. If your plants look a bit forlorn, garden centers and nurseries, a farmer’s market or roadside stands are places to find fresh plants. A sunny kitchen windowsill or a room near the kitchen are ideal locations for an indoor herb garden. Your plants should receive at least six hours of full sun. If the herbs have been in the ground, you might want to put them in small pots or, if the plants were in pots in the garden, you can use the pots. Either way, a check for
pests is a good precaution. Look for aphids, white flies, spider mites and scale insects. Carefully wash the leaves of the plants with warm, soapy water so the soil does not fall out of the pot. With your hand or plastic wrap, hold back the soil. The larger the container holding the herbs, the better, because you can grow more herbs and the soil will not dry out as quickly. When planting, soak the container in water first if it is an unglazed terra cotta pot or other porous container, so moisture is not pulled from the soil. Good drainage is important. Grow lights will help the plant receive adequate light if the room is not bright enough. If using artificial light, keep the pots close together, not further than 8 inches away from the grow lights. Most herbs prefer a south- or west-facing window. Overwatering is worse than underwatering. Keep herbs moist, and feed with good liquid plant food.
Sage: An earthy-flavored herb, sage •S is popular for adding to stuffings and goes well with pork, poultry and an cheese. che Thyme: Lemon thyme is a favorite • Thym mine. I place it on top of and under aroma of m salmon, then bake or broil it.
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, October 9, 2019 • Page RE5
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Page RE8 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, October 9, 2019