NOVEMBER 14, 2018 • Volume 13 • Issue 46
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
Realtors, do you want to reach a wider group of potential buyers? Advertise in the RE Weekly. In print and online. Call Ali Eernisse 515-663-6956
Page RE2 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 14, 2018
DEAR MONTY
Homebuyer finds foundation problem after closing issues. Our buyer-agent helped us obtain a concession for $2,000 at closing.
RICHARD MONTGOMERY
R
eader question: We bought a 100-plus year-old home. Tenants occupied it at the time of purchase. It is our first house. It has a stone wall foundation and wooden beams supported by screw jacks. An addition has a concrete block foundation. The home inspection called for repairs, notably some improved ventilation, better drainage, correct water penetration, and rotted siding around the base, but no mention of any foundation
We have discovered the water penetration has wholly rotted the sill plate and the ends of the floor joists. Some “remodeling,” from two owners back, about 10-15 years ago was shoddy and superficial. When we first saw the house, the walls were so uneven that I thought they were plaster and lathe. They were just very poorly done drywall. I can see the joint tape and old fasteners everywhere under the paint. Everything in this remodel appears to be built from scrap materials. The seller lived in the home earlier and did not disclose anything about this. The closest we got was a receipt for some foundation work that had been done on the house several years ago. None of the floors are level, and just about every room is a few inches above or below another. Our agent never suggested
that it might be indicative of broader structural issues. I have to disclose all these problems if I want to sell. My questions are: Do we have any recourse here? Can an earlier owner still be responsible? What about the inspector and appraiser? Monty’s answer: You must fund preparation for recourse. A structural engineer should be consulted to determine the severity of the foundation’s condition and to what extent repairs are necessary to remedy the problem. Then seek estimates from two or three foundation contractors or remodeling contractors. They may have multiple potential solutions and prices for completing the work. Once you have completed the detective work and had the engineer’s report and the repair estimates, gather all the purchase documents, your notes, the home
inspection, condition report and any other facts. Ask an attorney to review the information and meet with you to render an opinion as to whether or not you have a chance of recovery. The attorney can advise you if there is recourse, the likelihood of recovery and which parties are the most culpable. Only then can all your questions be answered. 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.
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 14, 2018 • Page RE3
Page RE4 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 14, 2018
TIPS OF THE WEEK OH DEER
OUTDOORS
ENTERTAINING
HOW TO DETER DEER
ENJOY ALL SEASONS
PLAN FOR GAME DAY
Few sights make homeowners more furious than an attractive landscape destroyed virtually overnight by hungry deer.
Creating an outdoor living space will give you an extra “room” to enjoy in all types of weather. Here are some ideas from www.realcedar.com:
Follow these tips from LG to make this year your best season yet.
The experts at Bobbex recommend a steady course of repellent spray application in every season as deer shift their feeding patterns. Repellent applications throughout the year will “school” them to continually bypass your yard for less objectionable fare elsewhere.
• Using real wood for your deck is the key to creating a natural, beautiful outdoor living space. • Add a fire pit, chimenea or fireplace. • Include an outdoor kitchen so you won’t be stuck inside preparing dinner while your family and friends chat on the deck. • Shelter lets you enjoy it in all types of weather.
• Set up designated seating for your friends based on team affiliation. You can also build a simple stage to create a stadium seating environment. • Plan a mini game to take place during halftime, or simply go outside and throw a football around for a while. — Brandpoint
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 14, 2018 • Page RE5
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
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Page RE6 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 14, 2018
How to
electricity
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in ways that really count
By Laura Firszt Networx
B
efore we look at how to save electricity, let’s talk about why. Most electric power comes from burning non-renewable fossil fuels, which give off greenhouse gases that pollute our planet. So scaling down electricity consumption reduces your carbon footprint. Another more tangible benefit is that using less electricity lowers your utility bill. It helps, though, to figure out how to save electricity without driving yourself (and your household) crazy, or freezing in the dark. Here are easy, effective ways to reduce your electrical power use. Insulate your ductwork. This is No. 1 on the list for all kinds of reasons — it’s simple, it’s cheap, it only needs to be done once, and it won’t hurt a bit ... really. How to save electricity by insulating your ductwork? Well, insulation will prevent your forced-air heating and air conditioning from leaking out of the ducts. You and your loved ones will be just as comfortable while using less HVAC, because you will be getting the full benefit of your heating and cooling system.
1.
Turn down the heat — comfortably. Heating your home (or air-conditioning, in summer) accounts for over half of your electricity consumption! So give serious thought to dialing back your HVAC a few degrees; it doesn’t have to leave you shivering. Triedand-true solutions like wearing several lightweight, cozy layers and keeping your head warm really help. Hire an electrician to install a programmable thermostat or smart home system and program your thermostat to lower the
2.
heating a little more during the hours you’ll be asleep. Ditch the electric blanket in favor of an energy-smart alternative: a hot water bottle, warm compress, or space blanket. (Your furry friends will be happier at cooler temps if you supply them with a self-warming pet bed. I just bought one for my Jack Russell, who heartily approves.) Make your kitchen an electricitysaving hot spot. Skip “heat dry” at the end of your dishwasher cycle; open the door to let dishes air dry instead. Opt for toaster oven or microwave meals, which consume less power. When you do turn on your full-sized oven, prepare multiple dishes (for instance, roast sweet potatoes while you bake a couple of cakes – one for tonight and one to freeze). Cover stovetop pots and turn off the burner a few minutes early. Set your refrigerator and freezer at their most energy-efficient temperatures (35-37 degrees F and minus .4 F, respectively); they work extra-efficiently when full, so if necessary, stock their shelves with a few plastic bottles of water. Even if you’re la-di-da enough to have a dining room, eat in the kitchen in winter to take advantage of the heat generated by your cooking.
3.
“Stalk” your family. Track your household electricity consumption with a DIY tool like Energy Star’s Home Advisor, and see where you can cut down quite comfortably – for example, installing power strips and using a “smart switch” app to turn off electronics or small appliances when not in use. Try motion-sensing light controls and thermostats so you folks won’t be wasting electricity when no one’s in the room. (Speaking of thermostats, placement is crucial for an accurate reading. Position your thermostat on an interior wall,
4.
in a room that you use often.) Get the whole family on board with incentives for successful energy savers like privileges or treats. Replace electricity hogs. Reduce and reuse are two favorite words among energy-conscious consumers ... and with good reason. But when it comes to outdated “energy hog” appliances, it’s worth replacing them (and recycling whenever possible, of course). This applies not just in the kitchen and laundry room — where most homeowners are aware that Energy Star certified appliances will save electricity — but also in the home office and all around the house. For example, replacing your old desktop computer with a laptop or mobile device or buying a new television in place of your old clunker is a great way to save electricity.
5.
Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 14, 2018 • Page RE7
Page RE8 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 14, 2018
day is about to get better business is about to get better
Maybe all your business needs is a strong cup o’marketing.
515-232-2160 | www.amestrib.thrivehive.com