NOVEMBER 21, 2018 • Volume 13 • Issue 47
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
Always Available Online SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 Volume 11 • Issue 37
RE WEEKLY
SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 Volume 11 • Issue 36
RE WEEKLY STORY
COUNTY
STORY
COUNTY
• AREA DEVELOPMENT • FARM • COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE 317 5th Street, Ames State of Iowa 515-233-3299 • ® licensed in the
RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE • FARM • COMMERCIAL 515-233-3299 • AREA DEVELOPMENT • 317
5th Street, Ames All REALTOR® ads within are REALTORS® licensed in the State of Iowa
® are REALTORS All REALTOR ads within
www.AmesTrib.com
ALWAYS ONLINE
un.com
www.StoryCountyS
www.AmesTrib.com
ALWAYS ONLINE
www.StoryCount
ySun.com
Ames at your finger My
Ames
tips!
EAT • SHOP • PLAY • EVENTS •LIVE DEALS
DOWNLOAD THE APP TODAY!
AmesTrib.com/realestateweekly
Online at www.AmesTrib.com/realestateweekly
Page RE2 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 21, 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
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 21, 2018 • Page RE3
Page RE4 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 21, 2018
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 21, 2018 • Page RE5
Fall is the time for planting By Betty Montgomery More Content Now
T
he weather is becoming cooler with less humidity, and it is a great time to be outdoors. Now is a perfect time to add a new tree, a grouping of shrubs or relocate plants that you have wanted to move. In the spring most of us get energized to plant because the nurseries are full of new plant material and we are like butterflies coming out of cocoons, ready to get outdoors. But we can’t forget the planting that can happen in the fall; we will reap the benefits in the spring. Trees and shrubs that are planted in the fall have time to get established and because the ground is still warm without the stress of summer heat, the plants adjust better. With lower temperatures this time of year, not as much water is needed for plants to do well. The soil is still quite warm, so the roots send out small feeder roots that help the plant get establish. These new feeder roots, having time to get established before the hot summer, will put less stress on the plants. I start planting in late October, November and December. I try to be done with planting before the really cold days of winter are here. Now before you get started, make sure you have the right plant for the location you have chosen. Do you get morning sun, afternoon sun or all day sun? For most trees, full sun or half day sun is good, but you will need to pay close attention to shrubs and their needs. And, I hate to tell you, but many plants are grown in Oregon or Washington, and the tag might say full sun, but if you live in the sunny South you might need some afternoon shade to give the plant some rest. I grow a lot of hydrangeas. Some varieties of hydrangeas take full sun and some need shade. Macrophylla
hydrangeas, the blue and pink kind, do not do well getting afternoon sun where I live. We are just too hot. Look around your neighborhood and talk to the experts at your garden centers to see what is recommended in your area for certain plants. Your county extension office, which is an extension of an agricultural department of a university, can be a good source of information, too. The soil you plant in is very important. Do you have sand, clay or good black dirt? I stopped by my son’s house today when some planting was being done in their front yard. I took the shovel and dug a little to show my son how horrible the soil was in the location where plants were about to be planted. The soil in this location needed to be amended with some organic material; leaves, compost, or rotten sawdust, something to make the soil workable. You cannot plant shrubs in 100 percent red clay (what bricks are made of) and expect plants to live. Roots need oxygen to stay healthy and to do their job of gathering water and nutrients for the plant. Sandy soil is another matter. I grew up in the Sandhills of North Carolina, and when people wanted a really pretty garden, they added clay. Water runs right through sand and they have the opposite problem, they need clay, peat moss or organic matter to hold some moisture in. Another mistake is planting plants too deep. Some experts argue that you should not amend the soil because too often people work the soil below a plant. When the soil settles, the plant sinks and becomes too low. This can be a big problem. Plants will live four or five years and then die. The answer to this is one of two things; do not work the soil deeper than you are going to plant, or plant the plant high, knowing it will settle and will be ground level in a few years. Think about when someone is buried in a cemetery, they mound the dirt up and over time,
the dirt settles and is ground level. Be sure to water your plant well when you plant. If you think you have given it enough water, then water it a little more to make sure it has enough. This will help get out any air pockets around the roots and help the plant settle in. Water is vitally important when planting; so
if a dry fall is present, do not forget to water once a week. Betty Montgomery is a master gardener and author of “Hydrangeas: How To Grow, Cultivate & Enjoy,” and “A FourSeason Southern Garden.” She can be reached at bmontgomery40@gmail.com.
Page RE6 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 21, 2018
TIPS OF THE WEEK DECOR
DOOR HARDWARE
PEST CONTROL
ACCENT ON LUXURY
CHOOSING A LOCK
PEST-FREE CHIMNEY
Accessories bring a sense of purpose into a space and can transform a room into an elevated experience.
Before shopping for a new door lock, consider the following:
According to Terminix, installing a chimney cap can help keep birds, raccoons and other large pests out. With pests like rats and mice, focus on sealing smaller entry points, as a rat can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter. It can be difficult to spot these access points from the ground, so have a professional inspect your roof and chimney for possible holes.
Brizo recommends choosing accessories featuring a variance of shapes, sizes, colors and textures for visual and spatial equilibrium. Find the perfect blend of tones and textures by sourcing contrasting but complementary accessories. Contrast an industrial coffee table with an acacia wooden bowl, or a sleek, modern shelf with coarsely textured relics.
• How much security do you need? • Will the door be used frequently? • Will the protective aesthetic finish be exposed to the elements? It is also important to check the lock’s rating. Once a lock or deadbolt is tested to ANSI/ BHMA standards for security, durability and finish, it is given a rating of Good (C), Better (B) or Best (A) in each area based on its performance during testing.
— Brandpoint
DEAR MONTY
Is selling a home to rent a home a good idea? reason) and wants to rent an apartment, townhouse, etc., is there any disadvantage to this option?
RICHARD MONTGOMERY
R
eader question: I just turned 60 and own my twobedroom, two-bathroom, two-car garage condo outright, and it’s worth about $140,000. Condos in my area sell fast. Many people think it’s a waste of money to rent when you can build equity in your house, especially if it’s paid for. I guess it depends on what you value. If a person just doesn’t want to be a homeowner any more (for any
Monty’s answer: Homeownership is a solid symbol of our free enterprise system and can be one of our most significant financial opportunities. Homeownership is viewed as offering some income tax advantages and as a sign of stability and commitment. There is also prestige in homeownership because one must have demonstrated the ability to save money, have good credit and continued employment. Is it for everyone? Even with all of the positive images and impressions of a home, the fact is, homeownership is not for everyone. Besides all of the emotional considerations, there are many
aspects of responsibility to evaluate.
family security and psychological.
Current homeowners circumstances change. Growing older, retiring from the workforce, changes in family units or health and many more situations will cause us to seek alternatives.
• The constraints of homeownership are: Commitment, potential for economic loss, maintenance, repairs and improvements and extra time to manage.
These changes require careful evaluation. Here are the main advantages and disadvantages of home ownership. Consider each point, and perhaps even modify this list. Real estate consumers have their views of the pros and cons based on factors in their unique situations. • The benefits of homeownership are: Community standing, potential for financial gain, tax incentives,
When considering these points, ask yourself this question: Are the prices you paid in sacrifice and hard work worth the benefits and sense of accomplishment that your home offers? Richard Montgomery is the author of “House Money - An Insider’s Secrets to Saving Thousands When You Buy or Sell a Home.” Find him at DearMonty.com.
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 21, 2018 • Page RE7
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
RE WEEKLY
Page RE8 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, November 21, 2018