DECEMBER 27, 2017 • Volume 12 • Issue 52
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
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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
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TIPS OF THE WEEK COMFORT
NEW APPLIANCES
DRAFTY HOME
HOW TO TURN YOUR HOME INTO A RETREAT
HOME TECH SPEEDS CLEANING
GET READY FOR WINTER
Smart home technology can help you
Include the five senses. Light a candle, then snuggle into a plush robe and slippers. Release blocked energy. Try a simple yoga move called the seated cat/cow position. Hone your breathing technique. Sit quietly for a few moments, taking full-body, deep breaths. — Brandpoint
get the most out of your appliances. By
The best way to stay warm when it’s cold outside is to ensure your home and its building envelope — the thermal barrier between the interior of a home and the exterior environment — is properly sealed.
using your smartphone you can easily start your oven’s cleaning cycle. You can also use an app to start your robotic vacuum while at work for a quick refresh or when you forget the in-laws are coming over for dinner. — LG/Brandpoint
To maintain a well-sealed building envelope check for air leaks around windows, doors, pipes, vents and cracks/gaps where walls meet ceilings and floors. — Brandpoint
DEAR MONTY
Common real estate scams expanded the opportunities to cheat in a variety of ways.
RICHARD MONTGOMERY
R
eader question:What would be your advice concerning the different real estate scams going on? Monty’s answer: Scams have always existed. While the vast majority of scams involve financial loss, one cannot ignore the possibility of bodily harm. While many of the cons are old, advances in technology have
We are safer today than ever before Most researchers today believe we are safer than in the past. Every year in real estate there are countless human interactions with real estate sales transactions, rentals, vacation rentals, home sitting assignments, vacant land purchases, timeshares, and more. According to the FBI website, the bulk of the scams in real estate are the white collar variety. “These crimes are characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust and are not dependent on the application or threat of physical force or violence.”
Real estate is a target for scammers because large sums of money are involved and when homes come on the market for sale or rent the likelihood of a transfer of funds increases, and therefore opportunity. If the perpetrators find a way to create the transactions, the commission of fraud becomes more likely still. Some tips to avoid becoming a victim • Check a driver’s license photo ID when working with a new person or company. • Do not extend payment to anyone you have not met in person. • Don’t accept cashier/certified checks or money orders. • Always seek three opinions of
value of your property. • A financial institution will never ask for financial information over the phone. • Do not rent or purchase sightunseen — that unbelievable “deal” may be vapor. • An inability or refusal to meet face-to-face to complete the transaction is a red flag. • Check the online county records of a property’s ownership to verify identity. Richard Montgomery gives no nonsense real estate advice to readers most pressing questions. He is a real estate industry veteran who has championed industry reform for over a quarter century. Send him questions at DearMonty. com.
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The sound of
silence Tips for designing a quiet home office
By Brandpoint
I
n today’s increasingly digital world, it’s no surprise that more employees are opting to work from home. While there may be a shift of physical locations — from the office building to the home — productivity is still paramount, making the need for quiet home workspaces more important than ever. “As urbanization continues, builders and developers are focused on optimizing available land, which results in more homes, apartments and condos built near highways and airports,” says Mark Montgomery, vice president of marketing for window manufacturer Ply Gem Windows. “The convergence of telecommuting and higher noise levels means there’s a growing need to enhance homeowner comfort with noise reduction technology.” If your workspace needs a sound makeover, consider the following tips.
Think from the outside in Everyday sounds like traffic, trains, leaf blowers, music, barking dogs or car alarms may go unnoticed on the weekends, but can easily interrupt conference calls and concentration during the busy workweek. To cut down on outside noise, look
for windows with Sound Transmission Class rating. A typical single hung window unit without sound control glass has an average STC rating of 27. Sound control glass packages have ratings of up to STC 35. This reduces outside noise by approximately 40 percent when compared to single hung window units with no protection. “STC glass packages may not be necessary for every window in the home, but should be considered for the rooms where the reduction of unwanted noise is most important like the home office and bedrooms,” advises Montgomery. As an added bonus, according to the Department of Energy, new windows will boost curb appeal, reduce maintenance and can significantly improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Insulate the interior ... and the exterior If your home office space shares a paper-thin wall with, for instance, a loud family room television, adding batt wall insulation for new homes, or blown-in insulation for existing homes, will help blanket sounds and temper vibrations. For homes that face busy roadways, insulated vinyl siding is another solution. Look for options made with a premium, recycled-content vinyl siding panel permanently
$28,000 The average cost nationally for a home office remodel of a 12-by-12 room (includes adding cabinetry, carpeting and data communication upgrades) Source: Remodeling Magazine Reduce outside noise in a home office by installing windows with a Sound Transmission Class rating, and wall insulation that will help blanket sounds and vibrations. [Robert Peterson/ Rustic White Photography]
bonded with polystyrene foam insulation. This wraps the home with continuous insulation to cover the entire exterior envelope — including wall studs where air and sound can penetrate. Another quick fix for insulating the home office is to install a solid core wood or molded interior door. Many standard interior doors are hollow, which means that sounds pass through more easily. Solid core
doors, which are thicker than hollow doors, act as a noise blocker. Once installed, make sure to surround the door with weather-stripping to fill any holes or gaps. By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating a quiet home office retreat and defending your workspace from unwanted interruptions.
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