The Oklahoman Real Estate by OPUBCO Communications Group

LISTING OF THE WEEK

HOUSE PLAN

20-acre site

The Fairbanks

The Listing of the Week is a large, traditional two-story home on 20 acres with a pool and horse barn in the Deer Creek area.

The traditional large home is designed to provide plenty of living space for spreading out.

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REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES

Architect brings ‘modern stuff’ to Miller in May Tour

BABY BOOMERS ON MOVE

BY TIM FALL

PAGE 3E

For The Oklahoman trfall@gmail.com

In 2010, Brent Forget discovered the Miller neighborhood when he bought a home on NW 15 that was “full of original charm,” he said. To that canvas of original charm, Forget (pronounced “for-ZHAY”) has applied strokes of whimsy, surprise and sophistication. He’s also applied clipboards. Lots of clipboards. Along with three other homes and one garden, Forget’s home is a featured stop on this year’s Miller in May Home Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Forget is an architect and team member at Elliot + Associates in Oklahoma City. “I like modern stuff,” Forget said while showing the eclectic-yet-inviting decor and artwork he has integrated into the 1928 Tudor-revival cottage he bought “in great shape” three years ago. Forget described his sunken living room as “map-themed,” with a print of Jasper Johns’ 1961 “Map” on the mantel as a background for other framed maps, cities where Forget has lived, from Washington, D.C., to Edinburgh, Scotland. Forget’s own artwork can be seen in the living room and throughout the home, beginning with two large-format pegboardand-dowel pieces representing topographical maps. The dining table — a clean, maple plywood surface on Ikea supports — was created by Forget, as was a folded-paper triptych mounted on a dining room wall. A chartreuse hallway connects the home’s three bedrooms — one repurposed as a home office —

Given the size of the baby boom population, real estate agents are gearing up to meet the housing needs of both downsizers and upsizers.

IN BRIEF

DO YOUR OWN FURNITURE MAKEOVERS

Brent Forget’s house at 2732 NW 15 is one of four homes and one garden on the Miller in May Home Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. PHOTOS BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

SCAN IT To see a related video, scan the QR code below or go to NewsOK.com

and the bathroom, where original black and white tile still gleam in a basketweave pattern. It’s in this hallway that Forget has hung 102 (yes, he counted) small clipboards, which serve as mounts for photos, clippings and mementos. The master and guest SEE TOUR, PAGE 2E

CUSTOM CABINET ART Brent Forget shows his living room at 2732 NW 15 in the Miller neighborhood, one of several homes on the Miller in May Home Tour.

Short sales can leave sellers short WASHINGTON — Are large numbers of homeowners who have negotiated short sales with lenders at risk because of a startling omission in the American credit system? Do their credit reports and scores indicate that they were foreclosed upon, rather than having negotiated a mutually agreeable resolution with their lender? The answer appears to be yes, and last week two federal agencies — the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — were asked to investigate why. The reality is this: The credit reporting system now in place does not have a separate code that distinguishes a short sale from a foreclosure. Yet there are crucial differences between the two: I In a short sale, the bank approves the sale of the house to a new buyer at a mutually acceptable price. Any unpaid remaining loan balance not covered by the sale proceeds may then be either partially or fully forgiven. The bank is an active participant throughout the process, negotiating for a higher price and higher

Repainted and repurposed furniture is all the rage, but just slapping on a coat of paint doesn’t always yield high-quality results. Furniture redesigner Barb Blair shares her methods for doing the job right in “Furniture Makeovers: Simple Techniques for Transforming Furniture.” Blair, owner of Knack Studios (http://knackstudios. com), gives readers all the basics they need to take on their own projects, right down to suggesting her favorite brands of paintbrushes and furniture wax. “Furniture Makeovers” is published by Chronicle Books and sells for $24.95 in hardcover.

Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING

repayment of principal from the original borrower. I In a foreclosure, the bank is essentially left holding the bag. The owners walk away at some point or live in the property rentfree until they’re evicted. Frequently there is damage to the house left by the departing owners, sometimes extensive. There is little or no cooperation between them and the bank. Both transactions are serious, negative credit events for the borrower. After all, the mortgage wasn’t fully repaid. But the financial losses generated by a foreclosure typically are more severe for the lender than a short sale. Not only are there extended periods of nonpayment by the borrower but there are also substantial property

management expenses, renovation costs, local property taxes and insurance while the house is being readied for resale. In some parts of the country, the average time to complete a foreclosure has exceeded two years. The nation’s major sources of mortgage financing — Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration — all recognize the differences between short sales and foreclosures in their underwriting policies regarding new mortgages. Fannie Mae generally won’t approve a new mortgage application by borrowers with a foreclosure on their credit report for up to seven years, but will consider lending to people who were involved in short sales — and who otherwise qualify in terms of recent credit behavior and available down payment — in as little as two years. But if short sales routinely show up in credit reports coded as foreclosures, borrowers who might be capable to qualify for a new mortgage two or three years after a short sale find themselves shut out of the market.

Following a Capitol Hill hearing May 7 on credit reporting issues, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., sent requests to the FTC and the CFPB to investigate what he called the “disturbing practice” of misidentifying short sales, and to “penalize responsible parties in the mortgage- and credit-reporting industries, if they don’t fix this coding problem within 90 days.” Nelson said real estate industry data indicate that there have been 2.2 million short sales nationwide during the past several years. Consumers who opted for a shortsale route rather than a more costly foreclosure are now being blocked from “re-entry into the housing market,” he said, thereby “stifling economic recovery for all homeowners.” Officials of the main trade group for the credit reporting industry, the Consumer Data Industry Association, were not available for comment on Nelson’s shortsales complaint to the federal agencies. Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

Picture your pet’s photo on a kitchen cabinet door or your child’s artwork on your bathroom vanity. It’s possible with a new line of cupboards called Facets from Custom Cupboards Inc. The company can digitally print cabinet doors and drawer fronts with graphic patterns, artwork, photography or text. The designs can also be printed onto paneling or pieces of solid wood. The Facets line is available in maple, cherry and alder. In an average, 10-by-10-foot, L-shaped kitchen with Facets designs on three of 13 cabinets, the designs would add about 10 to 15 percent to the total price of the cabinets, or about $1,500 to $2,200, the company said. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

INDEX Barry Stone 6E Permits 9E, 10E

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Left: Mike Brittain and Francine Dix’s home at 2700 NW 14 will be the hospitality stop on the Miller in May Home Tour. PHOTO BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

Tour: Miller homes open Saturday FROM PAGE 1E

bedrooms are cozy yet bright and airy, featuring photos by Forget and other art pieces the homeowner created by placing tools on photo-reactive paper. The office opens onto a spacious backyard that is home to a renovated pond, a garden and several outdoor spaces for socializing, dining or relaxing. Mike Stuart, longtime promoter of the Miller neighborhood and Miller in May, said that Forget is exemplary of other Miller homeowners. “We have many active volunteers like Brent” who have discovered Miller, he said, adding that “it truly takes a village” to execute the annual event. Ron Gottschalk, a more recent Miller neighborhood transplant, is another one of those volunteers. Gottschalk, a director for human resources with Williams and Associates Hospitality, moved into his home on NW 16 last fall after living in a downtown Oklahoma City apartment. “I discovered the neighborhood driving through Miller in May last spring,” said the Ponca City native, whose career moved him to numerous cities around the country before he returned to Oklahoma in January 2012. Gottschalk’s home, at 1,245 square feet, has two bedrooms and two bathrooms — after the previous owner’s remodel. The decor and color scheme, along with an updated kitchen and inviting outdoor dining area, sold Gottschalk. “The first time I saw it, I knew I could just move

BUSINESS BUSINESS NEWS P.O. BOX 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125 Fax: (405) 475-3996 NewsOK.com HomesOK.com

DON MECOY Business Editor (405) 475-3942, dmecoy@opubco.com

RICHARD MIZE Real Estate Editor (405) 475-3518, richardmize@opubco.com

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Find real estate news on the Internet at HomesOK.com

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JERRY WAGNER

This home at 2626 NW 12, owned by Douglas and Allison Archambo, is on the Miller neighborhood tour. PHOTO BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

Jeff James’ home at 2720 NW 13 is on the Miller in May Home Tour. PHOTO BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

right in,” he said. Also on the tour are the home of Douglas and Allison Archambo, a 1,926 two-bedroom featuring both updates and historical details at 2626 NW 12; and the home of Jeff James, a Colonial Revivalinfluenced cottage also

Ron Gottschalk shows the living area of his home at 2700 NW 16. PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

built in 1926, with original oak woodwork and kitchen countertops fashioned from the floors of a bowling alley. One garden, adjacent to the home of Murray and Gaylene King at 2601 NW 13, is open to tour guests.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at 23rd Street Antique Mall, 3023 NW 23; Antique Avenue Market, 5219 N Western Ave.; Garden Gate Antiques, 1307 N May Ave.; or at any of the homes.

Brent Forget has hung 102 small clipboards, which serve as mounts for photos, clippings and mementos, in a hall at his home 2732 NW 15.

Ron Gottschalk’s house at 2700 NW 16 is on the Miller in May Home Tour.

PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

Assistant Classiﬁed Advertising Manager (405) 475-3475, jwagner@opubco.com

FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Contact Jerry Wagner

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

Some boomers trading up for ‘last hurrah’ She’s a high school teacher; he’s a petroleum engineer. Both are in their late 50s — near the front end of the baby boom generation. Their four kids are all married and out of the house. But at a time when many boomers are downsizing, this couple is moving to a much larger, more luxurious property. “They’re buying that ‘last hurrah’ house — a place with more breathing room and a better view. They also want vaulted ceilings, a gourmet kitchen, a master-bedroom suite on the first floor and a three-car garage,” said Linda Steis, their real estate broker. Steis, who specializes in helping senior buyers, allows that only a minority of boomers — people born between 1946 and 1964 — are upsizing. But she said an increasing number in this generation who can afford to live larger are now opting to do so. “They want a house with all the features they’ve dreamed about for years. They’re looking at the unbelievably low mortgage rates available now and saying ‘let’s finally go for it,’ ” Steis said. Despite rising property prices, Steis said her clients — the teacher and engineer — found they could afford more house than expected. With a relatively small increase in monthly payments, they’re planning to move from a 3,000-square-foot house with four bedrooms to a 5,000square-foot place with seven

bedrooms. “They’re very family oriented. And although they don’t yet have grandchildren, they’ll have plenty of space for the kids when they do,” Steis said. Debra Attman, an agent affiliated with the Council of Residential Specialists (www.crs. com), said some baby boomers wish to fulfill a “trophy house” fantasy. She said that many people who wouldn’t consider buying a big property during the depths of the latest recession are now going forward as the economy improves. Attman estimated that more than 35 percent of upper-end homes — those in the top 20 percent of the price range — are now purchased by boomers with no kids at home. Though many boomers are still struggling to amass enough money to cover their basic needs in retirement, others are comfortable financially — due to savings, inherited money or both. Given the size of the baby boom population, real estate agents are gearing up to meet the housing needs of both downsizers and upsizers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Americans over age 65 is expected to more than double in the coming decades. Are you a boomer seeking a larger home? If so, these pointers could prove helpful: I Look for sellers who are

Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES

highly motivated. As with those selling property at any price point, the sellers of high-end homes vary in their level of motivation. Some are much more driven than others. Some homeowners — called “discretionary sellers” — feel no urgency. They will hold out indefinitely until they get the price they want. In contrast, motivated sellers have serious reasons for wanting or needing to move. Some are facing a financial setback or serious illness. Others are under contract to buy another home and can’t afford to carry two mortgages. Yet another reason for strong seller motivation involves a divorce in which a property must be liquidated to meet a court requirement. As a buyer, why should you care if the sellers of a property you like are motivated? Because those under pressure are much more likely to bargain in earnest. It’s often quite easy to determine sellers’ level of motivation, particularly if they’re facing money problems. “Sometimes there are flags to

show that the owners can no longer afford to keep the house up. Maybe the floors are in poor condition, the kitchen cabinets are worn or some appliances aren’t working,” Attman said. She recommends that buyers not waste time trying to negotiate with unmotivated sellers. You’re much more likely to get a good deal from those who must move on. I Don’t rule out listings that have gone “stale.” Some motivated sellers are nonetheless unrealistic about the market value of their property. This causes them to hang on to their inflated list price for a lengthy period, discounting it only after they’ve become desperate. Sellers usually get a wake-up call that their price is too high only after a lengthy period with no showings or bids, indicating that their property has developed a stigma. Buyers who are the first to bid after a major price reduction occurs can sometimes snag an exceptional deal, she said. I Try to make your offer as condition-free an offer as possible. Are you seeking to buy in an upper-end neighborhood where the demand for available homes exceeds the supply? If so, Attman recommended you try to make your offer as free of contingencies as possible. Though you shouldn’t waive

your right to a professional home inspection, you could remove any clause that makes the purchase conditional on your sale of another property. Even stronger as a negotiating tool is a “cash contract” that doesn’t require you to get mortgage approval. Older buyers, especially those who have amassed substantial savings or have inherited money, can sometimes buy a move-up property with cash. Attman said this is a powerful bargaining chip. “Sellers love cash offers, because they’re usually quick to close and there’s no fear an appraisal will come in low,” she said. I Keep your eye on your ultimate goal. Though most boomer buyers are empty nesters, Attman insisted it’s not irrational for them to buy a big property that will likely prove their last major real estate purchase. Perhaps they still want to fulfill their urge for a gourmet kitchen or a three-car garage to store classic cars, for example. “They’re saying if not now, when will I buy my dream home? My response is, ‘If you can really afford it and really want a big house, why not go for it?’ The big advantage of being older is that you finally know what you truly want,” Attman said. To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com. UNIVERSAL UCLICK

City chicks: Backyard poultry making a comeback BY KARISHMA MEHROTRA Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATLANTA — A sign on the fence in Anne-Marie Anderson’s home in Decatur, Ga., reads: “Beware of Chickens.” Walk in the yard and Anderson’s 18 birds roam freely, digging among the fallen leaves. They squawk and flap their wings to cross a stream. Glenda, one of the bigger chickens, waddles straight through the water. “Here, here chickchicks,” Anderson clucks Chickens peck for dinner at the home of Anne-Marie Anderson in Decatur, Ga. in a British accent, doling MCT PHOTO out food. “It’s very nice to hang realization (that) you have start out with two chickout with a cup of coffee got to maintain the proper ens and end up with a big In Atlanta, and watch the chickens numbers.” flock, he said. running around clucking. The problem sits with “People who are getting more than They exude general conthose few owners who little chicks for their kids 2,000 tentment,” she said. “backyard Anderson and her family poultry buffs” are among the growing number of city dwellers have joined nationwide who keep the city’s chickens in their backBackyard yards. In Atlanta, more Poultry than 2,000 “backyard Meetup, a poultry buffs” have joined the city’s Backyard Poultry group that Meetup, a group that plans plans monthly monthly meetings for conmeetings for versations with “eggconversations sperts.” Whether it is for their with children’s enjoyment or “eggsperts.” for a healthier food source, more and more urbanites have decided to color their backyards with the wild tainable homesteads,” calls feathers of their winged homegrown chicken eggs pets, causing many cities “real food.” to rework their ordinances. “It’s just more vibrant “It’s coming up at pretty and I would say dense with much every town and city flavor and very genuine,” across America,” said Pa- he said. “You can taste that tricia Foreman, author of immediacy in it, the inthe book “City Chicks.” timacy. You can taste your “What is becoming evi- own blood and sweat in dent is that they do add a there a little bit. And it lot to the urban land- tastes better.” scape.” Walter Reeves, the “GePeople have discovered orgia Gardener” and one of the chicken’s role as a the most respected rebackyard employee, Fore- gional garden gurus, beman said. lieves that rural living re“A lot of people are mains in Atlanta’s blood. turning to their backyards Chickens are related to and saying, ‘You know, we that “psychological phearen’t lacking land to grow nomenon.” food in,’ ” she said. “We are “In the South, we are lacking a different paradi- not that far removed from gm. We need a new vision a rural agrarian side,” of how to produce our Reeves said. “A lot of peofood.” ple in Atlanta remember Chickens are biomass the comfort of being on the recyclers, insect controll- farm.” ers, food suppliers, fertilNot all agree. Ordinancizer producers and, Fore- es across metro Atlanta man added, blood pressure limit the number of chickens one can own. Some reducers. “First you get chickens. counties, such as GwinThen, you fall in love. And nett, Ga., require a minithen, you learn how to em- mum of 3 acres for chicken ploy them,” Foreman said. owners. “They truly are pets with “People realize two or benefits.” three chickens are good to Joey Zeigler, founder of have. I can’t have 40,” said Zeiglar Homestead Ser- Bradford Townsend, planvices, a company that ning and zoning director helps transform backyards for the city of Roswell, Ga. into “productive and sus- “I think there has been a

to raise really have no clue what they are getting into,” he said. Back in Decatur, Anderson thinks it is outrageous that the city would try to prevent people from living more sustainably. To better glorify the backyard chicken movement, she backs events like the “Urban Coop Tour” and

“Chicks in the City.” Though she tries not to be the “mad chicken lady,” it is quite obvious: She loves her chickens and she is in good company. Check with your city or county planning and zoning office for restrictions on keeping backyard chickens. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Symphony Show House wraps up Sunday FROM STAFF REPORTS

The 40th Symphony Show House continues from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday featuring the work of 34 interior and landscape designers in almost 70 separate rooms and space in “The Trio in The Abbey,” three new homes for sale in “The Abbey,” a subdivision of the Fairview Farms neighborhood at NW 150 and Western Avenue. The three homes present different styles of architecture and design: a 2,646-square-foot Italianate style with Mediterranean features and luxury trimmings, 15820 Chapel Ridge Lane; a 4,208square-foot traditional home with four bedrooms, a theater room and a master suite with a sitting area and spa bathroom, 1401 NW 158; and a 4,590square-foot contemporary style with a full basement with walk-in wine room and outdoor living area with gas fireplace, 1501NW 158. The Symphony Show House is a fundraising project of the Oklahoma City Orchestra League that benefits music education

The kitchen in the traditional home at 1401 NW 158 has a traditional island/eating area.

A large mural decorates a bathroom in the Italianate home at 15820 Chapel Ridge Lane. PHOTOS BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN

and the Oklahoma City each. Go to www. Philharmonic. Tickets are SymphonyShowHouse available online for $15 .com for details.

Explaining do’s and don’ts of dryer vents There are a lot of misconceptions about dryer venting. Time to clear up some of them. I Misconception No. 1: It’s OK to vent the dryer directly into the house, so that the air can be used as either a source of humidity or a source of heat. Definitely NOT! As the clothes dry, moisture is being removed and vented out of the dryer, which is why it’s so important that clothes dryers be vented all the way to the outside of the house. If not, you’ll be pumping a tremendous amount of warm, moist air directly into your home, which is a perfect recipe for creating mold growth, as well as potentially doing a lot of structural damage. That air also carries with it a lot of fine lint particles. That’s not something you want to be breathing, and in high-enough concentrations the lint is highly flammable. I Misconception No. 2: For dryers that are located in a place where venting to the outside is difficult, it’s OK to simply vent the dryer into a container of water. Nope. When a dryer is in operation, it’s removing moisture and lint and venting it to the outside. The only reason that people vent dryers into water is to contain the lint so it doesn’t fly around. But that does nothing to solve the problem of getting the moisture out of the house; in fact, pushing moist air into a bucket of water simply makes the problem worse. I Misconception No. 3: Putting an exhaust fan into the dryer vent pipe will boost the dryer’s performance, especially over long distances. When the duct has a long way to go from the dryer to the exterior wall, a booster fan is actually a good idea. It can help improve the flow of the air so that it doesn’t get bogged down and deposit wet lint in the ducts, which can clog the inside of the pipe. However, you need to use a booster fan that’s specifically designed for dryer ducts; moisture and lint will quickly ruin a conventional exhaust fan. I Misconception No. 4: If it’s really difficult to find a way to vent the dryer to the outside, an acceptable alternative is to vent it directly into the crawl space. DO NOT vent a dryer directly into a crawl space

Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME

or basement. You’ll be pumping a lot of warm, moist air under the house that can cause both mold and structural issues, and you’ll also be letting all the lint accumulate, which is a definite fire hazard. I Misconception No. 5: It’s OK to use that white, corrugated plastic, flex hose to vent the dryer. I wish I could tell you yes, because I know how easy that stuff is to use. But the answer is no. The white plastic flex duct has lots of problems. Wet lint accumulates in all the little folds, and can’t be removed through normal cleaning. The plastic has virtually no structural strength, so as the wet lint accumulates, the duct sags more and more, which allows more and more lint to accumulate in a vicious cycle. Over time, the duct simply fills up, less and less air can pass through it, your clothes take longer to dry, and eventually your dryer overloads and burns out — or worse yet, a house fire starts. For dryer venting, use 4-inch smooth wall aluminum pipe. Where changes of direction are required, use 4-inch aluminum elbows. Hang the pipe from the floor joists; don’t let it drape on the ground. I Misconception No. 6: Dryer vents don’t need to be insulated. If the duct is in a heated space, such as the inside of the house or in a finished basement, then no, it doesn’t need to be insulated. But if it’s running through a crawl space, unheated basement, attic or other unconditioned space where there’s the potential for freezing, then it does need to be insulated. Insulation helps prevent the moisture in the exhaust air from freezing inside the pipe, which would later lead to condensation and potential moisture problems when the pipe warms up and the ice melts. I Misconception No. 7: Dryer vents don’t need cleaning. Your dryer only has the power to push that heavy, wet lint so far, so it’s inevi-

PVC flexible hose

table that some of it is going remain behind in the vent pipe. As I mentioned before, a buildup of lint in the vent reduces the air flow and affects your dryer’s performance, so it should be professionally cleaned out periodically. How often is a matter of how much use your dryer gets. Large families that do lots of laundry should consider having it cleaned every six months, while someone living alone and doing laundry once a week or so might need to have it done only once in three or four years. Remodeling and repair questions? Email Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author’s actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers. INMAN NEWS

The home at 1501 NW 158 is in a contemporary style, as shown in the master bedroom.

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

Best carpet cleaning takes some research Do a quick online search for carpet cleaning and you’ll find a variety of different methods. The two most common are hot water extraction — mostly known as steam cleaning — and hot carbonation, often referred to as dry chemical techniques. So how do you decide which method is best? To start, check the paperwork that came with your carpet, with the carpet manufacturer or a reputable carpet cleaning company. The most widely accepted cleaning method is hot water extraction. “The high temperature of the water kills bacteria and extracts the dirt out of the carpet,” said Tony Solis of All Points Carpet Care in Mooresville, N.C. “It’s a very deep cleaning compared to dry cleaning.” Solis uses truck-mounted equipment that injects water

heated between 180 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit into the carpet under pressure and then rinses out a pretreated solution he sprays onto the carpet. Steam cleaning removes bacteria, dust mites and odors. The most common drawback is a long dry time. Done well, carpet should dry in just a few hours. “Drying time on a carpet should be four hours, not 44 hours,” Solis said. If inferior equipment is used for steam cleaning, dry times can take more than a day — resulting in a mildew smell — and soap can be left behind, attracting more dirt. “The way soap works is it attracts itself to dirt,” said Gil Patterson of A-1 Chem Dry in metro Kansas City, Mo. “If you don’t rinse it, it will stay in the carpet and continue to attract soil.”

Angie Hicks

LIVING SMART

Patterson’s company uses a hot carbonation cleaning process that requires about one-fifth the amount of water as steam cleaning. “A big, big difference with our process is we don’t have any soap or detergent in our solutions,” Patterson said. “Our general cleaning solution is a natural solution. It’s pet and family friendly. And, there’s no risk of leaving any type of soap residue in your carpet, which will attract dirt. If the technician leaves soap in the

carpeting, you can tell when a customer has that happen to them. It seems like, within a week or two, the carpet seems dirtier than before they had it cleaned.” Though most carpet types can withstand both methods, always follow the cleaning recommendations of your carpet manufacturer to ensure you don’t void the carpet’s warranty. Some companies charge by the room, others by the foot. However a company charges, you should know what the fee will be before the technicians begin the work. Ask for a written quote if it’s not offered to you upfront. Most carpet cleaning jobs start about $79 to $99 for one or two rooms and go up from there. Look for a company with a good history and that carries workers’ compensation and lia-

bility insurance and has an affiliation with an industry trade association like the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) or The Carpet and Rug Institute. A common complaint, according to Angie’s List reports, is companies that offer a discount and then try to upsell for additional services not covered in the discount once they get in the door. “They should understand (what) their bill (is) before any work is done,” Patterson said. “I invite customers to do as much research as they can on carpet cleaning because there are huge differences on carpet cleaning. It’s not just about price.” Angie Hicks is the founder of Angie’s List, a resource for local consumer reviews on everything from home repair to health care. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

One by one, homes in subdivision are sinking BY TRACIE CONE Associated Press

LAKEPORT, Calif. — Scott and Robin Spivey had a sinking feeling that something was wrong with their home when cracks began snaking across their walls in March. The cracks soon turned into gaping fractures, and within two weeks their 600-square-foot garage broke from the house and the entire property — manicured lawn and all — dropped 10 feet below the street. It wasn’t long before the houses on both sides collapsed as the ground gave way in the Spivey’s neighborhood in Lake County, about 100 miles north of San Francisco. “We want to know what is going on here,” said Scott Spivey, a former city building inspector who had lived in his four-bedroom, Tudor-style dream home for 11 years. Eight homes are now abandoned and 10 more are under notice of imminent evacuation as a hilltop with sweeping vistas of Clear Lake and the Mount Konocti volcano swallows the subdivision built 30 years ago.

Robin and Scott Spivey walk past the wreckage of their Tudor-style dream home they had to abandon when the ground gave way causing it to drop 10 feet below the street in Lakeport, Calif. AP PHOTOS

The situation has gotten so bad that mail delivery was ended to keep carriers out of danger. “It’s a slow-motion disaster,” said Randall Fitzgerald, a writer who bought his home in the Lakeside Heights project a year ago. Unlike sinkholes of Florida that can gobble homes in an instant, this collapse in hilly volcanic country can move many feet on one day and just a fraction of an inch the next. Officials believe water that has bubbled to the

surface is playing a role in the destruction. But nobody can explain why suddenly there is plentiful water atop the hill in a county with groundwater shortages. “That’s the big question,” said Scott De Leon, county public works director. “We have a dormant volcano, and I’m certain a lot of things that happen here (in Lake County) are a result of that, but we don’t know about this.” Other development on similar soil in the county is stable, county officials said.

Little Richard’s boyhood home in Georgia to be moved BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MACON, Ga. — Officials in Georgia have decided to move the boyhood home of Little Richard to spare it from a highway construction project. Macon Mayor Robert Reichert made the announcement. WMAZ-TV reported that the 80-yearold singer is receiving an honorary degree from Mercer University. Born Richard Wayne Penniman, Little Richard grew up in Macon’s Pleas-

Little Richard

ant Hill community. The was later divided by the

construction of Interstate 75. The “Tutti Frutti” singer’s boyhood home faced possible demolition to make room for a planned expansion of the interchange where I-75 meets Interstate 16 to Savannah, Ga. City officials said the home will be relocated to a lot near the Pleasant Hill community garden. At its new location, the house will be used as a neighborhood resource center.

THE LISTING OF THE WEEK

The Listing of the Week is at 7400 NW 206.

The Listing of the Week is a large, traditional twostory home on 20 acres with a pool and horse barn in the Deer Creek area. The 7,406-square-foot home at 7400 NW 206 has five bedrooms, four baths, two half-baths, six living areas, two dining areas and attached parking for five vehicles, including heated and cooled space for two. The family room has a fireplace, built-in entertainment center and 20-foot ceilings. The study has a

built-in bookcase and ceiling fan. The formal living room has a fireplace. The kitchen has a double oven, breakfast bar, island and pantry. All bedrooms have walk-in closets. The home has a safe room, game room, exercise room, pond, water feature, covered patio, open patio, security system, underground sprinkler system and concrete circle drive. The acreage is fenced and cross-fenced. The 35by-65-foot barn has six

PHOTO PROVIDED

Priefert stalls and a tack room. The home, built in 1997, west of Rockwell Avenue on NW 206, is listed for $999,999 with Norma Cokeley of RE/MAX Preferred Properties. Open house will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 751-4848. Nominations for Listing of the Week are welcome. Send a copy of the MLS information sheet on a single-family home to The Oklahoman, Richard Mize, P.O. Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Nominations may be faxed to 475-3996.

The bedroom carpets hang from the home of Jagtar Singh after the ground gave way in Lakeport, Calif.

While some of the subdivision movement is occurring on shallow fill, De Leon said a geologist has warned that the ground could be compromised down to bedrock 25 feet below and that cracks recently appeared in roads well beyond the fill. “Considering this is a low rainfall year and the fact it’s letting go now after all of these years, and the magnitude that it’s letting go, well, it’s pretty monumental,” De Leon said. County officials have inspected the original

plans for the project and say it was developed by a reputable engineering firm then signed off on by the public works director at the time. “I can only presume that they were checked prior to approval,” De Leon said. The sinkage has prompted county crews to redirect the subdivision’s sewage 300 feet through an overland pipe as manholes in the 10-acre development collapsed. Consultant Tom Ruppenthal found two small leaks in the county sewage

system that he said weren’t big enough to account for the amount of water that is flowing along infrastructure pipes and underground fissures, but they could be contributing to another source. “It’s very common for groundwater to shift its course,” said Ruppenthal of Utility Services Associates in Seattle. “I think the groundwater has shifted.” If the county can’t get the water and sewer service stabilized, De Leon said all 30 houses in the subdivision will have to be abandoned. Lake County, with farms, wineries and several Indian casinos, was shaped by earthquake fault movement and volcanic explosions that helped create the Coast Ranges of California. Clear Lake, popular for boating and fishing, is the largest fresh water lake wholly located in the state. It is not unusual for groundwater in the region to make its way to the surface then subside. Many natural hot springs and geysers receded underground in the early 1900s and have since been tapped for geothermal power.

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Buyer questions honesty of inspector DEAR BARRY: Our home inspector missed or covered up a serious plumbing problem. He reported that the toilet was loosely attached to the floor and recommended further evaluation by a licensed plumber. But he said this did not appear to be a major problem. After moving in, we discovered that there was a major leak in the toilet drainpipe, and our plumber quoted $900 for the repair. We relied on our inspector but now believe that he was incompetent or dishonest. Maybe he took a kickback from the Realtor to help close the deal. Is that possible? Dave DEAR DAVE: “Kickback” relationships of one kind or another may exist among some agents

and inspectors, but such occurrences are very rare. I would hesitate to make that kind of accusation without substantial proof. Home inspectors can make mistakes. They can fail to report defects because of professional negligence or because there were no apparent symptoms at the time of the inspection. In some cases, an inspector will discover a problem but fail to make the proper evaluation. This could be what occurred with the loose toilet in your home. If so, the problem could be faulty judgment or a lack of adequate experience by the inspector. On the other hand, he did recommend further evaluation by a licensed plumber. What matters is whether he meant this to be

Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE

done before the close of escrow or after you purchased the property. If he advised a prepurchase plumbing evaluation, the negligence may actually be your own for opting to buy the home as is and to call a plumber later. Regardless of who is at fault, you should promptly contact your home inspector. Advise him of your concerns, and request that he meet you at the property for a reinspection of the plumb-

ing problem and a review of the inspection report. DEAR BARRY: After buying our home, we hired a chimney sweep to make sure the fireplace was safe to use. He discovered that the metal liner in the chimney was buckled due to overheating. He said it was unsafe and advised us not to use the fireplace. The repair estimate is more than $3,000 because the walls have to be opened up for access to the damage. We depended upon our home inspector to discover this problem. Shouldn’t he have looked inside the chimney? Diane DEAR DIANE: Home inspectors can only inspect areas that are visible and accessible. If the

interior of a chimney can be viewed from within the fireplace or by looking down from the top of an open chimney, defects inside the chimney can be discovered and reported. But if disassembly or removal of hardware is necessary to enable a full evaluation, defects in the chimney are outside the scope of the inspection. In that case, a fireplace specialist would need to conduct a more detailed inspection. If you believe this problem should have been discovered during the home inspection, contact your inspector and ask for an on-site reinspection of the chimney. To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com. ACTION COAST PUBLISHING

Developing style in a small outdoor space BY MELISSA RAYWORTH

go the length of the space.” They provide room for plants to grow, while also creating a ledge that’s “great for coffee cups or a casual lunch,” he said. Flynn suggested playing up the height of your space by adding long outdoor curtains or hanging pendant lights.

Associated Press

Design magazines and home decorating catalogs tend to feature sprawling backyards with big wooden decks and room for everything from decorative fountains to artificial ponds. But few of us have that much outdoor space. Still, with a few strategic choices, you can create something truly special out of even the smallest yard or porch, said Los Angeles-based designer Brian Patrick Flynn. Here, he and two other design experts — small-space specialist Kyle Schuneman and landscape designer Chris Lambton — offer advice on the best furnishings, plants and decorating strategies for making the most of a small yard, modest deck or petite patio.

Go mobile “With a small outdoor space, I really like to think double duty,” said Schuneman, author of “The First Apartment Book: Cool Design for Small Spaces” (Potter Style, 2012). Look for seating that has hidden storage space inside and tall planters that add privacy. And choose items that can easily be moved, such as lightweight flowerpots or planters on wheels, said Lambton, host of the gardening design series “Going Yard” on HGTV. “It’s an easy DIY thing,” he said, to buy an assortment of inexpensive plastic pots and paint them to match your outdoor decor.

Drench with color

Brian Patrick Flynn added drapery panels to this small outdoor porch to emphasize the house’s tall ceiling, minimize its narrow dimensions and give the space privacy from neighbors. AP PHOTOS

If planters are lightweight or on wheels, you can move them to get proper sunlight at different times of day, and rearrange them if you’re entertaining guests and need more space. And, Lambton said, they can be moved inside to a sunny window or doorway when cold weather arrives.

Fun with furniture “The easiest way to make small outdoor spaces appear smaller is to fill them with lots of pieces,” said Flynn, founder of the design website decordemon. com. “Instead, go big with sectionals, or flank perfectly square or rectangular areas with identical love seats or sofas. This not only maximizes the seating potential, but it also keeps the space from becoming too busy or even chopped up. In my outdoor

Brian Patrick Flynn turned a narrow 14-by-9-foot outdoor space into a full-fledged living room.

living room, I used a U-shaped outdoor sectional, which seats up to seven comfortably.” When arranging furniture, consider the view: If the home’s exterior is more attractive than the outdoor view, Flynn said, consider positioning seats so that you’ll face your home rather than looking away from it.

or climbing hydrangea. Or choose a tall holly or cypress plant in a large planter. “Holly will be green all year round,” he said, and can help transform an unappealing view.

Plant wisely

Think vertically

All three designers say your choice of plants is especially important when space is limited. Choose plants with a purpose: “Lavender’s great,” Lambton said, because it’s attractive, easy to grow and deters bugs. Marigolds will also help keep insects away. Lambton also suggests putting up a trellis as a privacy wall, and planting it with colorful wisteria

If you love plants but have minimal space, add a wallmounted garden filled with succulent plants to one wall, Schuneman said. “It’s a great way to add life and texture without actually taking any real estate up on your small balcony or patio,” he said. He also suggested using narrow planters to create “long, narrow, raised flower beds that

“I usually paint concrete slabs (on the floor) a bold color or an accent color carried out from an adjacent room,” Flynn said. “This helps the patio feel like an extension when you look out to it through a door. On the flip side, when seated out in the patio looking inward, the consistent use of color flowing inside and outside makes the patio itself feel much more open.” Flynn also suggested using outdoor curtains for a burst of color, and to block an unattractive view or hide items like electrical boxes and storage bins. “Outdoor draperies are, hands-down, the easiest way to soften an otherwise all-concrete and stucco space, while also being able to control how much or how little neighbors can see,” he said.

Create art “Most people don’t think of using art outside, but it can be done, especially in a DIY manner,” Flynn said. “My favorite trick is to use tent canvas and stretch it across a DIY frame made from pressure-treated lumber, and add some gesso to the surface for texture.”

THE OKLAHOMAN

NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

HOUSE PLAN

Obama discusses Traditional home has lots of space housing market in weekly address

The Fairbanks is a traditional large home designed to provide plenty of living space for spreading out during long, cold winter months. The central section of its exterior has a symmetrical, almost Colonial look. Handsome brick columns support an arched and gabled entry that creates a frame highlighting the front door, accented by sidelights and an arched transom. That door leads into a dramatic two-story foyer. Double doors on the right open into a den or home office, while the opening on the left goes into a dining room that’s windowed on two sides. Straight ahead, past the coat closet and stairway, the foyer opens out into a vaulted great room. Wide windows flank the fireplace centered on the far wall. These look out onto a vaulted and covered patio. Another set of multipane windows is stacked above the lower set, while a taller, gracefully arched window arrangement crowns the fireplace. Standing at the kitchen sink, you can converse with people in the living room, or gaze out the rear windows. In addition to a work island, the kitchen has plenty of cupboards and counter space, and is completely open to the sunny nook. A walk-in pantry, wide and deep, is across the hall, just outside a large utility room with room for a freezer. The plush owners’ suite fills most of the right wing. A French door offers direct patio access, and its pri-

BY REX CRUM MarketWatch

vate bathroom has a spa tub, oversized shower, dual vanity, private toilet and roomy walk-in closet. On the Fairbanks’ upper level, a balcony overlooks the entry and great room.

Two bedrooms share a bathroom and storage closets line the hallway leading to a windowbright bonus room that sits over the three-car garage.

A review plan of the Fairbanks, including floor plans, elevations, section and artist’s conception, can be purchased for $25 by phone, mail or online. Add $5 for shipping and handling. Associated Designs, 1100 Jacobs Drive, Eugene, OR, 97402. www.associateddesigns.com. (800) 634-0123.

SAN FRANCISCO — President Barack Obama used a recent weekly radio and Internet address to discuss the U.S. housing market and call on Congress to help make it easier for homeowners to refinance mortgages. In his address, Obama noted that since he took office, his housing plan has helped more than 2 President Obama million homeowners refinance and save an average of $3,000 a year in payments. However, Obama said Congress needs to enact legislation “to give every responsible homeowner the chance to refinance, and with it, the opportunity to save $3,000 a year. That’s like a $3,000 tax cut.” Obama called on homeowners who have been unable to take advantage of refinance programs to contact their congressional representatives and ask “why they won’t act” on expanding the refinance options to all Americans. “We’ve got more responsible homeowners to help: folks who have never missed a mortgage payment, but aren’t allowed to refinance; working families who have done everything right, but still owe more on their homes than they’re worth,” the president said. Obama also said he wanted Congress to quickly confirm his nomination of North Carolina Rep. Mel Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The Republican response was given by Alabama Rep. Martha Roby, who highlighted the Working Family Flexibility Act of 2013, which the House of Representatives passed. Roby wrote the bill, which would allow workers to choose extra pay for time worked over 40 hours per week or instead take compensatory time that could be used later. Roby said that benefit, which is available to publicsector employees, “provides options for working moms and dads who need more time to take care of family responsibilities.” Under terms of the bill, workers would be allowed to trade overtime pay for comp time as long as they gave reasonable notice to employers. The bill has come under criticism by some in Congress who believe employers could force employees to take time off instead of overtime pay. The bill is not expected to pass the Senate, and the White House has threatened to veto it should it get to Obama’s desk. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Permits Oklahoma City Wynn Construction, 9700 Mashburn Blvd., nursing home, add-on, $6,700,000. Bockus (Bruce), 12368 Market Drive, office, erect, $1,400,000. RBA Architects, 15001 N May Ave., shell building, erect, $1,200,000. Quigley (Jim) Custom Homes LLC, 15816 Fairview Farm Blvd., residence, erect, $999,999. Crossland Construction, 800 SW 44, retail sales, remodel, $970,087. Sun Construction Services LLC, 17401 Chatham Hills Road, residence, erect, $700,000. Sheppard & Sons Construction Inc., 12941 SW 31, residence, erect, $525,600. Avalon Homes & Properties LLC, 10300 Forest Meadow Drive, residence, erect, $500,000. Chuck Robinson Homes Inc., 12101 Slash Pine Drive, residence, erect, $500,000. John Farley Drywall and Construction Inc., 9804 Russell Drive, residence, erect, $370,000. Precision Style Homes, 9604 Russell Drive, residence, erect, $350,000. Nextec Home LLC, 520 NW 151, residence, erect, $350,000. Manchester Elite Homes

LLC, 8217 NW 147 Terrace, residence, erect, $343,150. Manchester Elite Homes LLC, 14732 Sedona Drive, residence, erect, $341,400. Taber Built Homes LLC, 17308 Boreal Court, residence, erect, $290,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 5809 St. James Place, residence, erect, $280,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 13540 Gentry Drive, residence, erect, $270,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 2333 NW 156, residence, erect, $258,000. Manchester Elite Homes LLC, 8309 NW 146, residence, erect, $251,900. Allenstyle Homes LLC, 16105 Cale Drive, residence, erect, $250,000. Jim Abernathy Construction, 6309 Edington Court, residence, remodel, $250,000. Katleron Construction Inc., 4904 SW 126 Terrace, residence, erect, $250,000. McAlister Construction Inc., 16401 S Westminster Road, residence, erect, $250,000. Montgomery Homes Inc., 3509 Austrian Pine Lane, residence, erect, $250,000. Smith Design Co., 2820 Sarah Lane, residence, erect, $250,000. Bill Gumerson & Associates, 726 W Sheridan Ave., office, supplement, $250,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 11601 Mallorca Drive,

Owner Financing

New addition called Grand Safari Nice Acreages from 1 acre to 6.75 acres m/l Easy Approval » Call for maps www.property4sale.com 405-273-5777

Lease purchase, 3/2/2 brick, low dn, no cr chk, $850/mo, 630-0649.

residence, erect, $244,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 2816 Kathleens Crossing, residence, erect, $243,000. Manchester Elite Homes LLC, 9116 SW 35, residence, erect, $227,900. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 13628 S Land Ave., residence, erect, $225,000. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 13629 S Land Ave., residence, erect, $225,000. Manchester Elite Homes LLC, 9108 SW 35, residence, erect, $217,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 10617 Granada Drive, residence, erect, $213,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 14501 Almond Valley Drive, residence, erect, $212,000. The RLA Co. Inc., 13929 Drakes Way, residence, erect, $205,000. MDM Holdings LLC, doing business as Merryfield Homes, 10908 SW 19, residence, erect, $200,000. Thomas Hall Homes LLC, 11225 SW 37 Court, residence, erect, $200,000. Thomas Hall Homes LLC, 3708 Beckets Crown Court, residence, erect, $200,000. Wayne Griffiths Homes, 12001 Stonemill Road, residence, add-on, $200,000. Kirkpatrick Forest Curtis PC, 7007 SW 44, business, remodel, $200,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 15401 SE 57, residence,

erect, $199,000. Jeff Flaggert, 7900 Dripping Springs Lane, residence, erect, $195,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 11500 Marbella Drive, residence, erect, $193,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 10608 Tarragona Drive, residence, erect, $193,000. Intelligent Design Homes Inc., 1416 Jaxon Court, residence, erect, $180,000. Intelligent Design Homes Inc., 1412 Jaxon Court, residence, erect, $180,000. Intelligent Design Homes Inc., 1421 Jaxon Court, residence, erect, $180,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 14417 Almond Valley Drive, residence, erect, $177,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 10725 Tarragona Drive, residence, erect, $173,000. D.R. Horton, 2312 NW 156, residence, erect, $159,740. D.R. Horton, 2321 NW 156, residence, erect, $159,470. American Fine Homes, 3020 Canton Trail, residence, erect, $150,000. American Fine Homes, 10920 SW 30 Terrace, residence, erect, $150,000. Burnham Nationwide, 5810 N Classen Blvd., retail sales, remodel, $150,000. Authentic Custom

Bank owned 4/3/3 blt 04, 2518sf, 1ac $239,900 Realty Exp 414-8753

PIEDMONT OPEN SUN 2-5 Model home. New hms on 1/2 ac lots. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 36.38Acres MOL NE qtr, SE qtr, sec 23 township 9 N, range 11E. Hughes county betwn Wetumka & Dustin, Hwy 9 Frontage rural water $43,656 405-786-2144 155 Acres Cogar area. Secluded 4 bed house, new ch&a, wooded, fenced, hunting. $2000 per Acre. 405-381-2617 or 405-409-3804.

Brick 3b 2b 2c 1100sf, ch&a $95K onr fin 647 W Hillcrest 833-3540

2233 NW 118TH 4bd 2.5ba wkshp area storage w/elec approx 2380' $173,000 Marian 405-850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 405-373-2494

Sat. June 1 - 10 AM Thomas, OK 631 Deeded Acres + Accretion Land in 2 Tracts NW of Thomas, OK on the South Canadian River Excellent Hunting with 1100sf. Cabin. Productive Ranch land. 719 Acres in 5 Tracts East of Oakwood, OK Rolling Hills of Grassland Great Hunting in an Excellent Location. For info & land showing schedule visit: entzauction.com 405-663-2200 ENTZ AUCTION & REALTY, INC.

HOBART CAFE/BAR GAMEROOM Owner Financing. 7500sf $196,500 or make offer as illness forces sale »» 580-726-2525 Childcare Business For Sale Tulsa Market Area. Early learning center, 85% enrolled, located in new building. Business and building for sale. Email "businessowner@cox.net" for info.

Call for Maps! See why we sell more acreages than anyone in Okla. E of OKC. o/a 275-1695 140ac-$2,600/ac¡2 miles S of I-40 Highway frontage, 2 ponds, nice fence, park like. 405-642-4809

Stratford Place Condo sharp 2bd 2ba fp vaulted ceilings, excellent condition, all appls included. Only $71,000 Fidelity RE 410-4200

AUCTION

Double Your Tax Refund up to $5000 w/new home purchase. Don't prejudge credit. E-Z qualify by phone. New & repo homes available 405-631-7600 WAC Abandoned D/W set up on 4.5 acres! Brick skirting & storm shelter. Ready to move in. Call for pre approval 405-631-7600

GREAT Office Space. Various NW locations, 300-6000sf 946-2516

Own your home for less than rent payments as low as $650 for a 3 bed 405-787-5004

HOUSE & LRG WAREHOUSE 3928 E Reno $1500mo 601-5905 »»» 235-5028

2011 Solitaire REPO 18x80 3bd 2 bth as low as $410mo 787-5004 www.thcmobilehomes.com

’ $399 Move In Special!

Pool Laundry, Community room! Housing assistance accepted. 1, 2 & 3 BEDS ’ 7 5 5 - 0 3 0 0 VALENCIA APTS APTS/TOWNHOUSES 2221 N Meridian $99 Special 946-6548 PARKLANE 2&3 BD TOWNHOMES 8100 N MACARTHUR BLVD $200 OFF 1ST MO. 721-5455

RIVENDELL UPSCALE REMODEL Westmoore Schools, 2650 sf, 3bd 2.5 bath, lg sunroom, 2 liv/2 din, 3 car, beautiful backyard $294K & 2524 SW 125th St 740-9073 3729 Southwind Ct Remodeled, huge master wood flrs, great yd approx 1600' $124,800 Marian 405-850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 405-373-2494

5944 NW 40th-Large 1 & 2bed, $345 to $445 mo, stove, fridge, covered prkng. No Sec 8 470-3535

800 N Meridian

FOR SALE BY OWNER 1604 SW 61st. Terrace. 3bed, 1ba, Carport, Approx. 1000 central heat, central A/C, $ 79,900 obo 580 919-0506

1/2 AC MOL 4bd 2.5ba complete in July approx 2278' $234,900 NEW HOME on 1 ac mol 4bd 3ba approx 2500' $273,000 Seller is Owner/Broker of Cleaton & Assoc 405-373-2494 Marian 405-850-7654 2 bd, 2 ba, Piedmont, OK - $103K. 575-491-9187 or 405-802-4087

80+ ANGUS CATTLE TRACTORS * EQUIPMENT MINERALS

ABSOLUTE AUCTION

TUES MAY 21st 10AM LippardAuctions.com 866-874-7100

410-5700

Custom built '11, 3bd/2.5ba, 2777sf, 1.22ac Open Sun 2-4 14748 Robin Cir. $325K 496-9983

LOCATED IN EL RENO: Brick 3bed 2bath 2car garage, ch&a 405-208-2981; 405-202-2138

I BUY & SELL HOUSES 27 YRS EXP 650-7667 HOMESOFOKCINC.COM

Lake Eufaula » Snug Harbor area, new windows, new siding, new deck, total new interior! 2bd 1ba asking $96,000 405-401-1153

$525

2416 NE 24 Nice 2 bed, good area $500 mo. • 732-3411

» $99 Special »

1 Bed All Bills Paid $450

Lrg 2bd » 2K ba » 2car, wetbar 1500sf, PC Sch, $850mo No Sec 8 ¡ 9004 Roxbury Terr. 831-8218 myriamokc@gmail.com

Large 1 & 2 beds. Stove, refrig, 3 SW OKC Locations $345-420mo No Sec 8 632-9849

Luxury Duplex 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car garage. Lots of extras. Pets OK. $900/month ‘ 642-5996

Gateway of Edmond Apts Newly Renovated and Waiting For You!

»»

First Month Free » »

2, 3 & 4 Bedrooms Too Many Amenities to List!!! 14140 N Broadway

405-478-3260

7907 Debar Cir, 2bd 2ba 2car pets, fncd yard (Wilshire & Council) $750mo, $350dep 722-2007 » PCN, 6444 W Hefner » 3 bd, 2.5 ba, 2 car, No Sec 8 or pet, $925. 721-1831

MOVE IN NOW!

Pd. water/garbage Quiet. Try Plaza East • 341-4813

Free Rent 'til July. 1 & 2 bed. Spring Tree Apts. 405-737-8172.

New duplexes, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, some furnished, $1100 and up, call Rick 405-830-3789 or Joe at 405-830-3777.

Bills Paid

Furnished/Unfurnished Weekly/Monthly 370-1077

NW FURNISHED LARGE STUDIO BILLS PAID $550 MO + 721-0296

$200 off first month PIEDMONT OPEN SUN 2-5 Model home. New hms on 1/2 ac lots. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

833 E Eubanks 3bd 1ba 681-7272

Exceptional 3bd 2ba home in Fox Run 1900sf $1085 603-4775

3407 S Lee 2bd 1ba 1406 Youngs newly built 2/1 3709 SW 41st 3bd 1ba 2841 SW 48th 2bd 1ba Free List ¡ 681-7272

$395 $465 $475 $525

2807 SW 61st sharp completely remodeled 3bd 1.5 ba 1car garage brick ch/a, fresh paint and new carpet $725 Fidelity 410-4200

New home 3/2 $1100 + sec. rentinokc.com470-1335

Remod. 3/2/1 ch&a, carpet, appls incl. W/D, privacy fence, gar. door opnr. Pet ok w/ dep. $1100mo, $1100dep. Noble, 405-872-7299

Dan Mahaney Licensed OK RE Broker (317) 432-6267 #159687

MOUNDS, OK AREA

Nice home 3bed 2bath, carport. ch&a. blinds, carpet, hardwood flrs, W/D hkup, fenced yard. Choctaw/Nic. Park schls. 10812 NE 19th St. no pets $925mo. $925dep 630-0394

6018 Plum Thicket 5/3/2 $1995 6006 N. Penn 2/2 $850 3303 N. Portland 3/1.5/2 $900 14415 N. Penn 1/1 $550 6820 NW 30 3/2/2 $975 3209 Shannon 3/2/2 $995 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com

Selling to the highest bidder at/above $99,000

414± ACRES SOUTH TULSA, OK ROLLING TERRAIN * TIMBER PONDS * CREEK * CORRALS

$925

11331 N May, 3/3/2, CH&A, FP, W/D, patio $900/mo. 236-1118

Open House: 5/19 & 6/2 1-5 PM

Tony Kauk Licensed Sales Agent (405) 206-6976

2317 Cedarbrook 3bd 1ba 681-7272

1bed All Bills Paid 946-9506 MAYFAIR Great loc! 1&2 bd W/D hdwd flr quiet secure ¡ 947-5665

YUKON 2bd, 2ba, 2car $650mo + $500dep, No pets. 405-209-4084

Thurs., June 6th 10 AM 10% BP

505 NE 20, ready now, super nice, 3bd/1.5ba ch&a, new paint/carpet no pets $1000mo/$900d 410-9751

Beautiful 3bd, 1.5ba, $800+ dep. Sec. 8 Welcome $100 Move-In Special. 2708 Lyon Dr. 204-4308

Condo 3 bed, 1.5 bath, PC Schls, washer/dryer hookup, Sec 8 Welcome, $825/mo. 820-9612

6443 Nicklas Ave., OKC

SEE PERMITS, PAGE 10E

Furnished/Unfurnished. Bills Paid » Wkly/Mnthly. Wes Chase Apts Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest, 370-1077

Thousand Oaks Condos NW 10th & Council, sharp 1bd condo, all appls including washer & dryer, ch/a, swimming pool, tennis courts only $495 Fidelity 410-4200

Personal Property also sells

residence, erect, $120,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 2337 NW 156, residence, erect, $120,000. State Permits Inc., 1901 Northwest Expressway, retail sales, remodel, $120,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 500 Nathan Way, residence, erect, $119,000. Harbor Homes, 300 SW 168, residence, erect, $110,000. Precision Style Homes, 11204 NW 8, residence, erect, $108,000. Douglas Post Properties, 13331 N Anderson Road, storage, erect, $100,000. Smith Roberts, 7707 SW 44, parking, install, $100,000. C&C Homes, 19601 Meadow Bend Ave., clubhouse, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11436 SW 25 Terrace, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11413 SW 25, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11440 SW 25 Terrace, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 3220 SE 96, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11421 SW 25, residence, erect, $100,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 2401 NW 156, residence, erect, $100,000. Home Creations, 3008

1 & 2bed, newly remodeled, ch/a, 1830 NW 39th 524-5907

Furnished/Unfurnished. Bills Paid » Wkly/Mnthly. Wes Chase Apts Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest, 370-1077

REAL ESTATE AUCTION

2345 NE 22nd, 4 bed, 3212 NE 12th, 3 bed, both have ch&a, W/D hkup, Sec 8 okay, 405-248-4079.

»» Laundry & Security »» 2820 S Robinson 232-1549

3/2 Bath Singlewide $6500 plus delivery 405-631-7600

Putnam Heights Plaza

Rent to Own: Nice 2 & 3bed MWC $350 & up 390-9777

Any condition. No cost to U

Owner carry, 4612 SE 20, 417-2176 www.homesofokcinc.com

Free Rent 'til July. 1 & 2 bed. Villas @ Putnam Green. 720-3102.

•ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212»

3 bd 2 bth, fireplace OWN IT for $700 mo. owner finance 405-324-8000

I BUY HOUSES Kansas farm for sale 640 acre Rush County Kansas farm, 6yr old home, machine sheds, lots of bottom ground, deer, turkeys. $3,200,000. Steve @ 785-259-6817

BUNDLE! 5 Duplexes, 1898sf ea, 2bd Moore Schls $449,500 Offers Considered Realty Exp 414-8753

BANK REPOS Cash Buyers 405-634-4812

Nice 5 Acre Wooded Tracts on S. Harrah Rd. Owner/Finance. Owner/Broker 823-6856 6 zero lot lines - The Villages at Greenbriar, Moore Schools, Metro First - Ruth Thompson 694-8898

Double Your Tax Refund up to $5,000!! Use refund & receive Visa gift card with new home purchase. No refund, use your land/family land ZERO down. E-Z qualify by phone. WAC 631-7600

RESTAURANT n successsful hot spot just 10min to Lake Texoma 580-371-8460 » 580-371-2054

HOMES & LAND All areas OKC 405-634-4812

1N to 10A E of OKC, pay out dn. 100's choices, many M/H ready TERMS Milburn o/a 275-1695 www.paulmilburnacreages.com

Homes LLC, 8109 Waters Edge Way, residence, erect, $146,000. Cliff Marical Homes Inc., 10641 SW 36, residence, erect, $144,900. J&A Homes LLC, 19125 Summer Grove Ave., residence, erect, $140,000. Home Creations, 12024 NW 138, residence, erect, $139,600. 5 Star Builders LLC, 11225 SW 38, residence, erect, $129,789. Dodson Custom Homes 1 LLC, 18301 Bridlington Drive, residence, erect, $127,600. R&R Homes LLC, 3604 Arcadia Drive, residence, erect, $126,000. R&R Homes LLC, 3420 Arcadia Drive, residence, erect, $126,000. R&R Homes LLC, 10724 SW 34 Terrace, residence, erect, $126,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18305 Bodegon Road, residence, erect, $125,000. Dodson Custom Homes 1 LLC, 18209 Bridlington Drive, residence, erect, $124,800. Precision Style Homes, 11325 NW 8, residence, erect, $120,660. J&A Homes LLC, 3349 NW 177 Court, residence, erect, $120,000. Jim Abernathy Construction, 6226 Riviera Drive, residence, remodel, $120,000. Sooner Traditions LLC, 15929 Big Cypress Drive,

AUCTION

Nice Updated 2bd Fenced yard $575+ dep 505 N Tinker 371-3596

Brick 3/1.5/1 1000 sf, ch&a, $85K, owner fin 1113 Berwyck 833-3540

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

LARGE TOWNHOMES & APARTMENTS • Washer, Dryers, pools • PC Schools, fireplaces

WILLIAMSBURG 7301 NW 23

787-1620

914 Crown 3/2/2 $950 1403 Pennington 3/2/1 $735 1615 Tenbears 3/2/2 $1095 701 E 26 3/2/2 $995 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com Nice Home for Rent 150th&SantaFe 3bed, 2ba, 2 Car 1500$/mon Contact 4052052343

1722 Riviera Ln. 2/2/2 $950 11827 Sagamore 4/2/2 $1195 11148 SW 8 3/2/2 $1100 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com 3/2/2, fireplace, no pets, 4836 Rocky Rd $950+$500dep 826-6720

Rent to Own: Nice 2 & 3bed MWC $350 & up 390-9777

PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES • SINCE 1982 Mgmt • Leasing • Sales Spectrum Mgmt 848-9400

www.usespectrum.com

We can handle all your residential property management needs » Since 1962 » Home & Ranch Realty 794-7777

Red Cedar Village

Affordable Independent Living for Seniors 62+ $399 M O V E I N S P E C I A L Pay nothing else till June 1, 2013 These homes are going quick! Call today! (405) 395-4801 TTY: 1-800-722-0353 “Equal Housing Opportunity” “Handicap Accessible”

10E

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

Permits FROM PAGE 9E

NW 181, residence, erect, $99,200. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18605 Ochoa Drive, erect, erect, $92,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 13300 SW 4, residence, erect, $91,000. Home Creations, 5707 Marblewood Drive, residence, erect, $84,800. Cornerstone Group LLC, 10701 SW 34 Terrace, residence, erect, $82,000. D.R. Horton, 11013 SW 40, residence, erect, $81,448. Home Creations, 5709 Marblewood Drive, residence, erect, $80,400. Joseph L. Sikes, 14801 N Anderson Road, manufactured home, move-on, $80,000. Metro Mark Properties Inc., doing business as Kent Hoffman Construction, 4605 Oakdale Farm Drive, residence, remodel, $64,200. Joseph Sikes, 14805 N Anderson Road, manufactured home, move-on, $60,000. Randy Castle, 3101 SW 157, accessory, erect, $60,000. Randy Castle, 3101 SW 157, residence, erect, $60,000. Buchanan Construction, 804 W Interstate 240 Service Road, office, remodel, $55,000. Trilink Restoration Group LLC, 2616 NW 58, residence, fire restoration, $45,000. JDF Grace Construction Inc., 14513 Maplelake Drive, residence, add-on, $35,000. American Muslim Association, 3201 NW 48, remodel, $30,000. Brown Development LLC, 8540 SW 107, residence, add-on, $30,000. Smith Design Co., 2820 Sarah Lane, accessory, erect, $30,000. Edwards Construction LLC, 15417 Stone Meadows Drive, residence, remodel, $25,000. Smith Design Co., 2820 Sarah Lane, accessory, erect, $25,000. Froilan Deleon, 3621 NW 12, residence, add-on, $20,000. Roofing by McCanns and Construction, 1106 Kenilworth Road, residence, add-on, $20,000. Callahan Steel Buildings (Curt), 6301 SE 179, accessory, erect, $19,000. Santa Fe Mobile Home Park, 501 SE 44, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $17,500. Santa Fe Station Mobile Home Park, 501 SE 44, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $17,500. Santa Fe Station Mobile Home Park, 501 SE 44, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $17,500.

JNC Transport, 1217 Windsurf Way, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $15,000. JNC Transport, 5900 SE 48, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $15,000. JNC Transport, 9300 Sundown Drive, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $15,000. Joseph Sikes, 14805 N Anderson Road, accessory, erect, $15,000. CLS Group, 8128 W Interstate 40 Service Road, tower-antenna, install, $15,000. JNC Transport, 9717 NW 10, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $15,000. JNC Transport, 9717 NW 10, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $15,000. JNC Transport, 7901 S Council Road, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $15,000. JNC Transport, 7901 S Council Road, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $15,000. Saratoga Roofing & Construction, 209 NW 132, temporary building, moveon, $15,000. James and Nekki May, 20401 SE 93, residence, add-on, $14,000. Joyner Construction Co., 7800 N Coltrane Road, residence, remodel, $12,560. Evans Building Concepts, 14000 Quail Springs Parkway, office, remodel, $12,000. Harold Gilkey, 5501 NE 56, residence, add-on, $10,000. Robert Newman, 13425 N MacArthur Blvd., bank, install, $10,000. Brasiel Enterprises Inc., 4575 NW 23, business, erect, $10,000. Blaine Dowdy, 9301 Fendrych Drive, accessory, erect, $8,000. GMLA Construction Services, 215 NE 28, apartment, remodel, $8,000. GMLA Construction Services, 215 NE 28, apartment, remodel, $8,000. GMLA Construction Services, 215 NE 28, apartment, remodel, $8,000. GMLA Construction Services, 215 NE 28, apartment, remodel, $8,000. Steve Bynum, 6516 Elk Canyon Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $5,800. Cesar A. Delafuente, 2501 Dittmer Road, canopy-carport, add-on, $5,000. Joshua King, 12200 NE 150, storage, erect, $5,000. Ronald Scott Sherrill, 13000 Condor Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,750. Vortech Storm Shelters Inc., 3508 Sagebrush Place, storm shelter, erect, $4,275. Paul Smith, 11108 Coachmans Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000. Damian and Michelle Rodriguez, 16224 Royal Crest Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter,

REAL ESTATE $3,800. Mark Zitzow, 15716 Hatterly Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,800. Steven Smith, 524 Skylark Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,800. Susan Christenson, 16200 Panther Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,800. Anthony D. Johnson, 5329 Shearwater Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,600. Connie and Douglas Lytle, 9028 NW 79, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,600. Dennis Scott Boos, 7716 S Miller Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,600. Glen Shipley, 1509 NW 148, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,600. Jody Entwistle, 808 Evening Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,600. Terry McCorry, 12401 Kingsgate Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,600. William Lowder, 4208 NE 141, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,500. Adam Johnson, 4701 NW 157, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,420. Larry Humphrey, 2805 SW 139, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,400. Cindy A. Smith, 2124 Avian Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395. Daniel Dodson, 13905 Kirkland Ridge, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395. Will Bradley, 9028 NW 93 Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,350. John and Sharon Muse, 9025 NW 79, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,300. Jay Daniel Brown, 2313 Makaila Way, residence, install-storm shelter, $3,200. Roger and K. Lynn Nunn, 2628 SW 90 Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. Sandra Price, 3012 W Wilshire Blvd., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. Jeff Hughes, 8513 St. Elmo Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100. Jeremy Miller, 16101 James Thomas Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100. Joann Sykes, 6424 N Sooner Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,020. Harold Rains, 504 SW 102, storm shelter, remodel, $3,000. Jan Malone, 620 S Willowood Drive, storm shelter, add-on, $3,000. Ryan Francka, 3233 NW 192 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Clyde Riggs Construction, 12368 Market Drive, office, move-on, $3,000. Weather Tech, 8009

Sunny Pointe Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Tyler Whitmire, 19012 Pinehurst Trail Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Zach and Kendra Sikes, 4925 NW 164 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Bethany and James Tyler, 14808 Marbleleaf Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,899. Stephanie Bryan, 11300 Greenbriar Chase, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,895. David McCormick, 16812 S Midwest Blvd., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,875. Jennifer Fricke, 16421 Village Green Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,799. Don Porter, 3816 Seaward Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,770. Richard Myers, 17104 Gladstone Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,740. Angela Heaton, 16717 Rainwater Trail, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Precision Shelters, 11301 Windmill Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,680. Brad Boyington, 13616 Thistle Trail, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. Christan Smith, 1828 NW 145, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. Engenio Mateos, 313 SW 65, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,600. Enid Hernandez, 7801 NW 116, storm shelter, in-

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

stall-storm shelter, $2,600. Gretchen R. Jeane, 17413 Wain Bridge Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. James Joyce, 7416 NE 133, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. James Rogers, 9008 Shady Grove Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. Jennifer Burnett, 3201 SE 95, storm shelter, add-on, $2,600. Jimmy Nguyen, 1401 Camber, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. Jonathan Fozand, 204 SW 132, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. Josh Folks, 2705 NW 160 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. Kathleen Simons, 4428 Foxglove Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. Nicholas Reid, 17205 Hardwood Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. Patrick Figaro, 8725 S Olie Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. Paula Childers, 9001 NW 81, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,600. Robert Burgess, 2705 NE 133, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,600. Sandra Green, 4609 NW 33 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. Andy Hicks, 8729 Ally Way, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,550. Weather Tech, 9205 Buttonwood Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. Jamie Russell, 4306 NW 53, storm shelter, install-

storm shelter, $2,500. Randell Ball, 709 Evening Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. Thomas Jester, 11212 Sturbridge Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. Mandeline Brosam, 2844 SW 78, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,400. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18501 Las Meninas Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,300. Maccini Construction, 535 NW 9, office, remodel, $2,150. Socorro Dominquez, 1625 SW 40, accessory, erect, $2,000. Veronica Valdez, 5404 Monte Drive, storage, erect, $1,900. Debra Blount, 632 SW 51, canopy-carport, add-on, $1,883. Expert Services, 3005 Elmwood Ave., canopycarport, erect, $1,200. Le Huu Le, 4335 NW 12, canopy-carport, add-on, $1,095. Joseph R. Bierschenk, 5700 NE 107, residence, add-on, $1,000.

Demolitions Crosby Construction, 16401 S Westminster Road, residence. Kendall Concrete, 3517 NW 21, garage. Bill’s Hauling, 1236 SW 37, residence. Bill’s Hauling, 1236 SW 37, residence. Kendall Concrete, 1708 NW 9, shed. Crosby Construction, 3144 NW 27, garage. M&M Concrete & Wrecking Inc., 8225 SW 15.

Creative storage solutions keep everything in its place BY ERIN WISDOM St. Joseph News-Press

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Perhaps you’ve purged your home of unnecessary items as part of your spring cleaning. Now, it’s time to find places for what’s left. The good news is that solutions might be right in front of your face. “A lot of times, people don’t utilize the space they have,” said Lisa Doyle, of Angel On My Shoulder Professional Organizing Consultants. For example, shelves that are too high to be easily reached often also aren’t used — at least not as efficiently as they could be. Doyle recommends putting them to better use by placing baskets on them to hold items; that way, you can pull the baskets down to reach what’s inside of them, which makes it more feasible to put more on the shelves. Another inexpensive storage option Doyle suggests are photo storage boxes. In addition to being more decorative than similarly sized shoe boxes, they have a built-in spot for labels, as well. Similarly, over-the-door shoe holders also can be repurposed. Doyle recommends buying the kind with clear pockets and using them for small items that don’t have a place elsewhere.

Outdoors, creating storage space is often a bigger job. But plenty of options exist in the form of sheds, which come in a variety of materials and sizes. The Home Depot offers a guide on its website for choosing a storage building and notes that, in terms of materials, there are several factors to consider. Metal offers an economical choice and may be composed of materials ranging from galvanized to vinyl-coated steel. Vinyl requires a little larger up-front investment, but its surface won’t peel, and it provides strong resistance to both rust and rot. Wooden sheds are attractive but must be coated with sealers and preservatives to prevent rot and to protect them from ultraviolet rays. Beyond this, it’s important to have in mind what size of shed you need. Marva Howard, who works in the lawn and garden department of Lowe’s in St. Joseph, said that among the sheds available are 10-by-14-foot and 10-by-10-foot metal sheds and 7-by-7.5-foot plastic sheds. In addition, an option for people not needing quite this much outdoor storage are deck boxes such as one at Lowe’s that measures 24 inches by 60 inches by 25 inches. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES