The Oklahoman Real Estate by OPUBCO Communications Group

LISTING OF THE WEEK

HOUSE PLAN

New home Welcoming in Mustang’s design and welcoming, the Hunters Glen Open Fern View’s front porch The Listing of the Week is a new home in Mustang’s Hunters Glen addition.

spans the front facade of this ranch-style home.

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REAL ESTATE

Barry Stone

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

STATE GREEN BUILDING SUMMIT TARGETS REALTORS, BUILDERS

INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE

PRO KEEPS NO SECRETS No home inspector with a healthy understanding of the profession would deny homebuyers the right to attend their own inspection. PAGE 7F

IN BRIEF

PARADE OF HOMES SET

Steve Shoemaker of Ideal Homes shows netting on exterior walls that will be filled with blown insulation at 808 Carolyn Ridge Road in Norman. Many of the elements that make a house “green” can’t be seen after the house is built. Builders plan to explain what goes into a green house Sept. 27-28 at the Green Building Summit. PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN BY DYRINDA TYSON

AT A GLANCE

Special Correspondent dyrinda@gmail.com

Simon Shingleton remembered the feeling as he looked over the results of an energy audit on his Quail Creek home last year. “It made me sick to know how much air was coming in from the outside of my house,” said Shingleton, a sales associate with Keller Williams Realty in Oklahoma City. “So many allergens — and then just heat and cold — how much was being lost through the holes that I had in my walls and my windows.” Green and energy efficiency can be elusive concepts, even for people who analyze a home’s potential every day. “A lot of times green features are hard to recognize because they’re behind the walls,” said Sarah Bytyqi, who heads the Oklahoma City Metro Association of Realtors’ Green Resource Council. “You can’t see them.” Homebuilders hope to shed some light on the subject this year

Green Summit set

Stone-wrapped steel shingles by Elliott Roofing give a green feature to Chris Wright’s house at 2329 NW 55. PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

during the third annual Oklahoma Green Building Summit, set for Sept. 27-28 at the Reed Center in Midwest City. The event will include “Sticks and Bricks,” a class geared especially toward real estate agents and others in sales. “It’s really to bring them in, catch them up to the standards of what green building, energy-effi-

cient building really is,” said summit Chairman Todd Booze of Norman-based Ideal Homes. “It’s an exciting opportunity for us.” Booze will teach the class with Kelly Parker of Guaranteed Watt Saver Systems Inc., an Oklahoma City energy-auditing firm. The Realtors group is returning the favor, joining the Oklahoma

I The 2011 Oklahoma Green Building Summit is set for Sept. 27-28 at the Reed Center in Midwest City. I For more information or to register, go online to www.okgreenbuilding summit.com or call the Oklahoma State Home Builders Association at 843-5579. I For more information on the Oklahoma City Metro Association of Realtors’ Green Resource Council, go online to www.gogreenokc. com.

State Home Builders Association and the Association of Energy Engineers in sponsoring the event. The groups joined forces for the first time shortly after last year’s summit when green council SEE GREEN, PAGE 2F

Right-size home is challenge for empty-nesters Once their children have left the nest, many baby boom-era homebuyers rethink their housing plans. And compared with their parents’ generation, more boomers plan to redesign their lifestyles for their retirement years. “This generation is demanding more housing choices. Most older people want to downsize, to live in a smaller, more efficient and precise way. But others still yearn for that big dream house,” said Ken Dychtwald, an expert on trends related to the aging baby boomer population. In an uncertain economy, financial issues have slowed the pace of housing change for many homeowners. But although many would-be retirees have postponed their housing plans, they haven’t surrendered them. “They’re comfortable

Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES

with change and moving. So they continue to weigh their options for redesigning their lives,” said Dychtwald, author of “Age Wave” and other books focused on boomer trends. Are you and your spouse planning to buy a home for your retirement years? If so, these pointers could prove useful: I Take into account your preferences and those of your partner. If you’re expecting to retire and live on a limited, fixed income, you may have no choice but to downsize to a smaller, less

expensive home. But if you’ve accumulated more substantial retirement funds, you and your spouse likely have more housing alternatives open to you. And that means you may need to reconcile differences of opinion. Rosemary McMonigal, a residential architect who’s advised clients for 27 years, recommends that couples create priority lists and consider each other’s housing preferences. If you and your spouse disagree on how large a home to buy for retirement, McMonigal suggests you let go of preconceptions about the rightsize home and find a way to accommodate both your needs. I Try to avoid buying a retirement property with superfluous rooms. Beginning in the 1980s, McMonigal said, home-

buyers “pushed for bigger spaces; the roomier the better.” But she believes it’s wise for homebuyers to target a property that meets their realistic wants and needs, rather than some fantasy picture. She said buyers should question the common notion that a home should have multiple dining areas, including a formal dining room, an in-kitchen eating area with stools and an informal dining room off the kitchen. McMonigal also suggested you challenge the common assumption that you should have a dedicated media room and a huge master suite complete with a spacious master bathroom and an adjoining sitting room. I Look for a floor plan within a large home that will prove comfortable. Would you prefer to

downsize in retirement but have agreed with your spouse to buy a large property? In that case, Ashley Richardson, a veteran real estate agent affiliated with the Council of Residential Specialists, recommends you seek a home that seems intimate despite its large size. To find a large home where you’ll feel comfortable, she suggests you avoid a property with a two-story atrium or ceilings that soar 10 feet or higher. Likewise, avoid a home with an oversized formal living room you’re unlikely to often use. Instead, she suggests you look for a place with a relatively large family room where you can dine and entertain. Email Ellen James Martin at ellenjames martin@gmail.com. UNIVERSAL UCLICK

Six neighborhoods will be featured in the 2011 Parade of Homes Oct. 15-23, organized by the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association and sponsored by Womble Co., the state Pella window distributor. Kurt Dinnes and Kenyon Woods are co-chairmen of the parade, which will feature 116 new homes open free to the public from 1 to 7 p.m. daily. Metro-area neighborhoods featured are Williamson Farms, Ponderosa Farms, Parke Place, Rose Creek Estates, Iron Horse and Settlers Ridge. Parade of Homes magazines with photos, maps and information on each home will be available at Best Buy locations. Homes, maps and information also will be available on any smart phone on the 2012 Parade of Homes app.

DISCOLORATION BLAMED ON SOFTNER Q: I have been experiencing iron discoloration of my dishes and glassware lately, and I also notice iron stains in the shower and the toilet bowl. We have well water and use RedOut salt in the water softener. The water seems fine as to the level of softness. Both the water softener and water heater are 20 years old. Is one of them to blame? A: Plumbers agreed the problem is with the water softener. Water heater tanks are lined to prevent corrosion. So if the tank were rusted through, it would also be leaking. The water softener should remove iron, and it’s obviously not doing its job. A water softener should last about 20 years, so it’s probably just time for yours to be replaced. FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

INDEX Permits Handy

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Left: Steve Shoemaker of Ideal Homes shows backing board on dropdown ceilings and insulation in the attic at 808 Carolyn Ridge Road in Norman. PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN

Green: Information easier to find FROM PAGE 1F

members approached the builders group, asking for help in revising the metro Realtors’ Multiple Listing Service to better reflect a home’s green and energy-efficient elements. Booze, who is president of construction for Ideal Homes, and Enid builder David Ritchie pitched in to come up with suggestions to revise the MLS search fields to reflect green and energyefficient technologies going into homes. “What basically we talked about were things that, if you’re looking for green buildings, what are several things that most all buildings that are green would have in common,” Ritchie recalled. Those changes began rolling out in July, and they should all be in place this month. The Realtors group is also pouring its newfound knowledge into www.gogreen okc.com. Bytyqi, founder and managing broker at Verbode, an Oklahoma City firm specializing in green and energy-efficient properties, said she envisions the site as a resource for agents and consumers alike. Short videos, for example, will illustrate what the new MLS search fields cover with local examples. “There’s lots and lots and lots of information out there, and it changes so rapidly,” Bytyqi said. The site also will help connect customers with the right people for their projects. “It’s hard to find tradesmen that are skilled in greening or builders that are building green,” Bytyqi said. The effort has evolved into the “Sticks and Bricks” class, Booze said, because the real estate agents originally “didn’t understand all the components in actually building a house.” When it comes to green building, Booze said builders face two issues. “The first challenge is to get people in our industry to understand what it is, and for our side, how to build it,” he said. “On (the real estate agents’) side, what does it mean and how do you sell it?” An important part of the lesson is dispelling the effects of “greenwash,” the notion that adding a few green products such as recycled carpet pads to a home makes the home “green,” Booze said. “What we’re trying to get people to understand is that the products are just one piece of it, a very small piece of it,” he said. “It’s just as critical from the workmanship construction side of how you go about building the home as it is the few products you buy that are green products in the home.” The interest apparently is there. By early September, 150 people had already registered. “That is pretty extraordinary because normally all your registrations come in during the last 10 days,” Booze said. And this won’t be the last joint effort between builders and agents, Booze said, not with the public increasingly seeking more efficiency in their homes. “We’re looking forward to working together for years to come, and helping each other out,” he said.

Foam insulation is placed in holes where wiring passes through exterior walls in this house by Ideal Homes at 808 Carolyn Ridge Road in Norman. PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN

Green features in a house by Ideal Homes include plastic vent panels under the roof and reflective material. PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN

The Brownstones at Maywood Park near downtown Oklahoma City have green features including the use of Insulating Concrete Forms, geothermal heating and cooling and construction on infill lots in an urban core, not a farflung suburb. PHOTO BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

REAL ESTATE

HOUSE PLAN

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

COMMENTARY

Sleep expert helps us rest easy at night BY MARY BETH BRECKENRIDGE Akron Beacon Journal

Fern View appeals to young families and empty nesters Open and welcoming, the Fern View’s front porch spans the front facade of this contemporary ranch-style home. Slender posts provide graceful accents. Having a basically rectangular footprint makes this home economical to build, heat and maintain. For young families, this makes a stunning starter home. For empty nesters it promises lower maintenance chores and costs without any downsizing of lifestyles. It could be furnished with three bedrooms or have two bedrooms and a study-home office, whichever suits. Light spills into the vaulted entry though a sidelight plus a row of panes near the top of the door. A coat closet is on the left, just before the entry hall angles off in that direction. Double doors open into a windowbright room that could be a bedroom, home office or study. Continue to the left and you step into the kitchen; going straight ahead brings you to the vaulted great room, after passing the bedroom and bathroom on the right. Linen and towel closets are tucked into alcoves there. Light washes into the vaulted great room through wide windows that fill most of the rear wall, plus the slender windows flanking the fireplace. Sliding glass doors in the dining area open on-

For young families, this makes a stunning starter home. For empty nesters it promises lower maintenance chores and costs without any downsizing of lifestyles. It could be furnished with three bedrooms or have two bedrooms and a study-home office, whichever suits. to a wide patio. Standing at the kitchen sink, you can look out across the raised eating bar into the great room, keep your eye on the patio or enjoy watching seasonal changes outside. All appliances are built in, and a roomy walk-in pantry fills one corner. Laundry appliances are stacked right around the corner in the Fern View’s

pass-through utility room, which provides access to the garage. The owners suite is surprisingly luxurious for a home this size, with a spa tub, oversize shower and dual lavatories. A review plan of the Fern View 30-766, including floor plans, elevations, section, and artist’s conception, can be purchased for $25 online, by mail or phone. Add $5 shipping and handling. Associated Designs, 1100 Jacobs Drive, Eugene, OR, 97402. (800) 634-0123.

AKRON, Ohio — I’ve been lying down on the job. Last week I visited the Sleep Number store that opened recently in Bath Township, Ohio. I was there to check out what the new store has to offer and meet with Pete Bils, vice president of sleep innovation and clinical research for Select Comfort, the company that makes Sleep Number beds. That’s his official title, but he calls himself the Sleep Geek. “How’d you sleep last night?” he asked as he greeted me. It wasn’t really a personal question. It’s Bils’s business to study sleep and what keeps so many of us from it. On any given night, about one-third of American adults have trouble sleeping, he said. Although the optimum night’s sleep is 7½ to 8 hours, the average is 6 hours and 40 minutes, and 20 percent of the population sleeps six hours or less. That’s contributing to a whole host of problems, from impaired driving to obesity, Bils said. When our brains are tired, we can’t react as fast, we can’t think as clearly, we don’t handle stressful situations well and we tend to overeat and choose unhealthful foods. Even musclememory skills such as learning to play the piano are hampered by poor sleep. Many factors affect how well we sleep, and your bed is only one of them. But it’s one that’s fairly easy to control, Bils noted. I’m not here to shill for Sleep Number. Bed comfort is a highly individualized matter, and no single product fits everyone. But I will say the company takes sleep comfort very seriously, from its test mattress equipped with sensors to help customers find their optimum firmness level to its customizable pillows and heatdispelling bedding fabric. I laid on that test mattress and watched as a computer image showed the pressure on my body easing and increasing with the amount of air in the chambers inside the mattress. I would have sworn before that experience that I preferred a firm mattress, but the testing indicated otherwise. And seeing as how I wasn’t exactly

eager to get up when it was finished, the results were probably right. Choosing the right bed is important because pain or discomfort can disrupt sleep, Bils said. Other steps can help you get a good night’s sleep.

Sleep expert’s advice

I Darken the bedroom as much as possible. Even a small amount of light can get into your optical system and disrupt your sleep, even when your eyes are closed. But what if you’re like me and find it hard to wake in a dark room? Bils said that as soon as you rise, you should get into the brightest light available. You might even invest in an alarm clock that awakens you gradually with light instead of sound. I Make the bedroom comfortable for sleeping. Ideal conditions are 65 degrees and 65 percent humidity. I One hour before bedtime, stop using devices with screens — TVs, computers, even cellphones and MP3 players. Screens on electronic devices emit a lot of blue light, which your pineal gland perceives as daylight, Bils explains. As long as it thinks it’s still daytime, the gland won’t secrete the melatonin that helps put you to sleep and keeps you sleeping soundly. Spend that time doing something else pleasurable, such as reading or listening to music, he suggested. I Stop drinking caffeine at noon. Your body needs plenty of time to metabolize the caffeine you ingest. Even after seven hours, only half that caffeine has been processed, he said. I Go to bed at the same time every night, even on weekends. I If you tend to lie awake obsessing about things that need to be done, get into the habit of spending a few minutes every evening thinking about the tasks ahead and doing what you can to prepare to move those tasks along. That could be as simple as making a to-do list, writing a reminder to yourself or making a notation in your planner. Do that an hour or two before bedtime, Bils said, and you’ll keep your brain from roiling over the issue. I’m going to try it. I just hope I don’t wake up in the middle of the night, worrying about whether I’ll remember. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Automation systems find place in the home BY MARIA CORTES GONZALEZ El Paso Times

Artist David Benn holds a painting of his mother’s toes at his eclectically-decorated home in Akron, Ohio. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

Ohio homeowner displays artistry BY KIM HONE-MCMAHAN Akron Beacon Journal

AKRON, Ohio — Cars routinely inch by David Benn’s home in Akron’s Kenmore area. Sometimes they come to a complete stop. The passengers gawk and point, but that’s exactly how Benn wants it. So don’t be shy about stopping out front and taking in the scenery. It’s a gala for the eyes. On the roof is a pair of mammoth fiberglass lips that serve as a chair to Kermit the Frog and a giant chicken head. There are signs advertising coney dogs and fresh eggs, bicycles galore, a very cool mailbox and a painting, by Benn, on the roof that offers a reward for his lost dog, Maggie. It seems that the pugbeagle mix that used to live on top of the house during daylight — and indoors at night — disappeared in early June. Benn suspects that someone who didn’t approve of Maggie’s rooftop resort kidnapped the pooch. “This is Camp David,” Benn tells visitors, swinging his arm over the landscape. The 62-year-old retired from Akron schools in November. For 36 years he taught art and readily jokes about what a kick it was to get paid for having fun. When Goodrich Middle School closed a couple of years ago, Benn moved some of the contents of his classroom into his living room and they are now piled beneath a chandelier fit for an estate. His ranch-style home is packed with loads of odds and ends. Beautiful paintings and a genre of funky artwork. What makes up the man is a mix of his surroundings — mostly fun with a bit of seriousness thrown in for good measure. Stuck to the mirror in his downstairs bathroom is a multitude of Post-it notes, scribbled with religious messages. “Overcome evil with God,” reads one, stuck to the mirror just a couple of feet away from a picture of Lady Gaga. The divorced father of three got his artistic ability from his late pop, Jack, who was a painter. Grandma, or granny as some called her, was Ellen Benn, a woman who was known as Kenmore High School’s No. 1 Fan — so much so that the football coach used to send someone to pick her up on game nights in a school bus. And on her 80th birthday, upward of 1,000 people showed up for a surprise party. During a recent visit to his home, Benn was sporting blue polish on his toenails. While on vacation last summer he bought his teenage daughter a how-to book about nail polishing. “Get out here and paint

Painted sunflowers cover the kitchen cabinets at artist David Benn’s home in Akron, Ohio. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

Kermit the Frog sits next to a chicken head on a lipsshaped sofa at David Benn’s house in Akron, Ohio. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

your daddy’s toenails,” he told her. She painted them purple with yellow flowers. “They looked so cool. It got people laughing. And I like to make people smile,” he said. Benn’s scenery paintings are extraordinary. Saying that though, there are plenty of offbeat pictures — like the one of his mother’s toenails, one foot painted black, the other red. He painted them Kenmore’s school colors when Granny was in the hospital. She died in 2006. When he was a student at Kenmore, Benn played football, where he was teammate to quarterback Don Plusquellic. Later, he received a scholarship to

West Virginia University where he played outside linebacker and majored in art. “Now, that’s an oxymoron,” teased his pal, Alan Fraser who was visiting from Ocracoke Island, N.C. “It’s kind of like — take your helmet off and paint a beautiful picture.” As far as his house, which sits on six city lots, he encourages people to swing by and take a look at his outdoor canvas, which routinely changes. “My house does what I want it to do,” he said. “I think that’s one of my mission’s in life — to slow people down.” And enjoy the scenery. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

EL PASO, Texas — Joshua Meyer feels good about his home’s security when he has to travel for business. With a touch of a button on his door handle, he can set the alarm throughout his east El Paso home. And once he’s gone, video cameras help keep an eye on the place. Yet when Meyer talks about the Vivint system, he admits he has more fun talking about the gadget side of wireless control systems. For many 30-somethings who have grown up with technology, discovering what they can do with a home automation system is as much fun or more fun than using it. And while safety is a reason for looking into these systems, it’s not the only one. Sometimes called smart technology, home technology has reached a point that makes it possible for people to control many aspects of their home — such temperature, fans, garage doors and indoor and outdoor lighting — from a simple remote keypad. For people with smart phones, which is an increasingly large population, the control is even closer — in their hand. Eric Reynolds, operations manager for Vivint in El Paso, said home automation makes sense for people who have grown up with technology at their fingertips. “People are more technology-friendly, and the computer systems are easy to use,” he said. Reynolds said he has

AT A GLANCE WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH SYSTEM I Check up on the baby sitter while at work, or your home while on vacation, through an Internetconnected video camera. I Adjust the thermostat while you lie in bed, or before you leave work for the day. I Heat the hot tub or turn on the oven on your cell before you leave work for the day. I Eliminate the need to walk around the house turning off lights before exiting the home or going to sleep, turn off all house lights with the touch of a single button. I Set a series of events for your morning routine, designate the thermostat to warm the room, have lights gradually increase intensity, ensure that the coffee begins brewing and the television turns on. I Program your security system to alert you through email or phone when the system detects activity in the home while you are away. I Organize and control every component of the home entertainment system — television, DVD, VCR and whole-house audio — with a single touch-screen remote from anywhere in the home. I See who is at the front door without leaving the comfort and safety of your couch through a display on your TV screen showing the visitor at the front door. I Control all scheduled tasks, such as watering the lawn and outdoor lighting with a simple computer program. I Ensure pets are automatically fed, provided new water and clean litter while you are away from home. SOURCE: SMARTHOME.COM

seen neighbors comparing systems over the fence. “It’s gotten where people brag about what they got,” he said, and then chuckled. “You can really customize it to your needs, from lights and thermostats to locks and sprinkler systems.” Representatives work with homeowners to create a package that suits their needs. Perhaps what makes these systems so appealing

is what they can do when no one is looking. “When you go on vacation, you may want to make it so that the lights come on at night. But you can buffer it so that it doesn’t come on at the exact time every night,” Reynolds said. By spring 2012, people should be able to use their iPhones or Android with the automation system. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

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REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

Reduced price brings sale for singer’s home BY LAUREN BEALE Los Angeles Times

Carl Harberger and his American Eskimo dog, Bently, walk by the solar heated pool and solar panels on the roof of the Harberger home in Chatworth, Calif. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

Thin panels power solar energy change BY SUSAN CARPENTER Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — Carl Harberger’s 6,000square-foot house in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles is equipped with six refrigerators, five TVs, a smattering of computers and a pool, among other things — enough to draw the wagging finger of the eco-minded if it were not for what Harberger has on his roof. By the end of the month, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power is expected to flip the switch on the home’s 24-kilowatt installation of thin-film solar panels, bringing to life what is believed to be the largest residential installation of its kind in the country. The thin-film panels generate about 50 percent less electricity per square foot and cost about 10 percent more than traditional photovoltaic panels, but the flexible film can handle curved surfaces and integrate less obtrusively into a home’s silhouette. It’s also lighter weight — an advantage in earthquake country — and unlike bulky bracketed panels, thin-film doesn’t need to be drilled into the roof, reducing the risk of leaks. Harberger’s installation will power not only his lighting, electronics and air conditioning, but also systems that would traditionally be juiced with natural gas.

Less gas used The thin film will heat all the water for the home and run the forced-air heating system as well as the clothes dryer and oven. “There are so many advantages to going all electric with very little natural gas,” Harberger said. Outside, natural gas powers a barbecue grill and an auxiliary heater for a shallow pool that is otherwise warmed by the sun or an electric heater. Inside, natural gas is used only for the kitchen cook top and a living room fireplace. Less natural gas indoors means fewer vents to shuttle carbon monoxide outside, resulting in a less cluttered exterior. Harberger, 49, designed the house, which sits on a quiet street frequented by trotting horses. He has been living in it for two years with his wife, two children and three dogs while planning the solar installation, which cost $160,000 before a city rebate of about $50,000. A federal tax credit will be about $30,000. The panels are made by Uni-Solar, based in Auburn Hills, Mich. Like most homeowners who go solar, Harberger considered the bulkier panels that are commonplace across the country. But the metal-sheet con-

LOS ANGELES — Christina Aguilera has sold her Sunset Strip-area house for $4,653,815. The Midcentury Modern, built in 1960, is in the celebrity-populated “bird streets.” The 6,500square-foot post-andbeam house has a recording studio, a screening room and walls of glass opening to a pool, a 12person spa and a fireplace. There are four bedrooms and seven bathrooms. “It’s a very specific house — really stylish but needs work,” said Peter Lavin of Links Real Estate, Hollywood. He represented buyer Carsten Fischer, a director and corporate senior executive officer for Tokyo-based Shiseido. Fischer offered $4.7 million for the house, and the sales price reflects discounts for repair credits. Aguilera, 30, is among the world’s best-selling recording artists with sales of more than 50 million records. The Grammy-winner’s hits include “Ain’t No Other Man,” “Beautiful” and “What a Girl Wants.” She is a coach on the TV singing competition “The Voice” (2011). Public records show the pop star bought the property in 2003 for $5 million. She had listed it originally in 2008 for close to $8 million.

Digs fit for a King Sunlight flows into the living room of Carl Harberger’s home in Chatsworth, Calif. The 6,000-square foot house is believed to be the country’s largest residential installation of thin-film solar panels. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

struction and curvature of his roof led him to UniSolar thin film. Mounted on the southern- and western-facing sections of the roof, the thin film can better handle seasonal differences in the sun’s patterns and maximize electricity generation. The uppermost portion of the panels will perform better in the summer; the

lowermost panels will do better in the winter. “Right now, our electricity use is balanced,” Harberger said, adding that his family will use as much electricity as it generates, on one condition. “If I can control my kids,” he said. “I tell them to watch the smallest TV possible.” MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

Former professional hockey player Russ Courtnall and his wife, actress Paris Vaughan, have listed their home in Thousand Oaks, Calif., for sale at $8.5 million. The Lake Sherwood house, completed in 2010, has 8,450 square feet on a single level. The modern

Christina Aguilera has sold her Sunset Strip-area house for $4,653,815. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

Mediterranean features two offices, a temperature-controlled wine cellar, a home theater and a master suite with dual bathrooms and dual closets. There are five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The 1.4 acres include an infinity pool. Courtnall, 46, started his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1983 and retired from the Los Angeles Kings in 1999. Vaughan, 50, appeared on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1992) and “The Wayans Bros.” (1995). She is the daughter of late jazz singer Sarah Vaughan. Public records show the couple bought the lot in 2008 for $2,375,000.

‘The It Girl’ owned it Update: A former home of silent film star Clara Bow has sold for $6,375,000. The Spanishstyle house in Bel-Air came on the market in early July at $6,995,000.

Built in 1928, the Moorish-influenced residence includes a courtyard, ballroom, rooftop deck, enclosed sleeping porches, six bedrooms and 7 ½ bathrooms across 8,900 square feet. A guesthouse with a bedroom and bathroom sits above the three-car garage for a total of 9,450 square feet of living space. At nearly three-quarters of an acre, the gated lot has a pool with a sun deck and a motor court. Bow, who died in 1965 at 60, was a flapper and sex symbol in the Roaring Twenties. Among her nearly five dozen film appearances were starring roles in the 1927 hits “Wings” and “It,” earning her the nickname “The It Girl.” The property was previously sold in 1991 for $2,475,000, public records show. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

LISTING OF THE WEEK

Granite countertops, wood floors featured The Listing of the Week is a new home in Mustang’s Hunters Glen addition. The 1,680-square-foot home at 558 Pine Rose Court Way has four bedrooms, two baths, one living-dining area and an attached three-car garage. Interior features include wood flooring, granite countertops, designer paint and stains and decorator hardware. The master bedroom has a walk-in

closet, whirlpool tub and tiled shower. The home has a covered patio, sod and landscaping. The home, built this year by J. Hill Homes, is listed for $170,950 by Susan Woodward of RE/ MAX Twin Rivers Real Estate. For more information, call 350-3031.

Left: The Listing of the Week is at 558 Pine Rose Court Way in Mustang. PHOTO PROVIDED

Nominations for Listing of the Week are welcome. Send information on single-family homes to The Oklahoman, Richard Mize, P.O. Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Nominations may be faxed to 475-3996.

Refacing cabinets is an option for kitchen update Left: This photo courtesy of Kitchen Magic shows Abe Abuchowski’s kitchen in Califon, N.J., after the cabinets were refaced. The kitchen in Abuchowski’s home needed updating, but he didn’t want the expense of replacing the cabinets. So, he chose a less costly option: replacing the doors and covering the exposed parts with a matching veneer.

BY CAROLE FELDMAN Associated Press

The kitchen in Abe Abuchowski’s Califon, N.J., home needed updating, but he didn’t want the expense of replacing the cabinets. So he chose a less costly option. “The old cabinets were in really good shape,” he said. “They were high-quality cabinets, solid wood. It was the doors that really needed to be replaced.” Replacing the doors and covering the cabinets’ remaining exposed parts with a matching veneer can be done for about half the cost of buying new, said Kit Selzer, senior remodeling and projects editor at Better Homes and Gardens. The process is called refacing. Abuchowski said there’s another advantage to refacing. “There’s a minimum amount of disruption,” he said. “It’s a simpler and quicker installation,” agreed Brett Bacho, president of Kitchen Magic, the company that did Abuchowski’s kitchen. Bacho said that refacing cabinets typically can be completed in three to five days. For refacing to be a viable option, however, the cabinets must be in good shape. “If we had bad cabinets, just putting the new fronts on them wasn’t actually where we wanted to go,” said Claudia Phelps, who had the cabinets in her Washington, D.C., home refaced about 10 years ago. She said her cabinets were “very well built” and worth saving. Refacing also might not be a good choice if you want to do major changes to your kitchen’s layout. “You do nothing to improve the function or the convenience of the kitchen,” said David Alderman, owner of Dave’s Cabinets in Chesapeake, Va. Nor, he noted, does refacing increase storage. It is possible, however, to add cabinets that match the refaced ones. Both Abuchowski and Phelps did that. Many people also choose to replace their countertops at the same time the cabinets are refaced. That, obviously, adds to the cost. Cabinet companies say it’s impossible to estimate the cost of refacing cabinets without seeing the kitchen and talking to the homeowner about the job. “We’ve refaced kitchens for as little as $4,000 to $5,000, and for as much as $80,000,” Bacho said. Doors can be made of a variety of woods, for example, such as cherry, oak or maple, or of an engineered material like laminate, including some that look like wood. Abuchowski chose a laminate. “It’s very easily cleaned and it will stay looking newer longer,” he said. In refacing, the cabinet doors are removed, and the sides and exterior face of the cabinet are prepared for the veneer covering. After that covering is mea-

AP PHOTO

This photo courtesy of Kitchen Magic shows Abe Abuchowski’s kitchen in Califon, N.J., before the cabinets were refaced. AP PHOTO

sured and applied, the new doors — made to fit the existing cabinets — are installed. Some companies replace the full drawers, others just the front. But the inside of the cabinet usually is not changed during the refacing process. “You could definitely paint the inside to go along with the outside,” Selzer said. She advises going with a professional unless you’re a very skilled do-it-yourselfer. For those who want to try it themselves, there are how-to videos on YouTube or step-by-step instructions on the Web. Otherwise, many companies do refacing, from big ones like Sears to smaller ones like the one Alderman owns. Of course, there is an even cheaper way to give the cabinets a fresh look. “Virtually any cabinet can be painted,” Selzer said. “It just takes the right product to do it.” She said there are kits on

the market that provide the materials you need, from preparation to stain to glaze, along with stepby-step instructions. “Really what you want to do is be patient with it and give yourself time,” she said. That means giving each coat enough time to dry. When people paint cabinets, Selzer said, they are likely to choose white. “For new cabinetry,” she said, “people are looking for the wood look.” A good reason to paint, she said, is for the enjoyment of a fresh-looking kitchen. Upgrading cabinets, either by replacing or refacing them, can make your house more marketable if you’re considering selling it. “Just a few years ago,” Selzer said, “people were buying houses with rundown kitchens knowing they were going to replace them. Now there’s a little more conservative attitude about it. People look for a kitchen and a house that has move-in qualities.”

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

Home inspector’s secrecy raises concerns DEAR BARRY: When we purchased our house, the home inspector didn’t want us to attend the inspection. He simply mailed us the report, but we never got to meet him. Since moving in, we’ve found defects that were not reported to us, and now we feel that our presence at the inspection should have been allowed. Among the undisclosed problems were ungrounded outlets (discovered later by our contractor) and several safety issues with our forced-air furnace (discovered by the man from the gas company). Not being allowed at the inspection should have been a red flag. After all, we paid for the inspection. Why shouldn’t

Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE

we have been there?

Ben DEAR BEN: No home inspector with a healthy understanding of the profession would deny homebuyers the right to attend their own inspection. There is simply no excuse for such a ban. You paid the home inspector’s fee, and for this, you had every right to be there, to ask him questions, to learn, first hand, what he observed at the home.

Inspectors who bar their clients from attendance have no concept of the service business they are in and should either reevaluate their professional function or find another way to make a living. It’s a matter of attitude, of realizing that the purpose of the inspection is to provide buyers with a thorough understanding of the condition of the property they are buying. The home inspector is the buyers’ private consultant and advocate. That should be the essential approach. Without it, all other aspects of the inspection become suspect, particularly the thoroughness of disclosure. Qualified home in-

spectors routinely test accessible wall outlets and report when they are not grounded. Failure to note such an obvious and common defect is a sign of professional negligence. Additionally, various defects involving the safety of a forced-air furnace are commonly reported by qualified home inspectors, as these can significantly affect the safety of occupants. If you were represented by a real estate agent, that agent was equally at fault for not ensuring your attendance at the inspection. Real estate professionals typically arrange for their buyers either to attend the home inspection or at least meet with the inspector at the end of the inspec-

tion for a full review of the findings. For this reason, representation by a competent, ethical agent or broker is vitally important. The unanswered question now is, “How many additional defects remain to be discovered and disclosed?” This uncertainty can only be resolved by hiring another home inspector — someone who is thorough, experienced, and well known for competent professionalism. DEAR BARRY: Construction is nearly completed on our new home, but we’re concerned about the windows. We ordered low-E glass, the windows that filter out heat rays from the sun. We paid extra for this, but we’re not convinced

that’s what we got. The contractor assures us these are the right windows, but we want to be absolutely sure. What should we do? Cliff DEAR CLIFF: If you have doubts about the windows, contact the window manufacturer for clarification. Window companies typically have field representatives who investigate possible problems involving the contractors who install their products. Upon request, they should send someone to the site to ensure that all of their products are properly installed and functional. To write to Barry Stone, please visit him on the web at www.house detective.com. ACTION COAST PUBLISHING

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

‘Showhouse Showdown’ watch party planned BY STAFF REPORTS

MOORE — Home Creations will play host to a watch party at Warren Theatres, 1000 Telephone Road, for an episode of HGTV’s “Showhouse Showdown” that featured two Home Creations houses with two interior designers competing to create the best design on time and on budget. Admission is free but tickets must be reserved. Several prizes will also be given out at the screening at 9 p.m. Sept. 26. Details can be found at www.homecreations. com/showhouseshow down, and tickets can be reserved at www. facebook.com/home creations. On June 26, more than 400 people congregated in northwest Oklahoma City’s Montague addition as HGTV revealed the two show houses and votes were cast for the favorite design. “The most unique decorating features were items such as a tin ceiling, unusual paint techniques, contemporary light fixtures and cabinet treatments,” said Anita Wagoner, sales and marketing director for Home Creations. “We picked up some new ideas that we will be able to offer our customers if they choose to upgrade their homes.” The two homes, south of NW 164 between MacArthur and Rockwell, are available for the public to view and purchase. The winner has been determined but the results will be revealed when the “Showhouse Showdown” episode airs at 9 p.m. Sept. 26.

Left: People wait to tour 16112 Capulet Drive, built by Home Creations, during the recording of HGTV’s “Showhouse Showdown” on June 26. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Sharon Trout and Tanya Barngrover look over the kitchen of 16112 Capulet Drive, built by Home Creations, during the filming of HGTV’s “Showhouse Showdown” in the Montague addition. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Julie Johnson is interviewed in a house built by Home Creations at 16113 Capulet Drive in northwest Oklahoma City during the recording of HGTV’s “Showhouse Showdown” on June 26. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Permits Oklahoma City TMP Architects, 100 NE 150, bank, erect, $1,046,610. Sanders Development, 5500 N Portland Ave., office, erect, $700,000. DCW Investments LLC, 2145 SW 104, restaurant, erect, $500,000. Lingo Construction Services, 123 Robert S Kerr Ave., office, remodel, $463,620. Vintage Dwellings LLC, 15717 Val Court, residence, erect, $450,000. Norr Architects, 6410 SW 3, restaurant, remodel, $430,000. The Roberts Group, 16345 Scotland Way, residence, erect, $420,000. MacArthur Crossing Boomerang OKC LLC, 13408 N MacArthur Blvd., automotive repair-wash, erect, $400,000. Apollo Building Systems, 2704 NE 24, church, add-on, $350,000. Paradise Shops, 7100 Terminal Drive, retail sales, remodel, $340,000. Justice Homes Inc., 15412 Meadow Vista Drive, residence, erect, $304,000. Denise Patterson Custom Homes, 5600 NW 163 Terrace, residence, erect, $300,000. Terry Covey Custom Homes, 9308 NW 99 Circle, residence, erect, $300,000. Witt Construction Inc., 701 NW 15, residence, remodel, $300,000. Jason Powers Homes, 9210 W Wilshire Blvd., residence, erect, $300,000.

Landmark Fine Homes LP, 18300 Orozco Circle, residence, erect, $293,000. Paradise Shops, 7100 Terminal Drive, retail sales, remodel, $276,000. Airport Trust, 7100 Terminal Drive, retail sales, remodel, $254,000. TLP Custom Homes LLC, 1505 SW 133, residence, erect, $250,000. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 12112 Dornick Drive, residence, erect, $247,000. Airport Trust, 7100 Terminal Drive, retail sales, remodel, $243,000. Ron James Designer Homes LLC, 6525 Chelsey Lane, residence, erect, $230,000. Joe Roberts Construction Co., 5208 NW 117, residence, erect, $225,000. Woodland Homes LLC, 3409 Wayfield Ave., residence, erect, $225,000. Ripple Creek Homes LLC, 15509 Park Lake Road, residence, erect, $220,000. Owens (Ray) Homes LLC, 17308 Parkgrove Drive, residence, erect, $216,650. Maple Ridge Homes LLC, 9205 SW 30 Terrace, residence, erect, $200,000. Steve White, 16772 Little Leaf Lane, residence, erect, $200,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 3101 NW 192 Terrace, residence, erect, $200,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 2400 NW 155, residence, erect, $200,000. Trinity Group Archi-

tects, 3909 N Classen Blvd., office, remodel, $200,000. The RLA Co. Inc., 8909 NW 71, residence, erect, $200,000. Rice Custom Homes LLC, 19512 Fieldshire Drive, residence, erect, $199,000. Vesta Homes Inc., 9005 Misty Lane, residence, erect, $195,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 4805 Millstone Drive, residence, erect, $190,000. Woodland Homes LLC, 3400 Wayfield Ave., residence, erect, $190,000. Timber Craft Homes LLC, 11133 NW 5 Terrace, duplex, erect, $186,157. Timber Craft Homes LLC, 11137 NW 5 Terrace, duplex, erect, $186,157. Brass Brick III LLC, 3404 NW 164 Terrace, residence, erect, $185,000. M.D. Merryfield Inc., 2013 Sycamore Creek Ave., residence, erect, $185,000. Brass Brick III LLC, 3325 NW 163, residence, erect, $180,000. Brass Brick III LLC, 3420 NW 163, residence, erect, $177,000. M.D. Merryfield Inc., 2009 Sycamore Creek Ave., residence, erect, $175,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 2332 NW 155, residence, erect, $175,000. Paul Methvin Homes Inc., 8901 Estelle Manor Circle, residence, erect, $162,000. Brass Brick III LLC, 3336 NW 163, residence, erect, $161,000. Vesta Homes Inc., 606 Rev J.A. Reed Jr. Ave., residence, erect, $160,000. DDDD LLC, 14000 N Portland Ave., medical

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

clinic-office, remodel, $160,000. Persona Homes LLC, 5133 NW 18 Terrace, residence, erect, $150,000. Mashburn Faires Homes LLC, 3112 SW 141, residence, erect, $144,000. J. Bentley Developments LLC, 6420 Bent Wood Drive, residence, erect, $142,000. Two Structures LLC, 9029 NW 93 Circle, residence, erect, $135,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 7708 Sunny Pointe Lane, residence, erect, $130,000. PFDA Architects Inc., 13726 N Pennsylvania Ave., retail sales, remodel, $125,000. American Building Contractors & Developers LLC, 3308 Canton Trail, residence, erect, $120,000. American Building Contractors & Developers LLC, 3304 Canton Trail, residence, erect, $120,000. City of Oklahoma City, 105 N Hudson Ave., pedestrian walkway, remodel, $117,600. Home Creations, 11301 NW 100, residence, erect, $114,900. Young Contracting, 300 SW 7, remodel, remodel, $101,000. Foster Design & Construction LLC, 3425 NW 163, residence, erect, $99,900. Idgroup, 6900 Northwest Expressway, office, remodel, $98,111. Foster Design & Construction LLC, 3400 NW 164 Terrace, residence, erect, $96,180. Foster Design & Construction LLC, 3520 NW 163 Terrace, residence, erect, $96,180. Home Creations, 11208

NW 100, residence, erect, $94,800. Home Creations, 11212 NW 100, residence, erect, $94,300. Foster Design & Construction, 3421 NW 163, residence, erect, $90,420. David Giasson Construction Inc., 1109 NW 55, residence, add-on, $90,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18609 Agua Drive, residence, erect, $90,000. USA Shade & Fabric Structures Inc., 1030 W Interstate 240 Service Road, canopy-carport, erect, $89,355. Foster Design & Construction LLC, 3413 NW 163, residence, erect, $88,440. USA Shade & Fabric Structures Inc., 1030 W I-240 Service Road, canopy-carport, erect, $81,700. Foster Design & Construction LLC, 3436 NW 164 Terrace, residence, erect, $80,800. Foster Design & Construction LLC, 3417 NW 163, residence, erect, $80,800. USA Shade & Fabric Structures Inc., 1030 W I-240 Service Road, canopy-carport, erect, $80,105. Neal McGee Homes, 1010 SW 84, 19 permits for residence, erect, $80,000. USA Shade & Fabric Structures Inc., 1030 W I-240 Service Road, three permits for canopy-carport, erect, $79,000. Trinity Group Architects, 14943 Bristol Park Blvd., office-warehouse, remodel, $75,000. Traywick Construction, 608 NW 9, medical clinic-office, remodel, $75,000.

Joe Gitthens, 2501 W Memorial Road, business, remodel, $70,000. LRC Construction, 25 NW 6, parking, install, $50,000. Silvercliffe Construction Co., 825 NW 58, shell building, remodel, $50,000. TAP, 3816 S Robinson Ave., public building, remodel, $50,000. USA Shade & Structures, 13801 Wireless Way, canopy-carport, erect, $41,500. TAP, 3301 NW Grand Blvd., recreation center, remodel, $40,000. Linda Moisant, 3308 SE 89, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $35,000. City of Oklahoma City, 3916 S Lindsay Ave., recreation center, remodel, $32,000. Joe Covey, 1232 SW 89, office, remodel, $25,000. Maria Moran, 9233 Lakeside Drive, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $22,000. Neal McGee Homes, 1010 SW 84, office, erect, $20,000. Mitch Harris Construction, 5300 SE 89, church, install, $20,000. Mitch Harris Construction, 5300 SE 89, church, install, $20,000. AT&T Mobility, 4403 SW 36, tower-antenna, install, $20,000. Ricardo Barrientos, 14801 S Western Ave., add-on, add-on, $18,000. TAP, 7800 Melrose Lane, recreation center, remodel, $18,000. Linda Vest, 3721 SW 23 Place, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $17,000. Richard Tyra II, 13500 SEE PERMITS, PAGE 10F

Commercial RE

GREENER PASTURES AT ELBOW RANCH! 3,500 acres for sale near Branson, MO. $1,350/acre. 35 ponds. Year-round creeks. Many seasonal creeks. Water & mineral rights. 3 & 5 wire fenced. Rustic ranch house. Contact Amy Slay 417-559-3170 www.elbowranch.com

Homes For Sale PIEDMONT OPEN SAT 2-4 & SUN 2-5. Model home. New hms on K ac lots. Info also available for new hms in other additions. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N. Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 1N to 10A, E. of OKC, pay out dn. before 1st pmt. starts, many are M/H ready over 400 choices, lg trees, some with ponds, TERMS Milburn o/a 275-1695 paulmilburnacreages.com OWNER FINANCING 1-28 Acres Many Locations Call for maps 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com Norman: Extra Sharp 2bd Home w/1car garage, tastefully decorated, ch/a, park like O acre lot, nice area, only $93,900! Fidelity RE 692-1661, 410-4200

309.9

FSBO, 2 bd, 1 ba, ch&a, on 3 lots, zoned commercial, $65K, 615 W 2nd, 620-5451 or 341-7127.

OWNER FINANCING $2000 down No Credit Ck 208 W Ercoupe 2/1 $49K 596-4599 » 410-8840

Call for Maps! See why we sell more acreages than anyone in Okla. E of OKC. o/a 275-1695 10 ac SE of T-Bird Lake, big trees, owner finance, 360-6586 or 590-4367

Open House, Sat & Sun, 11-3, 2101 Oak Vista Cir, 4 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, $121,500, 405-217-9862.

301 NE 61st St. ¡ $95,000 1370sf, 3bd, 2ba, 2liv, 2car Emery Realty 405-921-6606

Farms, Ranches For Sale, Okla. 308

320 Acre Ranch For Sale

South Pott. Co. FSBO 320 acres Live water every 40 acres, fenced pasture, good hay, large barn & shop, lots of deer, quail, turkey & dove, 2500 sq.ft. MOL 3 bed/2 bath brick. Lg indoor cellar. Will not divide. No agents please. (405)659-1585. $800,000 HUNTERS DREAM 160Ac. Prime, secluded. 2 insulated barns, 2 wat wells, pond. Deer/Turkey galore! 405-641-8542 1,390 acres Range Land, 1K mi. River frontage, Excellent hunting. Greer County, 580-706-0085

2.6 AC MOL 4bd 3ba horse ready w/stg barn $199,000 Marian Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

Brick 3bd, huge lot, hardwood flrs, + block bonus building, 9504 NE 46 $26500cash 405-301-6495

3bd 2ba loads of stg approx 1912' $153,000 Marian 850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

Suburban, NE

(Luther, McLoud, Meeker, Wellston, 331 etc.)

AUCTION

$25,000 Opening Bid

Sun Oct 2nd, 2 pm 329277 E Hwy 66 Luther, OK Open Houses: Sep 18 & 25 2–4 pm. 2,425 Sq ft on 16.29 Acres & pond, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Brick, Granite, 30’x40’ metal building, more details at web site. Terms: 10% Down day of Auction, Close in 30 days. Directions: From Edmond, I-35N & Hwy 66, East on Hwy 66, 17 miles to property.

bidloud.com Open Sunday 2-4, 2813 Camelot Drive, 3 bed, 2K bath, 949-9898. ARBORS townhouse w/lakeview 3bd 2ba $129,000 Marian 8507654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 GATED ENTRY Deer Creek schls 3bd w/office 2 din approx 1850' $160,600 Marian 8507654 Cleaton & Assoc

2bed House E. of Harrah 2K A, small barn. TERMS Milburn o/a 275-1695 3 bd, 3 ba, indoor pool, 2 beautiful ac, Blanchard, $198,900, 834-3874.

1.1 AC MOL 4bd 2.5ba approx 2400' $250,000 Marian 850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

Country Home & Acreage

SE 164th & Air Depot, extra nice 5 acre corner building lot with pond, excellent area. A steal at $59,900! Fidelity Real Estate 692-1661, 410-4300 BANK OWNED Log Home Updated 4/2.5, 2763sf, blt 05, 2acres $199.9k, MWC Sch. Rlty Experts414-8753

1 AC MOL 3bd + office & media rm, storm shelt approx 3100' $319,900 Marian 850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

Great area in Moore Schls. Large 3 bd, 2 ba, Looks like New! Owner financing avail. w/ good credit or bad. Swimming pool, newly remodeled. Payments as low as $850/$900mo w/ large down pymt 405-570-4291

Beautiful home, Moore Schools, 4 bed, 2 bath + office $198,000 405-740-9574 by appt. OWNER FINANCING $2000 down No Credit Ck 2116 SW 31 3/1 $51,000 3208 SW 38 3/1 $49,000 524 SW 26 2/1 $500 dwn 596-4599 » 410-8840 Bank Owned nice 3/1.5/2 brick, 1239sf, storm cellar $69.9k RltyExprts 414-8753

918/639-7653 Keller Williams Realty Bid Loud Auctions

$5000 Towards Your New Home! You Pick the Home, You Pick the Lot! 9 MH Communities in SW/NW/SE (Moore) MWC/Choctaw. Call for Details 405.326.5728

About to Repossess Take up payments $389/mo. 3bd/2bth 405-324-8000

Top Dollar for UR Trade-In We buy mobiles Call 405-324-8010

REPO, REPO, REPO Singles,Double,Land/Home E-Z Financing 405-577-2884 Abandoned D/W set up on 5 acres. Brick foundation, driveway, ready to move in. Free phone application 405-631-7600 2010 Skyline, 3 Bed Never Lived In www.midstatehousing.com 405.527.5669 DEER CREEK SCHOOLS Fleetwood 27x44 on 1 ac. 3 spacious bed / 2 bath $28,000 ¡ 405-570-9547 Over 100 Repos on Land or 0 down w/your Land! WAC 866-764-3200,405-631-3200 3/2 Bath Repo set up in quiet park. Ready to move in Free phone app 631-7600 Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777

PIEDMONT OPEN SAT 2-4 & SUN 2-5. Model home. New hms on K ac lots. Info also available for new hms in other additions. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N. Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

Hunting Property

336.0

20 Acres on Charlie Creek $32,950, $950dn $298mo 15mi NE Sallisaw 745-5889

$100 lot rent for 6 months. Move Your Mobile Home FREE!

Or...$5000 towards a New Home. 9 Communities in NW, SW, SE (Moore), MWC, Choctaw...Offer Expires 7-31. Call for details 405.326.5728

Open House & End of Summer Blowout Sale This weekend only. Instant Rebates up to $10,000. Free food & drinks. Huge Savings! Zero Down if own land. Bad credit ok. 405-631-7600 WAC

High Traffic Volume Property 1225 N. Harrison Shawnee, Ok Property for sale, 100' frontage on N. Harrison Ave, 165' deep, Zoned Commerial. Traffic count over 15,000 per day. Good retail, Medical Office, Fast Food, General Office location. Flat lot could be ready for new construction immediately. $225,000 Mike Lodes 405-659-4092

Business Property For Rent 3000sf MOL Church Facility in Bethany - lots of seating, open space, parking available. Many different uses. Call Carole, 405-206-6134 Small Business/Storage 1250sqft, 28Wx50L, 14x14 O/H door, $500 month. 89th St. & I-35 S. OKC, 631-4447 Nichols Hills shopping center, 7608 N Western. 1200sf MOL, $930/mo. $930 dep. Call 370-1077 BEST PRICE FOR RETAIL SPACE¡4000sf only $1990 NW 50/Meridian 924-1622 New I-35 frontage bldg for rent: ofc/shop/whse, 1900sf $800mo 412-7665 CAR LOT at 1828 N. MacArthur 943-2250 or 642-2947

Office Space For Rent GREAT Office Space Various NW locations 300-6000sf 946-2516

Warehouse Space For Rent

AUCTION HOME ON 12+ ACRES 13771 MEMORIAL RD. WILSON, OK SAT. SEPT. 17 10:30 AM on Location For more information and terms go to our Web Site: www.ucwilsonrealty.com or contact: Kelly Wilson United Country Wilson Realty 580-222-6248 wilson@unitedcountry.com

1 bed $455

TOTALLY FURNISHED AND UNFURNISHED ALL BILLS PAID Rates starting at $800.00 month. First month FREE. Citadel Suites, 5113 N. Brookline 405-942-0016 www.citadel suites.com Including are the following: » » » » » » » » » » » » »

All Utilities Cable High speed internet Telephone Fully Equipped Kitchen Linens Free Laundry Business Center 2 Pools Free Movie Rental Breakfast Mon.-Fri. Social Hour Free Gym Passes

751-8088

$200 off

Houses for rent

1bd 1ba $350mo, stove, fridge, very clean 818-4089 •ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212» 3 bed, 1bath, 1 car gar. frig stove & micro., Sec. 8 okay. $725. 443-204-2070 »»»»»»»»»»»»» » SW All Bills Paid » » 1 bd From $550 Move» » 2 bd From $650 In» » 3 bd From $740 Today» » Open7days/wk681-7561» »»»»»»»»»»»» $99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $345 mo. 632-9849 Santee Apts. Sm. Eff $275 a month 1 bd $350 a month 408-5836 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077

Houses All Areas- Free List 4 bed from $595-1295 3 bed from $495-995 2 bed from $395-795 605-5477 2545 SW 59th 1920 Karen Dr 2/1 2208 Doris 2/1 681-7272

$425 $450

4 bed, 1.5 bath, New Paint, Sec. 8 Only No Pets. ¡ 672-0877 3 bed, 1.5 bath, ch&a $650+$500dep. 408-8394 3801 Mallard Dr.

924 Fox Ridge 4/3.5/3$2395 2805VeronaWy2/2.5/2$2495 2075RaineysBlvd4/3/3$1895 6302CedarCreek4/3/3$1795 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com

725K SW 34th, 1 bd apt, $350 rent, $350 deposit (405)517-7024/517-2043

3037 North Rockwell

$99 Move In Special!!! Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $345 to $420 mo. 632-9849

Deer Creek Schools 4bd 3ba 2car 2.5 acres, fireplace, fenced $1295mo 21951 Horseshoe 605-5477

Yukon

Beautiful home!! 3BD/2BA/2Car Excellent nghbrhd.$1050.593-1432

CAVE CREEK ON ROCKWELL

495-2000

$99 MOVE IN

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

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787-1620 $200 OFF

Washer/Dryers, Fireplaces PC Schools-Townhouses

PARKLANE

8108 N. MacArthur Blvd. »»» 721-5455 »»» Walford Apts-Midtown518 NW 12 large 1bd 1ba 1100sf $900mo $800dep washer/dryer hookup. Studio 600sf $675mo $575 dep. Basement efficiency $425mo $325dp 409-7989

THE BELMONT First Month $87.50 1,2,3 Beds 455-8150 MOVE IN TODAY PC SCHOOLS 1716 NW 17th Apt 3 spacious 1bd apt with ch/a, clean $295. Fidelity RE 410-4300, 692-1661

MOVE IN NOW! Pd. water/garbage Quiet. Try Plaza East•341-4813

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

1 & 2 BEDROOMS Furnished & Unfurnished NEWLY REMODELED GATED COMMUNITY

$89 FIRST MONTH Bring this ad for Special. Affordable Luxury Spacious, too 416-5259 TUSCANY VILLAGE

$99 Move In Special 1 & 2bds, carports, coin lndry $345-445 470-3535

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

Quiet Casady!

438

»»»»»»»»»»»»» » Yukon All Bills Paid » » 1 bd From $550 Move» » 2 bd From $650 In» » 3 bd From $740 Today» » Open7days/wk354-5855 » »»»»»»»»»»»»

Condominiums, Townhouses For Rent 441

Briargate Apts 1bd 1ba 850sf, wood floors, ch/a $550/mo $300/dp 409-7989 no sec 8 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077

Free Month Rent! 1&2bd QUIET! Covered Parking Great Schools! 732-1122

Bills pd clean quiet furn eff/1bd $100/wk&up 10& Penn 751-7238/640-9413

$200 OFF RENT 1 & 2 bedrooms. Spring Tree Apartments. 405-737-8172.

Plaza 1740 NW 17 1bd 1bath 800sf $500mo $250/deposit 409-7989

Houses All Areas- Free List 4 bed from $595-1295 3 bed from $495-995 2 bed from $395-795 605-5477 2545 SW 59th 1400 Sandra 3 bd 1 ba 2 living, Hardwood floors $575 • 732-3411 1404 Evergreen 3bd, » » 2ba, 2c, ch&a, 2200 sf, nice, $850, 476-5011»

Waterford Condo $2,200, 3bd, 3.5ba, 2story Perfect Cond. 210-6997

4007 N Oak Grove 3bd 2ba 2car ch&a W/D hkup $750+ $560dep 701-1722 1 mi E of Tinker, v nice 3bd 1ba 2c ch&a $575+ $300dep No pets 732-4351 3712WoodsideDr3/1/1 $525 mo, $400 dep. 681-7272

NEW 2 bed 1 ba. with appls $550, w/out appls $600, $400 dep 399-5686

1315 NW 7th St. 1bd 1ba, all bills paid, stove, frig, washer & dryer, furnished, no dogs. $500/mo. $150dep. 405-365-7705 828 & 830 NW 113th St. 2bd, 2ba, fncd, stv, fridg, carport, $530 + $400dep, Sec. 8 ok, No pets, 748-6129 Nice 2bd liv, din, central ht, appls, w/d hookup, $555 2200 NW 16th. 301-5979

3/2/2+study 1745sf $1300 2/2/1 1000sf $650 3/2/2 1550sf fp $975 Home&RanchRlty 794-7777 Beautiful home Moore!! 4BD/2BA/2Car Excellent nghbrhd.$1125.593-1432 2006 3/2/2, ceiling fans, fenced yard, 4800 SE 77 $825/mo + dep, 863-2999

627 Edgewood Ter 4bd 2.5ba 2car, fireplace, fenced $1295mo 605-5477

Large 1bd 2609 N Dewey $425 +gas/elec 232-9101 4417 NE 20th St. 3bd, 1ba, stove, frig, washer & dryer, furnished, no Pit Bulls. $425/mo, $150dep. 405-365-7705

MAYFAIR Great location! 1/2 bd W/D hdwd flr quiet secure ngbrhood ¡947-5665 » MOVE IN SPECIAL » LARGE 1, 2 & 3 BEDS Rockwell Arms, 787-1423

3600 NE 143, 3bd 2.5ba 2car, total elec, ch/a $1075 mo, $1075 dep 370-1077

Thousand Oaks Unit 329 (W of Council on NW 10th) Extra sharp 1bd condo, pool, tennis courts, $500 mo. Tenant pays elect only. Fidelity RE 410-4300, 692-1661

»» ALL BILLS PAID »» 1 Beds-Move in Today! $99 First Month 2 Beds & Townhomes, too DREXEL ON THE PARK Pool & Park 293-3693

Luxurious 5 bed, 4.5 bath, 6000 square foot mansion on 2.5 acres in beautiful Ada, OK. Auction date set for Sept. 17 from 10AM to Noon. See "Featured Listings/Auction" at www.SweeneyHouses.com for added detail & photos. Call Sweeney & Assoc., 580-421-9911 for details.

Owner carry with down Nice homes and fixers James • 417-2176

$99 1st mo rent Lg 1&2bds small, quiet complex, pool, laundry $365-$420 794-5595

800 N. Meridian 1bd All bills paid 946-9506

Warehouse Office 2500sf 12'x12' overhead door $950mo 1009 NW 80th St » 308-8350

I BUY HOUSES Any condition. No cost to U 495-5100

Bank Owned 3/2/2 1501sf 2 liv, large corner lot$59,900 Realty Experts 414-8753

5 AC MOL w/stocked pond 3bd 1.5ba 2liv $169,000 Marian 8507654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

Huge Summer Clearance Sale! Own Land/Family Land ZERO Down. Instant Rebates up to $8000. Use toward furniture, land improvements, etc. Your choice. E-Z Approval by phone 405-631-7600 wac

Commercial Property For Sale

2bd, 1300+sf $925+dep (SW 15 & Morgan) 1714 & 1724 Riviera Ln 924-6564

Duplexes, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, some new, some gated, call Rick, 405-830-3789.

1120 NE 19th 3/2 1909 NE 25th 3/1 2108 NE 18th 2/1 1708 N Elton 2/1 681-7272

$595 $395 $395 $395

Beautifully renovated 3 bed house + den $750 + dep Sec 8 welcome 204-4308, 2121 Glen Ellyn

R-T-O Brick 3bd remod Ready Now; also State Capital 3bd Bungalow, wd floors, FP $595 ¡ 551-5629 Like New 3/2/2 ch&a, 1400sf, I-44 & Kelly, Great neighborhd 1220 NE 59th $850 No Sec. 8 ¡ 426-5497 2301 N Hood 3bd 1 bath $525/mo 408-5836

420 NW 85 3/1/1 $625 2646 NW 34 2/1/1 $650 520 NW 91 3/1/1 $650 1412 NW 22 2/1 $395 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com 3227 Castlerock Rd $900mo, $900dep 2 bed, 2 bath, range, refrig, FP, 2 car, close to Quail Sprgs Mall 405-474-9805 8220 N Robinson 3bd $650 404 NW 82nd 3bd $500 1413 NW 97th 2bd $475 FLESHMANS INC 235-5473 or 314-3551 RENT TO OWN PC Schl, 9507 Ritter Rd., 3 bed, 3 bath, 2 car $1095/mo, $2000 down. Call 633-2114 4141 NW 28th, 3 Bd-1 Ba Completely Updated Energy Efficient $750. RedbudRealEstate.com or 748-8520 2930 NW 12th large 1bd duplex, water paid $425 3232 NW 28th 2/1 $475 1928NW 30 2/3bd 1ba $495 681-7272 9204 Lansbrook Ln 4bed 2.5ba 3car 2655sf $1600/mo, $1600/dep 409-7989 no sec 8 13305 Green Valley Dr 4bd 3ba 2car, Deer Creek Schls, 2500sf, $1550 mo $1550 dep 409-7989 4/3/2 executive home 3 car garage, PC schools $1800 mo. 209-4327.

3812 SW 43rd sharp 2bd home with carport, fresh paint inside & out, fenced. Clean! Only $450 Fidelity410-4300, 692-1661 Houses All Areas- Free List 4 bed from $595-1295 3 bed from $495-995 2 bed from $395-795 605-5477 2545 SW 59th 2936 SW 48 Remodeled, beautiful 3bd 1ba 1car 1100sf $750 mo, $650 dep. 409-7989 no section 8 Sec 8 okay, 3 bed, 1 ba, ch&a, fenced yard, w/d hkup, new paint/carpet, 3500 S Goff, 794-4115. 2420 SW 35th Nice 3bd home, 2car garage, fenced, clean, $495 Fidelity RE 410-4300, 692-1661 3312 SW 28th 2bd 1 bath $450/mo 408-5836 3112 S Parkview 2bd 1 bath $425/mo 408-5836 2421 SW 513 3 bd 1 bath, Lg. storage, $525/mo 408-5836 3132 SW 45th 3bd $600 FLESHMANS INC 235-5473 or 314-3551 Rental List at 4524 S May 1-4 Beds from $325-675 SW Home Rentals 681-7272 2 bed, W/D hkup, garage, security system, $525 mo, $250 dep. 631-8039 2337 SW 49th St. $450+dep 2bd/1car attach Hestand RE, 685-6817 3bd, CH&A, appls, c-fan, no pets, $550 month 505 SW 26th St. 721-3757 4bd, 3ba, Section 8, No pets, close to Capitol Hill School. 405-672-0877

3 Bed, 1 3/4 Bath, BentTree Addn, 4708 Justin Pl, $650 771-4743

4409 Dahoon Dr. 3 bed, 2 ba, 2car fenced FP. ALL Appls $1200. 755-8025 »» SECTION 8 OK»» » 5bd, 2ba available» NW OKC area 942-3552 3025 NW 35, very nice, 2/1/1, CH/A, all appliances, $685. 607-0186 737 NW 111, 2bd 2ba 2car, new crpt, no Sec 8 $650mo $500dep 936-9058 7401 N W 6 Ter. 3bd 1.75 bath Fireplace $695 a month 408-5836

1116 Park Manor 3/1.5/1 New tile/carpet, fenced, fp office, laundry rm $1350mo $1000dp TMS Prop348-0720 1119 Park Manor 3 bed, 2 full & 3 half baths, 2car, office, wd flrs, $1650mo, $1500dp TMS Prop348-0720 3/2/2, Newly renovated. 2529 Manchester Dr. $835mo $700dep No pets No Sec 8. ¡ 340-3058

3/2/2, PCN, fp, fenced yard, exc cond, $975 neg + dep, 1-866-663-0149. Lexington Crossing, Norman, 3 bed, 2 bath, ch&a, $675 month, $400 deposit, 212-8557. Houses All Areas- Free List 4 bed from $595-1295 3 bed from $495-995 2 bed from $395-795 605-5477 2545 SW 59th 2 bed, 1 bath, 1 car, fenced yard, w/d hookup, quiet neighborhood, 1312 SE 41st, 794-4115. 3 bed, 1 bath, ch&a, fenced yard, w/d hookup, Valley Brook, 6501 Anderson Drive, 794-4115. 2601 SE 46 3bd 1 bath $550 a month 408-5836 3/1 900sf, 1.5 acres, no horses $675+dep WAC Home&RanchRlty 794-7777 224 SE 58th 1/1 $350 1121 SE 21st 2/1 $395 681-7272 319 SE 60TH 2bd 1 bath $475 a month 408-5836 2bd 1bath, very clean, all bills paid $795 818-4089

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

PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES SINCE 1982 Mgmt » Leasing » Sales Spectrum Management 848-9400 usespectrum.com

Close to Hist. Museum. Gated, roomy studio apt w/full kitchen, exc cond. Just $315 mo! Ask about move-in special. Call Jennifer at 405-420-1966 SW OKC house to share, $375 with K utilities, no smoking. 918-231-4787

10F

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Oscillating tools offer versatility, convenience Oscillating tools are interesting little guys, and you may have never seen one in action — or even thought you’d ever really have a reason to own one. But if you do much remodeling or repair work around your home, you might want to think again. These tools are incredibly handy for many tasks, some of which are difficult or almost impossible to accomplish effectively with any other tool. And with so many manufacturers now offering oscillating tools to meet the growing demand, prices have come down and features have come up, so you win both ways.

It does what? Take a look at all the other power tools you own, and you’ll see that the oscillating tool is unique. Circular saws, disk sanders, screwdrivers, and impact wrenches all spin in a circle, while tools like reciprocating and jig saws move blades in an in-and-out motion. But the oscillating tool moves its attachments back and forth through a narrow, 3-degree arc at speeds of up to 20,000 oscillations per minute. It’s that high-speed, nar-

Permits FROM PAGE 9F

Stone Creek Drive, storage, erect, $16,000. Georgina Avila, 1601 College Ave., residence, erect, $15,000. Ceiling 2 Floorz Roofing and Remodeling, 8901 Northridge Terrace, residence, add-on, $15,000. Mitch Harris, 19700 N Choctaw Road, accessory, erect, $15,000. Southwestern Services, 3720 Springlake Drive, retail sales, remodel, $14,277. Rockwell Acquisitions, 8537 N Rockwell Ave., business, remodel, $12,000. Les England, 2001 S MacArthur Blvd., manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $12,000. Michael Davis, 2001 S MacArthur Blvd., manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $12,000. Mario Martinez, 732 SW 33, residence, addon, $10,000. Myron Bokemper, 5917 SE 145, residence, erect, $8,300. Quan Am Temple, 8424 S Pennsylvania Ave., land mark, install, $8,000. George Asbill, 15112 Todd Way, residence, install-storm shelter, $7,000. Donald and Cindy Sipes, 8700 Rayburn Ave., storage, complete, $7,000. David Holcomb, 8433 NW 107, residence, install-storm shelter, $5,150. Smart Shelters, 12104 Sundance Mountain Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $5,045. Clearence and Sandra Vassar, 3117 SW 141, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,900. Alyssa Terrell, 13300 Baldwin Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,500. Lisa Vance, 2820 SW 128, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,500. C.B. and Virginia L. Dick, 17101 Hawks Ridge Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,500. Russell Dillon, 11224 Arbor Lake Drive, residence, install-storm shelter, $4,300. Ira David Logan, 8216 Canna Lane, residence, install-storm shelter, $4,295. John and Jacklynn Haynes, 13108 Green Cedar Terrace, residence, install-storm shelter, $4,295. Elizabeth Gaske, 805 Glenridge Drive, storm

Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME row arc, combined with the proper attachment, that gets the work done with surprising ease. The attachments are mounted to the bottom front of the tool. Most tools use a simple hex nut and washer attachment system, somewhat similar to the bolt that holds a blade onto a circular saw. To change the attachment, you need to completely remove the bolt and the washer. Some manufacturers allow accessory changing by just loosening the bolt without removing it, and some have gone a step further and made the change-out completely tool-less. You’ll find a wide variety of attachments available for whatever task you need to perform. There are sanding pads, which are ideal for detail sanding jobs: moldings, corners, spindles, and insides areas such as cabinets and drawers. There are a va-

shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,200. Ch4 Quality Homes LLC, 501 S Mustang Road, business, remodel, $4,000. Tramba Construction, 612 NE 17, residence, addon, $4,000. Stan Mortimer, 8004 NW 128 Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,675. Frank J. Shidler III, 13601 Keswick Lane, residence, install-storm shelter, $3,395. Leland Ray Owens, 17304 Grove Hill Terrace, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,300. James Lee Barr, 20 SW 101, residence, installstorm shelter, $3,295. Phero Thinh Nguyen, 3032 Tulsa Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,295. Anita Orr, 2909 SE 96, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,175. Alloy Building, 2617 SW 98, canopy-carport, erect, $3,100. Christopher Stoner, 10501 Lakeridge Run, residence, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Jose Magna, 1506 N Virginia Ave., canopycarport, add-on, $3,000. Nathan Smith, 8033 NW 114, residence, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Scott Weathers, 18011 Arbor Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Travis Matthews, 13408 Vandiver Drive, residence, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Kyle Howerton, 4208 N Libby Ave., accessory, erect, $3,000. Smart Shelter Inc., 1611 Mulholland Drive, installstorm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Ashley Nesbitt, 1721 NW 179 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Max Mihura, 5113 SE 56, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,800. Melvonna Schneider, 10517 S Winston Way, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,800. Michael R. Pyle, 6704 Randi Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Paul Black, 16516 Farmington Way, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Robert Jones, 13112 SW 51, residence, installstorm shelter, $2,800. Robert McCoy, 16517 Brewster Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Samantha and Dennis Furey, 1201 SW 93, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. T. Nguyen, 1025 SW 93, residence, install-storm

riety of cutting blades designed for wood, drywall or metal. You can get carbide-covered blades that make short work of removing the grout between tiles. There are rigid scraper blades that are great for tasks such as scraping up old vinyl, and flexible scrapers for more delicate jobs. During a recent bathroom remodel, I got a better look at the versatility of these handy little tools. During the demo stage, I cut off several protruding nails in awkward spots; cut out drywall in clean lines down the center of the studs; then cut out perfect rectangles in the drywall for electrical cut-in boxes. Later, I undercut two door jambs to fit new ceramic tile, and cut out a damaged piece of baseboard in middle of the wall — something that’s virtually impossible with any other type of tool. The tile setter used his for trimming some travertine tile, and for cutting cement board. I saw the plumber using one to cut out copper pipe in a tight floor joist area, and for plunge-cutting a hole in the subfloor. Definitely a versatile tool!

Shopping for one

shelter, $2,700. T. Nguyen, 9908 S Fairview Drive, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Emily Frye, 5704 NW 117 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. Michael Curry, 1101 SE 23, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,500. Mark and Tammy Dennis, 2601 SW 98, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,450. Jack Bobbat, 11013 NW 112, residence, installstorm shelter, $2,400. Arthur Schofield, 3012 SW 68, residence, installstorm shelter, $2,300. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2413 NW 180, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,300. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 312 Partridge Run Road, residence, installstorm shelter, $2,300.

Matthew Mullholand, 4700 N Meridian Ave., storage, erect, $2,200. George Chontz, 3101 S Harvey Ave., residence, add-on, $1,800.

Oscillating tools are available in both corded and cordless varieties, and the trade-off here is pretty much the same as with any other type of tool: convenience versus extended runtime. Corded versions are your best choice if you expect to use them for extended periods of time, such as large sanding, scraping or grout removal jobs. For shorter jobs, you’ll still get plenty of power from the cordless versions, and as long as you have a second battery available, the added convenience is tough to beat. Initially, all the accessories were proprietary, meaning that those from a particular manufacturer only fit that manufacturer’s tool. Now, however, most manufacturers offer universal adapters, so their tool can be used with any brand of accessory — a feature I’d definitely suggest looking for, since the accessories can be expensive, and you want to be able to shop for the best deal. Here are four models to consider: I Milwaukee 2426-20 (cordless, $149) — very comfortable and powerful,

Demolitions Kendall’s Concrete, 2313

with a nice long run time. 12 speed settings (5,000 to 20,000 OPM, or orbits per minute), and an onboard fuel gauge to show remaining battery life. Weighs just 2.1 pounds, with a conveniently located on-off switch and an overmolded top. It includes an adapter that accepts all popular accessories. The complete kit includes two 12-volt lithium ion batteries, 30minute charger, an assortment of accessories, and a smallish soft-side carrying case. I Dremel 8300-01 (cordless, $130) — also very comfortable, with rubber overmolding at key points both top and bottom. Variable speeds from 3,000 to 21,000 OPM, and separate on/off and speed control switches. It also has a soft-start feature and an onboard fuel gauge. Accessories can be changed without completely removing the bolt. This tool uses only Dremel accessories, but a universal adapter is available separately. The complete kit includes two 12-volt lithium ion batteries, 1-hour charger, several accessories, and a roomy hard case. I Bosch MX25EC-21

(corded, $140) — a robust tool that’s designed to be a real workhorse. It features a 2.5-amp motor, and a variable speed dial (8,000 to 20,000 OPM) that’s separate from the on/off switch. Special electronic circuitry keeps the speed constant under load. It includes a universal adapter to fit all popular accessories; a well-designed soft case with internal straps to keep the tool in place; and an internal hard case for storing and organizing the included cutting and sanding accessories. I Porter-Cable PC250MTK (corded, $120) — new from PorterCable, with the unique feature of a tool-less blade change. It’s a clever system that requires only squeezing a spring-loaded handle to release tension on the washer to remove the blade. It has a 2.5amp motor, a comfortable grip, and a separate variable speed dial (10,000 to 20,000 OPM). It includes a fitted hard case and sanding and cutting accessories.

NW 10, residence. Kendall’s Concrete, 1923 S Walnut Ave., residence. Kendall’s Concrete, 924 SW 33, garage. Kendall’s Concrete, 2200 N Kelham Ave., garage.

Kendall’s Concrete, 2313 NW 10, garage-carport. M&M Concrete & Wrecking Inc., 1121 NW 38, garage. Midwest Wrecking, 6100 N Shartel Ave., residence.

Remodeling and repair questions? Send email to paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author’s actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers. INMAN NEWS