The Oklahoman's Real Estate section by OPUBCO Communications Group

HOUSE PLAN LISTING OF THE WEEK

Large home The Listing of the Week is a large executive home in northwest Oklahoma City. PAGE 4E

Riverton This contemporary ranch-style cottage is designed for land that slopes down at the rear, but could also be built on level ground with minimal changes. PAGE 6E

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Green Acres is the place to be

Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES

FIX IT UP FIRST

BY DYRINDA TYSON

If you’re planning to sell your home in the new year, real estate specialists said it’s crucial to do all the repairs and improvements needed first.

For The Oklahoman dyrinda@gmail.com

PAGE 3E

HOUSING | RESIDENTIAL CARE CENTER NEAR WHEATLAND HAS A FLOCK OF CHICKENS, A COMMUNITY GARDEN

Trevor the Brussels Griffon sports a Sooner sweater as he thrusts an inquisitive nose at a visitor. When a camera is brought out, though, he immediately cocks his head and strikes a pose. “He’s a real ham,” someone observes. Trevor’s owner, Cathi Doar, just smiles. The residents of Green Acres, a residential care home at 7601 SW 74, have settled into the living room after lunch. Trevor perches in Doar’s lap, watching everyone else watch television. The pair moved to Green Acres nine months ago. “He’s the reason I’m here. Becky was gracious enough to let me bring him with me when I came. It saved a lot of broken hearts,” Doar said. Becky Shannon established Green Acres with her husband, Cody, about eight years ago. Her grandmother Elsie Dean had died a couple of years before, spending her last days in an assisted-living center, and her death spurred them into action. “My grandmother was diabetic, and she kept going into diabetic comas,” Becky Shannon recalled. “But they kept feeding her anything she asked for. And you know when you’re in your early 90s, you don’t necessarily make wise choices. So they were giving all the fruit she wanted, all the sodas she wanted, and she ended up dying.” Shannon’s mother, Donna Coy, pulled Dean out of that facility and moved her to another, but it was too late. “It was already done — the damage was already there,” Shannon said. Her grandmother needed help but not to the extent a nursing home would offer, she said. “If she didn’t need to be in a nursing home, why

IN BRIEF

FROM BLOG TO BOOK

Chickens range at Green Acres, 7601 SW 74. Owners of the residential care home brought the fowl in partly for the benefit of residents who grew up on farms. PHOTOS BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

wasn’t there a place like this where they could keep up with her?” Shannon asked. “So we sold our house, our cars, everything we had and bought this place.” She drew inspiration from Fran Gomez, who ran a similar home in Oklahoma City where Becky Shannon worked. Gomez added that little extra push as Shannon was weighing her options. “She found out she had leukemia, and she said ‘Becky, you need to go to school and you need to do this. You want to do this, you love doing this, and you need to keep it going,’ ” Shannon recalled. “So with Fran’s insistence and the situation with my grandmother, I decided, SEE GREEN ACRES, PAGE 2E

MUSICAL ORNAMENT

Trevor, a Brussels Griffon, sits on the leg of his owner, resident Cathi Doar, left, next to manager Lisa Schrameck in common area at Green Acres, 7601 SW 74.

Underwater owners may face ‘disaster’ WASHINGTON — Patrick Boris, a banquet chef in Las Vegas, is inching closer to his own “fiscal cliff,” 2,100 miles away from the political brinkmanship under way on Capitol Hill. If Congress and the White House allow the country to go over the cliff later this month, Boris figures he could owe federal income taxes on more than $100,000 in forgiven mortgage debt following the short sale of his two-bedroom townhome next year — a personal financial “disaster,” in his words. In Sacramento, Calif., Elizabeth Weintraub, a real estate broker who specializes in short sales, says many of her clients have potentially taxable exposures on $200,000 or more in negative equity balances on their short sales next year if Congress fails to act. In the Tampa Bay area, Pam Marron, a mortgage loan officer who works with underwater homeowners seeking to avoid foreclosure, said some clients are in panic mode, terrified that Congress could force them into mas-

Sherry and John Petersik insist they knew nothing about fixing up a house when they bought their first place in 2006. Since then, they’ve earned their home-renovation chops and a slew of fans who follow their progress through their blog, Young House Love. Now they’re sharing even more ideas through a book by the same name. The Petersiks’ goal is to make home improvement less intimidating and expensive while still producing first-class results. “Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home Some Love” is published by Artisan Books and sells for $25.95 in hardcover.

Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING

sive federal tax bills after their short sales. “This is ludicrous,” she says. “These people already are on the losing end. Now it could get much worse.” Across the country, fears such as these are mounting. With the outcome of negotiations over taxes, spending and the federal debt uncertain, huge numbers of underwater owners worry that a single legislative provision that has been sucked into the “fiscal cliff” vortex could devastate them personally. The issue is the extension of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, which is set to expire Dec. 31. Dating to 2007, the law temporarily amended the federal tax code to allow mortgage debt on a principal home that is canceled by a

lender through a loan modification, short sale or foreclosure to escape taxation as ordinary income. Several bills have been introduced in the House to extend the law for at least another year, and the Senate Finance Committee passed a bipartisan bill this summer that would do the same. But mortgage debt forgiveness is now on hold in both chambers, effectively a hostage until Congress works out a grand bargain — if it ever does. Though it’s a relatively small and noncontroversial item compared with the multitrillion-dollar debates over taxes and spending, what’s striking about the mortgage debt relief provision is that it potentially affects such a large group of owners and could be extremely painful. Consider this: I Nationwide, according to mortgage industry estimates, about 11 million owners are underwater. New data generated for this column by realty information company Zillow indicates that the average negative equity amounts

of owners who are underwater — their loan balances exceed the property value — are higher than $90,000 in more than 64 local markets and more than $50,000 in 470. The average negative equity balance among such owners nationwideis $73,163. I Federally regulated Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac own approximately 4 million mortgages that are underwater. As of Nov. 1, they began encouraging owners who are current on their payments but facing a financial hardship to apply for short sales that forgive their outstanding loan balances. All participants in these short sales who close after Jan. 1could be subject to federal taxation on the forgiven balances if Congress does not extend the law. Whether or not a grand bargain including an extension can be struck before the New Year witching hour is anyone’s guess — and underwater short sellers’ ongoing nightmare. Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

Play it again, pine. Hang a Maestro Mouse ornament on your Christmas tree, and a mini concert is just a request away. The ornament responds to voice commands to play a selection of Christmas songs. It can be synchronized with your tree lights to produce a musical light show, and you can even tell it to turn your lights on or off. The ornament sells for $39.97 at Home Depot stores.

PRESERVATIVE NOT NEEDED Q: Does it help to add a Christmas tree preservative to the water in the tree stand? A: Research shows it’s not necessary to add a tree preservative to the water, said Eric McConnell of Ohio State University Extension. It won’t keep the tree fresh longer than plain water. What is important is to never let the cut end get dry in the stand, because then it will seal over with resin and lose its ability to take up water, McConnell said. STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

INDEX Barry Stone Permits

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Left: Green Acres owners Cody Shannon and Becky Shannon in Cody’s garage with a 1956 Chevy Nomad at Green Acres. PHOTOS BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Green Acres: Decor suggests ‘home’ FROM PAGE 1E

‘OK, someone up there’s trying to tell me something.’ ” The Shannons came upon the rambling, ranchstyle home just east of Wheatland after a couple of years of searching. The result is hard to pigeonhole. There is no Arnold the pig or Eleanor the cow on the premises, but a flock of chickens peck around in the back, and a community garden lies beyond. The chickens joined the family about a year and a half ago. “I always had chickens,” Cody Shannon said. “I was raised in the country.” Many residents grew up on farms as well, Becky Shannon said, and the chickens have turned out to be a form of occupational therapy. Everyone also feasts on the garden’s bounty through the summer. Inside, Christmas decorations glint in the sunshine, and the decor suggests “home” rather than “facility.” Framed jigsaw puzzles hang framed in the hallway leading to residents’ rooms. The Shannons breed and raise Norwegian elkhounds, gentle fur balls who sometimes pad through the house eliciting oohs and aahs. Visitors, family and otherwise, are always welcome, and about 22 people crowded around the table at Thanksgiving, Becky Shannon said. Only a few clues suggest that there’s something more: the day’s date printed clearly on a white board mounted in the entryway, a fire escape map hanging near the puzzles in the hallway, the occasional uniformed worker gliding through. Potential residents often find their way to Green Acres through word-ofmouth — case workers, home health workers and others have sent people their way over the years. “I love it,” said Bob Simmers, who moved in almost two months ago. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” “He fits in,” piped up Verna Schrameck, drawing laughs. Schrameck comes in every day with her daughterin-law Lisa Schrameck,

Chickens peck the ground around the backyard table and chairs at Green Acres, 7601 SW 74. PHOTOS BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

who is Green Acres’ manager, so the older woman doesn’t have to spend the day alone. The structured schedule helps out even a visitor, Verna Schrameck said. “When I’m not here, I get my days mixed up, and I have a tough time realizing what day is what,” she said. The grounds are surrounded by a fence, secured with coded gates. The Shannons live there, upstairs in a studio apartment Becky Shannon has dubbed the “escape hatch.” Out back Cody Shannon has his own escape hatch, a huge shop where he restores cars and creates woodworks. A lot beyond provides space for the garden and an occasional bon fire. Cody Shannon said he is thinking of converting one building out there into a greenhouse. There also has been talk of buying goats as well, Becky Shannon said, but there’s no consensus on how to keep them contained. Meanwhile, she’s in the home stretch at nursing school, scheduled to graduate as a registered nurse on Thursday. Giving up everything wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s not one she regrets. “I don’t know if it’s the American dream,” she said, looking around the backyard. “But it’s my idea of the American dream.” For more information on Green Acres Residential Care, call 745-7735.

Bob Simmers sits in the common room at Green Acres.

This view shows the wheelchair ramp at Green Acres

Christmas stockings hang at Green Acres, a residential care home in southwest Oklahoma City.

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Fix your house without breaking your sanity Are you planning to sell your home in the new year? If so, real estate specialists said it’s crucial that you do all the repairs and improvements needed before your property hits the market. That means fixing every leaky faucet, gash in the walls and shaky stair railing. “These days, buyers have less and less tolerance for houses with problems. They want instant gratification. They don’t want to move in and have to wait weeks or months to get a house up to standard,” said Sid Davis, a longtime real estate broker and author of “A Survival Guide to Selling a Home.” Davis said it’s never too early for sellers to get serious about home repairs and cosmetic improvements. But he said finding competent and reliable contractors can take time — especially now that a housing recovery is under way. Though spending on home improvement dipped steeply in the aftermath of the recession, the outlook for the remodeling industry is more positive, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. For the first half of 2013, it projects double-digit growth in home-improvement spending. Davis recommended extreme caution when hiring contractors

for pre-sale work. Here are a few pointers: I Request contractor referrals through your listing agent. For their clients’ use, many established agents maintain lengthy lists of contractors, ranging from carpet cleaners to air-conditioning repair services. Such a list can be a valuable starting point for home sellers, said Eric Tyson, a personal finance expert and co-author of “House Selling for Dummies.” “Agents have a lot of pull with contractors because they can send them lots of work over time. So the contractors know they’d better not mess around or delay the jobs an agent sends them,” Tyson said. But he said you “shouldn’t take as gospel” the positive experiences your agent has had with any given contractor. “The contractor may have slipped in the quality of his work or gotten too busy. So you’ll still need references for every contractor you hire for a major project and also get at least three bids,” Tyson said. I Make sure all your questions are answered before hiring a contractor. “To be sure a contractor is organized and on time, you’ve got to meet with him before hiring him. A face-to-face meeting

Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES

helps rule out sloppy or disorganized people,” Davis said. To ensure you don’t get squeezed out of a contractor’s schedule by a larger job, he said you’ll want to find out whether the company is overbooked. You also need to know who will perform the work. I Insist that the contractor’s promises are put in writing. Davis said that those who know a contractor well often make the mistake of counting on verbal guarantees. But he said there’s no substitute for a written contract that provides details on all aspects of the job, including price, timing and scope. “Without a written agreement, you’ll never get anywhere in small-claims court if the contractor turns out to be a con man. So unless it’s a very small job — like a plumber replacing a faucet or an electrician fixing a light fixture — you’ll want to have everything in writing,” Davis said. Davis also recommends you include in your agreement lan-

guage indicating that the firm carries all the proper insurance coverage on its employees and subcontractors. “Suppose one of the workers falls off a ladder and gets badly hurt. Without insurance, you could be held to blame and face a major lawsuit. Remember that any good contractor will carry insurance and be happy to show you documents to prove it,” Davis said. I Don’t let your contractors cut corners on government requirements. Not all home repairs or upgrades require government permits to ensure compliance with local codes. For instance, your electrician probably won’t need government oversight to change a light fixture and your plumber likely won’t require it to replace a broken water heater. But in many areas, major projects may be held to a higher standard. Examples could include the installation of a new bathroom or deck. Perhaps you think you’ll get a better price from a contractor who asks to circumvent government requirements. But Davis said skirting the law can be risky, especially for homeowners with plans to sell. “It can come back to bite you if your contractors fail to get the

proper permits for big jobs. That’s because your buyer’s mortgage lender may demand to see those permits for any major work you’ve done,” he said. I Refuse to pay for the entire project at the outset. It can be perfectly legitimate for a contractor performing a major project to ask for a partial payment at the front end, particularly if substantial material costs are involved. For example, you could be asked for a down payment on a roofing installation job to pay for the purchase of shingles. And a house painter might reasonably request that you pay for paint, rollers and brushes before the work begins. But Davis warned against covering the full cost of any work — including all labor costs — before it’s completed. Those who pay for the whole job at the outset lose all the leverage they’ll need later if the contractor fails to complete the work as promised. “In most cases I recommend that people pay no more than 10 percent of the labor costs at the beginning. Good contractors have credit lines. They don’t need your advances to get a job rolling,” he said. To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com. UNIVERSAL UCLICK

Vandals strike Baltimore’s Poe home THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BALTIMORE — Vandals have made off with wooden steps that once lead to the front door of Edgar Allan Poe’s Baltimore home and scribbled on the door of the home. The graffiti has been painted over, but members of a group working to reopen the now closed museum said they are worried the property is now vulnerable to vandalism. City

Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank has put her Mediterranean-style house in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on the market for $9.495 million. MCT PHOTO

Hilary Swank hopes to sell her $9M house BY LAUREN BEALE Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — Oscarwinning actress Hilary Swank has put her Mediterranean-style house in Pacific Palisades on the market for $9.495 million. Built in 1928, the 6,722square-foot home has six fireplaces, six bedrooms and six bathrooms in three stories. Features of the ocean-view house include a step-down living room, a dining room that can seat 20, a theater, a cigar roomwine cellar, a gym and a separate office or maid’s quarters. The grounds of about a third of an acre include a swimming pool and terraced vegetable gardens. Swank, 38, most recently completed “Mary & Martha,” which will air next year on HBO. She will star in and be a producer for next year’s “You’re Not You” through her 2S Films. Swank won Oscars for her work in “Million Dollar Baby” (2005) and “Boys Don’t Cry” (1999). The actress bought the property in 2007 for $5.8 million, according to public records.

Old and new Actor-director Warren Beatty and his wife, actress Annette Bening, have sold their estate in the 90210 ZIP Code for $6.7 million. The buyers are Paramount Pictures director-producer Jonathan Baker and his wife, hotelier Jenny Ljungberg. The Mediterraneanstyle mansion of 10,592 square feet includes a sweeping staircase, a media room, a library, a gym, an office, maid’s quarters, six family bedrooms and eight bath-

rooms in two stories. The acre-plus site contains a separate guesthouse, a swimming pool with spa, mature trees and expansive lawns. Including the guesthouse, there are nine bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. Baker was drawn to the house because of its Hollywood connections, the private location adjacent to a nature reserve and the views overlooking Beverly Hills. He plans to take the 1992 manse down to the studs and rebuild it as a more contemporary home with indoor-outdoor living space at the back. Included will be a home theater he will call Warren Beatty Theater in honor of the Hollywood giant. “It will be a true merger … of legendary Hollywood and today’s Hollywood, and reflect what I do as a

director myself,” said Baker, founder of Baker Entertainment Group. Beatty, 75, is known for his leading roles in “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967), “Dick Tracy” (1990) and “Bulworth” (1998). He won an Oscar for directing “Reds” (1981) and received the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 2000. Bening, 54, was nominated for Oscars for her work in “The Grifters” (1990), “American Beauty” (1999), “Being Julia” (2004) and “The Kids Are All Right” (2010). Last year she narrated the documentary “Yogawoman.” She will star in the upcoming films “Hemingway & Fuentes,” “Look of Love” and “The Great.” MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

officials said crews regularly check on the home once lived in by the author of macabre short stories and poems including “The Raven.” The Baltimore Sun reported that the city plans to pay B&O Railroad Museum $180,000 to renovate the home. After that, a nonprofit called Poe Baltimore is set to take over. The museum had been operated by the city but closed in September.

Edgar Allan Poe

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Guest bedrooms: Make yourself right at home

Creston’s panel provides centralized home monitoring.

BY LYNN UNDERWOOD Star Tribune

Guest bedrooms are no longer just for guests. For most of the year, they function as flex spaces for offices, playrooms, dens or craft rooms. But when overnight guests descend for the holidays, it’s time to transform those spaces into quiet sleeping quarters as warm and cozy as a fleece robe. “Clients have been calling me about their kids and family coming home and want to make it really comfortable for them,” said Kim Spillum, owner of Kim Spillum Interior Design in Minneapolis. “I’m turning studies and hobby rooms into guest bedrooms.” The always popular daybed does double duty as a sofa by day and a bed by night. Spillum often chooses models with trundles, which can be pulled out into a double bed. Katie Bassett of KBI Design Studios in Edina, Minn., recently outfitted a client’s den with an antique daybed covered in luxe velvet bedding — with a large round bolster pillow that turns it into a comfortable sofa. New French doors can close off the den for sleepovers. Sleeper sofas in family rooms and multiuse spaces also are making a comeback. That’s because today’s models are more like slumbering on a cloud than across a metal pole, according to designers and salespeople. “Technology has really improved the comfort of sleeper sofas,” said Tim Mohnkern, sales associate at Baker Napp & Tubbs showroom in International Market Square. “Manufacturers have redesigned

TIPS ON HOTEL-LIKE EXPERIENCE FOR HOUSEGUESTS Want to give your holiday houseguests a hotellike experience? Here are more tips: I Reading lamp, reading glasses and alarm clock — set to the correct time — on a nightstand. I Basket filled with travel-size soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash and Q-tips in the room or a nearby bathroom. I Folded fresh towels in an easy-to-find place. I Pen and paper in the nightstand drawer. I Night light. I Don’t use air fresheners or fragrant candles, because some people are sensitive to scents. I Make sure the room and bathroom the guest will be using are both squeaky clean. I Empty out dressers, and clean out the closet. Add padded or wooden hangers. I Set out a luggage rack or a bench with a cushion for suitcases. I Inexpensive decorative screens for a family room or basement give guests privacy. I Tie a ribbon on pillows labeled “firm” or “soft” and “down” or “hypoallergenic.” I A water carafe and glass on the nightstand. I Blow up the air bed and put on sheets ahead of time, not when guests are there. I Lay a nice throw at the end of the bed. I Magazines next to the bed for insomniacs. I If you have Wi-Fi, share the code for guests’ laptops and iPads. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

how the bar supports the bed, and mattresses have gotten thicker and firmer.” Today’s sleeper sofas are also a lot more stylish. Hancock & Moore manufactures a leather Chesterfield sleeper sofa, and many traditional upholstery lines often include sleeper sofas. Bassett recently fulfilled a client’s request for an office that also can accommodate her out-of-town parents. The designer created a combination officeguest bedroom by integrating a Techline Studio queen-size Murphy bed and bookshelf system. “When the bed is tucked away, it functions as an office, and there’s room for a printer and desk,” she said. “When it’s folded down, it’s pretty and inviting and has a built-in reading light

and nightstand.” But guest accommodations don’t have to be fancy — a quiet, restful place to get a good’s night’s sleep can be enough. Interior designer Brandi Hagen of Eminent Interior Design, Minneapolis, sets out an inflatable air bed when her home is overflowing with holiday visitors. “I always place a table, lamp and water carafe next to it,” she said. “I want my relatives to feel comfortable, even though we don’t have enough bedrooms for everyone.” And if your guests are early risers, there’s one surefire way to make them feel at home: Show them where the coffee is stored and how to work the coffee maker. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

LISTING OF THE WEEK

The Listing of the Week is at 12833 Knight Hill Road.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Large executive home has 4 bedrooms, 3 living rooms The Listing of the Week is a large executive home in northwest Oklahoma City. The 4,093-square-foot home at 12833 Knight Hill Road has four bedrooms, 3 ½ baths, three living rooms, two dining rooms and a two-car garage. One two-car garage space has been converted to a media room. The formal living room has a fireplace. The study has a bookcase. The kitchen has a breakfast bar, center island and pantry. The master bedroom has a his-and-hers bath with walk-in closet and whirlpool tub. Secondary bedrooms have full baths and walk-in closets. The home has an outdoor kitchen with covered din-

Ridley joins Churchill-Brown Shawna Ridley has joined Churchill-Brown & Associates Realtors’ office at 4401 W Memorial Road as a real estate sales associate. Previously, her work was related to home construction. She is on the Oklahoma City Metro Association of Realtors’ legislative committee.

ing and cooking area, covered patio, wet bar, central vacuum system, intercom and an underground sprinkler system designed to be pool ready. The home, built in 2000, is listed for $392,900 with Linda Tracy-Ryburn of Keller Williams Realty. The home is

northeast of Rockwell Avenue and NW 122. For more information, call 476-5319 or 354-4888. 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.

MCT PHOTOS

With these devices, you can set it and forget it BY MICHAEL J. SOLENDER The Charlotte Observer

Turn off the lights, lower the thermostat, and make sure the dishwasher is not leaking. You can run yourself ragged trying to stay on top of those little details. But your morning rush hour doesn’t have to start that way. Using automation at home can be convenient. It also might help you cut your power bills and improve your sense of safety. Here is a look at some of the options for relaxing your routine without losing control.

Lighting No more playing tag with the light switches. Legrand makes a wireless system that uses radio frequencies to control up to five different “scenes,” or lighting combinations. Use those scenes to set a mood or for security, which means making the house look as if someone is home when you’re away. The controls work for table lamps, ceiling fans and even small appliances. A bedside one-touch “panic” controller can make all the lights in the home flash on and off. The suggested retail price for the Event Controller and two dimmers is $490. Prices for whole-home packages start at $1,000. www.legrand.us Do-it-yourselfers might prefer a one-box option such as GreenWave Reality’s Connected Lighting

The Nest thermostate reprograms its settings for better efficiency taking into account such things as times when a house is empty.

Solution. It has four ecofriendly LED light bulbs, a router and remote control for about $200. Instead of going room to room to turn off the lights at bedtime, press the control for “night,” and the job is done. There are also settings for “home” and “away.” Other optional programs are available. http://www.green wavereality.com

HVAC Nest is a self-programming thermostat that its maker (same name) claims will lower heating and cooling costs by up to 20 percent if used correctly. That can be significant given that heating and cooling costs can represent up to 50 percent of the energy use in a home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This device learns your schedule and begins reprogramming itself for more efficiency after about a week. The system senses when the house is empty and makes adjustments.

Residents can analyze energy usage and adjust settings through an online account. Retail costs start at $239 per unit. www.nest.com

Central control Connecting several of your home’s systems to a centralized controller can be costly but also convenient, said John Morgan, president of Charlotte, N.C.-based Urban Building Group. Some of the systems that can be integrated include security, door locks, heating and cooling, audio visual, blinds and lighting, as well as some appliances. Prices for home evaluation, products and installation can start around $13,000 and go up from there. For control of multiple systems and options for programming, Morgan recommends Crestron at www.crestron.com and Control 4 at http://control4.com, two top-rated whole-home systems. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Faulty outlet fried built-in appliances DEAR BARRY: About five years ago, we built a detached garage in our back yard. All of the work was inspected and passed by the county building inspector. The electrician who was hired to do the wiring installed an RV receptacle, but we never used it until just recently when we bought a new fifth-wheel camper. When we plugged the RV into the outlet, the power fried all of the builtin appliances. The outlet that the electrician installed was intended for a 110-volt plug but was wired to a 220-volt circuit. We tried to call the electrician, but he is no longer in business. The only other responsible party is the county

Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE

building department. Are they liable since they approved the work? Cathy DEAR CATHY: Municipal building departments and their inspectors are exempt from liability when they make errors in their inspections. In fact, that exemption is actually written into the building code. The building inspector, however, may not be at fault because final inspection of a building takes place before the power is

turned on. Therefore, the outlet could not have been tested, and the faulty wiring would not necessarily have been observable. Although the electrician is no longer in business, he could still be liable for faulty work that was done before his business was closed. If you take this issue to small-claims court, you might win a favorable judgment. But get some legal advice before proceeding in that direction. Another possible solution is to file a claim on your homeowners insurance. The damage to your appliances may be covered by your policy. DEAR BARRY: My neighbor’s place is a mess. The yard is a collection of scrap building materials

Although the electrician is no longer in business, he could still be liable for faulty work that was done before his business was closed. If you take this issue to small-claims court, you might win a favorable judgment. But get some legal advice before proceeding in that direction. and junk cars, with tall weeds everywhere. Some of us in the neighborhood have complained repeatedly to the city. Last month, two city building inspectors and one fire department official inspected the property. They took photographs, but did not file a report, and nothing has been done to correct

the situation. This lack of municipal action is unsettling. What is your opinion about this? Sarah DEAR SARAH: The condition of your neighbor’s property, as you describe it, is an obvious fire hazard and could involve other health and safety violations. Why your local

officials have not taken a more assertive approach is anyone’s guess. One way to spur (government) into action is to complain to their bosses, the elected officials of your city or county. People in elected positions tend to be more responsive because they have to be rehired by the voters every few years, in contrast to civil servants. My advice is to assemble a committee of neighbors. Schedule a meeting with a city council representative to discuss the inaction of the building and fire officials. And be sure to bring photos of the property to that meeting. To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com. ACTION COAST PUBLISHING

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

REAL ESTATE

HOUSE PLAN

Ranch-style cottage slopes down The Riverton is a contemporary ranch-style cottage designed to sit on land that slopes down at the rear. With minimal changes, this fairly compact plan could also be built on level ground. About three-fourths of the floor space is on the ground level, including the owners’ suite. Vaulted ceilings in the great room, dining room and owners’ suite increase the overall sense of expansiveness throughout. An abundance of natural light washes into the linked gathering spaces through windows that fill much of the rear wall. One of the twin atrium windows in the dining area opens onto an elevated, easily screenable deck. Entering, you step into a skylit gallery foyer. Doors along the right open into the owners’ suite, a coat closet and a small, conveniently located bathroom. Direct access to a deep two-car garage with a utility sink is on the left, near where the foyer feeds into the great room. Flames in the fireplace there can also be enjoyed from the kitchen, which has a roomy walk-in pantry. A deep storage closet nestles under the stairway, right next to the den and a large utility room with cabinets and a folding counter. The den can double as a guest room or be outfitted as a home office or fourth bedroom. Its rectangular window bay could hold a cozy window seat. His-and-hers closets and vanities flank the skylit passageway through the owners’ suite’s private

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Real trees offer many benefits BY GARY ENGEL The Woodward News

bathroom. The toilet and a roomy walk-in shower hide behind a pocket door at the rear. Two more bedrooms and a bathroom are upstairs in the Riverton.

While both bedrooms are about the same size, the rear room is brighter and feels more spacious, due to its twin skylights and vaulted ceiling.

A review plan of the Riverton 30-811, 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.associated designs.com. (800) 634-0123.

WOODWARD — Did you know that a typical Oklahoma-grown Christmas tree removes a ton of carbon dioxide from the air during its lifetime? According to Oklahoma Forestry Services, that’s just one of many benefits of choosing to use a live evergreen for your Christmas tree. The following are additional benefits of having a Sorghum Mill Christmas real tree, according to Tree and Blackberry Forestry Services: Farm in Edmond. I They can be recycled THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE PHOTO into mulch to use in landscaping and gardening, or chipped for use in playground material, on hiking trails, and for paths and walkways. I Two or three seedlings are planted in the place of every tree harvested. I About 150 acres are in production for Christmas trees in Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry said each acre provides daily oxygen requirements for 18 people. State Forester George Geissler said that real Christmas trees can continue to benefit the environment even after they’ve been cut and the holiday season is over. Geissler said whole trees can be sunk in a lake or pond to improve the fishing habitat, or placed in a backyard to be decorated with peanut butter or bird seed to attract feathered residents. Along with the environmental benefits of a real tree, Geissler said he also recommends real Christmas trees because of the economic benefits it provides to Oklahoma growers, something artificial trees can’t provide. Some 85 percent of artificial trees are imported from China, according to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. There are some 20 Christmas tree farms across Oklahoma. Last year, state tree farms sold about 7,000 trees, valued at $40 to $50 each, he said. This meant some $300,000 to $400,000 being pumped back into the economy across the state in 2011. The state forester said many of the farms offer trees with roots that are balled in soil, so people can plant them in their yards and have a living Christmas tree all year. To learn where all the Oklahoma Christmas tree farms are located, and get more information, check www. forestry.ok.gov/xtreegrowers, or the state Christmas Tree Association at www.okchristmastrees.com. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Jewelry designer’s home a sparkling vision BY LISA BOONE Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — As a designer of custom jewelry, Amanda Keidan sometimes takes delicate vintage pieces and reworks them into intricately sculptured, modern collections. The same could be said of her sunny, art-filled Venice, Calif., home, where gold accents blend with sparkling glass and vintage barrel chairs share the living room with new Ikea ottomans and a cool lamp bought off the flash sales site Gilt. “Everything is very specific,” Keidan said of her decorating style. “I want your eye to look at something. I like having things to look at — things that are pretty.” In the otherwise allwhite cottage kitchen, a startling blue contemporary triptych by Venice artist Melissa Harrington catches your eye. In an otherwise staid, traditional guest room? A red abstract painting. “I enjoy those pieces every day,” she said, noting that the red painting was by her grandmother. “Those pieces make me

happy.” Keidan’s passion for art is not surprising given her background: Her greatgrandfather was pianist Leopold Godowsky. Her grandparents were Leopold Godowsky Jr., a violinist and co-inventor of Kodachrome film, and Frances Gershwin Godowsky, sister to composers George and Ira. The multitude of artworks throughout Keidan’s house creates an ambience that is elegant yet whimsical — and deeply personal. “I love that there is a story behind each art-

work,” she said. “It’s as though my friends and family have left thumbprints on my home.” She purchased the three-bedroom, two-bath house last year after looking at more than 100 properties in the past four years. She said she had given up when she visited the Venice house, where friends from London had been staying. “It was a little like the cliche you often hear about falling in love,” she said, laughing. “Stop looking and you will find it.” After convincing the

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owner to sell, Keidan embarked on a four-month renovation to give the 1947 home a cleaner look. “I wanted it to be light and airy and cheerful.” Mustard and red accent walls were painted museum white and soothing neutral tones. The exterior went from dark blue to more white. New windows were installed to bring in natural light, and new landscaping made the most of outdoor spaces too. Small fixes, such as smoothing the home’s warped walls, helped to achieve the clean-lined

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SPACIOUS Brick, LAKE EUFAULA 4bd/2ba, Lakewood Forest. Lg kitchen w/ breakfast bar, dining room area, with w/d alcove, 2 car att. garage, lg bkyd, easy lake access, lighted boat dock. Eufaula Properties- 918-484-5005

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1329 Greenfern 2/2/2 $925 720 Mallard 3/2/2 $950 1929 Chaparral Ln 3/2/2 $1695 505 NW 138 3/2/2 $895 12817 Burlingame 4/3/2 $1950 16417 Old Oak 3/2/2 $1895 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com Great Neighborhood 1705 Longhorn Dr Beautiful home with fresh paint and newly tiled bathroom. 3bed, 2ba, 2 Car Garage, 1400 1FP, central heat, central A/C, inground pool, 1,300/MO Chas at 405-371-1176 or chas@csicontract.com 709 Tuscany Way Executive Home 3bed 2.5ba 3 car plus study $1650/mo $1650/dep 2100sf Beautiful 409-7989 no sec 8 15824 Darlington Ct Executive 3bd 2ba 3car 2liv 2din 2 fireplaces $1900/mo $1900/dep 2119sf Amazing!!! 409-7989 no sec8

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up in New York, the result is much like the Venice community she has grown to love: an eclectic space that doesn’t conform to one particular style — just like her jewelry. “I tell my friends to start with pieces they love,” she said. “And go from there.”

Jewelry designer Amanda Keidan relaxes with her two dogs in the living room of her newly redone 1947 bungalow in Los Angeles’s Venice Beach. The square panes in the custom leaded-glass window are recycled from a local commercial building.

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look Keidan wanted. And though much changed, Keidan was careful to keep what worked: the original floor plan and striking leadedglass windows that Keidan said were from the old Helms Bakery on the L.A.Culver City border. For Keidan, who grew

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Here’s how to build pondless water feature There’s nothing quite like the sound of water bubbling in your backyard. A water feature can become an eye-catching landscaping feature, or a cool and tranquil backdrop that also helps block unwanted traffic or neighborhood noise. A water feature can also be a great do-it-yourself project that just about anyone can tackle. The term “water feature” can mean different things to different people. But if you want a stunning, low-maintenance option that’s customized to your yard and your style, consider going “pondless.” Also known as a “disappearing pond,” pondless water features eliminate the open pond that requires periodic maintenance to prevent algae and other problems, along with potential safety issues for small children. Instead, they use a water reservoir, a recirculating pump, and some type of rock or other feature that the water flows out of. The

water filters down through a rock base over the reservoir and disappears, to be recycled endlessly.

The basic components Pondless water features can be large or small, simple or elaborate. Their design is pretty much limited only by your imagination, ambition and budget. But they all share the same four basic design elements: I 1. The reservoir: This is simply a big, relatively shallow round or square box made of a tough, highimpact resin. The box is solid on the bottom and sides to retain the water, and is perforated or slotted on the top to hold the rock while allowing the water to drain through. The top also has a removable plate to access the pump. Reservoirs come in a few different sizes, depending on how much water you want the system to process. I 2. The pump: This is a submersible, 110-volt electric pump specifically designed for these applica-

Building permits Oklahoma City Manhattan Construction Co., 5901 SW 62, training center, add-on, $12,421,858. Rick Russell Homes Inc., 2617 Dorchester Drive, residence, erect, $750,000. Westgate Marketplace Developers LLC, 6400 SW 3, shell building, erect, $700,000. Dodson Custom Homes 1 LLC, 6400 NE 101, residence, erect, $410,500. Sam Gresham, 3209 Northwest, medical clinic-office, remodel, $380,000. J.R. Bowers Jr. Construction Co. Inc., 10909 Meadowlake Farms Drive, residence, erect, $325,000. Carr Custom Homes Inc., 8325 NW 130 Circle, residence, erect, $320,000. Shawn Forth Custom Homes, 15900 James Thomas Court, residence, erect, $315,000. Structural Systems, 335 S Mustang Road, shell building, erect, $300,000. Shawn Forth Custom Homes, 16009 Angie Kaye Lane, residence, erect, $290,000. Ripple Creek Homes LLC, 15505 Park Lake Road, residence, erect, $275,000. Carr Custom Homes Inc., 16113 Pointe Manor Lane, residence, erect, $265,000. Tracey Jameson, 7109 SW 105, residence, erect, $265,000. Smith & Pickel Construction, 5720 N Classen Blvd., retail sales, remodel, $250,000. BPK Enterprises LLC, 3404 NW 135, office, erect, $245,000. Jason Powers Homes, 11304 Treemont Lane, residence, erect, $240,000. D.R. Horton, 16212 Wynchase Drive, residence, erect, $238,700. Heartland Homes LLC, 2409 NW 174, residence, erect, $229,686. The RLA Co. Inc., 14005 Drakes Way, residence, erect, $215,000. Tranquility Homes LLC, 19617 Crest Ridge Drive, residence, erect, $214,000. Craftsmanship Homes Inc., 13400 SE 95, residence, erect, $200,000. Ray Owens Homes LLC, 1412 NW 176, residence, erect, $200,000. Ray Owens Homes LLC, 1408 NW 176, residence, erect, $200,000. Shyon Keoppel, 4711 N Blackwelder Ave., residence, erect, $200,000. Biltrite Construction LLC, 5409 NW 118 Circle, residence, complete, $198,000. M&J Homes LLC, 9805 SW 27, residence, erect, $195,000. Redwing Construction LLC, 2905 Morgan Trace, residence, erect, $195,000. Redwing Construction LLC, 2905 Morgan Trace,

Paul Bianchina

residence, erect, $195,000. Foster Signature Homes LLC, 16017 Angie Kaye Lane, residence, erect, $190,000. Prime Development, 2236 NW 195, residence, erect, $190,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 5804 Shiloh Blvd., residence, erect, $190,000. Prime Development, 2337 NW 195, residence, erect, $186,000. Prime Development, 8233 NW 158, residence, erect, $185,020. Oklahoma Diamond Group LLC, 8601 NW 125, residence, erect, $185,000. Baer Hall Homes, 17101 Avila Lane, residence, erect, $180,000. Biltrite Construction LLC, 5604 NW 116, residence, erect, $180,000. Prime Development, 2333 NW 195, residence, erect, $180,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 7009 SW 90, residence, erect, $180,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 6609 SW 90, residence, erect, $180,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 6701 SW 90, residence, erect, $180,000. Preston Land Co. LLC, 8913 SW 53 Court, residence, erect, $170,000. Prime Development, 19420 Vista Ave., residence, erect, $168,740. Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, 309 N Czech Hall Road, equipment, erect, $160,000. Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, 102 N Cemetery Road, equipment, erect, $160,000. Phung Tortorelli, 6405 SE 55, residence, erect, $150,000. Home Sweet Home LLC, 14120 Savannah Ave., residence, erect, $148,580. Griffin Homes LLC, 9117 NW 82, residence, erect, $135,000. Griffin Homes LLC, 9017 NW 84 Terrace, residence, erect, $135,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 13216 SW 5, residence, erect, $135,000. D.R. Horton, 16201 Crosswinds Trail, residence, erect, $134,064. D.R. Horton, 10805 NW 118 Place, residence, erect, $128,200. Home Sweet Home LLC, 14116 Savannah Ave., residence, erect, $127,240. Foster Signature Homes LLC, 3433 NW 163, residence, erect, $115,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2425 SW 139, residence, erect, $111,000. Home Creations, 3309 Morgan Creek Road, residence, erect, $109,300. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11429 SW 25 Terrace, residence, erect, $109,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11425 SW 25 Terrace, residence, erect, $109,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11417 SW 25 Terrace, residence, erect, $109,000.

HANDY @ HOME

tions. It sits inside the reservoir, with a filter on the inlet side to filter out impurities, and a hose on the outlet side that’s routed to wherever you want the water to come out. There are several sizes available, depending on the amount of flow desired. I 3. The water outlet: The water coming from the pump exits through some type of visible outlet, and this is where your creativity can have free rein. Many water features utilize a natural piece of basalt as the center piece of the design, which is drilled to receive the hose coming from the pump. You can find basalt in many sizes and shapes, and you can use one piece alone or a grouping of several pieces with the water tumbling Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11413 SW 25 Terrace, residence, erect, $109,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 13304 Beaumont Drive, residence, erect, $109,000. Foster Signature Homes LLC, 3340 NW 163, residence, erect, $105,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18529 Agua Drive, residence, erect, $105,000. Home Creations, 11240 NW 100, residence, erect, $103,600. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 16436 Drywater Drive, residence, erect, $103,000. Chris Peters, 13500 S Blackwelder Ave., accessory, erect, $100,000. Foster Signature Homes LLC, 15933 Sky Run Drive, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 9625 Kylie Drive, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 9609 Kylie Drive, residence, erect, $100,000. Sirisone Nguyen, 4223 NW 10, business, remodel, $100,000. D.R. Horton, 10805 NW 118 Place, residence, erect, $97,432. D.R. Horton, 11800 Gwendolyn Lane, residence, erect, $92,872. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18521 Agua Drive, residence, erect, $91,000. Ahmm Architects, 726 W Sheridan Ave., parking, install, $90,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2612 NW 185, residence, erect, $82,000. Trinity Group Architects, 13901McAuley Blvd., medical clinic-office, remodel, $80,000. Home Creations, 1112 Laurel Creek Drive, residence, erect, $78,200. Steve Buchanan, 930 SW 107, office, remodel, $75,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 15228 Stillwind Drive, residence, erect, $74,000. Wade Storr, 4709 N Western Ave., restaurant, remodel, $72,000. Jonathan Morris, 236 NW 35, residence, add-on, $65,000. Cox Contracting Services Inc., 1416 Williams Drive, residence, fire restoration, $60,000. Ahmm Architects, 800 W Sheridan Ave., parking, install, $50,000. Callahan Steel Buildings (Curt), 6801 S Cimarron Road, accessory, erect, $45,000. Oklahoma City Building Management, 100 N Walker Ave., office, remodel, $45,000. Zachary Kyle Porter, 5318 Berryman Road, manufactured home, moveon, $44,100. DBK Investments LLC, doing business as Action, 2901 Finchley Lane, residence, add-on, $30,000. Debbie and Alan Burgett, 17300 Melodie Lane, accessory, erect, $30,000. JNC Transport, 9717 NW 10, manufactured

Select an area for the water feature, and lay out the general size and shape you want. Remember that the overall size of the rock base can be the same size as the reservoir, or it can be substantially larger. Next, you’ll need to excavate a hole for the reservoir itself. The hole should

be a little wider and deeper than the reservoir, to allow for leveling and backfilling. Place a layer of sand in the bottom of the hole, which will make it easier to level the unit, and also protects it from rocks. Check the level in all directions; pack some additional sand into the hole around the base to stabilize it; and then backfill up to the level of the top lip. If you’re installing a heavy water feature such as a piece of basalt, it’s typically installed next, directly on top of the reservoir for stability. Be sure you have adequate help for lifting this into place; some larger pieces will even require a forklift or other machinery. Route the hose through the hole in the rock, and seal it with an approved sealant. Install the pump in the reservoir and connect the hose. Route the wire from the pump to an exteriorapproved, GFCI-protected electrical outlet, but don’t plug the pump yet. Make sure the inside of the res-

home, move-on-mobile home park, $30,000. JNC Transport, 9717 NW 10, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $30,000. JNC Transport, 3308 SE 89, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $30,000. JNC Transport, 3308 SE 89, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $30,000. JNC Transport, 3308 SE 89, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $30,000. Ahmm Architects, 801 W California Ave., parking, install, $30,000. JNC Transport, 9717 NW 10, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $30,000. Kear Construction, 2121 SW 119, install, install, $30,000. Tim Schenk and Elder Jones, 13840 N Pennsylvania Ave., retail sales, remodel, $30,000. Steven Marler, 3209 Northwest Expressway, office, remodel, $30,000. Doggett & Associates LLC, 11216 Queen Anne Ave., residence, remodel, $29,000. Willie Reid, 3320 NE 16, residence, remodel, $24,000. Lawn Master Outdoor Living LLC, 14315 N Douglas Blvd., accessory, erect, $22,500. Lindsay Ocker, 2316 W Lindley Ave., residence, remodel, $21,500. Juan Gonzalez, 2540 SW 31, residence, remodel, $19,500. Elliott Architects, 4702 S Pennsylvania Ave., assembly hall, remodel, $15,000. Southwest Builders, 12000 Kimberlyn Road, residence, add-on,

$13,288. Tony Westlake, 4017 NW 12, residence, erect, $12,000. Daniel Gober, 10701 S Cemetery Road, accessory, erect, $11,000. Lawn Master Outdoor Living LLC, 4401 NE 88, residence, add-on, $10,500. Phung Tortorelli, 6405 SE 55, accessory, erect, $10,000. Discount Remodeling, 3633 N Youngs Blvd., canopy-carport, add-on, $8,600. Southwest Builders, 600 NW 143, residence, add-on, $8,350. Greg Turner or Rebecca Turner, 7717 Dudley, residence, remodel, $8,000. Cynthia Aguirre, 715 SW 34, residence, add-on, $5,000. Andrew Mattheisen, 6408 Kensington Court, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,295. Mark Myers, 16512 Moorgate Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,295. Cristina Tran, 3317 NW 173, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,100. Kenneth Boyanton, 605 Dickens Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,800. Chris Manovsky, 6200 Winslet Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395. Donna Luyba, 4820 Rocky Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Vernon Milliron, 19213 Butterfly Blvd., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. F5 Storm Shelters, 741 SW 157, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,799. F5 Storm Shelters, 1400

over all of them. Other options include decorative jugs, vases of any size or shape, actual water fountains, cherubs and other garden statues, pieces of discarded masonry, and many other objects. I 4. Base rock: Finally, you’ll want to cover the reservoir with a layer of rock that the water flows over and disappears into. There are many different types, sizes and colors of rock to choose from, depending on your personal preferences. You can mix and match sizes and colors, as well as incorporating pieces of natural wood, metal sculptures and other objects you might like.

Putting it all together

ervoir is clean, then fill it with clean water. Activate the pump and test all the connections and the flow rate. If everything looks good, install the access door on the top of the reservoir, then cover the top of the reservoir with the base rock.

Shopping You can sometimes find small water feature kits, with a reservoir, pump and all the other components, at home centers, warehouse stores and other retailers. For larger pump and reservoir equipment, check with any local retailer that handles landscaping supplies, including nurseries or sprinkler dealers. They’ll either have the materials you need in stock or they can easily order them for you.For basalt and other rock, check with any local retailer of rock supplies. 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

NW 173, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,799. Randall and Panjaporn Hailer, 8316 Woodhue Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,795. Judith D. Medford, 129 SW 65, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Tanner Hicks, 2420 NW 174, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,695. David Tanner, 2233 NW 194 Terrace, storm shelter, install, $2,595. Erik Mentzel, 13901 Hunter Jackson Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,595. Credit Furniture, 1120 N Meridian Ave., retail sales, remodel, $2,500. Brian Phelan, 417 Choctaw Gate Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,395. Jeff Lockwood, 2232 NW 193, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,395. Ground Zero, 11433 NW 131, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,300. Lukas Pompello, 1716 N Roff Ave., canopy-carport, add-on, $2,000. Sooner Carports, 3226 Otterson Drive, canopycarport, erect, $1,500. Alan Cooper, 2701SE 97, canopy-carport, erect, $1,000.

Demolitions Houshmand Saidi, 609 S Walker Ave., residence. L&S Demolition, 1600 NW 47. Midwest Wrecking, 1 NE 36, office. J&J Building LLC, 2330 SW 42, garage. K&M Wrecking LLC, 1613 W Interstate 240 Service Road, restaurant. Ray’s Trucking, 1136 N St. Clair Ave., accessory. Ray’s Trucking, 7024 St. Bernard, residence.