Real Estate Guide

Real Estate Matters

www.reporterherald.com • Saturday, July 2, 2011 • Reporter-Herald

Renting out home can be risky

On the

Move

There are three types of moving estimates: binding, not-toexceed and non-binding.

Tips on hiring a mover

ILYCE GLINK TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

Q

uestion: I have been unemployed for about six months and have just secured a job in another city. I will reach retirement age in about six or seven years. I will most likely not retire in the new city I will be relocating.

Should I try to sell my current home and purchase a home in the new city? Or should I rent my current home and then rent something in a new city? My home does need some work (new roof and painting, etc.). My home is worth about $200,000 and I owe about $75,000.

I contacted a Realtor and she said her firm charges one month’s rent to set things up and 7 percent per month to look after the rental property.

What do you recommend, and what are the pros and cons?

Answer: Can you sell your house?

If you can sell your home, you should think about doing that, taking the cash and moving on.

It may be easier for you to move on than pay a real estate agent to lease the property, especially if you know you need to fix things up before you can rent it and then hire someone to go in after each tenant leaves to thoroughly clean and repair the property. On top of all that, you have to pay an additional monthly expense to have someone I See GLINK/Page D2

CLINT BRISCOE MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

I

t is not the move that causes the problems for most. It is being able to physically move the day after that usually presents the biggest challenge.

Hiring a professional moving company is the safest, easiest way to get items from point A to point B and avoid headaches and a terrible backache in the process. But consider these points when choosing a company to move your belongings:

MEET FACE-TO-FACE Do not accept moving estimates over the phone. In order to give an accurate estimate, the mover should survey all items being moved, including what is in the attic, basement, garage or shed.

During the in-person meetings, try to determine which company is the best fit. If a moving company is pushy, confrontational, careless or slow in the bidding process, they will probably be worse during the move.

WEIGHT WATCHERS It is not polite to talk

about weight, but it is a very important issue when moving. For a move between states, also known as an interstate move, professionals typically use the distance of the move and the total weight of the items being shipped to create an estimate. Although not as common, some movers will base their estimate on the amount of truck space required for the pieces being shipped. Estimates for local, or intrastate, moves are usually based on an hourly rate or the number of movers needed for the job. To easily comcompleted for a lower cost. pare estimates, be sure they Non-binding estimates, on all use the same variables. the other hand, are not guaranteed. The final cost SURPRISE of the move will be deterThere are three main types mined once the contents of moving estimates, and it is are loaded and weighed, meaning the customer could important to understand each so there are no surpris- pay more than they originally es when the final bill arrives. planned.

A binding estimate guaranYOU BREAK, YOU BUY? tees a fixed price for the move, but additional costs Homeowners should procan be incurred if extra sertect themselves and their vices are requested or repossessions by ensuring the quired. A “not-to-exceed” es- company handling their timate ensures the customer move is adequately insured. will pay no more than the Professional moving compabinding estimate, but they nies will have varying replacecould pay less if the move is ment or reimbursement poli-

cies. Some may pay for the WORTH THE COST replacement cost of the item, Whether moving across while others may reimburse town or across the country, for the total value of the relocating can be expensive. damaged item.

According to the American Moving and Storage AssociaSTORAGE CAPACITY tion, the average cost of an If space is a problem in the interstate move is $4,300, new home, a storage unit is and the average cost of an inalways an option. Storage trastate move is $2,300. units come in a variety of When hiring a mover, types, sizes and prices. When choosing a unit, think about make sure they are certified by the AMSA, and if the move how long it will be needed, is across state lines, the comhow often it will need to be accessed and whether or not pany will also need to be registered with the United the contents are sensitive to States Department of Transcold or heat. These factors and features will all affect the portation’s Federal Carrier Safety Administration. price.

Buying a home that needs work?

Call the experts in FHA 203(k) renovation financing.

An FHA 203(k) mortgage allows you to finance both your home purchase and renovation with a single loan. Call now to learn more.

www.HomeStateBank.com

(970) 203-6100

Vivian DeVoe, VP Mortgage Banker, 970-227-4702

Think big

Loans and rates subject to credit approval. FHA conditions and restrictions apply.

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Venna Hillman ERA Herman Group Glen Marketing 970-663-4522 venna@glencompanies.com www.DakotaGlen.com

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D2

Saturday Reporter-Herald July 2, 2011

Regional Snapshot for Loveland/Berthoud Residential

Mortgage rate update

Home & Real Estate is produced every Saturday by the Loveland Reporter-Herald.

This week Last week Trend

EDITORIAL INFORMATION 635-3656 DISPLAY ADVERTISING 669-5050 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 635-3650

4.44%

15-year fixed

4.73%

Active Listings Previous Year Active Listings

960 1099

966 1126

1004 1117

Sold Listings

105

137

126

5/1 ARM

3.14%

4.62% 2.98%

$206,025 $234,500

$212,500 $199,900

$200,000 $214,500

Average Days on the Market Previous Year ADOM

123 126

155 119

107 118

Year to Date Listings Sold Previous Year YTD Listing Sold

258 263

395 401

521 559

Median Sales Price Previous Year Median

For home and real estate advice, features and information, visit www.homeandrealtyguide.com

manage the property.

You’ll have to do the math, but here are things to consider: If you rent the home for the next three to five years and have a new renter each year, you’ll have to pay one month’s rent to the real estate agent for each year and another 7 percent of the rent you collect in fees. You will also have to pay the expenses of maintaining the property. (Don’t forget that there will be some months when the property is vacant, but you’ll still have to pay management fees.)

Add those basic costs up and compare that number with the amount you might get from the home now. If you find that you can get a fair price selling the home now and don’t expect to get much more in three to five years, you might be better off selling.

Why choose to rent it out? If this is your dream home, and you know you want to retire to the property in a few years, then by all means, rent it out and maintain it over the next few years.

The problem with that plan is that a lot can change over three or even six to seven years.

If you’re not living in your house, you may not realize the neighborhood has taken a turn for the worse until it’s too late, for example, and your property value has fallen. Or something could happen to the property, sending the expense of maintaining the home above and beyond what you expected to incur.

Finally, depending on where the house is located, there’s the risk that your real estate

taxes could rise markedly. In some states, renting your property raises your real estate taxes, as the home is no longer considered an owner-occupied.

Rather, it is taxed more like an investment property.

Let’s assume you can sell your home fairly quickly. You’ll now have some cash in the bank. If you decide to buy another property, you might want to look at a foreclosure or a bank-owned home in a great neighborhood that you can fix up and build in value. A great school district will hold its value even in the worst of times (or fall less than other neighborhoods), and should rejuvenate more quickly as families discover they can trade up to neighborhoods and school districts that were previously out of reach.

If you’re not in the fixer-upper/foreclosure mode, then I’d recommend simply banking your profits (which should be tax free as long as they’re not above $250,000 if you’re single and $500,000 if you’re married), and finding an inexpensive place to rent.

If you decide to stay more than seven years, you can always buy a year or two from now. But having cash on hand will give you the freedom and flexibility to move as the mood strikes you.

For more information, call Glink’s radio show at 800-972-8255 on Sundays from 9 to 10 a.m., write to Real Estate Matters Syndicate, P.O. Box 366, Glencoe, IL 60022 or visit www.thinkglink.com.

Real Estate Matters

OPEN NEXT SATURDAY JULY 9TH!

3015 Challenger Point Dr, Loveland

1012 Willowrock Dr, Loveland

7860 Eagle Ranch Rd, Ft Collins

Views Galore from this 4 bedroom ranch home that backs to Westerdoll lake. Garden level walk-out conveniently located in Seven Lakes subdivision. Lake rights included. Too beautiful to miss! MLS# 659326, offered at $625,000.

Beautiful mature traditional 2 story home with walk-out basement on 1.94 exquisitely landscaped acres with partial views of Boedecker Lake! Stop in and make yourself at home! MLS #654858, offered at $495,000.

Outstanding Quality 5 bedroom/5 bath home

by Classic Custom Homes brings nature indoors. Master with private deck and views galore. Open, bright floor plan with vaulted ceilings located on a lot with views of the lake and mountains- a must see and priced to sell!

MLS# 652266 offered at $669,900.

All homes listed by:

8427 Sand Dollar Dr, Windsor

1660 Streamside Dr, Ft Collins

Lovely 5 bedroom 5 bath custom home with bonus room in Highland Meadows. Gorgeous professionally landscaped lot makes this home complete! Conveniently located, check it out! MLS# 656505 offered at $639,900.

Gorgeous ranch style home with walk-out basement on large private lot, large master and Jr. Master bedrooms on main floor. Peaceful describes this open floor plan with large kitchen and great room. Stop by for a dose of serenity. MLS# 656962 offered at $529,900.

The Jennifer Kelly Team 581-9005 y jkelly@remax.net

www.discovernocohomes.com

1HĹżEG

H&RE Real Estate Transactions Real Estate Transactions are supplied by Prospects Unlimited Inc., 1151 Eagle Drive No. 467, Loveland, CO 80537, 667-1537.

Loveland • David & Karen Barber from Arnold Holley, 2652 Farisita Dr, Loveland, $375,000, home • Jeffrey Foote from Oak Valley Homes LLC, 275 Carina Cir Unit 105, Loveland, $154,000, condo • Joan Huebl from Prudential Relocation Inc, 4467 Cushing Dr, Loveland, $230,000, home • Ann Lenart from Serenity Homes Northern Colo I, 1016 Janna Dr, Loveland, $267,000, home • Ryan & Linda Prater from Larry Longwell, 1579 S Gilpin Ave, Loveland, $171,500, home • Brian Rutledge from Ken Simonitis, 5609 Grant Ave, Loveland, $127,800, home • Stephen & Karon Miller from Bradley Thomson, 359 Wanda Ct, Loveland, $240,000, home • Jason & Lisa Hettrick from 1331 North Garfield LLC, 1331 Garfield Ave, Loveland, $179,500, home • Randall & Nancy Samson from Axtell Living Trust, 5275 Apricot Ct, Loveland, $380,000, home • Nancy Pulis from Federal National Mortgage Assn, 1911 Chama Ave, Loveland, $160,000, home • Jessica Stimmel from James Gable, 3705 Panther Dr, Loveland, $255,000, home • Douglas & Vanessa Kolstee from Mary Jokerst, 4225 Florence Dr, Loveland, $188,900, home • Jeanna Jensen from Loveland Midtown Development I, 1945 Gemini

saturday ADDRESS

$150’S $220’S

SE LOVELAND

$239,900

HRS

PHONE

PRICE

LOCATION

ADDRESS

BOISE VILLAGE NORTH, Âź MILE SOUTH OF HWY 10-6 34 ON N. BOISE AVENUE, 1899 E. 11TH

MIDTOWN HOMES

970-456-4600

$150’S $220’S

SE LOVELAND

WINDSOR

7411 PIMLICO DRIVE

12-5

THE GROUP, INC.

970-290-8097

$242,900

WINDSOR

292 SARATOGA DRIVE

1-4

THE GROUP, INC.

970-219-5219

$239,900

$249,000

NE LOVELAND

2474 NORTH BOISE AVENUE

1-3

THE GROUP, INC.

970-481-2037

$264,900

BERTHOUD

COLLINS PARK SUBDIVISION

1-3

RE/MAX ALLIANCE

970-566-4627

$323,400

SW LOVELAND

Âź MILE WEST OF WILSON ON 14TH STREET SW / 12-4 HWY 402 TO THE DAKOTA GLEN SUBDIVISION

GLEN MARKETING TEAM, ERA

970-663-4522

$339,000

SE LOVELAND

4630 TARRAGON DRIVE

1-4

THE GROUP, INC.

970-690-6011

$339,900

BERTHOUD

1723 WALES DRIVE

1-3

RE/MAX ALLIANCE

970-669-1234

$348,865

NW LOVELAND 4710 GEORGETOWN DRIVE

12-3

THE GROUP, INC.

970-567-0907

$349,900

NW LOVELAND 3402 CREEDE COURT

12:30-3:30 PREMIER LIFESTYLE 970-215-9913

$362,900

NE LOVELAND

1-3

SW LOVELAND

STARTING SW LOVELAND IN $400’S

2916 PURGATORY CREEK DRIVE

Ct, Loveland, $212,900, home • David & Lani Pettebone from David Newgord, 2828 Raymond Dr, Loveland, $282,000, home • Bradford & Anne Gleditsch from Jennifer Peters, 4143 Silverthorne Ct, Loveland, $125,000, home • Gail Axtell from John Poole, 4111 Marble Dr, Loveland, $230,000, home • Investment LLC from Wells Fargo Bank, 1816 Jocelyn Dr, Loveland, $108,000, home

Berthoud • Bryan Burkhalter from Daniel Stangel, 961 N 4th St, Berthoud, $220,000, home • Leonard & Emily Carter from Earl Price, 213 Victoria St, Berthoud, $210,600, home

Estes Park • Steven & Sybil Ennis from Greg Arganbright, 770 East Ln, Estes Park, $698,000, home • Greg & Cheryl Arganbright from Steven Ennis, 1555 Raven Cir Unit 20 B, Estes Park, $255,000, condo • Jennah & Nathan Jones from Pkep LLC, 410 Birch Ave, Estes Park, $185,000, home

Johnstown • Linds & Linds Tillery from Capital West Natl Bk, 440 Frontier Ln, Johnstown, $160,000, home • Leon & Carol Otto from Brent Graybill, 254 Basswood Ave, Johnstown, $234,600, home • Angelic Mazur from Fannie Mae, 3759 Barnard Ln, Johnstown, $188,600, home • Kristopher & Rebecc Quillen from Jody Jenkin, 220 Becker Cir, Johnstown, $219,000, home

• Austin & Brooke Barker from Walters Rains, 1009 N 4th St, Johnstown, $293,000, home

Windsor • Joseph Schneider from James Voseipka, 2001 Rivers Edge Rd, Windsor, $378,000, home • Joel Anderson from Ronald Black, 1403 Grand Ave, Windsor, $220,000, home • Windsor Church from Deutsche Bk Natl Trust Co, 1353 Saginaw Pointe Dr, Windsor, $148,000, home • Tcsy LLC from Fed Home Loan Mtg Corp, 100 Beacon Way Unit 7c, Windsor, $104,500, condo • Jacquelyn Lau from Jacob Kershman, 1109 Nantucket St, Windsor, $148,000, home • Bradley Krehbiel from Sylvester Mabry, 1201 Tanglewood Ct, Windsor, $165,000, home • Stephen & Mary Osborne from US Bk, 1499 Westwood Dr, Windsor, $183,500, home • Michael & Mary Fitzgerald from Westmark Homes LLC, 7050 Royal Country Down Dr, Windsor, $458,200, home • Christine Cooper from Robert Abiecunas, 6549 Royal Country Down Dr, Windsor, $364,500, home • Roy & Kimberli Brundage from Classic Custom Builders Inc, 6466 Murano Dr, Windsor, $555,000, home • Jason & Sheri Labue from Glenn Labue, 1200 Redwood Ct, Windsor, $135,000, home • Mark & Vicky Wahl from Prestige Homes LLC, 320 Telluride Dr, Windsor, $284,100, home • Saint LLC from Winter Farm Windsor LLC, 601 Yukon Ct, Windsor, $245,000, home

sunday OFFICE

$389,750

May

4.57%

From Page D1

LOCATION

April

30-year fixed

GLINK

PRICE

March

THE GROUP, INC.

HRS

OFFICE

PHONE

BOISE VILLAGE NORTH, Âź MILE SOUTH OF HWY 10-6 34 ON N. BOISE AVENUE, 1899 E. 11TH

MIDTOWN HOMES

970-456-4600

WINDSOR

7411 PIMLICO DRIVE

12-5

THE GROUP, INC.

970-290-8097

$242,900

WINDSOR

292 SARATOGA DRIVE

1-4

THE GROUP, INC.

970-219-5219

$264,900

BERTHOUD

COLLINS PARK SUBDIVISION

1-3

RE/MAX ALLIANCE 970-566-4627

$323,400

SW LOVELAND

Âź MILE WEST OF WILSON ON 14TH STREET SW / 12-4 HWY 402 TO THE DAKOTA GLEN SUBDIVISION

GLEN MARKETING TEAM, ERA

970-663-4522

$339,000

SE LOVELAND

4630 TARRAGON DRIVE

1-4

THE GROUP, INC.

970-690-6011

$339,900

BERTHOUD

1723 WALES DRIVE

1-3

RE/MAX ALLIANCE 970-669-1234

$389,750

SW LOVELAND 975 PRISM CACTUS CIRCLE

12-4

GLEN MARKETING TEAM, ERA

1-4

PREMIER LIFESTYLE 970-481-5512

970-481-2692

975 PRISM CACTUS CIRCLE

12-4

GLEN MARKETING TEAM, ERA

PETTINGTON RANCH – RESERVOIR DRIVE

1-4

PREMIER LIFESTYLE 970-481-5512

970-663-4522

To add a listing or speak to an advertising representative, call the Reporter-Herald at 669-5050

STARTING SW LOVELAND PETTINGTON RANCH – RESERVOIR DRIVE IN $400’S

970-663-4522

For details about these open houses, see the ads in this section. For additional open house listings, please check the “Real Estate Classifieds� section of this publication. This guide is brought to you by the Daily Reporter-Herald, local real estate agents and area builders.

WWW.HOMEANDREALTYGUIDE.COM •CLICK ON

OPEN HOUSE MAPS

Saturday Reporter-Herald July 2, 2011 D3

H&RE Featured Home Plan

Summerfield is a spacious Craftsman ASSOCIATED DESIGNS

T

he Summerfield is a country Craftsman home that offers families plenty of room to spread out. Square footage measures in at more than 4,500. Nearly 700 more is available for office space or other uses over the three-car garage.

Craftsman styling shines through in the windows, decorative gable accents, and cedar-shingle siding, along with the river rock veneer post supports and chimneys. A long procession of posts supports the covered

porch that spans the entire front fa?ade, and wraps around a bit on each end. On the left end, it continues on as a breezeway that links the house to the garage.

Passing under the richly glassed arched transom, you step into a naturally bright foyer with a parlor to the left. Straight ahead is an expansive great room where six quadruple window sets fill the rear wall. A masonry fireplace is set into the right wall, next to a stairway and access to a large guest/hobby room with its own bathroom.

On the opposite side, a peninsular

buffet marks the passageway to the dining room. The mirror-image stairway there, as on the other side, climbs up to a vaulted gallery/balcony and bedrooms on the second level.

In the Summerfield’s kitchen, a masonry oven surround wraps around three sides of a six-burner range with ovens below. Another even larger island holds a prep sink, marble pastry counter, and an eating bar. Standing at the kitchen sink, you can gaze out at the rear landscape, or keep an eye on patio activities. Two cozy window seats flank the nook’s built-in desk.

Upstairs, the large, luxurious, vault-

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ed owners’ suite boasts yet another fireplace, plus a posh bathroom, extra-roomy walk-in closet, and private deck. Secondary bedrooms share a two-section bathroom.

For a review plan, including scaled floor plans, elevations, section and artist’s conception, send $25 to Asso-

H&RE Home Improvement

Contract is smart precaution for home improvements ALAN J. HEAVENS MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

750 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland

669-1234

Each office independently owned & operated

view more properties at:

www.HomesInColorado.com

OPEN SAT & SUN 1-3 P.M. 1723 Wales Dr, Berthoud

PRICE REDUCED 227 Johnson Drive, Loveland

JUST LISTED 5548 Stone Church, Loveland

Great split style ranch with unobstructed mountain views and backs to open space. Oversized three car garage, large granite island in kitchen, plus lots of custom features. Located in Matthew Farm.

SW Loveland - Awesome 2 story in Meadowbrook Heights! 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths finished basement, master bedroom 5 piece suite, master bedroom deck, gas fireplace, central air & a 3 car attached garage all on a quiet street.

BRAND NEW ON MARKET! Spacious 2 story with walk-out bsmt (fully finished) on 1/3rd acre cul-de-sac in Mariana Cove.

3 car gar, master w/fplc, awesome bright tiled sunroom, beautiful walking paths!

$339,900 | MLS #643192

$251,900 MLS #638800

Connie Gliott and Lisa Moore 566-4627 | 566-4629

Call Julie Stinson 622-1809

julies@rmfa.com

$450,000 | MLS #659284

Call Don A. Riedel 679-8265

driedel@remax.net

134 Sweet Clover Ct, Loveland

www.3377Crowley.com

www.620Sundown.com

Mountain & lake view semi-custom home in Mariana Butte Golf Course.

4 bed/4 bath. New kitchen, hardwood floors, carpet, shutters, lighting, finished basement.

Spacious, beautiful home in Hunter’s Run; backs up to greenbelt; hardwood, Terraza tile floors; stainless steel appliances, desk in kitchen; media room; 4 bedrooms, office; finished walkout basement.

Great country living inside and out in Berthoud! Foothills view, gourmet kitchen, finished basement, 5 bedroom, large deck, outside storage, fantastic landscaping, horse property, arena, tack room.

$399,900 | MLS #654498

Call Coleen Ligotke 690-1732 coleenligotke@gmail.com

$350,000 | MLS # 653937

Call Nanci Garnand 622-1846 or 231-2404

www.LivingInLoveland.com

$440,000 | MLS #654641

Call Nanci Garnand 622-1810

www.LivingInBerthoud.com

Open House www.4568Mead.com Loveland

www.1674Cattail.com, Loveland

5912 Long Branch, Loveland

Cozy & Comfortable. Great light in this 3 bedroom, green built, ranch. Wood floors in kitchen, dining area & hallway; 2 bathrooms on main floor. Insulated basement, 2 car garage, Fenced Back Yard.

Fantastic views from large deck! Amazing & charming updated interior: island in kitchen, double oven, pantry & silestone counter tops, 2 master bedrooms (one on main floor), theatre, offices & more!

Nothing could be finer than country living w/ city convenience. “Golf Course” luxury!

Beautiful home w/ 80K in decorating, updating, & upgrades. Elegance & class. 3 bdrm, 3 ba on 2.3 irrigated acres.

$195,000 MLS #622656

$385,000 | MLS #649637

$459,000 | MLS #655303

Call Nanci Garnand

Call Nanci Garnand

Call Carolyn LaMaster

622-1846 | 231-2404

www.LivingInLoveland.com

227-1327 | 622-1864 www.LivingInLoveland.com

690-7596

clamaster@remax.net

7645 Bison Bluff, Loveland

2821 Glendevey Dr, Loveland

2001 Ponderosa Pl, Loveland

This beautiful custom ranch w/ 4 bdrm, 3 baths fin. walk-out bsmt, & large deck ideal for entertaining. Lg kitchen w/ granite, stainless steel appl. 5/ garage, RV, boats, toys. Mtn views.

2.66 acres.

Stop by and take a look! Updated tri-level on a large lot backing to private open space.

3+ bedrooms, 4 baths, fireplace, hardwood, vaulted ceilings, very open floor plan. New furnace & A/C. VIEWS!

TOP OF THE WORLD! You can’t find a better view in all of Colorado! 5,000 sq ft of perfection! 4+ car gar, 5 bdrms, 3 baths, 31x16 kitchen, 21x17 master suite, Showcase home! 11 years old.

$250,000 | MLS #654946

$595,000 | MLS #657369

Call Carolyn LaMaster 690-1596

clamaster@remax.net

$595,000 | MLS #656245

Call Julie Stinson 622-1809

julies@rmfa.com

Call Don A. Riedel 679-8265

driedel@remax.net

ciated Designs, 1100 Jacobs Dr., Eugene, OR 97402. Please specify the Summerfield 30-611 and include a return address when ordering. A catalog featuring more than 550 home plans is available for $15. For more information, call (800) 634-0123, or visit www.AssociatedDesigns.com.

S

pending on home remodeling peaked nationally at $362 billion in 2007 and has declined since then in the face of high unemployment, tighter credit, and record foreclosures.

Yet homeowners are still spending big bucks: Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies projects the figure for 2011’s second quarter alone at $130 billion.

With all that money involved, homeowners’ chief concern these days is getting everything they’ve paid for, when they want it.

That goal is more easily achieved, the experts say, if everything is set down on paper, in the form of a contract, with all the “I’s” dotted and the “T’s” crossed.

“It’s amazing the number of major remodeling agreements that are based only on a one-page bid sheet or a handshake,” said Bruce Hahn president of the American Homeowners Foundation in Arlington, Va. “No one- or two-page document can cover all elements of a good agreement, or hope to prevent even most of the potential problems,” he said.

To reduce the likelihood of disputes, a homeowner needs “to have a meeting of the minds” with the contractor on every possible aspect of the contract and their relationship, Hahn said.

The Remodelers Council of the National Association of Home Builders cautions that no work be allowed to start until the customer reviews and signs a written agreement spelling out “in detail “the what, where, how, time span, and cost of the project.”

In other words, if the contractor says, “Don’t worry about it, we don’t need a contract,” the homeowner should insist on one — or start looking for another remodeler.

The Remodeling Council, the American Homeowners Foundation, and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry appear to be on the same page regarding the contents of a standard contract.

Hahn’s group offers an eight-page contract, designed with the assistance of homeowners, remodelers, architects, and lawyers. It is available, for a small charge, at www.americanhome owners.org.

Any agreement should start with the contractor’s name, address, telephone number, and license number.

Pennsylvania law requires that all contractors who perform at least $5,000 worth of home improvements per year register with the Attorney General’s Office. To check whether your contractor is registered, call 1888-520-6680.

In New Jersey, contractors are licensed (https://newjersey .mylicense.com/verification/); information is available at the Consumer Service Center, 973-504-6200.

Contracts should include blueprints, floor plan or sketches, and a timetable

including approximate start and completion dates. (Weather, of course, is a major variable in completion-date deadlines, as are material-delivery dates beyond the contractor’s control.)

The contract should include a price and payment schedule, according to both Hahn and the Remodeling Council.

Also included should be detailed specifications for all products and materials. The description of each item should provide enough detail to clearly identify it: brand name; model number; color; size. This section of the contract may also describe any materials to be selected later, who will choose them, and the amount of money set aside to pay for each item.

A major cause of contractor-homeowner conflict is the “change order” resulting in unexpected additional costs.

Jay Cipriani, of Cipriani Builders in Woodbury, recommends that homeowners ask this of a contractor before signing the final agreement: “What unforeseen costs could we run into, so we can put money to cover it into our budget?”

When a contractor discovers a change order is necessary, activity is typically halted, adjustments are made, and the arrival of new materials is awaited. Change orders should be written up separately with details including price, then appended, bearing the signatures of both homeowner and contractor, to the original agreement.

Among other points that industry observers recommend the contract should cover: Information on who will obtain and pay for necessary permits and other approvals. No matter who gets the permit, the remodeler is responsible for making sure the work is done correctly.

INSURANCE DETAILS Lien releases to ensure that the homeowner is not held liable for any third-party claims of nonpayment.

Provisions for conflict resolution in the event of a contract dispute.

Notice of the right under the Federal Trade Commission’s “cooling-off rule” to cancel the contract within three days if it was signed someplace other than the remodeler’s place of business.

Details concerning access to the home, care of the premises, phone and bathroom use, and cleanup and trash removal.

If you need help writing a contract, or you want to be sure that the one you are about to sign is the one that offers you the most protection, hire a lawyer.

And make sure the lawyer is willing to assume responsibility for your case if a problem requiring litigation arises during or after the job.

“Getting it all in writing won’t guarantee smooth sailing,” Hahn said, “but it puts the homeowner in better shape to avoid crashing on the rocks.”

D4

Saturday Reporter-Herald July 2, 2011

H&RE Front Range Gardening

Aphids having a banner year trol, but in truth those plants are on leaf to form a protective tent around their own. A quick poll of gardeners the aphid colony. This is a common this season shows many are fighting problem on ash, plums and viburthe same battle against that pearnums. Within the leaf, the colony is everal years ago, a friend gave shaped menace, which are rapidly protected from water sprays and inme hops plants, encouraging turning our gardens into the Year of secticidal soap, but there are a few me to grow them, not because I the Aphid. beneficial insects can wriggle in and love beer, but because I love bugs. wreak havoc on leaf curl aphids.

Aphids are small, soft-bodied, sapEach year, she assured me, her bines sucking pests, and Colorado has sevIf you’re brave enough, grab one of are crawling with ladybugs and eral hundred species in a variety of the leaf curls and unroll it, ignoring lacewings feasting on the aphids that sizes and colors, from green to black, the sticky sap and crushed insects load the leaves. purple, and red. They feed by treating that coat your hands. Look for lady The prospect of such a scenario won plants as their own personal big gulp, bug and lacewing larvae, or young syrme over, and the hops have a home in sucking the sap and reducing the phid flies, which are maggots. Not all the garden. I’ve watched and waited plant’s vigor. Aphids are born pregbeneficial insects look cuddly like the for the insects, but the outbreak of ladybug, and learning to recognize historic proportions never arrived. Un- nant, and reproduce so quickly they rapidly build up on the plant. pest predators is a must for savvy gartil now.

But being soft bodied they’re easy deners. Check out the photos and inCleaning up and trellising the overto control. Grab the hose and attach a formation on Colorado State Universigrown mass, I got up close and perty’s fact sheet (ext.colostate.edu/ sonal with more aphids than was com- nozzle that can direct a strong jet of fortable. True, they’re soft bodied and water onto the plant. The stream rips PUBS/INSECT/05550.html). not aggressive, but the sheer numbers aphids from the stems. If they aren’t To encourage beneficials, avoid crushed by water pressure, at least on the hops is alarming and the spraying broad-spectrum insecticides they’re flung to the ground, and due longer I worked with the bines, the that kill both good and bad bugs. to very poor eyesight, can’t find their more aphids I had crawling on me.

Eventually I had to get the hoard off way back.

Insecticidal soap is excellent, of me, and the stamping legs, shaking Carol O’Meara is with provided the formula is made arms, and head flipping made my CSU Extension in spouse think my iPod must be playing for the plant it’s sprayed upon.

Always read the label of any a rocking tune. But soon he noticed Boulder County. spray to see if your plant is listthe moving mass of pale green slowly Contact her at ed. Your plant must be menengulfing me, the fence, and every303-678-6238 or tioned on the label or chances thing else in their path, and rescued comeara@co are something about the spray me with a series of well-aimed .boulder.co.us. will harm the plant. thwacks from his gloves.

Leaf curl aphids pose a differWe fled the area, telling ourselves Front Range Gardening that the ladybugs have it under conent problem by stimulating the

CAROL O'MEARA CSU EXTENSION

S

Photo courtesy Carol O'Meara

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