ATHOME
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R E A L E S TAT E
Changing job of Realtors Technology, fewer listings influence industry, Page 6 [SHANNA SLOYER/SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
SICK PLANT CLINIC, PAGE 2
HIRING A TREE PRO, PAGE 2
PARADE OF HOMES, PAGE 3
2 Saturday, June 9, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
Sick plants? Experts ready to help Annual clinic helps diagnose garden problems
Ariel Whitely-Noll
T
he annual Sick Plant Clinic, coordinated by the Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners, aims to help homeowners who have questions about their lawns and gardens. The clinic will be June 25 at Fairlawn Plaza, S.W. 21st and Fairlawn Road. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., residents can ask local experts their tree, vegetable, weed, fruit, lawn, insect, garden or houseplant questions. R.O. “Brownie” Brown, an International Society of Arboricultureand Kansas Arborists Association-certified arborist, will answer tree questions. Brown is the former owner of Brown’s Tree Service; he sold the business to his son in 2000. Brown has been a Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners member since the organization’s inception 30 years ago. Raymond A. Cloyd, professor in the Department of Entomology at Kansas State University and K-State Research & Extension specialist in horticultural entomology/plant protection, will answer questions about bugs that chomp your plants. Cloyd’s research and
Extension program involves pest management in greenhouses, nurseries, landscapes, turfgrass, conservatories, interiorscapes, Christmas trees, and vegetables and fruits. Disease questions will go to Judy O’Mara, instructor and diagnostician in the Department of Plant Pathology and director of the Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at K-State. O’Mara has a master’s degree in plant pathology and Extension education from New Mexico State University. Weeds will tremble at the sight of John Welborn, director of the Shawnee County Weed Department. Welborn has degrees from K-State and Emporia State University. He taught agriculture education for 22 years, mostly at Jefferson West High School in Meriden. After teaching at Jefferson West and prior to working for Shawnee County, he served the school district as its transportation director for 10 years. He has served as the director of the weed department since 2014. Indoor plant questions fall under the umbrella of Ariel Whitely-Noll, Shawnee County Research and Extension horticulture agent. Whitely-Noll has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from K-State, specializing in greenhouse and nursery management. She worked in production greenhouses prior to working for K-State Research & Extension. She oversees the Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners program.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR Shawnee County Master Gardeners member Carol Bragdon will present “Presidential Gardens” at 7 p.m. June 14 in Marvin Auditorium 101C at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th St. The program is free and open to the public. Bragdon will talk about the flowers featured in presidential gardens and the influence presidents and first ladies have had on the gardens. For more information, call the Shawnee County Extension Office at (785) 232-0062.
Although each of these specialists has their area of emphasis, their experience will help to answer all of your gardening questions. Before stopping by the clinic, visit shawnee.ksu. edu for information on how to collect samples to bring to the clinic. As you prepare your plants or insects, think about the answers to a few key questions. With a proper sample and answers to these important questions, your plant problems will be no match for our team of experts. Here are the questions: 1. What kind of plant is it? Variety? 2. When did the problem first appear this season? Was a similar problem experienced last year? 3. Are any other plants in the vicinity similarly affected? 4. What part of the plant was affected first? Top or bottom, which side? 5. Have there been any weed killers used nearby? If so, what and when? Has salt or other ice-melting material been used nearby? 6. What program of watering and fertilizing has been followed? 7. Have there been any fungicides or insecticides
used on the plant? If so, what and when? 8. Are there any suspicious insects present? What do they look like? Ariel Whitely-Noll is the horticulture agent for Shawnee County Research and Extension. She can be reached at arielw@ksu.edu.
Pruning better than topping a tree Pros can trim back, remove trees safely By Paul F.P. Pogue Angie's List
The warmer days of spring and the approach of summer mean it’s time to start hiring tree services to tidy up your yard. Of course, a good tree service company does more than just prune leaves and snip branches. Hiring the most qualified possible tree service professional ensures a longer life for your trees and a safer yard for you and your family. What kind
of professional should I hire?
Most states don’t license tree service professionals, so when you’re hiring, you need to look for reputable third-party certification. The International Society of Arboriculture and the Tree Care Industry Association both offer respected certification programs. Certified arborists are trained in longterm tree health and the safest methods for pruning and, if necessary, removing trees. They engage in continuing See PRUNING, 4
The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com Saturday, June 9, 2018 3
Improved housing market revives Parade of Homes Seven Topeka homes to be featured
TOPEKA PARADE OF HOMES
By Liz Montano
What: Tour of seven Topeka homes built by Topeka Area Building Association members When: Noon to 5 p.m. June 9-10 Where: List of homes available at thba.com/parade Cost: Free; donations to Topeka Habitat for Humanity encouraged. Information: Visit thba. com; email thba@thba. com; or call (785) 273-1260.
Special to The Capital-Journal
Whether you’re contemplating buying a new house, playing with the idea of doing some renovations of your existing home or spending part of your weekend looking at properties for sale, time is running short to visit houses on the Topeka Parade of Homes list. The Topeka Parade of Homes began June 2 and will continue on June 9-10. The event is an opportunity for people to see a good cross-section of what’s available in the Topeka housing
Ivan Weichert, president and CEO of Topeka Area Building Association
market as far as homes built by Topeka Area Building Association members, according to Ivan Weichert, the association’s
president and CEO. Q: This is the first Parade of Homes in Topeka in a
See PARADE, 9
4 Saturday, June 9, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
PRUNING
Hiring a professional to prune your trees boosts the curb appeal of your home and extends the life of your trees.
From Page 2
education to stay current on research and innovation in tree care. Why shouldn’t my pro “top” a tree?
The act of tree topping, defined as the excessive and arbitrary removal of parts of a tree with no regard for its structure or growth pattern, is a contentious one in the tree service industry. Most professionals agree they shouldn’t remove too many branches and leaves. And when they do cut trees back, they should take great care to maintain the tree’s structural integrity. Responsible pruning targets dead branches, those that cross and rub against each other, and unsafe branches that pose a threat to the house. Proper pruning, unlike topping, helps the tree develop strong roots. Topping, by contrast, destroys the balance between the roots and the crown of a tree. Removing too many branches and leaves can starve trees, because, without foliage, trees can’t make enough food to maintain their strength. Instead, the tree quickly will generate foodproducing shoots that are much weaker and more prone to breaking. Professionals note fruit trees can be an exception to this rule,
[DREAMSTIME]
because they’re a crop as well as shade-producing and ornamental trees. But most trees on residential properties shouldn’t be topped.
How does tree removal work?
Sometimes, you may feel you have no choice but to remove a tree. It may be too close to your home,
potentially causing damage during severe storms. It may be growing into power lines and creating a hazard. A seriously diseased tree may be weakened and more prone to falling down, in which case it’s safer to bring down the tree in a controlled manner. Tree removal is a hazardous job that is best left to professionals. Fees vary based on the height of the tree, its condition and the thickness of the trunk. Trees in dangerous areas, such as close to structures or power lines, will bump up the price. Removing the stump is often an entirely separate process. You also should ask your professional how they plan to handle getting rid of the waste. Many tree removal services include chipping and removal in their estimate, but you should be clear up front. For an extra charge, you can ask them to split the logs for firewood and stack them in your yard.
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6 Saturday, June 9, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
R E A L E S TAT E
Realtors: Job has changed over the years Technology, inventory shortage influencing industry By Shanna Sloyer Special to The Capital-Journal
T
he past decade has seen shifts in state and national politics, the rise of Twitter and Lady Gaga, and the invention of driverless cars. Real estate has weathered its share of changes as well. Sunflower Association of Realtors “Social media has made it easier for homes to be advertised, but the value of a Realtor hasn’t changed. Realtors provide guidance and expertise to help make the transaction as smooth as possible and offer objective advice when it’s needed. They facilitate getting inspections ordered, handle all of the paperwork, and will guide their clients through what can sometimes be an emotional process.” —Carrie Calhoon, of Reece Nichols
Inc. agents Carrie Calhoon, Doug Barrington and Luke Thompson weigh in on how real estate is different in 2018 than it was in 2008. Calhoon, of Reece Nichols, has 14 years of experience as a Realtor. Barrington, of Team Barrington/ Realty Professionals, has 17 years of experience, while Thompson, of Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair American Home, is marking a decade in the real estate industry. Q: How has the job changed over the past decade? Calhoon: Interest rates are con-
siderably lower now, which has
Carrie Calhoon, a Realtor with Reece Nichols, puts a sign in the yard of a home at 3231 S.W. 30th St. to advertise the home is for sale. Calhoon says interest rates are lower now, which has allowed buyers to purchase more expensive homes. [SHANNA SLOYER/SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
allowed buyers to purchase more expensive homes. When I first started in real estate, we used fax machines, and instead of texting, we actually used the phone to communicate. Now, fax machines are a thing of the past, and a lot of people prefer to text instead of talk. Barrington: The number of Realtors in our area has been on the decline, and now we have merged with other real estate associations for mutually beneficial reasons. This allows us to all show homes in accommodating communities. The merger allows services for a larger population of northeast Kansas Realtors.
Real estate programming on (television) networks like HGTV and many other networks has enlightened buyers and sellers with so much information. They can see buyers searching for homes, making offers, negotiating, encountering challenges and closing. Sellers learn what they need to do to receive top dollar for their homes as well as negotiating. A majority of buyers and sellers we work with watch and refer to program education they have received. Buyers and sellers are doing their homework in See REALTORS, 7
Doug Barrington, a Realtor with Team Barrington/Realty Professionals, uses a laser to measure the size of a room at a property at 7840 N.W. Topeka Blvd. Barrington will post the room dimensions on the Multiple Listing Service website. [SHANNA SLOYER/SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
“Many of us are very active in our community because our local economy runs on businesses and employees. Both need real estate locations. Our new mayor is now including our real estate association and Realtors in more of the city planning. We are the front line and see and hear what buyers’ and sellers’ concerns are. We are givers and pleasers who do community volunteer work and strive to make our real estate clients our friends.” —Doug Barrington, of Team Barrington/ Realty Professionals
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REALTORS From Page 6
advance of meeting with a Realtor, so they have some accurate and inaccurate understandings. Homeowners don’t move as often, or at least that has been our experience in this market. It used to be that homeowners moved every seven years on average. Millennials have stayed with their parents longer than any other generation. They are beginning to buy now. Our area has seen a decline in population, which affects real estate. When we moved to Topeka, there were many companies like Hill’s (Pet Nutrition Inc.), Payless (ShoeSource), the railroad (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) and others who relocated employees. Thompson: In 2008, there were vast amounts of buyers searching for foreclosures. People wanted to flip houses, and they still do today, but there are not nearly as many foreclosures available. I remember spending a great deal of my time trying to figure out how to locate foreclosure properties that could truly be bought without waiting for months. Supply is very low. Since supply is low, foreclosures cannot be purchased as cheaply. There were over 500 Realtors around Topeka before the mortgage crisis (in 2008). That number dropped down around 350 or 400. Now, there are more than 500 again, and close to 600. Teams are popular. Realtors hire their own staff and operate as a team for more efficiency and grander business scale. After starting my team a year and a half ago, I have one fulltime agent team member currently and two clerical staff team members, in addition to the 10 staff members at my office working on marketing and transaction/listing processing — and we are growing. Teams allow for clients to experience (fewer) gaps in service and greater benefits. Q: How has technology contributed to changes in the field during this time? Calhoon: Technology has made it
faster for buyers to see homes when they get listed. There are so many different apps available. Make sure
you use one that updates regularly so you are seeing accurate information. Barrington: So many tools are available now for buyers and sellers and Realtors. We can do contracts through Dotloop versus handwritten contracts. Now we can send an offer to our buyers, have them initial/sign and send this electronically to the seller’s Realtor, who can forward to their sellers and back. The whole process could take place in minutes versus days. We place our sellers’ homes on many home websites and have received communication from foreign countries with people relocating to our area. Some Realtors post their new listings on their Facebook (page), and the Realtors have a real estate forum to ask questions or share information. Sometimes, homes are sold before they list from Realtors informing others that they have a home coming on the market soon. Cell phones have really changed with photos. We get phones with the best cameras, so we can shoot photos of listings or take photos of specific items in homes to share. Many Realtors are using 360-degree photo lenses instead of what we used to use where photos were stitched together. Thompson: 2007 and 2008 were the times when real estate websites were beginning to become quite prevalent. With more information, buyers and sellers feel like they can find any information they need to buy or sell without a Realtor. They can, but it can result in snafus and things being overlooked that cost them significant amounts of money, time and stress. As a result, sometimes buyers don’t realize they have overpaid for a home until they go to sell it years later. Q: What new trends in home buying and selling have you noticed over the past decade? Calhoon: Right now, there’s a short-
age of inventory, which has created a strong seller’s market. Buyers have to be willing to make decisions quickly in order to purchase a home. Multiple offers on a house are happening pretty frequently. Barrington: A decline in inventory has been the most important issue in real estate nationwide. After three years of a crushing shortage of homes for sale, the realtor. com economics team is predicting that the shortfall will finally
Luke Thompson, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair American Home, walks through a home in southeast Shawnee County to assess the home’s value. Because of the shortage of homes for sale in Topeka, Thompson said, houses often sell within a few days. [SHANNA SLOYER/SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
ease up in the second half of 2018. Thompson: Information widely available on the Internet allows Realtors to cross borders and work in other cities and states. Any Realtor can join just about any multiple listing service (MLS), and then they can help clients sell or buy in that area. However, that does not mean that they are an expert in that geographic area. Full price and multiple offers have become very common, as well as selling in just a few days due to the shortage of homes for sale. Q: Have the certification requirements to become licensed as a Realtor changed in the past decade? Calhoon: The Kansas Real Estate
Commission is now requiring anyone who wants to obtain a real
“Use a local Realtor. Though information is now more widely available to agents from other areas, local Realtors know the nuances of your neighborhood and city that make differences that translate to dollars when it comes to buying or selling a home. Local Realtors will know reliable inspectors and contractors in the area, and are more likely to protect you from things that might go unforeseen because they live and work in that area every single day.” —Luke Thompson, of Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair American Home
estate license to get fingerprinted and pass a background check. Barrington: I haven’t noticed many changes since getting my license in 2001. The great news to homebuyers and sellers is that Realtors have to take continuing education to maintain their licenses, and these classes do an outstanding job of allowing us to provide the most professional advice available. The national association is stepping up requirements for Realtor Code of Ethics, and now requires Realtors to take and pass that course every two years rather than every four years. Thompson: I am not aware of any changes to these. Shanna Sloyer is a freelance writer from Topeka. You can reach her at ssloyer@yahoo.com.
8 Saturday, June 9, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
NAR: Tax reform may hurt housing markets Bill lessens tax benefits for homeowners By Shanna Sloyer Special to The Capital-Journal
The National Association of Realtors worked throughout the national tax reform process to preserve the existing tax benefits of homeownership and real estate investment. Many of the changes reflected in the final bill were the result of the engagement of NAR and its members over several years. The NAR is concerned that the overall structure of the final bill diminishes the tax benefits of homeownership and will cause adverse impacts in some markets.
Here are some highlights of the final tax reform bill, according to the National Association of Realtors: • The new law provides generally lower tax rates for all individual tax filers. This doesn’t mean that every American will pay lower taxes under these changes, but many will. • Proposed bills would have changed the amount of time a homeowner must live in their home to qualify for the capital gains exclusion from two to five years, as well as phased out the exclusion for some taxpayers based on income. Due to the efforts of the NAR, the final bill retains current law. • One proposal would have capped the mortgage
interest limit at $500,000 and done away with any tax deductions on second homes. The final bill grandfathers in homeowners who took out loans prior to Dec. 14, 2017, but it repeals the deduction for interest paid on home equity debt through Dec. 31, 2025. • Deductions for state and local taxes will be less beneficial to homeowners with passage of the new bill. The final bill allows an itemized deduction of up to $10,000 for the total of state and local property taxes and income or sales taxes. This limit applies for both single and married filers and isn’t indexed to keep up with inflation. • The standard deduction will double at $12,000
for single individuals and $24,000 for joint returns. This will greatly reduce the value of the mortgage interest and property tax deductions as tax incentives for homeownership. Only 5 to 8 percent of filers will now be eligible to claim these deductions by itemizing, according to congressional estimates. Essentially, there will be no tax differential between renting and owning for more than 90 percent of taxpayers. • The 2018 tax law allowed taxpayers to deduct $4,150 for the filer and his or her spouse and for each dependent. These exemptions will be repealed under the new law. • The final bill increases
the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000 and keeps the age limit at 16 and younger. • Tax deductions for casualty losses due to fire and natural disasters will be allowed only if the loss is attributable to a presidentially declared disaster. • A House-introduced version of the bill would have eliminated the moving expense deduction for all filers, including members of the military. The final bill repeals moving expense deductions, except for members of the armed forces. Shanna Sloyer is a freelance writer from Topeka. You can reach her at ssloyer@yahoo.com.
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PARADE From Page 3 couple of years. Why is that? Weichert: It’s the first one
since the fall of 2015, to be exact. There just haven’t been enough available newly constructed homes for people to tour in the past couple of years to have a Parade of Homes. The market was such that builders didn’t have enough homes for sale. When the housing market isn’t as strong, builders won’t construct as many new homes at one time. The interest on construction loans can get very costly. Each builder may
have had one or two houses available, but then one or both homes would sell before a Parade of Homes could be put together. And, understandably, the new owners wouldn’t want hundreds of people walking through their new homes. Our goal is to have at least five houses available for viewing in a Parade of Homes. The market seems to be a little stronger this year, and when the market is good, more builders are willing to put up spec homes for people to see. We’re pleased to have seven houses on this parade, built by six different member builders.
situation for builders and for potential buyers. Weichert: No question.
Q: I would think such an event would be a win-win
it’s had a long history — at least since I was a builder
People who are thinking about buying or having some remodeling done can, at their leisure, see and touch the latest products that are being installed into today’s homes. They can get quite a few different ideas about what they’d like to have in their own homes. And many builders, over the years, say they’ve never failed to sell a house because of the Parade of Homes.
Q: How many years has this been an ongoing event? Weichert: I can tell you
in the mid-1980s. Q: In addition to seeing the homes on the parade, there are a couple of other special things tied in with it this year. Is that correct? Weichert: Yes. For one,
people can take part in a contest to win a $500 drawing for Blackburn’s Nursery by entering at cjonline.com/ contests. You’ll be asked to answer three questions: What was your favorite house (on the parade)? What did you like best about it, and are you planning to build or remodel in the next 12 months? The other is a last chance to buy a ticket for the St. Jude Dream Home contest. For a $100 ticket purchase,
you have a 1-in-6,500 chance to win a brand new dream home in Topeka, with profits benefiting St. Jude (Children’s Research Hospital). June 10 is the deadline to buy a chance, while tickets are still available. The winner will be announced June 14. I would invite everyone to come out and see these homes and take advantage of the drawings. You can easily visit all seven in one afternoon — or see the four on the west side of Topeka one day and the three on the east side of Topeka the next day. Liz Montano is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at (785) 230-3907 or newsbizliz@gmail.com.
10 Saturday, June 9, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
The right medicine for your bathroom Magnetic surfaces, frameless mirrors are on trend By Ed Del Grande Tribune News Service
Q: Dear Ed: Very often, I’m surprised by all the new technology you mention in your column that’s now available in the bathroom. While I love my bathroom, I do want to replace the medicine cabinet. Can you please update me on what’s new in medicine cabinets? — Jeff, New Jersey A: From smart toi-
lets to music streaming
showerheads, today’s bathrooms are more like mission control centers. The simple bathroom medicine cabinet hasn’t escaped this technology wave, and new electronic and design options are now available. First, the mirrors have changed. Bright frameless mirrors outside and inside the cabinet, along with built-in swinging magnifying mirrors, are popular add-ons. Other new features include electronic USB and charging outlets; night lights; integral interior and exterior
lighting; and magnetic surfaces to hold grooming utensils like tweezers in place. Finally, high-tech audio and video options can keep you in tune with the world. Master contractor/ plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book “Ed Del Grande’s House Call,” the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eadelg@cs.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.
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