Real Estate Information

Before the 1970s, household paint often contained lead. As lead paint ages, it can chip or crumble into dust. Exposure to lead-paint dust or chips can cause serious health problems. Children and pregnant women are at higher risk. So, if you live in or own an older home, you need to know how to protect yourself and others.

If your home was built before 1978, there is a very good chance that there is lead paint.  If you are buying a home or even leasing a home, federal law requires a lead-based paint disclosure be supplied.  It is possible that the current owner has no idea or if the home is for sale by bank they have no prior knowledge of the contents of the home. How can you find out?

If you are buying a home without a completed disclosure, renting a home that the owner would not have that information available or renovating a home built before 1978 where you will be disturbing more than 2 square feet of painted surfaces you need to understand the hazards of lead based paint. Because of the wide spread usage of lead paints before 1978, it is a good possibility that you will find evidence, however, rather than guess, there are testing methods.  Home kits are available and while they will tell you if there is lead they are not a good predictor of hazard.  A paint inspection can be requested with or without a risk assessment.  The EPA recommends hiring a trained and certified testing professional who will us a XRF machine, lab tests of paint, dust and soil samples.

• If you are not sure that there is lead paint but want to keep your family safe there are a few simple precautions you can take.
• Immediately take care of chipping paint.  Do not sand paint that may contain lead as will create lead dust.  Chipped paint needs to be immediately disposed of.
• Cover lead paint by painting over possible offenders.  While this doesn't cure the problem it is a quick solution to protect your family until abatement can occur.  
• Frequently check play areas and high traffic areas for signs that paint is cracking.
• If you are remodeling, remove small children and if possible women of child bearing years.

A complete guide to lead-paint and renovating can be found in this EPA document. While paint isn't the only source of possible lead contamination; it is the most common.  If you think your family may have been exposed, it is important to get tested. Children who may have been exposed to lead-based paint should have a blood test to see if they have elevated blood levels.

• If you have ever had a leak in your house you may know how fast mold can grow. It enters your home as tiny spores; the spores need moisture to begin growing, digesting and destroying. Molds can grow on almost any surface, including; wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paints, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. The mold grows best when there is a lot of moisture from a leaky roof, high humidity, or flood.   While there is no way to get rid all molds and mold spores completely from your home, you can take steps to prevent the growth of mold.

•  Keep the humidity level in your home between 30% to 60% by using air conditioners or  dehumidifiers.
• Put exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Don’t install carpets in damp areas such as basements or bathrooms.
• Don’t let water accumulate under house plants.
• Clean bathrooms with bleach and other mold killing products.
• Add mold inhibitors to paints before application. 
• Inspect hoses, pipes and fittings - consider replacing hoses to major appliances like   washers and dishwasher every five years.

Some indications that you have mold are when you can smell the "musty" odor or see small black or white specks along your damp bathroom or basement walls. Some mold is hidden growing behind wall coverings or ceiling tiles. While most molds do not harm healthy people, people who have allergies or asthma may be more sensitive to molds. They may experience skin rash, running nose, eye irritation, cough, nasal congestion, aggravation of asthma or difficulty breathing.

If you notice mold or know of water damaged areas in your home, it is time to take action to control its growth. Depending on how sever the mold problem is, you may be able to treat the problem yourself. The EPA recommendation is that if the affected area is less than 10 square feet you can probably handle it yourself, any bigger than that it is best to hire a remediation specialist. 

•  If you do decide to remove the mold yourself remember to wear protective gear.  Protective gear includes: goggles without ventilated openings, a N-95 respirator (this item is available a many hardware stores).  Also, don't forget the gloves; normal household cleaning gloves can be used if you are not using a biocide.  If you are going to be using a biocide you should wear natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane, or PVC. 
•  Clean-up can be as simple as cleaning the area with a chlorine bleach mixture. Other biocide options can be found at: www.epa.gov/mold.  Dispose of anything that you can that is likely to recontaminate the area, such as rugs or paper.  
•  Close off the contaminated area while clean up is ongoing so that further contamination does not occur.
  

The appearance of the carpet in a home are one of the first things noticed. If you are selling your home, having your carpets professionally cleaned is an easy, cost effective way to give your house a facelift before showing prospective buyers.  Stains and worn traffic areas can disappoint potential buyers and the thought of having to replace the carpet can cause them to walk away.A quality carpet cleaning by a professional can do wonders by removing stains as well as lifting the nap of the carpet to reduce the traffic wear and giving it a fresh look.

There are many different options you have when looking for a professional to clean your carpets, below are some of the methods available. Contact a professional in your area you are not certain which method is best for your style of carpet.

Hot Water Extraction or "Steam" Cleaning
This is the most common method where a cleaning solution is sprayed on the carpet and immediately extracted (along with the dissolved soil) by a wet vacuum. Extraction equipment can be portable or truck-mounted, the latter being more powerful in terms of spray pressure, heating capabilities and power of the vacuum pumps. Hot water extraction is often referred to as "steam" cleaning and is considered by many carpet manufacturers as the most thorough method. Drying time is generally between 4 to 6 hours.

Shampooing
In this process a shampoo is applied to the carpet and then agitated with a brush mounted on a floor machine. The solution absorbs soil and crystallizes as it dries. Soil and shampoo are then removed through vacuuming at a later time. This method is also referred to as encapsulation. Drying time is generally between 1 to 2 hours.

 Bonnet Cleaning
This method is similar to the shampooing process in which a pre-spray is applied to the carpet and then is absorbed with cotton or synthetic bonnet pads attached to a floor machine. This removes the soil as it is absorbed on the shag pad.  When one side of the pad becomes soiled, the pad is reversed until both sides are soiled, at which time it is replaced. Drying time is generally between 1 to 2 hours.

Foam Cleaning
This system uses detergent in the form of a foam.  A machine generates a foam, which is agitated on the carpet by brushes. The foam is then removed, with trapped soil, by an extraction-vacuum pickup.

Dry Cleaning
In this process the cleaning agent, an absorbent dry compound (containing solvents and detergents) is sprinkled on the carpet and worked into the pile by a machine. It is vacuumed off after about half an hour, removing the soil suspended by the compound. Drying time is usually less than 1 hour.

It's the question you need to ask yourself before you even begin your new home search. How much you can afford is the most important factor in determining where and how you look for your new home. You don’t want to purchase a home that will leave you overextended.  To make sure that the house you are thinking of buying is going to be affordable, make sure you do your research and budgeting before you sign the paper work.

There are many factors that determine how much you can borrow, but it is the amount of your monthly payments, however, that will ultimately decide how much home you can afford. The general rule of thumb is that your mortgage payments should not exceed 28 percent of your income. Your entire debt-to-income ratio, which includes all recurring debt, including mortgage, car loan, and credit card payments, should not exceed 36 percent of your income.

Most people can afford a home that costs up to three times their annual household income, if they can make a 20% down payment and have only a moderate amount of other debt. If you have little to no debt and can put 20% down you can probably buy a house worth up to four times your annual income. Calculate how much house you can afford with this home affordability calculator.   Enter your income, liabilities, and debt, as well as your new loan assumptions to see an estimate of how much you can potentially afford for your new home.

When it comes to deciding how much you can afford to spend consider the following:

•  Make sure you get pre-qualified or pre-approved for your loan before you start looking.
•  Be sure to figure in moving expenses if you buy a home in a different city. If you move to another region of the country, you may also face a change in the cost of living.
•  If you buy a condo or a home that requires you to join the homeowner's association, your monthly dues will directly reduce how much you can afford to spend on a home. Some dues can be very costly, be sure to include the cost into your budgeting.
•  Remember to assess and figure in the costs for any remodeling and repair projects.
  

If you're considering a new home purchase, it is crucial that you spend time calculating what you can truly afford. Remember, just because the bank says they will give you a certain amount of money, that doesn't mean you can actually afford it. Everyone's situation is different, and by planning ahead to ensure you're not overextending yourself, you can make it through the difficult times

During the home buying process you will have to make many important decisions. One of the most important decisions you face in the loan process-and often the hardest is whether to take out a fixed or adjustable rate mortgage. There are many different options to consider when making your decision and the type of mortgage  that's right for you depends on many factors, such as your tolerance for risk and how long you expect to stay in your home.

Fixed rate mortgages

With a fixed rate mortgage, the interest rate remains the same throughout the life of the loan. Your monthly payment (consisting of principal and interest) generally remains the same as well. The entire mortgage is repaid in equal monthly installments over the term (length) of the loan.

Fixed rate mortgages offer  stability and that  is one reason why fixed rate mortgages are the most popular way to finance a home in America. However, having a fixed interest rate on your mortgage has both positive and negative aspects. If interest rates rise, yours won't; and thus, your monthly mortgage payment will always remain the same. For homeowners on tight budgets or with fixed incomes this can be reassuring and this type of mortgage is typically the best choice.

On the other hand, if interest rates go down, yours won't, and your mortgage payment will remain the same. However, a possible option may be to refinance your home, paying off the higher-rate mortgage with one that carries a lower interest rate. Keep in mind the interest rate might need to drop significantly to offset the expenses associated with refinancing, and you'd need to remain in your home long enough to recoup those expenses.

Adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs)

With this type of mortgage, sometime also called a variable rate mortgage, your interest rate is adjusted periodically, rising or falling to keep pace with changes in market interest rate fluctuations. Your monthly payment amount is recalculated with each rate adjustment. Depending on what's specified in the mortgage contract, an ARM can be adjusted semi-annually, quarterly, or even monthly, but most are adjusted annually.

Adjustable-rate mortgages come with special rules (rate caps) that limit how much your payment can increase.  These rate caps are important because they protect you from unlimited higher payments, no matter how high or how quickly market interest rates rise.
If you are uncertain as to if an ARM is for you, consider if  the following apply to you:

• Want or need more home than you can qualify for now at a fixed rate.
• You can afford to pay the increased cost.
• Plan on moving within seven years of buying your home.
• You can tolerate uncertainty in your mortgage interest rate and fluctuations in your monthly mortgage payment amount
  

There are many different types of ARM mortgages and although somewhat riskier than a fixed rate mortgage, an ARM may benefit you if you have certain needs or find yourself in certain circumstances. In other circumstances, you may be better off with a fixed rate or other type of mortgage. Examine your financial and life situation with the help of your loan officer  or financial advisor. Use this mortgage comparsion chart to help you in your decision making. .

Now that the weather will start getting warmer, soon the bugs will be making an appearance. Pests are a reality of everyday life, there are over 94,000 species of pests in the United States. Pests can not only cause physical damage to your home, they can also spread germs, irritate allergies and generally make the environment in your home uncomfortable. Today, you can choose from many different methods as you plan your strategy for controlling pests. Sometimes a non-chemical method of control is as effective and convenient as a chemical alternative. For many pests, total elimination is almost impossible, but it is possible to control them.  There are many things you  can do to help prevent and eliminate pests in and around the home without using pesticides.  Here are a few:

 MOISTURE CONTROL – Removing moisture that attracts pests
• Repair leaky roofs, faucets, pipes and appliances.
• Clean gutters and downspouts.
• Direct water away from the house.
• Eliminate standing water and water in outdoor containers.
• Ensure that crawlspaces have vents and a vapor barrier.

EXCLUSION – Sealing keeps pests out
• Seal foundation cracks and gaps where utility lines enter.
• Keep doors, windows and vents screened and well sealed.
• Keep exterior wood painted, stained or sealed.
• Seal items in storage. Store items in plastic, not cardboard.
• Before bringing in new items, inspect them for pests.

SANITATION – Cleaning removes food and hiding places
• Keep trash containers clean and tightly sealed.
• Keep foods in sealed containers.
• Don’t leave dog/cat food or birdseed out for long periods.
• Remove clutter and junk, indoors and out.
• Vacuum regularly.

PREVENTION – Making your home unattractive to pests
• Eliminate wood-to-ground contact.
• Use gravel or rock instead of wood mulch.
• Use concrete or plastic instead of wood landscape timbers.
• Keep plants trimmed and woodpiles away from house.
• Use yellow “bug lights” in exterior light fixtures

The decision to erect a fence on your property is usually made for any number of reasons: to provide a safe space for children and pets to play, to increase privacy on your property, or to protect your possessions. There are many factors to consider when deciding on a fence:

 • Personal Taste - Take a look around your neighborhood and determine what you like - style, material etc. Also, determine what type of fence will compliment the architectural style of your home, landscaping and neighborhood.

• Safety - Do you need to keep your children and pets in? Or do you need to enclose a pool area?

• Privacy - How much privacy do you want? You can choose either the private 6-foot-tall fencing with solid board or a shorter version with more space between boards.

• Budget - Keep in mind the cheapest fence initially, may not be the cheapest fence over the life of the fence.

 Types Of Fences 

There are several different options for fencing to accommodate any budget and situation. Visit the fence project estimator to get an idea of cost and how to find a quality fence company in your area.

• Wood Fences. This type of fencing is an excellent choice for privacy fencing and cost effective. Wood fences can be made out of Western red cedar, cypress, or treated pine. When maintained properly, wood fences can endure the harshest weather and provide you with several years of serviceability. Wood fences can come in privacy, picket or rail style.  If you decide to install the fence yourself, here are some tips and suggestions to help you!

 • Vinyl (PVC) Fencing. Vinyl fences are strong and highly durable - retaining their shape, color and structural integrity. In addition to their attractive appearance, this style of fencing offers many benefits. It is fireproof, wont rust or rot, termite resistant and is virtually maintenance free. While this type of fencing is more costly than wood, you will not need to replace the fence in a few years, they are built to last a lifetime. There are many styles of vinyl fencing available to suit your needs from privacy to picket.

• Chain Link Fencing. Chain link fences are an economical way to provide years of maintenance-free security and access control. These types of fences are extremely versatile; they can be made in a variety of heights, and can handle anything from a simple boundary marker for a homeowner to perimeter security. You can also get vinyl coated chain link fences in different colors for added versatility.

• Wrought Iron Fences.. This style of fencing is extremely durable and has a classic look. They are available in different colors, patterns and heights. This style of fencing can be used for walkways, porches, and perimeter and driveway gates as well. Click here to find wrought iron fencing contractors in your area.

Whether you choose to install the fence yourself or hire a professional, it is important to remember the following:

• Determine the actual property line. Reference property deeds and legal surveys to confirm property boundaries.
• Remember to check on local building codes. You may need a permit and there may be other restrictions.
• Beware of underground utilities. Call the local power company. Utility companies in many areas of the country have free services and they will mark the power line with paint on the ground itself. So check with each of the companies that service the home and have them locate underground power, water and gas.

Each year, Americans generate millions of tons of trash but according to the EPA, the national recycling rate is only 30%. Many people don’t recycle  because they feel that it is a hassle, inconveient and messy, but in reality it is very easy! There are a variety of ways to make home recycling easy, and all it takes is changing a few small habits and attitudes. Recycling as well as reducing and reusing what we consume benefits everyone and the environment.

There are different kinds of recycling. There is recycling of paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, and even car oil. Bleached paper and newsprint recycling reduces the amount of trees that are cut down. Plastic can be recycled into other plastics. Glass can be melted down and made into many different forms from drinking glasses to glass fiber. Aluminum can be recycled into other cans, foil, and even wrapping paper. Most do not realize that even car oil can be burned for energy recovery and/or recycled and re-used. Below are some tips to help you get started recycling at your home.

• Place recycling bins next to your garbage can. This will make it easier to recycle if you have all waste containers in the same area.

• Contact your home trash collection service's recycling program. Most cities offer a free curbside service that makes it convenient to recycle!

• Know what you can and can't recycle. Read up on the recycling rules for your area and make sure you don't send anything in that can't be processed. Always check with your local municipality or waste hauler to see what kind of recycling services are available in your area. Locate a recycling center near you.

• Avoid products that cannot be recycled such as aerosol cans and Styrofoam. Try to find alternatives that are more environmentaly friendly. 

Starting a household recycling program is easy and there are several ways you can make a difference each day by changing your habits, attitude and being more conscious. 

We can produce less waste by reducing the amount of trash discarded, reusing containers and products and buying with recycled content.

Spring is almost here, you can smell it in the air! The official first day of spring is March 21st and now is the time to get outside and start spring-cleaning your landscape. It won’t be long and the dreary days of winter will be replaced by the vibrant colors and smells of spring. Here are a few tips to get you started on your outdoor “to do” list.

 
Lawn Care

Start with removing any accumulated debris as well as removing all the thatch  (dried dead grass and weeds) with a rake. If the thatch is left in the yard it can prevent water and nutrients from reaching the roots of your lawn. If you will be planting grass seeds, this will help them to root in the soil better.  Because the harsh conditions of Winter can take a toll on your lawn and cause dead spots in your lawn, be sure to rake any visible spots in your lawn before mowing.

Before you mow the yard for the first time of the season, it is important you change the oil, spark plug, put fresh gasoline in the tank and make sure the blade is sharpened.  When you are ready to mow, it should be short enough to remove the dead tips of the grass. This shorter mowing will encourage the roots to waken up and start growing.

Lawns can be fertilized organically by using compost  and mulching mowers.   It is also easy to  go green when looking for solutions for lawn and soil problems. There are many organic products available from fertilizers to weed control that do not contain chemicals.

Pruning

Spring is a great time to prune ornamental trees and shrubs, the best time to do so is before growth starts. This is also a great time to prune roses, by doing so you will see a much fuller and robust plant when they begin to bloom.

Proper pruning enhances the beauty of almost any landscape tree and shrub, while improper pruning can ruin or greatly reduce its landscape potential, so be sure to research the correct methods!

Planting: Annuals and Perennials

Many hardy perennials can be planted quite early in the spring, especially if they have been kept outdoors at the nursery and are well acclimated to the weather. While most annuals do not tolerate frost, and transplants will do better if planted into soil that has a bit of time to warm up after that cold winter, but you can  start now to get your plan together. Research gardening books, magazines as well as online for ideas and information on certain plants and the amount of care required.  However, some flowers that can take the often chilly temperatures of spring are: Snapdragons, Violas and Purple Cabbage. Depending on your area you should also be able to plant roses, berries, fruit trees and most deciduous plants now.

Spring lawn and landcape care is important, as early season care has a big impact for the rest of the season. With a little extra care and prevention now can make for a beautiful landscape to be enjoyed all summer long. Take advantage of the cooler temperatures to get your yard and garden ready now!