|
|
-
Sellers should be wary of pushing appraisers for higher values. In years past I've heard appraisers complain, but comply to justify higher values for homesellers. That practice stopped here in Ohio with the declining market. If you call an appraiser now even suggesting seeking nhigher values you'll likely get the phone hung up in your ear. That could prove to be the best thing to happen to you. Here's why; James K. Lamm, 42, Olathe, Kansas, is charged with eight counts of wire fraud. Lamm is accused of fraudulently inflating real estate appraisals so that mortgage loans would be approved that otherwise would not have been approved. In that way, Lamm increased his income from commissions on the mortgage transactions he handled. According to the indictment, from July 23, 2001, to July 9, 2004, Lamm worked for the Bank of Blue Valley, which has six banking locations in Johnson County, Kansas. He was employed as a mortgage specialist for the bank’s online mortgage operation, which was called InternetMortgage.com. He was one of approximately 120 employees working in an office at 7900 College Boulevard, Overland Park, Kansas. Lamm received emails from appraisers containing property appraisals. He forwarded the appraisals to another email address, altered them, and sent them back to his email address at work. The indictment alleges more than $1.5 million worth of mortgage loans were made as a result of the falsified appraisals. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Federal Bureau of Investigation worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Hare and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker are prosecuting
|
-
North Toledo, Toledo - Announcing a price reduction on 3138 Enright, a 1,068 sq. ft., 1 bath, 3 bdrm single story "Traditional". Now  MLS® $23,900 - A Steal!. Property information
|
-
Five Points/Northtowne, Toledo - Announcing a price reduction on 4029 Caroline, a 1,114 sq. ft., 1 bath, 3 bdrm 2 story. Now MLS® $74,900 - A Complete HGTV Makeover!. Property information
|
-
| | | | | | Neighborhood type | | | | | Population | 298,446 | 653,695 | 11,478,006 | 299,398,484 | Pop. density | 3,698.1 | 403.1 | 281.0 | 81.6 | Percent male | 47.9% | 48.5% | 48.9% | 49.1% | Percent female | 52.1% | 51.5% | 51.1% | 50.9% | Median age | 34.8 | 34.9 | 38.2 | 38.8 | People per household | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.6 | Median household income | $35,948 | $45,092 | $47,212 | $45,937 | Average income per capita | $19,292 | $23,449 | $24,205 | $23,868 | | | | | | | Violent crime risk index | 6.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | Property crime risk index | 7.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | | | | | | | Median home value | $99,200 | $145,900 | $153,800 | $323,700 | Median age of homes | 52.0 | 42.0 | 40.0 | 27.0 | Home appreciation | 1.7% | 0.7% | 0.5% | -2.8% | Homes - owned | 55.1% | 62.8% | 65.3% | 64.7% | Homes - rented | 36.6% | 28.6% | 28.4% | 21.5% | Homes - vacant | 7.9% | 8.9% | 7.1% | 14.4% | Commuting by bus | 2.5% | 1.3% | 2.0% | 2.0% | Commuting by carpool | 10.5% | 8.6% | 9.2% | 14.4% | Commuting by auto | 82.9% | 85.6% | 82.8% | 71.0% | Working at home | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 5.4% | | | | | | | Currently married | 42.7% | 50.6% | 53.6% | 57.5% | Never married | 32.8% | 28.0% | 25.7% | 24.6% | Divorced | 13.1% | 10.8% | 10.5% | 7.6% | Widowed | 7.7% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.4% | Separated | 3.9% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.8% | Married - w/ children | 16.1% | 21.4% | 22.5% | 28.1% | Married - no children | 21.8% | 27.1% | 28.8% | 31.0% | Single - w/ children | 13.2% | 10.0% | 9.0% | 9.4% | Single - no children | 48.7% | 41.3% | 39.2% | 30.3% |
|
|
-
Recently, I listed a home that a first time investor had rehabbed. She had purchased the home without any real estate counsel. She also had purchased the home from a sherrifs sale and the property was transfrred via a sherrifs deed. While there are no absolutes in life. the set of circumstances I just layed out are absolutely the wrong thing to do. There's nothing wrong with buyin with the intent to rehabilitate to resell. That's arguably one of the safest and most profitable investments of yesterday and today! What was wrong with what this seller did? #1 Without real estate counsel the public generally doesn't know accurate real estate values and or procedures. When this seller purchased there were homes in the mls that may have had a larger margin of end of the day equity. Which means more money in that investors pocket at the end of the day. A good realtor will prepare a market analysis for an investor that will be a good indicator of the profit margin #2 The public and some realtors with lesser experience and learned realtors tend to believe that a sherrifs deed is equivilent to a "owners policy" deed (which's the safest policy to indemnify a buyer from lien loss down the road. ) The fact is a sherrifs deed guarantees no such thing. You see liens are recorded on properies. Regardless of ownership liens transfer. In the specific incidence I'm sharing with you the seller incurred the cost of old utility bills as well as some personal income tax of the prior owner. This situation could have easily been avoided by the investor having their own independent title search performed. Generally a buyer can upgrade to an owners policy. If the title company the sherrifs dept. uses does not allow you as a buyer to purchase an upgrade on the title policy, I have one advice-walk away! That's a sure sign the property does in fact have liens. In Ohio a sherrifs deed can filter liens off the property but the research has to be done correctly. But generally all buyers of sherrifs sale properties are assured is the property will not have liens on it from the time of repossesion to sale. Anything before that is no guarantee. To avoid this and many other costly mistakes-"call a realtor!" As a buyer generally there are no fees to you for buyers agency service. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about this or any other real estate matter call me. I'll be happy to assist you!
|
-
|
Home prices are expected to recover in 2008 with existing-home sales picking up late this year and new-home sales rising early next year, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®. Lawrence Yun, NAR senior economist, said a good buyers’ market has evolved. “Buyers now have an overwhelming advantage given the wide selection of homes available in many markets,” he said. “But with profit margins coming under pressure, homebuilders will limit new construction well into 2008. This should help the overall inventory level to move steadily into a more balanced state.” Existing-home sales are expected to total 6.11 million this year and 6.37 million in 2008, down from 6.48 million last year. New-home sales are projected at 865,000 in 2007 and 878,000 next year, compared with 1.05 million in 2006. Housing starts, including multifamily units, are forecast at 1.43 million units this year and 1.44 million in 2008, down from 1.80 million last year. Existing-home prices are likely to rise 1.8 percent to a median of $222,700 in 2008 after a 1.4 percent decline this year to $218,800. The median new-home price should rise 2.2 percent to $245,400 next year following a 2.6 percent drop in 2007 to $240,100. “Markets that sharply reduce new construction in 2007 will generally experience respectable price increases in 2008,” Yun said. “Local conditions vary considerably, but with historically low mortgage interest rates this summer and sustained job gains, it could be a good time for first-time buyers with a long-term view to test the housing waters.” The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is estimated to average 6.7 percent during the second half of this year, and fluctuate around 6.6 percent in 2008. Growth in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) will probably be 2.0 percent in 2007, compared with a 3.3 percent growth rate last year; GDP is forecast to grow 2.8 percent in 2008. The unemployment rate is likely to average 4.6 percent in 2007, unchanged from last year. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, is projected at 2.6 percent in 2007, down from 3.2 percent last year. Inflation-adjusted disposable personal income should rise 3.0 percent this year, up from a 2.6 percent gain in 2006. The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
|
-
- Save money on cabinets. Cabinets are generally the single most expensive element in any kitchen design. Fortunately, there are many ways to save money:
- Refinishing or replacing cabinet doors can make a huge improvement at a fraction of the cost of new cabinets.
- Noting that fine finishes cause cabinetry prices to soar, one shrewd home enthusiast I know recommends selecting less-expensive cabinets and then painting over the finish. (When it comes to appliances, he shops for last year's models and doesn't mind a few scratches or dents.)
- Resist the temptation to fill all available wall space with cabinets. Buy only the cabinets (see image 1) you need. Don't build so many that you are forced to shop to fill them when the kitchen is complete. The corollary is to streamline your kitchen supplies and equipment. I like the "one-of-each" rule: If you find one bowl that can be used for prep, storage, and serving, buy just that one. The less stuff you have, the fewer cabinets you need.
- In lieu of a wall of costly cabinetry, use the space for something other than storage. Create a seating area, office space or a place for the kids to play.
- Flush-overlay cabinet doors generally are less costly than inset doors. Open shelves are decorative, provide easy access, and also save money.
- Add life. Real life makes any kitchen more beautiful, often at little or no extra cost. Plants and fresh flowers enrich any kitchen design. Books are also wonderful signs of life, with their vivid implications about the people who enjoy them. Add color and texture to your kitchen by making foods a living part of your decor. A bowl of fruit or a garland of dried chilies enliven a space for next to nothing.
- Do it yourself. Lots of money can be saved by doing some of the work, such as demolition or painting, yourself.
- Avoid construction changes. Nothing can drive up the cost of a new kitchen like making last-minute changes in the design plans. They can really throw a "money wrench" into the best-laid blueprints!
- Shop at home... literally. Bring in accessories and furniture from other rooms or the attic. And shop less by eliminating items you really don't need, such as window treatments (your kitchen can actually be enhanced by the extra light).
Create a single focal point. Focus your investment where it will have the biggest impact. Then balance your design and your budget with more modest selections. A professional-style cooktop can add functional power and great presence to a kitchen, carrying the "weight" of the entire design. Make your design statement once, with one truly beautiful focal point; then allow the rest of the design to do its work with modest simplicity. Once you satisfy the eye's need for beauty, your mission is accomplished and you can let the other elements recede and take a secondary position. All it takes is a few special tiles on a field of standard tile to make your own personal statement on a backsplash. Use unadorned field tiles in your favorite color. A painted wall also works, and is the least-costly option. - Use salvaged or found materials. This kitchen is a wonderful example of how effective this idea can be. In an old farmhouse, the designer found a hutch that had lost its doors and was a mess. She painted it dark brown, then painted it white, and rubbed it down before applying a decorative motif inspired by tile in the room. Finally, she painted the inside blue and left it without doors. As a result, what might have been a discarded relic has become a richly decorative addition to a beautiful kitchen.
- Invest in permanence. The money you spend on architecture — space and light — is a lasting choice. You can always upgrade to finer appliances and materials later.
|
-
Meeting in Detroit -- one of the cities hit hardest by foreclosures -- the group said that weaker market demand and large inventories of homes for sale would have reduced home values by $676 billion in 2008. With the added impact of the foreclosure and mortgage crisis, home values are projected to fall an additional $519 billion, the report said. The U.S. Conference of Mayors said the report, prepared by Global Insight Inc., demonstrates the need for lenders to modify loan terms of borrowers who have the ability to pay if they had not been placed in risky adjustable-rate mortgages. The Mortgage Bankers Association maintains that economic issues like unemployment -- not risky loans -- are the primary driver of foreclosures in "rust belt" states like Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. . Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick acknowledges that economic issues are a factor in foreclosures in Michigan and other Midwestern states that are dependent on manufacturing. But that doesn't mean lenders are off the hook. "Over the last decade, we lost over 300,000 jobs -- that's an issue we can't run from," Kilpatrick said. "But in no way can you subtract or diminish at all the role of the mortgage bankers and lenders" in the current rise in foreclosures. Some lenders have "preyed on" Detroit's minority working-class neighborhoods for years, he said, with subprime loans comprising 52 percent of mortgage loans made to African Americans. But Kilpatrick said he was pleased that lenders are participating in the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Detroit, listening to mayors' concerns about improving communication with city officials, maintaining foreclosed properties, and restructuring the terms of loans for borrowers facing foreclosure. "On the positive side, the mortgage bankers are here, the lenders are here, working on these three fronts," Kilpatrick said. The report also called for organized ad campaigns to inform borrowers about counseling services to modify loans, more counselors for borrowers, expanding Federal Housing Administration loan guarantee programs to help more borrowers, and legislation to end predatory lending and prevent loan abuses in the future. Kilpatrick said another goal of the meeting is to "change the face that's been put on the foreclosure problem." With foreclosures now a commonplace event in communities across the U.S., Americans are realizing that the problem is not confined to urban areas, or the result of "deadbeats who don't pay bills," he said. Detroit has built more housing in the last five years than it did in the last 50, including 1,000 new downtown lofts and the city is working to diversify its economy to be less dependent on manufacturing, Kilpatrick said. The rise in foreclosures threatens such efforts. "We've been rushing to diversify, and the thing that allowed us to do that was the middle class tax base," Kilpatrick said. "If we have a breakdown in that, it undermines the transformation we've been making. We could lose all the momentum we've built if we don't get our arms around the foreclosure problem." The Global Insight report prepared for the U.S. Conference of Mayors projects a potential loss of $6.6 billion in tax revenue in 10 states, with the upswing in foreclosures slowing economic growth below 2 percent in 128 metro areas. Home-price declines across the U.S. are projected at 7 percent in 2008, and as high as 16 percent in California. The states taking the biggest hits on property tax revenue are projected to be California (-$2.95 billion), New York (-$686 million), Florida (-$589 million), Illinois (-$329 million), Massachusetts (-$223 million), Arizona (-$158 million), Georgia (-$134 million), Michigan (-$111 million), Nevada (-$49 million) and Minnesota (-$20 million). The report projects that nationwide, the economy will grow at a rate of 1.9 percent in 2008, a percentage point lower than without the rise in foreclosures, and that consumer spending will grow by just 2 percent, despite a projected 3.1 percent gain in incomes. Lauderhill, Fla., Mayor Richard Kaplan said that in Florida, home buyers must contend not only with the credit crunch, but also with high insurance premiums and property taxes. Although Kaplan said property taxes in Florida compare favorably to the nation as a whole, limits restricting assessments from rising more than 3 percent a year create inequalities and disincentives for longtime homeowners to sell their current home in order to buy one better suited to their current lifestyle. Kaplan said that like Detroit, Lauderhill -- a mostly built-out, working-class city that's 70 percent minority -- has been working to transform itself. "It was a city potentially on the decline," Kaplan said, before voters approved a $35 million general obligation bond that's helped fund redevelopment. Kaplan said the city has programs that help build affordable housing, provide second mortgages, and fund home repairs. If lenders would work more closely with the city's housing board, it might be able to help troubled homeowners secure funding, or find occupants for properties that have been foreclosed, he said. The city recently bought a deteriorating eight-unit townhouse project and is selling the units as condominiums, he said. Kaplan is concerned that unoccupied, foreclosed homes won't be property maintained. "We do have houses in our city not being maintained, although not a lot of them yet," he said. "We're being told the peak of the subprime issues is May of next year, so we haven't seen the bottom yet."
|
-
Grimy bathroom walls are a major red flag to buyers. Here is an easy way to get rid of surface mold: Mix a spray bottle with one part water and one part bleach. Just spray it on the wall, and watch the mold disappear. Give it a fresh coat of paint, and your grimy bathroom will go from red-flag to red-hot. Don't replace a yucky shower door — just scour it. A grimy glass shower door can really wash out your sale. Instead of replacing it, clean it with a mixture of one part muriatic acid and about 10 parts water. Scrub with steel wool. After wiping it down, reinstall the door, and you'll have a shower that'll help you clean up at the open house. Avoid dated tile by painting. Bathrooms sell houses, but dated tile in a bathroom doesn't. A low-cost alternative to replacing the tile is to use paint. First coat the tiles with a high-adhesion primer. Next, brush on a special ceramic epoxy covering. For a fraction of the cost of new tile, you will have an up-to-date bathroom that brings in big bucks. Pedestal sinks are a big hit with buyers. They show off square footage in small bathrooms beautifully. First, your old vanity has to go. Next, just hook up your new sink, and your bathroom will have dramatic appeal that brings in big bucks. Plus, buyers will see how much floor space your bathroom has. A master bedroom should appeal to both sexes. When you are selling, your master bedroom should appeal to buyers of both sexes. Get rid of features that seem too gender-specific. Paint the walls a neutral color, and choose bedding that matches. Then accessorize with items that complement the overall color scheme. Do you have an overpowering brick fireplace that sticks out like a sore thumb? Here's an easy way to tone it down with paint. Use a rag or brush to rub a light coat of paint on the bricks, one at a time. This will give them a new tone without covering them completely. And, if you use a paint color that matches the walls, your fireplace will go from sticking out to standing out. Updating an old fireplace screen is a cheap (and quick) fix. After removing the screen and wiping it down to get rid of the dust, mask off the windows so you won't get paint on them. Then, using a can of heat-resistant spray paint, give the screen a facelift. Hold the can about 18 inches away, and use long, even strokes. For less than $5, you will have a fireplace screen that'll keep your sale from going up in smoke. Turn an unattractive fireplace into a selling feature Need to turn an unattractive fireplace into a selling feature? First, that dated brass screen has got to go. Next, give the fireplace a good cleaning, scrubbing it with soap and water. Then, using a stone color-enhancer, polish the bricks to make them shine. In no time you will have a fireplace that will turn your house into the hottest property on the block. Stain dated kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them. Dated kitchen cabinets can be a big turnoff to potential buyers. Instead of paying big bucks to replace them, just stain them. First, apply the stain in even strokes, going with the grain of the wood. Add some stylish new hardware, and your kitchen will have the up-to-date look that buyers love, for less than $200. Stainless-steel appliances are definitely in with buyers. Instead of buying a new dishwasher, here is a low-cost way to reface an old one: First, remove the front panels, and clean them. Next, apply a stainless-steel stick-on covering, and cut it to size. For just $20 your dishwasher will go from outdated to ultra-modern.
|
-
10 easy tips to winterize your home:
1. Clean those gutters
Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris from your home's gutters -- by hand, by scraper or spatula, and finally by a good hose rinse -- so that winter's rain and melting snow can drain. Clogged drains can form ice dams, in which water backs up, freezes and causes water to seep into the house, the Insurance Information Institute says.
As you're hosing out your gutters, look for leaks and misaligned pipes. Also, make sure the downspouts are carrying water away from the house's foundation, where it could cause flooding or other water damage.
"The rule of thumb is that water should be at least 10 feet away from the house," says Michael Broili, the director of the Well Home Program for the Phinney Neighborhood Association, a nationally recognized neighborhood group in Seattle. 2. Block those leaks
One of the best ways to winterize your home is to simply block obvious leaks around your house, both inside and out, experts say. The average American home has leaks that amount to a nine-square-foot hole in the wall, according to EarthWorks Group. First, find the leaks: On a breezy day, walk around inside holding a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas: recessed lighting, window and door frames, electrical outlets. Then, buy door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors, and caulk or apply tacky rope caulk to those drafty spots, says Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated TV show "Today's Homeowner." Outlet gaskets can easily be installed in electrical outlets that share a home's outer walls, where cold air often enters. Outside, seal leaks with weather-resistant caulk. For brick areas, use masonry sealer, which will better stand up to freezing and thawing. "Even if it's a small crack, it's worth sealing up," Lipford says. "It also discourages any insects from entering your home." 3. Insulate yourself
"Another thing that does cost a little money -- but boy, you do get the money back quick -- is adding insulation to the existing insulation in the attic," says Lipford. "Regardless of the climate conditions you live in, in the (U.S.) you need a minimum of 12 inches of insulation in your attic." Don't clutter your brain with R-values or measuring tape, though. Here's Lipford's rule of thumb on whether you need to add insulation: "If you go into the attic and you can see the ceiling joists you know you don't have enough, because a ceiling joist is at most 10 or 11 inches." A related tip: If you're layering insulation atop other insulation, don't use the kind that has "kraft face" finish (i.e., a paper backing). It acts as a vapor barrier, Lipford explains, and therefore can cause moisture problems in the insulation. 4. Check the furnace
First, turn your furnace on now, to make sure it's even working, before the coldest weather descends. A strong, odd, short-lasting smell is natural when firing up the furnace in the autumn; simply open windows to dissipate it. But if the smell lasts a long time, shut down the furnace and call a professional. It's a good idea to have furnaces cleaned and tuned annually. Costs will often run about $100-$125. An inspector should do the following, among other things:
• Make sure that the thermostat and pilot light are working properly.
• Make sure that the fuel pipe entering your furnace doesn't have a leak.
• Check the heat exchanger for cracks -- a crack can send carbon monoxide into the home.
• Change the filter. Throughout the winter you should change the furnace filters regularly (check them monthly). A dirty filter impedes air flow, reduces efficiency and could even cause a fire in an extreme case. Toss out the dirty fiberglass filters; reusable electrostatic or electronic filters can be washed. 5. Get your ducts in a row
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home with central heating can lose up to 60% of its heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well-connected and insulated, or if it must travel through unheated spaces. That's a huge amount of wasted money, not to mention a chilly house. (Check out this audit tool for other ideas on how to save on your energy bills this winter.) Ducts aren't always easy to see, but you can often find them exposed in the attic, the basement and crawlspaces. Repair places where pipes are pinched, which impedes flow of heated air to the house, and fix gaps with a metal-backed tape (duct tape actually doesn't stand up to the job over time). Ducts also should be vacuumed once every few years, to clean out the abundant dust, animal hair and other gunk that can gather in them and cause respiratory problems. 6. Face your windows
Now, of course, is the time to take down the window screens and put up storm windows, which provide an extra layer of protection and warmth for the home. Storm windows are particularly helpful if you have old, single-pane glass windows. But if you don't have storm windows, and your windows are leaky or drafty, "They need to be updated to a more efficient window," says Lipford. Of course, windows are pricey. Budget to replace them a few at a time, and in the meantime, buy a window insulator kit, Lipford and Broili recommend. Basically, the kit is plastic sheeting that's affixed to a window’s interior with double-stick tape. A hair dryer is then used to shrink-wrap the sheeting onto the window. (It can be removed in the spring.) "It's temporary and it's not pretty, but it's inexpensive (about $4 a window) and it's extremely effective," says Lipford. 7. Don't forget the chimney
Ideally, spring is the time to think about your chimney, because "chimney sweeps are going crazy right now, as you might have guessed," says Ashley Eldridge, director of education for the Chimney Safety Institute of America. That said, don't put off your chimney needs before using your fireplace, Eldridge advises. "A common myth is that a chimney needs to be swept every year," says Eldridge. Not true. But a chimney should at least be inspected before use each year, he adds. "I've seen tennis balls and ducks in chimneys," he says. Ask for a Level 1 inspection, in which the professional examines the readily accessible portions of the chimney, Eldridge says. "Most certified chimney sweeps include a Level 1 service with a sweep," he adds. Woodstoves are a different beast, however, cautions Eldridge. They should be swept more than once a year. A general rule of thumb is that a cleaning should be performed for every ¼ inch of creosote, "anywhere that it's found." Why? "If it's ash, then it's primarily lye -- the same stuff that was once used to make soap, and it's very acidic." It can cause mortar and the metal damper to rot, Eldridge says. Another tip: Buy a protective cap for your chimney, with a screen, advises Eldridge. "It's probably the single easiest protection" because it keeps out foreign objects (birds, tennis balls) as well as rain that can mix with the ash and eat away at the fireplace's walls. He advises buying based on durability, not appearance. One other reminder: To keep out cold air, fireplace owners should keep their chimney's damper closed when the fireplace isn't in use. And for the same reason, woodstove owners should have glass doors on their stoves, and keep them closed when the stove isn't in use. Check out CSIA'S Web site for a list of certified chimney sweeps in your area. 8. Reverse that fan
"Reversing your ceiling fan is a small tip that people don't often think of," says Lipford. By reversing its direction from the summer operation, the fan will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate, keeping you more comfortable. (Here's how you know the fan is ready for winter: As you look up, the blades should be turning clockwise, says Lipford.) 9. Wrap those pipes
A burst pipe caused by a winter freeze is a nightmare. Prevent it before Jack Frost sets his grip: Before freezing nights hit, make certain that the water to your hose bibs is shut off inside your house (via a turnoff valve), and that the lines are drained, says Broili. In climes such as Portland, Ore., or Seattle, where freezing nights aren't commonplace, you can install Styrofoam cups with a screw attachment to help insulate spigots, says Broili. Next, go looking for other pipes that aren't insulated, or that pass through unheated spaces -- pipes that run through crawlspaces, basements or garages. Wrap them with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation, available at hardware stores. If you're really worried about a pipe freezing, you can first wrap it with heating tape, which is basically an electrical cord that emits heat. 10. Finally, check those alarms
This is a great time to check the operation -- and change the batteries -- on your home's smoke detectors. Detectors should be replaced every 10 years, fire officials say. Test them -- older ones in particular -- with a small bit of actual smoke, and not just by pressing the "test" button. Check to see that your fire extinguisher is still where it should be, and still works. Also, invest in a carbon-monoxide detector; every home should have at least one.
|
-
• 2,612 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story - MLS® $149,900 - A diamond! Five Points/Northtowne, Toledo - You'll love tjhis home! This's a truly must see home. From the awesome curb appeal to the profesionally finished basement to the new kitchen and bathrooms. There are so many upgrades they're too many to list! Schedule a private showing today! Property information
|
-
North Toledo, Toledo - Announcing a price reduction on 116 W. streicher, a 1,522 sq. ft., 1 bath, 3 bdrm single story. Now MLS® $59,900 - Help Me Avoid Foreclosure. Property information
|
-
Five Points/Northtowne, Toledo - Announcing a price reduction on 4029 Caroline, a 1,114 sq. ft., 1 bath, 3 bdrm single story. Now MLS® $79,900 - A Complete HGTV Makeover!. Property information
|
-
A Must See!
• 1,114 sq. ft., 1 bath, 3 bdrm single story
-
MLS®
$79,900
- A Complete HGTV Makeover!
Five Points/Northtowne, Toledo
-
All this home needs is you! This could be your lucky day. Very modestly priced,Seller did an outstanding renovation. All mechanical systems were upgraded, such as new copper plumbing, new 100 amp service, new furnace, new HWT, kitchen and the bath were gutted to studs and rebuilt. Some walls were removed to open areas. as well as stripped to studs and rebuilt.New windows, cabinets, hardwood laminate floorings, carpeting/paint. A great buy priced low to sell quickly.
Property information
|
-
A Must See!
• 1,114 sq. ft., 1 bath, 3 bdrm single story
-
MLS®
$79,900
- A Complete HGTV Makeover!
Five Points/Northtowne, Toledo
-
All this home needs is you! This could be your lucky day. Very modestly priced,Seller did an outstanding renovation. All mechanical systems were upgraded, such as new copper plumbing, new 100 amp service, new furnace, new HWT, kitchen and the bath were gutted to studs and rebuilt. Some walls were removed to open areas. as well as stripped to studs and rebuilt.New windows, cabinets, hardwood laminate floorings, carpeting/paint. A great buy priced low to sell quickly.
Property information
|
|
|
|