Buying A Home

Your Personal Safety in Natural Disasters

There are steps you can take to protect your home in a natural disaster, but what about your personal safety and that of your loved ones? Here are five types of natural disasters and what you must do to stay safe....

Flood

Flooding near rivers and creeks can escalate quickly. For the personal safety of yourself and others:...

Download a weather app from The Weather Channel, AccuWeather, or a local television affiliate. Activate notifications on the app. Stay informed on developing weather.
If a flood watch is forecast for your area, prepare “go bags” of personal items, extra clothing, food, water, and flashlights to help you get out quickly.
Cut power to your home at the main breaker switch before leaving.
Have a car charger for your cell phone to maintain communication.
Provide help to vulnerable neighbors, such as the elderly and handicapped.
Have a preplanned escape route that avoids possible cut-off points near creeks, streams, and low-water crossings.
Do not cross rushing water more than a couple of inches deep. Do not go around barricades. Turn around, don’t drown.
If you receive official notice to evacuate, do not hesitate. Do so immediately.

Tornado

If a tornado is approaching your home or your car while you’re on the road:...

If you are at home and a tornado is imminent, grab bicycle helmets, heavy pillows, or cushions.
Go to a safe room, central room, or closet downstairs, away from outside walls and windows. You can also crouch low in a bathtub, pulling a mattress or heavy cushions over you.
Put on the bicycle helmets or clasp cushions around your head and neck. Most deaths from tornadoes are caused by head trauma from flying debris.
Do not open windows or doors. The myth is that this reduces air-pressure damage to the home, but this is untrue.
Do not take shelter under a bridge if you are in your car. This can create a concentrated wind force that can snatch you from beneath it. Instead, drive away from the direction the funnel is moving. If that isn’t possible, leave your car, lie down in a low place like a ditch, and cover your head with your arms.

Hurricane...

You usually have plenty of notice to prepare for an approaching hurricane. Follow weather app warnings or television coverage closely.
Close storm shutters or screw down plywood over windows days before the hurricane is set to arrive.
Have your emergency supplies loaded in the car. Have family members and pets ready to go at a moment’s notice. Have a car charger for your cell phone.
Heed evacuation notices. Have a route already planned.
If you are still caught in the path of a hurricane, ride out the storm on the ground floor in a central room, closet, or bathroom to avoid the wind. If flood waters rise, move to the second floor if you have one.

Wildfire...

If wildfires are prevalent where you live, have disaster bags and an evacuation plan already prepared.
Stay informed by officials on approaching fires and evacuation orders. If orders come, heed them promptly.
Carry blankets, rags, towels, and several jugs of water.
If fires are near and the smoke is heavy, douse the rags with water and hold them over your nose and mouth.
If you are cut off from escape, douse the blankets with water, seek a place away from the direction the fire is spreading, and lie down with the wet blanket over you.

Earthquake...

If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, have “go bags” and an evacuation route ready should an earthquake damage your home.
If you are inside during an earthquake and close to an outside exit, leave immediately and get out into the open, away from buildings.
If you are inside and cannot exit immediately and safely, get under the nearest heavy table or other structure to shield yourself from falling debris.
If you have natural or propane gas in your home, do not turn on electrical switches after the earthquake. If gas is leaking, this could trigger an explosion.
Listen to official news reports and orders for your personal safety.

Selling, Selling Your Home,

Turning the Page: 10 Reasons To Sell Your Home

Many situations motivate people to put their homes on the market, but the reasons to sell tend to fall into these 10 categories. Some home sales are for happy reasons, and some are not. ...

Positive and negative reasons to sell your home

Let’s start with the joyful considerations for home sales. ...

Marriage is a significant factor in buying or selling a home. Newlyweds may sell their current home to upgrade to a larger one or to be nearer their spouse’s workplace.
A new baby means a couple may sell to upsize for their growing family.
A job promotion means a couple can afford a bigger home, or they may be selling to relocate due to a job transfer.
A couple may sell their home to move closer to other family members, such as aging parents or adult siblings and their families.
Empty nesters may want to downsize to a smaller home where they can better manage maintenance.

On the downside, some home sales are prompted when sellers face distress....

Loss of a job forces some to sell and step down to a rental until their work situation improves.
Divorce forces some couples to sell.
A death may mean the family must sell the deceased’s home.
Financial distress may force people to sell and pay off debt using home equity.
Some homeowners may be intimidated by home maintenance. It may seem easier to sell than to replace an aging roof or HVAC system.

Your situation

As a seller, you are not obligated to disclose your reasons for selling unless it concerns any condition of the property that you are legally required to disclose or a lien situation that affects the property’s title. ...

As a buyer, you cannot pry into the seller’s situation. It is okay if he or she discloses it voluntarily, but do not press the seller or agent for personal information. The agent is bound by law to be discreet on such matters on behalf of his client....

Related – FAQs for First-Time Home Sellers...

Marketing The Home, Selling,

Timing the Market: When Stars Align for Selling

Timing the market is essential when selling your house. You want your home to hit the market when buyer interest is highest to command the best selling price. What are the best times of the year to sell your home?...

The conventional wisdom

The common understanding of timing the market is that spring and summer are the best seasons to sell a home, and conventional wisdom holds true....

The school calendar influences home buying tremendously. Parents begin their home search during spring, trying to find a home and move in before the next school year starts. ...

Therefore, the home-shopping season ramps up in early spring—March or April, hits full stride by June, and wanes in late August....

Mitigating factors in timing the market

Some extenuating circumstances can color that timetable, however. Here are a few: ...

Markets differ by state and locality. Communities with older populations are less beholden to the school year, and home sales in such markets may spread over the year more evenly.
People who have sold a home in a higher-priced market and moved to a lower-priced one may be prepared to pay cash rather than take on a mortgage. In such cases, the buyer may again be older and less subject to school concerns.
Those needing a mortgage may wait for rates to improve regardless of the time of year. High rates during the April-September peak selling season may dampen buyers. Declining rates during the traditionally slower season of November to February might induce buyers to pounce on cheaper borrowing costs.

Pricing

Work with your professional agent to set a reasonable price at the onset of listing. Start with a price that does not cause your house to linger on the market, requiring a price drop....

Statistically, June is the most attractive time of year for the best price, just after the market rises but before it fades into the school year. ...

If you sell during the slower months of November to February, you may have to deal with buyers pushing you on price. It might be assumed that you are selling under pressure, such as a job change, divorce, or other personal circumstances that force you to sell....

Related – How to Buy a House Before You Sell...

Building a Home, Buying,

Beneath the Surface: The Pros and Cons of Underground Homes

It’s not just Hobbits who live in underground homes! Some adventurous types are willing to dwell in a more rooted structure to the land. Also known as earth-sheltered homes, earth homes, or earth-bermed homes, living underground brings unique benefits and challenges....

What is an earth-sheltered home?

Underground homes can have varying structures. One can be dug out from the side of a hill with a watertight roof and sides covered by soil. Another can have modular sections placed aboveground and then covered over. Or one can even have a story aboveground and a floor belowground, much like a basement....

The result is a home that looks like something from a fairy tale, with a front entry, windows, and maybe a window or two on another side. Often, the house only has a door and a couple of windows on the front....

Pros of underground homes

There are several advantages to an earth-sheltered home....

Energy efficiency is the most significant benefit because soil is an excellent insulator. The inside temperature stays consistently in the 55- to 60-degree Fahrenheit range year-round, so the need for HVAC is minimal.
Outside sounds rarely penetrate, so it is very quiet.
It is the safest place to be during a tornado or other disaster. However, it needs to be located above any potential flood zone.
Limited windows mean excellent privacy.

Cons of underground homes

An earth-sheltered home is expensive to build.
You heavily rely on interior lighting because of the limited windows and doors.
The house must be strongly constructed and waterproofed to avoid leaks.
Fewer windows mean you will need ventilation shafts to provide fresh air.
Being underground means more exposure to insects and arachnids.
If the frame is lumber, an underground home is a big attraction for termites.
Your home may not be as spacious because of the high cost of construction.
Resale is tough because earth homes are in minimal demand.
Getting financing approval for an underground home is challenging because the lack of comps in the area makes these types of homes difficult to appraise.

Outdoor Living, Ownership,

Can They Do That? Flying a Drone Over Someone Else’s Property

News reports of drone swarms flying over the Northeast have raised the question: Can someone fly a drone over your home without your permission? Laws concerning drone use fall under different categories and jurisdictions. Here’s what you need to know....

The qualifiers

The general answer is yes, someone can legally fly a drone over your property. However, drones are regulated by several qualifiers....

First, drones weighing over 55 pounds must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and be operated within its rules. Pilots of drones under 55 pounds face fewer regulations....

The other major division depends on whether the drone is used for recreational purposes by a hobbyist or for commercial purposes, such as aerial photography. ...

Recreational users must keep the drone within their line of sight. The drone must be flown under 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace and stay out of airspace over stadiums, public events, public infrastructure, prisons, or the scene of first responders, such as at an accident or fire....

Commercial users have more restrictions. The pilot must be certified, and there are rules regarding maximum altitude, flights over people and vehicles, and night usage. These laws apply even when drone photography is donated to help a nonprofit organization. ...

Jurisdictional drone rules

The federal regulations cited above are just some of the many. State and local laws also apply, and many cities have rules that duplicate federal law. Misuse may be covered under disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, reckless endangerment, and invasion-of-privacy laws. ...

Regulations vary by state, but generally, drones can legally fly over your property, with these exceptions:...

When you have notified the operator to stop flying over your property
When the operator intends to stalk, harass, intimidate, or invade the privacy of the property owner or residents
If the drone damages property or injures someone
Suppose the drone uses a camera to photograph someone in a place where he or she should have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as peeping through a window. In that case, this applies even if the drone is not over the victim’s property at the time, but the camera is pointed in its direction.

What can you do about it?

Call law enforcement and press trespassing charges if a drone operator flies over your property after you have asked them not to. If a drone seems dangerous or appears to be involved in a criminal operation, report it to the police. If a drone is not being operated in accordance with FAA regulations, report it to your local Flight Standards District Office....

Home Improvements,

Checklist: Summer To-Dos for Homeowners

While immersing yourself in summertime activities, it’s important to set aside enough time to take care of home and yard chores. Here are 10 must-do items while summer’s in full swing....

• Air Conditioning Summer Maintenance

If you haven’t already, it’s imperative to have a professional check your air conditioning system. It’s working full time now, and you wouldn’t want to suffer without it. In addition, be diligent about changing filters on schedule. Outside, keep bushes trimmed away from condenser coils so they can breathe. Finally, the condensation drain line can become clogged. Look for the open-ended, vertical piece of white PVC pipe and pour a quarter cup of bleach in it to keep it clear....

• Conserve Water

Keeping your lawn and landscaping hydrated is key, but not at the expense of water conservation. Set sprinkler systems for regular watering at specific times, which controls usage. If you use a hose, be consistent with the amount and times you water. Adjust sprinkler heads to prevent inadvertent watering of sidewalks. Follow local ordinances regarding water conservation....

• Sprinkler Head and Moisture Sensor Maintenance

Replace or adjust any sprinkler heads that may have been damaged while mowing or trimming. If you don’t already have one, install a moisture detector to save on water after a rain....

• Gutter Check

Spring storms may strip leaves and small branches from trees. Check your house’s gutters for debris and clear them to allow for easy draining....

• Make Vacation Arrangements

Ask friends or neighbors to tend to indoor plants and pick up newspapers while you are on vacation. Arrange to board pets. Go to the United States Postal Service website to set dates to stop and restart your mail....

• Water Heater Maintenance

Periodically, sediment needs to be drained from the bottom of the water heater. Summer is a great time to do this. Out of your comfort zone? Call a licensed plumber....

• Transition Time

Break out the backpacks, calculators, and lunch bags for back-to-school time. Prepare a place at home for the kids to study and access a computer. Set aside the coolers and beach chairs for weekend use....

• Have Carpets Cleaned

Traffic in and out of the house peaks in summer and so does the dirt tracked inside. Summer’s end is the perfect time to have your carpets professionally cleaned so they look and smell good for the fall holidays....

• Eliminate Wasp and Bird Nests

By late summer, pull down abandoned bird’s nests and scrub the area with hot soapy water. For wasp nests, wait until just after dusk when wasps are becoming dormant, then use wasp spray that projects a stream of 20 feet. The next day, inspect to ensure the wasps are gone before pulling down the nest. If you are allergic to wasp stings, call a professional exterminator....

• Plant a Fall Garden

Harvest the last of your summer vegetables and prep the soil for planting a fall garden. Visit your garden center and choose vegetables that do well in your autumn climate....

Home Improvements, Outdoor Living, Ownership,

Swimming Pools: From Design to Dream Come True

If you’ve always envisioned yourself the proud owner of a backyard pool, what will it take to make that dream a reality? Here’s a step-by-step outline of the process....

Considerations. Building a pool brings benefits and costs. Family fun, hours of relaxation and the beauty of its stone landscaping or decking are among the benefits. Add to that the increase in your home’s value, although it is unlikely to be as much as you paid for the project. Resale value will benefit most in southern states where pools are more valued than in northern, colder climates. The costs are more tangible: construction, maintenance, increased homeowner’s insurance premiums, and repairs as the pool ages. Pool repairs later on can be stiff, especially leakage, so weigh that in your decision....

Find a contractor. Choose your builder carefully. Make a sketch of your yard and where you envision the pool. Through online research and personal recommendations, find three good contractors with solid reputations and have them survey your space and your sketch. Get three design plans with bids before making your decision....

Get approved. With your contractor’s assistance, seek approval from the proper governmental authorities. You’ll need permits and intermittent inspections. If you have a homeowners association, you will need approval from it as well....

Costs. Obviously, the size of your pool is a major factor in cost. So is your choice in materials. A sprayed concrete called gunite is the best and most expensive material. The least expensive is a vinyl pool. In between is a fiberglass pool installed as one piece. Depth of the pool is another determining cost factor, with deeper pools costing more. Added features like waterfalls, fountains, poolside patios and slides also increase costs....

The construction process. Pools are built in three basic stages. Excavation is first and requires the most patience. Next is the framing and utilities, when steel reinforcing is put in place along with plumbing and electrical wiring. Finally, the pool material itself is installed and it begins to look like the final product. The decking, the pump and the filtration system are among the last items installed....

Maintenance and insurance. Regular maintenance to keep the water clear and chemically balanced is a vital part of being a pool owner. So is safety. Local ordinances will require a fence around the pool with a self-closing and locking gate with the latch a certain height to prevent small children from accessing it. Your liability insurance will most certain increase....

Selling, Staging Your Home,

Six Easy Steps to Creating Curb Appeal

When prepping a home for sale, don’t forget the exterior of the house in the rush to revamp the interior. Curb appeal is key. If potential buyers aren’t dazzled by the exterior of a home, they might enter the house with a negative impression — assuming they go inside at all. Here’s a handy outdoor checklist....

The landscaping. Dead plants and unruly yards are sure turnoffs. Luckily, those types of issues are easy fixes. Replace dead plants and shrubbery with low-maintenance plants that are native to your area. Unsure of what to plant? Ask for help at a local nursery. Native plants generally require less maintenance and watering.
Neatness counts. Put away toys, tools and anything else that might be cluttering the yard or driveway. Haul away any trash. Pull weeds, mow and trim the lawn on a regular basis and don’t forget to sweep away yard clippings, excess dirt or pine straw. If you’re a fan of garden statuary or artwork, consider packing away most of your collection. It could be a turnoff.
The door. After sprucing up the front yard, take a look at the front door. What does it say to potential buyers? Is it secure and well-maintained? Does the lock work or do you have to jiggle the knob sometimes? Is a new doorknob needed? Once all repairs are made, give the door a new coat of paint. It’s an easy and inexpensive fix that will transform the front of your home.
What about the lighting? Make sure the front entrance is well lit for safety and showmanship. Also check lights around the garage or patio. Replace burned out bulbs and any broken fixtures.
Details, details. Test the doorbell to make sure it works. Is the house number visible? If not, repair or replace. What about the mailbox? Repaint and repair as needed.
Let it shine. Stand at the curb and give the house a critical look. If it still appears dingy, have the house, driveway and walkways pressure washed and the windows cleaned.

Home Energy, Home Improvements, Ownership,

Does Your House Need a Water Filtration System?

Is our water safe to drink? Can it be improved for our consumption? These are questions you may be asking about your home tap water....

What’s in your water? The vast majority of Americans get their water from municipal systems. City water is regulated and inspected by government agencies, more so than the commercial bottled water industry. Chlorination is used to kill bacteria and viruses. If you have your own well, the earth itself acts as a giant filtration system, but the possibility of chemical contaminants exists where no treatment has been done....

Even though your water is safe to drink, it may taste funny. Or it may have mineral deposits that make it “hard” water. The same could be said of well water, if that’s your source....

If your home uses city water, request a copy of its water quality report. If you have a well, take a sample to an independent laboratory to be tested. Read about how to have your water tested by an accredited lab at http://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources/health-and-safety-tips/water-quality-treatment-tips/water-testing ....

Choosing a system. Point-of-use filter systems are attached to the water faucet where you get most of your water for drinking and cooking, which usually is the kitchen sink. It only filters at that point. Filtered water pitchers and refrigerator water filters also fall in this category....

House filter systems tie into the main water supply line where it enters the house, whether it is city water or a well system. All the water coming into the home is treated. This is particularly important if you have water with minerals that can damage appliances....

In addition to filter location, consumers also must choose the type of filtering agent to use. Use your water quality report to guide you in selecting the right filtering method for your home....

Carbon filters are the most fundamental and common. Carbon filters remove chemicals, improve the taste and smell of water and lessen the amount of chlorine in municipal water. The cost depends on the size and location of the filter. A typical Brita filtering water pitcher costs $35. Add another $28 for six replacement cartridges. Under-sink systems start at about $69 for the most basic model to $240 for multi-stage filtration. Whole-house systems are the most expensive choice, averaging $1,700, but going as high as $4,000. Any filtration system that ties into the home’s plumbing system should be installed by a plumber or a professional from the filtration company....

Mechanical filters push water through a medium made of nylon or polyester. This method is good for removing waste material and particulates, but not for extracting chemicals....

Reverse osmosis. This filtration forces the untreated water through a series of cartridges, the main one being a membrane that is such a tight mesh that virtually all particulate matter is removed. The resulting filtered water is very pure. The process also produces waste water, flushing away one or two gallons of unused water for every gallon of purified water kept. Reverse osmosis systems are typically plumbed into the waterline under a kitchen sink and the purified water is stored in a tank. The water is then dispensed through a separate faucet. These systems require professional installation....

Water softening. If you live in an area with “hard” water, this means minerals in the water can damage your appliances and may make washing anything — from dishes to your own body — more difficult. Filtering water at the kitchen tap is not enough; a whole house water softener is needed....

A water softener ties into the plumbing at the source where water comes into the house. It protects the entire plumbing system from the build-up of these minerals in the water through an ionization process. Often the system is combined with carbon filtration for removing particulates and chemicals....

Selling, Staging Your Home,

Don’t Let Water Stains Scare Away Buyers

Water stains on ceilings are a giant red flag to potential home buyers. Thankfully, they are a relatively easy fix....

Find the source. Damage shouldn’t be repaired until identifying the source of the problem. Call a qualified plumber to identify and fix suspected leaks. If plumbing isn’t the issue, have a certified roofing expert perform an inspection....

Drying out. Check to see if the drywall is wet. If so, wait for it to completely dry before starting repairs. Try using a dehumidifier to get rid of excess moisture. Is mold present? Wash small areas with a bleach solution. However, large mold areas, which pose a health risk, should be dealt with by a remediation specialist....

Inspect the ceiling. If the ceiling is sagging, a structural problem is likely. Have a professional contractor assess the damage. A stain alone is a relatively easy DIY project. Apply a stain-blocking primer. Two coats are likely needed. When dry, paint the entire ceiling....

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