Tim and I have been jokingly referring to our new home as our 1-bedroom basement apartment for a couple of weeks now. I keep waiting for a sweet little old lady to holler down the basement steps to let us know that she has some homemade cookies fresh out of the oven (but that would require having an oven first). We have visited with many a married couple that started out their lives this way. In some ways, it feels like we have reverted back to our college days (sans the afternoon naps and generally carefree lifestyle). Back then, we would put up with pretty much anything just to have a place of our own. The one-basin cast iron sink would have held at least a week's worth of dirty dishes, the loveseat and TV stands would have made for some elegant dining, and the electric blue shag carpet would have hidden a year's worth of not having time to vacuum. I didn't know Tim back in college, but I'm guessing that so long as he had a place to sleep at night, he was fine. Really, he would probably be fine living with the bare plywood subflooring upstairs, but there is always a woman to mess up a guy's plan for life.
As time goes on, we are both adapting the changes that moving created for us, and we are also liking our home more each day. It has many great features, and a little tweaking will make everything perfect for us. I have worked with many home buyers and sellers over the years, and this experience has made me appreciate the ability to see the potential in a property. One of the best parts about working with buyers is getting to see a home once they have added their own personal touch to it. Whether it's paint colors, carpeting, window treatments, or a complete remodel, a home really can take on an entirely new personality once someone with a vision goes to work on it. A home, in many ways, defines a person's style, taste, and character. It provides insight and serves as an oasis of solitude and comfort. When it comes right down to it, there really is no place like home.
So far this week, our home has proven to be watertight. (Chalk one up for Tim and Trish!) After having a near miss with the partially opening garage door on Monday morning, Tim did spend some time fixing the tension to make it open all the way. We have both continued to fill every nook and cranny in the basement with our "stuff," and it looks promising that we might actually be able to squeeze it all in down there until the upstairs is ready for us. When we first moved in, it seemed like we had a ton of space, but now that we are starting to fill in the gaps with the "stuff" of two households, we are lucky to keep a path through the living room. We've considered setting up a maze and charging admission to our dog and pony show to help pay for the remodeling! Luckily, we are on schedule so far with our plans. As soon as the plumber and electrician have a chance to do their thing, we will be ready for the sheet rock. The kitchen cabinets and flooring have been ordered and should arrive mid-February. Until then, we are content in our 1-bedroom basement apartment and patiently wait for those fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookies to show up. Welcome Home!
A real (often comical) look at life as it happens in the world of Real Estate Associate Broker, Trisha Peters.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Plaster Dust and Shower Heads
I left off last week with things in a bit of disarray at our new home. Friday night, I opened the basement cupboard door to reach for a plate, and I noticed that we had sprung yet another leak. This time, it was coming from the 1/2 bath off the main entrance from the garage. I love this feature because it is near the laundry area and it makes for a great place to wash up after working outside. However, that loving relationship soon turned to despise as it was Friday night, I was tired, it was late, and we had nowhere to go to get parts to fix the leak. I was beginning to think that we should have bought a boat to float us down the Elkhorn River on the stream of water that seemed to be coming from every orifice in our house besides the ones it needed to go into or out of. Nonetheless, Tim was able to loosen the shut off and tighten a nut underneath the sink and stop the leak enough to allow us to get some parts on Saturday.
My little brother and I worked on taking the remainder of the plaster out of the kitchen on Saturday afternoon. We can't do anything without a power tool, so we had plenty of dust flying throughout the main floor by the time Tim got home from work. Of course, he was ready to go to Menards before I had a chance to clean up, so we left for Norfolk in a hurry with me looking like Casper the ghost due to the plaster dust. Wouldn't you know it, we ran into three other couples we knew while we were shopping. You can about imagine that every conversation started out, "So, uh, did you have a fight with a flour sack?" If I would have been dressed to the hilt, we wouldn't have run into anybody we knew. The Law of Personal Encounters always works that way.
After getting home from Norfolk, the first plan of attack was to install a new shower head to replace the one that sprayed an enormous amount of water pressure on everything except the person showering. Tim grumbled a little bit because it was late, but it was a 2-minute project that made his wife very happy. No more sopping wet bathroom floor, no more moving the head all around to rinse the shampoo out of my hair, and no skin indentations from where the three or four working water spouts hit me. It's like a totally new shower!
On Sunday, we made a second trip to Menards to get everything that we forgot on Saturday night. We had purchased several doorknobs the week of closing only to realize that apparently door knob sizes have changed a bit since 1968. The one doorknob we bought on Saturday was the right size, and we found that it fit perfectly in the basement walk-out door. Thinking we had scored a victory, we decided that we should purchase more knobs to put on the main floor doors so we at least had more than one working lock to get into the house. We started installing the new doorknobs only to find that the main floor doors were fitted slightly different than the basement. Who would have guessed that 1/16 of an inch could make so much difference? And, again, the hubby was grumbling. We got all five knobs changed with a little help from a reciprocating saw and a few less-than-desirable words being said. At least nobody lost a finger to the saw and a door knob covered one little "whoopsie" we had.
All in all, we accomplished everything we set out to do this weekend, and my socks didn't even get soggy walking into the bathroom this morning. Life is good. Welcome Home!
My little brother and I worked on taking the remainder of the plaster out of the kitchen on Saturday afternoon. We can't do anything without a power tool, so we had plenty of dust flying throughout the main floor by the time Tim got home from work. Of course, he was ready to go to Menards before I had a chance to clean up, so we left for Norfolk in a hurry with me looking like Casper the ghost due to the plaster dust. Wouldn't you know it, we ran into three other couples we knew while we were shopping. You can about imagine that every conversation started out, "So, uh, did you have a fight with a flour sack?" If I would have been dressed to the hilt, we wouldn't have run into anybody we knew. The Law of Personal Encounters always works that way.
After getting home from Norfolk, the first plan of attack was to install a new shower head to replace the one that sprayed an enormous amount of water pressure on everything except the person showering. Tim grumbled a little bit because it was late, but it was a 2-minute project that made his wife very happy. No more sopping wet bathroom floor, no more moving the head all around to rinse the shampoo out of my hair, and no skin indentations from where the three or four working water spouts hit me. It's like a totally new shower!
On Sunday, we made a second trip to Menards to get everything that we forgot on Saturday night. We had purchased several doorknobs the week of closing only to realize that apparently door knob sizes have changed a bit since 1968. The one doorknob we bought on Saturday was the right size, and we found that it fit perfectly in the basement walk-out door. Thinking we had scored a victory, we decided that we should purchase more knobs to put on the main floor doors so we at least had more than one working lock to get into the house. We started installing the new doorknobs only to find that the main floor doors were fitted slightly different than the basement. Who would have guessed that 1/16 of an inch could make so much difference? And, again, the hubby was grumbling. We got all five knobs changed with a little help from a reciprocating saw and a few less-than-desirable words being said. At least nobody lost a finger to the saw and a door knob covered one little "whoopsie" we had.
All in all, we accomplished everything we set out to do this weekend, and my socks didn't even get soggy walking into the bathroom this morning. Life is good. Welcome Home!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Taking Things for Granted
As my husband and I are settling into the basement of our new home, I've noticed many things that I have taken for granted. You see, the first home I purchased in back in 2005 was a spec home which was nice and new and didn't need a bit of work besides seeding a lawn, installing window treatments, and moving in furniture. It has been a great home, and I'm glad that my brother and his soon-to-be wife will be purchasing it. From a sentimental perspective, many great memories come from a person's "first" home, and I hope they have those same memories to share with their new family. From an ownership perspective, I know that they will take great care of it, and I won't have to worry about driving by someday to see that the yard is overgrown or it is in a state of disrepair. No homeowner wants to see their first home go that route.
And so, onto our home in Wisner, and the many things that I have taken for granted during the past six years. I've compiled a list of items that I didn't realize I relied on so heavily until they were gone:
1. A toilet paper holder and towel bar in the bathroom. I've heard many people complain time and again about their kids or spouse leaving their wet towels on the floor. What's even more annoying is when you have no other option and you have to use a vacant door knob or the back of a chair in the living room to hang up the towels. Nothing says, "Come on in and have a seat" like a damp bath towel soaking through your shirt.
2. A microwave. An electric skillet (a big shout out to the person who gave us that for a wedding present) will have to do until we have one installed. I learned how to warm up some leftover mashed potatoes along side some Hamburger Helper last night. The trick is to make a sturdy dam out of hamburger to keep the items separated in the pan.
3. A dishwasher. Right now, a one-basin metal sink with a broken strainer is keeping the paper plate companies in business. My new motto is, "Wash fast or don't wash at all!"
4. A washer and dryer. Has anybody ever wondered why a place that is designed for cleaning clothes can be so dirty? Nothing like trucking all of your personal items to a laundromat where you pick the only washing machine that doesn't spin out and the dryer that doesn't heat. Plus, everything came out smelling like a smoky bar. Again, hanging all of the Tim's jeans and t-shirts around the lower level of our home has created a welcoming atmosphere for guests.
5. Garage door remotes. An attached garage is wonderful, but if you have to get out of the car to make the door open and close, it really defeats the purpose (especially when the door doesn't go up all the way, so you have to stand on your tippy toes to give it that little extra nudge so you don't give the top of your truck a close shave.) The seller told us the remotes were in the house "somewhere," and we're still holding out hope that we will find them. We still have a couple of walls on the main floor that we haven't pulled the plaster off of. I'm sure that's where they left them.
6. Keys. At least the one we have came with a big smiley face key ring holder that politely says, "Have a Nice Day!"
It might sound like I'm complaining, but I'm really just trying to share the humorous side of home ownership. If somedays it feels like you have taken a step back in time, you probably have. Don't worry, the "honey-do" list will eventually get completed. This weekend will be filled with the excitement of installing towel rods, toilet paper holders, and door knobs! Just remember to appreciate the little things in life. Welcome Home!
And so, onto our home in Wisner, and the many things that I have taken for granted during the past six years. I've compiled a list of items that I didn't realize I relied on so heavily until they were gone:
1. A toilet paper holder and towel bar in the bathroom. I've heard many people complain time and again about their kids or spouse leaving their wet towels on the floor. What's even more annoying is when you have no other option and you have to use a vacant door knob or the back of a chair in the living room to hang up the towels. Nothing says, "Come on in and have a seat" like a damp bath towel soaking through your shirt.
2. A microwave. An electric skillet (a big shout out to the person who gave us that for a wedding present) will have to do until we have one installed. I learned how to warm up some leftover mashed potatoes along side some Hamburger Helper last night. The trick is to make a sturdy dam out of hamburger to keep the items separated in the pan.
3. A dishwasher. Right now, a one-basin metal sink with a broken strainer is keeping the paper plate companies in business. My new motto is, "Wash fast or don't wash at all!"
4. A washer and dryer. Has anybody ever wondered why a place that is designed for cleaning clothes can be so dirty? Nothing like trucking all of your personal items to a laundromat where you pick the only washing machine that doesn't spin out and the dryer that doesn't heat. Plus, everything came out smelling like a smoky bar. Again, hanging all of the Tim's jeans and t-shirts around the lower level of our home has created a welcoming atmosphere for guests.
5. Garage door remotes. An attached garage is wonderful, but if you have to get out of the car to make the door open and close, it really defeats the purpose (especially when the door doesn't go up all the way, so you have to stand on your tippy toes to give it that little extra nudge so you don't give the top of your truck a close shave.) The seller told us the remotes were in the house "somewhere," and we're still holding out hope that we will find them. We still have a couple of walls on the main floor that we haven't pulled the plaster off of. I'm sure that's where they left them.
6. Keys. At least the one we have came with a big smiley face key ring holder that politely says, "Have a Nice Day!"
It might sound like I'm complaining, but I'm really just trying to share the humorous side of home ownership. If somedays it feels like you have taken a step back in time, you probably have. Don't worry, the "honey-do" list will eventually get completed. This weekend will be filled with the excitement of installing towel rods, toilet paper holders, and door knobs! Just remember to appreciate the little things in life. Welcome Home!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
New Year...New Home!
Many things have changed since my post last week. My husband, Tim, and I are the proud new owners of a home in Wisner, Nebraska as of December 30, 2011. We finally have a place to call "ours" rather than "yours" or "mine." It even came with a tower which rivals the tallest building in town next to the leg on the grain elevator. Our magnificent tower holds what I'm claiming to be the tallest TV antenna in town. We soon learned that there was a reason behind it because of the absolute lack of any sort of reception or contact with the outside world while standing inside the house. With a little ingenuity, Tim was able to rig up the antenna to our 13-inch TV so the guys could at least watch the Nebraska bowl game while working yesterday. Owning a home together is a wonderful feeling, albeit rather scary for us as we are undertaking our first home improvement projects as husband and wife. We did agree to close despite the water damage on the condition that the sellers would have to keep some money in escrow until the insurance had settled. At least we are sharing the risk of loss with everything that needs to be done.
This past weekend was designated in my mind as "moving weekend." Essentially, we would get everything prepared to move into our basement. I have been dodging packed boxes at my home in Wayne for nearly a month and a half, so I was ready to get things loaded up and moved out! Friday, part of Saturday and most of Sunday were spent scrubbing, cleaning, and removing damaged ceiling tiles. We also met with a few contractors to discuss some needs with the electrical, plumbing, etc. The water damage that the sellers experienced prior to closing quickly began adding up into some additional projects that are somewhat related, but not entirely. We figured so long as the main floor was in disarray, we might as well take on a couple of other needed improvements. So, we are considering new windows to replace those that are leaking air and water as well as a kitchen remodel. I'm not sure if this is what we signed up for as newlyweds, but we are going to test the marriage vows out right away!
I mentioned earlier that this weekend was my proclaimed "moving weekend." Not everybody else was on the same page. It was actually "moving-tear-out-a-kitchen-deal-with-leaky-pipes-remove-hideous-wall-paneling-knock-out-damaged-drywall-troubleshoot-internet-problems-scrub-the-basement-from-top-to-bottom weekend." We even squeezed in a New Year and helped my family sort and ship hogs in between. Needless to say, we were both ready to go back to work this morning to regroup and reenergize. We certainly made progress, and at least we got a bed moved to sleep in last night because we were exhausted!
On to this week and the many new things that lie before us. So far this morning, I have spoken to the cable/internet company, an electrician, a new cell phone provider, the appliance store, the window contractor, and the post office. Moving is tough! I can empathize with all of you who have been through this before. It is all worth it in the long run, though. Just waking up next to my husband this morning in "OUR" home was all I needed to remember the good things about my life and my work. Welcome home!
This past weekend was designated in my mind as "moving weekend." Essentially, we would get everything prepared to move into our basement. I have been dodging packed boxes at my home in Wayne for nearly a month and a half, so I was ready to get things loaded up and moved out! Friday, part of Saturday and most of Sunday were spent scrubbing, cleaning, and removing damaged ceiling tiles. We also met with a few contractors to discuss some needs with the electrical, plumbing, etc. The water damage that the sellers experienced prior to closing quickly began adding up into some additional projects that are somewhat related, but not entirely. We figured so long as the main floor was in disarray, we might as well take on a couple of other needed improvements. So, we are considering new windows to replace those that are leaking air and water as well as a kitchen remodel. I'm not sure if this is what we signed up for as newlyweds, but we are going to test the marriage vows out right away!
I mentioned earlier that this weekend was my proclaimed "moving weekend." Not everybody else was on the same page. It was actually "moving-tear-out-a-kitchen-deal-with-leaky-pipes-remove-hideous-wall-paneling-knock-out-damaged-drywall-troubleshoot-internet-problems-scrub-the-basement-from-top-to-bottom weekend." We even squeezed in a New Year and helped my family sort and ship hogs in between. Needless to say, we were both ready to go back to work this morning to regroup and reenergize. We certainly made progress, and at least we got a bed moved to sleep in last night because we were exhausted!
On to this week and the many new things that lie before us. So far this morning, I have spoken to the cable/internet company, an electrician, a new cell phone provider, the appliance store, the window contractor, and the post office. Moving is tough! I can empathize with all of you who have been through this before. It is all worth it in the long run, though. Just waking up next to my husband this morning in "OUR" home was all I needed to remember the good things about my life and my work. Welcome home!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
I Can Relate
The last two months have certainly been months to remember for my new hubby and I. For the past three years, we have been going back and forth about where we should live, what we should do with our lives, and who we wanted to be when we grew up. After getting engaged in July, the reality set in that we really needed to do something or live an hour apart FOREVER. The biggest hangup is that we both love our jobs and our families and the places where we grew up. The best solution was for both of us to make a move, give up a little bit of home, and make a new home together. Simple enough, right?
So, we decided that our triangle of acceptable places to live was somewhere between Dodge, Wisner, or West Point, Nebraska. We started our home search online through local agents in those communities, but couldn't find anything that we thought would work. Then, we resorted to the for-sale-by-owner route. Low and behold, we looked at a house in Wisner and decided that it would work for us! The price was right, the space was good, and we could make it our own! Hurray! The search was over! Soon, we were on our way to a November 30th closing date.
That was our train of thinking at the beginning of November. Fast forward to November 21st when the dreaded call came, just days before Thanksgiving and our big announcement to the family that we were closing on a home soon. The owner of the home we had painstakingly searched for called to inform us that the kitchen faucet had sprung a leak and water had saturated the main floor and basement living area as the home sat vacant. Our momentum literally came to a screeching halt and we could hear the wind getting knocked out of our sails. Closing was off for the 30th, and so began process of insurance, adjusters and mitigation/remediation. (Not to mention we were getting married in just under a month.) On the bright side, we were getting new flooring and a new ceiling in the basement, and things didn't seem quite as bad then.
So, in between wedding plans, we waited...and waited...and waited....to hear if the house was salvageable for a closing in the near future. We searched for carpeting...and paint...and ceiling tiles....and countertops...and kitchens...and contractors...and estimates...and did I mention we were quickly approaching the big day?? Finally, the day before the wedding, we received word that the house was "dry" and we would be closing on December 30th. Without much time to think things through, we agreed that was a plan, scribbled some signatures on an addendum and got hitched. Life was good!
We spent our short honeymoon making official flooring and paint decisions so work could begin the second we closed (we envisioned all of the contractors lined up in the driveway just waiting for us to call from the attorney's office that it was safe to go in and begin working.) The day after Christmas, we were allowed to see the house for the first time since the water was dried out by ServiceMaster. And, our hopes were somewhat dashed again. Nothing much had been completed except the main floor carpeting had been removed and a less than perfect job installing some new subflooring had been completed. We saw the paint peeling off the walls, the uneven flooring gaps, and the halfway removed and damaged ceiling in the basement. And, we were closing in t-minus 5 days. Through it all, my new husband was a pillar of strength and soothing reality as I melted down into what my dad labeled as a "house-zilla" (most recently deemed from the previous week's "bride-zilla.")
This week has been a flurry of phone calls to the insurance agency about settlement amounts, estimates for repair work (which we didn't know were suddenly our responsibility to provide), and trips to and fro trying to coordinate everything. And we don't even own the house! The sellers are pushing us to close on Friday without anything but a handshake and prayer that the insurance will pay out for the necessary repairs. But, guess what, those checks aren't coming to us as the buyers, they are going to the sellers. We get the bills, they get the money...sounds like a normal day.
We finally put on the brakes today to try and get some peace of mind regarding the predicament living together as husband and wife created for us (many people have told us that living apart could lead to a better marriage - LOL!) As I sit here typing this, we have three options:
1) Close on the house with the handshake and a prayer mentality that the insurance will come through.
2) Reduce the price we pay for the house to reflect the damages and close as planned.
3) Pay the price we agreed for the house and have the attorney handling the closing hold some of the money in escrow until the work is complete and the final insurance settlement is issued to protect us and the sellers from unforeseen issues with the insurance and the repair work.
And this is where things stand 2 days before closing. No resolution, but some viable possibilities are on the horizon. The reason I am sharing this with all of you is because it has truly opened my eyes to the many stresses that go with buying or selling a home. It has certainly served as a reminder that a road paved with good intentions may still have several bumps in it. This is a lesson to me that is already making me a better agent, and it will allow me to provide my customers and clients with the service they should expect. In other words, I can relate to what you are going through. The emotions, the paperwork, the glitches, the compromises...we've seen it all in the last six weeks.
We are unsure what tomorrow holds for our first home buying adventure as husband and wife. We know that whatever happens was meant to be, and we look forward to keeping you informed of our progress. If anything, it will make a great story to tell our children when they ask us about our first home.
Welcome Home!
So, we decided that our triangle of acceptable places to live was somewhere between Dodge, Wisner, or West Point, Nebraska. We started our home search online through local agents in those communities, but couldn't find anything that we thought would work. Then, we resorted to the for-sale-by-owner route. Low and behold, we looked at a house in Wisner and decided that it would work for us! The price was right, the space was good, and we could make it our own! Hurray! The search was over! Soon, we were on our way to a November 30th closing date.
That was our train of thinking at the beginning of November. Fast forward to November 21st when the dreaded call came, just days before Thanksgiving and our big announcement to the family that we were closing on a home soon. The owner of the home we had painstakingly searched for called to inform us that the kitchen faucet had sprung a leak and water had saturated the main floor and basement living area as the home sat vacant. Our momentum literally came to a screeching halt and we could hear the wind getting knocked out of our sails. Closing was off for the 30th, and so began process of insurance, adjusters and mitigation/remediation. (Not to mention we were getting married in just under a month.) On the bright side, we were getting new flooring and a new ceiling in the basement, and things didn't seem quite as bad then.
So, in between wedding plans, we waited...and waited...and waited....to hear if the house was salvageable for a closing in the near future. We searched for carpeting...and paint...and ceiling tiles....and countertops...and kitchens...and contractors...and estimates...and did I mention we were quickly approaching the big day?? Finally, the day before the wedding, we received word that the house was "dry" and we would be closing on December 30th. Without much time to think things through, we agreed that was a plan, scribbled some signatures on an addendum and got hitched. Life was good!
We spent our short honeymoon making official flooring and paint decisions so work could begin the second we closed (we envisioned all of the contractors lined up in the driveway just waiting for us to call from the attorney's office that it was safe to go in and begin working.) The day after Christmas, we were allowed to see the house for the first time since the water was dried out by ServiceMaster. And, our hopes were somewhat dashed again. Nothing much had been completed except the main floor carpeting had been removed and a less than perfect job installing some new subflooring had been completed. We saw the paint peeling off the walls, the uneven flooring gaps, and the halfway removed and damaged ceiling in the basement. And, we were closing in t-minus 5 days. Through it all, my new husband was a pillar of strength and soothing reality as I melted down into what my dad labeled as a "house-zilla" (most recently deemed from the previous week's "bride-zilla.")
This week has been a flurry of phone calls to the insurance agency about settlement amounts, estimates for repair work (which we didn't know were suddenly our responsibility to provide), and trips to and fro trying to coordinate everything. And we don't even own the house! The sellers are pushing us to close on Friday without anything but a handshake and prayer that the insurance will pay out for the necessary repairs. But, guess what, those checks aren't coming to us as the buyers, they are going to the sellers. We get the bills, they get the money...sounds like a normal day.
We finally put on the brakes today to try and get some peace of mind regarding the predicament living together as husband and wife created for us (many people have told us that living apart could lead to a better marriage - LOL!) As I sit here typing this, we have three options:
1) Close on the house with the handshake and a prayer mentality that the insurance will come through.
2) Reduce the price we pay for the house to reflect the damages and close as planned.
3) Pay the price we agreed for the house and have the attorney handling the closing hold some of the money in escrow until the work is complete and the final insurance settlement is issued to protect us and the sellers from unforeseen issues with the insurance and the repair work.
And this is where things stand 2 days before closing. No resolution, but some viable possibilities are on the horizon. The reason I am sharing this with all of you is because it has truly opened my eyes to the many stresses that go with buying or selling a home. It has certainly served as a reminder that a road paved with good intentions may still have several bumps in it. This is a lesson to me that is already making me a better agent, and it will allow me to provide my customers and clients with the service they should expect. In other words, I can relate to what you are going through. The emotions, the paperwork, the glitches, the compromises...we've seen it all in the last six weeks.
We are unsure what tomorrow holds for our first home buying adventure as husband and wife. We know that whatever happens was meant to be, and we look forward to keeping you informed of our progress. If anything, it will make a great story to tell our children when they ask us about our first home.
Welcome Home!
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| The source of all of our problems! |
Friday, October 21, 2011
Fall Traditions
The fall decorations are popping up all over town welcoming the onset of cooler weather and little ghosts and goblins that will be parading the streets in just over a week from today. Many folks are taking advantage of the beautiful weather to do a little "hunting" of their own...house hunting that is! Our company has seen a variety of sellers accept offers on their homes this fall, and an array of buyers are experiencing what it's like to do their own fall decorating. Check out our most recent new listings, pending sales, and sold homes below:
October has provided wonderful home buying and selling opportunities for clients and customers of 1st Realty. It is a great time of year to start some of your own fall traditions. Think back to the first time that you carved pumpkins with your family at the kitchen table when you were a small child. Do you remember how much fun it was to see them lit up on the front step of the house? How about the first Halloween when you got to go around to all of the neighbor's houses and show off your great homemade costume? These are the memories that many of us have of our childhood homes, and now is a great time to make some memories of your own in a home that you love. Welcome Home!
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| 1004 Aspen Street (New Listing in October and recent Sale Pending) |
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| 716 Lincoln Street (a sudden burst of activity on this home during the past week made it our most recent sale pending!) |
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| 108 S. Lincoln Street - SOLD 10/17/11 |
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| 502 W. 1st Street - SOLD 9/26/11 to a great family looking forward to making this large 2-story their official home in Wayne! |
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| 420 West 6th Street - Sale Pending |
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| 808 Pearl Street - Sale Pending |
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| 308 East 9th Street - 3-unit investment SOLD 9/14/11 |
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| 513 West 5th Street, Wakefield - New Listing for October, great floorplan! |
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| 409 W. 10th Street - New Listing for October, cute home & great location! |
October has provided wonderful home buying and selling opportunities for clients and customers of 1st Realty. It is a great time of year to start some of your own fall traditions. Think back to the first time that you carved pumpkins with your family at the kitchen table when you were a small child. Do you remember how much fun it was to see them lit up on the front step of the house? How about the first Halloween when you got to go around to all of the neighbor's houses and show off your great homemade costume? These are the memories that many of us have of our childhood homes, and now is a great time to make some memories of your own in a home that you love. Welcome Home!
Monday, September 19, 2011
A Fall Maintenance Project the Size of a Barn!
Over the weekend, I was informed that my family was going to start on the task of painting all of our wooden barns, hog houses, and sheds at the farm. This is a project that has not been completed in over ten years. Weather permitting, it will probably take between one and two weeks to complete, and we hope to be done by the time harvest is in full swing. This project is similar to the ones that stare most of us square in the eye this time of year. You know, those little things that we have to get done before the weather turns cold and the winter snow sets in. I found a helpful checklist for fall maintenance projects by following this link:
http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Checklist-Fall-Preventative-Home-Maintenance.11701.html
This link covers items regarding the interior and exterior of your house. However, one shouldn't forget about the importance of protecting the garage, patio, and landscaping from winter deterioration. Some fall maintenance advice regarding these areas of your property includes:
These projects sound like a hassle on days like today when the weather is so nice, but you can turn them into a day well spent with your family. When I was younger, I used to dread projects like this for the simple reason that "I had better things to do." Believe it or not, I'm actually looking forward to helping paint and improve the integrity of those old barns at home. My family has a lot of history and memories in those great spaces. I love reliving those moments with my brothers, and sharing stories with our significant others. Remember to take pride in your fall projects and the work it takes to complete them. Welcome Home!
http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Checklist-Fall-Preventative-Home-Maintenance.11701.html
This link covers items regarding the interior and exterior of your house. However, one shouldn't forget about the importance of protecting the garage, patio, and landscaping from winter deterioration. Some fall maintenance advice regarding these areas of your property includes:
- Protect and cover lawn equipment and garden tools
- Drain lawnmower of gasoline and oil
- Examine and repair the weatherstripping at the bottom of the garage door
- Cover and protect your patio furniture
- Trim tree limbs that could break under the weight of snow and ice
- Fill birdfeeders in time for migrating species, and keep them filled throughout the winter for resident species
- Add a protective layer of mulch to your perennials, shrubs, and trees
- Clean flower beds of spent summer blossoms and plants
- Turn the compost
- Remove the garden hose and place inside for the winter
These projects sound like a hassle on days like today when the weather is so nice, but you can turn them into a day well spent with your family. When I was younger, I used to dread projects like this for the simple reason that "I had better things to do." Believe it or not, I'm actually looking forward to helping paint and improve the integrity of those old barns at home. My family has a lot of history and memories in those great spaces. I love reliving those moments with my brothers, and sharing stories with our significant others. Remember to take pride in your fall projects and the work it takes to complete them. Welcome Home!
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