Water Damage to a Foundation

One of the issues we see at house sales and inspections over and over again are foundation issues and cracked drive ways. Both have the same culprit: WATER! You might think that water is just of of those things you have to live with and there is not much you can do. Well, YES and NO! It will rain and it will snow and there is nothing you can do. But you can do something about where the water goes and limit/prevent damage to your house. Let's build our understanding of HOW, WHAT, and figure out our course of action or the NOW WHAT.

How Water Damages Your Foundation

1. Standing water, water seepage and water-logged soil can cause wooden parts of your structure and additions to rot.

2. Standing water, water seepage and water-logged soil can cause the soil under your foundation to erode or shift over time, which can lead to a lack of support of your structure.

3. Standing water, water seepage and water-logged soil can cause the soil under your foundation to swell, which can lead to shifting and cracking.

4. Moisture can cause the soil around your foundation to expand, which can result in heaving of the floors, cracks and bowed walls.

Warning Signs of Water Damage

Here are some common signs of foundation damage caused by flooding or moisture:

• Cracks appearing in the walls and floors of your basement and or throughout the house.

• Walls bending or sagging, either inward or outward.

• A musty odor that doesn’t seem to leave your basement.

• The appearance or the odor of mold or mildew.

• Discoloration of your walls, wallpaper that is peeling off, or a carpeted floor that becomes moist and spongy.

• Doors might become difficult to close because of the shifting of the walls. You might see also cracks around the top corners of the door frame in the dry wall or around the baseboards.

How to Prevent Water Damage

• Maintain your gutters regularly so that it properly drains water AWAY from your home. You would be surprised how much debris accumulates in a gutter, especially throughout the fall. Trees on your property and/or your neighbor's property will quickly clog your gutters and down spouts.

• Employ drainage methods to keep rainwater away from your foundation. This is HUGE!!!! This is probably single-handedly the most missed feature we see at homes (aside from CO2 detectors). Add an extension to your downspout to allow water to drain away from the foundation. An extension to the downspout is easily installed above ground by adding a 'flex-a-spout' (flexible extension made of plastic) or a rigid aluminum downspout, for example. Make sure the downspout has a slight pitch away from your house and foundation. The downspout should be at least 3 feet in length, more is always better. There are underground and fold-away options as well. Regardless which option you choose, make sure it is in working order when it rains and snows (fold-able option will need to be folded down, loosely attachable options need to be attached properly-especially after heavy wind etc)

• Maintain your pipes to prevent them from bursting and flooding your home.

   

  *source reference

   

   

SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT aka. METRO DISTRICTS

This information is a compilation of information I gathered from Google searches, The Denver Post https://www.denverpost.com/2019/12/05/metro-districts-debt-democracy-colorado-housing-development/ as well as from a class I took with Lonnie Glessner ([email protected]).

First up, lets find out what a Metro District (aka. Special District) is. Google.com defines a Metro district as a taxing authority created by subdivision developers, with the consent of the local government, for the sole purpose of selling government-like bonds to finance their projects. Repayment of the bonds is tied to future property taxes assessed to the homes that will eventually be built.

Why do subdivison developers and builders create Metro Districts?

In short, it is a way to raise money in the short term and get an additonal influx of cash in the future, without the approval of tax payers. Current tax laws (Gallagher and TABOR) need voter approval to increase or adjust current property tax rates. Special Tax Districts do not need such approval. According to Bruce Rau, Oakwood Homes' president of land acquisition said: “Almost every home that is sold in the metro Denver area that's a new construction falls within a metro district.' WHY? Since the passage of TABOR it has become impossible for local city or county to ask current voters to pay a tax increase to fund a new development or community.

So, what's the problem?

According to the Denver Post, there are nearly 1,800 metro districts in our State that are not overseen by voters. Many times that happens inadvertently, because voters/consumers are not aware that they have input in who and how Metro District are run and handle their finances. Under Colorado law a developer is allowed to elect themselves, or people close to the developer, to serve on a district's board of the directors, who then vote to approve millions of dollars in public financing to repay the developer for their infrastructure costs up front. Having a board that is set up and run by developers and their 'associates' lacks a system of check and balances and are vulnerable to conflict of interest claims.

What is the impact to consumers?

The biggest impact for the consumer is a lack of transparency and knowledge as to how Metro District Taxes could impact them in the future. If you happen to live in a special taxing district you could be subject to additional taxes that you did not know about, where not aware of and did not budget for. You might have to pay additional taxes immediately, or you might have one big 'balloon' payment that becomes due many years or even decades from now. Either way, you, as a consumer and homeowner, would like to know what your financial obligations are as well as why/when/and for what you pay for.

Now what?

It is a consumers right to be informed and to be able to make a well-informed decision AT ALL TIMES! Having all the information and understanding what you consent to will allow you to plan accordingly to make the best choice that fits your wants, needs and desires. When you purchase a new property, the title insurance will usually show if a property is part of a special tax district. However, you can find out before you ever look at or sign a contract to purchase a property to see if the property is in a special taxing district by going to the County Treasurer's tax page. Another very helpful website is www.dola.colorado.gov/lgis which enables you to search for a subdivision by name and determine if there are special assessments you need to be aware of, who sits on the board of, election information and much more.

Creating Your Backyard Getaway

The streak of 90 degree temperatures has finally broken, thanks to a welcome 'cold' front that brought rain to our parched state. Now comes the most enjoyable part (at least for me) of summer: Sitting outside with a cup of coffee in the morning, enjoying dinners with friends on the patio, and watching the kids redecorate their play structure with odds and ends they find around the house. Though I LOVE my backyard, I still find myself trying to fine tune the sitting areas to create a more cohesive and relaxed feeling. So, here is what I have learned along the way on my journey to move my backyard living space to the backyard retreat I envision.

1. Look at the space you have. Is it sunny during parts of the day and shady during other times? Is it wide open or broken up? With a little bit of observation you can identify very distinct activity areas that lend itself to specific uses. For example, a wide open space might be an ideal location to place a dinning area to accommodate your guests. A small shaded area might lend itself to enjoy a book and a cold drink in the middle of the day and a graveled area might just be the perfect spot for a fire pit.

2. After you identified your different area/s think about how you envision that area to look like. Browse the internet and magazines, find layout ideas that speak to you, furniture styles that appeal to your eye and your climate.

3. Start looking at sales at your local home-improvement stores, in home-design centers, on Craigslist and neighborhood websites. August marks the end of season and Labor Day weekend specials are widely advertised.

4. Area rugs can help define a space. Make sure it is suited to be outdoors and in the elements. Also, just a word of caution: Having an area rug on a finished surface, like a deck, could lead to discoloration, either from the dyes in the rug and/or UV exposure differences between the exposed and covered areas.

5. Use outdoor seat cushions and outdoor pillows to soften features, add comfort, texture and dimension to your backyard retreat. Think about draping a couple of blankets over chairs or outdoor seating to add style and offer warmth on cooler evenings.

6. String lights, lanterns or candles in a protective hurricane add light and a festive atmosphere on summer evenings.

7. Privacy is important to make you and your guest feel comfortable and relaxed. Think about living privacy fences that can grow and add interest through texture and color (plants like Clematis, Honeysuckle, and Wisteria grow on trellises and arbors and provide shade and privacy once established). Another option is privacy fencing, which comes in many different styles and colors.

8. Create shade through umbrellas or retractable awnings to add additional usefulness and versatility in an area.

9. Lastly, accessories your garden with planters filled with seasonal foliage, garden statures, weather proof art (such as decorative wrought iron, plates or garden plagues, additional side tables).

Get your House Market Ready!

There are many things you can do before you list your house for sale. Naturally, you want to get the most money for your home, and investing a little of your time, sweat and equity will give you the best chance to be competitive in today's market. Here are some tips to get you on your way to getting your house market ready!

1. Hire a real estate agent: You want your interests in your sale to be represented, heard and communicated. A real estate agent will help you also navigate through the (seemingly) endless paperwork that needs to be signed. I seek continual education on market statistics, changes in contracts and forms, legislative changes, fair housing rules and updates, local and area specific considerations, and marketing classes. In addition, I have access to houses that sold in your neighborhood, subdivision and general area. Having that information helps us to come up with a price strategy that is sound and supported to move from 'Just Listed' to SOLD in the shortest amount of time. Allow me to be the expert in my field and put my knowledge and experience to work for you!

2. De-clutter your Home: This is probably the most difficult aspect of getting your house ready. You might wonder where to put all your personal belongings, nick-knacks, children's school projects, your own personal book/DVD collection, craft items etc. A good option is to rent a storage box/unit to use until you are ready to move into your new home. Your home will end up appearing bigger, looking organized and drawing attention to your homes features.

3. Hire a handy-man: As we live in homes, things are just bound to break over time. Locks don't lock any more, toilets start running, faucets start dripping, burners and ovens wear out, doors start squeaking, light bulbs burn out, the door bell quit working etc). Fix what you can, and hire a professional for the rest.

4. Paint walls: Painting your home in a neutral color attracts the most buyers. Light gray, light beige or whites are easy on the eye and easy to match with furniture and décor. In addition, a freshly painted house looks brighter and cleaner!

5. Steam clean carpets: Hire a professional company to help with stained carpets. Otherwise, a rental unit from a store can do the trick in clean the fibers and get rid of smells that accumulate over time.

6. Deep-Clean: Now that the walls and carpet are done, deep clean the house. Divide the work load by tackling one room at a time OR by focusing on multiple 'like' areas (like all the floors) to be cleaned together. Remember to clean surfaces, floors, under beds, mirrors, dust, scrub toilets and showers, the fridge, the microwave, closets etc. Again, it helps a lot to go from room to room to be thorough. A special note on closets: Try to limit your wardrobe to your needs for the listing period (about 2 months). Store the rest! Closets very easily appear cluttered and small. Storing a smaller amount will make a huge difference to the overall appearance of storage space.

7. Buy extra Light Bulbs: Having working lights in all the rooms allows your home to 'shine' and show its best. Just one burnt out light bulb can cast shadows, make a room look dark and gloomy and impact the overall atmosphere. REMEMBER to purchase a couple extra light bulbs for the outside as well (front door! as well as back door if you have external light fixtures).

8. Stage your home: Here a real estate agent can be of great value. We have gone to many homes and seen many layouts. Ask for an opinion or a suggestion: Where should I move the couch to? Is the placement of bedroom furniture conducive to look cohesive? Does the room look too small with the placement of the current furniture? Does a room look too cluttered? If in doubt, there are great staging companies to assist.

9. FINALLY: Hire a professional photographer to capture your home's unique features and qualities. Again, they are the professionals and know how to make your home look the best in a picture. If you hire me as your agent, this service is included in your listing at no cost to you!!!

Let's Talk Curb Appeal

So, you are ready for showings! You are excited for buyers to see your home and fall in love with it. Curb appeal, or the very first impression a buyer gets from your home upon looking at if for the very first time, can set the tone of the rest of the showing. Here are some helpful tips to set your home apart from others to make that favorable and lasting 1^st impression

• Does the siding need to be washed down or power washed? Sometimes soap and water can do the trick, but other times you might want to consider if you need to rent a power washer to make the outside sparkle. Be sure to understand the settings on the power washer to avoid damaging your paint on the siding.

   

• Does the front door needs to be washed down? Does it need repainting to make it shine and POP? YES, front doors get dirty as they are exposed to the elements. Color can fade, locks can loosen over time, and scuff marks can appear seemingly out of nowhere. Having a freshly painted front door with a color that complements the rest of the exterior walls can elevate a drab and uninteresting front entrance to stand out and invite potential buyers in.

   

• Is your house number easily seen? Real Estate agents and potential buyers MUST FIND YOUR HOUSE in order to see it. Please make sure that you place house numbers on the front of your house. If your house numbers no longer match the overall design of your house you can either buy a matching set OR your could get a can of spray paint and spray it in a complimentary color (make sure the color is easily seen from the street).

   

• Does the light fixture at the front entrance work (does it need to be replaced or do the screws need tightening)? It goes right along with your house number on the front of the house. If real estate agents and buyers cannot find your house, because the front is dark and house numbers cannot be identified, you lost a potential buyer that might have fallen in love with your home. Please make sure you have always an extra bulb for the outdoor light fixture, because nothing is more stressful than having to run to a local hardware store last minute to try to get your home ready for the next showing.

   

• Upgrade any hardware that shows wear and tear, like door bells, door knobs, locks, door knockers, kick boards.

   

• Sweep the stoop before a showing.

   

• Make sure the walkway is unobstructed (toys, bikes and water hoses are removed, snow and ice is cleared).

   

• Consider a little bit of 'staging' as you prepare the front of your house to look inviting. A new floor mat with a friendly 'WELCOME' will work wonders.

   

• Decorate your front door or stoop with a nice arrangement of flowers or a tasteful seasonal greeting. Again, your home is making it's introduction and very first impression to a potential buyer. Let it shine and appear welcoming!