Water Back Up

Recent high amounts of rain fall – What is Water Back Up Coverage - Water back up and sump pump failure coverage is an endorsement to the homeowner insurance policy that provides coverage to property damaged by water that backs up into the home through pipes, drains, sewer, water-service, sump pump and any other type of fluid transfer system from the house. Find out why you need water back up coverage!

https://www.grangeinsurance.com/tips/4-reasons-to-add-water-backup-coverage

Source: Martin Lark Insurance Newsletter 5/22/2019

How to Make Low Ceilings Appear to be Higher

It can be difficult to lend the illusion of more space to a home with low ceilings. A recent article at Houzz from columnist Becky Harris explains how you can make low ceilings appear higher.

© Lourdes Gabriela Interiors 

Use High-Gloss Paint to Your Advantage

Painting the ceiling a glossy white will allow the room to reflect more light, making it appear more spacious that it really is. Interior designer Lourdes Gabriela used glossy white ceilings in a Florida condo that, she said, was suffering from “oppressively low” ceilings. The short height of the ceilings was exacerbated by low-hanging track lights and short louvered doors. After giving the ceiling a glossy paint finish, Gabriela also used a flush-mount chandelier over the dining table to help lift the perception of the ceiling.

© MainStreet Design Build 

Emphasize Long Horizontal Planes

Using horizontal design elements can actually lift the vertical parts of a room. It also distracts the eye from looking up. Designers with MainStreet Design Build used long horizontal display shelves on the walls in the kitchen to “draw the eye to the long horizontal planes and the objects on them,” Harris notes. The shelves command attention and lead people to notice the expanse of the wall instead of the challenges of a short ceiling. “The generous amount of white space between the top shelf and the ceiling makes the ceiling seem higher,” Harris writes.

© Carl Mattison 

Add Some Millwork

Floor-to-ceiling millwork not only gives a space an eye-catching design element but also can be used to lift the ceiling, too. Designer Carl Mattison added wall paneling to the open-concept dining space in an Atlanta cottage. “Seeing so many stacked squares lends the illusion of height,” Harris writes. “Painting the millwork and adjacent kitchen cabinets the same color keeps the room from feeling chopped up.”

Height isn’t the only reason to consider design elements that can showcase the ceiling in a different light. There are plenty of stylish ways to showcase the ceiling as a means of adding more depth to a room or more pizzazz to a home that may be lacking eye-catching qualities.

Source: Realtor®Magazine: 

“7 Ways to Make Low Ceilings Seem Higher,” Houzz (May 2, 2019)

Lucas County Officials Brace for Complaints on Property Values

Lucas County officials are bracing for a busy year of residents challenging their new property values, in part because Auditor Anita Lopez is advocating for taxpayers to do so.
The county’s Board of Revision — comprised of Treasurer Lindsay Webb, Commissioner Pete Gerken, and the auditor — annually review property value complaints and determine whether they warrant a change.

The board has heard between 1,473 and 3,463 cases each year over the past nine, with an annual average of about 2,100.

But the auditor said during a Jan. 14 meeting she believes this year will be different and anticipates the board could see five times as many complaints — or roughly 10,000 — largely stemming from a dispute between her office and the Ohio Department of Taxation.

Unhappy with a resolution between her office and the state over property value increases, Ms. Lopez took out a full-page advertisement in The Blade to let property owners know they can file a complaint. She is also speaking on the topic at business organizations and community meetings throughout the month.

“We want people to have fair and equitable values,” she said.
Mr. Gerken said the auditor is actively advocating that people contest their new values.
“Where every other website in the state says ‘board of revision’ our website says ‘challenge your property values,’” he said. “You are actually recruiting challenges.”

The auditor’s office has already recorded 540 complaints, 490 of which were concerning residential properties. Ms. Lopez said she believes the trend will continue until the April 1 deadline to file.
“If there is some indication that there are now 10,000 cases rather than 2,000 cases, we need to plan for that and be consistent,” Mr. Gerken said.

The 2018 revaluation process fell on a sexennial reappraisal year, which means the auditor’s office had to reappraise all property in the county and have the new aggregate values signed off on by the state’s tax commissioner.

Ms. Lopez and the tax commissioner agreed the housing market had improved, but they disagreed on how much the aggregate values should rise.

For example, state officials wanted to see Sylvania’s values grow by 14.3 percent, but Ms. Lopez believed they should only rise by 9.76 percent. The discrepancies continued for each of the county’s 22 municipalities, with the gap between the auditor’s value increases and the state’s ranging from less than 1 percent to 6.6 percent.

The back and forth between Lucas County and the state culminated in an official order from the tax commissioner telling Ms. Lopez to raise property values or risk losing state funding, something Department of Taxation officials said they haven’t done in 25 years.

The auditor pushed back, and the two parties eventually reached a compromise that collectively increased values 9 percent countywide, though some municipalities’ values went up by 12 percent while others only grew by 2 or 3 percent.

Ms. Lopez said she wasn’t happy with the resolution, but she reluctantly accepted because she knew that she could encourage residents to challenge their new values come January.
The first-half tax bill is what typically motivates homeowners to contest their new values, Ms. Lopez said.

Although aggregate values may have increased countywide, some property owners will see a decrease in their tax bill if their home’s valuation goes up by an amount less than the aggregate. This is because of a state property tax law in place to protect homeowners from inflation and likely would deter people from filing a complaint.

Mr. Gerken said he’d like to see all board of revision complaints heard and decided by June 1, ahead of the second-half tax bill. Ms. Lopez said she can try, adding cases typically take until October or November to clear.

The board decided to schedule hearings from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for now and add hearing days if the caseload doesn’t let up.
The board of revision is set to meet again Jan. 28.

Source:  By Sarah Elms / The Blade

No Cost Staging Tips

You may not have the extra funds to stage a property, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways you can still spruce it up. Some of the biggest staging moves can be free. Beyond decluttering and depersonalizing the property, realtor.com® recently highlighted several ideas, including:

1. Remove any extra storage.
“Eliminate any plastic storage bins, over-the-door storage, above-cabinet storage, and extra racks in rooms,” Julie Chrissis with Chrissis & Company Interiors told realtor.com®. “This is important because buyers never want to think they will outgrow a home. A seller’s job is to show them there is plenty of storage space for them to grow into.”

2. Tweak the furniture layout.
Pay attention to how the furniture is placed in the room and its flow. Remove furniture that makes the space look too cluttered. “Room layouts should be set up for photos first,” Chrissis says. “It’s important that the photo not be of the back of a sofa, large chair, or other pieces of furniture, as this makes the room look smaller because it blocks the view of part of the room. The same goes for open houses and showings. If buyers see a room with furniture barriers, it makes the room seem smaller.”

3. Lighten up the mood.
“You want natural light and lamps with warm light—no swirly bulbs that look like office light,” says Chrissis. “We tell most of our clients to remove valances as they typically make a room darker and, in most markets, are a little out of fashion. Lamps are important, especially in winter months when there is less sun and sunset is earlier.”

Read the full list of “free” staging tips at realtor.com®.

Homeowners Aren't Shy When It Comes to DIY

Many homeowners are attracted to do-it-yourself home projects, particularly members of younger generations, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ “2019 Remodeling Impact Report: DIY". In fact, homeowners may even be happier when they DIY than when they hire a professional to handle a project.

Homeowners reported a “joy score” of 9.9 for projects they do themselves (joy scores range from 1 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater joy). Projects completed by professionals rate slightly below, with a 9.6 joy score. Homeowners who take on projects themselves report a greater sense of accomplishment with a finished project, too.

The top reason homeowners who participated in the survey cited for undertaking a DIY project is increasing the functionality and livability of the home. That's followed by increasing the home’s aesthetics or adding durable, long-lasting materials and appliances, the survey found.

“One of the pleasures of homeownership is the ability to take on projects to customize a house that truly make it your own,” says John Smaby, NAR’s president.

Nearly three-fourths of Generation Y and millennials, as well as more than half of Generation X and baby boomers, choose to do DIY home projects.

Consumers are more likely to take on a DIY project for a pet than to undertake a general home project on their own, according to the survey. The most popular pet-driven renovations were fence and laminate floor installation, and the addition of dog doors.

Source: National Association of REALTORS(R) (Jan. 3, 2019) - 2019 Remodeling Impact Report

6 Reasons to Use Self-Storage

 

1. Moving to a new location - Whether you're moving across town or to a new city, storage units can make your life easier. They give you a spot to store your stuff and to keep it organized while you move into your new place. Take out what you need, and leave the other stuff inside the unit until you get things situated back at home. If you can't take certain things with you but want to keep them for later, you can rent a storage unit and keep your stuff stored away until you come back for it.

 

2. Renovating your home - If you're renovating or remodeling your home, you'll need to get things out of your way while you work. Sometimes remodeling means getting rid of things that don't fit the new interior style. However, what if you don't want to get rid of anything just yet? Renting a storage unit helps to keep your belongings out of the way and protected until you figure out what to do with everything later.

 

3. Downsizing - The minimalist lifestyle is taking over these days as more people get rid of unnecessary items and opt for an emptier, more streamlined interior. If the downsizing bug has bitten you, storage units are your best friend. They keep your stuff tucked away and protected until you decide to sell it all, to donate it or to find a way to incorporate everything back in your home.

 

4. Getting rid of the clutter - It's easy to fill your home over the years with things that you never use. These things get in the way and clutter your interior. Some people store their clutter in the attic, the basement or even a few closets. However, these areas run out of space quickly. A storage unit can act as your closet away from home, giving you a space in which to store things for a future yard sale or when you're ready to pass down those items to your children.

 

5. Headed to college - A majority of college students live in dorms with hardly any space for their belongings. If they want to bring their full wardrobe, they'll need a separate place for everything. When they leave college during spring and summer break, they usually have to take their belongings home with them. If you're a college student, use storage units to your advantage. You can keep your belongings in a storage unit during break, reducing your packing time and freeing up space for the car ride home.

 

6. Running a business - Homeowners and renters aren't the only ones who run out of space. Businesses need space for their documents, equipment and supplies. A clutter-free office is a more efficient and productive office. If you have copiers that you're not currently using or loads of filing cabinets that take up space, it's time to move them to a storage unit. If you're running a retail store, a storage unit makes the perfect off-site stock room for extra inventory, sales signs and holiday advertisements.

 

Source: https://www.storageunits.org/self-storage/

 

What to Consider When Choosing Self-Storage

 

The storage facility near your home isn't the same as the one on the other side of town. They're all different in terms of cleanliness, customer service, climate control and security. Some facilities offer a free moving truck; others provide packing materials for sale. If you're ready to rent a storage unit, keep these few things in mind before picking the first one on your list:

• Check for facilities with climate-controlled units. These units protect your leather furniture, photos, documents and other sensitive items. Climate control is good if you're going to leave your items in the unit for the long term.
• Ask the facility about its security measures. A good facility has 24-hour video surveillance, perimeter fencing and secure access. If the facility allows you to use cylinder locks, it's another sign that security is the facility's top priority.
• Plan ahead. You don't need to rent a larger storage unit than you need. After all, larger units cost more money per month. Though you can always downsize, you'll save money if you rent the right-sized unit in the beginning.

Renting a storage unit isn't rocket science. It's about picking the right facility with the right amount of features at the right price. Because every storage facility is different, you should do your own research by visiting each one and talking to the staff. Good customer service goes a long way in selecting a storage facility for your belongings. Checking online reviews and visiting the facility will give you a good idea whether or not it's the right place for you.

 

Source: https://www.storageunits.org/self-storage/

Sellers Checklist for Fall

Autumn is increasingly becoming a hot sales season, ranking just behind summer in the annual hierarchy. Many people travel less and kids are in school. There can be a bit more urgency to sell in the fall, with the holidays looming and days-on-market stacking up. This can lead to some deals for buyers and easier negotiations.

There are a few things a seller should know about selling homes on the market in September, October and November. This checklist should help you as you prepare to get that property off the market by Thanksgiving.

1. Keep it neat

Leaves, limbs and dead plants are one of the biggest killers of curb appeal, and in the fall they are plentiful. You may want to hire a service, if necessary, to pick up leaves (not just mow over them) at least once a week while they're falling heavily. Switch out browning summer flowers for pots of hardy mums or marigolds. Some "fall decorating" is acceptable, but keep it tame. Not everyone loves the cornstalk-and-scarecrow motif. Keep exterior Halloween decorations tasteful and minimize the amount of time they are out, though a family atmosphere certainly will appeal to a number of clients.

2. Keep an eye on the details

Fall is a good time to give a listed house a good exterior scrub. Summer rains have probably streaked the windows, you may want to get them professionally washed. Sweep and perhaps even rearrange outdoor entertaining areas. With the focus switching from barbecues to fire pits, to optimize and show off the versatility of their outdoor space. Now also might be a good time to update the photos on the home's online listing, as well, to show its versatility and give those who may have passed on it once another reason to consider the property.

3. Safety first

Fireplaces, wood stoves and furnaces can make a home comfortable and cozy when the weather turns chilly, but they are also some of the biggest safety hazards in a home, and certainly potential stumbling blocks when it comes to inspections and negotiations. You may want to have your chimneys swept, fireplaces tested, wood stoves inspected and furnaces serviced before they are put into use (that means do it now). Remember to keep the paperwork. Potential buyers will like to see that these things have been done prior to sale.

4. Court the senses

Of all of the seasons, fall has the most obvious color palette, inspired by the leaves and plants changing all around us. Shifting a listing's decor can be as easy as buying a few new throw pillows for furniture, switching out runners and centerpieces on tables or adding a nice hanging arrangement on the front door. Deep reds, oranges and yellows are ideal. While you're at it, switch out those floral-smelling plugins for candles or burners that evoke fall. Stay away from pumpkin, but almost anything apple and/or cinnamon is nice! If you're holding an open house, choose an easy-listening album or instrumental artist. Bake treats that match the season as well... pumpkin flavor is just fine here.

5. Consider the sun

No matter where you live in the United States, there is going to be less sunlight in each day as the fall goes along. And when Daylight Savings Time ends, it's really going to get dark early. Take this opportunity to invest in lighting. Make sure interior lights are positioned to really shine from the street, and that they're bright enough to stand out. Exterior lights should be timed to come on before dusk, so potential buyers out checking listings can see the property at any time. And remember to make sure your For Sale sign can be seen after dark!

6. Remember: Winter is coming

Depending on where you live, your winter preparations should probably begin mid-fall, if not earlier, especially if you want to keep your home on the market through the holidays (but that's a different article altogether). That means stocking up on items like ice-melting salt, making sure your roof is in proper shape to avoid ice dams and leaking, checking your insulation, and cleaning out the garage to make room for automobiles. You'll have enough to do once Thanksgiving gets here. Don't add these tasks to your December to-do list!

Sources:

https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-sell-a-home-in-autumn-1799056

https://www.maxrealestateexposure.com/tips-to-sell-your-home-in-the-fall/