In the past, I’ve addressed the risks posed by asbestos and lead. This week, I’ll tackle the dangers of mold. Not all mold is created equal, but all mold in a house (unless it’s on cheese by design) should be assessed so you know if it’s allergenic, pathogenic, or toxigenic. Allergenic mold triggers allergic reactions … Read more
You may be wondering whether having a solar energy system would be nice. The answer depends on far more variables than most people realize, so many, in fact, that a solar energy disclosure form has just been developed. The form requires home sellers to share information about the condition and financing of their solar system, … Read more
Since your home is typically the biggest single financial investment most people make, it’s important to take care of it and to do your best to save money where you can. Here are some common ways homeowners waste money. Incandescent Light Bulbs I am not one to throw away perfectly good light bulbs but doing … Read more
Many people in the real estate business have heard horror stories about home-improvement projects gone awry, made worse when the company hired was not insured and the homeowner was left to foot the bill. Here’s the type of scenario I’m talking about. Imagine Heather the Homeowner hires a contractor to complete a small home renovation. … Read more
When trying to figure out how much renovating you can afford, zero-based budgeting is a good way to go. Zero-based budgeting means starting from scratch. Assume all decisions are negotiable. Start with a list of every renovation expense you can think of, and assign a cost to each individual item. Ideally, it’s best to choose … Read more
Some things are just plain common sense. For example, when there isn’t enough of something to go around, it becomes more valuable. This is the economics of supply and demand: low supply means shortage of available workers (and vise versa). In the real estate market, this principle is in play right now with contractors who … Read more