tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55327460899835820062024-03-04T22:45:30.456-06:00HandyFolks, Inc.Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532746089983582006.post-79420233417936939772015-11-05T12:33:00.000-06:002015-11-05T12:33:13.629-06:00Real Estate License<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Recently I joined Home Spot Choice Realty as a Realtor
for Kansas homes. Over the years I've often worked with homeowners
preparing to market their homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Homeowners
send me the inspection reports to fix up the issues found during inspections so
the closing can take place quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It just made sense to get my license and work with you
through the entire process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My experience
with inspection reports and my construction background make it easier to know
what needs to be done to get the home marketed quickly and well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently I told a homeowner he did not need
to spend the money on a repair that could have cost up to $1000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He called and let me know the house sold in
less than 3 days and the buyers did NOT ask for the repair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When you work with someone who sees the project from all
angles it makes for less stress for you.</span></div>
<br />Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532746089983582006.post-56171546522775178762014-03-10T14:45:00.000-05:002014-03-10T14:45:05.357-05:00Spring Check UpWith the warmer days it's time for you to do to the annual walk around of your home. Look at all the windows and doors to be sure the caulking did not crack during the winter. All the ice and snow that sat on your sills and trim could have caused water damage and wood rot. If the caulk is maintained you will have a lot less of this.<br />
The siding panels may have pulled a little during the cold and allowed moisture to wick in and cause damage. A little caulk goes a long way towards avoiding siding replacement.<br />
Cedar decks will be showing rot, especially on the ends and knots of the decking boards. Replacing a few boards and keeping the deck sealed saves money in the long run.<br />
Make sure the shrubs are trimmed at 12" away from the home. You need that space for air flow to keep windows and siding dry, which prevents rot. You might want to wait a bit to trim the flowering shrubs such as lilac, however.<br />
It doesn't take much effort or time to prevent large repair bills down the road.Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532746089983582006.post-49068041447254855932013-07-14T09:58:00.001-05:002013-07-14T10:00:09.259-05:00Door-to-Door PredatorsWhile there are good people who sell door-to-door there are, sadly, many who prey on our older citizens. Too many are too trusting and do not know what to do once they've been taken advantage of. To get help avoid these predators we installed a new door bell button for one of our clients. It makes it very hard for anyone to say they did not see the sign.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkwEwBUr9zBp1hfoAZngmaokVQcfwlxokBJIaZCE-abhCSkyUAnLf-pobWbNwOqSBR101-YmIKXf-Qf6SZelu6-BhjTPuIuJ61bnKbfhXyx1pkDGEkinQaTUKIkIk-dSyQQoSOiz7KSU/s1600/NO+Solictors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkwEwBUr9zBp1hfoAZngmaokVQcfwlxokBJIaZCE-abhCSkyUAnLf-pobWbNwOqSBR101-YmIKXf-Qf6SZelu6-BhjTPuIuJ61bnKbfhXyx1pkDGEkinQaTUKIkIk-dSyQQoSOiz7KSU/s320/NO+Solictors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532746089983582006.post-35387308250315438862013-02-19T10:05:00.001-06:002013-02-19T10:05:45.004-06:00Six Pack ConstructionRecently I returned from a six-week assignment in New Jersey where I inspected damaged homes for the Small Business Administration. The homeowners applied for loans to re-build following Hurricane Sandy and I provided the estimate needed for repairs or reconstruction.<br />
Something I saw far too often was evidence of "six pack construction" where a homeowner brought in his buddies who KNEW construction and they went after it. The most frequent mistake I saw was electrical fires waiting to happen. Now that the sheet rock is off we can find all the hidden junction boxes or splices just wrapped in tape. If it sounds as if these scenes scared me, it's because they did. If the power had not been turned off when the salt water got into these connections it could have spelled disaster. Copper and salt water (well, any water, but especially salt water) do not mix. The connections will quickly corrode. Some of the homes racked in the high winds. A house that literally twists in the wind can torque a bad connection, which will make it arc, spark and burn.<br />
Some homeowners told me they had friends ready to come over and help out again. These folks are truly convinced they know what they are doing and that they are doing these folks a favor by helping out. In reality this free help may well end up costing them their homes and their lives. <br />
Please remember that this type of work is best left to those with a license and the background to do it correctly. It is very unlikely that the well-meaning friend really knows the code. By the way, new code went into effect in many areas as of January 2013. <br />
The second most common problem was decks. Those that were installed correctly seemed to come through the flood in good condition. Those that had the posts barely into the ground floated and warped and need to be replaced. The few dollars saved by not setting posts deep enough will now cost them thousands of dollars to replace the deck. Again, the code is there for a very good reason.<br />
<br />Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532746089983582006.post-19370033547155977662012-08-07T14:22:00.000-05:002012-08-07T14:22:56.068-05:00Emotional "No-No"<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
On a recent show on HGTV I saw a huge “no-no.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A young couple looked at 2 houses, picked one
and put in a bid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their bid was for the
asking price, which was considered market value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they found out there was a competing bid
(they did not know how much it was) they increased their bid by $50,000!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WAY over market value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is $50,000 they will never get
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an emotional knee jerk.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I don’t sell real estate, I do remodel and update
houses after the purchase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This couple
had to give up the new kitchen they really wanted and will not get for years to
come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A house only becomes a home after you move in and put your
touches into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For years this family
will be living in someone else’s house while they try to convince themselves it
is their new home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is always another house out there that we can help you
turn into your new home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t let emotions
get the best of you—and your wallet.</div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532746089983582006.post-5621505468402707552012-01-17T15:50:00.002-06:002012-01-17T15:53:39.105-06:00Little Things Mean a LotYou do not have to make a big change in your home to make a big change in your enjoyment of it. Sometimes a small upgrade adds a lot. Consider adding pull-out trays to your lower kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Instead of crawling around on the floor you just give a tug and the tray slides out. Better yet, these are a relatively inexpensive upgrade at about $125 per tray. Saves a trip to the chiropractor!Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532746089983582006.post-71832222623806549952012-01-09T15:49:00.002-06:002012-01-09T16:00:12.441-06:00Garage Doors "Savings"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> 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mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">When building or remodeling you need to watch every dollar to make you spend it wisely.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There are very few people who are a bigger fan of saving money than I am, but sometimes saving a few dollars now can cost you dearly later on.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is very true when it comes to garage doors.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You can be penny wise and pound foolish here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Although current code requires bracing many older or inexpensive doors do not have the angle iron bracing that keeps them from buckling or breaking in high winds.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When I survey damage after a natural disaster and see bowed or missing garage doors caused by straight-line winds I can’t help but feel sorry for the homeowner.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The original savings of a couple hundred dollars is wiped out by the deductible (if they even have insurance) when the door gives way.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The worst case I saw was a home that apparently used the less expensive doors (this was new home).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Every other home on this cul-de-sac was fine, but this home was missing the entire left half of the structure.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It had literally exploded.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>While we were trying to figure out the cause, someone suddenly said “garage doors.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The straight-line winds came into the area, built up against the doors and broke them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When the doors gave way it pressurized the garage and “exploded” the whole left side of the home, taking out the garage and bedroom above it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Every other home in the cul-de-sac was fine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sad to say, the couple of hundred dollars they saved on the original cost of the doors cost about $100,000 in repairs.</p><p class="MsoNormal">If you have older doors that do not have angle iron bracing you add it for a very low cost. Companies such as Overhead Door are glad to do it if you are not comfortable doing it yourself.<br /><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532746089983582006.post-27901979904701535242011-03-15T13:26:00.002-05:002011-03-15T13:48:58.573-05:00Insurance check upI work on-call with the federal government doing damage assesments following natural disasters. This is the season when I review water damage. I see home after home where the owners thought they were fully covered only to find out they have zero coverage.<br />When water enters your home, HOW it got there is critical to your coverage. If it seeps in because the sump pump broke, could not keep up or had no power you may not be covered. If the floor drain backs up and lets sewerage into your home, you may not be covered. Check your policy or call your agent to be sure you have coverage for these types of common occurrences.<br />If your yard does not drain away properly or maybe your neighbor's yard drains towards your home you probably are not covered. When a severe storm hits the run off will be more than normal. If the water breaks a window or finds another way in, it is overland run off and that is not covered under most policies.<br />Is there a river or stream anywhere near your home? Rising water/flood is not covered under your typical policy. You may need to buy flood insurance under the federal program. Your agent can help you buy this coverage. <br />Recently I heard of a neighborhood lake that has not been maintained for the past 40 years and the owner does not have the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to fix the dam. The owner does not have the liability coverage or assets to fix the damage if the dam fails. There are 25 homes below the dam that are at risk of flooding and have no coverage unless they buy flood insurance on their own. No one advised them or their insurance companies of the risk. The only ones who are certain to have any protection are the ones who bought flood insurance.Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532746089983582006.post-80156929450108616712011-03-15T13:16:00.004-05:002011-03-15T13:26:22.872-05:00Wet basement woes?The spring rains are about to start and sometimes that results in water in your basement. While you are out doing the spring clean up in your yard take a good look at the foundation. Much of the time the cause for your wet basement is a drainage issue. When your home was built the builder put soil back against the foundation, but over time that soil compacts. If you measure 10' out from the foundation the soil should slope down 6". Rarely do I see this much slope. Also remember to make sure the downspouts are extended out 10' from your home. If the water is being dumped next to the foundation it simply runs down the side of the basement and seeps in. One more thing to check is that the gutters and downspouts are clean and not clogged after the fall leaves. If they are not running freely the water just overflows and, once again, runs down the side of your basement and seeps on in.<br />You can save yourself a costly repair bill if you take a few minutes to be sure the water is being directed where it is supposed to go---AWAY from your home.Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532746089983582006.post-46893859481790246682010-01-04T14:38:00.002-06:002010-01-04T14:48:30.049-06:00Saving your siding and windowsThroughout the metro area, but especially in Johnson County, there are issues with siding and windows. The material used to trim the windows was a "finger-jointed" quick growth pine. Protected only by a thin coat of paint this wood is very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">susceptible</span> to wood rot because the paint cracks easily and the finger joints open up. The best way to protect this is to keep it caulked and painted. Over time you may still loose the battle, but you can delay the loss by keeping it protected.<br />Many homes used the hardboard siding with the same thin coat of paint. Very soon after <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">construction</span> moisture worked into the joints and gaps and started the rot process. The same prevention can be done with good painting and caulking.<br />Something that many homeowners overlook is landscaping. Very often when we are called to look at <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wood</span> rot we find the bushes are in full contact with the siding and windows. This keeps moisture trapped and speeds the rot. Keep bushes and all landscaping <span style="font-weight: bold;">at least 12 inches </span>off your home and you allow the air flow to help dry out the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">structures</span>.Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532746089983582006.post-74194490873992912812009-11-24T16:25:00.003-06:002009-11-24T16:50:21.417-06:00Where do we work?<span style="font-family:arial;">Overland Park is our base, but we work the entire Kansas City metro. Through a network of skilled craftsmen we can take care of the remodeling or home repair project where ever you are located. Some of us are Johnson County-based while others are based in Liberty, MO.<br /></span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5532746089983582006.post-6286505369130745002009-11-23T15:42:00.004-06:002010-01-04T14:37:04.147-06:00Choice of materials<span style="font-family:arial;">Choosing the right materials for your project is the key. When the job is completed you want something that reflects your personality and tastes, not something that you would find in every other home on the block or in the neighborhood. Stay away from Johnson County Beige!<br />During 2 recent kitchen remodels our customers found some materials that cost a little more and we encouraged them to go with it. By paying a little more per square foot for the tile they ended up with a look that truly reflects their personality. The labor cost was the same and in the overall scope of a complete kitchen remodel the additional few hundred dollars made thousands of dollars worth of difference in the final look. By the way, on one project they originally selected tile with a pretty high price tag. I did a little shopping and got it for less than 1/3 of the original price. It got them the look they wanted and made them very happy.<br />You are making an investment in your home that should make you feel good every time you look at it. A little creativity with the choice of materials will pay off for years to come.<br /></span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11304677321453329789noreply@blogger.com0