The Counters Blog

Are we going to need to pay for additional pest inspections or will our bond and warranty be acceptable? Maybe we’ll be able to work something out with our company where they’ll do it for free or just a visitation charge since our annual inspection and re-treatment was only 4 months ago. As long as we aren’t in violation of anything like that, the company will warranty against any termite incursions and if it does happen anyway, the company pays for the repairs. An exterminator will come out and eradicate them, but you’ll forever have a “pre-existing” condition on the home that a termite company won’t warranty against. The whole “reasonable future utility” is throwing me for a loop. We are in a sellers market and are not going to request repairs as the house appraised for much more then our buying price. One thing to be aware of is if the house does not have a thermostatically controlled heating system that can maintain 50 degrees in rooms with plumbing you might get dinged for that. Yes, our heater heats all the rooms and they are all well above 50 degrees year round. I think the bad stories come from the relatively few absolute shit shows and they propagate their way around because like you said the positive stories just don’t get told. Not sure yet if the appraiser will need to come back yet or not to see it for themselves, we’re still waiting to hear back. They are minor repairs but no one could get out there to get them done until the day we were set to close. Also if you have kept up on the pest work you should be in good shape. We’ve replaced most, but not all of the major appliances in the house, and while they function great, they are definitely near “end of life” based on common assumptions. Section 1 is water damaged wood or pest damage and section 2 things are leaks or ongoing problems that lead to section 1 damage. So if your house doesn’t have any wood rot or leaks you won’t have any problems. The appliances have nothing to do with it as long as the oven works. Luckily we’ve taken care of all the wood rot between our recent siding replacement and some other fixes. We have an existing termite bond with a local pest company and had our annual inspection earlier this year. Yeah it’s not very clear from what we’re reading because it seems like they are always dealing with homes not under a termite bond. I do expect they will want a inspection that is less then 90 day old. They also inspect around the house and indicate problem areas such as wood to ground (deck footings touching bare dirt is an opening for termites for as an example), mulch directly against the house, issues like that and those are noted on the report. I have a laundry list of things to fix but nothing is in the category of immediate issue. Nobody ever really talks about the easy closings and positive stories much. It was a cheap enough risk that if something fell through it would not hurt us financially but would help us get the house. Funnily enough, they came back and told us that our finished basement needed ductwork and airvents added! Our closing is delayed due to section 1 pest repairs needing to be done. We have a current warranty if you want to call it that with a termite company so they were quick to get out here and do an inspection (our last one was just 4 months ago for our annual renewal).

Where To Install Marble Tile by builddirect.com

The smooth and shiny feel of this natural stone can make any kitchen floor look more elegant. This is due to marble tile’s porous characteristics, which make it more susceptible to staining than other materials like granite or quartz. Once you’ve properly installed and sealed marble tile in the bathroom, you can put your mind at ease knowing that this type of surface can essentially last you forever (if maintained properly). As for flooring, arguably no other type of material can light up a kitchen quite like marble tile. From using carrara white marble to illuminate your space, to installing intricately veined earth toned options, marble tile will spruce up any bathroom with its natural sophistication. What better way to introduce your space than with marble tile flooring in your front entryway? Is marble tile the right natural stone for your renovation?

Marble Tile Installation Cost Considerations by builddirect.com

While installing marble is not necessarily the most difficult project to complete, hiring a professional to do the job offers you peace of mind in knowing that someone with experience will most likely do a good job. It’s always a good idea to hire a contractor who is licensed, bonded and insured to guarantee the job is done correctly. Contractors generally lump all the costs together in one price per square foot that will include the cost of the tiles, the labor, the materials and supplies, as well as an additional allowance for special equipment. Doing it yourself eliminates the need to pay an outside source to work on the job. After sealing it during the installation process, you will need to reseal marble every every 12 to 18 months. Be careful when placing a drink down on marble tile, as acidic or watery substances can stain the material. Sealing marble tile fills in these pores and will help protect the material against dirt and spills as well as maintain its luster and structural integrity. There are several ways to seal marble, and thankfully none are too expensive. Proper installation extends marble’s longevity, so hiring a professional can save you money in the long run. Some installers may also charge additional fees for removing the previous flooring material, along with moving furniture, appliances, and fixtures. Getting bids from different contractors helps ensure you’ll be paying the best price possible. However, with a little planning and precise execution, installing marble tile can be a feasible do-it-yourself project for those with experience. But if you’re feeling adventurous, this is also a good chance to really test your installation mettle. In addition, laying your own marble tiles can give you the satisfaction of having completed a major project that you can enjoy any time you look at it or walk over it. Luckily, aside from regular cleaning and sealing, maintaining marble is not too expensive. Because natural stone is a porous material, it is susceptible to liquid permeating into it. The marble’s finish, location and how well it has been cared for, all play into the determination of how to seal the stone. Topical sealers are economical and easy to apply, while impregnators can be a bit more expensive, but require less frequent application. This will add to the long-term costs of preserving the surface, but, again, this is only for high traffic areas. In addition to the elegance and beauty marble brings to any room, its resiliency and strength ensure the stone is worth every penny.

Flipping and Gentrifying: The Art Of Flipping Homes In Lower Income Areas. If You Remodel by doctorhousingbubble.com

The bet that some flippers are making is there are plenty of lemmings out there willing to stretch their budgets to purchase this place even though it is clear incomes in this market are not high. But thanks to a rising market, all past sins were covered up and the recent investor took the place off their hands. They had to sell and get out as witnessed by the starting of the foreclosure process. These marginal markets are where big investors are pulling back given rents don’t justify these prices. I rarely listen to these shows but it brought back memories of 2005 and 2006. Even if this place sells, the financial burden on those moving in will likely be razor thin. But the flippers are out, the mortgage companies are out, and you are in. Then again, you have hardwood floors and recessed lightings so who cares if your kids are falling behind academically. They will just continue on the same course expecting different results. But an important thing is that these are not people who were living in poverty. More likely that because they’re poor, they lack the means to move out, right? My guess is that crime is so high in the area that police helicopters need to be able to read which street they are hovering over. My uncle owned two houses about three blocks west and a few blocks north. If so, you’re going to waste your life away living with mommy and daddy. Your first mistake is believing that there is a housing market. The trough did last about five years; and most zip codes had lower median prices in 2000 than in 1990. The absence of flippers and specuvestors this year and going forward combined with increasing inventory could mean a relatively sharp decline. I still think we go back to, or possibly overshoot in some areas, whatever the 2010 monthly nut was for a given property. This next run up is all but inevitable and the subsequent crash will come fast and strong. We save when the economy is good and make our asset purchases when it’s bad. This usually only happens during recessions or periods of economic weakness. I wonder how a region that has the lowest housing affordability and already high taxes will afford that? Fire insurance works because 1 out of 2000 policy holders make a claim. It is hard to make a sizable profit when markets are more fluid especially when appreciation rates are tied to more historical standards. She mentioned her son was living in the place but he too did not make a good income. I suppose this is like asking a barber if you need a haircut. The next recession hits and once again, another foreclosure. I just find it amusing that they don’t enjoy the consequences of their own decisions and they don’t do anything to change their views. It’s also possible to simply like living here more than other places, however much you don’t wish to believe that. This area was fairly nice middle class area in the 1960s -1970s and maybe even into the early 80s, but it was hit hard by the ghetto stick after that. I can see previously gentrified sections becoming run-down again. I don’t think we’ll be able to recover anywhere near as (well) as we did after 2008. We’ll get the prices we lust after but many of the jobs required will also be gone. You have to play the game as the ever changing rules dictate. We passed up multiple places in 2011-2012 for totally frivolous reasons (the flooring wasn’t perfect, etc) and now regret it. The wells that are no longer cost effective will shut down and the trend will swing the other way.

Sources:

• Marble Can Make Any Kitchen Look Grand and Sophisticated – builddirect.com
• Source – tripadvisor.com
• Troya Marble Tile Crema Perla – builddirect.com
• Source – doctorhousingbubble.com