Blogging with Keith May

Fall Inspection checklist

2010-08-31

FALL INSPECTION CHECKLIST

EXTERIOR

Check for cracks in asphalt or concrete on driveway, sidewalks, and paths. These can be a

tripping hazard, and can invite water that will do more damage during the colder months.

Make sure retaining walls have no bulges or loose areas. One heavy rain or snowfall, and you

could have a mud slide on your hands. Make sure the weep holes built into the wall are clear.

Examine porches and decks for loose rails or boards, and damaged steps. Check to make sure

the posts are still firmly in the ground and not loose, or worse yet, rotted completely out of the

footing.

Give fences and their gates a once over, for leaning and loose parts, which could fall or blow off

during a storm.

Look for stains on the siding, which could be a sign of a water problem or a roof issue.

Look for signs of insect or bird nests in soffits, eaves, or attic vents.

Take note of where paint is peeling, brick mortar is missing, or stucco is cracking on the house's

siding.

Check gutters and downspouts for debris or improper pitch, especially during a rain storm. Look

for stains on the soffit, which could be a sign of a leak.

Make sure the grade of the ground around the foundation slopes away from the house.

Look at the roofing. Are there cracks, missing shingles and crumbling pieces? Check asphalt for

dry, blistering, alligatoring, or curling shingles; wood for rot and splits; slate and tile for broken

pieces; and flat roofs for holes. Be especially vigilant under trees, where falling branches or

jumping animals could have done damage. Once the leaves have fallen, look more closely at

where branches touch the house.

Examine the flashing and vent/chimney caps for missing or damaged parts.

GARAGE

Check the action of the garage door and look for dents in the tracks or cracks in the door.

Make sure tool storage and hanging rakes and shovels don't create a falling or tripping hazard.

Professional Inspectors Group of Services (405) 237-0757

Help Me...

2010-08-30
I have a real estate client here in Oklahoma  named Marty, originally from Boston who won't leave me alone.  Help Me.

2010-08-23

Youtube...

2010-08-22
I am going to learn how to put videos on Youtube.
Anyone able to show me how?

Paint it.

2010-08-15

I go into a lot of houses for listing appointments for people who are thinking/wanting to sell their house.  The first thing I do is walk through the house and make a list of all the positive features of the property and a list of features that can/should be improved on prior to putting it on the market.

Besides decluttering, the thing I find myself telling people most is to neutralize the colors/walls/take down wall paper etc.  Yes, what I am talking about is just normal old fashioned painting.    It still is the cheapest way to make a room feel better.  You can't help but do some cleaning too while you are painting.  Do the job yourself and you'll be out only about $50 bucks a room for paint and supplies.  Maybe not that much.  Just make sure and use a nuetral, lighter color that will conform to anyones decorating tastes and don't get it on the baseboards or carpet.  If you wan't to hire, many painters have reasonable rates.  It will be worth it and help your house sell quicker.

10 Benefits of smiling...

2010-08-09
The TEN Benefits of Smiling
per a Mental Health Doctor
 
It makes you attractive
It changes your mood
It is contagious
It relieves stress
It boosts your immune system
It lowers your blood pressure
It releases endorphins - natural pain killers
It lifts the face and makes one look younger
It makes you seem successful
It helps you stay positive
 
Provided by Don Henninger
Editor of the Phoenix Business Journal

It's hot....but the buyers are coming...

2010-08-08

That's what I think and what I feel.

When it cools down we will see more action on listings.

Overall been a good year though.  Keep em priced right and cleaned up and we will be fine.

Why I recently bought a rent house

2010-08-01
I had a good friend and client of mine write this after we got him his first investment house.  He explains why he did it below.



In the past, I have mainly invested in stocks, mutual funds, and
certificates of deposit (CD's). I have also considered starting one of
various types of businesses. However, I have become increasingly
dismayed with the volatility of the stock market and the low
performance of CD's. Likewise, nearly all the businesses that I
considered starting require large amounts of capital and even larger
amounts of my time and energy. Consequently, I began to consider an
alternative, namely, real estate. More specifically, I researched the
pros and cons of purchasing single family homes as long-term rental
property.

I currently live with my wife in Portland, Oregon. It did not take
long for me to discover that Portland is not the ideal location for
purchasing the type of rental property I had in mind. The problem is
that, assuming I make the minimum down payment of 20%, the rent we
could reasonable expect to receive is lower than the mortgage payment
for median-priced houses. For this reason I turned my focus to other
markets. I ended up settling on Edmond, which is an upscale suburb of
Oklahoma City that appears to be less susceptible to the housing
market woes experienced recently by most of the nation. With the help
of my real estate broker, I was able to locate and purchase a house
with relative ease, despite the fact that I conducted the entire
process from 2000 miles away. More importantly, based on my careful
research, I expect to receive $250 a month in positive cash flow,
which amounts to an unadjusted (for vacancies and repairs) annual
return of better than 8%.

Kenneth H.

Day off

2010-07-28
I want one.

Buyers and Sellers talking....

2010-07-25
We fall into this trap from time to time but normally it is not productive.
Rarely is it productive for buyers and sellers to converse prior to closing without going through their REALTOR.  One party always remembers something different than intended.  Things get lost in translation etc.  If the parties stay apart misunderstanding just don't happen as much.  Was remimded of this this past week when a neighbor gave the buyer the sellers number.  Their are exceptions...but generally, bad news, and this deal, now no deal, was no exception.