Reducing Allergens in the Home

Many things trigger allergies. An allergy is an immune system response to something that the body mistakenly believes is harmful. A person with allergies should pay particular attention to ridding their home of things that cause allergy problems. Here are some suggestions:

1. Keep pollen from coming through windows. Shut windows and use your air conditioning on days when pollen counts are high. Most people can tolerate low pollen counts. Sensitive people should protect themselves.

2. Consider whether to get help with the yardwork. The Autumn can be particularly bad as the leaves fall. Collecting leaves, especially those that have been on the ground and gotten wet can cause allergy symptoms.

3. Mold may collect in garden areas that are mulched.

4. Do your laundry in hot water weekly. Use hypoallergenic detergents when possible.

5. Remember that dust mites thrive in bedding but also in stuffed animals, overstuffed furniture and rugs. Limiting these types of furnishings may help allergy sufferers. Wood floors are both functional and beautiful.

6. Household plants spruce up a home. Remember, though, that mold often grows in the soil. If you have members of the household that are allergic to mold, you may have to consider giving the plants away!

7. Humid areas of the home are prone to mold. Use a dehumidifier in basements when necessary. I recently had problem with mold growth in the garage area behind my washer/dryer utility room. I have moved the boxes that were sealing in the moisture and cleaned it up. Be careful not to trap the heat behind your dryer.

8. A home humidity level of less than 50% will usually prevent mold growth.

9. PETS!!! Most homes in the U.S. have dogs and cats. Did you know that 10% of the population is allergic to pets. Consider a frog or a rattlesnake for a pet! Oh, I'm just kidding, you guys are so gullible.

10. Frequent vacuuming with a good filtered vacuum will control pet dander.

11. Food allergies may also produce anaphylactic symptoms. These may show up as sudden and possible severe allergic reaction that may involve the skin, breathing, heart, and gastrointestinal tract.

12. If you think you or a family member are allergic to a food, try ridding meals of individual food items for a week at a time to see if the symptoms go away. People who are allergic to certain foods may experience allergic syptoms such as simple as a rash or there may be a complex reaction with multiple body systems. Always seek professional help when health is at stake.

13. Various nuts, peanuts, eggs, milk, shellfish, soy and wheat are foods that mostly commonly cause reactions in some people. A person with lactose-intolerance who eats milk products may have gastrointestinal symptoms. Celiac disease makes it difficult for some people to tolerate wheat products. Seek consultation with your doctor if any of these symptoms persist.

Why do I need a Realtor to Sell My House?

A person who tries to sell their own house is known around here as a FSBO, pronounced "Fizbo". The acronym stands for "For Sale By Owner". I have talked to many homeowners selling their own houses. Their usual motivation for selling on their own is that they want to maximize how much money they will take away from the sale transaction by avoiding paying commission to a Realtor.

While many homes are successfully sold directly by their owners, I believe the FSBO is being somewhat short sighted to the process. Good Realtors, backed by good real estate brokerages offer tremendous value to their clients. Remember, first of all, that 100% of the advertising costs are being absorbed by the real estate broker and realtor. This can be a very high cost, especially in a slow buyer's market.

Realtors provide value-added services. Not only do they find a buyer for your home, but they assure you of a smooth, accurate, and legal transaction. They ensure that the contract you enter into will be binding, that the purchaser has access to the funds he/she needs to buy, and that you understand the complete processes.

My friend, Darlene Breen, President of the Ohio Association of Realtors, wrote an article a few years ago called, "FSBOs: How much do they really save when you are trying to sell a house?" In the article, Breen stipulates that selling on your own is not a viable arternative. She explains that a person must have a thorough knowledge of:
*the current housing market *the mortgage industry
*real estate appraisal and valuation *advertising
*marketing *insurance
*the area's regulatory requirements for the transfer of property

In addition, you've got to have a lot of time on your hands!!

Most homes are sold by realtors. If your home isn't listed, most potential buyers will not know its available. Think of people transferring from out-of-town who work exclusively with realtors. Because of this adn other factors, research conducted by the National Association of Realtors revealed that no only do homes sell faster when the owners contract with a Realtor, but they generally sell at a higher price. The commission savings often becomes a wash!

I look forward to earning your trust as a Realtor. Please contact me if you are thinking of buying or selling a house in the future! Email directly to MindyNemon@aol.com.

Get Inspections - Structural Red Flags

We have to understand that no home is perfect and even a brand new home may have significant defects that affect habitability. As I realtor, I always recommend having inspections done by a qualified and reputable home inspector. Not every defect is apparent, but it raises your chances of knowing exactly what you are buying.

The property disclosure is an important tool in knowing whether the current homeowner has identified and cured problems - but - it is not always accurate, particularly when a home was only lived in for a short time or in the case of a rental, an estate, etc.

The following structural defects may be apparent even to a lay person. When an offer is made on a house with these defects, it is recommended that the repairs be factored into the price, either by requesting known repairs to be fixed up front or offering low to compensate for known defects.

Here are some things to look for:
1. Foundation cracks - it is important to find out why the shift occurred and what needs to be done to correct it.
2. Load-bearing walls removed - look for sagging ceilings or cracked walls - a history of a home's renovation would help understand the cause of these problems.
3. Water stains - While these may indicate a current leak, it is also possible that the homeowner has repaired the source of the leak but neglected to paint or correct the stain. An inspector can determine whether there is a current water problem in the area.
4. Termites and carpenter ants can cause severe structural damage. Look for mud tubes and sawdust - and NEVER pass up a professional termite inspection! $50-60 in inspection costs may save you thousands of dollars in repairs.
5. Windows that do not open or do not stay open or closed make a house uncomfortable, expensive to heat and cool, and may be expensive to fix. Some of the windows in historic homes with the sashes can be easily repaired. Aluminum windows are a greater issue and cost almost as much to repair as they are to replace. Also, watch for newer windows that were poorly installed.
6. Faulty or insufficient wiring - An inspector will look for old or frayed wiring that is dangerous or unable to carry the load of modern appliances and computers. He will look for grounding both inside and at the entry to the house. Watch for outside wires that run through trees or that may be laying in the yard. Contact utility company when there is a question of who is responsible for the outside wiring.
7. Older chimneys are often a problem if they have not been updated. Crowns and chimney liners deteriorate with age.
8. Wood rot & Mold - Untreated wood is vulnerable to moisture and fungal growth. Crumbly wood, soft wood and badly splintered wood may need to be replaced. Look for mold in basements that may indicate too much moisture.

When habitability issues are found by an inspector, we are usually able to negotiate repairs to be made by the seller. As long as the contract was made contingent on inspections, the potential purchaser may choose not to buy the house if the seller will not repair these issues.

Reverse Mortgages for Senior Homeowners

A reverse mortgage is a loan that you don't repay as long as you live in your home or until the last borrower leaves the home. The lender makes a home equity loan which is not payable until the home is sold. In other words, it is usually the proceeds of the sale of the house that pays off the loan.

The most common reverse mortgage is known as a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage. They are insured by HUD.

Criteria:

1. Borrower must be over 62 years old.
2. This home must be primary residence.
3. Homeowner continues to be responsible for insurance and taxes.

The reverse mortgage funds can be used in many way including home improvement or just as the lender sees fit. Many seniors are using the equity in their home to fund stays in assisted living facilities for their spouse. The funds can be taken in a lump sum, in monthly payments or as needed.

Make this part of your overall financial plan. Keep in mind though that if you plan to leave your home to an heir, the loan will have to be satisfied to transfer the home to the heir. There are many reputable lenders who do reverse mortgages. Give me a call and I'll help direct you to a courteous and professional loan officer!
Mindy 937-974-1787.

Massage therapy for stress reduction

All of a sudden, it seems, the medical community is realizing that stress is a source of illness. While this should have been a no-brainer for us, it takes time for research to understand the mechanisms by which this works. It wasn't long ago that I read on the American Diabetes Association that avoiding stress could very well avoid or delay the onset of diabetes in those that are prone to the disease.

For those of you that are interested, read the article on how stress affects those that are already diagnosed with diabetes byJennifer Nelson, on WebMD,
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=47115.

She explains that the body's fight or flight mechanism kicks in when stressed, either mentally or physically. Your blood sugar goes up to supply energy for defense.

I don't know about the rest of you but I think I'll use this as an excuse to get more relaxation in my life! Seeing that I graduated from Berkeley, you all would think that I specialized in funky and organic stuff then. Well, I had a pretty standard college life - although I was always interested in nutrition. Now, I'm trying to go back to those Berkeley roots that I missed out on and capture some knowledge improve the lives of the people I work with! :) (Stay tuned for information on Feng Shui.)

Now, I'm not an expert on massage therapy but my friends Pat Kramer and Martha Sturgill are. They are licensed massage therapists at Bellbrook Massage Therapy here in the Dayton area (Phone 937-878-7905). Pat says, "Does it get any better?Stress does not just go away - it accumulates!! Make massage therapy a part of your routine wellness regimen. Massage increases energy, improves circulation, relieves muscle aches and pains and promotes natural relaxation and enhanced sleep cycles."

Massage has been used for centuries to reduce stress and to promote. It is prescribed by physician as "therapeutic massage" to help people with acute or chronic pain. In fact, I learned that in addition to increasing blood circulation and improving range of motion, manipulation of soft tissue increases endorphines thus reducing pain.

Contact Pat or Martha at the number above for more information!