Category Archives: Uncategorized

Bargain Fixer-Upper or Money Pit? Houses Built 1920s to 1940s

Posted on September 26, 2011 | Leave a comment

Homes built after the turn of the century (1920s to 1940s) have withstood time but many need to upgrade to current code.

Most common problems in older homes:

Water damage including rot, mildew and mold
Undermined foundations
Faulty electrical systems
Rusty, clogged steel water-supply pipes
Hazardous balloon framing
Uninsulated walls and ductwork
Cracking plaster
Asbestos and lead

Knob-and-tube wiring strung along wooden framing on ceramic knobs and run through lumber via ceramic tubes was prevalent until the 1940s, but it needs replacing. They will not support the multiple electronics we use today; overloaded circuits can cause fires.

Approximate cost of repairs:

Foundation – $30,000
Complete electrical – $8,000 to $20,000
Replacing pipes – $2000 and up.

Contact the appraisers at www.socalappraisalserv.com for your cost to value issues.

Also you may find tax rebates/incentives to make the property efficient.

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Documents that Should be in Your Distaster Kit

Posted on September 25, 2011 | Leave a comment

We are coming up to wildfire season in the West but wild fires can happen at anytime of the year.

Documents and Information for kit:

Insurance company’s contact numbers for claims or customer service.
Copy of your insurance policies and declarations page for your reference.
Receipts for any major purchase.
Photos and videos of your valuable possessions or a written inventory.
Copies of passports, driver’s license, and credit card numbers.
Bank account information.
Emergency numbers.
Copies of prescriptions.

Some experts recommend putting copies of these documents in a safe deposit box but after the recent blackout these may not be accessible for some time. Leave with friends or family in a different town or if you have a computer and have a back-up off site this information should be in your file.

For more information go to: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/

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Bargain Fixer-Upper or Money Pit? Houses Built Before the Turn of the 20th Century

Posted on September 25, 2011 | Leave a comment

Take nothing for granted no matter what the previous owner or realtor says. “Hire an inspector, but also a licensed contractor accustomed to remodeling old homes to give you a realistic estimate on repairs,” advises Tom Green, a restorer in Brookfield, Massachusetts, whose company specializes in foundation and frame repair. Green states that even a functioning older house will likely have multiple ailments, you will need to start with the most urgent project. If the roof is leaking or you’re told the furnace or electrical wiring is dangerous, have those repaired first.

Green also states that the foundation is also important to address in the beginning. Green begins with the sills of the foundation (8″ x 8″ timbers that sit on the foundation). Any deterioration with the structure should be evident here, particularly on the lower edge.