Published on Aug. 2, 2024

Learn from a homeowner’s experience and remodeling pros about what to do, and not do, in hiring a contractor.

Jody Costello was eager to begin a two-story addition to her 1940s home, including a new owner’s suite and an upper deck with a view of the San Diego skyline and waterfront. She gathered bids from four remodeling contractors, chose the middle-priced bid from a company that radio ads called the “No. 1 remodeling firm in San Diego” with “guaranteed customer satisfaction.” She thought she had done everything right.

But then came the shoddy work, water leaks, and mold. On top of that were regular failed inspections, mismeasured doors and windows, hard-to-reach contractors, a carbon monoxide gas leak that sent Costello to the ER, and home renovation costs that inched higher than her $150,000 budget.

Everything went wrong that could go wrong, she recalls. “ I remember standing in the hallway looking at the mess. A doctor had just ordered me to stay away from my home because of the mold, and I was thinking, ‘This is crazy.’”

Ultimately, Costello took her contractor to court to recoup some of the $240,000 in accumulated bills. She ended up with a settlement (for an amount she can’t disclose), but she was left with an unfinished project for years.

Costello learned a tough lesson: Hiring the wrong home remodeling contractor can cost you dearly. Now, as the creator of the “Contractors from Hell” website, Costello fields messages from desperate homeowners who’ve had similar experiences. She helps educate them about better protecting themselves.

“The foundation for a successful outcome is vetting to ensure you hire an ethical, competent contractor.” But many people trust a referral or online review, she adds. “You will pay the price if you don’t take the time to know fully who you’re working with.”

How to Find a Home Remodeling Contractor

Referrals — from neighbors, friends, or others —are a common source when looking for a remodeling contractor. Real estate professionals also recommend contractors and may offer extra assurance from their well-vetted network.

Before you hire a contractor, schedule three to five in-person interviews, gather bids, and thoroughly check the background of any you’re considering. “Google the contractor’s name and their business,” she says. “See what turns up and if they have any complaints or lawsuits” filed against them.

Check online reviews on Yelp, Angi, NextDoor, and elsewhere, but don’t base your decision only on those, cautions Josh Rudin, owner of ASAP Restoration in Tempe, Ariz. “Review sites are not all made equally, and not all reviewers are actually customers,” he says. “Some review sites let anyone post reviews about the company.”

Instead, Rudin recommends focusing on Better Business Bureau reviews and ratings. “Companies pay to be a part of the BBB, and when the customer complains about services rendered, the BBB has to do an actual investigation of the situation,” he says. “If the company has a bad BBB rating, this means they likely have failed to satisfy real customers who had real experiences.”

You can also find out whether a contractor you’re considering has been certified by an industry organizations. For example, certification by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry recognizes highly experienced remodeling professionals who are capable of planning and managing complex remodeling projects. NARI offers a consumer search tool at its site to find remodelers in your area who’ve also agreed to abide by NARI’s code of ethics for professionalism.

Questions to Ask a Remodeling Contractor

Erin Hybart, a real estate pro in Baton Rouge, La., helps investors flip houses. “Finding a good contractor is by far the hardest part,” she says. Hybart suggests that you explore these areas and ask the following questions to vet remodeling contractors:Download as a PDF

Experience

• How many properties have you remodeled/flipped?
• How long have you renovated homes?
• How did you learn this trade?
• What do you specialize in?
• What makes you different from other renovation professionals?

Licensing, Insurance, and Bonding

• What type of license do you hold?
• How much insurance do you carry, and what does it cover?
• Does your insurance cover anyone you hire as a subcontractor?
• Are you bonded?

Project Costs

• How detailed are your quotes?
• Can you share a quote from a project you recently worked on so I can see how detailed it is?
• Does your quote include materials and labor?
• If your quote includes materials, do I have a say about the material selection?

Work History

• Do you have pictures of projects?
• Do you have at least three references?
• Have you ever had a project go over money and time budget? If so, tell me about it.
• Have you ever had an unhappy client, and how did you deal with it?

The scope of the Project

• Is there anything you can’t do regarding the project I’m proposing?
• Do you subcontract anything to others?
• Who do you hire as subcontractors?
• How do you ensure the quality of your subcontractors’ work?
• Do you pull permits?
• How are you paid?
• What percentage do you put into the project for possible incidentals?
• Why do you think I should hire you for this job?

Why Remodeling Contractors Should Be Licensed, Bonded, and Insured

Being licensed, bonded, and insured can lend credibility to contractors and offer protection to homeowners, but these credentials come with some limitations, according to Rudin.

• Licensed: The company has registered their business operations with the state contractor’s registrar. But states offer different type of licenses. “Some licenses allow a contractor to do one kind of work, but not another,” Rudin says. “It’s important to know the differences between these levels of licensure and what your specific project requires.” Each state has different requirements and rules, with some even limiting contractor licenses by the cost of the project. You may want to view contractor licensing rules in your state.
• Bonded: This means they have a surety bond, so if your home is damaged, the bond will cover the loss. “This is important because if the company isn’t bonded and an accident occurs, you’ll be on the line for the cost of repairs,” Rudin explains.
• Insured: The company is protected against various risks and liabilities, such as if a worker has an accident on the job site or if they caused some sort of professional mistake.

8 Red Flags to Look for in a Remodeling Contractor

When you’re interviewing, background checking, or starting a relationship with a remodeling contractor, be leery of these eight red flags:

1. Vague contracts: A written contract should spell out the scope of the work, materials, payment schedule, change orders, etc. “If a contractor gives you a contract that is only one or two pages, that’s a red flag,” Costello warns.
2. Lack of consumer protections: A contract should protect you, the homeowner, as well as the contractor. Offer a contract addendum if needed. Costello recommends a clause that allows you to fire a contractor for shoddy work or for failing to show up at the jobsite for a specified time. Also, she recommends the contract calls for a change order to be signed by both parties for any added fees. That will help avoid surprise invoices.
3. Large down payments: The contract should outline a payment schedule based on work milestones, such as when framing is completed or rough plumbing or electricity is installed. Costello’s red flag: having to pay $30,000 before work even started. “Every state is different, but in California, all that is required is 10% or $1,000, whichever is less,” she says. “Negotiate that upfront cost if your state requires a lot more, because if you give away too much money right off the bat, they could drag their feet or use your money for another project.”
4. Refusal to pull permits: Many remodeling projects — like for fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, and room additions — require a permit from the city or county to ensure they’ll be completed up to code. Most remodeling contractors will file these on your behalf, but be cautious of those who don’t; it may be a sign they’re unlicensed, Costello says. She advises having the contractor pull any permits because “whoever obtains and signs for the permit is responsible for everything, including fees and fines if something ever goes wrong,” she adds.
5. Lack of communication: Costello says she never spoke to the contractor until after she hired him and had to communicate through a salesperson first. Her contractor would often not show up for days or weeks and rarely returned phone calls or messages. She recommends the contract detail the frequency of communication.
6. Failure to address lien waivers: A lien waiver can help protect homeowners in large remodeling projects. This ensures a contractor’s supplier can’t place a lien on your property if the contractor fails to pay the supplier. (Costello says a “mechanics lien” was placed on her home during the remodel for this reason.) Liens can affect a homeowner’s ability to sell their home until they’re resolved.
7. Low estimates: Homeowners may be tempted to choose the contractor with the lowest bid, but be skeptical: “Low bids tend to be vague,” Costello says. “They tend to just offer vague references to painting, plumbing, and electrical, with nothing broken out about the scope of work or materials used. Make sure costs are detailed.”
8. Lack of professionalism: “It may seem judgmental to assess the quality of a contractor by their appearance and first impressions, but it can be one indicator in your toolkit,” Rudin says. If the contractor arrives late or is continually difficult to reach, that reflect on how they’ll handle your project, he adds.

What to Do If You Notice Problems With Your Remodeling Contractor

Looking back, Costello says she likely could have avoided some of her remodeling nightmare by spotting the red flags. Those include the lack of communication, vague contracts, and the requirement to put down too much money upfront. “If you start to notice something isn’t right, communicate that right away to the contractor,” Costello says. “Always follow up with a written letter that summarizes what you said and uses language like, ‘I appreciate your help,’ or ‘I appreciate your attention to this,’ and ‘I look forward to getting this resolved.’ Document and take photos.”

Costello credits documentation for helping her to receive a settlement from the contractor. Even then, it took about 15 years to get her two-story renovation completed the way she originally envisioned, she says.

“I just wish I knew back then what I know now,” she says. “Educate yourself, understand your rights, vet your contractors carefully, and learn to read contracts.” It paid off: Her remodeling experiences ever since —for the two-story addition’s reconstruction and later a kitchen — went smoothly, and she credits hiring well-vetted, professional contractors for the results.

“Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from houselogic.com with permission of the National Association of Realtors®”

Updated on April 16, 2024

Whatever your budget and preferences are, find a match in these creative deck privacy options.

A well-built deck can be a relaxing oasis at the end of a long day or a gathering place for family and friends. But when your neighbors live close by, a lack of privacy can keep you from maximizing your deck. Don’t fret, though. Several solutions can protect your home from prying eyes and help you maintain your privacy and enjoy your outdoor living space.

Explore Deck Privacy Ideas

Start by assessing your requirements. Are you looking for permanent or temporary solutions? How much cover will your deck need? Are there zoning or HOA rules to follow? Keep these questions – and your budget – in mind as you consider the options below.

Permanent Deck Privacy Solutions

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Adding a permanent fixture to your home, such as a fence or wall, makes sense for anyone with a generous budget who plans to live in their home forever. Here are some permanent deck privacy ideas:

• Walls: A well-constructed brick or stone wall helps block loud noises and requires less maintenance than some other options. The downside is that a brick, concrete, or stone wall is relatively more expensive to build and requires a strong foundation.
• Fences: A fence enhances privacy without blocking light. This may be important for homeowners who want to retain an open and airy ambiance on their deck. Traditional wood is a viable option for many. However, vinyl, iron, and composite fences can work as well, depending on the weather conditions in your area.
• Custom option: Your permanent deck privacy partition doesn’t need to be a high stone wall or a full fence. You can opt for a custom option that perfectly complements your outdoor space. For instance, a low brick wall topped by a trellis may give you some of the security and privacy of a stone wall while preserving the natural light and airiness of your deck.

Greenery for Natural Deck Privacy

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Clever use of plants and trees can maintain privacy on your deck while creating a lush and serene environment.

• Plant tall trees and shrubs: Trees and dense shrubs can be practical ideas for deck privacy. If you live in a warm climate, you can create a tropical paradise with potted palms and vibrant plants. Meanwhile, a cooler climate is perfect for the traditional, stately look of conifers.
• Incorporate vertical gardens: A beautiful vertical garden is more than a backyard privacy idea. It can also be a stunning focal point on your deck. Your vertical garden can be a metal trellis covered with climbing roses or morning glory or a wooden fence with built-in planters perfect for growing your favorite herbs. Visit a local nursery to get more ideas.
• Choose low-maintenance plants: Tall, spiky snake plants can be an elegant and effortless addition to your deck. Dense and bushy rosemary in raised planters can be another low-maintenance way to improve deck privacy (bonus: it’s edible and fragrant). While many plants are low maintenance choices that first-time plant parents may love, the climate, soil, and exposure to light are important considerations.

Whether you’re looking for rose hedges with high visual impact or minimal-maintenance potted plants, talk to a local gardener or landscaper to identify which native plants will grow well in your space.

Trellises and Pergolas: Design Meets Privacy

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A trellis or a pergola requires less financial investment than a full wall but may still be pricier than plants and trees.

• Improve deck privacy with a trellis: A latticed trellis made of wood, composite, or metal can add a decorative element. It won’t completely obscure your deck from view, but a trellis can add charm and character to a space. Choose from various ready-made designs and colors or have your trellis custom-made to suit your deck. A trellis lets in natural light and breeze while creating a sense of privacy.
• Consider a dual-purpose pergola: A pergola creates shade, improves deck privacy, and keeps your deck feeling cozy and intimate. Pergolas also block the view of your deck from your neighbor’s second or third-floor windows. They’re easy to customize, so you can add elements like curtains and plant-covered trellises to increase privacy. An eyelash pergola can work especially well for more compact outdoor spaces and decks.

Privacy Screens: Blending Functionality with Style

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Lightweight and easy to install, privacy screens are a versatile pick for anyone seeking deck privacy ideas. Most manufacturers offer various materials like wood, metal, vinyl, and bamboo. Let’s take a look at some solutions that could complement your home and fit your vision for the deck.

• Wooden and metal screens: Select solid panels for total privacy or decorative screens for a more design-forward space. Typically, these screens are sold as panels, so you can purchase as many or as few as your deck needs. However, depending on the size or shape of your deck and your design priorities, you may need to have your screens customized.
• Greenery panels: Homeowners seeking the lush look of a vertical garden without the stress of plant maintenance might consider artificial greenery panels. Like turf, they are made of plastic and can create the look of tiny plants or creepers growing over a wall. Plastic is susceptible to the elements, though, and can weaken and discolor with exposure to sun and rain. Look for high-quality and well-reviewed greenery panels.
• Fabric curtains: When paired with a covered deck or pergola, fabric curtains can be an effective and low-effort deck privacy idea. You can change your curtains throughout the year to switch up the mood of your space or choose a heavy-duty outdoor curtain that helps create a calm, shady space.
• Shades: Like indoor shades, the outdoor variety comes in materials like bamboo, vinyl, and mesh that can be adjusted for light and privacy. As with curtains, the shades need to be suspended from a frame, so you may need to add a wooden frame or pergola to your deck.

Transforming Your Deck

Making your deck your private paradise is worthwhile in a couple of ways. Long-term solutions like walls and fences could help improve property value, but a deck transformation doesn’t have to break the bank. Reimagining your space with plants, screens, and trellises can change the mood of your outdoor space and make it the perfect lounge area for you and your family.

You can always combine solutions to maximize privacy. For instance, a partial fence paired with some hedges or an awning with tall potted plants may be the right choice for your deck. Don’t hesitate to mix and match till you find the right combo.

““Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from houselogic.com with permission of the National Association of Realtors®”

How do most homes ignite during a wildfire? Embers and small flames are the main way most homes ignite in wildfires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The wind can carry embers — burning pieces of airborne wood or vegetation — more than a mile to cause spot fires and ignite homes, debris, and other objects.

The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department New Mexico cites two additional causes. Surface fires usually begin as small flames that can burn through grass and ground litter and touch a house, fence, or deck. Crown fires can start with large flames burning in the tops of trees, which can radiate heat that ignites wood walls. Other types of large flames can come from detached buildings, burning wood piles, or ignited vehicles.

With that in mind, fortify your home like the castle it is with these 13 wildfire-repelling steps. But keep in mind that no product or technique is a failsafe against a raging fire.

#1 Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t already have working smoke detectors or haven’t tested them recently, make that your No. 1 job. Now.

#2 Check Fire Extinguishers

And if you don’t have them, get them and use them correctly. 

#3 Get a Bucket, Shovel, and Hose Ready

Have an easily accessible bucket, shovel (to dig a trench to protect against encroaching ground fire), and connected garden hose to help you defend the area around your home.

#4 Invest in Rain Barrels

An extra source of water can’t hurt. And rain barrels save on your water bills, too.

#5 Clear Yard of Debris

Keep gutters, porches, and the lawn free of debris, leaves, and fallen branches. If a fire threat is imminent, remove furniture and decorations from decks and porches, including welcome mats.

#6 Plant Fire-Resistant Shrubs and Annuals

Irises, rhododendrons, hostas, and lilacs are good choices because they have high moisture content. Your local Cooperative Extension Office can advise you on appropriate species for your area.

#7 Remove Tree Branches Lower Than 6 Feet

Fires tend to start low and rise. So, don’t plant shrubs directly under trees. They can combust and cause the fire to rise up the tree. By the way, spacing out all plants and shrubs is a good practice, too.

#8 Remove Tree Limbs Near Chimneys

Keep them at least 10 feet away. Embers from burning limbs could fall in. 

#9 Set Up a Protective Perimeter

Create a 100-foot perimeter around your home that’s free of dry leaves, grass, and shrubs, which fuel wildfires. Keep petroleum tanks, cars, and wood piles outside of this safe zone.

#10 Use Rocks Instead of Mulch Next to the House

Lay a six-inch swath of decorative rocks closest to the home and use mulch from there. This also helps repel insects like termites, (bugs can be attracted to wood) and facilitates rain water drainage.

#11 Use Nonflammable Fencing

If you have wood fencing around your home, replace any three-foot sections that attach to the home with metal or other nonflammable fencing material. A metal gate or decorative fencing piece is stylish and unfriendly to fire.

#12 Cover Chimneys and Vents With Flame-Retardant Mesh

It’s inexpensive to do. Mesh covers cost less than $10 and are available online.

#13 Check Your Siding

Fire-resistant or noncombustible siding, like stucco or brick, protects the best against fire. Make sure your siding, whatever type, is in good repair. If the plywood or insulation is exposed, the home is more vulnerable to flames.

Some experts recommend spraying homes with fire retardants, which can cost around $600 and up, depending on the product, region, and size of the project. But some of the chemicals used to make flame retardants have toxic properties. Although you might have less exposure to chemicals used on your home’s exterior than those inside, toxicity issues could still be a factor.

Most important, if a wildfire is on its way, evacuate. And have an evacuation plan worked out with your family before the worst happens.

““Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from houselogic.com with permission of the National Association of Realtors®”

Not sold on setting your thermostat to 78 degrees? These tips will help you set it at the right temperature for you.

One of the most widely used statistics online is 78 degrees Fahrenheit, which has been the target thermostat setting in summer. That standard came in 2019 from ENERGY STAR, a federal program of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. The goal was for consumers to get needed cooling while saving energy. Five years later, consumers are sweating out record-breaking heat waves and spending more time at home. That 78 degrees sounds even less appealing now than it did in 2019, and experts and homeowners are looking for a cooler solution.

The savings from a higher temperature are undeniable. You’ll save about 3% on your utility bill for every degree you raise the set temperature for your central air, says the Department of Energy. But despite that benefit, Americans keep their thermostats set at about 71 degrees day and night, according to a “Consumer Reports” survey from June 2021. CR recommends looking for a “happy medium” between staying cool and lowering your energy bill. For example, you can raise the temperature one degree at a time to see how it affects your household’s comfort and finances.

The standardization of the past has given way to flexibility, says DR Richardson, founder of Elephant Energy based in Colorado and Massachusetts. “Every home and every homeowner are a little bit different. We never recommend one static temperature day in and day out for any homeowner. It really has to reflect what the homeowner’s goals are, the homeowner’s budget, how efficient their system is, what condition their HVAC is in, and the evenness of the cooling.”

Tips to Beat the Heat Inside Your Home

Richardson offers these tips to help you keep your cool during a scorching heat waves

1. Know your household’s habits and goals. So, even though some people turn their AC way down at night to save money, you may have a hard time sleeping when it’s hot. “So, having a lower temperature at night might actually make sense,” Richardson says.
2. Wait to lower the AC after the first time. If you’re uncomfortably warm after lowering the AC, wait a while before going into panic mode and turning the setting down a few more times. An HVAC system takes a long time to respond to changes in a thermostat. The temperature in the house has to adjust to not just the air, but also heat from the sun, the leakiness of the home, and the temperature of the walls and objects like furniture and rugs.
3. Limit your activities to areas of your house that tend to be the coolest. Those could be rooms with fewer windows or downstairs, where it’s typically cooler. That will help you avoid the uneven temperatures that are almost inevitable in a house. “The thermostat is reading one temperature in one part of the house, and it’s really hard to get that temperature evenly distributed across the entire building,” he says.
4. Consider mini-splits. These heating and cooling systems allow you to control the temperatures in individual rooms or spaces without ductwork. “It’s sort of twice the size of a breadbox and sticks on a wall,” Richardson says. “It provides airflow in just that room. It’s like zoning, only way better.” You need a box in each room, but you can set the temperature in one room at, say, 68 degrees and in another room at 78.
5. Set your thermostat so the fan runs more frequently. If you have an Ecobee or a Nest, you can set the fan to run continuously. “When you have a forced air system, oftentimes the hot air rises. so you get a really warm second floor. But if you run the fan, you can be cycling the air throughout the entire house, which creates a much more even temperature.”

Maybe it’s time to throw out the 78-degree setting standard this summer. Instead, set your thermostat to keep your household cool and comfortable – without breaking the bank.

“Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from houselogic.com with permission of the National Association of Realtors®”

Because who’s ever seen a cuddly mosquito?

Summer brings out the creepy-crawlies: Ants marching one-by-one toward your kitchen, fruit flies swarming your ripe farmers’ market peaches, and wasps sending you and your guests scrambling from the barbecue.

Don’t panic. You can kill bugs in your house naturally — without expending too much effort, as long as you follow these expert-approved do’s and don’ts.

#1 Keep Ants Out By Sealing Up Their Entrance

These pesky crawlers form a beeline — or an antline, if you will — to any “sugary, sweet substances, crumbs on your countertop, and food spillage on the floors,” says Nancy Troyano, Ph.D., a board-certified entomologist and director of technical education and training at Rentokil North America Pest Control. “That’s exactly what they’re going after.”

Do:  Follow their trail to spot and seal any sneaky entrances.

Don’t:  Spray ants with cleaners or combine borax and powdered sugar to poison their food source.

Foraging ants lay a trail of pheromones to food their family can follow. Cut off their food supply by keeping your space spotless — wipe up spilled apple juice on your countertops, and clear the crumbs from the bottom of your trash bin.

If you do spot their tiny parade, Troyano says to grab a tube of sealant and follow the ants until you find their itty-bitty entrance.

Attacking them head on rarely works — and can even make it worse! Who hasn’t picked up a spray bottle of cleaner and led an all-out assault on those pesky buggers?

Turns out spraying them with household cleaners might kick-start the “budding” process, where surviving ants break away to form new colonies — and breed lots of new ant babies.

Combining sugar and borax is another DIY method that hurts more than helps. While borax will kill the ants —though it’s also an irritant that can be toxic to pets — the sugar “may end up attracting ants that wouldn’t have been there in the first place,” Troyano says.

#2 Ban Roaches By Super Cleaning or Calling a Pro

These nasty crawlers are “nocturnal and secretive in nature,” says Troyano. Even worse? They travel in groups. “If you spot one, it’s searching for food because the other roaches are eating all the rest,” she says.

Do:  Scrub your space and lay out commercial-grade roach traps as soon as you spot one.

Don’t:  Try to handle an infestation solo. Call a professional exterminator if you’ve spotted more than a roach or two.

When it comes to cockroaches, pros know best.

“Roaches hide so well in such tiny cracks and crevices and niches,” Troyano says. “Unless you’re trained to think like the roach, it’s very difficult to be able to get them all.”

While store-bought roach traps and bait can help, two steps are mandatory to truly kill an infestation:

1. Remove any food sources, like hamburger grease and crumbs.
2. Then hire an exterminator.

If you’ve got an infestation on your hands, or you can’t tell if the one roach you caught has friends lurking somewhere, “you absolutely need to call pest management,” Troyano says. “Roaches aren’t something home remedies will fix.”

#3 Stop Wasps by Killing Them and Removing Their Home

The worst of the worst when it comes to warm weather pests, wasps are difficult to prevent and a pain to kill — literally, as you might suffer a sting or two in the process.

Do:  Kill the queens early and stock up on aerosol insecticide spray if you and your environment can handle the toxins. Wasp traps are a safer alternative, but the buggers will keep coming back if you don’t remove their home.

Don’t:  Destroy nests during the day or plug the entrance to a yellow jacket nest.

Residential backyards are most commonly home to either yellow jackets or paper wasps. Queens of both species tuck away in your yard, wood piles, or any other small holes during the winter and emerge in search of a home for their next colony when the weather warms.

If you spot a single, solitary wasp wandering your yard, don’t feel any shame in cold-blooded insect murder.

Troyano found two wintering yellow jacket queens in her picnic table umbrella, both ready to start hunting for a new nest.

“I didn’t give them the chance to do that,” she says. “I prevented two colonies from forming.”

To kill a single wasp or an entire nest, Troyano recommends aerosol insecticide.

If you’re concerned about toxicity — these sprays typically include pyrethrins, which can cause respiratory problems if used incorrectly — hire an exterminator.

If you’re brave enough to tackle a nest yourself, only do it at night when all wasps are back and sleeping. Stand as far away as the spray allows (most work from 20-plus feet) and wear thick, full-coverage clothing. Plan your escape route before spraying.

Of course, hiring an exterminator is safer — and necessary in some cases. Yellow jacket wasps like to build nests underneath siding. Some homeowners might be tempted to starve them out by plugging the entrance, a terrible, terrible, horrendous mistake.

“Yellow jackets are chewers,” she says. They’ll chew through the other side of their nest to get inside your house. “Every year, we get calls from frantic people because they see a soft, wet hole in their drywall, and they’ll poke it, and yellow jackets come spilling out,” Troyano says.

#4 Control Mosquitoes by Removing Their Breeding Grounds

Not only can these summertime snipers ruin your barbecue and session-beer tasting with their incessant biting, they can also dose you with Zika or West Nile.

Do:  Get rid of any standing water, which is their breeding ground, or treat the water with a larvicide.

Don’t:  Don’t use any pesticide with methoprene, which can harm fish and pets, and never apply pesticides to drinking water.

Don’t let mosquitoes make babies on your watch. That’s your No. 1 defense against them. Check birdbaths, storm drains, potted plants, any place water can collect, then dump any you find. Mosquitoes only need one or two weeks to breed, so hurry!

Can’t dump it out? Treat standing water with mosquito-fighting granules or briquets, larvicides that kill bugs before they start biting. Look for products containing Bti, not methoprene, which is toxic to fish, causes vomiting in some dogs, and can irritate your skin.

To keep them from attacking you when you’re relaxing on your back porch, simply blow them away. Literally. Their tiny, evil bodies can’t fight even the slightest breeze. A simple fan will do the trick (but a ceiling fan would be way cooler!).

#6 Trap Fruit Flies With Vinegar

Summer brings these frequent fliers in droves, and nothing seems to keep them away. They might even be catching a ride inside with you: Grocery store produce can be tiny Trojan horses stuffed with fruit fly eggs ready to hatch.

Do:  Clean your kitchen and use vinegar traps to snag stragglers.

Don’t:  Bother trying to seal them out.

The best way to keep your home fly-free is by cleaning up what Troyano calls “secondary environments,” like your garbage disposal or trash can and putting all of your food in the refrigerator immediately.

That may be a tough call for foodies who are loathe to ruin their heirloom tomatoes in a chilly fridge. Cleaning the produce bowl daily and removing any food with broken skin can stave off flies, but Troyano says putting everything away is the only fail-safe.

Even after a thorough scrubbing, you still might find a few little guys hovering in your kitchen. A homemade trap, created by placing a small amount of cider vinegar in a jar and covering it with plastic wrap punched with a few holes, can help eliminate the flies’ last stand.

Unlike ants, you can’t seal your home from fruit flies. Because they’re only a few millimeters long, they can even squeeze through screened windows.

“Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from houselogic.com with permission of the National Association of Realtors®”

Someone out there wants to help save you time, stress, and money. Here’s how you find them.

Everyone in the market for a house has different wants — prewar charm, a lush backyard, a welcoming front door in Pantone Ultra Violet. But at the end of the day, they all share a common need: money. Lots of it.

Enter your mortgage lender.

The right lender can save you time, anxiety, and loads of cash. And the right loan officer — the professional who represents the lender — can be a powerful ally when you close on a mortgage. As with any potentially life-altering partnership, it’s important to choose wisely.

Only You Know Which Lender Is Your Type

You can choose from three types of mortgage lenders — retail banks, credit unions, and mortgage banks — as well as mortgage brokers, who compare loan products via a coterie of potential lenders to help you, the client, find the right one. Before you start narrowing down the candidates, know what you’re looking for and where to find it. Let’s talk about your options. 

Retail Banks

What they are: These are your Chases and Banks of America, plus your local banks. They do their own underwriting (in a nutshell, investigating your finances). So, retail banks, especially the smaller ones, can sometimes offer lower fees and less-stringent credit requirements. If you like to have your accounts all in one place, you may want to use your own bank or credit union. 

Who you’ll work with: You’ll be assigned a loan officer, who will receive a commission or bonus for writing your loan.

Credit Unions

What they are: They’re not-for-profit and customer-owned, so they’re not beholden to shareholders, like banks are. Because of that and their not-for-profit tax status, they typically offer more personal service and lower fees. The flip side is they’re less convenient: They have fewer branches and ATMs. 

To apply for a loan, you must be a member of the credit union’s community, which could be faith-, employment-, interest-, or union-based. That said, borrowers can typically become a member easily. The National Credit Union Administration’s Credit Union Locator is a tool to find credit unions near you. 

Who you’ll work with: As with a bank, you’ll be assigned a loan officer, who will receive a commission or bonus for writing your loan.

Mortgage Banks

What they are: These banks, such as AimLoan and PennyMac, offer only home loans. Many online lenders, like Rocket Mortgage, operate as mortgage banks.

Who you’ll work with: A mortgage bank will assign you a loan officer, who will receive a commission or bonus from the lender’s gross fees for writing your loan. An online lender will offer less hand-holding.

Mortgage Brokers

What they are: Mortgage brokers are essentially personal home loan shoppers. They act as liaisons between home buyers and mortgage lenders to help people find the lowest rates and the best mortgage terms. They can get home buyers the best mortgage rates because they leverage their existing relationships with lenders — something individual home buyers can’t do. The idea is that by doing the heavy lifting for the borrower, they make loan shopping more convenient — and perhaps a bit faster. 

Who you’ll work with: A mortgage broker can be an individual agent or a group of agents who act as independent contractors. In exchange for their services, mortgage brokers typically charge a 0.50% to 2.75% fee of the loan principal, which is paid by either the borrower or the lender at closing. The charge can vary greatly.

Now that you’re armed with the basics, you’ll want to give yourself time to weigh the options about which lender, exactly, to work with.

It Pays to Shop Around Before You Commit

Over the life of the loan, seemingly subtle differences could add up to tens of thousands of dollars. That money belongs to future you and all your dream vacations, renovations, and remodeling #goals.

So before you choose your specific lender, do these things:

• Thoroughly research any retail bank, credit union, mortgage bank, mortgage broker, or online option you’re considering. Make sure you’re clear on what they can offer you. If you’re doing your homework, you’re less likely to be dissatisfied with the results.
• Interview lenders. You’re aiming for a shortlist of three. (You’ll see why it’s three in a minute.) If you’re thinking about selecting an online lender, make sure you take into account this guidance.
• Don’t be shy about seeking advice. Survey your family, friends, and coworkers —  especially the ones who are nerdy about money.
• Ask your real estate agent for a second opinion. They have experience with reputable lenders, particularly in your city or town.

Now, let’s say you’ve narrowed your list of potential lenders to at least three candidates. The next step? Find out whether they will give you a loan.

You Should Seek Out a Lender’s (Pre-)Approval, To

There’s a world of difference between being prequalified for a loan and being pre-approved. Pre-approval means you’ve got skin in the game. It means you’re a boss. And it’s proof that you can buy.

Besides being the grown-up thing to do, pre-approval positions you better to make an offer. Everyone takes you more seriously. Pre-approval provides evidence to your real estate agent and the seller (or seller’s agent) that a trusted financial institution is willing to finance the purchase.

In most housing markets, sellers will expect you to be pre-approved when you make your offer. And when you’re pre-approved, you’re more likely to have your offer accepted — or at least, you won’t lose out on a bid because you have to go back to the bank to get approved for a loan.

As for prequalification, it’s an approximation and not necessary unless you have no clue about your creditworthiness and just want a snapshot.

By contrast, with a pre-approval, a lender typically goes deeper and tells you more specifically how big a loan you can get. Caution: Just because the lender says you can take out a loan for an amount, doesn’t mean you should. Consider your lifestyle and monthly budget to decide on the responsible loan amount for you. 

To get pre-approved, you must also authorize a lender to pull your credit. Here are credit scores and how they can affect interest rates and loan options for borrowers:

• 760 or higher — Can typically qualify for the lowest interest rates.
• Below 650 — May need to apply for a nonconventional mortgage, such as a Federal Housing Administration loan — a government-backed loan that requires a minimum credit score of 580 but lets borrowers make a down payment as low as 3.5%.
• Below 580 — Can still qualify for FHA loans, but borrowers will have to make at least a 10% down payment. The lower the score, the tighter the requirements.

When you’re pre-approved, you’ll get a Loan Estimate, which is a three-page document that will become your new best friend.

Find at Least 3 Lenders to Pre-Approve You

A Loan Estimate spells out a future loan’s terms, including:

• The interest rate
• The length of the loan
• Estimated costs of taxes and insurance
• How interest rates and payments might change over time
• Other important financials

By comparing loan estimates, you can effectively size up your loan options and decide which lender is best for you — and your future. (If you need help navigating the details, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers a sample Loan Estimate with helpful tips and definitions.) 

Getting pre-approval early in the process also gives you an edge over other buyers. Here’s why: 

• Once you know how much you’re approved for, you can more easily determine your price range and save time and frustration when shopping.
• It sends a signal to your agent and sellers that you’re serious about buying a home.
• It’ll help you move quickly to make an offer when you see a home you like.
• And it’s an excuse to celebrate! You now have everything you need to move ahead with that one special lender. At the same time, you can connect with an officer or broker who can help you select the home loan product that’s best for you. 

So have a cocktail. Do a dance. You’re a (huge) step closer to getting a new house.

“Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

From backyard pickleball courts to wildscaping, find out how homeowners are sprucing up their yard.

As spring approaches, more homeowners are sizing up their outdoor space and making plans to ensure every square inch counts. They’re ditching expansive, lush lawns and carving out more areas for entertaining, relaxing and pursuing hobbies. The Plan Collection, a home design site, shares spring outdoor design trends that are gaining popularity this year.

1. Outdoor Kitchens 

Outdoor kitchens are getting upgraded with cabinets, islands, outdoor electric ovens and granite or highly polished concrete countertops. Online search terms, compared to last year, reveal the following upticks related to consumers’ interest in outdoor kitchen design:

• Outdoor counters: +86%
• Outdoor oven: +83%
• Outdoor sink: +50%
• Outdoor electric grill: +50%

A growing preference for electric outdoor appliances—in lieu of traditional gas grills—is due to gas’ perceived environmental impact, The Plan Collection notes.

2. Weather-Resistant Landscaping

Weather extremes, like droughts and extreme heat, are challenging the practicality of large, green lawns. Homeowners are now turning to alternative landscaping approaches, including:

• Native landscaping: The use of native plants to preserve the local, natural ecosystem. These require less maintenance, less water and little or no fertilizers.
• Wildscaping: This includes native landscaping and creates a habitat for local bees, birds and small animals.
• Xeriscaping: Landscaping designed to reduce or eliminate the need for water, such as using rocks. In the West, droughts and government-mandated water limitations are rising and prompting more homeowners to explore xeriscaping.
• Solar: In harnessing the sun, solar lighting and bird baths are a rising trend. Bird baths are being outfitted with a solar panel to provide energy to run a fountain pump and circulate water.

3. Backyard Pickleball Courts

While the emergence of pickleball has infused life in vacant commercial properties, homeowners are beginning to install their own courts, too. Backyard pickleball courts are still considered a luxury; for those on a budget, the driveway has become the optimal location for playing pickleball at home.

4. New Levels of Outdoor Spaces

Rather than building out, homeowners are building up to maximize square footage, especially for homes with small lots. Raised outdoor spaces can offer a view and increase a home’s entertainment space.

5. Adaptable, Flexible Yards

Over the past year, The Plan Collection says, floor plans for new homes have been showcasing more spaces that can be adapted for multiple functions, including:

• Outdoor kitchens that can double as an entertaining space.
• Lightweight sectional furniture that can be moved to accommodate a cocktail party or a child’s birthday party.
• Just enough lawn—or turf—for visual appeal but also for enjoying outdoor games.
• Screened-in porches or pergolas that provide shade, protection from insects and an extended outdoor living season.

“Copyright NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Reprinted with permission”

If you live in a newer suburban community or planned unit development, you’re probably a member of a homeowners association. More than 74.1 million Americans live in homeowners associations, condominium communities, cooperatives, and other planned communities, according to Community Associations Institute. It’s also a good bet that you hadn’t given your HOA much thought until you had a problem.

Since HOAs make and enforce the community rules, it’s smart to understand what you can do if you can’t or don’t want to follow them.

How an HOA Works

Each HOA, a volunteer group of neighbors who manage common areas and community property, creates its own covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs). These CC&Rs cover subjects such as:

• Resident behavior (no glass containers around the pool)
• Architecture (no fences higher than eight feet)
• Common responsibilities (fee schedules and fines for non-compliance)

The mean monthly dues for a homeowners association is $191, according to the U.S. Census Bureau American Housing Survey 2021. And there’s value in the fee.

Disputes With the Board Can Escalate

Some boards can impose what some homeowners believe are invasive, silly, or even inconsistent rules. Yahoo! News reported a situation in which a homeowner submitted a plan for four window when the other homeowners had eight windows. The board rejected the first plan she submitted, but approved the second one, which was for four windows.

After the homeowner installed the four windows, a dispute started between the homeowner and the board about who would pay to switch the number of windows back to eight. The homeowners ended up being fined thousands of dollars, and the board put a lien on her house, and threatened to foreclose. The homeowner then sued the board and won. But the board plans to appeal.

Steps to Take When You Don’t Like the Rules

Even if you disagree with the rules, keep paying your dues. HOAs have broad legal powers to collect fines and fees and regulate activities. If you don’t respond to letters from the board, property manager, or a collection agency, the HOA can and will turn to small claims court or file a lien against your property.  

You can handle some issues with a phone call. For example, adding recycling to the garbage collection route is a budget, not a rules, issue. Call the board member who oversees trash collection to find out if there’s leeway in the budget. If you want to do something that’s against the rules — like flying the American flag in your yard — start by:

• Making a written request for variance, using the appropriate HOA form in your CC&R documents. A variance gives you permission to be the exception to the rule. Submit your request to the board and property management company. 
• Seeking a compromise: For example, you could request permission to fly the American flag only on national holidays.

Don’t Expect a Quick Solution

Some HOA boards meet as infrequently as twice a year. If the board decides the issue is worth pursuing, it may require a community vote. If it passes a majority, the board will adopt it. Board members also may consult the HOA attorney to see if there’s a legal liability if they rule against you.

If you don’t get a timely response, request a hearing and resubmit your request for variance with as much support for your cause as possible. 

If the board rules against you without a community vote, you can appeal the ruling with a petition signed by a majority of other homeowners.

Fine Reality

If you fly your flag without permission, however, expect to be fined. Fines can range depending on the issue. Your CC&Rs will indicate the fine schedule — per day, per incident, etc. Interest for nonpayment can accrue, and the HOA can sue you in small claims court. 

If you think the ruling or the fines are unjust, the last resort is to hire an attorney and sue the HOA.

Become the Rule-Maker

If you don’t like the rules, the best way to change them is to become part of the process.  

Know your CC&Rs, annual budget, and employee contracts — Do you see areas where expenses can be cut? Are service providers doing their jobs? 

Volunteer for a committee or task — If the board needs to enforce parking rules, for instance, you can volunteer to gather license plate numbers of residents’ vehicles. In addition, put your professional expertise to work: Assist the board with data entry, accounting, or website design. 

Stand for election to the board — When a position becomes open, the board notifies the members, and you can put your name forward. New board members are elected at the annual meeting by member majority vote. Many boards are three to nine members large, with terms of one to two years.

Involvement Drawbacks

As a board member, be prepared to spend two to four hours a month:

• Reviewing property management reports
• Monitoring budgets
• Talking to other board members and residents

Most boards meet quarterly; small boards meet only twice a year for a couple of hours.  

Accept that you might become less popular if homeowners don’t like your decisions. In the worst case, you could be sued, along with the rest of the association.

Involvement Benefits

There are rewards. You’ll feel more in control of your community’s fate. You may find that some rules you didn’t support have merit after all. But most of all, you’ll know you’re doing all you can to protect your quality of life and your home’s value.

“Visi houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the National Association of Realtors®.”

“The Truth About the NAR Settlement Agreement. There’s much the media has gotten wrong about NAR’s settlement, which would require the association to pay $418 million over four years. Some outlets have suggested that NAR previously set or guided commissions to a standard rate of 6%. Even President Joe Biden, in recent comments, misspoke in suggesting that the settlement makes commissions negotiable for the first time.”

“You know that is false. NAR does not set commissions, and commissions were negotiable long before this settlement. They are and will remain entirely negotiable between brokers and their clients. And housing prices are dictated by market forces beyond members’ control.”

copyright NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Reprinted with permission.

This lawsuit has been going on for a long time and Washington State was ahead of the settlement by implementing new forms as of January 1st, 2024. These forms help protect clients and make things more transparent. More specifically, who is paying the agent fees and how much are you paying? Well… our compensation has always been negotiable as well as who pays us. Realtor fees are not being slashed; they are being accounted for. Transparency and Accountability.