Using the Small Claims Court System in the Metro Area  

Well, we have made it all the way through the year 2000 without any cosmic cataclysm. We faced no earth destroying asteroids, no continental upheavals, and no apocalyptic political disasters (barring that bit of confusion over who is to be president of the country). Everything is in pretty good shape and promises to remain so.

There is only one problem, that evaluation just isn’t quite correct. With the passing of the old year everything, generally speaking, is a year older. The roof is a year older, the furnace is a year older, the air conditioning system is a year older and the major appliances are a year older. And, surprise, each of these components of the home is a year closer to replacement.

One of the more important techniques taught in home appraisal courses is the calculation of remaining useful life of these vulnerable systems. They simply wear out over time and the vast majority of homeowners do not set aside funds to replace them when the time comes. For most that means scrambling for financing (ouch!) or putting the replacement on a credit card (OUCH!).

Take the time to evaluate the life expectancy of these systems, set up a dedicated account and deposit sufficient funds on a periodic basis to cover replacement costs at the expected date of obsolescence. You won’t be caught short, in fact you will be accumulating interest rather than having to pay interest. Not bad. And all it takes is a little forethought and discipline.

ALL RIGHT I’M AN INCURABLE ROMANTIC. WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN A TIDY LOG CABIN BY THE SIDE OF THE LAKE, WOOD-SMOKE CURLING FROM THE CHIMNEY, TROUT JUST WAITING TO BE CAUGHT? THE GOLDEN GLOW OF SUNSET PAINTS THE SCENE WITH WARM BUT MELLOW COLORS PROVIDING THE PERFECT CLOSE OF DAY. SOUNDS GREAT, LOOKING AT IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT WHAT IS IT LIKE TO ACTUALLY BUILD AND OCCUPY A LOG HOME?

THAT IS NOT A RHETORICAL QUESTION. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM THOSE OF YOU WITH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AS OWNER/BUILDERS OR LONG TERM OCCUPANTS OF LOG HOMES. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF MAGAZINES DEDICATED TO THE TOPIC AND THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES OFFERING KIT OR FINISHED HOMES THERE MUST BE QUITE A FEW OTHERS WHO WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THE STRAIGHT STORY. SO FAR ITS BEEN HARD TO FIND ANY INFO BESIDES SECOND HAND HORROR STORIES OR INDUSTRY HYPE.

WHAT HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY, STRUCTURAL STABILITY, OR SPECIAL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS? HOW WELL DID THE LOG JOINT SYSTEM IN YOUR HOME WORK TO SEAL THE GAP BETWEEN LOGS? HOW INSECT RESISTANT WAS THE MATERIAL AND DID THE WOOD TREATMENT POSE ANY PEOPLE PROBLEMS? HOW DID THE LOGS WEATHER OVER TIME AND DID THE FINISH ENHANCE AND PROTECT THE LOGS. ONE OLDER HOME I INVESTIGATED HAD BEEN PAINTED REPEATEDLY OVER MANY YEARS. IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE PAINT HAD ACTUALLY TRAPPED MOISTURE THAT HAD COME IN THROUGH OLD CRACKS AND LED TO SO MUCH ROT THAT THERE WAS LITTLE SOUND WOOD AT SOME LOG ENDS, JUST A SPONGY MASS INSIDE A THICK PAINT SHELL. ARE THE PROBLEMS OF LOG SHIFTING, SETTLING AND TWISTING UNAVOIDABLE? WOULD YOU DO IT ALL AGAIN?

LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN AND WE WILL SHARE THE INFO.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

             NOTHING PUTS THE FINISHING TOUCH TO A PROFESSIONAL RENOVATION LIKE GOOD LANDSCAPING AND EVEN A DREARY HOUSE DESTINED FOR A BASIC CLEAN-UP AND FLIP WILL HAVE ITS VALUE INCREASED WITH THE ADDITION OF A FEW DOLLARS IN SHRUBS AND FLOWERING PLANTS. I WOULD GO AS FAR AS TO SAY THAT MONEY SPENT ON REASONABLE PLANTING IS THE MOST PROFITABLE MONEY IN THE PROJECT.

            FIRST OF ALL IT MAKES FOR A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT AND

A PLEASANT VIEW; SOMETHING PRETTY TO BALANCE AGAINST ANY COSMETIC FLAWS THAT MIGHT DETRACT FROM THE HOUSE. I THINK FOLKS ARE BETTER PREPARED TO SEE THE REAL POTENTIAL OF A PROPERTY WHEN A LITTLE BIT HAS BEEN DONE TO MAKE IT WHAT IT CAN BE. A TOUCH OF FOLIAGE AND A PATCH OF COLOR WON’T HIDE WHAT NEEDS ATTENTION BUT IT DOES GO A LONG WAY IN CONFIRMING WHAT THE COMPLETED PROJECT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. IT KINDA HELPS KICK-START THE IMAGINATION.

            NEXT, EVEN A SMALL DOOR-YARD “GARDEN” ESTABLISHES THAT SOMEBODY CARES. THAT MEANS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HOUSE THAT IS UN-OCCUPIED OR VACANT AND ONE THAT IS ABANDONED OR DERELICT. THAT’S NOT JUST A MATTER OF LANGUAGE, IT IS A MATTER OF PERCEPTION. PERCEPTION IS REALITY AND FIRST IMPRESSION IS THE KEY TO PERCEPTION. THAT HOLDS TRUE EVEN FOR HARD-NOSED REAL ESTATE INVESTORS.

            FINALLY, THOSE GOOD EFFECTS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED QUICKLY, EASILY AND CHEAPLY. JUST $100.00 WORTH OF MUMS, PANSIES, EVERGREENS AND MULCH MIXED WITH AN AFTERNOON OF ARTISTIC DIGGING AND PLANTING WILL ADD AN INTANGIBLE VALUE THAT MAY EXPRESS ITSELF – TANGIBLY – AT MANY, MANY TIMES THE AMOUNT INVESTED.

            PICK THE PLANTS THAT WILL GIVE INSTANT APPEAL. THE ABOVE MENTIONED PANSIES AND MUMS ARE BLOOMING NOW, GOOD;

TULIP BULBS WON’T GIVE YOU A SHOW TIL SPRING, NOT GOOD. JUNIPERS AND OTHER EVERGREEN LOOK GOOD ALL THE TIME, GOOD;

DECIDUOUS TREES AND SHRUBS WILL LOOK LIKE BARE STICKS – WELL, YOU GET THE IDEA. DON’T OVER-DO AND DON’T INVEST IN MATERIAL THAT WON’T PROVIDE AN IMMEDIATE REWARD.        

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LAW

YOUR LOCAL PRECINCT OR ZONE MAY HAVE HELPFUL RESOURCES AT YOUR DISPOSAL FOR THE ASKING. ADDING A COPY OF AN ARREST AUTHORIZATION FORM SIGNED BY THE LOCAL POLICE ZONE COMMANDER TO POSTED PROPERTY UNDERLINED OUR INTENT TO PROSECUTE TRESPASSERS AND ALSO PRODUCED IMMEDIATE POLICE RESPONSE WHEN A WOULD BE SQUATTER INSISTED ON HIS "RIGHT" TO REMAIN ON THE PROPERTY.

THE SAME OFFICE MAY PROVIDE A LIST OF SUGGESTIONS FOR DEVELOPERS, CONTRACTORS, RENOVATORS AND INVESTORS ON HOW TO SECURE THEIR PROPERTY, HOW TO DEVELOP GOOD RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORS AND HOW TO AVOID PROBLEMS AND MATERIAL LOSSES ON THE SITE. GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS, PARTICIPATE IN NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP MEETINGS, IF AVAILABLE. NEVER LEAVE TOOLS UNSECURED OR OUT OF SIGHT. MAKE SURE TRUCK BOXES ARE SECURED AT ALL TIMES. ("HECK, I ONLY TURNED MY BACK FOR A MINUTE" OR "I JUST WALKED AROUND THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE FOR A SECOND" ARE USUALLY FOLLOWED BY "AND THE SCOUNDREL RAN OFF WITH OUR ______________________, YOU FILL IN THE BLANK.)

NEVER OFFER STRANGERS SMALL JOBS. GET VERIFIABLE INFORMATION ON ANY "OFF THE STREET" HELP BEFORE STARTING THEM TO WORK. CONSIDER INSTALLING AN ALARM SYSTEM. MARK YOUR TOOLS FOR EASY IDENTIFICATION. ALL COMMON SENSE, RIGHT.  BUT IT SEEMS THAT COMMON SENSE JUST AIN’T SO COMMON AS IT USED TO BE.

REPORT ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. BUT WHAT IF….! I MEAN THESE ARE BAD PEOPLE, WONT THEY….? I CAN ONLY ANSWER THOSE CONCERNS BY DESCRIBING A CORNER INFESTED BY CRACK AND HEROIN DEALERS AND PROSTITUTES THAT WAS QUICKLY CLEANED UP BY A FEW PHONE CALLS. THE POLICEMAN IS YOUR FRIEND AND VERY PLEASED TO MAKE A GOOD BUST ON THE BAD GUYS. THE BAD GUYS WILL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE UNTIL, HOPEFULLY SOON, THERE IS NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. YOU HAVE JUST DONE A GOOD THING AND INCREASED YOUR PROPERTY’S VALUE AT THE SAME TIME, NOT BAD.

PLANNING

"FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL." WHAT A CLICHÉ, HOW OLD FASHIONED! WE KEEP OUR ATTENTION ON THE BIG PICTURE, THE DETAILS WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. RIGHT! IN HOME RENOVATION OR REMODELING – OR TROUT FISHING, FOR THAT MATTER – FAIL TO PLAN AND THAT OLD CLICHÉ WILL REAR UP AND BITE YOU BAD ON THE BUTT.

FIRST STEP, OF COURSE, IS TO VISUALIZE THE END RESULT; TO GET IN YOUR MIND’S EYE WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE. BUT WHILE YOU’RE VISUALIZING BRING EVERY DETAIL UP SHARP, LEAVE THAT SOFT FOCUS STUFF FOR THE MOVIES. CONCENTRATE ON COMPLETION OF EVERY MINUTE SEGMENT OF THE PROJECT IN ITS ENTIRITY AND IN

THE RIGHT SEQUENCE. FOLKS IN THE BUILDING TRADES HAVE A WELL ESTABLISHED PATTERN FOR EFFECTIVE JOB COMPLETION: PLANNING, ROUGH WORK, FINISH AND INSTALLATION, AND FINAL FINISH BUT HOME-OWNER/RENOVATORS OFTEN GET INTO TROUBLE BY NOT PROPERLY SEQUENCING THE REQUIRED WORK.

EVERY PROJECT IS UNIQUE, BUT THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO US IN AVOIDING COSTLY DUPLICATION OF LABOR AND WASTE OF MATERIALS.

STEP ONE: PLANNING

STAGE ONE IS EVALUATION AND PLANNING. DETERMINE THE REQUIRED STRUCTURAL REPAIRS; ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING AND HVAC UPGRADES, STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS OR ADDITIONS; AND SITE MODIFICATIONS FOR IMPROVED DRAINAGE OR LANDSCAPING. INSPECT EVERYTHING, QUESTION EVERYTHING, OVERESTIMATE THE DIFFICULTY AND COST OF EVERYTHING AND THEN DETERMINE IF YOU ARE READY FOR THE ADVENTURE.

ESTABLISHING A CONSENSUS IS ALSO A CRITICAL PART OF THIS FIRST STAGE. PRODUCE A DETAILED RENOVATION PLAN DESIGNATING FINISH FEATURES SUCH AS HARDWARE, CABINETRY, PAINT COLORS (AND SURFACES AND BRANDS AND ADDITIVES AND METHODS OF APPLICATION), LIGHT FIXTURES, FLOOR TREATMENT, DOORS, WINDOWS, TRIM AND SO ON. WRITE IT DOWN, READ IT OVER AND SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE. AVOID AT ALL COSTS THE DREADED, "WHY, HONEY, I THOUGHT YOU MEANT…." THEN STICK TO IT. NOTHING MULTIPLIES COST, TIME AND FRUSTRATION MORE THAN MID-STREAM CHANGES.

SPEND PLENTY OF TIME ON STAGE ONE AND YOU WILL SAVE PLENTY OF TIME AND MONEY ON STAGES TWO THROUGH FOUR. THESES STAGES ARE NO MORE THAN THE IMPLEMENTATION, IN AN INCREASINGLY REFINED MANNER, OF THE PLANNED VISION DETERMINED IN PLAN ONE.

STEP TWO: ROUGH WORK

STAGE TWO IS COMPOSED OF SITE PREP AND STRUCTURAL WORK. AT THIS POINT THE SITE MODIFICATIONS ARE MADE, ADDITIONS AND STRUCTURAL REPAIRS ACCOMPLISHED, SYSTEM UPGRADES INSTALLED (HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL), WINDOW AND DOOR REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT COMPLETED, INSULATION IMPROVED, SHEETROCK OR PLASTER RESTORED AND NEW FLOORING PUT IN. ALL AREAS ARE BROUGHT UP TO THE SAME LEVEL OF COMPLETION. THE POINT IS TO AVOID DAMAGING ONE FINELY FINISHED AREA WHILE DOING ROUGH WORK THERE OR ELSEWHERE ON THE PROJECT. ONCE AGAIN, INSPECT THUROUGHLY TO INSURE ALL WORK AT THIS STAGE IS COMPLETED BEFORE GOING ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

STEP THREE: FINISH AND INSTALLATION

NOW WE ARE GETTING THERE. STAGE THREE PULLS EVERTHINGTOGETHER. FIXTURES AND BUILT-INS ARE PLACED, SOME APPLIANCESINSTALLED; LIGHTING AND HARDWARE GO IN, WALLS ARE FINAL PATCHED AND PRIMED AND FLOOR FINISH PUT DOWN.

STEP FOUR: FINAL FINISH

STAGE FOUR PUTS ON THE SHINE. FINISH COATS OF INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PAINT ARE APPLIED, NON BUILT- IN APPLIANCES INSTALLED (PROTECT THOSE VINYL FLOORS!), WOOD FLOORS POLISHED OR CARPETING INSTALLED, PLANT THE PRETTY FLOWERS AND SHRUBS, THEN SMILE FOR THE CAMERA.

ONE LAST HINT, IF YOU ARE CONTRACTING WITH TRADESMEN TO DO A PARTICULAR BIT OF WORK, COUNSEL WITH THEM BEFOREHAND REGARDING THE AVOIDANCE OF WHAT WE CALL "COLLATERAL DAMAGE." FLOOR GUYS CAN BE SO FOCUSED THAT IT JUST SLIPS THEIR MIND TO BE CAREFUL OF THE WALLS. LIKEWISE, THOSE WORKING ON THE WALLS HAVE SHOWN OCCASIONAL LAPSES OF COURTESY TO OTHER SURFACES. IF YOU MAKE SURE AHEAD OF TIME YOUR CONTRACTORS UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE FAUX PAS, AVOIDABLE DAMAGE WILL BE, WELL….AVOIDED. IT’S A SIMPLE PROGRAM, SO SIMPLE LOTS OF FOLKS IGNORE IT AND GET TO RE-RE-RE-REPAIR SCUFFS, SCRUBS AND NICKS AND RE-RE-RE-REPAINT WALLS AND TRIM MARED AND MARKED BY ROUGH WORK DONE IN A FINISHED ROOM. THAT CAN TAKE THE FUN OUT OF THINGS REAL QUICK. BUT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PLAN AHEAD.