YourHome OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016
T H E H E A R T L A N D ’ S L E A D I N G R E A L E S TAT E & H O M E L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E
FEATURED PROPERTY
Unique lake front property on Lake Brownwood! Call Texas Realty @ 325-784-5100 for information.
INSIDE THIS MONTH’S EDITION: n Longer Lasting Roof, 7 n Problems at Home, 9
SIMPLE
SEDUMS Succulents that add dimension, page 5
C H E C K O U T L I S T I N G S & I N F O R M AT I O N F R O M T H E S E G R E AT A D V E R T I S E R S : C O L D W E L L B A N K E R , M A R K C A M P B E L L & A S S O C I AT E S , M C C L U S K E Y & A S S O C I AT E S , T E X A S B A N K , T E X A S R E A LT Y, M I L L S C O U N T Y S TAT E B A N K , T E X A S G O L D S TA R R E A L E S TAT E , T O O T I E K E L LY R E A L E S TAT E , A C M E B R I C K & T I L E , B R O W N C O U N T Y S E R V I C E D I R E C T O R Y
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Heartland Your Home
Sunday, October 16, 2016
ADVERTISERS REAL ESTATE
Mark Campbell & Associates - Coldwell Banker McCluskey & Associates Texas Goldstar Real Estate Texas Realty Tootie Kelly Real Estate
LENDING INSTITUTIONS
TIP OF THE WEEK Seal up drafts to save money 3 4, 10 6 8 12
Mills County State Bank TexasBank
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ACME Brick & Tile Brown County Service Directory
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A publication of the
Brownwood BULLETIn Your Community u Your Story u Delivered Your Way u Serving the Heart of Texas Since 1886
For questions or to advertise please call the Brownwood Bulletin at 325-646-2541 or come by the office at 700 Carnegie, Brownwood. NOTICE All Rental and Real Estate Ads are subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, or family status or national origin.
Drafts from overlooked spaces like pull-down attic stairs, a whole-house fan, a fireplace or clothes dryer can waste energy and cost you big in the form of higher energy bills. Here are some tips and techniques that can seal and insulate these areas. • Add an insulated attic stair cover that seals the stairs and stops drafts and energy loss. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling. • For whole-house fans add a shutter seal. Made from white textured flexible insulation, you install the seal over the ceiling shutter, secure it with Velcro, and trim it to fit. • To avoid cold drafts around a fireplace, add a plug to it. A fireplace plug is an inflatable pillow that seals the fireplace damper, eliminating drafts, odors, and noise. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after. • A clothes dryer vent seal will reduce unwanted drafts, and also keeps out pests, bees and rodents. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use.
— Brandpoint/Battic Door
DECORATING TIP Seek out granite alternatives
Homeowners looking to break from the standard granite countertops have a range of alternate materials from which to choose. Crisp marbles infuse a room with a clean, stately charm while having the benefit of being cool to the touch. On the warmer end of the spectrum, butcher block countertops bring in a more relaxed vibe and will withstand rigorous use by the serious home chef. For something a bit out of the norm, soapstone and concrete are dependable surfaces that will patina over time.
— Brandpoint
GARDEN GUIDE Rake your leaves more efficiently Instead of spending hours or even days raking leaves, you can clear your lawn more quickly and efficiently by using the wind, patience and the proper tools. If it’s windy outside, rake your leaves in the same direction the wind is blowing to avoid them blowing around the entire yard. Although you might want to get ahead of the debris, be patient and wait to do your raking until all the leaves have fallen off your tree. Use a tarp to rake your leaves into small piles on top of the tarp. Once your tarp is full, drag it to your main pile or compost location.
— More Content Now
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Heartland Your Home
NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT 3 expensive mistakes Texas sellers are making The Texas housing market is hot, which is great news for sellers. However, just because there is a high demand for homes doesn’t mean that a seller is guaranteed to make a large profit. In fact, there are several ways sellers can make a misstep and leave money on the table. The good news is that Texas Realtors help their sellers avoid big mistakes, and a recent poll of members of the Texas Association of Realtors revealed three of the most common ones sellers should avoid.
Mistake #1: Overvaluing upgrades and improvements As a homeowner, you know exactly what you paid to have your deck redone, your kitchen upgraded and your new floors installed, and it’s tempting to take the prices and simply tack them onto the value of your home. However, that approach could backfire, primarily because you likely made those upgrades based on your personal preferences, which buyers might not share (so they may not be willing to pay
a premium for them), and because those were prices paid when those upgrades were brand new, which is probably no longer the case by the time you sell your home. More important, a buyer will place a value on your home as a whole, not based on an individual assessment of each feature, so it’s most effective to look at your home that same way when working with your Texas Realtor to decide the right list price.
Mistake #2: Failing to fully disclose One of the most expensive mistakes that sellers can make is not fully disclosing required information about a property. If a seller does not disclose known material defects about a property, there can be financial and legal consequences that create a mess for everyone involved. Texas Realtors advise clients to save themselves the time and headache that can come from incomplete disclosures.
Mistake #3: Evaluating offers based on when they came in, instead of what they offer
how quickly their home should sell and when they’ll receive the best offer. However, Texas Realtors caution buyers against putting too much emphasis on when offers are submitted rather than the actual terms of the offer. Some buyers reject offers because they only received one or because it came “too quickly.” However, it’s an expensive mistake for a seller to reject an offer that meets their expectations only because it came in the first day or so. As you can see, there are many ways you can make a mistake when selling your home. Hiring a Texas Realtor will ensure you maximize any benefit of the current Texas real estate market while enjoying a smoother sale. Learn more about buying, selling, and leasing property in Texas on texasrealestate.com Distributed by the Texas Association of Realtors
Vann Stanford, President Heartland Association of Realtors
Every seller has different expectations about
COLDWELL BANKER Mark Campbell & Associates Mark Campbell, Broker 1900 Austin Avenue Brownwood, TX 76801
Office: 325-646-1547
Buying or Selling - Land, Home or Business contact Coldwell Banker for your real estate needs: Mark Campbell ........325-642-5416 Royce Blackburn ....325-642-2093 Terry Blagg..............325-642-2553 Kimon Faubion .......325-998-0227 Jeff Hibbs ................325-642-3559 Don Holland ............325-998-2058 Donna Howey ..........325-998-0488 Nesa Morelock ........325-642-4932 Jennifer Newton ......325-642-2100 Hunter Stanford ......817-649-9822 Vann Stanford .........325-642-2088 Gary Twiford ...........325-642-1179 Brad Wells ...............325-642-2489 Sheri Wells ..............325-642-5994 Sue Wells.................325-642-8353 Stephen Young .......325-647-2418
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Heartland Your Home
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Luann McCluskey, GRI, Broker/Owner
325-642-2310
Service with Integrity since 1999
www.brownwoodproperties.com
REALTOR ®
325-200-2581 Multi-Million Dollar Producer
1515 Austin Ave., Brownwood, Tx 76801
325-643-3200
Marc Followwell
BUYING OR SELLING?
Call the McCluskey team today. We are low on inventory and we have buyers!! We will go “the extra mile” for you. 1719 4TH$22,500
101 TWIN CREEK HOME ON 1.4 aCRES &
ATTENTION INVESTORS!
INGROUND POOL IN COMANCHE—
$144,900
4 BDR, 2.5 BATH, office, open concept floorplan, This home also has a great backyard featuring beautiful inground pool, water slide & kiddy pool! Call Marc.
Great deal on a 4 bedroom 2.5 bath home. Great opportunity for a rental property! This one will go fast! Call Marc today!
4409 EDGEWOOD $69,900
2BD/1BTH brick home on corner lot, screened in porch, located in subdivision across from Section Hand Restaurant. Call Marc!
1203 HIGH MESA DR. $92,000
1008 LAMONTE $49,900 This 2/1 home sits on a 1/2 acre lot with a beautiful backyard. It features a sunroom and has original hardwood floors and a metal roof. Priced right to sell! Call Marc today !
Nice 3/2 stucco home with double garage located in quiet neighborhood. Covered deck in backyard great for relaxing! Updated kitchen a plus! Must see to appreciate! Call Luann for appt. !
NEW LISTING!
NEW LISTING! LAKE BROWNWOOD PROPERTIES—LAKEVIEW & LAKEFRONT FEATHERBAY- LOTS —NEAR HIDEOUT GOLF COURSE 454 Feather Bay-$26,000 Nice wooded lot for home site; lot is situated between the lake & golf course. Beautiful views of the lake with some clearing. Woods Landing-$16,500 Great building site. Come see this beautiful lot near the #10 Teebox! Backyard runs parallel with #9 Hole. Call Marc. 9010 MESA VIEW-$243,900
2-story lakeview home with 3310SF, 4BD/3BTH, granite countertops, huge balcony overlooks beautiful Lake Brownwood. Call Marc!
7525 FM 2125
300 FT. WATERFRONT — 4 BEDROOM DW ON 16 AC. 2 shops, RV parking —Owner will consider owner finance or trade. Call Luann for showing!
330 BLUEBONNET $147,500
4BD 2BTH lake home on .79 AC. features personal boat ramp & retaining wall that keeps high water out! This home has NEVER flooded! Call Marc today!
681 CR 611-$369,000—CASON COVE AREA
Unique rock home with over 2200 sq.ft. Backyard features 3 decks overlooking lake. Shop sits on .37 acre totally fenced across the road. Nice dock. Call Luann for appt.
MOTIVATED SELLERS OFFERING
$10,000
REMODELING ALLOWANCE & $2000 SELLING BONUS!
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Heartland Your Home
Simple sedums By Betty Montgomery More Content Now
S
ucculents are the ideal plant for the forgetful gardener, and what better succulent is there than sedums. Sedums are topped with starry flowers in the late summer and fall. There are low-growing varieties that fit right into the rock garden, and there are taller ones that look great in a perennial garden or where you might need color this time of year. Sedums thrive with almost no care. Sedums, or stone crops as some call them, are a perennial with thick, succulent leaves. They like perfect drainage and will take drought when established. They make themselves at home along a path, in cracks in a wall or under large trees where they have competition from large roots, that is as long as they get plenty of sun. If you want to kill a sedum, place it beside a sprinkler head where it gets plenty of water and poor drainage and it will slowly dwindle away. There are many sedums available today. The taller sedums have been popular for years and many have enjoyed them. The more groundhugging sedums were made popular after Dr. John Creech, former director of the U.S. National Arboretum, reportedly collected a small sedum plant growing when he was planthunting in the Central Siberian Botanic Garden in 1971. Today this plant is known as John Creech. Since then, others ground-huggers have been developed with a wide range of different characteristics. The taller sedums have red or pink flowers that make a lovely show in the fall when most other flowers have stopped preforming. Autumn Joy is the variety that stole the hearts of many gardeners, and with the success of this wonderful plant, other varieties are being grown are now becoming popular, too. Autumn Joy grows around 16- to 18-inches tall from a crown of shoots that emerge in the spring. The stems
Succulents add another dimension to your efforts
Autumn Joy
are thick and strong, and the gray-green leaves are about 4- to 6-inches wide. The flowers appear in mid-summer as a silvery-green color and start turning a lovely shade of pink in early September where I live. Autumn Joy has a floral display that progresses over about eight weeks. This plant is readily available in garden centers. Autumn Fire is another sedum very similar to Autumn Joy in its growing habits. However, growers claim this is an improvement over Autumn Joy, boasting that it holds up much longer in the fall. The glaucous, waxy blue-green stems and leaves look quite lovely through the summer. As the fall approaches the flowers that have developed over the summer go from light rose to bright red to coppery bronze red. The sturdy stems help give this plant an outstanding show. John Creech grows to only 3-inches tall and can make a tight mat as it spreads. The bright green leaves stems will take root at the nodes, helping the plant to spread over the ground. It is a hardy and vigorous plant that weaves in and out of stepping-stones or along paths. It is
topped in the fall with pink flowers giving it another dimension. It likes sun but will take light shade. Lemon Ball is a lemon-yellow, or chartreuse, linear plant that I saw for the first time in the New York Botanical garden this past spring. It was at the base of a small tree that was in a container and it looked great as it spilled over the edge of the pot. It grows to about 4- to 6-inches tall and will spread to about 12-inches wide. It is evergreen (or should I say ever-yellow) and has fleshy leaves that grow in a whorl around the stems and form a mound shape. The foliage is great for creating different color combinations in the garden. Most sedums prefer full sun, but will tolerate light shade and the dappled light underneath taller trees. They are easy to propagate in the spring or summer months by taking a cutting from a healthy stem, removing the lower leaves and putting the base in moist dirt. It should root in about two to three weeks. — Betty Montgomery, a master gardener and author of a Four Season Southern Garden, can be reached at bmontgomery40@gmail.com. BETTY MONTGOMERY PHOTOS
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Heartland Your Home
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Heartland Your Home
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Tips to Make Your Roof Last as Long as Possible Whether your roof is brand-new or years old, here’s what you need to do to keep it in the best possible shape for the longest possible time. By: JEANNE HUBER A new roof is an expensive proposition — $18,800 on average for composition shingles, according to Remodeling magazine’s Cost Vs. Value Report, and as much as $36,000 for high-end materials. Once you’ve made that kind of investment, you’ll want to protect it. And even if your roof is years old, maintaining it in good shape will prolong its life and keep you from having to replace it prematurely. Here’s what you need to do to get the most from your roof.
Clean the Gutters
Ruined paint on siding and a wet basement are typical problems caused by clogged gutters, but it might surprise you to learn that the overflow can also go upward. When leaves pile too deeply in gutters, water can wick into roof sheathing and rot it, or even rot roof rafters. Fixing that kind of damage could run into the thousands of dollars, but you can avoid it by cleaning your gutters each fall and spring. Do it yourself in a few hours if you’re comfortable working on a ladder, or hire a pro for $50-$250, depending on house size.
Remove Leaves
If you have a simple peaked roof surrounded by low landscaping, your roof probably stays clear of leaves on its own. But if the roof is more complicated or if towering trees are nearby, piles of leaves probably collect in roof valleys or near chimneys. If you don’t remove them, they will trap moisture and gradually decompose, allowing moisture to accumulate in your roof — or worse, create fertile ground for weeds to grow. If you have a low-slope roof and a one-story house, you may be able to pull the leaves down with a soft carwashing brush on a telescoping pole. Or you can use a specialty tool like a roof leaf rake, which costs about $20. A leaf blower gets the job done too, especially on dry leaves, but you or
a pro needs to go up on the roof to use it. If leaves are too wet or too deep, you might need to wash them off with a garden hose. Don’t use a pressure washer, which can force water up under the shingles.
Get Rid of Moss In much of the country, composition roofs often become covered with black algae. Although unsightly, this filmy growth doesn’t hurt the roof. A little chlorine bleach or detergent mixed with water will kill it, but it’s safer for both you and the roof to just leave it alone. If you live in the Northwest, you’re likely to find moss growing on your roof, particularly on wood or composition shingles. Moss, which looks more three-dimensional than algae, needs to go because it traps water. If you tackle it early enough, you can just sweep it off. If there’s a lot of buildup, you may need to kill the moss first. The Washington Toxics Coalition recommends using products based on potassium salts of fatty acids rather than more toxic formulas with zinc sulfate. Even so, apply the soap only where moss is growing, and try to keep the wash water from getting into storm drains. Once the roof is clean and free of moss, consider investing in zinc strips to keep it from coming back. For about $300, a roofer will install strips near the top of the roof. When it rains, the runoff from the strips inhibits the growth of moss. It’s effective and more environmentally friendly than treating the entire roof with pesticide, as long as you don’t live near a stream or a lake where the runoff can harm aquatic life.
Trim Overhanging Branches A little prevention in the form of tree-trimming goes a long way toward keeping leaves and moss off your roof and keeping your roof damage-free. Abrasion from limbs and leaves that touch your roof can eventually damage shingles, especially in high winds.
Overhanging branches also give squirrels and other rodents access to your roof. They can gnaw on your roof and siding. Branches need to be 10 feet away from your roof to keep these pests at bay. If that’s not possible, wrap the tree trunk with a sheet-metal bank to prevent them from climbing the tree. Trimming branches that hang over the roof is a job for a pro, though, or you might cause more damage than you prevent.
Curling, loose, or missing shingles Damaged flashing around vents, chimneys, skylights, and other openings If anything seems amiss, ask a roofer to inspect ASAP. Most problems are fairly easy to fix, but if you put them off and water gets in, the damage and costs escalate.
TIP: You don’t have to climb a ladder to inspect your roof. You can use binoculars.
Look and Listen
After every big wind or hail storm, or if you’ve heard scurrying on the roof at night, give your roof a quick check to make sure everything’s still intact. Look for:
JEANNE HUBER is the author of 10 books about home improvement. She writes a weekly column about home care for the Washington Post.
Helping Customers Own a Piece of Central Texas
Since 1888
LOANS FOR... • Recreational Property • Commercial Property • Country Homes • Retirement Property • Agricultural Property • Land Improvements
M C Mills County State Bank S B 1-800-285-2216 www.mcsbtexas.com Goldthwaite 325-648-2216
Early 325-646-0313
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Heartland Your Home
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Heartland Your Home
Problems at home
By Jim Weiker The Columbus Dispatch
OK,
homebuyers: You love the house, but the inspection turns up a hornets’ nest of problems — including actual hornets’ nests. The seller has to fix the problems, right? Wrong. Sellers are under no obligation to make any repairs to a home. In today’s market in particular, where sellers hold the upper hand, owners might tell demanding potential buyers to take a hike. Likewise, sellers are under no obligation to bring a house “up to code.” Building codes change constantly, and homes built more than a decade ago stand an excellent chance of not complying with some part of the current rules. But that doesn’t mean sellers are required to update the home. Even though sellers are not required to make repairs, they might have an incentive to help fix a problem uncovered in an inspection because they must disclose that discovery to the buyer. No matter who pays for the repairs, experts say certain problems should be addressed immediately — before buyers move in. Here are the top four troublemakers:
Damaged foundation
A foundation is the bedrock of the house upon which everything rests. Walk past the hairline cracks in the foundation wall. Those are a normal sign of settling. But large cracks, dramatically uneven blocks or bowed walls suggest potentially catastrophic and expensive issues. Experts caution against moving forward on a deal until a structural engineer examines the foundation and recommends a fix. Repairing a leak in a basement wall may be as simple as cleaning gutters to prevent water from soaking the soil outside the foundation. But repairing a bowed or seriously damaged foundation could run into tens of thousands of dollars. “It could be very serious to repair,” said Frank Lesh, executive director of the American Society of Home Inspectors, a Chicago-based trade group that represents 7,700 inspectors across the nation. “The cost to repair really depends. It’s not like a furnace.”
Mold
Mold is routine in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and anywhere else water is present. But large patches of mold should be remedied and diagnosed before the moving van arrives. Mold not only leads to respiratory problems, it also means water is entering and collecting in a house. While the mold should be cleaned, the source of the mold must be addressed.
“If mold is on a tile or a hard surface, it can almost always be cleaned up with bleach and water,” Lesh said. “But in a basement, or on drywall, you can’t scrub it clean. What you see on the surface could be much worse behind the surface. ... You don’t want someone just to come in and replace the drywall; you have to find the source of the water.”
Bad wiring
If inspection turns up these 4 flaws, take them seriously
“...And never cease to gather together...”
One of the simplest problems to spot in a home is knob-and-tube wiring, the exposed wire anchored by porcelain posts common in homes built from the 1880s to the 1930s. Although the system can work well, inspectors recommend replacing it for several safety reasons, including the fact that the circuit isn’t grounded, and the wires are sometimes covered in cloth that frays with age. Some insurers will not insure homes with knob-and-tube systems. Do-it-yourself electrical projects can especially be red flags, experts say.
Pests
Mice and cockroaches can be dealt with. But termites, carpenter ants and powderpost beetles are another breed of problem. They can dangerously chew away on the wood that holds a home together. Inspectors who spot signs of insect damage will frequently recommend a pest expert to more precisely identify the severity of the infestation. Before sealing the deal, buyers should know the extent of the pest damage and the cost to remedy it.
mortgage 254.965.2785 998 Wolfe Nursery Rd. www.texasbank.com INSTITUTION NMLS: 539097
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Heartland Your Home
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Marc Followwell
Luann McCluskey, GRI, Broker/Owner
325-642-2310
1515 Austin Ave., Brownwood, Tx 76801
Service with Integrity since 1999 325-643-3200
325-200-2581 Multi-Million Dollar Producer
BUYING OR SELLING?
www.brownwoodproperties.com 1704 BROADMOOR —$159,000
REALTOR ®
Call the McCluskey team today. We are low on inventory and we have buyers!! We will go “the extra mile” for you.
3909 4TH— $128,300
603 W. HILLSIDE—COLEMAN
Beautifully Looking for that unique home in town but need secluupdated 3/2 sion & privacy? This is it! Beautiful tree-covered lot Spahome featuring cious 4BD home located at end of dead-end road. Approximately 4000 gorgeous laminate sf, with possibility for 6 bedrooms. Split level with a w/1908 sf featuring open flooring, new counter basement--great for man-cave or guest bedroom. floorplan. Sits on large -tops & refinished corner lot with oversized Upper level with bedroom & cabinets. Spacious bath. Spacious open floordriveway for ample parking. New paint, new interior & open concept floorplan, also a split bedroom arrangeplan. Fabulous kitchen with exterior doors, new carpet in bedrooms, new fixtures & ment & plenty of closet space is a bonus. Screened-in fans, nice vinyl wood flooring. Lots of windows make this round island & large breakporch overlooks privacy-fenced backyard. Storage fast bar. Call Luann. a cheery home! Huge 4th bedroom great for “mancave/ building & sprinkler system are a plus! Call Marc today gameroom”…perfect for that big pool table. Call Luann! $187,500!
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES FOR SALE 709 W. COMMERCE REDUCED! Commercial building on 1/2 acre, previ-
ously operated as antique & jewelry repair— family owned for over 42 years. Property totally fenced with lots of parking. Great location for your business: auto, antiques, insurance etc. Endless possibilities. Call Luann today!!
1420 BRADY AVE. COMMERCIAL BLDG REDUCED— $18,500 Previously operated as restaurant. Sold AS—IS condition. Call Luann.
RUSTY ANCHOR RESTAURANT $75,000 3071 HARBOR DR
LAKE BROWNWOOD
Seller wants an offer! NOW $119,500 711 BELLE PLAIN—$175,000!!
Commercial building in great location on 1.5 acres. Previously operated as Smith Roofing Company. Located directly behind Underwood's BBQ. Reception area, 5 offices, 4 bathrooms, kitchen, 2 large shops, 2 open yards with covered parking.
Complete with building, land & inventory…just step in & take over! Sits on approximately .5 acre. Great Time to buy at the lake! Call Luann.
Call Luann.
1507 AUSTIN AVE. $139,500!! Commercial building with over 4000 sq ft of open space to make your own. Prime location with plenty of parking in the back! Endless possibilities for gym, retail, offices, nail shop etc. 20 year roof installed in 2015, new gas lines, electrical updates, plumbing updates, 2 bay doors, 2 AC units, half bath. Currently leased until Oct. 31st— building will be vacated by November 1st. Call Luann or appt.
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Heartland Your Home
SERVICE DIRECTORY OF BROWN COUNTY DNI Well Service
Pipe For Sale 23/8 and 27/8 Brushed #1 Tubing
Downhole or Structural
325-642-2399 OR
325-217-4982 BANGS, TX
New & Used Trailers Parts & Repair Dennis & Virginia Sanderson ownerS
Sanderson Trailers • Buy • Sell • Trade
325 643-3626 800 280-4125 948 Early Blvd. Early, TX 76802 Jason Dickey Manager
Be a part of our directory that will publish each Sunday in the classified section of the Brownwood Bulletin, Tuesdays in the Heartland Trading Post, and once a month in Your Home.
Call Trease
325-646-2541
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Heartland Your Home
Sunday, October 16, 2016