Okay, I’m ready to laugh about it now, but only just now. And the time between now and the last wound suffered has been only a few days. So I may ramble on a bit, just to give you fair warning.
I’m smiling only because I’m amazed at how such a simple straightforward project as purchasing suitable coverings for two small windows, can turn into a screenplay for a new Pink Panther movie. Perhaps I’m overstating the case, but I swear that the comedy of errors surrounding this home improvement task would make Tim the Tool Man’s Top Ten List.
Our home faces the west, and well, since the sun sets in the west, we had to do something about the windows. We installed wood shades over the square windows and that worked well. But over the study window and over the front door were two “eyebrow” windows that would require specialized treatment.
My wife steadied the stepladder as I climbed, tape measure in hand to garner semi-precise dimensions for “close-enough-for-government-work” pricing estimates. These openings weren’t oversized, but every evening from late spring through early fall the brightness from the sun made it nearly impossible to navigate the kitchen; and the heat it generated made it unbearable in the study.
We took these measurements to several stores where blinds and shades are sold and one sales associate after another showed us our choices and tallied up the cost. I think it should be required for builders and sellers to disclose just how much it costs to properly treat an eyebrow window. At the prices we were quoted the word “treat” was inappropriate. I consulted my Thesaurus and found more appropriate terms such as, extravagance, indulgence, delicacy and luxury. This search led me to other words like doctor, nurse, cure and heal.
Our original thoughts were to have matching wood blinds custom cut. I’ve shopped for used cars that cost less. Seriously, are there people out there who actually pay thousands of dollars for something to hang in the window collecting dust? I guess so.
After several days browsing through decorating magazines, we settled on the idea of a shade. A window covering made of a durable material formed into cells that fan out from the bottom center of the window similar to a Chinese hand fan.
The look of this window treatment was pleasurable, but not extravagant, delightful but not luxuriant (yes, more Thesaurus words). And the price was more “general practitioner” than “specialist”. So we set the appointment for the installation expert to come and take exact measurements of our two windows.
Three days later I met the installer who not only took exact measurements, he also taped thick brown butcher paper over the openings and cut templates for the manufacturer to use when making the custom cuts. He left and the next day we returned to the store to place the order.
The sales associate called out the price and I actually smiled as I handed her my credit card. After consulting the computer she said, “Your shades should arrive in two weeks.” Okay, I thought, two more weeks of the heat and the sun spotlighting our dinner preparations. And we left the store.
Three weeks later (yes, that’s 3) the store called to let us know that our shades had arrived and that we needed to schedule installation. Four days later (yes, that’s 4) I met the installer who admitted, “I’ve never put these kind of shades in before. But hey, how hard can it be?”
Four hours later (yes, that’s another 4) the installer was leaving and I was on the phone with the store complaining that the shades for which we had waited an extra week were cut at least two inches short in all directions. How could that be? I mean the installer had cut an exact template of each window. I watched him do it myself.
We were assured that the re-order of our purchase would be made immediately and that we could expect delivery in three weeks.
Four weeks later (yes…) our new shades arrived. The installer came out five days later and we now have shades to cover the two eyebrow windows. The whole process required just over three months, numerous phone calls four installer visits and I now know why they call it window treatment. In the end, the windows get treated better than the customer.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Sell Your Home in the Next 30 Days
It’s difficult to stay positive and motivated when your home has been on the market for over six months without a single solid purchase offer being made. If you’re in a situation like two of my neighbors who say, “I don’t really have to sell my home, but if someone offers full price, I’ll take it”, well, you can stop reading right now. This article is for those buyers who need to, have to, really want to sell their homes as quickly as possible.
I read a quote early this morning from one of my Facebook, friends (I can’t remember who it was). He said, “If you’re in hell don’t stop, keep moving.” That’s good advice for folks whose home has been on the market for what seems like forever. Realtors tell me the longer a home remains on the market the fewer inquiries that listing gets and the more frustrated sellers become. So if you think you’ve tried everything to sell your home, I have a few ideas that will hopefully stimulate your thinking and reenergize your efforts to get your house noticed.
Start with a fresh outlook: Invite someone from where you work to come and tour your home. The idea is to get someone who has never been to your home to come see your home as if they were house hunting. If you elect to use this idea, put your “thick skin” on. Watch their facial expressions and listen to the tone and inflection of their comments. You can learn just as much from what they say as you can from they way in which they say it.
Change the price: Before changing the price, take the time to tour other homes in your neighborhood to make an honest comparison. Most of us will have a difficult time remaining objective, so consider having that friend from work tour these homes with you. After visiting other homes check your price. If it’s too high, lower it. If it’s too low, raise it. If it’s just right, then leave it alone. The reason I include the option to raise your price is that common wisdom is that if a home hasn’t been shown, then perhaps the price needs to be dropped. When the price of a home listed on the MLS is changed it is picked up on more Realtor searches. The idea here is to generate interest in your home.
Hold a neighborhood open house: Use your neighborhood’s newsletter, website, or just mail postcards to your neighborhood and invite everyone over for a weeknight open house. Provide light snacks and hand out flyers to everyone who drops in. Most neighbors are curious about what your home looks like on the inside and many will come. Consider offering a “finder’s fee” for information leading to a buyer for your home.
Make use of Twitter: There are 170 characters in every Twitter post and with careful planning you can maximize each letter. Consider the following: “We’re moving and can’t take out house with us. Know anyone wanting a great place to live?” “Great home, new carpet, fresh paint inside and out, leaving great karma behind, no extra charge.” “$500 finder’s fee for sending me a buyer for my home” Ask your friends to use a few of their Twitter posts to help you sell your home. You might even make the finder’s fee available to them as well.
Have a candid talk with your Realtor: If your home has been on the market for several months and you’re getting limited or not interest, it’s time to have a candid talk with your realtor. But before jumping to the conclusion that they haven’t been doing their job I encourage you to take the opposite approach and listen to the way they answer this one simple question. “If this was your home and you needed to sell it, what would you do differently than what we have already done?” Be sure that you have both ears on and a notepad; and resolve beforehand that you will not take any of their suggestions as a personal attack.
The idea is to do something different that what you have already been doing. Mixing things up can be a great way to re-energize everyone’s activity and hopefully attract that buyer within the next thirty days.
I read a quote early this morning from one of my Facebook, friends (I can’t remember who it was). He said, “If you’re in hell don’t stop, keep moving.” That’s good advice for folks whose home has been on the market for what seems like forever. Realtors tell me the longer a home remains on the market the fewer inquiries that listing gets and the more frustrated sellers become. So if you think you’ve tried everything to sell your home, I have a few ideas that will hopefully stimulate your thinking and reenergize your efforts to get your house noticed.
Start with a fresh outlook: Invite someone from where you work to come and tour your home. The idea is to get someone who has never been to your home to come see your home as if they were house hunting. If you elect to use this idea, put your “thick skin” on. Watch their facial expressions and listen to the tone and inflection of their comments. You can learn just as much from what they say as you can from they way in which they say it.
Change the price: Before changing the price, take the time to tour other homes in your neighborhood to make an honest comparison. Most of us will have a difficult time remaining objective, so consider having that friend from work tour these homes with you. After visiting other homes check your price. If it’s too high, lower it. If it’s too low, raise it. If it’s just right, then leave it alone. The reason I include the option to raise your price is that common wisdom is that if a home hasn’t been shown, then perhaps the price needs to be dropped. When the price of a home listed on the MLS is changed it is picked up on more Realtor searches. The idea here is to generate interest in your home.
Hold a neighborhood open house: Use your neighborhood’s newsletter, website, or just mail postcards to your neighborhood and invite everyone over for a weeknight open house. Provide light snacks and hand out flyers to everyone who drops in. Most neighbors are curious about what your home looks like on the inside and many will come. Consider offering a “finder’s fee” for information leading to a buyer for your home.
Make use of Twitter: There are 170 characters in every Twitter post and with careful planning you can maximize each letter. Consider the following: “We’re moving and can’t take out house with us. Know anyone wanting a great place to live?” “Great home, new carpet, fresh paint inside and out, leaving great karma behind, no extra charge.” “$500 finder’s fee for sending me a buyer for my home” Ask your friends to use a few of their Twitter posts to help you sell your home. You might even make the finder’s fee available to them as well.
Have a candid talk with your Realtor: If your home has been on the market for several months and you’re getting limited or not interest, it’s time to have a candid talk with your realtor. But before jumping to the conclusion that they haven’t been doing their job I encourage you to take the opposite approach and listen to the way they answer this one simple question. “If this was your home and you needed to sell it, what would you do differently than what we have already done?” Be sure that you have both ears on and a notepad; and resolve beforehand that you will not take any of their suggestions as a personal attack.
The idea is to do something different that what you have already been doing. Mixing things up can be a great way to re-energize everyone’s activity and hopefully attract that buyer within the next thirty days.
Friday, August 14, 2009
More Boomers Choose Aging In Place
My parents have chosen to do it, and they are in their mid-70’s. I’m nearing my mid-50’s and if I have the choice to stay at home rather than move to a retirement village or an assisted living center, I too would choose to Age in Place. So would 89 percent of 50+ year olds, in an AARP survey conducted in 2005.
But many are not prepared to remain in their homes. Most have not taken even the most basic steps to make their home more senior friendly. In response to this growing Boomer trend, the NAIPC (National Aging in Place Council) has formed an education and resource website for aging adults who choose to remain at home (www.naipc.org).
The self-stated purpose on the NAIPC website is: “The National Aging in Place Council is a membership organization founded on the belief that an overwhelming majority of older Americans want to remain in their homes for as long as possible, but lack awareness of home and community-based services that make independent living possible.”
The identifier “Aging in Place” may be a new term to you but already there are hundreds of “specialists” identified in this field. The list of experts includes Legal and Financial assistance, Healthcare, In home care giving, Interior redesign, Remodeling, Insurance, Lifestyle transitions, Public and non-profit resources, Products specific to senior safety, Reverse mortgages and Real estate services.
The National Association of Homebuilders has also taken up this cause by offering an extensive training and certification course of study. CAPS certified professionals have completed the course of study that includes understanding senior demographics and the aging in place concept, how to make the home safe for seniors and extensive training in ethical business practices.
The NAHB website (www.nahb.org) has an extensive list of items around the home that anyone choosing to age in place will want to consider. Here I have provided a few of the highlights.
Exterior of the Home: Low-maintenance exterior of brick or vinyl siding; trees, shrubs and plants should be low maintenance; and deck, patio or balcony surfaces should be no more than ½ inch below the interior floor level.
Entry and Hallways: Hallways should be a minimum of 36” wide; provide at least one covered entry to the home with not step up or down; non-slip flooring at foyer; and provide a place for package delivery that is easily accessible to home owner.
Interior Doors and Windows: Doors should allow a clear path of at least 32 inches; replace doorknobs with levered door handles. Plenty of windows for natural light; low maintenance exterior and interior finishes; with easy to operate widow hardware.
Faucets: Install lever handles or pedal controlled faucets and make certain anti-scald controls are in place.
Kitchen and Laundry: Upper cabinets should be lowered three inches for easier accessibility; install glass-front cabinet doors and install pull-down shelving. Appliances should have easy to read controls; washer and dryer raised 12 to 15 inches to facilitate loading and unloading, or replace with front loading machines; replace stove with electric cook top with level burners for safety in transferring pots and pans between the burners.
Bathroom: Provide at least one wheelchair accessible/maneuverable bat on the main level; bracing in tubs and showers, with seat in shower; raised toilet with grab bars; stand-up showers should be curbless and be a minimum of 36 inches wide; and install slip-resistant flooring.
The website’s list is quite a bit more extensive and continues with suggestions for stairways, lifts and elevators, Ramps, Storage, Electrical, Lighting, Safety and Security, Flooring, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Energy-Efficient Features, and Reducing Maintenance and other convenience features.
But many are not prepared to remain in their homes. Most have not taken even the most basic steps to make their home more senior friendly. In response to this growing Boomer trend, the NAIPC (National Aging in Place Council) has formed an education and resource website for aging adults who choose to remain at home (www.naipc.org).
The self-stated purpose on the NAIPC website is: “The National Aging in Place Council is a membership organization founded on the belief that an overwhelming majority of older Americans want to remain in their homes for as long as possible, but lack awareness of home and community-based services that make independent living possible.”
The identifier “Aging in Place” may be a new term to you but already there are hundreds of “specialists” identified in this field. The list of experts includes Legal and Financial assistance, Healthcare, In home care giving, Interior redesign, Remodeling, Insurance, Lifestyle transitions, Public and non-profit resources, Products specific to senior safety, Reverse mortgages and Real estate services.
The National Association of Homebuilders has also taken up this cause by offering an extensive training and certification course of study. CAPS certified professionals have completed the course of study that includes understanding senior demographics and the aging in place concept, how to make the home safe for seniors and extensive training in ethical business practices.
The NAHB website (www.nahb.org) has an extensive list of items around the home that anyone choosing to age in place will want to consider. Here I have provided a few of the highlights.
Exterior of the Home: Low-maintenance exterior of brick or vinyl siding; trees, shrubs and plants should be low maintenance; and deck, patio or balcony surfaces should be no more than ½ inch below the interior floor level.
Entry and Hallways: Hallways should be a minimum of 36” wide; provide at least one covered entry to the home with not step up or down; non-slip flooring at foyer; and provide a place for package delivery that is easily accessible to home owner.
Interior Doors and Windows: Doors should allow a clear path of at least 32 inches; replace doorknobs with levered door handles. Plenty of windows for natural light; low maintenance exterior and interior finishes; with easy to operate widow hardware.
Faucets: Install lever handles or pedal controlled faucets and make certain anti-scald controls are in place.
Kitchen and Laundry: Upper cabinets should be lowered three inches for easier accessibility; install glass-front cabinet doors and install pull-down shelving. Appliances should have easy to read controls; washer and dryer raised 12 to 15 inches to facilitate loading and unloading, or replace with front loading machines; replace stove with electric cook top with level burners for safety in transferring pots and pans between the burners.
Bathroom: Provide at least one wheelchair accessible/maneuverable bat on the main level; bracing in tubs and showers, with seat in shower; raised toilet with grab bars; stand-up showers should be curbless and be a minimum of 36 inches wide; and install slip-resistant flooring.
The website’s list is quite a bit more extensive and continues with suggestions for stairways, lifts and elevators, Ramps, Storage, Electrical, Lighting, Safety and Security, Flooring, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Energy-Efficient Features, and Reducing Maintenance and other convenience features.
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