Why You Should Never Ignore a Leaking Roof

 
 

A leaky roof can cause serious damage to your home, and it’s important to address the issue as soon as possible.

If you’re dealing with a leaky roof, don’t make the mistake of ignoring it—there are numerous consequences that could result from not taking action. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you should never ignore a leaky roof. 

Water Damage & Mold Growth 
The most obvious consequence of ignoring a leaky roof is water damage. If left untreated, a leaking roof can cause significant damage to your home’s structure over time. Not only can water damage weaken the structural integrity of your home, but it can also contribute to mold growth in its most extreme cases. Mold is more than just unsightly—it can be hazardous to your health if left untreated for too long.

Higher Utility Bills & Poor Air Quality 
Another reason why you should never ignore a leaky roof is because it can lead to higher utility bills and poor air quality in your home. When your roof isn’t properly insulated, heat and cool air escape through cracks in the ceiling or walls, resulting in an uncomfortable living environment and higher energy bills. Additionally, poor insulation means that dust particles and other allergens are more likely to enter your home, leading to poor air quality and potential health risks for those living inside. 

Decreased Property Value 
Another issue that arises from ignoring a leaky roof is decreased property value. Even if you aren’t planning on selling your house anytime soon, it’s still important to keep up with repairs so that you don’t have to worry about decreased property values down the road if you do eventually decide to sell. Potential buyers are less likely to purchase homes with noticeable damage from water leaks or other issues related to neglecting necessary updates and repairs. 

Potential Insurance Issues 
Finally, it's important to note that ignoring a leaky roof could also have an effect on your home insurance policy. Most insurance companies specify that any pre-existing damage must be reported before they will pay out on any damages caused by storms or other external factors; if they find out you've been covering up existing damage with patchwork repairs instead of fixing it properly, they may deny future claims altogether!  

As you can see, there are many consequences that arise when homeowners choose not to address their leaky roofs immediately. Not only will this affect the structural integrity of their homes but also their wallets due to higher utility bills and decreased property value over time. Therefore, if you notice any signs of water leakage in your home due to a faulty or aging roof, contact a professional right away so they can help address the issue before bigger problems arise!

Keep reading.

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Oregon

The Secrets to Pulling Off a Live-in Renovation

 
 

One of the only things more challenging than taking on home renovation is attempting to also live in the house that you’re working on, but Tara Mangini and Percy Bright have built their careers on doing just that.

The co-founders of the Jersey Ice Cream Co. spent years temporarily moving into the houses that they’re renovating, but they recently decided to put their skills to ultimate test by working on a home of their own in Upstate New York. 

The pair have been chronicling their live-in renovation experience in the Magnolia Network series, “The Story of Home,” and shared some of the secrets to pulling it off in a recent interview with Apartment Therapy.

At this point, it feels weird to be in a house that is not under construction, Mangini shared. “I feel like I’m tiptoeing around and not supposed to get anything dirty,” she said. “Versus the feeling of when it’s under construction, which is this very loose, who cares, spill it, draw on the wall, nothing matters… It’s this really free situation.”

“There’s also the practical benefit of getting to know the house better and getting to change your mind all the time, for better or worse,” Bright said. “[You can alter] your plans as you go, instead of having this detailed design plan that just gets executed by someone else and then you walk back in. Being able to change things up as things progress is huge.”

One of the keys to success is coming up with designated living quarters. “Create these makeshift areas,” Mangini said, recommending a temporary kitchen and living area. “For me, once I can get that up and running, it’s actually pretty easy to get used to that.” 

She noted that it’s also important to recognize the exact nature of your renovation: whether it’s a simple paint job or something involving gutting and insulation. “I think there’s some degrees where you should probably get a hotel or Airbnb for a month or something,” she added.

Maintaining mental wellness is another important part of the process. It can be easier to pull off a live-in renovation in the summer, because you have the option to spend time outside of the house, Mangini said. Getting exercise and talking to friends are also simple ways to get out of the headspace of the project. Mangini shared that there’s no straight line and that she and Bright usually have a check-in every six-to-ten weeks where they come up with a new plan and that “it’s just always kind of a new approach.”

Get more like this on Apartment Therapy.

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Oregon

Seniors aren’t the only homebuyers who want to downsize right now

 
 

Retirees' plans to downsize their homes could be challenging as more buyers seek smaller homes in the midst of inflation.

Downsizing from a larger to a smaller home is a common practice for older adults as they enter retirement, but those types of plans could now be challenged by issues stemming from inflation. In addition, seniors are no longer the only ones who are willing to consider downsizing, which could cause more issues in a competitive market.

The Plan Collection, a vendor of home architectural plans, recently released data that shows the demand for new home plans with smaller square footage increased in 2022. There are likely multiple factors driving this trend, including inflation, building costs and mortgage rates, all of which have increased year over year.

“Year over year, searches for house plans for homes ranging between 500–1,000 square feet are up 34%, and those 1,000–1,500 square feet gained 32%,” the Plan Collection said in a press release.

This aligns with recent data published by Bank of America that showed about 71% of prospective buyers are now willing to purchase a smaller home than they might have been before. This could cause the market to be more competitive for seniors who have downsizing goals in mind.

A “60 Minutes” news report, which aired in March 2022, offered insight into why younger homebuyers might be looking at smaller homes. Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather told “60 Minutes” that one major issue that is keeping millennials from buying homes is a lack of housing supply.

“We are not building enough housing for everybody who needs a place to live,” Fairweather said. “We built fewer homes in the 2010s than in any decade going back to the 1960s, and at the same time millennials are the biggest generation and they’re entering into home-buying age.”

Downsizing is often included in seniors’ retirement plans to account for family members leaving the home, the difficulties maintaining a larger home or mobility issues.

While reverse mortgage loans are typically reserved for seniors who remain within their residences, a smaller share of business is done through the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for Purchase (H4P) program, which allows an older borrower to purchase a new home with a reverse mortgage.

H4P has its defenders in the reverse mortgage industry, but recent data from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)’s Annual Report to Congress detailed that H4P utilization was reduced, making up only 3.2% of all HECMs in FY 2022 from its 4.17% total in FY 2021.

Learn more.

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Oregon

How Clutter Affects Your Mind

 
 

Clutter in our homes, offices and cars is something many of us are drowning in — but clearing it out can seem like a gargantuan task.

This article originally appeared in Axios Finish Line, a nightly newsletter on life, leadership and wellness. Sign up here.

  • Why it matters: A messy environment infects the mind. It can make us anxious and hurt our ability to relax, focus or sleep.

"It just makes life harder," says Susan Whitbourne, a psychologist at UMass Amherst. "Things take longer to do, you lose things, you break things, you're slowed down."

  • Then there's the emotional distress. "You're constantly faced with reminders of your messiness, which doesn't conform to your identity as someone who has their act together."

  • Case in point: A recent study — reported in the journal Environment and Behavior tested — the effect of mess on behavior by placing subjects in normal versus chaotic kitchens. Those in the messy kitchens tended to overindulge in less healthy snacks like cookies more than their counterparts.

The solution is seemingly simple. Clear out the clutter and clean up the mess.

  • But the very anxiety the mess is causing can make it difficult to face it and clean up, Whitbourne says.

Here are a few tips, culled from experts, on how to get started if you're staring down a stress-inducing mess:

  1. Don't set an unreasonable goal. If an entire room has gotten cluttered, you might tell yourself you want to clean it in one go. But you likely won't be able to — and that'll stress you out even more, Whitbourne says.

  2. Instead, make small changes in small doses. Start with one side of a closet or one cabinet in the kitchen. You'll accomplish your goal, and that'll be fuel to keep going.

  3. Ask for help. When our spaces get messy, we often want to keep people out. But if you've got a friend or family member willing to help without judgment, let 'em.

  4. Reward yourself! Whitbourne suggests putting on your favorite album or podcast while you clean and organize.

Get more like this on Axios.

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Oregon

Just Listed: Investment opportunity in Obsidian Estate

 
 
 

Investment opportunity!

Well cared for single level duplex with single car garages. Open floor plan with vaulted ceilings make these units feel spacious. Large closets in the primary, washer dryer hook ups in the garage. Several updates in the past few years, Unit 1: New flooring, appliances, some light fixtures, blinds, window trim, paint and new stain on the porch. Unit 2; New paint , porch stain and blinds, and completely painted outside fall 2018. Both are landscaped front and back and have sprinklers. Fenced with rear yards featuring patios on each side. Great location convenient to shopping, Umatilla Sports Complex + easy access to Hwy 97 + Redmond airport. Tenants are responsible for all utilities.

Listed by Kristin Walker for West + Main Homes. Please contact Kristin for current pricing + availability.

 
 
 

Have questions?
West + Main Homes
westandmain.co
hello@westandmainoregon.com

Presented by:
Kristin Walker
(541) 480-5069
kristin@westandmainoregon.com


Search homes in Oregon