I recently was visiting with a friend who had a death in the family and he told me that weddings and funerals seemed to bring out the best and the worst in people. I believe it’s the stress that is involved as well as the family dynamics that play a key role in behaviors; some handle it well while others do not. Believe it or not, purchasing a home can bring about the same responses and family dynamics!
Being able to operate in a little bit of a pressure cooker is a very important skill for a Realtor to have; especially if family members are involved. Having to relate to three other generations in my family has given me a great background to communicate with any age group or gender. Knowledge is key when it comes to explaining the sales or buying process, the contracts, the closing and everything in-between but you also have to know the people involved and the best way to communicate with each one. I would love to visit with you and see if I can help you with the sale or the purchase of a home.
One of the best organizations that are helping people after the flood is Hands on Nashville. They have been on hand (forgive the pun) since 1991 coordinating volunteers with people and places in need of services. This is how their website, www.hon.org says it:
HON is a recognized leader in programs, partnerships and services that maximize volunteer impact for youth, adult, corporate, and nonprofit constituencies in the greater Nashville community. Each year, Hands On Nashville refers or places 38,000 volunteers to projects in more than 300 area service agencies and schools.
I have heard several flood victims state that they are concerned that as time goes on the volunteers will fade away and they won’t be able to get the help they need. Knowing Hands on Nashville is here in our community and NOT going anywhere should be a comfort to those who still need help today and for those who may need help in the foreseeable future. Please contact them if you are still in need as well as if you are ready to step in and volunteer some more or for the first time.
On the last post we discussed that there are several things you need to know when it comes to renovations; have a plan and get a good contractor to carry out that plan.
Hopefully, you now know the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator. Now we are going to talk about finding a good reliable contractor. One of the best resources you have but never think of is your local realtor. We end up having to find handymen and good contractors all the time to fix up homes for sellers that need some touchups in order to get homes ready to sell as well as repairs that are found on a home inspection. Some of these contractors can be general contractors but most are specialty contractors like HVAC, plumbing or electrical.
Because most realtors work in large offices we can either find someone that can help you or know someone who can. With that said, you are ultimately responsible for deciding who to choose for your renovation project. In order to make that decision better, I always recommend you get referrals that can be verified. This is a very important step and I find those who take it almost always have a good experience.
There are several things you need to know when it comes to renovations; have a plan and get a good contractor to carry out that plan.
When establishing a plan you might think you need to go find an architect but you can do a lot of planning with the help of an interior designer. Some people think interior designers are interior decorators and that is far from the truth. While interior decorators simply stay within the realm of color, furniture, pillows, coverings and accessories, interior designers are capable of far more things. They use some high powered software to help render space planning and this means they can move walls and electrical plans and just about anything else that you may want to see what it looks like to move. On top of that they know things like plumbing and fixtures and makes and models of appliances, what’s “green” and what’s not and an assortment of other things that most decorators are not qualified to get into. And they can also deal with colors, furniture, coverings and accessories. My next post will talk about contractors.
After the flood many in our area are rethinking their drainage situation. I’ve heard of homes that were flooded because water was directed right into the house. If there was proper drainage that led the water to the outside of some of these houses they would have been spared. The question is; do you need to redo or just do some drainage work to avoid this ever happening to you?
There are a couple of things to look for to know if this is something you should consider. First, does water pool up against your foundation at the front or back of your house? Second, does water pool out in your yard and create mini ponds? One person I spoke to fixed the water against the house by purchasing extension hoses that fit on the bottom of the gutter drain and redirected the water to the sides of the home. You can try this first before calling a professional in to take a look.
The pools out in the yard may or may not be a problem and will need to be accessed by a professional. Some landscaping companies have the capability of doing drainage work. Make sure whoever you use to get qualified referrals.
I would suggest that you go to Donate Nashville and fill out the need you have and see if there is someone out there who can help you fill that void. Here is what they say on the website about what they do, which is wonderful!
“When disaster strikes – large or small – there will always be a need that falls through the cracks: a donation that doesn’t make it to the right spot, or a concerned volunteer who can’t find a place to plug in. That’s where we come in. Donate Nashville connects real needs, no matter how small or unusual, with practical, community-based solutions. As neighbors, we’ll work together in creative and personal ways to touch each other’s lives and solve our city’s most pressing challenges.”
What a simple idea that can really help people on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis as well as case by case basis. It is also a great place to go if you have something you would like to give back to the community of Nashville and surrounding areas. They simply match your “have” with someone else’s “need”. The ingenuity of some has made it so much easier for us all to connect. Just another great reason we are the volunteer state!
In talking with friends, family and co-workers you quickly get the sense that everyone has been touched by this flood in one way or another. Though my husband and I stayed dry, my daughter and son-in-law lived in the hard hit area out in Bellevue. And though their loss was hard for them it was not near the loss that some of their neighbors had. With all that has happened, what we have discovered once again, in the volunteer state is the helping hands that come out of nowhere when disaster hits.
With this in mind I wanted to pass along a list of official and informative websites to help all of those involved as well as the organizations that will be raising money for quite a while to help victims of the flood. If you would like to volunteer, consider one of the organizations listed below as they are always looking for people to help them with both fundraising and getting things done!
Helpful Links:
Volunteering and Fundraising:
I have been reading and hearing today much about the projected economic impact the recent flood will make on Nashville, its businesses and surrounding areas and have been surprised at how negative some of these have been. Maybe this surprised me because I tend to lean toward the optimistic view point in just about every situation including this one.
I do realize there will be a time of cleaning up and rebuilding and it makes me think about the tornado that hit downtown, East Nashville and the Hermitage areas in 1998. I know that many have felt that the tornado was the beginning of really building East Nashville to what it is today; a thriving, trendy neighborhood were many want to live.
It won’t be easy and it will take time but Tennesseans are a resilient bunch and know how to rebuild after hard times and disasters. If I was to bet on whether the will take us out or help us build it better long term; my vote would be that we will build it better. Time will tell if I am right.
One of the dangers when water gets into your home has to do with mold; especially if it is warm outside. While you hear horror stories about mold, most types of mold can be eliminated before it ever begins if you follow a few steps put out by insurance agencies.
- Dry Quickly
- Contact your insurance company to see if you are covered
- If you can, hire a contractor who can deal with drying out your home (make sure he or she is certified or training in water restoration)
- Speed is your friend and mold can produce very quickly so you have to be quicker (you have about 48 hours)
- Make sure everything is dry before you start to do any refinishing. This includes the crawl space, trim work and everything else you can and cannot see.
If you have more questions about what to do when it floods and other disasters, this is one of the best resources I have found. For many it is your car that has been water damaged and you will need to get a competent mechanic to go through the engine and electrical system as well as restoring the interior. All are a lot of work but necessary to protect you from health issues and other potential hidden dangers.
At the end of last week a new ruling took effect that directly affects renovators and re-modelers of homes that were built prior to 1978. That was the year lead paint was banned for residential use because of potential health risked for young children. Under this rule, at least one person per job site must complete the eight hour training course offered by private companies. Though there have been some complaints that the government has not provided enough trainers to help renovation companies meet the deadline and get people trained, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has insisted the two year notice was adequate enough time for companies to prepare and thus they are sticking to their original timetable.
The main impact is on the economic recovery of the renovation and repair industry that has been negatively impacted by the home downturn. While many felt this industry was just beginning to recover, others feel this ruling will lead to and pro-longed downturn. How this will impact repairs of homeowner DIY projects is not known at the time but you may want to do some research and find out the implications of working in areas with potential lead paint risks before conducting the renovation or repair on your home.
