Key Questions Before Investing in a Fixer-Upper

For a lot of young people, a first step onto the property ladder might mean purchasing an older home that needs a bit of work. Fixer-uppers can be a great way to enter the real estate market, especially if you’re handy around the house and know a thing or two about remodeling.

But if you’re new to the game, getting swayed into paying too much for a rundown home that needs more work than it’s worth can be a real risk. Here are some things to think about before sinking your life savings into a piece of property:

Mr. Inspector

No matter what, always make sure you have an inspector look at the property and report on his or her findings. Lots of homes look perfectly fine on the outside but have expensive or even toxic damage hidden within the property. An inspector will document any issues he or she finds, and at the very least you should be able to use that information to negotiate the price with the seller. If major parts of the house such as the foundation or structural walls need replacing, or if the house has lead paint, lead pipes, or asbestos, you might want to rethink your potential purchase entirely.

Your Budget +15%

Be really clear about how much you are willing to spend to renovate your purchase into the house of your dreams, and be sure to include the cost of materials, the labor and any permits and paperwork in your estimate. Know that very few projects run to budget, so tack on an extra 15% to give yourself some breathing room. Think about what projects have to be dealt with immediately and which ones can wait. Broken stairs might need immediate attention, but the pink sink and bathtub might just grow on you – at least for the first year.

A Piece of History

Make sure you are aware of the historic status of an old home. Many people purchase houses in an area or zone that doesn’t allow the aesthetic to be changed, which could put a real damper on your dream plans. Also, know that historic restoration is much more expensive than a normal remodel, and it often requires specialists to get the job done right. Be aware of this before you buy.

Keep it Vanilla

A lot of young people buy fixer uppers with plans to remodel in a way that suits them personally. This is fine, but consider what types of projects will enhance the resale value of your home and attract a wide variety of buyers. Additionally, make sure that your remodeling plans keep your house in line with the other homes in the area. Real estate experts suggest keeping your home within 10-15% of the median sale price of other homes in your area. The last thing you want to do is spend a fortune to revamp a house and then not be able to sell it when the time is right.  

Your Crew

Once you decide on your fixer-upper, make sure you hire experts to handle each individual job. Many people are tempted to get one handyman to install the flooring, replace the electrical, and fix the plumbing as a way to save money. This usually comes back to bite the homeowner as no general contractor can be an expert at everything. Find a pro that you love and ask him or her for recommendations. Every contractor has other tradespeople that they feel comfortable introducing to their clients because they do great work. Remember, it’s their reputation on the line too.

 Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or request a call. Advice is for guidance only.

Here Comes The Sun – A Quick Guide to Solar Energy

With the tax credit being extended until 2019, solar paneling is coming back into the spotlight, and for good reason. The Solar Energy Industries Association sees solar capacity tripling by 2020, with enough power for 20 million homes, representing 3.5% of electricity generated in the United States.

Demand for solar power isn’t as strong here as it is in the southwest corner of the country. But some states, like California for instance, are really getting behind it, demanding that all new residential buildings must be zero net energy by the year 2020. This means they will need renewable energy systems to generate as much power as they consume.

So why solar? Firstly, the sun is expected to be around for the next five billion years or so, and since it’s a renewable resource, the power is constantly replenished and there is very little likelihood that it will run out. Additionally, the amount of energy the sun gives us is over 20,000 times more than the amount of energy used by mankind, so unlike the energy we’re pulling out the ground, it’s likely that we can rely on it for a long time coming. 

Some homes are better candidates for solar paneling than others. Firstly, the best position for panels is a roof that faces in a southerly direction. The roof should also be at a 35 to 50-degree angle, which encompasses most roofs and allows for the best possible energy production for all seasons. You want to make sure the panels have clear access to the sun, so any large trees, chimneys or buildings that obstruct the panels’ ability to absorb sun rays might want to be cleared if possible. Finally, your roof will need to be in good condition and probably less than 10 years old. The last thing you want to do is install solar panels on a roof that will need to be replaced in a few years time.

Does your home check all the boxes? If so, your next step should be Energize CT where you can find the latest information on rebates, incentives and financing options for renewable energy. Before you decide on which solar panels to use, you should have your home inspected to ensure it’s ready for the upgrade. If you don’t have proper insulation in your home already, now is the time to get it. Without proper insulation, all that energy you’re generating will go right up through the roof, literally.  An energy inspector will also assess your windows and doors for leakage, and will likely make recommendations on how to improve the efficiency of your home appliances.

After your home is inspected and any necessary improvements are made, you can look for a certified contractor to install your panels. The contractor will assist you with the incentive application and help you decide which system is right for you. Remember, it’s always a good idea to shop around and get multiple quotes before deciding on both a system and a contractor. 

There’s a roof fungus among us

Has a pattern of strange, streaky stains appeared on your roof this spring? As I drive around town, I see many houses decorated with a display of unsightly roof residue, which frequently pops up during this wetter time of the year. But what is it, why has it emerged and what can you do to get rid of it? They are all good questions, so let’s get you some answers.

Stains on the roof are generally algae or mold, which tend to crop up as humidity rises and warmer temperatures start to emerge. Now don’t be too alarmed, small black stains and mold aren’t necessarily going to ruin your roof, but they do affect the curb appeal of your home and the problem could end up being damaging if not dealt with for a long period of time.  

An interesting fact is that copper is toxic to algae, and many newer roof shingles contain copper granules, which act as a barrier against any mold growth. Homes with older roofs won’t benefit from this technology, but it explains why you won’t see algae where metal flashing has been installed. If you’re susceptible to algae and in the market for a new roof, be sure to inquire about this type of shingle.

So now that we know what it is, how do we get rid of it? The easiest way to rid your roof of mold is a good old-fashioned bleach and water mixture, which can be applied using a pump sprayer and rinsed with the garden hose. One tip is to give any plants below the roof a good drink of water beforehand so they don’t absorb the bleach mixture. Diluted bleach is a powerful compound that will clean the roof without any adverse effects, so long as you give it a good rinse afterward. There are other products on the market that will do the job, just pop into your local hardware store to find out what’s best for you based on your home’s symptoms.

Once the roof has been cleaned, you might want to do something to prevent the mold from coming back again. As I mentioned, copper, and zinc-coated sheet metal for that matter, are toxic to algae, so installing a strip of flashing will help stop that nasty fungus in its tracks. Choose a strip that’s at least six inches wide, and have it installed at the roof peak to ensure that the metal molecules wash down with the rain and protect the roof from mold build up.  

If you’re not comfortable on a ladder, call a professional to help you complete this task. A clean roof isn’t worth a trip to the hospital, and a local area home improvement specialist will be able to complete the job in less than a day.