Living Small in a McMansion World

Jay Shafer Home

Living small in a McMansion world is a concept that is still foreign to most people.  “I’ve got to have bigger; I’ve got to have better!” is usually the American homeowner’s mantra.  But there is a movement afoot to scale down.  In fact, the average new home construction country-wide has decreased by about 200 square feet from recent years. And from Sarah Susanka, author of  The Not So Big House to individuals quietly changing their lifestyles, living small or small-er is an idea that can’t be embraced soon enough.   You may not be moved to live THIS small, but what Jay Shafer is doing is inspired, to say the least.  Check out his video by clicking on his name. 

If you have questions about living smaller, or greener, call me at 406.869.7677 or Facebook me on the group BILLINGS.

Tips for a Positive 2011

Well, it’s a new year.  And I’ve decided that we can wish everyone a Happy New Year until January 15th. It’s arbitrary, but it gives me the chance to greet everyone with that hopeful phrase for a few more days!

In the spirit of the New Year, here are some tips for a positive 2011!!

1.  Take a 10-30 minute “Thank You” walk everyday.  While you walk, practice gratitude.  It’s the ultimate up-lifter.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.  Buy a lock if you have to.

3.  Buy a DVD-R or Tivo and tape your late night shows. You’ll get more sleep – it’s the ultimate energizer.

4.  When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement. My purpose is to _________________________ today.

5.  Live with the 3 E’s:  Energy. Enthusiasm.  Empathy.

6.  Read more books than you did in 2010.

7.  Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, qigong, prayer.  They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8.  Dream more while you are awake.

9.  Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.

10. Mentor someone and be mentored by someone.

11. Engage in daily random acts of kindness.  It’s good for the soul.

12. Make space in your life for new and flowing positive energy: clear your clutter from your house, your car and your desk.

13. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

14. Smile lots, and laugh often. You’ll feel better and so will people around you.

15. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:          I am thankful for _______________________.   Today I accomplished ______________________.

16. Enjoy the ride.  You only have one ride, so make it as sweet and rich as possible!!

Happy New Year!

mortal blogging mistake #1

Well, I did it.  I committed the #1 mortal blogging mistake:  I stopped blogging for a long period of time.  3 months, to be exact.  I didn’t plan it, I didn’t consciously avoid it.  Life just happened.  And my focus was drawn somewhere else.  What happened is this:  my 78 year old mother, who is active, healthy, an avid and talented gardener (green thumb+++++), a gifted musician and pipe organ virtuoso, grandmother, friend and, often quite pill-ish person, fell from a ladder while putting something on a shelf in the garage.  She hit her head and suffered a fractured skull, two subdural hematomas, swelling and bleeding into her brain.

People asked me why she was on a ladder.  Are you kidding?  She’s not dead!! Shes’ got stuff to do!!  And she can do it without help, thank you very much!  Quelle question!

Three months later, my mother is recovering nicely, thanks to extraordinary care at New Hope Rehabilitation Center, the nursing staff at Billings Clinic, and the professionals at Beartooth Hospital in Red Lodge.  She is strong on her feet and getting better mentally.  I expect her to be digging in the gardens at her own house and at the Beartooth Nature Center next spring.  Her return to the organ may take a little longer.

So, three months have passed, with the ever present thought that maybe I should be blogging, but then came the thought ” no, not today.”

Today, I am blogging.  And the point of this little note is to remind you, kind readers, that life is tenuous.  Grasp it with all the vigor you can muster.  Tell the people you love that you do, in fact, love them. Tell them often.  Extend a helping hand to someone in need who crosses your path, no matter who they are.  Give thanks. Often.  Be gracious to and grateful for the elderly. They have trod a personal path we can only guess at. On second thought, ask them about their life.  They’ll have some stories to tell.

Mortal blogging mistake?  Maybe, but probably not. Besides, there were more important things to take care of.

See Through Dog

See Through Dog

Another Weekly Chuckle!!

Weekly Chuckle

Here’s the Weekly Chuckle.  Don’t we all need one?!!

If you want to know exactly where the property line is, just watch the neighbor cut the grass.

Houses today don’t have enough closet space. Sure they do. They’re just called guest bedrooms.

House problem: The oven is self-cleaning, but the kids aren’t.

Trivia: The floors of buildings are called stories because early European builders used to paint picture stories on the sides of their houses. Each floor had a different story.

Do you have questions about real estate in Billings?  Call me at 406-869-7677 or Facebook me at the group BILLINGS.   I have answers! (And if I don’t, I’ll find the answer.)

July Market Stats are Positive!

July Market Stats are Positive!  We have a lot of inventory on the market, and it is indeed a “buyer’s market”, but here in Billings, the numbers show a positive trend.  Whew!  Good news for  Billings, good news for homebuyers and good news for home sellers!  Here are the charts that tell the story:

HOME PRICES 1996-2010YTD

ACTIVE LISTINGS 2009v2010

INVENTORY DETAIL

 If you have questions about real estate in Billings, call me at 406-869-7677 or Facebook me at the group BILLINGS.  I have answers! (And if I don’t, I’ll get it for you.)

It’s Construction Season. Please Slow Down

It’s construction season in Billings, Montana.  That means it’s summer.  And it also means that, although lots of projects are main arterials that divert traffic to other arterials, there are some detours that will direct you into neighborhoods.  Neighborhoods where people live, children play and pets escape their leashes.  I was driving my usual route today and found myself diverted onto – you guessed it – a residential street.  As soon as I turned the corner, I was met with this sign:  It was a hand-painted sign by a resident of a street that has been inundated by detour traffic.

It caused me to check my speedometer; I was going a tad bit fast. After all, I was JUST FORCED TO VEER FROM MY REGULAR ROUTE, FOR HEAVEN SAKE!!!  The sign also made me realize that I’m probably not the only one who had to leave their chosen, blocked route and started blasting through someone’s neighborhood, as though it were the 35 mph(okay, 40 mph) street I had just left behind.

If you find yourself in the same situation I found myself today, please…slow down.  We aren’t going to shave that much time off of our trip by maintaining speed.  But we do jeopardize lives and, at the very least,  peace-of-mind of the street’s residents.

Yes, the endless summer road construction is frustrating and inconvenient. Imagine how inconvenient it is for the residents who live on these beleaguered streets!!

Respect our fellow citizens.  Slow down. 

Your fellow Billings-ites thank you.  So do I.

Something New in the Neighborhood!

 

Here’s the very latest in curb appeal! 

Have questions about getting your house ready to sell? Call me at 406-869-7677 OR Facebook me at the group BILLINGS.

Eight Costly Misconceptions About Home Inspections, Part 4

Here is the final installment of my series about home inspections.  They are a vital part of the home-buying process and should never be  overlooked.  The following recommendations came from my colleague, Doug Corbridge and Premier Inspection Company.

 

“Recommendation #1: Get an inspection from the owner of the company!  Nobody works harder for you, the client, than the owner of the company.

   The success of the business depends on exceeding your

expectations of quality and professionalism each and every time and

you just don’t get that level of commitment from “employee

inspectors”! So be sure to get an inspection from the owner of the

company because he or she has a vested interest in ensuring your Total

Satisfaction!

 

Recommendation #2: Choose a companythat has your best interests

at heart. Choose a company that, even though they may be a little

higher, has a reputation of working for the buyer. Ask your lender for a

referral. The top home inspectors in today’s business don’t produce

handwritten reports. A professional inspector will provide you with a

combination checklist/narrative report for ease of reading.

    Technology has evolved where you should expect to receive the report

in a format that is convenient for you and not the inspector. Can you

download the report from the inspector’s web site? Can it be emailed?

If you prefer a computer printed report in a binder, that should also be

available. The report should contain full color digital photographs of the

issues discovered during the course of the inspection. The report should

provide “Summary Pages” with specific categories like Major

Concerns, Safety Issues, Deferred Cost Items, etc.

     The report should not contain repair costs or action plans for repairs.

Professional home inspectors inspect-they don’t repair! An inspector

that makes repairs should always be avoided due to the conflict of

interest inherent in the situation.

     Ask for a sample of an inspection report so you’ll know what you can

expect for your time and money. After all, you are the client!

 

Recommendation #3:  Ask questions. The way you learn about a company is to ask specific questions and listen carefully to the answers.Here are some of the questions I suggest you ask:

 

 1)What about the appliances in the house I am buying? Do you check for recalls to ensure they are safe? 

2)What professional trade organization are you a member of?

 

3)Do you provide your clients with homeowner education after the inspection? If so how?

 

4)Do they receive information that is helpful to them or an advertisement for your company?

 

5)Do you offer free lifetime technical support? The inspection company should want to be your building consultant for life. This is what builds confidence and relations in the people helping you make one of the most important decisions of your life.

 

6)Do you carry E&O insurance? Any answer but yes is the wrong answer; move on to the next company.

 

Recommendation #4: Once you’re satisfied you are working with an honest, competent, professional company, invite them to help you make one of the largest financial decisions you will ever make. Be confident with the fact they have your best interest at heart.”

By following these four recommendations, you will gather all the information you need to make an informed decision. If you want a quick, cheap home inspection, many companies in the phone book can help you. You may even have a friend or relative who’ll do it for you for free. But if you want your home inspection to be complete and thorough, removing doubt and giving you peace of mind,  then it’s important – no, it’s vital – that you get a home inspection done by a professional home inspector.

It’s unfortunate how many times a family has purchased something only to find out it was not what they expected, and there was no sympathy or remedy forthcoming from the seller. Don’t let undisclosed pre-existing conditions within the home turn your purchase into a nightmare. Get a home inspection!!

 

5 Easy Ways to Find Out What’s Happening in Billings, MT

There are probably more than 5 Ways to Find Out What’s Happening in Billings, MT.  But I have my favorites and I’m sticking with ‘em! I have lived in Billings for most of my life, with the exception of a few marvelous years in LA and lots of global travel playing music.  Over those years, I have watched the ebb and flow of “goings-on” in Billings.  Music in particular took a real nosedive through the 90′s and 00′s.  There was very little live music and not much going on outside in the summer (except the fair, which is always great). But…WOW! has that changed!  I can’t keep up with all the outdoor concerts and the many venues available to the bands and the music lovers in our area.  So, how DOES one find out?  Well, here are my favorites, in no particular order.  (Hint: if you’re not on Facebook, you ought to be.)

1. Billings365.com.  This is my go-to website. They’re also on Facebook with always up -to- date information about what’s happening in Billings.  And it’s so hip!

2.Downtownbillings.com. Everything you want to know about happenings downtown is right here.  I’m a true downtown girl, and this is an awesome website, full of information and current events.  You can find them on Facebook, too.  Lisa Harmon, the DBA director, is on Twitter, too.  What a contemporary gal!

3. Billings NightOut.  You can find this resource on Facebook AND get all the goods on their website.  This page tells you about goings-on AND also gives you the inside track on “drink specials, dining specials, band profiles, charity events information, and contests and deals every day on things you wouldn’t imagine.” Go check it out!

4.Visitbillings.com. Billings, Montana’s Trailhead is a great resource for regional events.  If you click on the image, you’ll go to their Facebook page.  If you click on the link, you’ll find yourself on their website.  They cover the waterfront of what’s to do in our area.

5. http://www.billingschamber.com/ The Billings Chamber of Commerce is is located on North 27th Street, as you enter the city from I-90.  There’s a wealth of information there – maps, brochures, ideas and lovely long-time area residents to answer your questions and help you decide what you want to do here.

Billings is just brimming with activities to keep you busy and delighted.  Click a link and see where it takes you!

As always, if you have a question or comment about this post, blog or real estate, Facebook me at the group BILLINGS. Or call me at 406-869-7677.

Eight Costly Misconceptions About Home Inspections, Part 3

Here are the last two of the eight misconceptions about home inspections.  My friend and colleague, Doug Corbridge of Premier Home Inspection, kindly allowed me to pass these tips on to you.

“Misconception #7: The home inspection is a guarantee or warranty.

No. If you ask any inspection company, they will tell you their

inspection is only good for the day and time of the inspection. Anything

can break and something usually will break at some point after the inspection. Your inspector will not be responsible for anything that happens once the inspection is completed. One question to ask your home inspector is whether or not he or she offers a 30 – 90 day warranty on the inspection.

Misconception #8 : I can do the inspection myself.

Even the most experienced homeowner lacks the knowledge and

expertise of a professional home inspector, who has inspected hundreds,

perhaps thousands, of homes in his or her career. An inspector is

familiar with all the elements of home construction, their proper

installation and maintenance. He or she understands how the home’s

systems and components are intended to function together, as well as

how and why they fail. Above all, most buyers find it very difficult to

remain completely objective and unemotional about the house they

really want, and this may affect their judgment. For the most accurate

picture, it is best to obtain an impartial third party opinion by an expert

in the field of home inspection.”

Hopefully, this list of misconceptions gives you a better understanding of the home inspection process and why it’s important to have a home inspection completed when you’re buying a home.

Next, I’ll share some recommendations for choosing a home inspector. In the meantime, if you have questions about getting a home inspection or about buying a home, please call me at 406-869-7677 or Facebook me at the group BILLINGS.