Love's Real Stories

March 26, 2015

Detector Time

Are you one of the many among us breaking the law by leaving houses and the people who live in them defenseless to the silent killer, carbon monoxide? In the Real Estate field, we come across too many houses without carbon monoxide detectors, despite the fact that the laws requiring them are several years old. Granted, notification about the laws has been pathetic and confusing at best.

Anyone with common sense had more questions than answers after reading the technical mumbo-jumbo contained in the publications regarding the laws.

For instance: “Each carbon monoxide molecule is composed of a single carbon atom bonded to a single oxygen atom……” Let the snoring begin.

Here’s the truth: The carbon monoxide detector law is in two parts. One part is for homeowners and the other part is for rental property owners.

Homeowners were required to have installed carbon monoxide detectors in their homes by July 1, 2011.

Rental property owners were required to have installed Carbon Monoxide Detectors in their rental properties by January 1, 2013.

Any property with an appliance or heater that burns fuel of any kind (wood, gas, oil, charcoal, coal; anything that burns) must comply. Think heaters, water heaters, dryers, fireplaces, and the like.

To the lingering questions:

Where exactly in each home or rental unit should the carbon monoxide detectors be installed?
The technical wording of the law goes like this: “Install the devices in a manner consistent with building standards applicable for the relevant type of occupancy or with the manufacturer’s instructions, if it is technically feasible to do so.”

For interpretation we went to the Chico Fire Department:

“Unfortunately the law doesn’t speak to exact placement of the Detectors,” said the Information Officer, “but we recommend installing Detectors centrally located outside of all bedroom areas in the house, and on all floors of multi-story homes, including basements.”

The officer offered more: “We recommend buying detectors that have battery back-up, because many Carbon Monoxide poisonings happen when the power goes out. People try to heat their homes with unvented heaters like barbecues and space heaters. The exhaust is deadly from those types of heaters.” She was also adamant about checking the batteries in detectors regularly. “Most importantly,” she added, “follow the installation and maintenance recommendations included in the packaging with the detector you’ve bought, and call the 800 number provided, with any questions.”

Both plug-in and ceiling-mounted models of detectors are on the market. Is it okay to plug the detectors in at floor level?
Carbon Monoxide is “neutrally buoyant” in air, slightly lighter than air, so it builds slowly, according to the Fire Department. Therefore, a floor-level detector will work theoretically, but might not be advisable because it could be dislodged or tampered with more easily. Kids or dogs or stumbling people are likely culprits. There are many varieties of ceiling-mounted models available, including combination smoke detector and carbon monoxide detectors.
What’s the big deal with Carbon Monoxide?
Unfortunately, there are far too many cases of Carbon Monoxide poisonings and deaths. The gas is odorless, colorless and tasteless. It disorients its victims, puts them to sleep, and eventually kills them, when all they need is some fresh air.

By the way, the Chico Fire Department makes themselves available to speak to groups about all subjects of fire safety. They know their stuff, and don’t speak in terms of technical mumbo-jumbo.

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March 19, 2015

The Shaft

“It’s grandfathered in,” said the Listing Agent.

I had called the agent on behalf of my clients, Jenny and Brad, who were writing an offer on her Listing.

“Is there a building permit for the Family Room addition built on to the back of the house?” I asked.

“My sellers say it’s been there forever.”

I passed the news on to Jenny and Brad that the Family Room addition had been “grandfathered in” and we left it at that.

Six months after we closed escrow on the house, Jenny and Brad filed for a building permit to add a bathroom to a section of the Family Room.

Brad called me. “We have a little problem with the house,” he said anxiously. “The Building Inspector who came to the house told us the Family Room is not “grandfathered in”.

The Building Inspector condemned the Family Room and served Jenny and Brad with a notice of Code violation.

When I related the situation to my mentor, KDV, he said, “Looks like you sold your people the gold mine, babe, but they got the shaft.”

I went to the Building Department and talked to the Chief Building Official.

The Chief frowned over the inspection notes and said, “The Inspector says here that the Family Room windows, light fixtures, and construction framing can’t possibly be over forty years old, which is the age it needs to be to qualify as ‘grandfathered in’; in other words, it wasn’t constructed before building permits were required, so it is illegal.”

The Chief told me that Jenny and Brad were required to submit a set of architectural plans and pay the fees to process the permit, but because Jenny and Brad didn’t cause the violation in the first place, the fees were less than they would be if the Family Room were being constructed new.

I hired an architect, we submitted the plans to the Building Department, and the Inspector came back for a one-time “Special Inspection”.

As it turned out, the Family Room was well-constructed and in compliance with Building Code, except for one thing: the walls were placed on the old original patio concrete slab with no perimeter foundation footings. The only solution was to dig trenches under the walls and pour a new concrete foundation two feet deep and one foot wide.

KDV stopped by the house and found me on my knees, shovel in hand, digging trenches.

“So you did sell your people a gold mine, babe,” he said “but you get to dig the shaft.”

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March 12, 2015

Stats News

Ms. Shy, the Stats Guru of the North Valley is the one to talk to if you want to get a reading on the local Real Estate Market. She has enough numbers to give you a good rendition of where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re headed- statistically. Ms. Shy has so many Real Estate numbers she can make you cross-eyed. She’ll hit you with Median Sales Price; Average days on Market; Absorption Rate; Price Fluctuations; List Price to Sales Price Ratio; and many more.

She can give you those numbers based on Year-over-Year comparisons, or Month-to-Month, or Quarter by Quarter. She can probably give them to you hour-by-hour or minute-by-minute. Ms. Shy spoke to a group of us and recited those Real Estate numbers rapid-fire, like an auctioneer.

Here, I will attempt to translate those statistics into the English language:

Inventory is low. The number of houses available For Sale is down compared to last Quarter and last year. And that number was really low last Quarter and last year. Ms. Shy says, “This is a good time for sellers to list their properties for sale. They will sell!”
Demand is high. Buyers are in abundance in the marketplace and they frequently compete with each other. Multiple offers on just-listed properties are common-place. Ms. Shy says, “Buyers better know the market, so they can react quickly with the right offer.”
Buyers do know the market. Over-priced properties sit, because buyers are keeping tabs with Fair Market Value. Ms. Shy says, “The List Price to Sales Price Ratio is almost non-existent. In other words, if a property isn’t priced right, buyers wait.”
Interest rates are low. Horse and buggy drivers would have cracked the whip at the chance for mortgage interest rates as low as they are today. Buyers in the North Valley can buy a home with a minimum down payment and have a monthly mortgage payment not much higher than a rent payment. Ms. Shy says, “All the talk is about mortgage interest rates going up this year, so buyers better get on it.”
Prices are stable. Low inventory plus high demand is supposed to equal rising prices. But our prices are creeping, not leaping. Buyers might be hungry, but they are cautious. Ms. Shy says, “Sellers need to know the Real Estate market at least as well as buyers do. They must resist the temptation to over-price in order to succeed.”

There are lots of statistics and numbers to know and remember. But I only need to remember one number: Ms. Shy’s cell phone.

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March 6, 2015

Career Crazy

I was working on a construction site when I told my co-workers I was thinking of getting my Real Estate license and jumping into the business. A big hulking older sheet-rocker guy I didn’t know, other than his name was Earl, stopped hammering and looked at me long and steady. He narrowed his eyes, and said, “We’ll talk later.”

After work that afternoon at the local pub Earl pulled me aside. “Let’s get away from this loud music,” he said. The Irish band was in good form, a group of eight or ten sitting in a circle, playing button accordion, guitars, fiddles, Irish frame drum, flutes and pipes. You couldn’t find a happier scene: step dancers expertly footing in unison across the hardwood floor; people smiling and laughing and buying each other drinks. But Earl loomed over me morosely as he guided me to a corner table. “Listen,” he said, “As one who has gone before you through the field of Real Estate, I must warn you of the dangers awaiting you.” He sat quietly, staring me down.

“Deals will blow up in your face!” He described the immense work he put into finding the right homes for his buyers only to have inspections, low appraisals, title issues, and disclosures cause them to cancel the sale.

“You don’t get a regular paycheck in Real Estate. You only get paid when an escrow closes, if by some miracle it actually closes, and that’s after a month or two of work.”

He drank a long pull from a tall glass of amber fluid.

He suddenly thumped our table with his ham-sized fist. “When you make a mistake, and you will, you will be guilty of costing people money and time. Unforgiveable!” Earl downed the rest of his drink. The band played Whiskey in the Jar.

“So, my friend,” said Earl, “if you insist on getting into Real Estate, you’re crazy!”

I asked Earl how long he had been out of the Real Estate business.

“I’m still in the business,” he said. “Twenty five years.” He saw my confusion, and said, “I love construction work and I’m on vacation, helping my buddy sheet rock his house.”

“So your motive is what, Earl,” I said somewhat confrontationally, “scaring me out of Real Estate to eliminate me as competition?”

He leaned back and laughed out loud. “No, no!” he said. “I welcome you into the business, and Real Estate is a great career.”

He got up and slapped me on the back. “I was just testing you to see if you are the right kind of crazy!”

It turns out I was.

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February 21, 2015

Ron Kelly

We got to know Ron Kelly a little better at his Celebration of Life last week when we had to say good bye to him, our good friend and colleague in the world of Real Estate. It was news to me that Ron loved to hop in his boat and cruise around on Lake Almanor, not to fish or water ski, but to just cruise, the faster the better. I didn’t know the animal lover he was, the horseback-rider; or that his Labrador Gizmo with the stinky skin condition was his very best pal.

When I first met Ron, he said he intended to make a serious run at a career in Real Estate. I questioned his plan, warning him about the time commitment and the unpredictability of the business. He had just retired from a 37-year career in management with J.C. Penney.

Ron smiled softly, reached his hand across the desk and gently laid it on my arm. “Don’t worry,” he said, “it will all work out fine. You’ll see.”

He was right. Ron took to Real Estate like a Labrador to water. His calm demeanor, his patience, and his gift for problem-solving served him perfectly. Ron offered the reassuring, steady hand.

Ron was a local Chico boy, but born in San Francisco, because the weather in April 1948 was hot, and Ron’s mom headed to the Bay for relief when she was coming due.

Ron went to Notre Dame School and was an altar boy in the choir. He went to Chico High and lettered in basketball in 1966. He stayed local after high school and went to Chico State and graduated with a degree in Business.

Because Ron was such a standout as manager for the J.C. Penney’s store in Chico, he was transferred out of town a few times to work his magic in other stores that weren’t working so well.

Ron knew how to manage when it came to romance, too. We know this because in 1984, when he fell in love with his employee Susan, he fired her so he could date her. They’ve been married since 1985.

At the Celebration of Life, I was regretting not getting know Ron better. Maybe other people were, too. But the Officiant who ran the Celebration, the Reverend Eileen Brownell, M.S., read a poem that eased our minds. It was if Ron reached across and put his hand on our arms.

The poem is called “We Said Goodbye a Thousand Times” and read, in part: “Don’t be sad about my parting/ Don’t feel like you never said goodbye/ For you and I both know in our hearts/ That we said goodbye a thousand times/ And shared so much love and joy every day.”

Thanks for everything, Ron.

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