Thank you to Matt Wavering of Coldwell Banker Commercial Devonshire Realty for sponsoring the M*A*C*. You may learn more about Matt and CBCDR at www.cbcdr.com

Matt J. Wavering
Assistant Director of
Commercial Brokerage
(217) 352-7712 (office)

PO Box 140
(217) 352-5513 (fax)
Champaign, IL 61824-0140
mjw@cbcdr.com

www.CBCDR.com

TOXIC TERRORS

THAT AFFECT HOMES

BY PETE YOUNGS   A.K.A MR. REHAB

MOLD:

Mold in houses has become one of the most popular scares in recent years. Although it has been around since before caveman days, our industry is always out to find something new to charge thousands of dollars to correct. Most molds, even black in color are not the toxic poison type of mold that causes illness in people. The temporary fix is to use a 50/50 mix of bleach and water to clean the surface. This does not kill the mold, it just removes the surface visibility and unless you take away the moisture or cause of the mold it will return. For mold remediation of black mold and mold infestation, please refer to my article on mold in your previous issues of REIP magazine. If you have significant mold in sight, one of the brands of product I recommend is Microban. It is highly effective in handling problems associated with mold, fungi, bacteria, germs and so on. You may find it by calling a janitorial supply company from your yellow pages book.

Microban is used by professionals for mold remediation; yes the toxic black mold remediation that costs thousands of dollars by people wearing HAZMAT suits. It is also used for water damage, flooding, sewage backups and such. Another type of product for the same problems is called Shockwave and may be easier to find locally. The effects of mold can be breathing problems such as asthma, headaches, rashes, stomach ailments and so on. The four steps to eliminating mold are to contain it, kill it, remove the dead mold, and protect from further contamination. This may mean an exhaust fan in bathrooms, better ventilation in rooms and crawl spaces. Placing dehumidifiers in strategic areas in the house, or using hepa filter air cleaners as well. You can get a mold test kit at major hardware stores for about $10.

LEAD BASED PAINT:

Lead based paint is a toxin found in many living quarters and can cause serious illness or even death. It is especially toxic to children and can even affect babies before they are born. A good thing is that lead based paint that is not deteriorating is not a threat. Also there are options to be done to reduce and eliminate the hazard. You can contact lead from paint by breathing it, touching flaking areas of paint, dusty paint surfaces and during renovations it can be cast into the air from hammering, sanding, sweeping and more. Youngsters can get it on their hands from doors, windowsills floors and such and then put their hands in their mouths as we commonly see them do. This can affect brain function as well as nervous systems in children. Long-term exposure leads to hearing problems, learning problems, behavior problems, headaches and lots more. Adult symptoms are more described as reproductive problems in both genders. Difficulties during pregnancy, a rise in blood pressure, nerve problems as well as bad digestion, memory loss and muscle pain. This threat goes lower risk in younger houses because lead paint was stopped for making and using it around 1978. So newer houses have less risk of this problem. Lead based paint test kits are available at most larger hardware stores for about $4 a kit. The most common places to check would be windows and sills, doors and doorframes, stairs, railings, decks, screen porches and lets not forget furniture. Don’t overlook your prized antiques either. If it’s old furniture that has original finished surfaces, this area is often overlooked. Any peeling, flaking or chipping paint accompanied by dust is suspect. To do it yourself or hire a pro for lead abatement, you need to stay clear of sanding, sweeping and vacuuming as this will spread the dust air born. Lead based paint must be removed (the painted structure) or most common is to encapsulate the paint. Products can be bought that you spray, brush or roll over the lead paint to seal in the hazard. The E.P.A. (where some of my research was obtained) has a booklet for free on lead based paints; it’s effects, the abatement and prevention available upon your request. This will provide you with some useful info.

METH LABS:

Another toxic terror that is becoming more well known is finding out that the house you bought or are thinking of buying as an investment was once used as a meth lab, a crack house, or some other form of drug related house. This came up at a seminar I am giving in Portland this week. The person asked my opinion about his deal and that it was previously a crack house. He made an offer and it was accepted. The house, he said, was a property seized by law enforcement and it had been vacant for a while. I listened and told him that I would not want to buy this house myself. Puzzled, he asked why. First, this information will need to be disclosed to all interested in buying it and could be a turn off. Second, I asked how it had been (cleaned up). He told me that the city had given the house a clean bill of health. So I said will they accept any liability if anyone has any health related problems? He said no. I told him that all liability would rest on his shoulders and he would be solely responsible for possible trouble. He thanked me, and said he really wanted to be talked out of the deal cause it was too much for him to do on his first deal. It was almost a total gut job. Now keep in mind, under his circumstances, I told him no I wouldn’t but it myself. However, I do know several investors with a lot more experience in this type of house that would have jumped all over this deal, and made a huge profit as well. It was the experience level here. He probably should get his feet wet without starting with an issue on the house like that one. The problem with drug related houses is that there is no set way to tell how much residue is still in the cracks, crevices, vents, gaps and other areas that may still cause exposure to the toxins. There is no real data on how long of exposure to this will it then affect someone. It is the responsibility of the homeowner from purchase on for any liability caused by this. So how do you know if it’s a drug house or meth lab? Generally there are beakers and burners and test tubes present shortly after abandoned. There may be a smell present and cans of cooking fuels around. There may be burn marks on countertops as well as dusty residue in kitchen and bathroom areas. Samples can be taken by taking scotch tape and (lifting) debris from surfaces of countertops, sinks, carpets, bedding, curtains, floors and utensils found in the property. Have them analyzed by a law agency and get a report. Then decide if you want to do the deal. Remember, this does not scare a seasoned investor who knows how to deal with creative real estate. This is an opportunity, or a niche, because most people will pass on these kind of deals, and the ones that do them…PROFIT.

CARBON MONOXIDE:

This is a problem that can be found in many homes. Even mine. I just recently had my furnace replaced and was about to remodel my basement and add some on to the house when I noticed an exhaust pipe from the furnace had separated from a portion of pipe. This had been easily 3 months or so since the job was done. I went to a local hardware store and got a test kit for about $6 and did the test. It came back as a dangerous reading from the kit. If not found, this could have turned out to be serious health risk. CM is an odorless, colorless gas or liquid and is hard to detect without a test kit. Though my culprit was a furnace, others could include kerosene and gas space heaters, leaking chimneys, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and gas operated equipment like cars. Some people in winter will start their cars in the garage to let them warm up before leaving for work and even with the door open this poses a threat. Even in low concentrations, fatigue and chest pains can happen. With more exposure it may cause dizziness, lack of vision or concentration, headaches and nausea. Exposure can be fatal. To reduce risks EPA guidelines say to keep appliances properly adjusted. Always use vented heaters and never use alternate fuel sources on thing meant for a certain kind of fuel. Such as do not use gas in a kerosene heater. I have seen workers do this on jobsites in the cold. You need to have an exhaust fan over gas stoves. Never grill indoors with any gas driven bar b que and have your furnace checked and serviced often. I hope this information will help and educate you as to the dangers of TOXIC TERRORS IN YOUR HOME.

Seal The Deal With Curb Appeal

BY PETE YOUNGS aka MR.REHAB

Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of any real estate transaction. For me, it is the curb appeal that defines everything about my deal. How much will I offer? How much will it take to rehab the property? How does it compare to the surrounding living conditions?

Simply stated, if the curb appeal is not very good, I know that I can buy the property for a discounted price. And that’s what my business is all about. Buying distressed homes and then raising the curb appeal through repairs to the property that not only raise curb appeal, but also the value too. Here are several ways that I use to bring up the value of houses to maximize my profit at resale.

The most important thing that I can do to improve curb appeal is to repaint the structure. A fresh new coat of paint adds value right from the start. Remember, you can only make a first impression once. Also, this will actually get you a higher appraisal than a house without a new paint job. You want to do the outside of an investment property first, and particularly the front. Getting the most noticeable portion in its best shape first will attract buyers immediately. You can’t get a buyer to see the interior if they are not first pleased with the exterior. If the house is just dirty and the paint is in good shape, then a pressure washer can be used to clean up the exterior siding, gutters, downspouts, deck, fences and driveway. I even clean my roofs with one. Use the washer to remove any mold and mildew that can be seen on or near the house.

Pull your car in front of your property and take a hard look at what you see. This is going to be what your potential buyer see’s too. If you see something that sticks out to you, fix it. Make sure there are no leaves piled up on the grass. Once you have disposed of any debris in the yard, make sure the lawn is mowed nicely. A fresh cut yard is a good sign that the rest of the home has been tended to correctly. Get rid of weeds and tools that are cluttering up any areas that can be seen from the street. Don’t overlook windows or gutters that need to be cleaned. These are simple tasks that do not cost any money to perform, while adding a crisp clean appearance to the home. You may also want to remove any limbs touching the house or roof. This could scratch paint or cause roof leaks down the road. Another no-cost fix is to use a lawn edger around walkways, driveways and planter areas.

If your house may be looked at near dusk or dark, you want to make sure there is good light available. A decorative yard lamp could be added and this will help the appearance and also add security at the same time. Some people really like to line the driveway and walkway with little footlights. This adds great character to the house as well as a beautiful soft light shimmering as it leads people to your door. An inexpensive way to add light would be to add a fixture at your front door either overhead or a wall mounted light. These can be bought on any budget and the choice of styles is huge. While we are touching the topic of landscape, let me mention a few things. Landscape is where some people can make expensive mistakes. Since bushes, trees, and decorative plants can cost thousands in landscape design, you do not want to go overboard. Not even on your own home. Keep it simple and you can keep it cheap too. Around your mailbox post is a good place for some colorful flowers. You may also have some flowerbeds near your front entrance. This really looks good and can be done on a budget. Trim all the bushes to the same size and shape if they are in a group. This will make them look uniform as well as fancy. If I spend the money to plant any decorative trees, I get ones that will look decent all year round. Most of the trees that I would add would be fruit bearing trees or something that will bloom brilliantly during the year. Just don’t blow your budget cause you could make a mistake investing in landscaping that cost big dollars when for a few hundred, you can dress a yard up nicely. On a house I am doing this week, we trimmed back the bushes that had grown too high and then made a very nice design around them using decorative pine straw and wood chips. These items run about $3 a bale for the straw and about $5 a bag for decorative chips. It really dressed up the front of the house and I am sure will help me sell faster.

It’s better to do a lot of little inexpensive things than it is to do one big expensive thing to add appeal. Dress up the front door with a nice color of paint that will go well with the house but add flair. It’s just like dressing up an old suit with a new tie! Go a little further and add a fancy decorative doorknob and knocker set. Maybe even a brass kick plate. These items don’t cost much but can add drama to the house. Keep in mind that if people don’t like the outside of the house then they will probably never see the inside. You may not realize it, but bad curb appeal could be the reason that a house sits on the market for months.

One of the things that I saw that was great, happened as I was talking to my neighbor. She had been working on something in her yard for a couple of days so I wandered over to check it out. She had added a fountain in the front of her home and it was really pretty. Her and her husband bought a kit for the project for about $300. It had some nice stone structures and rocks that the water went through and they had dug out an area the plastic liner was placed into. As the water trickled down the decorative stonework, the liner fit nicely into the ground and had some varieties of fish swimming in it. I thought this was a great addition, adding curb appeal and value, as well as a nice calming effect to sitting on the front porch in a rocker looking over the fountain. That was some thing else that I noticed. The charm of the front porch decorated with flowers, wind chimes and candles gave me the idea that I could dress up my houses for sale with this same décor to let a buyer feel that they could create the same charm if they bought my house.

If you have homes that have a lot of children living in the area as well as possible pet owners, you may want to make sure that if the house has a fence, that you make sure it is secure. On the house I have for sale now, we had to repair some areas of the fence. It’s a six-foot tall wooden fence and we replaced some of the boards that had been knocked down or broken. This adds security to people with kids and pets. Also, it would have been a deal killer for buyers to see the fence run down and tacky. We just put in a few new boards, sprayed it with bleach to clean it up and then put a good water sealer on it to make it last. We also did the same steps to the deck in the back to clean and preserve it. For a little over $100, we made two areas that may have driven a buyer away, look new and inviting again.

Let’s summarize a few of the tips for making sure the curb appeal will seal the deal.

• Pressure washing is a cheap way to clean up the entire exterior of any property.
• Painting a fresh coat raises the value and appeal and is inexpensive.
• No-cost items like cleaning windows, mowing lawns, raking leaves as well as trimming hedges, bushes, de-weeding and trimming branches from the house.
• Lighting up your home with outside lights and fancy lamps and such.
• Landscaping ideas that only cost a small amount for a huge difference.
• Pond and fountains can be done to make a dramatic statement.
• Repair fences and decks as well as using sealers to maintain a good look.
• Make the place feel like home with front porch swings and rockers.
• Decorate with flowers and candles…plant fruit bearing trees too.
• There are hundreds of ways to add curb appeal…use your imagination!

For more from Mr. Rehab please visit www.peteyoungs.com

This event has already passed

The film makers are joined by an eclectic group of film critics, Roger’s Far-Flung Correspondents, the festival director Nate Kohn, Mary Susan Britt, and Roger and Chaz Ebert. Keep your eyes open as you travel throughout the community as local hosts escort the VIP guests to festival events, local hot spots and even a late night visit to Roger’s favorite restaurant – Steak and Shake.

Festival passes sell out months before the movies are even announced. However, tickets to individual films are available. Visit the EbertFest website <http://www.ebertfest.com/index.html> for a complete list of films and events.

When not in the theater, our special guests may choose to enjoy the 19th annual Artists Against Aids Art Exhibition and Sale. Over 200 artists featuring a wide variety of techniques will fill the Blue Line Station at 804 N. Neil (north of the Post Office). Admission is free except for Thursday evening’s First Look Opening Reception. To learn more about the exhibition, visit the website. <http://www.artistsagainstaids.info/>

On Saturday, art and film enthusiasts will need to build in extra travel time as they’ll be sharing the streets with Christie Clinic’s 3rd annual Illinois Marathon. Over 20,000 runners competing in various events will begin at Assembly Hall and travel throughout Champaign-Urbana. Throughout each race, runners will be treated to entertainment from musicians, performers and cheerleaders. To view the routes for the marathon, half marathon, 10 k and 5 k races, visit the website <http://www.illinoismarathon.com/index.php>.

April comes to a rousing finish this year in Champaign-Urbana. Hopefully, Roger will give us a Two Thumbs Up!

You may attend 2 seminars for the cost of only $20.00 with a free admission to the trade show at 5:00 p.m. – 7:00. Free raffle ticket as well and Hors D’ouevres to be served as well

Please also attend the trade show from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. There will be @ 40 vendors from Painters – Insurance Companies ! Be sure to check out all the booths!

You may also purchase extra raffle tickets for the ipad at the trade show – You must be present at the end of the evening to win.

Please call Marita Booker – Central Illinois Apartment Association Coordinator today to RSVP for your seminars and trade show at 217-344-2222 or you may also register at www.ciaa-live.com

Reasons to exhibit at 2011 CIAA’s “Greatest Trade Show on Earth”

If you are in the apartment service industry, there are plenty of reasons for you to exhibit. Your package includes more than just a spot on the expo floor. Do you need to launch a new product or demonstrate that product or service? Are you ready to meet new contacts or catch up with current customers? The networking opportunities are endless. Make sure your are a part of the Central Illinois Apartment Association’s Trade Show and Educational Seminars.

Exhibiting at the Trade Show provides …

• Opportunity to showcase your products and services in an interactive venue to apartment industry professionals in a friendly, progressive environment that is conducive to building long-term business relationships.
• Marketing, not just in the show, but in CIAA’s monthly blog, which is distributed to more than 3,400, keeping your name in the forefront of your client base.
• Exposure on the Central Illinois Apartment Association’s Focus Newsletter.
• Listing in the registration brochure that is mailed to all members of the CIAA and surrounding city apartment associations such as Bloomington, Danville, Decatur, Mattoon/Charleston.
• More access to potential customers than you could make in three months.

Your opportunity to meet and interact with decision makers throughout Central Illinois…

• Owners
• Vice Presidents
• Regional Managers
• Marketing Specialists
• On-site Managers
• Leasing Consultants
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Maintenance Technicians

You will meet them all at the trade show and educational seminars. Remember, in this progressive industry, it isn’t just the owner making the decisions, property managers, leasing agents, and maintenance managers all play an integral part in the decision-making process.

We want to make this fun for you and for all the attendees to the show. We strongly encourage you to get those creative juices flowing and make a big effort to break the mold of just handing out pens to people who walk by. Try engaging the customers more, do something different, make your booth a destination spot, and get the buzz going in the room. We will be having a Attendees will be voting for their favorite booth.

The booth with the most votes will get a free booth sponsor at the next Trade Show.

To register, you may fill out this form, or if you prefer, you can:

Download the Form here and mail it in
Email your registration information to: marita@ciaa-live.com or
Phone in your registration to: 217-344-2222

Don’t forget to invite your maintenance and / or grounds teams—this year– we have something for everyone!
If you know someone who would benefit from attending, send them this link!

Wednesday, March 16 from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

At Champaign County Association of Realtors
305 Burwash Dr., Savoy IL
Join us for an informational tour of
programs and services available to area
home owners and first time home buyers.
Topics will include:

Home Purchase & Repair Programs • Programs for Seniors •  Home Buyer/Owner Education • Redevelopment Plans

Stay informed…one of our best “word-of-mouth” resources is You!

Save the Date for April 7th 2011 • 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.!

Property Professionals, watch for your registration forms in March!
Vendors, send in your booth registration forms now!!!

Here is a flier that you can give to your tenants promoting the event: Move-In Move-Out Flier

Over the last year or so there has been a lot happening at the Section 8 office that has spurred rumors and negative talk. Ms. Lorez Davis, manager of the Section 8 program for Champaign County, will be speaking at our Januray 20 meeting.

We need to get as many Property Professionals as possible to come to this meeting and hear from the ones enforcing HUD and HACC rules so we know what we need to be doing. As Property Professionals in Champaign County, whether we take section 8 or not, we need to know how the section 8 office operates so we are educated on different housing options in our community.

Ms. Davis will be speaking on:

* Changes (enforcements) of HUD regulations
* Rental rates
* The process for getting a tenant moved into a unit
* The process for inspections

Please RSVP to Marita at marita_booker@sbcglobal.net asap,

Invoices will be sent out for 2011 Membership Dues, IRPOA Donations, C.I.A.A. Website Button Links and 2011 Advertising.

Please inform Marita if you do not receive yours.

They will be mailed by December 15th. 2010. Please also note if you want to advertise in the Directory, FOCUS or on the Website you will need to have your ads to Marita no later than December 3rd in the form of a PDF. All dues, invoices should be paid no later than January 15th 2011. For questions or comments please call Marita at 217-344-2222 or send her an e-mail at marita_booker@sbcglobal.net

The Friends of Santa was founded 24 years ago in answer to a need to help bring Christmas to children in the Unity School District. That first Christmas in 1986, Friends of Santa delivered gifts to 56 children. Last year, Christmas 2009, over 166 children, representing nearly 46 families, received Christmas gifts from Friends of Santa. In addition to new Christmas toys, we also provided clothes, coats, and shoes to many of the children.

In these times of economic uncertainty, we are expecting a significant increase in those numbers this year and Friends of Santa wants to be prepared to respond accordingly. We are busily making plans and wish lists for Christmas 2010.

We expect children’s and family’s needs to dramatically increase this Christmas. Therefore, we are appealing to you for your financial support more than ever.

Your monetary donations are the best way to help. Another way is to become a shopper. Friends of Santa shoppers are a valuable asset. Each shopper is given a wish list and spending limit for each child. Some shoppers prefer to be reimbursed for their purchases by Friends of Santa, but others choose to donate their gifts. Several groups and clubs shop for an entire family, giving their time and resources as a service or mission project.

We are accepting donations of GENTLY USED CLOTHES, coats and shoes of all sizes, infant to adult, men, women, and children.

We arranged this for the first time last year in 2009 with all of the Unit 7 schools participation in shopping and donations of clothes and personal time. This clothes drive was a huge success.

Drop off dates for GENTLY USED CLOTHES are Dec. 16th and 17th, 3PM to 7PM at the Tolono Masonic Lodge. Please call for any questions on shopping, donations, or directions.

On behalf of the children, Friends of Santa thanks you for sharing your gifts, your time and your resources to help ensure that every child in the Unity School district has a happy Christmas. May God bless you as you bless others!!

Please send your donations to: Tom & Sonna Cain

Friends of Santa

P.O. Box 233

Tolono, IL 61880

Shoppers and all who are donating call Sonna Cain at 485-4440 with any questions.

Please come out to St. Joseph United Methodist Church in St. Joseph on Saturday November 13th 2010 – 9:00 a,m. – 2:00 p.m. to shop early for your Thanksgiving baking and Christmas gifts! Betsy’s Bake Shoppe will offer variety of sweets to purchase as well. The proceeds will go towards purchasing holiday meals and gifts for area needy families! There will be over a dozen vendors ranging from Tastefully Simple to Baby Bibs and Homemade Candles! Nut Meats are also available to purchase! Don’t forget to stay for lunch to have our famous Pork Chop sandwiches and Vegetable Beef soup with pie for dessert. For questions please call Marita Booker at 217-469-7994 or the 51. Joseph Church office at 217-469-2515

October 21 is OKTOBERFEST at the CIAA

Join us for the opportunity to meet local/state/national candidates. Let’s learn their position on what affects you as a property owner and/or vendor.

• • We have invited
  • Congressional Representatives
  • State Senator candidates
  • Local state representatives
  • County board candidates.

We, CIAA, would like to give these candidates the opportunity to let us know their positions on issues that affect us as property professionals and our vendors.

With the goal of information in mind we would like to give the candidates a chance to do some research on the topics that most interest us and hopefully form a position on those topics. Please email us any question that you would like to have answered so we can forward them to the candidates coming. Hopefully this meeting will give us all some insight as to how our candidates will be voting if elected.

Email your questions to bryan@tilespecialists.com or christy.gibas@nevesgroup.com