There is a saying here in Arizona: There are two categories of houses in Arizona - those that have had termites, and those that will get termites. This may sound scary and intimidating to people from the west coast or the Midwest, since there, termite colonies can be massive, very destructive, and expensive to eradicate. But here in The Grand Canyon State, for the most part, termites are very common but not as destructive, and pretty easy and inexpensive to get rid of.
The most common type of termite to invade homes is the subterranean termite. It is estimated that there are 3-5 subterranean termite colonies for every acre of land in Arizona, with some areas like the Phoenix metro area having up to 18.
Subterranean termites feed during the day, but need to go back underground to their colonies for water. The colonies vary in size between 60,000 and up to 1 million termites, but that is still far smaller than some of the massive termite colonies of other species that invade houses in other parts of the country. For the most part, it takes a long time for Arizona termites to do serious structural damage to a house, and they are often detected long before that happens… if you know what to look for.
If you are buying a home, the Arizona purchase contract strongly encourages buyers to have a professional wood-destroying insects inspection done by a qualified inspector during the inspection period. So, how do you detect subterranean termites in your home?
- Blisters in Wood Flooring - Areas may appear to have water damage with protruding parts, when, in fact, the blisters are evidence of termites feeding.
- Hollowed or Damaged Wood - You may not notice this at first.
- Fecal pellets - Termite excrement is mounds of wooden pellets.
- Mud Tubes - They build mud tubes to protect themselves from predators and keep their bodies from drying out.
If termites are found in your home, it is generally recommended to have them treated by a professional. There are do-it-yourself treatments available at major home improvement stores, but the chemicals used by professionals are much more potent and when applied properly, much more effective. Professionals will drill down into the ground about every 2 feet in the affected area, then inject the insecticide into the soil where the termites reside. They will even drill through concrete patios or garage floors if necessary. The holes are generally less than 3/8” in diameter and are filled in when the treatment is done. The cost of termite treatment varies depending on the size and scope of the affected area, but generally it is between $400-$1,000.
So, the bottom line is that termites in your home in Arizona, if not inevitable, certainly should not be a surprise, but they are very common and very treatable.
Another Shred-A-Thon Is Scheduled!
Mark your calendars for another Shred-A-Thon this fall:
When: October 23, 2021 8-11AM
Location: Near the Field of Dreams Sun Lakes, AZ
Appraisal
What happens when a home does not appraise at purchase price, especially in this crazy market? The first thing we do as a Seller’s agent is ask if the loan underwriter has signed off on the appraisal. Why is this important? In Arizona, a loan underwriter can challenge an appraisal if they feel it is inaccurate, then send the appraiser back out to make revisions. Until the loan underwriter has reviewed and approved the amount, it is not a final appraised value.
In the Arizona purchase contract, when a home is financed, the buyer has an appraisal contingency that allows them to cancel the contract and receive their earnest money back if the appraised value comes in below the accepted offer price. Within five days, they must give notice they are cancelling and provide a copy of the appraisal. Normally, however, the buyer will ask to respond in one of three ways.
- Agree to close at the original purchase price and come up with the extra cash to close, as the lender will loan only 80% of appraised value
- Ask the seller to reduce the price to the appraised value
- Ask the seller to negotiate a new price (sometimes splitting the difference)
As a Seller, you have the right to agree or not agree to their request. The buyer can then cancel the contract (if they desire), and the home goes back on the market. Sometimes the Seller’s agent can challenge the appraisal, and we have done so on a couple of occasions. Rarely does an appraiser make an adjustment, although we have had successes on a few challenges.
For more information, just email us at info@thekolbteam.com.
Searching for That Perfect Home?
When looking at pictures online, it can be tricky to figure out the layout of a home. We can help you with that! On our website, you can access the most popular floor plans in Sun Lakes, AZ. Just click the button below!
When it comes to quality of service, The Kolb Team does more for you, because to us, you are more than a transaction.
Experience the difference!
Aging Made Easier: What you need to know before you need to know it!
Sat, November 13, 2021, 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM MST
Tumbleweed Recreation Center
745 East Germann Road
Chandler, AZ 85286
Recipe of the Month
Caesar Salad on Bread with Poached Eggs
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 anchovy fillets, minced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tbsp plus ¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 6 slices country bread, toasted
- 2 hearts of romaine lettuce, leaves separated
- 12 poached eggs
Dressing:
Put mayonnaise, anchovies, garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and 2 Tbsp cheese in large measuring cup. Using immersion blender, blend until smooth. Slowly drizzle in ½ cup of oil while blending until creamy and emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.Salad Assembly:
- Put bread slices on individual plates or a large platter. Lightly drizzle with oil.
- Put lettuce in large bowl. Add enough dressing (about ½ cup) to generously coat the leaves.
- Divide lettuce among bread slices; top each serving with 2 poached eggs. Drizzle with small amount of remaining dressing. Sprinkle with ¼ cup of cheese.
- Serve immediately.
Vendor of the Month
Enjoy the home comfort and ease you deserve with Goldwing Appliance Repair in Phoenix, Arizona! Serving the entire Valley area, we work fast and effectively to be certain your stove, oven, refrigerator, and other appliances are running at their best.
Be sure to call them at 480-615-5700 or visit their website
- Chandler buyers looking for a home in Cottonwood with a lake view. Does not mind a fixer upper if the price is right. 2BR, 2BA.
- Buyers that are currently renting in Chandler, looking for a 2BR, 2BA home in good condition in one of the gated communities.
- California buyers looking for a home in Oakwood. 2BR, 2BA with den and a private yard with a pool.
- Buyers from Arkansas looking for a home in IronOaks. Prefers an open back yard with no wall.
Important Event November 9th
Most likely, you have prepared in some ways for the unexpected or inevitable. Many of your essential documents are organized, and wills and trusts are updated. Medical directives have been done. Bankers, legal professionals, and accountants are in place. You know where to find all of this crucial information, but does anyone else?
Often, in real estate, when it comes to personal matters of our clients, one spouse is incapacitated or dies, and the other is left to pull everything together. And sometimes we are dealing with family members who are left to take care of all the details with little knowledge of where to even begin. This is why Becky Kolb will be teaching a class on November 9, 2021 at 10am in the Bradford Room at the Oakwood Clubhouse - to help you pull everything together now, while you are able.
Becky will be demonstrating her organizational system that documents everything from wills, trusts, medical directives, important contacts, financial records, and much more. In a simple three ring binder, she will show how to set up a system for family contacts, birth and marriage certificates, medical contacts, professional contacts (investment, bank, attorney, accountant), art and collectibles, property deeds, vehicles, and other categories that will be helpful to whomever is taking care of your final affairs.
Family members dealing with caretaking or grief will appreciate the work you put in ahead of time to make handling these important affairs a little easier.
Happy Intergenerational Month!
Fountain Institute was formed in 1987 by Colorado Springs attorney Sandy Kraemer, and its mission was to research issues, communication, and connections between different generations.
Now known as The Intergenerational Foundation, the agency created ‘Intergenerational Day’ to be celebrated internationally with the inaugural observance taking place the first Sunday of October 2000.
It became clear that just one day a year wasn’t enough to explore the importance of connecting the generations, and Intergenerational Month was born in September of 2012. In the USA, National Grandparent’s Day is the first Sunday after Labor Day, so it became a natural kickoff for intergenerational, or IG, activities to commence in America for the month.
Apparently, Sandy Kraemer wasn’t the only one who saw the value in this initiative, as 43 state governors picked up the mantle and joined the cause, as well as numerous organizations like Microsoft, Stanford University on Longevity, American Association of Museums, National Easter Seals, American Council of Life Insurers, American Library Association, and countless local community groups around the country.
Some communities and groups plan events for IG Month every year, but unfortunately, it seems that over the last 5 years or so, these planned celebrations are harder to find. Perhaps that is partly due to the meteoric rise of social media and the ease of being able to communicate online. The great news is that you don’t need to seek out special events to acknowledge the importance of intergenerational communication or to celebrate the beauty of relationships between those of different eras. Here are a few suggested ways to connect with your grandkids in a way that appreciates what’s important to them and you, even if you are separated from them by many miles!
- Video calls are a great way to stay in touch in a more meaningful way than just hearing each other. We communicate quite a bit through facial expressions, and in addition to that, seeing those we love is incredibly important to our well-being. Whether you have an iPhone, Android, tablet, or computer, you can utilize this technology for weekly chats and for the rest of the ideas in this list.
- Make a recipe together that you enjoyed when you were younger but isn’t seen as much today. Did you like aspics that were all the rage in the 1960s? Maybe in the 1970s, you loved Beef Bourguignon, Watergate Salad, or the recipes featuring pineapple that were so popular (such as Polynesian Kabobs, Hawaiian Meatballs, Aloha Chicken, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, Ambrosia Salad, or a Cheese and Pineapple Hedgehog)? How about the casseroles we all made in the 80s or Sloppy Joes? What special treat did your own grandparents make for you when you were a kid? The decades to choose from and options are endless!
- Speaking of cooking, introducing your grandkids to foods from your culture is a great way to share your heritage and special memories with them.
- You can find just about anything on YouTube nowadays. Create a public playlist with news clips or videos about events that stick out in your mind from the past. All you need to do is email, text, or direct message them the link.
- Everyone loves music, and services like Spotify and Pandora are a perfect way to share songs and artists that are meaningful to you – and your grandkids can do the same! Even Apple, Amazon, and YouTube have streaming music. Some of these options are available for free, and you’d be surprised at the amount and variety of music you can enjoy and share without spending a dime!
- Ask your grandkids who their favorite creators are on social media, and check them out yourself. TikTok – although it built a fanbase starting as a lip-syncing, dance-learning app geared more to those under 25 – has morphed into much more, with accounts that share home hacks, lifestyle tips, and items of interest no matter what your age.
We live in a time when calling someone a “millennial” or a “boomer” is considered a biting retort! There’s no time like the present to foster communication and understanding between those of us who remember firsthand the incredible events of the last several decades and those who have just read about them in textbooks or saw something about them – often without timely context or an understanding of how the world was then – in an online video. We hope you’ll celebrate Intergenerational Month, either with a few of our ideas or some of your own!
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Sue and Francis
- Iowa
We Are Committed to Helping End Polio Now!
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Real Estate Update
Wondering about your Neighbor’s Home Sales Price? Find out here to see what sold last month. The report is broken down by HOA, address, and floor plan (if the agent listed the model in MLS).