Damage From Your Neighbor's Tree

What Happens When a Neighbor's Tree Causes Damage to Your Property?   If a neighbor's tree falls on your property because it is unhealthy or not maintained by the owner, the owner will be responsible for paying for the repairs to your property. The law Does Not protect a tree owner who neglects the maintenance of their trees, which causes damage to someone else's property.   If the tree is dead, any damage it causes will be your neighbor's responsibility.   The law will protect a tree owner who maintains their trees, even if a tree damages a neighbor's property through unexpected events, like storms. It is crucial for tree owners to regularly maintain their trees.    While your homeowner’s insurance policy should protect against this damage, you should look over your coverage to confirm. If something happens and your insurance company pays for the repairs, it will want the right to seek reimbursement from your neighbor. This is called “subrogation” and is a right given to insurance companies in most, if not all, of the insurance policies I have seen. Your insurance company will seek reimbursement from your neighbor and sue them if they or their insurance company do not step up. It's best to avoid this issue altogether. You should talk about this with them or write them a note. If they are not cooperative and you live in a community association, you can seek assistance from the property manager. Another option may be to speak to code enforcement or a similar department in your local municipality. While it may be uncomfortable to take these steps, it is better than dealing with a damaged house. If nothing else, communicating the issue will document your neighbor’s negligence in case there’s an issue. I'm not an attorney and I do not offer legal advice.

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Curb Appeal Pays Off When Listing Your Home

First Impressions go a long way when Selling your home. Curb Appeal will hook a buyer, enticing them to want to see more. Having a degree in Landscape Design and a lifelong love for landscaping, I'm partial to a well maintained Lawn and Landscape. It's the welcome mat to your home. I have taken several clients to showings and after seeing the landscape, they didn't want to go inside. Don't under estimate the value of an alluring landscape. To add Curb Appeal before Listing your home, I have four recommendations: Standard Lawn Care Service- Six applications of fertilizer and weed control per year.   Landscape Maintenance- Mulch, mow, weed control, prune trees and shrubs along with planting perennials or annuals.  Irrigation System- Make sure your irrigation system is working properly including the timer and sprinkler head coverage. Pressure Washing- Pressure Wash your house, driveway and sidewalks. Please give me a call if you need help getting your home ready to Sell!  

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The Truth About Home Appliances

It's often cheaper to fix an appliance than buy a new one. While new appliances tend to be more energy efficient, their high-tech features mean more problems. On the other hand, a replacement could be more energy efficient, repairs can be expensive and prices for new appliances have been falling recently. Manufacturers have been incorporating more technology and new features into their products. For example, there are smart refrigerators with interior cameras so you can take a peak while grocery shopping. Some have screens that allow you to stream movies and cooking shows while you cook. The average useful life span of various appliances from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers: Gas Range: 14.2 years Electric Range: 11.6 years Top-freezer Refrigerator: 14 years Side-by-Side Refrigerator: 11.1 years Dryer: 13.4 years Top-load Washer: 11.2 years Front-load Washer: 9.1 years Dishwasher: 12 years Usually, the more you spend on an appliance upfront, the more likely you will make a repair over replacing. An appliance is an investment and sometimes you need to put a bit more into the investment to get the full return. A $200 repair might get you six more years of use.    

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