As a financial planner and a new-ish home owner, I’m always on the look out for ways I can furnish our house without breaking our budget.  Home Depot and Lowe’s are both within a ten minute drive, and so the opportunity to spend big is never far from reach!

However, I’ve learned that, in addition to online stores, we have quite a number of under-the-radar home supply and decoration options here in Lancaster County.  I’d like to share some of the options that I’ve discovered, and encourage you to share other opportunities that you know are out there, as I’m sure there are more.

Craigslist, which can be Lancaster County-specific, is a good first option for finding things that you can go inspect in person and pick up.  You can search for just about anything, and if Lancaster doesn’t have what you’re looking for, Craigslist will suggest other local areas that may.  I purchased the pavers for our backyard patio on Craigslist – and received two year old, almost perfect condition 6”x9” trapezoid-shaped pavers for 40 cents each.  I found comparable, but not identical, pavers at Lowe’s that were listed at over 2 bucks a piece.

The Lancaster Restore, a division of Habitat for Humanity, is a great option.  My wife and I frequent here monthly.  When contractors are working on houses, often they’ll salvage building supplies and then re-sell them through the Restore.  You wouldn’t know it by driving by on Route 30, but the place has an enormous inventory.  Everything from light fixtures, to drawer knobs, to windows, to toilets.  We scored ten 1’ sheets of backsplash tile for our kitchen for $5 a piece.  Similar ones were selling at Home Depot for $10-15.  We also purchased toilet paper dispensers for $2 and a medicine cabinet for $15 – which after the rehab of a bottle of spray paint looked brand new.

And my personal favorite: Wolgemuth Auction.  This is a monthly auction held every second Thursday at a simply gigantic property in Leola.  Both new and used building supplies are sold here, as well as returns from Costco and other local big box stores.  With auctions, you have to carefully inspect what you’re buying – but there are some serious deals to be had.  So far, I’ve purchased a brand new solid wood interior door for $5, a brand new stainless steel sink for $17, a brand new bathroom vanity for $17, ten boxes of new bathroom tile for $30, and a “lot box” for $1 which ended up containing three brand new digital thermostats, six 5-gallon drywall buckets, miscellaneous electric wiring, plumbing tools, and three door knobs.  Wolgemuth has everything from power tools to hand tools, kitchen cabinets to wicker furniture, insulation to lumber, doors to windows, and just about everything in between.  But – it is auction, and at times things sell for more than what you can get them at retail price, so you need to be weary of what you’re buying.  What’s that saying in real estate, Jeff? … Buyer Beware.

There are tremendous opportunities and deals available right here in Lancaster PA that can allow you to furnish your home without breaking your budget.  The trade off is convenience, and requires a little patience.

There are many different types of roofing materials that you can find here in Lancaster County and Central Pennsylvania.  These roofing materials can be broken down into two separate areas, flat roofs and sloped roofs.

FLAT ROOFS

Single Ply roofs have really become the most popular choice for flat roofs due to their ease of installation and relatively low cost.  There are several types of single ply material and unfortunately they all go by alphabet names.

EPDM- The first and most popular single ply roof in Lancaster and York is EPDM, commonly known as rubber.  The rubber membrane is usually fully adhered to an insulation board which is mechanically fasted to your roof deck.  The membrane comes in various thicknesses (.045, .060, and .090).   I recommend the .060 membrane for most installations.  This comes in white or black, with black being less expensive and more widely used.

TPO- In the last ten years TPO membrane has begun to take some of the flat roof market share.  The TPO membrane is usually white although some manufacturers do have options.  The white membrane is highly reflective and if your roof is visible this is very good choice.  The seams for these roofs are usually heat welded.

PVC- This material has made quite a comeback after a disastrous start a few decades ago.  One of its great strengths is the resistance to grease and chemicals.   The membrane is usually white and maintains its reflectivity and appearance very well.  These seams are usually heat welded as well.

In the past we used to install a lot of built-up roofing and modified roofing on flat roofs.  We still see a few of them each year.  These systems are asphalt based and have become unpopular in Central Pennsylvania due to the cost and the smoke and fumes often associated with their installation.

SLOPED ROOFS

There are quite an assortment of choices for sloped roofs.  By far the most common choice is asphalt shingles.  Lately though, metal has really been making inroads into the roofing market in this area.   Here are a few of your choices for sloped roofs.

SHINGLES- There is a wide variety of choices in this category alone.  Shingles range from 25 year type to Lifetime and come in many colors and styles.

METAL- Once again there are a lot of things to choose from just in the metal category.  There are different kinds of metals copper, aluminum, or steel.  Alternate styles also exist, from traditional standing seam to metal shingles.

SLATE- This is one of my all time favorite roofing materials.   I like it for the aesthetics, durability and long life.   Slates come in a variety of sizes, colors and styles.   When installed properly it can outlast virtually any other roofing system.  We have installed many slate roofs in Lancaster and surrounding areas and they are all still in very good shape today.  Slate is often the top choice for universities, churches and upper scale homes.

There are a few other choices for sloped roofs like tile or cedar shingles.  We don’t see them too often in Lancaster County, but we do run into them more often down towards Philadelphia.

If you need help deciding which roofing material is right for you, feel free to ask me.  I love talking about roofing anytime.

(Joe can be reached at 717.291.4405)

By Mike & Matt Blank, MBC Building & Remodeling

Parents know that they rarely have the same ideas and opinions as their children – you might want one design while your 8-year-old daughter has a completely different concept in mind. Here are a few helpful decorating tips that aim to please the whole family:

First of all, talk to your child and understand his or her vision for the room and incorporate some of those ideas in the design.

Keep in mind your daughter or son are the ones living in the room, so even if it is hard for you to do, compromising with them on what they want and what you’ll allow will yield the greatest results for both of you. If you don’t want to get too crazy with painting, use a neutral wall color in the room; add punch and color with accessories and accents.

Here’s a look at some of the hottest trends for children’s bedrooms:

For Both: Functionality is important in a child’s room.

Adding items like a desk or table to work on is a great idea. Educational letters and images capture the imagination. Many online retailers have inspirational and motivational posters which can help instill focus, drive and passion in your little one’s as the dream big!

For Girls: It’s all about bright colors for girls, from purple to lime green to the ever-popular pink. Think personalized sweetheart pillows and throws. Adding items that can be personalized is a great way to make your child feel like the room truly is her own special place.

For Boys: Does your little guy love sports? Choose accessories that have his favorite professional logo on them, such as a bedspread or poster. If your son isn’t a sports nut, you can incorporate any interest into affordable decor that will personalize the room.

I can’t believe all of the damage that I have seen recently from Ice Dams.  These form at the eave of the building usually where the gutter is.    They can cause water to back up into the building, causing thousands of dollars of damage.

There is some good news though.  The fix does not have to be that costly, if you catch it early.  Here is a link to a video of a quick and easy way to break up the darn dams that ran on WGAL.

I hope this helps you!   Call your insurance carrier to be certain you are covered for this as we are hearing some  insurance companies are not covering if icicles and snow are not cleared off your roof.

Recently Pennsylvania adopted a statewide requirement that starting January 1, 2010 all new one and two family townhouses be built with a residential fire sprinkler system. Did you know that if you own a townhome without a sprinkler system this new regulation may affect your homeowners insurance?

Many cities have specific ordinances or laws which state that if a building is damaged, it must be rebuilt to meet certain specifications or construction codes.  Since the new construction code now requires a sprinkler system be installed for all newly built townhomes, any older townhomes that are rebuilt would also have to confirm to this new code and have a sprinkler system installed.

The Bad News: According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the average cost to install a residential sprinkler system in an existing home is approximately $2.50-$5 per square foot assuming you have an adequate and reliable water supply. Thus, if an average 1,500 square-foot townhouse was in a fire, it could cost an additional $7,500 to just install the required sprinkler system to meet the new construction code.

The Good News: If you have a covered homeowner insurance claim on a townhouse without a sprinkler system, most policies have a coverage called “Ordinance & Law” to help cover the cost of adding one. This provision covers:

• The cost to tear down the undamaged portion of the house
• The cost to rebuild the home up to the Current Construction Code

The standard amount of Ordinance & Law coverage under a standard HO-3 homeowner insurance policy is 10% of the home coverage for a covered loss (more coverage may be provided by endorsement). For example, if that same 1,500 square-foot townhouse house is insured for $150,000 then the Ordinance & Law coverage may be $15,000.

The Potential Risk: In this example, $15,000 of Ordinance & Law coverage sounds like more than enough coverage since the average townhome sprinkler system should cost around $7,500, but remember this coverage is also used to rebuild the townhouse to all current construction codes plus the cost to tear down the undamaged portion of the house. Thus, the standard 10% of Ordinance & Law coverage may not be enough for a townhome that requires a sprinkler system plus other significant changes to meet construction codes.

What Townhome Owners Should Do:

• Make sure you have Ordinance & Law coverage on your homeowner insurance policy. The coverage details can be found in your policy or by calling your agent.
• Work with your insurance agent to determine how much Ordinance & Law coverage is needed. Some factors to include would be the sprinkler system installation cost, home location and the age of the home.
• Add extra Ordinance & Law coverage by endorsing your homeowner policy if needed.

Christopher Vogt, Insurance Agent

Baron Insurance Group

20 E High St, Manheim, PA 17545

717-665-2985

chrisv@baroninsurnacegroup.com

Twitter: @christophervogt

Can’t we just get a lawn?  It seems like an easy question, but in my experience, I have learned not to assume everyone knows how to be a master on their own turf. Establishing and maintaining a beautiful lawn, in Lancaster County PA or elsewhere, is both an art and a science. Whether you just want something green to look at, or you want your sod to be the pride of the neighborhood, lawn care is a carefully executed strategy. Here are some points to ponder when planning on making your lawn look better:

• Water: Water is the most important element you can give your lawn. If Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, you should water your lawn a few mornings per week. Don’t water in the evening, as it can promote turf disease.
• Mowing: Use a sharp mower blade, and mow frequently enough, so as to only to remove 1/3 of the grass blade at a time. Make sure you mow at the right height. You should have a 3” tall blade when finished cutting. Mowing too short will promote weed growth and even damage grass plants. Mowing too tall can promote certain turf diseases, so get out that ruler.
• Seeding: If it isn’t thick, make it thick! If your lawn is really thin, or just needs a little nudge in getting fuller, there are many types of seeding. These vary from Aeration & Seeding for a decent lawn, to Slice-Seeding a really weak lawn, to Complete Renovation of a lost-cause. Be sure to do what’s right for your specific situation. Bad conditions call for drastic measures.
• Treatment Program: Nutrient levels and Soil pH are very crucial to growing a thick, green lawn. There are also more pests that come on your lawn than that nosy neighbor down the street. Be sure to do your homework when considering a Lawn Care Plan. Whether you purchase the materials yourself, or choose a company that specializes in this type of work, be sure you are making your decision for the long-term health of your lawn. If you choose to contract a Lawn Care company in the Lancaster, PA area, choose one with a proven track record, and a great reputation. Like many other purchases in life, you get what you pay for.

Chad Diller

Tomlinson Bomberger Lawn Care, Landscape, & Pest Control

Certified Turfgrass Professional

Certified Arborist

717-278-5898

ChadD@TBLL.com

Sold: 2 properties sold for an average price of $131,000 these homes were on the market an average of 39 days.
New: 13 houses were listed last week.
Pending: 2 houses went under agreement last week.
Expired and Extended: 9 listings expired last week and 4 listings extended their contracts with their listing agent.
Active: 298 homes are active with an average days on market of 121.

For Lancaster PA homes for sale click here. Jeff Geoghan is a top real estate expert in Lancaster County, PA, and an involved community member. Jeff’s work has been featured in the Lancaster Newspapers, WGAL Channel 8, PA Business Journal and Wall Street Journal. Jeff’s blog on Lancaster County and its homes is nationally-featured. Contact Jeff for more help with your Lancaster PA Real Estate needs. Jeff is also a photographer – view some of his lancaster pa photography portfolio. Comments are welcome!