Eric Lanspa

Preventing Water in the Basement...a few easy steps.

Spring is almost here. It's difficult to think that here in Sioux Falls, SD. It is snowing as I type this but spring is on its way. With spring comes melting. With several feet of snowfall this winter, melting snow means water. Lots of it. Along with the spring melt will also be rain. There could be lots of it. Where will all this water go? That will be determined later, but the basement is where we do not want it.

When water does enter your basement, it will need to get pumped out. Relying on a floor drain is risky. A sump pump is your most reliable method. The best option is to take measures to avoid the problem all together. The best sump pump is one that never needs to run...but can when necessary.

To avoid basement moisture during the spring thaw, remove snow from around the foundation. Scooping a few feet of snow away from the foundation provides a buffer for the melting snow. Granted, water does not always move straight down in a soil profile. This buffer will at least keep the immediate snow away from the foundation.

Do you have a driveway or sidewalk adjacent to your foundation? Seal the cracks in the concrete as well as the gap between the foundation and the slab. Water will take the path of least resistance. That path seems to always be the one that leads directly into your basement. Furthermore, having that crack sealed before next winter will prevent moisture under your concrete from freezing and heaving, thereby making your cracking problem worse.

Clean your gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters overflow and send water directly down to the foundation. The function of a downspout is to direct water away from the foundation.

In the spring when weather permits, make sure the soil next to the foundation slopes away from the foundation. This is one of the fundamental causes for damp basements and the most overlooked.

Even with the above mentioned prevention, you may live in an area where the water table is high and your sump pump will naturally run due to the installation of drain tile. That's normal and fine. Maintain your sump pump!

• Make sure it pumps and discharges away from the foundation at least 20 feet.
• If your pump is old, spend $100 and replace it. Keep the old one on the shelf as a backup.
• Clean dirt and debris out of the sump pit
• Ensure check valve is functioning properly

In the unfortunate event water still finds its way into your home, do not ignore it. First and foremost, correct the cause. Secondly, call a professional to properly dry the basement. A wet/dry vac and a few fans is not enough. Improperly dealing with moisture will lead to mold...black mold.

I know all the right people to call if you have specific questions or concerns. My network consists of referrals for:

• Determining the root cause of a water problem
• Drying out a wet basement PROPERLY
• Testing for hidden water problems
• Sump pump evaluations
• Restoring any water damage PROPERLY
• Mold remediation (fixing the problem)

Call me if you need help. That's what I'm here for.

What Drives You?

Why do you get out of bed in the morning? Does the sound of the alarm every morning make you angry? Would you rather stay in bed and forget you sell real estate?

I'll be the first to admit the alarm does not greet me with smiles every morning. Three mornings per week I am on the basketball court by 6:00 am. I don't enjoy waking up, but starting the day with a game of full court hoops tends to give me a kick start.

I am driven to make a difference. One of my favorite quotes is by Tony Dungy: While winning is important, it should be a result of doing what's right. How many people can say they agree with this mindset? I firmly believe if I work with integrity and keep the client's well-being at the forefront, I will be successful. Sometimes that means foregoing a short-term paycheck. How many people are willing to do that?

I've seen too often in successful businesses, real estate included, a sense of entitlement when transitioning from one generation to the next. The next generation feels entitled, but really don't want the business...or at least the work. They are driven by money, not what really should count.

We all know Realtors in general do not have the best perception among consumers. We collect large fees, work very little, and cannot be trusted. I certainly am not suggesting we charge less, but what can each of us do to change that perception. Are we doing anything for the positive or are we living up to that stereotype?

This may be an unpopular ideal to post in a blog, but I place my moral and ethical compass firmly in my faith. I believe that by doing so, I cannot help but succeed. Success however, is not measured by the size of one's bank account.

I challenge everyone to assess what you are driven by. Thanks for checking out my ramblings.

Sioux Falls Home Show Attendance

This weekend was the annual Home Show in Sioux Falls. The weather seemed to cooperate in favor of the event. We were fortunate to have the temperature warm enough to welcome spring, but cool and damp enough that being outdoors was not an enjoyable option.

The Homebuilders Association of the Sioux Empire sponsored the event which saw over 200 vendors. The area of primary focus this year seemed to be energy efficiency and the movement towards going green. It is encouraging to speak with people this year and hear the excitement for spring. I'm sure the vendors were happy to see people attending in good numbers. Hopefully good numbers at the home show is also an indicator of buyers and sellers confident in the market and ready to make some moves.

I'm excited for spring! The Sioux Falls real estate market is doing well so far in 2010. We are all hopeful for a better than average spring and summer. Bring it on!

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Should the repairs be completed before listing?

I thought this was a very simple question with a very simple answer. I will contend the answer is yes.

Here's the scenario: Property is listed, posted on MLS, and the sign goes in the yard on Wednesday. The seller promises to finish painting and cleaning over the weekend. In the meantime, there have been 10 showings and of course the work did not get done over the weekend.

I work very hard to educate my sellers. I do not want a single showing until all cosmetic repairs and/or upgrades are completed. I see so many properties still needing work or cleaning and agent remarks indicate it will be completed.

Am I missing an opportunity? I believe a week of lost market time is better than having 10 buyers walk through and be turned off by unfinished work. Should the repairs be completed before listing?

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Snowfall in Sioux Falls, SD...how about you?

56.2 inches for the 2009/2010 winter, as of 3/1/10.  Is that a lot?  I think it is.  The average snowfall in Sioux Falls, SD is 39.2 inches.  It is still quite possible we could exceed our average by nearly 2 feet.  2 feet!!  I've always felt as if being average would not be my ticket to success.  I will now settle for a little underachievement.  We're down to only 14 inches on the ground.  At this rate, I should see my front lawn by May 1. 

Even though we've had a lot of snow, at least it's been cold...30 below zero cold.  If we're going to be complaining about the snow, at least it's also miserably cold with even a more miserable windchill.  A while back I was outside moving some snow on a Saturday morning.  The air temp was a calm 27 below zero.  By the time it warmed up to zero, I was ready to shed a coat.  That means I'm getting used to it...I don't want to get used to it!  Thankfully though, people have continued to purchase homes here throughout the winter months.

Eric Lanspa...who the heck is he?

If I sound a little cynical towards the weather and snowfall in Sioux Falls, SD that's because I/we are growing tired of it.  It's been a long winter here in the upper Midwest.  I realize some parts of the country would not find this unusual.  Others of you may be aghast.  Suffice it to say, spring is going to be welcomed here in Sioux Falls, SD.  In several months it may be 105 degrees with 70% humidity.  Trying to comprehend a 135 degree temperature differentiation is difficult, but yet I continue to live here. 

How about where you live?  How has your winter been?  Warm climates need not respond ;)

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