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Troy Ott

Tight Homes and Air Pollution

01-27-09
Troy Ott

During the colder months, we all spend more time indoors and the quality of the air inside becomes more important. There are many things that can pollute the air including combustion sources such as oil, gas, wood and tobacco, building materials such as insulation and damp carpet, household cleaners, furniture and carpet. Excessive moisture and high temperatures can cause mold issues while carbon monoxide from gas stoves, dryers, and furnaces can cause illness or death if not vented properly.

Many problems started in the 1970s and 1980s as builders increased the amount of insulation to reduce energy costs, but didn't balance that with the ventilation system. Indoor air became trapped and couldn't be exchanged with fresh outdoor air. Studies show that indoor air is five times more polluted than outdoor air.

To improve your indoor air, you must filter it to remove the small particles in the air, adjust temperatures to create a comfortable environment, and have a stable humidity level that is neither to wet or dry. Heat dries out indoor air and if there isn't new moisture created to level it out, drywall nails and screws may pop and it can cause dry skin.

If your house is too "tight," you can install a ventilation-recovery unit to create a regular exchange of indoor/outdoor air. Use building products that have low or no volatile organic compounds. Make sure your heating system reaches every part of the house and make sure gas-fired units are serviced regularly and cleaned for proper combustion.

Gamecock Basketball Turning Around?

01-22-09
Troy Ott

Did anyone see the South Carolina vs Florida basketball game last night? With 4.7 seconds left, Zam Fredricks missed a foul shot putting us 1 point shy of a tie. The foul was rebounded by Florida's Chandler Parson's who then got a chance at a foul shot with 3.3 seconds left, but failed to make it. Carolina's Mike Holmes got the rebound, threw a flawless pass down court to Fredricks, who made a successful layup as the buzzer sounded!

GAMECOCKS 70

FLORIDA 69

This victory doesn't hardly make up for the incredible embarrasment USC encountered facing Florida in football this year, but it sure felt good.

I've become very impressed with Darrin Horn's turnaround of the Gamecock defense and have even seen some improvement in the player's focus. He has also inspired the fanbase to become enthusiastic during games, and the student section, now coined the "Garnet Army" and dressed in garnet and black camo, create an atmosphere that Gamecock basketball hasn't seen in years! Hopefully this turnaround will continue with the new coach and we'll have many winning seasons to come. Who knows, maybe we'll even top the SEC.

Moving Your House in this Tight Economy

01-19-09
Troy Ott

Conspicuous consumption is out and deal-hunting is in. There are many home buyers out there despite the recession, but they require a lot more value for their money. Home sellers must resist the urge to argue over small money matters and realize they will probably get a good deal on the next home they buy. Here are some suggestions for home sellers to move their property in the economic times we are faced with:

Don't price based on an "I need" basis: Many sellers are tempted to price their home on what they "need" to make in the transaction. Home shoppers aren't concerned with your financial needs and often won't even view a property that is overpriced. Review the current market with your real estate agent. Pull the most recent comparable sales and remember, the market determines the price.

Treat all bidders with respect: In the past, sellers have often received multiple offers and entered a bidding war. But with offers not flying in as they used to, sellers need to be more cautious with counter-offers. This doesn't mean accept the first low ball offer that comes in, but instead follow the market and determine what is a fair amount.

Accommodate the timing preferences of buyers: Time is money in real estate. Often buyers want a farther away closing date because they are not quite ready to move. On the contrary, many are ready and want to be in your home very quickly. In order to make the deal work, work with the buyers and be very accommodating.

Use caution with inspection reports: Almost all home buyers have a home inspection completed prior to closing these days. When the home inspection report comes back, appease the buyer by making the small repairs requested. Even though you may not feel they are necessary, they are often inexpensive and will make a smooth transaction. Be cautious when an inspector suggests large and often very expensive repairs. If you feel the repair not necessary, have your listing agent tactfully request a second opinion.

Columbia, SC is Getting Cold - Prepping Your Plumbing

01-15-09
Troy Ott

Down here in South Carolina, we are not used to the cold weather we are about to experience.

Here are some tips on how to prepare your pipes for some FREEZING weather!

Outside plumbing

  • Caulk around pipes where they enter the house . Close all foundation vents. (Open foundation vents are probably the greatest cause of frozen or split water lines.) Cut wood or styrofoam blocks to fit vent openings, then slide them into the vents. (Styrofoam is available at hardware stores or from insulation suppliers.) Open the vents again in the spring to prevent dry rot.
  • Protect outside pipes and faucets. In some homes, the outside faucet has a separate shut-off in the basement. If you have a separate valve for outside faucets, shut if off. Then go outside and turn on all the faucets to drain water in the lines. Leave the outside faucets on while you go back and check your outside shut-off valve for a small brass plug or cap on the valve. Turn this plug far enough that water drains from the valve. Then, tighten the plug back and turn off all the outside faucets.
  • Wrap outside faucets or hose bibs. Do this if you don't have a separate valve to turn off outside faucets. (Also remember to disconnect garden hoses.) Use newspaper or rags covered with plastic, fiberglass or molded foam insulating covers to wrap the faucet. (Molded foam insulating covers are available at plumbing and hardware stores.)
  • Drain in-ground sprinkler systems. Check manufacturer's instructions for the best way to do this.

Inside plumbing

  • Insulate pipes in unheated areas such as the crawl space, attic, garage or basement. Use insulating tape or molded pipe sleeve and wrap it over the entire length of exposed pipe. Cover all valves, pipe-fittings, etc. with insulating tape or fiberglass. (Check your hardware store for supplies.)
  • Shut off and drain your water system if you are leaving home for several days. (Turn off the water heater before draining the system.) Leaving your furnace on a low setting while you're gone helps, but may not prevent freezing. Turn off the main shut-off valve, then go through the house and turn on all faucets, sinks, tubs, showers, etc., and flush the toilets. Go back to the valve and remove the plug so that it can drain completely. Follow-up by re-tightening the valve and turning off the open faucets.
  • Open cupboard doors in the kitchen and bathrooms. Water lines supplying the kitchen or bathrooms are frequently located in outside walls. Any air leaks in siding or insulation can cause these pipes to freeze. Leaving the cupboard doors open when the temperature is below freezing allows pipes behind the cupboards to get more heat.
  • Let the water run if the temperature dips below freezing. (A stream slightly smaller than a pencil width should be sufficient.) Faucets farthest from the street should be the ones left running. Using cold water will save on your gas or electric bill.

Luxury Lifestyles Near Lake Murray

01-08-09
Troy Ott

The Courtyards at Salem Place

Experience Luxury Lifestyles Near Lake Murray

www.CourtyardsatSalemPlace.com

  • All-brick exteriors with stucco trim
  • Two-car garage
  • Stainless steel appliances
  • Granite countertops
  • Carpet, hardwood and ceramic tile flooring
  • Kitchen pantry
  • Trey ceiling in Great Room
  • Custom built cabinetry
  • Custom walk-in closets
  • Rear patio
  • Clubhouse with ample parking
  • Boating, fishing and lakeside dining are just minutes away
  • Lexington School District Five
  • Lighthouse Marina boat storage available
  • No closing cost option available
  • One year membership to any Metro area YMCA included

When it came time for my husband, Sonny, and I to retire after living in Chicago and Atlanta for the
past fifteen years we always knew we would come home to Columbia. We also knew we wanted to build in order to get what we wanted in a home and The Courtyards At Salem Place presented us with just that opportunity.

We took one of the standard plans that the builder offered and customized it to meet our needs. One of the first things we did was to extend the garage by 3 ft and the great room by 7 ft. We added additional windows and instead of them being 5 ft tall we made them 6 ft tall plus took out a wall between the kitchen eating area and great room in order to open it up more. We chose to have a gas tankless hot water heater and a gas surface unit for cooking. We decided on stained cabinets in the kitchen and customized them with a corner turntable in what was a lost space and had many pull out drawers installed; some were deep drawers, for better storage. We also have a custom tile backsplash and a composite sink.

Our master bedroom suite has a very large walk-in closet with pocket doors and in the bath area
we did an extra large custom tile shower with a sitting bench. We have a lot of built-ins and one of our favorite is the custom designed dry bar in the great room. It has a built-in refrigerator and wine
rack plus extensive storage and display areas. Upstairs in our bonus room we have two built-in bookcases plus a long built-in area that has file drawers and storage space.

In our backyard we have installed a beautiful water feature, expanded our patio and installed pavers and a sitting wall. We are in the process of landscaping it and will soon have the perfect spot to
relax and entertain.

The Courtyards At Salem Place is an all brick community that is located in a very quiet and enjoyable area near Lake Murray. We are close to shopping and are very fortunate to have wonderful neighbors. We are looking forward to spending many, many happy years here.

Carolyn Chunn

Choose from 6 custom plans by Hall Builders or build your own plan. Hall Builders is a residential builder specializing in the construction of custom homes in the Columbia, Lake Murray and Folly Beach markets. Hall Builders has constructed and sold approximately 100 homes valued at $20,000,000 since the year 200.Founder and owner of Hall Builders, Cliff Hall, has a wide range of experience with real estate and development services.