Tri-Valley Real Estate Blog

Easiest Flowers to Grow in your Garden

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Gardening definitely has its fair share of difficulties, so every once in a while it’s nice to rely on flowers that thrive with minimal time and effort. Here are some easy flowers to grow that are suitable for nearly any backyard.Easiest Flowers to Grow in your Garden

Aster

With more than 250 varieties, you’re bound to find a cultivar that’s suited to your space. The extensive range of sizes and colors available makes this plant one of the most popular late-season bloomers.

Daylily

This summer bloomer is cherished for its reliability. And with thousands of cultivars out there, gardeners have almost limitless options. Though individual blossoms last just a day, many hybrids flower repeatedly all season long.

Yarrow

Yarrow produces long-lasting, easy to grow flowers that come into their own once the weather is consistently warm. Suited to most growing conditions, yarrow provides a long season of blooms all the way into fall.

Sedum

You’ll notice that this plant’s flower heads are made up of little star-shaped blooms. Since the plants range from 3 inches to 3 feet high, some species work well as ground covers, while others make excellent border plants.

Coneflower

Its sweet honey nature has made coneflower a garden staple. Growing about 2 to 4 feet high and 2 feet wide, this colorful bloomer is the perfect companion plant in just about any garden, and tolerates drought. Give it well-draining soil and watch it thrive in full sun as well as partial shade.

Hosta

The ultimate low-care shade plant, hosta cultivars come with endless varieties of leaf shapes, patterns, textures and colors. Easily divided, hosta is perfect for the budget-minded. It forms a dense, leafy clump, with blossoms rising up to 3 feet above the foliage. Some hostas tolerate sun, but partial shade produces the most handsome, longest-lasting foliage.

Bee Balm

This unusual beauty grows up to 4 feet tall and starts flowering in midsummer, inviting hummingbirds, butterflies and bees to your backyard. Plants come with pink, red, white or purple blooms and reseed readily.

Pansy

This colorful bloomer is best known for the whiskered “faces” that mark many of the flowers. The majority of pansy varieties are annuals, though some live longer. Most perform best in cooler weather, so in warm climates, some cultivars are grown as winter annuals.

Peony

A peony’s fresh, heady scent simply can’t be beat. In late spring, bushy plants burst with lush, showy purple, white, red, yellow or pink blooms that make this flower a favorite choice to use in colorful beds and bouquets. Hundreds of peony hybrids are available.

Sunflower

There’s something about a sunflower’s bright face that makes you feel good. These easy flowers to grow range from red to yellow to white.

It’s easier than you might think to grow flowers from seed.  You only need a few basic supplies to make it a success. If you choose flowers that are easy to grow from seed it doesn’t have to be time-consuming. The biggest challenge you’ll face is not getting carried away and planting more seeds than you have space for. Finally, growing your own flowers from seed is fun, and seeing those little seedlings thrive is hugely rewarding.

More: 4 Design Tips to Enjoy a Garden from the Inside

Dale Corpus offers information on the Tri-Valley California real estate market including homes in San Ramon, Pleasantville real estate, Livermore, Danville and surrounding areas. 

Financing a Non-Warrantable Condo

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What exactly is a non-warrantable condo?

If you are considering purchasing a condo it is good to know that recently there have been some changes to the requirements of lending money through a conventional loan on a condo property.Financing a Non-Warrantable Condo

A conventional loan is the most common and traditional of loans. These loans are those that are within the requirements set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to be federally backed. In other words, the lender is able to sell the loan off instead of holding it in-house or finding a private investor to purchase the loan.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the largest purchasers of condo mortgage loans in the country. For them to purchase a loan it has to meet their requirements so a majority of lenders will try to stick within these requirements to make sure they are not holding onto mortgage loan products.

Recently these two large mortgage-backing giants set new requirements that condos must be under warranty to be eligible for a conventional loan. This change came after the catastrophic collapse of a condo building in South Florida. It was discovered that repairs were suggested to be made that continued to be put off. Issues arise in an approval when an inspection is done on the property and it is found that the condo association has not kept up-to-date with maintenance as well as other safety concerns with the building. This has led many condo buildings to be deemed unwarrantable.

Options a buyer has for financing a non-warrantable condo

If you are trying to secure conventional financing and find that the condo property is non-warrantable there are two options to move forward with your purchase. You can have the items in question fixed or find a lender that will offer a non-QM mortgage on what conventional lenders determine non-warrantable.

To find this type of mortgage loan it is a good idea to ask the advice of a local mortgage broker in the location where you plan to purchase a condo or condo building. Mortgage brokers are a great resource to tap into for essentially one stop mortgage shopping. They make it their job to know the current mortgage products on the market available for certain situations.

Additionally, you want to find a mortgage broker that specializes in non-QM mortgage products. Non-QM mortgages are those that are willing to lend money outside of the conventional parameters set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and take on the risk of holding the loan in-house or finding their own investor to back it. Many times, non-QM mortgages give more freedom in qualifying for lending in special circumstances.

These are completely safe mortgage products that still check the borrower’s ability to repay the loan while offering them another option to finance their home or investment of an unwarrantable condo property and other types of properties. Many mortgage advisors have helped many borrowers in less than traditional situations to qualify for a reputable loan and make a real estate purchase they would otherwise be turned down for.

Second Home Financing Looks Different in 2022

4 Design Tips to Enjoy Garden Views from Inside the Home

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A room that has an amazing view out of the windows can totally change the overall look and feel. Not every one of us however can have those views that look like a piece of art outside of giant windows. Many times, we are constrained to existing plots but one way we can improve the view out of our windows is with some smart landscaping design.4 Design Tips to Enjoy Garden Views from Inside the Home

If you are starting completely from scratch with your landscape or working with one that needs a few adjustments and improvements here are some design tips to help you make the most of the views outside your windows from inside your home.

First, take a look through your windows

First, take a moment to pause and study the view out of your windows from inside of your home. What is the spot that is most easily and prominently seen through the windows from inside your home?

In addition to considering how you can make it more picturesque is taking into consideration if there are certain areas that may benefit from a little more privacy. Or maybe you might want to consider the significant investment of larger windows to more easily enjoy your future view of your beautiful garden.

Think about spaces like the foreground and background

When an artist begins painting, they think about how the composition will be set up. In the same way, your window is like a painting hung on your wall. You want to separate elements of your landscape close to the viewer from those that are further back.

Items that are closer to the viewer/the window are all about more detail as this will be more noticed. Things like grouping a cluster of small pots or bringing in tiny elements like a fountain will help to frame the foreground of your picturesque view.

Larger elements belong in the foreground. Items like large hedges work better at a greater distance from the viewer. This helps to draw the gaze deeper into the garden.

Add in some focal points

When looking out of a window a focal point provides a place for your eye to settle and rest on the view. This can include a decorative birdbath that is like an art piece, a fire pit, a seating area, and the like.

You want to make sure you find the right placement and align the focal point along a site line either within your garden or from the view of the window. You want to make sure that the element is enough to stand out against the rest of the landscape. This means that it creates a contrast from its surroundings.

Don’t forget about the winter

When planning out a lush landscape most of us are doing so in the spring and summer but if you are doing it to help improve the views from your windows inside the home you will be enjoying those views more often during the colder months.

Don’t forget to include plants that will look great all year long. Include some that will have bright branches, berries, or winter flowers. This will keep the view picturesque all year long, especially during those times when you spend long hours inside.

Dale Corpus offers information on the Tri-Valley California real estate market including homes in San Ramon, Pleasantville real estate, Livermore, Danville and surrounding areas. 

From Retired to Renovator; a House Flipping Guide

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From Retired to Renovator; a House Flipping Guide

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From Retired to Renovator, a House Flipping Guide

As a lifelong homeowner, fixing, repairing, updating, and decorating your home, you feel pretty confident you can turn those skills into a home repair and resell business. Or in other words, you want to get into house-flipping.

If painting, landscaping, shopping for appliances, and installing cabinets and floor tile is your happy place, then that may very well be the perfect next career for you.

Dale Corpus Real Estate blog is full of great information any prospective home buyer will find valuable, whether looking for a place to call home or for a place to invest. He’s got the inside track on what you need to know before committing to one of the largest investments most people will ever make.

Choosing the Right Property

The right real estate agent can make all the difference when it comes to selecting the right property for your home renovation project. Oftentimes they’ll have information about homes that are not yet on the market. They’ll be able to negotiate more effectively with the sellers, too, since they know what price homes in the area are selling for now, and what they can expect homes to sell for in the near future. They’ll also be a great resource when you’re looking for contractors and subcontractors.

Getting an appraisal first will be something you’ll want even before you make an offer. Hiring an independent appraiser who can go over the property you’re looking at can save you thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars later. They can tell you if there is structural damage, like weak foundations, bad plumbing, or faulty electrical. Most agents will strongly advise you against purchasing a home that needs structural repair. Instead, finding a home in need of cosmetic updates will be far less costly to you in time and resources.

Choosing the Right Upgrades

Things that boost value immediately are updated appliances, flooring, paint, and wallpaper. For appliances, unless you’re in an area where most of the homes are new or newly renovated, you won’t necessarily need to purchase top-of-the-line models, but don’t be tempted to purchase salvaged or restored appliances. People will expect their appliances to at least be new.

As far as flooring is concerned, hardwood floors are the most popular with homebuyers, with tile and carpet coming in second but most times, you’ll find a mix of all three works in different rooms. It really just depends on how much you expect to sell the home for and what others in the neighborhood have installed. If most of the homes in the market have laminate flooring, you’re in luck since it’s relatively inexpensive and not too difficult to install yourself. A fresh coat of paint in neutral, or earth tones makes it easy for prospective buyers to picture themselves and their furnishing in the home.

Add some unique touches too, to make it stand out from all the other homes, like wallpaper. With peel and stick paper that can be both custom-designed and removed without leaving a residue behind, it is the perfect decorating addition for making your home stand out.

Choosing the Right Business Structure  

If you’ve decided this is the business for you, look into forming an LLC. It will protect your personal assets from any business losses. You can do it yourself online in only a few minutes, just check with the local officials since the rules can vary from state to state.

Choosing the Right Marketing Strategy

Don’t leave all the promotion of your newly renovated property to your real estate agent. Being active in marketing your property means that now you’re ready to create a Facebook ad. You can create your own Facebook ad with pre-made templates that you can custom design with your brand, logo, colors, images, and fonts. Facebook has nearly 3 billion users, so that’s definitely a market you want to tap into.

Real estate is seldom a bad investment, as long as you’re well advised and well prepared to put in the hard work. If so, it can be a wonderfully satisfying way to spend your post-retirement years.

 

Why it is More Important than Ever to be Aware of Contract Contingencies

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If you have previously purchased or sold a piece of real estate you more than likely know of contract contingencies. A contingency is a specific requirement that needs to be met in order for the contract to be official and the sale of the property to be finalized. Most often buyers or sellers include contingencies for their own interest and protection in the transaction.Why it is More Important than Ever to be Aware of Contract Contingencies

Contingencies are added in or included in standard real estate contracts to help ensure that certain conditions are met before final paperwork is signed. Since the beginning of the pandemic, it was not uncommon for many buyers to waive typical protection contingencies and sellers to include new ones not often heard of.

What to be aware of if You are a Buyer

Requesting a contingency as a buyer helps to give you an escape route from your offer on the property. Every contingency creates an additional hoop that needs to be jumped through or an item that needs to be met before the actual official sale can close. Most often on a buyer’s part contingencies include appraisals and inspections.

With the high competition amongst buyers, it was not uncommon to see many drop the standard traditional contingency for an inspection which holds a home seller to making certain repairs or being willing to negotiate a different price over any significant issues that are found after a professional inspection is conducted on the property. Those who chose the strategy of waiving this contingency do so in hopes of telling the seller they will not be expecting them to make good on any repair issues the home has and help the closing process go much quicker.

One thing to be aware of when you choose to waive an inspection contingency in hopes of making your offer more competitive with several offers on the table is that this does not mean you do not get to have an inspection at all. You can waive the contingency and still pay for an inspection, but you will not have the ability to back out on your offer for any repairs other than ones that make the home completely unlivable.

What to be aware of as a Seller

Right now, during a hot seller’s market, a homeowner has much more leverage to include contingencies in a real estate contract. Adding in contingencies can allow for more time to close on your home if you are struggling to find your next home purchase. One thing to be aware of though is even with a higher amount of leverage adding too many contingencies to the contract could cause buyers to walk away. Even when you have several ready to make an offer.

The bottom line when it comes to real estate contracts for both buyers and sellers is to make sure that you are going over them carefully. You want to make sure that you are not requesting too many contingencies that would make the other party back out of the deal. You also want to make sure that you pay plenty of attention to all of the contingencies in the contract making sure you know exactly what is being requested. A trusted real estate agent can help to walk you through every contract and best advise you on whether to accept or counter offer.

For more information on real estate in San Ramon and the Tri-Valley real estate area, please contact me any time.

Assessing Your Priorities and Preferences When Finding a New Place to Live

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Assessing Your Priorities and Preferences When Finding a New Place to Live

Your home matters – a lot. It’s where you spend large portions of your life, day in and out. Besides being your base of operations, it influences your mood, your energy levels, and your overall wellbeing. The neighborhood around it is just as important, for similar reasons. As such, if you’re moving to a new place, it’s important to pick something that matches your needs and personality well.Assessing Your Priorities and Preferences When Finding a New Place to Live

In this post on the Dale Corpus Real Estate blog, we’ll discuss some friendly advice on picking the right new home (and neighborhood).

Cost of living

The cost of living is, arguably, the most important assessment you’ll be making. You should, ideally, prepare a budget to determine what you can afford. It’ll give you more direction when you’re looking for housing. Some costs to factor in include taxes, food, transportation, utilities, personal expenses, and more. 24/7 Wall St. offers a nice reference list of living expenses across major cities to help you estimate living costs.

Rent or buy?

Will you be renting or buying? Your financial situation will, of course, determine the answer. You may want to research the real estate market before you choose either option. If you’re considering buying a home “as is” – a popular choice because it’s cheaper – it’s important you proceed with caution. Some of these houses need to be double and triple-checked (because they’re not livable). Also, consider consulting with a lawyer and examining land records for red flags before committing.

Employment options

Every area has its specialty industries and related job opportunities. If you aren’t moving for job-related purposes, you should research the employment opportunities thoroughly. For those thinking about starting a new business or moving an existing business, spend some time researching the laws and guidelines related to the state. Rules do vary, so if you’re planning to register as an LLC, you need to ensure you’re filing everything correctly.

Nearby amenities

The proximity of nearby amenities is always an important deciding factor. You want to be comfortable, and not have to go too far for your needs. Some popular amenity considerations include nearby healthcare facilities, grocery stores, entertainment centers, restaurants, parks, lakes, fitness centers, and educational institutions. You may want to talk to your family (if applicable) and weigh everyone’s wants and needs.

Neighborhood culture and safety

The culture of people in the neighborhood can make a difference in your experience. You may find the “feel” of a particular neighborhood more to your liking than another. Furthermore, you may want to prioritize safety, especially if you have a young family. You’ll need a peaceful home in a peaceful neighborhood, with good, friendly people. Roomgo advises you to check the chicken-coffee ratio. If there are more coffee shops around, it proves the neighborhood has been gentrified.

Proximity to friends and family

Having the support of close family and friends is always a good idea. It’s easier to visit them if they live nearby, not to mention they can help you settle in faster and their presence may make you feel more comfortable. Of course, not everyone is close to their family. In such cases, you may want to move further away instead!

The living space itself

Last, but not least, you’ll want to consider the house itself. Would you like a family home or an apartment? Will you be living alone, with your family, or with roommates? Other specific factors to consider are accessibility, outdoor space, number of rooms, bathrooms, furnishings, and lighting. If you’re renting, don’t forget to look at the contract and see if you agree with the terms and conditions. For example, you may not be allowed to make alterations after you move in, which may put you off.

Conclusion

It’s always a good idea to talk to your family and gather everyone’s input before you settle on a particular location or house. You can also talk to the real estate agent and check people’s experiences online for a particular area before moving in.

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Starter Home or Forever Home: You Decide

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Starter Home or Forever Home: You Decide

Buying your first home is an exciting experience. However, should you choose an affordable starter home or a forever home where you can put down roots?

Questions to Ask Before Buying Your New Home

Because most experts recommend staying in your home for at least five years, you’ll want to choose it carefully.

How Much Can You Afford?

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, most mortgage lenders have a maximum 43% debt-to-income ratio requirement. This threshold is in place to reduce the chance of homeowners having difficulty paying their mortgages while also paying their other living expenses.

Using a loan calculator, you can estimate your monthly mortgage payment for different homes. You may prefer to pre-qualify for a loan to discover how much money a lending institution might let you borrow.

You still have financing options if you don’t have the traditional 20% down payment amount for a conventional loan. You might qualify for FHA, VA, Rural Housing, or other loan products that don’t require much of a down payment. It’s a good idea to research what types of loans you may be eligible for.

Is it Likely That You’ll Have to Move?

People move for many reasons, including advancing their career, being closer to family members, and living in a different area. If you’re likely to move again, a starter home may be your best bet.

Where Is the Home Located?

You want to live in a safe area that is convenient to work, schools, and leisure activities.

What Homes Are Available?

You may have a particular area or neighborhood you’d like to live in. Search the local real estate market to see current offerings; you may find a great deal on a home that you might not consider purchasing otherwise.

Starter Home vs. Forever Home

Each option has pros and cons. There’s no one correct answer; your circumstances dictate which option might be a better choice for you.

Starter Home

A starter home is usually a smaller residence, typically a house or condo, that people buy intending to move again. They are sometimes older, and there’s generally not much property to go along with them.

Pros

  • Purchase prices are lower.
  • A smaller space means less upkeep.
  • You can potentially rent it out in the future.
  • You’ll build equity towards purchasing your dream home.

Cons

  • Starter homes are smaller.
  • They usually don’t have many upgraded features.
  • You may need to make repairs.

Forever Home

Your forever home should accommodate current and future needs, such as bedrooms for new children and home workspaces. It should be in a community you’re comfortable with and have the features you want.

Pros

  • Forever homes are usually larger.
  • You won’t need to move again.
  • These homes have more upgrades.
  • Lot sizes are usually larger.

Cons

  • These larger homes are more expensive, especially if they contain upgraded features.
  • More space means more upkeep.
  • Some of these homes are in neighborhoods with Homeowner Association rules and fees.

Moving Tips

Whatever type of home you’re moving to, using a moving checklist removes lots of stress. An important item is deciding who will move your belongings from your current residence to your new home. If you want to hire a professional mover, research local movers and read Angi reviews.

When you get to the quoting process, remember that legitimate movers inspect your home before they place a bid. Always get a written estimate; don’t accept estimates over the phone.

The Decision Is Yours

Before buying a home, it’s crucial to consider many factors. Whether it’s a starter or a forever home, the place you choose should meet your budget and needs.

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Six Healthy Flooring Options

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Plush carpet is a warm, comfortable floor covering, but for those with allergies, asthma or other health sensitivities, carpet may not be a safe choice. Here are six options for replacing the stained, hard-to-clean, allergen-ridden carpets in your home with a healthier type of floor.

CorkSix Healthy Flooring Options

This renewable resource is harvested from the bark of cork oak trees and makes a unique material for a healthy floor choice. Cork flooring is lightweight, waterproof, resists dust and mold and provides great sound insulation. It is a warm and soft material so it can get scratched or gouged, but is resilient and, as a bonus, can help your joints since it’s so soft and flexible that standing for long times on cork floors isn’t such a strain.

Ceramic and porcelain tile

Made from natural, renewable materials, tiles are durable, easy to clean and hold up well under humid and wet conditions. (Although porcelain tiles are slightly more water resistant than ceramic.) They come in a wide variety of styles, colors and sizes to enhance almost any room in the house. Cold floor tiles are easily warmed with a radiant heat system but can be slippery when wet.

Wood

Maple, oak, walnut and cherry are common types of wood that make beautiful, durable floors. And, although technically from the grass family, bamboo planks are also a lovely, healthy floor option. Although wood floors don’t do well with moisture and humidity, they can be refinished and sealed multiple times which extends their lifespans. Beware of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are present in some types of lacquered coatings.

Polished concrete

More homeowners are discovering the benefits and attractiveness of the smooth, high-luster appearance of polished concrete. This durable, easy-to-clean floor partners well with a radiant heating system and is available in many colors and designs. Using a low VOC sealer makes it a healthy, unique floor option.

Six Healthy Flooring OptionsNatural stone

One-of-a-kind marble, slate, granite and sandstone create beautiful, durable floors. Depending on the type of stone, this can be an expensive option and some stones can be scratched or chipped. But, when sealed with a safe finish, natural stone floors are easy to clean and can be warmed with radiant heating.

Linoleum

Not to be confused with vinyl (which is made of toxic materials and should be avoided), linoleum is made with linseed oil and other natural components. It is anti-static and anti-dust, water-resistant and durable. Sheet, tile or plank versions and many types of colors and designs give it great versatility. It’s a low maintenance, affordable option that is pleasant on the feet.

When deciding which flooring material is best for your home and budget, check for FloorScore and GREENGUARD Gold certifications. And read the product’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) so that you can identify components and ensure you’re not bringing potentially toxic chemicals and/or VOCs into your home.

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What is a Single-Family Home?

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Home sweet home can take on a lot of different forms, from cozy condominiums to towering townhouses. The single-family home, however, is probably the type of residential property most associated with our mainstream idea of what “home” looks like: four walls, a roof, and a yard of your own. White picket fence optional.

What Is A Single-Family Home?What is a Single-Family Home?

A single-family home is typically defined by two elements: who owns what, and the property’s ability to function as its own unit.

With a single-family home, the owner of the home owns both the building and the land it sits on. Contrast this with condo ownership, where the owner only has a claim to the interior of their individual unit and jointly owns common areas with other members of their association.

Single-family homes must also not share any utility, heating or air conditioning systems with any other dwellings. They have their own private entrances and exits and have direct access to the street. A single-family home is a free-standing residential building. Single-family homes are designed to be used as a single-dwelling unit, with one owner, no shared walls, and its own land.

The Pros And Cons Of Single-Family Homes

Single-family homes are great for anyone in need of that quintessential homeownership experience and everything that comes with it: privacy, your own yard, the freedom to (mostly) do what you want with your home. However, with that freedom comes a lot of responsibility.

If you’re considering purchasing a single-family home, here are some things to think about.

Pros Of Single-Family Homes

  • More space. Though single-family homes can take on all sorts of shapes, sizes, and square footage, in general, they tend to be a good choice for those who need more space – whether that means a bigger kitchen, more bedrooms, or a basement for storage. Plus, if the lot your home sits on has sufficient space, you have the ability to construct outbuildings for additional storage or living space.
  • More privacy. Because you and your neighbors aren’t all squished together into adjacent units with shared walls, you don’t have to worry about anyone overhearing private phone conversations or judging your taste in music.
  • Fewer neighborly nuisances. Along with more privacy, single-family homeowners don’t have to worry as much about noisy neighbors. Vacuuming at 3 a.m. or practicing your tap dance routine is perfectly acceptable when you don’t have downstairs neighbors (though you probably should clear it with your housemates, as a courtesy).
  • Freedom to build or modify. Don’t like the color of your single-family home’s siding? Change it! Want to build an addition to your home? Go wild. While other types of homeowners typically have less say over how the exterior of their home structures look or whether they can make significant changes to the property, single-family homeowners have much more freedom to decide what their home looks like, inside and out – which can be a great opportunity for those looking to buy a fixer-upper home.
  • Fewer rules. Although single-family homeowners in neighborhoods governed by a homeowners association (HOA) might have some limits on what they can and can’t do with the exteriors of their properties, these rules are typically less restrictive than some of the rules you might encounter with a condo association, which could include limits on the number and types of pets you can have or restrictions on things like smoking in your unit.

Contact Dale Corpus for all San Ramon real estate and all homes in the Tri-Valley area.

Keep Your Trees in Tip-Top Shape

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Keep Your Trees in Tip-Top Shape

What a blessing to be able to enjoy all the benefits that trees provide us! Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they offer shade in the summer, photosynthesis for oxygen and wood for building. This wonderful natural resource also enhances our quality of life, cleans the air, helps prevent water pollution and soil erosion, provides homes for birds and other wildlife and marks the seasons. Trees are well worth investing in and preserving.

If you are fortunate enough to have one or more trees on your property, it’s easy to take them for granted and let them grow without doing anything to help preserve and protect them. And many trees don’t need special attention to grow and thrive. But, like all living things, trees can benefit from preventative care. Being aware of and quickly responding to possible threats to their good health allows your trees to continue to provide all the wonderful benefits they bring to you and your property.

What to do to help your trees thrive

Annual inspections by an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborist is a good idea. The arborist can identify pruning needs and ways to protect the tree from potentially damaging problems. Make sure the tree is getting enough water but also has proper drainage. Pools of water around the base of the tree can cause the tree to drown. Clear the deadwood from the tree and pull weeds so the tree gets the most nutrients from the soil.

What to watch for that can cause problems for your trees

Is your tree leaning? It’s not always a bad thing. Some trees were crowded while maturing and then self-corrected their upward growth, or the tree is exposed to continual high winds and has developed a strong root system to compensate. A tree suddenly starting to lean, however, indicates a problem that should be addressed promptly.

Does the tree have problematic bark or split tops? Deeper than normal cracks in tree bark or unusual amounts of peeling bark are worth noting. As are two distinct tops from one main trunk. Multiple tops weaken the tree as both tops take resources in the attempt to be the dominant stem of the tree.

Is there excessive deadwood or wood decay? Shedding an unusual number of limbs/branches indicates the tree is attempting to conserve resources by reducing its shape, which can mean there’s a problem. Tree decay often manifests as mushroom-like spores (aka conks) growing on the branches or trunk.

Are there indications of insects infesting the tree? There are three main types of insects that can endanger trees: those that bore into the stem, branches or roots, those that chew and attack the foliage or fruit and those that suck moisture from leaves and branches. Boring insects are the most dangerous.

How are the leaves and branches? Compare them to previous year cycles. Are there fewer leaves than normal? Are they changing color and falling at the normal times? Are they firmly attached? You can also break off a small branch, checking its color and flexibility. It’s good if it bends and the cambium tissue below the bark is green and damp. It’s concerning if the cambium is brown and dry and the branch was brittle.

More for Homeowners

Don’t Fix These 7 Things Before Listing a Home

5 Good Reasons to Refinance

What Should You Know about Real Estate Investment Property?

3 Common Real Estate Scams to Watch Out For

Tips for Choosing the Right Home Improvement Contractor