An informational source for people who are relocating, with a particular focus on moving to the Carlsbad area of North County San Diego, with advice, guidance and true stories to help you on your way and make it a great journey, from a REALTOR® with plenty of personal (4 major moves, most recently from Boston to Carlsbad, California) and professional relocation experience. Are you running into problems selling your home? Need to find a new one quickly? Never moved before and haven't a clue? You'll find some great tips on how to solve your relocation issues here. Or ask me a question any time and I'll share some solutions or tell you where to get more information.
To kick off the "mold series" I thought it would be most beneficial to start at the beginning and
answer the question; what is mold?
Molds are microscopic fungi which utilize non-living organic
material, like wood framing or drywall found in a residential structure, for food. Molds, like all fungi, are unable to
make their own food from light and therefore feed on cellulose (organic materials) for energy and subsequent survival. We
call these types of organisms "heterotrophic" because they rely on organic materials to get carbon for growth. Animals,
along with fungi and bacteria are heterotrophic.
Molds develop from reproductive seeds, known as spores, which germinate when
appropriate conditions exist. When a mold spore settles on a moist surface, it will begin to absorb water and grow long,
branch like structures known as hyphae. If moisture persists, the hyphae will continue to grow and develop a collective
mass know as a mycelium. As growth continues the mycelium expand across the surface with hyphae growing on the exterior of
the food source.
Unlike mold spores, mycelium can be seen by the naked eye. As the fungi mature, spores
begin to form within the aerial hyphae. Air currents, moisture droplets and insects aid in the transportation of spores to
other areas starting a new reproduction cycle. Molds can appear in a variety of colors including green, gray, brown and
black. And most molds grow in a temperate range of 40-90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Interesting Mold Facts:
There are approximately 60,000-80,000 classified
species of mold.
Many types of mold spores can survive extreme
temperatures and high pressure making them extremely resilient.
Molds can survive extended periods of time
without dying by entering a dormant state. This survival is most commonly seen within food containers stored in
refrigerators.
Through the use of secreted enzymes and
mycotoxins, molds can inhibit the growth of competing fungi. Yes, they battle each other.
Cultured molds have been successfully used in
the food and medical industries for years. Most notable, the discovery in 1928 by Alexander Fleming of Penicillium
chrysogenum, the mold which releases the antibiotic Penicillin.
Humans exposed to heavy concentrations of mold
can develop allergens and other health related issues.
Molds cannot be time stamped.
Remember, mold spores are always present in both indoor and outdoor
environments. For molds to grow, three important ingredients are required.
1. A food source: Any material made of cellulose (organic material).
2. Moisture: High humidity, plumbing leaks and other forms of water intrusion.
3. Time: Mold growth can begin in as little as 24-72 hours.
Stay tuned for more information on mold and what you can do about it.
Please feel free to post any questions and I will answer them. Or
visit our website, VM3 Environmental
Inc for more information.
You may also call at any time for assistance in arranging an
inspection, getting answers to your questions or having mold removed from your home.
Title insurance is a somewhat confusing matter, and many people ask about it - "what is it" and "why do I need it" are the most frequent questions. This is especially true for new buyers, but many experienced buyers don't necessarily understand what title insurance is and why it is important.
Title insurance, simply, is a protection against lost resulting from problems with the title on your property (e.g., unknown heirs in the past). This is done by the title company by exploring the title (title search) and identifying and eliminating potential risks due to title defects before the policy is issued.
There are two types of title insurance pollicies - one for owners and one for the lender. Normally the lender requires title insurance, whereas the owner's policy is optional but highly recommended.
If you are relocating to Southern California from another part of the country (like I did, coming from Massachusetts), the word ESCROW may be relatively unfamiliar. And unless your state uses them, you might have no knowledge about the role of an ESCROW COMPANY in a real estate transaction.
I also write a blog for first time buyers, and for them knowing about escrow here in CA is pretty important. So, rather than write more here, visit my FIrst Time Buyers blog to learn more about escrow and how it works.
We have 3 days for a house hunting trip that is paid for by my company. How can we maximize our time?
Three days is a good amount of time, actually, but you will need to be very focused and do your research thoroughly in advance so you will be fully prepared.
Spend as much time as possible looking at listings on -line, after you make some decisions about what's important to you (and, of course, at this point you must have gotten pre-approved so you know exactly what you can afford). Develop a good list of the properties that interest you and you would consider buying (don't be TOO rigid, as things tend to disappear or you will otherwise rule them out,so if the list is too small you may have nothing to choose from). Consider the areas you like, the distance for commuting to work, schools, access to transportation and amenities like shopping, etc. Price may restrict you to a limited area, but try to be open to a range of properties and neighborhoods, as you can rule them out on your trip if they really don't appeal to you.
Let your REALTOR know in advance the properties you want to see so s/he can arrange a tour of as many as possible. It is not unreasonable to see 10-15 a day (some people see more), but that will depend on the particular market and the number of homes that are in your price range. Your REALTOR may also suggest homes that fit your criteria that for one reason or another did not end up on your list, or may know of new things that will be available. You are there to look at as many homes as you can so you can decide, so expect to spend long days touring. Check to see if anything new has come on the market when you get into town so it can be added to the tour.
Go in with the attitude that you WILL buy a home during your visit, not "I hope we can find the home we want." The right attitude will help you focus on the goal of making a decision. Keep in mind that no home is perfect, and narrow your list of possibles down as you tour, then go back to see the top contenders so you can decide. Watch out for the "kid in the candy store mentality" - that maybe there will be another home out there that you will like better. With that approach you can keep looking forever and never make a decision.
Lots of folks who are relocating, or thinking about it, have questions - even if they have moved before. From time to time I will post those that are asked most frequently with answers to help YOU with questions you might have. But by all means, if you have a question, please post it and I will post the answer promptly.
We are buying a home on the other side of the country and will only have a few days to look at homes and then buy. Do we have to stay in the area to get through all the paperwork?
No, you don't. You don't even have to see the house live to buy it, although most people are not quite ready to by a home virtually. But once you decide, everthing that you need to sign for the offer can be done remotely with the use of technology if you don't have time to do so before you return home. You will need to leave a deposit check (or that can be mailed, overnighted or funds could be wired). While it is advisable to attend your home inspection personally, it is not required - your agent can go, and you can talk to the inspector on the phone to review the report once you have it in your hands. With overnight mail, faxing, and scanning of documents, everything you need to do can be done from your home, wherever you are (assuming you have computer access and/or fax/overnight mail delivery).
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To kick off the "mold series" I thought it would be most beneficial to start at the beginning and
answer the question; what is mold?