Food For Thought

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Heres a list of things to consider when buying your new home

When we look to build in a new subdivision we evaluate all the conditions to produce an outcome that yields the highest value for you, the homeowner. Heres a list of ten things that you should evaluate before getting into your new home.

We hope you would consider JT Roth for your new home. You can visit HERE to see where our communities are that currently have product available.

WWW.JTROTHINC.COM

1. LOCATION
Location is the number one importance when looking for you new home. It matters on many different levels from the town to the school district. From there it gets down to the neighborhood to the block and then the lot on the street. If you have the least desired house in the neighborhood, but still have the best lot in the neighborhood your home will still be desired. Even while markets rise and fall no one can take away great location.

2. EDUCATION/SCHOOLS
Schools are very important to parents who want their kids to get the best education. Although, you might not have children at the time it is always smart to buy a home in a good school district. It will help when it comes to reselling the house.

3. CRIME
Almost all the information pertaining to crime can be found online. Check local municipalities to find actual numbers, but don't be alarmed if you notice a slight amount of activity. If you have concerns consult with your realtor.

4. ABILITY TO RESELL
Know what kind of market you are currently in, a buyers or sellers. Then ask yourself what would happen to the value of the home if the markets flipped. Would your home retain its value? The median home value in the neighborhood compared to other neighborhoods in the area is another tool you can use.

5. HOMES POSITION ON THE LOT
There are many factors to consider when you think about the homes position. What does the master bedroom window look at? The neighbors house? Does the living room get light or is it blocked by the neighbor? When it comes to purchasing a condo the end unit is much more desired then an interior unit. These things may not matter to you at the moment, but to a future buyer they more then likely will. These considerations will make it easier for you when you want to resell the home.

6. MAKEUP OF NEIGHBORHOOD
Go to the neighborhood in the morning, afternoon, and late at night. Open your eyes and ears and see if there's anything that might cause problems for you. The neighbor's rock band practice late into the night could be a source of conflict for you. It doesn't hurt to even talk to some neighbors.

7. MAJOR REPAIRS?
Sometimes, what seems to be a simple cosmetic fix turns out to be a major repair. If your thinking about remodeling make sure your improvements fall within local zoning and building codes. So have the homes inspected and do your homework. Not only do renovations cost money, the take time, energy, and emotional stress. Make sure your ready for it.

8. KNOW YOUR WALKING SCORE
This is starting to become a big factor for people. Visit here to get the walking score of your home. People put a high value on how close a school, store, work or even the closet bus stop. The more we move away from cars the more this will add value for your home.

9. BEST HOUSE vs. WORST HOUSE
Although some homeowners desire to have the best house on the block, it may not leave much room for your investment to grow. In fact, owning one of the less desirable homes may allow your home value increase through improvements.

10. TAXES & FEES
Most people don't realize the monthly fees associated with home-ownership. You must take this into account when purchasing your new home. Make sure the amount of property taxes and assessments are clear from the get go. If you need to, go to city hall or research it online. Is there a HOA? Does it seem well funded? You need to know all these things before purchasing.

Veterans Day

Here at J.T. Roth Construction we want to thank all service men and women, past and present for everything they do for our country! To go with Veteran's Day there is a great article in The Oregonian that talks about VA loans and how veterans can also qualify for jumbo loans. Theres some great information in it and not to mention we get a little cameo ;) Check it out here!!

http://blog.oregonlive.com/homes-rentals/2012/11/veterans_loan_programs_arent_j.html

Winterization

Getting your home ready for winter

As we approach the cold winter weather there are some maintenance items that you the homeowner can do to protect your home from the elements.  We would offer the following:

1.Turn off exterior faucets - if there is a manual shut off for your faucet then turn this off first and then open the spigot. It wouldn’t hurt to cover with a foam cover, which can be purchased at your local hardware store.

2. Clean all debris away from foundation vents and close them. If there is no cover you can purchase foam plugs from your hardware store.

3. Check your furnace filters. Remember these need to be replaced twice a year, in the spring and fall. This will help your furnace run more efficiently, cutting down on your heating costs.

4. Check smoke detectors and change batteries.

5. If you have a chance, pressure wash your driveway and sidewalks to eliminate mold and algae.... Mold and algae become very slippery when wet and can cause accidents

6. Check and clean your gutters and downspouts. Leaves and debris in the gutter can become very heavy and cause your gutters to get clogged.

7. Check your furnace thermostat, pop the cover and if there are batteries they should be changed out with new ones.

8. If you have a water feature make sure it is unplugged and blow air through the pipes to clear all water. Water in the pipes can freeze which makes the pipes very fragile and can break.

9. If you use rock salt on your concrete driveways and walkways make sure to use a non-iodized rock salt.  Regular rock salt can breakdown the top layers of concrete and erode the surface.

You have to treat your home like a car... It needs to be maintained. If you have any questions on how to do any of these suggested items please visit your owners manual. If you cant find the answer in that then Google can be your friend ;)

One last thing, make sure you have an emergency kit ready mother nature is very unpredictable. This could include but not limited to candles, batteries, flashlights, water, non-perishable foods, a battery powered radio (to get news updates), etc.... We have all seen the devastation on the east coast and if anything should teach us to always be ready. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone on the east coast and if you have family or friends over there you are in our thoughts at JT Roth Construction.

The JT Roth Construction team wishes everyone a very safe and happy holiday with family and loved ones.

Thank you for your support!!

Best regards,

JT Roth Construction
www.JTROTHINC.com

Oregonian Article

Another article wrote about the new style of building we have moved into. With our new "casita" designs it allows the owner a very flexible option to do as they please with flex space. We have come up with a couple ideas but the options are endless as to what the new home owner can do with the casita space....

CLICK HERE

Lake Oswego Review Article

Here's another article in the Lake Oswego Review about our new "casita" designs. We are very excited to be building a new and "different" product.... we can feel the buzz about this design. If you havent checked out this new design take a look at our website or if your near Tigard, OR we have a finished product for you to tour (Click Here for more info)

Check out the article here

http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/features/story.php?story_id=129909957341521900

Feature in The Times newspaper

We are very excited that the local newspaper have decided to write a feature about our new casita home designs. If you have yet to read it please take a few minutes to check it out here

http://www.tigardtimes.com/features/story.php?story_id=129859498779281400

ALMOST DONE

We are getting final inspections today on our lot 23 in Spring Water. We are very excited to get our new home owners in their beautiful new HOME... About a month ago we wrote about them and how they have been living in a 900 sq ft apartment for a couple year so we think they will love this house very much. It is a very cool house with nice features that makes this house custom to the home owners liking be sure to check our website with more pics... http://www.jtrothinc.com/sw-lot-23.html

Wow what a week!

It's been a busy week for me. Getting three houses ready for move ins has been a real push. For this old superintendent I'm about wiped out. But the work is worth it to see three families move into the houses we've built and make them homes. It's great to look forward to the weekend. After all, next week will be a breeze. We only have two move ins!

David Jensen

Buying a Home is an Investment in Your Family

Imagine being a young family with two young children of approx. 6 and 8 years old, then imagine living in a 900 sq. ft. apartment, then imagine living in this 900 sq. ft. apartment with these two young children for two years. This is exactly what the Narancich family has done, however, their life is about to change.

In mid-February Shawn, Shelly, Nickolas, and Natasha will be moving into their new 3200 sq. ft. home that we are constructing for them in our Springwater subdivision located in Tualatin, OR. Shawn had been looking for just the right location until he found Springwater. We spent a considerable amount of time researching the perfect home plan for him and once this was done he was ready to make the commitment.

His family has made several visits to the home throughout the holidays and they are ready to take occupancy and start enjoying their life and all of the excitement of living in a new home. There is no more enjoyment for us then to see this all come together for them, J.T. Roth, Inc. is proud to be their builder and a part of the new beginning for their family.

We will be posting photos of the home once it is completed so be sure to visit our website to experience the Narancich's new beginnings.

Cold Weather Winterizing Checklist

COLD WEATHER WINTERIZING CHECKLIST
1. Close foundation vents if temp drops into the low 20’s or lower.
2. Drain outside hose bibs.

a. Locate shut-off valve(s). Usually one is in the garage for the front faucet and one under the sink for the back faucet.) To shut off, turn clockwise until tight.
b. Go outside and turn outside faucet(s) on. You should not get any water coming out of faucet. If you do, you may not have the shut-off valve all the way off.
c. Go back to the shut-off valve and twist the bleeder valve cap. You may need a pair of pliers. Make sure that the small black rubber gasket has not stuck itself to the valve covering the hole. If it has, peel it off to allow air into the valves.
d. Return to the outside faucet and you will notice some water dripping out of the faucet. (If the plumbers were unable to slope the pipes, you may also get some water coming out of the bleeder valve cap, so have a bucket or towel handy.)

3. Shut off in-ground sprinklers.
4. Open cupboard doors. This is especially important if temp gets below 20 degrees. Also open Jacuzzi Tub access door so that it will not freeze.
5. Let faucets run SLOWLY.
6. When going on vacation, shut off the water and the hot-water heater.

TO SAFELY THAW PIPES: Use hair dryer, heat lamp, or electric heater. DO NOT use an open flame or electric arc welder.

DO NOT use rock salt on driveway!!

If pipes are broken or split, shut off the water and the water main, the water and water heater circuit breaker. We recommend that you call a local plumber in your area so further damage will be prevented.

MOST IMPORTANTLY ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!

New exciting Casita Designs

Be sure to log onto newlifehomedesigns.com to see our exciting new Casita Home Designs that we are building in our Kramer's Meadows subdivision on Bull Mountain. We are completing the framing of our first home on lot 17 and will be starting construction on our second home (lot 9) next week. Great Stuff!

May 1, 2010 It’s Show Time!

It’s that time of the year again where you will start seeing the summer home show events popping up around the area. This year the Street of Affordable Homes, located in Forest Grove, will be back in full force and no better timing then during a struggling housing market.

The truth is that a recovering housing market is a large part of strengthening our economy. With unemployment at an all time high and households having to adjust their living expenses it only makes sense that we are building more affordable.

For those new home buyers that can afford to buy this is absolutely a perfect opportunity. Interest rates are still extremely low, land values and construction costs have dropped to early 2000 pricing and builders are offering more in their product. It has always been an interesting part of the human nature that we react to the urgency in an up-swing market and become complacent during down-turn market. The economics of buy low and sell high applies equally to the housing market and there has never been a lower low than now.

Enough of trying to convince you to drop what you are doing and rush out to buy a Roth Construction home! Let’s talk about what you are going to get to see at this up coming event. We have designed this absolutely wonderful floor plan that has been absent of our market for far too long. The idea of detaching part of the living space from the main part of the home will allow any number of uses. Our first thought is that as we are growing older so are our parents and what better way to keep them close and allow them self-dignity of having their own living quarters. This could be used as a workout room, study, music room, guest quarters, and even to rent it out for some extra income.

We should be wrapping this home up around the middle of June so we will be looking forward to seeing you at the show.

**Please visit our website for more information**

http://www.jtrothinc.com

Posted by:

Tim Roth (Pres)