Date Archives: January 2017

Ever heard of an ice dam? If you've experienced the home damage that can be caused by these wintertime hazards, you won't soon forget the term!

An ice dam is a hump of ice that forms at the edges of a roof, caused by snow and ice. Ice dams may be caused when the attic gets warm enough to melt the underside of a layer of snow on the roof. What happens next is water drips down the roof until it reaches the colder eaves, where it refreezes. Gradually, all that water grows into a mound of ice. Dams can also be caused by gutters that trap snow and ice, which can build up high enough to provide the foundation for an ice dam.

Icicles hanging from the edge of the roof are a good indication that an ice dam may be forming. Ice dams are more commonly found in older homes that lack proper insulation and ventilation.

Once they've formed, ice dams can cause plenty of property damage. As an ice dam grows bigger, melted water can back up behind it and seep underneath shingles, penetrating the roof. That water can drip down into the home, causing peeling paint, warped floors and sagging ceilings. If the ice jam becomes heavy enough it can fall, tearing down gutters and shingles along with it.

The best way to prevent ice dams from forming is preventing the roof from warming in the first place. To do so, add extra insulation in the attic and seal off any air leaks from the main living space. Cover unsealed attic hatches or whole-house fans with weather-stripped caps, and seal and insulate HVAC and exhaust ducts. Gutters should be cleaned in the fall so water, rain and melted snow can flow off properly. And after snowfalls of 6 inches or more, use a roof rake or shovel to remove snow that has accumulated on top of your home.

Download our home maintenance checklist to protect your investment all throughout the year. 

At a glance Cutler welcomed 25 new Realtors with combined 154 years of experience!

Not so fast. The negative impact of a long commute may outweigh the positives of that serene country setting. Studies show that commuting consistently ranks at or near the bottom of activities that bring us happiness. Those who commute alone in a car (at the mercies of daily traffic uncertainties) may feel isolated and powerless, with not enough time for socializing, exercise and sleep.

Across the U.S., the mean home-to-work commute is 25 minutes, but the number of people with "extreme commutes" of more than 90 minutes each way continues to grow. That's because many buyers are willing to commute further for a job if it means paying less for a house.

Your daily commute is an important aspect of choosing a new home. Half of all respondents to a recent National Association of Realtors survey cited the importance of being close to their job as the biggest factor in choosing a neighborhood. The details of your commute—where you and your partner work and how you get there each day, whether it is by car, bike or public transportation—should be part of your initial conversations with your Realtor.

And a commute can't be evaluated by number of miles between destinations alone. Take into consideration traffic patterns, construction projects, and proximity to interstates. With those variables, a 15-mile distance could easily turn into a one-hour commute.

Every extra minute saved could be worth thousands in the long run. The New York Times recently used sales price data to figure the answer to this question: What's a minute spent commuting worth to home buyers? Not surprisingly, they found that homes with longer commutes generally sell for less money.

Another consideration impacting home buying decisions is the school district. For information or professional assistance with your home buying plans, please contact your local Cutler Real Estate office.