An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam and can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to back up and pour into your house damaging your walls and ceilings.

So what do you do to get rid of them?

First, remove as much of the snow from the roof as you can using a long handled roof rake. You can find a roof rake at most home improvement stores, but a long handled garden rake works just fine if the roof rakes are sold out!

Fill a panty hose stocking (yes, panty hose!) with sodium chloride. Lay the hose on the roof perpendicular to the gutter so it crosses the ice dam and overhangs the gutter. The calcium chloride will melt the ice and will create a channel for water to flow down the gutter.

Keep in mind, your downspouts might be clogged as well! To clear ice from your downspouts, fill a pitcher with hot water from the tap. Pour the water in the top of the gutter until it's full. Pour more hot water on the exterior of one side of the downspout to create a small channel inside the pipe for the water from the top to start running down. Usually, this will only take 1-2 gallons of hot water dribbled down the exterior to thaw enough for the interior channel to start flow. Finally, add more hot water from the top of the gutter to melt the rest. Always make sure downspouts are extended away from the foundation for proper drainage.

After all that snow removal, make sure the storm drain is clear so the water will flow freely. Click here to locate the closest storm drain to your home!

Market Definitions

There is often some confusion about real estate terms used to describe the different types of markets consumers will experience.

Below is an explanation of a buyers' market, sellers' market, and balanced market to help understand what that really means.

Buyers' Market

• In a buyers' market the buyers have more control than the sellers.
• This type of market occurs when there is an abundance of listing inventory available and there are more sellers than buyers.
• Buyers often benefit from this with lower prices and seller concessions, such as more price flexibility, and seller-paid buyer closing costs.
• A market with more than six month's supply of listing inventory is considered a buyers' market.

*A six month's supply of inventory means that if no new homes were to be listed, our current supply would last six months.

Sellers' Market

• In a sellers' market, the sellers have more control than the buyers.
• This type of market occurs when there is a low listing inventory, more buyers than sellers, homes are not on the market for very long, and often there are multiple offers on homes.
• A sellers' market benefits sellers with higher prices, fewer days on markets, less seller-paid buyer closing costs, and often times multiple-offer bidding wars. (We experienced this market this spring).
• A market with less than four month's listing inventory is considered a sellers' market.

Balanced Market

• In a balanced market, neither buyers nor sellers have the advantage. 
• A market with about four to six month's listing inventory is considered to be a balanced market. 

Winter's temperatures can be harsh on your home's plumbing! Be sure you're ready, and know what to do should your pipes freeze.

Before the cold weather hits:

• Close outside vents, crawl spaces, and doors.
• Keep your garage door closed to prevent cold air from reaching pipes and water heaters. (See above image)
• If you're going to be away from your home keep an eye on expected temperatures and set heat accordingly.
• If you plan on turning the heat off, drain all the water from the pipes, toilets, and water heater, and turn off the power source to the water heater.

The belief is that spring is typically when the market heats up, summer is when the bulk of the activity happens, and fall is usually when the market slows down. So why do we think it's still a great time to sell? Because when the inventory dips there's less competition and buyers who haven't found a home yet are more eager to get into contract before the holidays.

• Price it right from the get-go - The shortened season means you may not have time to make effective price adjustments before the season is over and the holidays begin.
• Clean up the landscaping - Fall can be messy, between the leaves falling and perennials going dormant. Make sure your landscaping is neat and tidy and your home will stand out among the rest.  
• Service your HVAC system - Hire a professional to inspect and service your furnace so when the heat comes on the home seems warm and cozy rather than have that dusty smell permeating your home when turning it on for the first time.