After the devastating last few years of tsunamis, earthquakes, and floods, it is important that emergency housing be designed that can sustain survivors.  Shelter that is easy to deploy, affordable, and durable is very much needed for potential future emergencies.

To that end, the people at IM Design introduce us to Unit 0322,

Once initial needs are met, such as providing a safe shelter, the home owners can personalize their containers at their own pace and budget – adding a window here or there, painting the interior and eventually purchasing the simple affordable exterior cladding and pitched roof we’ve designed.  The concept is to provide stabile growth and allow the home owners to transform the container into their home.

Besides this, I also like the In-habit designs that can be shipped immediately… particularly the tent and the cocoon.  The cocoon for shelter until “help” arrives and the tent for safety while areas are being rebuilt.

I’m glad there are people looking out for us…

Standing at 10 stories tall, a tree house in Tennessee is estimated to have between 10,000 an 14,000 square feet.  Built by a man who received a message from God, the house is titled the Ministers House and took 14 years to build.  Frankly, it’s taken me 14 years to clean out my hall closet so this is quite a feat!

Photo from Oddity Central.  HT Les Jones.

In the stifling heat of the summer, buyers are still searching for their perfect home.  Some may be devastatingly hot as soon as you open the door - particularly vacant homes or bank-owned properties.  And getting in and out of cars parked in the sun could also cause rapid changes in body temperature, so plan ahead to stay cool!

If you’re showing properties or simply touring them with your agent, pack refreshing snacks for the road.

• Fill your iced cooler with bottled water or juice.
• Get some fresh fruit to include in the cooler - apples, pears, oranges.
• Have some mints or candy handy should someone’s sugar drop because it’s too hot to eat and maintain a good blood sugar level.
• Bring an extra pair of non-prescription sunglasses to help protect your eyes.
• Park in the shade whenever possible.
• If possible, remember to crack your car windows to help vent out the ~~hot~~.

Try to stay cool this weekend as you go from house to house!

Photo by Justin Ruckman via flickr creative commons.

This could be a classic case of the right arm not knowing what the left arm is doing.  A woman had her house repossessed and her parrot taken by a bank contractor who was there to padlock her pad.

The home owner said all her mortgage payments were current and because she - and her parrot - have been traumatized, a lawsuit has been filed.  From MSNBC.com,

…  she suffered irreparable emotional damage and is afraid to set foot in the house. The lawsuit says she eventually regained possession of the bird, named Luke, after repeated phone calls to the bank.

I’m glad Luke has been returned and can definitely understand her nervousness when it comes to returning to the house.  Good luck!

Photo by crispin swan via flickr creative commons.

Although this has nothing to do with real estate or houses - except we’re all tired of shoveling driveways and sidewalks thanks to Old Man Winter digging in permanently - it was too precious to pass up sharing.

Thanks to Newscoma for sharing.

My colleague just told me about a showing he went to last week for one of his listings.  He opened a nice home for an elderly couple to see and after looking at all the rooms, backyard, and closets they stood for a few moments in the foyer chatting.

Suddenly a noise echoed throughout the empty room.  When all eyes turned to the husband he sheepishly said, “It’s old age and too much cabbage.”

I say my friend should be grateful his customer hadn’t eaten a plate full of pinto beans and cornbread.

I love Fall just knowing I won’t have to mow the lawn for another five, six months.  Just because the grass is going into hibernation, however, it doesn’t mean yard work is done.  Take a nice, sunny autumn day to complete some chores around your yard to get it ready for winter.

The Greater Hartford Real Estate blog gives some pointers on what you can be doing right now for your yard.

- Taking in the hoses and turning off the water to the spigots.
- Cleaning out the pots and planters.
- Bringing in the outside furniture.
- Removing the grass from between the sidewalk slates.

One of my friends keeps saying he’s going home to aerate his yard … again this is a great time for that chore.  Given the beauty of today, I may be up for walking my acre to do this too!

Photo by doortoriver via Flickr Creative Commons.

About a year or two ago, I started hearing about how people losing their homes were buying storage buildings, putting them in the backyards of other family members, and renovating them for habitation.  You know… some of these buildings are actually pretty cute so I can understand how simple it would be to turn them into homes!

However, a man in Vermont is taking the idea of a tiny house literally.  He has begun to build 100 square foot homes for people because houses under a certain square footage don’t have to pass some city and county building restrictions.  The homes are heated with solar panels, but the water supply could be challenging.  Furniture?  Big enough for a bed, a chair and a table.

The benefits can be huge - namely you can live in these at a minimal cost.  No mortgage debt.  No worries should you lose the house (easy to replace).  Lower taxes.  The good folks at Frugal Dad bring us more infomation and a video interview with the builder.   Be sure to watch the video to the end so you can hear the fantastic quote about how the builder feels when he sits in the screened in porch house.

Benefits of Buying a Smaller Home

• Lower monthly mortgage payment
• Lower taxes
• Easier to pay off mortgage completely in a shorter time
• Less space to fill with furniture
• Smaller lot (maybe) to maintain
• Significantly lower utilities

The idea of downsizing to me is very appealing, but the notion of living in a space so small is horrifying. But if the idea is something you very much like, visit Tumbleweed Tiny House Company for ideas!

House shown is from the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.  It is 130 square feet and costs $23,000 if you build it yourself - or nearly $50,000 if they build it for you.

Please accept my apology for such light posting these past two weeks.  During one week I was in Washington, D.C. on a mini vacation.  Then this last week, I wrote once or twice but was booked up on Thursday. Friday was going to be my big writing day, but mother nature didn’t cooperate.

I was having lunch with a dear friend, her kids, and her mother-in-law when the reports began pouring in through phone calls and text messages.  Bad weather was going through LaVergne and Smyrna, Tennessee - just outside of Nashville.  We watched hail pound the outside and I was simply hoping there’d be no major dent damage on my newish car.

Then we started hearing about the tornado in Murfreesboro - and the neighborhoods it was going through.  My friends and I grew pale as we realized it was THEIR own homes that could be in danger.  Emma started crying and we tried to reassure her.  We quickly finished lunch and as soon as the rain slowed, we all headed out.  My friend drove home and called to tell me she just had minor roof damage, but two blocks behind her about three or four homes were demolished.  Her mother-in-law was unable to reach her neighborhood because all the streets were closed because of downed power lines and other debris.  So I called a  friend who called a friend who lived on the same street and we received word back that all the homes on her street were safe.

Others weren’t so lucky.  More than 100 homes were damaged, many were completely destroyed.  The worst news was when we heard was a 24-year old mother and her infant girl (almost three months old) were killed.

Here are some links about the F3 tornado.

Bill’s Tennessee Paradise - Storm Chasing

Occasions of Osborne - Jason and family were at lunch

A link to our local newspaper - The Daily News Journal - which features aerial pictures of the damage. The picture up on top was featured on the DNJ’s web site.

After all this sadness, this should lighten your heart.  Happy Easter Mrs. Wigglebottom.