More Snow on the Way for Baltimore Homeowners Already Hurting From Heavy Snow and Ice

Well, of course, the snow is hurting the entire areas, but many homeowners are already having major issues with their homes due to this heavy snow and ice damming, and it appears a major amount of heavy snow may visit us tonight through tomorrow, freezing those gutters back up and re-creating problems.

The other issue that it appears we will have is high winds, which could possibly knock out power — so sump pumps and other drainage systems in homes may not work properly.

Baltimore homeowners, if they can, need to try to knock down as much ice from their gutters as they can, to free it up for when this round begins to melt.

As I mentioned in my post last week about the possibility of more storms, this is truly hurting the Baltimore real estate market.

Buyers are having trouble envisioning yards, homes as they truly are, and neighborhoods as they really are.

The mounds of snow in front of homes on cul de sacs make it difficult to even see the home from the street. My listing at 3136 Eden Drive in Abingdon, MD, has a great location — but right now it doesn’t appear that way! The snow is mounded so high in front of the house that you can’t see how nice it looks. Its location on the cul de sac is wonderful for extra yard space, more parking directly across the way, and a sense of privacy — but you can’t tell because of the snow pile up! Their yard has beautiful landscaping and shows such a pride of ownership — but you can’t tell because of the deep snow covering the gardens and plantings.

These things that would usually create such nice curb appeal and make it feel like home to a buyer are hidden behind the wall of snow. And another 8-12″ will only hinder things further.

We hope that buyers can imagine, but as my sellers have found while searching for their next home, it is very hard to do!

Here’s hoping that March will bring a little warmer weather and a LOT less snow. Our sellers and buyers need it!

More Winter Weather On the Way for Sunday Night into Monday February 21-22 Hurts Baltimore Real Estate Market

It looks like the beginning of next week will bring us more snow or ice, possibly mixed with rain or sleet.

What does this mean for the Baltimore real estate market and Baltimore area homes?

More trouble.

In a city still in recovery mode from two blizzards last week, additional winter weather is not welcome to Baltimore homeowners.

Those gutters that I spoke about the other day, that may have been holding on may not be able to hold on much longer (if they haven’t broken or fallen already).

Those roofs with snow that I discussed are getting heavier as the snow melts. Additional snow & ice may cause them to collapse or fail.

Water that may be coming in from under the iced-over gutters will have less places to go outside of your house, and be forced back inside.

So be prepared.

If you haven’t already, shovel or rake the roofs that you may have that don’t have much of a pitch to them.

Look out for those icicles and knock down any that you are able to.

Have towels, plastic bags, duct tape, and buckets or tupperware on hand.

If you are a buyer looking for a Baltimore home right now, know that these conditions are not normal. Homes that are well maintained and don’t usually have issues may be having some. These are extraordinary circumstances and most likely not a true representation of how a home usually handles snow or other weather elements.

So now we have to sit and wait. There is nothing we can do to change the weather, all we can do is be prepared and try to help prevent problems when and where we can. Buyers and sellers need to understand that the situations we are facing are highly unusual. The Baltimore real estate market certainly has been affected by these storms, and I am hoping to see some recovery as we head into March.

Additional Home Perils From the Lasting Ice and Snow in Baltimore

As I showed condos today in the Stevenson area of Baltimore County, I was reminded of a few more issues that the snow/ice build up is causing to homes in the Baltimore area.

As the weather warms some, and the snow melts, but then nights get cold and it freezes back up, large icicles can cause lots of harm inside and out due to the ice build up in the gutters.

I briefly mentioned this in my post last week about the Ramifications of the Snowpocalypse on homes. A week later, these issues are even more prevalent and some even a bit more dangerous.

The icicles are forming long & large with extremely pointed ends. One fell to the ground as we were looking at the front of the building, and we felt very lucky that we were not underneath it. It was like a dagger.

The roof line had large icicles that were dropping water — which was forming on the sills of even a second floor unit. The weight of the ice was bowing the window sill. In this case, this would be the condominium association’s responsibility if the window leaked or the sill fell, but in a home where the exterior maintenance is your responsibility, this could be a big issue.

We all are wishing for the warmer weather to come and this snow to melt. We do, though, need it to melt slowly to prevent flooding and more major damage to our homes.

More Snow on the Way for Towson Monday February 15-Tuesday February 16, 2010

With Monday being President’s Day, I don’t think Towson school children will be wearing their pajamas inside out hoping for another snow day. They are already off school, and have been for a week now.

We had two blizzards in one week, and now just 5 days after the last one left us, we could have another doozy on our hands.

This complicates the issues that many of us are already facing, with heavy snow melting and water coming in, the gutter system in the front of the house about to collapse (or already have), leaks because of the ice melting in gutters from underneath.

There is a possibility of around 6″ of snow due Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon now. If the storm turns, we could be lucky enough to have some of it be rain, but it looks like DC may be more likely to have this good fortune.

This means we all need to be prepared again, but luckily 6″ of snow now doesn’t seem so bad after the past two weeks, does it?

So keep your eyes and ears open for leaks and just make sure to take it easy on the roads if you are out after it begins tomorrow afternoon. The heaviest is supposed to be overnight into Tuesday, and Howard County Schools have already closed for Tuesday. I am wondering how quickly Baltimore County and City may follow.

Snowpocalypse Ramifications for Your Towson Home

Today I was reminded as to the damage that heavy snow piling up can cause to your home, so hopefully these few tips can help you to minimize problems.

• The gutters above a window may be frozen solid and the heat from inside of the house is getting the snow to begin to melt. This may cause water to come in through a crack in the window frame and cause damage. Here are a few tips to avoid further damage without taking a blowdryer to your gutters:

Supplies you’ll need: a few black 30 gallon trash bags, a roll of duct tape, pots, tupperware, or bowls, and a towel.

Open the trash bag, and duct tape it across the area where the water is dripping. Place a bowl on the ground and direct the base of the trash bag into it (making a funnel). For a larger window, you may need multiple bags and bowls.

• A client of mine had their entire gutter system fall off their house due to the weight of the ice. Not that it could have been prevented, but they need to be aware of the possibility of water going into their basement so they need to keep an eye on things with towels, buckets, etc on hand, ready to go.

• If you have a flat roof (which we do over a portion of our house), you may want to shovel if you can get to it. We were so glad to have done it, for fear of the weight of almost five feet of snow and its compacting as it melts caving the roof in.

• We also had BGE out today because our power lines were being held up/down by a small tree. First of all, all of their people were very nice and wonderful. Second, they did a great job. So make sure to check out the lines coming into your house so you don’t lose power. Luckily the tree hadn’t pulled the wires away from the house. We must call BGE to come back in the spring and get the lines restrung, because the lineman said they are hanging too low to the ground.

• Finally, check those icicles. We had ones that reached from our gutters all the way down to the snow piles. They were very thick as well. The weight very well could have broken the gutters or fallen through a bay window, so we knocked them down. So LOOK UP and be careful as you are entering and exiting buildings.

This is such an unusual amount of snow and the ice build-up is immense. Please be careful when you are out, and be very cautious and conscious with your homes.

Now let’s cross our fingers that we don’t get the heavy snow predicted for Monday in Towson and Baltimore…

Please note that these ideas and opinions are just that — ideas and opinions. I am sure there are better ways to handle some of these issues, but I was working with household items while being snowed in and unable to get out or help to get in. Some are short term solutions. Also, safety first in all cases! Be careful!

Snowpocalypse 2010 2.0 Is Crazy

Well, here we are 24 hours into the second crippling storm this week and the huge piles of snow are astounding.

I was supposed to list a great new home in Nottingham (thought of as Perry Hall or White Marsh) tomorrow, but it looks like that will be out, because the likelihood of all of us being dug out in the next 24 hours is very slim.

We have what is considered a flat roof over an addition on our house. Luckily my husband shoveled it yesterday to prevent its collapse. I have a feeling he or I will be up there tomorrow to do so again. If you have one, it is a good idea to get the heavy snow off.

We have a gas furnace, so we have been checking the carbon monoxide detector and moving it to different areas to check the levels.

The snow has gotten so high 1/2 of the back door is covered.

This is unbelievable!

I hope you are safe and warm.

Snowpocalypse 2010 2.0 On Its Way

Well, we are currently buried in about 30″ of snow here in Towson, MD and just got reports that Baltimore County Schools are closed through Wednesday. I have a feeling that will be extended through the end of the week.

Why?

Snowpocalypse 2010 2.0 is apparently on its way.

Originally forecasters were calling for around 5″. Now they are saying in excess of 10″.

If you follow Foot’s Forecast, they are predicting 12-20″. You read that right. Possibly 1-2 more FEET on top of the almost 3 FEET we have on the ground.

So imagine these photos with double the snow. I will post pix once it gets here, but I can tell you, I am not happy! It’s not good for my clients who are trying to sell their homes in time for buyers to receive the homebuyer tax credit on the purchase, so they are listing earlier than they usually would.

Wish us luck!

Snowpocalypse 2010 Begins

So Snowmaggedon, Snowpocalypse2010, SnoMG has begun. We have a good 4-6 inches on the ground already, with a predicted 20-30 inches total to expect.

Here is how we look in Towson now, around 9 pm.

We expect 6-10 inches overnight. I will continue to take photos and document the progression of the grill & hot tub as long as they can be seen!
Officials have asked for people to stay off the roads, and stay at home. So I hope you don’t get stir crazy, and are able to remain at home if you are here in the Baltimore area…
Good luck weathering the storm!