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All in the family: Project brings together past, present

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Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 26 July 2011 18:26

The Wiebe family—(from left, Josh, John, Ellynne, Matthew—pose in front of the house they refurbished over three years. The house was commissioned by Jon’s great-grandfather, John Frantz, in 1911. The house has been in the family off and on ever since. Don Ratzlaff / Free Press It started with an impulse purchase and took three years to accomplish, but a Hillsboro family has brought new life to a house that is historically significant for both the family and the town.

And it happened just in time to mark the house’s 100th birthday.

The two-story Victorian-style house at 313 S. Birch, unique for the five-sided turret on the southeast corner of the structure, was on the auction block and headed for possible demolition in 2008 when Jon and Ellynne Wiebe decided to...

Time to dispel myths about value of fire systems

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Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 28 June 2011 15:08

Fire damage is far less in homes with sprinklers; a 15-year study in Scottsdale, Ariz., put the average loss for a sprinklered home at $2,166 compared to $45,019 for a home without sprinklers. Some misconceptions are merely inconvenient. And some—like the many myths that surround the use of fire sprinklers in homes—can be deadly.

The federal government and more than 400 local governments—not to mention the national model building code authority, the International Code Council—have all recommended that all new homes offer this life safety system.

In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a business that is not protected by fire sprinklers. Yet misconceptions persist about the cost, convenience and effectiveness of home fire sprinklers, where 80 percent of all fire deaths occur.

“As a volunteer firefighter, I regularly see the devastation to families and their property due to home fires,” said Eric Skare of...

Secrets for achieving solid and safe home inspection

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Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 24 May 2011 14:57

Selling, buying or just putting a house on the market may raise many questions. Can I get a good price? Are there any problems I should fix prior to listing my house? If I buy this house, will I encounter problems that may make me regret my decision?

The sale price of a house depends on many factors, including the market, location, size of the property, age of the house, condition of the structure, what appliances might be included in the sale and even how nicely the property and building were landscaped and decorated—just to name a few.

Having a qualified professional inspect your house prior to putting it on the market—or for prospective buyers, before closing on a sale—can help guide your decision.

But many homeowners and...

You may face common legal issues you haven’t thought of

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Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 24 May 2011 14:56

For most law-abiding Americans, legal assistance may not be a service you think you could need at a moment’s notice. While you may think of legal assistance in connection with a criminal offense, most of the legal work done in America is for people facing much more ordinary circumstances.

You may not realize it, but most Americans will have a legal need at some point in their lives. In fact, seven out of 10 Americans said they experienced a legal event within the past year, according to a recent survey conducted by ARAG, a legal solutions provider.

If having a legal plan in place seems unnecessary, consider the following instances where you may need legal assistance:

• Wills and estate planning. Planning for your own death isn’t...

Rural water districts provide option for country homes

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Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 26 April 2011 15:46

When it comes to buying or selling a house in rural Marion County, officials offered a few tips on what to look for when it comes to water wells versus water lines, septic tanks or lagoons and electricity services.

Delores Dalke with The Real Estate Center and Kerry Shewey with Rural Water District 4 agreed that wells should be tested regularly and be free of nitrates and coliform bacteria.

“It’s a good idea to check on the water supply and an electric source,” Shewey said.

Dalke said whenever someone is selling a home in the country, the water well should be tested.

“Wells should be free of nitrates or coliform bacteria,” she said. “Before ever getting a home loan or even if someone is not getting a loan, they should...