The Good & Bad of Homeowner's Associations Print

• Fun guesses on changes to The White House.

Caller:

• Maggie - What do they do for readers that want to submit pictures?

Recommendation - They love interacting with their followers and Robert talks about how it works and the fun stories they come across.

• Emery Kopta was featured, recently.
• Saquaro National Park will be the focus next month. Get the preview!
• "Oklahoma" was filmed right here in Arizona...
• Protecting special areas in Arizona after they are featured in the magazine.

• Getting Arizonan's to go south in the state when so many of us focus on driving north.
• Horseback riding destinations.
• A recent hikers story that reminds us how dangerous it can be. She survived, but it's a good reminder to be prepared.
• Rosie asks Robert about his recent trips since we visited last and some potential future destinations.

Text From a Listener:

• Will they put together an edition on motorcycle routes?

Recommendation - Most of the guides are for road trips and accessible by motorcycle anyway.

• Rosie talks about some events you can attend with Dr. Sky at the Dolly Steamboat.

Sign Up for the Sanderson Ford Arizona Staycation!!

*We welcome new partners Letson Loft Hotel & Sibley's West!

Thanks to Robert for stopping by and make sure to pick up the latest subscription to Arizona Highways Magazine!

Integrity Tree Service's John Eisenhower is here to take questions and offer advice to make sure your trees are healthy year-round!

• With all this winter moisture, weed season is going to be huge. Pre-emergent will save you from a ton of work!
• Rosie's "Spurge Alert!" Discussing the rains and freezing temps and what that means for weed control.
• Back to Trees.....It's primetime for caring for deciduous trees.
• Tree of the Month is any of your favorite fruit trees that are deciduous. Apples, apricots, etc.
• Adding dwarf varitieties of fruit trees might be perfect for your yard. John explains why.

Deciduous Tree Care:

• Stone fruits and "Chill Hours"
• The importance of planting varieties to account for unproductive years.
• Planting various trees in the same hole.
• Warnings for frost sensitive trees and why leaving them alone this time of year is important. Waiting until late February is a good idea.
• Caring for evergreen trees.

Caller:

• Gary - His took out a 9 year old palo verde tree out after it fell down in a storm, but now the shoots are sprouting up all over his yard. He let one go and it's about 8 feet tall and about touching the replacement tree. Will he have a problem in the future? 

Recommendation - It does sound like it will be crowded in that space. John talks about the established trees doing so well with an already existing root system. He'll need to decide which one he wants to keep or he can let them grow together to provide a larger shaded area. It's just am aesthetic choice. It will grow according to the sunlight availability. 

Text From a Listener:

• What can he do to keep his mesquite tree healthy?

Recommendation - Mesquites are practically "Bulletproof" and John talks about some potential causes and reminds you that pictures can help determine issues. A site visit from an expert will help.

• Mushrooms keep growing under her lemon tree....what can they do to get rid of them?

Recommendation - It can be connected to the irrigation. They'll need to check their watering cycle and make sure it dries out. Wherever moisture exists, they can grow. They can use a fungicide to get rid of existing growths. If she needs fungicide, she can stop in at Treeland Nurseries.

Caller:

• Mike - He had two sissou trees that annihilated his yard. He did all the work to remove and kill all the root systems like we reccomend. After 2 years, he added irrigation and was ready to start a new yard. 2 weeks later he had 50 shoots over his yard. How long will this battle go on?

Recommendation - This is common.  Unfortunately, the roots can sit dormant and once watered, shoot up again.  He should probably keep watering and adding a contact herbicide to all of the shoots. It can be a multiple year project/pain in the you know what.

• Olive trees are a messy tree and they are ripe right now. John talks about processing the olives at his home.
• Prevent olives from fruiting and creating a huge mess and have them sprayed right now. This will help you have a clean litter season next year.
• Ficus trees are seeing a white fly problem and their is a spray available. Just call John!
• Remember, you can attend classes with John at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

If you have questions on your trees, remember to reach out to John all week at Integrity Tree Service!

• Rosie shares a story about a recent remodeling project with an incredible do it yourself job.....
• Discussing all the recent rains and what it means to your yard.....weeds, weeds and more weeds. Get that pre-emergent herbicide down!
• What we've been hearing about the housing market. It's very good news.
• Several stories about people who bought property during the economic downturn.
• ROSIE WARNING! Don't get carried away.

Caller:

• Keith - He's seeing a crack in his walls that keeps getting bigger and bigger. He doesn't see a foundation crack and had them fixed once. The crack is back and keeps expanding. What should he do?

Recommendation - Rosie would reduce the conversation with the contractor he's struggling to get out to fix the issue down to to writing.  Ask your neighbors with similar floor plans if they have the same issue.  Listen to get all the details and particulars to cover your investment.

*We discuss "Next Gen Homes."

• Rosie talks about our "Casa Grande Connection" and the contractors who serve that area. Today, you can attend a homeshow with Desert Sun Heating & Cooling.
• Romey welcomes a few new partners; Omni Pool Builders in Tucson & Bailey's Blind Repair.

Callers:

• Nick - He's replacing his flourescent lightbulbs in his garage way more than he should have to. How does he know if he has a bad ballast, if something else could be causing it or if that's just what to expect?

Recommendation - It could be bad bulbs, the ballast or something else. We find out they're lasting less than a year. It should be longer. It could be a power surge, but that area is not known for that. We'd have him buy a few bulbs he knows are high quality and mark them. If he still has an issue, call an electrician.

• Eric - In 2 of his bathrooms he has leaks that are damaging the drywall and trim. He's resealed it and it's still an issue. What do we think it could be?

Recommendation - It sounds like he's done his work, so we're going to have him email some photos to try and get a handle on it to give him some suggestions.

*We discuss new estimate pricing software that you can play with it. (One of our favorites is by PPG Paints)

• Dave - He has a dry cracked toilet he's replacing and wants a recommendation while he's out this weekend.

Recommendation - We talk through a few brands we like like Briggs, Kohler and Toto brands.

Caller:

• Brett - His APS bill in Prescott is way too high and he wants to know why.

Recommendation - Rosie calculates his homes setup  and he is definitely over-paying. He has a heat pump (which is unusual for a colder climate like that) and we agree to go over his bills to do some discovery work.

Email From a Listener:

• Barbara - She's looking to hire a remodeling company but the owner's name is not the same name that's on the license with the ROC. Shouldn't that match?

Recommendation - It is NOT that unusual, but she'll want to investigate to make sure it's the same company that has been in business for a while and are reputable. Listen to be clear!

We're covering Homeowner's Associations and Rosie invites Brian Linx with City Property Management to talk about the pros and cons:

• Brian's history and how to get educated on their H.O.A.
• Make sure the management company is affiliated the Arizona Association of Community Managers.
• Make sure you read the disclosures section when you buy a home.
• Reserve studies should be included in HOA groups.
• If you want toys (quads, boats, etc.) make sure you know where you'll be able to store them.
• New vs. older neighborhoods.
• Getting involved and asking questions at meetings will lead to happier homeowner's.
• Checking for violations before you buy a home. That could determine if some HOA's are more aggressive than others.

• Rosie wants the history behind HOA's and where they came from.
• How retirement communities & condominiums got involved.
• One tip.....meet the HOA President before you buy.
• A few of Brian's favorite tips. Stay reasonable and work together!

• Talking about homeshow's this weekend. Stop in to see Pella Windows & Doors.

Caller:

• Mike - His home is shifting all across the home. He describes all the different areas.

Recommendation - It sounds like it will take a professional eye. He can call Arizona Foundation Solutions.  Rosie reminds him that he has 2 years from the date of the repair (NOT the build) to have it fixed under warranties.

Emails From Listeners:

• Andrew - He has extremely hard water at his home. He's noticed that his clothes are already starting to see the effects. Is it cost effective to add water treatment to his home?

Recommendation - Yes. It will give you safer and better water for his appliances, skin, etc. We talk about all the bad/false information that is out in the water treatment industry.

• Paul - He has to replace his kitchen faucet every couple years because they fail or leak. Where can he go to get a better quality product that will last?

Recommendation - In his area, he can reach out to Ferguson Plumbing Supply,  Central Arizona Supply or Standard Plumbing Supply.  Professional plumbing supply stores have brass internal parts instead of plastic. It'll last much longer.

• Discussing The White House and the many remodels over the different presidential terms.
• Air Conditioning, plumbing, bowling lanes, hot tub, etc.

Join Rosie On The House Every Saturday Morning!!!