Incline Village Real Estate - General Information, Property and MLS Listings Tips

TIP OF THE MONTH

Please feel free to call Don at Lakeshore Realty at 775-831-7000 or 775-745-5820 or send Don an e-mail if you have questions or comments about this section.

November / December 2006: Make sure your thermostats are set to 50 or 55 degrees for the entire winter to prevent pipes from freezing.  Better yet, if you have an alarm system ask the alarm company if they can provide a "Freeze Alarm."  This is very useful in the event of a power outage for any extended period of time.

September / October 2006: Arrange for Snow Removal Service.
After the huge winter we had in 2005-06, it behooves everyone who is not part of a condo association to line up their snow removal service well in advance for the upcoming winter season.  If you own real estate in Incline Village, be aware that many snow removal firms were overwhelmed last year and will be raising their prices and limiting the number of clients they service.  Don't get caught out in the cold, make arrangements now with Tahoe Services 775-527-2888 or SnoPro - 775-831-1252 or IPM - 775-832-0284 or any of the other local service providers.

August 2006: Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Tahoe.
With the beautiful summer weather here in the Sierras, this is the ideal month to take a cruise on Lake Tahoe.  Their are daily boat rides on the paddle wheelers out of Zephyr Cove (MS Dixie) and Tahoe City (Tahoe Gal), that make for a wonderful outing.  Whether you choose a morning, afternoon, or dinner cruise, the view of the mountains from out in the middle of the lake is awe inspiring.

July 2006: Take a hike in Tahoe Meadows.
Now that the snow has melted, with our beautiful, sunny, warm days is the perfect time of year to do the loop trail around Tahoe Meadows.  This casual easy hike offers you gorgeous views of the surrounding peaks while you enjoy the streams and the wildflowers.  A short drive up the Mt. Rose highway from Incline Village will bring you to 2 large meadows about 1 mile before the summit.  You can park along either side of the road and there are two different starting points from which to explore these lovely meadow areas.

May and June 2006: - Explore the new Incline Village retail shops.
There are several new businesses in town that opened in the past year that are worth a visit.  If you've not been to Mr. Z's in the Starbucks shopping center I highly recommend that you check out the wonderful handmade chocolates.  We have a fabulous card and gift shop in the old Hallmark location next to Raleys.  There are 3 thrift shops in the Village Shopping Center and great bargains can be found among their merchandise.  Don't forget to donate your good quality clothing and furniture that you no longer need to these stores as their proceeds benefit charities in our community.  

April 2006: Spring Cleaning - Check for Ice and Snow Damage
When you do your annual heavy interior cleaning this time of year, make sure you check windows, walls and ceilings for any signs of leaks or water damage.  With the big snow year we are having, many homes will experience some type of damage from the ice, snow and melting process.  You may not be able to see everything in April if your home is at higher elevation and covered in snow, so check again in May and June. 

March 2006: Clear ice and icicles in critical areas.
The latest round of winter storms has resulted in many properties sprouting icicles several feet long over the front entrances of homes up here.  To reduce the chance of painful accidents, clear ice from walkways and icicles that hang near entrances and both under and over decks.  Many people are injured by falling ice each year and walking under your deck can be hazardous this time of year.  Water drips down between the planks and long icicles form.  When daytime temperatures warm these spears of ice can start falling without warning.  Don't walk under decks in the winter time without first creating a safe path. 

February 2006: Install a back-up generator at your property; use a natural gas generator if possible.
If you have a natural gas connection at your house, you may wish to consider purchasing and installing a back-up generator that runs on natural gas. The right type of generator will make it possible to power most or all of the electrical appliances in your home when a power outage occurs. Much cleaner and quieter than a gasoline or diesel generator, a natural gas generator tied directly into your gas line & properly installed by a professional can minimize the nuisances caused by power outages.

January 2006: Use Google Earth and Google Maps to find Restaurants, retail shops, and recreation destinations at Lake Tahoe.
I recommend that you visit http://www.earth.google.com and download the free software so that you can use the features of the Google Earth technology.  The vast array of features includes satellite views, flyovers, directions, plus overlays showing the locations of lodging, dining, ATMs, retail shops, gas stations, pharmacies, schools, coffee shops, bars, etc.  You will never again hunt around in the car for the right place to eat, sleep, shop or find a myriad of other useful locations if you use this great software.  

For purely finding directions, I prefer http://www.maps.google.com since it has a very simple, quick loading and intuitive interface, plus there is no software download necessary.


December 2005:
Practice Your Winter Driving Skills
The first snow storms tend to be a test of everyone's driving skills up here at the lake.  Not having been on snow and ice for several months can cause you to forget that you need to drive differently in the winter than on the dry summer roads.  A little practice in the parking lot at Preston Field is a good way to make sure you are doing the right thing when you are behind the wheel.  Remember to drive slower, use low gears (2nd gear is very useful here in the winter), make gentle, not sudden moves, accelerate and decelerate slowly, and steer into the skid if you start to slide.  I recommend the use of studded snow tires from now until May 1st, even if you have 4 wheel drive.   

November 2005:
Prepare Your Property For Winter Weather
With the onset of cold temperatures and snowy weather it's important for property owners at Lake Tahoe to take some steps that will keep your property in top condition.  
1. Set the heat to 50 or 55 degrees to keep pipes from freezing.
2. Shut off any outside faucets and drain any pipes that do not have proper insulation. 
3. Install heat tape to melt snow and ice from any areas that overhang entry ways or walkways.
4. Arrange for snow removal if you are an absentee owner.
5. Put rubber mats in entry ways along with maintaining a dry place in the entry way (or mud room) to store boots and wet clothing.

October 2005:
Work on Your BMPs and Erosion Control Before the Snow Flies
Before rain and snow cause any erosion or damage on your property, Autumn is an ideal time to fill in bare spots, unclog or repair damaged drains, and to do whatever work you can to protect your part of the local environment.  If you do not yet have a Best Management Practices Certificate from the TRPA for your property, this is the time to get a site assessment performed before the ground is covered in snow and it's not possible. You can have a site assessment performed by calling the TRPA at 775-588-4547 or the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District at 775-586-7223.  

September 2005:
Winter is coming - Inspect your roof, windows and doors before the first snowfall.
In autumn 2004 many people were surprised with early snowfalls in September and October.  As a result, an inordinate number of homeowners experienced roof leaks during the past winter.  Do yourself a favor and contact one of the local roofing companies and have them perform an inspection of your roof and skylights.  Don't wait for a mid-winter leak to damage your property, be proactive and get an inspection done in September.  If you have drafts or possible leaky windows, contact Incline Glass or another glass company and have them do a window inspection.  They will also check for broken seals in dual pane windows and can give you an estimate for replacement.  Lastly, check the weather stripping around all doors and repair or replace if needed to reduce your heating bills.

August 2005:
Verify Your Property Taxes and File an Appeal if Necessary ASAP
This is the time each year when we see the tax assessor mailing out the annual tax bills.  There is a new temporary tax increase cap in place for the next 2 years that was just passed by the Nevada State Legislature.  If you are a full time resident then your property taxes should not increase by more than 3% over last year.  If you are a non-resident property owner or you own investment property that you do not occupy as your primary residence, then you might get hit with a tax increase of up to 8%.  Double-check your tax bill for the property you own in Incline Village or Crystal Bay and make sure that you are not being over taxed.

If you find a mistake or you think the assessment is wrong, then contact the Washoe County Tax Assessor's office at775-328-2200 or visit their web site at www.washoecounty.us/assessor and either get a corrected tax bill or file an appeal as soon as you can.

July 2005:
A Good Mortgage Broker Can Make A Big Difference.  
If you are thinking of buying property in Incline Village and will be doing some type of financing, I highly recommend that you utilize the services of one of the local mortgage brokers.  Our real estate market is so unique that out-of-area lenders very often encounter delays and have problems getting the best loan approved in a short amount of time.  

Using a local appraiser is critical if you want the property you are considering evaluated correctly, since almost every house in our village is a custom home.  Also, out-of-area appraisers generally do not understand the nuances of the valuations in our market and tend to undervalue properties.  By using a local mortgage broker such as the Tahoe Lending Group you will have access to a wide variety of mortgage products and you will get great customer service, plus you will have a local appraiser on your side.  Don't take chances with someone who is not familiar with our market.  Unless you are paying all cash, I recommend that you use either TLG or another local mortgage broker, and I would be happy to provide you with several good mortgage brokers to interview before you make a final decision.  

June 2005:
Thinking of Selling Your Property?  
To get the best exposure and the highest possible price, make sure your property is on the Tuesday MLS Brokers and Agents tour and also have at least one weekend of open houses before you accept any offers.  The only exception to this is if you receive an offer that is substantially above the asking price, no contingencies and a 30 day or shorter escrow period.

Many sellers get bamboozled by agents who are anxious to quickly sell the property and collect their commission.  Instead of having the sellers best interests in mind, they get blinded by the dollar signs and quick paycheck.  I've seen sellers leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table simply because they got bad advice from their agent and accepted an offer that was significantly below the asking price within the first week of listing their property.

Don't make the same mistake!  Insist that your agent have your property on both the weekly MLS tour and have them hold at least one weekend of open houses before accepting any offers so you can see how the market truly reacts to your asking price.    

May 2005:
Make Defensible Space A Priority Around Your Home - Get A Free Evaluation from the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District
Now that the snow has melted away from all but the higher elevation homes, it's a great time to contact the NLTFPD and ask them to come out to your property to do a defensible space analysis.  Protect your property and your neighbor's from fire by clearing brush, dead trees and limbs and other combustibles within a safe distance from your house.  Remember, the steeper the slope, the more area you need to clear around your house.  

For more information or to schedule an appointment call the NLTFPD at: 775-831-0351

April 2005:
Quicken's Rental Property Manager Software Makes Accounting Easy
If you own rental property there is finally a software package that is affordable, easy to use and comprehensive.  The Quicken Rental Property Manager is only $99 and it does a great job of keeping track of everything related to the income and expenses of your rental property.  It has great reports built in and can help you with cash flow projections and tax reporting.

For more information or to purchase this software visit: www.quickenrental.com

Please feel free to call Don at Lakeshore Realty at 775-831-7000 or 775-745-5820 or send Don an e-mail if you have questions about real estate or anything related to Incline Village or Lake Tahoe.

Don Kanare - Lakeshore Realty - 954 Lakeshore Blvd. - Incline Village, NV 89451 - 775-831-7000 / 775-831-6777 (fax) www.InsideIncline.com