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jab
Citizen
Username: Jab
Post Number: 530
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 2:04 pm: | 
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My friend is looking at a house (not in M/SO) that has a small stream that runs next to and behind it. She said there is still space to run around out back and that the water is very shallow, but that there is a drop-off of a few feet before the water. She wants to know if this would be detrimental for resale, because some people could be concerned about children's safety. She said a child would really have to be face-down to drown and that any child who isn't old enough to know better would be supervised anyway, but the drop-off could be a concern. Any thoughts? Thanks. |
Eats Shoots & Leaves
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 3073
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 2:17 pm: |
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What is the stream like when there is a heavy rain after a snowy winter? Even small rivlets can become pretty rough for a short period at times. Might be worth asking neighbors about their experience with it. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10825
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 2:29 pm: |
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.....and your friend should check to see if they are in a flood zone.
While I can see parents of small children having concerns, I think there are enough people who would love to have a stream in their yard to offset any young parents who would avoid the property for that reason.
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monster
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2234
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 3:00 pm: |
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I used to live in an old Grist Mill in PA that had been converted into a house. It was built in 1749, and was a working mill until 1964, there were two creeks that bordered it, and one had a race off of it that ran under the house, this is what powered the waterwheel.
It was in a hundred year flood plain, never had a problem with water, until after we moved, then one of the storms brought the water up enough from the big creek on the far side of the property enough so that it flooded the basement.
looked something like this, well I was going to draw a picture but Google is your friend, click here for a couple of images of the mill, I was surprised to see that the pics are from when we were selling the mill, the for sale sign is on the side of the house, and one of the cars we had is in the drive, there's even an update on there I had emailed to the webmaster.
Hmmm, looks like it might have had some restoration done on it in 2002, might have to write these guys and ask them what they did,
http://www.restorenmore.com/about/#projects
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Handygirl
Citizen
Username: Handygirl
Post Number: 595
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 4:19 pm: |
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mosquitoes? |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7069
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 4:51 pm: |
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Make sure the stream doesn't also flow under part of the house. An occassionally wet basement, such as many of us in SO/M get from time to time is one thing but a frequently flooded basement is something else entirely. Suggest that your friend try to see the house shortly after a significant rain fall or snow melt and examine the basement for signs of water damage or settling of the foundation. |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 1040
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 5:04 pm: |
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I have a small stream on our property here in Maplewood.
I absolutely love it. No water problems at all. As a matter of fact during hurricane Floyd (remember that one?) the stream became huge and swollen but the water raced off of my property compared to my neighbors where is pooled and eroded their yards. A visible stream is far better than an invisible (below grade) one!
The house was marketed as having a "babbling brook" when we purchased it....it is very fairy tale like.
I have three kids and they knew what the rules were involving the water. |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1078
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 7:59 pm: |
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We have a brook in a ravine below our house. When we moved here, we has 3 and 6 year olds, and there were--and still are dozens of children on our block. During storms the stream becomes a torrent. No one has ever drowned in it, except for a couple of deer. We love our brook. Our kids were made to understand that the brook could be dangerous during a heavy rain, and that if began to rain, they were to stay away from it. |
jab
Citizen
Username: Jab
Post Number: 531
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 8:21 pm: |
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Thanks for the responses. I read them to my friend. The basement has been finished for 20 years and is carpeted, so there do not appear to be water problems. She already knows that she will need flood insurance anyway. She especially appreciated the comments that children learn the rules. |
Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 599
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 1:41 pm: |
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kmk, do you live in that really cute red house on jefferson? i love that house. |
monster
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2256
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 2:00 pm: |
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that's what I was wondering oldstone, I met the woman who lives there at her garage sale this summer, I bought the poker chips, we had a nice talk about the house the water, etc.... |
Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 600
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 2:08 pm: |
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it must be so peaceful and soothing to sit in that yard early on a weekend morning and listen to the birds and the babbling brook...i'm green with envy. |
Arsenal
Citizen
Username: Arsenal
Post Number: 70
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 4:01 pm: |
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Give me the address and I'll tell you what flood zone you are in. |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 1041
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 4:46 pm: |
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Oldstone and Monster,
Nope, I am above Ridgewood and below Wyoming (in Maplewood) on a lovely cul-de-sac street. My house looks a lot like my avatar!
During the drought 3 summers ago the stream went almost silent. I literally felt like there had been a death or a dear friend had moved away.
The silence was so depressing. It's back to it's babbling self now - thank goodness.
Ready, set , go! See if you recognize it... |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6815
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 5:01 pm: |
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That red house was on the house tour a few years back. I fell in love with it; it is as charming inside as out. |
monster
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2264
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 5:23 pm: |
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I've been to a sale on that cul-de-sac also, I've also gotten a nasty stare from someone that lives there when I used it to turn around once.... |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 256
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 8:56 pm: |
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When I was a kid my best friend had a brook behind his house. We spent hours (days!?) walking around totally unsupervised. We had "brook shoes" that we'd wear when we walked the brook after my buddy stepped on a giant piece of glass and I had to carry him home leaving a trail of blood.
Oh, they were good times. Tell your friends to buy the house with the brook. Just get some "brook shoe" for the kids.
J.B. |
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