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Barbara Todaro, Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team (RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired )

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Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I am all too familiar with swales, as we had several of these manmade lumps of land eroding after a few years in our new construction neighborhood.  Some in our neighborhood are done for water run off, others to create a more private environment.

Oct 16, 2016 08:41 AM
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Ok so we know what they are but here's my answer! It's a big mug of beer in a pub!

Oct 16, 2016 09:46 AM
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Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

drainage?

Oct 16, 2016 08:36 AM
Rainer
1,025
Graciela Lozano
Keys Lifestyle Real Estate - Key West, FL
Commercial & Residential Real Estate Sales/Rental

swale is a low tract of land, especially one that is moist or marshy. The term can refer to a natural landscape feature or a human-created one. Artificial swales are often designed to manage water runoff, filter pollutants, and increase rainwater infiltration.

Oct 17, 2016 10:11 AM
Rainer
2,675
Alaina Barrera
Home Sweet Home Inspections, LLC - Atlanta, GA
We offer professional & comprehensive inspections

A swale is a low-lying area, some resemble ditches will others are simply an area declining in grade. Swales are often made to managerun-off, direct water and to filter pollutants.

Oct 17, 2016 05:39 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Did not know the term, thanks.

Oct 17, 2016 01:46 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Anna Banana Kruchten nailed this one!

Oct 17, 2016 12:02 AM
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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Proper and efficient drainage. 

Oct 16, 2016 11:08 PM
Rainmaker
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Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

When i bought my house it is one of the first things I had to do. A swale (a landscaping term) works great in moving water away from ones home. 

Oct 16, 2016 10:56 PM
Rainmaker
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Susan Laxson CRS
Palm Properties - La Quinta, CA
Realtor in San Diego, CA & Naples, FL

We purchased a home in TN with a swale in the back yard and I didn't like the unevenness, but it was an effective way to manage the water runoff.

Oct 16, 2016 10:48 PM
Rainmaker
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Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Very common in Florida! Usually between homes!

Oct 16, 2016 10:32 PM
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Water diversion.  

Oct 16, 2016 10:30 PM
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John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

We call them arroyos. 

Oct 16, 2016 10:07 PM
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Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Low drainage ditch that make good fishin' at certain times of the year

Oct 16, 2016 10:00 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,164
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing this information. Home owners need to make sure the water is running away from their home.

Oct 16, 2016 08:30 PM
Rainmaker
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Kathryn Acciari
Central One Federal Credit Union - Shrewsbury, MA
Mortgage Loan Originator

When our house was built, the landscaper incorporated a very tasteful swale into our backyard. Our lot is critical to the diversion and drainage of water for four other lots, and the landscaper warned us "Never mess with the swale!" 

Oct 16, 2016 06:32 PM
Rainmaker
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Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Barbara Todaro - I would have guessed this pretty close to what it means...

Oct 16, 2016 04:11 PM
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Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Very cool!  I would not have guessed this!

Oct 16, 2016 02:47 PM
Rainmaker
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William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

It is a good way to divert water

Oct 16, 2016 01:39 PM
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Those that I have created were all for drainage.

 

Oct 16, 2016 01:26 PM
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Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

good topic of conversation

Oct 16, 2016 12:01 PM
Rainmaker
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Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

I believe it is storm management

Oct 16, 2016 11:16 AM
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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

 Water control.

Oct 16, 2016 11:03 AM
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Les & Sarah Oswald
Realty One Group - Eastvale, CA
Broker, Realtor and Investor

Another word has been added to my vocabulary.  Thanks for the word of the day.

Oct 16, 2016 11:00 AM
Rainmaker
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Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

A swale is used in construction to keep water runoff contained on the property.  We had a city code change a few years ago and now all the landscaping in new construction has these huge craters.  

Oct 16, 2016 10:02 AM
Rainmaker
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Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

It is a small valley created to redirect water. It is usually used between houses to prevent water from being forced onto someone else's property and directed to the streets or storm drains.

Oct 16, 2016 09:54 AM
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Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Storm water management/water drainage.

Oct 16, 2016 09:22 AM
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Barbara,

Looks like we all know the answer.  A

Oct 16, 2016 09:21 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Shallow ditches to divert water.

 

Oct 16, 2016 08:51 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I always thought it was a whale with a lisp!  

Oct 17, 2016 02:09 AM