Home Improvement Information

Spring Into Action: Home Maintenance


Spring has sprung! Even more important than buds, birds, and bees, spring brings buyers! When buyers are looking for a place to nest, they would really rather not see problems. As it turns out, nearly every home inspected has problems or imperfections of some sort or size. Most issues are very minor and simple to correct. Almost all are a result of deferred maintenance.

Most of these simple deferred maintenance problems, when discovered during the home inspection, cause the majority of the headaches when trying to bring a contract to close. With the five quick checks described below it is probable that 90% or more of the minor maintained items typically discovered in the home inspection could be eliminated, and with them a great portion of the time and stress associated with their correction:

  • Dirty Filter and Coils in the Heat Pump. The clean and efficient flow of conditioned air as well as the longevity of this very expensive system is dependant on proper airflow. A professional cleaning is most always well under $100. Routine filter replacement can be done by a homeowner for about a dollar.
  • Poor Caulking of Ceramic Tile in the Tub and Shower Area. The cost to repair or replace a rotted shower wall often exceeds thousands of dollars. This is an avoidable event! A homeowner can accomplish caulking of tiled areas easily for under $20. If a crack in the caulk or grout is visible, you can believe it's large enough for water to pass!
  • Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) not Properly Functioning. GFCI's are the electrical outlets that have the "press" and "test" buttons. These devices are critically important in reducing the chance for electrocution. The homeowner can test the devices by pushing the "test" button. The cost of a new GFCI is less than $10. They can be installed in less than 10 minutes.

  • Amateur Workmanship. When something looks like an amateur did it, that means an amateur did it, even if the perpetrator was paid for his work! When amateurs do things, the materials are often improper for the intended purpose or of poor quality. Many times they are both. Seldom are proper permits pulled or inspections performed when work is performed by amateurs. Amateur work is also difficult to maintain. Amateur work and the people who perform it always complicate a closing.
  • Wood Rot. Closing contracts sure would be simpler without wood rot. It sure would be nice to see a home listed that said "clear WDO on file". Consider doing the WDO inspection at the time of listing to greatly reduce the greatest challenge in Florida real estate.

The act of selling real estate can be made simpler, more enjoyable, and more profitable by educating buyers and sellers about preventative maintenance. Spring is a time of renewal - renew your interest in home care and take a few simple steps to keep safe, comfortable, and ready for some summer sun!

Wally Conway is President of Florida HomePro Inspections, and has been featured regularly on HGTV's "House Detective". Wally has recently written a book entitled "Secrets of the Happy Home Inspector", available at GoHomePro.com or Amazon.com. As a speaker, writer, instructor, and host of The Happy Home Inspector radio show every Saturday at 3 PM on WOKV 690, Wally blends the right amount of up-to-date information with just the right amount of humor, insight, motivation, and real-world application. Visit WallyConway.com for more information!


MORE RESOURCES:

Ahead of the Bell: Goldman trims home improvement
CNNMoney.com - 22 hours ago
... said a slower-than-expected housing recovery forced it to trim earnings estimates for the nation's two largest home improvement retailers on Monday. ...


Sportinglife.com

FAB CONFIDENT OF HOME IMPROVEMENT
Sportinglife.com, UK - 14 hours ago
By Simon Stone, PA Sport Chief Football Writer The Three Lions return to the national stadium on Saturday for the first time since Capello stated his side ...


Odenton home improvement contractor ordered to stop working in Howard
Baltimore Sun, United States - Oct 2, 2008
By Larry Carson An unlicensed Anne Arundel County home improvement contractor who is alleged to have walked off a $126000 Clarksville job before completion ...


Retail vacancies rise to 6.9% as spending wanes
Bizjournals.com, NC - 17 hours ago
Metro Phoenix’s top new lease for the quarter was the Lowe’s Home Improvement store at Happy Valley and Lake Pleasant Parkway — almost 140000 square feet. ...


Home improvement retailers see gains during 3Q
CNNMoney.com - Sep 30, 2008
NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Shares of home improvement retailers saw notable gains during the third quarter, despite months of economic uncertainty that ...


Lowe's controversy looms over Northport Mayoral race
Tuscaloosa News (subscription), AL - 12 hours ago
In a press conference almost a month ago, Mayor Harvey Fretwell announced the city was saving $1.6 million because Lowe’s Home Improvement store was ending ...


Home improvement Q&A
Biloxi Sun Herald,  USA - Oct 3, 2008
By ALAN J. HEAVENS - The Philadelphia Inquirer Q: "Just wondering if you might have any suggestions for me regarding ants running all over the inside of my ...


24dash

Frank Haslam Milan wins £8 million home improvement contract with Acis
24dash, UK - Oct 3, 2008
South Yorkshire based Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) has won an £8 million contract to deliver massive improvements to thousands of homes in Lincolnshire over the ...


B&Q becomes first UK retailer approved to offer a nationally ...
European Investor, Europe - Oct 2, 2008
B&Q has become the first retailer in the UK to offer a nationally recognised Home Improvement Qualification. The new qualification has been accredited by ...


Westchester continues crackdown on illegal home improvement businesses
Mid-Hudson News, NY - Oct 2, 2008
WHITE PLAINS - Twenty-three home improvement contractors have been charged with operating a business without a license in a two-week enforcement sweep by ...

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