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:

Lowe's 2Q Net Up 9.6% But Sales Growth Light; View Cautious - Wall Street Journa..
Monday, August 16, 2010

Kansas City Star Lowe's 2Q Net Up 9.6% But Sales Growth Light; View Cautious Wall Street Journal (LOW) fiscal second-quarter earnings increase 9.6%, though sales disappointed and the home-improvement retailer's results and outlook added evidence that ... Lowe's Profit Rises 9.6% to $832.. .. read more..

Ladies rule: Free Martha Stewart home improvement workshop at Home Depot - Walle..
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Ladies rule: Free Martha Stewart home improvement workshop at Home Depot WalletPop (blog) Even if you don't get the organizer, the home improvement workshop is free. It features (read: is soft pitch for) Martha Stewart Living products and will ... .. read more..

Majors Home Improvement Ranks 140th in Remodeling's Top 550 National List - PR W..
Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Majors Home Improvement Ranks 140th in Remodeling's Top 550 National List PR Web (press release) Majors Home Improvement is named for the prestigious distinction of top 550 Replacement Contractors nation-wide. Majors Home Improvement , a leading Milton, ... .. read more..

Avoiding home repair scams focus of Powder Springs seminar - Atlanta Journal Con..
Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Avoiding home repair scams focus of Powder Springs seminar Atlanta Journal Constitution Homeowners and future homeowners are invited to a seminar to learn how to avoid home improvement scams. Powder Springs Mayor Pat Vaughn and ... .. read more..

'Toy Story' & 'Home Improvement' star Tim Allen becomes Chevy pitchman - kypost...
Wednesday, September 8, 2010

USA Today 'Toy Story' & ' Home Improvement ' star Tim Allen becomes Chevy pitchman kypost.com DETROIT - The star of " Home Improvement " and the "Toy Story" movies is becoming a pitchman for Chevrolet. General Motors Co. says Tim Allen will be a ... See Chevrolet television ad featu.. .. read more..

Silverthorne council OK's Lowe's - Summit Daily News
Thursday, September 9, 2010

Silverthorne council OK's Lowe's Summit Daily News ... Council voted 4-2 to approve the final site plan for a Lowe's Home-Improvement Warehouse at the corner of Buffalo Mountain Drive and Wildernest Road. ... .. read more..

Georgia Gulf to Present at Morgan Keegan 2010 Industrial/Transportation Conferen..
Thursday, September 9, 2010

Georgia Gulf to Present at Morgan Keegan 2010 Industrial/Transportation Conference MarketWatch (press release) The Company's vinyl-based building and home improvement products, marketed under Royal Group brands, include window and door profiles, mouldings, siding, ... and more » .. read more..

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT: Ways to seed your lawn - Newton Kansan
Thursday, September 9, 2010

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT : Ways to seed your lawn Newton Kansan By Anonymous By hand: For smaller areas, remove the dead grass, roughen the soil with a rake and sprinkle a thin layer of seed evenly across the soil. ... and more » .. read more..

Woolworths open to acquisitions - Business Spectator
Friday, September 10, 2010

BigPond News Woolworths open to acquisitions Business Spectator Woolworths is on track to open its first Home Improvement store, a joint venture with US hardware giant Lowe's, in the latter half of 2011. ... Woolworths open to acquisitions Sydney Morning Herald all 49 news articles ».. .. read more..

Four Lowe's customers claim overcharging - abc11.com
Friday, September 10, 2010

Four Lowe's customers claim overcharging abc11.com RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A group of homeowners claim they were overcharged for home improvement work they purchased through Lowe's. "I feel like I've been robbed," ... and more » .. read more..

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