Home Owner’s Blog

Well, it’s fall again and it’s time to start buttoning everything down before winter sets in. Once again, we are sharing our checklist, so you can keep your home in great order!

Since you’ll probably have a long weekend over thanksgiving, you have no excuse!

If you have additions or comments, just let us know!

Every Fall

• Prune Trees and Shrubs
• Clean Faucets / Showerheads
• Clean Lapshades
• Test Pressure Relief Valve on Water Heater
• Treat Granite
• Have Chimney Swept
• Check Under Faucets for Leaks
• Check Washing Machine for Leaks
• Clean Condenser Coils on Refrigerator
• Clean Drain Traps on All Sinks
• Detatch (Winterize) Garden Hoses
• Update Home Inventory
• Lubricate Door Hinges
• Magic Erase Wall Marks
• Touch Up Painting
• Take Down Garden
• Scheduled Maintenance on Appliances
• Service Garage Door
• Test Circuit Breakers
• Inspect Roof for Damage
• Light gas fireplace pilot light
• Replace Downspout Diffusers
• Winterize Sprinklers

In the Fall and the Spring

• Dust Tops of Cabinets / Outcroppings
• Clean Bathroom Tile
• Clean Blinds
• Clean Ceiling Fans
• Clean HVAC Air Intakes
• Clean Light Fixtures
• Clean Under Range Hood / Replace Filter
• Dust Baseboards / Doorframes
• Dust Cobwebs
• Dust Electronics
• Dust Pictures
• Vaccuum Under Beds
• Vaccuum Under Couches / Tables
• Wash Windows
• Check Ground Slope Near Home
• Clean Dryer Exhaust
• Condition Leather Furniture
• New Furnace Filter
• Run All Faucets
• Throw Out Unworn Clothes
• Toggle Humidifier
• Test Sump Pump
• Inspect Walls for Moisture (after rain)
• Vacuum Furniture
• Vaccuum Smoke Alarms
• Vaccuum Heat Registers
• Clean Window Sills

Tags: checklist, fall, Home Maintenance

“That crack in the sidewalk will wait.”

“We can paint next year.”

We all say these types of things all the time. We rarely have enough time to take care of everything in our home (or the rest of our lives) and to keep it perfect, but ignoring these small problems can lead to a big problem later.

If you follow the “Broken Windows” theory, these small problems accumulate over time and have a significant psychological effect. The theory asserts that each neighborhood in decline started with one broken window that was never fixed. Over time, broken windows throughout the neighborhood become the norm, and pretty soon you can say the same thing about graffiti, crack dealers, and other forms of crime. For more on this, see “Fixing Broken Windows”, it’s a great read, even if it doesn’t have Bob Vila on the cover.

This can happen in an individual home too. We all know someone who has started a remodeling project that has never been completed. Something just always seems to come up that is more important. Pretty soon, navigating around ladders and paint buckets becomes normal for the family. Then another project seems more important, we we have a few more ladders, maybe some more tarps out. There is a snowball effect that occurs over time until the home is in such disarray that most people clean it up and sell it (at a discount).

This is why it is so critical to stay up to date on your home maintenance. Start with a checklist of small projects that can be completed quickly. Don’t be ambitious! There is more glory in a new kitchen, but if the rest of the home suffers, the overall effect could well be a decline in your home’s value. A new kitchen with all stainless steel appliances doesn’t increase your home’s value if the roof starts leaking and warps the walls.

There are good times for homeowners to pursue these big projects, but they shouldn’t even be attempted until all the basics of annual maintenance are performed.

Luckily we’ve built a checklist to help you stay up on all the annual maintenance tasks you should be doing to make sure your home retains its value. You’ll have plenty of time later to put in the jacuzzi tub, right now you probably need to be double-checking your sump pump!

Tell us more about your horror stories in the comments. I’m sure we all have some.

In one of my finer moments, I decided I was going to stain the deck in the morning before a birthday party for a friend who lived out of town. Three trips to the hardware store later, I was 2 hours late and that deck is still splotchy to this day!

Tags: broken windows, Home Maintenance, stories

Folks, there are brand spanking new calculators in the calculators section at http://homeownerstuff.com/calculators/. The first in the series is designed to help you figure out if you should pay off your home or invest the difference.

Probably an easy decision this week, since everything is on sale, but you should run the numbers yourself!

Tags: calculators, Tips and Tricks, Tools

Tags: humor, videos

Whoa, where was this before I started on my weekend projects this week!

A new guide by do-it-yourself expert Andrea Ridout, on bookstore shelves this month, provides even the most repair-challenged with an easy-to-follow blueprint for tackling home-improvement projects around the house.

Looks like Bob Vila has a semi-annual checklist that’s very similar to the one we’re going to be promoting on this site. Good for everyone, go check it out.

BobVila.com: Home Maintenance Checklist

Here’s a simple bi-annual “Top to Bottom” checklist to keep your home in shape year round.

1. Roof: Check roof and around vents, skylights and chimneys for leaks. Repair as necessary.
2. Attic: If there is no ridge vent, keep gable vents open year-round to ensure proper ventilation.
3. Gutters: Clean gutters and drain pipes so leaves won’t clog them and be sure they drain away from the house. (Fall: In cold-climate areas) Drain outside faucets.
…

Tags: bob vila, checklist

Tags: drywall, repair

by Smith Chen

Over the years the kitchen has gained popularity as the central, most important room in any home. It enjoys, in most cases a round the clock patronage, starting from a very early morning breakfast to a late night snack. The kitchen is a loyal witness to any drama in life that unfolds in every home whether preparing an important meal for a client or surprising a loved one on a special occasion; or a weekend dinner specially made for the grandchildren. So when it comes to planning for a kitchen renovation, there are a lot of things to do and consider so that it will become a room where everybody will feel comfortable and welcome.

First and foremost, set a budget. Decide how much money you are going to spend on your project. To have a budget already set for a specific project will help you decide more easily how far you will go in terms of choosing the materials and design for your kitchen renovation. If possible, price out every item you want to include in your new kitchen, like new appliances, fixtures and accessories. Do not leave anything off your list; as much as possible include even the smallest detail like paints and brushes. There are wide ranges of materials available so you can choose from whichever price range you can afford. Once everything is priced, add 20% onto the cost of the job because you never know when things will go wrong and you suddenly find yourself out of budget.

After all the financing is thought about then you are set to start. Try to have a look at your own existing kitchen. How well do you like it? Is there any part of it that you love and want to retain? Or any part of it that you hate and want to change? Or is there something that you want to add or wish you have? Is the size sufficient enough for your family needs? Or do you need to have a bigger space and more storage? Then think of a style you want for your new kitchen. Taking into consideration the style of your own house and of course your sense of taste. If budget permits you can hire a kitchen design expert who can help you draw out all these things. While still in the planning process it is always necessary to define the space available.

Continue Reading »

Author: water damage team

1. Do not put water down the drain when there might be an alternative use for it such as cleaning, or watering a plant.

2. By adding food coloring to the tank you can check for leaks. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within a 30-minute period. Check the toilet for corroded, worn out or bent parts.

3. After you wet your toothbrush, turn off the water. It is unnecessary to keep the water running while brushing your teeth.

Continue Reading »

Author: Stephanie Larkin

When you purchased your current home, it was most likely inspected for termites. You would have received a document from an inspection company to certify that no active infestations were present when you bought the home. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean your home doesn’t have termites. If you haven’t kept up termite treatments, it’s always possible that they might have entered your home.

Spotting a termite infestation isn’t difficult, if you know what you look for. And of course, sometimes the signs are unmistakable: an indoor swarm is perhaps the most definite sign that an active infestation is present in your home.

Continue Reading »