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:

THE GOODS ON HOME IMPROVEMENT: Beat the heat - and those energy bills
Lancaster Newspapers, PA - Jul 3, 2008
By ALAN J. HEAVENS / McClatchy Tribune WITH SUMMER JUST OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY, it's already been broiling hot. If this keeps up, there's little doubt that ...


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IFA slams home improvement tactics
FT Adviser, UK - Jul 1, 2008
The results of a survey showing estate agents' views on ways to raise property values through home improvements are "wrong", according to one IFA. ...


Westchester to require tests for home-improvement contractors
Lower Hudson Journal news, NY - Jun 30, 2008
By Allan Drury Starting today, anyone who wants to get a license to work as a home-improvement contractor in Westchester County will have to pass a test. ...
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Old home appraisal was for a much bigger lot
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 17 hours ago
That is a simple contract prepared by most home improvement contractors that merely spells out in general terms what work will be done and how much the job ...


A Gust of New Home Improvement Resources From Fix The Home
Market Wire (press release) - Jun 30, 2008
This means residents of this Illinois (IL) city have a one-stop-shop for anything home improvement related. Local Chicagoland contractors will see the plus ...


German home-improvement stores may see sales stagnate this year ...
Forbes, NY - Jun 23, 2008
Germany's 2500 home improvement stores, run by companies including Praktiker AG. and Hornbach Holding AG., posted a 6.9 percent decline in revenue in the ...
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