Tips for Stress free life  >  Expert Zone   > Home Improvement      

 Home Improvement Tips


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:

How To Make Sure Your Debt Relief Plan Stays On Track
istockAnalyst.com, OR - 12 hours ago
All these things, however, pale in comparison with the importance of sticking to and staying focused on your debt relief plan. It can be very difficult for ...


Allco Finance wins debt relief from its bankers
Wall Street Journal - Jul 16, 2008
By REBECCA THURLOW SYDNEY -- Allco Finance Group Ltd. said it reached agreement with its bankers on terms of a 691 million Australian dollar (US$671.7 ...


Govt expenditure likely to over-shoot by 21
Economic Times, India - 10 minutes ago
Firming up of interest rates on Government debt papers, outgo on account of the Sixth Pay Commission's recommendations and farmers' debt relief package ...


Debt relief scheme benefits farmers
The Statesman, India - Jul 10, 2008
... informed district collector Mr Pramod Chandra Patnaik, while attending a meeting on ‘Agriculture Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme-2008’, here today. ...


Haverhill reeling from Patrick's cut in Hale debt relief
Eagle Tribune, MA - Jul 14, 2008
Deval Patrick's decision to cut in half $2.4 million in state aid for the Hale Hospital debt relief. Mayor James Fiorentini said the city built its budget ...
Local legislators aim to undo cuts in pet projects Eagle Tribune
all 3 news articles


Malcolm Berko: Debt relief plan pitched on radio sounds too good ...
Kankakee Daily Journal, IL - Jul 15, 2008
Dear Mr. Berko: During the past six years we've accumulated $63600 in debt with credit cards, a $171000 mortgage and we owe $92600 on our home equity loan. ...


Dhumal writes to FinMin for debt relief anomalies
Business Standard, India - Jul 3, 2008
... has sought removal of numerous anomalies in the Union government's debt relief scheme so that majority of farmers of the hill state could be benefitted. ...


NDTV.com

Debt relief Waiving, not drowning
Economist, UK - Jul 3, 2008
A KNOT of farmers points in anticipation and dread at the spreadsheets posted on the walls of a bank in Sikandrabad, a small town in Uttar Pradesh, ...
Himachal government urges to Centre to look into debt relief ... myHimachal
Banks in JK identify 34000 beneficiaries for debt relief GreaterKashmir.com (press release)
‘SBI waived farmer loan of Rs 180 crore’ Chandigarh Newsline
Business Standard - Livemint
all 81 news articles


Jamaica Gleaner

Obama's promise of debt relief a $29b opportunity for Jamaica
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - Jun 27, 2008
Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, is promising 100 per cent debt relief for the Caribbean if he becomes the next leader of the United ...


Kuwait MPs pass $1.9 bln consumer debt relief fund
Reuters India, India - Jun 24, 2008
The government submitted the debt relief plan after deputies said a 300 million dinar fund set up in December was not sufficient, a move that could ...

Debt-Relief - Google News

You are here Home > Tips for Stress free Life > Expert Zone > Home Improvement


| Home Improvement  | Home Improvement - Complete list 

| Main Home | | Meditation Corner

                |Health Tips  | Workplace Tips  | Soul Tips  |Expert Zone  |

Recommend us  |

 Books, DVDs and accessories on meditation & yoga  |

[About us] [Contact] [Privacy Policy]

Copyright 2006, Meditation is Easy.com, All rights reserved