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!

---

How to Replace the Rollers on Your Patio Sliding Glass Glass Door

Hiring a professional to replace your rollers could cost you... Read More

Carbon Monoxide Can Be Deadly--Early Detection Monitors Make It Easy to Protect Your Family

If you burn gas, kerosene, or wood in your home... Read More

Window Dressing from the Outside Looking In

Window coverings are important to the overall look and feel... Read More

Easy Ways to Increase Your Houses Value

Before getting your house valuated think about the list below... Read More

Lakeside Patios ? The Water Makes Decisions For You

If you are putting in a new patio on a... Read More

Building a Home Addition

Besides providing your home with more living space, a home... Read More

Laminate Flooring is Built for the Twenty First Century

The tradition of hardwood floors dates back hundreds of years,... Read More

Planning Permission Tips UK - Rights of Light to Adjoining Neighbours Windows - What You Should Know

Rights of light - What a minefield this topic is... Read More

Modern Rugs

The modern look is a highly admired form of interior... Read More

What You Should Know About Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring imitates the aspect of traditional wood. Their biggest... Read More

Electric Radiant and Floor Coverings

If the decision of what type radiant heating system to... Read More

Five Ways to Create a Healthy Home

Have you ever thought of your home as being healthy... Read More

5 Questions To Ask Before Starting Any Home Improvement Project

1. What experience does your contractor have with this type... Read More

Replacing Your Sliding Glass Door Rollers

If the sliding glass doors in your home are more... Read More

Realign Your Budget - Purchase Your First Piece of Fine Art

If you don't have at least one piece of fine... Read More

Choosing a Furnace Humidifier

While everyone longs for a white winter, the problems associated... Read More

Lighting and your Kitchen - How to Design a Lighting Plan that Cooks!

Your kitchen, more than any other room in your home,... Read More

How To Find Cat Mailboxes

You can add a personal touch to your home or... Read More

Single Pane Glass Repair in an Aluminum Frame, Part 2

This week we are going to continue our series on... Read More

The Health Benefits Of Drinking Water - Is Bottled Drinking Water Healthier Than Filtered Tap Water?

Water is a key ingredient in a healthy diet and... Read More

Planning Your DIY Project

Ready to start your first serious DIY project? Read through... Read More

Allow Me to Introduce You to the Fungus Family

What exactly is mold? There are over 100,000 different kinds... Read More

Heated Driveways: Who, What, Where, When, Why, & How

What are heated driveways? The obvious answer is, "a driveway... Read More

Ten Things You May Not Know About Selecting Hardwood Flooring

1) Red Oak is not the only choiceIf you want... Read More

Chester Conservatory Build Process

1. The site of the proposed conservatory.2. Construction work begins.... Read More

11 Tips for Stripping Wallpaper: How to Get Rid of Ugly Wallpaper!

I broke my promise to myself and stripped wallpaper again.... Read More

The Versatile Reciprocating Saw: The Power Tool of Your Dreams

A reciprocating saw is simply one of the handiest tools... Read More

Finishing Your Basement Can be Very Rewarding

Transforming your home's basement into a finished space can prove... Read More

Sliding Glass Door Replacement

This article is going to be about replacing an old... Read More

Fire Hazard Alert - Is Your Dryer Ready to Ignite

In recent years there has been many stories about dryers... Read More

Styles And Varieties Of Locking Mailboxes For Sale

Locking mailboxes made from durable, weatherproof materials are highly desirable... Read More

Prepare for Winter Before It Arrives

Even though we are still enjoying warm weather and winter... Read More

Cheap Interior Design Ideas

Cheap interior design ideas come in many forms these days.... Read More