Little Repairs That Give A Big 'Bang For Your Buck'

Get Your Home Ready for the Spring Market                            
By: Tonya M. Williams
http://www.facebook.com/tonyamwilliams.tv      http://www.tonyamwilliams.tv/


Simple Maintenance is one of the most important and financially rewarding activities a homeowner can perform on their home. Simple maintenance consists of completing all minor repairs around the home or yard. Correction of these items, keep the home from being a scratch n’ dent purchase. Potential home buyers view properties with an unforgiving eye.
The more ‘scratches and dents’ a home displays, the deeper the price discount on the bottom line. Remember, simple maintenance items often seem more significant to prospective buyers than to the homeowner. Every defect a potential home buyer sees, whether real or imagined, becomes a deduction from the sellers’ asking price.

Homeowners reading this article should take a moment to list the simple maintenance tasks around their home:
Include the leaky garden hose, the blown bulb and missing light cover in the master bath, missing outlet covers, the unsightly clump of cables --that should be inside the wall-- presently dangling like a tail below a wall mounted flat screen TV, any missing or damaged window screens.
Simple maintenance items are minor in nature and have a “20/20 rule”:
 items take less than 20 minutes to correct and cost less than 20 dollars total.

• Homeowners should take a few minutes to decide which items on the list are within their scope of knowledge and which ones will require help to correct.
• Review the list for accuracy and make sure the correct tools are available to perform the repairs.
• If they are unsure about how to start/complete a project there is a plethora of do-it-yourself information available via the internet, local Home Improvement stores and on HGTV.
• Homeowners who are unfamiliar with the required skill set or tools, it’s a great idea to take the time to investigate.                                                                                                

Below are sample photos of simple maintenance items you can find in and around your home:

1. Never let water stand on wood floors. The floors may begin to buckle as a result of water damage.
2. The lip of recessed lighting shoudl be flush to the ceiling with no noticeable gaps.
3. Garage door seals at the bottom of the door should be straight and intact, sans any gaps between the seal and the concrete.   Electrical boxes and any/all wires should be covered and their boxes securely fastened to sheild the wires from the elements and also for safety reasons.
4. Caulk joints and/or seams where moulding meets.

The following questions come to mind: 

1. 
   
   Is all the effort and fixing warranted?  YES
   
   
   
2. 
   
   Does simple maintenance make a difference?  YES
   
   
   
3. 
   
   Is this a waste of time and money?  NO
   
   
   

Remember, the value of addressing simple maintenance items before putting a home on the market will be positively reflected in the bottom line when the house sells.

xoxo TMW

Expert Advice: 5 Winter Weather Healthy Home Tips

http://www.facebook.com/tonyamwilliams.tv       http://www.tonyamwilliams.tv/

Hi Everyone,

Well it seems we have a reprieve from the cold weather for a few days! Let the sun shine in!! Let’s take this time to do a few important things on the outside of your home, because 'old man winter' is far from going away...there is more cold weather on the horizon.

Rocket Dog says: "I wish I could help...but I have short arms... I'm heading back  to Meerkat Manor and the sunshine!...But the tips below are great!"
The following items may seem small and unimportant but they are in fact VERY important to your 'home health'.

EXPERT ADVICE : 5 Winter Tips


1. Make sure your gutters are clean and free of pine needles, leaves and debris. While you are up there, check to make sure all gutter nails or screws are present and securely in place
Reason: When it rains and then gets cold the water turns to ice which is heavy, if your gutters are full of leaves/debris when the debris gets saturated with water it gets soggy and heavy, if you couple that with the water freezing in cold temperatures the weight could cause the gutters to sag and separate from the house.

Clean & Clear

                                                                    Full & Falling
2. Insulate any outdoor pipes that are visible in unheated areas of the home. Ex. Unfinished space in garages with exposed water lines. Purchase pipe insulation (it’s usually black and made of a spongy-foamy material) it’s very inexpensive.
Reason: Can save homeowners the hassle of a pipe bursting in extremely cold weather.

3. Invest in an outdoor water spigot cover...they generally cost about .98 cents at any home improvement store. They are simple to install, just affix the foam over the spigot and pull the lever to secure the cover snuggly against the house.
Reason: Easy way to protect outdoor water sources from the elements.

4. Make sure the weather strip at the bottom of the garage door is intact...the garage stays a lot warmer if this stripping/seal is intact.
Reason: Lots of cold air can enter/escape if this seal is compromised...and any type of uninvited 'winter warriors' of the 4, 6, or 8 legged family may see that opening as a 'welcome' sign. Yuk!

5. Put porch lights on a 'dusk to dawn' sensor. It gets dark earlier in the winter. Walkways should always be well lit.
Reason: The dusk to dawn sensor will ensure that you have lighted walkways/porches/doorways for safety and security. These sensors also save electri$ity. Cha-ching!

These are just a few simple tips that can save you a lot of time, money and maintenance in and around your home this winter.

Stay tuned for my next blog about a very cool item I found at Pier 1 Imports!!

xoxo TMW