Purchasing a New Home Tip #7

Don’t go to open houses unrepresented. If you find a home of interest you will not be fully represented if you ask the listing broker to negotiate for you. Working both sides of a deal often sets up divided allegiance.

Purchasing a New Home Tip #14

Look carefully… “do your homework”, examine listings on line and better understand what is available before you visit homes. Choose slowly based on your needs, not on  the inventory that is shown to you.

Purchasing a New Home Tip #2

Many times people will tell me they knew the home they bought was correct for them the instant they walked in the front door. That may be true but try not to fall in love with any home initially… shop carefully and make sure the home meets your needs, or can ultimately meet them through renovations.  

Purchasing a New Home Tip #16

Don’t buy a home that is lower than the street. Water always runs downhill. If they say the basement only gets wet in a heavy rain…think twice. If it smells like mold… you guessed it there’s mold. 

Purchasing a New Home Tip #1

Make sure you do not waive any contingencies… that is: a home inspection by a skilled inspector who is independent of your realtor, mortgage, termite, radon, mold and any other safety clause that can get you out of a bad deal… and return any deposit you have placed on the wrong home.

Purchasing a New Home Tip #8

Look for water dripping, unevenness, plaster cracks or fractures and stains.  Home sellers should disclose any previous leakage and offer quotes on items not yet repaired.  Don’t forget to look at the ceilings of closets. These are often never repaired.

Selling Your Home Tip #3

Pre listing inspections can make you money… and sell units faster.

Home Maintenance Tip #5

Sharpen those tools. Just about any garden utensil… from clippers, trimmers to shovels will benefit with having a sharper edge. If you do not know how to sharpen it, go on the manufacturers web site, or use a search engine to learn what to do.

Home Maintenance Tip #2

Take out the stored garden hoses and let them sit in a warm spot so they soften a bit. Then check the ends for damaged threads or holes. Replacement ends can be bought at any hardware or home improvement store. If its bad, cut the end off and bring it to the hardware store with you. Fresh washers are often an easy fix.

Home Maintenance Tip #12

If a roof is asphalt shingles for the most part expect a life expectancy of 17-25 years. The thicker they are the more likely they might make it that long. Wood shingles rarely go much over 25 years and that really depends on the exposure to the weather and the amount of insulation and ventilation in the attic. Terra Cotta & Cement tile roofs can last many years 30 to 50 years, as can slate and asbestos roofs (sometimes they can go more).  But they all need frequent re-inspection from someone with a keen eye. 

Home Maintenance Tip #3

In the attic good insulation and ventilation…but above the pull down stairs…nothing. Don’t builders realize all the heat will leave through a quarter inch of plywood on the ceiling of a center hall colonial.   A simple foam insulated box above the pull down will solve this problem.

Home Maintenance Tip #5

Basement windows below grade should have corrugated window wells around them to keep water from entering, moisture from the dirt will attract rot and mold, then termites.

Home Maintenance Tip #9

Check batteries on Smoke, Heat & Carbon Monoxide detectors, Make sure all extinguishers are charged, and hang them in plain sight.  Talk to your family about fire safety, have a fire drill and set up a meeting place for your family to gather in an emergency.

Home Maintenance Tip #10

Jetted bathtubs need regular sanitizing to avoid skin rashes, mold and bacteria growth. Fill the tub above the height of the jets and run hot water and a few tablespoons of laundry detergent for about 15 minutes. Drain, rinse and re-fill. Add a Pint of bleach for about every 75 gallons. Run for 15 minutes and then drain and rinse. Re-sanitize every other month.

Home Renovation Tip #11

Shower doors should open out and should be tempered glass. There should be a small label or insignia on a corner of the glass saying it is tempered. Tempered glass breaks in small rounded chips. Regular glass breaks in sharp pointed shards. Shower curtains can stay wet in the tub and grow mold on the plastic or cloth.

Home Renovation Tip #4

Are your tiles tight and well secured to the wall? Is the grout between them clean and in good shape. Does it need re-grouting? Water can get behind the tiles and ruin the wall, grow mold and rot the framing.

Home Safety Tip #6

Are there dangerous chemicals and cleaning materials under your sink areas? Are they properly sealed. Could they be stored in a safer, less child accessible location ? Do you really need all of these, especially ones you haven’t used in years? Do you know the number for poison control?

Home Safety Tip #2

Is the electrical outlet in your bathroom a newer safety type with a Test and Reset button? Ground Fault safety devices (gfci) shut off in a millisecond (before you or a loved one) get electrocuted. Do not use extension cords or multiple taps in bathrooms.