Real Estate Information Archive

Before doing any maintenance on an outdoor unit, be sure to locate the power supply and turn it off or remove the supply pack. 

Sometimes homeowners will hide their unit with shrubbery or other plants.  Air needs to flow unobstructed around the unit, so if anything is growing too close, it should be trimmed to a distance of two feet away. 
 

Changing the intake filter monthly may not be necessary, but checking it is.  If it is noticeably dirty, replace it. What if you do not have an extra on hand? Give it a quick clean with the brush attachment on your vacuum and get a new filter as soon as possible. 
 

While it might sound sensible to close the doors and vents of unused rooms, it is not.  Airflow is important inside, so keeping interior doors and vents slightly opened is better than closing them tight. 
 

On that note, if your nest is getting empty, you could consider replacing the central unit with ductless air conditioning.   
 

When your home has ceiling fans, use them!  Make sure the fans are turning in a counter-clockwise direction so that it gives a wind chill effect, but turn them off when you’re not in the room to save energy. 
 

Window air conditioners can use a sprucing up as well, and an hour or two spent cleaning it will keep the unit running smoothly. 

When the car needs cleaning, take the bucket and sponge to a car wash instead of washing it at home. This could save one hundred gallons of water per wash. 
 

If you have a sprinkler system, set the timer for morning or evening. Pay close attention to the weather and turn off the timer whenever a good chance of rain is predicted. 
 

Use a drip irrigation system instead of sprinklers or hand-watering with the hose for your veggie garden and landscaping. This allows water to soak directly in near the roots. 
 

Growing native plants and grasses will help cut down on water usage, as they are adapted to your local climate.  Contact your local cooperative extension agent to find out how to plant a native plant garden. 
 

Trees and large shrubs can be hydrated efficiently by placing a five-gallon bucket with small holes drilled in the bottom nearby and filling the bucket with water. The holes will allow the water to trickle slowly, soaking the ground and roots--not the leaves. 
 

Use a pool cover on the pool to help keep the water from evaporating. There are plenty of ways you can conserve while enjoying your pool. 
 

Shortening your shower time by just two minutes per day saves 150 gallons of water per month! 
 

Bathe fresh veggies in a bowl filled with water instead of under running water.  Once they are clean, use the leftover water for houseplants or potted plants outside. 
 

Keep a pitcher filled with water inside the fridge for a thirst quencher instead of running water from the faucet and waiting for it to get cool.  

Landscaping Keeping your yard trim and weed-free does not decrease or increase your home’s value, but when it is time to sell a home, neat landscaping is a must. The one outdoor project that could increase the resale value of the home is constructing a deck. 
 

Flooring This is a personal choice, but if the homeowner knows that they will sell in the future, the cost of refinishing or adding hardwood flooring will come back to them in the sale.  Installing the floors could be a long-range DIY job but hiring a pro for a refinishing job is the wisest thing to do. Think of it as an investment, not an expense. 
 

Roofing Keeping the roof in sound condition is considered regular maintenance, so putting on new shingles because the homeowner would like a new color will not add value.  Installing a metal roof, on the other hand, could add value to the house, depending on the location. 
 

Home Systems Installing new plumbing or HVAC, or upgrading electrical are all considered maintenance, and no matter the cost, will not add to the value of the house. 
 

Remodeling Kitchen and bathroom remodels are your best choice for a project that will pay you back upon the sale of your home. 
 

Swimming Pool Putting in a pool is simply a personal choice.  Rarely does an added pool or spa put money in your pocket in case the house is sold. 
 

Additions Adding a sunroom, garage or home office will not necessarily give a good return on investment. An extra bedroom, however, is a good choice, but must be built to certain specifications to qualify as a bedroom in real estate terms. A reputable builder knows the requirements necessary for the extra space to be considered a bedroom, so choose wisely. 

Begin by requesting a free credit report from all three reporting agencies.   Look for errors and report them to the credit bureau and company that posted them.  Legitimate collections that have been paid will not be removed from your credit history for seven years, although they will be marked as paid. 
 

Late payments hurt your credit score.  Stay current by creating a written budget with due dates for your bills or set up automatic drafts through your bank. 
 

Pay off your credit cards!  This is particularly important, because the more outstanding debt you have, the lower your score.  Begin by paying off the smallest balance. Larger balances can be paid off sooner by increasing your payments or send equal payments twice per month if the creditor allows. 
 

According to FICO™, it is better to pay off a credit card than canceling the account.  Use it as minimally as possible--simply charging a once-a-month take-out meal will keep it active. 
 

Having just one credit account in good standing is better than none for those who have not started establishing credit history. Shop around for a credit card with a good interest rate and apply. 
 

Avoid new credit accounts while you are trying to bring your score up. Pay cash for everything, and if you do not have the cash, unless it is an emergency, do not buy it. 
 

When you cannot see a light at the end of the financial tunnel, contact a reputable credit repair agency that can assist you in getting your bills paid, manage your finances, and increase your chance of becoming a homeowner. 

Fire extinguisher Visit the USFA to see what type of extinguisher is needed for the kitchen, workshop, or multipurpose fires. 
 

Portable safe Secure important papers, valuables, and other important items in a portable safe. This could be quite an investment when upgrading to fireproof materials or digital passcodes, but valuables and irreplaceable items need to be protected. 
 

Cleaning items This seems obvious, but a good broom and dustpan, bucket, microfiber cleaning cloths, “shop rags,” and a flat mop are all that is needed to keep a home sparkling. 
 

Simple tools: A hammer, heavy-duty scissors, screwdrivers, hex key tool, measuring tape, handsaw, and more; all of these things will make a homeowner’s life much easier when they need them. 
 

Emergency kit FEMA offers a build-your-own kit list with everything necessary for an emergency. 
 

Heavy-duty extension cord Do not use an indoor-rated cord outdoors. A cord that can handle a large capacity of electricity and bad weather conditions is best. 
 

Wet-dry vacuum Having one of these handy can save clean up time from a dishwasher leak, or spilled nails on the floor.  
 

Ladder A sturdy stepladder or six-foot A-frame is best for smaller jobs. Find out what ladder is best for the job. 
 

Lawn and garden tools Besides a garden hose, mower, and string trimmer, every homeowner with a yard needs a leaf rake, shovel, pruning shears, and a wheelbarrow. 

Who would not want to plant grass that needs no mowing?  Ornamental grasses such as zebra grass, purple fountain grass, blue fescue, and Japanese blood grass grow to different heights and can add interest and color with little maintenance. Plant around posts and hard-to-get-to places in the yard for a mower-free plot! 
 

Offering a rainbow of easy-care color, daylilies come in hundreds of varieties.  Plant different cultivars in a sunny spot, keep them watered well for the first few weeks, and you will be rewarded with pops of color all summer. Bonus: daylilies come back each year and can be divided! 
 

Sunflowers come in varieties that range from a few feet tall that can be grown in containers or planted en masse with the giant varieties.  If you plant seeds, try planting each set every two weeks for six weeks, and once they bloom, they will bloom until fall. 
 

If your home faces north or the yard has lots of shade, try impatiens.  They are non-stop bloomers if you keep them deadheaded. They are great in containers and hanging baskets, too! 
 

Another plant for shady places is the fern.  There are many cultivars, and ferns thrive in the shade, and come back every year. 
 

Butterfly weed brings color and butterflies to your yard!  It is a native wildflower, making it practically care-free.  Look for plants already in flower in your garden center, as growing from seed will take a year or two for them to blossom. 
 

Zinnias put on a show all Summer, and come in many colors and bloom varieties, and all it takes is a scattering of seeds.  Like sunflowers, if you plant them every two weeks for about six weeks, you will have cheery blooms for months. 
 

Portulaca, or moss rose, is a succulent plant that grows low to the ground and blooms in bright pink, orange, red, white, and yellow.  Because they tolerate the heat and drought of summer, when everything else is drooping their small blossoms will stand out. 
 

Roses do not always need to be coddled! There are many easy-care hybrid roses.  Not only are the modern cultivations easy to grow, but some also bloom all season. 

- You will need a buyer agent to represent you. The builder’s agent will be looking out for their client--not you. 

- Go through the pre-approval process but shop around for the loan that fits your needs.  If the builder’s lender has incentives and discounts, take advantage of them if it will benefit you in the end. 

- How many lots and homes have been sold, how large each lot is, and how much space is between houses? 

- What is the length of the home’s warranty, and what does it cover? 

- How much input does the buyer have in choosing paint colors and materials for flooring, kitchen, and bathrooms? What is the policy if the builder runs short on chosen materials? 

- Is smart technology wiring included in the basic home package, and is wiring to all bedrooms an extra expense? 

- What appliances are included in the basic price? 
 

- Keep in mind that the model home you are shown has all the bells and whistles! Never assume you are getting everything in your home that the model shows. Ask about these features and write everything down as you get answers. 

- Talk to residents who are already living in the community, and ask them about any concerns they have, and what they love about their new home. 

- Do not skip the home inspection just because it is new construction. Be sure your purchase contract allows you to hire an inspector outside the building company. 

- If the model home is one of the last homes left in the neighborhood, ask about buying it!

- You may not get every finish just as you would like, but you can paint a room or change the flooring! 

The home-buying process and moving are no small feats and undertaking a renovation can take another toll.  Give yourself a break before starting something new. 
 

Getting used to living where you are could cause you to rethink your plans. For instance, you wanted a bay window to replace the two smaller windows in the dining area, but after feeling the hot afternoon sun shining in, you change your mind.  Little things like this are not noticeable from a few walkthroughs and virtual tours. 
 

Many fixups are inexpensive and can tide you over until you make your final decision on whether to renovate or not: painting, fixing up the floors, or purchasing new furniture are all ways you can satisfy that itch and make the new house feel like your own. 
 

Living in your home as it is for a while could show you that a major renovation is not needed at all! One room could simply need better lighting, or a closet you wanted to enlarge simply needs a few organizational pieces. 
 

Continue the savings habits you adopted while saving for your down payment and other costs associated with your home purchase, and you can pay for your redo in cash, one step at a time! 
 

Go ahead with your planned decorating! It is possible that you will find those renovations unnecessary once you have new furniture, draperies, and wall color. 
 

Some renos cannot wait and are best completed before moving in structural work, full kitchen or bathroom re-do, large room addition, or changes to the layout.   

- Know where your main water shut-off valve is located and know how to turn it off in case of burst pipes.  This can at least prevent flooding, though it will not solve the running water issue. 
 

- Consider investing in a leak protection system that will sound an alarm when it detects leaks.  The cost to install such a tool can save big money in water damage repair costs. 
 

- Just because there are drains in our sinks and tubs does not give free rein over what goes down those drains! Items that should not go down the drain include paint, medications, household chemicals, coffee grounds, and raw flour.  
 

- There are products we use as part of our daily hygiene routine that are not good for plumbing, according to this article from Apartment Therapy. 
 

- Garbage disposals are great tools but must be used properly. Grease or oil of any kind, eggshells, and bones are all on this list of what not to put into the disposal. 
 

- Check washer hoses often and replace every them five years. 
 

- If your water heater is more than ten years old, consider replacing it. They have an average lifespan of 8-12 years and using them longer than that can cause sediment to clog the hot water pipes. 
 

- Items labeled “flushable” should just be thrown in the garbage can. These items do not break down quickly and clog drains, as well as septic and sewage systems. 
 

- Using drain-clearing chemicals can do more harm than good, especially if you use them often as they corrode the pipes. If a plumber has been called, let them know that there are chemicals in the pipes so they can protect themselves from chemical burns.