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A Look at Body Fat Scales -
Today's scales do more than read a person's body weight. They can measure the amount of fat on one’s body. There are specific body fat scales that do just that, and they're becoming a growing trend in the fitness and weight management industries.
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A Look at Electronic Air Filters -
Many people mistakenly assume that an air conditioning only controls the temperature of a living space. Air conditioning also involves the cleanliness of the air. Filtration is an excellent way to accomplish air cleaning and provide enhanced...
Add Sizzle to Your Surroundings
Is your home décor lacking that extra something that spells the difference between comfortable and vibrant or between comfortable and tranquil? Candles might be just the polish your décor needs. Take advantage of the sparkling colors, rich textures,...
Remodeling Online
Making remodeling plans for a house helps you to ensure that your home meets all your needs. It also adds value to your home in the long term. After all, you will spend at least half your working life paying off the first mortgage on your...
Tips for Working on Plaster Walls
If you live in an older house, say 50 or 60 years or older, there is a good likelihood that you have plaster on your walls. Plaster walls were very common, especially in the late 18th century and 19th century. Plaster was fairly readily available,...
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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!
About The Author
Wally Conway is President of Florida HomePro Inspections, and has recently written a book entitled "Secrets of the Happy Home Inspector", available at GoHomePro.com or Amazon.com. Wally's expertise and experience has been sought after by HGTV's "House Detective", the Florida Times Union, and many real estate boards and associations. 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!
Copyright © Florida HomePro, Inc. and Wallace J. Conway. All rights in all media reserved.
info@wallyconway.com
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