Category: Homeowner Tips

Buying a new home or your first home is a very exciting thing. If it’s your first time, you might quickly find that there is a lot more to home buying than you originally thought. You can take care a lot of the early work—like loan pre-approval and looking into a home warranty—on your own. For most other things, you should be able to turn to your real estate agent for help. Here are 5 tips to get you started toward buying a new home. 1. Start by making 2 lists for your new home: a list of needs and a list of wants. Needs should come first. For instance, if a home warranty is important to you, then make sure that is included with your home. If you must have at least 3 bedrooms and a big yard, put that on your list. If you want a big yard, but don’t necessarily need one, put that on your wants. Prioritize needs versus wants. 2. Get loan pre-approval. You might be able to do this before you find an agent to work with. Loan pre-approval will help you know how much money you are able to borrow to purchase a home. Essentially, this is like getting your home buying budget established. You will likely want to find a home that falls within the limits of your loan. Shop around for loans to make sure that you get the best interest rates. You don’t necessarily need to go with the first loan that you are approved for, so be choosy when you can. 3. Find a good real estate agent. You want someone who will listen to you and try to find exactly what you want in your home. Your agent needs to have good communication and should basically go to bat for you to make sure the home buying process is as stress-free as possible. You should be able to ask your agent any questions, such as what makes a good counter-offer or who you should hire for an inspection. Make sure you are comfortable with the agent that you choose. 4. Get an inspection before you buy. Even with a good home warranty in place, some things might not be covered even if you didn’t know about it before you purchased the home. Hire a professional inspector to look over the home thoroughly so that there are no expensive surprise repairs that need to be done after you close the sale. 5. A home warranty can save you a lot of money if there are certain issues that arise with the home. These issues might be anywhere from structural to electric. It may or may not include the appliances in the home depending on the warranty. It is probably a good idea to consider getting the warranty with your home as you never know what issues may pop up later. Buying a home is a very exciting adventure, even though there is a lot of work and waiting that goes along with it. If you are looking to buy a home, try following the tips listed above to get started. It will hopefully help things to go smoother. Don’t forget to ask your real estate agent about the home warranty. As with purchasing anything, a warranty could come in handy when the buying process is finally finished. Happy house hunting!]]>

How to Prepare Your AC Unit for Fall Getting your home and appliances ready for the fall and winter months takes a bit of preparation. When the air starts to turn cool, it’s time to get your AC unit ready to rest for a season. Air conditioning maintenance can be simple or a little more involved depending on the type of unit that you have. If you have any concerns about prepping your unit for fall, call on a professional for help. Here are some tips to help you out. If you have a portable unit, all you need to do is detach it, clean it, and store it. It is that simple. Don’t forget to change any filters if your unit needs it. For air conditioning maintenance of a centralized system, you will need to change out the filters and inspect the system to make sure it is still clean. Having a professional come in and clean your central system before fall should help to keep the air in your home cleaner and your family healthier throughout the season. Your system should be cleaned twice a year. You should also change out your filters twice a year. If your unit is located outdoors or is an HVAC unit, you might need to do a little more preparation. You will want to start by switching the unit off, which will help to keep it from accidentally kicking on if the temperature rises. You will then want to take a hose and wash off all of the debris and dirt that has gathered on the unit over the spring and summer. Once you have finished washing it, let it completely dry. The next step in your outdoor air conditioning maintenance is to take care of the pipes. You will want to cover exposed pipes with foam to keep them from freezing. Pipes that freeze may potentially crack or break, especially if there is water inside of them. You can keep foam pipe covers in place with duct tape. Once the unit is clean and the pipes are covered with foam, you will want to cover the unit itself. You can purchase plastic or vinyl covers for your unit. You will want something that is waterproof and designed to cover an AC unit. You can keep the cover in place by wrapping bungee cords or ropes around it. Make sure whatever you use to wrap around the cover is also vinyl and waterproof. Wrapping cords around the cover will keep it from blowing away. Although you may think that is the end of your air conditioning maintenance for the fall and winter, you will still want to check on the unit regularly to make sure that the cover is still in place. It also helps to brush off debris like sticks, pine cones, and even snow and water off of your unit. Depending on the type of AC unit that you have, your fall air conditioning maintenance may be very simple or a little more involved. Follow the steps listed above to get your unit and home ready for the cooler months. If you have any apprehension about preparing your unit on your own, it doesn’t hurt to call in a professional to handle it for you. Either way, getting your unit ready for fall is an important part of taking care of your home. Make sure it is on your fall to-do list.]]>

The first of the garage door maintenance tips is to check all the components of the door that actually move to ensure that they are still intact. Check to make sure they move correctly and that they are not bent, broken, or cracked. If you have moving parts that do not move correctly or that are broken, it could cause even more damage to other portions of the door. The next tip to follow is to check the rails and axels to see if they are tightly secured into place. The hinges, rollers, and springs will also need to be checked to ensure proper installation, and could be oiled lightly with a generic household oil. If any moving parts sound like they are grinding or squealing as they move, be sure to put a little extra oil on those areas. Another of the garage door maintenance tips that you can do on your own is to wipe down the door on a regular basis with a damp cloth and a gentle household detergent. This will keep the surface clean and free of dirt that could erode or eat away at the door. Some home owners apply car wax directly to the surface of the garage door so that it has added protection from dirt and moisture. If your garage door is wooden, keep it properly painted at all times. If there is a crack or a gap in the wood, caulk it. Any time the paint is peeling, it provides a way for dirt or mold to get inside the wood and cause further damage. If it is not taken care of, it could result in the need for total garage door replacement, which might end up being a much larger cost than simply touching up paint spots or caulking a crack. Every once in a while, check to be sure the weather sealant is still intact and in good shape. If it isn’t, water and other elements will be able to seep into the garage easier, possibly damaging anything you have stored inside. If your sealant is not in good condition, consider having it replaced. As you can see, it could be simple to follow a few maintenance tips that will keep your garage door in top condition at all times. Whether you just moved into your home, or if you are just thinking that there might be more you can do for your existing garage door, following these tips and more could help your garage door to last a lot longer without the need for major repairs or replacement. If you have more questions or need more tips, contact a professional that installs or repairs garage doors.]]>

If summer is in full swing, it may be time to learn a few summer yard maintenance tips so that you can keep your yard in good shape for the coming months. Whether you have owned your home through a summer season, or if this is your first time as a yard care taker, it can get overwhelming to try and figure out what needs to be done. The good news is that there are a few simple things that you can do that will help your yard stay in good shape this summer. The first summer yard maintenance tip to consider is to check for dead limbs on trees. It is important that you cut away any dead limbs so that they do not pose a danger to those who are in the yard, and so they do not make the area look unattractive. Many times, summer thunderstorms cause dead tree limbs to fall or blow around, which could cause some great damage to the rest of your property. Not only that, but if individuals were in the yard or near a window close to the tree with the dead limb, there could be some serious injuries that take place. Another summer yard maintenance tip is to keep your bushes trimmed. If you have bushes or other plants that surround your AC condenser, they could disrupt the function of it. In addition, bushes that are near the house could cause corrosion if they are not trimmed properly. Bushes also attract bugs if they are allowed to grow out of control. Spiders often nest in bushes, as do termites. Other unwanted visitors, such as burglars, could lurk in bushes that are overgrown as well. By keeping your bushes neatly trimmed, you will notice bug infestations so that you can get rid of them, and you might even feel safer when you can see the area around each bush and know that no unwanted critters or people are in there. Vines that come out of the ground and crawl up the house might make it look sweet and quaint, but they can be a hazard to the home. Because they are right next to the house, they trap moisture and begin to eat away at the bricks and mortar. Not only will this make your home look unsightly, but it will compromise the stability of the structure. In addition, with vines coming out of the ground and up the wall, bugs and insects feel invited to come out of the ground and up the wall as well, leading to infestations inside your home. Summer yard maintenance tips may suggest that you take an afternoon and cut all the vines off of your house. While you might be doing it as a structural move, it could lighten up the house quite a bit, making it more fun for summer. As you can see, there are some easy things you can do in order to maintain your yard for summer and keep it looking nice. If you are looking for more summer yard maintenance tips, there are a lot of resources online that will help you to know what to do when you feel your yard needs a facelift.]]>

In order to save some real money on your energy bills, you may want to consider following some tips that will help you to program the thermostat in a more cost effective way. Whether your home warranty will cover a new thermostat, or if you plan to just learn how to better manage your existing one, the following should help you to really save some money on your next utility bill. The first thing you can do to properly program the thermostat to save you money is to turn it down. If you are going to be gone for a few hours, turn it down. If you will be gone for the weekend, turn it down. While you may want the home to be at a comfortable temperature when you get back, it doesn’t need to be at that same comfortable temperature while you are gone. Realize that you can heat it up or cool it off fairly quickly with a nice heating and AC system. If you’re not going to be there, it could save you quite a bit to keep it down until you get back and just wait a few minutes when you’re home to get it back to a comfortable temperature. If your unit does not get to a proper temperature in just a few minutes, you may want to look at your home warranty to see if a new unit is a possibility. The second thing you can do with your thermostat to save money is to turn down the temperature at night during the winter and turn it up during the summer. By changing the temperature by just five or ten degrees, you can dramatically change your energy bill. When you wake up in the morning, set the thermostat back to where you want it to be, jump in the shower, and when you’re out, the house will feel perfect again. The third thing you could do to save money with a thermostat is to look into purchasing a digital, programmable thermostat. Many of the programmable thermostats are covered by a home warranty and are easy and convenient to use. Some can be remotely accessed by your cell phone, and others by way of the internet. This way, if you accidentally leave the thermostat up and you head off to work, you can simply get online to turn it back down again. In addition to remote access, many programmable thermostats learn your schedule and will turn themselves up or down whether you are home or away. Whether or not your home warranty covers a new thermostat and heating and AC unit, there are always steps you can take to reduce the energy bills you pay for your home. From turning down the temperature when you leave the house or while you are sleeping to installing a new unit with or without a home warranty, you could be noticing the savings on your very next utility bill. Whether you have been suffering the heat of summer or the chill or winter, take some extra time to look at your thermostat and find out what you can do to save a little money.]]>

As a homeowner, you have a lot of home maintenance issues that need to be dealt with that you probably never had to worry about as a renter. One of those things is pest control and knowing whether you need to do it, how often, and how much. Many homeowners understand that it needs to be done, but are sometimes unsure of how often to spray for pests and how much they should use. A good rule of thumb is that if you don’t know, don’t do it. There are pest control professionals that can answer those questions for you so that you don’t end up with a dangerous situation on your hands. The following are a few guidelines that might help you to determine how often to spray for pests. The first guideline of pest control home maintenance is to understand what pests you are dealing with. For example, if you have an ant infestation, one application should do the trick. If you notice more ants a few years later, you can reapply that pest control at that time. However, if you are dealing with a more aggressive pest, such as termites, you might have to get just as aggressive and apply various and frequent treatments until they are completely gone. One important thing to remember is that if the pest is destroying your home or your family, the best thing to do is get it taken care of immediately, no matter what it is. The next guideline of pest control home maintenance is to really understand your environment. Typically, warmer climates call for more frequent pest control services. The area you live in could determine the amount of treatments you get as well. For example, if you are surrounded by the woods, or are near water, you may have more pests than if you live in the middle of the city. That would probably be a good indication that you will need more frequent pest control treatments. Another home maintenance guideline that will help you determine how often to have your home sprayed for pests is how much the little pests really bother you. Of course, if there is a real infestation, very frequent treatments should be applied. On the other hand, bimonthly or quarterly pest control treatments might be sufficient if you only see an occasional spider or ant. If that occasional bug really bothers you, you could increase treatments to monthly instead. As you can see, proper home maintenance is manageable with the right knowledge about pest control applications. Knowing how often to apply treatments and how many to have done could be tricky to decide, but by knowing what pests you’re dealing with, understanding your environment, and honestly gauging what you can handle, you will have a better idea of how often you should spray for pests. If you have considered each of the guidelines and are still unsure, you may want to speak to someone who sprays for pests professionally and get their opinion on your situation. One thing to remember, however, is that when the pests are gone, you will be glad you got it all figured out.]]>

If you are a first time homeowner and haven’t had to deal with an home maintenance before, you may be wondering when you should replace the air conditioner. The good news is that there are some tips you can follow from professionals of home maintenance in Phoenix that will walk you through what to consider. The following tips will get you started. The first thing you can look at when considering whether you should replace your air conditioner is how many repairs you are getting on it. If the repair costs are adding up, it could benefit you more to simply replace the unit next time, rather than having it fixed again. If your unit is old, or if it works overtime, it may just be worn out and might not be quite as efficient as it use to be. If you choose to keep the old unit, it could also cost you more in energy bills to keep it running. With a new air conditioner, you could end up saving on not only costs for home maintenance in Phoenix, but monthly utility bills as well. The next thing you could take a look at when you are choosing whether to have a professional of home maintenance in Phoenix come replace your air conditioner or not, is if your unit makes a lot of noise. Noisy air conditioners could be an indication that something is broken inside or that the unit was not the proper size in the first place. Having a professional come to take a look at it could be a good idea because then you will know better whether you should just get a new unit installed. Something else that you can consider in deciding to replace your air conditioner is whether it truly brings you the comfort you are looking for. New air conditioners will probably provide you with the amount of air that is needed to fill up a room. There may not be warm spots or times when the room is not cool because a new unit will be in the best condition. This allows you to have the most comfort in your home on those extremely hot days. In thinking of the home maintenance in Phoenix that you have done on your air conditioner, you can consider whether your old unit is reliable. A new unit should keep your home the proper temperature at all times. It shouldn’t break down or turn off because it is running all day. A new unit will ensure that your home will stay cool so that you will not suffer health issues or discomfort. As you can see, there are some things that you can start to take a look at so that you know whether or not you should replace your air conditioning unit. By considering the amount of repairs you pay for, listening for unnecessary noise, considering the comfort you experience, and thinking about how reliable your unit is, you will come to know whether replacing the air conditioner is best for your situation. A professional that does home maintenance in Phoenix should be able to help you make that decision as well. After you have your new unit, you can relax in the comfort of your home.]]>

Stay Cool and Safe Around Your Pool This Summer When you live in Arizona, you are going to be subject to temperatures that feel like you are living down in the Earth’s molten core. If you have lived in this state for several years, you know some of the best ways to stay cool during the blazing temperatures summer brings. Taking a daily dip in your pool is a great way to cool down, but is it always safe for children? Pool safety in Arizona is extremely important for young children, especially those that can’t swim. There are two things you can do to make sure you have a safe, but fun summer around the pool. Set some rules You may think that the only threat your pool brings to the children who play in it is a potential drowning situation. However, this is not the case. When children play in the pool, they naturally splash around, get in and out of the pool, and drip water all along the perimeter. This can be especially dangerous if children decide to get out and run and around when they are wet from being in the pool. Set some ground rules for people in your pool to strictly adhere to. Pool safety in Arizona can be enhanced if you set some rules like no running, no diving or doing back flips into the water, and paying attention to what others are doing around you in the pool. Install a fence While you want your children to be safe while they are out swimming, you also want the peace of mind that they are safe when you aren’t all out playing in the pool. If you have young children who can’t swim or regularly have friends over that aren’t comfortable around water, then a fence is your best defense against drowning. The numerous drowning fatalities that occur in Arizona every summer could significantly be reduced if more pools had fences. Pool safety in Arizona is not just about watching your kids while they are in the water; it’s about having a fence around the pool to protect them when you’re not there. Although pool fences are not always pretty, they are well worth the investment. Depending on your budget, there are a myriad of different materials you can choose from to ensure that safety comes first at your house. Some common types of pool fence materials are wood, fiberglass, and metal. When your fence is constructed, make sure there are no wide gaps that a child could fit through. With a secure fence and some pool safety rules, pool safety in Arizona will be easier than you thought!]]>

For most people, the summer brings warm weather and a chance to get away from the house and enjoy nature at its best. However, even though it might be incredibly tempting to spend all of your free time at the beach and ditching your house, the summer also presents a great opportunity for homeowners. Specific household chores are made nearly impossible with the unpredictable weather from the winter and spring seasons. With these five home maintenance tips you can keep your home in top-notch shape while still leaving yourself with plenty of time to get that golden tan. Keeping Cool Keeping cool in the warmer months of summer can be tricky and expensive. However, there is a quick fix and surprisingly helpful tip to help your home feel more inviting. By switching the blades of your ceiling fans, so the leading blade is tilted higher, you will produce more cool air being pushed down. As the fan rotates this breeze will keep the room frosty, enabling you to lower air-conditioning settings which can save you money on the energy bill. Dryer Vent The U.S. Fire Administration reports approximately 16,000 dryer fires annually. A dryer fire is the last thing you need, but can be avoided with these home maintenance tips. Luckily, fires can be evaded by using a vacuum, or even better a vent-cleaning brush kit, to clean out the dryer vent tubing. By removing as much lint and dust as possible, you can keep your family safe from dryer vent hazards. Gutters There is not a better time to clean your gutter than in the summer. Since debris can accumulate heavily in the fall and winter, there is chance of water damage in the following months. By using a ladder, not leaning against the gutter or electrical wires, you can easily clean out the debris and caked on dirt. You can even install wire mesh guards to help keep out debris for next season. Power Washing Home maintenance tips wouldn’t be complete without power washing. By renting a power washer and using a gentle detergent you can easily clean your houses exterior. This method gets rid of dirt, tree sap, bird droppings and anything else that is keeping your house from shining. Washing also helps you inspect the exterior of your house for any abnormalities. Maintaining Your Deck By checking under your deck for rotting, curling or cracked wood you can extend the life of your deck. Support structures should be in good shape and there should be no sign of an insect infestation. You may also think about re-sealing or staining your deck annually to improve longevity. Your deck provides a great place to entertain in the summer and combined with these other home maintenance tips; you can improve your summer lifestyle.]]>

Staying Ahead With A Home Maintenance Calendar If you’ve been a homeowner for any amount of time, there’s one thing you’ve probably come to realize…owning a home requires routine maintenance and upkeep that is your responsibility. While you may be familiar with the different maintenance tasks that your home demands, keeping up with them is another thing entirely! Life can be busy, and it’s not uncommon to neglect some of the regular upkeep that your home needs. Unfortunately, negligence in this area can lead to long-term problems for what may be one of your life’s greatest investments. One great idea for avoiding these problems is designing a home maintenance calendar. How To Create Your Calendar Even if you don’t regularly create calendars for work or personal tasks, home maintenance calendars can be simple to design and easy to implement. Any home maintenance calendar starts with answering a few simple questions: • What things need to be maintained? • When do they require maintenance throughout the year? • Who is capable of doing the work? • What budget is required to complete the job? Initially, just write out all your answers on paper or a computer. Think of things that may only require attention once per year. These could include raking leaves, hooking up sprinkler systems, or clearing out gutters. Secondly, you’ll want to add items that require more regular attention. Examples include mowing the lawn, cleaning windows, and polishing wood floors. Make sure to determine a frequency for each task you identify, whether it’s weekly, monthly, or seasonally. With a complete list of tasks and times, your home maintenance calendar should also indicate who is going to complete the work. If you have children or a spouse, you may want to divide different responsibilities. If a job requires contracting a professional, like with tree pruning, you should indicate that, too. Finally, it may be helpful to attach a budget to each task on the list. Some things may not incur costs, but jobs like mowing the lawn should indicate fuel expenses, for example. Transferring To A Usable Format Armed with a detailed list that includes frequency, budget, and who will complete each task, you are almost ready to go. But in order for a home maintenance calendar to be useful, it needs to be communicated in a meaningful format. Many people love using spreadsheets where they can organize their schedule, update it regularly, and print it out for others to see. Another popular choice is to enter the information into an online calendar or mobile app that is easily synced across the Internet. However you decide to communicate your maintenance calendar, you can move forward with the confidence that you’re home’s needs are already planned for!]]>