Home Maintenance

Home improvement: 10 cheap upgrades

Afraid of dipping your toe into the home improvement pool? Don’t be.  There are many things you can do to spiff up the old place without spending a  fortune.
By Bankrate.com

1. Make your kitchen really cook

The kitchen is still considered  the heart of the home. For a few hundred dollars, you can replace the kitchen  faucet set, add new cabinet door handles and update old lighting fixtures with  brighter, more energy-efficient ones. If you have a slightly larger budget, you  can give the cabinets themselves a makeover. Rather than spring for a whole new  cabinet system, which can be expensive, look into refacing the ones you have.  Many companies will remove cabinet doors and drawers, refinish the cabinet boxes  and then add brand-new doors and drawers at a price considera… Continue Reading Home improvement: 10 cheap upgrades

A moment for Boston

All of us at Your Guy for That and Intown Focus Realty wish to extend our deepest heartfelt sympathy to the families, friends, and loved ones of the recent Boston Marathon tragedy.

There is no words, no gesture, and no thing can take the biting sting from loss; and only the honestly offered hand in wanting to help can be shown to help ease this painful path.

We ask all who wish to help in some small way, look to donate through your local Red Cross Disaster Teams, as they struggle to assist those in Boston. The link below will take you to their national donation website.

https://www.redcross.org/donate/index.jsp?donateStep=2&itemId=prod10002

Please take a moment of silence for those whose lives were lost, or changed during this horrific time.

The Boston Marathon tradition… Continue Reading A moment for Boston

What it takes to finance a remodel

Your options include paying cash or refinancing your home loan.
By Marcie Geffner of Bankrate.com

© Comstock/Getty Images

People who dream of renovating a home — or just redoing the kitchen or bathroom — might wonder how other homeowners finance a home remodel that can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Paying for a home remodel sometimes involves a new loan. But more often, homeowners have cash on hand from other sources, says Steve Klitsch, owner of a home-remodeling company in Germantown, Md. Klitsch says that most of his customers in 2012 used cash from personal savings to pay for remodeling projects, though two families received substantial gifts from their parents and two others refinanced their mortgages and cashed out some of the… Continue Reading What it takes to finance a remodel

The Inspector Newsletter

by Bob McDonough of NPI National Property Inspections www.ATLHomeInspector.com

April 2013: Home Windows Ask the Inspector

Q: What is the purpose behind inspecting a home’s windows?

Windows let in natural light, allow occupants to see outside and help control air quality and air movement through the home. Yet, if they are not properly installed, sealed and maintained, they can cause more than a few headaches, literally.

Anytime the construction of a solid wall in a home or business is interrupted to create an opening, the potential exists for water, cold or hot unconditioned air to enter the home, exists. The water can easily cause damage to walls and ceilings. Hot and cold air leaks can make a room uncomfortable for occupants and drive up energy costs.

“… Continue Reading The Inspector Newsletter

The Inspector Knows…

Ask the Inspector
National Property Inspections®
America’s Premier Inspection Service
Bob McDonough
Commercial Property Inspector

npi.bob@gmail.com
npiweb.com/bmcd

Q: I am not sure a home inspection is necessary. What safety issues can you really point out to me?
“People typically assume that electrical hazards relate to high voltage installations, however a standard residential service can be as, or more dangerous, than other systems,” said one Inspector. Many people assume they can make home electrical repairs or replacements themselves and don’t consider that the amperage available in an average home electrical system is enough to cause a heart attack.

A thorough review of the electrical system can protect both family and personal property. According to the Un… Continue Reading The Inspector Knows…

Should you buy a fixer-upper?

 A battle-tested renovator offers some hard-won advice on choosing a suitable
house and knowing whether you’re really up to the task.

Fixer-upper (noun). A home you purchase at a reasonable price, but one that requires an unreasonable amount of money in repairs and renovations.

OK, so I made up that definition, and it’s not always true. Buying fixer-uppers can get you more house than you would normally be able to afford at a reasonable price. They can be pleasantly inexpensive. But they can also be money pits, masquerading behind a façade of charming woodwork and arched doorways.

As tempting as the purchase price can be for houses that need a little TLC, you must assess whether a fixer-upper is right for you. To do that, you need an appraisal. And I’m not just t… Continue Reading Should you buy a fixer-upper?

Your Guy for March home-maintenance

Become a moisture detective to keep your investment in good repair and get rid of fusty household smells.
By Marilyn Lewis of MSN Real Estate

It’s time to see what winter’s wind, rain and snow have done to your home and make fixes quickly to head off water-related damage. First, head outside.

Outside Spiff up the front entry. One way to stay on top of your home’s maintenance and protect your investment is to look at it as though you’re a stranger considering it for purchase. Perform repairs as the need arises and try each year to add a little to the home’s attractiveness on the outside. One good way to boost curb appeal, as real-estate agents call it, is to make the entrance more appealing. Once the weather is dry, check steps, decks and porches fo… Continue Reading Your Guy for March home-maintenance

More for your “honey-do” lists…

12 High-Impact Home Projects

1. Replace Old Windows — Cost: $189 and up Windows more than 10 years old might need to be replaced, and now is a good time to do it when temperatures are mild. Look for double-paned, double-strength glass or consider a more energy-efficient alternative: a low-e window filled with argon gas that blocks heat in the summer and keeps it inside during the winter. An investment now will save money for years to come. —David Bosley, Window World Atlanta

2. Add Curb Appeal — Cost: Price varies depending on materials and type of installation The façade of your home is the first thing visitors see, so it should stand out (especially if you’re trying to sell!) Improvements can be as easy as replacing or installing outdoor lighting, new hardware, shutters… Continue Reading More for your “honey-do” lists…

Your Inspector for That!

From: Bob McDonough of National Property Inspections
Ask the Inspector

What is the point of inspecting the heating unit beyond knowing how old it is?

Recently, one NPI professional found a hole the size of his hand in a heat exchanger, the internal component of a gas furnace that assists in the transfer of heat. Cracks or holes in this piece of the unit, which is generally not entirely visible, can result in carbon monoxide leaks into air ducts. Carbon monoxide is a by-product of combustion. When not properly vented, this gas can cause death. Despite the homeowner reporting frequent flu-like symptoms and an inspection by a heating contractor, this potentially deadly flaw went unreported until discovered by the home inspector.

Your NPI inspector will inspect whatever parts of th… Continue Reading Your Inspector for That!

Your Home Improvement for That!

Cork: Nature’s Gift to Flooring… yes I said “Cork”

By Janice Howell, vice president, MODA Floors & Interiors

Cork flooring has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Many people think cork is a relatively new and possibly unreliable flooring option. Yet, you can find examples of cork floors that were installed over 100 years ago in buildings.

Cork is an environmentally sound product. It also is a rapidly renewable resource.

Cork is actually the bark of the Cork Oak, which grows primarily in Portugal. Cork can only be harvested by hand to prevent harming the tree. No trees are cut down to harvest the bark, and cork trees produce new cork for re-harvest every nine years. A single cork tree can be harvested more than 20 times during its 250- to 300-year lifespan.

Cor… Continue Reading Your Home Improvement for That!