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!
Copyright © Florida HomePro, Inc. and Wallace J. Conway. All
rights in all media reserved.
About the author:
Wally Conway is President of Florida HomePro Inspections, and is
featured regularly on HGTV's "House Detective". As a speaker,
writer, instructor, and host of The Happy Home Inspector radio
show every Saturday at 5 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
http://www.wallyconway.com and http://www.gohomepro.com for more information!
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