REALTYNew paint makes the entire home smell clean and neat, and can bring sellers top dollar. If your home has chipped paint, exposed wood, or surfaces that looks faded, it’s time for new paint. If your carpet is worn, dirty, outdated, or an unusual color or style, you might consider replacing it. Many houses do […]
The type of wiring in residential homes generally depends on when the home was built, where it was built and if it has been updated. In the older homes, knob and tube type wiring was the norm, replaced later by encased plastic-sheathed wiring. In most cases the newer plastic-sheathed wiring is copper, insulated with plastic […]
When purchasing a home, you will need to acquire homeowner’s insurance. In fact, all lenders will require a policy be in force prior to funding the loan. Make sure you have enough coverage, should anything happen. Policies refer to “replacement costs” that may not cover everything. You should ask your insurance agent a lot of […]
All sellers with homes built prior to 1978 are required to fill out a lead-based paint disclosure form and provide you, the buyer, with a lead-based paint educational booklet in any sale. Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead may cause […]
You will spot several different types of plumbing systems in any housing market, including our own. Copper, galvanized, rigid plastic, polybutylene, and soft plastic are but a few. Certain systems are more prone to having certain problems. Galvanized water pipe is most prone to rusting on the horizontal surfaces (such as under a floor) versus […]
When you are checking out homes, there are several items in our market you need to be aware of – including man-made siding. A lot has been said about L.P.( Louisiana Pacific) OSB (Oriented Strand Board) products, and they have borne most of the bad press. But did you know that there can be issues […]
The most important thing to be aware of with insulation, other than the safety issues of urea formaldehyde and asbestos (covered elsewhere), is the R value, or the insulating factor. The higher the number, the better the insulator. Don’t be too shocked if the insulation in the 15 year old home you are considering isn’t […]
Heating and cooling systems are some of the most important investments you’ll ever make in your home. Heating and cooling accounts for 44% of your home’s energy use. Various systems include electric, gas, propane, oil, and even wood-fired. The method of distribution can be forced air, under floor boilers and pipes, baseboard, zonal, gravity, heat […]
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