Tag: home repair

Quick DIY Home Repairs to Increase Your Home Value

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

If you are looking for cheap and easy ways to enhance your home, then you will love the information listed here. There are some DIY home repairs listed that will increase the speed that your home sells.

Kitchen

Kitchen designThis is one of the rooms in the home that can make or break the sell. Even if it is a smaller kitchen, it can be perceived as “comfortable” and not small. You can redo the kitchen very cheaply.

Make sure that you offer a fresh coat of paint. It is best to use light colors to brighten the kitchen up. When it comes to your pantry or cabinets, organize them to show that it can be spacious. You can even change out the kitchen faucet to make it look fresh for a minimum price.

Appliances

Although it may not be a big deal for you, appliances that do not match can put a buyer off. You can order new doors or panels. You can make the appliances match each other to offer an improved appeal.

This includes appliances like the microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator, and other appliances that are included in the kitchen.

Bathroom

Bathroom designBesides the kitchen, the bathroom is another focus point when a homebuyer is inspecting a potential home. You can upgrade the bathroom or make it look fresh with very little money, so do not worry too much about cost.

If the flooring is not fresh looking, it can be fairly cheap to retile the floors. Bleach the tub, the toilet, and the sinks. Get rid of any orders or stains. Maybe even consider re-grouting them.

Flooring

Sure, you may have installed that carpet a few short years ago; however, it never hurts to give it a deep clean! Rent a carpet cleaner and clean it well. It will rid them of smells and it will bring new life to them.

If you have hardwoods underneath your carpet it may serve you well to rip up the carpet and refinish the wood underneath for an updated look.

Storage

Typically, older homes do not offer a lot of storage space. However, you can remedy this by installing shelving or building a closet for a small price.

Fixes are easy to do when you are determined to sell your home. Small things like fresh paint and getting rid of a hole in the wall can spruce up the home enough to sell it fast.

De-winterizing Your Home – How To Deal With Frozen Pipes

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

Cold weather climates instantly cause homeowners to prepare for the winter months to come and to protect their homes from different types of damage that may occur.

However, when the Spring thaw comes roaring your way, it is time to undo all of the things that were done previously to keep it safe from the cold and acclimate it to the warmer temperatures.

There are some steps that you will need to take in order to de-winterize your home.

Water Pipes

Now would be the time to check for any frozen water pipes. Make sure you feel the water pipes with your hands or with an infrared scanner that can indicate the temperature and whether or not there are any frozen sections in the water pipe.

Thawing of Frozen Pipes

Frozen PipeIf you do discover that some of your water pipes are frozen, you must first open your faucets, then use one of two methods in order unfreeze your pipes so that the water starts to flow again.

• Turn up the heat in your home. It can be a slow process but is very safe. Even though it may take some time to unfreeze your pipes, this is a highly recommended method from professional plumbers.
• If there is a specific part of your pipe that you know is frozen, then take a hair dryer to it until you notice a change in water flow.
• This should be used as a last resort, but you can also use a propane torch to warm up your frozen pipe. It is a much quicker method to use, but is also more dangerous and should only be done by someone who is trained to use a propane torch and can practice extreme caution.

Burst Water Pipes

If you notice that there are any burst water pipes in your home after you thaw, then you need to act as soon as possible to get these pipes repaired. The longer you wait, the more expensive the damage can become. If you do find a leaky pipe, make sure you turn off the water supply as soon as possible.

If you know how to repair a leaking pipe, then this would be the time to utilize your skills. If you do not, this would be the time to call a plumber and let a professional handle it. You will also need to replace any plumbing traps underneath your sinks.

These are just a few helpful tips you can use to help get your home ready for spring. A frozen pipe is never a good thing, so if you do not know how to handle the situation you should call a professional as soon as possible to get the problem squared away. Now your home should be ready for those warm spring and summer months ahead.