Double-pane windows have lots of great benefits and will increase the value of your home. But they also have drawbacks that window companies fail to mention when promoting them and touting their energy savings. As a REALTOR, I get to see how they function (or sometimes don’t) in homes.
Continue reading Double-Pane Windows: Pros and Cons
Winter is just around the corner, hopefully with some much needed rain. It is a good time to get some fall maintenance done before that rain starts and we get too busy with the holidays. Here’s a checklist to keep your Southern California home and yard in good shape and help you avoid expensive repairs.
Continue reading Fall Maintenance
Great curb appeal not only makes your home the star of the neighborhood, it can also improve its value and help you sell it for more. Whether you’re thinking of listing your home or just want to make your home the envy of your neighbors, here are several quick ways to increase your home’s curb appeal.
Continue reading Five Ways to Boost Your Home’s Value Overnight
Yes, it’s true: Fall is here, and that means winter is just around the corner.
Even with our mild San Diego County winters, this is always a good time to invest in a little home maintenance so your abode is running smoothly. You’ll also catch any potentially large (and expensive) problems before they get out of hand.
Follow this checklist of fall fixes, and you’ll be in good shape for the winter.
Continue reading Fall Fixes
Before your home goes on the market, you want to make sure it looks its best for potential buyers. Once you have an accepted offer, the next person you need to worry about is the home inspector. The home inspector will be looking at many things your buyer did not. Here are 14 easy fixes to make before your home inspection.
By: Douglas Trattner
Is your AC making ominous noises? Maybe it sounds fine but isn’t cooling. Here’s a list of common air conditioning warning signs and their likely causes and fixes.
“Let comfort be your guide,” says Tom Hutchinson of Hutchinson Plumbing Heating Cooling. Air conditioning is all about comfort, so the simplest way to evaluate your system is to ask: Am I comfortable?
Air conditioning and HVAC units don’t last forever — 12 years is an average lifespan — and the moment they fail is usually when you need them the most.
Continue reading Think Your AC Won’t Make it Through the Summer? Here are Some Fixes
As the weather gets cooler and you get ready to turn on the heat, it’s a good time to check your HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) system to make sure it’s operating properly. While it’s wise to have your HVAC inspected by a heating professional every fall and spring, you can increase the efficiency of your system by following these simple maintenance tips from American Home Shield.
Use a high-efficiency pleated filter with an electrostatic charge that works like a magnet to grab the tiniest particles. Replace the filter every 90 days and check it monthly. If it looks dark and clogged, change it, and if you have pets, you may need to change it more often.
Continue reading The Heat Is On
A common expectation of homeowners is that the components and systems in their homes work when they need them. Periodic home maintenance is just as important in making this happen as is having a trusted service provider to make repairs when those systems fail.
Victims of Murphy’s Law can attest that their air conditioner goes out on the hottest day of the year or the water heater fails when they have out of town visitors.