1. Move air naturally: If humidity isn’t too high, open windows and doors to start air circulating. Open closet and cabinet doors, and remove drawers.
2. Move air mechanically: Rent or buy high-powered fans to rev up air circulation. Depending on size and power, fans cost between $50 and $500 to buy; $20 a day to rent. (Do not use your central air conditioner or furnace blower if HVAC ducts were under water.)
3. Dehumidify: A portable dehumidifier can remove water vapor from the air in a contained area, like a bedroom or downstairs rec room. Shut the room’s windows and doors to prevent more humidity from seeping in. Buy a big dehumidifier ($270) so you don’t have to empty its water drawer frequently.
4. Pump water: A sump pump is a submersible pump that continuously moves water out of the house through a hose or pipe. If you have standing water that is several inches deep, a sump pump can help. Rent a sump pump for about $44 a day, or purchase one for $100 and up.
5. Wet/dry shop vac: Some shop vacs are rated for use in wet conditions. These vacs suck water from carpets and give you a fighting chance to save rugs and wall-to-walls. Don’t use an ordinary household vacuum whose innards are not protected from water. A 6-gallon wet/dry vac costs $50; a 16-gallon goes for about $170.
6. Remove sodden objects: Haul wet rugs and furniture into the sun to reduce inside moisture level. Remove sheet vinyl or linoleum flooring to promote maximum evaporation. Throw out wet insulation under floors.
7. Freeze papers: To buy time, place wet books and photos into plastic bags and place in a frost-free freezer. This will stop additional deterioration, and prevent mold and mildew. When you have time, retrieve books from the freezer and air- or fan-dry the pages.
8. Absorb moisture: Desiccants (silica gel, clay, calcium oxide) absorb moisture like a sponge. Place water-permeable packages of desiccants and wet items in airtight containers or in sealed areas, like closets. Some desiccants change color to indicate they are saturated, which can take days or weeks, depending on how much moisture items contain.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Water Damage Home Repair | Water Damage Cleanup | HouseLogic
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Halloween Crafts & Homemade Decoration Ideas | Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Halloween
Find Halloween craft and decorating ideas, including pumpkin carving templates from HGTV.com.
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Halloween Decorating Ideas
Host a spooky yet elegant Halloween party with bold table settings and decorations.
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Saturday, October 20, 2012
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Wednesday, October 17, 2012
12 steps to winterize your home | Inman News
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=86326951" target="_blank">Autumn</a> image via Shutterstock." width="225" />Autumn image via Shutterstock.
The leaves are turning, the mornings are getting chilly, and winter isn't too far away. It's time once again for my annual checklist of important things that I recommend you do to get your home ready for the coming change of seasons.
On the inside
__ Check smoke detectors: Change your smoke detector batteries, and check for proper operation. Also, check the date on the bottom of the smoke detector. Smoke detectors have a life span, and if yours is more than 10 years old, it may not work properly in a fire, so replace it with a new one. Also, make sure you have a smoke detector at each sleeping room, and one centrally located on each level of the home.
__ Install a carbon monoxide detector: If you have a furnace, fireplace, water heater, or other appliance that's fueled by propane or natural gas, or if you have an attached garage, install a carbon monoxide detector. They just plug in, and you can get them inexpensively from most home centers and other retailers. If your existing carbon monoxide detector is more than 5 years old, replace it with a new one.
___ Check gas appliances: Speaking of gas appliances, consider having your utility company or heating contractor inspect flues, fittings, and other components of your natural gas or propane appliance and heating systems for potential problems.
___ Change furnace filters: Always put in new furnace filters in the fall. It's a simple and inexpensive way to add to your home's efficiency and your family's comfort.
___ Check and seal heating ducts: Crawl a little, save a lot. Check the ducts in your attic, basement, and crawl space for gaps between ducts and fittings, and seal them with a quality metallic tape, not regular duct tape, which doesn't last. Also, check to be sure that all of the ducts are off the ground and adequately supported.
___ Check insulation levels: Increased insulation can make a huge difference in both your comfort and your heating bills, so don't put off having your insulation levels inspected. Call your local utility company or building department to learn what levels are optimum for your area. Check the attic, underfloor, kneewalls, skylight shafts and ductwork. Upgrade underinsulated areas as needed, either as a do-it-yourself project (home centers and hardware stores have all the supplies you need) or with the help of a licensed insulation contractor.
On the outside
___ Check the roof: A roof that leaks not only has the potential to cause significant structural damage, it also wets insulation, which causes a drop in the insulation's ability to resist heat loss. Examine roofing shingles and flashings, and repair or replace them as needed. It's much easier and safer to take care of these problems now than during winter's ice and rain.
___ Seal masonry surfaces: Apply a sealer to concrete driveways and walkways, brick patios and other exterior masonry. Masonry sealers prevent water from penetrating into cracks and crevices where it can freeze and cause serious damage. You can find sealers at home centers, paint stores and masonry supply retailers. Apply with a brush, roller or sprayer.
___ Check weatherstripping: Gaps around doors and windows waste expensive heated air and create chilling interior drafts. Check and replace or adjust weatherstripping and door sills to create an airtight seal. Everything you need can be found at home centers, hardware stores and many other retailers.
___ Handle yard chores: Many plants require pruning this time of year, and lawns should be fertilized with a fall/winter fertilizer to feed them through the winter and get them ready for a fast green-up when spring returns. Clean up all your yard tools and put them away for the season.
___ Close foundation vents: You should have opened your foundation vents for the summer to allow any accumulated crawl space moisture to escape, so now's the time to close them up again for winter freeze protection. Also, install exterior faucet covers.
___ Trim trees: Overhanging trees deposit debris on your roof, scrape and damage shingles, promote the growth of mildew, and, worst of all, have the potential for devastating damage if they snap during a wind storm. Consider having a professional tree service inspect overhanging trees, and safely cut them back as needed.
Remodeling and repair questions? Email Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author's actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers.
Contact Paul Bianchina: All rights reserved. This article may not be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in part or in whole, without written permission of Inman News. Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright law.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
7 Questions You Must Ask Your Real Estate Agent|buyers,sellers,agents
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Whether you are selling your house or buying a new one, you are probably working with a real estate agent. If you did not know your agent before starting this process you might be wondering how you can be sure that the agent will do a good job for you.
You may try researching the agent or the agency he/she comes from, looking for references, and scanning the local news but how can you ever really be sure you are getting the best home at the best price? You have to be an informed buyer yourself. Here are seven questions you should ask your real estate agent before making any financial commitments.
1. “What are the current owners’ biggest complaints?” Your agent will probably try to talk his way out of this question, but you should be persistent. If you are moving into a building with a board that has meetings, find the minutes. Are there problems you should know about and how were those problems solved? How complaints were handled is just as important as the complaints themselves.
2.”How long did it take you to get here?” The closer your agent lives to the house you are trying to either buy or sell the better. The more local the agent, the more he knows about the local market. If the agent has not sold anything nearby in the recent past, consider finding a new one. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future success, but it can be a very informative indicator.
3.”What is your website?” If your agent does not have his own website he is most likely an amateur and it is bad for business, which is bad for you. Almost all buyers look online for homes, so your agent should be Internet savvy. Check out the site and see what is on it. How is the photo quality? How much did the last home get sold for? There should be a lot of information available on a real estate agent’s website, so dig through it.
4. “Am I asking for too much money?” Or “Am I planning on spending too much or too little money?” The sad truth is that you may not like what you hear but this is also a test of your agent’s honesty. These are important questions and you deserve the honest answers.
5. “Do you have anything unlisted?” A lot of agents have secret treasures that they only show to the people who know to ask for them. Many of these homes aren’t even officially on the market yet but well-connected agents can sell these homes without that ever needing to happen. This question can be your ticket into some of the best properties in the neighborhood of your dreams.
6.”Can I see your references?” A real estate agent should have references that she is willing to pass along. Anyone who can’t provide these sends up an automatic red flag. Once you have the references, use them and find out how the last clients feel about her. Were they happy with results? Do they wish they had used a different agent?
7.”Is this area improving or declining?” Your real estate agent should be able to recognize growth trends and other market changes. So, he should also be able to respond to this kind of question quickly and accurately. Of course you want an area that is improving and not declining, but this might not be obvious to you on first glance. Your real estate agent, on the other hand, should know this off the top of his head.
About the Author: Jennifer D’Angelo has been writing about the real estate industry for companies like Right Residential for nearly 10 years. When she’s not writing, you can find Jenn volunteering for her local ASPCA.
