Every area of the country has its unique syndicate of pests. Arizona for instance, is a prime environment for termites. As a matter of fact, there’s a saying in our industry that there are two kinds of houses in Arizona; the ones that have termites, and the ones that will. Staying on top of ground-borne… Read More
Home Maintenance
Video: Give Your Home a Fresh Face for Fall
Video: Give your home a fresh face for Fall. Fall can be a time of indifference for home owners. The Summer growing season, taking care of lawns and gardens, can be a busy time and as we prepare for Winter and the holidays, sometimes our home’s exterior looks neglected. It doesn’t take much to give… Read More
Video: Top 5 Home Staging Mistakes
The home staging advice in this video is basic but valuable. These really are some of the most common objections that home buyers have, and each one is an easy fix. Just one recommendation I often make and one that you might keep in mind- rent a storage unit. A storage unit rental will likely… Read More
5 Pesky Mistakes New Homeowners Make
From seasonal temperature fluctuations to excess rainfall, pests find any excuse to enter homes. The homes of new homeowners are especially prone to attracting pests, says Ron Harrison, entomologist with Orkin, partly because they are unaware of the best preventative measures. If you’re a new homeowner, avoid these 5 “pesky” mistakes. 1. Overlooking Tiny Cracks… Read More
Ask the Plumber: How to Conduct a DIY Leak Test
Did you know more than one trillion gallons of water leak from homes across America each year?* “People are often shocked at the volumes of water wasted through household leaks,” says Paul Abrams, ROTOGreen expert with Roto-Rooter. “A dripping faucet is easy to ignore and fix whenever you get around to it, but numerous small… Read More
Cost Vs. Value: What to Remodel for a More Profitable Resale in 2016
Bigger and more expensive projects, rising new home prices, curb appeal and energy efficiency all contributed to a slight gain in remodeling projects’ payback at resale, with an average return of 64.4 percent return if the home is sold within a year. That’s up from 62 percent in the 2015 report and the second-highest return… Read More
8 Mistakes that Decrease Your Home’s Value
By Barbara Pronin Keeping up your home’s curb appeal shows more than pride of ownership. It shows respect for your neighbors – and when or if you decide to sell, a well-maintained home means it will sell faster and likely for top dollar. Similarly, maintaining your home’s interior is likely to pay off in the… Read More
4 Small changes that can save home owners big money
Refinance If you haven’t yet refinanced your mortgage or home equity loan to take advantage of today’s low interest rates, there’s still time to lock in a great deal. Jay Brinkmann, chief economist for the Mortgage Bankers Association, expects mortgage rates to rise to 4.8 percent in 2015, and to 5.4 percent by the end… Read More