Jeff The Home Inspector

Spring has arrived…officially! We have actually even felt the warmth of what would seem to be summer days this spring. It makes us want to jump right into yard work and gardening but lets not forget the simple maintenance that might not be as fun but will certainly keep everything in good working condition.

Here are top ten checks to make on your house this spring

1.    Eavestrough Check. Check for loose or leaky eavestroughs. Improper drainage can lead to basement or crawl space leaks. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris.

2.   Grading Check. Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled with compacted soil. Spring rains can cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage. Also, when water pools in these low areas in summer, it creates a breeding ground for insects.

3.  Exposed Wood Check.  Use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks. Make repairs now before the spring rains do more damage to the exposed wood.

4. The Roof Check.  From the ground, examine roof shingles to see if any were lost or damaged during winter. If your home has an older roof covering, you may want to start a budget for replacement. The summer sun can really damage roof shingles. Shingles that are cracked, buckled or loose or are missing granules need to be replaced. Flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys need to be checked and repaired by a qualified roofer.

5. Chimney Check. Examine the exterior of the chimney for signs of damage. Have the flue cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep.

6. Driveway and Walkway Check.  Inspect concrete slabs for signs of cracks or movement. All exterior slabs except pool decks should drain away from the home's foundation. Fill cracks with a concrete crack filler or silicone caulk. When weather permits, power-wash and then seal the concrete.

7. Exterior Electrical Outlet Check. Most exterior outlets are GFI. Check that each outlet is clean and free of debris, plug something in that you are sure works. If you do not get any power check that the breaker has not been tripped.

8. Outdoor Plumbing Check. Check outside hose faucets for freeze damage. Turn the water on and place your thumb or finger over the opening. If you can stop the flow of water, it is likely the pipe inside the home is damaged and will need to be replaced. Check the garden hose for dry rot.

9. Air Conditioner Check. Have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean and service the outside unit of the air conditioning system. Change interior filters on a regular basis.

10. Yard Equipment Check. Check your gas- and battery-powered lawn equipment to make sure it is ready for summer use. Clean equipment and sharp cutting blades will make yardwork easier.

Those gorgeous "Dream Home" House plans are so enticing to drool over. The large west wing that could literally be closed off from the rest of the house (and noise that goes with it) is every young mothers dream. But in our day and economy, those dream homes could be a long, long way off and we are left wondering "Could my house be My Dream Home?

That never ending search for our ultimate space has turned inward, leaving us with the idea that the Dream Home we are looking for is the one we’re already in. It is just waiting to be transformed by the ones that live in it. So how do we turn the home that is "NOW" into the home that is "WOW"?

By tastefully tweaking existing features that will bring that home to life.

Paint is a great way to start. How many years have we been looking at brown, cream and white rooms in designer magazines? And just when we are convinced that these boring neutral palettes are the way to go, now the magazines add colour, tons of it, in super bright colours. So go ahead…. add some colour!  But more importantly add colour that YOU like. It's your dream afterall.

Extending living areas by removing a wall and expanding sight lines, finishing unfinished areas, creating more storage and bridging the indoors to outdoor living is a great way to make your home feel bigger. Leaving you with the feeling that you don't need a larger home.

The home improvement trend for 2012 isn't about being limited to what the the home can be, it is about opening up the possibility of what lies underneath just waiting to be unveilied. Let me help you turn your 2012 Renovations into your dream come true and giving you the WOW you have waiting for.

Spring is just around the corner and the spring cleaning fever is probably not far off either.

This winter I have come across some great recipes that will help you clean GREEN. Let's start with the bathroom

TUB AND TILE CLEANER: In a jar or spray bottle, combine 1 2/3 cup baking soda with 1/2 cup Vegetable Based Oil Soap (you can find recipes online or perhaps the slightly less green version would be to substitue with Murphy's Oil Soap). Add 1/2 cup water and 2 tablespoons vinegar. Shake before using. Apply with a cloth or sponge and rinse well.

• SCOURING POWDER: Combine 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, and 1 cup kosher salt in a jar. Sprinkle on area to be cleaned, wipe with a sponge, and rinse.

• TOILET BOWL CLEANER: Mix 1/4 cup borax or baking soda and 1 cup vinegar in the toilet. Let it sit for 15 minutes (or longer, if necessary), scrub, and flush.

• GLASS CLEANER: Combine 1/4 cup vinegar and 4 cups warm water in a spray bottle. Use to clean glass or mirrors with a dry cloth or piece of newspaper.

• DRAIN CLEANER: Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into drain followed by 1 cup vinegar. Let it sit and fizz for 15 minutes, then rinse with hot or boiling water. May need to repeat or leave baking soda and vinegar in overnight.

• FLOOR SANITIZER: In a bucket, mix 1/2 cup borax with 2 gallons hot water. Apply with a mop or sponge. Rinsing is not necessary.

• SOAP SCUM REMOVER: Sprinkle on baking soda, scrub with a cloth or sponge, and rinse. Vinegar or kosher salt also work.

• CALCIUM OR LIME REMOVER: For calcium or lime deposits on a chrome faucet, soak a towel in vinegar and wrap it around the faucet. Let it sit for a couple of hours or overnight.

• MOLD OR MILDEW REMOVER: Mix 1/2 cup borax and 1/2 cup vinegar to make a paste. Scrub with a brush or sponge and rinse with water. For tough mold, let it sit for an hour before rinsing with water.

That should do it. Your bathroom will be sparkling and ready for spring.

Most people are under the assumption that when it comes to selling your home the biggest items that draw a buyer are gorgeous kitchens and bathrooms. And they may be right. And in 2005 they would have been right on the money. But in 2012 these renovations do not have such high returns.

In 2012 if you are going to sell your home you need to know that these big ticket renovations do not give you the most return on your investment. A kitchen renovation on average brings a return of 59% of your cost. So if you recently spent 10,000 on a kitchen renovation to improve the value of your home for the purpose to sell you may be disappointed with the $5,900 value it actually brings. Likewise bathroom renos bring an average of 53% return on investment. These large projects with expensive finishes are not always the way to go if you are doing the renovation with the intention to raise the value of your home for resale.

So what is the best bang for your buck?

New Steel Entry Doors! These doors on average recoup 102% of the cost to purchase and install them. It may seem like such a simple thing but with an energy consious public, all things efficient are now the draw for potential home buyers. New windows and roofs, efficient heating, air conditioning and even hot water systems are key components on the home buyers list of must haves.

New home owners are always calculating the costs of their new home and drawing comparisons on thier options. Being able to promise lower utility bills because of energy efficient components in your home is a big plus. Not only can it lower your utility consumption but items like these will also lower your home insurance bill for more than one reason. For example, Steel doors are not only energy efficient but they are also considered a safety feature for the home. The new homeowner receives savings in two catagories from the insurance company.

If you considering selling your home in 2012 be wise with your own money and choose carefully the renovations your home needs to increase the value in order to give you the best return on your investment.

• Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
• Eliminates static electricity from your television screen. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.
• Dissolves soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a used sheet of Bounce.
• Freshens the air in your home. Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang one in the closet.
• Prevents thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce to eliminate the static cling on the thread before sewing.
• Eliminates static cling from hose. Rub a damp, used sheet of Bounce over the hose.
• Prevents musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
• Freshens the air in your car. Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
• Cleans baked-on food from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in the pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The antistatic agents apparently weaken the bond between the food and the pan while the fabric softening agents soften the baked-on food.
• Eliminates odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
• Collects cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
• Eliminates static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resetting.
• Deodorizes shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight so they'll smell great in the morning.*