One of the most troublesome
issues to identify in any house is the development of mold. Mold damage happens
gradually. You may never see it until it’s past the point of no return. Did you
know when mold spread entirely to your house it can harm your family?
Like any other home exterior,
mold can also develop and multiply in your chimney when dimness, poor
ventilation, and sogginess exist. To prevent issues like this, start looking
for these visible signs.
In addition, chimneys can create negative pressure inside your building envelope and cause the dynamics of moisture to shift and be drawn into your home. It may seem unlikely, but the fireplace in your home may have several ways to fail and ultimately produce water damage and mold in your home.
• Check Your Ventilation
Poor ventilation traps
condensation, which promotes an environment conducive for mold build-up.
• Maybe the Chimney Crown Is Broken
If your chimney crown is
damaged, water can pass through creating a damp environment, resulting in mold
growth. A tiny crack is enough for mold to build up around your chimney and
fireplace.
• Bricks and Mortars Are Not Waterproof
Check if your brick and mortar
are correctly waterproof with sealant. Water will leak through it if your brick
and mortar are sealed improperly.
• Smokestack Cap Failure
If the pipe on your chimney is
damage from an unfavorable weather condition, or not correctly installed, most
likely it cannot keep the dampness out.
• Eliminating Mold from Your Fireplace Is Not
an Easy Job
Once you notice mold in your
chimney, set up an immediate appointment for a fun guy inspection if you cannot
do it on your own. Health risks associated with molds are dangerous and might
cause more trouble for your family. Skilled professionals from Fun Guy
Inspections can remove all your mold problems completely.
The
Unpleasant Negative Health Effects of Mold to Your Family
Mold can cause breathing
issues, such as common cold, coughing, headache, sore throat, and wheezing. On
the other hand, mold spores when inhaled can cause serious ailments. An asthma
attack, for example, followed by some allergic reactions, sinusitis, and the
worst possible disease you can get from a mold is pneumonia.
Mold
Prevention Tips for Your Chimney and Fireplace
• Fixing the primary source of dampness is
the ideal approach to avoid mold growth. Without moisture, mold won’t develop.
• Proper waterproofing of your chimney is the
answer to prevent mold growth. It should be done after it’s been examined and
fixed by a professional. Fixing it will prevent water from leaking.
• Schedule your chimney for a consult and
inspection regularly. You can also set an appointment schedule to check your
chimney for any damages after suffering from bad weather. This technique will prevent
future problems.
The simple tips mentioned
above will help you save money in the future and can keep your chimney and
fireplace mold-free.
Fireplace Safety Guidelines – review
Regardless
of how bad the season is, you can always find your inner peace and happiness in
cold weather. Especially when nestled in front of the warmth of your fireplace.
Certainly, cuddling in front of the lovely and warm fireplace is one of the few
superb things that you can do in a cold winter day.
As
beautiful as flames can be, you should not disregard the fact that a fireplace,
when not properly maintained, can pose a serious health risk to you and your
family. According to a study, 42% of home accidents were
fireplace-related.
Enjoy
the warmth that your fireplace gives you in the winter season by maintaining
and keeping safety precautionary measures before and after using it.
Ensure that your cold nights can be filled with warmth with
these simple tips on how to keep your fireplace safe.
The
Fire Must Not Be Left Unattended
A
fire when left unattended may cause harm to every member of your family. Make
sure that you extinguish the fire before tucking in your bed.
Children
Must Not Get Too Close To The Fire
Do
not allow your children to play near the fire even if you were there watching
them. A fire is one dangerous thing, and children should keep their distance.
Don’t
Ever Try Burning Trash And Used Home Supplies In Your Fireplace
Trash
and some used home supplies such as glues and empty inks can produce toxins
when burned in the fireplace. These toxins, once inhaled by your family, can
cause breathing problems.
During
Cold Months, Your Firebox Must Be Cleaned At Least Once A Week
Cold
weather is bed weather, and it makes a person lazy. It is a struggle to do your
daily routine, but you must do your best to get up in bed and clean your
firebox at least once a week.
Keep
One Window Open When Using The Fireplace
In
this way, you can prevent the smoky feeling in your room. The air coming from
the open window helps push the smoke up to your chimney.
A
Nonflammable Rug Is An Essential
Keeping
a nonflammable rug near your fireplace is a must so that sparks won’t melt and
damage your carpet.
Always
Keep A Fire Extinguisher Near Your Fireplace
Keeping
a fire extinguisher near your fireplace is a smart move, and can be used in
emergencies.
Never
Operate Appliances That Vent To The Outside
Bathroom
vents, dryers, kitchen range hoods, and vacuum systems are one of the many
examples of appliances that vent to the outside. Avoid using these appliances
when you are using your fireplace as it may cause carbon monoxide build-up
inside your home.
Set
An Appointment Schedule To Clean And Inspect Your Home
If
it is necessary, set an appointment to a professional chimney and fireplace
inspector to check and clean your chimney. Chimney and fireplace are prone to
mold build-up and can cause harmful effects to your family.
Following
the precautionary methods listed above will not only make your family safe.
However, being responsible for your own actions can help overcome many
avoidable accidents that might happen in your home. For home inspection and
assistance you can reach Fun Guy Inspections and Consulting, LLC in this number
(866) 674-7541 or you can visit our website: https://funguyinspections.com/ for more information.
Have you ever wondered where mold could appear in your
house? Well, you probably think that it only occurs in damp places like your
kitchen, bathroom, and in your basement. However, it’s not just those areas.
There is another commonplace that they love, and if you have one, you need to
be aware of it. It’s the attic!
The attic might not be the area where people go up every
day, so you may not be aware if your attic is safe and clean. You never know if
mold is silently growing on it while you leave them undisturbed. It is also one
of the common areas where mold mainly appears. Because of its wood sheathing,
ventilation, and roof leaking, they tend to attack the attic.
Yes! It’s kind of rare for an attic to affect your home.
They are at the top of your house, and people rarely go there. It’s just an
attic, and it’s not a big deal. Well, then, you’re wrong. It’s somehow
dangerous for your house, for you, and your family. Why is it so?
Attic Mold: The Issue
We are talking about your attic, and the issue here is the
mold that spreads across the walls, ceilings, and roof by air. Moisture and
mold are always partners because they grow from it. Some causes are:
Insufficient ventilation
Roof leaks
Exhaust vents
Attic
Mold: The Deal
Depending on the amount of mold we can simply leave them be on your attic. For larger amounts of visible mold you may say that it won’t affect your home and your family since it’s up to the roof, but no one knows for sure! Some attic mold might not be harmful, normally considered lumber mold, but they can be dangerous if they impact the drywall and building materials of individual rooms. Here are some reasons why it is a big deal.
It’s Dangerous
Mold could be dangerous to your health. Although with attic vents and gable vents it is unlikely that it concentrations of mold may build up. Some might be allergic if located in close proximity. Sometimes visual perception is a huge deal. Ultimately, people don’t want mold in their homes.
It Can Spread
It will be more of a problem if mold this type of mold could spread. Normal molds can travel anywhere because they spread through the air inside your home. If mold could find its way out of the attic, it will eventually spread to your living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen.
It Might Damage Your House
It doesn’t matter how big your house is, or how elegant your interior is because you now know the mold is there in the attic. In reality, it has probably been on the building materials since the home was built.
Other times, we experience major roof leaks and water has damaged the materials. Extensive water damage can weaken roofs and cause mold to grow on the plywood and structural lumber. In this instance, a roofer and a mold remediation company are probably your best calls to make at that point. Try to coordinate the efforts of the roofer with the cleanliness of the mold removal company to ensure materials are removed, cleaned, and disinfected properly.
Molds can be everywhere in your house, and we know that all you want is to live peacefully with good health. You need professionals to help you with these problems and provide you a good quality service. Fun Guy Inspections will always be ready to help you in any situation. You can’t do it all by yourself. So, visit our website funguyinspections.com and schedule your appointment today!
Most people have, by now, heard about the dangers of mold growth in the home. Toxic mold makes the news quite often, and is a real, meaningful threat to health if left untreated. But where does this mold growth come from? Why do some homes get dangerous mold growth whereas others never have to deal with it? In almost all cases, it comes down to moisture. So, naturally, we must ask ourselves – where is all this moisture coming from that leads to mold growth?
One of the most common sources is from leaky or malfunctioning appliances, producing moisture in your home in places you might not even be able to see or access. Over time, this moisture leads to water damage and mold growth, which can then spread like wildfire. Read on to learn more about how leaky and malfunctioning appliances create moisture problems in your home, some tips on how to avoid these problems, and some advice on periodic inspection and remediation to keep yourself and your family healthy and safe.
Common Appliance and Fixture Sources of Moisture in a Home
There are numerous appliances, fixtures, and systems in your home that produce or deal with moisture. Some are fairly obvious, such as those that deal with water as part of their operation. Others are far less obvious and hidden. Below, we’ve briefly described some of the most common culprits as sources of home moisture and water damage, and where, specifically, malfunctions and leaks in their systems can lead to moisture and water damage in your home.
Washing Machines
Washing machines have several pathways from which moisture can leak out. Water lines in, drain lines out, and the various seals where they meet the machine itself are often locations from which a leak can spring. The wash tub, pump, and other aspects of the machine itself also have seals, gaskets, and internal piping that can become compromised over time.
Driers and Duct Work
Driers are one of the home appliances people often overlook
as a potential moisture culprit. The
vents and ducts out of a drier to the outside of the home contain warm, moist
air. If they develop leaks, it’s a
perfect vector for moisture to get loose in your walls, ceilings, and
inaccessible spaces in your home, leading to mold growth.
Dishwashers
Like washing machines, dishwashers can be a common source of water damage and leaks. Hoses, fittings, and fixtures can result in leaks. Even a faulty or damaged door seal can allow small amounts of moisture to leak out during the dishwasher cycle, seeping into the cabinets, floors, or sub-flooring and leading to mold.
Water Softeners/Heaters
Obviously, water softeners and water heaters are two systems that deal directly with high volumes of water in the home. Leaks in any parts of these systems can rapidly cause serious water accumulation and damage.
Sinks and Plumbing Fixtures
Smaller leaks can often develop around sinks, drains, toilets, and plumbing fixtures. These may only be evident on use, and be intermittent in nature, but can still cause damage and lead to mold development in walls, cabinets, floors, and similar.
Refrigerators/Ice Maker Water Lines
One of the most common, and often hidden sources of water damage is a leaky or malfunctioning water line running to a refrigerator/freezer unit. As they are usually behind the refrigerator during normal use, you don’t see the water leaking out of the line. But it can accumulate and seep into flooring and walls quite easily, and almost always leads to significant, and often hidden, mold growth.
Tips for Preventing Moisture Leakage and Accumulation
Not all moisture leaks and
malfunctions of home appliances can be prevented. However, there are some useful tips to follow
to help reduce the risk of this kind of problem happening to you. Even if you do have water leakage, there are
things you can do to reduce the risk of developing mold right away, too.
Ensure your home appliances, fixtures, plumbing,
and any accessible pipes or duct work are maintained, with annual check-up
appointments on major appliances from a qualified service technician.
Periodically inspect your appliances, piping,
and similar, especially when the weather changes, as different humidity and
temperature conditions can greatly alter the condensation and non-leak-related
moisture content that can develop.
Make sure that any work done in your home on
appliances, piping, or similar is done by a qualified professional rather than
on a DIY basis. Cheaper is not always
better!
If you notice a water or moisture leak or
problem, shut off the water to that appliance or fixture, and try to absorb any
standing water from the leak with a towel or towels. Use a fan to circulate lots of air to help
promote fast drying of remaining water.
Open windows in the home to increase airflow. Then seek out a qualified inspector for water
damage and mold growth.
Professional Inspection and Monitoring for Water Damage and Mold
The best way to tell if you have
water damage and mold growth in your home is to call on the services of a
professional inspection service. In the
greater LA area, the premiere home inspection company that offers these
services is FunGuy Inspections. Mold,
mildew, water damage, and even lead, and asbestos can all be detected by FunGuy
Inspections, who can then provide remediation advice and information as well. FunGuy Inspections uses the latest technology
and equipment, and has extremely well-trained expert team members, who will
help ensure you know what’s going on in your home – even behind the walls and
under floors – and can take appropriate action to fix the problem. For more information, visit https://funguyinspections.com/.
Holland Public Schools has closed Holland Language Academy due to mold spore colonization and will relocate students to the vacant Longfellow Elementary for the 2019-20 school year.
The Academy building was not occupied when the mold was discovered.
Mold was discovered in two other buildings after a check of all facilities: Holland Heights Elementary and Maplewood Early Childhood Center, according to Superintendent Brian Davis. However, he said mold at those schools was not a colonization, rather isolated pockets.
“The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff is our top priority and we’ve been working with reputable people with the best remediation teams in the region,’’ Davis told MLive Thursday, Aug. 8.
“We wanted to make sure we were very thorough by checking all our buildings.’’
The Holland Language Academy is a K-5, two-way Spanish immersion program. An information meeting for all parents and guardians is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at the performing arts center at Holland High School, located at 600 Van Raalte Ave.
Davis said the district is confident in its partners, Summit Laboratory and VanDam & Krusinga Building Restoration, who are providing expert, science-based information and remediation services.
Following the Aug. 2 mold discovery at the Academy, located at 461 Van Raalte Ave., Davis immediately closed the building to allow for further testing by Summit Laboratory and to begin plans for remediation.
The new school year begins Aug. 19. The Academy is being relocated because the remediation will be extensive and will require several weeks to complete.
Davis said he thought it would be too disruptive and unfair to relocate students and staff back to the building in the middle of the school year.
“We are taking extra precautions at HLA (Holland Language Academy) to fix the current problem and eliminate the risk of future contamination,” Davis said. “This includes removal and replacement of all carpeting and other textiles throughout the building, whether or not they show signs of spore colonization.”
The Maplewood and Holland Heights remediation will be completed before schools starts.
Davis said the mold development at the Academy was traced back to mid-July.
The building became conducive to mold spore colonization when the Jace, a device that provides connectivity to the HVAC system failed, causing the system to not work properly during an extended period of high temperatures and relatively high humidity, he said.
Molds are fungi that grow best in warm, damp, and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Penicillium and Aspergillus were the two common types of mold found in the buildings.
Summit was called in for testing at the Academy after a contracted cleaning company reported potential air quality issues at the building on July 31, after the HVAC issue had been repaired.
Davis said the mold is not visible to the naked eye, but some cleaners became nauseous or had headaches, indicating there was an issue.
“We are fortunate to have a vacant building in the district to be able to relocate our students,’’ said Davis. Last year’s restructuring in the district moved the Early College program out of Longfellow, 45 E. 25th St.
“VanDam and Krusinga is deep cleaning Longfellow because I want to make sure our families impacted have complete confidence in that facility.’’
Holland School Board approves restructure to right-size district
The Holland School Board voted Monday, March 19, to restructure the district.
The Ottawa County Health Department will inspect the kitchen at Longfellow as part of the transition.
The Academy has been at the Van Raalte site since the 2016-17 school year. There were 320 students enrolled last school year, according to the state.
Remediation of the Academy was scheduled to begin Thursday, Aug. 8, and include physical removal of any mold spores or colonization utilizing negative air pressure, according to the district.
The remediation team will use personal protective equipment during remediation.
The mold is in a small storage closet at Holland Heights, and in a few classrooms at Maplewood that had been used for storage. The heat and humidity in July is believed to have caused the mold.
Mold was found in 35 Howard County public schools during the 2018-19 academic year, with a range of growth samples found on drywall to the chin straps of athletic helmets.
The reports were made between August 2018 and July 16 of this year, according to the school system’s Indoor Environmental Quality webpage. The school system said all of the cases have been remediated.
In addition to receiving reports from the 77 schools in the district, the school system also monitors administrative buildings including the central office, custodial services, ground services, Ascend One, the Dorsey and Harriett Tubman buildings, logistics, Old Bushy Park and Old Cedar Lane, according to the page. No cases of mold were found in any of the additional buildings.
In some cases, complaints were filed because of the concern of potential mold and then, upon investigation, nothing was found.
“Last year’s weather pattern had a large impact on the number of mold occurrences,” Chris Madden, the school system’s Indoor Environmental Quality manager, said in an email.
“The weather was extremely humid, and that moisture can make its way into the building through a variety of channels.”Lead found in water at 32 Howard schools during first year of state testing »
In 2016, 12 Howard schools were found to have higher mold levels than expected.
Concerns about mold were first raised in summer 2015 after teachers and students said they felt sick after being inside Glenwood Middle School. At the time, the school system’s remediation procedures came under fire by parents, residents and some elected officials, including Gov. Larry Hogan.
Potential health effects associated with mold exposures include asthma, allergic reactions, and other respiratory complaints, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Mold exposure can result in irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and skin to anyone, not just those allergic to mold.
On the Indoor Environmental Quality webpage, parents, teachers, administrative staff and others can submit concerns, view reports of environmental issues in schools and see how issues were remediated. The school system’s Office of Environment contacts each individual who submits a concern and performs an environmental assessment of the reported area.
The webpage, which “provides greater transparency,” was launched in August, Madden said.
The Indoor Environmental Quality program conducts two walk-through reviews of each Howard school every year. One walk-through is performed by Howard schools staff, students, parents and community members trained by the Office of Environment. This group is trained to identify and report “potential indoor environmental issues,” according to the Indoor Environmental Quality webpage.
A school system industrial hygienist, who assesses each school building including exteriors, above dropped ceilings and mechanical equipment, conducts the second walk-through.
The walk-through processes are based on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Air Quality recommendations for schools, according to the school system.
Many complaints in the 2018-19 academic year were filed for various school gyms and athletic storage closets.Howard schools CFO resigns to spend more time with family; district looking to fill the position »
In an outdoor athletics storage closet at Elkridge Landing Middle, mold growth was discovered on the handles of golf clubs and on the tape of field hockey sticks, according to the report.
Volleyballs were found with mold on them in Ellicott Mills Middle’s gym storage closet. At Lime Kiln Middle, mold was found on gym mats in a gym storage closet and in a corner of a gym closet at Guilford Elementary.
Mold was found in the shower area — not used by students — of the boys locker room at River Hill High, as well as on the chin straps of athletic helmets in the school’s outdoor storage area.
In numerous other cases, mold growth was found in the school’s portable classrooms, including on walls, ceilings, an air vent, in drywall and on carpets, according to various complaints.
Madden said the mold concerns in the portables last summer “were primarily the result of incorrect thermostat settings.”
When removing the protective box around the thermostat, individuals had sometimes changed the thermostat settings, not realizing the implications, Madden said.
“We have been surveying this summer to ensure proper settings are maintained in an attempt to minimize this type of impact,” he added.
Schools where mold growth was found:
Atholton High
Bollman Bridge Elementary
Bonnie Branch Middle
Clarksville Elementary
Clarksville Middle
Cradlerock Elementary
Dunloggin Middle
Elkridge Elementary
Elkridge Landing Middle
Ellicott Mills Middle
Folly Quarter Middle
Fulton Elementary
Glenelg High
Guilford Elementary
Hammond Elementary
Hammond High
Harpers Choice Middle
Homewood
Ilchester Elementary
Laurel Woods Elementary
Lime Kiln Elementary
Lisbon Elementary
Mayfield Middle
Mt. Hebron High
Mount View Middle
Northfield Elementary
Oakland Mills High
Pointers Run Elementary
River Hill High
Running Brook Elementary
Swansfield Elementary
Talbott Springs Elementary
Waverly Elementary
Wilde Lake High
Schools/offices with no mold complaints and/or no mold growth found:
You’ve started on your lists of small repairs, you’ve contacted a real estate agent, and now you’re in the final steps of getting ready to sell your house. But before you put your home up for sale, and certainly before having your first open house, here are 11 things to consider that most home sellers forget to think about and could cost you a sale.
Declutter and Organize Your Closets and Cabinets
Sure, you went through your entire house and
reduced the clutter in each room, organized your desk and other surfaces, and
arranged your collection of antique ceramic kitty figurines to be facing
perpendicular to the window. However, did you tackle your closets and cabinets?
One thing you should definitely expect during an open house or individual home tours is that potential homebuyers will be looking in your closets, kitchen drawers and cabinets. Will your walk-in closet fit all of his shoes and her summer dresses? Is there enough storage space in your kitchen for their cookware, bakeware, and all the kitchen gadgets that they seem to collect each year? These are all questions homebuyers will be asking themselves as they walk through your home. Of course, you as a home seller will have no idea what the needs are of a potential homebuyer, but you can definitely showcase what your house has to offer in terms of storage. Start by decluttering your closets, cabinets, and drawers, and then keeping only enough belongings in each to really show off the potential that space has to offer. Think of it as an extension of staging your home, but for your storage areas.
2. Clean Stains and Eliminate Odors
We should all consider small stains, marks, and other imperfections as badges of honor for a house that has been lived in for years. Nonetheless, these slight bumps and bruises your home has encountered over time will stick out to potential homebuyers, so tackle them head-on.
Begin by trying to put yourself in the shoes of a potential homebuyer and look at your house objectively. Start by going outside and then re-entering your house as if you didn’t actually own it but were an interested homebuyer looking at it for the first time. What do you see? Walkthrough every room and take note of all the imperfections you notice. You might surprise yourself with how quickly your list grows. You can then add them to your list of repairs so you can make your house truly be at its best before your first open house.
Also, if you have pets there is a strong possibility that your home has an odor which you can no longer smell. Deep cleaning your house is a sure-fire way to help eliminate these odors, but also think about using an odor-eliminating spray every day for about a week before your first open house. You can also place plugin room fresheners that offer a great crisp smell, like cucumber, to help infuse a sense of cleanliness throughout your house.
3. Replace Light Bulbs
Walkthrough each room in your house and look at every light bulb to see if it’s working. As homeowners, we sometimes forget to immediately replace a lightbulb when it goes out. You want your house to be at its brightest when new homebuyers are touring your home and replacing old burnt out light bulbs is one of the easiest ways to do it.
Also, don’t forget to walk around the outside
of your house to make sure all the lights of your home’s exterior are working
as well. Depending on the time of year, your open house or home tours could
happen when the sun is going down or when it’s already dark. So be sure to make
your house shine inside and out!
Pro tip: Make sure all your light bulbs are the same color temperature inside your house as well as outside. A soft-white light LED bulb can create a bright but welcoming environment for new homebuyers.
4. Think About the Small Details: Plants, Mirrors, Rugs
Consider each room’s individual
characteristics, so you can really showcase the potential every room in your
house can offer. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind while you start prepping every space for an exceptional open house experience.
Add a
little green to your spaces
Nothing breathes life into a room more than a
little greenery. A potted tree can work wonders in a living room, but for
smaller areas think smaller plants such as a small potted herb garden in the
kitchen or a miniature cactus on the mantel.
Open up
even the smallest rooms
Mirrors can make small spaces seem large
because they create the illusion of depth. Mirrors also work wonders in darker
rooms as they reflect light deep into areas of a room that may not receive an
abundance of natural light.
Add
character to an otherwise unimpressive space
While staging your home, think about adding character to various spaces with rugs. However, keep in mind that you want to use rugs to enhance a space, not be the focal point of it. Also, if you have a strange space that you never really figured out a good use for, a rug could at least offer a little personality while leaving the space and its potential to the imaginations of homebuyers.
Enhance
Your Outdoor Space
You’re probably already aware that enhancing
your curb appeal is one of the most impactful things you can do to create a
great first impression. However, you don’t want to forget about your other outdoor
areas, such as your front porch or entrance, your back entrance, side yard, and
backyard. You want to enhance your outdoor spaces around the house so potential
buyers can see themselves living as much outside your house as inside.
Simple enhancements like placing potted plants
to your front entrance or adding fresh beauty bark around the base of your
hedges and trees can go a long way. If you don’t already have a designated
outdoor space for entertaining, think about building a DIY fire pit and adding
four Adirondack chairs to create the idea of outdoor fun. Ultimately, your
outdoor space can be just as important of a space as what your home has to
offer on the inside.
Aerial photography can show off your entire
property, a scenic view, and the surrounding area. If you have a lot of property, an aerial shot
can easily put into perspective the full scope all your land has to offer to
potential homebuyers.
Furthermore, aerial photography has come a long way thanks to the rapid development of drone technology, resulting in reasonable pricing that is accessible for many homeowners today. For higher-end listings, drones can even capture video of your property, helping it stand out among the hundreds of other homes for sale.
7. Don’t Forget About Your Gutters
Imagine that you’re having your first open
house and despite the rain, foot traffic has been steadily increasing all
morning. Your house looks immaculate, like one of those home’s off of an HGTV
show, and your real estate agent has been messaging you updates every hour
about how great it’s going. But then the unexpected happens. A small stream of
water starts coming down right in front of your large bay window in the living
room. The stream is outside the house, but your would-be buyers watch on as it
grows into a miniature waterfall.
Red flags go up for the homebuyers touring
your house as the foot traffic thins then disappears altogether. What they
didn’t see was that the spillage was the result of a clogged gutter, nothing
more, causing water to spill over in a very inopportune place and at the worst
time.
Depending on where you live, you may not see
as much rain in locations like Phoenix,
AZ, but in many locations where rainfall is a common
occurrence, such as Seattle,
WA, this situation is more likely to happen. If you don’t
have time to clean your gutters yourself—because you have a house to sell and a
million other little things to do—there are professional services that can clean
your gutters for you so this little oversight doesn’t drown out your hopes of
selling your home quickly.
8. Paint Your Baseboards and Crown Molding
It’s pretty common knowledge that you should
paint the interior of your home a neutral color to appeal to more buyers.
Homebuyers want to imagine themselves and their stuff in your space, so your
red accent wall will need to be painted over with a more neutral hue. But what
a lot of home sellers forget to do is pay attention to their baseboards and
crown molding.
Where crown molding may just need some
cleaning and touch-ups, your baseboards most likely have seen a lot more
traffic, especially if you have kids. It may be a toy truck that has repeatedly
crashed into your white baseboards, crayons that went rogue, or the black
rubber wheels from bikes racing down the hallway, most likely your baseboards
have been marked with years of life experiences.
To correct these homely blemishes, you can try
cleaning your baseboards with simple dish soap and water. But if it has been
years of wear and abuse, you most likely will need to paint. Use a paint with a
semi-gloss finish that will offer a light sheen but not glossy enough to
distract attention away from your floors. You can also match your crown molding
using the same paint, making every room pop to potential homebuyers. Of course,
if you end up hiring painters to repaint that accent wall of yours, you might
as well have them paint your baseboards while they’re there.
9. Focus on Your Floors
Your hardwood floors were once beautiful and
one of the initial reasons you bought your home, but after years of traffic
your hardwoods have since dulled to a shadow of their former glory. Likewise,
your once plush carpet has also now matted down into obvious paths that lead
from room to room.
One of the first things potential homebuyers
look at when entering a new home is the floors, so make yours a statement.
If your carpet is approaching that 10-year
mark, it is most likely looking pretty worn. Think about recarpeting your house
to make it look fresh and ready for new homeowners. Such as you did with your
walls, you’ll want to go more neutral in color to appeal to the majority of
homebuyers. If your carpet is only a few years old, however, getting it
professionally cleaned can go a long way in bringing your carpet back to life.
If you have hardwood floors bring them back to their former glory by refinishing them. Refinishing hardwood floors typically includes sanding down the floors to eliminate the original finish and stain, then restaining with the desired color followed by a coat or two of sealer. Your floors will look brand new and really stand out during the open house.
10. Gather Your Documents
You might not be aware of this but you’ll want
to gather all the documents you have in regards to warranties, manuals, service
records, and repairs done to your house. These documents are hugely important
for several reasons and certain ones are needed by different parties before you
sell your house.
Your agent is your best friend during the home
selling process. They are also your homes’ first line of marketing and the more
information they have about your house, the better they can promote it. They
will write out the specific details of your home as well as an enticing
description that will highlight key features that homebuyers want. So, if
you’ve made recent updates like a new deck, new roof, updated HVAC, or if your
home has hot water on demand make sure your agent knows it and you have the
paperwork to back it up.
During the home inspection process, home
inspectors are going to go over your house with a fine-toothed comb. If your
furnace or water heater hasn’t been serviced in years, they’ll let you know.
Take a proactive approach by gathering all your service records so you’ll know
ahead of time if something needs to be serviced before listing your home.
Mortgage loan information, which
will show any outstanding mortgage balance and pay-off balance (if there is
any)
Final purchase and sale agreement
Deed
Title report
Property tax information,
including most recent tax statement
Homeowners insurance information
Lease agreement, if you’re
currently renting the property
Any reports or documentation that
relates to the property
Warranty paperwork, permits,
service documentation, instruction manuals, dates of home improvement projects,
and age of the roof, furnace, hot water heater, HVAC, and all the other major
appliances.
11. Pre-Sale Home Inspection
The last thing most people don’t think about
before they sell their home is getting a pre-sale home inspection. Though it is
not mandatory, a pre-sale home inspection is a proactive approach to
understanding your home’s condition at that point in time, and if there are any
repairs that need attention, you can address them now versus trying to do it
during the home selling process.
Homebuyers will most likely get a home
inspection of their own, right? So, why would you get one as a seller?
A home inspection report will most likely turn
up a list of repairs that will need to be fixed. Would you prefer to fix these
issues now before you list your home, or after you’re in negotiations with a
potential buyer? If you wait, you may push back the sale date of your house as
repairs are being made. Or, homebuyers may ask for concessions on your asking
price in order to cover the repairs and the time it takes to make them.
Ultimately, getting a pre-sale home inspection will leave you in a better
position when it comes time to negotiate with potential buyers.
You may feel like spending a lot of time and
money on your house is pointless because you’re just going to sell it anyway,
right? Just consider that the more you appeal to the majority of homebuyers the
more bids you’ll likely see and ultimately help you sell your house quicker and
for more money.
