It is impossible to judge the value of a house without calculating a rough cost of repair. The properties around here are frequently 100 years old. When a problem begins, it is much cheaper to repair than the same problem left for years to get worse. Tip one: deferred maintenance costs roughly five times more to
A dead hot water heater led me to DIY hell. Here’s how it happened. Last winter, our tenant’s hot water heater gave up the ghost. The thing had a twelve-year warranty, but it spilled its guts all over the basement seven years into its life. Oh joy! There is a silver lining! At least we
“Don’t get attached to that hot water heater, it will fail on you.” We tell our clients this because direct-fire hot water heaters are unreliable appliances that are created with built-in obsolescence. Many have five, seven, or ten-year warranties. They will last five years and three weeks, or seven years and three weeks, or ten
There are some houses that never should have been built. You can't even level them and build a better house on that lot. Either the lot is too small to build on — by current standards — or the land is not fit to hold a house. I have seen both. Potentially unsolvable problem, type 1
Is that a termite? Relax! That's a flying ant. Flying ants don't eat your house, but termites do. Here's how to know the difference. Flying ants have a body shape like an ant. Ants have three distinct sections. Their antennae do not come directly forward, they bend. Termites, on the other hand, have a middle
Some electrical repair can’t wait. Knob and tube wiring is one of those problems. This wiring, from 80-100 years ago, has not aged gracefully. It is considered a fire hazard by most insurance companies. Our clients are often told that they cannot get insurance, or they can only get insurance if they promise to remove
When do windows cost more than an arm and a leg? When the windows are unusual sizes or shapes. When the window installation involves a change in window size or when the area around the window is rotted and needs to be rebuilt, the cost goes up. There are many specialty windows that we see
Buyers beware! Replacing windows will cost you, big. What windows should I expect to replace? Lead paint risk: Any window that was installed before 1978 is likely to have lead paint on it. Lead paint on windows is particularly bad for risk of lead poisoning. When a lead-painted window is opened and closed, it rubs
Sisterhood is powerful! I only know one carpenter’s term that is feminist. It is the term for attaching a second floor joist to a cracked or under-built joist, beam, rafter, or stud. The term for this is called “sistering.” Sistering is powerful: it can stop sagging all over the house. This is how it’s done.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever! In honor of Valentine's Day, I share work that makes my Buyer Broker heart go pitter-pat with joy. A quality electrician or plumber will install their materials with care. Although loose, wiggly wires carry current as well as these will, the care taken to do a neat