Uncategorized

If you have a damp basement, you may notice mold, mildew, damp areas, a musty odor or salt deposits on the floor and/or walls. If the basement has windows, you may see condensation. You may notice pools of water on the walls or floor, water stains or blisters on the walls or rotting columns.

Possible Sources of Basement Moisture Problems and What to Do About Them
A basement is cooler than the rest of the house. Cool air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air. Warm, moist air can condense in a cool basement. If you have a washer and dryer, a kitchen or a bathroom downstairs, moisture that is released can condense and make the basement damp. You may be able to address the issue by improving ventilation and air circulation with vents and fans.

Water can also seep into a basement through the foundation and condense. You can have a contractor add insulation to create a barrier to keep moisture out.

If you see water in the basement, there may be an internal leak coming from a pipe, toilet, sink, stove, washer or dishwasher. If a pipe leads to an unused sink in the basement, water can gradually leak out of the pipe and into a wall. You may need to hire a plumber to make repairs.

Your yard should be graded or sloped so that water runs away from the house. If the grading is off, water can cause cracks in the foundation. Water can then seep into the basement and cause interior damage. A structural engineer can inspect the foundation and advise you on how to fix the problem. You may need to use dirt to change the grading to redirect water away from the house, preventing further damage in the future.

Gutters and downspouts should direct rainwater and melted snow away from your house. If your house doesnt have gutters, you may need to have some installed. If your existing gutters arent doing a good enough job of carrying water away from the house, you may need to have them repaired or replaced.

If the problem in your basement is due to a lack of sub-surface drainage, you may need to install a sump pump to address it. A professional may need to tear up the floor to install a drainage system. If your house already has a sump pump, it may need to be repaired.

Get Professional Help to Address a Basement Moisture Problem
Moisture in your basement can cause structural problems and mold that can affect your familys health. A house with a moisture problem in the basement can also be difficult to sell. If you notice signs of moisture in your homes basement, hire a contractor or a plumber to identify the cause and make any necessary repairs.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre thinking about making home renovations, you may have a long list of projects you would like to tackle. Figuring out where to begin can be difficult when each item on your wish list seems important. In many cases, starting on the outside of your home is the best choice.

Reasons to Fix the Exterior First
Focusing on exterior repairs and renovations could protect your familys health, make the house safer and lower the cost of homeownership. For example, a leaky roof could lead to interior water damage and mold. Drafts around windows and doors and damaged siding could cause you to waste money on heating and air conditioning bills. Replacing those parts of the house could lower your utility bills.

There is another reason to fix exterior problems before you start upgrading the inside. Your homes envelope (roof, siding, windows and doors) protects it from the elements. It would be a shame to spend money on new flooring, cabinets and other interior renovations, only to have them damaged by a roof leak.

Where to Begin
If you plan to sell your home in the future, focus on projects that would give you a good return on investment and help you attract prospective buyers. Energy efficiency is a priority for environmentally conscious homebuyers and for families who are on a tight budget. A new roof or siding and energy-efficient windows and doors could make your home stand out when compared to other houses without similar recent upgrades.

Potential buyers want a house that wont require major repairs in the near future. If you put your home on the market with an old roof, damaged siding and inefficient windows, you could struggle to find a buyer, even if you had spent tens of thousands of dollars to spruce up the interior.

Curb appeal is critically important when selling a house. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Potential buyers who are unimpressed by the appearance of a house often dont bother to come inside and look around.

If the siding is in good condition but the color is fading, a fresh coat of paint might be enough to make it look like new. Fixing up the yard could also make a big difference. Cutting the grass is an obvious step, but trimming bushes, pruning trees and planting a garden could all improve your homes curb appeal.

Spend Your Renovation Dollars Wisely
Like most homeowners, you probably have a limited amount of money available for home improvements, so you need to prioritize projects that could make your home safer and more energy efficient and help you sell it in the future. Although the interior is important, focusing on the outside of the house first might yield greater benefits in the long run.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If you need money for home improvements, tuition or another purpose, you might be able to secure funds through a second mortgage.

How Does a Second Mortgage Work?

A second mortgage is a loan that allows a homeowner to borrow against the value of their house by using it as collateral.

One option is to receive a lump sum of money to be repaid over a period of time. Another is to open a home equity line of credit.

Before getting a second mortgage, be sure to weigh the decision carefully.

Falling behind on your payments could put you at risk of foreclosure.

A second mortgage should only be used for a legitimate purpose that will benefit you in the long run.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Like any appliance in your home, your water heater is an investment that needs to be correctly maintained. A well-maintained water heater can keep your utility costs down, eliminate the risk of damage from leaks and will keep you and your family in hot water”in a good way. Thankfully, you dont have to keep guessing when it comes to maintaining your water heater. These tips will ensure that your water heater will last for years to come.

Choose the Right Option for Your Home
With so many options on the market, it can be easy to get overwhelmed and assume that every water heater is the same. However, ensuring that your investment lasts starts with making sure you have the right type of water heater for your household. Do your research to find out if a conventional, hybrid or tankless water heater would fit your needs best. Make sure you explore your options within those categories. Since each option has its pros and cons depending on your climate, water usage and the area your water heater will be located, it can be worth it to consult an expert. Dont be afraid to seek the advice of a plumber who can consult about the best option before installing.

Keep the Surrounding Area Clear
Whether your water heater is located in a closet or in your basement or garage, it can be tempting to let clutter creep around the space. This is a mistake that can damage your water heater and your beloved box of Christmas ornaments in the process. Your water heater works hard. Gas-fired units need oxygen to burn the gas and hybrid water heaters use the heat in the air to heat water. This means they require 1,000 cubic feet of space to ensure enough ambient air is available for efficient operation. Aside from the risks to your water heater, storing items too close can be a fire hazard and a leak can mean water damage for any surrounding belongings.

Schedule an Annual Inspection
Annual inspections can be easy to push to the back burner, but they shouldnt be neglected. Inspect your water heater yearly and be sure you know the signs that indicate your water heater is about to fail. Additionally, be sure to flush the water heater at least every two years to control mineral build-ups that can cause damage or prevent efficiency. If your water heater is older, plan to schedule either a repair or a replacement, if necessary.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Many people dream of owning a house with walk-in closets. If youre tired of having to cram all your clothes into a small closet or fighting for space with your spouse, walk-in closets might seem like the ideal solution, but they can have downsides.

Organization
If you own a lot of clothing and accessories and you currently have a small or average-sized closet, clothes that are hanging might be pushed so close together that they get wrinkled. If you have a lot of hats or purses, it can be hard to find a way to store them that doesnt leave them vulnerable to damage. Stacks of shoe boxes can make it difficult to find the pair you want.

A walk-in closet can make it easy to spread out belongings and arrange clothing and accessories by type of item, color or season. Walk-in closets typically have shelves to organize shoes, hats, handbags and boxes. That can help you find what you want and reach it without having to move other items.

If youre not good at getting and staying organized, however, a walk-in closet could be a recipe for disaster. You might have trouble finding things and be late when you need to go somewhere. You might not even wear some of your clothes if they got lost somewhere in the walk-in closet and you forgot that you owned them.

Privacy and Security
A walk-in closet can serve as a private dressing room. You can put mirrors and lighting in there to see how you look in different outfits before deciding which to wear. The privacy of a walk-in closet may be important to you if you have kids who sometimes enter your bedroom without knocking.

A walk-in closet can be used to store more than clothing and accessories. It might even have enough space to put a safe where you can keep valuables.

Temptation to Acquire More
A potential downside of a walk-in closet is that having all that space might tempt you to buy more clothes, shoes and accessories, and you could wind up with another overflowing closet. Before you buy a house with walk-in closets, ask yourself if you would use it as an excuse to spend money on things you didnt need.

Space
Square footage devoted to a walk-in closet is space that cannot be used for rest and relaxation. Buying a house with walk-in closets might not be a good idea if the rest of the bedroom is too small to suit your needs.

Resale Value
Even if you think that the house you buy will be your permanent home, circumstances may change. Keep resale value in mind when you go house-hunting. Many people who are searching for a new home have walk-in closets on their list of priorities, but large closets could be a downside if the bedroom didnt have enough living space.

Published with permission from RISMedia.