SUMMER TO-DO LIST

1. LANDSCAPING- Landscaping can improve your homes outward appearance and definitely create a first impression for potential buyers. Many local garden centers often have sales on perennials later in the season. It’s also best to hold off until later in the season for most other lawn care practices, including fertilizing, seeding, thatch control, and applying weed killers. The period from late August through early September is ideal for many of these practices.

2. DECKS – Decks have become an extremely popular, low-cost way to add living space to a home. Decks make it convenient to enjoy sitting outside day or night. They open up the home and facilitate entertaining and outdoor dining. Yet, decks are also subject to the damaging effects of weather. As such, deck maintenance is critical to prevent discoloration caused by dirt, moss, algae, and other plants. Summer is the perfect time to have your deck cleaned, power-washed, or resealed.

3. ROOF – This is the perfect time to have your roof professionally inspected and/or repaired/replaced. Winter, especially in Vermont, is very hard on your roof. You want to ensure that your roof is able to handle the snowfall that Vermont winters produce. Curling shingles are a telltale sign that your roof may need to be replaced.

4. GUTTERS and DOWN SPOUTS – Make sure that your gutters and down spouts are free from debris. Use long barbecue tongs to reach in and remove any debris that may have gotten stuck in your downspout. Re-attach any that have become loose, again in preparation for the heavy snow that winter brings.

5. BASEMENT – This year in Vermont many homes were affected by statewide flooding. Even if you weren’t, many Vermonters get moisture in their basements after the spring runoff. The summer is an ideal time to get estimates on waterproofing and to ensure that your sump pump is operating properly. Other maintenance items may include: running a dehumidifier, applying waterproofing paint, or even sealing the concrete floor. It is important to run a dehumidifier in a musty (smelly) basement while your home is being shown as to not turn off any potential buyers.

6. FURNACE – Many licensed HVAC companies offer discounts for servicing your furnace in the summer months. The busiest time of year for them is in early fall so beat the rush while you can! This is also a good time to change your filters.

7. AIR CONDITIONING – While it’s true, many Vermonters don’t have central air conditioning, it is important if you do to ensure that any debris, shrubs, or weeds are not growing around the unit. It is a good idea to replace or clean your filter and especially more frequently during the season if you have pets. The same is true for window air conditioning units. Simply remove the front cover and vacuum or replace the filter.

8. EXTERIOR JOINTS – Caulk exterior joints around all windows and doors. Caulking helps keep the house weather-tight and reduces energy bills. It can also help keep insects and vermin out of the house. As well as prevent the water to penetrate through small cracks.

9. HOT WATER HEATER – Water heater maintenance is easy to overlook because the tank just sits there and has no moving parts to worry about. To keep your water heater operating correctly, and to extend its life by years, you need to carry out regular maintenance to minimize rust and calcium carbonate. Therefore, it is advised to drain and clean your tank once yearly. Another item to check when carrying out annual maintenance is the pressure relief valve. This is a valve on the side of the tank near the top. It should be connected to a pipe that directs the water down and away from the tank so that scalding water does not spray a person if the valve releases due to excessive pressure. There are lots of websites out there that explain how to do this, and if in doubt, call a professional.

10. POOL – Pools are a popular destination during the summer months. Take this time to be sure that tiles and grout are in good repair, or that linings are free from holes in the case of above ground pools. Check your pool’s chemistry often. That means twice a week during the summer. And don’t forget to clean the pool skimmers often to make sure you get the best circulation, a must for any healthy pool. Many clients ask me if installing the pool will increase the home’s value; the short answer is no. There is a very large portion of the population that is afraid of water, doesn’t enjoy swimming, has small children, or that just doesn’t want to take on pool maintenance. Therefore, if you’re going to install a pool, do so for your own personal pleasure and not for resale value.

If you are not comfortable with performing any of these maintenance items listed above, there are many professionals out there that would be more than happy to help you! As always, use common sense and follow all safety guidelines.

In the extreme heat of summer sometimes the real estate market tends to slow down a bit; but if you are a Buyer in this market, it is a great time to find a bargain. Other Buyers are not out looking because they are away on vacation or involved with family activities and this means less competition for you! If you’re trying to Sell during the summer months, is important to make sure that your home shows well and is cool. Put out fresh flowers, run fans/air-conditioners, or open windows! If you have any questions or if you need names and numbers of maintenance professionals I would be happy to assist you!

Please feel free to contact me for all your real estate needs, and stay cool!

Bye for now!

Dave Chenette, Broker/Realtor

WHY GET A HOME INSPECTION?

Caveat Emptor: Under the doctrine of caveat emptor, the buyer could not recover from the seller for defects on the property that rendered the property unfit for ordinary purposes. The only exception was if the seller actively concealed latent defects or otherwise made material misrepresentations amounting to fraud (source: Wikipedia).

Buying a home can be a person’s largest financial investment in their lifetime. It makes sense to protect your investment with a home inspection!  Buying a home is subject to caveat emptor… let the buyer beware. It is true in the state of Vermont, that typically the home buyer pays for the home inspection, and it’s money well spent!While home inspections are very important in the process of identifying big-ticket repairs, it also serves as a planning guide so that you can learn about future repairs and maintenance items. Not to mention, important things like knowing where the electric panel is located, the main water shutoff valve, the fuel tank, etc.  A home inspector’s main job is to do a general inspection that will, among other things, include: the foundation, wiring, plumbing, heating/cooling system, appliance inspection, siding, windows, doors, roof, exterior grading and landscaping.  Some inspectors, for an additional fee, will test the following areas: water potability/quality, radon in the air (usually in the basement area or lower levels of the home), radon in the water, and lead-based paint.  If the home is not on municipal sewer, you may want to have the septic tank and septic leach field inspected by a septic company.  Also if the home has a well and is not on municipal water, you may also want to consult with a well company in regards to well capacity and flow rates if the well is not clearly tagged.  It is helpful to look at the home inspector much like a general practitioner in medicine - if there are more specific/specialized  problems, you may want to call in a specialist like an electrician, contractor, roofer, plumber, etc. to come out for further investigation.

Generally speaking, the home inspection is the first thing that happens after you agree on a price with the seller. It is usually done within 10 days in order to get this aspect of the home buying process out of the way in the beginning of the transaction before you start spending money on appraisals and legal work.  In the state of Vermont most home inspections are up to the buyer’s satisfaction or the buyer is not obligated to purchase the house.  If the home inspector does find significant issues, it’s up to the seller and the buyer to negotiate any concessions or repairs based on problems found.  Of course, all of this is negotiable and is often determined by what the original Purchase and Sale Agreement stated.  Sellers are not normally obligated to correct any defects.  If within the terms of  the inspection clause, the buyer is free to not buy or accept the property as is.

It is important to select a good, qualified house inspector to inspect your future home. Although your Uncle Charlie is a good carpenter, he may not always be as thorough as a trained home inspector would be.  There are many ways to choose a qualified home inspector, one of which is to speak with friends and family members who have bought homes previously to see if they had a good experience with a housing inspector. Your real estate agent may be able to supply several names of local reputable inspectors. Lastly, there are a few home inspecting associations that you could check with and they may have names of local home inspectors to choose from:  NAHI-National Association of Home Inspector Inc., NACHI-International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, ASHI-American Society of Home Inspectors, HIF-Housing Inspection Foundation.  These associations would also be a good resource if you’re looking to become a home inspector and would like more information.

Whether you are a Buyer or a Seller and would like more information about the home inspection process, please feel free to give me a call anytime and I would be happy to answer your questions!  Or you can post your comments or questions below…

Bye for now!  Dave Chenette, Realtor