Sunday, June 22, 2008 - Remodel or Sell?

I'm so-o-o far behind in my reading -- I'm trying to catch up on articles I bookmarked months ago. I came across this little gem from early May.

The Washington Post had an article in the Real Estate section called "If You Can't Sell the Home, Why Not Remodel?"  The gem came at the end of the article, in the form of a website called RemodelOrMove.com, with all kinds of calculators to play with. (I love playing with calculators like these.)

Another website that sort of goes hand-in-hand with this is CostVsValue.com from Remodeling Online. The Cost Vs. Value Report describes the average cost of a whole variety of remodeling projects, the amount that it may add to your resale value and the percentage of the cost that would be re-couped. Keep in mind that these numbers are averages over very large areas of the country, so your mileage may vary. However, it's a great place to start.

(C) Susan Pruden.

Saturday, May 31, 2008 - The Cost of Deferring Repairs

We all defer some maintenance on our houses -- I have a small hole where a gutter nail has pulled out of the wall several years ago, when our apple tree fell over and brushed the corner of the house. I knew about it and we just haven't gotten around to it. Sure enough, during the gully-washer of a storm, the gutters were full of debris and the ceiling in my home-office developed a leak. It would have been cheaper to just fix the blasted hole when we first found out about it -- now we have to fix the ceiling as well.

But keeping up with the maintenance of a house can be a daunting task. It's not the money, as fixing this particular problem is more aggravation and time-consuming than expensive.

Of course, it sure is more expensive now.

(C) Susan Pruden.

Monday, March 31, 2008 - Cheverly Goes Green

Congratulations to Lance and Melanie Hartwig-Davis, who were featured in this past week's Gazette for being the first of three families who have earned the Cheverly Green Home Certification. Craig and Janet Tupper and Dave and Casey Kneipp have also earned the certification.

Visit Progressive Cheverly's Green Homes pages for more information. You can download the qualification sheet to see if you too have a green home. Perhaps you just need to make a few changes and you'll be able to earn the certification yourself.

It's good for the earth to take these steps and it doesn't hurt re-sale value either.

(C) Susan Pruden.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - Maintain that Tile Roof!

Over the years, I've sold quite of few houses with tile roofs. I've heard home inspectors say how great these roofs are -- they last decades, they need little maintenance, etc. They have superior insulating properties over asphalt shingle roofs and, to me, they just look great. Aesthetically, ceramic or clay tile roofs have it all over other roofs, in my book.

However, a buyer or homeowner can be lulled into a false sense of security with statements like those above. Having a tile roof may mean less overall maintenance, but it doesn't mean to ignore the roof completely. Many homeowners with tile roofs buy into the idea that tile roofs last forever and need no maintenance. Not so!

Today is pretty windy and living in a "Tree City USA" has its benefits and its downsides. Falling tree limbs are a hazard to tile roofs, so it's a good idea to inspect your tile roof annually and have any broken tiles replaced by someone who is qualified to work with tile roofs. Replacing tiles can seem expensive, but when you pro-rate the repairs and maintenance over the 60-some year life span of these roofs, it's very reasonable.

You should also be aware of the quality of the tile used on your roof. Just like anything else, some roofers out there will sell you inferior quality tile -- do your homework and make sure you're getting the good stuff.

There is also the structure of the roof under the tile, and there's the flashing. Either of these can fail and allow water to penetrate. We had water in our basement shortly after we bought our house and replacing the roof took care of it. Turned out we had rotted sheathing under our deteriorating shingles. While we don't have a tile roof, the problems are the same. Broken or deteriorated tiles allow water and sunshine to reach the underlying layer, which weakens it. Next thing you know, you have a leak in the ceiling. Worse case, you have a skylight where none existed before.

So don't assume your tile roof is indestructible. And if your house is over 50 years old and has a tile roof, it's time have it examined thoroughly by a qualified professional. A little (or a lot) of preventive maintenance now can save you a lot down the road. A well-maintained tile roof can add value to your house when you go to sell it, as well.

(C) Susan Pruden.

Sunday, July 29, 2007 - Attaining Attic Accessability

I just love alliteration :)  But really, attic access can be a problem. If you live in a house like mine, you don't have much room for pull-down attic stairs. The hallway is just too small. And I've been in houses where the pull-down stairs are a feature of the bedroom ceiling. I've also been in houses where the pull-down stairs were sque-e-ezed into a tiny hallway and you have to stand in the bathroom to get the stairs fully extended.

Many homeowners just make-do with the attic scuttle -- a square hole in the ceiling with a hatch cover or just a piece of plywood sitting atop the opening. I've seen buyers stand on chairs, boxes or whatever is handy, trying to peer into the attic. It can be dangerous, precarious and just plain inconvenient.

So what's the solution? There's a new product -- too cutely called a Televator -- made by Werner, that really fits the bill. Go to their website and click on the videos to see how they work. The website says it's easy to install, too, but I never quite trust the guys who install them for a living when they say that. Tell me it's easy to install if you've never built anything in your life, then I might believe it!

But anyway, if you have a tiny scuttle for attic access, or just want additional attic access, this might be a good product to check out. It's nice to have an alternative to step ladders and those huge pull-down stairs.

(C) Susan Pruden.