6 House repairs to tackle

From Bankrate.com.

In this economy, you may be tempted to delay or even skip minor home maintenance repairs, cleaning jobs and inspections in your home. But don't be penny-wise and dollar-foolish. That $200 or $300 you save today could result in expenditures of $3,000 or even tens of thousands next month or next year if hidden problems in your home go unnoticed and become worse.

Consider coughing up a little dough to take care of these small jobs before they morph into gigantic, expensive jobs later.

Here’s the list of repairs:

1. Annual HVAC inspection in spring or fall. Why?

"Things that happen often happen at the worst possible time in the worse possible conditions and you're looking at the maximum rate," says Terry Townsend of Townsend Engineering in Chattanooga, Tenn., and former president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. Remember, continual maintenance prolongs the life of the equipment. "You're sitting there with an investment of thousands in your HVAC system and you're investing a few hundred dollars in maintenance."

2. Chimney inspection, annually. Why?

"A simple chimney cleaning can prevent chimney fires and damage to your entire house," says Ray Gessner, a licensed professional engineer and owner of A Step in Time Chimney Sweeps, with offices in the eastern U.S. "Water is the No. 1 problem with chimneys. With water damage, you might need to have your whole chimney rebuilt."

3. Termite inspection, annually, in spring or early summer. Why?

"Termites eat the wood from the inside out," Curtis says. "A typical homeowner would not be aware they are even in their home until months or years after they get in and start causing damage. A lot of people don't realize that termites don't just feed on the home. They'll eat flooring, insulation, books -- I've even seen them penetrate through swimming pool liners."

4. Power washing and sealing of your wood deck. Every 1 -3 years depending on amount of traffic, mildew and mold. Why?

Power washing gets rid of stains, algae, mold, mildew and moss. Algae and mold can make your deck slippery and dangerous, says Justin Lee of JL Power Washing in Williamsburg, Va. Sealing your deck after it is cleaned helps prevent water damage. Wood soaks up rain like a sponge, expands and then shrinks, Lee says. Sealing makes the water bead up and roll off. And let's not forget -- your deck will look nicer, too.

5. Dryer vent cleaning, annually. Why?

     Once the vent gets clogged, the dryer can overheat and start a fire.

6. Carpet cleaning every 12 months. Why?

Your home also will be healthier with pollen, bacteria, insecticides and dirt removed, says Howard Partridge, founder and president of Clean as a Whistle, a cleaning company outside Houston.

Read the full article from Bankrate.com.

For your next title order or

if you have questions about what you see here, contact

Stephen M. Flatow, Esq.

Stephen's Title Agency, LLC

165 Passaic Avenue, Suite 101

Fairfield, NJ 07004

Tel 973-227-4724 - Fax 973-556-1628

E-mail Stephenstitle AT comcast.net - www.stephenstitle.com

Homeowner beware - folks are out there ripping you off

The New York Times reports on efforts of unscrupulous businessmen - more like con artists - who are out there trying to take advantage of you.

MAINTAINING a home is expensive, as we all know, but if you upgrade a kitchen or replant the garden, at least you have something tangible to look at and appreciate. It’s when the boiler goes or you need a new roof that home maintenance feels particularly unrewarding — so much money, so little to show for it.

So where's the trouble? "[I]f the problem is hidden, it’s especially easy to put your faith in the wrong hands."

What kind of contractors are apt to try to pull the wool over your eyes? Well, they range from chimney sweeps who claim you need a new lining to prevent a fire, air duct cleaning companies that claim you have mold in your HVAC system, and carpet cleaners.

As the article Avoid Fly-by-Night Cleaners by Making a Phone Call First says,

"When contracting for maintenance, bewared the swindlers."

Care to comment, let us know what you think.

If you have questions about what you see here,
contact Stephen M. Flatow
Stephen's Title Agency, LLC
StephensTitle@comcast.net
973-556-1628 Fax