I am developing a new model to better help homeowners care for their home and am seeking input.  The survey takes about five minutes to complete and can be found at this link.

The purpose of the survey is to help me research a new business model I am developing.  This model is specific to those that own their own homes and how they handle their maintenance and repair needs.  The  survey is a beginning step in helping me prove (or not) my theory.

Please follow this link to take survey.

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Tips for Prepping Your House To Go Away During The Holidays

The Holiday Season is upon us. Many of us will be traveling to visit family and friends. Below is a checklist of items to take care of your home while head out of town. Some of the suggestions are done ahead of time and some on the day of departure. Happy Holidays!

Items to do at least a week ahead of time:

• Suspend newspaper delivery.

• Have the Post Office hold your mail delivery.

• Contact your neighbors and give them your contact info on how to reach you and look after your house. For an extended period, consider having someone check your house each week. Have contact info for all the people that you have work on your home available for the person watching your house (handyman, plumber, electrician, hvac etc.)

Items to do the day you leave:

• Turn off the water supply within your house.

•  Turn down the hotwater heater thermostat.

• Adjust your thermostats.

• Unplug un-needed electrical gadgets.

• Set timers on lights for safety.

• Clear out refrigerator for items that will spoil.

• Run the disposal.

• Take out your trash and recycling.

Happy Holidays!

I recently contributed a home improvement ‘how-to’ article to ehow.com on how-to replace washing machine hoses.

This is a home maintenance tip that may save your house from getting flooded and all the damage that can cause. Every few years, replace the water supply lines on your washing machine. It will cost about $6 per hose and take a few minutes of your time and may save you thousands of dollars should your water supply break or leak.

Why should I bother? The fact is these hoses are under pressure all the time, even when the washer is not being used. Plus if you are on a city water supply like most of us, the chlorinated water helps to degrade the rubber material the hose is made from overtime.

Learn how to replace washing machine hoses at eHow.com.

>>>

Replace Your Washing Machines Water Supply Lines

Here is a home maintenance tip that may save your house from getting flooded and all the damage that can cause.  Every few years, replace the water supply lines on your washing machine.  It will cost about $6 per hose and take a few minutes of your time.

Why should I bother?  Good question.  It just happened to someone I know and to me once a few years ago.  I was about to leave my townhome and I heard this faint hissing sound.  I wasn’t quite sure what it was until I discovered one of my washing machine water hoses had sprung a small leak.  I was lucky and able to turn off the water and clean up the water.  If this leak had occurred while I was away, I can only imagine what damage would have occurred.

The fact is these hoses are under pressure all the time, even when the washer is not being used.  Plus if you are on a city water supply, the chlorinated water helps to degrade the rubber material the hose is made from overtime.

What to do?

1. Purchase a pair of replacement hoses.  Approximate cost is $6 per hose.
2. Turn off the water supply at the back of your washing machine
3. Remove both hoses and have bucket handy as there will be water that is still in the hose.
4. Install your new hoses.
5. Turn the water back on and check for leaks.

This is a small repair most handy DIYers can do for themselves.  Put this on your todo list before you go away on a summer vacation.  So you don’t come back with water everywhere.

Happy Summer!

…

Learn more about starting a handyman business or organizing a handyman business that you’ve already started.

Exterior caulking is a pliable material designed to span small gaps between joints around the outside of your house. Some common places to find these joints are where siding meets a corner trim board, and around doors and windows. Weather, sun, and temperature can cause your caulking to degrade, crack, shrink, and generally fail over time. This can lead to moisture seeping in and the inevitable wood rot damage to follow.

Autumn is a great time to fix minor exterior caulking problems to kee your home in top shape for the winter months to come.

What to do? This is something a handy homeowner or Do-It-Yourselfer can do at least once per year. Simply visually check around the outside of your entire home. If you find degraded caulking, remove any loose caulking and reapply. I like to use white paintable exterior caulking. After the caulking dries you can paint right over with your matching paint color. While you have the paint can out, any areas of bare wood in need of touch-up can be painted at the same time. If home improvement is not your thing, hire someone to do it for you.

I have heard this one before…My home is newer and has cement board siding. I don’t need to worry about this right? Homes that have cement board (hardi plank or hardi siding are other names for similar item) also have many areas that are wood and need sealing. Some common areas typically constructed of wood include: corner boards, facsia boards (this is the board where your gutter attaches), soffit (this is the area underneath your roof over hang or eave) and around doors and windows.

If you find areas that are rotten, don’t wait to take care of it. It won’t get better and in fact, will only gets worse over time. Also, rotting wood can be an invitation to some wood destroying insects like termites and carpenter ants. So hire someone to take care of this for you before the problem gets bigger and more costly.

As a contractor, I see wood rot damage over and over in homes that leads to costly repairs that could potentially be avoided through routine home maintenance. Your house is likely your largest investment. Don’t wait until you have a big problem on your hands. Act while it is still small. And remember a little bit of annual home maintenance goes a long way.
Find more helpful tips at HouseFixer.Info

by www.HouseFixer.info

Winter is coming and that means we will be spending more time at home. To ensure a safe and cozy winter, here are seven easy steps you can take to prepare your home. The majority of these tasks can be completed by a “Handy” homeowner. If you are in doubt about any listed task it is best to call a qualified professional. Maintaining your home this Fall will ensure your home is in good shape through the Winter.

STOP THE DRAFT. Prevent cold air from entering your home by checking your home’s weather-stripping and caulking. You’ll find weather-stripping and/or caulking usually around windows and entry doors. Look for signs of wear and replace if needed. Consider sealing up your drafty windows with a clear plastic film. This is inexpensive and kits are readily available at your local hardware or home improvement store. If you have a crawlspace or basement equipped with vents, it’s generally a good idea to close them during the winter to help keep pipes from freezing.

BRING IT INSIDE. When the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night, it’s time to start bringing in those outside items inside. Plants are a good place to start, but check with your garden supply store for specifics. Clearing garden hoses of water and storing them inside. Outside furniture, grills, toys and other recreational items usually last longer if they aren’t exposed to the winter weather.

DON’T BE COOL. Finding out your heating system doesn’t work properly on the first cold night of the year is not fun for anyone. Go ahead and turn on your heating system and check to see if it appears to heat your home. Don’t forget to change all of your air filters too! It is best to have a qualified heating specialist come check your system before it gets cold.

WATER TRYING TO GET IN. Water will enter your home if your home is not properly sealed and weatherized. Your first line of defense is your roof and siding. Take a good look at your roof and siding from the ground looking for missing or damaged shingles and siding. Looking through a pair of binoculars often helps with this. Next check in your attic looking for signs of water. Finally, check your basement or crawlspace for signs of water. Remember water usually leaves a mark darker than the item it dried on. It is good to catch these problems while they are small.

WATER TRYING TO GET OUT. Fall is a good time to check each of the plumbing fixtures in you home to be sure that you don’t have any leaks. Remember many times leaks start small and get bigger thereby causing greater damage. Places to check include: around toilets, under sinks, around tubs & showers, and your hot water heater. Again, check for signs of water where it shouldn’t be, all around your home.

DON’T GO UP IN SMOKE OR FLAMES. If you use your wood burning fireplace or stove, have it checked by a qualified chimney sweeper before the winter hits. Excessive build up of creosote in your chimney flue can cause fires in your chimney which can spread to your house. Most chimney sweep companies offer low-cost or even free inspections. Be on the safe side and have it checked. While on the subject of fire safety, go ahead and check the operation of and change the battery if needed in each of your homes smoke detectors.

ASK FOR HELP. Don’t wait until something breaks to find someone to repair your home. You should have the names and contact information for qualified service people in your area. Ask your friends and colleagues for referrals. Getting referrals are often a great way of finding someone that you can rely on. Some service professionals to consider having names and phone numbers for include: Plumber, Electrician, Heating & AC Repairman, and a General Handyman.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. Attribution must read “Infomation provided by www.HouseFixer.info” and link is live whenever possible.