Category Archives: Home repairs

4 Tips for Avoiding (and Aiding) Major Home Improvements

Posted on by

Home Improvement

There’s no doubt about it: the costs that come with being a homeowner can add up. However, home improvements can be more manageable if you plan for them. Below are a handful of helpful tips.

Prevention. From termite-proofing your deck to using the proper paint and seals, do your research when making home upgrades to make sure you are preventing possible damage as much as possible.

Inspection. Get in the habit of taking an annual inventory of every single space in your home to check for potential problems. Examine the roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical wiring – basically everything.

Pro-action. Try to fix trouble spots as soon as you uncover them. This proactive approach will help you avoid major repairs to your home later.

Budget right. Nothing is worse than finding out you have to replace that rotting fence when your bank account is running low. Just like you save for retirement, have a home improvement account where you squirrel away funds for when you need them. As little as $25 a month can do wonders over the years.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have a wealth of real estate and homeownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact me any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

Sincerely,

Christina Tompkins Wright
Christinatompkinswright@gmail.com
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hometown, REALTORS
Office: 910-478-2637
Mobile: 910-330-5803
http://www.ChristinaTWright.com

4 Unexpected Household Items to Clean With

Image | Posted on by

Cleaning products

Did you know you can clean your home with toothpaste? How about ketchup? Whether you’re trying to avoid harsh chemicals, or are just looking to get creative with what you have, below are four strange items you can clean your home with.

Toothpaste. Do you notice hard water stains on the exterior of your home or car windows? A little toothpaste can take care of that. Choose a non-gel variety, squirt a bit of paste onto a clean, damp rag, and rub in a circular motion to remove the stains. Wipe down with a clean, wet sponge or cloth to remove paste residue.

Vinegar. There are myriad ways to use white vinegar to clean your home. Make a mixture of half vinegar, half water to clean your walls, counters, shelves, fridge, and more. Have a pesky clogged drain? Skip the harsh chemical-ridden products. Simply dump two tablespoons of baking soda down the drain and follow it with a cup of vinegar for a fizzy, clean effect.

Ketchup. America’s favorite condiment also makes a terrific cleaner for brass, jewelry, and silver. Why? The tomatoes in ketchup boost its acetic acid content to around 4 percent.

Olive oil. Is your coffee or dining room table riddled with rings from cold or warm beverages? Buff it out with a mixture of olive oil and salt. Stay patient. After you remove the mixture, it can take several hours to show its magical effect.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have a wealth of real estate and homeownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact me any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

Sincerely,

Christina Tompkins Wright
Christinatompkinswright@gmail.com
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hometown, REALTORS
Office: 910-478-2637
Mobile: 910-330-5803
http://www.ChristinaTWright.com

Summer Safety: How to Make Your Pool Safer

Posted on by

TriCityPools_Carousel3

Backyard pools can provide hours of endless summer fun for your friends and family. But as the owner of a swimming pool, it’s your responsibility to keep safety top of mind. Below are some helpful hints for making your swimming pool safer so you can splash around all season long.

1. Install a fence. A safety fence is the No. 1 thing you can do to up the safety of your pool. Make sure the fence has a locking gate and is high enough that it would be difficult to climb over. If you have kids, talk to them about not opening the fence without an adult present.

2. Install a safety cover. Just like the fence, having a retractable cover that slides over your pool can heighten poolside safety.

3. Consider a perimeter alarm. If you’re worried about your kids or animals falling into the pool when you’re not around, install a perimeter alarm that will sound if something crosses over it. This is similar to an invisible fence, and can go a long way toward ensuring you know who is hopping in and out of your pool.

4. Invest in safety equipment. Even the simplest of safety equipment can be a huge asset in an emergency. Consider getting a floating life saver with a rope that ties to the edge of the pool and a shepherd’s hook you can extend if someone is in trouble.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have a wealth of real estate and homeownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact me any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

Sincerely,

Christina Tompkins Wright
Christinatompkinswright@gmail.com
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hometown, REALTORS
Office: 910-478-2637
Mobile: 910-330-5803
http://www.ChristinaTWright.com

Can you finance home repairs?

Image | Posted on by

You know you can finance (and re-finance) your home, but many homeowners in a repair pinch often wonder: can you finance home repairs?

The answer isn’t quite so simple. According to the Millennial Housing Commission created by Congress, few lenders are willing to administer home improvement loans. Most prefer to make home-equity loans or unsecured consumer loans because they are easier to manage.

Home improvement loans usually require inspections and irregular draws on the loan amount as work is completed, which forces regional or national lenders to find local partners to provide oversight.

Financing repairs and improvements with home equity is okay for most homeowners, but it’s difficult for many first-time buyers. They have lower incomes, smaller savings, and have made lower down payments on their homes than first-time buyers a decade ago. So they have little equity to borrow against. Unfortunately, it is often lower-cost, older homes purchased by first-time buyers that need the most work.

Unless you have a cash reserve, you will have to shop around for the best borrowing terms. In addition to the options listed above, there are other routes you can take. You can ask relatives for a loan, borrow against your whole life insurance policy, refinance your existing mortgage, get a second mortgage, or contact the government about home improvement programs. As a last resort, you can borrow from a finance agency, which generally tends to charge higher rates.
As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have a wealth of real estate and homeownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact me any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

Sincerely,

Christina Tompkins Wright
Christinatompkinswright@gmail.com
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hometown, REALTORS
Office: 910-478-2637
Mobile: 910-330-5803
http://www.ChristinaTWright.com