9 Strategies to Handle Home Maintenance Costs

Maintenance is an important part of home ownership. Improper care compromises the safety of your property and can result in big repair bills. Include these strategies in your maintenance plan to reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Educate Yourself It's usually cheaper to do most home maintenance jobs yourself. Teach yourself some basic skills to save yourself from professional fees. Take some classes. Community colleges and hardware stores often host community courses that help you plan projects, get familiar with new tools, or gain more value from property assessments. Invest in beginner books on carpentry, electrical work, and plumbing. These will be…
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Why A Buyer Needs An Independent Inspection At Closing

Many sellers hire inspectors and appraisers to value their home prior to placing it on the market. It's important for buyers to hire their own inspector to get an independent opinion. If a buyer orders an inspection before the sale goes through, the seller may have to resolve any issues that arise. If you forego the inspection, you inherit any problems that come with the house. Importance Of Inspections Homes aren't always well cared for and it's relatively easy for an unethical owner to paint over a water stain rather than fix a leaky faucet. Clunky furnaces and loud A/C…
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4 House “Flaws” You Can Safely Disregard

When you walk through a house with your real estate agent, you're seeing if you and your family would be happy living there. But you're also probably looking for signs of trouble that might spell big expenses later on. Be careful, though. It's important to see the "bones" of the house rather than focusing on minor issues. Here are four flaws you can safely disregard. 1. Stained Carpet Stained carpet is more an indication of the owner's poor cleaning habits than of any real problems with the house. It's so easy to replace carpeting that it's not worth even paying…
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