Homeowner Tips
Your home is one of the largest and most important investments that you will make in your lifetime. Your home is where you spend much of your time and life. It is an asset that can appreciate over time. For these reasons, it is important to be responsible in owning your home. The following tips can help you in your home ownership experience.
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After buying a used home, have a locksmith re-key all locks.
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After buying a used home, have a plumber clean all the drains.
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Have a plumber periodically inspect and clean all drains and sewer lines.
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Periodically check your homeowner insurance to ensure you have adequate coverage.
Periodically check mortgage interest rates and determine whether you should refinance your home.
Check your credit report at least once per year for accuracy.
Ensure that the way in which you hold title to your property is best for you.
Maintain the interior and exterior of your home in good working order.
Upgrade your toilets to power flush models that do not clog.
Save all receipts for all home improvements to your real property.
Make a room seem larger by changing the direction the door swings.
Trim energy costs and make your house more comfortable with solar panels.
Preventing or eliminating mice or rats from occupying your garage
Potential issues or hazards found in homes built before 1995.
Homeowner checklist
Below is a useful checklist to help you in your home ownership.
Home maintenance items
Below are some useful ideas to maintain your home.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Cracks in Driveway, Garage Floor, or Sidewalks | Repair cracks in the driveway, garage floor, and sidewalks. |
| Deteriorated or Damaged Fencing | Repair deteriorated or damaged fencing around your property. |
| Deteriorated Wood Fascia | Repair or repaint deteriorated wood fascia or trim around the roof of your house. |
| Cracks in Stucco | Repair cracks on the stucco of your home. |
| Stains on Ceiling or Attic | Be sure to look for signs of leaks, such as stains on the ceiling or attic. Ask your home inspector to confirm whether there are any water stains on the wood in the attic. Have him take photographs of the attic areas and show them to you |
| Leaks Beneath Sinks | Look beneath all sinks for water stains or leaks. |
| Mustiness or Moisture | Carefully smell the home for signs of mustiness or moisture, this may indicate mold problems. Mold is a health hazard. I do not recommend buying a home with mold issues. |
| Ground in Contact with Stucco | There should be a distance of several inches between the soil or cement patio and the bottom of the stucco of the exterior of the structure, so that water or moisture does not permeate into the wall and inside the home. |
| Improper Grading | The ground around a home should be graded slightly or gently sloped so that rain water naturally flows away from the structure to the perimeter of the property. |
| Tree Roots | Observe if there are large tree roots in the yard that may be burrowing into drainage pipes and may potentially clog them and cause a sewage backup. |
| Old Equipment | Watch out for old equipment such as a very old furnace, hot water heater, air conditioner, or kitchen appliances. These may likely need to be replaced once you buy the home, and therefore will be an additional significant expense. You may try to negotiate with the seller for him to provide an monetary concession or credit to compensate for the condition of such equipment. |
| Old Single Pane Windows and Doors | Observe if the home has old, single pane windows and doors. The cost to upgrade the windows and doors to dual-pane vinyl windows is significant. |
| Non-permitted Additions or Modifications | Check if the home has room additions or other modifications that were done without the appropriate legal permits. |
| Rodents or Reptiles in Electrical Panel | Check if the home has rodents or reptiles in the electrical panel. These can cause safety problems. |
| Rodents in the Attic | Check if the home has rodents in the attic. If so, the rodents need to be eradicated. |
| Termite Damage | Be sure to get a termite inspection report and look for termite-related damage to the wood fascia, eaves, patio cover, fences, and other wood structures. |
| Electrical Hazards | Check if the home has any electrical hazards such as exposed electrical wires, unprotected electrical cords, faulty switches, uncovered wall outlets, and so on. |
How to hire good service providers.
For your home improvement projects in which you need to hire service providers to do the work, get at least three quotes from service providers who have been highly recommended. Here is how to select the right service provider for a project:
- Ask your family and friends for the names of service providers whom they have actually used and that they recommend, until you have collected the names of three service providers.
- Make an appointment with each of the service providers to meet with you at your home. Ask them key questions:
- How long have they been in business?
- How much experience do they have?
- What training or licensing do they have?
- Ask to see examples of their work.
- Ask to provide references of persons whom they did work for.
- Describe your objective or desired outcome to them and ask them how they would achieve it.
- Obtain a quote from each of the three service providers.
- Select the best service provider to do your home improvement project based on price, quality, professionalism, and other relevant factors.
- Call the references provided by the service provider that you select and inquire about whether the service provider did quality work, was on time, and performed the agreed-upon work.
- Sign the quote from the service provider you selected and schedule the work.
Recommended service providers
A list of service providers is provided as a courtesy to our clients. We do not guarantee their work. Please always do your own due diligence before hiring a service provider.
Get a heating furnace inspection and tune-up.
When you buy a used home, it is a good idea to have the heating furnace inspected and tuned up to ensure that it is working properly. A local company, ASI Hastings Heating and Air Conditioning, will perform this service for $87. If you have the heating furnace inspected and serviced before you buy the home, and if any defects are discovered with the furnace, you can request that the seller repair the furnace or provide you a monetary concession or credit for the repair.
Renew your home warranty.
When you buy a home, you typically get a one-year home warranty which covers many systems of your home. But did you know that you can renew your home warranty or obtain a new home warranty policy after your home warranty expires?
Use your home warranty.
If you have a home warranty on your home, use it when problems arise.
How to Use Your Home Warranty
- If something in your home breaks down or ceases to work properly, call the toll free number provided by your home warranty company.
- Explain to the representative the specific problem.
- Ask the representative if your home warranty policy covers the specific issue and to what extent.
- If the specific problem is covered, the home warranty company will assign the problem to a repair company to fix it. (If the problem is not covered by the home warranty policy, seek a solution elsewhere.)
- The assigned repair company will call you to schedule an appointment to diagnose and fix the issue.
- You will charged a service fee of approximately $55 to $60 per incident, which you pay directly to the respective repair company when the repairman visits your home.
After buying a used home, have a locksmith re-key all locks.
Immediately after you buy a home, I highly recommend that you have all locks on external doors re-keyed for security. Re-keying is less expensive than replacing the existing locks on the doors and preserves the esthetics of the door handles. A local locksmith can re-key the locks to your home for a nominal fee, and he can also re-key the locks so that one key fits all locks.
After buying a used home, have a plumber clean all the drains.
Whenever you buy a used home, it’s a good idea to hire a plumber to thoroughly clean every drain within the home using a wire “snake.” This includes “snaking” all sinks, bathtubs, showers, and toilets. This thorough cleaning should remove any accumulated material within the plumbing pipes, help prevent or minimize future blockages, and reduce your home ownership costs — and therefore make owning your new home more enjoyable.
Have a plumber periodically inspect and clean all drains and sewer lines.
Keeping your drains and sewer lines clean and clear of obstructions can prevent clogs in drains and blockages in the sewer lines. This saves you the hassle, mess, and expense of dealing with emergency sewer line backups which can damage your home and create havoc in your life.
It is a good idea to hire a plumber to thoroughly clean every drain within your home periodically using a wire “snake.” This includes “snaking” all sinks, bathtubs, showers, and toilets. This thorough cleaning should remove any accumulated material within the plumbing pipes, help prevent or minimize future blockages, and reduce your home ownership costs — and therefore make owning your new home more enjoyable.
You should also have a plumber clean out the sewer lines running from the house to the street.
It is also wise to have a plumber inspect your sewer lines using a miniature camera to determine if there are any obstructions, such as tree roots, and to determine whether the piping is in proper condition.
Warning! Sewer line blockages can be very messy and expensive, as well as damage your home, so it is important to try to prevent them.
Have your home periodically inspected for termites.
It is a good idea to have your home periodically inspected for termites.
Periodically check your homeowner insurance to ensure you have adequate coverage.
It is a good idea to periodically check your homeowner insurance to ensure you have adequate coverage. For tips on the right insurance coverage for your home, see the home insurance coverage checklist.
Periodically check mortgage interest rates and determine whether you should refinance your home.
It is a good idea to periodically check mortgage interest rates and determine whether you should refinance your home.
Check your credit report at least once per year for accuracy.
Having a high credit score can help you qualify for lower interest rates when obtaining a home or automobile loan. It is a good idea to check your credit report at least once per year for accuracy. The largest credit reporting agencies in America — Experian, Transunion, and Equifax — have collaborated to provide a Web site from which you can obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of them. Click the link below and follow the on-screen instructions to obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of these companies.
Ensure that the way in which you hold title to your property is best for you.
Check to ensure that the way in which you hold title is best for you. If you are married, you may want to ensure that both spouses hold title to your home.
If you want to change how you hold title to your property, contact the escrow company that handled your home purchase and ask them for the appropriate form and instructions.
Maintain the interior and exterior of your home in good working order.
Your home was one of the largest purchases you have ever made. It is where you live your life. It is an asset that can appreciate over time. For these reasons, it is important to maintain it in good condition and good working order. This includes maintaining the exterior, interior, and the landscaping.
Upgrade your toilets to power flush models that do not clog.
No one enjoys the inconvenience of dealing with clogged toilets! To prevent clogged toilets and get more enjoyment from you home, it is a good idea to upgrade your existing toilets to the power flush type. The KOHLER Wellworth Classic, 2-piece, 1.6 GPF Pressure Lite Elongated Toilet with pressure assist flushing technology is a good example of this type of toilet (model # K-3505-0, Internet #202514402). It is available for about $406 at Home Depot.
The power flush toilet is a great idea for your own home but it is also a good idea for a rental property to prevent the tenants from clogging up the toilet and avoiding plumbing fees.
While you are upgrading your toilets, consider upgrading the lids to a gentle-close lid. The BEMIS Just-Lift Elongated Closed Front Toilet Seat (model # 1584SLOWJ 000, Internet #203790220, store SKU #587562) is available for about $35 at Home Depot.
If a home was built prior to 1978, take special care when materials or surfaces painted with lead-based paint are disturbed.
Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains high levels of lead, which is referred to as lead-based paint. Lead from paint, paint chips, and dust can pose health hazards if not managed properly. Lead exposure is especially harmful to young children and pregnant women.
Children exposed to lead may develop lead poisoning, which may produce permanent neurological damage, including learning disabilities, reduced intelligence quotient, behavioral problems, and impaired memory.
If the home was built prior to 1978, take special care when materials or surfaces painted with lead-based paint are disturbed.
Create a living trust to avoid probate.
Probate is the administration of the estate of a deceased person. It is a Superior Court proceeding to settle the affairs (assets, debts, and other matters) of a deceased person.
The probate process can take considerable time and money. It also makes information public. To avoid probate altogether, you can create a revocable living trust via an attorney.
A living trust is a way of holding title to real property and other assets. It offers you more flexibility in estate planning, keeps your assets confidential, avoids probate of assets in the trust, and may help to preserve an estate.
Save all receipts for all home improvements to your real property.
The tax basis for a real property is the sum of the purchase price, acquisition costs, and improvements to the property. Knowing the tax basis is important because it is used when calculating gain or loss on the sale of the property, as well as for calculating the depreciation tax deduction for an investment property.
When you sell your property, the higher your tax basis, the lower the amount of potentially taxable capital gain. Therefore, be sure to save all receipts for improvements that you make to your real property, so you can increase your tax basis for the property and thereby reduce your potential capital gain tax liability.
Make a room seem larger by changing the direction the door swings.
By changing the direction in which the door to a room swings, you can enlarge the look and feel of a room. Click the link below to learn more.
Tips on buying appliances
If you need to buy appliances for your home, consider these options:
- Craigslist: If you are on a tight budget or need to buy appliances for a modest rental home, search on Craigslist.com for a good deal on appliances in good condition. Look for appliances that are one or two years old or less.
- Costco: Costco tends to have lower prices on many items. If you are a member of Costco, visit a local store or Costco.com to see if they have a good deal on the appliances that you need.
- Sears Outlet: Another place where you can save money on appliances is Sears Outlet. They provide substantial discounts on new "scratch-or-dent" or returned appliances. Appliances come with a one-year warranty. For example, if you need a second refrigerator for your garage, consider a “scratch and dent” model from Sears Outlet. They have two San Diego locations:
- 960 Sherman St.
San Diego CA 92110
Phone: (619) 497-1123 - 12080 Carmel Mountain Rd.
San Diego CA 92128
Phone: (858) 613-7704 - Pacific Sales: Pacific Sales offer a wide range of appliances, from average to high-end appliances. If you are seeking to buy the highest quality appliances, Pacific Sales is definitely the place to shop. Pacific Sales has attractive pricing at their several locations around San Diego. Ask them for a package deal when purchasing multiple appliances. Ask for store specials. For more savings, ask for store closeouts or specials on floor models.
- Home Depot: Home Depot offers a wide range of appliances. Home Depot has attractive pricing at their several locations around San Diego. Ask for store specials. For more savings, ask for store closeouts or specials on floor models.
Trim energy costs and make your house more comfortable with solar panels.
Can using solar panels help you trim energy costs and make your house more comfortable? Click the link below to learn more.
Trees you should never plant in your yard
There are some trees that you should never plant in your yard, because their roots invade sewer lines, irrigation pipes, and drain fields, their roots can crack driveways and walkways, they release massive amounts of pollen, they secrete growth-inhibiting toxins that kill nearby plants, or create a mess with their fruit or sap droppings. Click the link below to learn more.
15-minute home makeovers
Here are 7 house pick-me-ups that take a few minutes. Click the link below to learn more.
Preventing or eliminating mice or rats from occupying your garage
Mice or rats can take shelter in your garage and create problems. For example, mice can crawl into the engine compartment of your car and gnaw on rubber tubing or wires and damage your car. Or they may defecate in the engine compartment and cause obnoxious odors to enter the cabin of the car through the air conditioner vents.
To prevent or eliminate mice or rats from your garage, buy some inexpensive spring-loaded mice or rat traps, bait them with peanut butter, and set them in several areas within your garage.
Potential issues or hazards found in homes built before 1995.
If your home was built before 1995, be wary of the following potential issues or hazards:
- Homes built from 1920 to 1972 may contain “cottage cheese” ceilings containing asbestos, which is a health hazard.
- Some homes built prior to 1978 may have lead-based paint, which is a health hazard if ingested by children.
- Homes built before about 1992 have single-pane windows instead of the better-insulating double-pane windows.
- Some homes built between 1983 and 1994 have horizontal defective furnaces that are a health and fire hazard.
- Some homes built between 1978 and 1995 used polybutylene water piping, which can be defective and cause water damage to a home.
- Older homes may lack GFI-protected electrical outlets in the kitchen and bathrooms.
- Roof vents that are protrude from the roof may enable fire embers to more easily enter the attic of a home and start a fire, or wood members at the perimeter of the roof can burn in a wildfire situation.
- Older homes tend to be less energy efficient and have higher energy costs.
- Older homes may have been built to comply with lower health and safety standards.
