Articles Tagged "Home Maintenance"

Now that you've moved into the house you found among Wichita homes for sale, you've probably got big plans to improve your home's interior, as well as the landscaping. Since it's almost summer, we're guessing you've started on some outdoor projects, such as getting the lawn shipshape and maybe creating some flowerbeds front and back.

No doubt your mind is full of colorful banks of flowers and a lush expanse of lawn, some artfully trimmed shrubs, and graceful, shading trees. But it doesn't matter where you are; the reality is that you will have to deal with weeds. A beautiful landscape doesn't happen without addressing the presence of weeds and how to get rid of them.

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When you experience a home emergency, it's normal to freeze, especially if this is your first time dealing with a specific incident. Our real estate agents encourage homeowners to prepare for a home emergency before it happens. Follow these tips to stop a home emergency in its tracks. 

1. Know the Location of Your Home's Water Shutoff Valves
   When you're dealing with a leak, burst pipe, or other plumbing-related emergencies, one of the first things you need to do is shut off the water to your home. This will prevent your home from flooding and minimize water-related damage.

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Congratulations! You've found the perfect house among Wichita homes for sale. While it may be the last thing on your mind as you move into your new home, it's important not to neglect security. In today's world, you never know what can happen. How secure is your new home? Here are a few tips to ensure it's protected.

• Locks. The house is yours now, but the previous owner could still have copies of the keys. Likewise, who knows how many of their family and friends were given spare keys over the years? Any of them could enter your home freely at any time. That's why one of the first things to do when you buy a home is to replace all the locks, to make sure no one has access but you.

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From unique architectural features to mature landscaping, older Wichita homes for sale offer several positive aspects not available with newer construction. But to have the value their beauty promises, these houses must have a solid foundation. While a foundation inspection by a qualified specialist is necessary to identify all issues related to structural integrity, a homeowner can get a pretty good idea of the shape it's in with a few simple steps. In fact, our real estate agents recommend they be part of an annual maintenance program to help keep the home in great condition, year after year. 

• Peruse the exterior of the house
  A visual inspection can tell you whether the walls are straight and perpendicular to the ground. A level will yield better results. If you see bulging walls or signs of leaning, call a professional inspector right away to verify your concerns and offer recommendations for solutions. Survey the grade of the ground surrounding the house. It should slope slightly away from the building so that rainwater drains away from the foundation.

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No one wants to find their Wichita homes for sale has been invaded by pests. They're an inconvenience, can cause damage to your property, and sometimes are even a health hazard. It's definitely one of those things every homeowner wants to prevent. Use these five tips to make sure pests aren't making your home their home too.

• Seal off entry points
  Autumn often sees increased pest activity in the form of smaller animals looking for warmth and places to nest. Take a look at your home from roof to foundation and seal off any gaps, crevices, or other entry points with caulk or expanding foam. Rodents only need an opening the size of a dime to make their way in, so adding door sweeps and making sure weather stripping and door and window seals are intact can help keep them out. Other larger pests like squirrels, raccoons, birds, and bats can enter via garage doors, gaps in siding, exhaust fan and dryer vents, torn screens, and chimney openings. Make repairs and cover vent and chimney openings with screens. Check attics, basements, and garages from the inside too for potential entry points.

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If you've been looking at Wichita homes for sale, you may have noticed that a number of them list a water softener as one of the features. But if you've never had one installed, you may wonder just what value they add to the property. Our real estate agents can tell you that it is a very popular upgrade. Here are some details to help you determine whether purchasing a water softener would be a wise decision for you:

• What is hard water?
  When water is saturated with dissolved calcium and magnesium, as well as other minerals, it's considered "hard." When calcium carbonate exceeds 60 milligrams per liter, it is defined as hard. More than 180 milligrams per liter is extremely hard. Wichita has a water hardness level of 131 mg/L and Kansas City, 330 mg/L! To reduce these dissolved minerals, homeowners turn to water softeners for help.

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After researching and exploring potential options, you've finally closed on your new home. Before you sit back and enjoy your new space, our real estate agents recommend that you do a few things to lower your expenses and protect your property. Here are some tasks to add to your to-do list. 

1. Check Your Insulation
   If your new home has an attic, give it a quick inspection to ensure that it has ample insulation. There should be at least six inches of insulation, and it should be located between your attic's beams. Low levels of insulation can increase your home's heating and cooling costs and stress your heating and cooling system.
   
   
2. Deep Clean Your New Home
   Before you start unpacking and setting up furniture, give your new home a thorough scrub. It's much easier (and quicker) to clean an empty home. Start at the ceiling in each room and work your way to the floors. Vacuum dust and dirt away before wiping down surfaces and walls.

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As Americans are spending more time at home, they're focusing on the outside of their houses as well as indoors. Traditional landscaping is stepping aside for more creative ideas ranging from bold geometric displays to quiet, personal spaces. Wichita homes for sale offer plenty of opportunities to create your own fabulous exterior. Here a just a few options to consider.

• Choose Local
  There are several reasons homeowners are electing to embrace local fauna rather than imported plants. Native plants are far more likely to thrive in our Kansas climate than non-native species. You'll find that they require less fertilizer and pesticides as well. Plants previously thought to be safe in some areas are proving to be invasive over time. Sensible gardeners are coming to recognize the positive impact pollinating insects and local birds can have. While ordering almost anything has become a fact of life for most of us, we need to exercise caution when ordering plants, consulting with local experts first. Buying from local garden centers (many of whom also deliver) can help avoid such issues.

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