The Right Questions To Ask at your Home Inspection!

The home inspection period on your new property is crucial.  Be sure you know what is

important and what is not. Asking the right questions can save you BIG $.

Home inspectors provide an important service by letting you know the physical condition of the property at time of inspection. To produce the most accurate report possible the report will contain three categories of notes. The first category is cosmetic:  things like a chipped tile, a window that is sticky or a burned out light bulb.Those smaller items are good to know and can be the start of a handy mans' to do list one you close but they are not the crucial items. The second category is safety. Is there a leak, is something not wired properly?, is there something that poses a health and safety risk?  This are the items you will want to focus on asking the seller to repair.  The third category is where you can really

save money though!

The most important information you want the Home Inspector to tell you about are the major systems of the home.  This is the third category of items on the report. Keep in mind all of those systems have a life span. Some types of roofs last 50 years some have to be replaced every 15-20 years. Which type of roof does your new home have?  Water heaters, furnaces and air conditioners all have a life expectancy what are those in your new home? Just because a home looks good cosmetically does not mean the underlying systems are sound.
By getting this information from your Home Inspector you will know the true cost of your new

home. Because after the mortgages, taxes and insurance are paid you still have to keep the systems that make up the home in good condition. Systems with lots of life left in them actually nets you more money in the long run.

Smart tips!  Because ..........Smart Moves, Start here!

Search for your next Palm Springs Home here

Do You Really Need to Clean Your Air Ducts?

By: Dave Toht

Contrary to popular belief, there aren’t any health benefits linked to cleaning air ducts, but having a

pro remove gunk can boost the efficiency of your HVAC.

Five to seven times a day, the air in your home circulates through the air ducts of your HVAC heating and cooling system, carrying with it the dust and debris of everyday living.

Your furnace filter catches much of the stuff, but neglect, remodeling projects, or shoddy duct installation can lead to a buildup of gunk inside your ductwork that threatens the efficient functioning of your system.

Are Dirty Ducts Hazardous to Your Health?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asserts no studies have proven that duct cleaning prevents health problems. Also, there isn’t proof that dirty ductwork increases dust levels inside homes.

But some people are more sensitive to airborne dust and pet dander than others. If your nose is getting itchy just thinking about what might lurk in your ducts, the $300 to $600 it costs to clean a 2,000-sq.-ft. home is a worthwhile investment. But before you reach for the phone, take a good look to see if your ducts are dirty.

Get the Picture

Wouldn’t it be handy if you could take an incredible journey through your ductwork to see if cleaning is needed? Using a pocket digital camera equipped with a flash, you can come close. Simply remove a floor register, reach as far as you can into the duct (don’t drop your camera!), and take a couple of shots.

If there’s gunk within a few feet of the register, take heart. It’s easy to snake a vacuum cleaner hose into the duct and remove the stuff. However, if you see a long trail of junk and a thick coat of dust beyond what your vacuum can reach, your house may be a candidate for professional cleaning.

Look for These Symptoms

• Clogs of dust, cobwebs, and debris, or noticeable particles blowing out of supply registers.


• Visible mold on the inside surfaces of ducts.


• Rodent droppings and dead insects inside ducts.

In addition, recent construction inevitably creates dust you don’t want in circulation.

“We recommend cleaning after a big remodel job,” says Scott Milas of Mendel Heating and

Plumbing, St. Charles, Ill. Milas adds that a new home purchase is also a good occasion -- after all, who wants to breathe someone else’s pet dander?

“People get it done after they buy a house,” he says. “It’s like getting the carpets cleaned.”

Good Reasons for Duct Cleaning

• Cleaning removes accumulated dust so it won’t shed into the household.


• Removing debris and cobwebs eases airflow and increases the efficiency of the system, in extreme cases as much as 40%.


• If you have fiberglass ducting, fiberglass gathers more dust than sheet metal.

Reasons to Skip Duct Cleaning

• Cost.


• Health benefits are not proven.


• Dust and debris caught on the interior of ducts isn’t circulating and therefore may not be a problem.


• Changing furnace filters regularly often does the job, especially when combined with annual furnace cleaning.

How Ducts are Cleaned

Dislodging and removing dust and debris is done with one or more of the following methods:

• Hand-held vacuuming: Workers use a brush attached to a large portable vacuum equipped with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. However, the hand-held method isn’t completely reliable and may leave pockets of dust.


• Mechanical brush: A rotating brush is fed into the ductwork. A truck-mounted vacuum sucks away debris. The rotary brush may damage older or poorly installed systems.


• Air sweep: A truck-mounted vacuum system carries away dust and debris dislodged by a compressed-air hose fed into the ducts. Of the three, the air sweep method usually does the most effective job.

Note: Some duct cleaning companies advocate spraying the inside of your ducts with chemical biocides. However, the EPA cautions that the spray may be more hazardous than helpful, aggravating respiratory ailments and introducing moisture that encourages mold growth.     


Choosing a Duct Cleaning Service:

It is all too easy to set up as a duct cleaner; some fly-by-nighters do more harm than good. Ask a reputable heating contractor for recommendations, or go to National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) to locate a certified contractor.

Be wary of unsubstantiated health claims. Resist pressure to clean annually; even cleaning every other year is overkill. Most homes needn’t be cleaned more than once every five years. Also, make sure your furnace will be cleaned as part of the HVAC maintenance service that includes checking the plenum, evaporator coil, and heat exchanger.

( Originally Published: September 10, 2012)

Top 10 Ways To Prepare your Home To Be Listed For Sale

How would you like to lose $10,000 or $15,000 on the sales price of your home before the first person ever sees it?  Yeah, probably not the way you wanted to start the sales process at all.

It happens every day in cities across the country. Someone puts their house on the market in a woefully inadequate state.  Oh sure they cleared off a counter top, or finally threw away the mountain of clothes in the laundry room that no one wears or claims to be theirs anymore but that was it. Well, okay you did vacuum the living room.  Not enough! Not even close!

Don’t think for one minute that NOT preparing does not matter and “buyers will look past it” or “You’ll get to it next weekend”.  Nope, the reality is that you just threw away 10K perhaps more.  In fact I would suggest that the most expensive cleaning service in town is a bargain compared to losing that much money just because you don’t want to clean.

Your local agent should be able to walk through the house with you and tell you frankly what needs to be done.  We offer all our sellers a 26 point Maximum Value Audit free of charge.  A written report that will detail exactly what needs to be done to maximize the value in your home. Sometimes it is not cleaning it is small repair and replacement items.

Examples of the items I have helped sellers with over the years include: tarnished, dull and worn out

looking door knobs – a small item but one of the first things buyers saw on an impressive set of double doors.  A secondary bedroom with a bad carpet stain, that we were able to find a remnant for at $139 this gave the room a new and fresh appearance. Another time we simply stained the boring gray concrete around a pool to match the existing wall on the property-  it really popped and we sold it to the first buyer. Don’t get carried away with unnecessary new weekend projects just stay focused on existing issues with the home as is.

1)      A deep clean. Corners, windows, tops of ceiling fan blades, grout and all ledges.     

2)      You are moving  so throw away things you aren’t going to move – do it now

3)      Box up items that you won’t use for the next three months (seasonal for example)

4)      Clean the screens on the windows or take them off if appropriate

5)      Straighten the garage – but it is okay to stack boxes in there you are moving

6)      Replace worn out comforters, doormats, decorative towels, shower curtains etc.

7)      De-clutter all surfaces especially baths and kitchens (less is more)

8)      Replace all light bulbs –remove most if not all family photos

9)      Touch up paint as needed – corners doors – heavy traffic areas

10)   Remove any dead landscape replace with simple plants or ground cover and mow lawn

While these items may seem obvious or small they are not. They will help protect the equity you have built up in your home. Buyers will discount for a poorly maintained home. Homes that do not show well do not sell quickly. This is all in your financial best interest.

If your home has significant deferred maintenance look for our upcoming article about how to deal with those issues when you don't have the funds to do so.

For more helpful home ownership, buying and selling tips please use the search feature on this blog in the right hand column or contact us on our website at www.PSagent.com

Gas Line Safety In Your Home

Since we are still in January New Years Resolutions are still fresh in most peoples minds. There are all the usual ones about stopping smoking, starting exercise, spending less and losing weight. How about making 2013 the year you finally make sure you know how to handle an emergency situation and your gas service to your home.

It is something we put off and don't really worry about until it is an emergency. First things first though - do you know that it is your responsibility to maintain the gas line from the meter into your house? The Gas Company is only responsible for the line from the street to the meter. Have you even looked at your Gas meter recently? Rusted or damaged pipes on either side of the meter should be checked. If it is on your side of the meter you can call a plumber. Otherwise call the gas company.

Next: Do you know how to turn off the gas meter if necessary? Well to do that you will need a 12 inch or larger adjustable wrench. If you do turn the gas off you will need to call the Gas Company to turn it back on. Additionally you can add safety features to your house by having a turn off valve installed for the gas line to each individual appliance. Gas appliance should be inspected every year for safe operation. A Carbon Monoxide detector (now required by Federal Law) should be installed in your home. The Gas company will inspect your gas appliances for you for free. Just contact them at 800-427-2200 or visit socalgas.com

Dial 811: If you are going to dig in your yard - or have hired someone to do it - such as a landscaper - be sure to call 811 two days before so that they can mark the gas line locations. This will avoid potential problems as you complete whatever project you are doing.

Finally, don't forget that if your New Years resolutions include upgrading and remodeling your home energy rebates are often available. Check out the website www.EnergyupgradeCA.org for more information or check your utility company websites.

Water Wise Landscape

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The Coachella Valley Water District is sponsoring three workshops to help you learn about efficient landscaping in the Desert.

Dates and Times:

November 18 8am to Noon OR 1pm-5pm
and Saturday November 19th 8am to noon

Costs is $20 and includes refreshments, a potted plant and a landscaping book.

Where:
Held at the UC Riverside Graduate Center(75080 Frank Sinatra Drive)

Register at www.CVWD.org

Rancho Mirage Neighborhood Clean Up

Tomorrow is the last day to call for an appointment for pick up of your extra

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trash - electronic items - furniture  and larger items that are not generally accepted in a normal pickup.

Be sure to call  760-340-2113 or email customerservice@burrtecdesert.com to set your appointment.

DROP OFF SITES OPEN ON October 29 -2011

If the curbside by appointment does not work for you there will be drop off sites.  One is at the Rancho Mirage Public Library.  There are two other sites just for greenwaste and wood drop off  one at the SW end of Magnesia Falls Drive and the other at the East end of  Cypress lane.

Best of all you can dispose of all these items free of charge.

Please note: Burrtec and the City of Rancho Mirage cannot accept hazardous waste at these sites.  You will need to call 760-324-2374 to schedule a free pick up or take them to the Saturday only collection center in Palm Springs.  Located at 1100 Vella Road the center is open Saturdays only from 9am to 2pm.