Maintenance & Repair Tips

Here are a few tips to help you take care of your home. If your home requires major repairs, you may need to hire a contractor. Otherwise, you may just need to do some simple maintenance tasks to keep your home safe and comfortable.

Finding a Contractor
Tips for Home Maintenance

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Finding a Contractor for Repairs
Here are a few hints for you to help select the qualified contractor for your task.

1. Get personal referrals. Start by asking people that you know such as friends and co-workers. Another good source of recommendations is local contractor supply houses.
2. Plan your project carefully on paper and make a budget.
3. Solicit bids from more than one contractor. Compare not only cost, but skill, reliability and the quality of materials that will be used.
4. Request a copy of the contractor's license, liability insurance and worker's compensation certificate.
5. I recommend that you write up a contract with a contractor into contract form.  You can obtain a sample contract on the Internet.
6. You will also want to find out how the contractor expects to be paid. There are three main types of approaches to renovation and repair fees:
   a. Guaranteed maximum price (GMP). The contractor states the maximum price that the project will cost and guarantees the project within that cost.
   b. Bid or stipulated-sum. A fixed price is given for a defined scope of work. Cost savings on the job goes to the contractor and changes to the original plan are charged to you.
   c. Cost-plus-fixed fee contract approach. All actual invoices are submitted to you and you pay the labor and material costs plus a flat fee.
7. Pay after the work is completed. You may pay in draws as certain things are finished, but don't pay in advance under any circumstance. As long as you owe the contractor money, they are going to be more likely to complete the job.
8. How long have they been in business?
9. How are their current jobs coming along? Visit the job sites and talk to the owners. And finally, do they have any references.  Find out if these former clients were satisfied with the quality of the work as well as the time it took to complete the job. Ask if they would use them again.
10. Does the contractor guarantee the work? A good contractor will want to do the utmost to ensure your satisfaction with the repair work. Ask what kind of guarantees the contractor offers on the kinds of work to be done on your home.
11. Go with your gut. If everything else checks out, choose the contractor you think best understands your project and with whom you can communicate well. After all, this person and his or her workers will be in your home for days, maybe weeks, so you want to make sure you feel comfortable.

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Tips for Home Maintenance
There are so many home maintenance and repair items that are important, it can be confusing trying to establish which are the most critical. To simplify things, we have compiled a short list of our favorites. These are by no means all-inclusive, nor do they replace any of the information in a home inspection report. They should, however, help you get started on the right foot. Remember, any items marked as priority or safety issues on your home inspection report need immediate attention.

One Time Tasks

1. Install smoke detectors as necessary (usually one on each level of the home, near any sleeping areas).
2. Make any electrical improvements recommended in the home inspection report.
3. Remove any wood/soil contact to prevent rot and insect damage.
4. Change the locks on all doors.
5. Remove or correct trip hazards such as broken or uneven walks, patios and driveways. Loose or torn carpet or flooring should also be repaired promptly.
6. Correct unsafe stairways and landings. (Treads uneven, too narrow, sloped, loose; risers irregular or too high; landings missing, poorly lit or too small; railings missing, loose, too low, etc.).
7. Have all chimneys inspected and serviced before operating fireplaces.
8. Locate and mark the shut-offs for the heating, electrical and plumbing systems.
9. If there is a septic system, have the tank inspected, and pumped if necessary. If the house is on a private water supply (well), set up a regular testing procedure for checking water quality.

Regular Maintenance Items

1. Clean the gutters in the spring and fall.
2. Check for damaged roofing and flashing materials twice a year.
3. Cut back trees and shrubs from the house walls, roof and air conditioning system as needed.
4. Clean the tracks on horizontal sliding windows annually, and ensure the drain holes are clear.
5. Test ground fault circuit interrupters using the test button, monthly.
6. Service furnace or boiler yearly.
7. Check furnace filters, humidifiers and electronic air cleaners monthly.
8. Check the bathtub and shower caulking monthly and improve promptly as needed.
9. If you are in a climate where freezing occurs, shut off outdoor water faucets in the fall.
10. Install and re-secure door stops as needed.
11. Check attics for evidence of leaks and condensation and make sure vents are not obstructed, at least twice a year. (Provide access into all attics and crawl spaces.)