Archive for June, 2009
The Importance Of A Pest Inspection
The excitement of buying a new home and the desire to save money can lead the potential homeowner down a dark crumbling drywall road. Some people think that a pest inspection is an unnecessary and costly step in the home buying process especially if neighboring houses don’t have a problem or the owner swears upon the sanctity of their mother’s grave that there are no bug problems. However I believe that it is a lot more costly to pay to evict two million tiny squatters and repair the damage they cost you.
Some people are of the opinion that pests only infest lowerquality houses and condos but this is fallacious in the extreme. Any residence can serve as a cafeteria for wooddestroying organisms. And if you’re paying several hundred thousands of dollars more than the homes you would think would be more prey to this kind of problem doesn’t it make sense to make sure that money is well invested in a solid structure?
A pest inspection is often called a termite inspection because termites are the most infamous of the pests who like to snack on your house and belongings. However there are more critters out there that like to argue the merits of pine vs fir. Some of these include carpenter ants carpet beetles and silverfish. All of these pests like wood but they can leave different evidence that only an experienced person can detect.
Like the home inspection the pest inspection should be part of your paperwork. Your offer to purchase the home should be conditional upon the home meeting a standard that you have determined that you can live with. Sometimes a small nest of nasties can be eradicated with a small outlay of time and noxious chemicals. However if the supports of the house resemble birds’ bones you should take your down payment and back slowly away.
A good pest inspector is going to take their time to thoroughly inspect your house. Since a lot of pests don’t always go out of their way to yell HI! I’m HERE!” to the concerned home buyer pest inspectors have to crawl into outoftheway spots like the attic or basement to check for signs. It’s sometimes a dusty and dirty job but most pest inspectors are prepared for this.
Before you invite a pest inspector to look over your future domicile it’s wise to ask them questions check out their references and check their licensing. Licensing can vary from state to state so be aware of the laws of your area. During the inspection the inspector should be willing to answer your questions and point out problem areas. You should get a full report and an estimate of the standard that the home meets.
Keep in mind that a pest inspector is not Superman; Xray vision is beyond them. They cannot guarantee that your future residence is free of pests; just that it appears free. Many recommend regular inspections to catch problems before they become a serious threat to the soundness and equity of your house.
About the writer:
About the writer: Let Jim Hirschman Realty guide you professionally through your Sarasota real estate transaction. Check SarasotaLandAndHomes.com to view all the Sarasota community listings including Anna Maria Island real estate.
The Contractors Guide To Quality Concrete Construction Decorative Concretes
A concrete contractor doesn’t just pour concrete level it and then leave. A concrete contractor can be responsible for the proper grading leveling site prep form work ordering placing finishing and perhaps decorating and sealing the concrete. A concrete contractor is a valuable asset to have when you are using concrete for your building or structure. Their experience can save you thousands from making a mistake on your own. If you think its easy work and you can do it yourself you have probably never poured placed and finished concrete. Not only do you need the proper tools including a wheelbarrow bull float extensions mag trowel steel trowel power trowel rubber boots rebar ties screeds edger trowels forming equipment forms and on and on. Also when the concrete arrives you have better secured your forms and be ready for quick placement and finishing if not you have a big heavy solid mistake thats not easy to fix. If you have ever had to push multiple wheelbarrows to the pour site you will understand how backbreaking and how hard the work really is.
A concrete contractor understands mix design how to calculate the amount needed and how to place the right finish on the concrete depending on its ultimate use.
On the other hand a Decorative Concrete Contractor has a different but equal value when decorating your concrete. They understand cure times surface finishes colors sealers coatings surface preparation color application methods and techniques. They are expert problem solvers and great at troubleshooting because no concrete slab or environment is ever perfect.. They have an arsenal of handy and required specialty tools including stamp mats tampers diamond cutting and grinding wheels trowels screed rakes smoothers squeegees rollers sprayers and spray equipment extension cods safety gear industrial vacuums polishing tools spiked rollers and so on.
Although you may find many DIY sites who encourage you to do it yourself it is important to really understand what you are getting into. We get many a call asking for help with a ruined project. People calculate the cost of the product or material but are extremely unprepared for all the little things that were conveniently not mentioned. Once you calculate the total installed cost of the concrete you might realize that if you had to purchase all the right equipment tools and labor it is a great deal to have a professional concrete contractor take care of everything.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Patiosarticlesplus local concrete contractors for colored stamped and textured concrete patiosdriveways pooldecks interior stained floors concrete countertops and many more decorative concrete applications.
The 4-week Packing Plan
It helps to break the packing and moving ordeal into stages that can be got through with less fuss than a 24hour grind. Youll be less stressed things will be more organized and moving day will go a lot smoother.
Week 4:
Get packing materials together boxes tape labels etc
Get rid of all clutter that you dont want. Sell it at a garage sale give it away to friends drop it off at the local thrift store or take it to the local recycling center. Be ruthless!
Label every box as it is filled and sealed so if you need something or want to make sure the box goes to a particular area of the new home identification is made easy. Consider taping a list to boxes filled with smallbutimportant items.
If you have firearms make sure that you have all permits to transport them legally. Also familiarize yourself with any transport and declaration rules.
Week 3:
Pack the stuff you dont need right now. Examples include: seasonal items items that you dont need around right now memorabilia and guest room furniture
Week 2:
Confirm the moving time and date with your movers whether they are professionals or friends. Dont leave anything to chance or a general email asking for help. It is often the case that people who send out mass emails asking for help with their move have people who figure that everyone else is going to be there so I dont have to. Its much better to ask your friends individually.
Make sure that you have the transportation for your pets and family arranged.
Week 1:
Pack everything else that is going with you. Pretend youre on a demented camping trip with your family and have decided to rough it with one set of utensils for each person and a minimum of cooking equipment.
Make sure firearms are unloaded and properly stored for transport. Keep the registration and other paperwork in the vehicle carrying the weapons so you dont have to scrabble around looking for it if you need to present documentation in a hurry.
Ensure that your cleaning supplies and other equipment are not packed up as you will need them for cleaning your former residence later unless you have engaged a cleaning service.
Start clearing out your food from the pantry/cupboards/refrigerator/freezer. Throw out anything that is past its due date and try to use up the food you have on hand.
Make sure most of your packing is DONE by the end of the week before you move.
Day before moving day:
Pack clothing for a couple of days toiletries games toys for the trip to your new home.
Make sure as much food as possible is cleared out of the pantry/cupboards/refrigerator/freezer.
Break down as much furniture as possible.
See that all of your packed/disassembled property is arranged so movers/helpers have clear access to what needs to be packed into the moving van first second third etc.
Moving Day!
Send your pets and very young children to a sitter or friend for the packing time. They will only be underfoot and possibly distressed about the changes to their environment.
Make sure all your things are clearly labeled as to where they go and what they are.
Its helpful if there is a party at the other end of your journey to make sure the home is open.
Make sure you pack the things you will need for the first day/night in your new home last so they will be the first things out of the truck.
Try not to get too stressed out. Moving is stressful and it helps if you expect some delays and things not going quite as planned.
About the writer: Marci McFarland is a Sarasota real estate agent with a broad professional approach. Her unique insight into the various lifestyle requirements of her clients combined with an intimate knowledge of her service area including Palmer Ranch Sarasota real estate make her an ideal choice for families and investors alike.