We’ve all heard the saying, “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors” but often times the construction of a new fence in

 the neighborhood causes problems as well.

It is a kind gesture to consult with your neighbors before constructing a fence in your yard. Here are some thoughts to consider. It is important to check your property lines before construction of your new fence. This is a great time to chat with neighbors and mention your the possibility of your new fence. Checking a property line can be as simple as locating the existing pins that were put in place by a surveyor at the time your home was built. If you are unable to locate the pins on your property, it is best to consult with your county records office.

To decrease unexpected problems, safety hazards and costs, notify your utilities before construction. Many states have free assessments and tagging of utilities for construction projects.

If you are working with a contractor, chance are that they will pull a building permit for you. However, if you are a do-it-yourself installer, contacting your local city and obtaining a building permit is an important step that is often overlooked. A building permit serves as permission from your municipality. Every city or county has different rules. Each area has different rules. Though some projects do not require a building permit, most city’s require a permit for major remodeling, new buildings, swimming pools and demolition.

After you have selected your fence, obtained the necessary permits and are ready for construction, you can ask for your neighbors’ thoughts on the project. Consider asking them if there are any times that they would prefer construction not occur. Review your fence selection with them and ask their thoughts on the material, placement and height of the fence.

Though your neighbors may have some negative comments or suggestions about your fencing plan, you should still move forward with what is best for your family as long as it is within the law.

Remember your new fence is also your neighbors new fence. In the end, your neighbors will thank you for including them in your decision and are more likely to welcome your new fence if they are involved in the process.

When is the last time you paid attention to your gutters? If you’re like many homeowners, you ignore them

until something goes wrong. But a little routine maintenance can prevent costly problems like these:

• Clogging. Gutters are designed to catch falling water and debris and redirect it from your house and the foundation. But they can’t do their job when they get clogged up with leaves, branches, and those mysterious things like toys and shoes that were launched upward. You should plan to clean out your gutters once a year (twice if you have a lot of nearby trees). Remove all the debris and then hose them out to get rid of the remaining dirt that could block drainage.

• Sagging or loose gutters. When the fasteners become loose or deteriorated, your gutters will pull away from the house’s façade. It’s a very cheap fix—as opposed to replacing the gutters later. Just get up on the ladder and replace the worn hangers and fasteners.

• Leaking. When gutters leak, the water seeps down to your home’s interior and exterior walls and around the foundation, where it saturates the ground and can cause foundation cracks, erode the landscape, and even warp the doorways and floors. When you notice a leak, even a small one, take the time to patch it up so you can avoid long-term—and costly damage to your home. You can also invest in seamless gutters.

Take a walk around the outside of your house once in awhile, particularly after a rain, to inspect your gutters. Check the foundations and the walls of the house to see if they’re experiencing any damage that could come from faulty gutters. And if you suspect a problem, don’t wait. Spend time now on gutter maintenance or spend money later on fixing your house!

When reviewing a homeowners insurance policy, does it feel like you’re reading a foreign language? There are plenty

 of terms and acronyms that you should know so you get the coverage you want and need to protect your investment. Here is a quick glossary of the most common home insurance terms.

Actual Cash Value: The value of your property at the time it is loss, damaged, or destroyed. This figure is calculated deduct depreciation from the replacement cost, so you might have out-of-pocket expenses.

Assessed Value: The taxable value of your property, as assessed by your municipality.

Betterment: An improvement you make to your home or property.

Blanket Policy: One policy covers more than one person or piece of property, such as multiple residences.

Deductible: The amount of money you are required to pay out-of-pocket; i.e., not paid by the insurance company.

Dwelling or Residence Coverage: Protection for your home and any structures directly attached to it.

Flood Insurance: Protection for damage caused by floods, which is not covered under traditional homeowners insurance; required for dwellings in designated flood planes.

Hazard Insurance: Coverage that provides compensation for physical damage caused by such hazards as fire, vandalism, and natural events like earthquakes and storms (excludes flood and acts of war or civil unrest).

Loss of Use/Additional Living Expenses Coverage: If you cannot live in your home as a result of a covered loss, such as fire, this coverage pays for your living expenses, such as hotel, travel, and meals.

Medical Expenses Coverage: Coverage that pays medical expenses for someone who is injured on your property or from any injury caused by a resident of your home (including a pet), regardless of where the injury occurs.

Other Structures Coverage: Protection for structures that are not permanently attached to your home, such as a detached garage or shed.

Personal Liability: Your legal responsibility for personal damages, such as if someone is injured in your home or bitten by your dog.

Personal Property/Contents Coverage: Protects your personal property, both at home and when you’re traveling. If, for example, your laptop is stolen from a hotel or airport, the loss is covered. You may need additional riders for expensive items like original artwork, antiques, or fine jewelry.

Replacement Cost: The current market value for an item that needs to be replaced.

Rider: An amendment or addition to your coverage.

The new year brought new tax credits for homeowners—and said goodbye to the $8,000 tax credit that was available to first-time

home buyers and the 30 percent credit for installing energy efficient windows. But you can still take advantage of homeowner tax incentives to save money by making your home more energy efficient.

Windows and skylights. Deduct 10% of the price of windows that are either Energy Star certified or meet International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) standards. Installation costs are not deductible and the maximum allowance is $200.

Storm windows. You can deduct up to $200 for storm windows (10% of your cost, minus installation) but only if they are installed over an exterior window that is also energy-efficient. 

Insulation, exterior doors, and roof. 10% of the cost of Energy Star-certified materials is deductible.

Natural gas, propane, or oil furnace or hot water boiler. Claim $150 on your 2011 tax return when you install a system with an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of at least 95%.

Heating. You can take a $200 deduction when you replace your old furnace with an energy efficient model.

Wood heating. If you install a wood heating system in your home, you can claim up to $300.

Central air conditioning. In order to get this $300 tax credit, your new system must have a 16 SEER rating and at least an EER of 13.

Water heaters. For natural gas, propane or oil water heaters, you can deduct $300 on the equipment if it has an energy factor of .82 or higher or a thermal efficiency rating of at least 90%. An electric heat pump water heater must have an energy factor of at least 2.0 to qualify for the $300 energy efficient tax credit.

Your total tax credit cannot exceed $500 and the improvements must be made on your primary residence. Plus, your total lifetime energy efficiency credit cannot exceed $1,500, so if you’ve already claimed deductions in the past, you need to subtract those from the $1,500 ceiling on allowable credits. But when you add in the energy savings on your heating, water, and electric bill, there’s still an advantage to thinking and living green!

There’s never a more important time to pay attention to the details than when you’re getting your house ready to sell. It’s

a buyer’s market and there’s a lot of competition out there. To get the best price, you need to put your best foot forward.

Obviously, the house needs to be structurally sound.  If major repairs are needed, take care of those, or be prepared to adjust your price to reflect the work that a buyer will need to do.

Your real estate agent is a wonderful resource, and can tell you what kind of improvements will get the attention of buyers in your market.
In general, here are steps you can take to make a great first impression on prospective buyers.

Exterior
-Cut and water the grass regularly. If there are bare spots, fill them in. Trim foliage so the house can easily be seen. Weed flower beds and kill weeds in walkways.
-Pressure wash the exterior to get rid of dirt, stains or peeling paint. Repaint if needed.
-Clean and repair any damaged gutters, siding and shutters.
-Repair loose or damaged roof shingles.
-Put a fresh coat of paint on the front door.
-Put away any clutter in the yard, including toys, bikes and yard equipment. If there’s anything broken sitting in the yard, get rid of it. If you have a car that’s not running, or a boat or RV parked at the house, store it somewhere else while the house is on the market.
-Make sure the walkways and steps are free of any tripping hazards.
-Remove any ant beds, wasp nests and spider webs.
-Add some color with seasonal plants near the front door.
-Wash the windows.
-Update the light fixtures and house numbers.

Interior
-Paint. This is the cheapest, easiest way to give your house a fresh look. Remove outdated wallpaper and borders.
-Give the house a thorough cleaning, including flooring and window treatments, especially if you have pets. If you have smokers, take pictures and mirrors off the walls to see if the walls need cleaned.
-Eliminate clutter. This makes the house look bigger and more open. Put away toys, clean off the counters, take down clusters of family photos, pack up the knick-knacks, etc.
-Check the ceilings and walls for cracks, stains or signs of water damage.
-Repair any damage to wallpaper, walls, molding, tiles or flooring.
-Replace missing handles from cabinets. 
-Fix any leaking faucets, showerheads or toilets.
-Replace broken or cracked windows or doors.
-Replace outdated light fixtures and burned-out light bulbs.
-Repair damaged countertops.

If you think roof leaks are only a problem if you live in a climate with frequent rain, think again. While roofing problems

are obviously most often caused or exacerbated by rain, there are other just as insidious, but lesser-known, sources that contribute to roof leak issues. Whether you’ve got a new home or an older one, most roof shingles, on average, can go 15 years without needing repair—but that doesn’t mean you should set the alarm for a decade and a half and forget about it. A roof can get in bad shape well before the 15-year mark, and the longer you wait to repair it, the more expensive the repair will likely be.

To keep repair costs as minimal as possible, be aware of some problems that can cause serious roof leaks, and stop them at the source whenever possible to prolong your roof’s life. If you aren’t experienced with home repairs, it’s a good idea—for safety’s sake—to call in a professional home inspector to assess the damage, and a trusted repairperson to fix it correctly. And if you’re in the home buying or selling process and a home inspector is required anyway, choose a professionally trained inspector who knows the importance of checking for all of the following problems, which can contribute to leaks:

1. Incorrect shingle installation. Don’t rely on looks alone; even the strongest shingles won’t stand up to rain if they’re not properly installed. Improper joint locations and a lack of underlay are two issues that are particularly hard to see, but can be extremely problematic.

2. Structural sagging. A sagging roof structure is often the result of moisture retention, and nearly always foreshadows, or coincides with, a leak issue.

3. Water “ponding.” Clogged roof drains and indented areas on flat roofs can cause water pooling—which is basically a leak waiting to happen.

4. Damaged nails. Even on shingles that have been expertly installed, nails are the first thing to show wear. Corroding nails leave microscopic holes that invite water in.

5. Improperly hung gutters. Gutter placement is critical, and if you’re in an area with strong wind, just a tiny shift can tamper with the gutter system and divert rain—meant for the gutter—onto the roof.

6. Moss. You might think it’s just an aesthetic problem, but as moss gathers, it retains more and more moisture that you might not be able to see—until it starts dripping into the attic.

7. Insufficient insulation. The roof might look great on the outside, but if it’s not properly insulated underneath, you’re in trouble. Pre-1980s homes, in particular, may not have an adequate vapor barrier; if they don’t, a replacement is warranted—surface patching and minor repairs will just amount to wasted money.

8. A deteriorating chimney. Whether its cracks, eroded joints or a decaying cap, the chimney has plenty of inroads for moisture and water. Don’t discount the chimney; sometimes it might need all the repairs, when the roof might be just fine.

9. Evidence of badly-done past repairs. From improper plastering to inadequately plugged-up holes, any past repairs that look like they’re DIY are probably not up to code, and are just a stopgap measure. Don’t look to them to provide any leak protection in the future. Have a professional inspector evaluate these half-hearted fixes, and suggest ways to re-do them properly, to prolong the roof’s life.

10. Don’t forget the attic. Leaks into the attic aren’t just a problem; but so are leaks originating in the attic. One of the most important precautions: Don’t terminate any vent or exhaust pipes in the attic.

Courtesy of RISMedia & Pillar to Post Professional Home Inspections.

Here are some basic tips to make choosing homeowners’ insurance an easier task:

1. Get past the advertising fluff. When selling your home and buying a new one, your mailbox becomes a sieve of solicitations—and one of the front-line offenders are homeowners’ insurance companies. Our quick scan of the latest bunch of mailings reveals quite a few boasting fancy packaging and idealistic images of beautiful homes with magazine-ready design schemes. They’re often printed on pricey paper stock and feature florid writing poetically telling you how they can help you protect your home and all the prized possessions it contains, better than any other company can. Just because a company has the advertising budget for big mailings, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best. It’s quite possible that you might do just fine with a company that sends you a mailing—but you might do even better with another company that never sends solicitation mailings. The boil-down is this: don’t just go with the first thing you see, even if it seems good.

2. Consult your state’s resources. Choosing from a huge array of large national insurance companies can be daunting; that’s why it’s a good idea to start in your state. Your state will likely have an insurance, consumer advocacy or chamber of commerce website offering homeowner’s insurance tips. The benefit to a state site is that it gives you a good idea as to what your insurance covers given your particular state’s weather conditions and home wear and zoning issues. These sites also give information on important state codes; it’s critical to check that the company you’re researching understands these codes extremely well. Finally, many state sites list consumer complaints against particular companies from residents in your state.

3. Make sure the coverage is not only extensive, but appropriate for you. A homeowner may come across a potential company with a good service record and reputation, but that doesn’t mean its ideal for them. Look at the details of what the company focuses on. If a company looks great overall, but they emphasize snow and ice damage in all their marketing materials, it’s not going to be right for you if you live in Southeastern Virginia—no matter how great a company it is. Make sure the company’s strong points match the needs of your particular home and geographical area.

4. Familiarize yourself with the claim process. The insurance company might advertise the fact that you can make frequent claims for repairs, but many companies hike up your premium if you frequently file small claims. This isn’t necessarily unethical, as it’s often stated in the fine print, but it could definitely hurt your wallet; that’s why it’s smart to ask up front how both routine/small and catastrophic claims might affect premiums. At the most, asking will ultimately save you money, i.e., you can do a small repair yourself instead of filing a claim for it, and ultimately the money you spend on the repair might be less than the premium hike.

5. Know the condition of your home. It’s impossible to effectively choose homeowners’ insurance unless you know the condition of your home inside and out. For instance, if you have a roof that’s prone to leakiness and not in the best shape, you’ll obviously want to avoid a policy that doesn’t cover this sort of thing. The best way to learn about issues in your home is to get a home inspection of your new home by a certified, reputable home inspector. The home inspector will examine your new home for any potential faults and issues to watch for; this is incredibly powerful ammunition in choosing the right homeowners’ insurance, and can save a lot of money in the event anything goes wrong and you find yourself in the claim-filing process.

Be sure to ask your friends and relatives for recommendations and use your REALTOR(R) as a resource.

The temperature is dropping as winter approaches. You can make your home comfortable and energy efficient

by following these simple steps.

1. Inspect your roof. Reseal flashings to prevent leaks, and replace loose or cracked shingles or tiles.

2. Seal the exterior. Recaulk around your doors, windows, and plumbing to block potential drafts.

3. Shut the vents. If you have vents in your foundation to remove summer’s humidity and moisture from your home’s interior, close those vents before they let in the cold temperatures.

4. Replace cracked windows. Avoid further damage and prevent drafts by installing new windows before winter.

5. Safely store products prone to freezing. Products like paint, cleaners, and gardening materials that could be affected by cold temperatures should be moved to a warmer storage space for the winter. Be sure to check the labels before bringing anything into your home that might create a hazard.

6. Do a draft inspection.  Cold air can sneak in through even the tiniest cracks. Look for light seeping through cracks in walls and doors. Hold a lighter near windows to see if wind is blowing through. Patch up those drafty spots with weatherstripping.

7. Check your fireplace. Have your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected. Check the seals around the fireplace doors. If you don’t have airtight doors on your fireplace, consider installing them to increase the efficiency and keep out drafts when the fireplace is not in use.

8. Have your gas appliances inspected. Schedule a visit from your gas company or heating company to check any appliances that run on propane or natural gas to make sure they are in good order.

9. Check your detectors. Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure they are working properly.

10. Tune up your heating system. Before you’re relying heavily on your heating system, have your service provider give it a good cleaning and tune-up to ensure your safety and comfort through those cold days and nights.

11. Install humidifiers. When you’re closed in tight for the winter, the air is dryer than normal. Set up your humidifiers with clean filters and check their water supply.
A little time spent before the winter hits will guarantee a season of comfort and joy!

...a paint brush that is.

Your home could use a makeover. There are many ways in which you could update but no matter if you’re selling it, or just wanting a nice change, most homeowners know that painting is the best and most affordable way to update and improve the look of their home.

Its amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to liven up a room.  What’s even better, is that you can do it yourself quickly and inexpensively. There are hundreds of colors and techniques available, that you can use in a variety of ways. And it doesn’t have to be intimidating.

First, look at the décor you have already. Picking a color scheme can be challenging but using the fabric in your furniture and curtains is a good way to start. Use paint color to stimulate a certain mood of a room. Warm colors add coziness while cool colors invoke a sense of peace and relaxation. Knowing how color will affect your emotional response is important.

Then, begin looking in home décor magazines for inspiration and keep the pages you like. You may even find some rooms that are structured like your own. Paying attention to architectural details will give your room a custom touch. If you want to spark even more interest, try an accent wall, painting one wall in a room a striking color and the others lighter neutral tone. Using textures such as rag-rolling and faux finishing will also give your walls a professional and unique look when painting.

Transforming your home by painting can be a fun weekend project, and give you a new refreshing look that you can enjoy without breaking your wallet.