Source:  HouseLogic

Maintaining gutters is the most important thing you can do to prevent water damage to your home.

Gutters are designed to do one thing - channel water away from the foundation - and they're critical to protecting the structural integrity of your house.  But in order for gutters to do their job properly, they have to be kept in shape and free of clogs, holes, and sags.

Luckily, most common gutter problems are easy for homeowners to fix themselves.  And it's worth the effort.  "Gutters are one of those things where routine maintenance and inspecting them can really prevent bigger problems down the road," says Jason Stutzman, director of home maintenance and repair for Brothers Redevelopment in Denver.

Here Are The Gutter Problems That The Pros See Most Often, And The Recommended Solutions:

CLOGGED GUTTERS
This is the most common problem of all.  Left untended, gutters and downspouts get so clogged with debris that they're rendered useless.  The excess weight of leaves, twigs, and standing water can also make them sag and pull away from the fascia.  
Clean them at least once a year, and twice a year if you have a lot of trees nearby.  Gary Mindlin, managing partner of New York City-based Top Hat Home Services, schedules gutter maintenance four times a year, with additional checks after big storms. 
You can clean your own gutters if you're comfortable on a ladder, don't mind getting wet and dirty, and don't have an extremely tall house.  After you've cleared the muck, flush them with a garden hose to make sure they're flowing properly.  If you'd prefer, you can hire someone to do the job.
Another option for dealing with chronically clogged gutters is to outfit them with gutter covers.  These include mesh screens, clip-on gates, and porous foam.  They still need regular maintenance, though, and the cost can be more than the gutters themselves.

SAGGING GUTTERS AND GUTTERS PULLING AWAY FROM THE HOUSE
This is usually a problem with the hangers, the hardware that secures the gutters to the fascia.  They might have deteriorated over time, the fasteners may have backed out of the wood, or they're spaced too far apart to support the weight of full gutters.  The cost to fix it yourself is cheap:  hangers generally cost $10 or less a piece, and the fasteners run about $1 each.

LEAKS AND HOLES
Leaky gutter joints can be sealed by caulking the joint from the inside with gutter sealant, says John Eggenberger, vice president of training and corporate development for the Mr. Handyman franchise of home repair companies.  A tube costs about $5.  Very small holes can be filled with gutter sealant.  Larger holes will require a patch.  If you can't find a gutter patching kit at the hardware store, you can make a patch from metal flashing.

IMPROPERLY PITCHED GUTTERS
Gutters need to be pitched toward the downspouts for the water to flow properly.  You want at least a quarter inch of slope for every 10 feet.  Get on a ladder after a rainstorm and look in the gutter; if there's standing water, it's not pitched properly.
To correct this yourself, you'll need to measure from the peak to the downspout.  Snap a chalk line between the two and find the spots where the gutter is out of alignment.  You might be able to push it up into place by bending the hanger.  If that doesn't solve the problem, you might need to take a section down and rehang it.  If you have seamless gutters, call the company that installed them to correct the problem.

DOWNSPOUTS DRAINING TOO CLOSE TO THE FOUNDATION
Downspouts need to extend several feet from the house, or they'll dump right into the basement.  Gutter extensions attached to the bottom of the downspout will discharge water well beyond the foundation.  They're inexpensive and easy to install.  "I like the downspout material extended four or five feet and screwed on," says Reggie Marston, president of Residential Equity Management Home Inspections in Springfield, Va.  Cost:  less than $20 per downspout.

MISSING GUTTERS
If your house has no gutters at all, consider investing in a system.  The cost depends on the material.  Most residential gutters are aluminum, which is lightweight and durable.  "Unless an aluminum gutter is damaged by something, it will last forever," says Scott McCurdy, vice president of Jacksonville, Fla., - based disaster repair contractor Coastal Reconstruction.  Vinyl, galvanized steel, and copper also are available options.
Aluminum gutters range from about $4.50 to $8.50 per linear foot installed.  On a 2,000-square-foot house with about 180 linear feet of gutters, that's roughly $800 to $1,500

Source:  CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

Real Estate Information You Should Know

- Existing home sales nationally stepped out to a fast start in 2017, surpassing a recent cyclical high and increasing in January to the fastest pace in almost a decade, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).  All major regions except for the Midwest saw sales gains last month.

- Total existing-home sales 1, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, town-homes, condominiums and co-ops, expanded 3.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.69 million in January from an upwardly revised 5.51 million in December 2016.

- January's sales pace is 3.8 percent higher than a year-ago (5.48 million) and surpasses November 2016 (5.60 million) as the strongest since February 2007 (5.79 million).

- Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says January's sales gain signals resilience among consumers even in a rising interest rate environment.  "Much of the country saw robust sales activity last month as strong hiring and improved consumer confidence at the end of last year appear to have sparked considerable interest in buying a home," he said.  "Market challenges remain, but the housing market is off to a prosperous start as home-buyers staved off inventory levels that are far from adequate and deteriorating affordability conditions."

- The median existing-home price 2 for all housing types in January was $228,900, up 7.1 percent from January 2016 ($213,700).  January's price increase was the fastest since last January (8.1 percent) and marks the 59th consecutive month of year-over-year gains.

Source:  HouseLogic

Avoid these easy-to-prevent mistakes that could cost you big time.

We know so well the thrill of owning your own house - but don't let the excitement cause you to overlook the basics.  We've gathered up a half dozen classic boo-boos new homeowners often commit - and give you some insight on why each is critically important to avoid.

4.  NOT KNOWING THE DEPTH OF ATTIC INSULATION
This goes hand-in-hand with not knowing where your attic access is located, so let's start there.  Find the ceiling hatch, typically a square area framed with molding in a hallway or closet ceiling.  Push the hatch cover straight up.  Get a ladder and check out the depth of the insulation.  If you can see the tops of joists, you definitely don't have enough.

The recommended insulation for most attics is about R-38 or 10 to 14 inches deep, depending on the type of insulation you choose.  BTW, is your hatch insulated, too?  Use 4-inch-thick foam board glued to the top.

5.  CARELESSLY DRILLING INTO WALLS
Hanging shelves, closet systems, and artwork means drilling into your walls - but do you know what's back there?  Hidden inside your walls are plumbing pipes, ductwork, wires and cables.

You can check for some stuff with a stud sensor - a $25 battery-operated tool that detects changes in density to sniff out studs, cables, and ducts.

But stud sensors aren't foolproof.  Protect yourself by drilling only 1 3/4 inches deep max - enough to clear drywall and plaster but not deep enough to reach most wires and pipes.

Household wiring runs horizontally from outlet to outlet about 8 inches to 2 feet from the floor, so that's a no-drill zone.  Stay clear of vertical locations above and below wall switches - wiring runs along studs to reach switches.

6.  CUTTING DOWN A TREE
The risk isn't worth it.  Even small trees can fall awkwardly, damaging your house, property, or your neighbor's property.  In some locales, you have to obtain a permit first.  Cutting down a tree is an art that's best left to a professional tree service.

Plus, trees help preserve property values and provide shade that cuts energy bills.  So think twice before going all Paul Bunyan.

Source:  Phys.org

Interested in making an investment that promises a 100 percent return on your money?  Buy a low-cost, open-source 3-D printer, plug it in, and print household items.

In a recent study, Michigan Technological University Associate Professor Joshua Pearce set out to determine how practical and cost effective at-home 3-D printing is for the average consumer.

He found that consumers - even those who are technologically illiterate - can not only make their money back within six months, but can also earn an almost 1,000 percent return on their investment over a five-year period.

Source:  HouseLogic

Easy ways to put the luster back into your floors.

Dogs chase kids, pans drop, chairs scrape, and soon you must repair wood floors and erase scratches that make a mess of your red oak or Brazilian cherry.  A professional floor refinisher will charge $1 to $4 per square foot to apply a new coat of finish.  No worries.  We've got inexpensive ways to remove wood scratches and repair deep gouges in a few easy steps.

CAMOUFLAGE SCRATCHES
Take some artistic license to hide minor scratches in wood floors by rubbing on stain-matching crayons and Sharpie pens.  Wax sticks, such as Minwax Stain Markers, are great scratch busters because they include stain and urethane, which protects the floor's finish.

Don't be afraid to mix a couple of colors together to get a good match.  And don't sweat if the color is a little off.  Real hardwoods mix several hues and tones.  So long as you cover the contrasting "white" scratches, color imperfections will match perfectly.

HOMEMADE POLISH
Mix equal parts olive oil and vinegar, which work together to remove dirt, moisturize, and shine wood.  Pour a little directly onto the scratch.  Let the polish soak in for 24 hours, then wipe off.  Repeat until the scratch disappears.

SPOT-SAND DEEP SCRATCHES
It takes time to repair wood gouges:  Sand, fill, sand again, stain, and seal.  Here are some tips to make the job go faster.

- Sand with fine-gauge steel wool or lightweight sandpaper.

- Always sand with the grain.

- Use wood filler, which takes stain better than wood putty.

- Use a plastic putty knife to avoid more scratches.

- Seal the area with polyurethane, or whatever product was used on the floor originally.

- Apply the polyurethane coat with a lambs wool applicator, which avoids air bubbles in the finish.

FIX GAPS IN THE FLOOR
Old floorboards can separate over time.  Fill the gaps with colored wood putty.  Or, if you have some leftover planks, rip a narrow band and glue it into the gap.

Source:  HouseLogic

Avoid these easy-to-prevent mistakes that could cost you big time.

We know so well the thrill of owning your own house - but don't let the excitement cause you to overlook the basics.  We've gathered up a half dozen classic boo-boos new homeowners often commit - and give your some insight on why each is critically important to avoid.

1.  NOT KNOWING WHERE THE MAIN WATER SHUTOFF VALVE IS
Water from a burst or broken plumbing pipe can spew dozens of gallons into your home's interior in a matter of minutes, soaking everything in sight - including drywall, flooring, and valuables.  In fact, water damage is one of the most common of all household insurance claims.

Quick-twitch reaction is needed to stave off a major bummer.  Before disaster hits, find your water shutoff valve, which will be located where a water main enters your house.  Make sure everyone knows where it's located and how to close the valve.  A little penetrating oil on the valve stem makes sure it'll work when you need it to.

2.  NOT CALLING 811 BEFORE DIGGING A HOLE
Ah, spring!  You're so ready to dig into your new yard and plant bushes and build that fence.  But don't - not until you've dialed 811, the national dig-safely hotline.  The hotline will contact all your local utilities who will then come to your property - often within a day - to mark the location of underground pipes, cables, and wires.

This free service keeps you safe and helps avoid costly repairs.  In many states, calling 811 is the law, so you'll also avoid fines.

3.  NOT CHECKING THE SLOPE OF FOUNDATION SOIL
The ground around your foundation should slope away from your house at least 6 inches over 10 feet.  Why?  To make sure that water from rain and melting snow doesn't soak the soil around your foundation walls, building up pressure that can cause leaks and crack your foundation, leading to mega-expensive repairs.

This kind of water damage doesn't happen overnight - it's accumulative - so the sooner you get after it, the better (and smarter) you'll be.  While you're at it, make sure downspouts extend at least 5 feet away from your house.

Source:  HouseLogic

Repair and replace door hardware that makes rooms look dingy and outdated.  We'll show you how door and cabinet pulls, knobs, and hinges can give your home new sparkle.

You can slam cabinet and bedroom doors only so many times before you have to repair and replace hardware that is loose, broken, or just plain old and tired.  It doesn't take a lot of time or money to tighten loose hardware, clean globs of paint off a hinge, or replace cabinet pulls to brighten any room in the house.

REPAIR AND REPLACE KITCHEN CABINET HARDWARE
Replacing or repairing knobs and pulls on cabinets and drawers is a quick way to give your old kitchen a new look.
Cabinet hardware can be simple or ornate, and ranges from $1 a knob to $45 or more.
Here's your game plan:

- Repair loose knobs and pulls by tightening holding screws, replacing stripped screws, or plugging gaps with wood filler applied with a putty knife.

- Count the number of knobs or pulls you need before you head to the hardware store.  Estimating will cost you time and money.

- To replace pulls, which are attached to cabinets by a screw at each end, measure the distance between holes - not the length of pulls - to assure a perfect fit.

- If you're switching from a two-hole pull to a one-hole knob, choose hardware with back plates that cover door scratches and holes.

TIGHTEN, POLISH, OR REPLACE DOOR HARDWARE
Nothing ages a room like a loose doorknob.  You can tighten mortise-style doorknobs by simply tightening the setscrew on the side of the doorknob.  For cylindrical doorknobs, you'll need to take the doorknob apart.

Replace dated doorknobs with sleek door levers.  For easiest installation, choose a lever handle lockset made by the same manufacturer.  Prices range from $60 to $160.

Buy a commercial polish, such as Wright's or Weiman, to make brass doorknobs shine.  Warm water and a little dish soap or a homemade paste of equal parts vinegar and baking soda will scrub off dirt and make stainless steel and glass doorknobs sparkle.

CLEAN OR REPLACE DOOR HINGES
Telltale paint on door hinges says someone did a sloppy job.  To restore hinges, try these techniques:

 - Wash with sudsy hot water.

- Scrub with a nylon brush or a toothbrush.  A wire brush could damage the finish.

- Brush on paint stripper that is safe for all surfaces.

- Polish with beeswax furniture polish or brass polish.

Source:  HouseLogic

Sooner or later you'll repair walls that make rooms look worn out.  Erasing dings, dents, and scuffs is an easy fix.  We'll show you how.

Repair walls filled with dents, dings, and scuffs, and you'll make rooms look young and fresh and maintain0 the value of your home.  Fortunately, repairing walls is a good weekend warrior project.  Here's how to fix your home's face in a hurry.

PATCH DRYWALL TO SMOOTH WALLS
A putty knife, spackle, or joint compound can repair wall damage that ages a room.

Dents and dings:  A quart of spackle ($11) and a putty knife can fill dozens of small wall indentations.  Spackle adheres to painted walls better than joint compound, though it takes a bit longer to dry.  Cut wall repair time by thoroughly wiping away excess spackle.

Fist-sized holes:  Joint compound is your best bet when covering the mesh or drywall patches that cover big holes.  You'll need at least two thin coats of compound and fine grit sandpaper to blend repairs into the rest of the wall.

Nail pops:  Nail pops travel in packs - rarely do you see just one.  To repair walls pocked with pops, hammer the popped nail back into the wall or pull it out with a needle-nose pliers; refasten the drywall to the nearest stud with a couple of screws, then fill dents with two or three coats of joint compound.  Sand until smooth and flush with the rest of the wall, then repaint.

REMOVE MARKS FOR A CLEAN START
Microfiber cloths are little miracles that erase the evidence of a childhood well spent, drawing on and caroming off walls.  To get rid of scuff marks and fingerprints:

- Spray an all-purpose cleaner onto the cloth (never directly onto walls to avoid drips) and swipe the scuff.  (Test a hidden spot to make sure the cleaner doesn't take off paint with the mark.)

- Pour a little dish soap onto a damp cloth and wipe the mark.

- Dip a sponge into an earth-friendly and slightly abrasive paste of dish soap, baking soda, and water, and gently scrub grime.

 - To repair walls decorated with crayon marks, dab toothpaste onto a towel or toothbrush and scrub marks.

- Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser ($3), the best instant wall cleaner around.  Wet and wring the eraser before attacking scuffs.

TOUCH UP WHAT YOU CAN'T WIPE OUT
Prepare for inevitable touch-ups by keeping leftover paint or at least recording the paint number and/or formula (paint names change).  Don't have the original?  Scrape off a little and ask your paint store to match it.

For touch-ups, use the same type of brush or roller the original painter used.  Feather the paint from the outside borders in.

If touch-ups stand out, paint the entire wall, making sure to paint corner to corner and avoid splatters onto the ceiling and adjacent walls.

Source:  Forbes

Beyond the convenience of seeing who is knocking at your door, many of the potential uses of the smart home lead back to retail.  Your refrigerator will tell you when you need more milk.  Your smart lamp might predict or warn you when your light bulb is about to die.  Your fitness tracker will make meal recommendations for how to change your diet to meet your fitness goals - meals it will undoubtedly want to help you plan and buy.

And right now there are three main companies capable of carrying on a conversation with such smart devices:  Apple, Google, and Amazon.  If you're using Amazon's Alexa, where do you think it's going to be easiest to buy that milk your refrigerator says you need?  You might not even consciously approve the order - when milk gets this low, Alexa will order it, and Amazon Pantry will deliver.

Source:  Bloomberg

As home prices rise, new home construction slows, and demographics shift, the U.S. is increasingly a country of renters - and landlords.

Last year, 37 percent of homes sold were acquired by buyers who didn't live in them, according to tax-assessment data compiled in a new report.

That number may include second homes or properties acquired by investors who seek to fix up old homes and resell them at a profit.  But it's also a strong indication that landlords are playing a larger role in the U.S. housing market.

Real Estate Information You Should Know

There are many programs that are available for first-time home-buyers.  Think about this logic - when you're paying rent, you're dumping money into your landlord's pocket.  But when you're paying a mortgage, you're creating equity and a forced savings account.  Which one makes more sense to you?

Contact me today to learn more about the programs that are available for first-time home-buyers.

Felicia Jones, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty, BRE# 01977033
Phone:  424.278.9426
Email:  homesbyfelicia@kwrealty.com