Buying, Fixing & Selling Your Home: Part I

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

Investing in a property and owning it, comes with a lot of maintenance work to do. The big question is can you fix and remodel your house? This is how you get started:

1.     Purchase books on home maintenance or remodeling.

2.     If you have friend who can recommend you to qualified contractors and handyman specialists.

3.     Go visit your neighborhood and check out remodeled houses for various ideas.

4.     If you have more time, watch or even go to home improvement shows.

The First few remodeling projects you will do.

Refinishing oak floors - This something you cannot do by yourself and you need to hire pros but I will share some few points. Here is what I learn:

1.     Review again and again before moving any furniture, this way you will not clutter and block your exit of piled furniture.

2.     Throwing carpet out your window will definitely scratch the window ledges. Leaving a path to the door is a much better thing to do.

3.     The price will depend on the finishes

4.     It is easy to clean up water-based polyurethane.

5.     Oil-based polyurethane has an amber hue and is strong.

6.     Polyurethane finishes needs a minimum of three coats. 

Laid Ceramic tiles – What I learn:  

1.     Knowing where to shop for sale prices can save you money.

2.     You can also save by mixing your own mortar and grout instead buying premixed.

3.     Do not mix mortar more than you can use in thirty minutes

4.     Adding latex to thinset will even strengthen the bond.

5.     After, wash the tools immediately and dry them.

6.     Get big sponges, rinse frequently and squeeze dry when cleaning grout film.

7.     When you using only a few tiles, you will cut cost by taking your tiles to the store and have it cut vs. renting a wet saw. 

Installing ceiling fans – this part is easy and any one can do it, the hard part is either you mount the fan against the ceiling or simple drop it from a stem. What I learn: 

1.     Never rely on circuit breaker. Remember to always turn off the main switch.

2.     Buy an electric tester. Always check that there is no current running through the wires.  

3.     White wires are cold, black wires are hot and copper wires are neutral.

4.     When your hands are too sore a needle-nose pliers can help.

5.     Make sure your wires are completely secured and tight inside wire nuts.

6.     Take off your existing lighting fixtures before purchasing a fan so you can be sure that the new mounting hardware is enough to cover the hole in the ceiling.

Painted bathrooms and bedrooms – Here is what I learn:

1.     Stains from cigarette smoke and water stains on ceilings and walls will be gone through fresh paint.

2.     Using a paint tray is a no-no. Rather, get a five galling bucket and paint screen. This way you won’t ever step in the paint.

3.     Get quality brushes.

4.     Carefully clean brushes with a wire brush after use and then dry and store it.

5.     Lightly sand between coats, this eliminates burrs or any grain that rises.

6.     Do two coats of paint, all the time.

7.     Do a test paint on all colors

8.     Invest in high quality paint

9.     Have an extra day to correct painting mistakes, areas where paint has dripped or dribbled on some surfaces.

10.  Use old painting clothes, white preferably, wear something to cover your hair and use latex gloves.