Martin Cooper

It has been a wet summer so far with no end in sight.  You may be noticing signs of water intrusion in your property or looking for ways to ensure that your property stays dry and comfortable. Your home is constantly being tested by the elements and can use hundreds of gallons of tap water on a daily basis. If a home is well built and maintained then there is little need for worry. If this is not the case there could be excessive damage to your home including mold, rotting wood and structural damage.  Your home need to repel water, have proper ventilation, have a dry and firm foundation and have plumbing that is free of leaks. Exterior Moisture Problems Roof and Flashing This is probably the most obvious area for water penetration.  Roofing materials can be damaged, blown off and wear out causing moisture intrusion.  The most common area for leaks are around chimneys, plumbing vents, skylights and exhaust fans. Flashing and sealant joints can become worn and cr...

One of my worst days as a home inspector was the day I flooded a second-floor bathtub. It made me seriously question my career as a home inspector.

While homeowners typically take on DIY projects to save money, it turns out that many of them are breaking their fixer-upper budgets and spending much more than they planned, according to a recent survey by Porch . While 5% of homeowners finished their fixer-upper projects under budget, and 52% finished on budget, 44% went over budget.  And the homeowners who went over budget, spent, on average, 38% more than planned. “One of the most common issues that can affect all of these projects is not understanding what your budget really is before you begin,” says Mick Lynch, Senior Vice President of Installations at  Power Home Remodeling in Chester, PA. “It’s so important to set a proper budget and identify what you really need and how much those items actually cost before you start your work.” In addition to having an unrealistic budget, sometimes, unexpected problems occur. The highest percentage of survey respondents named these as the projects in which they went over ...

Seems like everyone is buying a condo or house these days. And there are tons of shows on HGTV about renovating your home making you wonder: should you rent or buy a house? Can you even afford to buy? We’re here to help you make that decision. Ask yourself some questions before deciding if you should buy or keep on renting. Image: Dirk Ercken/Shutterstock Should You Rent Or Buy A House? Ask Yourself These Questions First 1. Do you plan on staying where you’re at for at least three to five years?  This is an important question. If you don’t like where you live or may have to relocate for work, why buy a house? If you can’t see yourself spending at least three years in your home, you may not see any growth in your home’s value before you have to sell and move. Can’t envision yourself living in the same home or town for at least five years? You may be better off renting. 2. Have you paid off all your debts? Make sure you’ve paid off all student loans, credit card bills and any ...

If you have a small space, you may think that the last thing you need is an element like a room divider, which was literally made to close off and separate spaces. But room dividers are a great addition to any small space. They are a good way to section off and organize small spaces, which often have more of an open floor plan. And open-design dividers mean that you can get a more organized space visually without closing areas off from each other completely. Room dividers are also a budget design addition to a room. They can cost anywhere from $60 up. And as for time, it can take as little as a couple of hours to decide on the right divider for you, bring it home and place it in the room. So whether you are looking for a fun style accent or need to add functional organization to your space, take a look below for different ways to use room dividers. Visually separate a space without closing it off by going with an open room divider design. Image: New Africa/Shutterstock Visuall...

When searching for a new home, buyers often look for houses or land in the best neighborhoods — or, at least, the best neighborhoods that they can afford. And that’s certainly understandable. However, homeowners may be missing out on several advantages by not considering less prestigious or less desirable neighborhoods. Below are six reasons to build or buy in up-and-coming areas. Your money goes a lot further in up-and-coming areas. Image: TDK Visuals/Shutterstock #1: Lower price points It’s natural to want to be in an area in close proximity to popular dining, shopping and entertainment options. Even if you’re buying the home to flip it, you want to own property in a desirable area. “When you buy in the best part of town, you are paying top dollar for the property,” according to Oliver Somoza, Partner of Philadelphia-based S7 Real Estate and Turnkey Property Pro . But when you invest in a less popular neighborhood, your buying power can go much farther. “Whereas $300,000 migh...

When should the ground and neutral wires be separated at a subpanel? It depends.

I tried to attach Tross that ikea ceiling lights to the bottom of loft that had posted in following link hack. Loft storage with STOLMEN – IKEA Hackers This connector’s specification is japanese standard, but you can also attach to your own ceiling. Tutorial page is in the following link. How to attach ceiling lights to lofts bottom by using lighting of ceiling hook type connector. | Life Design Edit The post Attach Tross to lofts bottom by using lighting connector appeared first on IKEA Hackers .

Let’s face it: buying a home is like a game of chess, and each person is trying to outwit the other. You want to purchase the house for the least amount of money and the seller is trying to get as much as possible out of the deal. So when should you use a lowball offer as a part of your strategy? Freshome asked several top realtors to weigh in on this topic. Sometimes, it’s better to receive than to give. Image: jimfeng/Getty Images The holidays Apparently, sellers are in a more generous mood during the most wonderful time of the year, according to Shelton Wilder , a Beverly Hills, CA-based realtor at the Douglas Elliman Real Estate Company. In fact, she remembers one buyer who put in a lowball offer on Christmas Eve. “The holidays and the fourth quarter are slower, but sellers tend to panic every year at this time,” Wilder says. “If a house has been sitting a while without offers, then it can create the perfect scenario for a buyer to pick up a property for a steal.” Also, ...

When you’re planning a home improvement project, it’s wise to comparison shop for materials and labor. However, the zeal to save money can also lead you to work with unscrupulous contractors eager to take your money and run. How do you avoid home improvement scams? Most homeowners believe that they are too savvy to be ripped off by con artists. However, Jody Costello, home renovation planning and contractor fraud expert and the founder of the Contractors From Hell website, tells Freshome that she hears horror stories on a routine basis. Costello shares seven of these home improvement scams — and tips for avoiding them. Legit contractors don’t have time to go door to door. Image: Alexander Ruiz-Avevedo/Shutterstock. #1: Door-to-door solicitors In door-to-door solicitations, a contractor (who may or may not be licensed) tells the homeowner he’s doing work in the neighborhood. “This individual says that he can see they need work on their deck, roof, siding or whatever they claim t...

A recent survey by Porch reveals that DIY projects can cause disagreements among couples (to put it mildly), and some of these arguments can get quite heated. Whether DIYers are married or in another stage of the relationship, fights among couples are pretty common during a DIY project. Sometimes they fight over whether the other person made a mistake or not. They also fight over the direction or the duration of the project, the cost, or the final result. As a general rule, it’s important for couples not to bite off more than they can chew – and that’s advice for the budget and the work, according to Michael DiMartino, Senior Vice President of Installations at Power Home Remodeling in Chester, PA. Some DIY projects can cause stress, mistakes, and arguments. Image: Wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock “This is an area where I see couples struggle a lot during the remodeling process, both DIY and professional,” he says. “Oftentimes homeowners will choose to DIY a project because they think...