Ants
In and Around the Home.
A guide to identifying and eliminating these pests.
Aphids
On Trees and Shrubs. Your nice shade trees and ornamental shrubs can be far less than pleasant
if shade seekers are subjected to a rain of honeydew from aphids.
See how to control these pests. You may not even need chemicals.
Are You
Haunted By Carpet Ghosts? Carpet ghosts are discolorations that mysteriously appear in new
carpeting, particularly lighter colored material. It is most
noticeable in newer construction but can appear anywhere and shows up
first at doorways and along walls. This describes what causes this
phenomenon and how to deal with it when your tenant complains that the new
carpet is “no good.”
Blacktop
And Beyond. This article, really a collection of pages, outlines driveway repair and
replacement options.
Can Home
Inspections Be Perfect? No. Home inspection is a process of risk reduction, not risk
elimination. If you employ an inspector to go over your next
purchase, be aware of what is likely to be missed.
Can
Pesticide Foggers Be Dangerous? Of course they can. If you
use them, follow the directions that come with the article.
Choosing
the Right Model.
A handy calculator for selecting the right size water heater for
the rental unit.
Clean
Water Convenience. If you are searching for a way to make your
rental property stand out from your competition, consider a filtering
water faucet. At $200 to $400 for the unit, plus the cost of filters
the tenant will have to buy, you might consider them for higher end units,
or any unit where the municipal water supply is particularly bad.
Such a unit might also be offered as a premium to encourage lease renewals
or induce tenants to commit to longer leases.
Controlling
Moles in the Home Lawn.
A brief primer on dealing with the moles that are damaging your lawn.
Cracked
Basement Floor. How to tell if the cracks in your basement floor are minor or harbingers
of a major problem, and what to do about them.
Fencing
Match. Consider these alternatives to the typical chain link or
wrought iron fence for the front yard or corner lot.
Hiring
a Home Inspector?
Getting an independent property inspector to look over a building before
you buy it is a good idea. Here is what to look for when selecting
one.
Home
Owner's Guide To Buying a New Roof, A. Not only does this article compare the different types of roofing systems
and materials, it also covers roof design, causes of roof deterioration,
how to select a roofing contractor. This is a must read for anyone
with a new roof in his immediate future.
How
To Counter Rising Winter Heating Bills.
This article contains tips on how you and your tenants can offset at least
a part of the increasing cost of energy.
How To
Fight Dryrot in Homes, Condos and Co-ops. Here is an excellent discussion of what dryrot is, how it spreads, and how
to recognize it when it strikes. Dryrot, “wood cancer,” is
destructive and quite expensive if not eliminated early. Protect
your investment and learn how to prevent and spot it.
How
to Hire Construction Managers. If you are confronted with a
major repair or improvement job, managing it yourself may take too much
time and overtax your expertise. If so, learn how to select someone
to manage the job for you and how to deal with him.
How to
Keep the Noise Out of Your Pipes. Find out what those strange sounds coming from your plumbing mean and how
to get rid of them.
How To
Make Simple Toilet Repairs. Toilets are high strung, mechanical, and frequently used. For these
reasons they require frequent attention. A plumber is rarely
required, however. You might save a good deal of money by doing
minor toilet repairs yourself. Here you will find all the
information you need to deal with most toilet problems.
How To
Prevent Basement Leaks. Learn to recognize the signs of a leaky basement in a prospective
purchase, and how to correct the problem if you already have a chronically
wet basement.
Keeping a
Tight Seal.
If re-roofing is in your plans for this summer, consider the installation
of an ice and water protection product.
Lead
Listing, The. In order to promote compliance with its new lead
paint removal rules, HUD has this new page that includes listings of
competent lead removal specialists and information on free courses in lead
removal for maintenance workers.
Making
Apartments More Secure. This article describes things you can do
to make your rental units more secure and why it is in your interest,
legally and financially, to do it.
Making
It Last. Here is revealed the secrets to ensuring maximum life out of your carpet
investment.
Munch,
Munch, Munch. How
your building is landscaped can greatly affect its susceptibility to
termite infestation. Read this article to see why that is so.
“O”
Marks the Pot.
It is possible to remove water rings left by your tenant on the hardwood
floors, but it is not always easy.
Patching
Holes in Drywall.
Holes, dents, and dings in drywall are a recurring feature of just vacated
rental units that need to be readied for showing and reletting. This
is an fine article on dealing with these problems, accompanied with
excellent illustrations. Be sure to follow the links in the right
margin.
Refinishing
School. A dull, worn out wood floor does not make a very good tenant magnet.
This article shows how to do it and how easy it is.
Renewing
Concrete Surfaces. How to repair worn and cracked concrete without a bulldozer.
Repairing
a Large Hole In Wallboard. If you do cleanup and preparation of your rental units yourself, you will
eventually come across a hole in wallboard that is too large to be filled
with joint compound. Find out how to deal with the problem.
Rubber
Roofing’s Hurtful Bounce. If you are contemplating one of the new “rubber” or single ply roof
systems, or if your rental has one, this article is a must-read.
Spiders In and
Around the House. Distribute this article to your tenants if they start having a spider
problem.
Walk
Softly.
Is your handyman installing the right carpet cushion, or just anything he
has on-hand? This short piece will give you important tips on the
kind and quality of cushions that your rental units need.
What
Property Managers Should Expect
From Carpet and Vinyl Installers - Excerpt from the book Landlord
Floors by Alan J. Fletcher
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