As home owners and renters, we are always trying to find ways to save money around our homes on everything from utilities and maintenance to groceries. The thing is we find ourselves running out of ways to save or pinch that penny, after we have made those major repairs or clipped several envelopes full of coupons. These articles are going to help you find new and creative ways to save money and at the same time help you maintain and improve your home.
- The first and most important steps are to check and stop water and air leaks. If water and air leaks aren’t stopped first, other weatherizing measures like insulation will be a waste of effort and money. There are low cost winterization kits available to get you started or you can pick-up individual items at your local hardware store. The sooner you begin locating air leaks and making needed repairs or securing exposed moisture areas, the better off you are at preventing any potential problems during the winter. Stopping air leaks in a home can save as much as 40 percent on your home’s heating and cooling costs. Stopping water leaks can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in future repairs.
- Now, before you start sealing up your house, you might want to give your house or apartment a really good cleaning. Get into those small, dusty areas and scrub them well, this way you can s tart your indoor season with a fresh, clean environment. But, this will also help you notice areas that might be in need of attention or need a minor repair. You’d be surprised at what you might find during the cleanup.
- Now, let’s start making “Your House, Your Home” by going into the basement and checking for a few things. Let’s start by looking for air leaks and water penetration in the basement area. You are going use a procedure I refer to as “Checking the Box”. Starting at any wall, you are going to make a box with your eyes by looking across the bottom of the wall for water stains or leaks. Then you are going to move your eyes up one side of the wall looking for water and cracks. As your eyes reach the ceiling, you are going to move them across to the other side looking for exterior light and cob webs. Cob webs are areas indicating air leaks. As your eyes reach the other side, you will work them down that side completing the box.
- Then you will make an X in the box by looking down and across the center from each side, making an X. You will make notes after each segment and take pictures if possible. They will come in handy when addressing your finds with contractors or hardware store employees. You will use this technique on each wall to locate and make repairs as needed.
Send your questions or article suggestions to WillieAPrice@aol.com. For more information or speaking engagements: www.WillieAPriceSpeaks.com.
Willie A. Price is a Real Estate investor and Entrepreneur. He is the author of a number of articles and publications on various Real Estate subjects, from Property Investing, Property Management and Property Inspections.
He is a Registered Apartment Manager (R.A.M.) with the National Association of Home Builders. A Certified Senior Property Inspector (C.S.I.) with the National Association of Property Inspectors. As a former inspector for H. U. D. (Housing and Urban Development) as a Public and Multi-Family Housing inspector. He is a Certified F.E.M.A. Inspector, Certified (E.P.A.)
LEAD Renovator and a Certified Small Home (Energy) Auditor. He also completed the B.P.I. certification courses for Energy Auditors and Building Envelop professionals.
