Brian Sells Chicago · When to Use a Professional: Roofing

We all know it’s important to maintain a proper and strong roof over your head. A sound roof is crucial for your safety and for your home. It keeps you and your family warm and dry, along with everything in your house. If you ignore a problem in your roof, even a small one, then you could find yourself with a significantly larger issue down the road. The three most common roofs repairing are: replacing damaged shingles, gluing down a badly curled shingle, and repairing shingles that have cracked. Repairing a roof shingle might seem like an easy task, but there is more danger in getting on and off a roof than most homeowners realize. Tools, multiple trips up and down a ladder, and constant attention paid to the incline of the roof make the roof repairs tiring, and if you’re not prepared, dangerous. Stick with the professionals – they have the proper gear and the experience required to do the job right. Find out more from my friends at Peterson Roofing. Make sure to tell Jim Peterson that I sent you! Uncatego
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Brian Sells Chicago · Asbestos, Mold and Lead Paint

If you have a new home, you will not encounter asbestos or lead paint. But if you are interested in older homes, asbestos and lead paint are a possibility. Once used as insulation, asbestos is toxic, and there are laws that govern how it’s removed and disposed of. Lead paint is also highly toxic, and in the late 1960s, it was determined that the lead in the paint led to serious medical issues. If your house or apartment was built before 1978 then there may be potential for lead based paint inside and out, that could potentially pose a serious risk of lead poisoning. The risk is increased if you’re pregnant or have small children. These lead paints were phased out and by the 1980s legislation banned the use of lead paints in homes due to health concerns. Removal of the lead paint should be done by a professional. Should you have mold in your home (certain types are toxic), it’s best to leave the removal of all of these to the professionals: they know how to remove and dispose of all toxic materials, and they
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Brian Sells Chicago · When to Use a Professional: Electrical

If your project requires direct contact with electricity, call a pro. This includes rewiring, adding power to areas that do not currently have power, and any installation of large or heavy light fixtures (like a chandelier.) Electricity is no joke, and the last thing you want is to cause yourself harm, or harm your home, during a DIY project. It’s recommended to call to electrician in these cases: if electrical circuit breakers trip often, or fuses blow frequently, your circuits are drawing more current than they can safely provide. This may also indicate a dangerous fault on one or more circuits. If plug strips and multi receptacle add-ons are strangling your outlets, your electrical system is working beyond capacity. Additional circuits with duplex receptacles are needed to restore order and safety. If you have a lot of wires in your living room, under the rugs or the furnitures, a dangerous condition exists and you definitely need more outlets. If some of those wires are extension cords, the outlets you h
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Brian Sells Chicago · When to Use a Professional: Plumbing

DIYers should be able to do small projects, like replacing a toilet flapper, addressing drips, upgrading shower and sink fixtures, and other small things that don’t require a lot of tools. If the toilet flapper is your problem, keep calm, you can solve this on your own. This part is made of rubber and it can get hard and break down over time. Once the plastic is worn out it will not form strong, tight seal to stop the flow of water as it should. Fortunately the flapper is an inexpensive part that can be easily replaced. Furthermore, according to the Wall Street Journal, a leaky toilet is the most common reason for a spike in home water bills, so keep an eye on those. Usually it’s not hard to tell if your toilet is leaking – you will hear it. It’s hard to miss the sound of running water or a faint hissing or trickling. But many times water will flow through the tank silently, which is why these leaks are often overlooked. To check for a toilet leak: remove the toilet tank lid then drop one dye tablet or 10 dr
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Brian Sells Chicago · Tile DIY

Construction worker laying tile Tiling a backsplash or replacing dirty old grout are projects many homeowners will be able to tackle on their own. And if your project requires tiling floors, walls, or large tile installations, it might be worthwhile to contact a professional for help, especially if your cutting any tiles is necessary. If you are interested in new grout and ready to experiment in an unorthodox way, then keep reading. All you need to do in order to make old grout to look good is just to paint it. You can buy a special paint for this. It’s not expensive – but before you buy it please make sure that your tiles are a kind suitable for the product. The process of painting is really simple. All you need to do before you start, it’s just to sweep the targeted painting area. Then, you need to gather supplies for this action, which include an old toothbrush and of course the grout paint. Pour a dab of paint onto the toothbrush and scrub it into your grout. When you finish painting, let it dry for up
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Brian Sells Chicago · Electrical

Electricity flows to your lights and appliances from the power company through your panel, its breakers, out on your circuits and back. Most homes have three wire service, two hot wires and one neutral. Throughout the house, one hot wire and one neutral wire power conventional 120 volt lights and appliances. The two hot wires and the neutral wire make a 240 volt circuit for large appliances (such as air conditioners). Connections along these paths, can be disrupted or fail. If your electricity goes off, start by checking to see if its power cut or a fault in your home.  The easiest way to do this is to see if your neighbors still have electricity. If they don’t have power either, then it’s a power cut. If your neighbors have power, then it could be a fault in your home. After you figured this out, and found that it’s only in your home, you can try to check if your trip switch may have turned itself off. If it has, try turning it back on. If it switches off again, then one of your electrical appliances may be
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Brian Sells Chicago · Windows

If you’re doing minor maintenance and repairs (like repairing or replacing wood sills or caulking around windows), you should be able to do this type of project no sweat. However, if you are constantly trying to fix your windows, it may be time to consider having them replaced entirely. Keep this in mind, older windows can be a source of significant heat loss and gain in winter and summer. If you’re looking to replace a window, or need to rebuild a window frame, count on calling a professional for help. If you aren’t sure whether to replace the window or not, it’s recommended to check if panes have moisture on them and if the exteriors are chipped or faded and certainly if the windows do not close or open easily. In any of those situations, it’s recommended to replace your home’s windows.   For more information please check my twitter account     Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · Floors

Floor repairs can be fairly easy, from cleaning to repairing small nicks in the flooring. However, if the tiles are damaged, it’s lowering your house value.  Broken tiles harm the aesthetics of the house and give it an outdated and tacky look. In case of a large number of broken tiles, we can choose between three alternatives: to repair the tiles – if the amount of the damaged ones not too great, replace the floor or glue a new tile over the old ones. In large projects like this, it might be worthwhile to hire a pro. With the amount of work required to install a new floor, hiring someone with the experience can save you time, money and a lot of body aches.   If you’re not sure and want a professional opinion, you can trust my friend Fred Scharm. Call him today at Scharm Floor Covering, (847) 298-8233, online at http://www.scharm.com/. Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · Walls

Painting can be one of the most inexpensive ways to improve the look of your home without too much effort. Painting jobs are one of the most common DIY projects that you can undertake around the house. Applying a fresh coat of paint or a new set of colors on your wall will make your current home look as good as new. With the right color combinations, your home will have the ambiance that you strive for. To realize this, you will need paint, a few rollers and the right paint brush all of which can be found in any hardware store or home improvement center. Before you start to paint, it’s recommended to make a few preparations. First, you should empty out the room, or at least as much as possible. Secondly, wipe the walls down, so the dirt won’t break the paint continuity. After that you’re good to go, just remember to brush before rolling. Use the roller after brushing in order to flatten out any brush marks. Cracks, structural repairs or water damage cause immediate deterioration of the wall and they require
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Brian Sells Chicago · When to Use a Professional

As homeowners, we want our homes to reflect our style and the current designs in the real estate market. Whether it is built on moderate- or high-quality materials, your home will need upkeep, aesthetics, and overall maintenance on regular basis to keep it in good condition. If you happened to purchase an older property, or you are looking to update your current home, some level of work and repair projects will have to be undertaken to bring your home up to the level that you desire. While many of us have the experience to handle most home projects, there are some of us that don’t. Therefore, it is essential to know which projects you can do yourself, and which requires a professional. In the course of this month, I am going to look at the common projects that homeowners embark upon, and provide suggestions on when it is best to do it yourself or seek the help of a professional. Find out more by visiting me on Google+. And if you can’t wait and want to talk to a Handyman today check out Sgt. HandyMan on Faceb
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Brian Sells Chicago · Holiday Sales Review

Selling or buying a home during the holiday season does not have to be a hectic task. The decision whether or not you can list your home during the holidays really does not depend on the conventional thinking that during fall and winter the real estate market comes to a standstill. The fundamental principle of home sale still holds during the holiday season as much as in any other time of the year. Although home sale prices may vary, you can still sell your home for a good price relative to its condition and the current market. If you are truly motivated to buy or sell your home, hire a good Realtor (one comes to mind immediately…) who will constantly provide you with updated comparative market analysis to ensure that your home remains competitive with the market. With the right Realtor who is familiar or knowledgeable with selling homes during the holidays, the burden of searching or selling a home will be lifted off your shoulders , giving you more time to focus on your family’s holiday agenda. If you are
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Brian Sells Chicago · Homes Look and Feel Charming

It’s not a secret that many people decorate and light up their homes during the holidays. Holiday decorations spruce up a home and will increase curb appeal to ready it for the real estate market. Your home can have the best look in this time of the year. The decorations and holiday smells might invoke warm, cozy and inviting feelings for a prospective buyer. People who list their homes in the fall and winter can take advantage of this season to make their homes more warmly decorated and inviting. You can even set up a fireplace or wood stove to make a room more attracting. You can also use candles and other things to make the home smell inviting to buyers. Most home buyers are happier and more emotional during this time of year and they often base their decision on the warmth and good feeling they receive when viewing your house. While it may seem difficult to sell a property over the holidays or in the winter, you do have some ways to play up the season. And if you are truly set on avoiding the holidays, yo
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Brian Sells Chicago · Affordability

Smart home buyers know that home prices slightly fall as we enter the slower home shopping season when the market has cooled down, and more serious sellers are keen to get a sale. The home prices are typically lower during this time because the real estate sales are seasonal. If you’re house hunting over the holidays, then I bet you know that buying a home at this time of the year is particularly beneficial. Serious buyers that are searching during the fall or the winter are aware that they cut off some of the expenses of home purchase on their taxes. If you consider buying a home during this holiday season, there are a number of tax benefits of owning a home that you can take advantage of. The possible tax benefits include deductions for mortgage interest, tax credits for real estate taxes, and private mortgage insurance premiums (PMI). These benefits may give you the much break you’ve been looking for making the process of buying your new home more affordable. The fact that business tends to slow down during
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Brian Sells Chicago · Inventory and Competition

It is well known that during the spring and summer months the housing inventory is largest as most home sellers put their home on the market. But this does not mean that during fall and winter there are no properties for sale. The MLS always has homes and properties listed on it. Although the holiday season will have properties available, their number will be lower. Nevertheless, you can be sure to find a property that will suit your housing needs throughout the year, unless now your attention is totally fixated on a particular home or your list of needs is a mile long. In spite of the low home inventory in the fall and winter, the fact is that people still list their homes, especially if they are serious sellers. When there are fewer homes to choose from, the market is slower, but it is also less competitive in terms of other buyers looking for homes. Having less competition can mean no scenarios of multiple, high dollar offers on one property hence fewer counter-offers to compete against. With low supply, b
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Brian Sells Chicago · Buyers Never Stop Looking

The real estate market never comes to a complete standstill as many would want to believe. It flourishes throughout the year and the holidays or the winter is not exceptional. Anyone searching for a home during the holidays is a serious buyer and serious buyers never stop looking. With the holidays comes vacation time, and this means more time to look for a home. Taking advantage of this, serious buyers and serious sellers (those who want to sell their home or property) will keep their home or property on the market year-round. The holidays bring out the buyers and sellers that are motivated and determined to buy or sell a home, and they’re not willing to wait for the spring or summer. Many people shopping for a home during the holidays probably have to buy before a certain deadline. Sellers may also be looking to sell their homes before the end of the year for tax reasons. With January being a very popular month for job transfers, some buyers may want to relocate before the New Year. For those with school-ag
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Brian Sells Chicago · You Can Buy and Sell Real Estate During the Holidays

It is common knowledge that most homeowners are advised to list their home on the real estate market in late spring or early summer as that is ‘real estate season.’ The holiday season is generally considered as the worst time to sell a home. The conventional argument was that during this busy time, prospective home buyers were too preoccupied with planning for parties, visiting their relatives or buying presents. Therefore, there were fewer buyers, and sellers chose to wait until after the holidays when more people were available to put their home on the market. However, times have changed. The home buying season now thrives year-round. Although sales are usually high in the spring and summer, listing your home or looking for a home during the holidays can be just as effective and not a taboo as some would want you to believe. There are actual benefits and good reasons to listing or looking for a home during the holidays. If you’ve missed out on the real estate scramble of the spring and summer, then the holi
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Brian Sells Chicago · Hidden Costs Recap

Over the last seven posts I’ve shared with you some of the hidden costs of homeownership. Buying your first home or property is a huge step in anyone’s life. Before you start your property search, make sure you consider all of the items above when you’re thinking of buying a home or property and during your property search. The best thing to do is to see the additional costs as part of your homeownership payment package which includes the mortgage payment. To revisit any of the previous posts follow the links below: Property Taxes Home Maintenance Mortgage Insurance Supplemental Insurance Landscaping and Lawn Care HOA Fees If you have more questions, please tweet me to @BrianTWolf Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · HOA Fees

If you’ve been renting your previous residence, it’s likely you haven’t had to pay Homeowners Association (HOA) fees for your apartment or rental. Should you buy a house, condo or townhouse in a neighborhood with common areas, a clubhouse, pool, or any other kind of community meeting places, it’s likely you’ll move into a neighborhood with an HOA. HOA fees can vary in terms of what the HOA covers within the community, but unless you know through your Realtor or through the homeowner the monthly fee, you can expect to spend anywhere from $10 to hundreds of dollars per month on HOA fees. One thing that is noteworthy is that always ensure your new home is already in compliance with the HOA rules. Buying a home that had problems with the HOA can be a headache, therefore, check out the rules and communicate with the HOA to find out what changes needs to be made in order to comply. Please join me on Google+ for more information on the hidden costs of homeownership Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · Landscaping and Lawn Care

When you rent a condo or an apartment, it’s highly likely you are not spending a lot of time outside in a yard. When you buy your own property (should it have a yard or some kind of outdoor area), expect some hidden costs to come in the form of lawn care. Does the yard need some major landscaping? Are you going to mow it yourself, or will you hire a company to do it? Do you have a lawn mower, rakes, snow or leaf blower, yard tools, shed, and any other items needed to keep your yard looking great year-round? Most people think home ownership is only about the monthly payments such as electricity and water bills, property taxes, mortgage insurance and the maintenance costs. But lawn care will also eat up a fair share of your monthly income. A yard comes with extra costs, so be sure to know how much you want to spend on upkeep per year. Need more insight, join me on Google+ as I explore other hidden costs of homeownership. Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · Supplemental Insurance

Flooded Street Do you live in an area prone to natural disaster? As a homeowner you’ll need to have regular home insurance to protect your home or property from typical things (plumbing issues, roof leaks, etc.) that homeowners encounter. Should you live in an area that’s prone to weather-related issues (floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes) you will want to purchase supplemental insurance to make sure your home is covered should nature decide to show her wrath. Purchasing a home insurance is mandatory. However the cost will vary depending on the location, the constructions materials used to build your house, and probably the availability of other amenities. One thing noteworthy is that the insurance premium hikes over time. So, it’s good to be prepared so that you can have all your monthly expenses covered. Want to find out more? Join the discussion on Facebook Uncategorized
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