Trailwood Development News

When the weekend and/or a well deserved day off arrives, it’s easy to plan a fun day of golf, tennis or even watching television but keeping your home in good shape is important. Your home may be the biggest investment you will ever make. Taking good care of it with regular maintenance is necessary to maintain its value and ensure it will provide a comfortable, safe shelter for you and your family for a long time.

Here is a home maintenance quiz that will test your maintenance knowledge. While this quiz does not address every home maintenance project, it does provide helpful tips and reminders for chores you may have overlooked.

• How often do forced-air furnace filters need to be changed?
• At least every three months during the heating season.
• What part of the faucet usually needs to be replaced when you have a water leak?
• The washer.
• Should you run hot or cold water through your garbage disposal?
• Cold water.
• How often should the moving parts of garage doors be oiled?
• Every three months.
• What tools can you use to unclog your drains?
• A plunger and a plumber’s snake.
• What tool can be used to unclog a toilet?
• Coil spring-steel auger.
• What faucet part needs to be cleaned every three to four months?
• Aerator—the screen inside the end of the faucet.
• Where should the fire in your fireplace be built?
• On the andirons or grate, never on the fireplace floor.
• What will prevent soot and add color to the fire in your fireplace?
• Throw in a handful of salt.
• Where should your firewood be stored?
• Outside, away from your house and not directly on the ground.
• When can you clean hardwood floors with water?
• When the floors have a polyurethane finish.
• Do hardwood floors need to be waxed?
• Hardwood floors that do not have a polyurethane finish probably will need to be waxed periodically. Use liquid or paste “spirit” wax.
• What is the best polish for vinyl floors?
• Water emulsion wax.
• What should be regularly checked on your security system?
• The alarms and circuit breakers should be checked to make sure they are in working order and the sensors should be inspected one by one.
• To ensure your safety, what household equipment uses batteries that must be checked regularly to make sure they are operable?
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• What is the white powdery substance that develops on masonry walls?
• Efflorescence sometimes appears on masonry walls. It is crystallized soluble salts that can be removed by scrubbing with water and a stiff brush.
• At what temperature should your water heater be set?
• 120 degrees Fahrenheit
• What is a simple solution you can use to wash extremely dirty exterior windows?
• A solution of equal parts vinegar and water or 3 tablespoons of denatured alcohol per quart of warm water. Use a piece of crumpled newspaper to wash the glass to avoid lint left behind by papertowls.

Homeownership has so many advantages – from the benefits received at income tax time to the joy and pride that comes with home ownership. In Houston, new homes are among the most appealing and affordable in the nation which is why Houston is an industry leader in new home sales and construction.

A new home offers so many more advantages than most home shoppers even realize. Here are just a few to consider:

·         Everything in the new home is new, so there are no worries about expensive repairs such as the roof, foundation, etc. New homes include a builder warranty, and there are also usually warranties for new appliances and systems (such as air conditioning).

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Just about everyone wants to know about his or her credit score, or even get a look at a current credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide consumers with a free copy of their credit report at their request every 12 months.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

The Federal Trade Commission offers consumers a wealth of free advice on credit, debt collection and obtaining copies of credit reports. You can order your free annual credit report online at annualcreditreport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form <http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/resources/forms/requestformfinal.pdf>  and mailing it to:

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Buying a new home is always exciting – especially when it’s your first home. We give lots of advice on preparing for your home purchase and the costs to expect when you buy a home, i.e. monthly utility bills, home maintenance, etc., but most people are not sure of the most important things to purchase prior to or moving into their new home.

First, consider the outside of your home – now you have a yard. As wonderful as that is, your are still responsible for taking care of that yard and unless you have budgeted to pay someone to mow it regularly, you need to consider investing in a lawnmower. Now is a great time of year to comparison shop for lawn equipment, as retailers prepare for the busy spring season.  Other gardening supplies to have on hand include a sprinkler, push broom and weed whacker.

The same holds true for appliances. While many new and resale homes may come with a washer, dryer and refrigerator, many do not. Again, spend some time comparing prices for all of these items or consider spending a weekend shopping at garage sales or moving sales.
Cleaning supplies are another item that should be on your list.

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