Simple maintenance may save major dollars at home

Written by Nicole Suderman Tuesday, 28 April 2009 13:57

RealEstateCleaning.jpg Some of the costliest home repairs are ones that could easily be prevented with simple maintenance steps.

Spring cleaning season meets a recession—what better time to take care of some often-overlooked household cleaning tasks that can save you big bucks in the long run?

Some of the costliest repairs are ones that could easily be prevented with simple maintenance steps.

Take your home’s heating and air conditioning system. When was the last time you had your cooling coils cleaned? If you’re not even sure what part of the system the coils are, where they’re located or if they’ve ever been cleaned at all, spring is a good time to take care of this important maintenance item.

Doing so can help...

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SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT-Geothermal heating, cooling making more cents today

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 24 March 2009 14:09

Geothermal-03.25.jpg Merle Flaming (left), president and in charge of sales and management for Flaming’s Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. (left) and Joel Thomas, technical expert, service technician and sales, stand next to a GeoComfort system. Flaming’s is the only dealer installing this high-efficiency heating and cooling system in the Marion County area.

This schematic illustrates how a geothermal unit works in a residential setting.

A lot of Marion County resident might not know many people using geothermal heating and cooling systems. But that could soon change, according to Merle Flaming, president and in charge of sales and management at Flaming’s Heating and Air Conditioning...

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If credit is good, it’s a good time to buy

Written by Nicole Suderman Tuesday, 24 March 2009 13:53

Motivated sellers, builders offering deep discounts and incentives, historically low mortgage rates, plenty of inventory and fierce competition for qualified borrowers—it’s actually a great time to buy a house.

If your credit score is good, you’re in an even better position to negotiate the loan on the home of your dreams this spring.

Spring has always been a popular time to buy a new home. More people put their homes on the market when the weather is warm, and a wealth of inventory is available. With winter thawing into distant memory, home shoppers are ready for a fresh start in a new house.

Buying a home in spring will help new homeowners ensure they move their families during the summer, and not at the beginning or in the...

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Hire an inspector before signing for that ‘dream’ house

Written by Nicole Suderman Tuesday, 24 March 2009 13:53

RealEstateInspector.jpg Homebuyers aren’t the only ones who can benefit from a home inspection. If you’re selling your home, having it inspected before you list it may help sell your home in less time and for more money.

You found your dream deal on a foreclosed home, but will that great price tag come with a different kind of higher cost?

Buying a repossessed property, short sale or a home offered at a bargain price—because of its condition—can mean you’re assuming much higher risks.

Repossessed and short sale homes are often abandoned and neglected, leaving them with much more potential for unforeseen structural defects, plumbing, electrical, heating systems, environmental issues and many other problems.

Fixing...

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