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It’s not cute; in fact it can be down right ugly. But it is nothing to be embarrassed about. Critters in our crawls spaces are a very common problem. In fact my two most recent transactions turned up rodent infestations in the crawl spaces and attics.

So what do you do about this?

Whether you are a buyer or a seller don’t panic. It is actually an easy fix, but it can be pricey, so shop around. The best vendor out there that I have found is Clean Crawls. They do excellent work and are competitively priced - and YOU don’t have to get dirty! I don’t know about you - but I sure don’t like to be face to face with a rat.

If you are thinking of selling your home, it is not a bad idea to have a preliminary home inspection done prior to going on the market. Doing this allows you to address issues before they have a chance to turn a deal upside down.

If you are a buyer and this issues comes up - again don’t panic. Just have your agent get some quotes from reputable vendors so you know just how much of a problem you are dealing with. From there you can go into your inspection negotiation and home ownership with your eyes open.

Little critters can be cute, but for me and my clients, I much rather see them in a cage than scampering around my house.

Wondering what to do with old electronics that have since been replaced by great gifts you received over the holidays?

The Take It Back Network can help you with that dilemma. They have several locations in King County that recycle old TV’s, computers, monitors, etc. This is a great resource since you can no longer dispose of these types of items in your garbage container in King County. Costco also works with a company called Green Sight where you can recycle the stuff for free and potentially get some trade in value.

They can also recycle old cell phones, but if you have cell phones to dispose of, check out Cell Phones for Soldiers or WirelessFundraiser.com where you can choose a wide array of charities that will get the proceeds from the recycled cell phones.

Both organizations will help get cell phones or money into the hands of those in need.

I recently came across some information that GE is doing a major recall of dishwashers. 2.5 million to be exact.

The reason for the recall: a wiring problem that could cause fires.

Somehow I missed this in the news previously (out busy enjoying the beautiful weather we were blessed with the past few weekends). In case you missed this important info too, King 5 has the story.

You can also get more information about the recall from the GE Recall Website.

I hope this is helpful and keeps you all safe.

Just a friendly reminder to change back your clocks this Sunday, March 11 at 2:00 a.m.. Daylight savings time has changed because of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This policy reform was put in place in an effort to reduce our nations energy consumption. Now we get 4 more weeks of DST by starting it earlier and waiting longer to change back the clocks in the fall.

If you have any plans on Sunday, you might want to change the clocks back Saturday night before bed. I know that’s what I will be doing since I have the joy of taking my husband to the airport early Sunday morning.

No matter where you live the changing seasons can take their toll on your home. A little TLC can go a long way to keeping your home in good condition. That is why spring and fall are great times to check up on your home’s health. The changing of the clocks also serves as a helpful reminder! As we are getting ready to reset our clocks once again take a weekend day (or set aside one hour each evening for a week) to check up on the following areas of your home.

Outdoor

• Remove leaves and other debris away from the side of house or other outdoor structures.
• Trim trees and shrubs that touch house to minimize damage to the exterior of the home.
• Check for water leaks or blockages in gutters or downspouts.
• Visually inspect roof for damaged shingles, tiles or shakes. DON’T GO UP THERE ON YOUR OWN UNLESS YOU ARE A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL. If any appear damaged, HIRE A PROFESSIONAL to evaluate if repairs are needed.
• Check all caulk around exterior surfaces. Repair as needed.
• Check for any cracks in the concrete foundation and brick or stucco siding.
• Clean exterior of house. Clean mildewed areas of house and treat for mildew and fungus on decks as needed.
• Uncover (if you insulated for winter), open and test outdoor hose bibs.
• Inspect and replace weather stripping as needed
• Examine septic system drain field for flooding, odor and have tank pumped yearly

Indoor

• Check the water heater for any signs of rust or corrosion and drain 1-2 gallons of water from the water heater and the expansion tank (this helps decrease the amount of built up sediment in the tank).
• Clean and service your furnace by replacing the filters if you did not already do this in the fall. If you hire this out, it is usually a little less expensive in the spring as they are not getting as many service calls this time of year.
• Check your crawl space for evidence of any unwanted guests, water intrusion, or misplaced vapor barrier and address as needed.
• Change the water filter in your refrigerator.
• If you don’t already do this, clean your kitchen exhaust fan filters.
• Clean and seal tile grout.
• Inspect and clean faucet aerators and shower heads.
• Clean frost-free refrigerator drain pan. Heck, while your at it, go ahead and clean the whole fridge. If your like me, it’s probably been a while.
• Inspect the dishwasher for leaks or cracks in the seal.
• Grind ice cubes in disposer to sharpen the disposal blades.
• Clean drains with baking soda or hot water, not with chemical drain openers.
• Pour water down unused drains.

Safety

• Test all of your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure that they are in working order. Change the batteries with brand new ones even if they are still working as you never know when they will reach the end of their life.
• Test your GFCI outlets to make sure they are functioning properly.
• Inspect all combustible appliances including, but not limited to fireplace, furnace, gas oven/stove.
• Replace battery in your automatic garage door opener if you have one.

Emergency

Review and practice your emergency plan. If you don’t have one, now is a perfect time to make one. Write down this important information about your home and keep it accessible in case of an emergency. If you can’t find or operate any of these items, ask someone knowledgeable to help. All adults in the home should know where these items are and how to shut them off:

• Natural Gas shutoff
• Propane Gas shutoff
• Electrical shutoff (service panel, a.k.a fuse/breaker box):
• Water shutoff
• Fire extinguishers

Testing all valves and switches (turning them “off” and then “on”) to ensure that they don’t get stuck open is a good idea. Some valves are difficult to turn, so you may want to keep a wrench nearby.

In addition, with all the appreciation our area has had recently, it is a good idea to make sure your insurance coverage is adequate and up to date.

Doing these few things, while not the most fun, will help protect one of your largest investments, and more importantly will help protect your health and well being.

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Rebecca Kuno
Realtor & ASP
(206) 686-1661
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