Quick San Diego Foreclosures Fix-Ups
Category: San Diego Real Estate
Published: Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Even the best kept San Diego bank homes may require some tender loving care before or immediately after you move in. The team at Oak Tree Realty Group San Diego offers these suggestions for quick fix-ups and home improvement strategies for the new homeowner:
1st Things 1st
Items needing your immediate attention are those things that keep you from living in the home. For example, some San Diego foreclosed homes have damage to the plumbing systems or are missing key appliances. Others have broken windows or missing doors. Obviously these items need to be repaired immediately or they could keep you from enjoying your San Diego bank owned home.
Another reason to fix these items quickly is that they can quickly sap energy savings and cost you more money in utilities. Although San Diego is known as the land of perfect weather, and with an average annual temp of 72°, concerns about weather-tight homes are not high on most buyers' radar screens. But broken windows can let cool air out in the summer and bugs and moisture in during the winter. Doors that are sagging or missing can do the same. Leaking pipes can cause you to exceed the baseline water usage established for your household, costing you more money. Fix these important items first so you can begin to enjoy your new home and save money at the same time.
Interior Improvements
Check the fixtures in your bathrooms and kitchens and examine for any cracks or leaks. Look under sinks for leaks or signs of moisture. Easily repaired, these quick fixes will save you hundreds over the course of a year in extra water charges and thousands over the life of the home in terms of undiscovered water damage.
If your dryer is located in the garage or inside laundry room check to see that it vents to the outdoors. Have the dryer vents cleaned as soon as you can after moving in. This will eliminate lint build-up that can block vents and possibly cause the dryer to overheat later. If the dryer vents directly to the outdoors, you can probably clean it yourself with just your hands or a standard vacuum. If there is a long "chase" between the dryer and the outdoors, a professional Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) company or chimney sweep can do the job for you.
Change the batteries on your smoke detectors and test them before you spend your first night in the new house. If the alarm does not have a test button you can light a match a few inches from the detector. Be prepared to wave away the smoke quickly though as a working alarm will continue to sound until the smoke dissipates.
Exterior Improvements
Locate your utility shut-off valves. Knowing how to properly turn off the gas, electricity and water is important in the event of a major emergency such as an earthquake or a simple household catastrophe such as a burst water pipe.
Check your sprinklers for any broken lines or fixtures, and repair or replace as necessary. San Diego County foreclosures sell quickly, but even the best homes are usually vacant for a few months, causing stress to the lawns. The sooner you can run your sprinklers, the sooner your bank owned beauty will be lush and green.
If your home has central air conditioning, locate the condenser unit outside. Make sure trees and hedges are pruned away from the condenser, allowing air to circulate freely through it. Likewise, trim any bushes or shrubs away from windows, doors, vents or the rain gutters. This keeps the exterior finish of your home from being damaged and prevents dead foliage from building up in the gutters or window sills where it can trap rainwater and cause expensive damage.
These homeowner to-do's will help anyone moving into a new home, not just buyers of affordable San Diego County foreclosed homes. Oak Tree Realty Group San Diego specializes in San Diego County bank homes in every community and for information on all the finest San Diego foreclosures contact our foreclosure specialists at 1-800-516-7791 for a custom showing.
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