Let the AmeriSpec® Seller's Assistance Program Help Sell Your Home ASAP!

With many more homes on the market today than ever before, buyers’ expectations are high and sellers are more eager to sell their home. Coupled with tougher credit requirements, deals can be hard to come by...(More)

Prepare for Cooler Weather While It's Still Warm

Even though it’s nice and warm outside now, autumn is right around the corner. Now is the time to get your home ready for the new season...(More)

Reduce Cleaning Chores with Creative Décor

The materials you use when decorating can make a big difference in how clean your home looks on a day-to-day basis. Try some of these handy tips when making décor changes...(More)

Water Your Lawn Without Wasting Water

Are you watering your lawn too much or not enough? Know your lawn better and you could save water, save money, and have the nicest looking lawn on the block...(More)

Let the AmeriSpec® Seller's Assistance Program Help Sell Your Home ASAP!

In today’s market, pre-listing inspections have become a valuable tool for the seller. The seller can help avoid surprises that may arise at closing since everyone involved will likely be more familiar with the condition of the property.

The AmeriSpec Seller's Assistance Program (ASAP) includes a pre-listing inspection, along with marketing materials for the homeowner, to assist them in the sale of their home. Homeowners will receive the detailed inspection report in the attractive, easy-to-reference AmeriSpec Report Binder, which also contains a seasonal maintenance checklist, an innovative home repair manual, and other valuable items.

The homeowner can also receive highly visible “Pre-Inspected” sign riders or yard signs, as well as brochures to provide to potential buyers explaining the benefits of purchasing a pre-inspected home. These brochures let buyers know the home has been pre-inspected by AmeriSpec and they also let buyers know they can purchase a discounted re-inspection to verify the current condition of the home, allowing them to buy with peace of mind.

The ASAP program is a win, win, win for agents, sellers and buyers:

• Can be used as a tool to identify motivated sellers.

• Help sellers receive offers closer to the asking price*.

• No significant surprises should another inspection occur*.

• Less contract fallouts – everyone is familiar with the property’s condition.

• Provides the opportunity to correct defects while allowing time to shop for the best price*.

• Creates a good faith atmosphere for all parties involved.

• Provides an opportunity for a discounted re-inspection for the buyer.

• Helps alleviate buyer’s remorse.

Call today for more information on AmeriSpec and the ASAP Program. Visit www.amerispec.com to find an AmeriSpec office near you!

Back To Top

Yard:
• Rake and compost leaves
• Seed and feed your lawn
• Winterize your sprinkler system
• Mulch flowerbeds
• Drain outside faucets and cover them when appropriate
• Drain and store hoses

Roof:
• Trim limbs and vegetation away from roof
• Check flashings around all surface projections and sidewalls
• Clean gutters and downspouts

Foundation and Exterior Masonry:
• Clean fireplaces and chimneys
• Check chimney mortar for any deterioration
• Make sure downspouts and grading all direct water away from the house

Doors and Windows:
• Check caulking and paint for damage and repair as needed
• Oil door hinges and garage door moving parts
• Make sure all storm windows are securely in position

Heating and Cooling:
• Arrange for annual inspection and cleaning of heating systems
• Rinse off A/C compressor/condensing coil unit to remove debris and dirt
• Consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat
• Change the furnace filter (as needed)
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Check and clean humidifier

Plumbing and Interior:
• Check all faucets, hose bibs, and supply valves for leakage (as needed)
• Check for evidence of leaks around and under sinks, showers, toilets, and tubs (as needed)
• During wet weather, check ceiling and around all doors and windows for unwanted moisture
• Check attic ventilation
• Make sure dryer vent is clean

Back To Top

We all know that an all white living room is an invitation to a cleaning disaster, but did you realize black could be just as troublesome? Here are some suggestions to keep your home looking fresher and cleaner for a longer period of time.

Start on the ground floor.

Kids, dogs, and even adults track in dirt. And everyone has an occasional spill. Pick a floor surface that wipes clean easily and won’t look the worst with an occasional stain. Faux painted concrete is probably the most concealing; tiles and laminates with mid-tone patterns work well, too. Try to avoid very light or very dark carpets – the latter shows every bit of dust and fluff, and the former keeps a permanent record of every stain.

Paint away problems.

Solid color walls show every blemish. Faux painting techniques hide a host of accidents. Sponge painting, ragging, glazing, and other techniques that create a textured or mottled surface, work the best. If you’re dealing with little ones and indoor pets look for paints that clean easily.

Sit back and relax.

Miracle fabrics like microweave pseudo suede, deliver style and a stain resistant surface. The luxury of long-lasting leather gets even better when you realize how easily spills and pet hairs clean away. If you must have traditional fabrics, go for prints, preferably with darker backgrounds, to hide all those things that get dropped and smeared on couches and chairs.

Make organization beautiful.

Get creative with how you keep things together. For instance, gather all those remote controls in a pretty basket. Stash magazines or mail in a copper coal scuttle or old wooden crate. Refurbish an old coat rack to hang coats – topping it all off with one amazingly outlandish hat. Wander through an accessory store and think about how different containers can be used to control everyday clutter while adding a bit of pizzazz to a room.

Put it under glass.

For most of us, knick knacks are an unavoidable fact of life. If you find you can’t live without them, try to keep them displayed in glass-fronted cabinets. It makes them look more important while cutting down on dusting needs significantly.

Finally, to make a room look better in an instant, simply turn down the lights. Add dimmers to your light switches and not only will the dust disappear, the whole room looks more romantic and cozy.

Back To Top

Water Your Lawn Without Wasting Water

In most places, the weather is hot and lawn sprinklers are sending arcs of water across lawns from coast to coast. The question is: how much of this watering is actually hurting more than it’s helping?

Over watering lawns not only wastes water, it also encourages weed growth and can cause damaging grass diseases. Watering sessions that don’t last long enough can cause shallow root growth. Watering at the wrong time of day can actually do more harm than good. Give your lawn just the right amount of water and it won’t only look good, but it will withstand droughts better in the future.

Know your grass.

Different types of grass have different water requirements; even that can change depending on the local soil and environment. You can look for information online. However, your best sources for localized knowledge are area garden clubs and nursery professionals. Let them know about mature trees, shade, and anything else that can impact your watering needs.

Imitate the weather.

Nature tends to have a lot of rain followed by drier weather. This is the best policy for your watering schedule, too. Make sure you water enough to penetrate the soil as deep as the roots, plus one inch. Then, let your lawn almost dry out before watering again. You can tell when a lawn is ready for water simply by walking across it – if your footprints remain, it’s time to water again.

Take measurements.

This takes some effort, but can really pay off. First, measure your root depth in several places to get an average. Add one inch to that and you know how deep you want the water to reach. Now, you need to figure out how long to run your sprinklers to reach that depth.

After several days of a dry spell, place cups, cans, or other containers capable of holding a couple of inches of water, around your lawn. Run your sprinkler until these containers hold an inch of water and note how long that took. Wait until the next day and see if the water penetrated deeply enough, or too deeply. Conduct the test again; adjusting the length of time you run the sprinkler until you have just the right time. Eventually you will know exactly how long you need to run your sprinkler to achieve ideal conditions.

Make adjustments.

If nature provides rainfall, be sure to reduce your watering. However, if conditions are particularly hot or windy, you may need to water more often.

Reduce your dependence on sprinklers. There are things you can do to minimize the number of times you water your lawn. These start with choosing native grasses or those best adapted to your area. You can also let your grass grow a little taller, which reduces evaporation by shading the roots.

Aerating the soil promotes root growth, which makes it easier for grass to draw moisture from the soil. Working organic matter into the soil also helps it to retain moisture longer.

Finally, keep mower blades sharp. Cleaner cuts not only make your yard look nice and even, they also make lawns look greener and cause less evaporation. As a result, your landscaping skills will also look sharp!

Back To Top