DIY solutions to a sticking sliding glass door

Sliding doors have been around longer than most of us think. In fact, archaeologists say that they were somewhat common in “… Roman houses as early as the first century CE,” according to Martin Whitmore, President of US Window and Door.

In those days, however, the doors hung from the ceiling, so they “… were able to move freely …,” Whitmore concludes.

Fast-forward to post-World War II, glass sliding doors became “the most popular type of door in the world,” according to Whitmore.

Americans have a love-hate relationship with these sliding doors. Many homeowners claim that they aren’t attractive, like French doors. Others dislike dealing with the common problems of these doors, such as a lack of security and the multiple malfunctions they have faced over the years.

The fact is, however, millions of homes offer this feature.

The most common malfunction is when the door no longer slides as well as it once did. Fighting with it just to get it closed is beyond frustrating.

The good news is that you don’t always need to call a professional to fix the problem. Let’s explore some simple do-it-yourself (DIY) solutions to help you quickly get your sliding door back on track.

1. Clean the tracks

One of the most common reasons for a sliding door sticking is dirt, dust, and debris accumulating in the tracks. To resolve this issue, start by thoroughly cleaning the tracks.

Begin by removing any loose debris using a vacuum cleaner or a brush. Next, mix a mild detergent with warm water to wipe down the tracks. Scrub gently with a soft or old toothbrush to remove any stubborn grime.

Finally, rinse the tracks with clean water and wipe them dry. This simple cleaning routine can work wonders in restoring smooth operation to your sliding door.

2. Lubricate the tracks

Lubrication might be the key if your sliding door is still sticking after cleaning. Applying lubricant to the tracks can significantly reduce friction and improve the door’s sliding action.

Begin by selecting a silicone-based or Teflon-based lubricant specifically designed for door tracks. “Although they may feel slippery when they’re first applied, grease and oil-based lubricants eventually become sticky and will attract dirt that clogs your sliding glass door tracks,” cautions the pros at GlassDoctor.com.

If you’re unsure when purchasing a product, check the ingredient label. “If you see ‘petroleum’ listed, don’t use it—the lubricant has an oily base,” the Glass Doctor pros conclude.

Apply a small amount of the lubricant to a clean cloth and wipe it along the entire length of the tracks. Make sure to cover both the top and bottom tracks. Move the door back and forth a few times to distribute the lubricant evenly. This simple step can often make a noticeable difference in how smoothly your sliding door operates.

3. Adjust the rollers

Another common cause of a sticking sliding door is misaligned or worn-out rollers. The rollers are located at the bottom of the door and help it glide along the tracks.

To adjust the rollers, locate the adjustment screws on the bottom edge of the door. Using a screwdriver, turn the screws clockwise to raise the door and counterclockwise to lower it. Make small adjustments and test the door’s movement after each turn.

If the rollers are worn or damaged, they may need to be replaced. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions or seek professional assistance to ensure proper replacement.

4. Check the door alignment

Sometimes, a sliding door can stick due to misalignment. Check if the door is properly aligned within the frame. Inspect the top and bottom edges of the door to see if there are any noticeable gaps. If the door is misaligned, you may need to adjust the frame.

Loosen the screws holding the frame in place and gently tap the frame using a rubber mallet until the door aligns correctly. Tighten the screws once the alignment is satisfactory. Remember to make small adjustments and test the door’s movement after each step to ensure proper alignment.

A sticking sliding door can be frustrating, but with a few DIY solutions, you can restore its smooth gliding action without needing professional help. By following these simple steps, you can save time and money and enjoy the convenience of a sliding door that operates effortlessly.

Stop the Drip! A Simple Guide to Fixing a Dripping Kitchen Faucet

Is the sound of a dripping kitchen faucet driving you crazy? It may also be causing your water bill to soar.

The good news is that fixing it is easier than you might think. This blog post shows how to fix that pesky drip and save water and your sanity.

Step 1: Gather Your Tools

Before getting started, make sure you have the necessary tools handy. Here’s what you’ll need:

Adjustable wrench
Screwdriver (both flathead and Phillips)
Replacement parts (such as O-rings and washers) specific to your faucet model. You can find these at a hardware store or online
Plumber’s grease

Step 2: Turn Off the Water

Locate the shut-off valves (typically resembling an outdoor faucet) under the sink and turn off the water supply to avoid any unwanted surprises. Clockwise usually closes the valve. Once the water is off, turn on the faucet to release any remaining water in the pipes.

Step 3: Disassemble the Faucet

Now it’s time to take apart the faucet. Start by locating the handle and removing any decorative caps or covers. Use a flathead screwdriver to carefully pry them off. Underneath, you’ll find screws holding the handle in place. Use the appropriate screwdriver (flathead or Phillips) to loosen and remove these screws. Once the screws are out, gently lift off the handle.

Step 4: Identify the Problem

With the handle removed, you’ll now have access to the inner workings of the faucet. The most common culprits for a dripping faucet are worn-out O-rings and washers. Examine these parts for signs of damage, such as cracks or tears. If they look worn or damaged, it’s time to replace them.

Step 5: Replace the O-Rings and Washers

Carefully remove the old O-rings and washers using your fingers or a screwdriver. Take note of their size and shape; you’ll need to find suitable replacements. Take the old parts to a hardware store to ensure you get the correct ones. Once you have the new O-rings and washers, lubricate them with the plumber’s grease and carefully install them instead of the old ones.

Step 6: Reassemble and Test

With the new O-rings and washers in place, it’s time to put everything back together. Start by reattaching the handle and tightening the screws. Then, place the decorative caps or covers back on and press them firmly into place. Now, turn the shut-off valves back on to restore the water supply.

Step 7: Check for Leaks

Once the water is back on, turn on the faucet and observe. Is the drip gone? Keep an eye out for any leaks around the handle or spout. If you notice any leaks, you might need to recheck the installation of the O-rings and washers or tighten the faucet components further.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully fixed a dripping kitchen faucet all by yourself. Not only have you saved water, but you’ve also gained valuable DIY skills.

Let’s transform that unused closet

At one time, closets were the same size as a large room in our modern homes. In these spacious caverns, folks studied, wrote and spent time in contemplation.

Where did they keep their clothing, you ask? They stored them in wooden storage chests.

The closet as we know it today, “…a dedicated space built into the home for storage,” came into being in the United States around 1840, according to the folks at Closets by Design.

And homebuyers fell in love with them. Naturally, home builders picked up on the feature; after all, people were willing to pay more for a home with closets.

Fast forward to 2023, when homes are vastly larger and not all of us have a hoard to store away. Believe it or not, some folks even have an unused closet.

If you are among these minimalists, read on to get some closet transformation ideas, many of which can be accomplished in one weekend.

Ditch the dining room table and create a brilliant workstation

The practice of transforming a closet into an office has become so popular there is a term for the result: Cloffice.

If you have an unused closet in the home, consider turning it into an office or a workstation. It’s a fun project that you can easily DIY over a weekend.

Step one is to determine if you’ll paint the closet’s interior. Many are so dreary that working in them may become drudgery.

Whether you know it as a closet bar or closet rod, that thing that holds your clothes hangers needs to be removed, if you didn’t do so while painting, before performing the next step in the transformation. Don’t dispose of it because if you ever sell the home, you’ll need to replace it.

Now you should have an empty closet, save for a shelf or shelves, set higher on the wall. On these shelves, use decorative boxes, trays or other organizational items to store small office supplies such as paper clips, staples, etc. Check out the ideas on Pinterest.com.

Don’t neglect installing suitable lighting. While overhead lighting is necessary, a desk lamp should also be on your shopping list. Shop for one that is adjustable, offers a generous amount of light, and has a small footprint.

Now all you need to do is figure out the desk situation. This can be as simple as plywood propped on short filing cabinets or a small version of an office desk. Get ideas online at TheCraftyBlogStalker.com and Remodelaholic.com.

Now, pull up that comfy chair you’ve chosen and get to work!

Curl up with a good book in your own reading nook

Shallow closets are ideal for this transformation idea. All you need is a comfy spot to lounge in and good lighting. But, really, the sky is the limit when designing this space.

Two examples we’ve found online are brilliant and include built-in window seats (our favorite) or a giant pouf to sit or lie on (this is especially cute for a child’s reading nook).

Good lighting is essential in this closet transformation.

From closet to laundry room? Yup!

Yes, it may sound wacky, but stick with us here. “Converting a closet into a laundry can be an inexpensive exercise as long as you have easy access to both plumbing and drainage,” according to an unnamed writer who took on the project and walks readers through it at Ideas2Live4.com.

We love the closet/laundry room with racks built into the doors to hold laundry soap and other supplies.

Think you can’t fit those appliances in the closet? The aforementioned unnamed writer says, “Most closets are 600mm (24″) deep. Most laundry appliances are around 500mm (20″) deep.”

With a bit of time and inspiration, you can quickly transform your unused closet into an area that is a joy to use.

Make your spring/summer garage sale the talk of the neighborhood

It’s a mystery how they figured this out, but did you know that Americans hold 6.5 million to 9 million garage sales each year? According to Encyclopedia.com, the practice dates back to at least the 1950s.

If you’re considering removing unused household items, the garage sale is the ideal way to do it, provided you take the time to plan and prepare.

A good garage sale starts with a good plan

The first step in the planning process is to choose a date for the sale. Sounds easy, right?

You may be sorry if you just pull a date out of a hat. Instead, consider that there may be competition for your event. Check to ensure no significant sporting events are happening, live or televised.

Also, check to ensure there won’t be any popular local events, such as fairs, festivals, etc. Although there are a lot of die-hard garage sale fans, even they will skip a sale if there’s something else competing for their attention.

Another way to ensure your sale is a success is to plan it for when it’s more likely your customers will have money to spend.

The Yard Sale Queen offers a brilliant suggestion: find out when employees of some of the larger businesses in your area get paid and hold your sale the weekend after payday.

Typically, folks get paid on the first and 15th of each month.

Consider the following as well:

Make a sketch of the garage or yard, noting where the tables and racks will be located. Ensure there is room to walk between these items and that you can see all items from wherever you plan to be stationed.
This one is tedious, but you’ll be so glad you took the time to do it. Create a list of everything that will be up for sale and how much you want.
As something sells, cross it off the list and note how much you received for it.
Price items clearly.
Enlist help from family and friends.
Round up an extension cord so that folks can test out electronics and small appliances.
Save all of your grocery bags, Amazon boxes, and packing material. They will come in handy for fragile items.
Selling clothing? The Yard Sale Queen suggests that you go through all the pants pockets, and compartments in purses, and fan out books to ensure no money or other valuables are hidden within.

The Day before the Sale

Now you must let everyone know about your super-fantastic garage or yard sale. Advertise it on Facebook, NextDoor, and other social media platforms you use frequently.

Create signs that can direct customers to the home. Start placing them on the busy streets first.
Get some change and small bills from the bank to make the change.
Determine how you will hold the cash during the sale. A cashbox isn’t a good idea as it’s too easy for someone to walk away with it. A “fanny sack” that you wear around your waist or a wallet in your pocket is a much safer way to hold your cash.

Additional considerations for a winning yard sale

If you live in a gated community, getting people into the sale is more challenging. Contact your homeowners association (HOA) first to determine what rules they have about yard sales and if there are any restrictions.

Check local regulations to ensure your street signs aren’t violating any city or municipal codes.

Be aware of some of the more common scams:

When making change, don’t immediately pocket the bill the customer gives you. Hold it in your hand or place it under a paperweight while you make change. This way, the customer can’t claim to have given you a larger bill.
Large groups of customers arriving at once or rowdy children can be distracting. Have someone help you monitor folks when they may be deliberately trying to distract you.
The Yard Sale Queen suggests that you always look inside any large items you sell before allowing the customer to leave to ensure something else isn’t hidden within.

What’s happening there between the curb and your home’s front door?

What happens — or doesn’t — in that area is known in real estate circles as “curb appeal,” and it makes or breaks your home’s first impression.

The focal point of this area is the entryway to the home – the front door and surrounding area. This is where your guests’ eyes will settle as they approach your home.

If you are one of those brave souls who got past the unattractiveness of a home’s exterior and decided to purchase anyway, or if you’re planning on selling your home, let’s figure out how to make your front door entrance warm and inviting.

Considerations

When planning the landscaping for your front entry, there are three primary considerations, according to Environmental Landscape Associates, a Pennsylvania design firm:

Principles
Program
Elements

Important principles include ensuring that the design is in synch with and complements the architectural style of your home. In other words, don’t go for a cottage garden entryway on a house with modern architecture.

Especially if you plan on putting the home on the market, curb appeal is far more critical than your personal taste in landscaping.

The second consideration, the program, is part of the process wherein you’ll need to determine how to utilize the space. Is the entryway merely for front-door access, or will there be entertainment elements also?

Large porches can accommodate seating and dining areas that become part of the home’s curb appeal. Don’t forget any privacy concerns. If you need to screen the front windows from neighbors or passing traffic, the barrier must coordinate with the other elements.

The design elements include everything you’ll need to create it, such as hardscape elements (bricks, pavers, etc.) and plants – both in the ground and in containers.

When deciding which plants to purchase, refer back to the principles and the program to ensure everything flows and is tied together at the end of the project.

Formal Entry Ideas

Formal entryways should exude symmetry. Think “organized.” Both sides of the entryway should mirror one another. This balanced approach lends a formal feel to the area.

Use patterned hardscapes, formal, shaped hedges, and elegant groundcovers. Hedging to consider includes:

Juniper
Rosemary
Boxwood
Holly

Frame the front door by planting – either in the ground or in attractive containers – identical plants on either side.

Informal Entry Ideas

You can get a lot more creative when creating informally landscaped entryways. Use natural stones on the walkway and, set them in irregular patterns, mix and match shrubs and perennial flowering plants. Line the walkway with interesting edging materials, such as a small white picket fence or colorful flowers.

If you aim for a relaxed feel, such as with a cottage entryway, use fragrant flowering plants such as roses, lilies, lavender, and thyme.

Soften a concrete or rigid walkway surface by lining it with soft-colored plants, such as dusty millers, combined with any red- or pink-foliage landscape plants, such as begonias or multi-colored coleus.

Year-Round Appeal

Whether your landscaping at the front door entrance is formal or casual, ensure it remains interesting all year. Combine deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs so the entry isn’t completely bare when the leaves fall.

The experts with the University of Missouri Extension suggest choosing deciduous trees that bear flowers in the spring and summer, have good foliage color in the fall, and have an exciting branch structure.

Consider a mixture of the following plants:

Ornamental grass
Woody ornamentals, such as abelia and Japanese bayberry
Perennials, such as sedum

Put it all together

When the aim is to focus on the entryway, the most common arrangement of plants is to place large plants at both ends of the house and progressively smaller plants as you move toward the door.

The University above of Missouri Extension agents also suggests using odd numbers of plants in groupings – such as three or five – when designing an informal entryway. Your goal is formal, with symmetry and order, and use even number groupings.

The path to your front door, whether it heads straight to it or meanders a bit, requires landscaping to fit the home’s architecture and to provide year-round interest.

After all, this area is your home’s welcoming “handshake,” according to the editors of Sunset Magazine. Avoid giving your visitor the limp fish while you don’t want to offer a bone-crusher.

3 tips to keep your dog safe this Independence Day

“More pets get lost on July 4th than any other day of the year,” according to the experts at HomeAgain, a lost pet recovery service.

Dog owners know well that the pooch can be in the furthest reaches of the home but will come running if you grab a crinkly package of chips from the pantry.

That’s how keen their sense of hearing is. “In fact, they are capable of hearing sounds four times further away than the human ear can discern … They have 15 different muscles that move their ears in all directions,” claim the experts at PawsChicago.org.

Imagine then what the booming, blasting, popping sounds of the typical July 4^th celebration does to a dog’s ears. Since it’s something most dogs don’t hear frequently, it causes great fear and anxiety.

The dog experts at Purina say that it’s not only the sound of fireworks but their unpredictability of them that causes the dog to perceive them as a threat.

“This triggers their fight-or-flight response,” they say online at Purina.com. “Your dog may bark at the noises or try to run away and hide. They may also show other signs of anxiety, like restlessness, panting, pacing, or whining.”

Many dogs get the fight or flight response and choose the latter, attempting to escape the perceived threat. This leads us to the first tip to keep your dog safe on Independence Day.

1. Ensure that your dog’s microchip is up-to-date and that he or she wears a collar with an ID tag attached.

Your dog is microchipped, right? According to a study published by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and highlighted by Ohio State University’s website, animal “… shelter officials housing lost pets that had been implanted with a microchip were able to find the owners in almost three out of four cases.”

It’s not enough, however, to have your dog microchipped as a puppy and then forget about it. If you move, the chip should be updated to contain your current contact information.

Don’t let your pet be among those that never see their owners again because they aren’t chipped or the chip contains old information.

2. Thinking of taking the pooch with you to the festivities? Think again.

Not only will there be the frightening and unpredictable fireworks at celebrations, but also the crowds of people, the kids running around, and being in an unfamiliar place. Your dog may just decide to make a run for it.

Experts with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommend leaving the dog at home “… in a safe, escape-proof room or crate.”

3. It’s not over until after the cleanup

The aftermath of any self-respecting Independence Day celebration can be dangerous for our pets. The wind could blow in debris from the neighbors’ yards even if you didn’t host the celebration.

It’s a good idea to clear the debris before allowing your dog to play in the yard. Pick up spent fireworks, food scraps (especially bones), barbecue skewers, and paper debris.

We hope you, and your pets, have a safe and happy Independence Day!

5 things to look for when buying a new built-in dishwasher

Dishwashers. We never really understand what a time- and effort-saving device it is until it goes on the blink.

And if yours has, you no doubt understand how much they’ve gone up in price over the past few years. Although you can purchase a basic model for less than $400, the models with the useful bells and whistles can cost up to a few thousand dollars.

“On average, a new dishwasher costs about $970,” suggests Paige Bennett at Angi.com.

Whether you’re looking for a no-frills dishwasher or a top-of-the-line brand, knowing exactly which features you need and will use and the right time to shop for it is the key to saving money.

So, what is the right time of year to shop for a dishwasher?

“Model year clearance time” is a phrase we often hear in commercials and see in print ads. That time is the month of May. This is because manufacturers put out their new models in June, so sales are abundant to get the old stock moved out.

“Federal holidays [New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc.) are also a great time to find huge savings on dishwashers,” claims Debbie Wolfe and Lexie Pelchen at Forbes.com.

Don’t forget Black Friday. You may find some real bargains on offer.

Finally, if you don’t mind a slightly marred appliance, you can check out the “scratch and dent” inventories at appliance stores and big box retailers any time of the year.

How to start your dishwasher shopping journey

The first step toward buying a dishwasher that meets your needs is much like the first step toward buying a home. Figure out what you need when it comes to features.

“Wi-Fi capability, touch screen controls and programmable wash cycles are nice, but they come at premium prices. Decide if you really need all the bells and whistles and if the extra cost is worth it to you,” warns Wolfe and Pelchen.

Take some time to get to know the various features that manufacturers are offering. Items such as stainless-steel tubs are quite popular with consumers, replacing the old interior surface that is easily stained. Other popular features, according to the folks at ApplianceConnection.com, include:

ENERGY STAR® Certification to help save money.
A dishwasher that boasts a quieter cycle.
Water softener if you live in an area with hard water that causes spotting on your dishes.
Hard food disposal

Which brands do consumers like the best?

“KitchenAid … ranks highest in customer satisfaction among dishwashers. Samsung … ranks second, while Bosch … and LG … rank third in a tie,” according to research by JD Powers and Associates.

Which finish is best for you?

Many shoppers choose to match the finish of their other appliances when shopping for a new dishwasher. Other than that, there are a few things to consider when choosing a finish.

If you despise fingerprints on your appliance, choose a brushed stainless steel finish. Black and traditional stainless-steel finishes attract dust, grime and fingerprints.

Tub material

We mentioned earlier the popularity of the stainless-steel tub. Your other choice is plastic. As the dishwasher ages, plastic tubs tend to become stained and may hold odors.

Not so with a stainless-steel tub. It dries quicker and is tougher. Yes, dishwashers with stainless-steel tubs are more expensive.

Does the noise bug you?

If it has been some time since you’ve shopped for a dishwasher you will notice that the noise level, listed by decibel level, is now typically a standard part of the in-store description.

“A rating of 45 decibels or lower is a virtually silent dishwasher. Decibel levels between 45 and 50 have the equivalent sound level to steady rainfall. A 50 or higher decibel level is equivalent to the level of a normal conversation.,” according to Wolfe and Pelchen.

They go on to warn readers that “The lower the decibel rating, the more expensive the dishwasher will be.”

Have you heard about the filters?

Have you ever wondered what keeps the food debris on your plates from floating around while the dishes wash and possibly ends up back on the clean dishes?

It’s the filter that stops that mess and you’ll need to choose from a manual and a self-cleaning filter. The latter “… filters feature a grinder that pulverizes the debris and flushes it down the drain. Manual filters need to be removed and cleaned often to keep them free of debris,” suggests Debbie Wolfe and Samantha Allen at Forbes.com.

Some additional features you might want to shop for

Wolfe and Allen suggest looking at these additional dishwasher features:

Soil sensors.
Adjustable racks.
A third rack.
“Smart home technology and Wi-Fi connectivity …” so you can program the machine to start washing even if you aren’t around via your desktop, laptop or smartphone.

Who knew there was so much to learn about something we use every day? Hopefully, these tips will help you make a choice from the many dishwasher models available on the market.

Don’t call the exterminator until you try these three easy DIY tricks

Bugs, creepy crawlies, pests — whatever you choose to call them, they actually have a season; a time when they are busiest.

“Spring marks the real beginning of insect season because … with rising temperatures and spring showers, insects become more active,” suggest the pros at Petri Pest Control in Boynton Beach, Florida.

For the most part, bugs are tolerable when they are outdoors. When they intrude inside the home, it’s time to take action. And, if the pest that’s bugging you is among those that can cause damage to the property (such as roaches), act quickly.

1. Perimeters aren’t just for crime scenes

Consider applying a perimeter spray.

There are a number of brands on the market and we’ve heard positive reviews on many of them from our homeowner clients. Many formulas are pet and people-safe if used as instructed and once they dry, including:

Ortho Home Defense® Crawling Bug Killer® with Essential Oils
EcoLogic Ready-to-Use Home Insect Control

Follow all safety precautions and the use instructions listed on the label. Wear protective clothing, gloves, and a mask, and wash thoroughly after using the product.

2. Push back on bugs

A good first step if you don’t want to use the perimeter spray is to push bugs as far from the home as possible. Ways to do this include:

Removing outdoor food sources that attract pests.
Eliminating outdoor water leaks, such as a faucet that constantly drips.
Declutter your yard to keep them from taking up residence in the clutter.
Stack your firewood 10 or more feet from the home.
Mow the lawn as short as possible.
Trim tree branches growing close to the home.

3. Then, seal up the home

Take a tour of the interior of the home, looking for:

Holes in floorboards (attractive to termites).
Piles of paper and cardboard boxes in the garage (the rats and mice thank you for the free bedding!).
Exterior cracks and holes that pests can use to gain access to the home.
The entomologists at the SC Johnson Center for Insect Science and Family Health™ recommend that you use caulk to fill the holes and cracks which will deny pests access to the home’s interior.
Cracks around doorways and windows.
Torn and bent screens on doors and windows (get them repaired).

Bonus Tip

Cleanliness is next to pestlessness

The ickies come into our homes searching for one of three things:

Food
Water
Shelter

Deny them these needs and they will most likely go elsewhere. The best way to accomplish this is to keep the home clean.

Keep up after crumbs, both in the kitchen and in the kids’ rooms.
Take the trash/garbage out to a secured bin every day.
Pick up pet droppings in the yard.
Ensure your pantry items are stored in sealed containers.
Avoid leaving dishes in the sink.
Fix leaky faucets.

If pests can’t find food, water, or shelter in your home, they will leave.

And that, after all, is the goal.

Wait! Don’t leave for vacation until you follow these tips to secure your home

Now is about the time folks earnestly start planning their annual vacation. In fact, “More than 90% of Americans plan to travel in 2023,” according to the editors at ipx1031.com

Are you among them? Whether you plan to travel domestically or go abroad, you will be leaving behind your most prized possessions, including your home.

We’ve searched for home safety and security experts’ suggestions for you on how to ensure that you come home to a home in the same condition as when you left it.

Security should be top-of-mind

If you own smart home features, securing your home while you’ll be away will be much easier for you than for those homeowners who don’t. If you don’t own these features, consider installing some to:

Turn on and off the lights to give anyone watching the home the appearance you are there.
Use a smart plug to turn on the TV or radio for those crooks brazen enough to get close to the home.
Security systems, smart or otherwise, can alert neighbors or law enforcement that someone has broken in. Many feature DIY installations so you won’t have to break your vacation piggy bank to get them up and running.

Although we hear about rising crime rates from the media, the truth is that “The current burglary rate, including cases of forced entry, is 75% less than it was in the 1980s, according to Crime Data Explorer,” (Forbes.com)

The chances are good that you’ll come home to an unviolated home, but why tempt fate?

Turn your cooling system off or leave it on?

“… turn the thermostat up while away, not off,” suggests the pros at Central Heating and Air Conditioning in Northeast Ohio. They go on to recommend that you should set it seven to 10 degrees higher than you typically do.

Why?

Heat and humidity can help promote mold in the unit while it’s off. An overly hot home is also brutal on electronics and even your appliances, such as the refrigerator.

If you have a smart thermostat, it most likely has an “away” or “vacation” function you can use to ensure it is set properly.

Turn off the main water line to the home

If you’ll be away longer than a week or two, consider turning your water off. The reason for this suggestion is simply to protect the home in the event of a water leak when there is nobody around to stop it.

After turning it off at the main, turn on all the faucets to let the excess water out of the pipes.

Prevent coming home to a smelly house

If you plan on being gone for more than two weeks, you may want to consider wrapping the toilet bowls with cling wrap.

This will “… keep water from evaporating,” according to Geri Koeppel with the East Valley Tribune.

He goes on to explain that “If the toilets dry up, sewer odors may seep in and bugs may crawl up the pipes. It can also dry out the seal between the toilet and floor, which will make your toilets leak around the base.”

Speaking of stinky sewer gases, avoid coming home to a smelly refrigerator by throwing away anything that will perish before your return. Then, take out the garbage the day you are leaving.

Take these simple steps so that you can vacation with peace of mind, knowing that your home will be fine upon your return.

The number one reason you should take more interest in your condo’s HOA

One of the most popular blog topics on our website is when we write about bargains, or how to save money in the local real estate market. So, today I searched the MLS and, sure enough, I found some somewhat low-priced condos for sale.

I looked first at how long they’ve been on the market and all of them have been sitting for quite some time. In fact, the lowest-priced condo has been on the market for almost a year.

Now why, I thought to myself, is that?

So, I sleuthed

I then looked at the photos of each condo for sale to see if there was anything there that might explain why these low-cost condos aren’t flying off the market. Aside from one with a very dated kitchen and another with a missing refrigerator I didn’t see any obvious flaws.

Then, I saw it – $270 a month in HOA fees. Now, that may not seem like a lot to some, but for someone on a tight budget who needs a starter home and a price tag that fits their budget, the HOA fees could be a deal breaker.

FHA certification is important

But, there’s another reason these condos may not be selling. When the price of single-family homes skyrocket, buyers on tight budgets often turn to condos as an alternative. Many use loans backed by FHA.

The problem here is that FHA has stringent qualifications when it comes to condos. The community must be FHA-certified for anyone to get FHA’s backing for a loan and many across the country aren’t.

In fact, “… there are more than 150,000 condominium projects in the country, but only 6.5% of them qualify for FHA financing,” according to Kim Porter, citing FHA statistics, at Credible.com.

Back to our condo with a $270-a-month fee. It just so happens that this particular community is not FHA-certified so between the high monthly HOA fees and the fact that it’s not approved for an FHA loan, the poor homeowner is having a rough time selling.

Pay attention to what your HOA is planning and doing

You may not be thinking of selling right now, but eventually you most likely will.

Most homeowners that live in managed communities (those with a homeowner association) receive a monthly or quarterly newsletter or bulletin from the HOA. Many don’t bother to read it.

If you own a condo or are planning on buying one, it’s important to be active in your Homeowners Association. Even if all you do is read the newsletter or attend the meetings, it pays to know what is going on.

For instance, if the ratio of rentals to owner-occupied units happens to increase to more than half of all units, your community will lose its FHA approval. Other FHA approval violations include:

Commercial use of the property is limited to 35%.
The association has to keep at least 10% of the budget in cash reserve, according to Porter.
The association must not allow fewer than 85% of the homeowners to become delinquent on their HOA dues.

Since FHA demands that recertification takes place every three years, it’s important that you ensure they’re following the rules.

The biggest problem that occurs is the first one I mentioned – too many tenants. The wise homeowner will be vigilant in monitoring the enforcement of FHA’s cap.

Yes, that’s easier said than done. But it’s important to pay attention to the future resale value of your property and the longer a home remains on the market, the less you’ll make on it. If you can’t sell it at all, it’s worthless, right?

If you want to check if a particular condo community is FHA certified, check HUD’s website.