Sterling Home Services June Newsletter

We're coming to you in a new and improved way this month. Welcome to our website blog. In this month's article we're covering things we hope you'll find helpful for June including some helpful information about backyard swimming pools, keeping a clean and dry basement and some basic home maintenance for summer. Enjoy!

Swimming Pools: An overview
If you have a pool you've probably "opened" it for the summer. If you don't have a pool you've probably seen your friends Facebook pictures of their sparkling backyard pools or you've heard them talking about getting the pool ready for summer. If you're feeling a little jealous, why not start a little information gathering to see if getting a pool is a good option for your home.

Why get a pool?
The biggest reason, of course, is for leisure. A swimming pool can turn your backyard into a vacation resort. It's an opportunity for fun and relaxing family time. It's a fun and engaging party venue. It can even serve as a refreshing and effective fitness plan.

In a recent study, a real estate professor from Florida State University found that in the Midwest an in-ground swimming pool raises the value of a home by approximately 6 percent. The study found that a swimming pool never has a negative affect on the price of home, but sometimes the increase is small.

A pool can often make selling a home easier. While potential buyers may not be able to visualize their furniture in a wood paneled family room, they will be able to picture themselves sunning and swimming in backyard pool paradise.

Why not get a pool?
Pools require maintenance and if not properly maintained they can cause a lot of headache and trouble. Some may see the addition of pool chores, too much to handle in an already busy schedule. Lack of proper care can also be a health and safety issue. Failure to keep PH and sanitizer levels balanced can result in scale, algae and bacteria forming in your pool. Maintenance can be simple and easy if it is addressed daily.

Cost is another detriment to pool ownership. It is cheaper to buy a home with a pool already installed than to install one later. While a pool can raise the value of your home, it rarely returns your full cost of investment. But there are other things to consider that may offset this cost as well: money saved on trips and vacations; money saved on club or pool memberships; time spent home with family; and so on.

There is also a safety feature with small children. Swimming pools can be dangerous but there are many safety products available as well as laws regarding fencing to promote safety around a swimming pool.

It's a big decision to get a pool and there are many things to consider: in-ground pool or above ground pool, vinyl lined or fiberglass, big or small. Do your research. Here are some resources to get you started:
http://www.swimmingpool.com/
http://home.howstuffworks.com/swimming-pool.htm
http://www.poolcenter.com/poolcare

Taking Good Care of Your Basement
In Michigan a lot of us have basements. We store our stuff down there. We send the kids to play down there. Sometimes we have a beautifully finished and decorated basement with a spare bedroom, full bath, wet bars and workout room. If you've got all that in your basement, good for you! A finished basement can add a lot of living space to a home.

If you haven't got a finished basement or if your finished basement doesn't feel as "nice" as it should, here are a few tips to get it and keep it dry, clean and fresh.

Dampness
A damp wet basement can be unpleasant. It can fill the house with a musty smell. It's uncomfortable to spend any time in a damp basement. If your basement is wet determine where the water is coming from:
A. Seeping in from outside or
B. Indoor humidity or vapor

A simple test to determine which one is causing the dampness is to tape a sheet of aluminum foil to the wall and leave it for a few days. If moisture forms on the outside of the foil, you have high indoor humidity. If the wall underneath the foil is damp you have moisture seeping in from outside.

For high indoor humidity try these simple fixes:

• Seal leaky dryer vents with foil tape
• Add a vent fan to your basement bathroom
• Keep basement windows closed during humid weather
• Run a dehumidifier
• Insulate exposed water pipes

For moisture seeping in from outside the fixes can be a little more work.

• Keep water away from your foundation by making sure the ground slopes down away from the house. Add gutters and install downspout extensions to make sure water from the roof is released at least 4 feet from the foundation.
• Plug any hose or cracks in your foundation with hydraulic cement. Hydraulic cement will cure even under water plus it expands as it sets to seal holes.
• Waterproof basement walls with special water proof coating materials that are applied like paint. Make sure you apply it thickly and in two coats to fill every pinhole.

These are just a few simple fixes you can do your self to keep your basement dry and clean. For professional help with concrete, masonry, mold or remodeling check our list of preferred contractors, here >>

June Home Maintenance Schedule
Here's a quick schedule of items to check, repair, replace or clean for the month of June. Remember, doing small maintenance jobs on a consistent basis prevents large expensive repairs!

• Replace the HVAC filter (you should do this every 30 to 90 days)
• Test all your smoke detectors
• Clean out the Dryer vent, lint trap and screen
• Remove and discard any old paint and flammables - check the garage and basement
• Sharpen your garbage disposal by tossing a handful of ice cubes into it and running it. The ice sharpens the blades and scours away any greasy buildup
• Tighten up your refrigerator door. Put a dollar bill where the seal meets the fridge, close the door and pull out the bill. If there is resistance your door is tight enough, but if the bill slides right out take a moment and tighten the hinges. A loose fridge door make your compressor work harder. Plus your fridge won't be as cold as it should be and could cause food spoilage.

Funny home facts:

• Google rents goats to keep the grass trimmed - very eco-friendly
• In parts of Germany and Poland, wedding guests break dishes and porcelain in front of the bride's house before the wedding and leave it for the bride and groom to clean up. It is supposed to symbolize the struggles a new couple has and encourage them to work together.
• Brass doorknobs disinfect themselves. Ions in the metal have a toxic effect on spores, fungi, viruses and other germs.
• In 2005 a man started with one red paperclip and traded his way to a two-story farmhouse in Saskatchewan. His first trade was the red paperclip for a fish-shaped pen.
• In Scotland, homeowners paint their front door red when they pay off their mortgage.
• According to legend if a bird flies into a home, death is soon to follow.
• In Japan there is a house that raises up off its foundation in the event of an earthquake. The house raises 3 cm using just air pressure.