Bizzy Orr
REALTOR
Realty Executives Arizona Territory
Your home may be the biggest investment you will ever make. Taking good care of it with regular maintenance is necessary to maintain its value and ensure it will provide a comfortable, safe shelter for you and your family for a long time.
Here is a home maintenance quiz that will test your maintenance knowledge. While this quiz does not address every home maintenance project, it does provide helpful tips and reminders for chores you may have overlooked.
1. What part of the faucet usually needs to be replaced when you have a water leak?
The washer.
2. How often should the moving parts of garage doors be oiled?
Every three months.
3. What faucet part needs to be cleaned every three to four months?
Aerator — the screen inside the end of the faucet.
4. What will prevent soot and add color to the fire in your fireplace?
Throw in a handful of salt.
5. What should you use to clean unpainted concrete floors?
A solution of 4 to 6 tablespoons of washing soda in a gallon of hot water. Mix scouring powder to the solution for tough jobs.
6. Do hardwood floors need to be waxed?
Hardwood floors that do not have a polyurethane finish probably will need to be waxed periodically. Use liquid or paste “spirit” wax.
7. Why should frozen pipes be thawed slowly?
Frozen pipes should be thawed slowly to prevent the formation of steam, which could cause the pipe to burst.
8. What is the white powdery substance that develops on masonry walls?
Efflorescence sometimes appears on masonry walls. It is crystallized soluble salts that can be removed by scrubbing with water and a stiff brush.
9. At what temperature should your water heater be set?
120 degrees Fahrenheit
10. What is a simple solution you can use to wash extremely dirty exterior windows?
A solution of equal parts vinegar and water or 3 tablespoons of denatured alcohol per quart of warm water. Use a piece of crumpled newspaper to wash the glass to avoid lint left behind by paper towels.
How did you do?? If you have any questions about home maintenance or need some help with repairs, give us a call! We have some great people we can refer to you!
All information courtesy of National Association of Home Builders.
The Pathway to Purchase (P2P) Down Payment Assistance Program provides an attractive 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a Down Payment Assistance (DPA) second mortgage equal to * 10% of the purchase price. The DPA second mortgage is a five–year forgivable lien against the subject property at a 0% interest rate and no required monthly payments. The down payment assistance (DPA) can be used toward the down payment and / or closing costs. DPA is only available in conjunction with a P2P first mortgage and is funded by the AHFPFC at the mortgage loan closing.
Program Highlights:
All information is courtesy of Arizona Department of Housing and more information about the Pathway to Purchase Program can be found here. Call us with any questions! 520.820.1801
In 2008 the National Weather Service decided to declare a monsoon season from June 15 to Sept. 30. The change, at least in part, allows the Weather Service an opportunity to consistently promote its safety messages connected to the monsoon.
The word “monsoon” is derived from the Arabic word “mausim,” which means season. It doesn't refer to individual storms, but to a season.
The monsoon is essentially a change in the weather pattern. Dry winds that typically blow from the west and southwest tend to shift to the south and southeast, bringing up moisture from the Gulf of California.
That moisture, coupled with the heat of summer, fuels the storms.
Through 2007, the start of the monsoon was determined by three consecutive days of average dewpoint temperatures of 55 degrees or higher.
We can’t do anything to prevent the monsoon, but we can prepare.
Flooding
Sandbags are the best way to divert water from doorways and help to protect your home from flooding during a monsoon storm..
Read the City of Tucson's "Flood and Erosion Hazard Protection" for more information that provides valuable tips should a summer monsoon turn into a more serious flooding situation.
Flood waters on the roads
According to the National Weather Service, nearly half of all flood fatalities are vehicle-related.
Never drive into a flooded roadway. It is extremely difficult to estimate the depth of running water or the strength of a current.
Never drive around barricades. They are there for a reason, usually because flooding is anticipated or has already happened. In addition, the road could be damaged and unsafe for drivers.
Never allow children to play around floodwaters or washes. They can be swept away.
It only takes 1 to 2 feet of water to float most vehicles, including SUVs.
If you can hear thunder, then you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
Take shelter in a sturdy building or a hard-topped vehicle. You should remain in this shelter 30 minutes after hearing the last rumble of thunder.
Telephone lines conduct electricity, so avoid using landline phones during a storm.
Metal pipes also conduct electricity, so avoid taking showers and baths or using running water during a storm.
Bring pets indoors.
High winds
Arizona thunderstorm winds often exceed 40 mph and straight-line winds can exceed 100 mph.
Move into a central interior room away from windows to avoid blowing debris that could shatter glass.
If you are driving in high winds, slow down and anticipate steering correction when moving from protected to unprotected wind areas or when encountering large passing vehicles.
Be aware of high-profile vehicles — trucks, semis, buses, campers, or those towing a trailer — because they can be unpredictable during high winds.
Before the monsoon storm hits, evaluate large trees close to your home for potential hazards.
Dust storms
If you are caught in a dust storm while driving, pull off the roadway as far as safely possible. Turn off headlights and taillights, put the vehicle in park, and take your foot off the brake.
With reduced visibility, other drivers behind you could see the brake lights and assume you are driving on the road and follow your lights.
When severe dust storms occur, consider cleaning your smoke detectors. Dust can clog detectors and cause false alarms.
Downed power lines
Across a roadway:
Consider any downed power line to be energized and dangerous. Never touch a downed power line or anything close to it. High voltage can travel through the ground. Stay at least 100 feet away from any downed lines.
Across a vehicle:
If the vehicle is occupied, stay in the vehicle until professional help arrives. Avoid contact with metal surfaces both inside and outside the vehicle. If there is a fire in the vehicle, jump from the vehicle landing on both feet. Hop away, keeping both feet in contact with each other until you are at least 100 feet from the vehicle.
