When people think about water heaters they usually think “maintenance free”. They usually don’t think about performing any type of preventive maintenance. However, you can keep your water heater in top condition and make it last longer just by performing two little tasks every six months. All you need to do is test the pressure valve and flush the tank.

Testing the pressure release valve is important to make sure it is operating properly. If it is not, the tank can over pressurize and explode. Flushing the tank every six months is also very beneficial. Doing this will prevent sediment build up which will reduce your water heater’s energy efficiency and clog up your water lines. If you are unsure how to perform these steps, consult your owner’s manual.

It is popular to use the do-it-yourself home home improvement approach these days. In fact, I have been doing some of that myself this past summer. Painting is one of those projects that most people think they can save a dime on by doing it themselves.


Being a full time Realtor, you can imagine the number of homes that I have been in. I have pretty much seen it all. I’ve seen a lot of self painting jobs that are poor quality, but where the seller thinks they did a great job.


If the painting isn’t done perfectly, you will notice brush or roller marks or if the color used can be seen through then you didn’t do a good job. If you used shiny enamel on the wall then you may have messed the wall up making the littlest of imperfections stick out. If you used cheap paint you will find out that you just wasted your time. Although painting isn’t a tough job to master, it does take some skill, experience, and knowledge. Getting help from your local home improvement store may help, but more than likely you will be better off hiring a professional to do the job.


If your house is on the market, a buyer will see a poorly painted room and say that the house needs some work. They will want to lower their bid by thousands of dollars for a house that they feel needs painting even if it’s only a few hundred dollars worth of work. If you are painting your house in preperation to sell it, stick with neutral colors. This will sell quicker than what’s known today as “designer colors”.


Don’t waste your time doing something that needs to be redone, and don’t ever think about just covering it up with wallpaper instead of paint.