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You Need to Clean This Fire Hazard That’s Hiding in Your Laundry Room

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Do you clean your dryer vent at least once a year? No, I don’t mean cleaning out the lint trap after every load.

I mean pulling out the dryer and cleaning the hose that leads outside. If you aren’t, then you should be. 

“While most of us remember to clean the lint filter in between laundry loads, Hippo’s Housepower Report revealed that most homeowners wait two or more years to clean their dryer exhaust vent, if ever,” says Courtney Klosterman, home insights expert at Hippo Home Insurance Group. And that can be a problem because “the leading cause of home fires involving dryers and washing machines are from dust, fiber, or lint buildup in the dryer exhaust vent.”

We asked Klosterman and three other appliance experts for the right way to clean a dryer vent: Callum Couser, R&D operations manager, hygiene, at Lysol; Will Cotter, COO of HappyCleans; and Traci Fournier, VP of operations at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning.

What You’ll Need

The gloves, mask, and safety glasses are all optional, but it’s better to have them just in case. You don’t want to accidentally get an uninhibited face full of dryer debris.

Step 1: Unplug the dryer.

Also, empty it. If you have any laundry in the dryer, take it out. Then, cut the power. “Unplug your dryer from the power outlet to ensure there’s no chance of accidental startup while you’re elbow-deep in cleaning,” Cotter says. Pull the dryer away from the wall so you have easy access to the vent and the hose.

Step 2: Detach the vent.

Use the screwdriver to disconnect the vent from both the wall and the dryer. Put it down somewhere clean. You may consider brushing off the outside of the hose at this point if it’s dirty — then you can just vacuum up the mess.

Step 3: Vacuum and brush the vent.

Using the hose attachment on your vacuum, carefully do a first pass of the dryer vent and hose to suck up any dirt, debris, or leftover lint. Then take the dryer vent brush and give the vent and hose another once-over to make sure everything gets knocked loose that shouldn’t be there. Vacuum the vent and hose one more time to make sure you got everything. Don’t forget to look just inside the dryer where the hose connects. Vacuum up any debris there as well.

Step 4: Clean the outside portion of the vent.

If you have access to it, go outside and clean the vent exit on your home. You’ll want to use the same vacuum and brush combination to clean out here. You can also take a cloth and wipe away any dirt that doesn’t come off with the vacuum or brush.

Step 5: Inspect the dryer duct.

Because you’ve got everything detached and clean, now’s the time to look for any problems (both inside and outside your home) with the dryer duct, hose, or connections. “Inspect the dryer ducts to see if there are holes or cracks that might be causing your dryer to not work properly,” Fournier says. If you find something that looks out of whack, call your HVAC contractor.

Step 6: Reattach everything.

You did it! Now, reattach the duct hose and vent (don’t forget both the wall and the appliance itself), plug your dryer in, and enjoy safer, better heat for your clothing.

Get more tips like this on Apartment Therapy.

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The Many Non-Financial Benefits of Homeownership

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Buying and owning your own home can have a big impact on your life.

While there are financial reasons to become a homeowner, it’s essential to think about the non-financial benefits that make a home more than just a place to live.

Here are some of the top non-financial reasons to buy a home.

According to Fannie Mae, 94% of survey respondents say “Having Control Over What You Do with Your Living Space” is a top reason to own.

Your home is truly your own space. If you own a home, unless there are specific homeowner association requirements, you can decorate and change it the way you like. That means you can make small changes or even do big renovations to make your home perfect for you. Your home is uniquely yours and by buying, you give yourself the freedom to tailor it to your individual style. Investopedia explains:

“One often-cited benefit of homeownership is the knowledge that you own your little corner of the world. You can customize your house, remodel, paint, and decorate without the need to get permission from a landlord.”

When you rent, you might not be able to make your place really feel like it’s yours. And if you do make any modifications, you might have to change them back before you leave. But if you own your home, you can make it just the way you want it. That level of customization can give you a sense of pride in where you live and make you feel more connected to it.

Fannie Mae also finds 90% say “Having a Good Place for Your Family To Raise Your Children” tops their list of why it’s better to buy a home.

Another important factor to think about is what stage of life you’re in. U.S. News breaks it down:

“For those with young children, buying a home and putting down roots is a major driver. . . . You don’t want the upheaval of a massive rent increase or a non-renewed lease to impact your sense of stability.”

No matter which of life’s milestones you’re in, stability and predictability are important. That’s because the one constant in life is that things will change. And, as life changes around you, having a familiar home and not worrying about moving regularly helps you and those who matter most feel more secure and more comfortable.

Lastly, Fannie Mae says 82% list “Feeling Engaged in Your Community” as another key motivator to own.

Owning your home also helps you feel even more connected to your neighborhood. People who own homes usually live in them for an average of nine years, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). As that time passes, it’s natural to make friends and build strong ties in the community. As Gary Acosta, CEO and Co-Founder at the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), points out:

“Homeowners also tend to be more active in their local communities . . .”

When you care deeply about the people you live near, you’ll do what you can to contribute to your local area.

Bottom Line

Owning your home can make your life better by giving you a sense of accomplishment, pride, stability, and connectedness. If you're thinking about becoming a homeowner and want to learn more, reach out to a local real estate agent today.

Read the whole post at keepingcurrentmatters.com

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Want To Be a Home Flipper? Profits Rebound, Especially in This Part of the U.S.

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Home flipping sure sounds glamorous: Buy a run-down home in a desirable neighborhood, fix it up, and sell it for a fat profit.

HGTV has turned a whole crop of photogenic flippers into household names.

After profits took a hit as the housing market slowed and investors exited the market, flipping is once again bringing in a stronger return on investment, according to a recent report from real estate data firm ATTOM.

Investors typically made a gross profit of about $66,500 on a flip in the second quarter of this year, according to ATTOM. That number represents the difference between what they paid for the property and what it sold for—and does not subtract what they spent to remodel the home. Repairs and updates can cost 20% to 33% of the home’s sale price.

For the second quarter in a row, profits rose. They were up 18% from the first quarter of this year but still down 35% from the same time last year. Returns on investments stood at about 27.5%, well shy of the 61% high reached two years ago.

Finished flips sold for a median of $308,500 nationally, according to ATTOM.

“Fortunes for investors who flip homes for quick profits are showing more signs of turning around,” ATTOM CEO Rob Barber says in a statement. “It’s still too early to declare the profit downturn over, as much will depend on whether the second-quarter market surge keeps going or whether it retreats again like it did last year.”

About 8% of all single-family home and condominium sales—about 84,350 in all—from April to June were flips, according to ATTOM. That’s roughly 1 in every 13 home sales. That’s down from 9.9% of all sales in the first quarter of the year and 8.9% a year earlier.

To come up with its findings, ATTOM examined sales deed data of single-family homes and condos sold in arm’s-length transactions to find homes that were sold twice within 12 months. That indicates a home might have been flipped.

The recovery is at least partly due to home prices rising instead of falling. The risk for investors is that they’ll purchase a property to flip, they’ll spend a lot of money on renovations, and then the market will turn and prices will fall before they can get the home back on the market.

“The latest investment returns may not be substantial enough to cover the holding costs on typical deals,” Barber says.

Which metros have the highest (and lowest) home-flipping rates?

The highest flipping rates were in the South, where homes tend to be more affordable.

The Macon, GA, metropolitan area had the highest flipping rate, at 16.8% of all home sales. It was followed by Columbus, GA, at 15.3%; Spartanburg, SC, at 13.5%; Atlanta, at 13.5%; and Akron, OH, at 12.5%. (Only metros with at least 200,000 residents and at least 50 flips within the second quarter of the year were measured.)

Flippers made the highest profits in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Akron had the highest returns on investment, at 116.7%, followed by Pittsburgh, at 112.9%; Scranton, PA, at 93.7%; Hagerstown, MD, at 86.6%; and Trenton, NJ, at 85%.

Flips were the least common in some of the nation’s priciest housing markets.

The Seattle metro had the lowest flipping rate, at just 3.7% of sales. There were also fewer flips in Santa Rosa, CA, at 4%; Silicon Valley’s San Jose, CA, at 4.2%; San Francisco, at 4.3%; and Hilo, HI, at 4.3%.

Learn more like this on Realtor.com

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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: ADU Turned Home Workout Studio

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Andy Fekade West + Main Agent

 
 

Busy schedules and covid gym closures were the motivation of West + Main agent Andy Fekade's home workout studio ADU build. Finding time to make it to the gym between work, meetings, and family time became difficult. After the gyms had closed during covid, Andy’s family accumulated a lot of workout equipment. It just made sense to build an at-home gym in their beloved backyard. “If you can separate where you work or workout from your main living area, I highly recommend it.” 

 
 
 

Andy’s family has seen a drastic change with the ability to get an early morning workout in, or a late-night yoga session, just steps away from their home. Being able to also enjoy the naturally shaded patio in the summer has been great for them. They used to be looking at their yard from the deck, whereas now, they are actually in the yard. Andy’s family is able to utilize the space in all sorts of ways - working out at the gym, to then enjoying a drink and sitting by the fire.

 
 
 
 

When it came to the project, Andy and the teams he worked with took their time. Andy took a lot of advice and opinions on how they could build their structure and interior in the best possible way. They used Studio-Shed - a company that delivers the entire shed structure in sections to DIY. Don’t worry though, Studio-Shed provides a wonderful online design studio and tutorial to walk you through the entire process. It’s really quite a unique and fun process! A good tip from Andy: “If you know what you will use your space for, try to accumulate furnishings or equipment over time so you can spread out spending, especially if something goes on sale!” Their completed project wasn’t exactly their initial vision, but they wouldn’t change a thing about the process or final outcome!  

 
 

Corey's favorite moment was watching Rick and Craig transform her backyard into a sandbox playground, gleefully playing with the Bobcats like children. After a much anticipated journey to completion, Corey + Rick have a fully functioning and beautiful koi water garden pond.  

All About ADU’s (Accessory Dwelling Units)

Accessory Dwelling Units are usually smaller separate homes located on the same lot as a single-family home. ADUs are often also backyard homes or multi-gen housing and have become very popular recently for a handful of reasons: housing aging parents or adult children, renting it out to generate cash flow, or creating a gym, office space, or studio!

 
 
 

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The Most Common “Shortcut” You’ll Find in New-Build Homes

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Nothing says “move-in ready” like a brand-new home, right?

Well, not exactly. Although you’ll have bragging rights as the first to reside there, not everything is as perfect or pristine as the model home might have led you to believe.

“There’s no such thing as a maintenance-free home or a 100 percent new build,” says Lisa Culp Taylor, a Realtor and leader of the LCT Team in Franklin, Tennessee.

Home building is an expensive, time-consuming process, and builders can (and will) take shortcuts. Some are downright shady choices that can affect internal systems like your HVAC and electrical wiring — which is why it’s a bad idea to waive a home inspection, even on a new build. But even if you’re working with a reputable home builder, unless you’ve got an unlimited budget to customize every square foot of that home, there will be some design and finish choices made for the sake of the builder’s schedule and budget. 

Don’t be alarmed — just be smart. If you’re making the open-house rounds of brand-new homes in your area, here’s what to look for to avoid spending a ton for a cheaply-made home.

Don’t Be Fooled by the Finishes

Be on the lookout for low-cost finishes — often called “builder grade” in the biz — that might look great simply because they’re brand new, but are not as high-end as you might think. Here are some spots to consider:

Flooring
“Not all flooring is equal, so you really have to look carefully to make sure it is a quality product,” says Kristen Carbine, a third-generation home building professional at Carbine & Associates and a Realtor with PARKS Realty – Downtown Franklin. “Beware of cheaper laminate or vinyl flooring.” 

There are higher-quality laminate and vinyl flooring options on the market that look great and are made to last. But even if the flooring materials are indeed high quality, Carbine says, “Check to see if the carpet has been properly stretched with no wrinkles, and make sure the hardwoods are smooth with tight seams [and] no visible gaps or warping.”

Windows and Doors
New homes are often touted for their security and energy efficiency, which is why you should be on the lookout for subpar windows and doors.

With windows, Carbine says to look out for cheap, single-hung options that are less energy-efficient because they don’t offer enough insulation. If you live in a region that sees extreme cold or heat (or maybe both) you’ll just be wasting money on utility costs each month.

If you’re able to choose doors, whether they are exterior or interior doors, steer clear of hollow core models. They might come in a style that you like, says Carbine, but they’re cheaply made.

Walls and Paint
Check to see if the walls are smooth and even — a sign that they’ve been prepared and finished properly, says Carbine. All paint and trim should be “flawless with a clean, crisp edge,” she says. 

Kitchen Cabinets and Countertops
Homeowners are known to pour tons of money into kitchen renovations, but unless you’re purchasing a high-end luxury home, your builder has likely chosen more economical finishes.

“Cars are not created equally and it’s the same for countertops,” Taylor says. There are different levels of quartz, for example, and a “granite” countertop in a laundry room could turn out to be Formica, she explains. 

As for cabinets, Carbine says don’t assume your new ones are made from solid wood — they could be constructed from medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or even particle board that won’t hold up over time. Also, make sure each door and drawer opens and closes smoothly. The hardware should be strong and sturdy, too, she says.

Carbine cautions not to be dazzled by those smooth stone countertops without first checking where the seams of those slabs connect. The industry standard for seam width is 1/16th of an inch or less, but aside from tight joinery — which ensures proper installation — you’re also looking for placement. Countertop seams should connect in a less visible spot.

Don’t Ignore These 2 Things in a New Build

If you’re considering going to the next open house with a magnifying glass in one hand and a list of building material prices in the other, know that there are a couple of bigger-picture aspects to consider as well.

When looking for a quality-built home, you can start with the job site,” says Carbine — most notably, how clean the builder and crew are keeping it. “This can be a big indicator of how materials are being handled as well,” she says. Sawdust will be on the floor, of course, but you don’t want those brand-new appliances covered in it.

You’ll also want to ensure that you’re not confusing your home with what you’ve seen in the model home, says Taylor. “You have to look at the nitty gritty of what you’re buying,” she says. “Reading the specification sheet, no matter how boring it may seem, is critically important.” Doing so will help you avoid “surprises” at the final walk-through.

Get more advice like this on Apartment Therapy.

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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