At the beginning of the month, the California Department of Food and Agriculture announced a quarantine on homegrown fruit and vegetables in a 112-square-mile area of Santa Clara County — including Sunnyvale, Cupertino, and Los Altos — in an effort to stop the spread of fruit flies. Palo Alto Weekly has the story.
Some home projects can wait until you have the time – or the energy – but some tune ups need tackling now. Let’s take a look at a few common red flags…
Critters
The sounds of scurrying in the rafters or mouse droppings in HVAC grills are signs that you may have four-legged visitors. Check exhaust vents, ducts, utility panels, garage doors, and other access points. Look for gaps, signs of chewing or nesting, or ripped screening. Even a hole the size of a quarter is big enough for a rodent to slip through.
Mold
It’s natural to occasionally find mold in wet spots like kitchen and bathroom tiles, but when you see it seeping into your living room walls, it’s time to call a professional for an inspection and remediation.
Water
Standing water in your yard after a rain is a telltale sign that you have poor drainage. This could be caused by heavy, compacted soils, or improper grading. If water collects near your home’s foundation, it could cause costly problems.
Roofing
It is essential that you inspect your roof on a regular basis – at least once a year. Missing shingles or other signs of damage should be addressed right away, because the costs of neglecting them can escalate very quickly, especially if we finally get some rain.
HVAC
Even in our temperate Silicon Valley climate, heating and air conditioning are key components of our quality of life. And you shouldn’t ignore that noise your A/C unit is making just because we’re entering the colder months. Get it checked out or risk paying through the nose when it breaks down during a summer heat wave.
Plumbing
What’s that smell coming from your kitchen sink? If a plunger isn’t enough for your investigation, call a professional and get it checked. Trust me, you don’t want to wait to deal with that mess!
You may have noticed tiny insects buzzing all over town in the wake of the recent rains. As a real estate agent, I can tell you that it’s bad news. These are flying termites they thrive when it’s humid and wet. If you see a swarm like this near your home, it’s important to act quickly and take appropriate precautions. Please let us know if you’d like a referral to a good termite company.
Whether you’re a home buyer or seller, you absolutely, positively do not want a termite problem. So even if you don’t see a swarm like this outside, there's no reason to mess around. Do the due diligence, have the home inspected — and fumigated or treated as needed — and invest in proactive pest control for the future health of the home. Here’s some good guidance from the EPA.
You may think you have found your dream home. But you won’t really know until you take a look under the floorboards.
Read More
