The Home Life – Page 6 – CityScape Insurance

Homebuying: What To Look For When Purchasing

After years of hard work, watching the budget, and monitoring credit, consumers then look into purchasing a home of their own. However, there is more to home buying than just filling out paperwork, and consumers need to know a few tips about ownership before moving in. Here are two things to keep in mind:

Inspections: Ask about accessing an inspection report from the seller or realtor before moving, if possible. If the report is not available at that time, have a home inspection done by a licensed professional to make sure that the foundation is solid, and the wiring is up to code.
Location: Double-check to see if the unit is actually worth the asking price. Check out the neighborhood by visiting parks and businesses at various times of the day and week. See if the streets and buildings are clean and well-maintained. Also, the local police may have crime-mapping websites that show the areas of high activity, and property values are affected based on this information.

What To Look For When Buying

Before settling into a new house, the structural soundness and fixtures must be checked for durability and functionality. Enlisting the services of a licensed professional is a good idea in checking for unseen damages, but there are ways to identify problems beforehand.

Structural (includes foundation): Random hairline cracks are nothing to worry too much about as long as they are not near appliances and fixtures. Big cracks are a problem, especially near windows, end-of-terrace walls, and where extensions join. These types of cracks may be indicators of rotten woodwork, mold, mildew, bacteria, insect infestation, or water leaks.
Roofing: There are other factors to consider besides leaks when checking for roof damage. Look for missing and misplaced roof tiles and if there are gaps in the seams and edges. Most roofs have a life expectancy of only 15 to 20 years, depending on the materials used in construction.
Heating and Cooling: Make sure the furnace system is up-to-date and energy efficient. Check units and radiators for leaks and rust for proper operation. When turned on, the unit should quickly heat up or get cold across the surface. Replacement or extensive repair of the unit is required when heating and cooling appliances do not run properly.
Water Heater: One of the first signs of a faulty water heater is the presence of cracks in the unit and water leaks (e.g. puddles, streams), Strange noises like banging and gurgling come when operating. Colored, rusty, or cloudy water due to high mineral accumulation also comes out of the unit. Also, slow-moving or non-existent water flow is a sign of unit repair or replacement.
Water Damage: Some hidden areas for water damage (mold, mildew, flooding, seepage, etc.) include under the kitchen sink, around the toilet, around the base of appliances that use water like washers and refrigerators, near the ceiling joists, and under the carpet. Strong or musty odors and damp spots on the walls and ceilings are good water damage indicators also.
Wiring and Outlets: The sight of loose wires or exposed outlets is not to be taken lightly because they may be live and cause shock or fire. If the lights keep dimming or flickering and the circuit breaker trips often, there is an electrical short. Also, the smell of metal or burnt plastic and buzzing noises are clear signals that loose or faulty wiring is present.
Land Area: The house is not the only area to take into account when looking for damages, but the lot the building was placed on could possess hidden dangers as well. See if the ground is level, prone to flooding, has suffered from wildfires, or is prone to sinkholes. The local property records department should have a history of occurrences on the lot.

Buying a house is most likely going to be the biggest investment for consumers, so using extreme care when reviewing the premises is a good choice before final purchasing transactions are completed.

Home Gardening In Arizona

Kick Start Your Garden This Spring

Arizona provides a great climate for gardening and getting started is easier than you might think. Whether you want a small salsa garden or a garden big enough to feed the family the same basic principals apply when you get started. To make your experience a memorable one we’ve put together a few helpful pointers to consider when getting started this year.

First You Need To Pick The Right Location:

Vegetables need sunlight and quality well-drained soil to avoid disease which could kill your entire crop.

Consider these factors before breaking ground:

Sunlight – Look for a shade-free or lightly shaded site. Vegetables need a minimum of six hours of sunshine a day. In Arizona we know that’s no problem but is there such a thing as too much sunlight? Yes some plants such as tomatoes and other vine vegetables can be affected by too much sun. A few signs of this are yellow spots may appear on their leaves and fruit; these areas can become thin and take on a white color as the plant tissue is being damaged. In extreme temperatures you may also see these plants drop flower buds and young fruit to increase their water retention.

Soil – How is the natural vegetation such as your grass? If your grass is healthy the soil will probably be good for vegetables, too. If you’re starting from scratch first check the pH of the soil to determine what type of gardening soil and fertilizer is needed. Many young gardeners make the mistake of simply picking up a bag of soil and planting right away. Though you will likely be alright with this approach you could also do more harm than good, plants need a proper balance to ensure healthy growth and produce quality vegetables.

Surroundings – Be careful when planting a garden around large trees and shrubs, the roots can suck nutrients away from your vegetables.

Proximity – When planning the location of your garden be sure to factor in where your water source is. No one wants to drag the hose across the yard twice a day. If you have the time and resources we suggest running a water line to your garden which makes watering a breeze.

Choose What To Plant

Every climate offers different benefits for plants so it’s important to know what grows best in the Arizona heat and when you should plant. The University of Arizona provides a great Vegetable Planting Calendar for reference on what to plant and when to harvest. Here are three factors to keep in mind when you’re getting ready to plant:

Season – Plant your seeds at the right time to avoid damage from temperature extremes and adequate sunlight.

Depth – When planting it’s important to plant the seeds at the right depth. Planting your seeds to shallow can cause them to wash away or dry out, on the other side of that if you plant them too deep they may not sprout at all.

Adequate Spacing – Each plant needs adequate sunlight, nutrients and water. By planting seeds too close together your harvest may be smaller than expected.

Water Wisely

For some plants sticking to a set schedule is fine, however when dealing with vegetable it’s important to monitor moisture content in the soil and take a moment to review the guidelines for each plant.

Frequent shallow watering – By watering less more often you promote root development in surface layers of the soil, making plants very susceptible to stress, damage, and weather extremes.

Do Not Over-water – Plants and humans are very similar in this aspect, we can both drown. By over-watering your garden you leave little to no oxygen in the soil for the roots to breathe. In addition over-watering may cause fungus to begin to growing due to lack of oxygen and ventilation in the soil.

Postponing watering – As we previously mentioned sticking to a watering schedule may work for some plants but with vegetables if they look like they need watering, water them.

Have any other ideas on how to maintain a successful garden? Share with us below.