Feature

by Daniel Hernandez

As summer fades and fall kicks into full gear, we are forced to look inward at the home. All summer long we have been outdoors, away on vacation and enjoying the time off; but now the cold weather has arrived and it’s time to get caught up at your properties-–it’s time for fall maintenance. Whether you are planning on doing maintenance to save money on your energy bills or to prepare for selling your property, there are many small- and medium-sized projects you can do to update and increase the value of your property, all while lowering your utility bills. These changes can help you to get ready for the winter, as well as all the seasons ahead.

Start Small, Save Money
Fall maintenance can mean several things: fall cleaning, a makeover to your house or getting more energy efficient. Energy efficiency is something that will save you money, but if you are planning on selling your house, buyers will be looking for this too. The world is going green, and you don’t want to be left in a buyer’s market without having made some effort to update. There are several small updates you can make that will save you money in the long run. Keep in mind that any updates you make now, even if you don’t plan on selling your home, will potentially make it more attractive for a future prospective buyer.

The first simple step would be to update those old appliances. I am not just talking about the fridge that you have had through five tenants and may have even come with the building. Get a new gas stovetop, splurge on an energy-efficient oven and buy a money-saver microwave. You can even update your faucet to decrease water flow without compromising water pressure.

New bulbs in your kitchen lights will save energy, too. In fact, don’t limit yourself to your kitchen. Put in new energy-saving light bulbs throughout your property. You’ll save money and your fixtures will be updated and stylish.

Don’t forget to update the bathroom. Replacing that old toilet with a new one that will use less water and save you money on your water bill. If you have a new toilet, fix that leak or the constant running that has been going on for months. Being energy efficient is great, but you need to watch out for other small things that can cost you big money too. Poor caulking and lack of grout have caused thousands of dollars in dry rot damage to my customers. Once water has a route to travel, it will make its way to the framing structure–rotting away your bathroom’s walls, sheetrock, floor and sub floor in your bathroom. If the problem bathroom is located on the upper floors, this can cause all sorts of damage in the ceiling of the floor below. This is a common problem and it’s best to cover all your bases when trying to save money.

All of these updates are simple. They can take a day or a week, depending on how extensive the work is. Some items you can even do yourself. Purchasing a new refrigerator does not take the expertise of a handyman. You also don’t need a handyman to help with purchasing new light bulbs, although you may want someone else installing all of them if you have a hard time getting around or just don’t want to go through the tedious task of putting all new light bulbs in your property. Hire a professional to install and update appliances, electrical equipment and bathroom fixtures to make sure it is done right and your energy-efficient product is working the way it should.

Some other small updates to have done while your handyman is in your home include insulating hot water pipes. This will keep the heat where it is supposed to be. You can also update your old water heater for both heat and energy efficiency. Turning it down a little will save energy too. Having the heat on a timer and closing off areas that don’t need to be heated also save a lot of energy. You can also install a timer system for your outdoor plants. In the fall and winter they’ll need less water and you can adjust the timer accordingly.

Some larger projects to update your home include installing new windows and doors. The Bay Area still has a lot of single-paned windows, especially in older buildings. These windows let all the heat out of your building and let the cold air in. Older doors can also be drafty and updating the weather stripping can solve this problem. If you really want to get exciting, install some solar panels on your roof, which will save you money, get you a tax break and make your property very impressive to potential buyers.

Preparing Your Property for Sale
If potential buyers are really the reason for updating, there are things that can be done to bring a house up to the modern market. These small changes will help sell a property easier, and the seller will get a large return on the updates. These changes will make a building more attractive and net you a higher sale price.
In the bathroom, double sinks and recessed medicine cabinets (along with all those newly updated fixtures you installed for increased energy efficiency) will make your bathrooms stand out. If you are going to do a major remodel on the bathroom, make sure to install custom cabinets. Don’t get premade cabinets. Not only are they tacky, but they also waste space, which is not a good decision in a place like San Francisco where space is always at a premium. Also, replace your vinyl bathroom flooring with a natural-style tile.

In the kitchen, install a garbage disposal. This will add a little something extra to help update the kitchen and add an important amenity to your units.
For the rest of the house, laminate flooring is the way to go. Carpets tend to look and feel dirty and dingy. They stain easily too, especially if they are light colored. Spend a little extra money to make the home look clean and crisp by installing laminate flooring (which can imitate the look of wood or stone at a much lower cost) that will stand up to daily traffic better. Keep the entryways tiled, since laminate flooring and water don’t mix well. In addition, a fresh coat of paint throughout the property will make the entire dwelling feel fresh and clean. Pick a color that is neutral.

The exterior of the property can be updated, too. If the home is painted without siding, think about updating to vinyl siding, assuming this change would not be out of place with the style and age of your building. Vinyl is easy to clean and looks nice. If the home already has vinyl siding, it can easily be updated. Sometimes just a few pieces need to be replaced; sometimes all the siding will need to be replaced. Painting the existing vinyl siding is also an option, but getting paint to stick to vinyl can be a challenge and you have to make sure it is done right. A painting professional can help you choose the right paint, prep the siding correctly and make sure it looks good when it is all done. In addition, windows and doors should be updated, as well as gutters that don’t work properly or leak and stain.

If you are planning on selling your home, don’t start any outdoor project that will leave your home vulnerable to the rainy season. If it is too late to start anything outdoors, start with the interior updates and come back to the exterior stuff in the spring when the weather changes. Most of the projects mentioned above will take several weeks, depending upon the availability of the materials you plan to use. Your house should be ready to go on the market next spring or summer, depending upon the weather, material availability and your time limits.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of SFAA or SF Apartment Magazine. Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Handy Dan Inc, a handyman service that has been in business in the Bay Area for six years. Possible projects include sheetrock repair, tile, minor plumbing work, window and door installation, and other small projects. For more information, please visit www.handydan.com or call toll free at
888-413-3960. Copyright © 2007 by SF Apartment Magazine. All rights reserved.