Welcome Back to Part 2 of our BLOG series highlighting some common “not so good ideas” homeowners often make.

• Plant a Tree Close to Your House
  That young sapling just a few feet from your front door looks so nice, until it grows up! Tree roots from mature trees can weaken a home’s foundation and can damage plumbing, septic systems and sewer pipes. Additionally, as the tree matures, it’s branches and limbs can damage roof coverings. It is recommended to plant medium and large trees at least 30 to 50 feet from the house. Smaller trees, of 30 feet tall or less, would be best planted at least 8-10 feet away.
• Let Ceiling Fans Run Forever
  Ceiling fans don’t decrease the temperature in a room, they merely increase how quickly your perspiration evaporates, thereby making you feel cooler. Since it’s only beneficial to run a ceiling fan when people are in a room, save money and energy by turning them off when you’re not home.
• Keep that Old-Fashioned Thermostat
  Maintaining a cozy home temperature while you’re at work or sleeping wastes money and energy. If you purchased your home with a non-programmable thermostat, you’ll have to manually change it several times a day. Installing a programmable thermostat will help cut down on wasted energy costs thereby saving your money.
• Water Grass at Night
  Watering your lawn at night surely seems like a smart thing to do, especially if you have a sprinkler system, as electrical rates are lower at that time. But without the warmth of the sun to evaporate it, water is more likely to cling to grass at night, thereby promoting fungus. A better idea is to water in the early morning when the sun is coming up and the off-peak energy costs are typically less expensive.
• Paint Exterior Brick
  Did you know that an exterior masonry brick surface needs to “breathe”? Painting it can destroy the brick and mortar and can even cause a home’s foundation to deteriorate. If you are longing for a new exterior look for your brick home, consider painting your front door a new color or update your landscaping to boost your home’s curb appeal. One other idea to consider would be to “stain” the masonry surface as these water-based products “dye” the brick rather than coating it, thereby allowing it to breathe.

We hope you found this post on home maintenance tips interesting, helpful and informative.

Thinking of SELLING or BUYING a home in the Spring Hill, Brooksville, Weeki Wachee and Hernando Beach areas of Hernando County, Florida? Visit www.GailSellsFloridaHomes.com to explore our state-of-the-art MLS Map Search Feature where BUYERS can SEARCH MLS listings and SELLERS can SEE what their competition is doing!

Until then… it’s all about YOU!