by Michele
Dawson
If you're getting
ready to sell, then ensuring you have curb appeal, clutter-free rooms,
and the look of a model home is important. But it's also vital to play
house doctor and cure those ailments that have been lingering -- drafty
windows, stale odors, cold floors, and the like.
There are several reasons to get these problems taken care of before
potential buyers are alerted to them. First, these types of
shortcomings will more than likely be noticed by a home inspector on
behalf of the potential buyer once an offer is made.
"Home inspectors provide a written report that includes information on
the condition of each section, calling attention to the systems or
components that may need repair, are unsafe or do not function
properly," said Mike Casey, president of the American Society of Home
Inspectors.
It's best to get these problems taken care of up front so they don't
delay the process -- and take away from the value of your home.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through the Energy Star
program, offers a checklist of potential problems homeowners encounter
-- and how to treat them.
For starters, if you have mildew or musty odors, then you may have some
moisture and potentially mold issues. Normal activities of everyday
living -- breathing, showering, cooking, and drying clothes -- bring
moisture to the air inside your home.
To counter moisture problems, make sure your kitchen and bathrooms can
breathe and have proper ventilation; make sure the clothes dryer is
vented directly to the outside; be certain your home envelope -- the
combination of materials that surround the interior space you live in
including walls, floors, ceiling, roof, windows, and doors -- prevents
moisture from entering your home.
Also, test your ducts for air leaks. The EPA also suggests hiring a
heating and cooling contractor to determine if your air-conditioning
unit is sized and operating properly for adequate humidity removal. Fix
foundation water problems and any leaks in the roof, around doors and
windows, and pipes.
If the moisture problem is in your basement, the EPA says you should
clean your rain gutters and redirect downspout run-off away from the
foundation; re-grade the ground around the house so that it slopes down
away from the foundation (only if other solutions don't work); provide
adequate ventilation of internal sources of moisture, like dryers and
bathrooms; and seal around windows and any wall penetrations.
Inefficient windows can bring high moisture with inadequate
ventilation, causing condensation, frost, or pools of water on the
windowsill. Moisture in the air can condense on the cold surfaces of
your windows; continued excess moisture can lead to -- you guessed it
-- mold and mildew.
As with other moisture problems, proper ventilation is also important
in this case. Also, if you have single pane windows, especially with
metal frames, install storm windows or consider replacing your existing
windows with Energy Star-labeled windows. If you have a humidifier,
check for proper operation so you don't add excessive moisture to your
indoor air. The humidifier setting should be adjusted with large swings
in outdoor temperature.
Another hallmark of moisture problems is peeling paint. Correct
moisture problems and reduce air leakage to avoid repainting. Use a
proper vapor barrier to control moisture. Apply paint according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
Air leaks can also be a potential problem.
"Cold air leaking into your house around windows, doors, electrical
outlets, light fixtures, and gaps between the floor and wall, can cause
rooms to feel drafty and uncomfortable," the EPA says.
The EPA says you should: