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Prepping the House For Fall
Posted on October 5, 2022 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItSix autumn tasks that will save you Time-Labor-Cost later We have had a prolonged summer and extended dry season in the Seattle area. The gold-colored grass lingers when traditionally it has returned to its vibrant evergreen state. While the weather is puzzling us and the trees both, there are some things you can do to […]
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Snow is Coming, So What?
Posted on December 10, 2021 by mikew in Fix It & Use It20 minute projects that will count in the cold! We prep the car for snow, school districts send out their cancellation plans, parents stock up pantries, grandparents knit winter caps, but what can home owners do? It is easy to forget or even know what to do in preparation for the upcoming winter storms and […]
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More (mis)uses of tape
Posted on December 1, 2021 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItAs time goes on the author of this article continues to find creative albeit inadequate uses for the favorite strip adhesive and fix-all solution popularly called TAPE. Please use the following ideas for entertainment purposes only. The author strongly encourages readers to not try this at home. (mis) Use No. 5 Just as children love […]
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Down the Drain
Posted on November 15, 2021 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItWhere flex piping is not a great solution. Several years ago a real estate agent and friend commented, “Oh-no, this sink has a hole in it!” I had just finished the inspection and felt a momentary panic that I had missed an obvious defect. He was right. There was a hole: A drain in the […]
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The Home Toolbox Essentials
Posted on May 30, 2021 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItTools are in abundance. I love tools. And I also realize that my passion and experience on home maintenance may be of help to you. In an earlier article I identified the first two tools every home owner needs. The first was a ladder. The second was a good wet-dry vacuum. The third is a […]
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You Just Moved In – Now What?
Posted on May 20, 2021 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItFirst, congratulations on the transition and move into your new place. Recently I’ve spent more time with folks moving out. Many more folks are still looking for a place. You’re moving in! Exciting! Exhausting! Scary! This whole house (and that mortgage) are all yours! NOW WHAT?! I want to offer you some steps that can […]
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Inspections in this high speed market
Posted on January 29, 2021 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItAfter performing thousands of inspections for the last sixteen years, beginning my business amidst the housing boom in 2005, I wonder if I could offer some perspective. There are others more invested but I have spent time with more than five hundred clients during this high speed market of the last two years. I’ve talked […]
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Rain Drain Maintenance
Posted on January 21, 2021 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItOutside drains are an item we seldom think about. They are located on driveways, in the middle of yards, and around walkways providing the vital function of collecting rain water and diverting it to drain systems – underground piping. These pipes end up in drain fields and city storm systems and most importantly down grade […]
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Quality Quarantine Project or Crazy COVID Idea
Posted on December 3, 2020 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItAfter having spent way too much time in our houses due to the current pandemic and frigid winter weather, I have some ideas but I’m not sure if these qualify as quality or crazy possibilities. You will have to be the judge. These are all features I have come across in recent months during home […]
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Wanna Build a Fence?
Posted on April 30, 2020 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItThere are some things I am grateful to have learned after inspecting hundreds of fences. They are one of those components that dramatically alter the look of a house and overall yard and provide a level of security for outdoor living areas and safety for children and pets. As you prepare for the repair or […]
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