Tag Archives: Maintenance
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A Toolbox, A Legacy
Posted on April 21, 2025 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItPreparing for a life of home ownership, responsibility and regular maintenance The first weekend of April I flew to Phoenix, Arizona where my son bought his first home. It was a proud moment as a dad to see him plant roots in a new community. He and his fiancée will be married in a couple […]
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Mike’s Pre-Spring Home Hacks
Posted on January 3, 2025 by mikew in Fix It & Use It8 Ways To Jumpstart Your Home Maintenance Before the Spring Winter is an unpleasant time to do home maintenance and repairs. Weather is uncooperative, garages are chilly and days are short and wet. What I want to offer are favorite strategies for tackling home maintenance in the winter months. Motivation and daylight is limited so […]
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Brilliant! Home maintenance cleaning hacks
Posted on November 2, 2024 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItSUMMARY: This article discusses seven simple cleaning tools and seven everyday homeowner solutions that can remedy most spills, stains and unwanted blemishes on household surfaces. One of the most underrated aspects of home maintenance are methods of cleanup due to house living and repair. Here are some of the proven ways I have found to […]
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“Watch Out For Ants They Are Every Where”
Posted on September 22, 2024 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItWhat To Know About Spiders, Ants, Bugs and Our Houses Tis the season of creepy crawlies and the bugs that bring the heebie-jeebies! In the Seattle area October is the height of spider season. As an inspector moving through Rhododendrons and other shrubs near houses I brace for a face full of silky web. My […]
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Autumn Home Hacks
Posted on August 23, 2024 by mikew in Fix It & Use It12 Ideas to Save Money and Improve Quality of Life this Fall! Our houses are in a constant state of decline and disrepair. Seasonally they call for our attention and a short, intentional spurt of care. In the spirit of decreasing expenses and increasing home enjoyment I offer these home hacks. Clear the gutters of […]
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Sequel to The Home Toolbox Essentials
Posted on June 2, 2024 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItThe list of tools every home owner needs for basic home repair This month projects are in full swing and many clients are moving into their first-time home! It is also time for the follow-up to an article I posted two years ago about what essential tools and maintenance items every home owner should have […]
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Pressure Washer Rules of Play
Posted on May 6, 2024 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItGuidance Using the Popular Spring Home Owner Cleaning Device The best of every child’s world is joined in the ever-important pressure washer! Anyone who has grabbed the plastic wand shimmering with pent-up power knows the brilliance of a gas-powered engine, water hose and Star Wars photon-torpedo blast. This spring essential is being borrowed, rented and […]
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Spring Home Hacks: 12 Ideas to Save Money and Improve Quality of Life this Spring!
Posted on April 10, 2024 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItI’m a to-do list obsessive. I have lists and sub-lists and categorized lists of lists. Ask me to create a list (like what is coming in this email) and I can come up with one in minutes. It’s a prerequisite to being a good inspector and serves as the fuel driving home repair do-it-yourselfers. Before […]
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If Your House Could Speak
Posted on January 3, 2024 by mikew in Fix It & Use It[The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this letter are mostly fictitious. No identification with actual people (living or deceased) or structures is intended or should be inferred.] Dear capable caretaker, [THE APPROACH] It has been my great honor and duty to shelter you from the frigid weather, and chilly rainfall. I have […]
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Cute Bungalow or Acute Jungle-alow?
Posted on November 30, 2023 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItVegetation promotes possible wood destroying organisms Pacific Northwest cold winter months offer a relief from urgent yard upkeep. However, the lack of urgent does not equate to a lack of important yard upkeep. When outdoor plants go dormant it is time to attend to the foliage that has crept ever closer to our homes. Here […]
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