ThanksGivingBack at Nationwide Home Fax

Have you heard...Nationwide Home Fax has announced their ThanksGiving Back promotions in time for the holidays, including Home Fax Report discounts, free home inspections, and additional discounts for Michigan residents affected by the August 2014 floods.  

ThanksGivingBack at Nationwide Home Fax

It’s ThanksGivingBack at Nationwide Home Fax, all about helping the community and giving back. “The ability to create awareness and place a personal touch on informed home buying and renting decisions is just as important as giving back to the community, our clients, and our referrers” said Tony Flagg, co-founder of Nationwide Home Fax.  Although their profit structure is unorthodox, it’s framed with a purpose. Nationwide Home Fax already donates 10% of every Home Fax Report sale to Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization that helps people become homeowners, and offers 10% referral bonuses to anyone, as well as 5% feedback bonuses to their clients. 

In addition to giving back up to 25% of every sale, Nationwide Home Fax has informed the public about their #ThanksGiving Back promotions, currently running through December 1^st, including: 

•         $40 off any Home Fax Report package in Michigan

•         FREE Home Inspection in Oakland or Macomb County with the purchase of an In-Depth Home Fax Report

•          20% off any Home Fax Report package for homeowners in Oakland, Macomb, or Wayne County that were affected by the August 2014 floods. (Offer cannot be combined with either of the above promotions)

Who is Nationwide Home Fax?

Until now, the majority of consumers have failed to identify and understand critical factors when purchasing or leasing a home that affect their well-being, safety, happiness, and long-term investment. Nationwide Home Fax provides a personal touch to real estate information services by the means of their Home Fax Reports, a background check and preliminary home inspection report for any property.  Unique elements gathered in person, such as Neighborhood Contacts, a Pre-Inspection Analysis, and Real-Time Photographs, target four major Home Fax Report categories: Home, Homeowner, Neighborhood, and Community. 

Findings and observations are then analyzed and graphed into Low, Medium, and High Impact Ratings to help anyone Know the Home Before You Buy. “We have a distinct vision to educate people and create awareness, a driven mission to help people make smarter financial investments, and a personal responsibility to positively impact communities and people in need” said Kim Zimmerman, the second co-founder of Nationwide Home Fax. 

In addition, as the rental market continues to expand, Nationwide Home Fax has also informed renters that it will soon offer a condensed version of their Home Fax Report service at a lower cost. Future details have yet to be announced but stay tuned and details will be announced shortly. Until then... www.NationwideHomeFax.com 

 

Creative Ways to Recycle, Reuse & Re-gift Old Household Items: Part 2

Creative Ways to Recycle, Reuse & Re-gift Old Household Items: Part 2

During Part 1 of Creative Ways to Recycle, Reuse & Re-gift Old Household Items we looked at ways to reuse an old door to make a coffee table. In Part 2 of this #ThanksGivingBack series we will look at how to turn that old entertainment center into a play kitchen for children. As many parents know, toy kitchens for your children are often quite expensive, but with a creative reuse of your old, dusty entertainment center, you can turn an expensive Christmas gift into a cheap, inexpensive play kitchen.

#2: Turn an Old Entertainment Center into a Play Kitchen 

1. As there are many different ways to design a play kitchen from variations of many different entertainment centers, we'll mainly focus on basic needs and steps to complete your project. Depending on which old entertainment center you choose to use, you will most likely need most of the following tools and tools and items to complete the recycle: 

Tools: 

• Drill & Drill Bits 
• Jigsaw 
• Tape Measure 
• Scissors
• Paintbrush
• Painters Tape
• Sander (optional) 
• Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks 

Items: 

• Primer 
• Paint
• Sandpaper 
• Wood Screws (various sizes)
• Finish Nails
• Hinges
• Metal or Plastic Hooks
• Cabinet hardware 
• Old faucet 
• Metal mixing bowl (for sink) 
• Rope
• Plywood
• Old small door for stove

Other (additional items):

• Spring Curtain Rod 
• Fabric or Dishtowel 
• Picture frame (for window)
• Additional Paint Colors
• Stove Knobs

 2. Photograph your current entertainment center and plan out your project, including: fridge, freezer, stove top, oven, cabinet, and window placement.  

3. If you're entertainment center has an open back, measure the opening of the space from the back.  Cut a solid piece of plywood to size, apply primer, and let it dry before fastening to the back of the entertainment center.

4. Depending on your specific entertainment center, start preparation with the fridge and freezer using plywood and hinges. Sand, prime, and paint your fridge and freezer before fastening to the unit.  

5. Cut an over door to size using plywood.  Cut a hole using a jigsaw for the oven door window. For young children, consider using plastic wrap or a sheet of plastic by fastening to the back side of the oven door instead of using glass (for safety).  Sand, prime, and paint your oven door before fastening to the unit.  

6. Measure the makeshift counter top for placement of the sink and stove, and draw an outline for your sink by tracing the mixing bowl. Use a drill to start the hole, then a jigsaw to remove the circle portion of your counter top.  

7. Create the stovetop next but sanding, priming, and painting a small square section of plywood. Using wood screws, drill the stovetop into the cabinet. 

8. Fasten an old dishtowel to a spring curtain rod (if wanted) and hang it over the window (if wanted).

9. Using your rope, make tight circles (that resemble coils) for your stove top burners.  Use super glue to ensure coils stay tight and fasten to the dry stove top you previously created.

10. Next, add an old faucet and place it behind the kitchen sink. Different faucets will require different means of mounting.

11. Glue old stovetop knobs (if wanted) to the sides of your stovetop, and finish painting your cabinets and remaining tasks that you've planned out before starting your project!

Want some creative ways to Know the Home Before You Buy??? Check out www.NationwideHomeFax.com today, get your Home Fax Report, and make an informed decision, and smart investment, in your next home purchase, rental or investment.  Check out our other #ThanksGivingBack Promotions we have going on as well! 

Do you know what it will be like to live, rent, or invest in your next home?

www.NationwideHomeFax.com

Creative Ways to Recycle, Reuse & Re-gift Old Household Items: Part 1

Many homeowners do not see the possibilities for many household items that are outdated and no longer used, such as old doors, TV stands, and windows. Part 1 of this series will examine Creative Ways to Recycle, Reuse & Re-gift Old Household Items. Although there are many more possibilities than described in this two part series, we have highlighted some of the items that can be creatively re-purposed to meet your needs, save you money, and stand out from traditional items.

#1: Turn an Old Door Frame into a Coffee Table 

Old doors might not look like much sitting on the curb, awaiting the weekly trash, but these items can become creative modern coffee tables. Here's how to turn that old door frame into a coffee table, and a couple photos have been included below:

1. Depending on the look or style you want, start by either: 
a. Sanding down the old door frame and removing the old paint to prepare it for a fresh, clean look (see third image).  After sanding, prime the door and apply one or two coats of paint color. Allow time to dry. 

b. or Applying and spread wax on the door, with original paint, to give it a finished look (see second image) 

2. Attach the door to a frame 
Lay the door face down on a tarp or old cloth.  Center the coffee table frame on the back of the old door, or center on the sides of each corner depending on the look and style you want. Place holding clamps to stabilize the frame and door to ensure it rests properly centered or on each side. 

3. Attach the base to the door using L-Brackets on all four corners  
Purchase L-Brackets from your local dollar store, flea market, or off a clearance rack.

4. Optional: Add a Glass Top 
Take measurements of your coffee table and find an old glass top from other unused items, such as patio tables, coffee tables, or windows. Many times these items will be thrown away, or are able to be purchased cheaply at a flea market or local glass store.

If you want to add a glass top but cannot find the right fit, order a piece of tempered glass and lay it on the top of your table. If you have children, you may want to secure the glass to the top using epoxy or placing rubber stoppers on each of the four corners. 

Part 2 of Creative Ways to Recycle, Reuse & Re-gift Old Household Items will be available on Wed. Until then, check out www.NationwideHomeFax.com and see how our creative Home Fax Reports help you Know the Home Before You Buy.

Cost Effective & Impactful Home Improvement Tasks - Part 2 of 2

Introduction:

As discussed earlier during the week in part 1 of 2, home improvement tasks are one of the more unpleasant tasks for homeowners. Some issues are unexpected and stressful, while others can be prevented with a proactive approach to maintaining your home. 

 

One issue that is fairly common, yet extremely controllable and cost effective on the part of the homeowner, is overgrown vegetation and shrubbery. 

Overgrown Vegetation and Shrubbery: 

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that vegetation greatly affects the appeal, condition, and perception of their home, yet it is one of the easiest tasks for homeowners to maintain on their own. Large plants such as the Golden Euonymus, Bradford Pear, and Leyland Cypress are perfect examples of overgrown, unnecessary, and unappealing vegetation. 

Vegetation should never be closer than 3' to the home, although it's fairly common to see overgrown bushes, shrubs, and plants that seemingly become an unwanted component of the siding. Multiple reasons exist for why overgrown vegetation & shrubbery effects the condition of the home and should be maintained, including: 

• Shrubs, trees and other vegetation can damage the structure, roof, and exterior of your home.  As the plant roots spread out and grow over time, they can penetrate the foundation of the home, pushing and moving the ground and structure of the house.  For example, the Leyland Cypress progressively grows on average 3' a year, and can become 70' tall and 15' wide. Large vegetation usually has large roots to compensate for its growth. 
• The Bradford Pear is another example of a plant that grows much too big for most yards, roughly 50' tall and 40' wide, but weak branching structures make these types of overgrown vegetation prone to storm damage.
• Although you may not experience damage to your roof or siding from storm damage, overgrown vegetation also poses the risk for window damage and other problems that can be costly to the homeowner.  
• Even if the vegetation is not overgrown enough to affect the home by storm damage, shrubs and plants can begin to grow between the siding of the home, opening up possibilities for moisture and pest access.  
• In addition, the foundation becomes a viable risk as tightly grown vegetation can prevent proper water drainage during winter months. 
• Also, large trees come with a large amount of leaves during the fall season.These leaves can clog the gutters and downspout drainage system, placing extra pressure on your roof and less room for water to move through your gutters and valleys.  
• If you have purchased a home with overgrown vegetation, be cautious of the fact that a home inspector cannot see blocked features of the structure, siding, and roof.  

Cost Effective & Impactful Home Improvement Tasks - Part 1 of 2

Introduction: 

Home improvement tasks are one of the more unpleasant tasks for homeowners, especially those which arise unexpectedly and cause stress on your pocket book. 

Sometimes these issues arise from unawareness prior to purchasing the home, while some issues may have been prevented if the homeowner would have proactively corrected short term issues which lead to long term problems. 

In Part 1 of this 2 Part Home Improvement Series, we will look at do-it-yourself ways to effectively maintain current and future home improvement tasks: 

Downspout Extensions & Drainage Systems: 

A downspout is a pipe that carries rainwater from the gutters of a home to ground level, eventually leading into a drain.  A proper downspout drainage system and downspout extensions are important because water will always attempt to find a ground source as it's carried downward with the flow of gravity from the roof.

Without solid downspouts, and 5' extensions, water tends to filter directly into the foundation of the home and structure, posing serious long-term problems and financial burdens. As the standing water sinks into the base of the foundation, soil is expanded and pushed against the foundation which can cause it to crack, sink, stress, and erode the properties structure.

In addition, water can eventually create leaks in your basement or crawl space, mold and mildew in your siding and basement, as well as many other problems. Downspout piping, elbows, and extensions are extremely inexpensive, and can help save you long-term burden and dollars. 

Basic Downspout & Drainage System Checklist: 

• Make sure the top of the downspout drainage system is properly secured to the roof. Look for any separations, cracks, leaks, or holes that allow water to find another unwanted path to the ground. 
• Check for any cracks, holes, or missing pieces through each section of your downspout by following the downspout pipe from the roof and gutters. 
• Ensure that 5' downspout extensions are added to the bottom of your downspout.  If the downspout does not have an extension, it is directing water into your foundation, posing serious long-term problems. 
• Check the grading and landscaping near your foundation, making sure your 5' downspout extension is directed away from your home and foundation.  The goal is to direct the water on another path that flows down and away from your structure. Sometimes this requires an elbow piece or longer extension. 
• Remove splash-plates; frankly they are useless.  If you don't believe it, watch how your splash plates work to direct water away from your house after moving it's way through the downspout.  With a proper 5' extension, splash plates serve virtually no purpose, and your money is better well spent on making sure your downspout drainage system is in good working condition, directing water away from your foundation and structure.   
• Downspout drainage systems are just one component included through a Home Fax Report from Nationwide Home Fax. Included below is a good downspout example, as well as a poor example. 

Check back Wednesday for Part 2 of Cost Effective & Impactful Home Improvement Tasks.  In the meantime, check out www.NationwideHomeFax.com, and make an informed financial investment in your new home purchase with a Home Fax Report today.  Hurry, don't miss our #thanksgivingback promotions which end soon!