With temperatures already in the eighties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it’s a good time to make sure your sprinkler system is in tip-top shape. Doing so will save you water, which in turn saves you cash. (Did you know that minor water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of wasted water each year?) And it may save you a lot of time and even more money if you prevent minor problems from escalating into costly major repairs.

Many DIY sprinkler tune-up guides exist. After reviewing several, we’ve laid out the seven steps you can take to do your own springtime sprinkler check up. We’ve also included links to the 2017 watering restrictions and schedules for many of DFW’s major cities. Continue Reading

Did you know a 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can release up to 250 gallons of water in a single day? That’s why it’s important to protect your plumbing when the temperature dips below freezing. Water in pipes expands as it turns into ice. Pipe bursts. And you are left with an expensive mess to clean up.

The worst part? You probably could have avoided that mess by taking a few simple precautions during the winter months.

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Some friends of ours recently replaced their gutters and downspouts. And while that sounds like a relatively simple project, they found there was more to consider than they expected. If you are planning for a gutter replacement anytime soon, here are the top five decisions you will need to make before you start the work. Continue Reading

It’s the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Prevention Week, and their focus for the third year in a row is on smoke alarm safety. Smoke alarms are a great way to protect your family, pets, and home from unnecessary fire and smoke damage. We wrote about how to maintain them in last month’s blog post.

But another safety measure you can — and should — take is to strategically locate fire extinguishers in your home. You can’t always prevent a fire, but you may be able to put it out quickly with a working fire extinguisher and an understanding of how to use it. Continue Reading

The National Association of REALTORS® recently shared the news that existing homes have been selling at their fastest pace in nine years. The Commerce Department reports that new home sales were up 9.3 percent in the second quarter of this year compared to the first. And sales of new single-family houses in June 2016 were up 25% over a year ago.

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Standing water near your home’s foundation caused by improper grading or faulty gutters and downspouts can cause damage, including slab movement, retaining wall failures, and slope instabilities. It can also lead to serious foundation problems, requiring costly repairs to your home’s structural system.

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The Good News

You’ve found what you think is your dream home and have decided to make an offer.

The Bad News

You really don’t know what you’re buying yet, because you haven’t had the home inspected. You also don’t want someone else to swoop in and steal the property out from under you. Continue Reading

It takes a lot of effort to maintain a home. The long list of recommended tasks can quickly overwhelm any homeowner. But the effort is worth it. Failing to properly maintain your home can lead to unnecessary costly repairs. It can also put your family’s safety at risk. Continue Reading

Buying a home is one of the most significant investments you’ll make, so having the property professionally inspected before committing is critical. If you need to hire a Dallas home inspector, ask these 13 questions to guide your selection. Continue Reading