Tag Archives: Mistakes

Common Mistakes of First Time Home Buyers

July 01, 2024   Matt

Common Mistakes of First Time Home Buyers

Buying your first home is exciting. No more rental payments to a landlord making money for someone else. Instead, you are purchasing your own home and investing in yourself. Money paid to your home mortgage is really investing in your future. It is no wonder that first time home buyers are so excited, sometimes so excited that they make mistakes. There are a few common mistakes of first time home buyers, which with some knowledge and direction can be avoided.

First of all, it is always good to research the housing market and see what is out there. Yes, the very first house you look at may look like its perfect, but there are others out there for sale too. Be sure to at least look at a few before deciding on the one you want to buy.

Watch the cost of the home, do not be swayed into thinking that you can not barter down the cost of the house, you probably can.

Insist on a home inspection by a qualified inspector. There are plenty of people who will provide you with a home warranty when you buy their house and try to sway you from having the house inspected.

Having a home warranty is important and many first time home buyers just don’t know that they should or could get one when they are buying an older home. Home warranties are not a new product; they’ve been around for many years, but many people think that they are for new homes only, not realizing that they can be purchased for older homes as well.

A home warranty makes great sense when you are purchasing an older home – you just don’t know the house very well until you’ve lived in it. A home warranty protects first time home buyers from major expenses for repairs and replacements that could come up.
A first time home buyer can make a major mistake if he or she does not understand that if something goes wrong, they are fully responsible to fix it. There is no landlord to call and the costs are all theirs to bear. This is one of the major reasons it is so important to invest in a home warranty when you purchase an older home. If any major repairs need to happen, most often the home warranty will cover the costs, making owning a home much more feasible.

When looking for a home warranty, it’s important to have a basic understanding of what you are looking for. When you talk to an agent, there are many questions that you need to ask to be sure you know what level of warranty you are getting. Questions to ask include:

  • What is covered with the home warranty? Most often the electrical system, plumbing system, heating system, cooling system/air conditioning, and major appliances that are covered under the warranty.
  • What is excluded from coverage with the home warranty? Most often this includes outdoor water, including the sprinkler system, faucet repairs, hot tubs, pools, spas and costs of hauling away debris and old appliances.
  • What are the rates/premiums? How much will you have to pay for the home warranty?
  • What is the deductible on the home warranty? The deductible is how much you will have to pay when you make a claim. Most often the deductible is , this amount will be deducted from the overall cost of the reparations paid by the warranty company.
  • How long is the warranty active for? Most often home warranties are offered in one year terms.
  • Is the warranty renewable at the end of the term? If you’ve purchased it yourself as the buyer, it is likely renewable. However, if the seller purchased the home warranty, it will not be renewable.
  • What are the terms of the warranty? When will the warranty be void? Most often if you’ve misused the item, or if it is not up to code or not installed properly, your warranty will be void and will not cover any reparations.
  • How are claims handled?
  • How do I make a claim?

With the above information, first time home buyers can avoid some of the serious mistakes that are usually made, and then go through with their home purchase knowledgeable and safe from the fall out of a potentially serious mistake. Mistakes such as the ones listed above can land a first time home owner in serious debt paying for repairs they were not prepared for financially. Owning a home of your own is very exciting, especially a first home, but make sure you go into it with your eyes open, your finances secure and a plan for the future should a problem rise with one of the major components of the home.

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10 Surefire Ways to Avoid Common DIY Home Improvement Mistakes

June 11, 2024   Matt

10 Surefire Ways to Avoid Common DIY Home Improvement Mistakes

Ask people who have completed do-it-yourself projects and they’ll tell you that the projects took at least twice and much time and three times the money they thought they would. The basic reason is that DIYers usually make a lot of mistakes that end up making home improvement projects more expensive and time-consuming.

Here are 10 surefire ways to avoid the top DIY home improvement mistakes in the future and ensure success.

1. Take out the required permits — it’s amazing how many DIYers skip this step. Sure, it takes time, and it means you have to deal with the government, but it’s actually in your best interest to make sure get the required home improvement permits. The folks in the permitting office will make sure the project is done correctly and that you stay safe in the process. Also, for some projects, you’ll need proof that you have a permit or your insurance company won’t cover the improvement. You’ll probably need a permit for any project larger than wallpapering and painting. If you’re unsure, call your local building department and ask.

2. Have all the tools and materials you need available before you start your project — starting a job without the necessary tools and supplies will slow down the job and delay your progress. And make sure you buy quality tools. They’re a wise investment.

3. Prepare the job site for material deliveries — when your suppliers deliver materials, you’ll want to make sure the job site is ready to accept them. You don’t want your materials exposed to the weather while you are working and you want to have a storage area to prevent theft.

4. Don’t skimp on materials — for example, don’t use 1/4-inch drywall for building walls. Use at at least 5/8-inch; and 3/4-inch works well for a good sound barrier. Use 3/4-inch plywood for sub-floors. It creates a much stronger floor.

5. Prepare the walls for painting — clean the walls, sand them and patch any holes before you paint. Use a coat of primer or stain blocker if you’re trying to cover over oil-based paint, stains or peeling paint, or if you’re painting a lighter color over a darker color.

6. Use the correct paint — use flat paint ceilings. Interior paints should have at least an eggshell or satin finish so you can scrub it. For outdoor decks, use a linseed-oil-based stain to drive the pigment into the wood and preserve it.

7. Keep safe while working — you don’t want to end up in the emergency room. Wear safety goggles when using power tools or working with drywall or wood. Wear a hard hat when you’re working under other people on scaffolding, and open some windows when you’re painting or staining, or stripping old finishes off of floors or walls. Don’t wear loose, hanging clothing, especially when using power tools. Wear gloves when carrying wood, metal and rock, or when hammering, and wear a nail or tool pouch to prevent damage to your floors, feet, and pets.

8. Measure twice and cut once — probably the most important rule of any project. If you’re going to make a mistake, make it too long. You can always make something shorter. You can’t make it longer.

9. Know the limits of your abilities — you’re not going to be good at everything. If you don’t have a lot of experience at plumbing or electrical work, for instance, don’t attempt those projects.

10. Don’t start to learn how to do a project on your own house — If you want to learn how to do a project, offer your assistance to a friend who is an experienced DIYer or a contractor. And if you have any question about what you’re doing, make sure you stop and ask.

You probably won’t eliminate all of your DIY home improvement mistakes, but you can surely reduce them with these 10 tips.

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Auto Repair: The Top Ten Mistakes Made By Your Mechanic

July 11, 2021   Matt

Auto Repair: The Top Ten Mistakes Made By Your Mechanic

Number One:
Not confirming the concern. Confirming a repair concern is a basic diagnostic principle frequently overlooked. To fix a problem, the first thing one must do is recognize it.

Number Two:
Insufficient Road Testing. The importance of a thorough road test (even for an oil change) is well documented in automotive training manuals. Yet, many technicians consider driving the vehicle into the shop good enough.

Number Three:
Misdiagnosing. For the above reasons and a multitude of others, your vehicle is misdiagnosed more often than not. Mechanics will spend hours chasing the wrong problem, wasting your time and money.

Number Four:
Throwing parts at a problem. To compensate for lack of skills, mechanics often just throw parts at the problem in the hope of getting lucky. It’s common to hear mechanics say I replaced this, this, this, and that, and the problem’s still not fixed. This goes right back to mistake number one: confirm the problem with diagnostics, then proceed.

Number Five:
Not addressing primary concerns first. Technicians often spend an inordinate amount of time looking for easy sells that will fatten their paychecks. There’s nothing wrong with this provided there’s no charge for the inspection, it doesn’t conflict with your time, and the upsell suggestions are valid (they’re frequently not). However, this type of free inspection and the subsequent upselling too often overshadows the primary concern. So…what’s wrong with my car?

Number Six:
Overconfidence. Too often unqualified technicians get in over their heads. Rather than defer to a more experienced technician or facility, they often keep going and do more harm. How’s it go…The road to hell is paved with good intentions?

Number Seven:
Taking shortcuts. In the ongoing effort to beat the clock, technicians will create a host of problems: breaking parts, snapping bolts, short circuiting sensitive electronics. Refer to Auto Repair: How Can They Screw Up an Oil Change for a great discussion.

Number Eight:
Poor Repairs. Whether through incompetence or laziness, mechanics frequently don’t do repairs correctly. It’s often sloppy work. Forgotten bolts, parts not lined up correctly, or components not re-installed properly are common. It gets worse with computer repairs: incorrect software programming, coding, and resynchronization protocols are just a few.

Number Nine:
Not confirming repairs. After a repair is complete, it’s important to re-check to ensure that the problem is indeed fixed. Too often parts are thrown in and the car is pulled out only to pull in another victim.

Number Ten:
Making a mess. If the above nine mistakes weren’t bad enough, there are now greasy fingerprints on the hood and steering wheel, and two big greasy boot marks on the carpet.

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Just How To Take Care Of Windows XP Mistakes

February 07, 2020   Matt

How To Take Care Of Windows XP Mistakes

Windows XP has actually promptly come to be one the most popular computer operating systems on earth! But there exist as numerous errors and troubles that can happen in Windows XP as there are celebrities in the heavens it seems …

So we’re going to show you exactly how to successfully Repair Windows XP listed below!

One of the very best functions of Windows XP is the built in repair service function!

In previous versions of Windows, fixing an operating system error generally suggested format and also reinstalling the entire os, causing loss of all of your valuable information. The Windows XP repair function won’t remove your data, currently set up programs, individual information or Windows setups. It just repair services the operating system …

Note: The system repair feature will certainly eliminate any updates you have actually formerly mounted that are not consisted of on the CD. Any windows Motorists will certainly also be changed to their initial XP versions, along with some setups (network & performance settings may often be reset to their defaults). It may be required to reactivate your Windows XP also. When finished, you will certainly need to download and install all of the updates from Microsoft Windows Update, due to the fact that they are all changed during repair work.

Why would certainly you ever intend to re-install Windows XP?

1. Can’t begin Windows XP in risk-free mode.

2. You have actually troubles triggered by a lately set up system upgrade (Windows Update, hotfix, Windows XP service pack, or Microsoft Web Traveler upgrade).

3. Your issues can’t be fixed with system bring back, or you can not access system bring back.

4. You have actually set up a brand-new motherboard, or made other major equipment changes as well as need to re-install Windows.

Certainly, if you are simply trying to settle Windows XP errors and also troubles, as well as intend to conserve yourself some MAJOR time and effort …

Repair Work Windows XP Setup: Step-by-step:

1: Make certain there are no recognized hardware issues. Windows Repair service will JUST deal with software application issues. Hardware concerns can likewise create boot troubles (i.e. bad tough drive, memory, CPU, or power supply).

2: Make Sure & Backup Your Data. It’s always a great concept to backup your crucial information prior to making modifications to Windows XP. Do not worry, if you follow these guidelines your data will be safe and secure and also there for you when the windows xp repair service is finished.

3: Boot from your Windows XP CD. Insert the Windows XP CD right into your computer’s CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and afterwards reboot your computer. When the “Press any essential to boot from CD” message appears on the display, press a secret to start your computer system from the Windows XP CD.

4: A blue display will certainly show up and also begin packing Windows XP Arrangement from the CD.

Keep In Mind: RAID/SCSI/Unsupported UDMA users:

You will be motivated to “push F6 to set up any kind of 3rd party SCSI or RAID motorists”. A lot of users will certainly not need to push F6, but if you are running RAID, SCSI or unsupported UDMA controllers, then you will certainly have to have your controller chauffeurs on a floppy. If you are unsure whether you have RAID/SCSI, after that simply let the CD load without pushing F6.

When completed filling files, you will be presented with the following “Windows Arrangement” screen, as well as your very first alternative. Select “To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER”. DO NOT select Recovery Console.

When provided with completion Customer License agreement display. press the F8 key to continue.

Next Off, Windows Configuration will certainly find existing Windows XP setups. You will be asked to repair an existing XP installment, or install a fresh duplicate of Windows XP.

If no setups are discovered, then you will not be given the alternative to repair. This may happen if the data or partition on your drive is too damaged.

Note: If you install a fresh copy, all information on that dividers will certainly be lost!

You are virtually through! Windows XP will certainly resemble it is installing itself for the very first time, but it will certainly keep as well as remember every one of your data as well as setups. Just follow the prompts, and have your CD-KEY ready if required.

CAUTION: Because of the proliferation of the Welchia, Gun as well as various other Worm/Viruses that are prevlanet online … understand that a Repair service Install will certainly leave your system vulnerable. You can get contaminated within secs.

Do not go on line till you have actually made it possible for XP’s firewall initially, as well as ensure as well as download and run the complimentary as well as reliable XoftSPySE Spyware cleaner & blocker on your PC. It is one of the very best we have actually evaluated!

Don’t fail to remember to run Windows Update! (install essential updates initially).

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It does not take a brilliant to repair computer systems when they have mistakes; all it takes is heart … and also some knowledge

March 29, 2019   Matt

It does not take a wizard to fix computer systems when they have mistakes; all it takes is heart … as well as some knowhow

Your computer system has actually just damaged down and also you don’t have an idea what to do to get it back on. I tell you, you are in an extremely easy location. Phone the technician, or go to the web. It may take a pair of minutes prior to you find the ideal web site, however when you do, you should see exactly how to do basic repairing on your own and also extra yourself the added you would have spent on the service technician.|It takes years to discover correct computer repair, but just a day to get the basics. Also if you don’t have a great deal of years to obtain it all, a minimum of get the basics. That should assist with all else.

With all the parts that a computer has and also can have, there is no way it is very easy fixing it when it breaks down. Really, occasionally the trouble is something straightforward that you can take care of only by pressing a cord in someplace, but at various other times, you need to get a pro to do their job. Because circumstances, do not think twice to do the best point due to the fact that you could mess things up trying to take care of patch up on your own.|There are a great deal of parts in a computer system, and also repairing it, you could tamper with something you should not have to if you don’t have the understanding of it. Obtain instead a person whose job it is to repair computers, as well as obtain them to fix it for you, for a fee. That’s the most intelligent thing to do.|Sure you have found out about the motherboard, but what do you seriously learn about it? If it were to have a fault while you were functioning with the computer system, could you in fact come down and also filthy with the motherboard? If you can not, now is a great time to begin to discover.

If you can not locate your way around the various tools that are used in repairing a computer system, you do not stand an opportunity fixing the computer. If you are going to get right into computer repair, you are going to have to begin with the devices. Bear in mind that, for when you remain in class.|There are details devices for certain features in computer repair. You need to know these tools, and also their functions. Without that knowledge, you ‘d never recognize squat regarding computer repair the means it must be done.

There aren’t a great deal of individuals who recognize computer repair, so that if you are just one of the few, you understand that you will strike it abundant. Individuals own Computers, as well as these PCs develop issues periodically. Then they concern you to ask you to aid. And after that they pay.|Just how great is it, to be the person that they hire for their computer system fixings? How cool is it undoubtedly, to be the person training others, holding workshops as well as earning money out of computer repairs? Just how amazing is it, if you would certainly start discovering concerning computer repair today, as well as not tomorrow?|Never ever leave for tomorrow what you might do today. Computer repair, even if you didn’t recognize it in the past, if a sure ticket to making cash. Nevertheless, it may not be tomorrow what it is today. So you intend to begin finding out now to ensure that tomorrow does not enter your face.

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Common Home Theater Mistakes to Stay Clear Of

June 27, 2018   Matt

Common House Theater Mistakes to Avoid

A home theater is no little investment, particularly if you are opting for a high quality residence theater. With that said in mind there are numerous errors that individuals make along the means when it involves their residence theaters. Just what you want to do is learn from the mistakes of others instead of dooming on your own to repeat those that have actually been made numerous times in the past. Listed below you will find information on a few of the most frequently made errors when it pertains to developing a great house cinema for you and your household.

Windows

I’m not chatting Microsoft either. Something that is an awesome for your home cinema is a room packed with home windows. At night, every cars and truck passing away by will certainly verify disruptive and throughout the day little bit can be delighted in on your television from the sunshine pouring in. Even regular curtains enable some level of light into the room, which will certainly offer a disruptive glow on you tv display. If you have no windowless spaces in your house you will certainly at the minimum intend to set up some sturdy blackout drapes or drapes in order to prevent the glare and also interruption that windows provide.

Economical Speakers

Noise is one of one of the most crucial consider mimicing a movie theater top quality motion picture seeing experience. If you have economical speakers you will not get the quality of audio that you will certainly need in order to accomplish that experience. The very first five or 10 mins of the flick Leading Gun offers one of the very best noise tests I’ve ever seen. Order a duplicate of the DVD as well as take it with you to the stores, contrast speakers making use of that DVD and also opt for the collection that offers the very best high quality of sound. It’s an excellent base test and also you will certainly rejoice you did if you ever before pay attention to a favored film on a pals substandard audio speakers.

Poor Installment

It makes no feeling to spend countless dollars in a house movie theater system only to bring it house and do an inadequate job of installing it since you didn’t wish to spring for the extra two hundred dollars for installment. Incorrect installation of your residence movie theater will result in a lot less quality compared to you spent for, makings a great quality system a complete waste of cash. Pay the price currently for specialist installment if you have any kind of doubts whatsoever regarding your capability to effectively mount your system.

Not Checking out Directions

On the other hand if you choose to do your very own installation the number one problem is the result of not reading the instructions for not only installment but likewise the procedure of your house cinema. We may really feel that we are instinctive by nature however often it helps to have a roadmap to adhere to. Guidelines for setup and also running manuals are our guidebook as well as reviewing them first will certainly not only save a large amount of time yet additionally raise your pleasure of your house movie theater.

Avoiding these usual blunders can go along method to helping you get one of the most feasible enjoyment from your house theater. It’s remarkable just how much of a difference little points can make along the road. All the best with the choice, purchase, and also installation of your residence theater. I hope you appreciate several fantastic hrs of film, tv, and video game enjoying on your brand-new system.

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