Chelation: Does It Work?

Never underestimate the power of a good first impression. A home that is attractive from the road can sell in
as little as half the time, making it less likely that you'll have to reduce the asking price.

LANDSCAPE

1. Edge lawns and flowerbeds. A sharp edge gives a well-maintained look. Conversely, grass or weeds
sprouting from cracks in paths implies neglect.

2. Add color. Plant flowers to make the front of a house come alive, particularly if the home itself is white or a
dark color.

3. Patch cracks in walkways and sidewalks, even if the sidewalk is the town's responsibility. If tree roots
have shattered a section, consider rerouting the sidewalk around the tree. Also, sweep all walks.

4. Trim overgrown trees and shrubs. Remove dead or dying plants.

HOUSE FACADE

5. Polish the doorknob. If the main entryway's doorknob or knocker shows signs of age, it's worth spending
$150 or so for the set to replace it.

6. Remove potted plants, statues and decorations from the front stoop. They make it feel cluttered and
smaller.

7. Use similar drapes in front windows. Most home owners select drapes and blinds for the way they look
inside the home -- but different colors and shapes in front windows make a home look unbalanced.

8. Replace broken and missing shingles. Just a few bad shingles give the impression of roof problems -- a
major turnoff for potential buyers.

OTHER DETAILS

9. Remove weathered basketball hoops. Only keep them up if they look new and have nets.

10. Match your mailbox to your home. A cutesy mailbox is appropriate for a cutesy home. A $500,000 home
shouldn't have a $10 mailbox.

11. Take down a dilapidated backyard fence, especially if it can be seen from the street or driveway.

12. Remove any decorative element that could be considered clutter. Walkway lights and garden fountains
are fine. Garden gnomes, out-of-season Christmas lights and other ornamentation should be packed away.

13. Keep garage doors closed. Even tidy garage interiors don't look as neat as closed garage doors. Garbage
cans, rakes, bikes, etc. should be stored inside.

14. Maintain the "for sale" sign. A post that is leaning or in need of painting implies your home has been on
the market for a long time. That suggests problems.

Home Improvement involves working on your home for remodeling, repairing and decorating. There are so
many places and things one can work upon inside and outside the house.

The list could be endless and can be broadly classified as under: ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS: Circuit Breakers,
Cords and Plugs, Lamps, Light Fixtures, Receptacles, Wall Switches

KITCHEN: Installing a Kitchen Sink, Installing a kitchen faucet, Adding Task Lighting, Tiling a Kitchen
Countertop, Kitchen Cabinets

KITCHEN APPLIANCES: Dishwashers, Garbage Disposals, Dryers, Ranges, Refrigerators, Washers, Water
Filters

BATHROOM: Installing a Bathroom Sink, Mounting a Faucet, Setting a Toilet, Installing a Vanity Light,
Installing a Bath Fan, Setting Cabinets, Hanging Accessories

SAFETY: Childproofing Your Home

PLUMBING: Drains, Faucets, Pop-ups, Supply Pipes, Toilets, Water Heaters, Septic Tank Care

HOME CLIMATE: Humidifiers, Dehumidifiers, Central Air Conditioning, Forded-air Heating, Room Air
Conditioning, Thermostats, Installing a Radiant Floor Heating System

WALLS: Drywall, Paneling, Plaster, Tile Walls, Wallpaper, Stucco Walls, Fixing Wallboard

WINDOWS: Window Frames, Glazing, Window Screens, Weather Stripping, Replacing a Window Pane

DOORS: Hinged Doors, Sliding Doors, Screen Doors, Garage Doors, Locksets, Framing a Doorway

FLOORING: Carpet, Resilient Flooring, Stairs, Tiled Flooring, Wood Floors, Floating, Laminate Floors, A Base
for Flooring, Quieting a Squeaky Floor, Installing a Radiant Floor Heating System

SIDING: Brick Siding, Stucco Siding, Vinyl Siding, Wood Siding, Exterior Paint ROOFING: Asphalt Roofing,
Built-up Roofing, Shingle Roofing, Chimneys, Gutters, Flashing

The type of home improvement you are planning upon depends on the need at that moment. You may not
overhaul or repair the entire house but look into one that requires immediate attention.

There are a lot of DIY – Do It Yourself books and magazines available, which can provide you with a lot of tips
and also explain in detail how to go about fixing a particular problem. Even recorded CD’s and DVD’s by
professionals on home improvement are also readily available on specific topics. You can also get online
help from select chat groups or dedicates forums.

Choosing the right tool for the job is as important as doing it rightly. Some of the basic & must tools are:
· A set of minimum 3 different sizes of flat blade screwdrivers and two #1 & #2 Phillips drivers
· An ordinary 16oz claw hammer,
· 1” wide, 25’ measuring tape,
· utility or box knife with a retractable blade,
· razor blade holder/scraper,
· a 12” flat jaw, arc jaw plier,
· a drain or toilet plunger,
· hand saws,
· scratch awl,
· a 7” scrip joint pliers,
· cordless electric drill,
· a 10” curved jaw, locking plier,
· wire stripper or cutter,
· a non contact electric tester,
· crescent type wrench and pipe wrenches,
· combination square,
· needle nose pliers

Depending on the type of the work taken up various raw materials are required.