Knowing how to do some home repairs can help you save money and time. Instead of having to wait for professional repairs to be done, you can tackle these on your own. While it's best to leave major repairs to professionals, consider trying the following simple DIY repairs.
When your window screens have tears or rips, bugs can get in; so, it's important to repair these as soon as you can. For smaller tears, put a coat of clear nail polish on the area. The nail polish helps hold the mesh together without affecting the screen's appearance.
Bigger tears can be fixed with some repair tape made specifically for window screens or repair patches. In some cases, your window screens might have major rips or tears that can't be patched or fixed. You'll need to remove these screens and replace them with new ones.
Doors in your home can creak if the hinges need lubrication. If you have creaky doors, silicone spray on the hinges can help eliminate this noise. Using this spray also helps ensure that your doors open and close smoothly.
Having locks that stick can make it hard for you to get in and out of your home. Instead of risking being locked out or in, use some powdered graphite on the keyhole and latch. Powdered graphite can help loosen up these locks without attracting debris and dirt as WD-40 and similar products do.
If you have small holes in your walls from hanging shelves, pictures and other items, they can look unsightly when these items are removed. Whether you're redecorating or preparing to paint, you should fill in these holes. To do this, apply premixed spackling paste to the holes with a putty knife. Go over these areas with a sanding sponge to smooth them out.
Your doors shouldn't have any gaps around the edges when they're closed. If they do, this means air is leaking out of your home. Apply self-adhesive rubber foam weatherstripping around doors that lead outside to prevent air leaks.
If you have a broken floor tile in your home, you can replace it with a new one. Scrape the old grout from around the tile, which should make it easier to remove. Place polyurethane glue on the back of the new tile, and place painter's tape around it until the glue fully dries.
Nicolette is a full-time licensed real estate agent working with residential and commercial buyers, sellers, and renters. Growing up in Eastchester, graduating from Marist College and branching out to Manhattan before returning to her roots has created deep ties to Westchester while understanding what a NYC buyer wants when relocating to the suburbs.
Bringing nearly a decade of extensive experience in sales, interior design, marketing, and customer service from her Manhattan career while working with esteemed companies such as Elle Décor Magazine and various companies under the Herman Miller brand, Nicolette encompasses an effective fusion of suburban warmth and city tenacity. Her enthusiasm for helping others combined with her determination to close deals helps her simultaneously connect her with clients on a personal level while conducting business in the most professional of ways. It’s this connection that leads to a seamless and successful Real Estate transaction.
When not working, Nicolette enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and puppy. Professionally, she prides herself using those same personal values of loyalty, honesty, attentiveness, and being detail-oriented. She values all client relationships and makes it her goal to provide exceptional service and guaranteed satisfaction. Her intimate knowledge of the area, having lived in Westchester all her life, gives her enthusiasm and a desire to make her home, your home.
In July 2015, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services (BHHS) acquired Tri-Crest Realty and Prudential Centennial Realty and has been one of the most successful offices in lower Westchester County since 2000. With over 1,800 Realtors in 55 offices in the Northeast and 51,600 agents in 1,600 offices in 47 states nationally, BHHS is the #2 company in Barron’s ranking of the world’s most respected companies; ranking #3 in Fortune Magazine’s 50 Most Admired Companies survey.