Have you ever had a service company to your home to repair something and find out that it really wasn't "broken"? It probably conjured up ambivalent feelings of joy that it wasn't something serious and frustration that you had to pay a service call for something so simple.

Before you call the repairman next time, keep these things in mind to see if it is something simple:

    Disposal not working - check to see if the reset button has been thrown. It is usually on the bottom of the disposer. If the disposer is making a humming sound, the blades may be stuck. While the disposer is turned off, use a wooden broom handle as a lever to gently rotate the blades. Remove the broom handle and turn on the disposer to see if it works properly.

5 Tips for Mold Removal from Walls

Spring is here, and that means the rainy season may very well be upon us. With rain comes water damage and with water damage comes every homeowner’s worst nightmare: mold. Okay, that might be a bit extreme, but mold is a pesky problem.

Mold is the single most common byproduct of water damage, appearing in as little as 72 hours following a water damage event (sooner if the water is sewage based), and proving extremely difficult to remediate. Even worse, mold can be the cause of all kinds of health problems, ranging from mild allergic reactions and skin irritation to more serious neurological disorders and respiratory problems.

RestorationLocal.com, a provider of water damage restoration and mold removal services,

In the wake of recent severe thunderstorms, wind and hail damage across the country, homeowners could now be faced with another disaster: unscrupulous storm-chasing contractors.

Storm chasers often go from house to house looking for people who need help cleaning up storm damage, offering promises of quick repairs for cash up-front.

“If a person you don’t know comes to your door promising to help if you’ll just pay in cash, just say ‘no,’” says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List, which provides consumer reviews on local contractors and service companies.

“Severe storms can be traumatic, and people trying to put their lives back together shouldn’t have to worry about trouble from shady contractors. With just a

 This article  is very important to anyone buying a new home.  Even though city inspectors must sign off on all construction phases sometimes things are missed, not that important or they never signed off to begin with.

It's always a good idea to hire an established home inspector.             

Don't Forget a Home Inspection with a New Construction Home
By Dan Steward

Every home—whether it’s a resale or new—has some kind of an issue, and the reality is that there is no “perfect” house. Many homebuyers embark on their search for a home with the belief that new homes should be flawless, when this is never actually the case.

Problems are found in all homes, but the issues with new homes are totally

How do we keep from sending the energy companies more money than we need to?

Keep vents and doors closed to unused rooms. This cuts down on the square footage to heat and forces more hot air to rooms you need to heat. Add sweaters or sweat shirts over your clothes to keep you warmer.

Buy an automatic thermostat that will lower the heat when you’re not home and heat the house again just before you arrive. Adjust the thermostat to stay comfortable not overly warm. Teach children to close the door behind them.

A wise man said if we watch our pennies the dollars will take care of themselves.

Tips for Drying Out a Flooded Basement

Winter time is upon us and so are frozen pipes.


Basements are natural targets for excess water, due to their position as the lowest point in any home and the fact that water loves to run downhill. It is always advisable to make sure the landscaping surrounding a home slopes away from the structure for a distance of no less than 10 feet. In extreme cases, once the ground has been saturated, any additional water that is added will have to go somewhere, and it is going to seek the path of least resistance.

As with any sort of water damage in the home, it is always advisable to begin the water removal process as soon as possible. Water will continue to cause damage for as long as it is allowed to remain untreated,

Start Your Projects - Cost vs. Value Report 

Whether home improvements are classified as maintenance, updating or energy saving, they should make home ownership more enjoyable.2010-11 Cost vs. Value Report suggests that some improvements are a better investment than others.

 Front door and garage door replacements are two of the easiest and return the greatest percentage of cost on resale.

Kitchen and bathroom updates transform an older home and instantly give visitors and buyers a fresh impression. Counter tops and appliances can be expensive but yield great results.  Painting the cabinets and replacing the hardware is much less expensive to change the look and feel of the rooms.

Energy efficiency enhancements can improve your

Come meet us The 5280 Group of RE/Max Momentum this weekend at the Adams County Home Show at the Adams County Fairgrounds located at 9755 Henderson Rd. in Henderson, Colorado.

October 29, 2011 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M 

October 30, 2011 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

We will be hosting a seminar on HUD homes at 3pm on Saturday October 29th.  There will also be other great seminars for First Time Home Buyers and more.  

Come enjoy the food, entertainment, learn about new products on the market, and enter for your chance to win great door prizes!

Attn: Kids!  There will even be a Trick-or-Treat Street.  You can Trick-or-Treat at each of the booths and get lots of goodies!

The 5280 Group
of RE/MAX Momentum

303-654-0197

New program to help homeowners

To help qualified, low-income homeowners make needed repairs that will improve their in-home safety and mobility, the City of Westminster has created the Minor and Emergency Home Repair Program.

The city is providing up to $50,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the new initiative.

Up to $5,000 in eligible minor and emergency home repairs can be made free of charge to income qualified households located within Westminster city limits.

Housing nonprofit Brothers Redevelopment will coordinate the repairs that have been approved under the program, including improvements designed to ease mobility for the elderly and homeowners with disabilities.

Program applications are available to