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| LIFE IN SOLERA | JANUARY 2022 | 11 By Diana Mangan, Realtor & Resident Our real estate team has been involved with many, many Solera home inspections over the years. Here's what we have learned from the inspections and inspectors: KITCHEN APPLIANCES & COUNTERTOPS. The refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, and microwave need to be in good working order. Home inspectors usually say that a small crack in the microwave door is a safety issue, and the microwave should be replaced. Is there a hairline crack on your countertop? That's a real negative if you are selling your home! It's possible to have the countertop repaired if the crack is not too large. CABINETS. In both the kitchen and bathrooms, everything should be in good condition, free of water damage. Cabinet doors and drawers should open and close smoothly. SINKS & FAUCETS should run leak-free, and all drains should operate free and clear. Check under the kitchen and bathroom sinks for any water or damp areas. BATHTUBS & SHOWERS. Fixtures, such as the shower head, should be fully operational, and drains should be free of clogs. WALLS & CEILINGS. Repair nail holes and minor dings and dents in the drywall. If you see discoloration, such as water damage that's been repaired, repaint the walls. FLOORING. All types of flooring need to be in good condition and very clean. Have carpets cleaned, especially if you have pets. FIREPLACE. If selling your home, check to see if your fireplace ignites. If not, have it repaired. I understand that Beach & Air can repair our fireplaces. HVAC. Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) should be in good working order. Your thermostat should operate properly. Quite a few homes in Solera have had a defective AC coil and pan in the attic. It's a good idea to hire an HVAC technician to evaluate your system's coil and pan, perform a tune-up and give you an assessment of your system's condition. SMOKE & CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS. Solera installed combination smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. They should be in good working order, and less than 10 years old. Test your detectors and replace the batteries if needed. Bob Parker, a Solera resident, replaced all my smoke/carbon monoxide detectors for me. His phone umber is (909) 273-7607. ELECTRICAL. Everything should meet current codes. There should be no exposed wires in the attic or anywhere in or outside of the home. Inspectors are often finding defective GFIC's in Solera homes. A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) is an automatic device that offers personal protection against lethal electrical shock or electrocution, therefore it's important for these to work properly! PLUMBING. The life expectancy of a water pressure regulator is most commonly in the range of 10 to 15 years. If you are an original owner and your water pressure regulator has not been replaced, it's probably time. When the pressure becomes too much, you might face a plumbing leak. GARAGE DOOR. Obviously, it needs to work and so do any remotes. The door must also meet all local codes and safety criteria. You may need to replace the mechanism if a coil spring is broken, or if the door features large dings or dents. On a few occasions inspectors have called out the smaller garage door's trim, especially on the outside. They often refer to the damaged trim as "dry rot." EXTERIOR STUCCO. Birds often damage the trim near the roof in the front of the home, especially on Emeralds. Any damaged stucco or hairline cracks should be repaired, especially if you are selling your home. I have had to have the stucco damaged by garbage cans repaired. I am more careful now! ROOF. The roof should not have any slipped, broken, or missing tiles, as these components protect your home from water damage. The vents on the roof need to be resealed as needed. Interior water damage can mean a roof leak, so if you see any, call a professional. Never walk on our tile roofs! We recommend Ridge Runner (909) 266-4245. DRAINAGE. Yard drainage should slope away from the foundation. If water collects by the foundation when it rains, you may need to have contractor re-grade the yard or bust out concrete to fix the issue. Likewise, if the downspouts eliminate rainwater at the foundation of the house, but there's no runoff, that's a problem. LANDSCAPING. Make sure no trees or shrubbery are touching the home. Tree branches should not touch the roof. Brown spots in the yard will need attention as well as empty planters, before listing your home. Curb appeal is so important! FENCING. The gate on all fences should open and close smoothly. TERMITES. No termites have been found in or around any of the Solera homes we have dealt with as realtors… and that's close to 200 homes! WINDOWS. Some Solera windows are discolored because of moisture or condensation between the panes. If you are an original owner, Milgard will repair or replace your windows at no charge. Their phone number is (800) 645-4273. CEILINGS. Any stains on the ceiling need to be evaluated. A ceiling leak might mean a roof leak or problem with the air conditioner coil/pan in the attic. Even if you don't plan to sell your home any time soon, a home maintenance schedule is important for every home's upkeep! HOME MAINTENANCE: Keeping our Solera homes in good repair can pay significant dividends when it's time to sell! R E A L E S T A T E N E W S

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