Unplanned updates to your home...

The most exciting things in life usually don't go along with the plan.  I'm sure each year everyone sits down and thinks, "I'm going to do X, and then X, and we will do X if the weather stays good."  That all sounds great on paper, but it doesn't always work that way.

     Let's take my recent experience since the beginning of January.  The basement flooded because the sump pump backed up.  This was something I didn't know anything about because the previous owner had put it in.  We took it for granted, and one day looked in the basement to about 6" of standing water.  I remember thinking..."we will have to re-do that someday" a few months before.  Well, someday came rather quickly and on a weekend I wasn't really looking forward to doing that kind of work.  We got it band-aided for now and put off till spring because of the frozen ground.

     Now, on to the next big one.  Last week, we had a chimney fire at the house.  This resulted in a combination of being uneducated about the subject, and lack of upkeep.  That said, this has now resulted in an unexpected fun part.  Doing things you've said you wanted to, but didn't really get around to.  I'm looking at building a hearth and place for a new freestanding wood stove, and fixing some issues with the room underneath in the basement.  While the cost is no fun, the learning experience certainly is.  Now I get to look forward to a room where the problem areas are now fixed, there's a pretty tile area where a wood stove will sit, and we can enjoy years of trouble free heating with the proper cleaning.  (nothing beats being on the couch with a warm fire in front of you!)

All of this leads to home maintenance.  The less you do, the more you spend in the long run.  Replace a mattress/box spring that is failing, get a new recliner that doesn't recline right anymore, new filter for your furnace or AC, and the like.  Clean out the chimney once a year. (it's cheap!) keep an eye on everything so you won't be surprised during a time that you'd not want to have to jump into a project.

Think of your house like a car, as it needs oil changes, air, batteries, belts, hoses, and so many more constant check ups.  Your home is no different except think of it like a car you have to live in and is idling constantly.  At Routzahns, not only do we want to help you have a great time remodeling, or buying for your new home, but we also want you to have the best experience in your home for years to come.

In weather like we are having, the last thing you want to do is have to shut down your primary heat source.  Get it checked, and you won't have to worry later.  When it comes time to replace your old furniture, bedding, cabinets, or paint something, we have the answers and expertise you need!  If the pipes freeze and you need to do new drywall, we can save you money by helping you paint it without having to have someone come do it!  We can help save money on a new floor if that's the case as well!   There are so many options out there to save money, you just need to know who to ask!