Maryland and D.C. Home Improvement and Home Inspection discussion and Repair Advice

By: EFynch.com: Home Improvement; Managed Like a Pro! It's Fall, nice outside, and we have a DIY Home Project that is: (1) incredibly easy- 1 to 2 hours (2) cheap to perform - under $20 (3) can save you a few hundred dollars (4) you cannot cause any damage if you mess it up? The task? Caulk your windows! Now, before you scratch your head and hit the "back" button, hear us out. You walls are hollow. You might have insulation, but there are still plenty of open cavities that are a superhighway for cold air, dust, bugs, pollen, etc.  Don't believe us, touch one of your exterior walls on an extremely hot/ cold day and you will realize what we mean, especially around your windows (*technical reasoning below). Heating your home can account for 40% of your winter energy bill usage. Therefore any amount of cold air that is prevented from coming in, can quickly add up to savings- so this can be a quick and easy task that really pays off. And Seriously. ....

The information below has been brought to you by EFynch.com. We are a non-biased community for homeowners and freelance handymen based in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore, MD- For most, a home is the largest asset we have. Yet, I am often shocked by the amount of effort some place in preparing for their homes for hitting the market. Unfortunately, many spend as much time planning for this as they would a weekend camping trip, but we know you are better than that- which is why we put our list of top 10 things to do below. In speaking with over 100 local real estate agents, here is the advice we can give: 1. Fix what is broken. Generally speaking, small items might be overlooked but they sit in the back of a buyers mind and can make a difference in the aggressiveness they pursue your home. It is very easy to DIY or hire a handyman for a few hours to fix the little items . 2. De-clutter  Rule of thumb- 99% of your "available" wall space should be open. 90% of yo...

Baltimore, MD: At EFynch , we are doing out best to give all homeowners and homebuyers the tools to properly locate, and research the contractors they want to hire*. Too many other sources online only give you the "advertised choice", and asking for a recommendation on neighborhood websites does not guarantee you are getting non-biased results (a growing problem). However, even with the toughest verification procedures, you can find online, there is still the chance that a hired Pro or Handyman may not meet your expectations. Problems happen, humans are humans, and sometimes things just don't "click". So, here is our advice when something goes wrong: Step 1: Document and mention the issue to the contractor/ handyman as soon as possible. In addition to carpentry skills, a home improvement project is equal parts logistics and identifying any issue that must be remedied as early as possible will help. ----- SIDE NOTE ----- *If handled properly, clearl...

Making sure you get a fair deal and keep your TV Protected: When there is a wide price gap for services- how do you insure a proper deal.   (The "skinny" on discount installers vs retail) Baltimore, MD: Having a TV mounted can be stressful. You just spent the better part of a paycheck on a new device and now it begs to be mounted, admired. . . hanging from a wall. . .  and ofcourse "staying there"! But you read online that the job can be easy however, after a few holes you decide to hire a pro. Anyone who has ever gone through this process knows a few things. 1. The actual mounts are ridiculously expensive. $80 for a piece of metal! 2. Install prices are all over the place, but why? (*see price list at bottom of article) Not getting into the mounting prices too much , they are connected to the price of installs in certain circumstances.  The only important part: a good single tilt mount should not be more than $40- anything over is marked up. Now, ...

(BALTIMORE, MD) I know the fact I got you to click on this story should be triumph enough. It's hard to get jazzed over a paint color but if you own a home this is something you need to consider.  To most, Eggshell white is just “white paint”- but to those in the know; Eggshell White is the standard for rental properties or the basic “I will get to it later” room paint. It is durable, readily available and does not look cheap like flat paint often does. This basic white is used in everywhere from dorm rooms, basements, new homes, apartment building and probably in your office building right now. You will even find it in restaurants, dining rooms, and foyers within some of the most extravagant homes in the U.S. There reasons for this (and why you should always have a gallon on hand): - It is textured and hides imperfections. - It does not fade and repainting can be done partially (not entire room). - It virtually matches joint compound so the missed spot from your la...

How EFynch Weekly Deals Help the Homeowner: By: EFynch.com (Baltimore, MD) Each week EFynch works hard to bring relevant, money saving deals for our Maryland Homeowner Members. These deals typically include normal services like: - Power Washing - Handyman 3 hour packages - Gutter Cleaning - Snow Removal - Mulch Delivery - etc. We also try to provide some unique services which may go overlooked like: - Mailbox Post Replacement - Flower and Garden Box Install- coming soon :) - Smoke Alarm Battery Replacement - Dryer Vent Cleaning These are all common things us homeowners need and are things we should consider. So how do we get these deals? The truth is we sometimes just “wing it”. For the most part we pay attention to our own homes and speak with our professionals. They recommend services that are starting to trend because of seasonality. These take priority but we also look for unique ideas. What can make your home more enjoyable or something we see on TV that is awesome, but not ...

Hey Fynches ! Here in Baltimore/ Washington we are expecting an old fashion Nor’Easter on Tuesday with accumulations upwards of 12”.  We are not one to panic BUT, a snow this late in winter typically is WET and HEAVY. Forecasters are also expecting strong winds and potential for structural damage, downed trees, and power outages will be present. Below are some tips that we recommend every homeowner take before Tuesday. Before the storm, we recommend you do the following:         - Inspect the underside of your roof (check attic): Any damage or signs of leaking should be treated as an emergency and repaired immediately. Do a visual inspection outside: Gutters, deck, etc.         - Organize shovels and winter clothing: If you power goes out- sleeping bags, and blankets by the fireplace are key.         - Cooking: Lighters, bbq grill or camp stove (with full tank of fuel) are useful if power g...

Early March (Pre Spring) Guide for Outdoor Planting and Landscaping. By: EFynch.com Baltimore, Maryland- In the spring, we all tend to turn our focus from the local Handyman and repairs over to Landscaping around your house. Here in Baltimore and Washington D.C. we have certainly started to see glimmers of Spring. Behold- as I look at the weather forecast there is not one,,, but TWO potential winter storm events in the forecast. One for Friday (3/8/17) and one early next week. We don't know if these will be significant but it does prove the need for us to hold off on planting in our gardens just yet. For now- here are EFynch recommendations for outdoor related project: - Mulch Flowerbeds: If no new planting is being considered, go ahead and mulch now. Landscapers are mostly still on "winter rates" and you can save a bundle. In fact- utilize the EFynch Mulch/ landscape Deal which provides Mulch Delivery in Baltimore County for a limited time and as low as $50. ...

Valentine’s Day ideas for the Home: Home is where the heart is. Below are some home improvement projects to upgrade your castle and set the mood Baltimore, Maryland- For many of us at EFynch , Valentine’s day is more than just trying to impress someone. The Holiday is about the mutual enjoyment of spending time with that person. We spend most of our time together in our homes so why now take the opportunity to work together and improve it? Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to splurge and add a few accessories around your home that will add to the year-round ambience. Talk to your partner about this- instead of buying each other a small gift- maybe a “gift for the house” could be a great addition? Maybe the Valentine’s night can last a little longer with the right upgrades! Below are some ideas which we think are relatively easy and add to home comfort. Sound: For many, sound is one of the ultimate ways to stir up emotions. Whether you want to reminisce about a pas...

CLEARING YOUR HOME’S SIDEWALK: Does Salt really hurt? By EFynch, homeowner advice Baltimore, MD- Does salt really hurt the concrete around your home? The short answer, yes. The old fashioned rock salt is cheap and plentiful but in most cases can damage your concrete driveway, patio and sidewalk. Concrete is porous and when salt is applied it can be absorbed, freezes, etc.- causing flaking and cracking. If the concrete was done properly, the chances of this happening are reduced however in our estimation (based on gut feelings and not facts), 90% of the concrete that we see may be subject to salt degradation! There are also cases where too much salt can be applied to correctly cured concrete so therefore no sidewalk is immune- we recommend avoiding rock salt in any case where concrete (or pets) are present. As an alternative, you want to find a product which contains Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium Chloride or (the more expensive) Glycols as the main ingredient. There are...

“*If water can move mountains, imagine what it can do to your house!” Synopsis: - Gutters are more important than you may know. - Neglected gutters can cause mold and other expensive repairs. - Gutter damage can go unnoticed and should be inspected twice         a year (minimum). - Gutters required your attention and most probably neglect. O ver the summer one of EFynch’s first projects was helping a member install gutter guards  ( we made a video about it here! ). As a former solar installer I have a familiarity with gutters but never really knew the full function they provide, and why it is so incredibly important to maintain them. Because gutters are typically ignored until they leak, we often forget to maintain and have them inspected regularly. This is VERY important and can literally save the structural integrity of your home while protecting your health. First, you should know what your gutters do. Gutters do more than cat...