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

By Teris Pantazes of EFynch.com Looking for a GREAT gift for the new homeowner, soon-to-be-homebuyer, or handyman in your life? Last minute crunch? We asked some of our professional contractors and hobbyist what they would put on a list- here are the top responses: 1. Oscillating Saw : This saw is not that common but is incredibly useful. It is basically a blade on the front end of a spear that vibrates incredibly fast in order to cut wood, trim, stripped, rusty nails, even that angry little nub that is left behind when you cut wood to fast and the last bit splits off. It's really awesome! A decent Oscillating saw starts around $60 and can go up from there. I have a 12v Milwaukee (pictured below) which was $80 and it has never failed me. You can also get attachments to make this a compact sander. Once in a toolbox, your loved handyman will wonder how they ever lived without this. 2. Heat Gun:  Like a hairdryer but hotter and more cooler. A heat gun will dry ...

  Insulation and roof tips for homeowners AND something to look out for when buying a home. The 3 minute test that can save you a few hundred dollars. A good, well insulated roof allows for snow accumulation. (Baltimore, MD/ EFynch.com ): When I bought my first home, it was brand new. A "top-notch" builder's grade that I knew had a few areas in need for improvement. As a homeowner, I am a sucker for energy efficiency- almost making a game out of how low I can get my energy bills. I've admittedly bought into a few items that didn't have the promised payback however, I chalk that up as experience that I can share with you. Over the next day or two (and probably throughout the winter), we will have what I call "snowlitts". These are small, cover the grass with slush kind of storms that excite school kids but never cancel schools (#FITF). Although mostly a short conversation or quick mention, these overlooked snow events can help you in a big w...

( EFynch.com; Baltimore, MD): With a majority of us now preparing to hang the old ornaments on the Christmas Tree, we must never forget the "lucky' few who get to do this job twice! I'm talking about those unfortunate few who forget to anchor the tree and for some "usually comical reason" get to participate in the lovely task of counting broken Christmas Balls. It actually makes perfect sense when you think about it. We cut a tree from the very roots which are designed to hold it down. We load it with fixins' and top it with a star to make it EXTRA top heavy (extra points for extravagant tree toppers, right?). It's no wonder that each year Christmas Trees are responsible for killing countless keepsake ornaments that would otherwise survive entire decades of summer storage. *On a serious note- A falling tree can be dangerous to your family and has caused injuries in the past. It also creates a fire risk if left unattended (like when you are ou...

Load up the family wagon, grab some twine, and a saw- It is time to  make the annual pilgrimage for. . . THE CHRISTMAS TREE!!!! As the mother of all holidays approaches you have to be prepared. After all, what good is a new PlayStation if the tree is not the pinnacle of treedom? the TREE is a signal of absolute perfection and it will make even the dullest tie SHINE. This is my approach each year as my family dons buffalo check plaid shirts and we take our annual drive just into PA for a LIVE, you-cut-it-Christmas tree. It has served me well for years and, I have been known to keep the tree up well into January. 1. Live, Cut Fresh: There is no better way to insure a tree will last. 2. Measure BEFORE leaving your house: you can always go bigger and trim when you get home but a short tree is not as much fun. 3. Measure your tree stand: Make sure the tree is not too fat! 4. Ignore the bottom 2' of a tree: This area get beaten up by lawnmowers and animals all year- I a...

Brought to you by EFynch.com : A non-biased homeowner community in Baltimore and Washington. Follow us on Facebook or visit our homepage and register as a homeowner/ homebuyer for regular tips- *we promise- no spam or sales. Baltimore, MD: As we approach winter there is one task that you may have overlooked and it will cost you!  I have personally seen the keenest of home buyers overlook this item only to be bitten a few years later (*often a missed negotiation point when making a home purchase!) The item? YOUR DRIVEWAY! Repaving most driveways can cost at least $5k but they go up from there. It is important to keep up with maintenance and make repairs on an annual basis. What about seal coating? There is so much horrible information floating around that most well intentioned homeowners follow the wrong advice and never get the full benefit of the effort and money put in. So, what hurts your driveway to begin with: The winter! Unless you regularly perform burnou...

Online ratings are something which we obsess with. They are something any good homeowner will research and review prior to hiring any handyman. Reviews (and referrals) are extremely important for new homebuyers alike, who, are just getting their "feet wet" in the home ownership lifestyle. That is why we at EFynch wanted to make something better. Currently, you can find online ratings, reviews, and recommendations from a host of other sites. However, many of these are unchecked, unverified, and often come from conflicting sources. As far as we can tell- 99% of online reviews have not gone through any filtering process (this effects most sites that supposedly post "trusted reviews"). Not to be negative, but this sucks- we wanted to create something better. The new EFynch Handyman rating system is revolutionary- we promise. 1. Instead of a simple 5 start rating which you can make on anyone listed in that site's directory, we have a 10 point rating sys...

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...