Recently I bought my first house ever. This was an extremely stressful, heart-wrenching, exciting, overwhelming, and fun experience. I am by no means an expert on buying homes…. I have, however, created this small list of things I wish I knew before I started the home buying process. Hopefully, this list helps you too!

1. You will need all important documents from the last 3 years.

 This may sound like an exaggeration… it’s not. I needed SO much information about our taxes and our job history. I suggest buying a file box if you haven’t already bought one. You should have everything neatly in order so that your documents are easy to pull when needed. Also, buy a small portable accordion file that you can carry your documents in when you need to bring them to meetings. I had to re-scan the same docs and send them to 3,000,000 different people throughout the entire process. Speaking of scanning….. you will be doing a lot of that. If you are on the go during the day, or if you don’t own a scanner, I suggest using an app on your phone. I used the ‘Tiny Scanner’ app for Iphone.

2. Zillow is not a good resource.

 When I first started looking at housing lists I got REALLY into it. I would see the listing and burn through it in under an hour. I felt as though I needed to be looking for houses 24/7. So, I downloaded the Zillow and Trulia app. I had comprised an enormous list, for my realtor, of houses we loved from Zillow. Only to find out that Zillow is not frequently updated. Most of the houses I found on the app were either sold, pending, or more expensive then Zillow listed it for. With that being said….. Zillow is still fun to look at, but take it with a grain of salt. If you see a home on Zillow you like, try to find the MLS number in the listings from your realtor… before falling in love.

3. Even though you put an offer on a house you like… you might not get it.

 This was a tough lesson to learn. Sometimes a better offer is made on the house you love. Or the dreaded ‘Cash Offer Buyer’ sneaks in above your offer. It started to feel like it was impossible to actually close on a house. Like somehow I wasn't going to be able to catch the perfect one. NOT TRUE…. leading into #4

4. New houses come on the market every day.

 Never ever forget that new houses come on the market every day. For every house you don’t get, another one you love will show up. Stay strong and stay vigilant. Check listings as often as possible. Don’t wait to have a walk through, if you see a house you like, call your realtor and get in to see the place that same day. No matter what happens, just know …. there’s more where that came from.

5. Pro/Con lists will help you make logical decisions… even when your brain feels numb.

 When you are feeling overwhelmed and tired, it can be hard to make important logical decisions. Pro/Con lists really helped me through those tough times. Nothing is worse then being in-between two houses and unable to choose which one is the best choice, quickly. Sit down and write down realistic pros and cons. Don’t let little things like paint color, ugly appliances, or holes in the drywall turn you off. Little things can be fixed. Focus on issues like… Are there a lot of stairs? Will the space fit your furniture desires comfortably? Is there a public laundry? Or is there a private laundry? Are these amenities really worth the cost? Is the foundation solid?

6. The home buying process can take a long time.

 My entire home buying experience took from November 2015 until March 2016. I was lucky that it didn’t take a complete year. Because I was organized and dead serious, I found my place within 5 months. The closing process alone took 45 days. Keep that in mind if you are considering buying a home in the next year. It’s better to get the ball rolling now.

7. You will know it’s “The House” when you see it.

Don’t worry to much! I survived and so can you. Never lose hope and never settle for a house just because it’s a house. Keep going until you find the perfect one for you and your family… and fight for it.

Goodluck!

Pressure washing the patio, grill, and lawn care equipment can be one of the more rewarding spring projects. It’s the top homeowner chore that marks Old Man Winter’s exit and leaves you with a clean area to enjoy the outdoors again. Before starting your weekend of washing – make sure your pressure washer is up to the task. 

Before starting maintenance or equipment repair, disconnect the battery and/or spark plug. Always wear protective safety clothing.

Inspect air filter, fuel filter, oil level and condition, spark plug, and replace if necessary. Fuel should be changed if it has been sitting for longer than a month.

Check the water system from the garden hose washer to the high pressure nozzle. Clear debris from filters and screens as well as anything in the chemical/soap tank. Replace any washers that look worn as well.

Start the pressure washer by following the steps in your owner’s manual. Look for leaks in any of the connections like the hose, wand, or pump. If it's time to replace the hose or wand, you can find them here. If you don’t have pressurized water or notice drop in performance, there is a good chance you need a new pump. 

Unfortunately you can’t pick up a pump at a local hardware store – but you can order online. The Homelite (Part Number 308653045) is one of the most common replacement pumps around. For under $70 you can replace the part and continue to get years of use out of the machine.

If this is your first season with a pressure washer, a word of caution: cleaning siding, windows, and the exterior of the house can do more harm than good. Vinyl siding, paint, and screens are no match for a 3000 psi hose! Do your research and don’t rule out calling a professional. 

The key to success with any equipment is proactive maintenance. Making sure your pressure washer is in good working order before you need it, avoids aggravation and ensures a successful weekend washing project!

Give the machine a once over to identify any loose or broken parts. Addressing problems now will be much easier than next winter, when on the day of the first storm, you attempt to service the machine.

If you are considering selling your snowblower and upgrading to a new machine, the best time to do so are the weeks leading to the first snow fall.  Getting the machine cleaned up and serviced now means you’ll be able to quickly list the old machine at the first sign of snow next season. Additionally, most power equipment stores have the best pricing on new snowblowers in the fall, so quickly selling the old machine means you’ll buy the new one at the best price!

What should be completed for the season ending “tune-down”? Work on outdoor power equipment always starts with the owner’s manual to identify and document specific steps related to your machine. The manual will provide safety steps and part numbers so can easily order replacement parts!  However, the following steps can be completed on most equipment.

- Fuel. Yes, we said it again… gasoline has a shelf life and old gas can harm your engine. You wouldn’t drink milk that’s sat around for a couple weeks – so remove any gas and run the engine dry. Grab a can of “ethanol free” fuel from the power equipment store and run that through until it reaches the carburetor and turn it off.

- Change the oil. It’s quick, easy, and not freezing cold out. Grab a bottle of 5W30 oil and make the change.

- What condition are the skid shoes and scraper blade in? Replace or adjust if needed.

- If chipped paint or rust are a problem, sand and paint to prevent further damage.

- Assess condition of the belts, cables, auger, chute, wheels, and controls. What’s missing, worn, or needs further attention?

- Get a heavy duty cover and store the machine indoors if possible. If storing outside, get it off the ground and sealed up – you don't want flat spots on the tires. Plus, you don’t want to provide a home to this guy!

Many will ask: “Tune-down for what?” The short answer is that the sooner you identify and fix problems with the snowblower, the longer it will last.

Want to use a lawn tractor to clear snow? It’s a great way for homeowners with longer driveways to get snow cleared away with ease. Here are some of the most common questions and considerations before turning your tractor into a snow clearing machine. 

- Storage. Keep in mind the total length of the tractor and snowblower will be considerably larger. Make sure you have room to store AND maneuver in and out when needed!  When changing over to snow clearing mode, you will need to remove and store the cutting deck – and in the summer, store the snow plow/blower. Plan storage accordingly! Any convenience or time saving the tractor may provide is negated when you have to battle to use it!

Simplicity tractors are an example of equipment designed with storage in mind. Attachments fold up easily and will stand on their own. Once detached, the hitch and snow blower will roll easily across the ground. 

- Change over. We mentioned removing the cutting deck and installing the snow blower. While not overly complex, this is a task that requires a bit of planning. Attempting to complete during the season’s first snow fall is just asking for trouble! 

If your tractor has a complex pulley system (common on MTD and Sears tractors), the change over will be more involved. Keep in mind that some tractor snow blower attachments are designed after the fact. Some Cub Cadet and Simplicity tractors will have a quick attach mount that allow for an easy, one or two pin installation. The attachments are very heavy so a “drive-on” connection can be worth the extra money!

- Weight kit and chains.  Adding tire chains to your garden tractor may be helpful if you are clearing snow from hilly or uneven areas. Adding a counter weight to the back of the tractor may help the tires dig in, but be cautious of adding undue weight and stress to the machine. 

Buying the right tractor is an important factor. A rugged lawn tractor with the K57 transmission for example is better suited for attachments.  More often than not, once a wheel weight is installed, it will stay on the machine all year. 

- Stay dry! Adding a protective snow cab to a lawn tractor is a way to avoid wind and snow. Snow cabs are available in two versions: expensive and cheap. If you can afford to spend a little extra, an upgraded cab will have doors that seal and keep heat in – some even have a wiper to see where you are going. The cheaper cabs will keep you dry but the effort involved with constant adjustment, clearing off, and lack of protection make a strong case for the upgraded version.  

Is there a down side to using a lawn tractor as a snow blower? You’ll be clearing huge paths of snow with minimal effort, but clearing narrow walkways, around cars, and other elements that cause frequent turning, can restrict the snowblower. So, don’t throw away the snow shovel, there will still be shoveling involved. 

Keep in mind that the lawn tractor was designed to cut grass on a warm sunny day! Adding another season of use means increase wear and tear. Water and salt can take a toll on the front end, wearing away at the clutch and wheel bearings. Running the machine in heavy, deep snow is possible but will require preventative maintenance to ensure you get the most of the lawn tractor.  

Adding a snow blower to a lawn tractor is a great way to put the mower to good use and tackle an otherwise unpleasant task. In short, the tractor snow blower is a tool that requires a bit of planning and diligent preventative maintenance. You will look forward to seeing a rough weather forecast when you have a 20HP engine throwing snow!