Tips on Buying Your First Home in Mercer County, NJ

4/20/2024 (Permalink)

Looking to buy your first home in Mercer County, NJ?   While you are looking for the perfect house for your family and lifestyle; the gourmet kitchen, master bath, and private backyard remember to take a look underground and evaluate the basement to ensure you remain high and dry.

Obviously, frequent water intrusion in your basement can cause issues with your foundation, and mold.  But most people don't know what to look for or how to protect their basement until after they've experienced water damage.  What's obvious in the restoration industry may not be obvious to every homeowner, so here are some tips to help you stay dry! (Visit www.bobvila.com for even more homeowner tips!)

• Get a sump pump.  Get the sump pump rider on your insurance policy while you are at it.  If you have a sump pump and it fails, your homeowners insurance will not cover the damage.  Even if your home or business has never taken on water, it doesn't mean you are immune to it.  Get the sump pump and check that it's functioning properly regularly.
• Consider a French drain or some other form of waterproofing.  Have a professional do the work.  Google the benefits.  You may be surprised!
• Keep your gutters free of debris and position downspouts away from the foundation.  The goal is to drain water at least three feet away, so if necessary, consider running extensions or troughs.
• If you haven't had your sewer inspected or your septic tank cleaned, now is a good time to do that.  During periods of prolonged, heavy rainfall (think Hurricane season!), clogged sewers, and over-taxed septic systems are disasters waiting to happen.
• If you have below-grade basement windows, install window covers that fasten securely to your foundation.  Clear acrylic covers allow light to enter while keeping out water.  
• Check the age on your hot-water heater.  They generally last about 10 years.  If yours has made it longer, that's not necessarily a good thing!  Don't wait for it to fail before you replace it.
• If you use your basement for storage, build shelves at least 6 inches from the ground.  Store items in plastic bins.  Photograph everything you store down there in case you need to replace it later.  
• If you have a finished basement, get a good-quality dehumidifier.  Consider tile floors or polished concrete over carpets.  

We wish you a lifetime of health and happiness in your future home, and if you do experience a flooded basement or mold, we are here to help you dry out, sanitize, and have your home thoroughly dry, like it never even happened™

 Call us at 609-894-8555, find us on the web at www.SERVPRObordentownpemberton.com.