Carl & Ceil Winters Texas Hill Country Home Inspector

Some of you may know and some may not, but I work with some of our senior citizens here in our community. I have been dealing with something recently that appears to be a growing problem. Helpless! Dealing with Reality and our Senior Citizens in our community. Please read to the End.

Helpless! My Reality Check

Reality, in everyday usage, means "the state of things, as they actually exist."

I can identify certain things like time, weather, shopping (my everyday needs).

Time: 365 days a year, 24 hours in a day

Weather: Four seasons, winter, spring, summer, Fall

Shopping: Buying items for everyday living and survival. Meeting my financial obligations.

I am comfortable with Time, Weather, and Shopping and the Reality of meeting life's needs.

Reality Check, things I feel helpless with, Example

•1. Decisions other people make that compromise my life

•2. Decisions other people make that compromise our country

•3. Decisions other people make that plain make no sense; but effect not only me but others

•4. Decisions other people make with finances without having controls put on them

I could go on but I imagine you understand what I am getting at. How in the world can a couple hundred people control so many different aspects of our life?

Are you beginning to feel Helpless? I see many folks in our community beginning to feel helpless. I feel helpless that I cannot give them a realistic answer why some things are happening in today's economy.

Many of our older folks are beginning to buckle under the stress of today's world. I could put an arm around them and tell them it is going to be better tomorrow but that would be untrue. Truthfully, I have no idea when and if it is going to get better.

Feeling Helpless? Put your arm around someone and say a heart-felt prayer that things will be better when folks get their heart and feelings in the right place and do what is right for the country.

"It's better to give then to receive"

Blog: September 30, 2009 by Ceil Winters ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's time for your home inspection, this you can do yourself

Fall Checklist Part 6 ~~~~~ by Carl Winters ~~~~~the Kitchen

The Kitchen

The Dishwasher - Check your racks for any cracks or erosion (this could damage your china and dishes)

Look for any signs of leaks in and around your dishwasher

Lift and spin your dishwasher arm to make sure it spins freely

The Sink - Check your faucets, if they are leaking they may need a new washer

Check underneath the sink for any leaks. Lines to the faucets, icemaker, dishwasher

Turn on the disposal and listen to make sure it is not binding

The Stove - Check burners to make sure they turn on and off easily. If you have a gas stove make sure, the flame burns an even blue in color.

The Oven - Check oven door gasket for wear, if worn replace. If it is a gas, turn on the gas broiler to make sure it lights properly. Check to see if the gas shut-off value is working properly.

Cabinet Doors - Check pulls, tighten any loose screws. Make sure hinges are secured.

Refrigerator - clean behind, pull off the front plate, and clean underneath. (Now this will take some doing but it will certainly help with the life of your refrigerator) Use your vacuum cleaner tool for hard to reach places.

Light Fixtures - Clean your light fixture; replace bulbs with Energy Saving Bulbs. If you have a ceiling fan, clean and wipe off blades. If the blades look like they wobble (I tape a coin to the blade, it is usually just enough weight to stop the wobble).

Blog Tips September 30, 2009 by Carl Winters-Localism Texas

Climb with care and watch where you step/It's time for your Fall Home Inspection. This can also be helpful for the

First Time Home Owner

These may be a few things you can do yourself if your do not mind climbing up into your attic. Never climb without a family member or friend present.

ATTIC Fall Checklist by Carl Winters

Look around your attic during daylight hours. Close the attic door and in the dark look for openings that allow light to show through.

Look around for signs of animal activity or entry zones that would allow some unwanted critters.

Feel around the insulation for damp spots for leaks. Look for missing or torn or no insulation areas. This could mean some animal activity.

Look for gaps around vents and fan motors and skylights.

Check for frayed wiring or loose screws

Make sure your ladder to your attic is secure

Look around to make sure rafters and joists are secure

Always wear long pants, long sleeves and a mask when you enter the attic.

Blog: September 28, 2009 Home Inspection Tips by Carl Winters, The Hill Country Inspector, Comal County Texas

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Field of Dreams - Anglo-Saxon Treasure Hoard Found in the U.K.

You don't have to have a metal detector to find a Realtor. You treasure is"Buying a Home".

"CALL A REALTOR"

Ceil and I are going to do this when I retire. Hope we could be this lucky.

I've seen this on the news the last couple of days. How would you like to be this guy? Maybe we need to buy a metal detector and looks for buried treasure. Maybe we are in the wrong business. Maybe I should give up my home inspection business and buy two metal detectors tomorrow. Ceil and I could take off and hunt for treasure.

Field of Dreams
This golden eagle and fish are part of the U.K.'s largest ever haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure, which has been discovered buried in a field in Staffordshire. The first scraps of gold were found by the amateur metal detector, Terry Herbert. He could now be in line to share £1m ($1.6m) with the landowner and said it "was what metal detectorists dream of."

How would you like to find this?

What a find and so much history

Ancient Riches
The Staffordshire hoard contains about 11 lb. (5 kg) of gold and 5.5 lb. (2.5 kg) of silver, making it far bigger than the Sutton Hoo discovery in 1939 when 3.3 lb. (1.5 kg) of Anglo-Saxon gold was found near Woodbridge in Suffolk.

What's more, many of the estimated 1500 items are unique!

Blog: September 27, 2009 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Comal County Texas

Fall Checklist Part 4 Home Inpection Checklist

Fall Checklist by Carl Winters

Interior Windows and Doors

This could certainly help save money and easy to do your self

Look for peeling paint or signs of water penetration around corners of your windows. You may have to do a little caulking.

Looks for cracks in window glass and window glazing around panes

Examine weather stripping around exterior doors and windows (weather stripping comes in many sizes)

If you have, broken windowpanes call a professional to replace

Check rollers on patio doors

Replace any window and doors screens if worn

Items to buy at your friendly Big Box Store

Caulk Gun

Caulking

Weather-stripping

Window Screen (Solar Screen is great)

By inspecting these items in and around your home and outbuildings can help save on your utility bill.

(If you are a First Time Home Buyer regular home maintenance is "Important')

Blog: September 26, 2009 Localism for localism, Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Comal Couty Texas

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