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This article originally appeared in the La Jolla Light

We know that when it comes to house emergencies, the best remedy is preparation. But sometimes even the most prepared homes still experience damage, especially in the case of unpredictable storms such as El Niño.

One of the things we have to watch out for in Southern California is a potential storm surge; this could affect many low-lying homes along beachfronts and canals.

While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is keeping track of our sea-surface temperature anomalies, we still can’t be certain of exactly when or how strong the storms of El Niño: 2016! will be. We saw extensive flooding in the 1997-98 El Niño. We may make light of the hype, but in February of 1998, there was a series of storms that bombarded California, killing 17 people and causing close to $550 million in damage. Mudslides were a big culprit in these cases and the hilly coasts of Southern California are susceptible to both slides as well as ocean surges.

Some of the worst damage can come not from months of ran but from short deluges, so even though we haven’t seen the big storms yet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare. The Weather Channel reports that this year could see a storm system as strong as the 1997-98 event.

But some of the damage may not even come from flooding or mudslides; sideways rain and torrential downpours can get under the flashing or weaken roof tiles or shingles, or sliding glass door seals may fail. Rain can take advantage of vulnerable spots in your home and cause damage you couldn’t prepare for. So here is a list of things to do to recover.

If you have serious flooding:

First, turn off the power to your home before you begin any assessment or cleanup.

Be safe: be insulated. Put on rubber gloves and boots if you will be standing in water inside your home.

Assess the damage; take stock (and photos of everything for future insurance claims: make a list and keep all receipts!).

Rescue any valuables you haven’t already stashed. If you have valuable artwork on the walls, remove to a safe location.

In Southern California, usually floodwaters don’t stand for a long time. As soon as possible (and it’s safe), remove any standing water with a pump if you can. Companies can come do this for you, or you can get your own. Again, make sure you wear protective gear, and keep children and pets away from the flooding, since water can be contaminated. Place the pump on the lowest spot of your floor.

Clean up debris right away. Be careful of what may have come into your home, including sharp pieces of metal, glass, or wood. Ocean or riverbed runoff can be particularly hazardous. If you have mud, shovel out as much as you can, then spray your walls with clean water. Afterward, check your air ducts and insulation for water, mud, or mold, all of which could be hazardous.

Have outlets checked by an electrician.

Remove all wet carpets and rugs and furniture from your home, and rent industrial fans to dry out the area.

Go to work on mold and mildew immediately. Disturbance to the roof or siding of your home might appear minor, but if left unresolved, major issues can result. If moisture gets in under roofing or behind siding, you may encounter decay, leaks and even widespread mold issues in your home.

What you do NOT want to do if you’ve had flooding:

Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if your ceiling is wet, and make sure you stay out of the room if you see the ceiling is sagging.

Do not use your household appliances such as your TV or blender or fan.

Don’t leave any of your wet fabrics, rugs or towels, in place for too long.

Don’t leave any media such as magazines, newspapers, or books (things with print) on wet carpet or floors. These will stain or adhere.

Do NOT use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water!

For the next time:

If you experience damage, use this as an opportunity to fix the problems in your home before it can happen again, even if you think these storms are too rare to make a big financial investment. First, with any replacements you make, now is the time to replace with waterproof materials.

Note the locations of any leaks or any cracks and get those repaired. Some you can do yourself; major repairs will require the assistance of a contractor and building team.

It’s hard to know if this year will give us something as powerful and damaging as the El Niño of the 90s, so it’s best to be prepared for anything. If you live in a low-lying area near the beach or a riverbed, go to a fire station or your local hardware store to pick up your sandbags. The best selection is a polypropylene plastic mesh bag over burlap. Fill this halfway with sand, then fold over the top of the bag without tying it—this creates a better seal. Keep any other emergency repair materials, such as extra sandbags and heavy plastic sheeting or tarps, stored in a dry place. Also check your balcony and decks for slopes, making sure water flows away from your walls and into your drainage system. If you know your home is at risk, move your valuables to higher, safer ground, or store in waterproof bags or bins. And finally, keep in mind that storms often send pests such as ants (or even rats and snakes!) to higher, drier ground. If you know your home is prone to ant or other pest invasions, preemptively bring in an exterminator or set up traps or powders, but only in places where children or pets can’t get to them.

For additional tips, visit the site for the California Department of Water Resources for Flood Prepare California. At Murfey Construction, we’re happy to go over El Niño preparation with you, as well as any other needs for your home. Or if your home does suffer from damage after a storm and the repairs are more than you can handle on your own, please visit us at https://murfeycompany.com.

This article originally appeared in the La Jolla Light

December is a big month for travel as many of us visit family or take advantage of the winter vacation to head out for a special trip. Whether you go for a short weekend getaway, a week, or a long vacation adventure, it is important to make sure that your home is secure. Here is our quick guide to prepping your home against anything from burglary to more common malfunctions.

Look lived-in.

The first precaution most of us know about is to keep our homes from appearing empty. Burglars are getting craftier in these more desperate economic times. If you can, invest in a house-sitter to have a guaranteed pair of eyes on your house throughout your absence. However, we understand this isn’t always practical. For long trips, try to have a neighbor or someone you trust check in on your house once in a while to look out for any signs of trouble.

Before you leave, make sure all windows are closed and locked. While this seems automatic, some people have upper level windows that they leave open year-round. This might be okay if someone is always in the house, but it can be an invitation to savvy burglars who know they have an empty house to plunder. And it’s easy to forget about those always-open windows. Make sure you put it on your final checklist before you leave.

It’s always a good idea if you have sliding doors to put a wedge (like an old broomstick, for example) in the track to prevent the door from being forced open.

It’s handy to have motion-sensor lights around the outside of your house, but if you don’t have time to install those, stop by your local hardware or home goods store and pick up a timer for interior lamps. For extra security, set lamps in different rooms to go off at slightly different times to make it seem more organic, NOT automatic. When you return, invest in an outdoor sensor—those are an extra layer of security to have even when you are home.

Put a hold on your mail and any newspapers, or make sure you have a reliable neighbor or friend who can pick those up daily.

If you have a lawn, make sure it stays trimmed—or give your yard a good, close landscaping before you leave.

Park your car or cars in your garage if you have one.

If you’re driving and won’t have a car in your driveway, ask a neighbor to park a car in yours while you’re gone.

Take precautions to avoid electric malfunctions.

In case of power outages, unplug computers, televisions, and small appliances. With the added threat of a possible El Nino, you don’t know what might happen with electrical shorts or transformer box explosions.

If you can’t completely turn off your thermostat because of plants or pets, set it for the lowest possible heat setting and the highest possible cool setting. You will also be grateful when your water and power bill comes.

Do a test of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are functioning properly. If you think your battery is close to needing a replacement, do it early just to be safe.

Watch the waterworks.

If your water heater has a vacation mode, use that—especially for a longer trip.

Also for long trips, turn off water valves to the dishwasher, washing machine, and all sinks.

Take a look around your house to check for any leaks you may not have noticed. If you find anything serious, you’ll need an emergency repair before you leave; for a small leak, know about it in advance so you can be prepared to get it fixed as soon as you get home.

Run your garbage disposal to make sure your drain is completely empty.

If you live in a condo, make sure you throw in a cup of water into your sink or shower to keep the drain trap filled and prevent the odor from the mixed-use drain from filling your home with the delicate aroma of raw sewage.

And finally…

As simple as it seems, don’t forget to take out the trash. If you end up in a rush to leave, it’s an easy miss. Run through all the trash bins in your home to do a final check. Old trash left in a closed-up house is a recipe for an unhappy homecoming.

Throw away any items in your fridge set to expire while you’re gone. And if you can, use up freezer items before you go in case of the remote instance of your refrigerator calling it quits while you’re away.

If you have a security company, let them know you will be out of town.

And always leave your emergency contact information not just with a friend or family member but with a neighbor who can have eyes on your home the whole time you’re gone.

At Murfey Construction, we understand that your home is probably your most important asset. Taking precautions will help alleviate the worry so you can enjoy your time away. As always, it’s important to monitor your home’s condition to be aware of any red flags that may come up with your plumbing, electrical work, heating and cooling, and appliances. We wish you a happy holiday season and new year, and if your resolution is to update your house in 2016, give us a call at 858-459-6865 or visit us at https://murfeycompany.com.

This article originally appeared in the La Jolla Light

Your home is your castle—until it feels like your dungeon and you need to get the heck out of there and fast. Here’s what you need to get out and move on.

Decide what type of repairs you need.

Have you lived in your house for so long that you have no mortgage—but also no modern amenities? Did you originally pay $80,000 for your ranch-style house back in 1987? You may want to make some upgrades to improve your home’s resale value. The good news? You likely have the budget for greater improvements and will make that money back when your house sells for a 21st century price.

For any big project, consult with a contractor and a realtor to see what buyers are looking for. Determine what you want to invest and how best to showcase your home to its future owners and not to your own tastes (unless, of course, you make such great improvements that you fall back in love with your house and never want to leave).

If large-scale improvements are not for you, there are still some cosmetic touchups you’ll want to cover before you list.

Deferred maintenance? Deferral time is over.

The wobbling window that won’t open? The linoleum that’s bubbling up in the corner? The door that’s off the hinges and leaning against the wall because it swelled? These are things that will turn potential buyers away, fleeing in terror, the way that you’re attempting to flee now. If the issue is big, or if there is damage, then you will want to repair it or sell as-is for a lower asking price.

These are projects you can do within a month:

• Minor Repairs, such as replacing broken screens, tiles, gutters.
• If you have bubbling or peeling linoleum, rip it out in a day and install peel-and-stick flooring from a local home improvement store. The whole project can be done in under a week (three days with help and fortitude and peppy relatives who may want to work off the money you loaned them six months ago), or you can hire a company to be in and out in a couple of days.
• Was your kitchen modeled after an episode of The Golden Girls? Consider a quick refacing project, including cabinets, counters and hardware.
• Fix any plumbing issues.
• Consider updating plumbing and light fixtures.
• If your built-in microwave hasn’t worked since the Sopranos finale, replace it.
• Do you have an avocado refrigerator, a goldenrod dishwasher, a black oven, and a stainless steel wine fridge? Replace them with appliances that have similar facing.

For the minor repairs, investing in a good handyman for all the touch-ups and small fixes makes a world of difference.

Don’t ignore your curb appeal.

• Paint trim and railings.
• Clean up the yard.
• Buy a neutral entry mat.

Clean! No, really.

The obvious shortcuts are to vacuum and clean windows, making even smaller spaces seem fresh and airy (if you have carpet, invest in a shampoo treatment).

Clean water stains around the outside of your home, maybe from mud, or from roof run-off. Clean or paint over water stains on your ceiling (make sure these are not symptoms of a leak that will need to be repaired). Remove water, calcium, and rust stains in your sinks, showers, and bathtubs (notice a pattern here?).

If you have a fireplace? Clean out the soot and embers you skipped when you ran out of steam during your last spring cleaning session.

You don’t want potential buyers to know how much you hate your house; a clean house is a sign of a loved house.

A Quick Final Checklist:

• Declutter. This means family photos off the walls, report cards and takeout menus off the refrigerator, piles of newspapers and magazines off the counters and end tables (any stack of magazines higher than one magazine is clutter). If you have kids, tell them they have to pre-pack, and box away their trophies, stuffed animals, video game collection, and any outward manifestation of their personality, and store it at a relative’s house.
• Hide any personal items that would embarrass potential buyers. Or embarrass you if strangers came to look through your stuff.
• Remove excess furniture that fills too much of a room. You want to give the illusion of space.
• Don’t just hide everything in your garage. Buyers will want to look there as well.

Finally, if you are concerned about the state of your home during an inspection, you may want to have a contractor take a look at your home before it goes up on the market to avoid any surprises. Many sales fall through if buyers feel they have to invest too much work in major repairs, especially if they need to move quickly and don’t have time to wait.

Whether you are prepping to sell, revamping a new home, sizing up or down, or looking to fix up your fixer-upper, give us a call at 858-459-6865 or visit us at https://murfeycompany.com.

This article originally appeared on La Jolla Light

We’ve already seen the beginning signs of the El Niño that the National Weather Service predicts will begin its three-month peak sometime in October but may last through spring 2016. According to The Weather Channel reports, the forecast is for a strong but unpredictable El Niño, as polar ice reduction over the years since the 1997-1998 event will change the storm models.

So what does this mean for you?

If you’re a homeowner, you need to be prepared for above-average and sustained rain falls. In Southern California, we’re used to storms that blow in and blow out after dropping a few inches of rain, maybe a foot over a week or so, leaving clear skies for much of the rest of the year. So are our homes.

Where should you start?

The roof. Have a close look yourself, or consult with an expert. If you see any cracks or gaps, get them sealed well before the peak rains begin. Also, apply a sealant, but make sure that you give it plenty of time to dry before the rains resume. If your roof has tiles or shingles, look for ones that might be broken, cracked, or missing, and have them replaced immediately. Also, check to see whether the metal flashing on your shingle roof is rusted or cracked. The sooner you get this done before the peak of El Niño, the better—you want any treatments to set.

Next up, the gutters. This can be an easy fix. Drains and gutters transport rainwater safely to the main drain without affecting the foundation of your house. Make sure there is no clogging due to accumulated leaves, twigs, stones or grit. These often clog the drainpipes and cause a back flow of water, which leads to major leakage problems in your ceiling. Even worse, there might be a leakage somewhere in between, causing the water to flood the foundation of your house. A cement sealant might come in handy here. Ideally, you should have your gutters checked and cleaned twice a year—certainly, El Niño adds an incentive to getting it done.

Check for cracks in the ceiling and walls. If there are any along the edges of the ceiling, you may be particularly susceptible to seepage in the walls, which could eventually lead to flooding and the growth of hazardous mold and mildew inside the structure. Fill these with plaster or wall putty (which will also require repainting the walls or ceiling). Check doors and windows for any gaps that can let in rainwater. These gaps can be filled with a variety of sealing products, including brush seals. If you have a basement, go through this space thoroughly, and consider purchasing a few sand bags, especially if you have a ground-level window.

Watch your wires. Any exposed electrical wiring needs to be checked, or there might be a risk of a short circuit. Also check for any loose wires, and make sure fixtures and outlets are covered properly. Occasionally check junction boxes during the storm to make sure they aren’t collecting water.

Other flooding considerations:

If you live in an area prone to flooding during large storms, don’t let dried leaves, fallen twigs, and any wilted blooms accumulate on your property, including your driveway, as they can block runoff drains.

Check the trees near your home, and trim any branches that might give way during heavy rains or strong winds. Falling branches are one of the surprise causes of damage during big storms such as El Niño.

If you have a pool, consider reducing the water level during El Niño’s peak, as your pool could collect an excess of rainwater and flood your yard, even your home. And also make sure you secure any yard furniture that could either be damaged or be blown into a fence or a glass window or door.

Whether it’s Godzilla El Niño or El Niño Bruce Lee, you’ll want to be completely prepared for any conditions brought about this season. At Murfey Construction, we’re happy to go over El Niño preparation with you, as well as any other needs for your home, so please visit us athttps://murfeycompany.com.