Damp Environments
Not necessarily a Deal breaker
A typical home buyer is likely to eliminate a home with a basement that has water stains or mildew on the walls or floors. Before completely ruling out a home that you really like because of a water issue, you should get an expert's opinion.
A basement can often be dried out easily. A new set of gutters, repairs to a plugged up outdoor drain, or simple regrading of soil around the foundation may solve the problem. 
A home inspector can give you an idea about what is causing the dampness, as well as how much you will have to pay to waterproof the area. Sometimes the seller will consider negotiating the repair costs with the buyers, especially if the alternative is no offer at all. If the house is a "fixer-upper" and priced accordingly, you could get an excellent value that more timid buyers might pass up.
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The January "Honey-Do" List
The key to preventing problems is catching them while they are small.
- Clean the lint from the outside dryer vent to improve the dryer's air circulation and speed up drying time.
- Dust the coils behind your refrigerator. If they're grimy, they won't transfer heat effectively and will use more energy.
- Repair leaky faucets and deteriorating sink traps.
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During medieval times, circular stairs were commonplace in castle towers. Staircases were designed to go the same direction all the way around, ascending clockwise, to suit right-handed swordsmen for ease in hindering the attacker.
