So we’ve covered the points on what to beware when hunting for your new apartment or house. And you can take those notes to the bank, buster. But what about those for whom it’s too late, the poor souls who could not heed and now find themselves trapped in a rat’s nest?

That brings me to today’s topic: working over what you overlooked. Those of you renting out may wash your hands of these tasks, as many of them fall under the landlord’s culpability. But if you own your home, or have somehow been assigned repair duties by your lease, here’s the answer. These are instructions for absolute beginners; they won’t fix any major structural issues, but they also don’t run you much risk of being electrocuted (if you do it right).

Tips & Tricks for Basic Repair

1) Electrical Outlets. The potential dangers of damaged and outdated wall sockets were covered in the previous installment, and may be the most stressful to replace. Rather than lay out all the steps, you can use this thorough instruction from eHow - not only does it take you through step-by-step, but there’s even a video with a nice lady. Don’t forget to have a new grounded outlet, a new cover plate, proper tools (screwdriver, chisel and/or utility knife) and a socket tester ready.

And while you’re at it, maybe try something new - I stumbled across a new kind of wall outlet by 360 Electrical that offers an interesting solution to crowded plugs.

2) Door Knobs. From a décor standpoint, it’s a good idea when replacing your electrical and wall hardware to get door knobs and other hardware to match. But more than that, it’s probably a good bet that if you’re in a home where the outlets were in disrepair, the doorknobs aren’t so hot either. So, for example, from the Baldwin Hardware collection that I picked my cover plate from, I could find a matching knob set to complete the look.

3) Floor Tile. As discussed in my last entry, floor tile can be a sticky situation (I made that pun and I feel no shame). If you find yourself with tile that just won’t stay down, or just doesn’t look up to snuff, your best bet is to scrap it all and start over - glue-covered pieces aren’t going to do you much good even if you get them to stay down. In the event you don’t want to pay for professionals to do the job, eHow once again has you covered with precise instructions on laying down either ceramic tile or resilient tile - the choice is up to you. Just remember not to cheap out on adhesive.

4) Moulding & Baseboards. Cleanly installing a set of moulding strips can be a hassle or a breeze; it depends on the room, and how attentive the installer is. You want every inch to sit snugly against the wall and the floor, firmly tucking down any carpeting, with not even a molecule of open space. As stated last time, any cracks and holes provide ample space for small pests to gain free access to your home. If you do find a small crevice, don’t hesitate to fill it with a fine dab of wood filler or firmly nail the strip in (as the situation merits). You can once again find excellent walkthroughs from eHow on first buying moulding and then installing it. Remember some of the essential tools you’ll need: drill, screws, filler, and a stud finder can come in handy as well.

5 ) Ceilings. So you’ve got a little peeling and discoloration going on, or perhaps a leak. Short of replacing the roof, what can you do? Well, you get yourself a quick fix. Find any and all cracks and go over them with a fine layer of plaster. Pay attention to the corners, and fill any peeled spaces there. Little spots of mold can often be cleaned with bleach, but with a larger patch more severe measures should be taken for removal.

In addition to adding a little extra class to your décor, installing crown moulding can also serve to insulate from minor structural corrosion. If you have a shingled roof with rain gutters, remember to clean the gutters after every storm and check for loose shingles - these are major contributors to leaks and stains. And never forget that for many architectural issues, science is the answer.

6) Painting. When all of these are said and done, you’ll want to give the place a new coat of good paint - remembering to tape over all windows and moulding, and removing all the wall plates. Unless your roommate is Manute Bol, it’s always a good idea to keep a proper ladder around for these jobs. And for pity’s sake (and the sake of your floors), put down a drop cloth.

Again, this isn’t nearly a complete list of ways you can improve your domicile. If you have any more to contribute (or to correct), drop them in the comments section. I may just post them later, for the special edition.