​We are given many reminders on how important it is to frequently test the batteries in your smoke detector but, what else should we know about these life saving devices?  For example, how many should there be in a home? And what is the best position to place them?
 
Did you know that roughly 3,000 people die every year in the United States due to residential fires? That’s a substantial number.  Sadly, many of these deaths happen because the home did not have a properly functioning smoke alarm.  It’s clear to see the importance, then, of making sure we have the correct number of smoke detectors for our home and ensuring that they are well maintained.  Here are some things we should consider when it comes to smoke alarms.
 
Smoke alarms should be fitted on each occupied floor of the home, this would include basements and garages.  Since many fires happen when the homes occupants are sleeping, it is also best to have them in each bedroom or close to each bedroom, where they can be clearly heard.  They should be fitted to the ceiling or wall.  When fitting them to a basement ceiling, place them close to the basement stairs.  A very important reminder is to never disable the smoke detector, even if it is becoming annoying and going off when cooking is being done etc.  It is just too easy to forget to connect it again.
 
It is good for the family to be conscious of what to do in case a fire starts in the home.  Every so often, test the smoke detectors at night while others are sleeping to see if it effectively wakes up children and any members of the household, then educate them on what to do next.  Make sure the smoke detector warning sound is unlike any other sound in the house so that it is clearly identifiable.  Finally, make sure to test your smoke detectors at least once a month to ensure they are in good working order.

​If you have your home on the market, you will know how much work this entails, but, you also know, that it will be worth it in order to get the best price for your home.  You will, no doubt, then want the home inspection to go as smoothly and efficiently as possible.  With that in mind, what are some ways you can assist the home inspector so that they can do their job thoroughly? Here are a few ideas:
 
Sometimes its just small, simple things that can prevent a home inspector from giving a full report.  For instance, make sure that light bulbs do not need replacing and that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors do not require new batteries. 
 
A home inspector will need easy, clear access to areas that are often used for storage like the basement and attic for example.  Try and have these areas cleared and make sure there are no locked areas that would prevent access.
 
Pets very often hinder a home inspection.  While they may normally enjoy access to all areas of the home, on the day of inspection, it would be best if they were in a secured area or kept away from the home.
 
You may have a list of repair jobs that you want to do to get ready for the sale.  Try to have these completed before the home inspector arrives for the inspection.  It would also be best to have any trees and shrubs that are too close to the house, trimmed back before inspection day. 
 
While these are just some simple suggestions, they will go a long way to making the home inspectors job easier and more thorough.  

​Most households have to cope with unwanted pests in their homes which means they need to find an easy way of getting rid of them.  There are a lot of different types of pest repellent available nowadays, so, which kind will be right for you? Perhaps you’ve considered ultrasonic pest repellents.  The question is, though, do they actually work?
 
Ultrasonic pest repellents are designed to repel pests by emitting a high frequency noise that is so unpleasant to them that they stay away from the area.  They are usually small devices that plug into a wall outlet, this makes them simple and easy to use.  Another advantage to using them is that they are not harmful to humans or larger pets.  However, let’s get back to the question, do they work?
 
Studies performed to test the effectiveness of such a device have yielded a variety of results.  For instance, they have been shown to have very little effect on pests such as cockroaches and do not seem to have any effect on spiders and ants.  It is also possible for some pests to even get used to the noise meaning that they could eventually stop becoming a deterrent at all.  Another issue is that the high frequency sound will not pass through furniture or walls, this means that the area covered might not be that great.
 
On the other hand, there are many consumers who have experienced great results from ultrasonic pest repellents.  So, what should you do?
 
The best thing to do if you decide you would like to try them out is do some research to decide which brand has the best reviews.  In this way you will make an informed decision.  If you find that this is not an effective pest control method, it might be wise to call a professional for advice on what you should do. 

​Selling your home is a big step and can also be a very stressful one.  You will want to do everything you can to get your home in shape so that you can achieve the best price for it.  As you will be very well aware, a potential buyer will have a home inspection performed on your home to make sure there are no hidden issues.  But, how would you feel if this report showed up problems you were not even aware of?  You would surely want to be the first to know.
 
For this reason, a pre-listing home inspection is such a key step to a successful sale.  Please enjoy the following video which discusses why it is such a good idea to have this type of inspection performed.
 
We are here to help you with this stressful process.  If you have any questions about pre-listing inspections or would like to schedule an inspection, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

​If you live in a multistory home, going up and down the stairs will not be something you think twice about, but stairs are responsible for many of the accidents that occur in the home.  Those especially vulnerable are the elderly, handicapped or young children, even guests to your home could be at risk if they are not aware of irregularities to do with your staircase.  What then, are some of the hazards to be aware of?
 

• Each stair should be of equal height.  If not, it becomes very easy to trip up them or worse still, fall down them.  When a staircase is too steep this can also be dangerous. 

 

• Make sure that handrails and banisters do not become loose.

 

• Carpet on stairs is another hazard to watch out for.  If the carpet becomes loose, someone could easily trip and fall.  Any loose carpet should be fixed straight away with carpet tacks or double-sided tape.  Stairs that are wooden can be just as much of a hazard if they are over waxed or polished.

 

• The staircase and surrounding area should have adequate lighting.  This is particularly important for those whose eyesight is failing or the elderly, as insufficient lighting could cause a person to trip or fall.   

 

• Outside steps are another area that need attention.  If they do not have the correct amount of slope so that water can run off them easily, they can become extremely dangerous, especially in winter conditions where ice can accumulate. 

 
Making sure all areas of our home are well maintained is a vital key to ensuring the safety of our households, so have a regular check of the staircase to ensure that they do not present a hazard.  

​Is buying a property listed “as is” a sensible choice?  Before we respond to that question, let’s consider why sellers decide to sell a home “as is”.  Much of the time it’s because they don’t wish to go through the bother of doing it up just to sell. Another reason is that they may want to avoid being responsible for any problems that may come with the place.
 
As to it being a sensible choice, it depends on how you go about the deal.  If you have found an “as is” property that you like and it’s the right price, it can be a great option.  But, before you sign on the dotted line, there are some things you should do first.
 
Make sure you have the property inspected by a certified home inspector.  Yes, you are buying the property in as it comes, but you don’t have to simply hope you got a good deal.  Having the home inspection done could end up saving you a fortune in the end by giving you an idea of the true condition of the home.
 
A written disclosure from the seller, informing you about the condition of the property is, in some States required by law.  Does that mean that you can forego the home inspection in this case?  The written disclosure is not always as honest as it should be and sometimes important information about the condition of the place is left out.  The home inspection will let you know whether you can trust the seller or not, by showing if vital information has been omitted.  If this ends up being the case, you may want to walk away from the sale. 
 
So, as we can see, buying a property “as is” can be a sensible choice as long as you act with caution and do what you can to find out its true condition.

Are you about to purchase a home and need to schedule a home inspection? You may have a few questions you’d like answers to beforehand.  A couple of questions you might have are: How long does it take to have the home inspection performed? And should you be present for it?


To answer the first question, the length of time it takes to complete a thorough home inspection will depend on a variety of factors such as the size of the home, how old it is, where its located and whether other areas like outbuildings etc. need to be looked at also.  In general, though, you ought to expect the home inspection to take roughly three hours.  Be wary of anyone who takes significantly less time to do it, as it may not be as thorough as it needs to be.


Should you be there for the home inspection?


It is always a good idea for you to be there for the inspection. There are a few reasons for this, one is that as you go through the home with the inspector, you will be getting to know a lot about the house you are wanting to buy.  The home inspector will point out areas of concern or any defects with the property.  That way, instead of just reading the findings in a report, you will have seen everything with your own eyes.  


You will also get to know important features of the home such as heating, cooling and plumbing systems etc.  It’s sensible to know as much about the property you are purchasing as you can.


A good home inspector will be happy for you to be there during the home inspection, but if they are not, this is possibly a caution against using them.  If you would like to schedule a home inspection or have any other question, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Have you decided to put your own home on the market? Whether the reason to do it without the use of a real estate agent is to save money or to simply be more in control, what are some things you can do to make a success of it?


Good preparation is the key.  You will need to gather as much information as you can about what types of rules and regulations you must abide by.  Be ready for a lot of, it might be a good idea to have a lawyer help you with understanding contracts and administration.


An essential part of selling your home is making sure its appealing for a buyer.  It should be in good order and ready for showing.  You will also be up against experienced real estate agents who are also selling homes in your neighborhood, so you want to give extra attention to making the house look good.


Experienced real estate agents obviously want the best deal for their clients, so its going to be important that you know how to negotiate the sale.  This could mean you have to turn down a few offers at first to get a reasonable price.


There are numerous websites available nowadays that offer information on how to sell a home.  Take advantage of these valuable tools.


As we’ve stated, its vital that you find out all the legal requirements involved in selling a home.  Remember, different laws apply for different zones, so find out as much information as you can about your specific location. 


Having a Move In Certified home inspection completed is also a crucial step when it comes to a successful sale. It helps you be the first to know about any problems with your property, and not a potential buyer. 


Please don't hesitate to contact us to schedule your Move In Certified home inspection.   

We know how vital safety in the home is, but were you aware that every year countless injuries are caused by improperly maintained automatic garage doors? It’s a good idea, then, to have a check of these doors periodically to ensure they are working correctly.  Although it’s important that a skilled professional is the one to fix your automatic garage doors, you as the homeowner can do some simple checks to determine if they are in need of work.  
 
Become familiar with the way these automatic doors function, after all they are one of the weightiest, objects that is constantly moving in our home.  They commonly have a spring-supported mechanism operated typically by a switch on the wall or a remote-controlled device.  There are a lot of moving parts to these mechanisms, so it makes sense that occasionally some of these parts will stop working.
​

• Although this may seem like one of the most obvious safety steps, it is important that no one is permitted to walk underneath the garage door while it is in motion.  It can be very tempting to quickly duck underneath it, but while you might be ok, if your children are observing this, they may try it themselves.
• Make sure any younger members of the household are aware of the dangers that could arise if they start playing with pulleys or strings attached to the doors mechanism. 
• When performing your check of the doors, be sure to check that all the correct warning labels are in place and clearly visible.  
• Do you and everyone in the household know where the manual release handle is for the automatic door?    
• Have a thorough check of the framework as well as the garage door to see what kind of condition it’s in.  Make a note if it is showing sign of stress and wear, then call someone qualified to fix the problem, or ask them what you should do.  

 
Maybe this is a good month to perform your simple, automatic garage door check.  

Looking for a new home comes with many stressful challenges.  You no doubt want to find a nice house that fits all of your households needs, make sure it’s in the right location and all within your budget.  Just this in itself is overwhelming.  Its understandable then, that most home buyers are not thinking about whether the property has the correct amount of slope, or grading.
 
Is the right amount of grading that important though?  Well, yes, it is, as not having enough could lead to all kinds of problems.  The following brief video will give you a good idea of why this is an important issue that needs to be considered when choosing the right property.  It will also guide you as to how much is an appropriate amount.
 
As home inspectors, it is our top priority to make sure you are getting the right home, with no hidden problems.  We are on your side, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.