​Selling a home can sometimes be a lengthy process.  Do you have your home on the market currently?  More than likely you have done a lot to prepare the home to sell.  This likely required spending some money to get the home to look appealing to a prospective buyer.  A problem can arise though, when after all your hard work, the home buyer’s inspection finds issues you were not aware of.
 
This video provides advice on why a pre-listing inspection might be a good option for you.  You want to be the first to discover problems with your home, and not a potential buyer.  If you have any questions or would like to schedule an inspection by an InterNACHI certified home inspector, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  We are happy to provide the assistance you need.

For many, the month of December will mean some welcome time off to enjoy with family and friends.  Since there is usually a lot more time spent in the home, which of course increases the risk of accidents in the home, it’s a good time for some safety reminders.


What are some safety reminders?


Keeping a watchful eye on small children is most imperative.  Keep sharp objects like scissors and knives well out of their reach. Were you aware that poinsettias are poisonous?  If you enjoy having them in the house, make sure that children and pets cannot get to them


Fire, as we commonly mention. can be big problem in the home.  Lit candles should never be left in a room unattended.  Make sure they are kept well away from flammable materials.  String lights need to be checked for any signs of frayed wires or broken bulbs etc. particularly if they have been in storage.   And again, watch small children and pets around these items. 


A fireplace is a beautiful thing to have on chilly winter days, but take some time to make sure the fireplace and chimney is in good shape.  Check to see if the flue is open.  It is easy for anything flammable that is surrounding the fireplace to set on fire, so move anything like this out of the way before lighting the fire.


Now would be an appropriate time to test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.  Are they in need of batteries?  There are many possible fire hazards to be mindful of.  Some major threats are leaving the stove unattended, also will there be smokers in the house? Make sure that no smoldering cigarette butts are placed in the garbage.


Yes, these are rather basic reminders, but they could easily be overlooked.  Your safety is very important to us. 

Buying a home is a very big commitment, so making sure everything is exactly as it should be when it comes to your new home is vital. That is why having a home inspection done is a very important part of the purchase.

But you may be thinking, how much am I going to have to pay to get the home inspection done? That is why we wanted to present this brief video that gives you an idea of what the cost of your home inspection is based on.

Remember that its essential to have your home inspection done by a certified InterNACHI home inspector. We are happy to assist you with this, so please contact us and we can give you a quote.

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The household toilet is an indispensable part of our lives. Where would we be without it? Were you aware that a toilet flush uses more water than a lot of us realize?. Are there more environmentally friendly alternatives then,when it comes to finding a toilet that uses less water?


Other than not flushing the toilet every time its used, there are some options. One option that is now widely used is a dual flushing toilet. The toilet flush contains two buttons, one for liquid waste which uses 1 gallon of water when flushed. The other is for solid waste, which uses the normal 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Seeing that the majority of toilet use is for liquid waste, we can see that a large amount of water would be saved this way.


Another very environmentally friendly toilet option is the composting toilet. They are a lot different than a regular flushing toilet in that they use very little or even no water. They use aerobic bacteria to break down the waste. The left over product resembles soil. In some countries ( though prohibited in the States) this waste is used in soil for cultivation. A elaborate sewage system is not required with a composting toilet and so makes for a toilet with very low environmental impact.


As we can see, whatever our preference, we certainly have options. If you feel you need to have your toilet or bathroom inspected, or have any questions please give us a call.

Lightning is something that poses a threat to pretty much all of us. While the biggest danger exists for anyone outside in a lightning storm, there are still some dangers when we are inside our homes.


There are various dangers that can come from a lightning strike at home. A obvious one is the house could set on fire. Electrocution can also be a danger.


Your home can have damaged appliances due to power surges. The home can also be damaged not only by fire but also from the water used to put the fire out.


What can we do to be safe at home during lightning?


To stay safe at home during lightning keep away from windows.


Your surge protector can help protect electronic equipment, but don't think that is all you need. Its best to be on the safe side and unplug or turn off electrical appliances that could be damaged if lightning strikes, such as computers and phones. Also don't use these appliances while there is lightning.


Avoid doing anything where you are using running water such as washing dishes and bathing etc.


There are some other measures you can take to protect your home such as lightning rods or lightning protection systems. It is best to research what is best for you and your area.


This is just a few things to keep in mind and stay safe during a lightning storm.

OK, so we've all seen the movies where some unsuspecting family member pulls down the attic hatch only to be struck in the face by the ladder right?? While installing these should really be left to the experts, many home owners like to take on this task themselves.

Here are some things to keep in mind before you do:
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• While it would be nice to use those extra nails and screws we have left over from a project, they wont necessarily be right for this job as they may not be strong enough to support a pull down ladder.
• Its also important to use ALL the nails and screws provided in a kit (think about why you have nails and screws left over from that previous project)
• What about insulation? A hatch that's not installed properly could allow cold air from the attic to seep into the house and result in inefficient energy usage
• Its very important to make sure that when installing a attic pull down ladder that it is not too short, that it is not missing important fasteners and that it is properly secured.

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After considering just a few of the potential problems and pitfalls that can arise with a pull down attic ladder, you may decide that it would be best to get some advice on the matter. Please don't hesitate to contact us for more information.

The quality of the air we breath in our home is always a concern, as its a place we want to feel relaxed and safe in. Depending on the cause, bad air quality can result in possible heath issues, sometimes serious ones.
One risk is the chemical formaldehyde. This is a chemical that we may only think of as being used in a science lab, but it is commonly used certain types of building materials as well as house hold items.

Where is formaldehyde found?
Formaldehyde can be found in a lot of pressed lumber like plywood or particle board. If there is tobacco smoke in your home, this can also be a source. It can also be emitted from certain textiles, fuel burning appliances, or glues.
Since formaldehyde is not visible you will only notice it by a strong pungent smell. The smell, however, is not the only thing to worry about with this chemical.
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What are the dangers?
Some signs that you are affected by formaldehyde are; watery eyes, respiratory problems, fatigue, or other allergic reactions. The most notable danger that can come from formaldehyde is cancer, usually upper throat cancer. While the connection between the level and the amount of time exposed is not clearly known at the moment, the fact that it is a carcinogen is an undeniable fact.
For information on alternatives to materials that use formaldehyde, please give us a call or you can also email us.

In recent years Bed Bugs, have become an epidemic. Their hard to see, love to travel and not so easy to eliminate, so what do we know about these pesky invaders, and what can we do about them?
Although bed bugs are found in mattresses, they are by no means limited to beds, in fact they can hide in an alarming number of places. Anywhere from furniture, curtains and clothing to picture frames and books
What do they look like?
Bed bugs are rather small, especially when first hatched. An adult bed bug is flat, oval and has a orangey, rust colored body.
See the signs
Bed bugs are rather shy in nature, so it is usually easier to look out for the signs of their presence. These include blood spots, and stains from fecal matter, also some crushed bug remnants, they are also known to emit a musty smell (it should be noted though that this is not always present)
These little parasites enjoy biting us as well which can leave itchy bumps on our skin.
How to treat the problem
It is not advised for homeowners to try to treat the problem themselves, as if not careful they can make the problem worse. PMPs or Pest Management Professionals are best for treating the problem as they can look for the bugs at the beginning stages of their development.
Trained dogs are also successfully being used in the detection of bed bugs as they can detect an odor that is emitted by the bugs.
Please contact us for more information on how to detect the presence of bed bugs in your home