Regardless of the season, your home is constantly at risk of pest infestation. We’re long past the summer months where bugs and insects run rampant in your home. But, in winter, there is a greater risk of rodents, as they will break into your home in search of food and shelter. Not only is it a dealbreaker when buying or selling a home due to sanitation concerns, but pest infestation is harmful to your home’s architecture, as well.
How to Identify Water Heater Problems
Knowing and keeping up to date on the intricacies of water heaters is an important skillset for licensed home inspectors. However, you don’t have to be an expert in home inspection to know when your water heater is on the fritz. A cold shower in the morning will be the only wake-up call you’ll need to realize you’re experiencing water heater problems. But before you call an electric or gas company technician, there are steps you can take to ensure the problem has a simple solution.
Why You Can’t Hide Things from a Home Inspector
A home inspector is often brought in as part of the home buying process, typically by the buyers. Their job is to make sure both parties – buyers and sellers – know the condition of the home and any issues it might have that could impact the value, condition, or safety of the home. A lot can ride on the outcome of a home inspection, from getting a potential buyer to agree to buy to losing thousands of dollars on the home’s value if any problems arise from the inspection. As a seller, it might be tempting to try and hide things from a home inspector. This blog is going to try and dissuade you.
[Read more…]Why is Radon Dangerous to You and Your Home?
On the top of everyone’s home safety list is adding security cameras, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, but one that is often overlooked is testing for radon. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the number one leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. This silent killer is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Read on to learn more about radon and the lasting effects it can have on you and your family.
[Read more…]Warning Signs Your HVAC Won’t Pass Home Inspection: Part 2
There is nothing worse than turning on your air conditioner or heating system for the first time after moving into your new home, and you notice various issues. A thorough home inspection will help catch some of those issues whether they are major or minor, you want those issues to be diagnosed right away. Learn more about these issues by continuing on from our part 1, about the different signs that point to getting your HVAC checked.
[Read more…]Warning Signs Your HVAC Won’t Pass Home Inspection: Part 1
Moving into your brand-new home can be an exciting time, but its also an important time to catch any warning signs that are attached to systems inside the home. There are multiple moving parts of home inspections, one being your HVAC system. Getting a thorough home inspection will provide clarity around the longevity and the health of your HVAC system.
[Read more…]How a Home Inspection Can Affect a Sale
If you’re getting ready to put your house on the market, there are probably a million things on your to-do list. It’s important that you add one more thing to your list— a home inspection. Home inspections are a common piece of the selling and buying process of a home. The results are often used to leverage the market cost of the home and can have a positive or negative effect on this process.
[Read more…]Why Home Buyers Should Get Cooling Systems Checked
As we know, summers in Massachusetts can get hot and humid, and the last thing we want to happen is our cooling system shutting down in our home we just moved into. Getting your cooling system checked before moving into any home can help prevent this from happening on a hot, sticky day. It’s important to schedule an inspection whether you’re moving into a home – brand-new or older.
[Read more…]What Inspectors Look for in Your Basement
Basements are the underbelly of every house. From visible cracks in the foundation to signs of pest invasion, it’s one of the best locations that allows you to see behind the curtain of your home. Being able to properly examine your basement will give you a greater insight into the overall health of your home. This knowledge will help your home pass an inspection, get it on the market faster, or buy your new home without any of these potential issues.
[Read more…]New Homes: Is a Home Inspection Necessary?
You finally completed the construction of your new home, and you are almost ready to move in. Did you know that even a brand-new home, with all new electricity, plumbing, and all the other necessities, needs to go through a home inspection first? Yes, even new homes could potentially have issues that need to be caught before you move in.
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