​If you have recently relocated to a new area and need to find someone to work on your home, perhaps you’re wondering how you can find someone trustworthy, who will do a thorough, professional job.  What are some ways to find out if the person you want to hire will be honest and not try to rip you off?
 
One thing that is good to remember is that a professional trades-person will have no problem answering any questions you have and will not mind if you ask them for their credentials and whether they are insured for the work.  Be wary of anyone who is pushy and who wants an immediate decision on hiring them.  
 
It is expected that you might be required to put down a small deposit for the work but never pay the whole amount up front and be weary of anyone wanting a large deposit.  Also, make sure you get a fixed price for the job and have it down in writing.  That way, you will not be responsible for those unforeseen “added extras” that very often come up after a quote.
 
Try not to give out your address before you have been quoted a price over the phone or email.  Sometimes, depending on how affluent an area you live in, you might be quoted different prices based on where you live and not on the actual job.
 
While there are many honest workers out there, remember to ask questions about previous jobs, their experience and their exact address etc.  An honest person with nothing to hide will have no problem providing this information.  

The title of this blog might surprise some people, after all, isn’t composting a really good thing to do, especially for the environment?  While there are many advantages to composting such as being environmentally friendly and good for the soil, the risks appear if we do not handle it properly.  What do we mean by this?                               
 
To understand better, it’s a good idea to think about what compost is actually made up of.  Rotting food and plants in varying stages of decay can produce a number of unsafe pathogens.  If compost is not handled correctly, a person could be affected by these pathogens.
 
Let’s consider some of these pathogens and see why they are dangerous.
 
A variety of fungal conditions can result from compost.  Being exposed to them as well as other bacterial pathogens can cause different ailments.  One of those is known as Farmers Lung and can produce symptoms similar to pneumonia.  Another condition called Aspergillosis can develop from the inhalation of spores which are produced by decaying plants.
 
Another fungus which is found in compost is Histoplasmosis.  This type of fungus develops from the feces of birds and bats.
 
Other diseases that could potentially arise from exposure to compost are Tetanus, Paronychia (an infection which can develop around toenails and fingers) and also Legionnaires Disease.
 
Although these sound like very worrying ailments, taking the proper precautions while dealing with compost should prevent these from happening.

​Are you looking for a home inspector?  Perhaps you have decided to sell your home and purchase another or maybe you are buying a home for the first time.  Either way, you will need a professional home inspector to complete the sale or the purchase of your home.  We know you will agree that having the right people for the job is essential and choosing the right home inspector is no exception.  Please enjoy this brief video that will help explain what you should look for in a great home inspector.
 
We are here to assist you with all your home inspection needs, both now and in the future.  If you have questions about what to expect from a home inspection and why its so important, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or contact us in any way you prefer.  We will be happy to help.
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​Selecting a home to live in is a huge decision and there are many options to choose from.  Among those options are pre-manufactured homes.  While you may have done some research on the matter, here are some helpful tips to help you before you make the final decision:
 
The nice thing about pre-manufactured housing is that there is a great variety to choose from to fit a variety of budgets.  Obviously, you are aware that it is just the house you are purchasing, so you will need a piece of land to put it on.  You may want to purchase a separate piece of land, but you could also lease land that is intended specifically for manufactured housing.  Another option is buying the land and house together.
 
Make sure you are well acquainted with the manufacturers warranty.  Sometimes you could void it out if the homeowner’s maintenance guidelines have not been adhered to.  You will also want to find out if the warranty covers for the installation and transportation of the home.
 
Get to know all you can about the legal requirements for this type of housing.  Find out about utility connections and zoning laws etc.
 
When your home finally arrives, its very important to have it inspected thoroughly to make sure there are no issues or defects with the home.  Have a home inspection performed on it so that you can feel confident the home is in good working order.  Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to schedule a home inspection for your pre-manufactured home.

​We are well aware that tornadoes wreak havoc and destroy property.  If your home ends up in the path of a tornado, what sort of damage might you find?  Depending on the severity of a tornado, you might see some very obvious damage, but, even if you didn’t see a lot of damage, there are some areas in the home you would want to check.
 
Stress cracks are something you should check for.  Look at where the walls meet the ceiling to see if you can see any signs of this.  Use a level to check that walls and floors have not shifted.
 
One area of damage that often occurs from a tornado is uprooted trees.  These can damage underground gas lines, creating a leak.  Its important to check that this hasn’t happened before you turn on the gas in your home.
 
A house can sustain all kinds of damage from being shaken in a tornado.  Plumbing fixtures and pipes could have twisted and cracked.  To check these are not leaking, turn on all the faucets in the home and make sure water isn’t running out where it shouldn’t.  Look under sinks, cabinets and even ceilings for signs of water leaking.   Damage to the foundation is also a possibility.  Take a look at the masonry for signs of cracking and check crawlspaces for any changes or damage.
 
It is likely there will be damage to the roof after a tornado.  This is something you will need to fix immediately as the house will be more prone to water damage.  This will show up later on in the form of mold and water stains on walls.
 
If you have a chimney, this is another area that must be checked for damage.  Damage to a chimney can be very dangerous as it can hinder proper ventilation, putting the homes occupants at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
 
If you would like more information on inspecting your home, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

​Tornado's, as we know, are extremely destructive.  When faced with this type of a threat, what can we do to protect ourselves if we are at home during a tornado? Here are a few suggestions:
 

• If a tornado is imminent, take cove immediately.  This would mean staying out of rooms that have a lot of windows as they can easily smash and cover you in dangerous glass shards.  Windows will also make it easier for other projectiles to enter into the room.

 

• When deciding which room to take shelter in, make sure you are not in a room where there are heavy items such as large furniture pieces or a refrigerator located in the room above.  In the event that the floor above you starts to weaken, these heavier items are likely to fall through to the floor below which could cause serious injury to anyone underneath. 

 

• Some of the best places in the home to take shelter in are Interior rooms that do not have any exterior walls.  During a tornado, interior walls tend to remain whole whereas exterior walls do not.  If you can, take shelter in the bathroom.  This is because the piping and plumbing work offer added support to walls. Also, if you have a bath tub, you can get into it and place a covering over you for extra safety. 

 
What are some further ways to protect yourself if the weather forecast shows potential for a tornado?
 

• If you have some indication that a tornado might occur, turn off your electricity at the mains so as to prevent fire.  It is advisable to turn off the water as well.

 

• Move furniture away from windows and remove mirrors and picture frames from walls.  Secure heftier furniture item like bookcases and cabinets to walls (it is advisable to do this anyway to prevent these items becoming a tip over hazard, particularly if there are young children in the home)

 

• Have a disaster supply kit ready, it should contain everything you would need in an emergency.

 

• For those areas that experience a lot of tornado activity, It is advisable to install a storm shelter if you are able or be aware of the location of one.

 
Yes, tornados can be frightening and unpredictable, but knowing ahead of time what to do, will help to keep you safe. 

A lot of homeowners opt to sell their own home.  There are various reasons for this, maybe they prefer to save on real estate agent fees or perhaps enjoy the idea of having more control.  For whatever reason, if you are selling your own home, how can you do it successfully?

• Being well prepared is an important first step.  You will need to find out all the various rules and regulations you will be required to follow.  It might also be a good idea to have your lawyer help you with understanding contracts and legal documents.

• Is your home ready for showing or does it need some work?  It should look as appealing as possible for a potential buyer, so have a good clean up, declutter and do those repair jobs that have been waiting to be done.

• You will need to learn how to negotiate the sale.  You will be dealing with experienced real estate agents who are looking for a great deal for their clients.  It may mean that you will have to turn down some offers at first to ensure the right price for you.

• With so much information accessible online nowadays, its easy to find useful information on how to sell your own home.  Take advantage of this valuable tool at your disposal.

• Have a home inspector perform a Move In Certified home inspection for you.  This means you will know ahead of time any possible issues with your home, that would be a problem for a potential buyer.

• Be aware that there are different laws for different zones.  Make sure you find out all the legal information and requirements for your particular area.

It is possible to make a success of selling your own home if you are well prepared and know what you are in for.  If you would like to schedule your Move In Certified home inspection, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Spring is often a time when we decide to do those home maintenance jobs we’ve been waiting all winter to do.  Perhaps some of those jobs are obviously in need of doing, but what about the rest of the house? Do you know what kind of condition it’s in?

Although we get our home inspected to know its condition before we buy it, wouldn’t it benefit from more than a one-time check? After all, we have many things from our cars to our health checked at least once a year, so why not our house?
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The following video will help you to see why having an annual home inspection performed is of great benefit.  You may be wondering how much that would cost, but it’s actually a lot less that you think.  Please feel free to contact us for more information regarding having an annual home inspection performed.

​Are you looking to change the floors in your house? Perhaps you’d like a change from carpet.  There are a lot of options for flooring these day, so there’s a lot to choose from.  What about laminate flooring? Could this work for you and your household?

Laminate is installed by multiple panels or pieces fitting together to form the entire floor.  Laminate is usually comprised of fiberboard with a melamine resin.

But, when making the decision about laminate flooring, why not look at the advantages as well as the disadvantages? 
 
Here are a few of the advantages:

• Laminate flooring is normally easy to install. 
• It’s cheaper than some other types of flooring, so you can transform the look of a whole room for a comparatively low cost.
• There are a whole range of looks to choose from.  These generally fall under what would be considered the hardwood category, but you can also select from styles like a marble or granite effect.

Some of the disadvantages:

• Melamine resin that comprises laminate flooring contains the chemical formaldehyde, which can be harmful to health.  It is possible, however, to find products that have less toxins.
• For assorted reasons this type of flooring could shift or move.  It’s also good to note that if the subfloor contains a lot of moisture or even if there is a leak of some kind, the laminate could begin to warp or buckle.

 
So, in summary, laminate flooring can be an excellent choice because of its various style options and cheaper price but be sure to do your research on it before installing, and look at the floor underneath to make sure it’s in good order.  

If you are a potential buyer of a new home, one area that you would want to check and inspect to make sure is in good working order is the kitchen.  Of course, the kitchen of a potential new home should be inspected by a professional home inspector, but there are basic things you can check while taking a walk around a house you are looking to buy.  

While walking in the kitchen, start with turning on the water from the faucet in the sink, checking the water pressure, and also plugging the drain in the sink to later drain it.  These steps could help you understand the water flow of the house, and also help you to understand if there are any issues with the drainage of the of the house.  While at the sink, feel free to open the cupboard doors under the sink and check if there is a garbage disposal.  You can also check to see if there is any water damage.  This water damage can come from a leaky pipe under the sink, or from leaky hoses or old seals in the dishwasher that is next to the sink. 

Any signs of water damage could be a further indication of mold problems, or even rotting wood in the floors or inside the walls surrounding the dishwasher.  Other areas you could look at in the kitchen are the counter tops or the refrigerator.  By doing these simple inspection steps this could start to address some of your concerns in the kitchen of your potential new home.