​Excessive moisture in a house can create a real problem for homeowners. Not only does it result in expensive home repairs, but it also contributes to poor indoor air quality and, can even lower the property's value. Obviously, then, this is something to watch out for so, let's look at some of the areas in the home that are most vulnerable to moisture intrusion:
 
Roofs are one of the places that can be highly susceptible to water intrusion for a number of reasons. A roof should have the appropriate amount of slope for water to drain, also the roof's flashings need to be periodically checked for leaks. If gutters and downspouts become clogged this prevents water from draining properly so have them cleaned out regularly, you should also have downspouts positioned for water to drain away from the house.
 
Over time houses develop cracks and holes in foundations and walls, etc. which can make them susceptible to moisture intrusion. Seal them up as soon as you notice this happening. The home's plumbing system should also be checked for leaking fixtures, dripping pipes, and blocked drains as these are high-risk areas.
 
High humidity levels are yet another cause of moisture intrusion which often manifests itself with stains on ceilings and walls, musty smelling odors, and poor indoor air quality. When you observe moisture collecting on surfaces in the home, clean and dry them immediately which will help to prevent these issues.
 
Water intrusion, as we have mentioned, can cause some real problems for your home so make sure that you keep up with regular home maintenance and act quickly to fix any problems you find.

​Perhaps you are looking for a new start in 2021 and are planning to put your home on the market. It takes a lot of time and effort to get a home ready to sell but, what if, after all your hard work, the home buyers' inspection reveals issues with your property that you didn’t know existed? This would be very frustrating, and you may end up not getting the right price for your home. So, what steps can you take to make sure this does not happen?
 
Well, maybe a pre-listing home inspection is the answer. You might be wondering, what is a pre-listing inspection? The following video will help to briefly explain what you can expect from a pre-listing home inspection and why it is advantageous to do so.

​Putting your home on the market shouldn’t cost you a fortune, however, most homeowners want to do all they can to make their homes attractive to potential buyers. So, how can you make your home more appealing without spending a lot of money to do it?
 
Instead of replacing a kitchen or bathroom that is looking a bit shabby, what can you do to make it look better? You could re-glaze a bathtub or sink and refinish kitchen cabinetry, etc. This can give them a whole new lease of life.
 
A clean, bright room will be a lot more appealing to a buyer than one that is dark and dingy. One way to brighten up the home is by giving it a fresh coat of paint. Also, remove any window treatments that make a room look dark and dated, and you will be surprised how much lighter it is. It is also a good idea to cut back any trees or other foliage that may be blocking the window and making the room look dark.
 
Do you have any rooms in your home that are hardly ever used, like a guest room, for example? Why not repurpose the room into a home office or other useful space that would appeal to a buyer? Rearrange the rooms in your home so that their best features are highlighted. Look up different staging techniques to help you with this. Another thing to remember is that most people will see photos of your home online before coming to view it so, any photos taken should make your home look at its best.
 
Finally, remember that the less clutter there is in a room, the bigger it will look. A potential buyer does not necessarily want to see your home filled with knickknacks so you may want to think about either getting rid of some things or putting them in storage while the home is on the market.
 
As you can see, there are many ways to improve the look of your home and make it appealing to a buyer, without spending a fortune to do it.

​Most of us at some time or another have seen a home renovation or house flipping television show. The results they achieve from a major renovation are truly impressive and can add a whole new level of comfort to the home. This is a great idea if the intention is to live in the home for a long time but, what if you want to remodel with the idea of getting a better price for your property? Is it a wise investment?
 
There is a lot to think about when remodeling a home to sell it but, if you believe that a major renovation will greatly increase the value of your home, you may want to reconsider your strategy. In general, the money you spend on the work will not make it a worthwhile investment. If, after a lot of thought, you decide you want to do the work, however, here are a few mistakes to avoid:
 
Any improvements you make on your property should fit in with the rest of the homes in the neighborhood. Of course, you want your home to be the best one but, making it look that much bigger and better will not increase its value by that much.
 
Perhaps you are considering installing a pool on your property, however, this may not be the huge selling point you think it will be. A swimming pool can actually put just as many buyers off as it can attract them. This is because a family with small children, for example, may worry about the dangers of a backyard pool while others may not want to deal with the extra maintenance.
 
Lastly, when remodeling with the purpose of selling the home, avoid decorating to your own specific tastes. It is best to avoid bold, bright decorating statements especially with expensive items like kitchen appliances.  Instead, think about what would be more attractive to a buyer.
 
So, while a renovation may seem like the obvious way to sell your home for more money, it is not always the best investment but, if you do decide to remodel, do your research and make wise choices based on what a potential buyer is looking for.
 

​It is pretty common to see moss growing on roofs, especially in areas with higher moisture levels. You may also notice it on parts of the roof that are mostly shaded and don’t see a lot of sunlight. One question you may have is; if moss is left to grow on a roof, will it damage it? Let’s discuss the answer to this question.
 
When determining whether moss will damage your roof you should start with looking at where the moss is growing. For example, is it growing inside or around guttering and downspouts? If it is then it may start to prevent water from being able to drain away properly. It is best to remove the moss is this case because, if left, it could cause water intrusion and structural issues.
 
You will also want to look at the materials the roof has been constructed with to determine if moss will damage it. If the roof has clay or stone shingles then moss would not be a problem, however, keep in mind that moss holds a lot of moisture and this could have negative effects on the structure of the roof.
 
So, what if you determine that it is best to remove the moss? You will want to carefully research the best way to clean your roof based on its construction and the materials used. If not, cleaning of the roof may do more damage than the moss itself. You may also want to consider having your roof inspected as this will help to determine the roof's condition and help you decide whether removing the moss is really necessary.
 

​Everyone wants a safe and secure home and many homeowners will go to great lengths to obtain it. One area that should be given consideration when it comes to home security is exterior doors. What features should an exterior door have to make it a safe one?
 
One of the first things you need to think about is what the door is made of. A lightweight, hollow-core wooden door is going to be easy to smash through. Ideally, an exterior door should be made of sturdy construction with a solid wood or steel core. It is also very important that the door is in good condition and not displaying signs of rotting, warping, or cracking.
 
The door lock is an essential security feature. It should be a quality deadbolt lock. If you like the security of a door chain, that is fine but only use one in addition to a deadbolt lock and never instead of it. It is also a good idea to install a bump-resistant lock. This is because bump keys have become a popular option for intruders these days.
 
Many front doors have glass paneling in them, but this could be a security risk if the lock is situated close to the glass. Try to position the lock far enough away from the glass so that it would be difficult to reach the lock if the glass were smashed.
 
Installing a peephole is another good option to enhance security as it allows you to check who is at your door before you open it.
 
Some front doors have a mail slot in them. These should always be fitted with a cage or box that surrounds the mail slot, otherwise, an intruder could gain access to the doors lock from the inside through the slot. 
 
Why not inspect your exterior doors and see if they are equipped with these security features?

​We all know that major earthquakes can cause serious damage to buildings, but what about minor ones? Were you aware that even minor tremors can put our properties at risk? The reason for this is because, in locations that do not experience a lot of seismic activity, houses are usually built with less strict earthquake preparedness building codes, so if there are smaller tremors, the home could experience some damage. Let’s look at a few potential weak spots your home may have and ways you can reinforce those areas:
 
Let’s start with the foundations of the home. Your home needs to be firmly fixed to its foundations. You will also want to check for signs of deterioration in cement foundations such as cracking and crumbling of the cement.
 
A common and serious problem that can occur after an earthquake is leaking gas. If you have any appliances that run of natural gas, it’s a good idea to fix them securely to a wall or floor. Also, unless the home has an automatic shut off valve, you need to know the location of the home's manual shutoff valve, have it clearly labeled, and be able to access it easily if the need arises to shut it off quickly.
 
A chimney can become extremely unsafe if it is damaged in an earthquake as it runs the risk of falling into the house itself. With this in mind, make sure you do not set up children’s playrooms near the chimney. You may also want to use angle bracing and sheet metal straps to secure an unreinforced masonry chimney.
 
Freestanding water heaters could become another potential hazard in a minor earthquake so you may also want to secure this to a wall using metal straps.
 
These are just a few of the potential weak spots in a house that may be affected during a small earthquake. It is good to have an assessment done on your home to find areas that may need reinforcing and protect it from damage.

​As a homeowner you may be looking for different ways to lower your household energy bills, but how easy is it to do? One thing that can significantly increase the energy efficiency of a home, especially if it is older, is sealing and insulation. Let’s look at some of the areas in your home that may benefit from doing this:
 
A good place to begin is the attic. Because heat rises, this is a space where you would notice air leaking the most. Start by plugging up any big gaps and holes. You will most commonly find these in dropped ceiling areas, where the attic meets the floor, and under or behind attic knee walls. Next, you will want to seal up smaller holes. If you are wondering how to detect small air leaks, one indication is that patches of insulation may become darkened so look out for this. Another area of the attic that you will want to check is the attics access panel. For this, you can use a foam board insulation or weatherstripping.
 
Other than the attic, where else may benefit from being sealed and insulated? Here are a few of them, window or wall mounted air conditioning units, electrical receptacles or outlets, doors, window frames, baseboards, and piping.
 
Sealing and insulating can help to not only reduce your monthly cooling and heating bills but, when a home is tightly sealed you will also find it improves indoor air quality and comfort and, best of all, it is a job most homeowners can do themselves.

When light is skillfully used in a home it can make a space warm and inviting. Perhaps when you think about using light to brighten up a dark space in the home, you think about some kind of electrical lighting, but have you considered the possibility of daylighting? This method uses natural light to brighten an area. It’s also energy efficient. We are going to look at a couple of ways daylighting could be used in a home.


As we have mentioned, daylighting is a word used to describe the use of natural light for illuminating the interior of a home. There are various ways to do this. Perhaps one of the more well-known methods is with the use of skylights. If you decide, however, to install skylights in your home, make sure they are double-paned and that the flashing has been done properly.


Another natural lighting option is clerestory windows. These are short, wide windows set high on a wall. This allows the sun to pour into a room during winter months, adding needed light and heat while at the same time, because of the roof overhang, it protects against the sun during the summer.


Light tubes are one more daylighting option. They use a special lens that amplifies low-level light and reduces the intensity of the sun's light at midday. The tubes themselves are coated with a highly reflective material that channels the sunlight through it. The light then enters the interior of the home through a diffuser that will evenly distribute the light.


While we have only mentioned a few ways natural light can be used to brighten a home, it's clear to see the benefits of doing so.
​

​DIY jobs are not for everyone, however, with the current changes in circumstances meaning that more people are staying at home, now is a good time to tackle some of those projects you may have been putting off. To do a job well, though, usually requires having the right tools. So, what kinds of tools do you have in your tool kit? If you are just starting to put your at-home tool kit together here are a few basic tools you will want to start with.
 
One DIY task you may take on is hanging pictures or shelving.  The basic tools you would want for a task like this are a hammer, tape measure, and a level to check that your picture is straight.
 
Self-assembly furniture is very popular nowadays, but even the simplest items to assemble may still require tools such as a screwdriver.  When shopping for a screwdriver set, check that it includes both Philips and flat head screws.
 
At times, you may have to tackle some rather unpleasant tasks like unblocking a toilet or sink.
While this may eventually involve calling out a plumber, a lot of the time the problem can be taken care of with a plunger. 
 
Here are a few more basic tools you will find useful; a flashlight, wrench set, duct tape and safety equipment which should include, gloves, safety glasses, and a breathing mask. We have only mentioned a couple of possible DIY jobs you will need tools for. Of course, there are many other jobs and tools you may need, we have simply listed a few to get your tool kit started.