​With 2019 just around the corner, perhaps you’re thinking about your plans for this coming year.  Is moving to a new house part of those plans? Buying a home can be an extremely stressful process and we’re sure its already occupied a lot of thinking time, especially if you are buying for the first time.  As you are probably aware by now, when you do find that perfect home, it will need to have a home inspection carried out on it to make sure it doesn’t have any hidden issues.  With that in mind, we thought it would be good to show you just how thorough our home inspections are.
 
This month we have a video designed to help you understand a little more about the home inspection process and what types of things we will inspect.  You will see that our home inspections are very detailed.  If you would like to discuss what to expect from your home inspections in more detail, please feel free to contact us.
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​Many homeowners have trees on their property.  They can be a beautiful addition to any yard but what if they are situated too close to your property? Could they cause any problems and, if so, what type of problems could you encounter?
 
There are a number of issues that could arise if a tree is too close to your home.  A big problem is the risk of branches and tree limbs falling onto the homes roof and power or communication lines.  Branches could even fall and injure someone.  This risk is increased if the tree is very old.  A tree situated close to a home would also enable rodents and insects’ better access into the house.  You could also experience clogged gutters and drains from a build up of leaves and branches which, if left untreated, could cause other structural issues.  In areas at risk of wildfire, a tree too close to a building could pose a very dangerous fire risk.
 
Many homeowners worry that a trees roots could damage the homes foundations.  If there are cracks already existing in the building’s foundation, roots can start to make their way in and, if the roots are large enough, they could even grow under the foundations causing them to lift.
 
As we can see, there are certain risks associated with having trees positioned too close to a home.  It’s a good idea to have the trees checked regularly to make sure they are still healthy as an unhealthy or dying tree would pose an even greater risk.   If this is the case, it may be best to remove the tree and eliminate the risk.

​Fixing up an old home can be a rewarding project, to do it well, however, much care and thought needs to go into it.  What are some retrofit mistakes to be aware of that could completely ruin the look and character of an older home?
 
Before you embark on this sort of project, make sure you have all the permits etc. that you might need for the work.  This is important if the building is very old as you may need to check with your local historical committee for any restrictions as to the type of work you can do on it.
 
Older homes were made with durable, solid materials.  When doing repair work, make sure you consider these materials and try not to replace them with less durable ones like plywood or plastic.  Areas that often need repairing or even replacing are windows and doors.  You could ruin the look of the home if you replace these with modern options.
 
Modern materials and even techniques could have a negative impact on the original construction materials of the home.  For example, if you try waterproofing old brick and masonry, you could actually cause it to deteriorate.  This could happen with fire retardants and insulation also.
 
Other issues that will likely come up with an old home are toxic substances found in old building materials such as asbestos and lead.  This is an area where you should call in professionals to take care of them and remove them safely.  
 
In review, while this is only a few of the potential mistakes that can be made with a retrofit, the point is to carefully research the best way of fixing up this kind of property, without losing its old charm and character.

​Water, as we are well aware, is a vital part of our life.  Having a steady supply of water that is safe and reliable, then, is crucial, but how much do we actually know about our household’s water supply?  Do we even know what source it comes from? Considering how important it is to our health, it’s worth finding out.
 
As to the source of your households’ water, that really depends on where you live, whether you live in a rural location or a more densely populated area such as a city or large town.  For those living in highly populated areas, the most likely source of water is a reservoir.  This could be located some miles away and is referred to as a “surface” water source.
 
What about if you live in a more rural location?  Your water supply would most probably be from a well which is filled by an underground reservoir, or aquifer. 
 
How can you tell if this water is safe?  A lot depends not just on the water itself but also the surrounding land and what it is being used for.  For example, is it used for industrial purposes or is it farmland?  The term used when referring to the surrounding land is “the water shed”.
 
While you may find this information useful, perhaps your wondering how you can find out about the water source for your specific location.  It is possible to find out about your areas water supply by contacting your water supply company.  Since 1999, suppliers of community water are required to have this information available to its consumers by providing an annual report.  In this report you will find information on where the water comes from and also what kinds of contaminates might have been found in it.  In this way, you will be able to make informed choices for you and your household.

​If you have recently moved into your new home, you will likely be recovering from the whole stressful process.  We are aware it takes some time to settle into your new home and unpack, but after that, what comes next for the maintenance of the home?  Before buying the house, you will have had a thorough home inspection performed on it, so maybe you feel there is no need to worry about it for a while.
 
The following video will help you to have a better idea of what types of home maintenance you will want to start thinking about.  Getting into a good routine straight away will help to prevent bigger maintenance jobs in the future.  If you would like more advice on this or any home inspection question, please feel free to contact us.
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​Who doesn’t love summer time, relaxing by the pool.  Children in particular are happy to spend hours swimming and playing in the pool.  However, if you have a swimming pool in your backyard, how can you ensure the safety of any children who will be using it?  
 
Too many small children perish each year from drowning.  Those at greatest risk are children under 5yrs of age.  Why? Because a child can drown so quickly, in any body of water and usually silently.  This means a child could have drowned before anyone realizes they are even missing.  So, what are some safety measures that must be taken to protect children?
 
Pool barriers are an important safety factor if you have a swimming pool on your property.  Whether it’s some kind of fence or wall, a pool barrier must meet specific guidelines provided for pool barriers.  They must be of adequate height to prevent a child from climbing over.  If the barrier is a fence, there should be the correct amount of spacing so as to prevent a small child from squeezing through and it should not be possible for a child to be able to get under it.
 
Even in the case of above ground pools, hot tubs and spas, there must be some safety measure in place to prevent a child accessing the water when no one is around.
 
If the walls of the home act as the pool barrier, make sure any doors that have direct access to the pool are fitted with an alarm that will sound when the doors are opened.  It is best for the alarm sound to be distinguishable from any other sound heard in the house and loud enough to be heard throughout the home.  In this way it will be easy to detect when someone has opened the doors.
 
We know you’ll agree that nothing is more important than a child’s safety and by following the regulations for pool barriers you will help protect your precious family members.

​Do you need to have some work done on your home?  Perhaps you are looking to hire someone for the job but are worried about whether or not they will be honest.  How can you find a trades person that is trustworthy?  Here are a few tips on what to look for in an honest worker:
 
While you may need to pay a small deposit for the work up front, you should not be asked to pay for the whole job or even a large deposit before the work has even started.
 
The job should be the same price whether you live in a wealthy neighborhood or a not so wealthy neighborhood.  Sometimes people living in wealthier areas are quoted a higher price than others.  If you are calling around for quotes, try to avoid giving out your address before you get the price.
 
Be wary of being charged for “unforeseen extras” with a job.  The best thing to do is to get a fixed price ahead of time for the whole job and have it all written down in a contract.
 
An honest tradesperson will not mind producing their credentials.  You want to make sure the person is qualified and insured for the job you are hiring them to do.
 
Scam artists like to prey on those most vulnerable, such as elderly ones.  Be careful of tradespeople who are too pushy and try to convince you to have the work done there and then.  Ask them for their address and ask for details about their previous jobs and the locations of these.  If the person is honest, they will have no problem giving the information you require and will not try to get you to make a decision about the job straight away.
 
You can find good, honest workers out there and by following some of these suggestions, you can avoid those who are not so honest.

​It’s a wonderful feeling to move into your brand-new home and be the first people to live there.  You also have the added benefit that most builders provide with their new construction, and that’s a 1-year warranty that will cover you for any issues that may come up.  What happens, though, if there is a problem with the house that you are not aware of and may not be until after the warranty expires?
 
An 11-month home inspection is an ideal way to find out any problems with the home before the warranty expires.  The highlighted video will help you to see the benefits of getting this type of inspection performed.  You may save a lot of money in the long run.
 
We are here to help you with all your home inspection needs so please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. 
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​Perhaps you have seen properties on the market for sale “as is” and wondered if it is a good idea to purchase a home in this way.  Let’s look at some of the ways you can be successful when purchasing a property like this.
 
Very often a seller will want to sell a property this way so as to avoid being liable for any potential defects or because they don’t want the expense of fixing it up to sell.  If the price is right for you, this could be a great investment but there are some things you should do before you hand over your hard-earned cash.
 
Hire a home inspector to take a look at the property.  Although it comes “as is” its good to know exactly what your letting yourself in for and, while you will be able to see the obvious problems, you will need a more thorough inspection to see those hidden issues.
 
But what about those States that require a seller to give you a written disclosure which shows the condition of the home?  Surely its not necessary to have the home inspected as well is it?  Very often, a seller will omit important information regarding the condition of the property so, even if you receive a written disclosure, it might not be all you need.  A home inspector will find out if anything has been left out of the disclosure.  If you find this to be the case, you might want to walk away from the deal.
 
Yes, buying a property “as is” can be a great option but, be cautious, have a home inspection performed first.  Although it may seem like a needless expense, it could end up saving you thousands.

​Due to the below grade positioning of basements, they are the most likely place to experience damp and flooding in the home.  As we know all too well, this can lead to a variety of issues such as poor air quality and mold problems, even rotting of the foundations.  Although there are many reasons why a basement could be damp (some of which are harder to treat) what are some ways we can prevent water from entering a basement? 
 
Pooling water around the homes foundation is a major reason that basements become damp.  This pooling is often caused by leaking gutters and downspouts.  Check that they are properly installed and that gutters are cleaned out regularly.  It’s important that water is diverted away from the foundation, so downspouts need to be positioned to drain away from the house in order to prevent pooling, 10 feet away is best.
 
Another reason for water to pool around the foundation is if there is an uneven or inadequate grade (or slope).  To fix this problem, you may need to even out some of the uneven areas.
 
If your home is situated at the base of a hill or incline, water may need to be diverted away from the house.  One way of doing this is with small ditches known as swales.  These swales ideally need to be about 10 to 15 feet away from the house in order to prevent water runoff from getting to the houses foundation
 
While there are many options for treating water damage in a basement, doing whatever we can to prevent it is the best kind of treatment.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions or if you would like to schedule an inspection of your basement.