​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.

​Most of the time we don’t even think twice about the doors in our home.  While much care and attention are taken when installing and inspecting an exterior door, there is not as much notice taken to the interior doors.  This is probably because interior doors are usually not considered as serving much of a purpose other than privacy. 

But, what is some red flags we can look at with regard to interior doors, that could lead to a valid concern in a house? Well to start off, you should look, not at the doors of the house but the foundation.  If there has been movement in the house or the floor are uneven this usually means that the door frames will not be square or even, which means the doors will have a challenging time closing or opening.

 It is also important to take notice of the quality of the doors and the installation.  If installed improperly, it could affect the energy costs and the sound containment.  Other aspects that will be affected without proper installation would be the shape of the door, it could be warped, or the hardware is not functioning properly. 

Another concern to be aware of is to ensure that all areas of the door are properly finished.  If one of the edges is not painted or varnished (which happens often with the top of the door) this would affect the moisture intake and could warp the door over time. Another factor that raises a red flag with interior doors are the safety issues that could arise.  Especially if you have kids, it would be a good idea to have pinch protection hardware installed on some of the doors in order to prevent accidents.  It is also important to ensure that all doors can be easily opened and walked through, in case of an emergency.

​These are some red flags that are often overlooked with interior doors.

​Do you currently have your home on the market?  Perhaps you are about to sell it.  When selling your home, you have to be prepared for a lot of work, and sometimes inconvenience.  What happens then, when you have a potential buyer for your home?  They will, no doubt, be arranging to have a home buyer’s inspection performed on your property.  How can you make sure you are thoroughly prepared for this?
 
Please enjoy the following short video which will guide you through the steps you need to take to prepare for the home buyers inspection.  Remember that the easier it is for the home inspector, the easy it will be for you.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

We are fast approaching the end of the year and doubtless you have thought of which home improvements will need doing next year.  If you have well water, have you thought about getting it tested?  This may be something often overlooked, but the reality is, it is a vital step to the health and well being of you and your household.


Please watch this brief video that highlights the reasons why it is crucial that you have your well water tested.  It also lets you know how often this should be done.


We want you all to stay safe in your homes, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Those of us who have moved house are all too aware that it is one of the most stressful things to go through. There seems to be an unlimited amount of things we need to do. Even when we think we have planned everything well, on the day of the move we often end up putting everything we can into random boxes or even throwing a lot of things in the garbage. In a stressful environment like this, being aware of the effect we're having on the environment isn't always our top priority. How can we prepare to move and at the same time be conscious of the impact we're possibly having on the environment?


Sorting out our things long before we relocate is a key step to successful moving. Even if you are not planning to move in the foreseeable future, you may find that by putting some of these steps into practice, your life can feel a lot more organized.


Its an obvious statement but, the less we have, the less we will have to move when the time comes. Think about whether you really need an item and where to put it before you buy it. Take time to occasionally go through the things you no longer use. This is the best time to think about what to do with them because you have time to think carefully about it. On a stressful moving day, items like that, could just end up in a box that you wont unpack for months, or they could just end up in the trash.


A great way to be environmentally conscious is to recycle. Try to recycle all your unwanted items. Sorting thing out that you no longer use and put into piles, some for recycling and some for a yard sale. If you can do this far in advance of a move, you will reduce the stress later on.


There are so many environmental hazards in our homes and garages. On moving day it may seem like the easiest thing to throw them in the garbage to save time. Again, take time beforehand to dispose of possible hazards in a responsible manner, for example light bulbs, unwanted electronics, chemicals, paint cans, batteries etc should all be disposed of properly. There are a lot of locations nowadays where you can take these types of unwanted items. You can call your local environmental agency who can tell you the appropriate way to dispose of them.


So, while moving can be a terribly stressful experience, simplifying in advance will help you to alleviate some of the stress, and at the same time protect the environment.

A home gym is a perfect way to keep fit, from the privacy of your own home. What can you learn about the risks and dangers associated with exercise equipment?

Did you know that injuries from exercise equipment are responsible for thousands of injuries in children each year? And about 8,700 of those injured children are under the age of 5. It might also surprise you to learn that many of these injuries are actually friction burns. Adults are not immune either to injuries from this type of equipment. What are some things you can do to reduce these risks of injury?

Treadmills come with a safety key. This is designed to be clipped to the person while using it. In this way the treadmill will automatically switch off if there is a problem. Make sure to always keep this clipped to you while using it. Don't leave it hanging or wrapped around something else. Keep it well out of the way of children.

Make sure any weights that are used are stored in a safe and stable area. Barbells can be especially dangerous.

Get to know your treadmills features before stepping on it. Make sure that acceleration and deceleration is done gradually to prevent injury.

If you are deep into a exercise session and have music or the television blasting, it could become very difficult to know if your child has wondered in the room. Position equipment so that you are able to observe clearly your surroundings.

If you are able, keep the room you use for a gym locked, in order to prevent children getting in. Always make sure your gym equipment is in the correct storage position, and locked in place. One practice that could be life saving to a child is to unplug all equipment so that a child doesn't accidentally switch it on.

Ladders are a very useful tool for our home. Whether we're professionals or not, we can all have access to one, but does that mean that we know how to use one safely?


Did you know that using a ladder incorrectly or unsafely causes over 164,000 injuries each year in the United States alone? Many of these are fatal, so how can you keep safe on a ladder? Here are a few important things to keep in mind:


Its essential to make sure your ladder is in a secure position before mounting it. If it feels uneven and wobbly, do not mount it.


Be careful not to place it in the way of a unlocked door, or one that is in constant use.


You may be someone who feels confident on a ladder, but this is the time to be extra careful. Don't skip any rungs on the way up or down. You could very easily loose your balance. It might interest you to learn that the majority of people who die from falling off a ladder, fall from 10 feet or less, so don't become over confident when you are nearing the bottom of the ladder.


It can be annoying to have to constantly move climb up and down the ladder, just to move it a tiny bit, but its very important to do so, as overreaching on a ladder could prove deadly.


Don't leave your ladder unattended while you are using it. It is not advised for someone to use a ladder that they have not secured.


It may seem like an obvious thing, but it can be very tempting to use a ladder for a different purpose than for that which it is intended. Using a ladder for such things as providing a ramp or to hold building materials can be very dangerous.


We want all our clients to be safe when using ladders, please call us with any questions.  

We all need to protect our homes from burglars, especially this time of year when so many of us go on vacation, so how about a few tips and pointers on how to do so.

Did you know?

• A high percentage of burglars enter through the first floor of the home, so insuring exterior doors and windows are secure is important.
• Exterior doors should be constructed of a heavy solid material that are not easily broken, and should have good quality deadbolt locks.
• Beware of leaving spare keys in what you believe to be hidden areas. Don’t hide keys in obvious places or close to the door, instead leave them with a neighbor you can trust.
• Install a peephole, so you can see who’s at your door before you open it
• If you absolutely must have a pet door, make sure it’s not located close to a lock and try to have it as small as you can.
• What about sliding glass doors? A cheap fix would be to place a wooden pole or handle of a broom, and place it in the door track so it cannot be opened. These doors should also have top and bottom locks.
• Windows want to be constructed with strong glass and screening should be a heavy-duty wire.
• Burglars don’t want to be seen, so make it as difficult as possible for them by attaching motion sensored lighting all around the house.

What if you’re going to be away?
Try to make it look like someone's home. Timer activated lights, TV or radio are a good idea. Make sure the yard is kept neat while you are away, also try keeping a car in the driveway.


Contact us here at Melandro Home Inspections for more advice on how to protect your home.

If you are thinking of buying an older home, you might want to consider that it could possibly be wired with aluminum wiring.  Is this something you should be concerned about?  Here are a few factors to consider;

• Aluminum has been shown to have certain weaknesses which make it less durable than copper wiring
• Aluminum is a soft metal, which can break down, especially if it has been twisted and bent a lot. and this can pose a real danger
• If exposed to air, aluminum can oxidize which can eventually create a fire hazard.
• If you are considering buying a house that hasn't been lived in for a while or has been neglected, be aware that electrical fixtures such as outlets and light fittings containing aluminum wiring can become a dangerous fire risk when neglected.
• You might not be able to insure the home if it has aluminum wiring

As you can see from this very brief overview, aluminum wiring can be quite dangerous especially as it poses a much greater fire risk than copper wiring
Please contact us for more information and also advice on what to do if you have aluminum wiring is in your home.