​Some things in life are essential, and safe drinking water is one of them. With this in mind, if you are about to buy a home that has well water, it is important to be aware of the need to regularly test the water. What types of contaminants might you find in well water? To help answer this question, please view the following short video. It will help you get a better understanding of the kinds of contaminants that can be found in well water as well as why testing is necessary before you purchase the home.
 
We are here to help you with all your home inspection needs and know how stressful the home buying process can be, so please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

​We are all very well aware by now that mold growth in the home can cause a wide range of issues. Preventing mold from growing is essential if we are to maintain a healthy environment indoors. One area where mold can be a problem before you even realize is carpeting. Let’s delve into this topic a little more.
 
Before it is even visible, mold may have started growing in a carpet, in fact, you will only notice mold in a carpet when it has become a more extreme case. This should highlight the need to purposefully check for mold. Take a look at the underside of the carpet and don’t forget to check the carpet padding as this is an area at high risk for mold. Keep in mind the type of environments that aid mold growth. Mold loves damp and humid conditions so, if your home has carpeting in the bathroom, basement, or any other area with high levels of moisture and humidity, they will be at greater risk of carpet mold.
 
What should you do if you find mold in your carpet, can it be easily removed? A lot depends on how great of an area of carpet is affected by the mold. Small patches that have only developed recently can usually be taken care of with a cleaning. If the mold covers a large area, has been in a flood, or spent longer than 24 hours wet, it is generally best to replace the carpet entirely. It is always best to err on the side of caution than to put the health and wellbeing of you and your household at any risk.

​Moisture can be a real problem for a home and a real headache for a homeowner. Not only can it cause a range of problems structurally, but it can also produce poor indoor air quality, making it an unsafe environment to live in. Plus, a moisture intrusion problem that goes undetected for a time, can result in expensive repairs and a reduction in property value. Being aware of moisture trouble spots is one way to avoid the problem, so, here are some of them:
 
The roof. This is one of the most common reasons for water intrusion.  Look out for improperly installed flashings and damaged shingles, etc. You should also make sure the roof has the right amount of slope so as to allow for adequate drainage. Gutters and downspouts can be another trouble spot if they become clogged up.
 
The properties foundations. Over time, you will likely notice holes and cracks developing in the home’s foundations, this makes it much easier for water to enter so be sure to have them repaired as soon as you find them.
 
The home's plumbing system. This has the potential to cause major water damage. Dripping faucets and pipes, blocked drains, and leaking fixtures should be fixed immediately to prevent further issues, even if the problem seems relatively minor.
 
High levels of indoor humidity. When humidity levels are too high in the home, moisture-related issues will ensue. You may begin to observe stains on walls and ceilings, or musty-smelling odors.
 
If you are worried about moisture intrusion damaging your property, please feel free to contact us.

​Throughout the hot months, our air conditioning systems get a lot of use so keeping them well maintained is very important. It is a good idea to your AC units serviced every year by a professional company, however, there are also some things that every homeowner can do to ensure they stay in good shape.
 
Regularly cleaning or replacing the filters on your ac units plays an essential role when it comes to maintaining them properly. A dirty or damaged filter will affect your home's air quality and place extra strain on the ac unit’s motor.
 
Air conditioning units that are outside are often exposed to all the elements. This will cover them in every kind of debris and dirt. The first step, then, is to clear away this debris, including branches, leaves, and spider webs, etc. that have accumulated around the unit. The next step will be to remove the cover of the ac unit which will allow you to clean the inside as well. Inside you will find hundreds of metal fins surrounding coils of piping. You may notice that some of these metal fins are bent. These can be straightened again using a tool called a fin comb.
 
Drainage lines are fitted to central ac units which draw away condensed water. If these drainage lines become blocked, which can happen over time, the air conditioner will not work optimally. As you clean your air conditioning unit, make sure these lines are not clogged and check that they are attached firmly to the unit.
 
Finally, if your ac unit requires oil, be sure to check the operating manual first to know what type of oil you should be using for your unit.

​Many homeowners choose the option of putting their homes on the market without the help of a realtor. This is usually because they want to be in control of the process and also want to avoid the real estate agent fees. Before you decide to sell the home yourself, you may want to think about the following suggestions:
 
If you want to sell your own home because you would like to be in control of the process then it's very important that you know exactly what you will be in for, as you may quickly begin to feel out of your depth otherwise. Make sure you are aware of the areas in which you can save money and those that should not be skimped on. An example of this is with the home inspection. You should not skimp on this. The reason is that a thorough home inspection carried out by a qualified, experienced home inspector will help you to find out about problems with your home that could affect its value. Knowing this before the buyer’s home inspection will enable you to fix the issues ahead of time. Houses that have had recent inspections are also more likely to attract buyers, so this is another benefit.
 
Have realistic expectations. You may have an amount of money in mind that you expect your home to sell for but ask yourself if it is a realistic amount. It is important to do this because you may just end up spending a great deal of time and energy waiting for an unrealistic offer. The advantage of hiring a real estate agent is that they are experts in their field. They keep up to date with market trends and know the amount that properties are fetching in your area, if you decide to go it alone, you will need to find out all this information yourself. You will also need to research things like the types of contracts, documents, and other legalities, etc.
 
So, if selling your own home is something that you are considering, these few suggestions will help to give you a brief idea of what to expect from the selling process.

​Every homeowner wants to get the best price for their house. To achieve this often requires some work to make the home look as appealing as possible to potential buyers. What are some ways you can do this without spending a fortune? Here are a few ideas:
 
The majority of home buyers these days are looking for a house with bright airy rooms so think of some ways to add as much light into your home as possible. Trim back any vegetation outside that might be blocking light from a room. It is also a good idea to take down heavy or dark window treatments. Rooms with too much furniture or clutter can make a space look a lot darker, not to mention a lot smaller so go for a minimal approach and remove any extra items. Another way to make a space look much brighter is with a fresh coat of white paint.
 
Something that can really age a home is the kitchen and bathrooms. While it may be beyond your budget to install new ones, can you refresh what is already there? For example, refinishing cabinetry and replacing hardware can transform the kitchen and re-glazing sinks and the tub can give a bathroom a new lease of life.
 
Are there any extra bedrooms in the home? With many people working from home these days it might be a good idea to repurpose one of them as a home office which would appeal to many homebuyers.
 
Lastly, use a variety of staging techniques that highlight the best features of each room. Remember, your home will most likely be seen online before someone decides to come and view it, so it is worth investing in good photos, and don’t forget to have everywhere clean and tidy before taking them.

​Did you know that it is recommended to get your home inspected once a year? There are many benefits to doing so, after all, a regular schedule of home maintenance is essential to saving you money on costly repairs later on.
 
To help explain the need for a yearly home inspection, please enjoy the following brief video. We are available to help you with all your home inspection needs, whether it’s a pre-listing inspection, a buyer’s home inspection, or a yearly maintenance inspection of your current home. Please feel free to call or contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss home inspections for 2021.
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​Having as much natural lighting as possible in a home is always a preferred choice but, what if your house is older? Very often older homes were not designed to incorporate a lot of natural light so, if you are looking to naturally illuminate it, what are your options? In this blog, we will consider some alternatives to traditional windows.
 
Skylights may be the first option that springs to mind. Skylights are a very good way to bring a ton of natural light into a room. When installing this type of window, however, be sure to select double-paned windows and have the flashing done professionally, otherwise, you may end up with unwanted leaks.
 
If you want a window that provides a lot of natural light but that won’t overheat the home during the summer months then Clerestory windows may be a good option for you. This type of window is wide and short in design and usually installed high on the wall. This design means that the roof's overhang does not allow the sun to heat up the room in the summer months. An added advantage is that due to the sun's lower position during winter, a clerestory window will allow heat to come in during the colder months.
 
Another natural lighting method you may not have thought of is light tubes. The tubes themselves are coated with a highly reflective material, as the light goes through the tubes, a diffuser helps to evenly distribute the light in the room. Light tubes are also fitted with a lens designed to boost low-level light but at the same time reduce the intensity of the sun at midday.
 
So, if you are looking to add natural light to your home, why not think about these alternatives to a traditional window?

​In this blog, we are going to focus on a few of the ways you can increase the security of your exterior doors. Although some of these suggestions may appear obvious, it may surprise you how vulnerable to break-ins your home's exterior doors really are.
 
The construction of the door itself plays a major role in how secure it will be. It should be built with solid materials and have a solid wood or steel core. Exterior doors also require regular maintenance. Look for any cracking, warping, or signs of rot and fix them before they get too bad.
 
Another obvious element of a secure exterior door is its lock. A good quality deadbolt lock should be used. Some homeowners like to install a chain on their front doors and, while this can provide additional security, it should only be used in addition to the deadbolt. You can also install a peephole which is good to check who is at your door without opening it. To prevent intruders from using a bump key to enter your home, bump-resistant locks are another good option
 
Front doors with glass paneling have a beautiful look to them and can allow extra light into a home but they could also present a security risk. If it is possible, position the lock as far away from the glass as possible. This would make it harder for a thief to smash through and access the lock.  Occasionally, a front door will have a mail slot in the door. In this case, a box or cage should be fitted on the inside which surrounds the slot so that no one can access the lock this way.
 
With all the steps we take to ensure our home is a secure one, why not take some time to check the security of your exterior doors?

​Moss will often grow on a roof in shaded areas that do not get much sunlight and in locations with higher levels of moisture. If you have noticed moss growing on your home's roof, you may be wondering if it can cause any damage to it. Here are a few things to consider before deciding whether or not to remove it:
 
You may first want to think about the type of materials used in the construction of the roof. Clay or stone shingles, for example, would not be damaged by moss. It is good to remember, though, that moss does retain a lot of moisture that, over time, could affect the roof's structure.
 
Another factor that will determine whether moss should be removed is where on the roof the moss is growing. If it is growing around or inside the gutters and downspouts, it could start to clog them up and prevent proper water drainage. This may lead to structural issues and water intrusion. In such a case, it is better to have the moss removed.
 
If you do decide that you want to remove the moss on your roof be careful about the method you use. Do some research on the best way to clean the roof based on the materials used to construct it. Remember that some cleaning methods could do more damage to the roof that the moss itself. It is also a good idea to have the roof inspected as this will help you find out the condition of the roof and see if it is necessary to have the moss removed.