​Sinkholes are something we have come to be more familiar with these days.  For whatever reason they are formed, whether naturally or by human means, the destruction they cause is clear to see.  However, by being aware of the warning signs that indicate a sinkhole is forming, we can do a lot to keep our household safe.  Let’s look at some of those warning indicators:
 
Some big warning signs to look out for are rapid ground subsidence, openings in the ground and cracks that start to appear in circular patterns in the ground.  Some of the subtler warning signs of a sinkhole forming are trees and fence posts that are starting to lean over or becoming exposed in places that are usually under the soil.  Water might start to pool in places that have never previously had this problem.  Plant life could be dying off in certain areas.  This would be due to the run off of water into a sinkhole which would mean it was no longer reaching the plants.
 
What warning signs might you see inside the home?  some indicators would be cracks starting to form in the floors or walls of the home.  You might observe door and windows no longer closing properly.  If you have well water, it might look cloudy or muddy.
 
As you can see, there are various warning signs to look out for on and around your property that would indicate a sinkhole.  It should be mentioned, though, that some of these warning signs could also be indicators of a different problem.  If you have noticed some of these issues on your property, why not have it inspected? It’s always better to err on the side of caution and stay safe.

​This may seem like a strange question but if you finally find the perfect home, one that’s ideal for all your households needs, only to discover that there are many offers on the home, you may feel tempted to do all you can to secure the property.  You might look for ways to make your offer more appealing to the seller.  You may suggest skipping the home inspection in the hopes of sweetening the deal, after all, is it really that important?
 
The following video will help you see why viewing your home inspection as an optional extra that can be skipped is a very bad idea.  Its important to remember that you will be the potential new owner of this property and although it may seem perfect it could end up being a very bad investment if you have not taken the proper steps.  We know that buying a home is very stressful, so we want to help make the home inspection as stress free as possible for you.  Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more advice. 
​

​With so many different purchase options for property available, you may well of heard the term buying “as is”.  If you are considering this kind of property, what will that mean for you as the home buyer? Is it a good idea?
 
Generally, when a home is listed “as is” it means that the homeowner takes no responsibility for the properties condition after it has been sold.  It could also mean that they will not be doing anything to fix it up to sell.  Does that automatically make buying it a poor choice?  The answer to that will really depend on who purchases the property.  It might be in a location they want and for a price they are happy to pay and so is a good choice.  Whoever decides to purchase a property “as is” however, should find out beforehand what kind of state the place is in.  There are some locations that legally require the homeowner to provide a written disclosure detailing the properties condition.  But sometimes these disclosures omit important information that might affect whether it’s a good buy or not. 
 
What can you do, then, to ensure you are fully aware of what you’re getting into when buying a property “as is”?  The best thing to do is to have a home inspection performed on it.  Although the home may well have obvious things that need fixing, the home inspection will give you an idea of what else you can expect to fix up, things that are not at first apparent from a simple walk through. 
 
So, while buying property “as is” isn’t always a bad idea, its good to do all you can to make sure you are aware of the state of the place first and avoid unpleasant, costly findings after you buy.

If you are approaching retirement, you are hopefully looking forward to having much more time on your hands to do the things you previously didn’t get the chance to do.  While there are many things to look forward to with retirement, there are also some, not so enjoyable, things to start thinking about such as preparing for advanced age.  What are some preparations you could make for this with regard to your home?


It might be a good time to have your home inspected by a certified home inspector.  By doing this you can find out the condition of your home and whether any major work needs to be done or will need to be done in the coming years.  This will help you to know how much money you should start setting aside to pay for this work.  It is also a good idea to have a separate savings account so that money is put aside just for home maintenance and repair work.  In this way, you will minimize the stress when you are faced with large household expenses.


Are you thinking of having some remodeling work done?  It might be a wise idea to incorporate some features that would make life easier for someone who had limited mobility.  A well planned out design could include features like this without being too obvious.


Another important thing to consider is letting those closest to you, such as family members, know your plans for the home, this way they can make the right decisions for you if you are not able to make them for yourself. 


While making these kinds of plans may not be something you want to do as a newly retired person, they will help to eliminate stress and concern if the time comes when you can no longer get around like you can now. 

​Dealing with a flooded home can be very difficult for a homeowner both physically and emotionally.  No doubt, if your home has flooded, either from a natural disaster or for some other reason, you will want things to be back to normal as soon as possible.  You will also need as much assistance as possible, so here are a few steps to take to make sure you get that assistance:
 

• When you first return to your home after if has flooded, a very important step is to document the damage.  Take photos of your properties damage so that you have proof of what has happened.

 

• There will be a considerable amount of expense involved to clear up the devastation left over by a flood.  Make sure you keep receipts for everything you buy that is related to the flooding.

 

• Call a certified home inspector to assist you with recording the properties damage.  This is a good thing to do as they can also give you some suggestions on what repair work needs to be done, it may be more than you realize.

 

• When a home has been flooded because of a natural disaster such as a hurricane, there are specific steps you should take also.  For example, if the president declares your area a Major Disaster zone, you should contact FEMA who will be able to provide you with some assistance.

 

• Another crucial step to take is to contact your insurance company as soon you can.  There might be a specific time limit to submit a claim.

 
While we would never want you to have to deal with a flooded home, we hope these suggestions will help if it does happen.  Please feel free to contact us for more information.

​Some will say that moving house is listed among the most stressful things you will do.  If you have just moved into your new home, you will know how that feels.  Undoubtedly you will now want to take some time to settle in and unpack your belongings.  But, after you’ve settled in, what comes next for the home?  Before you even closed on the house, you had a thorough home inspection performed on it to ensure it was in good shape, so perhaps you feel there is no need to worry about it for a while.
 
Well, starting a good routine of home maintenance as soon as possible is a very important step to take for the well-being of the home.  The following video helps you to see what kinds of things you should include as part of this routine and will help you see what else you should do to make sure your home does not require major work in the future.  If you have any questions on this topic, please feel free to contact us.

​Home buying is a stressful process, particularly if you are buying for the first time.  Having a home inspection performed is a vital step to the home buying process but perhaps this is an area you are unfamiliar with and have questions about.  While there are many home inspection related questions you might have, we thought wed answer three common ones:
 
Why do I need a home inspection?
Because not everyone is familiar with the ins and outs of a house and because its important to know the exact condition of the property you will be purchasing.  Your home inspector can show you any areas to be concerned about so that you can make your decision based on the facts.
 
Should I be present for the home inspection?
While you don’t have to be there, it’s a good idea.  This way, you will get to know the house better and how it functions.  The home inspector can show you the parts of the house you will need to know if you live there and point out any areas that might be of concern.  Although you could read it all in the report, you will find it easier if you have seen it for yourself.
 
How long should I expect the home inspection to take?
This can depend on a variety of factors such as the size of the home, its location and whether it has other buildings that will need inspecting on the property.  That being said, you should expect the home inspection to last around three hours.  If you hire a home inspector who tells you it will take significantly less time, you may want to think about getting someone else, as they may not be as thorough as they should be.
 
We hope these answers give you a better idea of what to expect with your home inspection.  We are sure you have more questions so please feel free to contact us.  We will be happy to assist you.

​Buying a home is one of the big decisions we make in life and ensuring it’s the right decision can be very stressful.  For example, you might be trying to decide if you would prefer a move in ready home or a home that needs fixing up.  Another option you may have considered is purchasing a foreclosure.  Is this a good option?  What are some of the things you need to know if you are thinking about this type of purchase?
 
If you have questions like these, then this month’s video is just for you.  It will give you a good idea of whether buying a foreclosure is a good idea for you personally.  It also helps you see what steps to take should you decide it is right for you.
 
If you have more questions on this subject or would like to schedule a home inspection, please contact us.  We will be very happy to assist you.
​

​​So many households are plagued with bothersome pests sharing their living space.  This forces many people look for ways to get rid of them.  One pest deterrent a lot of people opt for is ultrasonic pest repellents.  Some reasons to choose this type of device are that they are safe for humans and they don’t have to worry about dealing with dangerous poisons or traps.  But, an important question to ask is do they work?
 
An ultrasonic pest repellent is designed to emit a very high frequency sound that pests cannot tolerate.  It is a device that is usually plugged into a wall.  Studies have been conducted to see how effective this type of repellent is, which have produced varying results.  For example, these studies showed that they are not effective against spiders and ants.  They also proved to have very little effect on cockroaches and, revealed that pests can actually get used to the noise so that it no longer deters them.
 
Although studies have shown these kinds of results, there are those that say ultrasonic pest repellents work very well.  This shows that if you decide you want to try them, do a bit of research first, read consumer reviews to see what they say and make your decision from there.  Keep in mind also, that the high frequency sound will be blocked by furniture and walls which will render the repellent ineffective.
 
In some instances (when an infestation is really bad) you may need to consult a professional or choose a pest repellent that has been proven to be very effective.

We all want our homes to be the safest place possible, but unfortunately many injuries arise from accidents within the home.  A lot of these accidents come from furniture tipping over, and not surprisingly children are among those most at risk.  So, how can we prevent furniture or items in the home from becoming a tip over hazard?


Recently, much attention has been given to tip over dangers in the home which means that furniture companies are stressing the importance of securing certain kinds of furniture to walls.  They usually provide brackets for this purpose.  You may not at first see the need to use these brackets, but its essential to insuring they don’t become a danger.  If you wish to secure furniture you already own, this can be done using straps or L brackets.


Young children love climbing, so keep this in mind when choosing furniture and look for items that are sturdy and that are wider at the base.  When storing objects in drawers and on shelves, keep heavier items in the lower sections, this way it will not become too top heavy and more prone to tipping.
It’s a good idea to store any items that look appealing to children out of sight instead of just out of their reach so a to prevent them climbing to reach the object.


While a lot of televisions are fixed to walls these days, those that are not can become an easy tip over danger.  Keep televisions far back on a unit and if possible place it on a low-lying stand.  Store electrical cords safely out of a child’s reach.


We know how important safety in the home is to you.  We hope that these simple suggestions will help in making your home the happy, safe place it should be