​Every year thousands of elderly people are injured due to accidents in their homes, the majority of these accidents are caused from things they use and live with every day.  Slipping and falling are among the most common types of accidents for the elderly at home.  With this in mind, what are some practical and easy ways to help prevent these accidents?
 
One important thing that can be done is to reduce tripping risks.  There are numerous items throughout a home that could become a tripping hazard.  Any type of appliance that requires a cord should be arranged in such a way so that the cord is not stretching across a walkway area.  This might even mean you have to arrange the furniture differently to do so.  Another important thing to consider with electrical cords is their condition.  Are they old and frayed?  Are they running underneath carpeting or rugs? Are they attached to walls with nail and staples etc?  These could all become fire hazards if not checked.
 
A lot of older ones prefer carpeting in their homes so its good check the condition of carpets and rugs.  Make sure that rugs have good rubber backing so that they are not easy to slip on.  Check that carpet has not started to wear and that carpet adhesive is still keeping the carpet firmly in place.  Any carpeting that is starting to stick up will easily become a tripping hazard.
 
There are many more areas of the home that can be checked to make sure they are not a danger to elderly residents, but we will discuss these in future articles.

​Will 2019 be the year you move to a new home?  If it is, then you have no doubt been very busy with all the planning that goes into such a move.  By now you will probably be aware that, as part of the buying process, a home inspection will be required to make sure that the home you want to buy does not have any hidden issues that would affect the sale.  The more thorough the home inspection, the better it will be for you as the potential new owner of the property.  So, what do we include in our home inspections?
 
The following brief video will help to answer this question.  It will give you a better understanding of all that the home inspection entails.  During the stressful process of buying a home, it can feel a little overwhelming, we are here to help the home inspection be as easy and stress free as possible.  Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.

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​Buying a home is a huge expense.  It is not only the price of the house but also all the fees that are associated with it such as closing costs etc.  If this is all a little more than you had hoped to pay when you started the process, it might be tempting to look for ways to save money and cut costs.  One way you might think of saving is with the home inspection.  But, why would this be a bad idea? 
 
As we’ve already mentioned, buying a home is a huge expense, perhaps the biggest expense you will have, so you want to know that the home you are buying is going to be a good one.  If you skimp on the home inspection, you could be costing yourself thousands by not finding out about any major issues with the home before you bought it.
 
Another way you might think about saving a few dollars is by hiring a less than qualified home inspector.  This, again, would be a bad idea for the same reasons as above.  Its always worth it to choose an InterNACHI qualified home inspector, this way, you know you are getting the best and most thorough home inspection.  Yes, it might cost you a little bit more than someone who is not so qualified, but when it comes to such a big investment, it’s worth it to pay the extra.  Its important to know where to cut costs and where to spend the money, your home inspection is not something that should be skimped on.

​If you see an accumulation of water where it shouldn’t be, you might logically conclude that there is a leak somewhere.  While this is sometimes the case and should be investigated further, it could also be condensation.  Condensation can cause its own issues if it is continuously dripping water in the same place.  For example, you could see mold, rotten flooring and, if dripping on electrics, fire.
 
If the problem is caused from condensation, what are some ways to deal with it?  Its important to try and reduce the humidity levels in your home.  A dehumidifier will work well as it draws water vapor into it instead of it gathering on other surfaces.  An air conditioner is also a good option.  Another way to reduce humidity is to reduce the number of household plants which, as we know, contribute to a moist atmosphere.
 
Its good to keep the home as well aired as possible.  When the air outside, though, is very humid, opening windows and doors will not lower humidity levels.
 
Insulating pipes will help prevent them from becoming too cold and developing insulation.  If you these pipes provide heat for the home, however, insulation would prevent heat from radiating. 
 
While these are some ways to reduce condensation, it is important that you make sure it is not water leaking from somewhere.  If you are unsure, it its best to have the area looked at by a professional.
 

​Wood decay or wood rot is damage to wood which is caused by certain types of fungi.  It should be noted that this is not the same as termite or carpenter ant damage.  This kind of fungus enjoys warm, damp areas for optimum growth but can even survive when temperature and humidity is more extreme.
 
Wood rot in a home is not a good thing so what locations throughout a house would be more likely to suffer?  Fungi need three things to survive, moisture, a food supply and oxygen.  There are numerous locations around a home that could supply these things.  One likely area is underneath windows and doors, also under sliding glass doors that have been incorrectly installed.  You could also find it in sub-floors around toilets, tubs and also around corroded plumbing fixtures.
 
Ground floor decking, stairs and deck support posts are other areas where wood decay might happen.  Roof penetrations that have incorrect flashing should also be looked at for signs of decay.  Wood that has direct contact with soil, masonry or concrete is another area to watch.  It is a good idea to think about how moisture can affect wood and cause this type of rot.  Inadequate grading can lead to pooling water around the home’s foundation, plumbing leaks, cracks in the foundation and incorrectly installed or damaged flashing, these are all areas that could likely see wood decay.
 
So, what can you do if you are worried about wood decay in your home?  One of the best things to do is have the home inspected for signs or areas where wood rot is likely.  In this way you can start to treat or even look at prevention methods for wood rot. 

​Whether you’re a first-time buyer or have bought and sold a house before, the thought of obtaining a property at relatively low cost might seem very appealing.  One way of doing this is with bank owned or foreclosure properties.  While its true that this type of home can be a great way of getting on the property ladder for a low price, it will only work for you if you know what you’re getting into beforehand.  But, how can you know what you’re getting into if you are buying a property “as is”?
 
A very important step to take before you make the final decision on this type of property is to have a thorough home inspection performed on it.  You might find that your realtor tries to dissuade you from getting one though, this is because they may reason that you are buying the property in the state its already in so there is no point spending the money.  But, wouldn’t you like to know before you buy what kind of condition the place is in?  What if the property has major structural issues that could end up costing you thousands or, worse still, make it uninhabitable?
 
Think too about the nature of bank owned foreclosures, if the homeowner had not been able to pay the mortgage, how much maintenance could’ve been done on the property?  You may also find that unhappy homeowners will strip the home of anything valuable or even vandalize the place.  Junk and rubbish may have been left behind that you would be responsible for removing. 
 
So, although bank owned property can work out very well for you, do all you can to find out the exact condition of the place by having it inspected by a certified home inspector who will work for you, with your interests in mind.  By doing this you could end up saving thousands on unforeseen problems. 

We talk about safety in the home a lot, why is that?  Well, because our homes should be a place of comfort and relaxation but sadly they’re often a place where many accident related injuries occur.  With this in mind we are going to consider tip over risks in the home and how to avoid them.


More furniture companies these days are alerting their customers to the risks of tip over dangers.  You will generally find that many items of furniture come with brackets intended for fixing items to a wall.  Any furniture you already own can be attached to walls also using straps or L brackets.  This is an important step in preventing tip over accidents.


We all know how much children love to climb, especially on things they’re not supposed to.  When deciding on what type of furniture to buy, have this in mind and choose sturdy items that are wider at the base.  Keep toys or items children will want on lower shelves or drawers, also heavy items should be stored in lower places to avoid furniture becoming top heavy.  Keep items you do not want children to access out of their sight instead of out of their reach.  This will stop a child from wanting to climb to reach them.


Many televisions these days are fixed to walls, those that aren’t, however, can become a tip over risk.  Keep the television on a low-lying stand if you can and placed far back on the unit.  Any dangling electrical cords should be out of reach for a child.


Yes, safety in the home is something that requires constant thought but applying these simple suggestions will go a long way to preventing tip over accidents in you home.

​The home buying process can a stressful one, particularly if you are buying for the first time.  There seems to be so much involved, and that’s after you find the perfect place.  That’s why you need the best people working for you, people who have your interests in first place. 
 
When choosing a home inspector, then, how can you know you’re making the right choice?  The following video will help to give you a good idea of how to find the right home inspector.  You need someone who will help you to make an informed decision on whether a property is a wise investment or not.  We are here to help you with all your home inspection needs.  Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.
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​Searching for alternative energy sources is something many look into, especially if they are going to build their own home.  When doing this, it’s important to research every aspect of it, for example, will it be expensive to install?  How much money will I save? What impact will it have on the environment?
 
With these questions in mind, lets consider solar energy.  Solar energy panels can be expensive to install and that might put some people off, but when you consider the long-term advantages, you will be able to see that it won’t take long to recoup the initial expense.  In fact, you won’t just save money on your energy bills by using solar energy, you might even be able to gain a profit from it.   You can do this with the use of net metering.  This works by selling excess energy back to the power company.
 
There are numerous advantages to solar energy.  Although the production of solar panels will have somewhat of an impact environmentally, the use of them produces no impact unlike fossil fuels etc.  They are also not only environmentally safer, but they do not use noisy equipment due to the fact that they do not require moving parts to operate.  Another advantage is that their fuel source will never run out and can be found everywhere.
 
Its clear to see the many benefits of using solar energy, however, as we always advise, before making a decision on whether this is right for you, get to know all there is to know about them.

​Formaldehyde is a chemical we’ve all probably heard of but maybe associate it more with being used in a laboratory.  So, it might surprise you to know that it is found in many household items.  What kinds of items is it found in? and, is it a health hazard?
 
Like many chemicals, formaldehyde is not clearly visible, although, at times it might have a pungent aroma.  It is used for treating various textiles like curtains, cushions and sofas.  It may also be present in pressed lumber such as particle board or plywood.  Formaldehyde can also be found in certain fuel burning appliances and glues.
 
So, what can we say about its effect on our health?  Should we be concerned?  Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen with the worst health risks being cancer particularly of the upper throat.  Lesser symptoms from formaldehyde exposure are: respiratory problems, fatigue and allergy like symptoms (although this can be caused by many other things).  It is important to note, however, that there is not much known about how much a person needs to be exposed to formaldehyde and for how long before it poses a health risk.
 
If you are concerned about this chemical being found in your home, its good to know that there are materials available that do not contain it.  Research an item before you purchase it to make sure formaldehyde has not been used.