​Trees can add so much to a property.  Not only are they a beautiful addition to a landscape, but they can also provide an extra level of privacy which many homeowners look for.  However, is it a good idea to have trees situated too close to the building itself?  Let’s look at some of the issues that might arise from this:
 
There are a number of concerns associated with trees close to a building.  Perhaps one of the big concerns for a homeowner is; are the trees roots going to damage the homes foundations? If cracks already exist in a home’s foundation, a trees roots can start to make their way into those cracks.  Very large tree roots can even start growing under the foundation and cause it to raise.
 
Falling branches and tree limbs are another concern if trees are close to the home.  These could fall and damage the roof, power lines, communication lines or, even worse, someone passing by or living in the home.  Leaves and branches could also clog gutters and drains which, if not cleaned out regularly, can create structural issues over time.
 
Fire is another reason for concern.  Trees can increase the risk of fire spreading throughout the home.  This would be a major concern in areas at high risk of wildfire.  There may also be a need for extra levels of pest control as trees allow rodents and insects easier access to different areas of the home.
 
If you have trees close to your home, what can you do to minimize some of the dangers associated with it?  Check the condition of the trees to see if they are dead or dying.  An unhealthy tree will pose more of a risk for falling branches etc.  Have a professional trim the trees for you.  If you are worried about any possible structural issues, why not have the home inspected?  That way, you can enjoy better peace of mind.

​Insuring your belongings is a good idea whether you own your home or live in a rental property.  But, if you live in a rental property, what type of insurance do you need for this?  This is where renter’s insurance comes in.  Renters insurance covers the tenant of a property in cases of unexpected disaster that may take place in the home.  What can you expect to be covered for?  While this will vary depending on the type of coverage you choose, renters’ insurance will generally cover your possessions, if they are stolen or damaged.  It will also provide personal liability coverage in case someone has an accident and is injured in your home, or you cause damage to a neighbor’s property. 
 
So, while renters insurance seems like an obvious choice, the fact remains that many tenants still do not have it.  Why is this?  There are a number of reasons, one of those being that they think it will cost too much.  The truth is that renter’s insurance is surprisingly inexpensive with an average cost of less then $17 a month.  What are some other reasons many do not have renter’s insurance? Some believe they are covered under the homeowner’s insurance policy.  They also feel that they do not possess anything of much value.  If you think about how much it would cost you to replace those things, however, you may realize the benefits of being covered to replace them.  Sometimes the tenant is not even aware that renter’s insurance is available for them. 
 
So, its clear to see that whether you own your home or rent one, its important to have coverage for your belongings and there is an insurance available to suit your situation and budget.

​Sinkholes, while not something we perhaps think of very often, are becoming more and more common these days.  Not only do they cause massive destruction to roads and property, but the risk to human life is of serious concern.  So, what warnings signs might you observe on or around your property that could indicate a sinkhole is forming?
 
What might you observe inside the home? You could see cracks developing in the floors and walls of your home.  Well water (if you have it) might become muddy or cloudy.  Doors and windows might not close properly anymore. 
 
There are actually a number of warning signs to look out for around your property also, some being very noticeable, while others are not so obvious.  Some of the more subtle indicators to watch for are trees and fences becoming exposed in places that were formerly underground.  You might also see them starting to lean over.  Plant life could be dying off in certain areas for no apparent reason.  This could be due to the plants water source draining into a sinkhole.  Has water started to form pools in areas of your property that have never had this problem before? This is another potential sinkhole warning sign.  What of the more noticeable warning signs? Cracks forming in circular patterns on the ground, rapid ground subsidence and openings suddenly appearing in the ground are some of those signs.
 
This is a few of the possible sinkhole warning signs to look out for.  It should be mentioned, however, that a number of the things we have mentioned could also be signs of a completely different problem so its important to have this checked out to determine the correct cause.

​Its not hard to notice when sewer gas is leaking into the home, the smell is extremely unpleasant.  However, the smell is not the only bad thing about it.  Sewer gases leaking into a home can also be a dangerous hazard to the home’s occupants.  Some of those health risks include: danger of explosion or fire, hydrogen sulfide poisoning, which has the potential to be lethal and risk of sewer gases displacing oxygen possibly leading to asphyxiation. 
 
As we can see from the above list, sewer gas leaks can be very dangerous.  It’s a good idea, then, to identify some of the reason’s sewer gas might leak into the home.  Here are some of those causes:
 
One common cause is that plumbing fixtures and plumbing traps can become dried out.  The plumbing trap usually has a water barrier which prevents sewer gases leaking back into the house.  If this dries out, there is nothing preventing the gases from leaking.  You could find this happening in bathrooms that are not used frequently or during dry weather periods.
 
Cracks that form in ventilation pipes, plumbing drains and even foundations could cause sewer gases to escape into the house.  Plumbing vents which have been placed too close to air intakes are another cause.  Then there is wind and air flowing around the building, this too can be the reason for sewer gas smells in the home. 
 
From this short list, its clear to see the many ways sewer gas could leak into your home and create an unpleasant and unhealthy living environment.  If you are smelling sewer gas in your house, have it checked out by a professional who can diagnose the source of the leak.
 

​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.

​

​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.