​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.
​

​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.

​Many of you are very keen DIY enthusiasts and probably know what tool you need for every job in the home.  What of those who are not so into DIY? Should you bother having any tools in the house? The truth is that every homeowner will benefit from having at least a small tool kit at home.  Let’s look at what tools are good for basic DIY jobs.
 
Think about the kind of small jobs you will likely need to do at home.  What about something as simple as hanging a picture or even a shelf? The key to doing a good job is having proper tools.  What might you need for this? To attach it to the wall you will, no doubt, require a hammer and nails.  A tape measure is also important to make sure its in the right place and a level will ensure it is straight.
 
There are also those not so pleasant jobs such as unblocking a toilet or drain.  An essential tool in this case is a plunger.
 
A lot of furniture these days requires you to assemble it yourself, this means you will need certain tools for the job.  A screw driver set containing both flat head and Phillips screws will be a valuable tool.
 
While we are not going to mention every possible job, you might need a tool for, here is a list of some other very useful tools to have in your home tool kit:  A wrench set, flashlight, duct tape, protective gear such as safety glasses, gloves and a breathing mask.
 
You may find that starting your home tool kit will make you more of a DIY enthusiast than you thought you were. 

We are all aware of the destruction a fire can wreak on a home and many of us go to great lengths to ensure our homes are equipped with fire safety measures.  One area of the home that we might not be so conscious of however, is the garage, particularly one that is attached to the home.  It merits concern as it’s generally the area with the most potential for a fire to start.  Why do we say this?
 
The garage is the place we usually store things that we don’t like to have in the home such as old paint cans, gasoline cannisters, gardening equipment, car parts and cleaning items.  Its also the area we work on the gardening equipment and car etc.  Yes, its clear that this is one of the most important areas to take fire safety measures.
 
Here are some fire safety precautions to take for your garage:
 

• Its important that the garage is fitted with carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and that the batteries are checked regularly.

 

• Store any flammable items correctly and make sure they are well labeled.

 

• Take a look at the door connecting the garage to the house and make sure there are no broken seals or gaps which would allow toxic fumes to enter the home.

 

• When working in the garage, keep the garage door open and make sure any garbage or oily rags and containers are not left lying on the floor.  Clean up any oil spills etc.

 

• Last but not least, have the garage inspected by a certified home inspector.  This is an important step in making sure the garage is in good working order as the home inspector will be able to point out any unsafe areas.

 
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding garage inspections.
 

​We are constantly given reminders about the need to regularly check the batteries in our carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, but what else should we know about these life saving devices? For example, where should we put them so that they perform best? And should we have more than just one in the home?
 
Roughly 3,000 people in the United States die every year from the effects of a house fire, that’s a lot of people.  Sadly, many of these deaths could’ve been prevented if they had sufficient smoke detectors in their homes or, if the ones they had were working properly.   
 
So, lets look at a few important points to consider regarding smoke detectors:  There should be smoke detectors on every, inhabited floor of the home, this should especially include the basement and garage which is where many flammable items are usually stored.
Another point to consider is that we are most at risk of being harmed in a fire at night, when the household is asleep, so a good thing to do is have smoke detectors in each bedroom or at least very close to them so that they could be heard easily.  When fitting them in a basement, ideally fit them to the ceiling by the basement stairs.
 
Keep the family well educated as to what they should do in the event of a fire.  Test the smoke alarm at night, occasionally, while the household is sleeping to see whether the alarms would effectively wake them, especially children.  Also, if possible, try to make sure the smoke detector sound is different from any other sounds in the home.  NEVER disconnect the alarm just because it’s annoying you by going off when you’re cooking etc.  Its much too easy to forget that you disconnected it.   One last thing, do a monthly check of all smoke or carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are all working well.
 

​You may be thinking the title of this blog seems like an odd one, after all, why would your home need a checkup?  When we think about it, though, how many things benefit from being checked up on regularly?  Our health, even our cars, so why not our home?
 
Please enjoy this brief but informative video which highlights the benefits of having an annual home inspection.  It might not be as expensive as you think but could end up saving you a lot in the long run.
 
As always, we are here to help you with all your home inspection questions.  If you would like to know more about annual maintenance inspections or would like to schedule an inspection, please feel free to contact us.
​