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At Home Building Inspection Services Calls For Annual Home "Physical".
At Home Building Inspection Services promotes a proactive approach to home
inspection and suggest that homeowners have their homes inspected on an annual
basis. The constant upkeep will reduce the chances of a homeowner facing
unforeseen expenses. It also provides a potential seller with the information
needed to correct any deficiencies prior to placing the home on the market.
An annual inspection makes good financial sense to protect your ever-increasing
real estate investment.
Many people don't have the expertise or the time to conduct an annual inspection and that is why a professional home inspection company should be hired. Even though a high percentage of homes that are sold receive a home inspection homes are rarely inspected after the buyer moves in. Spring is a good time for preventative annual maintenance as it comes just after the winter, when the ground thaws. For more information contact us!
Just as your body gets its' yearly physical, so should your home! Here are some helpful tips that At Home Building Inspection Services can offer to ensure your home is in good working order so you can enjoy the summer!
Roofing:
Stand back from your house so you are able to see your roof
top. A good pair of binnoculars are an asset. What you are looking for are
damaged or missing shingles. Check to see if your shingles are curling,
chipped, torn or otherwise damaged or if they are missing altogether. These
signs are good indicators that further investigation is required.*
*Caution! Your observations from the ground are limited.
Without actually walking on the roof, you may not be able to tell the extent
of the damage. Steep and high roofs should not be accessed by the homeowner.
Roofing: Flat Roofs
Flat roofs are very difficult to inspect for the average homeowner, as the
damage is not apparent from the ground. Flat roofs should be inspected after
the Winter/Spring seasons (November - April) to check for blistering, bubbling
and to ensure the flashing is keeping water out. This type of roof is prone
to collect debris such as leaves and roofing materials. Although it is
possible to climb a ladder to inspect the roof yourself, At Home Building
Inspection Services recommends this area to be inspected by a registered
professional! Contact Us!
Masonry Chimneys
Masonry chimneys should be inspected for loose or deteriorating bricks and
mortar. Loose bricks and mortar could pose a serious safety matter. First,
they can obstruct a chimney flue and trap poisonous carbon monoxide gases in
the home. Second, falling or unstable bricks, resulting from weather damage,
could result in serious personal injuries if they fall. Although a homeowner
may check for these damages themselves, it is difficult to decipher if the
chimney flue is obstructed. At Home Building Inspection Services recommends
that a homeowner utilize the services of a professional chimney sweep or
qualified home inspector to ascertain internal chimney obstructions.
Metal Chimneys:
Metal chimneys should be checked for rust and/or perforations larger than ¼
of an inch. These can pose serious safety concerns. The chimney flue could
potentially have an obstruction and trap poisonous carbon monoxide gases in
the home. Metal chimneys should be inspected by a W.E.T.T. certified
chimney sweep or a W.E.T.T. certified home inspector.
Gutters:
Gutters and downspouts should be checked for blockages and leaking.
Gutters should be checked in Spring and Fall as blocked or damaged gutters
or downspouts may result in rainwater not draining properly from the water
which could, in turn cause damage to the exterior walls and foundation.
This could also result in damp or wet basements. At Home Building Inspection
Services suggests that your gutters and downspouts be professionally cleaned
or inspected.
To inspect the structure of your home, walk around the outside
perimeter of your house and check the foundation walls for deterioration,
cracks, dampness and signs of movement. Cracks can allow water to penetrate
the foundation walls and cause water damage that can result in damp basements,
rot and mold. To the untrained eye, however, these signs could be overlooked.
At Home Building Inspection Services can help you locate potential structural
problems.
Check the grading of your home to ensure that the ground surface
around your foundation walls are sloped at least one inch per foot for the
first six feet away from your home wherever practical. This will promote
drainage away from the foundation to prevent wet or damp basements. To ensure
that your grading is appropriate for your home, why not contact At Home
Building Inspection Services to help you ascertain whether you have a problem
with your home's grading. Contact us for more information.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of inspection tips for your home but we
think these are a great place to start for those times in between your annual
home inspection. For more home inspection tips, click here
to contact us.
Here are a few tips for the home seller from At Home Building Inspection
Services to make the visit from your home inspector easier and more time
efficient:
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Don't make statements about your home that are beyond your personal
knowledge and can't be verified.
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Be courteous. Home inspectors are there to present a fair assessment
of your property, not there to find faults.
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Tidy up; clear clutter away from crawl spaces, furnace rooms,
electrical panels, and attic accesses, to assist the inspector during the
inspection. Hidden shut off vales should be identified for easy access. By
completing these simple procedures, you will save inspection time.
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If you have any drawings or permits, perhaps from a recent renovation
that could assist the inspector, have them ready.
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Allow for about 2 1/2 - 3 hours for the inspection.
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Most important of all, we respect that your home is your castle.
We treat it like we would want our own home to be treated.
At Home Building Inspection Services wants to remind you of some simple fire
safety tips that could potentially save lives around you, especially of those you
love!
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Smoking and fire are a dangerous mix. A lit cigarette dropped on a
couch can smolder for many hours before the cushions catch fire. Before going
to bed at night make sure that all cigarette butts have been safely discarded
into a deep ashtray.
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Seniors and small children are most likely to die in a fire. Seniors
who smoke are particularly at risk. Keep an eye on seniors when they are
smoking. Lighters and matches should be kept out of reach from small children
in a locked cupboard. Don't underestimate the climbing capabilities of curious
children.
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Have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home. Check the smoke
alarm monthly by depressing the test button for approximately 30 seconds.
If it doesn't sound, replace the battery immediately. Remember, when you
change your clocks in the Spring and Fall, change your battery. Smoke alarms
over 10 years of age should be replaced.
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Security bars on the windows should only be of the quick release type.
Remember in case of fire that window may be your only means of escape. Crank
handles for casement window should not be removed. That window may be your
only source of escape.
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"Fire Won't Wait Plan Your Escape!" If a fire broke out tonight would
you know what to do? Know 2 ways out of every room. Develop a fire escape plan
and practice it with all family members regularly to ensure they know the plan
in the event you are not there when a fire breaks out.
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In case of fire leave the house immediately. Call 911 from a
neighbour's house. Tell the emergency operator that you have a fire, the
location of the fire, your name and address, and if everyone is out of the
house safely. Wait in front of the house for the fire department. There may
be some areas where 911 may not be the emergency phone number to the fire
department especially in cottage country. Have the emergency phone number
written down. In case of emergency you may not remember the number.
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There is an increase in candle fires. Make sure that the candles are
in the appropriate candleholder for the candle. Never leave a burning candle
unattended. Extinguish it before going to bed or leaving the room. Keep
burning candles away from small children and curtains.
