Recently, I performed and inspection on a home in my home town. When I entered the home, I was surprised to find two candles burning on the living room coffee table. They were scented candles and home smelled great, but I could help but wonder, “Why would anyone intentionally leave an open flame burning in… Read More
Archive for the ‘Maintenance-Safety’ Category
Some experts are saying the housing market is improving, but not fast enough for some. Homeowners, today are fighting the urge to sell and while waiting for continued mark improvement, they are renovating to with the thought that they will be more comfortable and may increase the potential listing price. If you are inclined to… Read More
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 Category: Maintenance-Safety, News and Updates No Comments
I really didn’t spend my last summer there. I stole the idea from an episode of Married With Children. The Bundy family had no air conditioner and “moved” into the grocery store to take advantage of the free cooling. Since we are approaching spring, here in Texas, I gave my HVAC provider a call to… Read More
Monday, March 12th, 2012 Category: Maintenance-Safety No Comments
Okay, let’s talk about foundations. Many older homes have a pier and beam foundation. In other parts of the country you’ll find basements, but these are fairly rare in Texas. Depending on where you live in Texas, you may have a home built on expansive soils. This is a subject of its own, but basically… Read More
Sunday, March 4th, 2012 Category: Maintenance-Safety No Comments
If you have appliances that are nearing their life expectancy, you can prolong their life by repairing them. If you are wondering about the potential life of your appliances, you can find a reference here: http://www.tex-spections.com/appliance-life-span-10547.html Generally speaking, appliance parts are not very expensive. The expense is in having a technician come to your home… Read More
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 Category: Maintenance-Safety, News and Updates No Comments
Failure symptoms The most obvious septic system failures are easy to spot. Check for pooling water or muddy soil around your septic system. Notice whether your toilet or sink backs up when you flush or do laundry. Check with a septic system professional and the local health department if you suspect such a failure. Failure… Read More
Saturday, January 14th, 2012 Category: Maintenance-Safety No Comments
Really they don’t stink if they are correctly installed, properly used and maintained. Recently I’ve seen an increase in my home inspections involving septic systems. Most of the time, I find that prospective buyers know very little about them and they sometimes have some significant misperceptions. I even had one client tell me that they… Read More
Friday, January 13th, 2012 Category: Maintenance-Safety No Comments
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, a department of FEMA, electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 310 Americans each year and injure 1,1 00 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures, but many more are caused by incorrectly installed wiring and overloaded circuits and extension cords. http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/electrical.shtm During… Read More
Saturday, January 7th, 2012 Category: Maintenance-Safety No Comments
Rarely do we use our pool in the winter. First, it is not heated and second, if it were heated it costs a lot to heat it. While winter may not be swim season, it is the season to have a pool installed. Normally pool companies are slow in the winter and you may be… Read More
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 Category: Maintenance-Safety No Comments
By green, we are not talking about color. Rather think about using more water efficient fixtures. You’ll save money on your water use, you can still have beautiful fixtures, and you’ll likely get back most of your remodeling costs. If you plan on remodeling your bath, you can expect a 60% to 70% return on… Read More
Saturday, December 17th, 2011 Category: Maintenance-Safety No Comments