​Last month we discussed the topic of biological pollutants and the reasons they are found in every home. This month we will be continuing the theme by looking at how you can determine if these pollutants are adversely affecting your health.
 
We should first mention the importance of consulting with your general practitioner for a proper diagnosis of your symptoms as the health problems associated with an allergy to biological pollutants are a lot like those of numerous other ailments. However, your doctor may find it helpful to know your answer to the following questions:
 
Have you recently had your humidifiers or air conditioning units cleaned and changed the filters, or has it been some time?
 
Is there a problem in your home with pests like cockroaches, rodents, or other insects?
 
Have you recently had any energy conservation work done in the home such as insulating, weatherstripping, or the installation of storm windows, etc.? Did you begin to experience your current health issues before the work was done? Have you just moved to a new home and, if so, did your symptoms only start after the move?
 
Are there high levels of humidity indoors? Can you smell moldy or musty odors that would be a sign of water intrusion? Have you noticed that water often gathers on hard surfaces?
 
If you are suffering from tiredness, headaches, stuffy nose, fever, dry throat, and trouble breathing, etc., would you say these symptoms tend to disappear when you spend time out of doors?
 
If the answer is yes to any or all of these questions, then bio pollutants may be affecting you, so this is a good thing to discuss with your GP.

​Everyone knows that air quality plays a huge role when it comes to our health and safety. Although we may be conscious of the levels of pollution in the air we breathe outside, do we give much thought to the quality of air inside our homes? The fact is that the air we are breathing inside our homes is often much worse than the air outside. There are several reasons for this but let’s look at one of them, biological pollutants.
 
The biological pollutants that are usually found in your home come from living organisms or parts of them. Common types of bio pollutants are dust mites, bacteria and viruses, cockroach fragments, pollen, and pet dander. Most of the time these organisms invisibly float around in our air at home without us being aware of it. While this is a very unpleasant prospect, biological pollutants are found in practically every home and are impossible to get rid of entirely.
 
Although it is pretty much impossible to remove all biological pollutants from the home, you could try to prevent the kinds of environment where they are more likely to thrive. For example, biological pollutants require moisture and nutrients. Ideal places for this are bathrooms, damp basements, or other areas that have higher humidity levels. Humidifiers and air conditioners can also become breeding grounds for bio pollutants so be sure to clean them thoroughly and regularly. Even certain modern construction techniques that prevent outside air from entering the home could contribute to an increase in bio pollutants.
 
Biological pollutants are known to cause several health issues. If you are worried that you are being affected by them, be sure to consult your physician for more advice.

​Moisture intrusion can be a real headache for homeowners, especially if the problem has gone unnoticed for a long time. Problems associated with water intrusion range anywhere from bad indoor air quality to costly home repairs and can even reduce your property's value. To avoid these issues, it is helpful to know the areas of your home that are most prone to moisture intrusion, here are some of them:
 
Many water intrusion-related issues are caused by problems with the roof. Apart from some of the more obvious issues like damaged shingles, etc. a roof needs to have the correct amount of slope to allow for proper drainage. The roof's flashings are also prone to leaking so this is another area you should check out. Gutters and downspouts will not be able to drain properly if they are blocked which can easily happen when falling leaves and branches start to collect in them. Cleaning them out regularly will help to remedy this.
 
A building's foundation will often develop holes and cracks in them over time which then make them more vulnerable to moisture getting in. Fixing these as soon as you observe them will help to prevent a more serious issue.
 
Another area responsible for water damage in the home is the plumbing system. Dripping faucets or pipes, blocked drains, and leaking plumbing fixtures, etc. all have the potential to cause major damage so it’s best to fix them immediately, even if the issue seems minor.
 
High humidity indoors is another source of moisture damage and can cause anything from musty smelling odors to stains on walls and ceilings. When you notice moisture gathering on hard surfaces, clean and dry them immediately.
 
If the thought of checking your home for moisture-prone areas feels a little overwhelming to you, why not have us come and inspect the home? We will be able to perform a thorough inspection of your property and point out any areas of concern.

​Before putting their home on the market, many people decide to do some extra work on it so that they can get the best price possible. If you are thinking about doing this, good research and planning are essential, why is that? Because spending a fortune to remodel your home will not necessarily greatly increase its value and could be an unwise investment. With this in mind, here are a few tips on how to remodel your home to get the best price for it:
 
When planning the remodel keep in mind the location of your property. Location is a huge factor when determining the value of a home. Of course, you want your home to be the best on the street, but an expensive remodel will not necessarily raise the value of the home that much.
 
When selecting a color palette for your home it is best to stick to neutral tones, especially when it comes to bigger more expensive appliances. Think about what will appeal to a wide variety of buyers and not just a select few.
 
In an effort to add a lot of value to their property many homeowners feel that the addition of a backyard swimming pool is a good idea. It is true that some people are drawn to a home with a pool, but did you know that an equal number of potential buyers are put off by one? This is due to the extra maintenance costs as well as the many dangers associated with backyard swimming pools, especially for families with young children.
 
So, from these few tips, it's clear that there are many factors to consider when remodeling your home to sell. Just make sure that the money you invest will be reflected in the value of the home.

​Don’t let the title of this month’s blog send you into a panic but it’s good to remember that when you buy a home, the home inspection is really just the beginning when it comes to taking care of it. Getting into a routine of regular home maintenance as soon as you have settled in is the best way to prevent major problems later on. So, what kinds of things should you include in your home maintenance checks?
 
To help answer this question, we have provided the following video. It provides a brief guide to what is included in looking after your new home after the home inspection. We are available to help answer any questions you may have regarding home inspections, including what you can expect from an annual maintenance inspection so, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 
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​While there are many companies with good honest work practices today, sadly, there are also those that are not so honest and will frequently employ methods to rip you off. Let’s look at just one example, termite exterminators. What are some dishonest practices they might use and how can you make sure you are not conned out of your hard-earned money?
 
When your home is being inspected for termites a dishonest person will often greatly exaggerate the dangers that termites pose to your home. This may make you feel obligated to spend a lot of money on a costly treatment that is not even needed. If you are worried you are being tricked, the best thing to do is compare services and prices with other companies in the area. It is also important that you get a contract for the work containing a written guarantee that covers your home against termites for a defined period of time.
 
Many homeowners do not have a great deal of knowledge when it comes to termites and so will naturally trust the “expert”. Do not just rely on their word though, ask them to show you where the evidence is that your home has termites. You will recognize termite damage by seeing hollowed-out wood along the grain and its galleries will be lined with mud or soil. If you are shown this evidence in a woodpile or fence, not connected to your house, then do not be alarmed as this does not necessarily pose an immediate threat to your home. Don’t allow anyone to scare you into thinking otherwise.
 
Finally, be careful of any companies that approach you, especially those that offer free termite inspections. It is quite likely that they will find a problem that doesn’t actually exist or greatly exaggerate one that does.

​A large number of the population rent their homes or apartments. If you are in this group, have you taken the proper measures to protect your belongings? Of course, the best way to do this is with an insurance policy. This kind of insurance is there to cover the person renting the property against the unexpected loss or damage to their possessions. It is not just the renter’s belongings that are covered, depending on the policy chosen, renters’ insurance will also provide coverage against injury or damage that may be incurred to a neighbor’s property, etc. While it may seem like an obvious thing to have, a surprising number of people who rent their homes do not have rental insurance. Why is this?
 
Perhaps one reason is that the person renting the home believes their possessions are covered under the homeowner’s policy, however, this may not be the case so they should contact the homeowner to find out. Another reason for not having renter’s insurance is that someone may think it costs too much. Many policies are very affordable, though, and some even cost less than 20 dollars a month. There is also the belief that their belongings are not worth anything and so there is no need for coverage but, think about how much replacing those items would cost and it's easy to see how quickly that would add up.
 
So, if you are renting your home or apartment and still do not have a rental insurance policy, why not start to look at the different policies available to you. It's very likely you will find one that you can afford and that will cover you for those unfortunate unexpected disasters.

​Would it be easy for an intruder to break into your home? It can be good to ask yourself this from time to time and think about some of the ways you can make your property as unappealing as possible to a thief. Here are some ideas:
 
Someone wishing to break into a home will look for a place that they can enter without being visible to neighbors or onlookers. If you have a lot of trees or shrubs surrounding your exterior doors and windows this can provide that ideal place to hide from view so you may want to make these areas a little less covered. Placing a fence around your property can also work to deter an intruder but be sure this doesn’t also provide a good place to hide.
 
Lights are a good way to deter a burglar. Motion sensor lighting that is installed on every side of a home’s exterior should cover all areas of the property and prevent anyone from coming close to the home to do so unnoticed. You should also leave a few lights on indoors if you are going to be away.
 
What condition are your windows and doors in? Ideally, they should be of solid, good quality construction and maintained well. If you feel the need to increase your windows security you may want to try installing heavy-duty wire screens or window bars (just be sure that the home's occupants could escape the home easily in the event of an emergency).
 
Many homes have sliding doors. If your home has them you will want to make sure there are locks on both the top and bottom of each door. An extra and simple security measure to take is to place a piece of wood the size of a cut of broom handle into the door's tracks which will stop it from opening.
 
Why not check over your home and see whether it can be made more unappealing to a would-be intruder?

​When looking to purchase a home there are some questions you should ask regarding the true condition of the property. One such question is does it have a history of fire damage?
 
A walkthrough of the property may not give you any indication of previous fire damage, but outward appearances can often be deceiving. To help you understand the type of damage a house fire can cause, please watch the following video. It will give you a better idea of what you can expect to find with fire damaged properties and the importance of knowing the true condition of the home before you commit yourself to it.
 
As always, we are here to assist you with any questions you have regarding this or any other home inspection concerns.

​No one is ever thrilled at the prospect of having thousands of tiny bugs living in their homes, but the reality is that dust mites inhabit practically every home. In fact, dust mites can be so prevalent that as many as 100,000 dust mites have been found in one square yard of carpeting. Dust mites are not usually considered to be a huge problem, however, for some people, dust mites can trigger allergies so, what can be done to reduce their numbers?
 
With so many detergents out there claiming to get rid of dust mites, you may think that they are the solution. But, many of these chemical detergents are not always as effective as they say they are. Thankfully, there are some other, more natural methods, known to lessen the number of dust mites in the home. Here are some of them:
 
The ideal environment for dust mites is a warm and humid one. Naturally, then, if you want to reduce their numbers, look for ways to reduce levels of humidity. Air conditioners and electric blankets are known to help with this.
 
Regularly dust your home using a damp cloth which will help to avoid redistribution of dust onto a different surface. After you have dusted then do your vacuuming and make sure you include soft furnishings and other textiles as well as carpets and flooring. Try to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter which will help to prevent dust from re-entering into the air.
 
Dust mites are known to thrive in bedding. If you want to completely get rid of them then the best thing to do is wash all bedding at a high temperature (a minimum of 140 degrees Fahrenheit). You can also place bedding in a dryer at a high temperature for 10 minutes which also kills them.
 
Allergy sufferers may benefit from using an air purifier in their homes. When choosing an air purifier, look for one that has a HEPA filter. We should also mention here, though, that while air purifiers will help to minimize dust mites from the air, it will not remove them altogether because dust mites are not usually airborne.