​With so many real estate agents available today you may feel that it doesn’t matter which agent you choose to work for you, however, when you consider that buying a home is probably one of the biggest purchases you can make, you may want to be a bit more selective with your realtor.  This is especially the case if you are a first-time buyer.  Here are a few suggestions to help you choose the best real estate agent for you:
 
Ask as many questions as you need to.  Among the questions you could ask are How do you stand out from other real estate agents? Do you have a lot of experience in finding the type of property I want?  Ask for specific answers and examples and don’t be content with generic answers.  Another good thing to find out is whether the real estate agent owns property of their own.  While someone who doesn’t own property can still be a good realtor, if they own their own home, they are more aware of what to expect both during and after the buying process and can give you advice based on experience.  You may also want to know if they work full time in realty.  A full-time worker may be a little more knowledgeable about current market trends and updated regulations etc. than someone who works part time.
 
Remember that real estate agents, although they might have years of experience, may only specialize in certain types of property.  This means that if you are looking for a lower budget home that you can fix up for example, you wouldn’t hire a realtor whose main area of expertise is in high end luxury homes.   
 
Yes, it does matter who you choose to be your real estate agent.  You want to go for someone who will match your specific requirements and budget, someone who will do all they can to help you through the home buying process.

​Some odors are particularly difficult to get rid of, one of those is tobacco odor.  If you have just moved into a home where the previous occupant was a smoker, you may feel frustrated with such a persistent aroma.  So, what can you do to remove the offending smell?  Here are some suggestions:
 
Tobacco smoke particles are very small and can penetrate most things which is the reason the smell is so hard to get rid of.  Keep the home very well ventilated by opening all windows so that fresh air will flow through the home. Place odor absorbers such as baking soda and coffee grounds in different rooms. 
 
Nicotine leaves an oily, brown residue which adheres to everything.  It is likely you will see nicotine on light bulbs which, when turned on, will heat up and diffuse the smell into the air. It is a good idea to replace them or give them a through clean.  Any blinds that may have been left behind should be taken down, soaked in a tub, given a good scrub and then hung up to dry.  Detergents containing ammonia are good for removing nicotine from hard surfaces, but it is not a good idea to use them on wooden surfaces.  Any air conditioner unit filters or HVAC filters should be replaced. 
 
Removing nicotine odor from a carpet is, unfortunately, very tough.  It is usually best to replace the carpet.  Before you put down new carpet, however, clean and dry the under flooring thoroughly.  Painting walls is something you will most probably need to do but, this doesn’t always get rid of nicotine which can seep through the paint. 
 
Following these simple suggestions will help to make your home fresh again.

​Cockroaches can be very difficult to get rid of.  These annoying little pests are responsible for causing respiratory ailments and spreading disease, they are also very resilient and multiply in huge amounts.  It’s with obvious reason, then, that we want to do all we can to prevent them from setting up home in our house or apartment.  How can we do this?
 
Work to prevent the kinds of conditions that cockroaches love.  They enjoy dirty, greasy areas with plenty of moisture.  The kitchen is one place that could see a lot of cockroach activity, so it needs a regular, thorough cleaning.  Areas to include are behind and underneath appliances (even the big ones), kitchen cabinets and under the sink.  Try to place food in tightly sealed containers, don’t leave pet food out for too long and have a tight lid on the trash can.  Remember too that cockroaches usually avoid well lit places so it might be worthwhile to leave a few lights on a night.
 
Its not only the kitchen that cockroaches can be found, other areas of the home such as the bathroom provide a suitable environment.  Again, keep the bathroom very clean and as dry as is possible.  Go through the home and look for any leaking pipes or dripping taps and fix them immediately.  Cockroaches will be drawn to these kinds of area.  Also, if you observe any places that could be points of entry, have them sealed up.
 
It may reach a point where the cockroach infestation is too bad to handle.  This is time to call in a professional pest control specialist who will treat the problem in the right way.  However, placing boric acid in areas of previous cockroach activity should help to control them afterwards.

​As we have mentioned numerous times in previous blogs, a home inspection is there to provide information about a homes condition.  This is very important in making sure the home you are about to buy is a sound investment.  So, if the home inspection report reveals defects with your potential new home, what’s next?
 
The inspection could reveal a number of different issues with the property, with some being more serious than others.  It might note that the property has faulty smoke detectors or a few loose roof shingles etc.  which is an easy fix and shouldn’t cost too much.  On the other hand, it could reveal much more serious issues like structural damage, mold or wood rot to name a few.  These would require a lot more money to resolve and, in some cases, might be too big of a job to take on.  Whatever the outcome, however, we can see what an important role the home inspection plays.
 
If your home inspector is also a contractor you may feel it’s a good idea to ask him/her to fix the issues found on the report.  Is this a good idea? Not really, it could look as though the home inspector was just looking for problems so that they could have the job of fixing them and this would call into question the honesty and accuracy of the inspection report.  Its best to hire an InterNACHI certified home inspector who is aware of and abides by the InterNACHI Code of Ethics to perform your home inspection.  That way, you will guarantee the best and most thorough of home inspections.

​Many of us relish the idea of purchasing an older property and fixing it up.  When done well, a project of this kind can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be a very stressful process and full of unexpected problems.  For example, many older homes still contain building materials which, in recent years, have been found to be hazardous.  If you discover these materials in your home, it could be very costly to have them removed.  Here are just some of the hazardous materials found in older homes:
 
We now know a lot more about the potential health risks associated with deteriorating lead paint, with those most at risk being infants.  If your home is older than 40 years, it might well have lead paint. 
 
Another building material used in homes during the 1960s and 70s is aluminum wiring.  This started to be used as an alternative to copper wiring but was found to be defective over time.  If your property has this type of wiring, it will need to be replaced.
 
One material that we now know to be very hazardous is asbestos.  However, during the 1930s and 50s asbestos insulation was frequently used.  This will need to be taken care of professionally if you find your home has it.
 
Radon is something that cannot be discovered by sight or smell but your older property could have higher than safe levels of it.  A test should be done to determine radon levels in the home.
 
You are more likely to find these types of materials in homes that have had the same owner for many years.  Keep in mind also that most of these materials will need to be dealt with by a licensed professional and this could take up a good chunk of your remodeling budget.

​In recent years, the United States has experienced its share of natural disasters, with the results often devastating.  Its true that we cannot control where or when the next disaster will strike, but one thing we should do is prepare in advance, as much as we are able, for one. 
 
We are often advised to have an emergency go kit, containing everything we would need to survive for a few days and something we could grab quickly if needed.  Its also wise to have an emergency disaster plan that the entire household is familiar with.  This way, in a disaster situation, the family knows exactly what they should do and where they should go.
 
What about the home? How will that benefit from advanced preparation? Well, if areas of the home are in disrepair, they may present more of a problem during an emergency.  For example, loose roof shingles could easily fly off during a storm.  Gutters and downspouts should be kept clear of debris as this would also be a problem.  What about the chimney, if the home has one? Does that need some repair work? Trees can become a problem during a disaster as they can cause a lot of damage to roofs, power lines and could even injure someone.  Make sure trees are well trimmed and do not have loose branches.
 
It’s important that you are familiar with the location of where to switch off the home’s utilities such as gas, electric and water so that you will be able to quickly turn them off during an emergency. 
 
So, while we never want to have to deal with an emergency disaster situation, being prepared in advance may go a long way to staying safe during one.

​Choosing a home’s exterior finish is a huge decision and will determine the entire look of the home so it’s important that you select the right kind of cladding.  There are numerous options available these days.  One option that has been used for decades is wooden siding and maybe you are considering this for your home, but, even with this choice, there are also a lot of options. So, what different types of wooden siding are there? Here are a few:
 
A common type of wood siding is solid wood or lumber.  Provided it is well maintained, it can be very durable and has a very nice appearance.  You can also use it horizontally, diagonally or vertically.
 
If you are looking for a less expensive option then hardboard is a good choice.  Hardboard siding is usually made up of wooden fiberboard which is compressed and made using a synthetic adhesive.  It is then treated with a preservative (EPA approved) to help protect it from decay and insect damage.
 
Another attractive option is weatherboard or clapboard which is generally installed horizontally using overlapping boards.  Woods often used for this are cedar and redwood as they are strong and less prone to decay.
 
Plywood is another wooden siding option.  It can be installed either horizontally or vertically and may even add extra support to the homes structure.  Douglas fir, yellow pine and red cedar are among the woods typically used for this.
 
From this short list its clear to see that if you are thinking about wooden siding for your home, you have many choices.

​The majority of home buyers have a fixed budget planned out ahead of time of what they can afford to pay for a house.  However, something that might be overlooked whilst preparing that budget, is all the fees and closing costs that accompany the purchase of a home.  The result might be that the buyer looks for ways to reduce some of those fees.  It is important to understand, though, that there are some areas where it would be unwise to try and economize on.  One such area is the home inspection, but why is that so important?
 
Well, probably the biggest reason is that purchasing a house is one of the biggest expenses you can have, so you want to make sure you’ve made a good investment.  How awful it would be to skimp on the home inspection and then, only after you’ve purchased the house, to find out there are numerous issues that will require a lot of money to fix.  All of a sudden that budget will have been for nothing.  It is much better to have the home inspected and discover any problems before you commit yourself to the home.
 
So, maybe you’re thinking “I’m not going to skip the home inspection, just look for the cheapest price”.  Would this be a good idea?  Its good to remember that not all home inspection companies are the same.  Sure, you might find a cheaper price, but that could be reflected in the quality of the inspection.  To make sure your home inspection is as thorough as it can be, choose an InterNACHI certified home inspector.  While they may not be the cheapest quote, they will be the most thorough and qualified.

​Perhaps your planning to move to a new house sometime in the new year.  We all know that buying a home and moving is among some of the most stressful things you can do.  As you may already be aware, when you find a home you want to buy, a home inspection will need to be performed on it to make sure there are no hidden problems with it.  Maybe you’re wondering, then, what will be inspected? And, how thorough is a home inspection?
 
To help answer those questions and more, we have a short video that will give you a better understanding of what’s included on our home inspections.  Our home inspections are very thorough so that you can have peace of mind that the home you’re choosing will be the right home.   We are here to help you through this stressful process so please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.
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​So many people work very hard and spend a great deal of time to make their yards and gardens a thing of beauty.  How frustrating it can be, then, when some kind of animal or rodent comes along and ruins all that hard work.  Perhaps the natural reaction would be to try to eliminate the problem as quickly as possible by using some sort of chemical pest control method.  There are, however, other ways of deterring an unwanted animal in a more natural way.  Let’s consider a few options that could be tried first.
 
To determine the best way of getting rid of a pest in your yard, its important to first find out what type of animal or rodent you are dealing with.  In this way, you can research the best type of deterrent for that specific creature.  You will also be able to determine what attracted it to your yard.  Most of the time it’s because there is some kind of food source its after.  Have you planted certain types of plants or shrubs that the animal enjoys eating? It could be that you will need to remove them from your yard in order to deter the animal.
 
Another deterrent that could be used is a barrier intended to keep out wildlife.  If you find this to not be too effective, perhaps a repellent could be placed around the perimeter.   This doesn’t have to be chemical, it could even be a noise that scares the animal or some type of visual deterrent.
 
If you find that, after trying all these methods, you are still not able to control the problem, it might be better to capture the creature and relocate it.  Before you decide on doing this, though, get in touch with an animal or wildlife control agent to see what the recommendations are for this.  Finally, after trying all you can, you might want to think about how much of a problem is being caused by allowing the animal to continue on your property.  It might not be worth all the effort in the end.