​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.

​Lighting is extremely important when it comes to setting the right tone for your house as it can be the difference between a look that is warm and inviting or one that is cold and unappealing. Incorporating natural light into a dark space may seem like a difficult task, especially if there is no room for traditional windows but let’s look at some other ways natural light can be used.
 
Perhaps one of the most common daylighting methods is with the use of skylights. They are a very effective way to add a maximum amount of daylight to a dark space. If you decide to install skylights, however, just remember to use double-paned windows and be sure the flashing is done properly, otherwise, this could create several issues.
 
Light tubes are another way your home can benefit from natural light. Light tubes are covered in a highly reflective material that effectively channels sunlight; they are also fitted with a lens designed to increase low-level light whilst also minimizing the intensity of the midday sun. A diffuser then helps to evenly distribute daylight.
 
Clerestory windows are also a very good way to add natural light. Clerestory windows are designed to be wide but short and fit high on a wall. This permits lots of natural light to enter the room but because they are high on the wall the roof overhang prevents too much sun from coming in during the hot months.
 
If you are looking to add natural light into your home, why not see if these methods would be a possibility?

Wood decay, also known as wood rot, can present a big problem for a homeowner and, if it is left untreated, can end up being very expensive to fix. So, what parts of the home might be more susceptible to wood rot?


There are several reasons why wood can become damaged in a home and you will want to find out exactly what the problem is before knowing how to treat it, as in the case of carpenter ants or termites, for example. Wood rot, however, is a type of wood-destroying fungus. To survive, wood rot simply needs a few basic things, oxygen, moisture, and a food source and while it can survive in many conditions it particularly enjoys a warm, damp environment.


So, what areas of a home are most likely to experience wood rot? Here is a list of some of them:
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• Decking. Particularly support posts and ground floor exterior decking.
• Beneath windows or sliding doors that have been fitted incorrectly.
• The surrounding subfloors of toilets and bathtubs.
• Areas surrounding leaking or corroded plumbing fixtures.
• Roof penetrations that have incorrect or damaged flashing.
• Wood that comes into direct contact with concrete, soil, or masonry.
• Cracks in foundations or areas that collect water around the foundation because of inadequate grading.

As we have highlighted, wood decay can become a serious, not to mention, expensive problem. If you feel concerned that areas in your home have wood rot, don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
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​A lot of time is being spent at home at the moment, so you may be finding yourself with a bit more time to tackle some of those jobs around the house that you’ve been meaning to get around to, like cleaning out your garage, for example. Clearing out your garage might also help you see any potential fire risks. Why do we say that?
 
The garage is often the area where we store items we do not want inside the home such as gas canisters, cleaning supplies, used paint cans and decorating materials and outdoor machines and equipment, etc. All these items can be highly flammable so it's clear there is a greater risk of fire in a space like this.  Here are a few steps you can take that will minimize this risk.
 
Make sure that you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed in the garage and test them every month to check if their batteries need replacing.
 
If you are doing work in the garage like fixing machinery or working on your car, always leave the garage door open to prevent a build-up of toxic fumes.  Clean up any oil or other combustible liquids immediately if they spill and do not leave garbage or oily rags on the garage floor for any length of time as this will increase the fire risk. It’s also extremely important to never leave a vehicle running with the garage door closed as dangerous fumes will accumulate very quickly.
 
If your garage is attached to the home, there is an even greater need to assess its potential for fire.
Have a close check of the door and door frame that connects the house to the garage.  Look for any gaps or cracks which would allow hazardous fumes to enter the home.
 
If you have any questions or concerns about your garage’s safety, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to advise you.

​At a time when our elderly loved ones will have to spend a great deal of time at home, we may be thinking about different ways we can assist them.  Apart from the day to day needs, one area we may want to look at is home safety.  How can we ensure their homes are not a safety hazard?
 
If it is possible, go through the home and assess the areas that are high risk for slips and falls.  The bathroom is one of the most common places for this.  Is the bathroom equipped with sufficient grab bars and anti-slip mats for both inside and outside of the tub or shower?
 
The staircase is another area where there is a high risk of slipping and falling.  Make sure staircase handrails are sturdy and fitted to either side of the staircase.  Stair carpeting should be checked to make sure there are not areas coming loose.  Also, if the home has rugs, be sure they have a good rubber backing so that they do not move easily.
 
Check that corded appliances are not a tripping hazard.  Electrical cords that stretch across walk through areas are a real danger and, if they have been covered over with rugs, etc. they also pose a fire risk.  Fix these cords up against walls to keep them out of the way.  It might be a good idea to have the room arranged so that any electrical appliances are situated close to an outlet.
 
By looking for ways to reduce the risk of home-related accidents, you will be helping your loved ones stay safe while they are indoors.

The majority of us go about our everyday lives without giving a second thought to one of the most essential areas of the home or workplace, the toilet.  However, seeing that the average person flushes the toilet approximately 2500 times per year, perhaps the toilet is worthy of a little care and maintenance once in a while.  Here are a few ways you can tell if your bathroom toilet is falling into disrepair:
 
The toilets flush will let you know how well the toilet is working.  For example, you can perform a simple test by flushing the toilet and observing how long it takes for the tank to refill.  If it seems to take a long time, the toilet may not be working right.  In the same way, if the toilet seems to take a long time to flush, it might require some maintenance.
 
A common issue toilets experience is constant running water.  While you may have become used to this and don’t notice it anymore, this is not only a waste of precious water but it's costing you money as well, especially if you use a private well because it will be putting extra strain of the pump.
 
You should also perform a visual inspection of the toilet bowl to look for signs of damage.  Did you know that if there are chips or cracks in the porcelain, a home inspector could list the toilet as faulty?
 
So, why not take a little time to perform a simple toilet inspection and make sure this essential but often overlooked part of the home is working as it should.