Buying a home can be a stressful process, and most likely the most important financial decision you'll ever make. Many first-time buyers don’t realize that there are some crucial steps in home buying such as arranging for a home inspection. Maybe people also wonder, "do I need a home inspection or not?" A home inspection [...]
Bathrooms are one of the most humid, damp, and moisture-prone areas of the home, which means that bath fan venting is critical for preventing issues like wood rot or mold growth in the home. Bath fan venting problems often occur because it is an afterthought in many renovations, and even in new home builds. If [...]
Detecting moisture in a home with the use of infra-red cameras is smart science! This noninvasive technique is an extremely affordable way to find out what is going on behind the scenes in your home. With the aid of a special handheld device, your inspector can assess potential problem areas during a pre-listing or pre-purchase [...]
If you’re buying a home, we know the process can sometimes be intimidating. From real estate agents to home inspectors and mortgage brokers, there are a lot of different people involved in the purchase of a home. Sometimes, it can be confusing regarding the working relationship that you should have with each person involved. So, [...]
You may think that purchasing a brand new home would mean that you don’t have to worry about defects or quality issues – but new construction defects are more common than you might think. Builders subcontract out most of the work when it comes to large building sites. All that coordination and in and out [...]
Popular and attractive, but not without its issues, Manufactured Stone Veneer, or Siding Adhered Concrete Masonry Veneer, is a thin siding, manufactured from molded concrete, to mimic the look of natural rocks and stone. Designed to be installed over wood framing, stone veneer can give a modern look to any home. However, stone veneer problems [...]
A home inspector is one of your greatest allies when you are ready to purchase a home. He or she can help you identify issues with a home that need to be addressed or repaired, before you close on the deal. This is why it’s important to choose a highly-qualified, professional and trustworthy home inspector. [...]
One of the most costly problems that can face any homeowner is deferring repair of a roof leak. Your roof is one of the most expensive – and important – parts of your home. It is responsible for preventing water from leaking into your attic, walls, and much more. If it fails and you do [...]
If you’ve ever hired a home inspector and were present for the inspection, you may have looked at his/her tool bag with interest. Inspectors carry and use all sorts of useful gadgets. The right tools are necessary for conducting a thorough, top-to-bottom inspection of a home. In this article, we’ll discuss this subject in detail, [...]
Asbestos is a hot topic when buying older homes. It can be hidden, it can be expensive to mitigate, and is present in many building materials in houses built prior to the 90s. Plus there are many different types of building materials that contain asbestos. Because of this, we decided to write this asbestos guide [...]
