10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your Home

Have you ever woken up in the middle of a winter night, shivering under the blankets and able to see your breath? Or have you ever watched the thermostat creep into the upper 80s during a record-setting heat wave, realizing you haven't heard the air conditioner kick on? If so, your heating or cooling system was on the fritz—and (of course), it happened at the worst possible time. www.HomeBossInspection.com These systems not only fail when you need them the most, but also during the hardest time of the year to get a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractor to come by for repairs. Naturally, technicians are at their busiest when these systems are busiest. So, unless you have a relative in the business, the best way to ensure your heating and cooling systems keep working is to maintain them properly. To guard against a future breakdown, have a professional perform periodic maintenance on the systems before the peak seasons begin. Have the heating system ser...

There are a number of measures that homeowners can take to ensure that their homes are not attractive to burglars. If clients are concerned about break-ins, inspectors can pass on to them basic strategies for burglar-proofing their homes. www.HomeBossInspection.com Some interesting statistics concerning break-ins in the United States: InterNACHI estimates that theft makes up more than three-quarters of all reported crime.   In 2005, law enforcement agencies reported more than 2 million burglary offenses. According to a survey, burglars enter homes through the following locations:  81% enter through the first floor; 34% of burglars enter through the front door; 23% enter through a first-floor window;  22% enter through the back door  9% enter through the garage; 4% enter through the basement;  4% enter through an unlocked entrance;  2% enter through a storage area; and   2% enter anywhere on the second floor...

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), administers various single-family mortgage insurance programs. These programs operate through FHA-approved lending institutions which submit applications to have the property appraised and have the buyer's credit approved. These lenders fund the mortgage loans which the Department insures. HUD does not make direct loans to help people buy homes. The Section 203(k) Program is  HUD's primary program for the rehabilitation and repair of single- family properties. As such, it is an important tool for community and neighborhood revitalization and for expanding homeownership opportunities. Since these are the primary goals of HUD, it believes that Section 203(k) is an important program and intends to continue to strongly support the program and the lenders that participate in it. www.HomeBossInspection.com Many lenders have successfully used the Section 203(k) Prog...

Venomous pests are found virtually everywhere, and inspectors risk encountering one while visiting a property. For their safety, as well as the safety of their clients, inspectors should learn how to identify venomous insects and reptiles. www.HomeBossInspection.com     Bees and Wasps  Bees and wasps are flying, stinging insects commonly found in and around homes throughout much of the world. Stings from these insects are normally not serious, except in people who are allergic to the venom or when large numbers of the insects attack at once. Even when they are not a serious threat, bees and wasps can be a nuisance and a source of fear, especially during the summer months when people gather outside the home.  A few facts about bees and wasps:  More than half of all fruit and vegetable crops are pollinated by honey bees.  Wasps contribute to the ecological cycle by preying on many insect-pests that are harmful to crops. ...