10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your Home

What is a home inspection?   A home inspection is a visual examination of the home's major structure, systems and components that are visible and safely accessible.  The inspector should substantially adhere to a standards of practice that outlines what should be covered during a general home inspection, as well as what is excluded. Some inspectors may strictly follow the standards of practice, while others may exceed the standards and inspect other items, or perform a more detailed inspection. Whatever the inspector includes in his or her inspection should be discussed prior to the inspection – this is known as the scope of work. The inspector should be able to provide you with a copy or online link to the standards of practice they follow.  The inspector should provide you with a written report, which may include photos and/or recommendations, of his or her findings of the inspection.  Read  InterNACHI's Standards of Practice  to find out what is typ...

Seller inspections (sometimes referred to as pre-listing inspections) are becoming more popular because they virtually eliminate all the pitfalls and hassles associated with waiting to do the home inspection until a buyer is found.  In many ways, waiting to schedule the inspection until after a home goes under agreement is too late.  Seller inspections are arranged and paid for by the seller, usually just before the home goes on the market.  The seller is the inspector's client.  The inspector works for the seller and generates a report for the seller.  The seller then typically makes multiple copies of the report and shares them with potential buyers who tour the home for sale.  Seller inspections are a benefit to all parties in a real estate transaction.  They are a win-win-win-win situation.  Home inspectors should consider offering seller inspections and marketing this service to...

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...

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. ...