Inoperable dampers or clogged weather hoods on clothes dryer exhaust ducts are items that I repeatedly discover during my home inspections. A dirty duct and/or clogged weather hood causes the dryer to operate very inefficiently and run much longer than needed. If the air can’t leave the dryer exhaust duct the moisture can’t leave the clothes-this is both costly to operate and greatly increases the chance of a house fire starting in the dryer duct. The weather hood pictured above is a perfect example of why any type of screen on a weather hood serving a dryer is prohibited. Periodically check the ductwork for lint build-up and clean as needed.
In this very hot real estate market, many advantages are leaning towards the seller, rather than the buyer. With limited inventory and demand far-exceeding supply, recent sellers of residential property seemingly have it easy. But there is a downside to the rising drive. Offers are being made with the intent to simply hold a property, while the buyer continues to look, using the home inspectionfindings as an excuse to back out of the contract without risking the loss of their earnest money. Tina and Mark Hibbs experienced this problem, not just once but twice, during the recent sale of their home in Northern Colorado. “The first buyer used some very small issues to back out of her contract
One word can have homeowners, management personnel and real estate agents alike rubbing their hands in anxiety. Mold. The potential problem
We worry a lot about keeping windows and doors locked, but the garage is often an overlooked gateway for thieves. If your garage is attached to your home—or if you keep anything of value in that area—you should implement these tactics to keep trespassers out. 1. Use a zip tie. Even if you have a fancy automatic garage door, thieves can break in within six minutes. How? By using a coat hanger to reach the emergency release handle. But don’t panic. There are ways to protect yourself from a break-in by using something as simple and cheap as a zip tie. When connected to a loop in the emergency latch, a zip tie keeps thieves from disabling the automatic door and gaining entry. Watch a tutorial t
All over Ohio, many areas are experiencing red hot real estate markets; to a degree that some have never seen before. Bidding wars, cash off
When home inspectors speak of settling, they’re not referring to a person’s hasty choice; whether its in regards to a mate or a dinner entree. They’re referring to a home’s “getting comfortable” so to speak. Anyone who has ever lived in a home constructed of any type of building material is familiar with the concept of settling. Gravity is constantly trying to pull your home’s building elements ever closer to its foundation, causing it to settle over many years. Those creaks, moans, groans and pops are all just indicative sounds of your home becoming one with its surroundings. This movement often causes benign cracks in the foundation, floors and walls in most homes, regardless of their age
