Whether you’re buying your first home or just brushing up on the process, this guide covers everything you need to know: what a home inspection is, what inspectors look for, and what to do once you get the report.
When working correctly, gutters direct rainwater off the roof and away from the foundation, preventing things like leaks, mold growth, wood rot, pest infestations, and basement or crawlspace seepage.
Because attics are rarely used, homeowners often overlook them entirely. Many become cluttered storage spaces, making access difficult and sometimes even dangerous.
While our homes have improved vastly in many ways, there are also a few misleading quirks in contemporary home design that can leave you scratching your head.
Homeowners commonly find icicles hanging off of their roofs and gutters, but most aren’t aware of the serious hazards they pose to themselves and their homes.
An older home feature that’s seeing some resurgence lately is the transom window, also known as transom lights or the rectangular/semicircular window situated above doors or other traditional windows. These windows were originally designed to feed natural light into homes at a height that still offered privacy, and many opened and closed for increased ventilation. These two innovations were greatly appreciated at the time because homes didn’t have artificial lighting or modern ventilation solutions that we enjoy today. While transom windows are now mostly sought after for their visual appeal, some of their past benefits could make them game changers in the modern home (hint: it’s not as a ventilation solution). More and more, scientists, psychologists, and homeowners alike are realizing the value of natural lighting as people spend more and more time indoors and out of the sun. Let’s discuss some of the impacts natural lighting has on our bodies, and how home designers are working to bring more of the sunshine inside. Why is Natural Lighting so Important?Natural lighting has a powerful impact on humans, their bodies, their minds, their overall health, and even their quality of sleep. This all starts with a nutrient called vitamin D, or
Easter is an underrated holiday. When most people are asked to pick their favorite holiday, Christmas gets a ton of love, and dressing up on Halloween is tons of fun no matter your age. No one ever thinks of Easter first, despite everything that it has going for it! The Easter bunny is a great mascot, and the light blue, pink, and yellow color scheme is unique and iconic. Okay, Christmas might still be the best holiday, but Easter is still pretty cool, too. One of the best Easter traditions that deserves a bit more recognition is, of course, the egg hunt. Whether set up as a free-for-all at the park, or with specially selected baskets for different family members in the backyard, there are many different versions of the classic Easter egg hunt and plenty of room for creativity. Some are under the misconception that the annual egg hunt is only for the kids, but this doesn’t have to be the case! If your egg hunts are a bit too bland or easy for your kids, or if you’d like to ratchet up the competition a bit this year, here are some outside-the-box strategies and hiding spots that should
Optimism in the housing market among Gen Zers and millennials is on the rise thanks to mortgage rate drops from the Federal Reserve (per reports at Business Insider). While this is great news for those who have been waiting to jump into the housing market, people who are waiting for lower housing prices are likely to be disappointed as mortgage rates are just one piece of the puzzle. A lack of inventory and high demand mean that housing prices aren’t likely to see a substantial change anytime soon, so when is the right time for a new homebuyer to start looking? For many reasons, it might be this spring! The Housing Market is SeasonalIt’s no secret that the housing market is largely seasonal, especially in regions that see a large amount of snow. The hassle of moving during inclement weather obviously isn’t ideal, plus homebuyers can have an inaccurate view of what the home and its neighborhood even looks like if it’s covered in snow. Because of these factors, warm weather tends to bring the busiest time of the year for real estate agents – but this doesn’t necessarily mean summer is the best time for everyone to buy a
In the world of property inspections, one of the most common industry adages is “no home is perfect.” From excessive mold to roofs nearing the end of their lifespan, it’s a rare occasion when a home inspector walks through a home and doesn’t discover a substantial issue worth addressing before closing a sale. Homeowners across the country are undoubtedly thankful for the problems (both big and small) they became aware of thanks to their buyer’s inspection, but there’s one common misconception that leaves many new homeowners with avoidable headaches. The Misconception: New Homes Don’t Need Inspections Many home buyers mistakenly believe that if they’re buying a newly constructed home, they don’t need to order a home inspection. The truth is, brand new homes are not immune to major problems, issues that can accumulate into costly repairs down the road or lead to inconvenient downtime without key home systems functioning. To understand why new homes also benefit from a buyer’s inspection, let’s delve deeper into how a home is built and explore some of the common issues inspectors find in newly constructed houses. Inspections Throughout Construction Throughout a new home’s construction, building code inspectors employed by the city or municipality periodically
Everyone has run into mold from time to time in their bathrooms, in their kitchens, or around leaking appliances. While mold can actually come in many different colors and varieties, the dark fuzzy spots that crop up inside homes are usually easy to take care of without much issue, especially when addressed quickly. However, when left unaddressed, mold can damage and permanently discolor materials that they’ve attached to, as well as negatively impact the health of anyone in the home. In fact, according to healthcare professionals over on Healthline, overexposure to mold can lead to infection, lung inflammation, and other symptoms. Mold thrives in dark, moist, and warm environments, which means that issues in certain lesser trafficked areas of the home can easily get out of hand. If you experience any of the following, schedule a mold inspection to find the root of the problem: Homeowners can keep mold at bay by reducing humidity in their homes, maintaining good ventilation, and cleaning spills quickly. In addition, check and clean out these areas to cover some of mold’s best hiding spots inside the home: Contact your local NPI home inspector to schedule a mold inspection!
Whether you’re buying your first home or just brushing up on the process, this guide covers everything you need to know: what a home inspection is, what inspectors look for, and what to do once you get the report.
When working correctly, gutters direct rainwater off the roof and away from the foundation, preventing things like leaks, mold growth, wood rot, pest infestations, and basement or crawlspace seepage.
Because attics are rarely used, homeowners often overlook them entirely. Many become cluttered storage spaces, making access difficult and sometimes even dangerous.
While our homes have improved vastly in many ways, there are also a few misleading quirks in contemporary home design that can leave you scratching your head.
Homeowners commonly find icicles hanging off of their roofs and gutters, but most aren’t aware of the serious hazards they pose to themselves and their homes.
An older home feature that’s seeing some resurgence lately is the transom window, also known as transom lights or the rectangular/semicircular window situated above doors or other traditional windows. These windows were originally designed to feed natural light into homes at a height that still offered privacy, and many opened and closed for increased ventilation. These two innovations were greatly appreciated at the time because homes didn’t have artificial lighting or modern ventilation solutions that we enjoy today. While transom windows are now mostly sought after for their visual appeal, some of their past benefits could make them game changers in the modern home (hint: it’s not as a ventilation solution). More and more, scientists, psychologists, and homeowners alike are realizing the value of natural lighting as people spend more and more time indoors and out of the sun. Let’s discuss some of the impacts natural lighting has on our bodies, and how home designers are working to bring more of the sunshine inside. Why is Natural Lighting so Important?Natural lighting has a powerful impact on humans, their bodies, their minds, their overall health, and even their quality of sleep. This all starts with a nutrient called vitamin D, or
Easter is an underrated holiday. When most people are asked to pick their favorite holiday, Christmas gets a ton of love, and dressing up on Halloween is tons of fun no matter your age. No one ever thinks of Easter first, despite everything that it has going for it! The Easter bunny is a great mascot, and the light blue, pink, and yellow color scheme is unique and iconic. Okay, Christmas might still be the best holiday, but Easter is still pretty cool, too. One of the best Easter traditions that deserves a bit more recognition is, of course, the egg hunt. Whether set up as a free-for-all at the park, or with specially selected baskets for different family members in the backyard, there are many different versions of the classic Easter egg hunt and plenty of room for creativity. Some are under the misconception that the annual egg hunt is only for the kids, but this doesn’t have to be the case! If your egg hunts are a bit too bland or easy for your kids, or if you’d like to ratchet up the competition a bit this year, here are some outside-the-box strategies and hiding spots that should
Optimism in the housing market among Gen Zers and millennials is on the rise thanks to mortgage rate drops from the Federal Reserve (per reports at Business Insider). While this is great news for those who have been waiting to jump into the housing market, people who are waiting for lower housing prices are likely to be disappointed as mortgage rates are just one piece of the puzzle. A lack of inventory and high demand mean that housing prices aren’t likely to see a substantial change anytime soon, so when is the right time for a new homebuyer to start looking? For many reasons, it might be this spring! The Housing Market is SeasonalIt’s no secret that the housing market is largely seasonal, especially in regions that see a large amount of snow. The hassle of moving during inclement weather obviously isn’t ideal, plus homebuyers can have an inaccurate view of what the home and its neighborhood even looks like if it’s covered in snow. Because of these factors, warm weather tends to bring the busiest time of the year for real estate agents – but this doesn’t necessarily mean summer is the best time for everyone to buy a
In the world of property inspections, one of the most common industry adages is “no home is perfect.” From excessive mold to roofs nearing the end of their lifespan, it’s a rare occasion when a home inspector walks through a home and doesn’t discover a substantial issue worth addressing before closing a sale. Homeowners across the country are undoubtedly thankful for the problems (both big and small) they became aware of thanks to their buyer’s inspection, but there’s one common misconception that leaves many new homeowners with avoidable headaches. The Misconception: New Homes Don’t Need Inspections Many home buyers mistakenly believe that if they’re buying a newly constructed home, they don’t need to order a home inspection. The truth is, brand new homes are not immune to major problems, issues that can accumulate into costly repairs down the road or lead to inconvenient downtime without key home systems functioning. To understand why new homes also benefit from a buyer’s inspection, let’s delve deeper into how a home is built and explore some of the common issues inspectors find in newly constructed houses. Inspections Throughout Construction Throughout a new home’s construction, building code inspectors employed by the city or municipality periodically
Everyone has run into mold from time to time in their bathrooms, in their kitchens, or around leaking appliances. While mold can actually come in many different colors and varieties, the dark fuzzy spots that crop up inside homes are usually easy to take care of without much issue, especially when addressed quickly. However, when left unaddressed, mold can damage and permanently discolor materials that they’ve attached to, as well as negatively impact the health of anyone in the home. In fact, according to healthcare professionals over on Healthline, overexposure to mold can lead to infection, lung inflammation, and other symptoms. Mold thrives in dark, moist, and warm environments, which means that issues in certain lesser trafficked areas of the home can easily get out of hand. If you experience any of the following, schedule a mold inspection to find the root of the problem: Homeowners can keep mold at bay by reducing humidity in their homes, maintaining good ventilation, and cleaning spills quickly. In addition, check and clean out these areas to cover some of mold’s best hiding spots inside the home: Contact your local NPI home inspector to schedule a mold inspection!
