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Carson Dunlop Acquires National Property Inspections, Inc.

April 4, 2022

National Property Inspections, Inc. is pleased to announce that Carson Dunlop has recently acquired our organization. In this exciting development, Carson Dunlop and NPI are slated to become the preeminent provider of inspection and inspection-related services in North America. “I have long admired the strength of the Carson Dunlop brand and am thrilled to join forces to further accelerate growth at NPI,” said Roland Bates, founder of NPI. “I am extremely proud of the business we’ve built over the last 35 years and am enthusiastic about the future. Becoming part of Carson Dunlop will be an exciting new chapter for us and I look forward to continuing to support the NPI franchise system in my new role.” I have long admired the strength of the Carson Dunlop brand and am thrilled to join forces to further accelerate growth at NPI. I am extremely proud of the business we’ve built over the last 35 years and am enthusiastic about the future. Becoming part of Carson Dunlop will be an exciting new chapter for us and I look forward to continuing to support the NPI franchise system in my new role. Roland BatesFounder of National Property Inspections, Inc. Carson Dunlop has been

Your Spring Starting Guide to Vegetable Gardens

March 28, 2022

Spring is back again! With the excitement of the new season comes inspiration for projects around your home. If you’re looking for a way to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather, then a vegetable garden is just what you need. Choosing Where to Plant Deciding on a spot to start your vegetable garden is the first step. If you’ve never done a garden before, you may be unsure about where to start. Before you break ground, study your yard. Watch the way the sun and shadows move around, how water flows, and what type of soil your yard mainly consists of. Once you’ve picked a spot that provides the perfect balance, measure out your plot. For beginners, it’s best to start small so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Picking Your Vegetables Now comes the time to decide what to plant. Some of the easiest plants are carrots, zucchinis, tomatoes, green beans, and beets. To avoid wasting plants and money, choose vegetables you typically eat in the correct amount for your family (this quick guide can help you calculate how many of each to plant). Bonus tip: You’ll save money by choosing plants that your local grocer doesn’t always stock. If

10 Items to Add to Your Home Toolbox

March 21, 2022

If you’ve been a homeowner for some time, chances are you already have a well-put-together toolkit. In fact, you may have already used it a few times on your own renovations and repairs. If you’re wanting to expand your tool stockpile, here are 10 items that will make any future projects a breeze. Headlamp or Magnetic Tool Light Trying to juggle a flashlight and your tools is a hassle and can even be dangerous. With a headlamp, you don’t have to worry about fumbling for the right tool while you’re working. You just slide it on and voila! You’re free to move about and illuminate your workspace. You can also get a magnetic tool light. These tend to be a bit brighter than a headlamp, so they’re really useful in the darkest parts of your home. Telescoping Mirror Can’t quite see around or underneath what you’re fixing? A telescoping mirror will give you the angle you need. You’ll be able to see if there are any nails or wires before sticking your hand in. Mirrors like this are usually cheap, so they’re definitely a great investment. OrganizersAs you add to your toolkit, things may become a bit cluttered. Searching for

How to DIY a Built-In Bookshelf

March 14, 2022

Have you been wondering about what to do with that stack of novels? A built-in bookshelf may just be your solution! It can provide you with a place to store your books out of the way and make them easier to grab. You’ll also have a great conversation piece for your next get together. Tools You’ll Need You may find yourself needing some additional materials if you want a more elaborate shelving style, but in general, here’s what you’ll need: If you buy your boards pre-cut, you may not need the saws, and of course you can always use a hammer in lieu of a nail gun. Measure Your Project Measuring is always the most important first step before you start sawing and nailing away at your project. With either some tape or a carpenter’s pencil, mark an outline of the area you’ll be building in. Measure away from any moulding so you don’t miscalculate and end up having to start all over. You’ll have to remove moulding or baseboards that are in the way, so keep that in mind when choosing a location for your bookshelf. Mark Out Your Supports To make your bookshelf a “built-in” you need to

What an Energy Audit Can Do for You

March 7, 2022

The average household spends over $2,000 a year on energy expenses. If you fall into the average, or even find yourself surpassing it), you’re ready to start saving money. One way that you can decrease your usage and spending is by having an energy audit performed. Benefits of an Energy Audit You probably already know the biggest benefit of an energy audit– saving yourself money. But there are other positives you may not have thought of. You’ll also be able to save your appliances, mainly your HVAC system, from wearing out as quickly. You may even find yourself living more comfortably without having to constantly fight your HVAC. What Kinds of Homes Should Get an Audit? It’s a given that most older homes don’t hold up as well as when they were first built, so it’s no surprise they can eventually become an energy sinkhole. Older frames tend to split, and this can allow for a higher amount of intrusion from the outside air. Even if your house is brand new or recently remodeled, there can still be defects within the construction that hinder its efficiency. That’s why it pays to have an energy audit so that you can catch

How to Easily Clean Your Showerhead

February 28, 2022

There are lots of little things that can get overlooked when you clean your home. One item you may not have touched in a while is your showerhead. Here’s how you can clean your showerheads this weekend in just a few minutes. Importance of a Clean Showerhead There are a few good reasons that you should regularly clean your showerhead. Cleaning will help keep your showerhead working for longer. Over time, showerheads can succumb to mineral buildup, especially if you have hard water. This not only looks unpleasant, but can limit the effectiveness of the head. Mold and grime can also start to collect inside the head and on the nozzles, which can be harmful to your health. When You Should Replace Your Showerhead You may find that even a deep cleaning won’t fix your dirty showerhead. In this case, it’s best to just go ahead and buy a new one. You should be replacing your showerhead every seven months anyway, but not everyone remembers to. It can also be time to replace if the nozzles get damaged and the water is plugged. Scrub the Nozzles First, you’ll want to scrape off whatever gunk has accumulated on the nozzles. This

Caring for Your Leather Furniture

February 21, 2022

Leather furniture can be the perfect piece to tie any room together. And while leather is usually more durable, it can get worn down from excessive use. Luckily, a little bit of TLC will keep your couch or chair looking great even longer! Cuts and Scratches If you have pets or small children, your furniture may have lots of small cuts in it. The good news is that they’re fairly easy to repair. If the scratch hasn’t completely punctured the material, all you need is some high quality leather conditioner. Start by cleaning the surface and then wait for it to dry. Then continually apply the conditioner until the leather can’t absorb it. Let the last coat sit until it’s dry, and most of the cuts should disappear. Peeling or Flaking It’s not uncommon for blended leather to start flaking off after a while. Although you might opt to just replace the piece, you can get a few more years out of it. First, remove any loose flakes that are on the furniture. Then use either a leather paint or leather filler to fill in the area left behind. Seal it off with a coat of finish and let it

Easy Decor Tips to “Grow” a Small Room

February 14, 2022

Decorating your home can sometimes require a bit of a magic touch. For those smaller spaces, you may need a bit more magic than normal. Here are some tricks to make that otherwise cramped part of your home grow big! Go with one color scheme. Picking the right paint combination for your room makes all the difference. When deciding, try to avoid using multiple colors of varying shades. Instead, just stick with two colors of stark contrast like white and a dark blue. The difference in hues will create better depth and give the illusion that the room has more space. Also try to avoid using different patterns and wallpapers, as they have the opposite effect and make it seem smaller. Limit the amount of clutter. The key to making a room seem like it has a lot of space is to actually keep the floor open. Having multiple pieces of large furniture or even a lot of smaller pieces quickly clutters things up. Try to keep your design simple and only use one or two larger items and a handful of smaller accent pieces. You’ll also need to get creative with your storage space. Using built-in hidden cabinets and

Planning a Romantic At-Home Valentine’s Day Date

February 7, 2022

Valentine’s Day is coming soon, and you may be feeling the pressure to put on the perfect evening for your special someone. However, that perfect evening can be a mess if you fail to snag dinner reservations in time or you’re stressing about outdoing yourself from last year. If you want to save yourself from scrambling around at the last minute and still give a gift from the heart, here’s how you can have the perfect date night without ever leaving your home! Put on your chef’s hat and apron. There’s nothing quite like a full heart (and stomach) that comes from a delicious home-cooked meal. Recreate a meal from one of your favorite restaurants, or try out something new. You definitely don’t have to be the most skilled cook either. You might be surprised at how fun it can be to sharpen your culinary skills and make a meal for the person you love. Channel your inner Bob Ross. From showcasing your artistry in the kitchen to showing it on the canvas, go ahead and break out the paint brushes and easels. There are tons of tutorials on YouTube that you can follow to create a masterpiece. You can

Is Solar Worth It?

January 31, 2022

Solar panels have started to gain popularity not just for big businesses, but also for individual homeowners. Almost 4 percent of all U.S. homes and 3 percent in Canada are powered or will be powered by solar panels in 2022. The benefits of a lower energy bill and reducing your carbon footprint has made the switch to solar an easy decision. If you’ve thought about changing your energy supply, there are some things you should consider. How does solar power work? Believe it or not, solar power has existed since the 1950s. But its high price point kept most people from purchasing it for personal use. Thanks to scientific advancements the cost has dropped substantially and they’re higher quality as well. Photovoltaic panels are designed specifically for residential use. The cells in the panel collect the sun’s photons, creating an electric field and eventually flowing to the appliances you’re using. How many panels will you need? How much energy a panel can put out is measured in Watts and called the “theoretical output.” While a panel may be rated for a certain wattage, they don’t use all of the energy they collect. The actual output or “capacity factor” is typically