One of the main causes for fires starting in the home is faulty, outdated electrical wiring, and faulty electrical mains. As a homeowner it’s your duty to ensure your home is safe to live in for you and your family. One thing to be aware of is, if your home was built prior to 1975, it is possible aluminum wiring was used, which has a much higher risk of fire hazard then copper wiring.
Electrical fires are a dangerous threat to homeowners, in the UK alone, there has been more than 20,000 fires reported last year form electrical causes. The statistics show that at least 70 people died in the fire, and more than 300,000 were seriously injured due to electrical accidents in the home. Homeowners need to routinely check if the home is safe.
The times we are living in, shows more and more of us are using numerous electrical appliances in our homes. With more computers, toasters, microwaves, hair dryers, TVs and DVD players in the home than 20 years ago it has resulted in a major spike in accidental electrical fires.
If you are a homeowner, then the best option is to contact a home inspection company and request a professional home inspection service. A qualified inspector is able to evaluate the home’s electrical system and wiring. The home inspector could advise accordingly what steps to take next if updates are required.
We need electricity in our homes for obvious reasons, but we need to be careful in the way we use it. Try not overloading plug sockets, and any buzzing sounds, or smell of burning should never be ignored or overlooked.
Most electrical fires happen due to sockets being overloaded; other factors are faulty or broken products or products that are misused. If you fail to address any electrical problem, then the outcome can be devastating. You need to be smart, use your common sense, unplug cell chargers and other electronics when not in use.
Nowadays, insurance companies are holding back on writing new home policies, especially on homes that are over 25 years old. They will only offer insurance policies on homes over 25 years old if a four-point inspection has been carried out on it. If you want more insurance options, then you’ll need to find a home inspection company that provides a four-point inspection for insurance approval.
The four main areas that are covered in a four-point inspection are the roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical wiring that’s in place. As you can imagine, if a house is constructed over 25 years ago, then there is a very high chance it doesn’t meet current construction and building standards.
A four-point inspection covers these four areas and makes sure everything is safely up-to-code and in working order. A completed report includes the age and the condition of all four major areas in the home.
Insurance companies are well aware of resident claims on their home damages and contents. Today, insurance companies are stricter on what they are willing to insure. Older homes are simply higher risk of having to pay out a claim. That’s why insurance companies are requiring four-point inspections.
It gives a clear indication of what needs fixed, upgraded, or replaced, in an older home, and if it’s up to suitable standards. Unfortunately, this may leave a homeowner with a long repair list. If homeowners want insurance coverage, then the repairs are necessary.
Insurance companies are more liberal in the case of insuring newer built homes, as the property is deemed up to current safety standards. If you received a notice in the mail from your insurance company requiring that you submit a four-inspection, contact a local home inspection company for a free consultation.
There are many things that come with buying a home; there is a lot of attention needed in order for the home buying process to be a success. One of the main things that needs considered is the area of a home inspection service. A home inspection service is the best way to get a clear picture of the property you are looking to buy.
Today, we are going to discuss thermal imaging, what it is, and why it’s sometimes required during a home inspection service. In every case, unless you have some range of super powers, it’s impossible to see below the surface of the ground to correctly evaluate the condition of that area.
Thermal imaging is a professional and successful way of seeing below the surface. It also is a great way of highlighting any hidden or underlying issues of concern. Thermal imaging, when done correctly, detects mold, termite activity, faulty wiring, and it’s a more efficient way of finding the true conditions of any property. It picks up what the eye can’t see.
Thermal imaging is non-invasive and causes no damage to the property, hidden faults are easily detected, and then the inspector is able to advise you on repairs needed, and the best way to have them done.
Thermal imaging is great for energy audits, as it shows where the house is losing heat. The thermal imaging camera detects these areas easily. The ability to know where to fix air leaks, in the home, is invaluable as it can save you money on utility bills each month.
For a home needing a little more in-depth inspection services, then thermal imaging is the best way to go about getting the results that you need. It can assist you to make the best decision regarding that property.
Firstly, let’s take a look at what mold actually is, mold is part of the natural world and the surrounding environment. Outside the home, mold plays a vital part in the breakdown of organic matter such as rotten dead wood, leaves, and other commonly found organic matter.
Now, it is perfectly fine for mold to do its job outside the home, but it is not natural for it to be doing its job inside your home. The thing with mold is it reproduces at an alarmingly fast rate; tiny spores from the mold become airborne, pass through the air in your home, and on wet surface to reproduce. Breathing in these invisible spores, spread throughout the air, into the lungs, causes health risks.
If there is a high presence of mold, in your home, then you need to get a home inspection company to inspect your property and evaluate the infected area. As well as, look for further mold presence in and around your home.
Mold poses a real threat to your health and can be the cause of serious respiratory conditions. Not only does mold pose a serious threat to you and your family members, it also can cause serious structural damage costing thousands of dollars in repairs on your house.
If you are in anyway concerned about the presence of mold in your home, then hire a licensed & qualified home inspector and request a mold inspection. A professional mold inspection includes a thorough visual inspection of the affected area and any other areas the mold may have spread. As example, it might spread to the HVAC, crawl spaces, any damp patches on walls, ceiling, and around windows, each area would be evaluated.
In nearly all (except special circumstance) mold can be effectively treated and eradicated, leaving your home free from the bacterial spores that cause it to grow. Again, if you are concerned about mold, no matter how small it may seem, get in touch with a professional home inspection company and have checked out today.
When the time comes to sell your home, it can be quite a nervy time. As you probably know, most homebuyers will be attending in person with their own hired home inspector. So, it’s best if you are the seller of the home you are well prepared and ready for any home inspection that is to take place.
Before any home inspection takes place make sure that you do the rounds in your home. Any appliances that currently not working need to have a note attached to them stating it is not operating properly, and you are in the process of getting it repaired. You don’t want to try and fool any inspector or potential buyer by hiding broken appliances.
This only results in making you look dishonest and that you are trying to pull the wool over their eyes. Honesty and integrity is the key here.
Make sure that certain areas in the home are accessible, such as, open attic doors, crawl spaces, etcetera. Take the time to move what needs to be moved so the home can be inspected with ease. You don’t want the inspector filing in his report that he/she had to move your stuff around to carry out their duties.
Keep your floors clean and rooms tidied. You don’t want dirty laundry everywhere and your personal items lying around, it makes the property look unkempt. If you have a pet, it is recommended that it not be present at the time of inspection. Buyers can easily be put off by barking dogs and the stench of cat litter trays. You want those interested in purchasing the home to have a pleasant experience during the home tour.
As mentioned above, it’s important to prepare your home; you need to know that the home inspector is not the bad guy attempting to present you with a checklist of problems you never knew about, or tried to hide. Again, honesty and integrity are an integral part to aiding a positive house sale.
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