Which Fixes are Mandatory After a Home Inspection?

Selling Your House.

It’s been a long journey, but you finally have an over, “pending inspection”. After that’s done, it should be all systems go, right? Unfortunately, it’s not quite so easy. And why would it be, considering both sides are working to protect an investment that most often represents several decades of loan payments and interest. So how should you handle it when the report comes back with a laundry list of items, some of which leave you scratching your head? Which fixes are mandatory after a home inspection?

A ”Second Opinion” Inspection

First of all, remember that you can always contract a licensed professional inspector to perform a ” second opinion” inspection. This is in your best interest, as it’s your only effective tactic to refute any questionable findings stated in the previous report. Furthermore, should negotiations ultimately fall apart, it will give you a better idea of which items are truly in need of repair before the next round of potential buyers shuffle through.

Which Fixes are Mandatory After a Home Inspection?

When selling a house, you are liable to fix “warranted” items. That is, items such as HVAC, plumbing and electricity, considered necessary for habitation. Most often, you will also want to fix items determined to fail to meet local building and safety codes and standards, such as improperly installed appliances, insufficient attic insulation and faulty outlets. This is another area where claims made by an inspector hired by the interested party can be challenged. Simply call the city to discuss the matter, and the city’s building inspector can come out to resolve the issue in person.

Proactive Inspection & Treatment

Finally, problems with major structural systems will need to be addressed as well. That means any apparent issues with your foundation or roof are under heavy suspicion. When it comes to that leaking roof you had fixed 3 winters ago, but never got around to replacing the plaster on the ceiling, you’re probably facing a bit of an uphill battle. And speaking of uphill battles - there’s no greater mystery when it comes to the discovery of termite trails. In both cases, proactive inspection and treatment before a potential buyer comes along is the ideal way to handle the problem.

No House is Perfect

In the end, no house is perfect. Nobody realistically expects the seller to respond to an inspection report as a verbatim to-do list as a condition of sale. It’s up to you and the interested party to decide which items you can compromise on, and which items are deal breakers. This is where the advice of a knowledgeable professional can save the sale.

At From the Ground Up Inspections,

We’re there for you. We can help you sift through the issues, determine which items are priorities, and which are acceptable to ask the buyer to cover. Having an expert you can count on to help you make these decisions can make the difference between negotiations that dissolve at the table, and solidly informed decisions that help both parties reach a deal they can be happy with. If you need a “second opinion” inspection, or any other kind of Middle Tennessee home inspection, give us a call at From the Ground Up Home Inspections. To learn more about our services, prices or to schedule an appointment, call (615) 351-1922.

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For info on special offers & updates, click here:  http://www.homeinspectionsmurfreesborotn.com/

5 Steps to Last-Minute Home Winterization:

Time to Winterize!

It’s getting colder every day. Is your home ready? If not, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Just follow our handy list of the top 5 steps to last-minute home winterization. Your home will be ready to stand strong against those frigid wintry winds in no time.

1. THE YARD

Clean & cover
• Outdoor air conditioning unit
• Outdoor furniture (or store indoors)
• Lawn & garden equipment & supplies
• Empty gasoline tanks
• Reseal deck
• Trim or remove tree branches
• Rake, aerate and mulch lawn

2. CHECK WINDOWS & DOORS

• Ensure all shut properly
• Inspect for drafts, cracks, or holes
• Recaulk & apply weatherstripping as needed
• Replace screens with storm windows (as desired)
• Replace faulty windows & doors with new, high-efficiency models

3. CHECK THE ROOF

• Inspect for torn, broken or missing tiles or shingles, holes, or other damage
• Clean & check gutters
• Call roofing professional immediately if major problems found

4. HVAC MAINTENANCE

• Change filters
• Schedule professional check-up & cleaning
• Never run heater lower than 55 degrees.

5. PLUMBING TLC

• Check all exposed pipes for adequate insulation
• Drain the sprinkler system
• Shut down the pool
• Open cabinet doors and turn faucets to a slow drip during freezing temps

At From the Ground Up Inspections, We’re here for You.

Having an expert you can count on makes all the difference. For all your Middle Tennessee home inspection needs, contact From the Ground Up Inspections. To learn more about our services, prices or to schedule an appointment, call (615) 351-1922. We look forward to serving you!

For info on special offers & updates, click here:  http://www.homeinspectionsmurfreesborotn.com/

What Are VOCs in the Home?

What are VOCs?

VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. Doesn’t necessarily sound like something you want to have in abundance in the place where you live and breathe, does it? VOCs are carbon-based chemicals found in everyday items that typically evaporate at room temperature. An abundance of VOCs in the home can have a dramatically damaging effect on your indoor air quality, leading to something called “Sick Building Syndrome”. Poor indoor air quality can be a very serious, health-threatening issue. Some people are very sensitive to VOCs, experiencing headaches, nausea, or other effects from exposure. Especially susceptible to the risks are pregnant women and those with respiratory issues, as VOCs in the home are a frequent cause of indoor asthma attacks.

Dangerous indoor levels

It’s not uncommon to smell high levels of particular VOCs, such as the smell of a new car, house paint, or certain types of flooring. Yet, odor is not an accurate indication of the level of risk associated with inhaling these chemicals. While all VOCs have to potential to be harmful, a select number commonly found in the home are particularly dangerous. Among the most dangerous are formaldehyde, benzene, and phenol. These agents are classified as Hazardous Air Pollutants by the U.S. EPA. Inside the home, concentration levels can become more than 100 times their levels outdoors.

7 Ways to Fight VOCs in the Home

1. Create ventilation

• Use a ceiling fan
• Open windows (weather permitting)

2. Say no to carpeting

• Carpet fibers & carpet pads a primary culprit
• Use a top performance HEPA vacuum cleaner when carpet is present

3. Fill your home with live plants

• Green plants are a natural air purifier capable of filtering more than 85% of common indoor chemical toxins every 24 hours & eliminating dust particles by 20%

4. Use VOC-free paint interior wall paint

• The average wall paint contains acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, among the most dangerous VOCs.
• Use a VOC-encapsulating primer to seal previously existing paint.

5. Give new furniture and decorative items an outdoor off-gassing period

• Allow new items ample time to off-gas outdoors before bringing them inside your home.
• Recommended period is at least 24 hours, but the longer the better.
• An open garage is an alternative in poor weather conditions.
• Focus on anything known to contain VOCs or with a chemical odor.
• Resist purchasing affordable MDF (pressed wood) furniture

6. Discontinue use of chemically laden scented home products

• Most widely available air fresheners and candles are made with harmful VOCs shown to create serious health risks for children and adults.

7. Use an air purifier

• Multiples are preferred, especially in highest use areas of the home.

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Contact  From the Ground Up Inspections today

For all your Middle Tennessee home inspection needs, contact From the Ground Up Inspections. To learn more about our services, prices or to schedule an appointment, call (615) 351-1922. We look forward to serving you!

For info on special offers & updates, click here:  http://www.homeinspectionsmurfreesborotn.com/

Red Flag or Red Herring?

Don’t go it alone

When you’re thinking of buying a home with more than one previous owner, there are many variables to consider. It can be daunting to pursue the purchase of any property, particularly because there is no real assurance that all of the building’s history is known, let alone shared in a disclosure report. When you’re facing what may possibly be the largest financial investment of your life, you don’t want to go it alone.

What’s the extent of the damage?

For example, what does it mean when you happen to stumble upon painted sheathing and rafters in the attic space of a building? Typically, the presence of paint upon portions of an unfinished attic is a telltale sign of previous fire damage. A shellac based paint is used to seal the charred wood in order to prevent the escape of noxious odors resulting from fire damage. But how can you be sure that the level of damage sustained in the fire has been properly addressed, especially when the current owner seems to have no knowledge of a fire event in the history of the home?

Red flag or red herring?

For many potential home buyers, this is a clear deal breaker. But it doesn’t have to be. That’s a key benefit of hiring an experienced professional home inspector. There are certain issues that may read as red flags to the average home buyer. However, upon closer inspection with a professional, what had initially appeared to be a red flag may be revealed to be a true red herring - leaving you face to face with a rare hidden gem. Wouldn’t it be great to be so…..lucky? No, the word is smart.

Contact From the Ground Up Inspections

When it comes to smart decisions, an experienced, licensed building inspector knows where to look and what to look for. That’s why calling From the Ground Up Inspections may be the smartest decision you ever make. We promise to dig deep to ensure you know what you are getting into with your purchase - from the ground up! Contact From the Ground Up Inspections for all your Middle Tennessee home inspection needs. To learn more about our services, prices or to schedule an appointment, call (615) 351-1922.

For info on special offers & updates, click here:  http://www.homeinspectionsmurfreesborotn.com/

Got Mold?

Bad News for a Home Buyer or Seller

Moisture in a poorly sealed home generally means one thing: mold. There are many reasons a home can develop a moisture problem - including a brand new home being sealed too tightly! That’s bad news for a home seller or buyer, and news that you are far better served to have upfront. The sooner you discover  moisture intrusion in your home, the better. Early detection allows for the source of the moisture to be quickly addressed, thereby eliminating future growth of mold and further damage to your property.

Finding Mold in the Home

Mold is easily visible upon the typically white walls and ceiling of a home. High humidity, meaning anything at or above 60% the relative humidity mark, can often be detected in a room, such as a bathroom or a basement storage closet. This is the humidity level at which mildew, or mold, forms, and the scent of mildew is pretty hard to miss. Other places mold is commonly found include spaces near vents, beneath windows, sinks or in the vicinity of HVAC equipment. But what about dangerous mold that lies in less perceptible places within the home?

From the Ground Up Inspections Knows Mold

When it comes to mold, an experienced, licensed building inspector knows where to look and what to look for - including which molds are more likely to be toxic. At From the Ground Up Inspections, we are proud of our experience and reputation. We promise to dig deep to ensure you know what you are getting into with your purchase - from the ground up! Contact From the Ground Up Inspections for all your Middle Tennessee home inspection needs. To learn more about our services, prices or to schedule an appointment, call (615) 351-1922.

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For info on special offers & updates, click here:  http://www.homeinspectionsmurfreesborotn.com/

5 Key Areas to Inspect When Shopping for a Home

House Shopping Overwhelming       

When you’re in the market for a new home, there’s so much to information to absorb that it can be a bit overwhelming at times. Each house is very different, and brings a whole new set of questions to be asked and answered. Just in case you’re having trouble formulating those initial questions, we’ve put together this handy reference of the 5 key areas to inspect when shopping for a home, just for you!

5 Key Areas to Inspect

1. FOUNDATION

When it comes to being smart when shopping for a home, the foundation is a very smart place to start. The state of a home’s foundation is possibly the most important consideration for potential homebuyers. A foundation with large, obvious cracks, and/or a moisture problem is likely to need expensive repairs in the very near future. Be sure to consider carefully.

2. ROOF

It’s a vicious cycle. Roofing leaks lead to water damage, mold growth, and can also lead to roofing system failure as well as foundation moisture problems. Sounds expensive and dangerous, doesn’t it? It’s often said that a home is only as good as it’s roof. We tend to agree. Always check carefully.

3. HVAC (Heating & Cooling)

Most HVAC systems have a projected life expectancy of between 10 and 20 years. This can vary greatly, particularly dependent upon how well they’ve been maintained. HVAC repair or replacement can be very costly, and occasionally, a deal breaker. That’s why you want to be sure that this is one area you cover well.

4. PLUMBING

The telltale signs of plumbing problems are primarily visual leaks or the sight of corrosion and/or water stains beneath the cabinets, upon ceilings, and warped floors.  Another top 5 area for pre-sale home inspection priority, overlooked plumbing issues can break the unsuspecting new homeowner’s bank.

5. ELECTRICAL

Undisclosed and undiscovered electrical problems can also have very serious ramifications. Be especially wary of “vintage” electrical systems and those that have clearly been installed by an overzealous DIY’er. Hanging wires and cables are a solid red flag that should stop you - or any home inspector - in their tracks.

No one wants to wind up with a money pit!

As you can see, the potential for costly oversight, should an important issue in any of these 5 areas be overlooked, is very high. That’s the biggest benefit of having of an experienced professional home inspector working for you. After all, no one wants to wind up with a money pit on their hands. You need as much good, solid information as possible to help inform your decision-making. After all, for most Americans, their home is the largest dollar investment they will make in their entire life.

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Contact  From the Ground Up Inspections today

We are proud of our experience and reputation, and will dig deep to ensure you know what you are getting into with your purchase! Contact From the Ground Up Inspections for all your Middle Tennessee home inspection needs! To learn more about our services, prices or to schedule an appointment, call (615) 351-1922.

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For info on special offers & updates, click here:  http://www.homeinspectionsmurfreesborotn.com/