Benefits of Selling Your Home in the Winter

If you are one of the many people who have a need to sell your home during the winter months, and yes even during the holiday season, don’t be dismayed. Although it typically is best to sell a home during the spring and summer months, certainly selling your home in the winter months has a few benefits as well. It may be a bit discouraging to think about scheduling visits to your home from potential buyers in the midst of a chilling winter season and during your holiday festivities but indeed it can be done.

Though the mere thought of going through the hassles of selling your home during the holidays is frightening, the truth is that there are actually benefits to this timeline.

Benefits of Selling Your Home in the Winter Months

The folks here at From the Ground Up Inspections are every bit familiar with the elements of selling a house as we are with the important elements of performing a home inspection. Our experts here recognize that for many people, selling their home in the winter time is a challenging thought, but we thought we would share some insight with you as to the benefits that present themselves when selling your home during the holidays and in the winter time.

To begin with, as we all know, in the spring time the market for houses gets flooded with activity which means that every home for sale is just ‘another home for sale.’ However, if you choose to or need to sell your home in the winter then chances are you will have pretty much of the entire market to yourself. Anyone in search of a home during this timeframe is apt to take notice of your house for sale since the number of houses available during the winter months is very minimal. With that said, you have a greater chance of selling your home quickly since the market is not overrun with activity at this time.

In addition, the potential buyers are desperate to make a purchase and will ultimately jump all over any houses that are for sale in the months of December, January and February. Statistics tell us that homes that are listed in the winter tend to sell within a few months and have a minimal presence in the market as compared to homes sold in the spring, summer or fall which means that winter sellers tend to get better results than those houses listed during other times of the year.

Finally, if you think about it, if someone is out and about in the frigid winter weather in search of a home, then surely they are serious about buying. More often than not, buyers in the winter months are working up against some type of a definite deadline to buy. Perhaps they have a lease that is running out, are relocating due to a job, or they were selling their own home and now have a buyer in place.

If you are listing your home in the winter months, then we here at From the Ground Up Inspections hope that our insight has offered you some peace of mind about your home sale. And don’t forget, when its time for the inspection of your home, be certain to reach out to our friendly professional staff for all your inspection needs. Our inspectors are all licensed and certified and committed to providing superior services to all our valued clients. Yes, it’s winter and the holidays are upon us. From our little family here at From the Ground Up Inspections to your family, we send along wishes for a healthy, safe and Merry Christmas and holiday season.

Attic Fans and Winter Ice Dams

Winter is certainly a challenging time of year from severe storms, icy driving conditions, and even ice dams that cause a great deal of problems and costly repairs. Icicles that are hanging over the edges of your home’s roof are beautiful to look at in the wintertime, but when they begin to melt and water gets trapped behind the ice, then the water can leak into your home causing all sorts of problems. Ice dams truly create dangerous conditions and damages to your home that require costly repairs.

What Causes Ice Dams?

The three primary causes of ice dams are insufficient insulation in the attic, poor attic ventilation, and/or air leaks in the attic. If homeowners are wise enough to resolve these three issues long before the cold winter months set in then the probability of ice dams forming is little to none. Attic ventilation is a very important component of every home and is required by code, but it is important that you have the appropriate amount of attic ventilation in order to keep the attic cool but not too cold. Typically, when there is appropriate insulation in an attic and there are no air leaks, the amount of ventilation required to keep the attic cold enough is minimal.

The experts here at From the Ground Up Inspections have encountered many a homeowner who believes that inadequate attic ventilation is the ultimate cause of their troublesome ice dams, which leads them to attempt all kinds of absurd solutions for increasing air flow in their attics. With that said, we would advise homeowners to look into attic fans that are specifically made for attic ventilation and not try to implement their own do it yourself solution to the problem. In addition to these attic ventilation fans, there are also solar powered fans that are available on the market today that greatly contribute to proper ventilation in your home’s attic.

We strongly suggest, however, that, while attic fans will accomplish the task of sucking air out of your attic, they present yet another problem – replacement of the air into the attic. If you install attic fans and they remove the air out of the attic, then you have to ask yourself where the air will come from that should be replaced back into the attic. Many times this air will come from attic leaks and surely if your home has a problem with ice dams, then much of this replaced air flow will come from attic leaks.

When ice dams are present, it is critical that homeowners give primary attention to fixing their abundant air leaks and installing sufficient insulation into their attics. Once you are able to seal off all the leaks and have installed appropriate insulation you will find that you have resolved the issue of ice dams. Therefore, the professionals here at From the Ground Up Inspections do not think it necessary to purchase attic fans nor should you use existing attic fans, but rather have them removed and add proper ventilation to avoid any ongoing problems with ice dams and install appropriate insulation as well.

Though many homeowners have been led to believe that attic fans are an absolute plus, whether in the winter or summer months, they are truly not effective nor efficient at all and are not the best possible solution by any means. In the winter months, as we have suggested above, sealing off any leaks, installing adequate insulation and ensuring proper ventilation in your attic are a sure fire solution to all your ice dams and water leak problems this winter. When performing home inspections, we certainly give attention to the condition and overall presence of the attic and ensure that there are no air leaks and that proper ventilation and insulation are in place. As inspectors, we certainly know much about the topic at hand and are happy to share our knowledge and advice with all our clients, old and new.

What Does An Inspector Look for in Your Attic

Often buyers ask inspectors to visually look for weaknesses and issues in their attic so they can have an advantage when negotiating a sale price on a house. With that said, when you are preparing to sell your house never neglect the importance of having an inspector perform a thorough inspection of your attic. Remembering that seller disclosures are vital to the overall process, it is critical that you call upon the highly skilled and experienced inspectors here at From the Ground Up Inspections to handle all your home inspections including a thorough examination of what is in your attic.

Quality Services We Provide

When you contact our friendly and professional inspectors to examine your attic, here are some of the important things we will examine while performing our inspection.

Structural Damage - Signs of structural damage are one of the very first things that we will notice when examining your attic. We typically look for such structural issues as damage to trusses and rafters, wood quality, and deterioration of construction and lumber.

Fire Damage - If any rafters in your attic are of a color other than that of natural wood typically this means that there may have been a fire at one time or another. Soot, black wood, and scorched wood also indicate that there was absolutely a fire at some time in the past.

Moisture and Water Damages – Our inspectors will be particularly interested in determining whether or not there is any moisture present in the attic. If there is moisture present, it can be an indication that there is an issue with the house ventilation system. In addition, the stain color on the wood will help determine if there has been any water damage in the past. We will also look for the presence of condensation around the pipes which will cause the wood structure to decay over time.

Attic Insulation – Our inspectors will be certain that there is proper insulation in the attic, which will minimize both heating and cooling costs during the summer and winter months. We will determine whether or not your insulation is adequate and we will calculate the approximate airflow resistance factor keeping in mind that the greater the value the higher the insulation factor is.

Pests and Critters – Our inspectors will be on the look out for even the tiniest fecal pellet which will confirm that there are pests or critters in your attic. Rodents will typically enter into the attic through either loose boards or eaves. They will many times leave gnawing marks on wires, insulation and wood in your attic and are more often than not, very easy to detect.

Termites – Our inspectors are also keen enough to determine if there is any structural damage in an attic that is the result of termites.

Contact Our Team of Experts Today

If you find yourself in need of a professional and extremely reliable house inspection, then certainly you have come to the right place. The experts here at From the Ground Up Inspections have years of experience and are qualified to perform an in depth examination and inspection of your house and point out any areas that need attention and improvements. At From the Ground Up Inspections we are committed and dedicated to providing the most superior services to all our valued clients. We strive to deliver services that are unmatched by our competitors and at prices that are both practical and affordable.

Don’t waste a moment longer. Contact us today and let our team of certified inspectors take a closer look at what’s in your attic. We are confident you will find complete satisfaction in not only our services and our prices, but in the friendliness and professionalism of our qualified inspectors as well.

Contact From the Ground Up Inspections
From the Ground Up Home Inspections always performs a thorough Home inspection, will clearly communicate their findings to you, along with providing you with a detailed report. For all your Middle Tennessee home inspection needs, From the Ground Up Inspections offers professional experience you can count on. To learn more about our services, prices or to schedule an appointment, contact From the Ground Up Inspections at (615) 351-1922. We look forward to helping you!

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

Selling a Home – What to do before your Home Inspection is Performed

For those homeowners who are preparing to sell their homes, we here at From the Ground Up Inspections have some helpful information to offer so that your inspection will be performed faster and more smoothly.  These simple tips will contribute to a more thorough inspection of your home and one that will be performed quicker and more efficiently.  Your home inspection is a critical step in your selling process.  It is a very competitive market out there, therefore it is important to realize that you can actually speed up your home inspection and even have a closing on your home much sooner than you think if only you abide by these simple instructions either on or the day before your inspection is performed.

TIPS TO MAKE YOUR HOME INSPECTION FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENT

1.     Make certain that all your utilities - water, gas and electric are on and that any gas pilot lights are burning.

2.     Prior to the actual inspection make a point to replace any bulbs that may be burnt out.  This simple act will avoid any comments that suggest there may be some sort of an electrical problem because the light did not come on. 

3.     Make sure that your agent and the inspector are aware of any pets you may have.  Also, make certain that your pets will not interfere with the inspection.  Perhaps you can secure them outside of the home until the inspection is completed.

4.     Check your HVAC system and clean or replace any filters that have a need.  In addition, be certain that all filters are the appropriate size and fit securely.

5.     Replace the batteries in your smoke detector or your carbon monoxide detectors before the inspector arrives to ensure that when tested, they both work effectively and efficiently without any mishaps.

6.     Also with regard to your HVAC system, make certain that there are no obstacles blocking the HVAC equipment.  In addition, remove any items that may be blocking access to your electric service panels, as well as your water heaters, your attics and crawl spaces.  This will surely save a great deal of time during the inspection.

7.     It only makes sense to unlock any areas that the inspector may need to access such as electric service panels, attic or crawl space doors, hatches, fence gates or closets of any type.

8.     Remove any stored items or any type of wood from the foundation since these types of items are considered “conducive conditions” for termites. 

9.     Do a walk through the home and give attention to or replace any broken or missing items such as doorknobs, locks, windows that stick, windowpanes, screens and locks on windows and doors, gutters and downspouts, and chimneys and chimney caps. 

10.  Trim any tree limbs you may have hanging near to or over the house to 10’ from the roof and trim any shrubs or bushes to allow easy access into your home.

BETTER INSPECTION RESULTS

Taking the time to check these specific elements and perform each one prior to the home inspection will certainly make your inspection report much better and more concise, and surely an excellent inspection report contributes to a more successful sale of your home.  And don’t forget, when you are ready to have a home inspection performed on your home reach out to the outstanding inspectors here at From the Ground Up Inspections and let us handle your simple and fast inspection walk-through and deliver the results you need.  Contact us today.  We so look forward to serving you.

Contact From the Ground Up Inspections
From the Ground Up Home Inspections always performs a thorough Home inspection, will clearly communicate their findings to you, along with providing you with a detailed report. For all your Middle Tennessee home inspection needs, From the Ground Up Inspections offers professional experience you can count on. To learn more about our services, prices or to schedule an appointment, contact From the Ground Up Inspections at (615) 351-1922. We look forward to helping you!

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

Don't Forget that Well Inspection

There are many homes on the market today that get their drinking water from private wells.  It is important when buying a home to make certain that the water in the well is safe for you and your family to drink.  There are some health risks that come into play from well water which is why it is critical to have the well inspected to make certain it is not only up to standards, but safe and capable of providing safe drinking water for your family.

At From the Ground Up Inspections, our trained and highly skilled inspectors are committed and dedicated to providing all our Murfreesboro clients, old and new, with top of the line, effective and efficient inspection services.  Since private wells are not subject to EPA standards, it is important that consumers in the market to buy a home with a well contract a home inspector to perform a thorough well inspection and determine if it is properly protected and maintained and equipped to provide only safe drinking water.

Varied Types of Wells

There are basically three different types of private water wells - a dug well, a driven well and a drilled well.  The proper construction of a well and continued maintenance of the well is key to the overall safety of the water supply.  Our highly experienced inspectors when performing our inspection of the water system can provide potential home buyers with information on the overall well construction.  We check to be certain that the well is located so that rainwater will flow away from it since rain water can contract bacteria and other chemicals that are present on the land surface.  We want to be certain that the rain water does not pool near to the well and then seep into it and potentially cause health problems for those drinking the water. 

The Importance of a Thorough Inspection

Many potential homeowners who are not familiar with wells, are not necessarily aware of the value of proper routine maintenance of a well.  Many homeowners tend to forget about the upkeep of their well until all of a sudden an unsuspecting crisis occurs.  At From the Ground Up Inspections we want to make certain that all our clients in the market for a home equipped with a well do not encounter any such problems.  Well repairs can be quite costly, which is why our well inspection is sure to not only provide you with all the insight you need but will potentially save you a great deal of money that may otherwise be required to resolve an unforeseen well issue. 

Our team of experts, having been recognized in the marketplace time and time again for our superior services, are sure to provide you with the peace of mind needed as well as all the important data needed with regard to the overall construction and overall condition of the well.  Typically, homeowners should keep up-to-date records on the maintenance of a well and our inspectors will be certain to obtain these records as an important part of our specialized well inspection.

In addition, we will make certain to inspect for any types of chemicals or other waste bacteria in or near the well water and even for the presence of typical fertilizer or pesticide chemicals as well as waste from any pets or other types of wildlife.

If you are anticipating buying a home that has a well water supply, then reach out to the qualified professionals here at From the Ground Up Inspections to take care of all your well construction and well water inspection needs.  We know how important buying a home is to the average consumer, and we recognize what a large investment it is which is why we want to do our part to make certain that your well water system is properly constructed, situated, maintained and functioning.

Contact us today and let us give you the peace of mind needed when buying your next home.  From the Ground Up Inspections – where no inspection is too big or too small and every inspection matters. 


Contact From the Ground Up Inspections
From the Ground Up Home Inspections always performs a thorough Home inspection, will clearly communicate their findings to you, along with providing you with a detailed report. For all your Middle Tennessee home inspection needs, From the Ground Up Inspections offers professional experience you can count on. To learn more about our services, prices or to schedule an appointment, contact From the Ground Up Inspections at (615) 351-1922. We look forward to helping you!

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

A Rewarding Career as a Home Inspector

At From the Ground Up Inspections, we are proud of our marketplace and industry presence as well as our top of the line, experienced home inspectors. Our highly trained staff fully understands the importance of an efficient and thorough home inspection, especially when you set out to purchase a home, whether as a first time buyer or as a repeat seller or buyer. Many potential buyers and sellers are highly dependent upon the skills and expertise of qualified home inspectors, which is why we here at From the Ground Up Inspections, stand behind all those students and individuals who seek to become certified and licensed home inspectors.

Why Pursue a Career as a Home Inspector?

Pursuing a career as a home inspector is not only rewarding, but benefits both yourself and those in individuals buying or selling a house. The services offered by a home inspector greatly assist homeowners and potential homeowners in their challenging quest to either buy or sell a home. Though individuals who wish to pursue a career in home and property inspection will find that the challenges are many, these same challenges are easy to accomplish if you remain committed and dedicated to the task at hand and again, as mentioned above, are beneficial to many.

Preparing to Become a Home Inspector

There are formal classes, of course, that need to be completed on your venture to become a home inspector. These courses vary from state to state and city to city, but are essential in order to obtain proper licensing and certifications in the field. There is a wide range of excellent inspection courses available today, many of which offer students real life situations which offer a greater understanding of the home and building portfolio as a whole. These very same courses teach individuals how to properly and effectively write inspection reports for clients and acquaint them with all the legal risks that come into play with a profession as a home inspector.

Individuals who have prior experience in the varied trades will find it somewhat easier to pass sections of the home inspection courses that relate to their specific prior trade. However, those individuals without any prior background in any trades, will find it more challenging and every bit interesting and educational at best. As the courses progress, you will find yourself working alongside other inspection companies that will help you to become familiar with all aspects of the industry as well as the many different scenarios you may very well be presented with in your role as a home inspector. This apprenticeship serves to be invaluable to every student and will contribute greatly to your overall learning experience.

Are you suited for a Career as a Home Inspector?

A home inspector’s job consists of a great deal of technical training. Though a rather technical career, it is also a people job to say the least. Having a pleasant, friendly yet professional personality and the ability to interact and connect with your clients will certainly contribute to your overall success in the industry. Though technical training is essential, more times than not, communication skills and the ability to develop comfortable relationships with clients, old and new, plays a significant role in your success as a home inspector. Many times, homeowners are unable to comprehend what is required of a home inspection as well as the results that are delivered. Being able to talk on their level and explain things in such a way that your clients can fully understand and feel comfortable, is an important element of the industry and every bit as important as your technical and book training.

At From the Ground Up Inspections, each of our inspectors is not only licensed and certified, but possesses superior people and communication skills as well. Our company has earned a spot at the top of the leaderboard as one of the best all round home inspection companies in all of Murfreesboro and has been billed as your go to company for all your inspection needs. If you are in need of a home or property inspection, then reach out to our leading-edge inspection company today. From the Ground Up Inspections – where communication, friendliness, professionalism and industry knowledge are key to our ongoing success.   

Contact From the Ground Up Inspections

From the Ground Up Home Inspections always performs a thorough Home inspection, will clearly communicate their findings to you, along with providing you with a detailed report. For all your Middle Tennessee home inspection needs, From the Ground Up Inspections offers professional experience you can count on. To learn more about our services, prices or to schedule an appointment, contact From the Ground Up Inspectionsat (615) 351-1922. We look forward to helping you!

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

Asbestos Findings in Your Home

Homeowners are more aware today about the many potential dangers of asbestos in their homes, especially if their homes were built prior to 1980.  Here at From the Ground Up Inspections, we are committed and dedicated to providing all our clients with state of the art, thorough asbestos inspections of their homes.  Whether located in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Shelbyville, Lebanon, Brentwood, La Vergne, Mount Juliet or Antioch, our valued clients can always depend upon the highly professional services provided by our certified and licensed inspectors.

Understanding the fears homeowners have with regard to asbestos and the many risks and hazards it presents with, we strive to provide all our clients and their families with the confidence and peace of mind needed to know that the safety of their home and families is in our trusted and very capable hands. Our top of the line inspections help homeowners identify which, if any parts of their house, contain any form of asbestos as well as the immediate attention that may be required.   

Quality Services, Superior Inspectors

Our award-winning inspectors will spend several hours examining and inspecting your home for varied aged construction materials.  In particular they are in search of any construction materials that are dated as far back as the 1980’s and earlier because these materials are more than likely to contain some asbestos since they were made and manufactured prior to the enforcement of asbestos regulations. 

With this information at hand, our inspectors are thorough and detailed in their inspection so as not to miss any materials that contain asbestos and can, therefore, be harmful to you and your family members as well as the environment in your home.

What Materials Contain Asbestos

Asbestos findings typically appear in, first and foremost, types of insulation used throughout the home during construction.  In addition, there are tiles, shingles, varied paints and even cements manufactured prior to 1980 than contain asbestos.  Our inspectors will perform an in-depth inspection and analysis of all these materials in their dedicated efforts to locate any asbestos findings in your home and take proper steps to have it remediated if necessary.

The Inspection Process and Protocol

If one of our highly trained inspectors here at From the Ground Up Inspections comes across any material that may potentially contain asbestos, they will first photograph the area and take a sample that will be sent along for further analysis and inspection.  Our inspectors perform all work according to industry and OSHA standards in order to keep themselves, as well as you, your family, and your property safe at all times. They always wear appropriate safety gear during these asbestos inspections since they may end up handling products that could potentially contain asbestos.

Once the samples are drawn by our inspectors, they will be sent off to an accredited laboratory for further analysis and inspection.  It is this laboratory that will make the final determination as to whether or not the material contains dangerous asbestos and exactly how high the asbestos content is, providing all of this information to our inspectors typically within a two day period.

Depending on how much asbestos is present, our inspectors will advise our clients of any steps or precautions that need to be taken to manage or remediate the asbestos.  If the asbestos is of a minimal content, then homeowners are recommended to simply put an asbestos label in place if the inspectors feel there is no need for any abatement or remediation procedures.

If, however, the asbestos findings present with exposure risks, then these products will require immediate attention. An abatement process is necessary to remove the dangerous materials.  Our inspectors will work alongside all our valued clients in finding a professional and certified abatement or remediation company to handle this sensitive and risky process.

Quality and Commitment you can Count On

Our highly recognized inspectors here at From the Ground Up Inspections are committed to the safety of all our clients, their families and their homes.  When they come out to your home and perform your asbestos inspection, they will provide you with a complete and thorough inspection report that details the asbestos findings, any actions taken by the inspectors, and any recommendations made for the abatement or remediation of the asbestos from your home.

At From the Ground Up Inspections you can always rely upon our quality of services, professional training, our compliance with all industry and OSHA standards, and our willingness to go the extra mile for the benefit of all our valued clients.  If you are concerned about potential asbestos materials in your home, then don’t wait a moment longer.  Give a shout out to our experienced and friendly inspectors today, and let us provide you with the confidence and peace of mind you need to know that your home and family are safe from any harmful risks of asbestos.