How Much Snow Can a Roof Hold?
Unusual amounts of snow lead to many things—stalled cars, snowball fights, and airport closings. They also lead to many homeowner concerns over the roof’s ability to hold the weight. Find out what you can do to identify or prevent problems.
By Steven Fox
When weather stations predict frigid temperatures and record snowfall, concerns rise that roofs may not make it the full season but instead collapse under the strain of a surprising snow load. If it’s your first winter with your current roof (new or old), you may be trying to assess the situation for the season. How much snow can a roof hold, anyway? And are there steps you can take to avoid a worst-case scenario?
Holiday Electrical Safety Tips
As the holidays draw near, many people will begin bringing out their Christmas lights and icicles hidden in storage units to hang them up in celebration of the holidays. Perhaps you are this year’s host of the annual dinner or having a Christmas sleepover with the entire family. Remember, no matter what celebrations you will be hosting this year, safety is always the number priority. You do not want an electrical shortage, fire, or worse—a serious injury. (more…)
Fireplace Maintenance and Safety
Harmony Weihs
Enjoying a warm, cozy fire requires a clean, safe fireplace. Here are some tips for keeping it that way:
A Fall Checklist of 10 Things You Gotta Do Before Winter Sets In
By John Riha
When the last of summer’s heat is a faint memory, and you’re pulling out your hoodies more than your shorts, it’s time to tackle a few simple chores that’ll make winter more pleasant and prevent some nasty surprises next spring.
This fall checklist helps:
Is A Home Inspection And Appraisal The Same Thing?
Home Inspection vs Home Appraisals—The Difference Between Both
Are you buying a new home and coming across different processes and terms that are mind-boggling for you? Don’t worry; you aren’t the only one. Thousands of homeowners go through a similar process each year. The home buying process is very taxing; it is believed to cause stress to elevate to the level experienced during a heart attack; shocking but true!
So if you are buying your first home, you may not be familiar with the tremendous amount of processes you will go through. Along with these, you will see a lot of professionals from different walks of life. The good news is that these professionals, if chosen wisely, will make the home buying process a breeze for you.
This article will focus on two of the most common things homeowners mistake for the other and get confused about.; the process of appraisal and a home inspection. Let’s first learn the difference between an appraisal and a home inspection. There are similarities in both; the fact that both are done by professionals who assess your home is one. What they evaluate your home for is a different ball game altogether.
What Is A Home Inspection?
A home inspection in Wilmington, DE, is a way for homebuyers to ensure that they are getting the most value for their money and buying a safe and structurally sound home. Inspection is designed to evaluate the structural and functional components of a home. It is essential to have a home inspection performed before you buy or sell a new home.
A home inspection is done by professional checks for 1600 items in a home, including all the major components of the house, including walls, floors, ceilings, plumbing, and electrical systems, heating and cooling systems, attic spaces, and more. Inspectors look for problems with functionality, such as whether there is enough power for your appliances, in addition to checking for structural issues, such as cracks in walls or leaks in the plumbing system. Sometimes, they may also check for signs of pest infestations like termites or rodents.
Buyers, lenders, and homeowners use home inspections to assess the condition of a property. A licensed Home Inspector can do a home inspection in Wilmington, DE. It takes 1-2 hours to conduct a home inspection.
Cost OF An Inspection
An inspection is a cost-effective way to determine if your home requires repair. It’s not only a good investment for the future but also for your peace of mind. To find out how much a general inspection will cost, you should look into factors like the size of the home, the age of the house, and other related factors. However, it’s important to note that some inspections are more thorough than others. If you’re looking to hire an inspector who will thoroughly check your home for structural issues or water leaks, you’ll likely have to pay more than $300-$500.
What Is An Appraisal?
An appraisal is a valuation of a property. An appraisal focuses on the home’s value, determined by analyzing its sales history and comparable properties, as well as its condition and location. You need appraisals to determine the property’s fair market value. Mortgage lenders require an appraisal before they approve a loan for an individual or family.
Another reason mortgage lenders require home appraisals is to ensure their investments are safe. Real estate agents, mortgage lenders, banks, and other professionals in the real estate industry require appraisals to process the necessary documentation. If you have a home that needs an appraisal, it is best to get one done as soon as possible.
The appraisal process can be lengthy and time-consuming, so it’s always better to plan ahead.
How Much Does A Home Appraisal Cost?
We looked at some national averages to get an idea of the price range for a single-family home appraisal. A single-family home appraisal can range from $300 to $450. This number will usually be around $500 to $800 or more for large homes or properties. It’s important to note that these numbers are just estimates and that the cost for an appraisal can vary based on location, property size, and other factors.
FHA and VA Appraisal Inspections
The FHA is a US Federal Housing Administration that provides mortgage insurance on loans made in the United States. It is a government-sponsored enterprise whose purpose is to help people who cannot afford to buy or rent a home by providing them with low-interest loans or mortgage insurance.
This program allows a down payment as low as 3.5% while ensuring that the home will be safe for the borrower and their family. The goal of an FHA appraisal is not only to determine the value of the house a borrower wishes to purchase but also to provide support for people who have less-than-stellar credit and are trying to buy their first home. The FHA has set forth guidelines for appraisers and lenders to ensure these goals are met. They both have their requirements, but a home inspection in Wilmington, along with an appraisal, is a combined requirement to obtain these loans.
An appraisal determines the value and suitability of a property for sale or rent. An inspection can evaluate the quality and usefulness of materials, fixtures, appliances, etc., concerning how you expect them to perform when installed or built into a structure. In summary, An appraisal is not an inspection service and cannot provide a detailed report on the property’s condition.
Dryer Vent Safety
Reasons You Should Have A 4-Point Inspection
Home inspections in Wilmington DE are a crucial part of the real estate process. Inspections are used to find current problems in your home and to maintain them. Home inspections are carried out to uncover various issues that your current or prospective home may have. Home inspections are most popular among people looking to buy new homes. New homeowners want to ensure that the property they are about to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in is free from any significant issues. Sellers may also have their properties inspected before selling a home. They have pre-listing inspections to determine if there are any minor repairs they can do to present the house in its best state. This ensures they receive the best deal for their sale.
Inspections have been categorized, and one of the most common inspections requested by homeowner insurance companies is the four-point inspection. A home inspection in Wilmington is crucial before someone can ask for an insurance coverage plan. The four significant systems are inspected in a 4-point inspection. The first point is checking for roofing and walls. The second point is studying electrical wiring and appliances. The third point is inspecting the plumbing system, which includes pipes, fittings, and valves. And finally, the fourth point of inspection is checking the HVAC system, including ducts and registers.
Companies are hesitant to provide insurance for older homes. Homes older than 20 years may have issues with the house, which will result in the homeowners seeking reimbursement from the insurers. This costs the insurers a lot more in the long run. Insurers use the result from a four-point inspection in older homes to assess the risk they are in for. A house that is 25 years old is more prone to come up with electrical and plumbing issues for which homeowners seek reimbursement. This money goes out of the insurance companies pockets, and they want to avoid this.
Carpet Mold: Identification, Prevention and Removal
Molds produce allergens, which are substances that can cause allergic reactions, as well as irritants and, in some cases, potentially toxic substances known as mycotoxins. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). 
Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold, but can also occur.
Hard Water
considered a health hazard to humans.Identifying Hard Water
The best way to determine whether or not a home has hard water is to have it tested. For homes served by municipal water systems, you can ask the water supplier about the hardness level of the water they deliver. Private water supplies can be tested for hardness. However, hard water (especially if it is excessively hard) can be detected by inspectors and their clients through the negative effects it has on a home. The most common problems associated with hard water are:
- poor washing machine performance. Clothes washed in hard water often look dingy and feel scratchy or stiff. Continuous laundering in hard water can damage fibers and shorten the lifespan of clothes;
- a mineral ring around the tip of a faucet or in a toilet bowl;
- unsightly, whitish scale deposits in pipes, water heaters, tea kettles, pots, silverware and dishes;
- calcification of taps and shower- heads;
- inefficient and costly operation of water-using appliances. Pipes can become clogged with scale that reduces water flow, ultimately requiring pipe replacement. Crystalline deposits (limescale) have been known to increase energy bills considerably;
- soap curd and scum in washbasins and bathtubs. Bathing with soap in hard water leaves a film of sticky soap curd on the skin, which may prevent removal of soil and bacteria. Soap curd on hair may make it dull, lifeless and difficult to manage. Soap curd also interferes with the return of skin to its normal, slightly acid condition, and may lead to irritation; and
- limescale in solar heating systems. Solar heating, often used to heat swimming pools, is prone to limescale buildup, which can reduce the efficiency of the electronic pump.
A 4-Point Inspection System Explained
A 4-point inspection is an examination of the current condition of a house. It examines four effective systems: roof, plumbing, and electrical systems. Electrical, plumbing, and roof inspections are typically done as a home purchase or sale.
An inspection need not be done in the buyer’s market but is recommended by professionals to better understand your home’s condition before deciding whether you should buy or sell it. An inspection can give you peace of mind that your house will provide what it promises; comfort, security,, and value for years to come. (more…)
