Archive for home inspection tips
Winter Home Maintenance Tips
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As winter approaches, your home is susceptible to more hazardous conditions. This includes pipes freezing, damage from the cold weather, and high heating costs. If the home is not prepared properly, the value of the home can decrease due to wear and tear. Staying up-to-date with winter maintenance activities will keep it as good as new.
Here is a checklist of things to do to keep your home safe and maintained in the cold winter months:
- Check the roof. Watch for damage from ice and remove icicles.
- Avoid frozen pipes. Keep cabinet doors open for the heat to reach pipes, such as below sink areas. A slow dripping faucet can help pipes that are vulnerable to extreme weather, such as pipes that run through an unheated or unprotected space.
- Prevent leaks. Check the basement area for leaks and water, especially during a winter thaw.
- Test the electrical system. Check all ground-fault circuit interrupters to make sure they are working properly and offer shock protection. These outlets can cut off power to an electrical device; they should be tested especially after an electrical storm.
- If you are going out of town, prepare the home. Keep the heat turned on, even if you are leaving for an extended period of time.
- Keep heating costs down. Clean and check or replace furnace air filters every month. Install storm windows or use plastic-film sheets from a hardware store on windows for the winter season.
- Prepare for an emergency. Check the pressure gauge on all fire extinguishers and replace if necessary. Also, make sure to have a 72-hour kit on hand in the case of blackouts or snowstorms.
A home that is ready for winter will remain in good condition, keep costs down, and allow you to enjoy a cozy winter without worry.
Home Inspections in Vaughan / Woodbridge
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Residents in Vaughan and Woodbridge who are buying or selling a home should get a certified home inspection that meets the highest standards. At Ampwood Home Inspections, we have over 25 years of experience in the construction and building maintenance industry. This experience gives us a familiarity with home inspection standards that sets us apart.
When you get your home inspection in the Ontario locations of Vaughan and Woodbridge, be sure to work with an inspector who is certified and uses a code of ethics. The typical inspection should take 3 to 4 hours. This depends on the size, condition, and age of the home. If a real estate agent tells you that an inspection takes less time and they refer an inspector who does a job quick, DO NOT take the chance. You might end up with an inspection that misses the mark.
You are encouraged to join Ampwood Home Inspections during the inspection to learn about the home. At the end of the process, you’ll receive a detailed onsite report and pictures will be sent to you electronically.
Read our FAQ to understand the complete process.
If you are ready to hire a home inspector for your Vaughan and Woodbridge property, give us a call.
Home Inspections in Mississauga
Posted by: | CommentsIf you need a certified home inspection in Mississauga, Ontario, Ampwood Home Inspections will put your mind at ease. We do inspections on pre-purchase homes, new construction, PDI, and Tarion Warranty Inspections.
The home inspection process is an important one. It is performed to relieve your stress and educate you about the condition of the home. The home inspector focuses on a creating a coherent report—including the condition of all appliances, systems, and the overall scope of the building.
While the inspection does not involve doing repairs, it does identify the exactly what needs to be fixed, or if the home is in prime condition. Remember, many of the repairs on homes are invisible or hard to find without a certified home inspector.
A Mississauga home inspection will ensure you that new construction is complete and that all utilities are turned on. It also serves as a helpful tool for a property management company or Mississauga homebuyers in need of a pre-purchase inspection. Your inspection will give you complete confidence about the state of your property.
Ampwood Home Inspections serves the entire Peel Region, York Region, Halton Region, including the Great Toronto Area.
What Happens When You Don’t Get A Home Inspection?
Posted by: | CommentsThere are some nightmare scenarios of buyers who skipped the home inspection process and found themselves the owners of a house that is falling apart. If you remember the 1986 movie, “The Money Pit,” a couple falls in love with their dream home, buys it, and then experiences just about every possible problem. One of the most memorable scenes is when Tom Hanks falls through a hole in the floor that is covered by an area rug. This is, of course, an exaggeration of a home that is in severe disarray, but it’s also a symbol of the seriousness of what can happen when you don’t get a home inspection. Let’s look at some of the home inspection nightmares that could be lurking in your dream house.
The website for this old house, provides photos of some home inspection nightmares, many of which are just under the surface. Without a serious examination, some really basic things could be found to be in error. These might include some of the following:
- If the electrical wiring is faulty or was done by an amateur, this could indicate serious fire danger and the need to rewire completely.
- Leaky faucets or pipes that are improperly repaired might pose a problem. Or, worse, the septic system might have a drainage problem and fail. I’m sure you don’t need to know what kind of inconvenience that might mean.
- The heating or cooling system could be inefficient, causing a need to invest in repairs or having higher billing costs as a homeowner.
- You could be buying a home that is a hotspot for moisture and mildew, quickening deterioration of the walls and overall structure.
- The appliances could be in disarray and need to be completely upgraded.
The home inspection process should not be compromised. It is the best and most convenient way to prevent investing in a property that is problematic from the start. Having an assessment of home inspection nightmares will also help you gauge whether the home is worth buying. Remember, you really can’t just rely on your eyes when it comes to buying a home. A home may appear to be wonderful on the surface, but without a thorough inspection, you just don’t know what you’re buying.
Tips to Pass Your Home Inspection
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Passing your home inspection is an important part of selling a house. Before the inspection takes place there are a few steps you can take to make sure your home is in good shape. Here are some of the top problem areas and tips for making sure your home passes inspection with flying colors.
- Plumbing. This is one area that will certainly get scrutinized by the home inspector. Make sure there is no leaking, drainage problems, or dirty looking water from rusted pipes. Consider installing new fixtures if you’re home is older—not only will this help it look nicer, but it will make sure that everything works properly.
- Roof. A leaky roof is something to watch out for. The home inspector will report on the condition of your roof, so you want to make sure it’s in good repair. Fix shingles that are curling or missing and clean your gutters and pipes to make sure drainage is occurring properly. Read More→
Things Home Inspectors Can and Can’t Do
Posted by: | CommentsAs you get ready to have your dream home expected, keep in mind that there are certain parameters as to what the home inspector can do. Because a home inspection is mostly visual, the process is not completely fool proof and there is always an inherent risk with buying a property. As you keep this in mind, take a look at some of the things the home inspector can and can’t do during the home inspection.
A Home Inspector Can:
Visually do a thorough and professional check that all the systems in the house are working properly, including the inside and outside of the home. This includes checking water, heating/cooling, electrical systems, and turning appliances on to check if they work. This might also include crawl spaces, going on the roof or through small spaces, but not doing anything that is deemed hazardous.
Check for serious problems in safety and construction, such as amateur electrical wiring (also known as handyman wiring), cheap fixes for plumbing, safety of appliances, gas leaks, roof and attic issues, foundation problems, and the overall physical condition of the interior and exterior of the house. Another thing the home inspector can do is go into the attic and give a thorough visual check without causing damage. Basically, the idea is to alert the buyer of any safety issues, defects, and problems in need of immediate attention.
A Home Inspector Can’t: Read More→
What Happens When You Don’t Get A Home Inspection?
Posted by: | CommentsThere are some nightmare scenarios of buyers who skipped the home inspection process and found themselves the owners of a house that is falling apart. If you remember the 1986 
movie, “The Money Pit,” a couple falls in love with their dream home, buys it, and then experiences just about every possible problem. One of the most memorable scenes is when Tom Hanks falls through a hole in the floor that is covered by an area rug. This is, of course, an exaggeration of a home that is in severe disarray, but it’s also a symbol of the seriousness of what can happen when you don’t get a home inspection. Let’s look at some of the home inspection nightmares that could be lurking in your dream house.
The website for this old house, provides photos of some home inspection nightmares, many of which are just under the surface. Without a serious examination, some really basic things could be found to be in error. These might include some of the following: Read More→
How to Prepare for a Home Inspection
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s the day before the home inspection and you’re wondering how to prepare. The home inspector will be canvassing the home and you want the process to go smoothly. Whether you’re in a new construction home, an older home, or having an investment property inspected, here are a few things to do to prepare for the home inspection.
Make sure the power and utilities are turned on. A big part of a home inspection is checking to see everything is working properly. Tests will be done to inspect electrical, gas appliances, and plumbing systems, including water faucets, toilets, heating or air conditioning (depending on season), kitchen appliances, lights, and anything else that turns on. Having the utilities and pilot light turned on in advance will ensure that the inspection won’t have to be delayed or rescheduled. Read More→
A new home is supposed to be free of maintenance and repairs right? Actually this popular belief is not true. New homes unfortunately can come with rushed deadlines and the use of substandard materials. It is therefore extremely important to have your house inspected by a professional Home Inspector.
You should always opt for a pre-purchase inspection to ensure your new home was built properly and the necessary safety measures were followed. After all, it would be quite frustrating to find some of your electrical outlets don’t work or your basement is susceptible to flooding during major rain storms.
Below is a list of common new home problems that your certified Home Inspector can help you discover prior to purchase, saving you a lot of money and headaches. Read More→
