I receive many magazines, jo= urnals and newsgroup e-mailings relative to the home inspection and construction industry. It takes a lot of= time to sift through it all but it is something that I truly enjoy and make ti= me for. This newsletter’s mission is to take many of these helpful bits of information and reveal t= hem to our large family of past clients in a way that not only is understanda= ble but also applicable. As a h= ome inspector, our ability to inform you of any concerns or issues relative to today’s world of home ownership is very important and this forum al= lows for that to happen.

I also receive questions fro= m past clients on a daily basis. There are so many components to a home that anything could happen at any time. A good home inspection following ASHI protocol will review over 900 items relative to required items that need to be examined. One shouldn’t expect a hom= eowner to now how to handle every issue that can happen but as home inspectors it’s our obligation to provide the answers or at least direct people where to get the answers. W= hat better person to ask than the person who inspected your home!

Read this to save $$$!

You can save yourself hundre= ds if not thousands of dollars if you get a home inspection. Not only will a home inspection = detail the condition of the house but it also presents a game plan to what you should do relative to any necessary repairs.

Before you actually need tha= t home inspection, make sure to attend one of our informational seminars detaili= ng what you should look at prior to making an offer. You will feel more confident abo= ut looking at houses after attending because we will show you easy things to spot.

Send us your photos!

With our home inspection sem= inars we offer the opportunity to utilize our “digital inspection program”. This works by showing the home buyer some simple things to identify and taking photos of these items in the house. These photos are evaluated by our staff and the information is sent back to the buyer. This is FREE service that is par= t of our seminar package as well as part of our post inspection package.

One of the best things you can do wh= en selling a home-

When getting ready to sell y= our home one of the best things you can do is to get a complete heating and cooling evaluation by a professional. The ideal scenario is to have records of the history for the heating and cool= ing system. Regular servicing w= ould include a check up and possible cleaning every 1-2 years depending on the system. Being able to provi= de up to date information about your mechanical system will help to eliminate surprises from this house component and feel more confident about the condition of your home.

Homeowner's Pre-Winter Checklist=

As the weather grows colder, homeowners should plan ahead for the stormy winter months. There are many things you= can and should do to protect your home and family from the ravages of winter. Good planning can also help reduce maintenance and utility costs.

Central heating

Open vents near the floor and close tho= se near the ceiling for better air circulation. Test furnace before the weat= her gets very cold. Consider having a professional give your heating system a checkup. If heating system is older than 15 years, consider replacing it = with a modern, efficient unit. Replace or clean your furnace air filters.=

Window or through-wall air conditioners= :

Install a winter cover over the unit or remove it for the winter and seal the opening.

Insulation=

Make sure attic insulation is at least = R30. One inch of typical fiberglass insulation has an R value of 2.5. So to achieve R30 you need at least 12 inches of insulation. If at all possible, make sure walls are insulated to R11. Make sure crawl space is insulated. Consider insulating your basement walls. Besides saving you heating dolla= rs, it can reduce common moisture problems caused by condensation. If your ho= use was built before 1950, it may be an excellent candidate for cost-saving blown-in wall insulation.

Attic ventilation=

Make sure attic insulation doesn't cover ventilation vents in the eaves (also called soffits or overhangs). This h= elps prevent winter ice dams. Make sure ridge vent and vents at eaves are free= of plants and debris. Make sure bird and rodent screens for attic vents don&= #8217;t have holes or loose corners. If they do, replace or patch them.

Cleaning

Vacuum under and behind freezer and fri= dge. This can greatly improve efficiency of unit. Have chimney cleaned and che= cked by a chimney sweep. Have deck power washed and resealed. This is not necessary every winter. Every 4-5 is standard unless there is significant water damage.

Windows & Doors=

If you have the older type removable wo= oden storm windows, make arrangements to have them re-installed. Replace or re= pair any broken window locks or latches. Caulk around frames. Repair any crack= ed or broken window panes.

Exterior Walls=

Check for mud trails, sawdust, and other signs of termite or carpenter ant infestation. Check for gaps around pipes and wires that go through exterior walls. Caulk so that no air can leak i= n or out. Remove, drain and coil all garden hoses. Turn off the interior cut-o= ff valve for each outdoor faucet and then open the outdoor faucet so that no water can freeze in the pipe that connects the two.

Rainwater Protection=

Keep gutters clean at all times. During= the fall it is better to clean them several times rather than waiting until t= he end of the leaf season. If your gutters are rusty, it is time to replace = them with new aluminum or vinyl gutters. If there are any signs of a leak or damaged shingles or flashing, have the roof checked. Generally, if the ro= of is leaking and is more than 15 years old (with regular shingles), it may = be more cost effective to have a new roof put on. Make sure all culverts and exterior drains are free of debris.

Snow Preparation=

Make sure you have a working snow shovel and sidewalk salt on hand.

Improvements to Consider=

Thermal replacement windows .Install si= ding with wall insulation.

Upco= ming Seminars-

= “What to look for in t= he house that your buying or selling”

= =

Si= gn up for our FREE seminar aimed to help any home buyer or seller prioritize ma= jor home conditions and what should be done about them.

6:30 pm, Monday October 24

To register, call (585)392-5= 354 or click here

Helpful Tip-=

“If it doesn’t look right= it probably isn’t”

-utilize common sense when house hunt= ing and make sure to ask questions if something seems peculiar to you

Need to contact us?

Advanced Home Inspections

P.O. Box 16380

Rochester, NY 14616

Office

585= -392-5354

Fax

585= -392-5312

E-mail

i= nfo@advancedinspections.com

We’re on the Web!

www.advancedinspections.com<= o:p>

Radon Testing-should the house be tested?=

Because families are spendin= g more time indoors with the weather changing, it may be a good time to test for this radioactive, invisible, odorless gas. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. EPA estimates that approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are radon-related. Radon comes from t= he decay of naturally occurring uranium in the earth's soil and can accumula= te indoors to dangerous levels. Simple, inexpensive do-it-yourself radon test kits are available or you can contact Advanced Home Inspections. EPA recommends that houses with radon levels of 4 p= Ci/l or more of radon should be fixed to prevent accumulation of the gas indoo= rs. To learn more about how to receive a discounted radon home test or for mo= re information about radon, and how to contact your state radon office contact Advanced Home Inspections.

The main issues that come up on home inspectio= ns

In the most recent survey of its members, the American So= ciety of Home Inspectors® (ASHI®) compiled the following list of the mo= st frequently found problems in the homes they inspected.

1. Improper Surface Grading/Drainage
This is by far the most frequently found problem reported by home inspectors at 35.8%. It is responsible for the most common household maladies: water penetration of the basement or crawl pace.

2. Improper Electrical Wiring
A significant number (19.9%) chose this item as the most common home defect, which includes such situations as insufficient electrical service= to the house, inadequate overload protection, and amateur, often dangerous, wiring connections.

3. Roof Damage

Although reported by only 8.5% of home inspectors as the = most common problems, roof leakage, caused by old damaged shingles or improper flashing, was considered to be a frequent problem.

4. Heating Systems
Problems in this category include broken or malfunctioning operations controls, blocked chimneys, and unsafe exhaust disposal.

5. Poor Overall Maintenance
Even the novice home buyer is usually aware of this situation, demonstrated by such signs as cracked, peeling, or dirty painted surfaces, crumbling masonry, makeshift wiring or plumbing, broken fixtures or appliances,

6. Structural Problems

As a result of problems in 1 or more of the other categor= ies, many houses sustain damage to such structural components as foundation wa= lls, floor joists, rafters, and window and door headers.

7. Plumbing

Though not ranked by any inspectors as the most significa= nt problem, plumbing defects still rank high among the house problems encountered, and include the existence of old or incompatible piping materials, as well as faulty fixtures and waste lines.

8. Exteriors

Flaws in a home's exterior, including windows, doors, and= wall surfaces, are responsible for the discomfort of water and air penetration, but rarely have structural significance. Inadequate caulking or weather stripping are the most common culprits.

9. Poor Ventilation

Perhaps due to overly ambitious efforts to save energy, m= any homeowners have "over sealed" their homes, resulting in excessi= ve interior moisture. This can cause rotting and premature failure of both structural and non-structural elements.

10. Miscellaneous
This category includes primarily interior components, often cosmetic = in nature, which were not found frequently enough to rank individually.