Building a New Home If you’re building a new home, there are things you need to know before you begin. Learn about construction standards and about buying land, so you know your rights. MPS Supplementing Model Building Codes The Minimum Property Standards (MPS) establish certain minimum standards for buildings constructed under HUD housing programs. … Read more
Home maintenance tips: 1. Check for Any Leaks To ensure home maintenance even a small leak can lead to big problems in your home. Water damage can lead to stains, mold and mildew, as well as potential damage to your walls and flooring. Water damage remediation and restoration can be a costly process, so the … Read more
Barbeque Safety – With barbecue season already here, homeowners should heed the following safety precautions in order to keep their families and property safe. Barbeque Propane grills present an enormous fire hazard, as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is aware of more than 500 fires that result annually from their misuse or malfunction. The … Read more
Crawlspace Hazards and Inspection – Crawlspaces are host to a large number of conditions that may harm the house or inspectors. Never enter a crawlspace without proper personal protective equipment. Crawlspaces are notorious for the nasty discoveries made there by inspectors, and it isn’t hard to figure out why; for one thing, their cool, dark … Read more
Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit-Equity is defined as a home’s current value minus any money owed on the initial mortgage or other loans that use the home as collateral. For instance, if the homeowner has paid off $250,000 of a $400,000 mortgage and the home’s current appraised value is $500,000, the home’s equity is … Read more
Garbage disposals are residential and commercial appliances designed to shred food waste so that it can fit through plumbing. They are usually electrically powered (although occasionally powered by water pressure) and are installed beneath sinks. Despite the convenience afforded by garbage disposals, the strain they can place on septic systems should be weighed against any … Read more
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that forms from incomplete combustion of fuels, such as natural or liquefied petroleum gas, oil, wood or coal. Facts and Figures 480 U.S. residents died between 2001 and 2003 from non-fire-related carbon-monoxide poisoning. Most CO exposures occur during the winter months, especially in December (including 56 deaths, … Read more
Electrical Safety – Electricity is an essential part of our lives. However, it has the potential to cause great harm. Electrical systems will function almost indefinitely, if properly installed and not overloaded or physically abused. Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some of these … Read more
Swimming pools should always be happy places. Unfortunately, each year thousands of American families confront swimming pool tragedies, drownings and near-drownings of young children. At InterNACHI, we want to prevent these tragedies. These are guidelines for pool barriers that can help prevent most submersion incidents involving young children. These guidelines are not intended as the … Read more
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that more than 403,000 home fires occurred in the U.S. in 2008, causing 2,780 deaths and more than 13,500 injuries. Some fires are caused by issues related to the structure, such as lightning strikes, faulty wiring, furnace malfunctions, and other electrical and heating system-related mishaps. But most home fires are … Read more