When you buy or sell a home, it’s a given that you will have a home inspection — but have you thought about having your current home inspected outside of the buying or selling process?
We’ve lived in our home for twelve years, and I can’t tell you how many times my experience as a Dallas home inspector has helped us keep minor issues from becoming major over that time.
How long have you lived in your home? What problems may be lurking? It’s time to schedule an inspection. Continue Reading
Our housing market is booming as companies like Toyota, Liberty Mutual, State Farm, and Facebook are setting up shop, bringing thousands of jobs and transplanting thousands of people to fill them. In fact, the latest census data shows that the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan statistical area issued 55,800 housing permits last year alone! More than any other metro area in the nation!
New homes are in high demand, and builders are under pressure to deliver them fast — which means that city inspectors, contractors, subcontractors, and construction pros themselves are also under pressure to meet deadlines and keep costs low. And while most don’t intentionally cut corners to save time or money, no one can keep an eye on every step of the process.
It’s summer in Dallas — which, as you know, means air conditioners are running and utility bills are rising. Did you know that 6% of your household energy goes to cooling your home? And homeowners spend $29 billion every year to run their A/C systems!
Air conditioners are major investments, but we obviously need them in the South — not just for comfort, but for safety when the temperatures skyrocket. And to keep them running at their peak efficiency, they require regular maintenance. Do you know what you need to do to take care of yours?
With temperatures already in the eighties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it’s a good time to make sure your sprinkler system is in tip-top shape. Doing so will save you water, which in turn saves you cash. (Did you know that minor water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of wasted water each year?) And it may save you a lot of time and even more money if you prevent minor problems from escalating into costly major repairs.
Many DIY sprinkler tune-up guides exist. After reviewing several, we’ve laid out the seven steps you can take to do your own springtime sprinkler check up. We’ve also included links to the 2017 watering restrictions and schedules for many of DFW’s major cities. Continue Reading
Did you know that minor water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of wasted water each year? That’s the amount of water that 11 million homes use every year. Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more every day. Is yours one of them?
Did you know a 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can release up to 250 gallons of water in a single day? That’s why it’s important to protect your plumbing when the temperature dips below freezing. Water in pipes expands as it turns into ice. Pipe bursts. And you are left with an expensive mess to clean up.
The worst part? You probably could have avoided that mess by taking a few simple precautions during the winter months.
Our friends just bought their first home, so we’ve been trying to find the perfect holiday/housewarming gift for them. There are so many options, and we’ve done some research. Along the way, we’ve collected 10 gift ideas we think any first-time homeowner will appreciate. Continue Reading
Some friends of ours recently replaced their gutters and downspouts. And while that sounds like a relatively simple project, they found there was more to consider than they expected. If you are planning for a gutter replacement anytime soon, here are the top five decisions you will need to make before you start the work. Continue Reading
Buying a home is a major step and a big investment, so discovering any defects before you’ve signed on the dotted line is a top priority. Having a detailed understanding of a home’s condition before you commit to it gives you what you need to negotiate a fair price with confidence. It also provides you with peace of mind when making your final decision. Stonebriar Property Inspections offers Buyer’s Home Inspection Services. Continue Reading
It’s the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Prevention Week, and their focus for the third year in a row is on smoke alarm safety. Smoke alarms are a great way to protect your family, pets, and home from unnecessary fire and smoke damage. We wrote about how to maintain them in last month’s blog post.
But another safety measure you can — and should — take is to strategically locate fire extinguishers in your home. You can’t always prevent a fire, but you may be able to put it out quickly with a working fire extinguisher and an understanding of how to use it. Continue Reading
September is National Preparedness Month. Fire Prevention Week is just around the corner — October 9th through the 15th. And the National Fire Protection Association and U.S. Fire Administration want to educate you about the basic, but life-saving, smoke alarm. Continue Reading
The National Association of REALTORS® recently shared the news that existing homes have been selling at their fastest pace in nine years. The Commerce Department reports that new home sales were up 9.3 percent in the second quarter of this year compared to the first. And sales of new single-family houses in June 2016 were up 25% over a year ago.
We were watching Botched the other night – a TV show about a couple of plastic surgeons who fix procedures that other people have messed up. Usually, those who botch the surgeries are not ethical, licensed plastic surgeons. Often, they’re not even doctors. Yet people allow them to perform invasive procedures on their bodies at the risk of disfigurement or even death. Continue Reading
Standing water near your home’s foundation caused by improper grading or faulty gutters and downspouts can cause damage, including slab movement, retaining wall failures, and slope instabilities. It can also lead to serious foundation problems, requiring costly repairs to your home’s structural system.
If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, you want to sell it at a fair price, as fast as possible, and with the least up-front investment of time and money.
And while you may need to make critical repairs or decide to update a few “That 70’s Show” elements, there are many time- and budget-friendly ways to make your home look its best as potential buyers consider making it their own.
It’s called staging. And it’s about making your home as appealing as possible to people you don’t know.
The Good News
You’ve found what you think is your dream home and have decided to make an offer.
The Bad News
You really don’t know what you’re buying yet, because you haven’t had the home inspected. You also don’t want someone else to swoop in and steal the property out from under you. Continue Reading
Drive into the suburbs of any large city and you’ll find new housing developments under construction. Obviously, new construction is popular to many. But most people buy an existing home — one that someone else has lived in and wants to sell. Did you know that there are pros and cons of buying an older home? Continue Reading
It takes a lot of effort to maintain a home. The long list of recommended tasks can quickly overwhelm any homeowner. But the effort is worth it. Failing to properly maintain your home can lead to unnecessary costly repairs. It can also put your family’s safety at risk. Continue Reading
Winter is coming. Is your home ready? Before the cold weather makes its presence known, here are 10 tasks you should check off your list to make sure your home is in good shape to withstand the elements and keep you safe and warm. Here are ten ways you should prepare your home for winter. Continue Reading
Buying a home is one of the most significant investments you’ll make, so having the property professionally inspected before committing is critical. If you need to hire a Dallas home inspector, ask these 13 questions to guide your selection. Continue Reading