Affordable Home Inspections

Make Necessary Repairs

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:53:23 -0800

MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS.

Of all the things homeowners control when selling their home, the condition of the property is the most important. There are probably some problems in your home that you have become used to. Attend to them now. A serious prospect will likely have a professional home inspection. Making repairs beforehand will leave less for the prospect's inspector to find.

Repair all items that fall into the following 5 categories:

1. Any major defect such as a structural problem.

2. Small defects that lead to major defects such as a small roof flashing leak.

3. Items that may hinder your buyer's ability to finance, legally occupy, or insure the property.

4. Any safety hazard such as a missing hole covers at the electrical panel.

5. Minor items noticeable to prospects such as a leaking faucet.

Tip: Save repair receipts for tax purposes and for inclusion in your promotional packets.

DON'T MAKE REPAIRS YOURSELF IF YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED.

· Your prospects or their inspectors may recognize sub-standard work.

· Doing it yourself may take too long.

· You could create a safety hazard.

· The value of your own labor is not tax deductible.

· You will be blamed for faulty repairs discovered later

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

PREPARE FOR THE INSPECTION.

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:52:06 -0800

PREPARE FOR THE INSPECTION.

· Remove dogs - Inspectors don't like getting bit

· Sweep the chimney - Inspectors need to see up it

· Move things away from the basement walls - Inspectors need to inspect the foundation.

· Clear a path to the attic access and electric panel

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

HAVE YOUR HOME PROFESSIONALLY INSPECTED PRIOR TO PUTTING IT ON THE MARKET

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:51:15 -0800

HAVE YOUR HOME PROFESSIONALLY INSPECTED PRIOR TO PUTTING IT ON THE MARKET

Eventually your buyer is going to conduct an inspection. You may as well save yourself headaches and know what they are going to find by getting there first.

Having an inspection performed ahead of time also helps in seventeen other ways:

1. You can choose Affordable Home Inspections, a certified NACHI inspector rather than be at the mercy of the buyer's choice of inspector.

2. You can schedule the inspections at your convenience.

3. It might alert you of any items of immediate personal concern, such as radon gas or active termite infestation.

4. You can assist the inspector during the inspection normally not done during a buyer's inspection

5. You can have the inspector correct any misstatements in the inspection report before it's generated.

6. The report can help you realistically price the home if problems exist.

7. The report can help you substantiate a higher asking price if problems don't exist or have been corrected.

8. A seller inspection reveals problems ahead of time which:

· might make the home show better.

· gives you time to make repairs and shop for competitive contractors.

· permits you to attach repair estimates or paid invoices to the inspection report.

· removes over-inflated buyer procured estimates from the negotiation table.

9. The report might alert you to any immediate safety issues found, before agents and visitors tour the home.

10. The report provides a third-party, unbiased opinion to offer to potential buyers.

11. A seller inspection permits a clean home inspection report to be used as a marketing tool.

12. A seller inspection is the ultimate gesture in forthrightness on your part.

13. The report might relieve a prospective buyer's unfounded suspicions, before they walk away.

14. A seller inspection lightens negotiations and 11th-hour renegotiations.

15. The report might encourage the buyer to waive the inspection contingency.

16. The deal is less likely to fall apart the way they often do when a buyer's inspection unexpectedly reveals a problem, last minute.

17. The report provides full-disclosure protection from future legal claims.

Include in your promotional packets, copies of the report along with receipts for any repairs made. Affordable Home Inspections specialize in Seller's and Move-in Certified inspections and can be contacted at 905-730-9300 or by visiting www.afordablehomeinspections.ca

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Improve Safety

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:50:30 -0800

IMPROVE SAFETY.

· Correct trip hazards in sidewalk

· Remove clutter from walkways and stairs

· Add lighting where necessary

· Post signs to alert visitors to potential hazards such as low head room

· Move stored items away from attic's pull down stairs

· Install and/or secure stair hand rails

· Cover exposed electrical junction boxes

· Add GFCI's (ground fault circuit interrupters)

· Store chemicals out of reach of children

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Don't Remodel

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:49:34 -0800

DON'T REMODEL.

Remodeling seldom pays you back; Remodeling Magazine's annual cost vs. value report shows that the cost of most remodeling projects are not 100% recouped when the home is sold. As shown in the following table, every time you sink money into these projects, you take money out of your pocket when you sell your home. For instance, adding a bath sends 28% of your investment down the drain. And a swimming pool returns as much value as a hole in the ground.

Project	Cost Recouped	Your Loss
Adding a bathroom	72%	28%
Remodeling a bathroom	71%	29%
Adding a family room	71%	29%
New kitchen	70%	30%
Adding a bedroom	65%	35%
Replacing windows	56%	44%
Swimming pool	0%	100%

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Don't add on to your home

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:48:35 -0800

DON'T ADD ON TO YOUR HOME.

· The only addition to you should want for your home is a sold sign. You simply can't recoup the cost of an addition when you go to sell

· Often a neighborhood can't support your larger home and it is usually more difficult to sell the biggest house on the block

· Additions often look like additions from the outside; it is difficult for contractors to make an addition blend in with your home's existing architecture

· A prospect who wants an addition in the future may not be able to afford it now.

Tip: If lot size and zoning laws permit additions, get official letters stating so. Include it in your prospect packets.

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Preperation for Selling Your Home

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:47:35 -0800

PREPARATION

Think like a buyer. Prospects naturally want the best for themselves. They arrive at your front door wanting to find the right home. If you have done your preparation work, every room in your home will lead them to end their search. Get everything done before your first showing.

LANDSCAPE

· Make sure the lawn is neatly mowed, raked and edged

· Prune and shape shrubbery and trees to compliment your home

· Plant seasonal flowers along the walks and in the planting areas

· Add an inch or two of bark mulch around your shrubs and trees

REMOVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN TEMPORARILY LIVE WITHOUT.

Put everything you can into temporary storage, donate it to charity, sell it, give it away, or burn it. Removing everything from your home before putting it on the market...

· Make your homes look bigger

· Allows a prospect to more easily imagine their own items in your home

· Allows you to remove personal fixtures, such as grandma's chandeliers, now, so that you won't have to bargain over them later

· Neutralizes the personality of your home

· Gives the inspector greater access

· Lowers the cost of packing and shipping items

· Prepares your home for cleaning, painting, etc

· Creates a possible tax deduction if you donate items to charity

Tip: Videotape anything put into storage in case you later need to support an insurance claim or tax deduction.

EMPTY AND ORGANIZE YOUR CLOSETS AND CABINETS.

Prospects will look in closets and cabinets. Make them appear larger by emptying them.

CLEAN EVERYTHING.

No house is too clean, and few things increase marketability as much as cleaning. Used car dealers wouldn't think of selling a car without detailing it first.

· Steam clean carpeting.

· Clean windows and storms inside and out

· Scrub bathrooms, and keep them spotless

· Degrease the oven

· Clean the water heater, furnace, and anything else prospects will be paying extra attention to

· Power wash your siding and deck if needed

Tip: The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is the room that prospects will likely stops in and talk during a home tour. Clear all clutter from kitchen counters. Remove everything, even small appliances, to maximize the appearance of work space.

REPLACE BADLY WORN OR STAINED CARPETING.

Replace with inexpensive, neutral-colored carpeting. The worse your existing carpeting is, the better the return you'll get on this investment.

Tip: Use this opportunity to screw down loose and squeaky sub-flooring.

DON'T BUY ANY NEW MAJOR APPLIANCES OR FURNITURE.

· They won't make your home look much better

· The buyer will not reimburse you for them at full price

· They cost money to move

· They clutter up the place

· The buyer may not share your taste

· The prospect doesn't value them as much as they cost you

Exception: Tasteful mirrors can help direct sunlight or make a home appear bigger.

Tip: Leave out owner's manuals to appliances that are included with the home.

STOP SMOKING INDOORS.

Cigarette smoke causes odors and stains. Now is the time to kick the habit, at least indoors.

REPLACE TOILET SEATS.

· They are inexpensive and easy to replace.

· They make the whole toilet appear new.

· Visiting prospects inspect and may use the bathroom.

Tip: Remove personal cloth lid and tank covers.

BUY ALL NEW SHOWER CURTAINS.

They are not worth washing.

CHANGE LIGHT BULBS.

Lighting has a tremendous impact.

· Replace burned-out bulbs so prospects can see how cheery your home is.

· Put in higher wattage, soft light bulbs to make your home brighter

· Install lighting on stairs for safety

· Add battery-operated lights to those closets that lack them

PAINT ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PAINTED.

An investment in cosmetic improvement will bring a greater return than mechanical improvement. Consider painting basement walls, front door, metal railings and trim.

· Use neutral colors

· Be neat

· Label and leave the extra paint for the new owner. Moving companies won't transport it anyway

· Don't paint unless you are good at it

1. Prospects will notice fresh paint if it's sloppy and wonder what you are covering up.

2. A sloppy paint job is worse than no painting at all.

Tip: Take photos or video of everything before you paint it to prove you weren't covering up any major defects. Later you may need to demonstrate this to a prospect, inspector, or worse, a judge.

IMPROVE THE DRIVEWAY SURFACE.

First impressions are lasting impressions. The surface of your driveway should be beyond reproach. Seal asphalt driveways, patch concrete ones, or order a load of stone to spread. It is relatively inexpensive and is the first thing prospects see in sales photos or when they visit.

CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS.

It may be raining when a prospect visits. Also, inspectors look for and note debris in gutters.

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Play Fair

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:45:46 -0800

PLAY FAIR

You're entitled to all you can net out of your home. But some say that there is a fine line between salesmanship and deception. I disagree. Painting a room to improve cosmetic appearance is salesmanship. Painting a room to hide leaks on the ceiling is deception. The difference is clear. That is why I recommend that home sellers do four things. First, disclose everything you can about your home, including defects you know exist and even ones you merely suspect. Next, consider having a Pre-listing or Move-in Certified inspection performed by a member of NACHI, the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors and give every prospect a copy of the report. Third, encourage and allow prospects to perform their own inspections. Having taken steps that alert your prospects to the negatives frees you to emphasize the positives. Lastly, I recommend using a real estate professional to keep everything straight. Many a buyer happily paid full price after a real estate professional found them the right home. Both seller and buyer are winners when salesmanship is combined with honesty.

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Get Professional Help

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:43:57 -0800

GET PROFESSIONAL HELP

This book contains my opinions. Some material in this book may be affected by changes in law. I am not engaged in the rendering of investment, accounting, or legal services. If these services are required, I urge the reader to obtain them from a competent professional. Much of what follows may sound as though I am also trying to talk you into using a real estate professional, I confess, I am. For most home owners, selling is a rare event. Selling without the assistance of an experienced real estate professional is like representing yourself in court. As they say, you will be sure to have a fool for a client. Aside from the skills required, selling a home is a lot of work. Add up all the hours real estate professionals spend selling a home then subtract their numerous out-of-pocket expenses and you'll find they end up earning less per hour than any other comparable professional. In short, they're a bargain.

Real estate agents provide countless services such as:

· Implementing suggestions in this book

· Representing you and protecting your interests

· Providing up-to-date market information of recent sales and competing listings

· Reviewing your disclosure statement

· Acquiring school and crime statistics

· Putting up a sign in your yard

· Advertising your home

· Complying with fair housing laws

· Placing your home in the Multiple Listing Service

· Creating and dispersing flyers

· Prospect matching

· Placing your home on various web-sites

· Caravanning (touring other agents through your home)

· Marketing to other agents by word-of-mouth

· Alerting out of state transferees and corporate relocation services

· Screening prospects to protect you from "unwelcome sightseers."

· Holding an open house

· Showing your house whether you're home or not

· Responding to telephone inquiries about your home

· Pre-qualifying prospects

· Answering questions which prospects are reluctant to ask homeowners

· Analyzing offers

· Negotiating

· Opening and managing the escrow

· Writing and presenting counter offers

· Consulting with attorneys

· Acting as a buffer to keep the deal from getting too personal

· Providing all the numerous required documents and forms

· Handling inspectors and appraisers

· Getting the Use & Occupancy permit

· Resolving disputes

· Acquiring estimates and bids

· Arranging for repairs

· Changing utilities

· Clearing title

· Preparing settlement documents

· Taking the final walk-thru with the buyer

· Attending and assisting you at the closing

Remember: For-Sale-by-Owner signs and ads often attract lowball offers from deal hunters expecting you to give them the commission in the form of a price reduction.

This costs you three ways:

1. You lose the commission savings anyway.

2. You suffer the costs normally absorbed by the real estate professional.

3. You don't get all the services the real estate professional normally provides.

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

You Can Fix a Radon Problem

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:30:03 -0800

You Can Fix a Radon Problem

If you find that you have high radon levels, there are ways to fix a radon problem. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.

If You Are Selling a Home...

EPA recommends that you test your home before putting it on the market and, if necessary, lower your radon levels. Save the test results and all information you have about steps that were taken to fix any problems. This could be a positive selling point.

If You Are Buying a Home...

EPA recommends that you know what the indoor radon level is in any home you consider buying. Ask the seller for their radon test results. If the home has a radon-reduction system, ask the seller for information they have about the system.

If the home has not yet been tested, you should have the housed tested.

If you are having a new home built, there are features that can be incorporated into your home during construction to reduce radon levels.

The radon testing guidelines in this Guide have been developed specifically to deal with the time-sensitive nature of home purchases and sales, and the potential for radon device interference. These guidelines are slightly different from the guidelines in other EPA publications which provide radon testing and reduction information for non-real estate situations.

This Guide recommends three short-term testing options for real estate transactions. EPA also recommends testing a home in the lowest level which is currently suitable for occupancy, since a buyer may choose to live in a lower area of the home than that used by the seller.

Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Guide to Radon

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:28:46 -0800

Home Buyer's and Seller's

Guide to Radon

EPA Recommends:

If you are buying a home or selling your home, have it tested for radon.
For a new home, ask if radon-resistant construction features were used and if the home has been tested.
Fix the home if the radon level is 4 pico Curies per liter (pCi/L) or higher.
Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases, may be reduced.

Take steps to prevent device interference when conducting a radon tests

EPA estimates that radon causes thousands of cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.

* Radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year.

The numbers of deaths from other causes are taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Report and 2002 National Safety Council Reports

Radon Is a Cancer-Causing, Radioactive Gas

You cannot see, smell, or taste radon. But it still may be a problem in your home. When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

You Should Test for Radon

Testing is the only way to find out your home's radon levels. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon.

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Identify Potential Problem Sources of Water

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:27:02 -0800

Identify Potential Problem Sources

To start your search for potential problems, begin close to home. Do a survey around your well:

is there livestock nearby?
are pesticides being used on nearby agricultural crops or nurseries?
do you use lawn fertilizers near the well?
is your well "downstream" from your own or a neighbor's septic system?
is your well located near a road that is frequently salted or sprayed with de-icers during winter months?
do you or your neighbours dispose of household wastes or used motor oil in the backyard, even in small amounts?

If any of these items apply, it may be best to have your water tested and talk to your local public health department or agricultural extension agent to find way to change some of the practices which can affect your private well.

In addition to the immediate area around your well, you should be aware of other possible sources of contamination that may already be part of your community or may be moving into your area. Attend any local planning or appeal hearings to find out more about the construction of facilities that may pollute your drinking water. Ask to see the environmental impact statement on the project. See if the underground drinking water sources is been addressed. If not, ask why.

Common Sources of Potiental Ground Water Contamination

Category	Contaminant Source
Agricultural	Animal burial areas Drainage fields/wells Animal feedlots Irrigation sites Fertilizer storage/use Manure spreading areas/pits, lagoons Pesticide storage/use
Commercial	Airports Jewelry/metal plating Auto repair shops Laundromats Boatyards Medical institutions Car washes Paint shops Construction areas Photography establishments Cemeteries Process waste water drainage Dry cleaners fields/wells Gas stations Railroad tracks and yards Gulf courses Research laboratories Scrap and junkyards Storage tanks
Industrial	Asphalt plants Petroleum production/storage Chemical manufacture/storage Pipelines Electronic manufacture Process waste water drainage Electroplaters fields/wells Foundries/metal fabricators Septage lagoons and sludge Machine/metalworking shops Storage tanks Mining and mine drainage Toxic and hazardous spills Wood preserving facilities
Residential	Fuel Oil Septic systems, cesspools Furniture stripping/refinishing Sewer lines Household hazardous products Swimming pools (chemicals) Household lawns
Other	Hazardous waste landfills Recycling/reduction facilities Municipal incinerators Road deicing operations Municipal landfills Road maintenance depots Municipal sewer lines Storm water drains/basins/wells Open burning sites Transfer stations

Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

What You Can Do...Checking your private wells

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:25:40 -0800

What You Can Do...

Private, individual wells are the responsibility of the homeowner. To help protect your well, here are some steps you can take:

Have your water tested periodically. It is recommended that water be tested every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels. If you suspect other contaminants, test for those. Always use a state certified laboratory that conducts drinking water tests. Since these can be expensive, spend some time identifying potential problems.

Testing more than once a year may be warranted in special situations:

someone in your household is pregnant or nursing
there are unexplained illnesses in the family
your neighbors find a dangerous contaminant in their water
you note a change in water taste, odor, color or clarity
there is a spill of chemicals or fuels into or near your well
when you replace or repair any part of your well system

Identify potential problems as the first step to safeguarding your drinking water. The best way to start is to consult a local expert, someone that knows your area, such as the local health department, agricultural extension agent, a nearby public water system, or a geologist at a local university.

Be aware of your surroundings. As you drive around your community, take note of new construction. Check the local newspaper for articles about new construction in your area.

Check the paper or call your local planning or zoning commission for announcements about hearings or zoning appeals on development or industrial projects that could possibly affect your water.

Attend these hearings, ask questions about how your water source is being protected, and don't be satisfied with general answers. Make statements like "If you build this landfill, (just an example) what will you do to ensure that my water will be protected." See how quickly they answer and provide specifics about what plans have been made to specifically address that issue.

Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

What Human Activities Can Pollute Ground Water?

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:24:02 -0800

Septic tanks are designed to have a leach field around them an area where wastewater flows out of the tank. This wastewater can also move into the ground water.

Bacteria and Nitrates: These pollutants are found in human and animal wastes. Septic tanks can cause bacterial and nitrate pollution. So can large numbers of farm animals. Both septic systems and animal manures must be carefully managed to prevent pollution. Sanitary landfills and garbage dumps are also sources. Children and some adults are at extra risk when exposed to water-born bacteria. These include the elderly and people whose immune systems are weak due to AIDS or treatments for cancer. Fertilizers can add to nitrate problems. Nitrates cause a health threat in very young infants called blue baby syndrome. This condition disrupts oxygen flow in the blood.

 Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs): The number of CAFOs, often called factory farms, is growing. On these farms thousands of animals are raised in a small space. The large amounts of animal wastes/manures from these farms can threaten water supplies. Strict and careful manure management is needed to prevent pathogen and nutrient problems. Salts from high levels of manures can also pollute ground water.

 Heavy Metals: Activities such as mining and construction can release large amounts of heavy metals into nearby ground water sources. Some older fruit orchards may contain high levels of arsenic, once used as a pesticide. At high levels, these metals pose a health risk.

 Fertilizers and Pesticides: Farmers use fertilizers and pesticides to promote growth and reduce insect damage. These products are also used on golf courses and suburban lawns and gardens. The chemicals in these products may end up in ground water. Such pollution depends on the types and amounts of chemicals used and how they are applied. Local environmental conditions (soil types, seasonal snow and rainfall) also affect this pollution. Many fertilizers contain forms of nitrogen that can break down into harmful nitrates. This could add to other sources of nitrates mentioned above. Some underground agricultural drainage systems collect fertilizers and pesticides. This polluted water can pose problems to ground water and local streams and rivers. In addition, chemicals used to treat buildings and homes for termites or other pests may also pose a threat. Again, the possibility of problems depends on the amount and kind of chemicals. The types of soil and the amount of water moving through the soil also play a role.

 Industrial Products and Wastes: Many harmful chemicals are used widely in local business and industry. These can become drinking water pollutants if not well managed.

The most common sources of such problems are:

Local Businesses: These include nearby factories, industrial plants, and even small businesses such as gas stations and dry cleaners. All handle a variety of hazardous chemicals that need careful management. Spills and improper disposal of these chemicals or of industrial wastes can threaten ground water supplies.
Leaking Underground Tanks & Piping: Petroleum products, chemicals, and wastes stored in underground storage tanks and pipes may end up in the ground water. Tanks and piping leak if they are constructed or installed improperly. Steel tanks and piping corrode with age. Tanks are often found on farms. The possibility of leaking tanks is great on old, abandoned farm sites. Farm tanks are exempt from the EPA rules for petroleum and chemical tanks.
Landfills and Waste Dumps: Modern landfills are designed to contain any leaking liquids. But floods can carry them over the barriers. Older dumpsites may have a wide variety of pollutants that can seep into ground water.

 Household Wastes: Improper disposal of many common products can pollute ground water. These include cleaning solvents, used motor oil, paints, and paint thinners. Even soaps and detergents can harm drinking water. These are often a problem from faulty septic tanks and septic leaching fields.

 Lead & Copper: Household plumbing materials are the most common source of lead and copper in home drinking water. Corrosive water may cause metals in pipes or soldered joints to leach into your tap water. Your waters acidity or alkalinity (often measured as pH) greatly affects corrosion. Temperature and mineral content also affect how corrosive it is. They are often used in pipes, solder, or plumbing fixtures. Lead can cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system, and red blood cells. The age of plumbing materials in particular, copper pipes soldered with lead is also important. Even in relatively low amounts these metals can be harmful. EPA rules under the Safe Drinking Water Act limit lead in drinking water to 15 parts per billion. Since 1988 the Act only allows lead free pipe, solder, and flux in drinking water systems. The law covers both new installations and repairs of plumbing.

Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Water Pollutants - Health issues

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:23:02 -0800

Human Health

The first step to protect your health and the health of your family is learning about what may pollute your source of drinking water. Potential contamination may occur naturally, or as a result of human activity.

What are Some Naturally Occurring Sources of Pollution?

Microorganisms: Bacteria, viruses, parasites and other microorganisms are sometimes found in water. Shallow wells those with water close to ground level are at most risk. Runoff, or water flowing over the land surface, may pick up these pollutants from wildlife and soils. This is often the case after flooding. Some of these organisms can cause a variety of illnesses. Symptoms include nausea and diarrhea. These can occur shortly after drinking contaminated water. The effects could be short-term yet severe (similar to food poisoning) or might recur frequently or develop slowly over a long time.

Radionuclide: Radionuclide is radioactive elements such as uranium and radium. They may be present in underlying rock and ground water

Radon: Radon is a gas that is a natural product of the breakdown of uranium in the soil can also pose a threat. Radon is most dangerous when inhaled and contributes to lung cancer. Although soil is the primary source, using household water containing Radon contributes to elevated indoor Radon levels. Radon is less dangerous when consumed in water, but remains a risk to health.

Nitrates and Nitrites: Although high nitrate levels are usually due to human activities (see below), they may be found naturally in ground water. They come from the breakdown of nitrogen compounds in the soil. Flowing ground water picks them up from the soil. Drinking large amounts of nitrates and nitrites is particularly threatening to infants (for example, when mixed in formula).

Heavy Metals: Underground rocks and soils may contain arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and selenium. However, these contaminants are not often found in household wells at dangerous levels from natural sources.

Fluoride: Fluoride is helpful in dental health, so many water systems add small amounts to drinking water. However, excessive consumption of naturally occurring fluoride can damage bone tissue. High levels of fluoride occur naturally in some areas. It may discolor teeth, but this is not a health risk.

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Drilled Wells - Basic Info

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:20:33 -0800

Drilled Wells

Drilled wells penetrate about 100-400 feet into the bedrock. Where you find bedrock at the surface, it is commonly called ledge. To serve as a water supply, a drilled well must intersect bedrock fractures containing ground water.

Drilled Well Construction Features

The casing is usually metal or plastic pipe, six inches in diameter that extends into the bedrock to prevent shallow ground water from entering the well. By law, the casing has to extend at least 18 feet into the ground, with at least five feet extending into the bedrock. The casing should also extend a foot or two above the grounds surface. A sealant, such as cement grout or bentonite clay, should be poured along the outside of the casing to the top of the well. The well is capped to prevent surface water from entering the well.

Submersible pumps, located near the bottom of the well, are most commonly used in drilled wells. Wells with a shallow water table may feature a jet pump located inside the home. Pumps require special wiring and electrical service. Well pumps should be installed and serviced by a qualified professional registered with your state.

Most modern drilled wells incorporate a pit less adapter designed to provide a sanitary seal at the point where the discharge water line leaves the well to enter your home. The device attaches directly to the casing below the frost line and provides a watertight subsurface connection, protecting the well from frost and contamination.

Older drilled wells may lack some of these sanitary features. The well pipe used was often 8-, 10- or 12- inches in diameter, and covered with a concrete well cap either at or below the grounds surface. This outmoded type of construction does not provide the same degree of protection from surface contamination. Also, older wells may not have a pit less adapter to provide a seal at the point of discharge from the well.

Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Home Inspections Since 1997

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Driven Wells - Basic Info

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:19:19 -0800

Driven Wells

Like dug wells, driven wells pull water from the water-saturated zone above the bedrock. Driven wells can be deeper than dug wells. They are typically 30 to 50 feet deep and are usually located in areas with thick sand and gravel deposits where the ground water table is within 15 feet of the grounds surface. In the proper geologic setting, driven wells can be easy and relatively inexpensive to install. Although deeper than dug wells, driven wells are still relatively shallow and have a moderate-to-high risk of contamination from nearby land activities.

Driven Well Construction Features

Assembled lengths of two inches to three inches diameter metal pipes are driven into the ground. A screened well point located at the end of the pipe helps drive the pipe through the sand and gravel. The screen allows water to enter the well and filters out sediment.
The pump for the well is in one of two places: on top of the well or in the house. An access pit is usually dug around the well down to the frost line and a water discharge pipe to the house is joined to the well pipe with a fitting.
The well and pit are capped with the same kind of large-diameter concrete tile used for a dug well. The access pit may be cased with pre-cast concrete.

To minimize this risk, the well cover should be a tight-fitting concrete curb and cap with no cracks and should sit about a foot above the ground. Slope the ground away from the well so that surface water will not pond around the well. If there's a pit above the well, either to hold the pump or to access the fitting, you may also be able to pour a grout sealant along the outside of the well pipe. Protecting the water quality requires that you maintain proper well construction and monitor your activities around the well. It is also important to follow the same land use precautions around the driven well as described under dug wells.

Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Dug Wells - Basic Info

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:18:13 -0800

Dug Wells

Dug wells are holes in the ground dug by shovel or backhoe. Historically, a dug well was excavated below the groundwater table until incoming water exceeded the diggers bailing rate. The well was then lined (cased) with stones, brick, tile, or other material to prevent collapse. It was covered with a cap of wood, stone, or concrete. Since it is so difficult to dig beneath the ground water table, dug wells are not very deep. Typically, they are only 10 to 30 feet deep. Being so shallow, dug wells have the highest risk of becoming contaminated. To minimize the likelihood of contamination, your dug well should have certain features. These features help to prevent contaminants from traveling along the outside of the casing or through the casing and into the well.

Dug Well Construction Features

The well should be cased with a watertight material (for example, tongue-and-groove precast concrete) and a cement grout or bentoniteclay sealant poured along the outside of the casing to the top of the well.

The well should be covered by a concrete curb and cap that stands about a foot above the ground.

The land surface around the well should be mounded so that surface water runs away from the well and is not allowed to pond around the outside of the wellhead.

Pump for your well should be inside your home or in a separate pump house, not in a pit next to well.

Land activities around a dug well can also contaminate it. While dug wells have been used as a household water supply source for many years, most are relics of older homes, dug before drilling equipment was readily available or when drilling was considered too expensive. If you have a dug well on your property and are using it for drinking water, check to make sure it is properly covered and sealed. Another problem relating to the shallowness of a dug well is that it may go dry during a drought when the ground water table drops.

Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Private Water Wells - Basic Info

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:17:05 -0800

If your family gets drinking water from a private well, do you know if your water is safe to drink? What health risks could you and your family face? Where can you go for help or advice? EPA regulates public water systems; it does not have the authority to regulate private drinking water wells. Approximately 15 percent of Americans rely on their own private drinking water supplies, and these supplies are not subject to EPA standards, although some state and local governments do set rules to protect users of these wells. Unlike public drinking water systems serving many people, they do not have experts regularly checking the waters source and its quality before it is sent to the tap. These households must take special precautions to ensure the protection and maintenance of their drinking water supplies.

Basic Information

There are three types of private drinking water wells: dug, driven, and drilled. Proper well construction and continued maintenance are keys to the safety of your water supply. Your state water-well contractor licensing agency, local health department, or local water system professional can provide information on well construction. The well should be located so rainwater flows away from it. Rainwater can pick up harmful bacteria and chemicals on the lands surface. If this water pools near your well, it can seep into it, potentially causing health problems. Water-well drillers and pump-well installers are listed in your local phone directory. The contractor should be bonded and insured. Make certain your ground water contractor is registered or licensed in your state, if required. If your state does not have a licensing/registration program contact the National Ground Water Association. They have a voluntary certification program for contractors. (In fact, some states use the Associations exams as their test for licensing.) For a list of certified contractors in your state contact the Association at (614) 898-7791 or (800) 551-7379. There is no cost for mailing or faxing the list to you.

To keep your well safe, you must be sure possible sources of contamination are not close by. Experts suggest the following distances as a minimum for protection farther is better:

Septic Tanks, 50 feet
Livestock yards, Silos, Septic Leach Fields, 50 feet
Petroleum Tanks, Liquid-Tight Manure Storage and Fertilizer Storage and Handling, 100 feet
Manure Stacks, 250 feet

Many homeowners tend to forget the value of good maintenance until problems reach crisis levels. That can be expensive. Its better to maintain your well, find problems early, and correct them to protect your wells performance. Keep up-to-date records of well installation and repairs plus pumping and water tests. Such records can help spot changes and possible problems with your water system. If you have problems, ask a local expert to check your well construction and maintenance records. He or she can see if your system is okay or needs work.

Protect your own well area. Be careful about storage and disposal of household and lawn care chemicals and wastes. Good farmers and gardeners minimize the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Take steps to reduce erosion and prevent surface water runoff. Regularly check underground storage tanks that hold home heating oil, diesel, or gasoline. Make sure your well is protected from the wastes of livestock, pets, and wildlife.

Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Humour - 1

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:11:27 -0800

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Canada Wins Gold

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:17:21 -0800

Congratualtions to Maelle Ricker who just ecame the first Canadian woman to win Olympic gold on home ground when she claimed victory in the snowboard cross today in snowboard cross

GO CANADA GO!

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

How not to flash :-)

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:58:35 -0800

Here is a picture on how not to flash

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

So thats why theres water stain in my bedroom!

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:37:43 -0800

This is the adjoining wall between two row houses that is in need of immediate repair. Masonary needs repaired, cap added to finished wall, new step flashing and (Can't exactly see from picture) but roof needs replaces (30+ years old)

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Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Advantages of buying a home that is move-in certified

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:28:10 -0800

Advantages of buying a home

Move In Certified:

• The inspection is done already and hosted online at Fetch Report.com

• You can view the reports on any home that you are interested in that is Move-in Certified by typing in the address at www.moveincertified.com

• The inspection is paid for by the seller.

• The report provides a more accurate, third-party view of the condition of the home prior to making an offer.

• A seller inspection eliminates surprise defects.

• Problems are corrected or at least acknowledged prior to making an offer on the home.

• A seller inspection reduces the need for negotiations and 11th-hour renegotiations.

• The report might assist in acquiring financing.

• A seller inspection allows the buyer to sweeten the offer without increasing the offering price by waiving inspections.

Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Advanatages of listing a home pre-inspected

Al Wright (Affordable Canadian Home Inspections) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:24:15 -0800

Advantages of listing a home

Move In Certified:

•Agents can recommend certified InterNACHI inspectors to inspect the home properly before the buyer's inspector arrives.

• Sellers can schedule the inspections at seller's convenience with little effort on the part of agents.

• Sellers can assist inspectors during the inspections, normally not done during buyer's inspections.

• Sellers can have inspectors correct any misstatements in the reports before they are generated.

• Reports help sellers see their homes through the eyes of a critical, third-party, thus making sellers more realistic about asking price.

• Agents are alerted to any immediate safety issues found, before other agents and potential buyers tour the home.

• Repairs made ahead of time might make homes show better.

• Move-In Certified yard signs attract potential buyers.

• The reports hosted on www.FetchReport.com entice potential buyers to tour MoveInCertified homes.

• You can view the reports on any home that the client is interested in that is Move-in Certified by typing in the address at www.moveincertified.com

• The reports provide third-party, unbiased opinions to offer to potential buyers.

• MoveInCertified reports can be used as marketing tools to help sell the homes.

• Reports might relieve prospective buyer's unfounded suspicions, before they walk away.

• Seller inspections eliminate buyer's remorse that sometimes occurs just after an inspection.

• Seller inspections reduce the need for negotiations and 11th-hour renegotiations.

• Seller inspections relieve the agent of having to hurriedly procure repair estimates or schedule repairs.

• The reports might encourage buyers to waive their inspection contingencies.

• Deals are less likely to fall apart the way they often do when buyer's inspections unexpectedly reveal problems, last minute.

• Reports provide full-disclosure protection from future legal claims.

• Agents can market the property as Move-in Certified in their advertisements

Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca

Home Inspections Since 1997

30 years experience in home renovation and general contracting

15 years experience as a real estate investor and in marketing

Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca