How to Cut Heating Cost without Cutting Comfort - 01/23/09 05:51 AM
Heating and cooling systems account for 56 percent of energy used in a typical home, making it the largest energy expense for most households, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Making smarter decisions about your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system can help you save money on your monthly utility bills. American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning has developed several tips for cutting your heating and cooling costs without cutting comfort. Install a programmable thermostat. Controlling energy costs starts with your thermostat. During winter months, you can save nearly 3 percent of heating costs for each degree your thermostat … (0 comments)

Tropical Hardwoods Composite Deck Trends - 01/23/09 05:47 AM
Summer will be here before you know it. If you're like many Americans, you'll likely curtail vacation plans this year in favor of staying home and saving money. But even economy-wary homeowners are still interested in improving their homes - whether to enhance resale value or personal enjoyment - and they're looking for improvements with the biggest payback. Decks remain a top renovation, often cited as delivering the highest return on investment and homeowner enjoyment. The outdoor living trend is likely to remain strong this summer, and a great deck is the showpiece of your outdoor environment. "Fortunately, decks today are … (0 comments)

Time for Remodel Projects - 01/23/09 05:45 AM
While new home construction has come to a grinding halt throughout the US, smaller home-renovation projects are still a viable option for homeowners. In fact, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently reported a increase in minor remodeling projects in its third-quarter 2008 Remodeling Market Index. What does all this mean for homeowners? It spells opportunity. And for those who want to invest in their house, it's tough to beat bathroom additions and remodels, which rank high on NAHB's list of the most prevalent remodeling jobs. Bathroom upgrades still provide a solid investment return, even in the present tightening economy, according … (0 comments)

Time for Remodel Projects - 01/23/09 05:40 AM
While new home construction has come to a grinding halt throughout the US, smaller home-renovation projects are still a viable option for homeowners. In fact, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently reported a increase in minor remodeling projects in its third-quarter 2008 Remodeling Market Index. What does all this mean for homeowners? It spells opportunity. And for those who want to invest in their house, it's tough to beat bathroom additions and remodels, which rank high on NAHB's list of the most prevalent remodeling jobs. Bathroom upgrades still provide a solid investment return, even in the present tightening economy, according … (1 comments)

Typical Trouble found in a Crawl Space Inspection - 01/04/09 07:05 PM
Crawl spaces are underneath the subfloor but above the ground.  People with slab or basement construction will not have a crawl space.  There are positives and negatives associated with crawl spaces.  The positive is that everything including structure, plumbing, wiring and ductwork is more accessible.  The negative is that by the nature of the design crawl spaces are cultures for mold, mildew and termites.  In this article I want to give you an appetizer of things we find in a typical crawl space inspection.
 
On a typical home inspection, most home inspectors are going to have a routine or process.  … (1 comments)

Crazy Stuff Seen on Home Inspections 2 - 01/04/09 07:01 PM
By far the funniest or craziest thing I have ever seen on a home inspection was back in 1999 when I was inspecting a house in Charlotte NC near Garinger High School.  On this particular inspection everybody was there including the buyer, seller, buyer' agent, seller's agent, an uncle, an aunt, some kids, and a dog whose ownership I was not sure of.  Anyway I am inspecting the crawl space of this house doing my usual circular crawl when coming back down the back stretch my flashlight beam caught something odd.   It was hair and some dingy looking fleshy colored skin … (0 comments)

Laughing and Learning with Bill Gallagher - 01/04/09 06:53 PM
Sweet and Southern is what Bill Gallagher always says.  Bill owns Superior School of Real Estate in Charlotte NC but teaches Real Estate Classes throughout the state of North Carolina.  Bill's school teaches preliscening and post licensing including the mandatory update and electives. To stay licensed in NC, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission requires that each licensee take a 4-hour mandatory class as well as a 4-hour elective.  Bill is one of the premier instructors for North Carolina real estate.  I have known Bill for over 12 years and have laughed and learned a lot from him.  I want to … (1 comments)

Preparing Your home for the Home Inspection - 01/04/09 06:22 PM
Many people stage their house and make it a little more spacious but not many people prepare for their home inspection. In this video Charlotte NC home inspector tells you about several things you should do to pepare fore your home inspection. Some of the things you should do to prepare your house for the home inspection include: 1. Trim bushes and trees 2. Clean Gutters 3. Caulk the joints on your trim around windows and doors. 4. Make sure the disposal and the dishwasher work. 5. Change Your Filters 6. Tighten Your Toilets These are just a fewof the things … (1 comments)

Crazy Stuff Seen on Home Inspections - 01/04/09 06:13 PM
Please watch Charlotte home inspector Preston Sandlin as he tells us of all the crazy stuff he has seen on home inspections. http://www.homeinspectioncarolina.com In that time he has seen a lot of crazy stuff including: -A priest blessing the house - Car parts used for drain lines in the plumbing system. - A garbage can used for chimney cap - Duct tape used to fix just about everything - ghosts in the house - a priest blessing the house - an inflate-a-mate under the house. -A snake in the insulation behind the front porch. http://www.homeinspectioncarolina.com Preston Sandlin of Charlotte NC has … (0 comments)