Daniel's Blog

Renovations on a Budget...

Daniel Giddings (APOM Inspections) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:48:19 -0500

Is the current economic situation caused you to stop your renovation plans? Were you hoping to finish a few projects around the house, but not sure if you want to spend right now? Then I may have a solution-or a great suggestion at least.

I stumbled across this place about a year ago. His popularity has grown since being featured on things such as CTV's Consumer Report, with Pat Foran. And as a result, so has his inventory. Envirosponsible is located right here in Durham Region, in Whitby just off Consumers Drive. The owner has been working very diligently at keeping reusable items out of the landfill, something I am sure all of us can appreciate. His website now offers a tour of the store so you can see for yourself some of the amazing finds. Whether you need a rain barrel, new cabinets, windows, trim, lights, etc,etc,etc. He's probably got it.

Just to give you an example, I know someone who needed a new garage door. The bottom panel was rotting and had been repaired and repaired but it was time to just get a new door. After an inquiry to Envirosponsible, it just so happed that a brand new garage door, insulated, had just been delivered to the store. There was a small dent in the bottom panel, which was tapped out, and purchased at a fraction of the cost. AND Envirosponsible took the old door and sold the good panels...to someone that had the same problem and only needed to replace one panel.

So you don't have to put off that renovation...you can save money and feel good about it at the same time. If your are renovating to sell your house remember to invest in a professional home inspector for the pre sale and purchase inspections. Serving Durham Region and surrounding areas.

A special reward in our Referral Rewards...

Daniel Giddings (APOM Inspections) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:22:46 -0500

From October 1st - December 31st on top of our regular Referral Rewards, for every referred and completed Home Inspection, your name will be entered in a draw for a one night stay at the beautiful Nestleton Waters Inn, newly built, surrounded with peace and serenity. 30 minutes north of Oshawa, a luxurious and private getaway.

A One night stay for two includes: use of all INN amenities, accomodations in a five star suite complete with a four piece ensuite with air-jet tub for two, luxurious therapeutic mattress, sitting area, fireplace, flat screen LCD TV & DVD player, as well as gourmet three course breakfast for two served in the Tower Cafe.

Go online and see the beauty for yourself.

APOM Inspections is proud to support local businesses in this area. We look forward to giving this package away as we are positive that anyone would enjoy this getaway. Book your home inspection conveniently online or by calling 289.240.0628 and don't miss out on your chance to win.

APOM Inspections proudly presents....

Daniel Giddings (APOM Inspections) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:58:39 -0500

Proud to be part of this community and proud to present this concert. Everyone will enjoy the sound of Christmas carols played by instrumentalist Matthew James. Come and join us in the beautiful Oshawa Little Theatre for 'A Smooth Jazz Christmas'.

Tickets can be purchased online at the Oshawa Little Theatre or by calling 289.240.0628.

Tickets are selling fast so get yours today!

APOM Inspections

What does it take to be a GOOD Home Inspector...

Daniel Giddings (APOM Inspections) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:02:35 -0500

Recently, I went on a stakeout with a private investigator. He was showing me the 'ropes' of his business. For two days, we sat in his car and waited. We didn't see any 'action' till the last three hours. When that time came, I saw him jump into character and become someone so spy-like, that even I felt watched. The skills that we talked about needing to be an investigator, became life to him in a blink of an eye. I watched him control situations with little effort, and work the case with confidence.

Looking back at this, I realize that to be a Professional Home Inspector, you don't only need the training (as important as that is), but you need the natural skills. A Home Inspector is much like an investigator. The difference being, my 'mark' is the deficiencies the house is hiding. I gather information from what I see as early as entering the subdivision or street. I am constantly looking for clues that will show me what is not seen. I apply all my sleuthing skills to determine what is or is not a major problem. Skill can determine whether or not a simple crack in the basement can down the road be a major leakage. As a Home Inspector my job is to remove the stigma of the term 'Buyer Beware'. That can only be done with a healthy combination of Training, Experience, and Natural Skills.

Book your Durham Region Home Inspection now.

Mail order "Professionals"

Daniel Giddings (APOM Inspections) — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:01:43 -0500

How comfortable would you feel if you went into a Doctors office to consult them about some very serious health concerns, and on the wall was their certification from the internet? And to question them further you realize that they received their 'knowledge' from a book, completed a test and was sent a 'diploma'. Without ever seeing a patient or having any hands on training they are now licensed and qualifed to be your doctor...Would you stay? Not likely!!

Hiring a Home Inspector or anyone for that fact is kind of the same. You are hiring a Home Inspector to come in to a house and asking them to ensure this is a wise investment. Your Home Inspector is going to look at everything from the roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing etc. and you are going to trust that they know what they are not only looking for, but what they are looking at. When he looks in the fuse panel you expect that he is going to question the masking tape around the wiring. Or that he will notice the crack in the foundation and point out that there is possibly too much condensation there. You expect that he is qualified to do what you are hiring him to do.

When you hire APOM Inspections, you will get an Inspector who has been in the construction field for many years and has been trained by professionals in their field. Trained in plumbing by a plumber. Received electrical training by an electrician. Trained by an HVAC technician. I received certification for home inspection only after completing hours of actual home inspections. I take pride in the fact that the training and certification did not happen overnight or by mail. I continue to work in the construction field, and am confident that I remain up to date with the changes in building codes .

The motto I am often caught repeating is 'Do a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life.' If you are looking for someone who will work on your behalf, bringing integrity and fresh views to every job, then look no further. I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

www.apominspections.com

How about a User Manual for your House??

Daniel Giddings (APOM Inspections) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:22:48 -0600

Almost everything we buy, comes with a user manual. That way if something breaks or goes wrong with our product, we have something we can refer to before we pay someone to tell us what is wrong. If the toaster isn't toasting, the vacuum doesn't suck anything up, the coffee pot just isn't brewing that perfect cup of jo....you get the idea. Some of us use the trouble shooting guide in the manual and generally it can save us alot of money.

How nice would it be to have a User Manual for our house? Especially for the first time buyer. Something to refer to for a multitude of questions. My Home Inspection Manual provides just that! This 200+ page spiral bound book is left for the potential home owner once my inspection is finished. The Inspection report pages are removed and the rest of the book becomes a reference guide for the buyer. It includes sections on Structure, Electrical, Hvac, Plumbing, Basement, Kitchen, Interior & Exterior. In each section it lists concerns in either a Major or Minor Problem category. It is so user friendly that you don't have to be a trades person to understand it either. Now I am not suggesting that every homeowner use this guide to replace the need for tradespeople, not at all, just useful information for all home owners to be informed and live with 'A Peace of Mind'.

What is the 'Referral Rewards' Program? you ask...I will tell you

Daniel Giddings (APOM Inspections) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:18:00 -0600

When we purchased our first home many years ago, we were shocked that the neighbors that had been living beside one another for 3-4years already, did not know each other at all!

We live in a beautiful neighborhood on a family oriented street, which was one of the selling features of our house. We had a young child with another on the way and it was absolutely imperative that we know our neighbors and the people on the street. It was very important that we know who our children would be in contact with and the kids that they would be playing with. We started community events on our street just to bring everyone out and get to know each other. And it has worked. We know who lives here. We know who's kids are hanging out on the street. We know who the people are that stop and talk to our kids when they are out front. Community ~ We love it!

That was the basis for our Referral Rewards Program. We are a business in a Community that we love, and felt it was very important to support our local businesses. We have some amazing gems hidden that have been around for years, but still so many people don't know about. Each month we pick one of our local businesses and offer something as a way of saying Thank you to anyone that refers us to someone. For example for March we are offering a $50 gift certificate for the Buckingham Meat Market. Why? Because they are our favorite Butcher Shop around and they have the best cuts of meat we have ever tasted. They have been in Oshawa for 50 years family owned and operated, and there are still people that have never heard of them and are missing out. My wife thought it would be fun to send a Thank you gift instead of Thank you card.

We have had such a wonderful response so far, and are very excited about what is to come. Just to give you a little taste of what's in store.....There is a beautiful Inn and Conference centre 25min north of Bowmanville that is just in the final stages of renovation. My wife and I had an opportunity to go out and see the place and were floored. It is absolutely breathtaking. We were so excited about the beauty of the surrounding that we decided that we would offer a night's stay in one of our upcoming Referral Rewards...so watch for that. Check out our website in the links section if you would like to see more information about the Nestleton Waters Inn.

Our monthly Referral Rewards Newsletters are only sent out to those that have specifically asked to be on our list. We do not send out spam. If you would like to be on our list, simply fill out the form on our website and we will sign you up. No Obligations, No commitments. We send you the Newsletter monthly via e-mail and that's it. If you refer someone to us, make sure they give us your name and we will contact you with the thank you gift.

www.apominspections.com

Know who you are Hiring!

Daniel Giddings (APOM Inspections) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:14:03 -0600

Many times in our lives we will hire people for different reasons. Perhaps a Real Estate Agent, Contractor, Daycare Provider. Maybe your buying a pool or need something painted. Whatever the need there are a multitude of people wanting your business. People trained in their profession to do the best possible job for you. So how do you get the best. How do you go about hiring the best service or person for the task at hand?

I think that people are generally a good judge in character when they follow their instincts. You would never 'cold' call a builder and hand over your blueprints to them and ask them to build you a house would you? No generally you want to meet the person/company and get a sense of what THEY will do for YOU. You are hiring them to complete something for you and you need to know that they are going to do what you want. If your friend or family member refers a contractor to you because they were so impressed with the addition he did for them, that is a good sign. But if you want to build a garage and he doesn't know as much about concrete as he does about carpentry, then he may not be the best contractor for you. The only way you would know this is by interviewing him and discussing the project first.

It is the same, In my opinion when hiring Home Inspector. I am not talking about a time consuming sit down interview, but even to make contact over the phone can give an indication of the type of person that you are hiring. When it comes to a Home Inspection, you are paying someone to give you 'A Peace of Mind' in the purchase of your home. You are asking them to tell you what if anything is a concern in this house. You want to hire someone that will come in and look over that house as if they were purchasing it themselves. The last thing you want is someone who is just out to make a quick buck! Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't hesitate to call a couple different people and get a sense of what they will DO FOR YOU! Are they someone that will work well with you. If you have a question will they be willing to discuss your concerns during the inspection? At the end of the Inspection are you going to walk away with a sense of relief, now knowing everything you need to know before purchasing, or will you feel that you paid an amount of money and are still not sure if the house is okay or not??

Know who your hiring, Know where your money is going, and hire the person that will give you 'A Peace of Mind'.

Underground Oil Tanks

Daniel Giddings (APOM Inspections) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:56:36 -0600

Why should I consider removing my underground storage tank?

Many underground home heating oil tanks are the same type of 275 gallon bare steel tanks you have probably seen in basements or garages. These tanks were not designed to be buried and, if left in place, will eventually rust and leak. Even larger tanks that were specifically designed for underground use can leak if they do not have adequate corrosion protection.

If you notice an unexplainable sharp increase in your home heating oil consumption, your tank may be leaking. But that information alone is not always an accurate indicator. In some cases, leaks are found even after homeowners see their oil consumption drop.

While you're underground tank probably is not leaking yet, the odds of a leak happening increase as the tank gets older. Even small, slow leaks can pose serious threats to your family, your neighbours

and the environment if they go undiscovered for a long time. And, if your tank does leak, you may face a costly cleanup. Having your underground storage tank removed now can save you both money and anguish in the long run.

How much does an underground tank removal cost?

Removal contractors generally charge between $500 and $2,500 depending on the size of the tank, its condition, and how easily it can be reached. Usually not included in this price are the cost of a replacement tank, sampling and testing, cleanup work if a leak is found, and landscaping after the removal is complete.

For more information on this checkout, http://www.mass.gov/dep/images/homeownr.pdf

Why Pay a Home Inspector when I can do it myself???

Daniel Giddings (APOM Inspections) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:44:25 -0600

Many people , especially when purchasing a home, are looking for ways to save money. When it comes down to the Inspection of a home, many people feel they can 'look over' the house themselves and save the money it would cost to have a Home Inspector come in. Here are are few points to consider if you find yourself pondering the same idea.

First of all, it is a known fact that people buy houses emotionally. They love the street the yard, the colors are pretty the kids will have their own rooms!, but they fail to see the watermark on the ceiling or worse. A Home Inspector will come in completely removed from the emotions of the house. He will look into the heart of the furnace and be able to tell you how well it has been maintained if at all. He will look behind the fuse panels not to see if the wires are connected, but he will look for signs of amateur workmanship. He will Inspect your house practically and without prejudice, then be able to point out to you any major and minor deficiencies with practical solutions. He will give you the information you need to make a sound purchase. Again we have all heard the saying 'This is your largest investment' you need to protect it with a Home Inspection.

New Website

Daniel Giddings (APOM Inspections) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:32:18 -0600

We are EXCITED to announce that we are launching our new home inspection website. www.apominspections.com We are just days away from being completed. We are still servicing all of Durham Region. Check us out

For the Skeptical.

Daniel Giddings (APOM Inspections) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:14:02 -0600

I did a home inspection recently for a young woman buying her first home in a Condominium. She was reluctant as to the need for a Home inspection, as alot of people are, however it turned out to be a great benefit to her. I noticed things she did not notice on her own for example, the vent for the dryer was 'patched' and blowing air into a closed closet. Not a big deal but she was able to have that taken care of before she took posession. And I also noticed that in the electrical panel there were wires taped with masking tape. Again it thankfully was not life threatening, but precautions were taken. You never know what happened in the home you are about to take posession of. You don't know how well or even if it was taken care of. In this case the problems were minor but I have seen cases where it was not the case. Let a professional put your mind at ease for your next purchase.