When relocating to Crossville, Tennessee..Hire a Realtor..a Real Estate Specialist..Protect your investment

As a Buyer I know many of you think you can pull a classified ad and find the house of your dreams. That you won't owe anyone anything and "its just easier ". But let me ask you a question ......If you had high blood pressure, would you go to a licensed Doctor or find a med student to treat your blood pressure because its easier, maybe cheaper ? In Real Estate you are playing the same game... so to speak. By walking into a home unrepresented and attempting to purchase a home, you just walked into a med students classroom, and asked them to give you all the facts about your blood pressure, , medications, side effects and long term effects. Did you know that most homeowners currently selling their home have no real knowledge of what the laws are to protect you, themselves and what may be required of them when selling their home ?

Realtors are real estate professionals who have chosen to join the National Association of Realtors and abide by its strict Code of Ethics. What does this mean ? It means that any Realtor you work with has voluntarily agreed to abide by the Code of Ethics based on professionalism and protection to the public. We, as Realtors are subject to disciplinary action and sanctions if we violate the duties imposed by Code of Ethics.

Allowing a Realtor to represent you in your home buying protects you and your rights. We are trained professionals wanting to look out for your best interest's.

When purchasing a home these are the things you SHOULD have inspected and important steps your Realtor will take to make sure your investment is a sound one :

Structural Parts of house and other appurtenant buildings.

Square footage, don't take the owners word for it, let's measure it !

Heating and air conditioning system

Electrical Systems

Plumbing Systems and hot water heater

Sample the water , test for pollutants ( well )

Septic tanks , whether active or abandoned

Storage tanks-oil, gas chemical ( above or below the ground, active or abandoned )

Appliances ( especially if they are staying )

Equipment

Fireplace ( wood, gas or decorative. )

Basement

Flooding or drainage problems

Mold, moisture damage, fungus, pests

Synthetic stucco - EIFS ( exterior insulating finishing system

Environmental issues ( radon gas, lead based paint, asbestos, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, power lines, wetland

Appraisal

Survey

Home warranty Program

Owners Title Insurance

Seems like a lot. Well it is ! These are the things Realtors look for, and advise the potential buyer to have inspected. Your new home is your home, your future. You may be raising children in this home. Make sure that your home is safe for not only you but your child. Some of these things can be very harmful if not fatal. They are important, they protect you and the lives in which will be residing in this home.

Did you know that mold is not only a "growing" issue but one that can cause severe long term affects is not detected within the home ?

Important measures you can take are listed below to ensure the safety of your family and protect your investment :

                                                        MOLD INFORMATION

· Buyers and/or sellers may have the property inspected for the presence of mold. The cost for such inspections varies depending on the size of the property, the extent of the mold present, the type of expert conducting the inspection and other factors.

· Real estate agents and brokers are not experts on mold. For more information on mold, consult the resources listed at the end of this document or contact an expert.

· Because there are presently no licensing or inspection standards for mold in properties, mold inspections should be discussed with more than one expert. Most experts will discuss the limitations of the inspections. For example, an air-sampling test that does not reveal extraordinary levels of toxic mold does not necessarily mean that mold is not present behind walls or under floors where the air samplers were not placed.

· Most experts suggest property owners undertake preventive action, such as periodic cleaning of A/C systems, regular inspections of attic spaces, and periodic plumbing leak tests.

· Insurability may be an issue. Buyers should discuss the insurability of a property with their insurance agent early in the transaction or, in some cases, before an offer is made.

Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.

Molds are usually not a problem indoors unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever- type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing. For more detailed information consult a health professional.

It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem. If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the moisture problem, then most likely, the mold will come back.

· Moisture control is the key to mold control, so when water leaks or spills occur indoors, act quickly! If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.

· Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.

· Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.

· Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.

· Keep indoor humidity low. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive ($10-$50) instrument available at many hardware stores. Ways to reduce humidity include:

· Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves and kerosene heaters to the outside where possible.

· Use air conditioners and/or dehumidifiers when needed.

· Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the Dishwasher or dishwashing, etc.

· If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes act quickly to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source. Condensation can be a sign of high humidity. Ways to help prevent condensation include:

· Reduce the humidity.

· Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and/or windows, when practical. Use fans as needed.

· Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation.

· Increase air temperature.

In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set f or mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building's compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Professionals who have specific experience in designing mold-sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting results should conduct sampling for mold. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations.

You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannot see the source, or if you know there has been water damage and residents are reporting health problems. Mold may be hidden in places such as the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets and pads, etc. Other possible locations of hidden mold include areas inside walls around pipes (with leaking or condensing pipes), the surface of walls behind furniture (where condensation forms) inside ductwork, and in roof materials above ceiling tiles (due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation). Investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and will require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth. If you believe that you may have a hidden mold problem, consider hiring an experienced professional.

These tips and techniques will help you clean up your mold problem. Professional cleaners or remediators may use methods that are not covered in this document. Since mold may cause staining and cosmetic damage, it may not be possible to restore an item to its original appearance.

· Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.

· Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.

· Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely.

· Avoid exposing yourself or others to mold. Wear long gloves, goggles that do not have ventilation holes and you may want to wear an N-95 respirator, available from many hardware stores for about $12 to $25.

· Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel.

· If you are unsure about how to clean an item, or if the item is expensive or of sentimental value, you may want to consult a specialist. Specialists in furniture repair, restoration, painting, art restoration and conservation, carpet and rug cleaning, water damage, and fire o r water restoration are commonly listed in phone books. Be sure to ask for and checks references, and look for specialists who are members of professional organizations.

This information is based on information provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at www.epa.gov/iaq/pubsi moldresources.html.

· U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Mold Resources (www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/moldresources.html)

· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov)

· National Center for Environmental Health (www.cdc.govlnech/asthmalfactsheets/molds/default.htm)

· American Lung Association Health House Project (www.healthhouse.org/tipsheets/mold.htm)

· American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental Health ( www.aehf.comlarticies/apmold.htm )

Courtesy of Melissa Grant, Affiliate Broker, Third Tennessee Realty and Associates, 931-484-4173