home inspection charlotte nc: Screens in Attics - 03/10/08 11:05 AM
Have you ever had bats, squirrels, or other rodents in your attic? This is probably the result of not having screens or not having adequate screen coverage. Often flood lights attract bugs which attract bats. If these bats get in your attic they poop. The poop can carry disease and parasites. You have to get the bats, birds, squirrels, or any other critters out of the attic and then put screens to exclude them from coming back in. In some cases (especially with bats) you may actually have to put the screens on the outside. (to keep them from hanging on … (1 comments)

home inspection charlotte nc: Leaky Flues - 03/10/08 10:45 AM
Have you ever had a leak in your attic despite having fairly new shingles? Leaks will develop around flues and flashing much sooner than they will on the shingles themselves. It is necessary to have flashing at flue vents and plumbing vents. The flashing is necessary to make the transition from round pipe to shingled roof. Basically the flashing wraps itself around the pipe and then weaves itself into the shingles. If there is a leak it usually occurs where the flashing wraps around the pipe. In this video Preston Sandlin of Home Inspection Carolina in Charlotte NC shows two flues … (1 comments)

home inspection charlotte nc: Prepare Your House for Sale from the Ground Up - 03/10/08 09:11 AM
The housing sales slump continues. From Sacramento to Detroit to Atlanta, housing sales have taken a dive. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) predicts that a soft market for existing home sales will continue through the first half of the year. Although home sales remain weak, some homeowners are willing -- or are compelled -- to roll the dice and plant the "for sale" sign on the front lawn. Whether you're selling now or decide to settle in while waiting for the housing market downturn to end, a few interior updates can do much to enhance your home's appeal in either … (0 comments)

home inspection charlotte nc: Are You Dumb Enough to Be Rich? - 03/10/08 08:00 AM
The cost of living is higher than ever, there's weakness in the job market, stocks are in a free-fall and the housing market is in a slump. Sounds like a bad time to be a real estate investor, or is it? According to G. William Barnett II, author of "Are You Dumb Enough to Be Rich?" from AMACOM Books, exactly the opposite is true. "These are the times smart real estate investors live for. There's more money to be made in chaos than at any other time, and no other investment strategy has created more millionaires than real estate," he says. … (2 comments)

home inspection charlotte nc: Seven Tips for First-time Homebuyers - 03/10/08 07:38 AM
If you've ever thought about owning a home, now may be the time to take action. Lower interest rates combined with a large inventory of homes in most markets across the U.S. may translate into a good opportunity for buyers in negotiating the terms of a sale with a seller. The home buying process may seem daunting to someone who has never purchased a home before. But, through home buying educational seminars offered in your community, and with the assistance of an experienced loan officer, a first-time home buyer can obtain a better understanding of their financing options, leading to a … (4 comments)