home safety: Damn Ice Dams! Don't know what an ice damn is? Better Read on!
- 02/21/14 04:11 AM
Many homeowners throughout the eastern United States are dealing with snow and ice accumulations that have not been seen in years. Paired with lots of thawing and refreezing, these are ideal conditions for the formation of Ice Dams. For homeowners who have not experience this kind of whether before in their home, the term ice dam may be completely new to you. So read on, because, although ice dams may not be a frequent occurance and weather conditions must be just right for them to occur; when they do, they are potentially destructive to your roof system.
An ice dam is created when heat rising … (8 comments)
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home safety: A SAFE Home for the Holidays: Two Minute Video
- 11/25/13 04:54 AM
'Tis the season for turkey dinners, gift-giving and throngs of descending house guests. You've been prepping for the meal and even the shopping, but is your HOME ready? This is the ideal time to make sure your home is safe and prepped for your friends’ and family’s arrival. (If video doesn't instantly appear below, please refresh your broswer).
This two-minute video provides a few tips to help make your holiday-time maintenance a bit easier so that you can get on with celebrating the joys of the season.
Posted By: Chrissy Doremus, U.S. Inspect Blog
… (2 comments)
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home safety: Halloween Home Safety Tips from a Home Inspector
- 10/29/13 06:13 AM
Question: What did the ghost say when he tripped up the stairs?
Answer: I'm telling my mummy!
While many of us are busy working on costumes or stocking up on candy, anyone who is planning on leaving their light on to welcome trick-or-treaters this year should also be taking a moment to make sure homes, front walks, and yards are ready for foot traffic. So from all of us at U.S. Inspect who are used to looking for these issues on a daily basis, below are some things to keep in mind.
There are a few things that homeowners should consider … (3 comments)
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home safety: 10 Things About Your Home You Live With That Buyers Can't and Won't
- 10/17/13 12:44 AM
I was at my parents' house this past weekend with my daughter enjoying a family dinner, when nature called. Hey, these things do happen. So there I was in my childhood bathroom with the toilet handle in my hand. I pressed halfway down...ONE-MISSISSIPPI, then all the way down...TWO-MISSISSIPPI...and then quickly let go! It wooshed and the handle jingle-jangled a few times until it settled back into place. I did this, just as I have done every time I have flushed that toilet--for as long as I can remember.
And with that, I had a thought. How, funny it is, these things that … (12 comments)
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home safety: Do you have one of these? You SHOULD!
- 10/08/13 05:03 AM
Many of us take action about this key family safety measure only when are kids come home and bug us to as part of their homework ;-) We often do it once, and then not again until the next prompt. Well here's your prompt! It's National Fire Prevention Week, have you guessed today's topic yet??
You guessed it, it's time to talk about how to create and practice your family fire escape plan. Just like my opening paragraph describes, I was prompted to do this in my own home just last week, as part of my preschooler's homework. We went through … (6 comments)
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home safety: Halloween Home Safety Tips from Home Inspectors
- 10/28/12 10:34 PM
While many of us are busy working on costumes or stocking up on candy, anyone who is planning on leaving their light on to welcome trick-or-treaters this year should also be taking a moment to make sure homes, front walks, and yards are ready for foot traffic. So from all of us at U.S. Inspect who are used to looking for these issues on a daily basis, below are some things to keep in mind.
There are a few things that homeowners should consider in order to make their homes and entryways safe for all those ghosts and goblins--especially the ones wearing long … (24 comments)
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home safety: A Little FATHERLY Homeowner Advice - From U.S. Inspect Inspectors/Dads
- 06/18/12 03:54 AM
As a tribute to all the Dads out there on this Father's Day weekend, I thought it would be fun to get some fatherly advice about home purchasing, ownership and maintenance from some of the Dads at my company, U.S. Inspect! I also have some words of wisdom employees received from their Fathers about home ownership. If you have some fatherly advice of your own, please add it in the comments below--Happy Father's Day, all!
My best fatherly advice regarding real estate is to buy a small starter home as an investment property when your kids are small. Historically, the … (8 comments)
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home safety: My New home Security Tips Video - Download and Share for Free
- 05/23/12 10:42 PM
As we head into vacation season, here's my latest two-minute video on some basics of home security. Obviously you should lock your doors and windows, but have you thought about upgrading your strike-plates? Have you thought about light timers? Do you keep your gadgets out in plain sight? Check out these tips and several others before you head out on your next vacation.
Here's my most recent addition to the video library in the U.S. Inspect Agent Resource Center. As always, feel free to download and embed my videos anywhere you like! Put any of my content on your website for you clients or embed on your … (2 comments)
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home safety: Five New Year's Resolutions FOR YOUR HOME: Free Customizable Handout
- 01/02/12 01:07 AM
Happppy New Year, everyone! With a New Year theme, here's my most recent featured content in the print library of the U.S. Inspect Agent Resource Center. Feel free to add your logo and use in your marketing!
Description: It’s a New Year. That means it's time for the ever popular list of New Year's Resolutions. What is on your list this year? Some of the most popular resolutions are to get more organized, to be healthier and to spend more time with the people we love. Well, how about a few resolutions for your home (yes, your home) that can help … (7 comments)
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home safety: Twas the night before Christmas...
- 12/23/11 01:33 AM
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Or so I thought!
Do you think it's possible to ever find just mouse droppings? And nothing else? Hmmm, I'm betting that's pretty unlikely...sigh...I went down to the kitchen this morning to find my husband, all dressed for work, standing at the kitchen sink hand-washing all of our silverware. Now my husband can be sweet, but I highly doubted that he had suddenly decided to treat me to some extra shiny forks, so I reluctantly asked, "What are you doing?"
"Do … (10 comments)
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home safety: Holiday Safety: Another Video Blog from Your's Truly
- 12/23/11 01:32 AM
Here's my most recent addition to the U.S. Inspect video library in our Agent Resource Center. As always, feel free to use on your blogs and websites!
Making our homes a safe place to be is so important during the holiday time of year, especially when it's the last thing on our mind.
From picking out a safe tree, to hiding dangling electrical cables, to avoiding edible decorations, this two-minute video provides a few great safety tips for around the home so you can focus on celebrating the joys of the season.
Posted By: Chrissy Doremus, U.S. Inspect Blog
… (2 comments)
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home safety: Child-Safe Holiday Decorating Tips: Free Customizable Handout
- 12/13/11 04:19 AM
Here's my most recent featured content in the print library in the U.S. Inspect Agent Resource Center. As many of you know, I recently had my second daughter, so this one hits close to home! Feel free to add your logo and use in your marketing!
Description: Will you have little ones in your home this holiday? Whether they are your own children, or those of family and guests, it's very important to be sure your holiday trimmings are child-safe. These eight tips can help you do just that.
Posted By: Chrissy Doremus, U.S. Inspect Blog
… (10 comments)
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home safety: Holiday Ladder Safety - Free Customizable Handout for Your Marketing
- 11/29/11 03:57 AM
Here's my most recent featured content in the print library in the U.S. Inspect Agent Resource Center. Feel free to add your logo and use in your marketing!
Description: This season, many of us will be on ladders decorating our homes inside and out. So this holiday time and always let's take some time to reiterate and practice ladder safety.
Posted By: Chrissy Doremus, U.S. Inspect Blog
… (6 comments)
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home safety: (Safe) Home for the Holidays: My First Video Blog!
- 11/23/11 04:33 AM
I created my first video blog in the U.S. Inspect Agent Resource Center! It is our most recent addition to the video library and covers some great tips for the holidays. Feel free to use on your blogs and websites!
'Tis the season for turkey dinners, gift-giving and throngs of descending house guests. That makes it the ideal time to make sure your home is safe and prepped for your friends’ and family’s arrival.
This two-minute video provides a few tips to help make your holiday-time maintenance a bit easier so that you can get on with celebrating the joys … (10 comments)
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home safety: 10 Ways to Make a BAD First Impression on Home Inspection Day
- 11/22/11 10:24 AM
It's inspection day! The last last thing you want to do is leave the buyer or their inspector with questions about how the home has been maintained and cared for over the years. It's time to put your home's best brick forward, so here are 10 things you'll definitely want to avoid!
The Top 10 Ways to Make a Bad First Impression on Inspection Day
The front door is in need of repair; weather stripping is loose, exposed, or dragging on the floor. The doorbell is not intact and/or does not work. What's that smell?! The house smells musty, moldy, or tired. … (62 comments)
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home safety: Life Expectancies of Common Home Components - Free Customizable Handout
- 11/11/11 12:37 AM
Have you ever wondered how long the various components in your home will last? Here's my most recent addition to the print library in the U.S. Inspect Agent Resource Center. Feel free to add your logo and use in your marketing!
Description: How many years do I have left on this roof? Which is the better investment, wood or tile flooring? Too bad our homes don’t come with “freshness dates!” You never really can know for certain how long something will last, but it doesn't seem to stop us from trying! And it's not a bad practice. Knowing approximately how long things … (31 comments)
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home safety: It's National Fire Prevention Week!
- 10/11/11 05:42 AM
October is National Fire Prevention Month and this week is National Fire Prevention Week. We will be recognizing this important national event this week and next week on our blog with some fire safety tips and information for you and your family.
According to the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), most Americans underestimate their risk for fire, and many either lack emergency response plans – or fail to practice them with fire drills. We hope that through spreading awareness, we can change that and keep our readers and their families safe! We hope everyone will be encouraged to … (5 comments)
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home safety: Preventing Burglary While on Vacation
- 08/01/11 08:26 AM
Summertime often means vacation time! But while you’re away, is your home safe and secure from burglary?
As promised, here is a link to my most recent addition to the U.S. Inspect print library in our Agent Resource Center. Feel free to add your logo and use in your marketing!
Description: Some great tips for preventing household burglary, especially when you are away during the peak summer months.
Posted By: Chrissy Doremus, U.S. Inspect Blog
… (4 comments)
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home safety: Garage Door Safety & Maintenance
- 05/09/11 09:21 AM
We expect a lot from our garage doors, and we expect them to open every time, on demand. But, honestly, when was the last time you gave yours a little TLC?
Are you aware that the garage door is the heaviest and largest single piece of moving equipment around your home? For the safety of your family, pets, and guests, performing periodic maintenance on your automatic garage door system is a necessity.
See if you can answer the following with a YES. If not, it's time for some "homework."
Do you have an owner's manual? Most manufacturers have posted their manual's … (14 comments)
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home safety: Garage Door Safety & Maintenance - Free Customizable Handout!
- 05/09/11 09:13 AM
As promised, here's my most recent addition to the U.S Inspect print library in our Agent Resource Center. Feel free to use on your blogs and websites! If you have any ideas for a flyer or video for our resource center, remember, I take requests!
Description: This resource is all about garage door safety and maintenance with a special sidebar that explains how to test the very important safety-reverse mechanism on your garage, which should be done every 30 days.
Posted By: Chrissy Doremus, U.S. Inspect Blog
… (1 comments)
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Many homeowners throughout the eastern United States are dealing with snow and ice accumulations that have not been seen in years. Paired with lots of thawing and refreezing, these are ideal conditions for the formation of Ice Dams. For homeowners who have not experience this kind of whether before in their home, the term ice dam may be completely new to you. So read on, because, although ice dams may not be a frequent occurance and weather conditions must be just right for them to occur; when they do, they are potentially destructive to your roof system. 
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