Secure Inspections Pre-Listing Inspection

A Secure Inspections Pre-Listing Inspection is a home inspection that is performed before the house goes on the market. In a few cases the inspection has been completed after a home has been listed to assist in the marketability of the home. The benefits of this inspection help create a powerful marketing tool that can be used during the process of selling a home.

How Will a Secure Inspections Pre-Listing Inspection Benefit Me?

• Home may sell faster!
• Home may sell for more money!
• No more buyers walking away because there may be a problem with the home
• No more last minute re-negotiations based on the inspector’s findings
• No more helpless feelings that an inspector has raised an issue that is not a deal-breaker
• No more buyers getting cold feet when they find out the home is not perfect
• No more parade of inspectors through your home before a multiple-offer situation
• You choose the inspection company and inspector based on reputation and professionalism
• You resolve any differences of opinion about the home before it goes on the market
• Most, if not all homes, have room for improvement. Disclosing the condition of the home allows you to reflect the condition in the listing price, rather than have to negotiate again later when the issues are discovered
• You fix any conditions identified (if you choose to) or get estimates from a qualified professional, or simply reflect it in the purchase price. This takes it off the table as a negotiating point against you
• Sell your home without unnecessary headaches

This program is a wonderful and powerful way of selling your home. Once people see and understand the pre-listing program it becomes a necessity. After all, your goal as a seller is to sell your home quickly, without problems, and for the top dollar it can bring in its marketplace. So why not utilize every tool available to achieve success?

CALL US TODAY TO SCHEDULE - 817.793.9843 or visit Secure Inspections to schedule online and receive discounts.

Spring Roof Maintenance

The cold weather and storms of the winter season can wreak havoc on the exterior of a home and the surrounding property. Sometimes it isn’t that there is significant damage, but simply the fact that it may have been several months since you last paid attention to or attempted any outdoor maintenance. 

Now is the time to do a winter-end check to make sure everything is in order and your home is ready to withstand those spring-time showers and the pending heat of summer.

While all exterior areas should be checked periodically, one area that typically requires special attention at the end of the winter season is the roof. To identify possible roofing concerns, look for:

• Ceiling stains – A possible warning sign that your roof system needs repair or replacement. If localized, it may be an isolated point of damage or a flashing leak. Ceiling stains can also be associated with excessive attic moisture and/or ice dam conditions, which may require additional attic ventilation and/or insulation to prevent a recurrence. If there are stains on lower level ceilings, a plumbing leak could be the cause.
• Loose or missing shingles – Any loose or missing shingles should be repaired or replaced immediately to avoid additional leakage and damage to the roof deck or interior of your home.
• Loose, lifted or cracked flashing – This is the sheet metal or other type membrane found at the base of chimneys and roof penetrations. Damaged flashing should be repaired or replaced to prevent leakage. Any open gaps should be sealed with roof cement.
• Lifted or curled shingles – This may be an indication the roof is worn and at or near the end of its service life, or, at the very least, makes it conducive to wind damage. If found just in an isolated area, spot replacement may be possible, but if widespread, get a professional opinion on the roof’s condition.
• Heavy granule buildup in gutters or at base of downspouts – The granules on roof shingles gradually wear away to the point where the underlying material is exposed over large areas. Once this happens the rate of shingle deterioration accelerates. If granule loss is excessive, it may indicate aging shingles that need replacement.

Any roof maintenance check should also include gutter cleaning. This is an areas often not paid attention to until an overflow creates problems. Gutters need to be checked year-round to help avoid expensive water damage to the siding or house structure. Extensions or splash blocks at downspouts help divert water away from the house, avoiding soil erosion and infiltration through basement or crawlspace walls.

If you have questions on your roof system, consider utilizing the services of a professional home inspector or qualified roofing contractor to determine conditions. 

(C) DBR Franchising, LLC

Is Your Dishwasher Using Too Much Energy?

Is your dishwasher using too much energy? Follow these energy saving    tips to get the most out of your dishwasher:* Scrape, don't rinse, off large food pieces and bones. Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded, when you run it. Let your dishes air dry. If you don't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse. Then prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster.

Helpful hint:  Don't use the "rinse hold" on your machine for just a few soiled dishes.  It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.  Save this setting for when you really need it most.

The following energy-saving tips are very simple to follow and will reduce your heating energy cost no matter which fuel you use in your home:

• DIAL DOWN. For every degree you reduce your thermostat setting you may save about 3% on your heating bill.
• SET THE THERMOSTAT BACK. At night, and when leaving your home unoccupied for a long period of time, set the thermostat back. Note: This suggestion may not be advisable if you have a heat pump system.
• DON’T BLOCK REGISTERS OR RADIATORS. Keep rugs, furniture or drapes clear of heat registers or radiators.
• DON’T FULLY HEAT UNUSED ROOMS. Close registers or turn off radiators in rooms not being used, and close the doors. Caution: To protect any pipes in these rooms, make sure the temperature is above freezing.
• CLOSE EXTERIOR DOORS. Keep all exterior doors as well as those to all unheated areas, such as the garage, attic and basement, tightly closed.
• USE THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE HOUSE TO BEST ADVANTAGE.Open blinds or drapes to let the sun’s rays in to help warm the house. At night or on cloudy days, close the draperies to prevent heat loss.
• KEEP YOUR WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEM CLEAN. Clean or replace dirty filters that restrict air flow through your furnace.
• INSULATE YOUR HOUSE WHERE IT IS NEEDED. Proper insulation will conserve more energy than any other single item. Increasing insulation levels from a minimal depth to the currently recommended amount for your area may save up 30% or more on your heating bill.
• INSULATE DUCTS AND PIPES. Ducts that carry warm air or pipes that carry heated water to the living areas may go through unheated areas. To increase the efficiency of the heating system, these ducts and pipes should be covered with insulation.
• WEATHERSTRIP AND CAULK AROUND WINDOWS AND DOORS.Sealing gaps in exterior walls will reduce cold drafts and keep warm air in. It is one of the least expensive ways to save energy.
• SEAL AGAINST AIR LEAKAGE TO THE ATTIC. Don’t forget to insulate and weatherstrip all attic access doors. Even small cracks around attic entrances can result in substantial heat loss.
• CLOSE THE FIREPLACE DAMPER OR DOORS WHEN NOT IN USE. An open fireplace allows the heated air in the room to rise up the flue and escape to the outside. Even when a good fire is burning, more heated house air can be drawn into the fireplace and up the chimney than the fireplace can radiate into a room. So use your fireplace prudently.

Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue.

(c) DBR Franchising, LLC

Smokey Fireplaces

Any number of conditions can contribute to smoking problems in a fireplace. A certified chimney sweep is usually the appropriate professional to consult for fireplace or chimney problems.


In some cases, a good cleaning or some relatively simple measures may improve conditions. Here are some possible practical solutions to consider:


Provide combustion air. In all cases, in addition to making sure the damper is open, ensure there is adequate air for combustion. If you live in a relatively new and/or reasonably airtight house, it may be necessary to open a window near the fireplace to provide air for the fire.


Install a chimney-top flueguard. If downdrafts appear to affect the exhaust gases, a chimney cap or flueguard of metal or stone may be tried to deflect the air from entering the chimney.


Raise the hearth. A fireplace opening can be decreased by raising the back of the hearth. To experiment, a sheet metal hearth can be supported on bricks placed on the existing hearth. If this experiment improves the fire, the back hearth may be raised by firebrick masonry, and the front hearth may also be built up.


Add a hood at the firebox. An experimental model of a canopy hood can be made of sheet metal and temporarily attached over the top of the fireplace opening. Try various designs and sizes. If the hood works well, a permanent metal hood can be installed.


Extend the chimney. The higher the chimney, the better the draft. A good draft is usually provided by a chimney which is 20 feet high or more from hearth to the top of the chimney. If the existing chimney is short (less than 15 feet) a good draft (or upward movement of the flue gases) may just not be able to develop. One or more metal chimney sections can be temporarily installed on top of an existing chimney to test whether the draft is improved before a more permanent and expensive fix is tried.



Trim surrounding trees. Wavering smoke patterns above the chimney may indicate that tall trees are causing downdraft. The trees should be trimmed and/or flue height extended to determine if the trees are the cause.


Any of these suggestions may help reduce fireplace problems, but in extreme or chronic cases, they may only be a part of the solution. If there are major fireplace design deficiencies or the chimney has deteriorated significantly, more drastic measures will be needed. In some cases, this may mean rebuilding all or part of the fireplace and/or chimney, or replacing it with a gas-fired fireplace coupled to a new metal flue inside the defective chimney.


Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue.

(c) DBR Franchising, LLC

Make Your Home Unfriendly To Mold

Mold spores are present everywhere. Mold growth is most prolific in warm, damp weather, but high indoor moisture levels and poor ventilation can contribute to mold growth any time of year. To help reduce the potential for mold, provide adequate air circulation and reduce moisture levels in mold-prone areas, such as basements and storage areas.

Avoid storing items directly against walls in potentially damp areas, which restrict air circulation and trap moisture against surfaces. Also consider placing boxes and storage containers on blocks or pallets to allow for air flow.

If you’re going away for an extended period of time, remember that a closed-up house usually creates an environment where air changes occur very slowly. Any water vapor present can condense on the cooler surfaces and allow mold to grow as the temperature warms up.

Frequent air change will help control moisture levels and keep moisture and mold spores from building up. When outdoor weather is appropriate, promote air flow and air changes by using air circulating fans and/or opening the windows slightly. Dehumidifiers can help remove moisture from the air, but realize mold spores will remain. Problems may re-occur when moist conditions return.

Since prevention is always the best way to keep a home fit, the following tips can avoid the potential health and financial burdens associated with mold. For additional guidance on mold issues, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency .

Quick Tips:

• Avoid resting long-term storage directly against walls.
  
• Place storage boxes on pallets.
  
• Keep basement windows slightly open during mild, dry weather.
  
• Maintain air circulation in all areas, particularly basements and storage areas.
  
• Filter fresh air changes to help keep spores from building up.
  

Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue.

(c) DBR Franchising, LLC

Fall Maintenance Checklist

Many areas have already had a taste of fall weather, and it’s not far behind for most others. Now is the time to make sure your house and heating system are ready for winter. Here is a brief checklist to guide you through some basic tasks before it is too late:

GROUNDS

• Check window wells, dry wells and storm drains for debris or blockage.
• Repair any driveway cracks and/or heaved or settled walkways.
• Trim all trees and shrubs that are too close to the house.
• Check (ideally during a rainstorm) for rainwater drainage away foundation.
• Clean and put summer furnishings away.
• Drain and store garden hoses.

EXTERIOR SURFACES

• Check weathertightness of all exterior surfaces and components.
• Check for deterioration of painted or finished areas. If too late for a full paint job, prime and touch-up bare wood surfaces.
• Caulk and seal all joints in siding, around windows and doors.
• Check and seal any foundation cracks.
• Improve weatherstripping at exterior doors and windows as needed.
• Reset storms and screens where required.
• Look for any signs of insect or pest activity around the foundation and at wood components close to the ground.

ROOF (Use binoculars or hire a professional.)

• Check for loose, damaged or missing roofing.
• Check eave areas for signs of moisture build-up or damage.
• Check the condition of chimneys.
• Check flashings for signs of lifting or damage and repair as needed.
• Check and clean all gutters (eavestroughs) and downspouts.

ATTIC

• Check ventilation openings for nests or other blockage.
• Check the position and condition of insulation for uniform coverage.
• Look for any signs of excessive moisture or heat buildup.

INTERIOR ROOMS

• Check all areas for signs of roof or plumbing leakage.
• Have any fireplaces or wood stoves and flues checked and professionally cleaned.
• Reset automatic timers for the change in daylight hours.
• Check all smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries if over a year old.
• Test Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupters (GFCI’s) using built-in test buttons.

HEATING/COOLING SYSTEMS

• Clean all elements of the cooling system.
• Remove (or winterize) room air conditioners.
• Follow manufacturer instructions for the maintenance of your heating system.
• Change or clean heating system filters on warm air systems (now and regularly).
• Check heating and cooling systems for any evidence of water leaks.
• If present, clean and test the humidifier.
• Have your heating system serviced annually by a qualified heating serviceperson before the heating season to keep it functioning efficiently and properly.

PLUMBING

• Drain exterior water lines and open taps (in cold areas).
• Insulate water lines that are subject to freezing.
• Check the condition and temperature setting of the water heater. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the temperature setting.
• Check the plumbing system and fixtures for any evidence of water leaks or blocked drains.
• Confirm proper operation of any sump pumps and free flow of the drain line.

Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue.

(c) DBR Franchising, LLC