Normal bathroom activities such as showering, bathing, etc. can significantly raise your indoor humidity levels. In fact, studies have shown that the typical family of four converts three gallons of water into water vapor every day, and it only requires four to six pints of water to raise the indoor relatively humidity of a 1,000 square foot home from 40 to 60 percent. In turn, this excess moisture is a complex problem that can cause a number of undesirable conditions such as the following: Continue Reading →
A guide to prepare you for your Home Inspection
If you’re a Seller, then you should be aware of several things that may make the inspection process more efficient. Home inspections usually vary in times from two to five hours, depending on the size of the house.
The following tips will help you be prepared for your home inspection. Continue Reading →
New construction, short sales and bank-owned home inspections.
- New construction – Builders often will not allow an “inspection contingency”. Once you sign a contract to buy the home that they are building, you are usually locked-in to the purchase, except for some instances when you cannot obtain financing. Such contracts are definitely slanted in favor of the builder, but the logic here is pretty easy to understand. Builders will offer limited warranties on their homes and any issues that surface during an inspection will likely be covered by such a warranty. Continue Reading →
Options when repair items are identified during the inspection process.
Most real estate contracts in Illinois allow for a 5-day home inspection period and we suggest you take advantage of it. They will also outline a negotiation process. During that negotiation, you can ask the seller to fix items that need repair, you can ask the seller for a credit to compensate you for the future repairs, or you can request a hybrid of these two options. Continue Reading →
Fall Energy Saving Tips
- About 80 to 85% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water. There are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes – use less water and use cooler water. Your clothes will be just as clean as using warm, or hot water and you’ll save money by not heating water to wash clothes. Costs are 26¢ per load using hot water and 11¢ per load using warm water. Continue Reading →
Why an Inspection for a Condo Purchase is Important
In Chicago condominiums are abundant, we often have occasion to speak with buyers who are anguishing over whether they need an inspection or not. Just like buyers who are purchasing a newly built home, condominium purchasers often feel that it’s not necessary to get a home inspection. The main reason for condos is that new buyers often believe that anything wrong with the unit is the responsibility of someone else – namely the condo association. Continue Reading →
10 Mold Prevention Tips
- Moisture control is the key!!!!
- Keep your home or building clean and dry; dry wet or damp areas within 48 hours.
- Fix leaky plumbing and leaks in your home or building as soon as possible.
- Watch for condensation and wet spots; fix the sources of moisture problems as soon as possible. Continue Reading →
Saving Energy Through Efficient Lighting
Studies show that in the US, an verageousehold spends 5-10% of its energy budget on lighting. This shows that there is a potential of saving money by achieving higher efficiency lighting. Here are some useful tips on achieving energy efficient lighting and reducing your next electricity bill.
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