Landscaping plays a big part in first impressions of your home. Make sure your curb appeal and all areas around your house help make a good impression.
BOBVILA.COM
14 Landscaping Features That Can Hurt Your Home Value
A friendly reminder to please keep a safe distance and wear a mask during all in-person real estate dealings. Thank you!
When buying a home, a final walkthrough just before closing is highly recommended. Here’s a checklist of what you should look for on a buyer walkthrough.
REDFIN.COM
The Ultimate Final Walk-Through Checklist Before You Close on a Home
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The bathroom is one area where minor repairs and maintenance are often overlooked by homeowners. It’s our job to document these items during our bathroom inspection. Here’s what we look for.
HOUSEMASTER.COM
HouseMaster Demonstrates the Inspection of a Small Bathroom
We honor and remember all those lost on 9/11. #NeverForget
Thinking about buying a house, condo or townhome? When it comes to determining the current condition of your potential new home, #HouseMaster should be your first call. Here’s why ... https://housemasterbrochure.wordpress.com/
Here’s your monthly home maintenance checklist for October. If you’ll be having trick-or-treaters, remember to clear your walkway and porch of debris and eliminate any tripping hazards.
HouseMaster Home Inspection of Rochester, NH
October 5 at 1:50 PM ·
It’s National Fire Prevention Week. Here are some tips from your local home inspector for preventing fires in your home.
> Place smoke alarms on every level as specified by local fire code, and test alarms monthly.
> Have a qualified chimney professional inspect/clean fireplaces annually.
> Ensure that exhaust vents above the stove discharge to the outside, not to the attic.
> Install a fire-rated, self-closing door between the garage and the house.
> Ask a licensed electrician about installing Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) in an older home.
> Never use extension cords as a replacement for permanent electrical wiring.
> Have one of our trained and certified home inspectors evaluate your home for fire safety issues.
It’s National Fire Prevention Week. Here are some tips from your local home inspector for preventing fires in your home.
> Place smoke alarms on every level as specified by local fire code, and test alarms monthly.
> Have a qualified chimney professional inspect/clean fireplaces annually.
> Ensure that exhaust vents above the stove discharge to the outside, not to the attic.
> Install a fire-rated, self-closing door between the garage and the house.
> Ask a licensed electrician about installing Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) in an older home.
> Never use extension cords as a replacement for permanent electrical wiring.
> Have one of our trained and certified home inspectors evaluate your home for fire safety issues.
Timely advice -- how real estate agents can help millennials feel more comfortable buying their first home.
ENTREPRENEUR.COM
Real-Estate Tips for Assisting Millennials Buying Their First Homes
What causes mold in a home and what should you do if you find it? Watch this helpful video to learn more about household mold.
HOUSEMASTER.COM
What Causes Mold in a Home?
If you’re doing minor electrical work on your home, you need to know about “box fill” – the code that limits the number of wires you can put into an electrical box. It’s also important to use the right cable clamps, outlets, switches, and other items. Note: Always consult a professional electrician before doing any serious electrical work.
BHG.COM
How to Calculate the Number of Wires You Can Safely Put in an Electrical Box
Selling your home involves numerous steps, many of them driven by the home seller. If you’re considering selling your home, refer to this helpful timeline to keep the process on track.
REDFIN.COM
A Timeline to Selling Your House: What to Expect
Home maintenance is key to keeping your home in top notch condition. If you live in a cold climate, here are some of the fall chores that will help you protect your home from harsh weather. https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/home/home-maintenance-fall-chores-inspection-repair-20201024.html
The Repair Estimator Tool is a complimentary online service for our customers who use HouseMaster Cloud. Simply search for the type of repair or home improvement project and get a localized estimate of the potential cost.
When it comes to shopping for a new home, kitchens and bathrooms are often deal breakers for home buyers. While you can always repaint and change the fixtures, some flaws are harder to fix -– like these bathrooms and kitchens sharing the same space.
DEMILKED.COM
30 Times People Encountered Hilariously Terrible Kitchen Designs | DeMilked
The average life span of a water heater is 8-12 years. Proper maintenance helps keep the unit functioning well for longer, but as with any mechanical system there can still be issues.
REALTOR.COM
No Hot Water at Home? Here's Who—or What—To Blame
2020 has been a challenging year for everyone. At HouseMaster, we are very grateful for our customers, peers, co-workers and families. You’re the reason we do what we do. Thank you!
Everyone loves a cozy fireplace in the winter, but a dirty chimney can cause a damaging fire that endangers structures and lives. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends an annual fireplace and chimney inspection by a qualified chimney professional.
CSIA.ORG
The Facts About Chimney Fires
Finding and buying your dream home can be difficult in a seller’s market. One option you may consider is locating and negotiating to buy an unlisted home.
CNBC.COM
Can't find your dream home? Unlisted houses might be your answer
Questions to ask your home inspector before, during and after your home inspection. https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/questions-to-ask-a-home-inspector-and-when/
To those who have served, and those still serving, thank you Veterans!
A raised foundation (aka, crawl space) makes a home more susceptible to moisture intrusion, heat loss and pests that can affect the condition of the home. As a homeowner, inspecting a crawl space may be a home maintenance task you don’t care to do. Fortunately, a qualified home inspector can evaluate the space under your home, report on current conditions, and advise remedial action as needed.
REDFIN.COM
Crawl Space Maintenance: Everything you Need to Know
Staging your home for sale makes it more appealing to buyers. But you don’t want to use home staging to try to hide problems like these. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/home-staging-cant-hide-these-problems/
Home inspectors are trained to look for health and safety concerns, structural issues, and mechanical defects or end of life potential in major home systems. Here are a few areas that a general home inspection will typically NOT include. https://www.homelight.com/blog/whats-not-covered-in-a-home-inspection/
We are committed to doing our best on each and every inspection we do -- and we back it up with HouseMaster’s Limited Repair Reimbursement Guarantee.* The Guarantee covers specified elements of the property which were found to be in satisfactory condition at the time of the inspection. Your local HouseMaster office may provide reimbursement to home buyers for eligible unexpected repair expenses during the Guarantee period.
*Where available, contact your local HouseMaster franchise for terms and conditions.
Here’s a quick guide to the home inspection process, and a home inspection checklist that will help home buyers understand what to expect. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/the-ultimate-home-inspection-checklist/ss-BB1bSkqF#image=1
Here's a helpful indoor and outdoor home maintenance checklist for each month of the year.
“Regularly checking your home for maintenance needs throughout the year is the best way to keep your home safe and prevent the need for costly emergency repairs,” -- Kathleen Kuhn, president and CEO of HouseMaster Home Inspections
HOMELIGHT.COM
Your Home Maintenance Checklist Organized by Months of the Year
For smart home buyers, this isn’t a difficult decision. Our trained and certified home inspectors will help you have confidence in one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. Give HouseMaster a call for your next home inspection!
