Selling Soon?

With the spring home buying season rapidly approaching, home inspections are a must — for the seller. If you have maintained your home while living there it will be a smoother [buyer’s] inspection


It’s not a bad idea to do a home inspection before even listing your home. It may sound like a hassle but it could save you a lot of money and stress early on. It will pinpoint danger areas or red flags that could be a potential problem

Remember, you’re not buying a dump and you want the best $ you can get so don’t sell a dump either.

Having your home already inspected ultimately also gives the prospective buyers the comfort and confidence that the seller actually cared about their home in the first place. Just be sure to Inform the buyer and show proof of the home inspection you so kindly took care of. Doing so avoids any unnecessary and costly redundancies and hiccups during the transaction.

Below is a pre-listing home inspection checklist to keep things significantly less nerve-racking and not terribly costly before the buyer’s home inspector comes through. Get pricing on issues you have identified this will ease the negotiation process and prevent either side thinking the other side is trying to cloud the issue and adjust the purchase price unfairly

1. Clean your gutters out. This is a commonly overlooked detail that just ends up being a hassle later on. Don’t get docked for such a simple yard work chore.

2. If your furnace is over 15 years old, spend the $150 it typically costs to have it serviced and cleaned. Make a copy and put it in a ziplock bag and tape it to the furnace,

3. Check for positive drainage of the landscape around the house. You don’t want to flood the basement, so get some dirt and toss it into the wheelbarrow and level out the slopes.

4. Reinstall any handrails. Many people remove the handrails along their stairs, but when you move out you want to put them back. The home inspector will insist on it.

5. If it’s safe, check out the condition of your roof. You want things looking normal, or, otherwise you’ll have to get some maintenance help.

6. Check the auto reverse on the garage door opener. Make sure there’s a safety release. and that the over reverse and close functions stop when over stressed

7. Sounds funny, but check that all toilets are flushed properly. “You’d be surprised how many people forget about flushing the toilet in the other or, guest room,”  “You don’t want things to pop up.”

8. Check your sink and bathtub drains. You need a functional drain, not a slow drain. The home inspector will fill up your tub and watch for what happens. Get any hair out and add Drano when necessary.

9. Take care of any leaks if you can. Check under your sinks and vanities for leakage and tighten what you can on your own.

10. Check your windows. Open and close each hung window — especially the ones that go up and down so as to make sure the springs are in place and the windows won’t slam down.

11. Fix up any deteriorated paint jobs.

12. Test out the dishwasher and washing machine along with any other appliances that will be staying behind. You want everything functioning properly, so there are no surprises.

And as for the don’ts, Don't leave “any stuff out that you wouldn’t want your mother to see — if you catch my drift.” And on a more serious and less embarrassing note: “Don’t ever take off the electric panel. That’s one thing to leave to the inspector!”

Swimming Pool Care

A. Check pool chemistry 2-3 times per week during the summer and 1 per week in the winter.
B. Clean out skimmer basket(s) weekly, or as needed if conditions exist.
C. Clean hair and lint pot in the pump every 2 weeks or as needed. Turn off pump to do this.
D. Check and monitor water level at least once per month, adjust as needed. Water level should be at the center of the tile or skimmer.
E. Check Deck-Chlor/Inline Chlorinator once per week for proper adjustment. Check flow as needed while you check chlorine readings. Make sure chlorine tablets are in the Deck-Chlor or Inline Unit, adjust as necessary to maintain adequate chlorine levels.
F. Make sure light is on in the ozone unit, if you have one. Crack valve only slightly at the pump. Be careful not to break any of the connections -- they are fragile. Check flow-meter often to ensure adjustment is within range.
G. Add catalyst tabs if you have one as needed following instructions for the gallons of water in your pool. Keep them in a cool dry place or they will turn into block form.
H. Clean filters. This may be necessary after a heavy storm or once every few months depending on conditions in your pool. It would be best to clean them about every 4-6 months. Just remind yourself to do it each time you come back from the dentist, or each time you change the air filters in your home, which should be about the same frequency. If you have an extra set of elements it is a much easier and quicker job. Soak dirty filters in a 10% solution of muriatic acid or a solution of TSP (trisodium phosphate). Use a rubber trash can. Wear gloves and eye protection. Be careful! Always add acid to water, NOT water to acid. Rinse until clean and let them dry. Put your supplies away until your next swap-out.
I. As you are monitoring your pool, take note:
1. Are your returns very weak?
2. Is the in-floor cleaning system not working very well?
3. Is the water clarity starting to look bad?
If any of these conditions exist, it is likely time to clean the filters. Most pools should only need this done a couple of times a year. There are exceptions though based on pool usage.
J. Wipe/clean tile line weekly. This will reduce build-up.
K. If you have a salt water chlorine generator than you will need to check and clean the blades in the unit about every 30 days. If the red flow light or flow meter is on or reading less than normal, then the blades are likely calcified and producing little to zero chlorine. Turn the pump off, bleed off any pressure, undo the unions and clean the impellor per the manufacturer's instructions.
L. Always keep chemicals stored out of direct sunlight. Keep them in a cool dry place. Do NOT store acid and chlorine immediately next to each other.
M. Your pool should not need to be shocked on any regular basis if you have an ozone system. If you need to do it, do it at night. Use non-chorine based shock if you plan on swimming any time soon. Another way to shock your pool is to run your pump for 24 hours using your ozone system. This works well! If you are on 24 hour circulation (2-speed or variable speed pump) than you should be good.
N. If you start seeing any cracks around the perimeter of your pool between your deck and your tile, caulk it with a small bead of clear silicone. Do not allow the water to migrate from inside the pool in and under the deck through cracks at this location.
O. Keep vegetation, animals, and chemicals (like fertilizers and ironite) away from and out of the pool. Nitrates from bird droppings and waste from animals and people are food for algae. Don't feed the algae!

Recalls

More items being recalled

Giant and Best Water Heaters Manufactured 6985 recalled hot water heaters sold in Canada from April 1, 2014, to September 26, 2014. Contact 1 800 363 9354

Venmar Heat Exchangers Manufactured May 2002 to June 2008  , 207,000 units in Canada http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2015/Venmar-Ventilation-Expands-Recall-of-Air-Exchangers/ motor may overheat with possible fire hazard
                            
Daesung Celtic Tankless Water Heaters , 2200 units in Canada, www.challengersupply.com equipment may overheat
                             
Hearth & Home Technologies®, Heat-N-Glo®, Heatilator®, Outdoor Lifestyle® and Quadra Fire® natural or propane gas indoor and outdoor Gasfireplaces, Stoves and Inserts, 20,000 units www.hearthnhome.com may have gas valve leaks

Radon Can Impact Your Health

At Home Work & Play Inspections http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/ in Cambridge, Ontario, want Canadians to know that Health Canada reports that 8.2 per cent of Ontario homes contain high levels of radon.

While that may seem like a low number, any percentage of radon present in your home is dangerous because of its harmful effects, one of which is the higher likelihood of contracting lung cancer where radon is present.

Health Canada defines radon as a radioactive gas found naturally in the environment produced by the decay of uranium found in soil, rock or water. It’s invisible, odourless and tasteless and emits ionizing radiation that moves through the soil enabling it to escape into the atmosphere and seep into buildings.

This is especially true if the building is built over bedrock or soil that contains uranium as the radon gas can get into buildings through cracks in the foundation, walls, floors or gaps around pipes and cables. Once this happens the radon can accumulate to high and dangerous levels for those who live or work in the space.

In homes or office buildings, the highest levels will accumulate in poorly ventilated areas and nearest to the source of radon gas such as basements, crawl spaces and storage rooms.

The only way to know if your home or office building contains radon is by having it professionally tested because it’s undetectable and by the time the damage is done, it could be too late.

The team at At Home Work & Play Inspections are professionals specializing in the area of home and building inspections.They offer several services http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/services.html including bacterial growths, septic systems, WETT systems and radon gas inspections and detection.

Two homes side by side may provide different results so don't rely on neighbours or friends similar location testing. If you’re concerned about the presence of radon in your environment, the At Home & Play team will send one of their C-NRPP technicians to do the testing and evaluate the radon levels and the best course of action to take to get rid of it.

Call them today at 519-239-9220 or contact http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/contact_us.html with any questions you may have.

Aging Playground Structure?

A playground structure can be a thing of joy for the children who scale its walls and swing from its monkey bars.  But all too easily, an aging or neglected structure can fall into disrepair, becoming dangerous and unsafe.  Natural wear and tear combined with harsh weather conditions, can cause unplanned movement of the structure and severely affect the safety of surfaces and access routes if not carefully monitored.  

 

As a property or business owner with a playground structure, you are responsible for ensuring that it is properly maintained in order that it may be used in as safe and risk free a manner as possible.    A qualified play structure inspector from At Home & Play Inspections (http://www.goldbook.ca/cambridge-on/home-inspection-service/at-home-and-play-inspection-9614  ) in Cambridge, Ontario will assist you in making a thorough assessment of your play structure, helping you observe and address any hazards which will need removing or repairing.  Inspection of the structure will ensure that none of the components are experiencing undue wear, and that fasteners are secure.  Protective surfaces should be tested on a regular basis and upgrades when needed should be made a priority.  Once all potential safety issues have been addressed, and brought up to current safety standards, the inspector can then help you draw up a plan for regular inspections and maintenance.

Although well intentioned, maintenance by someone outside of the playground industry may be in breach of the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) standard. Serving Cambridge and South Western Ontario, At Home & Play Inspections (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/home.html ) are proud members of the Canadian Association of Playground Practitioners with a solid, technical understanding of the most current CSA standard for Children’s Play Spaces and Equipment.  Using various surface performance testing devices and instruments, as directed by the CSA Standard, an inspector from At Home& Play Inspections (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/services.html ) will help you ensure that your play structure is a safe place to play. 

For further information (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/home.html)  on how At Home & Play Inspections can help you, or to book (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/booking_inspections.html) your playground structure inspection today, call 519 239 9220 or email athomeandplay@gmail.com.   

Recall of Thermostats / Boilers / LED bulbs and Propane Fireplaces

A variety of items were recently recalled from Thermostats made under a large number of trade names: A joint recall issued Apr 30, 2014 with Health Canada and White-Rodgers involves four models of White-Rodgers digital thermostats. Approximately 403,000 were sold in Canada and about 740,000 were sold in the United States from January 2006 through to Dec 2013
The alkaline batteries used in the thermostat can leak onto the circuit board posing a fire hazard. White-Rodgers has received seven reports (four of which were in Canada) of burn damage to the thermostat, including two (one of which was in Canada) involving minor property damage. No injuries have been reported. Health Canada has received one consumer incident report of batteries damaging the thermostat. No injuries were reported
The effected models (models 1F80-04xx, 1F83-04xx, 1F85-04xx and 1F86-04xx) are branded as follows: COMFORTSENTRY, DICO, Emerson, Frigidaire, Maytag, Nutone, Partners Choice, Rheem, Ruud, Unico, Water Furnace, Westinghouse, White-Rodgers or Zonefirst. The thermostats have a battery door on the top left corner. There are three or four buttons to the right and also below the thermostat screen. Recalled thermostats do not show a battery icon on the left side of the screen and includes. The model numbers for the affected thermostats are shown on a sticker on the back of the thermostat or on the thermostat mounting plate. However, the battery door location and buttons allow the thermostats to be identified without having to remove the thermostat to check the model number sticker

Gas - Propane fuelled fireplaces: A joint recall with Health Canada and Wolf Steel Ltd. has been issued for Napoleon GD3200 propane gas fireplaces model number GD3200-P flush glass front and GD3200B-P with bay window. The fireplace front panels are black with gold accent designs on the outside of the product. The model is identified on a rating label located on the base of the fireplace behind the lower access door
According to the recall, issued June 26, 2014, there is a potential for the glass to break during the lighting of the pilot burner if there is a buildup of propane gas, posing a laceration hazard. Wolf Steel Ltd received one report in Canada of the glass shattering when lighting the pilot burner, resulting in cuts to the face and neck that required medical attention


Boilers - Health Canada together Weil-McLain have issued a joint recall naming Weil-McLain Ultra 80, 105, 155 and 230 MBH gas-fired boilers, which were manufactured between June 2012 and Mar 2014. The boilers have a Weil-McLain logo plate affixed to the front, a pewter/flat black cover and are either freestanding or wall-mounted. The boilers have a serial number range between CP 6557046 and CP 6955985. The model number and serial number are located on a bar-coded label affixed to the lower right side of the boiler, behind the removable front panel.
About 540 units were sold in Canada and 7900 units were sold in the U.S. A cap on the boiler's manifold can crack and release gas into the home, posing a risk of fire and explosion. Weil-McLain has received 11 reports of manifold caps cracking in the U.S. No fires or injuries have been reported. Health Canada has not received any reports of consumer incidents or injuries to Canadians related to the use of this boiler

LED Bulbs - This recall involves 14 Halco LED bulb models used in recessed lights, as outdoor security lighting and in retail displays. The bulbs have a metal cone-shaped housing, are silver in color, either 14 or 18 watts, and have clusters of 6 to 16 LEDs. “ProLED” is printed on a label on the plastic housing of the bulb along with model numbers, product names, and date codes. The PAR30 bulbs measure about 4.75 inches long and 3.75 inches wide. The PAR38 bulbs measure about 4.75 inches long and 4.75 inches wide

For more detailed information contact the blogger

De Humidifier Recall

Dehumidifiers Recall due to Risk of Fire (May 2014):

If you have a dehumidifier then check this list and link to ensure your aren't at risk

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/Gree-Reannounces-Dehumidifier-Recall/ 


This recall involves 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50, 65 and 70-pint dehumidifiers with brand names Danby, De’Longhi, Fedders, Fellini, Frigidaire, GE, Gree, Kenmore, Norpole, Premiere, Seabreeze, SoleusAir and SuperClima. 

Do you have a NEST CO/Smoke Detector?

Recall of Nest Smoke/CO combo alarms due to arm wave silence.

Nest Labs is recalling their Smoke/CO Alarms due to a failure to sound an alert. \

                                            

These alarms can be controlled by a computer/ smartphone using a wireless network. The problem is the “Nest Wave” function. It seems that you can accidently silence the detector by waving your arms. This is similar to the “clap on- clap off” feature on these device.

Homeowners who have these devices already connected should confirm the update to disable this function has been installed at the "Nest Sense" area of their account. You should also ensure the button for "Nest Wave" is set to off and grayed out.

About 440 thousand of these have been sold by Best Buy, Home Depot and other retailers nationwide, and online at nest.com, amazon.com, bestbuy.com and homedepot.com from November 15, 2013 to April 3, 2014 for about $130.

Links on the Recall-

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/Nest-Labs-Recalls-to-Repair-Nest-Protect-Smoke-CO-Alarms/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nest-recalling-440k-smoke-alarms-for-safety-risk/

Before You Hire THE Home Inspector.............

Homeownership is without a doubt one of the biggest investments you will make in your life.  Buying a home can be an exciting time, but it is also one of the more stressful times you will encounter. Whether you are buying your first home, upgrading as your family grows, or downsizing, a well performed home inspection will provide you with the unbiased, professional opinion you need to feel confident in making an informed decision.

The many choices available to you when choosing an inspection company (http://www.goldbook.ca/cambridge-on/home-inspection-service/at-home-and-play-inspection-9614/ ) can be daunting.  With a little research and knowing the right questions (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/inspection_faqs.html ) to ask, you will feel assured that the company you choose is working for you, with your best interests in mind. 

·         Professional Association/Education and training – Home inspectors belonging to a provincial or industry association, hold an accreditation that demonstrates specific training standards and experience. .

·         Written report – You should be provided with a comprehensive report (electronic or hard copy) at the end of the inspection.

·         Experience - Your home inspector should have strong experience with the type and age of home to be inspected.  Always ask for (and investigate) references (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/contact_us_client_references.html) from previous clients.

·         Length of inspection - The minimum time an inspection should take is 2 1/2 hours. Depending on home size and age, and weather conditions it may take longer.

·         Insurance – Ask if the home inspection company carries insurance, and if so make sure you understand what is and is not covered.

And remember, a reputable home inspector (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/home.html) should never offer services to repair any issues they find while making their investigations.

At Home & Play Inspections (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com) serving Cambridge and the surrounding area, have the experts you need to make an informed decision.  For more information about services (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/services.html  ) offered,  visit the At Home & Play Inspections website (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com) ,email athomeandplay@gmail.com or call today at 519 239 9220

Radon and Radon Testing

Did you know that according to Health Canada 8.4 % of Ontario Homes, 11 % in Guelph, 10.4 % in Brantford and 4 % in Waterloo Homes have elevated levels of radon. These gases are tasteless, odourless and invisible. Over a very shortime they decompose and if breathed in contribute to 10% of lung cancers diagnosed. This influenced them in 2007 to reduce acceptable levels by 75% based upon a cross Canada sampling of various ages, types and styles of homes and recommend that ALL Canadians should have their homes and workplaces checked to determine the levels were at or below acceptable levels of 200 Bq/m3.

 

There are many types of sampling that can be done but Health Canada recommends at least a 91 day test before deciding to remediate and consider an extraction/ ventilation system. A short 4 day test can provide information to allow the decision to follow along with the longer more invasive test or not and this is likely more appropriate as relates to the real estate transaction.

 

If you would like more information don't hesitate to contact me and I can give you some more insight or information.

Garage Door Opener Recall

Genie Recalls Garage door openers for fire hazard

 

It has been reported that the control board of the recalled Garage Door openers could experience overheating presenting a potential fire hazard

    

The recall involves Genie PowerMax 1200 &1500 models, as well as Genie Pro Line models TriloG 1200 & 1500, screw drive garage door openers

                 

The serial numbers are printed on a label located on the side opposite to the light.,Serial numbers for the recalled units start with the following five numbers:

Genie PowerMax serial #’s- 11214, 11347, 11214, 11215, 11348, 11313,11235, 12006, 11332, 11256, 12009, 11336, 11298, 12018, 11347, 11311, 12019, 11348, 11312, 12026, 11349, 11313, 12027, 11326, 12034, 11327, 12036, 11336, 12037, 11332, 12038, 12058.

Genie Pro Serial# 11214 11313 11332 11336 11347 11348 11349

These garage door openers were sold at many of the retailers between- August 2011 through October 2012

Recall link-http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/Genie-Recalls-Garage-Door-Openers/#remedy

Hot Water Boiler Recall

A recall has been issued involving U.S. Boiler ESC, PVG and SCG model cast iron hot water boilers that use natural gas or liquid petroleum. U.S. Boiler Company has identified that under certain circumstances, the air pressure switch can fail to shut down the burners when there is a blockage in the vent system, causing the boiler to emit excessive amounts of carbon monoxide into the vent systems. Neither Health Canada nor U.S. Boiler Company has received any reports of incidents or injuries in Canada. Approximately 310 of the recalled products were sold in Canada sold from April 2006 to February 2013 and approximately 26 000 were sold in the U.S.

The boilers are light blue in colour with black trim, about 102 centimetres (40 inches) tall, about 66 centimetres (26 inches) deep and range from 30.5 to 79 centimetres (12 to 31 inches) wide. The model name and U.S. Boiler logo are on the front cover of the boiler. The front cover of the boiler is vented.  The model number, serial number and manufacturing date are located on a silver label on the top panel of ESC models and on the inside of PVG and SCG models on the right side panel. The manufacturing date appears in the upper right corner of the silver label in the MM/YYYY format.

Did you know there are 3 types of WETT Inspection?

Although there are 3 types of WETT inspection that are progressive, Level 1 leads to 2 and 2 leads to 3. Most Insurance companies and hence most Real Estate transactions require Level 1

 

What is a WETT inspection? It’s a visual inspection of a wood burning appliance.  WETT is Wood Energy Technology Transfer.  There are three levels of inspections available in addition to maintenance done to chimneys, such as sweeping.

Level one is a visual inspection of readily accessible components of a wood burning system. The purpose is to determine if the system meets current standards and regulations. No components are required to be  disassembled and mounting of the roof is not mandatory during a level one inspection. Level two is an inspection that includes the dismantling of smoke pipes in addition to the visual inspection. Trim may also be removed from fireplace inserts. The chimney would likely be swept and often, a camera inspection of the chimney can be done, as a part of this service. Level three would include all the details of a level two, but would also involve cutting holes in walls to inspect hidden components. This type of inspection is very rarely done and would likely be ordered by the Fire Marshall in response to suspicions of serious code issues At Home and Play Inspections provides Level 1 inspections to assist you in the Real Estate Transaction or for knowledge of your home. Call for a fair price on your needed inspection requirements and gain "Confidence In Your Future"