Articles related to home inspections for buyers and sellers.  Safety tips for home owners.

Preparing to sell your home is a lot of work, and you can forget about one important issue, security. Open houses are an ideal target for thieves to get a nice payday if you are not careful. Take the necessary steps to keep your home protected during your open house.

Put Away Expensive Items

Even honest people can be tempted to steal if opportunities present themselves. Remove all items that are tempting, such as jewelry, cash, and electronics. Store these items in a hidden location that is accessible only for you and your family members.

Get a Trustworthy Agent

Do lots of research before you hire a real estate agent. Not all agents are trustworthy and responsible, so rely heavily on word of mouth and internet reviews before moving forward. If…

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When you own a home, you must prepare it for the winter season. It is better to begin these home maintenance chores during the autumn before the weather gets too cold to work on a variety of projects. 

Trimming Trees and Shrubs

On a warm and dry autumn day, you should trim the shrubs and trees around your home. This can keep the branches from dangling on a home’s rooftop or beating against the side of the building during a blizzard. You will need an extension ladder and pruning shears to trim the branches. Make sure to have a friend nearby to help you with this chore, and also, collect the branches for proper disposal. 

Cleaning Gutters and Downspouts

While you have your extension ladder available, you can also clean the debris from your…

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Heating a home can get expensive when temperatures drop. It’s helpful to have window treatments that retain heat. If you’re looking for ways to lower your energy bills, consider the window treatments below.

Energy Efficient Blinds

When it comes to energy efficiency, blinds are most known for keeping the heat out. However, there are also blinds that help to keep your home warm in the winter. These are blinds that improve the R-value of your windows, which will dictate whether or not heat is able to escape through the windows. You can actually choose blinds that serve the purpose of both keeping heat out in the summer and keeping it in during the winter. 

Multi-Purpose Shades

There are multi-purpose shades that are effective at keeping the heat…

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It seems as though pests are eager to stay warm during the winter months by taking shelter inside of homes like yours. Whether there are rodents hiding in the attic, under your house or around the firewood, you’ll want to take the necessary precautions to prevent this problem. Check out the tips below

Properly Store Food

Improperly storing food is a recipe for disaster when it comes to pest-proofing your house in the winter. Since there is an elevated chance of some pests taking refuge in your home during the winter, you’ll want to be extra vigilant about how you store food. While you might think it’s fine to store food on the countertop for a few hours, this can become problematic during the winter months. It’s best to wrap up any food that’s not…

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As a homeowner, you will want to save money on many of your home maintenance chores, and this is easy when you learn some of the best do-it-yourself techniques. Here is a simple home do-it-yourself home maintenance list. 

Adding Weather Stripping to Your Home

You can avoid a high utility bill in the summer and the winter by adding weather stripping to your home. Most of this type of material is easy to install with the adhesive backing and a simple tool for cutting it into the proper size. This foam substance can prevent the cold or hot drafts in your home that occur around the doors or the windows. 

Cleaning and Securing Window Screens

If your home's window screens are dirty, then it is easy to remove the items for proper cleaning. You will…

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Living near a business can be a polarizing experience depending on where you are located. While you will get a first-hand view of many of the organizations around you, some of the downsides can become very irritating. First, here are some of the positive aspects of living in a highly commercialized area.

Accessibility

Whether it is a restaurant or insurance companies, living near businesses means that you will not have a long journey ahead of you in terms of getting what you need. Compared to the distance that those who live in a residential neighborhood, those who have businesses overlooking their house can practically walk to their destination. This can prove to be very convenient, especially if you are in need of something urgently. There is no…

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Buying real estate involves more than just finding an available house or plot of land. Most buyers simply find what they want, make an offer, and go from there. But it’s wise to do a land survey first before buying a plot of land with or without a house on it. The land survey will reveal important things about the property you need to know.

The Importance of a Land Survey

A land survey tells you exactly what you’re getting. The surveyor will measure property boundaries to make sure they’re correct. Otherwise, you could actually get less than what you’re expecting. The surveyor can also determine if nearby driveways, sidewalks, fences, or other structures are on the property.

The survey is also important because someone might have a building or…

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As a homeowner, you take pride in your property and want to do everything that you can to protect it, and keep it looking great. You may even have a long list of maintenance items that you work on to keep the value of your house from going down. For the best care, pest control should be at the top of your list.

Pests can damage your home, and cost you thousands of dollars. Whether you are in your “forever home” or planning on selling in a few years, removing and fortifying yourself against these invaders is important. They can destroy load bearing beams, flooring, and nest in insulation. Once you have these unwelcome house guests, they can be hard to get rid of.

The Greenville area is home to many insects and animals that are classified as pests…

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Safety and security at home are valuable in many ways. Having peace of mind where you live is so crucial. Furthermore, improving the security in your home could save you money on insurance and increase its value, particularly in the eyes of potential buyers. Integrating some new features for home security can help you to reap these benefits.

Alarms with Remote Monitoring

An alarm system is at the core of your home's security. With an alarm system, you can make sure doors and windows are secured. You can also opt for features that protect you against smoke, fires, floods and carbon monoxide, and plenty of alarm systems come with motion detectors as well. It's also crucial to invest in a security system with remote monitoring. In other words, in the…

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Metal shipping containers are definitely a popular trend in the tiny house movement. At first glance, a shipping container might seem like the perfect solution for small space living. They are affordable to purchase and are seemingly the complete package with exterior walls, a floor, and a roof. So, what could possibly be the downside? There are a few reasons metal shipping containers are not really as practical as they promise to be. Let’s explore 5 of the disadvantages so that you are properly prepared for this journey.

Transport and Delivery

Shipping containers are quite heavy. Weights can range from 2 to 4 tons. Once you purchase a container you then have to figure out how to get it delivered to your land. You will need to hire a hauling company…

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