The new year is coming soon and, as is tradition, it’s time to make some resolutions.
Many of us make personal resolutions to improve our daily lives—exercise more, eat better, lose weight, put family before work—but what about making New Year’s resolutions for your home? For 2020, consider making these resolutions for your home and suggesting these ideas to your home inspection clients.
Make It Safe
So many homeowners focus on making their homes beautiful, but have they also made...
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What's happening with Poly B?
When we first built our home in 1988, many homes in the neighbourhood decided to go with hot water heat, and use Poly B piping. ‘Poly B’ as many call it, is common in most homes from 1978-1995 because it was inexpensive to buy and install. But over time, it deteriorates and is likely to cause flooding in the home if not inspected or replaced. When I conduct an inspection on a home and find Poly B, there's lots to consider if you are looking to purchase.
Th...
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IF THESE WALLS COULD COUGH!!!
I confess.
For years my wife and I smoked cigarettes. We smoked inside the house, and in our cars.
We also rented our places to smokers as well.
I was the first to quit smoking, and my wife followed quite a few years later.
Obviously, the house had that “lived in” smokers smell, and once we became aware of the smell, it began to drive us both a little crazy. We were determined to make some changes.
Did you know that the cigarette smoke smell, after all, ...
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Most houses built in the 1970s in our rainy wet coast of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland (Surrey, Delta Langley and further east) are still likely to be sound today, but there are some maintenance issues that you have to consider if you are buying or selling this type of home. The 70s was a challenging decade with multiple recessions, which make it difficult for younger home buyers. During those years, the BC government boosted home construction and home buying by instituting the AHOP (Assist...
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The Lower Mainland and Vancouver has a diverse topography and the types of homes in the various neighborhoods are very unique. As a home inspector, you see a lot of different rooflines, floor plans and kitchens.
White Rock inspections will find me at homes that often have a California feel, with flat roofs and steep hillside designs. Although there’s some new construction, you won’t find many “cookie cutter” neighborhoods here. There are a lot of unique architectural features and design...
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When I inspect homes all over the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley with my clients, one of the things I'm always talking about is the importance of regular home maintenance. When I grew up in Surrey, my dad was always tinkering around, fixing this and that, and working around the home on weekends. With a big family, he also had his five boys helping with the yard work and maintenance. He taught me about the importance of keeping the house well maintained.
As a homeowner in BC you know that main...
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Home Inspections in Surrey, Delta and all over the Lower Mainland including Vancouver tend to be a bit slower, as home sales ease off until September and on. I tend to use this time for some home maintenance. I use it as my "staycation" maintenance at our very rustic cabin and home.
Do you have a few days left of vacation this August?
Make it a staycation and get some of these maintenance jobs done now!
You’ll be ready for fall and probably even save a few bucks!
#1 Check your washing machine...
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