Older homes have character that modern builds often struggle to replicate, and much of that charm comes from original wood windows. However, with that character comes a specific set of maintenance requirements. If you still have wood windows, staying on top of a few key details can prevent costly rot and water damage down the […]
We have all dealt with that one annoying door. You try to close it, but it rubs against the frame, sticks at the top, or refuses to latch without a fight. While it feels like a minor nuisance, a misaligned door hinge can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on your trim or floor, and […]
When it comes to home safety, few devices are as critical as smoke alarms. They’re your first line of defense, designed to alert you and your family to the earliest signs of a fire. But simply having smoke alarms isn’t always enough. The real question is: are they interconnected smoke alarms? We often find during […]
Our home inspectors inspect a lot of townhomes. In fact, so far this year, we have inspected over 200! Recently, a client asked us to inspect 7 buildings containing 34 townhome units in Ankeny. In order to tackle this, we pulled in our entire team to perform these inspections. We have the manpower to handle […]
In the 13 years that we’ve been inspecting homes, we’ve seen it all: the beautifully maintained, the shockingly neglected, and everything in between. One thing that we experienced recently reminded us that there is something often neglected, but certainly helpful. Good maintenance records! You might think we’re talking about receipts for your big kitchen renovation, […]
As a homeowner, you’re likely familiar with the usual maintenance tasks: checking your smoke detectors, cleaning your gutters, and maybe even a yearly furnace tune-up. But there’s one crucial item that often gets overlooked, and it poses a significant fire risk if neglected: your dryer vent. Many people don’t realize the importance of cleaning their […]
Wet Basement Woes It never fails – we have a downpour of rain, and when we open our office email the next day, we have a homeowner lamenting. “Help, I have water in the basement!” A recent torrent of rain, yielding over six inches in some areas locally, had homeowners reaching for their shop vacs […]
It’s a common thought in my head when a new inspection pops up on my calendar, and it’s a home that’s over 100 years old, “Oh no, it’s going to be a long inspection with lots of finds”. Old equals difficult. Sometimes I’m fooled. I had a recent experience while inspecting a charming home built […]
Prepping Your Home to Sell So you’ve decided to sell your home. Congratulations! Selling your home is a major undertaking, and a smooth process hinges on meticulous preparation. You’ve made the decision to sell your home, so now what are some of the things you can do to prepare for showing your home, selling your […]
Last month, January, was National Radon Action Month, so now is a great time to learn about this invisible threat that is very common in Iowa and how to mitigate it from your home. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep into homes from the ground. It is colorless and odorless and […]