Author: Admin

    Why airtight homes matter

    originally published at timesunion.com

    by on Sept. 20, 2019

    In the late '90s, Frank Laskey was approached by a couple who wanted to build a new home.

    Richard and Jane Leifer had been living in a Victorian-era home in Saratoga Springs that was drafty and that caused Jane's chemical sensitivities to flare up. Air was getting into the cracks and openings of the old house, carrying chemicals and toxins it found along the way. As a result, it was hard for Jane to breathe.

    The Leifers wanted their new home to address these issues while having as little impact as possible on the environment. That's how they found Laskey — a local homebuilder whose business, Capital Construction, was getting into the green building scene.

    "They were unusual clients in that we worked very much as a team to build their house," Laskey recalled.

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    For Better Indoor Air Quality: Build Tight and Ventilate Right

    Originally published at probuilder.com

    by Graham Davis | November 25, 2019

    About 25 years ago, I sat in a classroom at an EEBA (Energy & Environmental Building Alliance) conference listening to Mark LaLiberte’s presentation, “Cure for the Common Callback.” Among many building science jewels he imparted that day, what Mark drove into my fertile mind was the (now) well-worn but still true mantra: “Build tight and ventilate right.”

    That principle has stood the test of time, but so has the common rebuttal, “Houses have to breathe!”

    That rebuttal is wrong, but some people still consider it common sense.

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    Does homeowners insurance cover foundation repair?

    Originally published at Bankrate

    by Kacie Goff

    The thought of foundation problems fills most homeowners with dread. Your home — and the comfortable life you’ve built in it — rely on a sturdy foundation. A foundation problem always feels daunting, but it can range from a minor issue (think: a few hundred dollars to fix) to a major repair that costs $10,000 or more.

    Fortunately, there are cases where your home insurance policy can pick up the tab. Does homeowners insurance cover structural damage? It depends. It’s all about what caused the damage to your foundation. If you’re wondering if your home policy will offer foundation insurance when you need it, read on.

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    How to Sell Your House in 2020

    Originally published by Redfin

    by 

    So, you’ve evaluated your finances, thought about your lifestyle, and made the big decision to sell your home. Maybe you’re downsizing because the kids have finally left the nest, or you’ve gotten a job in a new city and need to relocate, or maybe you’ve just retired and want to head south to warmer climates. Whatever your reason, you’re ready to sell. Luckily, for you, we put together a comprehensive guide for first-time and seasoned home sellers. Continue reading to find out how to sell your house this year.

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    What to Do When Your House Fails The Home Inspection

    Originally published by homeinspector.org

    What Buyers and Sellers Should Do When The Home Inspection is a Deal Breaker

    Home inspections can be a big hurdle to clear and will worry many of the parties involved in the transaction until the due diligence period is over. A home inspection is an appraisal of the state of the house at the current time. House inspectors not only detect issues at homes but give buyers valuable information that can assist them with regular home maintenance. It is an educational process worth spending every minute with the inspector. When purchasing a home, the buyer will pick a professional home inspector to examine the house. The house inspection is a vital contingency, and it is fundamental that you don't skip it!Coming to visit the property is just 50% of a house inspector’s work requirements. After their site visit, they will give you an official house inspection report that sets out their findings in writing. Excellent home inspection reports will contain pictures that clearly identify any problems with the property. A house inspection can recognize issues in a house that trigger additional inspections. For example, a level two inspection of the chimney or an inspection by a roofer. Buyers and sellers should both have a complete understanding of how home inspections work. The article at Maximum Real Estate Exposure provides excellent tips and advice.  

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    Negotiating After a Home Inspection

    Originally published by RepairPricer.com

    By Christian Adams

    We understand that negotiating after a home inspection can be tough – you want to get the best possible price on the home you intend to purchase, and you want to make sure you get the important items taken care of, but you also don’t want to upset the seller too much or ask for something unreasonable. You need a way to present accurate and truthful information in an unbiased manner so that you and the seller can negotiate effectively and bring about a fair resolution. So how should you approach it?

    Here are RepairPricer.com we get a LOT of questions from home buyers after they get their home inspection report back. So we’re going to list the most frequently asked ones below, and also provide you with some useful answers to those questions so you can be more certain of your plan moving forward: 

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    9 Hidden Home Maintenance Costs That Can Blindside First-Time Buyers

    Originally published by Realtor.com

    by 

    So you're a first-time buyer who just closed the deal on your new home and moved in. Finally, you can breathe a deep sigh of relief. After all, you managed to pony up a down payment, closing costs, and other sundry expenses. Provided you make your monthly mortgage payments, you're fine and dandy on the finance front ... right?

    Not quite. Because owning a home means you have to maintain it—and maintenance costs money to do right. Expenses that you may not have considered are bound to crop up after you've bought the house. Some are one-offs, but others will come back around regularly. Overlook them at your peril, since neglect may just lead to even bigger breakdowns that will cost you more down the road.

    Want to know what lies ahead? (Hey, it's better than being blindsided.) Check out these hidden expenses that first-time buyers often overlook. 

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    10 Scariest Things a Home Inspector Might Find in Your House

    Originally published by Realtor.com

    by 

    Home inspections are scary. Just when you swear you've found the house of your dreams, a home inspector comes along and tells you everything's that's wrong with it—which might lead you to think you should run for the hills!

    But rest assured, most things turned up during a home inspection aren't deal breakers. Still, there are certain red flags that really should make you very, very afraid. So how can you tell? For starters, you should try to attend your home inspection to see firsthand how your inspector reacts as he checks out your house.

    “If your inspector comes to an abrupt halt when entering a room, or their whole demeanor changes, it's possible they've just run across something very bad," says Welmoed Sisson, a Maryland home inspector from Inspections by Bob, and author of the book "101 Things You Don’t Want in Your Home."  

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    Is Your Seller Disclosure Complete—or Hiding Something? How to Tell

    Originally published at Realtor.com

    By Margaret Heidenry

    Soon after making an offer on a home, buyers will receive a document called a seller disclosure. Read it carefully! This is not a piece of paperwork you want to slide by with a mere cursory glance.

    A seller disclosure form is basically a list of everything the seller knows about the condition of his property.

    "This allows potential buyers to understand exactly what they are getting," says Nicole Durosko of New York's Warburg Realty. All physical defects and issues affecting a property's value should be disclosed on the form.

    But how do you know if the seller disclosure is complete—or if the sellers have something to hide? Here's what buyers need to know.  

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    Foundation Types of Texas Homes

    Foundation Types

    One of the biggest concerns for home buyers in Texas is a foundation issue. Here, we provide you with some basic information about house foundations.

    There are three foundation types most commonly used for single family homes in the United States: basement foundation, slab foundation, and pier and beam foundation.

    Foundation type is mainly determined by local climate and soil conditions, house design, and construction budget. 

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