Own a home? Protect your investment with regular inspections

When's the last time you had a home inspection? If you are like many Americans, it was probably the last time you bought a property. However, regular inspections can go a long way toward protecting what may be your single biggest financial investment. Just like prophylactic medical care can prevent or catch scary health problems before they have time to get out of control, home inspections can give you the chance to deal with an issue before it becomes a major drain on your finances. 

Here are a few things that a regular home inspection can address:

  • Creosote: If too much creosote builds up inside your fireplace, you could have a serious fire hazard on your hands. Better to know the issue exists now than to find out the hard way.
  • Lead paint: Changing life circumstances sometimes mean that factors that weren't of concern to you before suddenly are. For example, if you've had a baby since moving into your home, you may want to ask a home inspector to double-check your property for lead paint. 
  • Mold and mildew: Mold is often one of the most dangerous, costly and hard-to-fix problems a property can have. If a home inspector advises you that you are at risk of mold, you can take easy and inexpensive steps to prevent it. If they tell you that you have the beginnings of mildew growth, you can stop it before it has time to take over. However, mold that has sat unimpeded for too long can be incredibly difficult and pricey to eradicate. 

If you live in Virginia or Washington, D.C., and want to learn more about having your house inspected, contact industry-leader Alban Inspections to schedule a professional home inspection today!

3 tips for preventing mold and mildew growth in your home

We recently discussed on this blog some ways to deal with mold and mildew in your home. Of course, the best defense is a good offense, which means preventing it from growing in the first place. Here are some tips for stopping mold and mildew before it starts. 

  • Be proactive: As soon as you notice a plumbing leak or early signs of mildew growth, take immediate and aggressive action to fix the problem. Playing the waiting game is never a winning strategy where mold is concerned. Remember, it isn't just an inconvenience. Mold can cause serious health problems and significantly reduce your property values. 
  • Decrease moisture levels: Mold and mildew can't grow without moisture, so try to reduce the amount of dampness in your home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends increasing ventilation and air movement, using appliances with built-in vents, fans, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. One of the simplest and most effective ways to decrease moisture levels is simply to open a window after you shower or cook. 
  • Focus your efforts: Mold and mildew will most often occur in areas that see more moisture, such as bathrooms, kitchens and basements. Regularly check such rooms for early signs of growth so that you can get rid of it immediately. It's also a good idea to install exhaust fans to improve ventilation. 

If you have any reason to believe that you may have the beginnings of a mold or mildew problem, you might want to schedule a home inspection. If you live in Virginia or the Washington, D.C., area and would like to learn more, contact industry-leader Alban Inspections today. We can provide you with a quality home inspection along with peace of mind!

A few more tips on how to deal with mold in the home

In an earlier article, we discussed some of the effects of mold on the residents of a home where it has spread. The most basic facts that were mentioned are  that mold is a fungus that grows naturally and can't be completely avoided, but a steady cleaning regimen will significantly limit the risks of a rampant infestation. 

Here are a few more facts about mold to consider:

Know the health risks: While analyzing the health of your home, it's wise to be aware of how an infection may be affecting the health of your home's inhabitants. Sneezing, runny noses, itchy eyes and other allergy-like symptoms can all be indicators of mold in the home. Mold can also induce asthma attacks and, in the most extreme cases, memory loss and cases of cancer. There are some over-the-counter medications that will help with the milder symptoms, but if you suggest that someone in the home has been seriously affected by mold, it's imperative to have him or her taken to a healthcare provider.

Moisture control: Moisture is essentially the lifeblood of mold. If you suspect that a mold infestation is in your house, searching for water damage, especially in dark places like the basement, is an ideal first step to take. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in the interest of control the moisture of your home, recommends keeping your humidity level below 50 percent and using air conditioners in humid months. 

Checking for ventilation in the kitchens and bathrooms is also an effective preventative tactic, as is turning on a fan when showering. Also, keeping a thick carpet in the bathroom is also discouraged as it can become a breeding ground for the fungus. 

 If you have concerns about a mold infestation, scheduling a home inspection may be in your best interests. If you live in the Virginia or Washington, D.C., area and would like to learn more about your options, contact industry-leader Alban Inspections today for a quality home inspection.

Energy audit solves 20 year mystery

A quality energy audit comes with several invaluable benefits. Not only will a customer walk away with a wealth of knowledge about what minor and inexpensive changes can be made in order to save hundreds of dollars on energy costs, but larger innovations including suggested renewable energy installations like solar panels can lead to saving thousands of dollars. 

Often, the primary feature of an effective energy audit includes the "blower door test" where all of the windows of a house are closed before a large calibrated fan is activated to draw air out of the home. The guages on the fan determine how much of the air is being released through cracks around windows, spots in the foundation and other trouble spots.

A focus on trouble spots is also a key element of an energy audit. Typically, a non-invasive investigation of inefficient appliances and poorly insulated areas around the house usually occurs. But sometimes even more interesting items are discovered. 

Last month, a pair of energy auditors conducted a review of a home in Plainview, New York, for Seymour Bosworth with the aim of lowering his energy usage by 25 percent. Bosworth, a 92-year-old World War II Veteran, received the audit via his participation in a program dedicated to helping families, veterans and senior citizens with housing issues. While inspecting the attic, the energy auditors discovered a bag of World War 2 memorabilia. 

Bosworth, who had traveled extensively throughout Europe during the war thought the bag had been stolen two decades ago by a bug exterminator. Instead, the energy auditors discovered the bag in perfect condition, with all of its mementos present, tucked under the attics insulation. Furthermore, Bosworth also learned how to save money on his energy bill. 

Perhaps we won't find a bag full of valuables, but if you live in the Virginia or Washington, D.C., area and are interested in learning how to improve your home's energy consumption, contact industry-leader Alban Inspections today for an audit. 

A few facts about mold and how it gets in your home

There are several health risks involved with having a mold infestation in your home. Some of them include headaches, fatigue and throat irritation. But extreme cases of exposure could result in significant respiratory problems that children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to. Because there are so many ways mold can affect a family and appear in a home, it's important to have as much information as possible. 

Just the word mold has the power to induce anxiety in homeowners or people with family members and loved ones who are especially sensitive to respiratory irritants. But knowing what you're dealing with when mold is found in the house may be the most important step in laying out a plan to deal with it effectively.

Here are a few facts to consider when dealing with mold in the home: 

  • Mold is a fungus which, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), is so prevalent that it is impossible not to be exposed to some level of it.
  • It has existed for at least 400 million years and grows both inside and outside of homes, only needing warmth, moisture and a source of food to survive.
  • Kitchens, bathrooms and basements are the most likely places where mold will appear in a home, along with walls that are covering leaky pipes.
  • The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says that mold can grow in just two days if the right room-temperature conditions are in place. 
  • Mold spores can't be completely removed from your home but regular cleaning is an excellent way to keep their presence to a minimum. 

If you live in the Virginia or Washington, D.C., area and are interested in learning more about mold infestations or in having a home inspection for mold, contact industry-leader Alban Inspections and schedule an appointment today!

“Go Fossil Free” movement inspires huge divestment from fossil fuels

In an earlier article, we discussed the decision by the Rockefeller Foundation to divest the remaining funds it had tied up in fossil fuels over the next five years. Organizers of the swelling "Go Fossil Free" movement, which helped inspire the decision by the Rockefeller family, announced on Monday September 22 that more than 50 institutions, wealthy individuals and foundations in control of at least $50 billion in assets have pledged to pull their investments from all fossil fuels. 

The announcement followed a 300,000-person strong People's Climate March held in New York City the day before. The World Council on Churches, representative of more than 300 churches and 590 million people in 150 countries, has also committed to the movement. 

"The snowball is picking up speed very rapidly. There's a new urgency imposed by the science. We have to orchestrate the end of the fossil fuel era in a very short time frame," says Ellen Dorsey, executive director of the Wallace Global Fund and the originator of the Divest-Invest initiative, in a Mercury News article. 

What stands in the way of immediate results regarding the initiative is that divesting from present holdings is a complicated process. Parties usually spend months researching and debating a decision on where to devote or remove funds. The process also involves examining how a financial maneuver falls in line with an organization's core goals as well as the long- and short-term risks involved. 

Nevertheless, the movement has gained much of the world's attention. In May of this year, Stanford University's Board of Trustees announced that the institution would no longer invest any of its $19 billion endowment in the 100 publicly traded companies that are focused on coal mining and extraction.

If you'd like to become more involved with energy efficiency as well and learn how your home can become more efficient with its energy consumption, schedule an energy audit with industry leader Alban Inspections. Contact us today!

Rockefeller eliminates investments in fossil fuels

Anybody who is slightly familiar with the history and relevance of the Rockefeller name may be surprised to hear that the moniker that has become synonymous with oil production has committed to making a drastic shift in its operations. The Rockefeller Brothers fund, estimated at roughly $860 million, will be eliminating the remainder of its investments in fossil fuel production over the course of five years, with the brothers saying the decision comes from "moral" and "economic" motivations. 

Presently the most notable billionaire fund to make such a move away from all coal, gas and oil initiatives for renewable energy programs, the decision by the Rockefeller family and the time of its announcement, just on the heels of the UN Summit on climate change on September 23, comes with the hopes of igniting greater interest in clean energy. 

However, the maneuver has already received some subtle pushback. According to the New York Times, several notable institutions are looking to remain distant from the issue. Harvard University's $32.7 billion endowment has several fossil fuel investments but has already stated that it has no plans to follow the example of the Rockefellers. Drew Gilpin, Harvard University president, explained the reasoning, telling the New York Times that she doesn't believe money is an effective "instrument to impel social or political change."

This has not been the first attempt by the Rockefellers to spur significant change in mentality in regard to money and energy production. In the 1980s, members of the family created a $2 million fund to invest in renewable-energy alternatives but the fund failed due to the timing of the plan. 

Nevertheless, presently the movement in favor of renewable energy programs has never been more relevant. If you'd like to learn more about energy efficiency and how you can apply more effective energy consumption practices to your home, schedule an energy audit with industry leader Alban Inspections. Contact us today!

Alec Baldwin backs renewable energy initiatives

According to an article published by News Observer, Emmy award-winning actor Alec Baldwin has become vocal about his enthusiasm for green energy initiatives, and hopes that the upcoming U.N. Climate Summit will illuminate how America can gain even more ground with the use of renewable energy sources. Recently, at a reception held to celebrate the launch of the book Addressing Climate Change, featuring the work of award-winning photographer Henry Dallal as well as contributions from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.N. climate chief Christiania Figueres, Baldwin opined on a number of climate-related issues. 

In regard to practices like fracking, a process that involves injecting water, chemicals and sand to break up underground rocks in order to release oil and gas, the Associated Press quoted Baldwin as saying, "We've been talking about this for 25 years. We need to learn the lessons that other people are learning — no nukes, less coal … reduce, reduce, not eliminate."

Baldwin went on to express his feelings about the importance of educating the next generation on developing renewable energy sources, not only for the sake of the climate but in the interest of America's pursuit of energy independence. 

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar power are sustainable yet environmentally friendly energy options. It seems the public agrees — a December 2013 poll conducted by Stanford University showed that 90 percent of Americans believe that receiving electricity from solar power sources is a good idea. 

Peter Brown, the former manager of the Beatles and now the chairman and CEO of BLJ Worldwide, a global public relations firm, hosted the event.

If you'd like to learn more about energy efficiency and how you can apply more effective energy consumption practices to your home, schedule an energy audit with industry leader Alban Inspections. Contact us today!

2 flaws to be most aware of during a home inspection

Anybody who has participated in a real estate transaction has likely experienced the process of scheduling and undertaking a home inspection. As we discussed in an earlier article, a home inspection is only as valuable as you make it. The reality is that every home has flaws and areas that need attention, but knowing the difference between a typical problem and a potentially costly or dangerous one is essential to making an informed decision about a purchase or sale. 

Here are two areas to pay special attention to during a home inspection: 

Toxic materials: Asbestos is a common material that is known to cause significant damage to lungs, especially if it comes in large quantities. If asbestos is found it should most certainly be removed by a professional if at all, as it is one of the most complicated to dispose of safely. Other materials that have been known to adversely affect the health of residents are lead paint and, more recently, Chinese drywall, which was a popular building material between 2004 and 2005 and poses serious health threats. 

Wiring: One of the reasons that building codes are constantly being updated is because of the high risks that come with obsolete electrical materials, especially considering the fact that faulty wiring is one of the most common causes of fires. You should also be aware of whether or not a house has too few electrical outlets, a condition that could lead to the overuse of those available, resulting in wire damage. Noticing exposed wires is vital as well — these should always be remedied by a professional.

If you live in the Virginia or Washington, D.C., area and have an interest in having your home inspected, contact industry-leader Alban Inspections to schedule a professional home inspection today!

2 factors to consider with old radon testing results

Radon testing is an important procedure, since it is credited with being the second leading cause of lung cancer among smokers and the number one cause among non-smokers. When in the process of upgrading a house for a sale or safety measures, a home owner may be inclined to rely on the information from prior radon testing to confirm present levels. But the Environmental Protection Agency recommends a new radon test be conducted if the last one happened more than two years ago. 

Here are two other facts to remember when relying on old radon testing results:

Conditions of prior tests: When weighing the reliability of an older test there are two features to consider seriously. The first concerns the matter of where the previous test was held, as they are always to be conducted at the lowest livable level of a home, such as the first floor or basement. If the test was performed anywhere else, it's not trustworthy. Second, any significant structural or HVAC changes in the home would essentially negate the previous test entirely.

Who conducted the previous test: If a professional conducted a radon test of a home within the last two years and those records are still available, then you may be safe trusting that information. But if the last radon test was conducted with a DIY package, there should be some concern unless you performed that test yourself. If you elect to have a test conducted again by a professional, be sure that the person is qualified. Some home inspectors work in areas where licensing requirements are lax enough to allow for unqualified or under-qualified people to present themselves as professional home inspectors. 

If you live in the Virginia/DC area and are looking to schedule a home inspection for radon or any other matter, be sure to contact Alban Inspections today!