Does your home have any of these hot kitchen trends? [Video]

For new homeowners, one of the hardest parts of maintaining a new property is often overlooked: lawn care. Specifically, mowing your yard. For many people who have lived in apartments for years or decades, this could be the first time standing behind a lawnmower.

So then, the big question: How often is too often?

Keep an eye on your yard
The answer to this question depends on several variables, including the type of grass, your climate – the Maryland and D.C. area typically means summer is when grass grows the most – and your personal taste.

Thankfully for first-timers, there is one big shortcut to figuring out when to mow: the length of the grass. The general rule is called the "one-third rule" and it states that you should never cut more than one-third of the height of the grass at a time. This is to ensure that your grass remains healthy, year-round. So if you just moved in to your home, don't get too excited and chop the grass down to the ground. This could damage it and turn your yard brown.

Overall, keeping an eye on the length of your grass is the best way to tell if it's time to mow. For most healthy yards in the summer season, you should be mowing about once every week. The time in between mows could be longer for less healthy yards, sometimes even every two-to-three weeks. Either way, watch your grass and decide how long is too long before you just can't take it anymore.

Keep in mind that mowing frequently isn't inherently bad for your grass, as long as your mower blades are sharp and you're cutting off a tiny bit at a time. The problems arise when using poorly maintained equipment and taking off too much at once. The good news is after a few mowing sessions, you'll figure out the right schedule for your specific yard!

One question many first-time homebuyers may ask is "Do I need a home inspection?" If this sounds like you, just turn to any seasoned buyer and ask them. Their answer will be a very strong "yes." 

And there are a few great reasons why a home inspection is completely necessary. 

Read on to learn why:

It's your insurance policy
A smart way to think about a home purchase is that you're not just buying that awesome fireplace, that great master suite or that finished basement – you're buying every bit of termite damage, foundation cracks, roof leaks and any other problems that may be hiding in the house.

This is one of the biggest reasons why a home inspection is so important. A licensed professional can come in to your prospective property and find all of these issues before you're financially committed to the home. That way you won't end up stuck with thousands of dollars in costly repairs the moment you move in. In most cases, homes look fantastic on the surface. It takes a keen eye to spot any problems underneath, and those are exactly the problems that you need to identify quickly. 

With a home inspection, you'll have that "insurance policy" against any unfortunate surprises after closing.

It's your negotiating tool
Another key reason why you need a home inspection is for negotiating power. Consider this example: You find a home listed at $300,000. You love it, skip the inspection, offer the list price and win. After moving in, you find out all the plumbing in the two-bathroom home needs to be replaced. Depending on the square footage, this could cost upward of $8,000 – a price you're now on the hook for. 

Now imagine you had that inspection. The professional inspector caught the plumbing issue before you offered list price. Now, you have leverage – you can either ask the seller to fix the plumbing and still pay list price, you can negotiate the seller down roughly $8,000 in anticipation of the repairs, or you can walk away. All of those are options because you had a home inspection completed. And one option that's missing? The one where you were left holding the bill for a massive plumbing repair job.

A home inspection puts the property under a magnifying glass.

It's your eyes and ears
Finally, a home inspection acts as your eyes and ears. The most common scenario when buying a new home isn't the massive repair projects, but more likely a handful of smaller repairs and cosmetic changes. By completing a home inspection, you now have the intelligence to create a plan. An inspector will clue you in to all the red flag issues that could appear down the road – the furnace is on its last legs, the roof should be replaced within five years, and so on. Without an inspection, you won't know where to budget and where to plan. 

In all likelihood, there will be flaws you accept and flaws you negotiate with the seller. An inspection will give you the insight you need to identify which are which, and also help you decide how you want to renovate and improve the property once you move in.

All in all, don't skip the home inspection. The cost of a home inspection typically runs between $500 and $1000, depending on how much you include – radon testing may be extra, for example – and the square footage of the property. Of course, get an inspection even for new construction as well. There may still be issues worth noting. Even with this upfront cost, the knowledge and power you'll get from a trusted professional is invaluable to you as a homeowner.

Home inspection contractors have a large checklist they cover when combing over any property. From mold and water damage to electrical components and the foundation, inspectors pour over every piece of a property. While many issues are minor (a leaky toilet seal, a faulty light switch) a few problems can be significant. Once such concern is asbestos.

What is asbestos?
You might have heard of asbestos before. In simple terms, asbestos is a fiber that was once used in a number of different building materials. It has since been outlawed, but its former popularity means that it is still common.

This is why it is a common concern during any home inspection, renovation or construction project. 

While asbestos was once a desired material, it has since been identified as a key contributor to some cancers and other health concerns. Like lead paint, which we've covered before, once asbestos is identified in a home it needs to be immediately removed by a trained professional. It is just too dangerous to leave inside your property.

Furthermore, asbestos can be tricky to identify. Let your home inspector find the signs, and then get a sample sent off to a laboratory for further testing. If positive, a trained asbestos removal crew will need to be called in, making it even more crucial to catch any asbestos before you purchase a property.

Where is asbestos common?
Like we previously mentioned, asbestos was used in many different building materials. Over the years, it has found its home in cement mixtures, paints, tape, tile and much more. 

Several decades ago, asbestos was frequently used as insulation due to its many fire-resistant traits. As a result, many older homes today may have asbestos fibers left inside walls or wrapped around ductwork and pipes. Key places to check include behind drywall, if possible during an inspection, and near any ductwork – especially in the basement and the furnace. The fact that it was popular as insulation is another reason why renovations and construction projects increase asbestos risk.

If you have access points, ask your home inspector about any signs of asbestos in the attic insulation, near pipes in the bathroom and kitchen and around the furnace in the basement. Unfortunately, you won't have a concrete answer until you test any samples or check behind walls, but an inspector can give you an indication of whether your asbestos risk is high or low.

Make sure asbestos is inaccessible to your family or pets.

What can you do?
Say you do find asbestos – what can you do? The good news is most materials containing asbestos are not too risky, especially if they are intact or undisturbed. It is only when asbestos is moved around that the fibers can be released into the air, posing a significant health risk. So, you do have time to plan your next move if you find it.

With that said, leave asbestos alone if it is in perfect condition. Trying to remove it only increases the danger. On the other hand, if the asbestos needs to be removed, follow these steps:

1. Secure the area – don't let pets or children near the area. Block it off and keep it sealed for the time being.
2. Don't clean it or vacuum – Trying to remove asbestos yourself can be dangerous.
3. Call a professional – Trained asbestos removal crews will quickly and safely dispose of any asbestos materials, ensuring your home is safe for years to come.

Given the health risks of asbestos, trust only a local home inspection company to review your desired property for potential risks before you sign on the dotted line.