How's My House Home Inspections is pleased to announce that as part of every home inspection performed in Nassau and Suffolk County, clients will be offered a free one year membership ( $199 value) to the Home Owners Network (HON). HON provides technical support to clients for their home so that they can have 

peace of mind and save money on repairs and maintenance. Clients will have access to a staff of experts to answer questions they may have on technical aspects of their home by using a free phone app or buy using the HON website. The benefits of Home Owners Network are many:

Ask the Expert App, Live technical support, Pre screened Contractor referrals, Home information, repair information, Monthly Newsletter, and discounts on selected products and services. 

With the addition of Home Owners Network, How's My House Home Inspections continues to provide value added services to our home inspection clients, providing what others do not. To find out more about these value added services, call How's My House Home Inspections at 516-732-7595. 

Getting your home ready for the home inspection

It is always good to revisit this issue from time to time. Hopefully, this will be a good refresher for experienced real estate agents, and some value added service to new real estate agents. 

A big concern that we see from both seller and real estate agents when it comes to the home inspection, is the amount of time that we, the home inspector, is at the house conducting our home inspection.  Our goal is to do a complete inspection, and not overlook any item. However, there are times when a home inspection may take longer than it should. A main reason is that the home is not properly prepared for the home inspection. If we can't get to an important area because of clutter or furniture blocking access, then that may take time to move.  For example, during a recent Woodmere home inspection, access to the attic was located in a master bedroom closet. Unfortunately, the homeowner had tons of clothes blocking the access door. We had to take time and remove the items prior to getting into the attic.  During a Farmingdale home inspection, a electrical subpanel was partially blocked by a cabinet. Again, we took time to gain entry to that sub panel.

With this in mind, we created a "Sellers guide to getting your home ready for the home inspection" and we want to share it with everyone, especially real estate agents.  By following the tips we provide, the home inspection process can be speed up. We hope that you find it useful.  We have even provided a printable version which is located at the end so that you can provide your homeowners with it so they can be prepared.

You can read the sellers guide to getting your home ready for the home inspection here. 

For all your Long Island Home Inspection needs, call How's My House Home Inspections at 516-732-7595.

Holiday safety precautions

As the holidays are just about here, many people are winding down from work for the much needed break or vacation. As you enjoy this time of year, here are some final tips to keep you, your familiy and your home safe.

Fireplaces

• Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that the flue is open.
• Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten.
• Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.  

Toys and Ornaments 

• Purchase appropriate toys for the appropriate age. Some toys designed for older children might be dangerous for younger children.
• Electric toys should be UL/FM approved.
• Toys with sharp points, sharp edges, strings, cords, and parts small enough to be swallowed should not be given to small children.
• Place older ornaments and decorations that might be painted with lead paint out of the reach of small children and pets.  

 

Children and Pets 

• Poinsettias are known to be poisonous to humans and animals, so keep them well out of reach, or avoid having them.
• Keep decorations at least 6 inches above the child’s reach.
• Avoid using tinsel. It can fall on the floor and a curious child or pet may eat it. This can cause anything from mild distress to death.
• Keep any ribbons on gifts and tree ornaments shorter than 7 inches. A child could wrap a longer strand of ribbon around their neck and choke.
• Avoid mittens with strings for children. The string can get tangled around the child’s neck and cause them to choke. It is easier to replace a mitten than a child.
• Watch children and pets around space heaters or the fireplace. Do not leave a child or pet unattended.
• Store scissors and any sharp objects that you use to wrap presents out of your child’s reach.
• Inspect wrapped gifts for small decorations, such as candy canes, gingerbread men, and mistletoe berries, all of which are choking hazards.  

 

Security  

• Use your home burglar alarm system.
• If you plan to travel for the holidays, don’t discuss your plans with strangers. 
• Have a trusted friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your home.

Enjoy the hoilday season. How'My House home inspections performs home inspections in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn and Queens. 

More Holiday safety tips

As the holidays approach, I see more and more decorations being placed, both indoors and out. Here are some additional holiday safety tips.

Decorations

• Use only non-combustible and flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel and artificial icicles of plastic and non-leaded metals.
• 
  Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down. 
• In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp and breakable, and keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children.
• Avoid trimmings that resemble candy and food that may tempt a young child to put them in his mouth.

Holiday Entertaining

• Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S.  When cooking for holiday visitors, remember to keep an eye on the range.
• Provide plenty of large, deep ashtrays, and check them frequently. Cigarette butts can smolder in the trash and cause a fire, so completely douse cigarette butts with water before discarding.
• Keep matches and lighters up high, out of sight and reach of children (preferably in a locked cabinet).
• Test your smoke alarms, and let guests know what your fire escape plan is.

Trees

• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "fire-resistant."
• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches, and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators and portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
• Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
• Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.
• Make sure the base is steady so the tree won't tip over easily.

Follow these safety tips to ensure a safe holiday season. For more information, or if you need to schedule a home inspection in Long Island, visit us at www.howsmyhousehomeinspections.com