Archive for 2012

Learn How Home Inspections Work

Sunday, March 25, 2012 – 7:22 PM

Once you have found a home and are prepared to submit an offer, you want to be sure that the home does not have cleaning and costly structural or mechanical problem. That is where a home inspection comes in. Smart home buyers often include the contingency and their offer specified that the contract is not binded until they obtain a satisfactory physical inspection report.

It is also advised that you get a mold inspection as most insurance policies do not cover mold damage. Upon arrival, a qualified inspector makes general introduction and describes what is going to take place. The inspector then explains the inspection agreement and gives you an opportunity to review and sign it.

Next, the inspector takes you to a detailed walk-through at the home. The inspector is like a doctor who looks at observable indications of problems. Since the home inspection is a visual examination of accessible components of the house and home inspector can examine only what he sees, items that are hidden from view such as plumbing inside the walls are not directly inspected but are tested for functionality.

Your inspection is not just an evaluation of the home but should also be an informative experience for you. A good inspector will show you the locations of the main electrical, water and gas shut offs. They will identify the locations of all homeowner controls and instruct you how to work each component. Not only does the inspector show you how to operate the controls of the whole system but he also tests the operability of systems using the same homeowner controls. By the time the home inspection is complete all permanent appliances in the house will be tested to make sure they are in good order.

A well-reputable home inspection company will stand behind its work; keep in mind that a home's condition will change over time. The home inspection is a report of the home's condition on a certain date, on a single point in time. The inspector is looking at the snap shot of the house and reporting what he saw, how things work and the condition of the home systems of that particular day. If the roof leaks a year later, unless there is evidence of the developing problem, the inspector cannot foresee the leak. Inspectors do however look for a known indicator of the problems such as water stains, mold or mildew.

It is important to remember that a home inspection is different from a code inspection. The function of a home inspection is to evaluate the condition of the property not to determine whether it conform the code. A home inspection is also different from an appraisal. An appraiser looks at the house and uses specific criteria to help determine its value whereas an inspector looks at the house only to determine its condition.

After a thorough examination of the home, the inspector completes a report for you. The whole procedure takes two to three hours depending on the age and size of the house. Remember that while the buyer usually pays for the inspection, the inspector is an impartial third party whose only job is to evaluate the condition of the home. The results of the home inspection are given in confidence. The inspectors do not have the right to discuss the inspection results to anyone else including the seller without your permission. Be sure that your inspector is from a reputable company. Seek recommendation from your friends, family or your real estate agent.



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Staten Island Home Buyers - A Home Inspector is Your Best Friend

7:22 PM

When hiring a firm or individual to inspect a house you plan to buy or want to sell, it is important to remember that a home inspection in Staten Island is not an architectural assessment. Inspections carried out on structures in the construction phase are very different to inspections made during the buying selling phase. After they are constructed, buildings are classified. A home inspection refers to an inspection on a residential building. For condominiums and large town house complexes, there are different regulations and procedures, as there are shared ownership situations in play for these larger types of structures in most cases.

In the post-inspection report, a home inspector's comments should be limited to visual observations about the structure and its systems and components. A home inspection includes and is not limited to the heating system, the plumbing system, the electrical system, the structural framework, and the exterior landscape. An inspection should not, however, endeavor to make any measurements, make any calculations or carry out any specific tests on the structural components of the residence. The comments in the report are therefore confined to visual observations such as "the beam is bowed" or "the joint is decayed" rather than specifics as to the stress bearing capability of a component or recommendations as to repairs or speculation as to a problem's cause or origin.

Moreover, a home inspection in Staten Island ought not to include any repairs. Often, an unprofessional inspector will find some minor defect and attempt to repair the defect himself so as to reduce the negative tone of the post-inspection report. Also, a defect that was missed during the initial inspection may be illegitimately corrected so as to avoid later legal complications.
Often, a home will be inspected as several phases of construction to ensure compliance with the original building contract and architectural design. These inspections cover items such as workmanship and building material quality. A private residential home inspection is more concerned with aspects of the residence that will directly affect living conditions in the home. For example, a home inspector will observe that a home is taking on water through the basement. While he may know that the dampness is a result of improper drainage outside the house. His job, however, is to report the dampness and, if outlined in the client expectations, the problems with the drainage system. He is not required to report that poor drainage is leading to water intrusion in the basement and could be repaired by such and such a method. He is to observe the conditions of the residence rather than to conduct an architectural assessment.



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Purchase of a House Should Be Done Only After Home Inspection New York

7:21 PM

Investing in purchasing a home is one of the most cherished dream come true for the buyer and it means much more to the homeowner than a simple investment for the future. It is therefore, natural that he would like to take all precautions to ensure that he gets the best deal at the best rate. A prospective home buyer, therefore, undertakes an intensive research before he finalizes any deal. Important consideration is given to the choice of location, the facilities around, the house itself and the various aspects of the house. In fact even the legal documents for the house are given a thorough look over, before any individual decides to purchase a particular house or even the plot for building the house. Now, if an individual is planning to purchase a home in New York, then he can take the advantage of having the services of home inspection New York.

Inspecting the feasibility of buying a house depends on many different aspects. It is not sufficient to simply examine the house externally or just glance through the interiors to decide whether buying a particular house would be a profitable deal. Minute details and legalities need to be examined, before one considers making a substantial investment in any property. As most people in New York usually invest in already constructed or lived in homes, it is necessary to get home inspection New York services from a reliable company to evaluate a house before purchase. The home inspection New York service provider will send professionals to inspect the house from every aspect, including the quality of material used for construction, the woodwork and termite resistance, plumbing and wiring system, legal documents for the house and compliance with general rules of the local governing bodies.

Once as house has been thoroughly inspected by the home inspection New York professionals and certified to be in proper condition, a buyer should only then opt for the deal. It is not unusual to find many modifications and extensions made to a house without following the electrical inspection rules or according to building and zoning permits. It is therefore, crucial to get the house inspected thoroughly before finalizing any deal. At many instances, the buyer is required to do many amendments to a property that he has purchased if he is not careful about the deal, which should otherwise have been done by the seller in the first place.

As most financial deals work on the doctrine of caveat emptor, hence, the buyer is supposed to beware about all deals as the fault does not rest with the seller if he has kept quiet about some faults in the property being sold. Once you are confirmed about the safety standards of the house and the home inspection New York professionals have examined it to confirm the feasibility of the deal, it would be a safe bet to go ahead and purchase the home of your dreams. Buying a house is usually a one time purchase; hence, it is advisable to take every precaution you can to ensure that the home you buy is indeed a worthwhile investment for you.



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How To Build A Home For Your New Family

Saturday, February 18, 2012 – 12:19 AM

If you're a new parent or expecting to have children in the near future, there are ways to make your home a better environment for your family. This goes beyond simply purchasing safety locks for your kitchen cabinets. The right floor plan and dcor choices can save you a lot of trouble in the future as you take care of your babies and raise your family. Here are some tips for working with your contractor to create a child-friendly new home:

Keep the bedrooms on the same level.

Baby monitors allow you to hear your baby at night, even if he or she is sleeping in the basement while you're on the third floor. However, as your child grows, there will be times when he or she will need you at night after a scary dream or when insomnia strikes. When that happens, you don't want your child to have to climb stairs or navigate a dark house to find you. Instead, keep all of the bedrooms on the same level of your home with at least one of them close to your master bedroom or suite.

Beware of sharp corners in your kitchen.

Your children will fall and get hurt from time to time. You can minimize the danger, however, by making sure that you countertops and tables in the kitchen are rounded instead of coming to sharp points at the corners. Kitchens are most notorious for accidents because of all the hard surfaces, but take these same ideas to other parts of your home as well, opting for round end tables or oval coffee tables whenever possible.

Aim to please with your bathrooms.

With a growing family, the bathroom situation can get tricky in a hurry. If you have a master bathroom, there should be at least two others in the house-one for the rest of your family and one for guests. You should also consider placing your bathrooms on multiple levels. When you're potty-training children, it comes in handy to have a bathroom very close to you at all times! As you're planning the bathrooms, make sure that one of them (other than your mater) has a bathtub. It will probably be several years before your child starts taking showers.

Create a space for entertaining.

Just because you're a parent doesn't mean that you can't have fun. A space to entertain is crucial in your house, be it a living room, a game room, a home theatre, or a refinished basement. Try to plan this space as far away from the bedrooms as possible. That way, if the kids have to go to bed, your guests don't have to whisper in the next room. A space for entertaining will also be extremely important as your children grow. It gives them a place to hang out with their friends that is less awkward than a bedroom but still gives them a bit of privacy.

Stay safe with the stairs.

With small children, stairs can be a hug hazard. Most homes have at least one set of stairs, and unless you specifically want a ranch, there's no reason to avoid stairs just because you want to have kids someday-just plan the stairs with safety in mind. Make sure there's a lockable door if you have stairs leading to a basement, and use rails that are safe for all ages. You should also consider carpeting your stairs to prevent slips and adding gates to the tops and bottoms of staircases that can be removed when your children are old enough.

Decorate rooms to grow.

It can be frustrating for your teenage son to live in a bedroom that is painted powder blue and has teddy bears and balloons on the ceiling. While your decor choices may look sweet when your baby is still in diapers, unless you're willing to shell out the money for a makeover every few years, it pays to decorate with the future in mind. Paint the walls a neutral color and add accessories that can be easily and inexpensively exchanged as your child grows.

Forget formal spaces, for the most part.

Formal spaces, like formal dining rooms or formal living rooms, just don't lend themselves well to a busy family. You don't have to give up these spaces completely if you're in love with the idea of more traditional rooms, but make sure that there are plenty of places for casual living as well in the home. Otherwise, that expensive carpet will be covered in drool and those large formal area rugs under your dining room table will have spaghetti stains.

Just because you have a family doesn't mean that you have to totally compromise the space you create for yourself. It's all about being practical. Build or buy a house that is safe for your family and can evolve as everyone gets older.

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How To Organize Living Room Furniture

12:16 AM

Arranging living room furniture can be quite a tricky task especially for people who are redoing this area of the home for the first time. Designing the living room also needs careful planning because there are factors to consider in arranging your furniture such as having enough space between the occasional table and sofa for people to be able to pass through. It is not as simple as selecting Vancouver furniture in the hope that it will fit when the furniture arrives. To be able to create the perfect living room space, it is important to classify the kinds of living room furniture that one can incorporate in this area.

The sofa or couch and chairs are the biggest items that usually make up the living room. These are usually used for seating but there are certain kinds of sofas such as day beds that can be converted into a full-sized bed when not in use. Sofas can be large or small depending on how many people it can seat. When choosing a sofa, consider the scale because it can quickly overshadow smaller furniture pieces. Also consider how it will be used on a day to day basis to determine the kind of durability you are looking for.

Area rugs are a great way to define the living room space or seating area. These can small or large depending on personal choice but in general, an area rug is supposed to be able to accommodate the furniture in the living room. They are also great for protecting small living room furniture from collecting dirt such as bean bags.

Coffee tables are usually placed in the middle of conversation areas or in at the centre of sofas and chairs. Ideally, the height of a coffee table should be a little bit lower than the height of the sofas and chairs surrounding it. The ideal length should also be half or two thirds of the sofa. In modern living rooms sometimes, ottomans or smaller tables replace the coffee table but most are for decorative purposes only. If you are one who likes having coffee, tea or dessert in your living room area, the coffee table is a practical solution.

Side tables are not so important but this will depend if your coffee table can accommodate how much seating you have. These are ideal for chairs that are too far from the coffee table. They can also be used to display lamps and books depending on your liking.

To be able to correctly arrange your living room furniture it is imperative to establish the central or focal point of the room so you know exactly how to arrange your furniture around it. This can be fireplace, a big window or technology related equipment such as a plasma television or a home theatre. It can also be artwork you would like to display such as a nice painting, a mural or art pieces such as statues and sculptures. Try to arrange the furniture in such a way that guests, friends and family members can converse comfortably without having to lean over or raise their voices to be heard.

In large rooms, it will be ideal to create more conversation areas or a separate area for your home theatre so if someone in your family wants to watch television while you want to entertain friends, you would not be bothered. Also consider foot traffic so people do not accidentally bump into your coffee or occasional table while passing through. Create enough space so people can walk back and forth comfortably and so you eliminate the risk of accidents. Imagine that treasuring that ornate antique vase sitting on top of your Vancouver furniture only to shatter in pieces because somebody accidentally bumped into your furniture. Also, try not putting furniture against the wall because this is something that you would really like to display just like you would an art piece. After all, the reason why people buy furniture is not limited to practicality but to also show them off. There is no use backing them to a wall where people cannot see and appreciate its beauty. Beautiful furniture deserve to praised so do not make the mistake of hiding them.

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Some Useful Tips For Improvement Of Home

Thursday, February 16, 2012 – 12:17 AM

The common place where people are spending more money very recently are the houses. The house is the best place where people can rest them after a long day in office with loads of work. More money is spent in the houses for the preferences to be done which is required by the people.

The professionals are being paid heavily for making their preferences in their home but one can maintain his home by himself which is not done. The houses decorated by the professionals will have the taste of his own thinking in our houses which will not really please the people instead of it if its done by oneself we can feel the heaven in our houses.

The kitchen and the gardens is the most important places where we can improve in our houses. The place where we consume food is the kitchen so its very important that we maintain our kitchen properly. There should be improvement in the kitchen. The professionals are the one's who give a complete look to the kitchen in our home because they give a good interior to it so we cannot have a complete kitchen only with the latest appliances.

Garden is the second most important place in the houses. To get fresh air in our houses without any pollutants it is a must that every house should have a garden. The integral part in the houses is the garden. The home and garden tips is available in the internet but its better we hire a gardener with experience to maintain the place. The gardener is a must only if we have a huge garden.

It is better that people go for home and garden tips in the internet to maintain the gardens available in flats of various buildings. The best place to spend time with family and friends is our houses but it can be done only by searching the internet for home and garden tips. The house can be completely worth living by using all the kitchen home improvement.

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Accessorise the Home with the Amazing Steam Shower Bath

Sunday, January 15, 2012 – 12:18 AM

We are always searching for methods to accessorise our homes to enhance the existing decor. With the abundance of features and furnishings readily available online and throughout the high street our homes can be transformed with ease no matter what your budget.

One of the most popular ways to accessorise our homes presently is with the latest state of the art technology that is the steam shower bath.

Installing a steam shower bath within the bathroom can make it in to a place of desire and beauty. This is not only a great way to maximise on space by removing your existing bathtub and shower, but will also make the room stand out. The steam shower bath is created with cutting edge designs providing a totally unique styling to your bathroom. They are perfectly suited to any sized bathroom transforming your bathroom in to a modern, state of the art environment that all the family can enjoy.

The revolutionary state of the art steam shower bath is manufactured to many different shapes, designs and sizes making them blend seamlessly within any surroundings. In fact, once installed this innovative system will give off a chic and modern styling that will also provide an asset that will improve the value of your home.

In recent years the idea of having such a desirable object featuring within the home was only viable option for the wealthy. For most of us the only way we could enjoy such pleasure was by visiting your local gym or by going to a health spa. However through recent developments in technology and innovation the steam shower and the steam shower bath has become an affordable object in which we can all experience.

The steam shower bath has been a revelation to most home owners as it not only provides the latest remote controlled gadgets for our enjoyment which includes such features as radio, speakers, hands free telephone and in certain models television. But one of the most impressive elements is the therapeutic benefits it provides our bodies.

Many of us work endless hours and are at a loss for time to revive our bodies and skin from the harsh lifestyles we undertake. This has led to many people becoming tired, stressed and ill, simply through not allowing the body to relax, de-stress and detoxify after a long hard day at work. This is where the steam shower baths come in to their element as they provide a multitude of features dedicated to making the body relax and de-stress. Chromo-therapy lighting is one of the revelations to be included within the self-enclosed unit.

This ingenious lighting transforms the room in to an ambient and tranquil atmosphere through a display of soft colours which in turn helps your mood and mind to relax. Combine this with the steam generator, which as we are all aware gives off many therapeutic benefits to the body and skin, body massage jets and then if you prefer a sensual bathing experience the whirlpool bath. This is encompassed with many more amazing aspects that all feature within this fantastic state of the art system.

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Review Of Wooden Filing Cabinets

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 – 12:17 AM

Although there are file cabinets in existence to fit nearly any style, there are occassions when a metallic filing cabinet just will not match the decor. In these situations, many shoppers turn to wood file cabinets as an choice. Wood filing cabinets provide the same operation and storage as their metallic counterparts, and still provide an entirely unique approach to style and taste. As a material, wood offers a attractive and warm feeling that metal simply can't.

Like the majority of steel cabinets, the wood cabinets can be found in both horizontal and vertical styles. Most wood models also come in the typical 2, 3 and 4 drawer styles as well.

When considering wooden filing cabinets, it is important to have a clear understanding of the distinct types of wood along with an understanding of variations between terms like "wood covered", "wood laminate", and "wood veneer". To begin with, very few file cabinets are actually crafted from real wood from start to finish. There are two reasons for this:

Expense - A file cabinet designed directly from an expensive wood like walnut or hickory will be very pricey. For this reason, most business furniture suppliers use a form of particle board as the framework of the cabinet, and then finish it in a wooden veneer of some type like cherry, mahogany, or oak.

Weight - The major weight of a number of the denser woods also makes it tough to use as a cabinet platform.

While not every file cabinet maker offers a wood model, most of the well-known brands like HON and Basyx give a fairly varied wood line.

While remarkably durable and sturdy, wood filing cabinets also need a bit more care than steel or steel ones. The wood finish requires a bit ofmoisture so an occasional once over with a commercial wood cleaner will extend the finish for years. Be cautious about wood paste wax or paste cleaners as they can actually damage the veneer finish.

Once you know what you require from wood file cabinets, it can be easy to look for the right choice. You just need to take into account certain things like your budget, sizes and the model of the cabinet you want. There are a number of sites on the internet that provide you a lot of products to choose from, most sites offer you the lowest prices and providing you details on the product they sell.

If you're in the market to get a wooden filing cabinet for any reason, whether you want one to make your office furniture appear fashionable or if you simply want to brighten your space with lighter colored wood cabinets as opposed to dark metal cabinets, you can easily find various options at just about any office furniture store. Unless you want to pay a hefty sum for custom wood work, online office supply vendors will usually have the lowest prices.

Is a wood file cabinet in your future? That actually depends upon your own personal style and design situation. If you ever decide to go with a wooden style, you will find that they offer an excellent substitute to the more drab metallic versions, and can be a great addition to the any office or home office.

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