National Property Inspections of Rochester, NY Blog

Gutters, downspouts and splash blocks collect

rainwater from a roof and send it away from

the structure. Gutters are the valleys located

on the edge of the roof. The downspouts connect

to the gutters to carry the water to the ground.

Splash blocks are located at the end of the downspouts to divert

water away from the building.

Damaged or leaking gutters can cause water to stain walls, pool

against the foundation or seep into the walls, damaging the

structure. With fall just around the corner, your gutters are

susceptible to clogs from falling leaves. A few actions on your

part can help prevent these problems and route water away

from your home:

• Remove debris from gutters as often as needed to prevent dams

and overflow. Gutters may need to be cleaned twice a year or

weekly.
• Visually inspect gutters and downspouts for apparent damage

from tree limbs or storms.
• Check that all downspouts are directed away from the home’s

foundation and splash blocks are in place.
• Check fasteners on downspouts and gutters to insure proper

connections are in place.

A National Property Inspections property inspection includes

a thorough visual examination of the drainage system. Your

NPI inspector will note any problems and recommend any

needed repairs.

(ARA) – With more and more people

concerned about the environment, building and

decorating green has never been more popular. One

of the easiest ways for homeowners to limit

environmental impact is to consider replacing the

lighting inside their home.

Incandescent bulbs waste energy and burn out quickly,

and when the more energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs

outlive their usefulness, they pollute the earth with the

toxic mercury they contain. A new lighting revolution is

giving homeowners an innovative option.

The LED Difference
Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology provides homes

with beautiful illumination while reducing the negative

environmental impact of traditional bulbs. Here’s why

it is fast becoming the leading eco-friendly choice:

* LED lights are long lasting: 20 times longer.
LED provides uncompromising light that will last 20

times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb and

five times longer than a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL).

You may never have to change your bulb again because

each light is estimated to last 50,000 hours.

* LED lights use less energy: 85 percent less.
Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs consume

substantially more energy than LED’s. You can easily

observe this based on the amount of heat they give off.

LED options generate almost no heat and consume a

whopping 85 percent less energy than incandescents

and 50 percent less than flourescents. For example,

eight LED retrofit replacement bulbs consume only 96

watts and provide enough light for an entire room.

If every U.S. homeowner replaced one incandescent

bulb with an LED, it would have the same effect as

having 4 million fewer cars on the road.

* LED lights produce less waste: No hazardous toxins

in your home.
Because the LED lights last so long, there is less waste

going into landfills. Unlike compact fluorescent bulbs,

these lights do not contain dangerous mercury. You

won’t have to worry about disposing of the bulbs

properly or having toxins in your home.

Adding LEDs to Your Home
Homeowners are using LED lights anywhere they have

6-inch recessed cans installed. Check

GreenHomeExperts.com for options that will seamlessly

fit into the architecture and lighting needs of any home.

LED retrofit replacements are easy to install and can be

screwed into existing recessed lighting fixtures. Some

existing fixtures or housings may require minor

modification. Although you may want to hire a

handyman to help with installation, many

homeowners are able to complete the task

themselves. An expensive electrician should

not be required.

Visit www.GreenHomeExperts.com to help green your

home and save money with high quality, energy-

efficient LED lights.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

An electric heat pump is a unique

device. It doesn’t burn fuel; it transfers

heat from the outside to the inside for

heating purposes then does just the

reverse for cooling purposes (also

known as the air-conditioning mode).

There are two units to check an indoor unit that’s

coupled with a forced-air system and an outdoor

unit. A National Property Inspections professional

will provide you with a visual inspection of the air-

conditioning unit.

The outdoor unit is the most vulnerable because it has

to operate in all kinds of weather. The first thing an

inspector will note is where the unit is located. It should

not be directly in the sun for most of the day or directly

under the drip edge of a house in freezing climates. They

will also make sure that there are no bushes blocking the

unit’s side air intake for at least 1 foot and that there are

no trees overhanging the unit for at least 5 feet.

The inspector will check the two copper pipes that run

from the outside unit to the inside, and the electrical

hookup. They will identify any problems and

recommend any needed repairs.

Home owners are attracted to the idea that they can

help the earth by making smarter purchases and

lifestyle decisions. Here are a few products you may

not be familiar with:

Chemical-free lighting. LED (light emitting diodes)

may just be a beacon for the future of residential

lighting. They contain no hazardous chemicals like other

lighting does. In addition, a LED fixture uses 80 percent

less energy than a traditional incandescent light bulb and

has the ability to last up to 20 years.

Green toilets. You may have heard of the low-flow

toilet, but here are a few you may be less familiar with.

A dual-flush toilet has two buttons giving a home owner

the option of flushing with a half or full tank. A pressure-

assist toilet reduces water by using compressed air to

assist with the flushing of the toilet, all without additional

pumps or power.

Nontoxic paint. Some consumers are using paints

that don’t contain toxic VOCs (Volatile Organic

Components) to keep indoor air clean and cut down on

landfill pollutants. These paints are offered in a variety

of colors and finishes.

When you look outside on a sunny day, you’re

seeing the visible part of the light spectrum.

The rest of the light is invisible and it could be

making your bill higher than it needs to be.

Low-e coatings are microscopically thin layers

of metallic oxide bonded to the surface of the

glass in windows. The coatings prevent heat and ultra-

violet (UV) rays from passing through glass. It works

like an invisible mirror reflecting select portions of the light

spectrum back in or out of the windows. Soft, hard, and Heat

Mirror are three major types of coatings on the market. Soft

coat is not durable enough to be exposed to the elements, so

it is applied to the inner surfaces of windows. Hard coat is

resilient enough to be used on exterior surfaces but it is not

quite as energy efficient as soft coat. Hard coat is found

primarily on storm windows and removable energy panels.

Heat Mirror is applied to a thin polyester sheet suspended

between the two panes of a dual pane window. The coating

reflects radiant heat while the sheet decreases heat loss by

splitting the air space in two.

The plumbing in your home is an essential

and often overlooked system that provides

clean water and proper collection and

transport of waste water. The plumbing

systems we take for granted today have

ties to systems dating back several thousand years.

Those ancient plumbing systems relied on gravity to

supply water through pipes or channels made of clay,

lead or stone.

Today, water-supply systems utilize a network of

high-pressure pumps and pipes made of copper,

brass, plastic, steel, or other nontoxic material.

Due to the complexity of these systems it is a

good idea to have them inspected for problems

before you buy a home. A National Property

Inspections professional will provide a visual

inspection of any bathtubs, showers, pipes,

toilets, sinks, etc.

The inspector will make certain all fixtures are

installed properly and show no signs of leakage.

Additionally, they will look for missing calking

and any drainage problems they might be able

to see. If problems are identified, the inspector

will explain what repairs are needed and what

actions should be taken.

For more information on plumbing inspections,

contact National Property Inspections.

In a sluggish housing market, does it make

sense to spend money on remodeling projects?

Probably, according to the 19th annual Cost vs.

Value Report as published in Remodeling Online

(remodeling.hw.net).

According to the report, just as home sales

have undergone a correction after record

growth, the value of home improvements

at the time of resale have adjusted to 2002

levels. In addition, the report indicates that

the norm is achieved when home improvement

costs stay within the range of 20 to 25 cents

on the dollar. The other 75 to 80 cents return

is recouped at the time of sale through increased

resale value.

There are other factors besides cost for

homeowners to consider when thinking about

remodeling projects. While remodeling projects

certainly add value to a home, the return

on investment can be unpredictable based

on factors beyond a homeowner’s control.

These factors can include regional home values,

the overall condition of the home, the value

of comparable homes in the area, and the

existence and cost of new homes in the area.

Homeowners also need to consider the need

for a remodel as a way to improve the home’s

quality and function, as well as their enjoyment

of the finished project.

If the remodel is not an absolute necessity,

such as a plumbing, electrical or HVAC upgrade,

it can be useful to check with a professional

remodeling contractor as well as your favorite

real estate professional before you begin the

project. They can advise you regarding the

return you might realistically expect to

receive on the remodeling project.

However, for most people, the two main

reasons for remodeling their homes do not

include “because it’s a good investment”.

According to an article posted on

Bankrate.com, homeowners typically

undertake a remodeling project to make

their homes more livable and enjoyable

and to update their home’s appearance as

decorating trends come into and go out of

style.

According to Bankrate.com’s top five list,

bathroom remodels are the most popular,

with 16 percent of survey respondents citing

this improvement as the one they’ve completed most recently. The next four in order of popularity, include kitchen

remodeling, room addition remodels, floor

coverings, and painting and wall coverings.

When seeking additional space,

homeowners are most likely to consider

adding living space, such as a den or a

bedroom.

Whether you’re seeking an updated decor or

adding more living space, you will want to

consider the return you may receive on your

remodeling project. The Cost vs.

Value study provides the following information.

You might expect kitchen and bathroom

remodels to really pay off, and they do, but

according to the 2006 study, the highest

return on investment occurs when homeowners

improve the siding on their homes. Replacement

vinyl siding brings a very respectable 87.2

percent return on investment when the project

is completed and the home resold. A minor

kitchen remodel is close behind, garnering an

85.2 percent return. It pays to remodel your

existing bathroom since you can expect to

recoup 84.9 percent of your expenses. Adding

a bathroom is another story, however. You’ll

only recover 74.9 percent of your investment.

While they may not be sexy improvements,

other outdoor repairs also are a good value.

Window replacements recover approximately

85 percent of their cost, with wood windows

outpacing vinyl by about two percent.

How about that sunroom you’ve always

wanted? Go ahead and put one in, but make

sure you stay in your home long enough to

enjoy it. It’s not going to help a great deal

with your home’s resale value, and you’ll only

recover 66 percent of your investment. If you’re

tired of the look of your home office, go ahead

and update it, but again, keep in mind, you’ll

only recover 63 percent of what you spend.

But if you’re at the point where you just

can’t stand the fluorescent lighting and cement

floor, a remodeling project may indeed be worth

the money you spend.

You should also have your home inspected

prior to selling it says Tom Sansone from

National Property Inspections of Rochester,

NY, LLC. If the home is found to be in good

condition, then copies of the report can be

presented to prospective buyers showing

them that you had experts inspect the house

and that the house is in good condition. If

problems are found, you can correct them

prior to placing the home for sale, which

will reduce the possibility of those problems

getting in the way of your sale. Mr. Sansone

suggests that you have your inspector

perform a re-inspection after problems have

been corrected so that the inspector can then

provide you with an updated report showing

the house to be in good condition.

Smoke alarms have contributed to a 50 percent decrease   in fire deaths since the 1970s according to the National Fire Protection Association. Two types of smoke alarms are common on the market, photoelectric and ionization. Sensors on each detect fires differently.

Photoelectric detectors use a light-emitting diode and a sensor. When smoke particles scatter the light beam, the detector goes off. This type of alarm goes off faster during a slow-burning, low-heat, smoky fire like those resulting from a dropped cigarette.

Ionization smoke alarms are designed to detect a flaming, fast-moving fire that creates a lot of heat. A small amount of radioactivity is used to ionize air in a chamber. The ionized air creates conductivity between electrodes.

Because it’s impossible to predict what type of fire may occur, it is a good idea to have both types of alarms in the house. Remember, ionization alarms will detect kitchen fires, one of the most common types of fires, faster. The Underwriters Laboratories recommends installing the dual-technology smoke alarms. Interconnecting all the alarms so that if one goes off they all go off may also help to alert family members faster.

Radon gas is a toxic gas that seeps into homes through the foundations. And it doesn’t matter if your home is built on a basement, crawlspace or a slab, this deadly gas can seep in and it doesn’t matter if it’s brand new construction or a 50 year old home.

It’s estimated that Radon Gas kills 24,000 Americans each and every year. As a matter of fact, Radon Gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer, only second to cigarette smoking.

The good news is that Radon Gas can be detected with a simple test and if the home you’re purchasing has elevated levels of Radon Gas, it can be easily fixed. The key to the issue is Getting A Radon Test. Then you know if the problem exists and if so, to what degree.

Please know that I personally would not live in a home in this area that had not been tested for Radon Gas! National Property Inspection conducts radon tests for home buyers, home sellers and homeowners in the Greater Rochester, NY area.

To learn more about Radon Gas check out the video below.

In the last 32 years, the U.S. population has shifted south and west. People continue to flow from rural to urban areas, the number of people living in each single-family residence is declining and average living space is increasing. These are some of the trends outlined in the report 32 Years of Housing Data released by HUD’s office of Policy Development and Research. The report looks at housing trends from 1973-2005.

According to the report:

• Floor plans for homes are larger, but lot size is holding steady. The median square footage of a single-family detached home was 1,610 square feet in 1985 and 1,774 square feet in 2005. The median lot size remained 0.36 of an acre over the same time period.
• Homeownership rates rose from 64.4 percent to 68.8 percent.
• In 1973, approximately 2 out of 3 homes were occupied by married couples. In 2005, this ratio fell to 1 out of every 2.
• Air conditioning became standard during the three decades in the study. The number of year-round residences without air-conditioning declined from 53 percent to 13 percent.