Problems to Look For When Buying an Older Home
Buying an older home can mean you are getting a house with cool architecture that is different or more interesting than a standard newer home, and it can also mean savings in price. While an older home may be less expensive, as it ages it may need a number of repairs...
The No. 1 Cause of Lung Cancer – Radon or Smoking?
Radon has always been considered a distant second to smoking as a cause of lung cancer. If smoking is linked to 87 percent of all lung cancer deaths, why even worry about the lung cancer deaths related to radon (21,000 per year in the United States)? Not so...
Issues that May Require a Specialized Inspection
A home inspection is hugely important when you are about to purchase a home. The inspection process helps to determine the condition of the home and property to give you the best possible information on whether the home is a sound investment. While an inspection is...
Resale Tips From a Home Inspector
Some of the best people to ask for home advice are inspectors. They play a major role in the home buying process. They see many, many, many homes on a regular basis and know the common issues that buyers are concerned with. Since they see homes in a wide range of...
Is Radon Testing Required In Illinois?
Over the last few years, there has been a push for more awareness of radon gas in homes. What it is, where it can be present, how it affects human health, how it gets into a home, how to test for radon in a home, etc. With this raised awareness of the dangers and...
Summer Tips for Clean Air in Your Home
Summer is here, and we want to savor the fresh air as much as we can before the cold weather comes around again. We don’t want to be stuffed up in our home during the summer months, so we should take some steps on how to keep our indoor air pure and healthy this...
Radon Testing for Daycare Centers
Radon exposure is a strong link to lung cancer, and testing for radon is most important, especially in a daycare center because our children are our future. We never want to leave our children in danger of health issues, so it’s essential to make sure that a radon...
Signs Your Indoor Air Quality is Bad
Your indoor air quality is extremely important to your health and well-being. If there is poor air quality in your home, you may experience some health issues, which is never what you want, especially in your own home. There are some signs that you should look out for...
Should We Waive the Home Inspection on New Construction?
There is much competition in today’s housing market. In some areas, the market is so competitive amongst buyers that many are waiving a home inspection to have a better chance at winning in a bidding war. With this new way of purchasing houses, many homeowners that...
The Dangers of Lead Based Paint
Lead Based Paint has been a problem for many years in older homes. It can be extremely harmful to children and adults that may cause cardiovascular, nervous system, and other health issues. It is essential to get your home tested for lead paint, so that you can live...
Can I Hire a Residential Home Inspector for a Commercial Inspection?
A common misconception of the real estate world is that a home inspector and a commercial building inspector are one and the same. They are in fact very different and the differences between the two are actually quite large. If you are purchasing a commercial property...
How to Look for Water Pollution in My Home?
Pollution in the water in your home is the worst possible scenario. We cannot survive without water, and having good, clean water is essential for our health. Home inspections are recommended for every homeowner when purchasing a home, or if there is a suspicion of...
Before Finishing Your Basement, Check for Radon
Radon is a radioactive, odorless, tasteless gas that you also cannot see. This is a cancer-causing gas that can seep into your own home through cracks in the walls or floor. Not many homeowners know of this dangerous gas, so we want you to know that it is...
The Most Common Problems Found in Home Inspections
Getting a home inspection is hugely important whether you are purchasing a newly built home, a fixer-upper, or a well-cared for historic home. Certified home inspectors have found many a thing in the inspection process saving buyers thousands of dollars or even from...
Can a Home Inspection Be Done in the Rain or Snow?
It's been chilly around here this winter season and with the snow, sleet, and rain, I've been getting a lot of questions about whether a home inspection can even be done in this type of weather. Sure, there are challenges to inclement weather, not just the drive to...
Why Take Staircase Inspections Seriously
Did you know that more than 1 million Americans sustain injuries on staircases every year? There are also upwards of 12,000 deaths that take place on an annual basis because of accidents involving stairs. Startling statistics reveal why it’s so important for those...
What is Radon Testing and How Do I Know if a House Has it?
January is Radon Awareness Month Radon is probably the most confusing and unknown topics when it comes to the home inspection process. I want to make this easy so let's break this down. What is Radon? Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that is produced by...
Home Improvement Projects that Pay Off
If you’re thinking about selling your home, you should consider tackling some home improvement projects first. Putting a little bit of work into your home could increase the value of it in a big way when preparing to sell. Pristine Inspections and Testing have...
What You Might Miss if You Don’t Accompany the Inspector
Most real estate agents strongly suggest that their buyer accompany the home inspector when touring the property. It's not necessarily required but it can make a world of difference. Think of it this way; would you buy a $300K stock that you knew nothing about?...
Exhaust Fans in Bathrooms – Why They Are So Important
Most bathrooms have exhaust fans, or they should! But, we run across many bathrooms that either have fake fans, disassembled fans, or bathrooms that have literally been built without a fan. Most codes require exhaust fans even if the bathroom has a window. Bathrooms...
Windows Could Result in Warped Vinyl Siding
Many homeowners are installing low-emissive windows, also known as low-E windows, in their houses these days. Low-E windows can limit the amount of heat transfer that takes place within windows, which can keep homes more comfortable throughout the year. However, there...
Understanding the Causes of Fogged Windows
Have you noticed that one or more of the windows in your home always seems to be a little hazy? If you have single-pane windows with just one pane of glass in them, the fog is likely being caused by the weather. When it’s warm inside and cold outside, your windows...
Improving Air Quality in Your Complex, Home, or Development
Be it our home, or workplace, most of the air we breathe in our life, we breathe indoors. That is why the quality of the air inside a complex, home, or development is incredibly important, for both the tenant and building’s health. So, for any owner or developer,...
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Still a Risk in Summer
Carbon monoxide is so deadly because it is invisible and odorless, so by the time that there’s a dangerous level inside your home or business, it may be too late. Although many of us may think that with the summer months now here and our windows open to allow in fresh...
Summer Heat and Roof Damage
Most people rate spring and summer as their favorite seasons of the year, but if your roof could talk, it would likely have a different opinion. The summer heat, in particular, can be particularly hard of your roof, especially if your home has traditional shingles....
Infrared Cameras Help Beekeepers Keep Up on Hives
Infrared camera technology – the same that we use at Pristine Inspections and Testing during every inspection– is now being used to help beekeepers to inspect their populations during the winter, reports the Fox affiliate in Salt Lake City. Previously, opening up a...