| Interpreting the Home Inspection Report |
7/6/2010 |
The home inspection report is an important document that a potential buyer will have that accurately describes the conditions that exist in the house they are considering buying.
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| One Year Extension of Home Buyer Tax Credit for Active Veterans |
7/6/2010 |
Members of the military and certain other federal employees serving outside the U.S. have an extra year to buy a principal residence in the U.S. and qualify for the credit. Thus, an eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2011.
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| Tips to Save Energy and Money Today |
7/6/2010 |
Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year on home utility bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. The good news is that there is a lot you can do to save energy and money at home. Start making small changes today.
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| Common Home Defects |
4/1/2010 |
Whether you are buying, selling or simply maintaining a home, beware of these common home defects.
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| How can you prepare your home for storms? |
4/1/2010 |
How can you prepare your home for storms?
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| An Economical House-Lift |
4/1/2010 |
As homes sit on the market, many people are finding themselves staying in their current residence for longer than originally expected. As a result, this spring is a perfect time to make those home improvements that you’ve been putting aside. But how do you know you’ll get your money back when the housing market finally stabilizes? Click here to discover home improvements that will get you the highest return on your investment.
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| What the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Means to You |
1/11/2010 |
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 extended many consumer tax incentives originally introduced in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) and amended in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-343).
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| How to Decorate With Autumn Style |
9/28/2009 |
As warm summer days give way to cool autumn air, it is time to start thinking about feathering our nests and preparing for long days and nights indoors.
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| Low Cost and No Cost Energy Saving Tips |
9/28/2009 |
HomeTeam offers these simple tips that could help decrease energy costs.
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| How to Get Organized Quickly for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays |
9/28/2009 |
The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are almost here. But is your home organized and ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas? If not, here's how to get organized quickly for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
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| Bringing the Dream of Homeownership Within Reach |
6/24/2009 |
As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers.
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| How to Increase Your Home Value This Summer |
6/24/2009 |
The summer is the perfect time to consider how to increase your home value since most of your outdoor repairs, maintenance, and upgrades are more pleasant during the summer. Consider these ideas:
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| Preventing Child Injuries at Home |
6/24/2009 |
Take some simple hands-on steps to make your home safer. You can protect the ones you love by preventing child injuries at home. Below are some prevention tips for leading causes of child injury:
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| 2009 Homebuyer Tax Credit |
4/7/2009 |
The homebuyer tax credit is one of 10 key provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Obama into law on Feb. 17, 2009.
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| How to Spring into Success |
4/7/2009 |
Every year Nature gives us the best examples of how to be successful – the season of Spring!
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| Spring Home Maintenance Tips |
4/7/2009 |
Tips to help you ready the home for the Spring.
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| Questions of Success |
12/12/2008 |
Have you ever wondered why some people just seem to have it all together and are always one step ahead while you feel you’re always one step behind? Answer these simple questions:
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| Success Factor - First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit |
11/20/2008 |
On July 30, 2008, President Bush signed a major housing bill (H.R. 3221) into law. As part of the housing bill, Congress has created a new, temporary tax credit to provide an incentive for first-time homebuyers.
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| Ultimate Home - Remodeling on a Budget |
11/20/2008 |
Tips to improve your home without breaking the bank.
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| Success Factor - From Vision to Plan to Reality |
9/29/2008 |
Write it down. If there is one action that makes the vital link between your vision and it really happening, it is writing down what you want to do as a personal development plan with clear and meaningful objectives.
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| Ultimate Home - Prepare Your Lawn and Garden for the Coming Season |
9/29/2008 |
As temperatures start to decline, stop fertilizing and water your plans less frequently.
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| Summertime Safety |
7/16/2008 |
The summer season marks the time for families to enjoy some of America’s traditional summer pastimes interrupted by a trip to the emergency room if you don’t follow simple steps to safeguard your “Kids and their friends are home more during summer so you want to make sure that your home is prepared for the increase in activity and guests,” says Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council. “By being alert and prepared to summertime threats, families are reducing their chances of injuries for their loved ones.”
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| Greenspan Predicts Rise in Interest Rates |
6/17/2008 |
The credit crisis is under control, but with inflation now the top concern, higher interest rates can be expected, said former Federal Reserve Chief Alan Greenspan said last week.
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| Home Safety Month |
6/17/2008 |
HomeTeam Inspection has asked clients where they feel safest and most say their own home. However, unintentional injuries in the home result in nearly 21 million medical visits on average each year. The Home Safety Council dedicates the month of June – Home Safety Month – to educate and empower both families and businesses to take actions that will make homes safe.
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| What can be done about Radon? |
1/15/2008 |
HomeTeam Inspection Service answers frequently asked questions about Radon.
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| Safe Holidays are Happy Holidays |
12/17/2007 |
Each holiday season, we are reminded of the importantance of considering household safety issues to keep the season a joyous one. To keep the holiday season a happy season we need to practice safety awareness. The simple fact is this time of year brings an increased use of electricity, candles, fireplaces, extension cords, live trees indoors, and holiday lights both in and out doors, all of which can increase the risk of fire.
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| Should I Vent? |
12/17/2007 |
I have a question about the Winter Check list article. One of the things the checklist said to do was close the vents to the crawl space (especially near plumbing). I have heard not to block the vents unless it is going to be below freezing for a long period of time. I was under the assumption that venting under a foundation, and an attic was just as important in the winter as it is in the summer. Am I wrong?
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| Are You Prepared For Winter? |
11/19/2007 |
A few minor touches around your house now could save you a lot of money.
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| Is My Old Gas Furnace Safe? |
11/19/2007 |
We recently purchased our first house. It is an older home, and still has the original gas furnace. The furnace runs and does heat the house, but is it safe? Can it be letting harmful gas in the house that we can’t smell? What steps do I take to make sure this unit is performing safely? Are there any telltale signs?
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| Cracked Ceiling |
10/10/2007 |
We have noticed a crack in the ceiling of the living room at the corner of the wall that separates the living room from the family room. On the other side of this wall is the family room, where there is a crack in the ceiling against the same wall. The cracks are not very wide, but they do run almost the entire length of this center wall, on both sides.
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| Tips For National Fire Prevention Month In October |
10/10/2007 |
From Fire-Proofing to Planning Escape Routes, Home Expert Provides Advice for Homeowners.
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| Sandy Dishwasher |
9/16/2007 |
Recently I’ve started noticing a strange type of sand-sediment in the bottom of my dishwasher. My house is brand new, and I know the utilities are all new too. Do you have any ideas what this substance could be or where it’s coming from?
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| High And Dry |
9/11/2007 |
Of all the possible defects that can be found in residential construction, the biggest contributor to major costly repairs is poor drainage.
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| Mystery Stuff |
9/11/2007 |
The other day I was washing my siding (white vinyl). The outside window sills are also vinyl-clad, but I was able to squirt the water both up the sill, as well as horizontally. The material that came out was some reddish dirt and some fine particles that looked like tobacco and were a golden color. When it was wet, it clumped together. I cannot describe it any better than that. Please tell me it is not chewed wood fiber; the house is only six years old.
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| Driveway Fix? |
8/17/2007 |
I have an asphalt driveway and noticed that cracks are becoming more prominent in certain areas rather than others. I don’t want to have to repave the entire driveway, and was wondering if you knew of any quick-fixes to resolve the problem.
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| Getting Rid Of Moss |
8/17/2007 |
My husband and I installed a brick patio in the backyard last year, and surrounded it with flowers. It was looking beautiful, and then out of no where, moss overtook it. I’ve scraped off the moss repeatedly, but it keeps coming back, and I worry that using chemicals will destroy the flowers. Do you have any suggestions on what we can do?
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| Protecting Ceramic Counter Tops |
8/17/2007 |
I just remodeled my kitchen and installed the most beautiful ceramic counter tops. I’d like to keep them looking shiny and new. Are there any tips or pointers you could give me on what (or what not) to do when it comes to their upkeep?
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| Septic Systems: Pipes and Tanks and Drainfields, Oh My! |
8/16/2007 |
As a homeowner, proper maintenance and upkeep of your septic tank is critical in protecting the investment of your home. If you don’t inspect your system periodically and pump out your septic tank every few years, your dream home could turn into a nightmare.
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| Splash Into Summer With Pool Safety |
6/22/2007 |
Summer’s here, the sun is blazing and the weather is HOT, so what better place to cool down and relax then in your very own swimming pool! Having a pool is like having a puppy, though. You need to care for it, treat it right and take extra safety precautions so that everyone that comes in contact with it will have a good time and stay safe in the process. Below are some tips on how to properly clean and care for your pool, so that your time in or out of it will be a splash!
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| Defrosting The Freezer |
6/21/2007 |
My freezer has been giving me trouble. There’s a thick coating of ice inside and it seems to have a strange smell to it. Any ideas on what could be done to alleviate this problem and prevent a reoccurrence?
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| Fixing Up After Carpenter Bees |
6/21/2007 |
Last year, my wife and I had a carpenter bee problem in our backyard. The exterminator came out and sprayed, and the bees are now gone, but their memory lives on, in the form of holes along the base boards of the deck. Is there something we can do to fill them? Or will we have to replace the full board?
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| Keeping Your Deck Looking New |
6/21/2007 |
I’ve always wanted a wood deck in my backyard for summer gatherings, and this year I finally got it! It’s beautiful and I would like to keep it looking like new. Do you have any tips on how to help it maintain its rich luster?
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| Removing Wallpaper |
6/21/2007 |
I was at the store and saw the nicest wallpaper that would look great in my recreation room. My only concern is that if I decide to take it down one day, the walls will be ruined. Is there a way to keep that from happening?
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| Keeping A Clean Pool |
5/16/2007 |
Well after years of begging and pleading, my kids finally convinced my husband and me to get a pool. We just have one question, what kind of daily maintenance does it need? We shock it weekly, but are there things that can be done everyday to help even more?
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| Problems with the sliding door... |
5/16/2007 |
My house is about 10 years old now, and I just started having problems with the sliding door. It doesn’t slide smoothly and makes a grating sound when I open or close it. What can I do to fix the problem and prevent it from happening in the future?
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| Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day. Rain, rain… |
5/16/2007 |
If you are one of the many homeowners whose house suffers from water damage caused by poor grading, you probably sing this nursery rhyme quite often when it rains. Poor grading around your home’s exterior can cause water to collect around the foundation of your home, which in turn may cause your basement or crawlspace to flood and increase your chances of getting mold or mildew. But don’t worry, listed below are some steps you can take to prevent the problems before they start (or correct them if they are already present).
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| First Impressions |
1/26/2007 |
It’s true what they say about “first impressions,” especially when it comes to your home. For a home, first impressions are considered “curb appeal.” With the warmer weather, it is time for working in the yard, planting flowers, painting, and general landscaping – all the components for boosting curb appeal.
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| Heat Pumps Explained |
1/26/2007 |
We receive a lot of questions about forced air systems with heat pumps. The questions are generally how heat pumps work for heat and how they work in the air-conditioner mode. The best way to answer most of these questions is to start by explaining how an air-conditioner works.
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| Know Your Electricity |
1/26/2007 |
In household wiring, the light and receptacle circuits are wired in a configuration called branch circuits. It is recommended to occassionally check light switches, bulbs and receptacles in order to ensure safety for your home.
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| Radon Test Recommended |
1/26/2007 |
Radon has been around long before any of us, but the concern about the effects on health has increased in recent years. The appropriate test to determine if a significant level of radon exists in your home is easy and reasonably inexpensive.
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| Truth About Roof Stains |
1/26/2007 |
What plague infects homes in nearly 80 percent of the United States? The answer is Gloeocapsa Magma.
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| What is Vermiculite? |
1/26/2007 |
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined and processed for insulation and gardening. Processed vermiculite is lightweight, fire-resistant, absorbent, and odorless. These properties allow vermiculite to be used to make numerous products, including attic insulation. The primary concern is that some vermiculite has been mixed with asbestos.
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| Fall Tune-up Checklist |
1/9/2007 |
Check-out the fall tune-up guide for keeping homes in shape.
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