With snow now on the ground, we know that winter has arrived and the holidays are fast approaching. As people start planning to celebrate, many will be going out to get their Christmas trees at the market, and preparing to play host to family and friends. We at Mose Home Inspection want to wish you safe and happy holidays and offer a few tips for avoiding some common hazards of the season. Icy and slippery surfaces Last year, everyone was talking...
As the cold weather arrives, we who live in a northern climate, spend more time indoors. In winter months, there is less or no fresh air from the outside flowing into our homes, which means that VOCs (volatile organic Compounds) and allergens become trapped inside. The result is that indoor air can be as polluted, if not more polluted, than outdoor air. Luckily, there are some simple actions that can be taken to improve the indoor air quality in everyone’s...
Once autumn rolls around, our windows are not open very often. The fresh but cold air is kept out and the quality of our indoor air becomes more important. Air pollution is often thought of as an outdoor threat but air pollution can be an indoor problem as well. What products you have in your home, and the kind of ventilation you may have, will impact the air quality of your home. Infants, children and the elderly can be more susceptible to certain products in the...
Many people don’t realize that we spend about 90% of our time indoors. While we spend a lot of our time in our homes but we also spend a large part of our time in offices, commercial buildings and public buildings. The air quality in these locations can be compromised by furnishings that let off gas, combustion processes, and a number of biological and chemical contaminants. Here are six common, yet surprising culprits. HVAC systems HVAC systems include the equipment used...
When you have made an offer on your dream house and are booking your home inspection, you will probably want to know about the cost and how long it will take. In addition, you will want to know what kinds of things a home inspector will be looking for. As the potential purchaser, you should be present during the inspection as a great way to learn about the home you will be buying is to follow the inspector as he goes through...
Many homeowners are handy when it comes to home maintenance and so they are very curious about how we inspect homes and the tools we use when we perform a home inspection. So in this blog, let’s look at some of the tools of the trade – the tools inspectors show up with when they arrive at a home. Ladder Every good home inspector needs to bring a ladder to allow him access to high, out-of-reach spaces, such as attics. A ladder will allow us...
Real estate in Montreal has been heating up with some districts experiencing hot market conditions and a shortage of property listings. Stories of tight closing dates and bidding wars are very common. In normal markets, the potential buyers have more control over the transaction. However, in a hot market, home sellers are dictating the conditions, often having one open house and instructing interested parties that they have a limited number of days to make an offer. Multiple offers come in, often over the asking price. Buyers are...
It’s still hard to believe that after our brutal winter, spring is really around the corner. Yes, we see the snow and ice are finally melting and we will need to prepare our annual spring-cleaning to-do list. Spring is obviously not the time of year you want to think about furnace maintenance, but as a homeowner, you should include your furnace on your list of things to take care of. In a typical Canadian home, the furnace runs for 6 or 7 months, usually from October...
