Inspector's Blog
Choosing a Radiant Barrier Product
07/06/10. If you are looking into cooling your attic with a radiant barrier, you might be overwhelmed by all the choices and varying claims to energy savings. The primary products available are: foil backed OSB decking (underside of roof), foil that is tacked on to rafters and paint. As a rule, the best radiant barrier products have a reflectivity of .9 or 90% and .1 emissivity or less. Foil Foil backed roof decking is the best… read more →
Austin Rebates & Incentives
02/05/10. Austin has some of America’s best energy efficiency rebate and incentive programs. Rebates up to $1,400 are available to help pay for efficient heating & cooling equipment, low-flow toilets, insulation and more. The potential saving can be between 30% to 50% on energy bills. Before doing any improvements be sure to call Austin Energy or Austin Water. To qualify for some of these rebates you must go through their process. Austin Rebate Programs AC Rebate… read more →
Get a Free Dual Flush Toilet
01/06/10. What is a dual flush toilet you may ask? I’m referring to the cutting-edge in toilet technology and water conservation. These wonderful, high efficiency inventions can cut water usage in half with the push of a button. They do this by offering the user two flush options-half a flush (.8 gallons) and a full flush (1.6 gallons). Without going into the details, I’ll assume you get the picture. Most dual flush toilets are fairly expensive… read more →
Do You Have A Water Leak?
01/01/10. If your water bills seem high, or you are concerned that you may have a plumbing or water leak, there is a simple test you can perform that tells all. It’s called the water meter test. Because water leaks often go undetected, performing this test annually at a minimum is recommended. It is important to note that almost anyone can perform this test. You don’t have to be an plumbing expert or have fancy diagnostic… read more →
The Importance of Gutters
01/01/10. Is your mind in the gutter? Well, it should be if you want to have a house that is in good working order. Rainwater is a natural element that can wreak havoc on a house if it’s not controlled by properly installed and maintained rain gutters. There are many misconceptions about gutters and as a result there are many mistakes homeowners are making. In some cases these mistakes are causing damage rather than preventing it… read more →
Choosing a Home Inspector
12/15/09. Buying a house can be one of the most important investments one can make in a lifetime. That’s why the home inspector you choose should be a superhero with x-ray vision, fancy gadgets, and the innate ability to explain complex things in simple terms. However, finding this person is no easy task. There are many inspectors to choose from, many reporting styles, and not many resources available to help consumers sort through it all. When… read more →
Water Savings with Dual Flush Retrofit Kit
12/06/09. If you don’t qualify for Austin Water utilities Dual Flush Toilet Rebate and still want to save money and water without buying a new toilet, I highly recommend looking into a dual flush retrofit kit. There are a number of products out there that work effectively. In most cases these kits can pay for them selves in a month or two, which means instant savings. What is a dual flush retrofit kit you may ask… read more →
The Vampires in Your House
12/04/09. You may not know it but you probably have vampires in your house. By vampires I’m referring to vampire power. This is the electricity your home electronics and appliances suck out of the power grid (and out of your wallet) when not in use. Many of the electronics around the house suck vampire power to a greater or lesser degree. Sure, electronics can improve our quality of life, but these vampires can also unnecessarily waste… read more →
The Market Ready Listing
11/29/09. 10 Inexpensive Ways to Beat the Buyers Inspection Whether you’re buying or selling a house, the buyer’s home inspection tends to be the white knuckle part of the transaction. Before the home inspection buyers don’t have much control over the process, except for hiring a good Realtor and inspector. However, sellers often have a slew of options to make the home inspection go smoother. In my experience the sear number of items found on inspection… read more →
How Long Should The Home Inspection Take?
08/01/09. Always remember that a thorough home inspection can never be done in an hour or less – no matter what the size of the home. A thorough inspection of the average size home (1500-2500 sq. ft.) takes about 2-4 hours. The Cheap and Quick Inspection If you are shopping for the cheapest inspection you can find, be sure the inspector is thorough. There are some home inspectors who perform home inspections in an hour or… read more →