Steps To Take To Enhance Your Air Indoor Quality During Allergy Season

 Air indoor quality is important but it is especially important during allergy season. Understanding air quality and how to control it is a must. Allergy sufferers need to especially be mindful of their indoor air quality during peak allergy season, the spring. Triggers such as dust, mold and pet dander are all found indoors. Here are some tips on how to improve your home's air quality.

The First Step Is to Test

Testing indoor air quality is a great way to find out what is in the air of your home that can be harmful to your health. There are many devices to choose from for testing the air, so which do you choose?

When investing in a monitor, look for solutions that monitor all of the key air quality parameters: temperature, humidity, CO2, fine particulate matter and volatile organic compounds,” says Jennie Bergman, senior product manager of indoor environmental quality at Trane Residential. “You can also lean on a trusted local HVAC dealer for a whole-home indoor air quality assessment so you can make an educated purchasing decision based on your own family’s indoor comfort needs and air quality concerns.”

Level Up Your Indoor Air Quality

If the air quality in your home is not up to par, there are many things you can do to improve it. Options range from installing products that help keep the air clean to increasing ventilation through your HVAC unit and regularly changing the filters in your at-home appliances.

The best option is to install a whole-home air-cleaning device. This will remove asthma and allergy triggers. These include dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites and mildew. Another great thing is to use air cleaners. These will reduce airborne pollutants and certain bacteria.

Picking the Right Products

Just like with anything else, choosing the right product is important. The air-cleaning system you choose must be certified as asthma and allergy-friendly.

“When seeking out air-filtration products, look for certified products from trusted parties,” Bergman says. “Allergy Standards Ltd. and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America run the Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly® program.”

Keep Up the Quality

Improving the air is the first step, once this is completed, then it must be maintained. A simple solution to this is to change your filters more often.

“Dirty filters restrict airflow, making your system work harder and reducing its efficiency,” she says. “A good rule of thumb is to change your filter every season. Regular cleaning or changing of your filter will ensure the best filtration, increase the life of your machine and give you peace of mind that you’re breathing easier.”

Comfort at Home Guaranteed

Having an air quality monitor is a great way to maintain comfort and air quality. These monitors can alert you when your air quality is in question and how you should improve it. A simple option to help alleviate poor air quality is to open the windows or turn on your air filter. By doing these things, you can help eliminate pollutants in your indoor space making it a healthier and allergen-free indoor environment.

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Five Reasons Why To Always Get a Home Inspection

Buyers are finding ways to get their contract to win in bidding wars but there is one thing they should not skip out on. Some buyers today are skipping home inspections to entice sellers to choose them, however, this is not in the best interest of any buyer.

“With a lack of housing inventory in Louisville and across the country, it’s tempting for buyers to waive the home inspection, but there’s extreme danger in doing that,” Brad Lawler, the HomeTeam Inspection Service owner of HomeTeam Inspection Service of Kentuckiana says. “Waiving an inspection can open a buyer up to unforeseen costs down the road that could have otherwise been avoided.”

Here are five reasons why you should never skip a home inspection according to Lawler.

1. An inspection can help buyers avoid overpaying.

With such a hot market, home prices are on the rise and buyers are already paying a premium for a home. According to a report released by Redfin, the median home price in the U.S. rose 17% year over year to $341,250. Bidding wars are causing buyers to bid asking and often over asking, so added expenses for repairs are not usually feasible.

“Recently, one of our home inspectors uncovered a structural problem that ended up costing the seller $35,000 to repair,” Lawler says. “If the buyer had purchased that home without an inspection, they would have not only paid a premium for the home but they would have also been forced to handle the costly repair on top of it all. It’s a fast way to rack up negative equity. Today’s buyers are already overspending, so taking on additional risk by waiving the inspection is cause for concern.”

2. An inspection can uncover problems that the seller might not even know about.

By law, sellers are required to disclose any problems they are aware of, but this does not mean there aren't underlying issues that they might not know about. An inspector can make sure all issues are out in the open and can be resolved. A buyer can negotiate the price of the home to reflect the cost of the repairs.

“I don’t know many sellers who would have gone into their crawl space or climbed up onto their roofs prior to putting their home on the market,” Lawyer says. “We’re also seeing a lot of issues on homes that have exterior insulation and finish systems. If that type of product is installed incorrectly — and it often is — it can cause significant damage to the house because water will permeate the system.”

3. An inspection gives buyers a chance to budget for future repairs.

“One of the things that we do at HomeTeam is provide buyers with a punch list of maintenance items, so they can start to budget for future repairs and replacements,” Lawler says. “For example, we look at the age of the HVAC system and offer buyers a timeline of how long it will likely last. You don’t want to wait until something breaks to fix or replace it.”

4. An inspection can uncover problems that might affect your health.

Things such as radon cannot be seen, smelled or tasted so the only way to make sure the home you are purchasing does not have radon is to test for it. A home inspection will include environmental testing looking for mold, lead paint, air pollutants and pests.

“Unfortunately, we often have problems with radon in Louisville because of the type of lot that the city is situated on,” Lawler says. “Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers and it can be in any type of home. It doesn’t matter if it’s brand new construction or a third-floor condominium.”

5. An inspection can prevent buyers' remorse.

“Buyers are closing on houses faster than ever in order to stay competitive and we’ve been getting a lot of buyers’ remorse calls lately,” Lawler says. “We recently heard from a buyer who was advised by his agent to skip the home inspection in order to close quickly on the home. When the buyer walked into their new home they were met with serious electrical problems that will likely cost thousands of dollars to repair. It doesn’t have to be that way,” Lawler says. “A home inspection shouldn’t be an obstacle. At HomeTeam, our goal is to help real estate agents and buyers reach the closing table with the knowledge that they’re making an informed decision. You can’t do that if you waive the inspection.”

If you are considering purchasing a home, call a local Realtor who can help you through the process. A Realtor will be able to determine what's in your best interest when it comes to making an offer on your next home.

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The Before, During and After Questions To Ask a Home Inspector About a Home Inspection

A home inspection is an important step in the process when purchasing a home.  Whether it is new construction or resale, you want to make sure the home is in tip-top shape.  Here is a list of questions to ask before, during and after the home inspection.

Questions To ask before the inspection

1. What do you check?

“A lot of people don’t know exactly what a home inspector is going to do,” says Frank Lesh, executive director of the American Society of Home Inspectors.

According to Lesh a home inspector checks 1,600 features on a home!  This includes most everything from the roof to the foundation.  It is a bonus to know what an inspector can and can’t do.

2. What don’t you check?

Even though it seems like an inspector inspects most everything, this is not the case. There are limits to the job. For example, a wall can only be visually inspected and not cut into. If an inspector thinks there is an underlying problem, they can flag the potential problem so you can hire an expert to look into it.

3. What do you charge for a home inspection?

There is a range of pricing when it comes to a home inspection.  They usually cost between $300 to $600 depending on the location of the house, the size of the house and the inspector. Remember ask what forms of payments are accepted as you will have to pay the inspector the day of the inspection.

4. How long have you been doing this?

The more experience the inspector has, the more likely he will have seen many different scenarios.  A newer inspector doesn’t mean a less qualified inspector, they just might not have as much experience especially with an older home that might have some unusual features.

5. Can I come along during the inspection?

An inspector should expect you to be there. A good inspector will explain some of the home’s systems and how they work when inspecting your home. Sometimes explaining things in person might help with understanding the report. It is a bad sign when an inspector does not want you present at the inspection.

6. How long will the inspection take?

If you work, then you will need to know how long it will take for the inspection because they usually take place during the workweek. It might only be a ballpark figure because it will depend on the condition of the home.

7. Can I see a sample report?

Sometimes a report can be overwhelming especially for a first-time homebuyer. A sample report can be beneficial because it can get you familiarized with what you can expect to see on your home’s inspection report.

Questions to ask during a home inspection

1. What does that mean?

When an inspector is going through your home they will go slowly to make sure they double-check that everything is in working order.  If there is a problem, the inspector will point it out and explain what is wrong and needs to be fixed.

An inspector does this every day so they are very familiar with the lingo.  If you do not understand something they are explaining ask questions. If the inspector points out a problem, ask how difficult it is to repair and how much it will cost. Sometimes the buyer can go back to the seller and ask for things the inspector finds to be fixed.

2. Is this a big deal or a minor issue?

Purchasing a home is a big investment and commitment.  When an inspection report points out problems whether big or small it can make you second guess your decision. An HVAC system that is not up to code can sounds awful to you but it might not be as bad as you think.  Before panicking, ask the inspector if they believe the problem is a big deal. If they do, you can walk away or negotiate repairs with the seller.

3. What’s that water spot on the ceiling, and does it need a repair?

Anything you see that you think might be off, ask the inspector about it. This is a big purchase and you should not shy away from asking an inspector for explanations. A good inspector will ask you if there are any concerns you have with the home before they start their inspection.

4. I’ve never owned a house with an HVAC/boiler/basement. How do I maintain them?

“Inspectors are used to explaining basic things to people. If you have an inspection question, ask it,” Lesh says. “Don’t expect your inspector to teach you how to build a clock, but we are happy to answer and explain how things work.”As mentioned before, this is a perfect time for a professional to explain how things work.

5. What are your biggest concerns about the property?

When the inspector has finished, they should give you a general summary of their findings. The written report which will come later will be more thorough.  This is a great time to ask the inspector their thoughts and concerns on the problems found. If an electrical issue is found, it might be a good idea to have an electrician come and inspect the problem.

Questions to ask after the inspection is completed

1. I don’t understand…can you clarify?

You will receive the report a day or two after the inspection. The report will be a detailed list of problems that are found along with photos of the problem areas. If you do not understand any of the photos or explanations ask the inspector to explain.

2. Is there any problem in this house that concerns you, and about how much would it cost to fix?

Most problems found in an inspection should not be a deal-breaker.  An inspector can help you determine if it is a minor problem with any easy fix or if it is something drastic that would make a buyer walk away.

“The inspector can’t tell you, ‘Make sure the seller pays for this,’ so be sure you understand what needs to be done,” says Lesh.

3. Should I call in another expert for a follow-up inspection?

If there is a major issue, a second opinion from an expert in the field would be a good idea. If an electrical issue has been flagged, an electrician can come in and see exactly what the problem might be and how much it will cost to fix it. A Realtor can then negotiate with the seller to see if the seller would be willing to fix it.

4. Is there anything I’ll need to do once I move in?

An inspection report not only tells you the problem areas but also gives you suggestions on things you should fix in the first couple of months of living in your home.

“I had a couple call and tell me they had seepage in the basement,” Lesh says. “I pulled up their report and asked if they’d reconnected the downspout extension like I recommended. Nope. Well, there’s your problem!”

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