http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/improvement/9-things-to-fix-around-the-house-before-they-get-worse?src=nl&mag=pop&list=nl_pnl_hom_non_011912_fix-things-now&kw=ist#fbIndex9

In many cases, a C4U inspection will give the seller a clear marketing advantage: the ability to declare the house “pre-inspected” and know in advance what problems (if any) should be addressed before the home goes on the market.

A pre-listing inspection pays for itself – even if the seller decides not to make repairs. Knowing problems in advance allows the seller to disclose them before negotiations begins and creates an atmosphere of mutual trust. In some cases, the seller may want to provide buyers with an estimate of what repairs would cost.

A C4U Pre-Listing Inspection will:

• Help sellers see their home and its value more realistically
• Provide sellers with a clear list of repairs that could increase the value of their home
• Provide potential buyers with the information they need to evaluate a home effectively
• Enhance your credibility and that of the seller
• Reduce last minute surprises that could kill or delay the deal
• Reduce the chance a legal issue will arise after closing
• Reduce listing time for a faster sale
• Provide buyers with the confidence needed to make an offer
• Keep buyers emotionally attached to the house. How often is a “sure sale” derailed by an inspection that reveals defects in what seemed like “the perfect” house
• Make your job as a realtor that much easier.

This year will be a very special one for our family, as it will be the first time in ten years that we have all celebrated together. It will also be the first Christmas with our granddaughter — the only girl in our family with the exception of our daughter-in-laws.

This year in lieu of gifts (like calendars and pens) we have decided to donate to Feed the Valley, a non-profit group designed to raise food, funds, and awareness for local food banks.  We see this as the ideal time to give back to the community and give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy.

We trust that 2011 has been as enjoyable for you as it has been for us at C4U Inspections and thank you for your ongoing business, referrals, and support.

Happy Holidays from all of us at C4U Inspections,

Lloyd & Linda Kenzle

PS – C4U will remain open during the holidays and welcomes your business and referrals.

Once thought to be exclusive to low income housing, grow-ops now exist in most neighborhoods, regardless of location or value, including:

• small bungalows
• large two story homes
• townhomes
• apartments
• hi-rises
• industrial units

Marijuana Grow Operations on the Rise—Grow ops are thriving in the Okanagan.

As Monty Kwinter (former Ontario Minister of Community and Corrections Services) pointed out in a 2004 special report, “Indoor marijuana grow ops in Ontario are a billion-dollar-a-year business, one that fuels the trafficking of guns and hard drugs while threatening the health and safety of our communities.”

Health Hazards Posed by Former Grow Ops and Drug Houses

Former drug houses and Marijuana grow-ops pose serious health risks to residents living in them. Some of the more common health risks include:

• Poisonous gas and chemicals
• Biological contaminants
• Poor indoor air quality
• Formation of damaging mold and fungus
• Mould and mildew from intense condensation
• Greater chance of fires occurring

The problem is almost impossible to detect, as the lay person cannot tell a drug house by appearances alone. There are even cases of speculators purchasing a former ‘drug house’ at a significant discount, re-selling it at a premium, and not disclosing its former use to the new owner.

For those former Grow operations that were discovered by authorities, there will be a public record. If the Grow Op was never discovered, a record will not exist. Checking with the municipality will let you know if it was ever used as an illegal drug facility. In many cases, this is required before Banks and Insurance Companies will lend money or insure the home.

Indoor Environmental Assessments & Testing

Indoor environmental assessments and testing helps detect former Grow Ops.

Before buying your home, or if you suspect it has been used as a ‘drug house’, consider hiring a professional indoor environmental assessment & testing company to do a mold, yeast, bacteria – and other toxic substances – inspection. These contaminates are often associated with grow ops and meth labs and are health risks.

As Indoor Environmental Assessment & Testing Specialists, you should know that it is ‘home buyer beware’, and that testing for former Marijuana Grow-Op activity has never been more important.

Know what you are getting into. For Grow-Op & Drug House Testing Services Contact C4U Inspections (250) 768-8512

Now if the vendor would of had a pre-inspection done they would of known about the drain problem.This would of given them a chance to repair it before hand which would of avoided the loss of this purchase. With a pre-inspection there should be no surprises when it’s time to sell and things will go smoother.

Tackle more indoor tasks before the warmer weather arrives…

• Examine bathroom and kitchen caulking. If you find gaps between the tub or shower and the floor and walls, or between the countertop and backsplash, re-caulk.  Check the tile around bathtubs and shower edges to make sure they are caulked and secure.
• Check under sinks and around toilets and showers for signs of leaks. Fill sinks with water, open the drain and with a wad of toilet tissue rub down the entire drain pipe to check for leaks.  Also repair dripping faucets and make sure faucet aerators are not clogged — if you don’t know how, a local handyman may do the job at about half the price of a plumber. Save plumbers for bigger, complex jobs.
• Replace any rubber clothes washer hoses with braided metal hoses to insure against a split hose, water disaster.
• Call to have your central air-conditioning serviced. Set up the appointment now for March or April to avoid the summer rush. The service will make sure that your compressor and air handler is working well and that the condensate drain is clear.
• Don’t forget to periodically check and replace all your return air filters and vacuum out the area behind the filter to keep your system working efficiently.  Most manufacturers recommend filter replacement every 30 days.  Get a Sharpie and mark the filters with the date you installed them to help keep you on schedule. Check new filter for the arrow showing air flow direction and install accordingly.
• Inspect all electrical cords, wall switch plates, and receptacles for damage and wear.  Make sure receptacles are secured tightly.  If you have young children in the home make sure receptacles have appropriate child-proof covers.
• Periodically check all GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) receptacles found in kitchens, bath, garage and exterior. Push in lower button – top button should pop out then re-set by pushing in top button. Contact licensed electrician to replace/repair if not working properly.
• Periodically check all AFCI (arc fault circuit interrupters) found in main electrical circuit breaker box – by pushing the small blue button on breakers supplying power to bedrooms.  Re-set circuit breaker by pushing it all the way to “OFF” then back to the “ON” position.  These are found primarily in newer homes and are a fire safety feature.  Again, contact a licensed electrician to replace/repair if not working properly.

March

Winter’s ending. It’s time to…

• Search for peeling exterior paint. Harsh winter weather can cause caulking to loosen and paint to chip, peel or flake, exposing wood to the elements and giving water a place to enter.  Caulk around all window and door trim where needed. Touch up bare spots now with paint to prevent moisture problems later. First, scrape and sand any loose paint, then prime and add at least one top coat.
• Prep your lawn. Apply a pre-emergent fertilizer to your grass in March (or as soon as the snow melts), and you’ll have fewer weeds and healthier grass come April. A local nursery can recommend a fertilizer appropriate for your yard.
• Examine the foundation. Take a walk around the exterior and interior of your foundation (if accessible) in search of cracks. Small cracks should be filled with caulk and monitored to make sure they aren’t widening. If you see large cracks, call a home inspector, building contractor or structural engineer to inspect. Check all cement walkways and driveways. If you find a crack, use a leaf blower to clear out debris, then seal with caulk made for your type of surface (asphalt, concrete, etc.). Use mortar only if the crack is more than a half-inch wide.
• Check all wooden siding, trim and untreated lumber making sure it is not in contact with the ground.  Such contact can lead to wood rot and is an invitation to wood destroying insects.
• Check your outside AC condenser unit and make sure that there are no leaves, mulch or other debris blocking the air flow around the fins.  Make sure that insulation on the suction line (the larger cold one) is in place all the way to your inside air handler and that the condenser unit looks level and is secure on its pad.  Call your HVAC service company to repair if necessary.
  Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you change the clocks for daylight saving time.  Contact alarm companies for periodic check of hard-wired systems.
• Examine the exterior hood of your dryer vent.  Remove any lint build-up.  Periodically disconnect the dryer vent hose from your dryer and clean it out.  A leaf blower works well to blow it out. Lint build up in dryer vent hoses causes over 10,000 house fires every year.  Make sure hose is flexible metal and not plastic.  Keep hose as straight and as short as possible for better air flow and more efficient drying and less lint built-up.

This is a good time to address some interior issues…

• Start a to-do list. Walk through your home, jotting down projects and maintenance problems you notice or that have been on your mind. Carry a screwdriver and a can of machine oil or WD-40 so you can immediately take care of minor issues, such as loose door knobs and squeaky hinges.
• De-clutter your closets. Throw away anything you don’t need. Buy additional shelves, hooks and boxes to organize everything that remains. Next: De-clutter the laundry room, another often disorganized, small space.
• Consider your flooring. January is a slow month for carpet sellers and floor refinishers, so it is a good time to get a deal on a replacement or spruce-up.