As an Atlanta home inspector, I wanted to share the following article about a do it yourself project that can increase your homes value.  Closets can be an easy project to tackle.  One thing that you may not want to do yourself is a home inspection.  David was in construction for over twenty years and when he went to school back in 2006 for home inspections, he was amazed at the different things he didn’t know.  Having an expert that is trained to look at each and every item in the home makes all the difference in the world.  Also home inspectors in Atlanta are unregulated and unlicensed.  What does this mean to you as a home buyer? It means that anyone with a flashlight can call them a home inspector in Atlanta, without any training, insurance or experience, and most of the time, their cheaper than the ones with the training, insurance and experience.  You as a home buyer are the ones who pay the price in the long run. You can schedule your home inspection online at http://www.ihihomeinspections.com

How to get a custom closet on a do-it-yourself budget

(ARA) – Both fashion and budget-conscious Americans alike are taking better care of their clothing and other possessions, starting with how they store them. But if you haven’t been reading today’s most popular home and style magazines, sneaking a peak inside your neighbor’s closets, or house-hunting lately, you might not have noticed: Closets have evolved from clumsy and non-functional to downright fabulous.

Or maybe you’ve envied the spacious, custom closets characteristic of luxury homes, but haven’t had thousands of dollars to plunk down on a professional closet makeover.

In either case, you probably need a closet solution. That’s why manufacturers of closet organization systems have been busy developing new, do-it-yourself home storage solutions ranging from low-end, rack-and-wire plug-ins to handsome furniture-style systems in white or wood-toned melamine and even solid wood.

Among the strongest and most flexible of the new systems are Home Options Storage Solutions, available around the corner at Lowe’s home improvement stores or at www.lowes.com. Shelving and pole heights are adjustable so your design can be adapted periodically to your changing needs. Full extension drawers with attractive fronts provide complete access.

Where to start creating a custom closet on a do-it-yourself budget? First, determine your skill level. Do you need a professional? Probably not. Many closet systems can be installed in a weekend by anyone of average skill level. Brands such as Home Options offer websites with pre-existing templates and online design tools that make closet planning easy.

Next, measure your space. Determine the width, height and depth and write them down. Is your closet a reach-in, walk-in, or are you creating it from freestanding space? Have high ceilings? Add a shelf to store items overhead.

When planning, consider designating 50 percent of your closet space for low-hanging clothes, 25 percent for longer clothes, and 25 percent for drawers and shelves. Then, take inventory of your stuff and make adjustments to meet your personal needs.

Use a tower unit to separate his space from hers and incorporate shelves and drawers. Use pant racks to organize 12 pairs of pants in a compact space while keeping them smooth and pressed. Use shelves for organizing folded sweaters so they keep their proper form. Raise shoes off the floor. Look for shoe cubbies that comfortably hold two shoes, not just one. Shoe cubbies are also ideal for stowing away evening bags, belts and other personal items. For more information, visit www.homeoptionsstorage.com.

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http://www.ihihomeinspections.com Roswell home inspector got this testimonial from Annette Ryan regarding her Roswell home inspection. She was happy with the fact that even though there were issues on the home, she now has a great idea of what to expect and came make an informed decision regarding the home she wants to purchase.

Now if you want a through Roswell home inspector on your side when you’re buying a home,that will provide a thorough computerized home inspection report call us today 404-788-2581 or better yet you can now schedule your home inspections completely online at http:www.ihihomeinspections.com We provide peace of mind one home inspection at a time! Call ahead we are booking ahead now, a busy home inspector is who you want as your home inspector,not cheap charlie.

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You have started your home improvement project.  As an Atlanta home inspector, I realize the value of having an energy efficient home.  I see old windows all the time that is letting all the cold air in during the winter and costing home owners major in both the winter and summer months.  I got to looking around our own home, north of Atlanta and noticed some of our windows were also older, so I decided to be amoung the smart folks and take advantage of some of the tax credits and get new windows installed where we still had the older ones. 

Also for more energy efficiency we now provide Infrared technology where we can locate missing insulation, air penetration, moisture intrusion, and we can use our thermal camera to do an infrared scan of your homes duct work to see if you have a major source of heat loss there also.  Give us a call at 404-788-2581 to find out more information about infrared technology and Southern Infrared Services.

I found the article below and thought I would share it with you.

Federal tax credits set to expire by end of year
(ARA) – Putting off that home improvement project? Waiting too long could be detrimental to your wallet.

On Dec. 31, the federal tax credit worth up to $1,500 for energy-efficient home improvements will expire, leaving procrastinating homeowners out in the cold – or at least chilly from their old, drafty windows.

In addition to tax credit savings, many window sellers are offering savings on qualifying windows during October, which happens to be National Energy Awareness month.

“The timing couldn’t be better for value shoppers to make the investment into new energy efficient windows for their homes,” says Erin Johnson, window expert for Edgetech I.G. “Special offers and tax credits will add up through December, but the long-term savings on energy bills will be long-lasting if consumers do their homework to find the right windows to meet all of their needs.”

Shopping for replacement windows

The first rule of thumb when shopping for new sustainable windows is to understand what the labels mean, and to read them carefully. Windows that bear the ENERGY STAR label are proven to reduce heating and cooling costs, and are National Fenestration Ratings Council (NFRC) approved for U-factor (the rate of heat loss through the window) and solar heat gain (how well the window blocks heat from the sun).

To meet the federal tax credit requirements, windows must achieve a .30 U-factor and .30 solar heat gain coefficient, and this information should be clearly marked on the windows. But to ensure the long-term performance of replacements, there are a number of other factors that should be considered, including condensation resistance.

“The existence of condensation on windows is a sign that a window is inefficient,” Johnson says. “This can even occur in newer, poorly constructed windows and will lead to other problems, including mold and damage to curtains, walls, carpet and the window itself. Most importantly, moisture can lead to seal failure and the need to replace the entire window system.”

Some NFRC labels include condensation resistance (CR), which is reported on a scale from one to 100, and measures the ability of a product to resist formation of condensation on the interior surface of the product. The higher the CR rating, the better that product is at resisting condensation formation. While this rating cannot predict condensation, it can provide a credible method of comparing the potential of various products for condensation formation. This rating is not required to be posted on new windows – so be sure to do your homework if it isn’t there.

The primary component to watch for to prevent condensation is the spacer – the window component that separates and seals the two panes of glass. According to the NFRC, an important step toward reducing the potential for condensation is the use of a warm edge spacer system that reduces the conductivity through the edge of the window.

“Non-metal, dual-sealed warm edge spacer systems, such as Super Spacer, are less conductive than metal spacers, which leads to less condensation in insulating glass windows,” Johnson says. “Because of its all-foam, no-metal design, Super Spacer offers the highest condensation resistance in the industry.”

According to Johnson, all-foam spacers have other benefits that will ensure the long-term energy performance of replacement windows. “Rigid, metal spacers do not bend, so over time stress from wind, snow and barometric pressure changes can cause the seal to crack. A flexible spacer will expand and contract with weather changes, keeping the seal intact and the window performing longer,” she says.

A survey conducted by the Alliance to Save Energy found that 64 percent of homes in the U.S. have single-pane windows, which contribute up to 35 percent of energy wasted in buildings. In cold climates, energy-efficient, dual-pane windows with low-e coatings can reduce heating bills by as much as 34 percent. In warm climates, they can cut cooling costs by 38 percent.

For more energy-efficient window buying tips and tax credit information, visit www.sustainaview.com.

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