While out surfing the web I found the following article that I thought would be of useful information to my Atlanta home inspection customers.  I am all the time looking for interesting articles for home maintenance tips.  This one is worth some money.  Enjoy.

Get more for your money when purchasing replacement windows

(ARA) – Energy efficiency has gained national importance and window replacement is recognized as one pathway to aid in energy independence and the reduction of harmful global emissions.

Choosing replacement windows with energy-saving benefits is simple and the federal government also made it less expensive for homeowners with the signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The bill includes the opportunity for homeowners to claim a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost of eligible energy-efficient products to a maximum of $1,500 per household for 2009 and 2010 combined when used for remodeling and replacement. According to the IRS, a tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your tax liability and can be deducted directly from your taxes owed.

While energy efficient replacement windows are included in this tax credit, not all replacement windows will qualify. Paul Delahunt, president of Renewal by Andersen, says, given the new tax credit, now is the best time to replace your leaky, worn-out windows. But he also cautions homeowners to do their homework to make sure the windows they purchase will qualify.

To qualify, windows must provide high levels of energy efficiency in two categories: reduced heat loss and reduced heat gain. The measurement for heat loss is called U-Factor and the measurement for heat gain is called Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or SHGC. To meet the performance requirements, the window or door must have both a U-Factor and SHGC rating equal to or less than 0.30 in all climate zones in the U.S.

When comparing windows for energy performance — and the 2009/2010 tax credit — be sure to check the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label that is displayed on the product. This label displays the U-Factor and SHGC ratings for the window or patio door. If the product does not have this label, then the unit does not have a certified NFRC value.

Qualifying replacement windows must be purchased and installed in a primary residence between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. While quality installation is a critical component of any successful window replacement project, installation costs are not included in the 2009/2010 tax credit. Your sales receipt should break out qualifying product costs separately.

In addition to your sales receipt, you will also need to save the NFRC label from each window or the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement with your tax documents.

Renewal by Andersen makes it easy for homeowners to take advantage of the new federal tax credit with its extensive selection of windows and patio doors with glass packages that meet or exceed the performance criteria to be eligible for the credit.

In fact, Delahunt says, virtually all Renewal by Andersen windows with High-Performance Low-E4 SmartSun glass are eligible for the tax credit. These same windows with SmartSun glass are up to 47 percent more energy efficient in winter and up to 70 percent more energy efficient in summer compared to ordinary dual pane glass — making a big impact on reducing your energy bills.

Homeowners interested in learning more about Renewal by Andersen products that may qualify can visit www.renewalbyandersen.com or call (800) 630-5838.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock, Atlanta and all of North Georgia. 

We are proud to offer our new FREE Home Concierge Services where one call does it all, Satellite, Internet, Cable TV, Home Security, and Phone.  Call 1-866-594-4871 and provide them with access code 1008126.  Call our Free Home Concierge Services to save time, save money and simplify life!
You can also schedule your own home inspection today online.

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time. 

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Atlanta home inspector, David Lelak provides Atlanta home inspections and he often runs across some things that are quite humorous. During this Atlanta home inspection David runs across Bubba the plumber and his use of duck tape, you know the old saying if it can’t be fixed with duck tape it can’t be fixed. Well so often it can’t be fixed. lol This home inspection item will definately be written up on the home inspection report for the potential home buyers. 
So heres the video and if you want a thourough and quality home inspection give us a call at 404-788-2581.  There is a lot of people out there every day that don’t realize that they need a home inspection done on even the old homes let alone on the new ones.  Don’t let this be you. 

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So many times we miss opportunities to say Thank You and if you’re not careful that will cause hard feelings.  Did you know that most business owners loss their clients because of the client feeling like it just doesn’t matter or you just don’t care.  A simple thank you card can change all of that.  It’s lets the customer know immediately that you truly do care and appreciate their business.  Who do you need to say Thank you to today?

You can send a FREE Thank You card on me today

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As a home inspector I love sharing tips and information with home owners and I ran across an article that listed several of the top home improvements that could be done for less than five hundred dollars.  When you’re trying to sell your home one of the best things to check is your curb appeal. 

1. Wall paper just one wall in a room – this alone can change the appearance of a room dramatically and yet still be affordable. 

2. Kitchen roll outs – take out the out dated shelves and add kitchen roll outs.  This is one of the most satisfying upgrades you can do.  It brings everything that was tucked away into sight.  (Don’t tell my wife, I can just see this being added to my honey do list!)  They say this only takes 15 minutes per rollout, Let me know your opinion.

3. Track lighting – this is another addition to our home that my wife wants to add.  Track lighting lets you put the lighting exactly where you want it.  My wife has an island that she wants to add this to.  (I see my list growing.)

4. Closet organized – The name of this one says it all.  Wire shelving is inexpensive and easy to install.  Organization is the key to happiness. 

5. Add curb appeal – transform your front entrance with small accents and minor changes. 

There you go 5 top home improvements that you can do without a lot of hassle and it won’t take a fortune to do it.  Now that I’ve given you this list I had better go get started on my own.  For your pre listing inspections be sure to give your Atlanta Home inspector a call today at 404-788-2581. 

Now if you’re like my wife, if I did all five of these to get it ready for sell, we may be rethinking the idea.

David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock,

Atlanta and all of North Georgia.  Call David today at 404-788-2581 to get your dream home

inspected.

We are proud to offer our new FREE Home Concierge Services where one call does it all,

Satellite, Internet, Cable TV, Home Security, and Phone.  Call 1-866-594-4871 and provide

them with access code 1008126.  Call our Free Home Concierge Services to save time, save

money and simplify life!

You can also schedule your own home inspection today online.

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time. 

Also download our free report “How To Avoid The Blind Home Inspector” and a sample of our

inspection report.

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Most people only hire home inspectors to inspect resale properties; however, many new homes have hidden trouble spots and should be inspected also. That’s why it’s important to know about hidden problems before those problems cost you money, perhaps thousands of dollars.

Don’t take for granted that a city inspector will examine your home. According to Dan Stewart, “Municipal inspectors don’t look at every home, particularly in some larger community developments. At best, they do a representative sampling of the houses being constructed.”

Here are five of the common defects a professional home inspector you hire might find:

1. An improperly installed roof, this is one area where you want quality workmanship.  I have been amazed at how many homes have roof issues.  I always recommend that folks get a thorough roof inspection done by someone who is going to walk the entire roof.

2. Framing that interfers with the installation of pipes. I have seen many instances where the framing may be put in, in such a way that a plumber has difficulty installing pipes, causing the plumber to cut the framing to accommodate plumbing. This leaves the house in a weakened condition.

3. The property hasn’t been graded properly. The grading job around the property may be inadequately completed and the water may be draining towards the interior of the home.

4. Inadequate roof flashing. Flashing details on a roof are often poorly done. A pipe might be coming out of it, or the flashing may change directions at the valley of the roof.

5. Work that hasn’t been done right. Lack of attention to detail is often the cause of this. Ductwork may be loose; joints may not match; doors or cabinets may not open easily; floors could be crooked. The overall integrity of the home is compromised when the workmanship is poor.

Just because a home is new does not mean it doesn’t need inspecting. You would be amazed at what home inspectors find on new homes as well as old homes.  A friend of mine, Michael Thorton does home inspections in the Tennessee area and he is all the time finding humorous photos where Bubba did the job and when you really think about it, these are funny pictures until it turns out to be your dream home turned nightmare.  

If you’re in the process of buying a new home or you are coming up on your 11 month builders warranty inspection time, I have one piece of advice “Get it Inspected.”  Call David today at 404-788-2581.

David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock,

Atlanta and all of North Georgia.  Call David today at 404-788-2581 to get your dream home

inspected.

We are proud to offer our new FREE Home Concierge Services where one call does it all,

Satellite, Internet, Cable TV, Home Security, and Phone.  Call 1-866-594-4871 and provide

them with access code 1008126.  Call our Free Home Concierge Services to save time, save

money and simplify life!

  David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock,

You can also schedule your own home inspection today online.

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time. 

Also download our free report “How To Avoid The Blind Home Inspector” and a sample of our

inspection report.

Atlanta and all of North Georgia.

We are proud to offer our new FREE Home Concierge Services where one call does it all,

Satellite, Internet, Cable TV, Home Security, and Phone. Call 1-866-594-4871 and provide

them with access code 1008126. Call our Free Home Concierge Services to save time, save

money and simplify life!

You can also schedule your own home inspection today online.

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time.

Also download our free report “How To Avoid The Blind Home Inspector” and a sample of our

inspection report.

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As the Atlanta Home Inspector I am constantly looking for home owner tips to help out new and old home owners alike.  I ran across this one from a guy by the name of Kent Keith from Fort Worth Texas. It was called cheap wall paper remover and is definately one of those things that I have never heard of. You use old fashioned windshield washer fluid, check out the rest of his Kent Keith’s blog for more information.

David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock, Atlanta and all of North Georgia. Call him today at 404-788-2581 to get your dream home inspected.

We are proud to offer our new FREE Home Concierge Services where one call does it all, Satellite, Internet, Cable TV, Home Security, and Phone. Call 1-866-594-4871 and provide them with access code 1008126. Call our Free Home Concierge Services to save time, save money and simplify life!

You can also schedule your own home inspection today online.

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time.

Also download our free report “How To Avoid The Blind Home Inspector” and a sample of our inspection report.

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When you make a written offer on a home, you should insist that the contract state that the offer is contingent on a home inspection conducted by a qualified inspector. You will have to pay for the inspection yourself, but it could keep you from buying a house that will cost you far more in repairs down the road. If you are satisfied with the results of the inspection, then your offer can proceed.

As a home seller I would prefer to go ahead and get the pre listing inspection done a few months a head and then pick and chose those things that I want to repair.  Then I would get an estimate on the other items and adjust my house price accordingly.    Now a lot of folks don’t want to think this way, but the truth of the matter is most buyers are going to have a home nspection done and the details will come out either way, against you or for you.  Which would you rather, a pre listing inspection done before there is a deal on the table or after the deal is there at which point it could scare the buyer off, depending on who your home inspector is.  As a home inspector, I try to convey my findings in a neutral manner, but there are some out there who pride themselves on being an alarmist – deal killer. 

David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock, Atlanta and all of North Georgia. 

We are proud to offer our new FREE Home Concierge Services where one call does it all, Satellite, Internet, Cable TV, Home Security, and Phone.  Call 1-866-594-4871 and provide them with access code 1008126.  Call our Free Home Concierge Services to save time, save money and simplify life!

You can also schedule your own home inspection today online.

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time. 

Also download our free report “How To Avoid The Blind Home Inspector” and a sample of our inspection report.

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As the Atlanta home inspector we have the priviledge of finding all kinds of things inside homes we inspect.  Here is a picture that I found in a home while doing a home inspection for Peggy Smith – an Alparetta, Cumming and North Metro Realtor. 

I looked at this and it took a minute to figure out what it was since I was looking at it from the backside. 

Can someone else tell me what it is besides just an airplane inside?

I was thankful to have the priveledge of working with Peggy Smith and if anyone needs a great Realtor in the Northern area be sure to give her a call at 770-887-5135.

David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock, Atlanta and all of North Georgia. 

We are proud to offer our new FREE Home Concierge Services where one call does it all, Satellite, Internet, Cable TV, Home Security, and Phone.  Call 1-866-594-4871 and provide them with access code 1008126.  Call our Free Home Concierge Services to save time, save money and simplify life!
You can also schedule your own home inspection today online.

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time. 

Also download our free report “How To Avoid The Blind Home Inspector” and a sample of our inspection report.

Tweet This Post

As an Atlanta home inspector I am noticing a high trend of town homes going up every where.
People are wanting the easy of living without a lot of maintenance and yet they don’t want to be in an apartment. They want to own property without owing the hassles of the up keep. I ran across the following article and thought it was pretty interesting.

What’s Hot in Town Homes

The key to reaching this growing target market, say the Walthalls, is making people feel pampered within a budget. They put their theory to the test by developing a 64-building community of four-unit town homes near Kansas City. The two- and three-bedroom units have been selling briskly, particularly among people with active lifestyles – young professionals, empty-nesters, couples without children and others looking for the flexibility and maintenance-free living afforded by a town home.

Buyers looking for affordable luxury are responding to the upscale touches at Tuscany Hills. Details such as:

* Exterior finishes that marry stone accents and maintenance-free vinyl siding that mimics the look of hand-stained wood, like warm, rich Timber Oak Ascent vinyl siding.

* Storm doors and dusk-to-dawn lighting outside homes.

* Interior details such as crown molding, bronze lighting fixtures, Hunter Douglas blinds, fireplaces and, in some cases, custom cabinets and flat-screen TVs.

* Fiber-optic networks that allow users to connect quickly to the outside world, making it easier than ever for retirees, career-changers, entrepreneurs and others to work from home.

David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock, Atlanta and all of North Georgia. We are proud to offer our new FREE Home Concierge Services where one call does it all, Satellite, Internet, Cable TV, Home Security, and Phone. Call 1-866-594-4871 and provide them with access code 1008126

You can also schedule your own home inspection today online.

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time.

Also download our free report “How To Avoid The Blind Home Inspector” and a sample of our inspection report.

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I was just wondering around and ran across this great article by Kristi Ghent on Active Rain. Her article states that there are new requirements for the FHA Home Inspection and that you need to have these in place for your home inspection wheather you are buying or selling your home.

David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock, Atlanta and all of North Georgia.

You can also schedule your own home inspection today!

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time.

Also download our free report “How To Avoid The Blind Home Inspector” and a sample of our inspection report.

Tweet This Post