More and more people nowadays are being affected by pollutants in the air.  These can cause many different allergies and respiratory ailments.  It's important then, to analyze how good the air quality is in our home, especially as it's the place we spend most of our time.

The bad news is that every room of our home has potentially harmful pollutants in it and in general, outdoor air is better quality than indoor air.  The good news is that something can usually be done about it.

Here are a few potential air quality hazards to look out for:

• Heaters, gas stoves, furnaces etc. that are not properly ventilated
• Damp and humid areas where mold and mildew can grow
• Pet dander, dust mites, and insects such as cockroaches
• Household cleaning products
• Solvents used to treat furnishings such as curtains and couches
• Asbestos and lead paints if the house is older
• Dust and pollen

This is a brief overview of the potential hazards to air quality in the home, but as we can see, most of us have at least a few of these in our home.

In the next blog, we will look at what can be done to treat these issues, as well as ways to prevent them.

Please contact us with any questions you may have about the air quality in your home

In recent years Bed Bugs, have become an epidemic. Their hard to see, love to travel and not so easy to eliminate, so what do we know about these pesky invaders, and what can we do about them?

Although bed bugs are found in mattresses, they are by no means limited to beds, in fact they can hide in an alarming number of places. Anywhere from furniture, curtains and clothing to picture frames and books

What do they look like?
Bed bugs are rather small, especially when first hatched. An adult bed bug is flat, oval and has a orangey, rust colored body.

See the signs
Bed bugs are rather shy in nature, so it is usually easier to look out for the signs of their presence. These include blood spots, and stains from fecal matter, also some crushed bug remnants, they are also known to emit a musty smell (it should be noted though that this is not always present)
These little parasites enjoy biting us as well which can leave itchy bumps on our skin.

​How to treat the problem
It is not advised for homeowners to try to treat the problem themselves, as if not careful they can make the problem worse. PMPs or Pest Management Professionals are best for treating the problem as they can look for the bugs at the beginning stages of their development.
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Trained dogs are also successfully being used in the detection of bed bugs as they can detect an odor that is emitted by the bugs.


Please contact us for more information on how to detect the presence of bed bugs in your home

Mold is a most undesirable thing to deal with in a home. It can cause upper respiratory problems, as well as other health conditions such as skin problems, so naturally, we want to do our best to prevent its growth.
One area where mold can grow is in the carpet. Here are some things to think about

If mold is not visible on my carpet, could it still have it?
Yes, in fact, mold only appears on the surface of the carpet in more extreme cases


Where should I check for mold?
Check the underside of the carpet, also carpet padding is at high risk for mold growth so make sure to check that too


What can cause mold to grow in my carpet?
Mold loves a damp and dusty environment so if the carpet has been subject to a lot of moisture, especially a flood, it's at high risk for mold to grow. Watch out for carpet in the basement, or bathroom as this can also be a damp and humid environment.


Is mold easy to remove from my carpet?
If the carpet has been subject to a flood and has been wet for 24hrs or more, you will likely need to replace it. It will most likely need replacing also if the mold is covering a large area of the carpet. If discovered quickly though and if its only a small area, the carpet can be cleaned,


It is always wise though to seek advice on the best way to treat a mold issue. Please call us, and we will be happy to advise you.

So many things in our home nowadays are electric, from kitchen appliances to IPads and phones, everything requires an electrical outlet. In many older homes, there are simply not enough outlets, so a power strip seems the obvious choice to keep up with the demand, but how can we make sure that we are using them safely? Consider the following:
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• Never interconnect power strips, even if the power strip has a surge protector. These can become overloaded and cause a fire hazard. It is also a violation of OSHA and NEC regulations.
• You may think that old power strip you've had for years with its exposed wires and scorch marks is still in workable condition, but it is not safe and should not be used.
• Stop use immediately if power strip becomes hot to the touch
• When plugging in your device, make sure that none of the metal prong parts are exposed as this presents a danger also
• Power strips are not intended to be a permanent solution, but only for use temporarily.

As you can see, power strips can be very useful, but only if used correctly.


Please give us a call with any questions you may have about electrical outlet safety in your home

Buying a house that has been foreclosed on can be very appealing, as the price could be much lower than market value.  However, there are many pitfalls that one can fall into if not careful or experienced in the foreclosure home market.  

An ideal way to purchase a home that is about to be foreclosed upon is a pre-sale.  This is when someone is able to buy the house by communication with the current owner before the foreclosure process begins or is finished.  But this is easier said than done and often separates someone who has done their homework between someone who hasn't.  

There are some places to look for a potential pre-sale home. One way is to ask your local county offices how to search for new notices of default.  You could also look in the local newspaper in the "legal notices" for upcoming houses in the local auction.  Check for the name of the owner, the address of the house, and try to get in contact with the owner to see if you can strike a deal before the auction.

​These are just some tips on how to find a potential deal in a home about to be foreclosed upon, which will get you started in the adventure of finding a deal on a new home for living or for an investment.

For many years, asbestos was a common material to be used within the building industry and so it can still be found in old buildings to this day - and is very often found during a home inspection.

However, research and many studies now tell us the dangers that can come with this. By breathing in asbestos fibers, one would be at risk of lung cancer; the form of cancer in question, mesothelioma, affects the abdominal cavity as well as the lining of the chest. In addition to this, asbestosis is another problem which scars the lungs with fibrous tissue.


Depending on the amount of fibers inhaled, this will decide the risk of developing said cancers but the problem is made even worse for people who smoke. Typically, those who develop asbestosis are those who have spent many years around asbestos in factories and maybe even shipyards. Because symptoms can take up to 30 years to show, there is no way to tell that the problem has occurred until very late.


For people who are only exposed a small amount, the risk is very small. With that being said, an inhalation of any fibers coming from disturbed asbestos can lead to health issues. When the fibers are inhaled, they tend to sit on the lungs where they remain. When untouched, asbestos is not as dangerous as it is when cut, pulled apart, or sanded down into a powder. ​

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