News and Events

Whether you’re looking to start a home renovation or solve a last-minute do-it-yourself crisis, it’s best to be prepared for both the inevitable and the unavoidable. Being organized and ready will save you money in the long run and will also relieve anxiety attributed to a big change or unforeseen accident.

Follow these three tips to ensure that the
next time you need to do some handywork or
repairs, you’re fully prepared for a stress-free
project from start to finish.

If you’re looking for tools that will last from now until the end of time, consider buying Craftsman — a brand of tools with a long-standing reputation for high-quality products that will get any job done. Now available in-store and online at Lowe’s, Rona, Reno-Depot and Ace, this brand has you covered for everything you need, from hand tools to power tools.

Sure, you can do a DIY project on the whim, but for larger-scale projects, be sure you have a plan, so you have a better sense of what needs to be done and you can avoid unwanted surprises. If you don’t have a blueprint of what you’re looking to renovate, you may end up living in a disaster zone for a lot longer than you need to.

You might think to paint your room yellow because you’re currently feeling tropical, but come a few years – or even months – that may not seem like such a good choice. Consider a universal design and use adaptable features wherever possible. That way, in the future, any change you make to your home doesn’t have to be drastic, which will help you save time and money.

Thanks to all the brokers who came to visit our booth!

We look forward to working with you for all of your
inspection needs.

The presence of excrement or dead birds will attract vermin into your attic.

When present, these items must be removed. If you decide to undertake this work yourself, precautions are necessary because it is possible to contract illnesses from handling them.

During this melting season, it is normal for the water to flow into your sump pit.

A sump pump is a system that allows you to dry the basement as well as the foundations of a house. This is set up to evacuate water collected from the groundwater and/or the French drain. Rainwater is collected in a basin and transported in a dry well, on the ground or in the municipal system by the sump pump.

Torrential rains often cause power outages. It is therefore essential to set up an emergency pump powered by water from the municipal aqueduct or by a battery.

If your sump pit is dry during melting or heavy rain, this may indicate, in some cases, that your French drain is not working properly. If we add signs of humidity in the basement to this situation, it would be prudent and important to have your French drain checked by a specialist.

Finally, it is also necessary to regularly verify and clean your sump pit to ensure there is no debris.

It is recommended to check your attic space (attic) regularly. Surprises may await you!

You don’t want unwanted visitors taking up residence. Not only do raccoons ransack your attic (destroying the insulation, leaving urine and feces behind), they can also pose a potential danger to the health of the occupants.

Raccoons are carriers of infectious diseases that can spread to humans through the handling of animals, bites or scratches from the wild creature, and even contact with body secretions or feces.

To better prevent infestations, make the attic resistant to raccoons by ensuring that the roofs are not damaged. It is necessary to check the possible access points (chimneys, soffits/fascia, etc.), and to block them.

Avoid making your dream a nightmare!
Before buying your house, have it inspected!

The #1 Extension Cord Mistake You Should Never Make

Extension cords are handy to have around when you have something that can’t reach the wall socket. However, you should be wary of plugging in too many things at once.

Power strips may have a lot of extra sockets, but that doesn’t mean it can actually handle everything you throw at it. There’s a limit to how much juice they can take!

When it gets cold outside, the first thing most people do is turn up the heat. If you don’t have a fireplace or central heating, the next best thing is a space heater. It’s compact, portable, and warms up a small room in a minimal amount of time. Another thing that it heats up is the extension cord. Even if a space heater is the only thing plugged into the power strip, they can overheat or even catch fire due to the added energy flow.

According to the National Safety Fire Administration, half of all heating home fires occur during December, January, and February. From 2009 to 2013, heating equipment accounted for 56,000 home fires. Don’t become one of those statistics!

If you’re thinking of getting a space heater this winter, make sure it’s been third-party tested by an independent lab, like UL. Don’t forget to make sure your smoke detector is working, and regularly check your space heater’s cords to make sure it’s not frayed or damaged. This way, you’ll keep both toasty warm and safe this winter.

source: http://faithtap.com/9180/1-extension-cord-mistake-you-should-never-make-this-winter/

With the arrival of autumn, warm days are rarer and it is time to start preparing your home for the winter.Here are some good tips for you to organize well before the snow settles.

• Remove screens. When left on the inside, they promote surface condensation and can create mold, while those left on the outside, can stain the windows. Moreover, the removal of the screens gives you a better brightness during the shorter, darker days of winter.
• Ensure that opening and projection sealants are in good condition (doors, windows, fireplace, fixtures, electrical outlets, etc.) to prevent damage from water infiltration.
• Check the condition of the air vent of the kitchen range hood and the bathroom fans. This will reduce the risk of harboring rodents over the winter season and will help to keep your heating bill in check by not letting the cold air enter the house!
• Close and drain the outside water valve to prevent freezing water from bursting the pipe. It is not enough to simply close the faucet; you need to shut off the interior water valve, then drain the outside valve to release any water trapped in the line.
• Pick up leaves, branches and debris and avoid piling firewood too close to the house. You will reduce the risk of carpenter ants entering the home, or rodents nesting in the debris.
• Make sure the drainage of your eavestroughs is unrestricted. Clear any debris and leaves. Ensure that the downspouts drain away from the foundation of your home and that the joints are in good condition.