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How To Protect Your Home From Summer Flooding

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The summer rains are on their way. And if you remember last year, then you know it would be a good idea to get ahead of the preparations to prevent summer flooding. If you protect your home now, then you will have nothing to worry about all through summer and hurricane season.

Clean out your gutters while the sun is out

You don’t want to find out your gutters are clogged when your driveway starts flooding. Get up on that ladder and clean out those gutters to make a clear path for the rain waters.

Check your ground gutters and drains as well

Many homes in Florida also have ground gutters. These can be close to the home or close to the road. Many times the ground gutters get overlooked but they can easily get clogged with debris, leaves, and other things.

Landscaping can help soil erosion

It’s planting season and if there were ever a time to address your landscape it’s now. Planting certain plants and vegetation can minimize soil erosion.

The best way to be sure you don’t have any leaks or potential roof damage is to get a property inspection. Many people think they only need to hire a property inspector if they are selling or buying a home. The truth is, many homeowners can benefit from having their home inspected every three to five years. A qualified home inspector is trained to look for and discover issues that even you as the home buyer may not notice.

We also offer pre-listing inspections. Scheduling a pre-listing inspection gives you a leg up from waiting on a buyer to have the home inspected. If you are made aware of any major issues you can address them before listing the home for sale. Even if you do get an inspection done, you are under no obligation to share that inspection report with anyone. Schedule your home inspection now with us.

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Prepare For Flood Disasters & Emergencies

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Flood disasters and emergencies happen specifically during our rainy season here in Tampa Bay. As most natives already know, there are some areas in Tampa that are especially prone to flooding. Are you prepared to handle a flood disaster or emergency? We hope this article can help.

Keep emergency information on hand

The last thing you want to be doing during an emergency is looking for emergency information. Do you know your evacuation route? Do you live on an evacuation route? Here is a good resource to find the emergency contact information you need for your area: http://www.floridadisaster.org/index.asp.

Keep important documents in an easy to reach place

Keeping important documents together and easy to find can make all the difference in an emergency situation. If you have to go looking for your passport or birth certificate, you could really effect your response time. Many emergent sources recommend keeping copies of important documents in your home and the originals in a safe place outside your home.

Review your flood insurance policies

Understanding your flood insurance policy is very important. Ask your representative a lot of questions until you feel confident you understand your policy and make sure you have the proper level of protection.

Understand the difference between a flood watch and a flood warning

A flood watch means there is potential for flooding. A flood warning means flooding has already occurred or will occur soon. Knowing the difference can help you prepare for efficiently.

In conclusion, if there is an emergency situation, you won’t have a lot of time. If you are prepared, it won’t matter. During our home inspection, we are able to tell you if there has been any flood damage to the home or if you are potentially in an area that floods often. We also recommend driving by the home during a rainy day to see for yourself if there is any flooding in the neighborhood or in the house.

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The Holiday Cleaning Checklist

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If you are the one hosting a holiday party, then you might already be thinking about your holiday cleaning checklist. Keeping a home organized, much less clean, during the Christmas season can be very challenging. Especially if you have young ones running around and contributing to the mess. Some may even attempt to de-clutter their home before the end of the year to start off on the right foot. Either way, this checklist should get you moving in the right direction. This holiday cleaning checklist can help you get and stay organized, create a sparkling clean home in time for gatherings, or de-clutter your house before the year is up.

One Up and Two Down

Some holiday gifts can replace something you already own. Unfortunately, many times we forget to get rid of the item replaced. You end up with two coffee makers or five sets of pajamas. This year, when you get one item try getting rid of two. This will not only make sure you replace an item, it also helps you to de-clutter. If your child received new socks, find the old or outgrown ones and throw them out.

Not Everything has to go Up

Even an attic full of decorations doesn’t mean the house has to be full of decorations too. This year, especially if you are showing your home for sale, keep the decorations to a minimum. Keep some decorations put away and just use the minimal on both the inside and the outside.

Oosoujii

Oosoujii is a Japanese holiday dedicated to de-cluttering and cleaning the home. The last week of the year is spent focusing on the home. In Oosoujii, each year is seen as separate and distinct, the final week of the old year is devoted to cleaning, decluttering and organizing.

We hope these little tips get you moving in the right direction. There are many tasks you can add to your holiday cleaning checklist and these are only a few to get you started. We do home inspections all throughout the holiday season and you can make an appointment with us directly on our website.

Sources:

8 Ways to Keep Your Home Clean Through the Holidays

http://organizedhome.com/seasonal-spin/cut-clutter-after-christmas

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How to Show your home during the Holiday Season

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If you are showing your home during the holiday season it can be a little tricky. Between holiday decorations, parties, and deterring home theft, the holidays can make it all that much harder. Have no fear, we are here to help! Follow some of these tips to show your home during the holiday season and also have peace of mind.

Keep decorations to a minimum

If you love to saturate your home in decorations during the holidays, you will want to hold off on it. A lot of decorations can be overwhelming and distracting for any person interested in viewing your home. Decorating also means leaving out some of your potentially valuable stuff for grabs. Avoid all of this by decorating very little. You can even wait until a week before Christmas to stop showing the home, decorate, and enjoy the season. You still have control and what you do should be what works best for you.

Curb Appeal vs. Curb Safety

You may never have thought about it, but decorations can also be a hazard. This wire lines, extension chords, and decorations across your walk-way can actually be a tripping hazard. The last thing you want is someone who is viewing your home to trip over things as they walk in.

Selling during the Holiday Season

Many sites claim selling your home through the holiday is great timing! But this also means you need to have excellent pictures and videos of your home. As home-buyers start their process doing online searches, you will want your home’s pictures to stand out! Don’t skimp on this area. Make sure your home is immaculate before taking any pictures.

Comfy and Cozy

Have you ever stepped into a home that just feels cozy? The house makes you want to wrap up in a blanket and sit in front of the fireplace? This is the feeling you want to evoke, especially during the winter and holiday season. Light the fireplace, light some candles, bake some cookies, and decorate a Christmas tree. Create that comfy cozy feeling people will enjoy!

We hope this little tips help as you work your way through the holiday season. Don’t forget Divinity Inspections is still working too so give us a call when you are ready to schedule your pre-listing home inspection or your pre-purchasing home inspection!

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What happens if your Home Inspector misses something?

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Finally you are in the last stage of purchasing your home and you are jumping through the last hoop: a home inspection. Many home-buyers find the home inspection process very stressful. The idea of finding something wrong with your new home that could potentially hinder the buying process is not fun. Even worse, what happens if your home inspector misses something?

Start with the right home inspector

Getting through the process calmly has a lot to do with trusting your home inspector. Remember he’s on your side! Not only is Divinity home inspectors going to find and explain any issues in detail, we’re going to do everything we can to offer you advice or guidance in how to fix your home issues. Either way, make sure you choose a home inspector that has a lot of good recommendations and a good reputation.

Attend your home inspection

Attending your home inspection is really important. Not only might it calm your nerves, but attending will also allow your inspector to point out anything they come across that is concerning. If you notice an inspector hesitate at the idea of your presence during the inspection, that is a big red flag! Any inspector should be very comfortable with the home buyer or home owner present during their inspection. Remember, it’s your job to make the most our of your home inspection.

What if your home inspector misses something?

Most home inspectors are not going to miss any major issues with your home, however it could happen. Sellers are required to disclose any major issues with the home before they sell it. If they don’t, proving they did would be more costly than it’s worth. You can bring the issue up to the home inspector. As long as you used one with decent liability insurance that covers more than just the cost of the inspection, odds are decent you’ll be compensated for any damages. Again, you’ll have to prove it. For example, if the inspector said the roof was in good condition, but there was a leak months later during a big storm, you would have to prove that nothing happened in the intervening time that damaged the roof.

Divinity Inspection service not only are fully licensed, but our inspectors are trained not to miss anything. We encourage you to attend your home inspection and we take the time to walk you through everything we do. You can schedule your inspection right here on our site!