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How energy efficient is your home? Now you have a place to find out. Type in in your home address at:

http://www.microsoft-hohm.com/ and find out your homes energy score.

It is a good idea to fine tune your sytems and do any repairs and weather-proofing before summer begins.

HGTV is looking for Austin area home buyers to appear on its weekly series, “My First Place.” Entering its 9th season, the reality program follows first-time home buyers as they go through the trials and tribulations of looking for, bidding on and ultimately buying their first place.

HGTV seeks home buyers who are:

*Just beginning the search for their very first home purchase

*Fun, interesting people who are excited to be a part of this show

*Willing to share their personal and financial struggles with viewers and consider their lives an “open book”

*Going to be closing by Fall, 2010

*Will be buying within a 60- to 90-minute radius of downtown Austin

Candidates who are selected to appear on the show (and complete taping) will receive a surprise housewarming gift as part of shooting the show and will also get a DVD copy of their episode after it airs on HGTV! Singles, couples and families buying their first place are all encouraged to apply.

Homebuyers who would like to be considered for the program should fill out an application at by clicking here, then clicking on the “casting” tab, then “My First Place.” You can also apply by contacting Megan Golliday at (303) 712-3283, or by email at mgolliday@highnoontv.com.

New episodes of “My First Place” air on HGTV at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday nights.

If you are chosen and recommend using us as your inspection company, we will perform your inspection for free.

The Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the busy summer season, family vacations, barbecues and the start of an increase in the real estate market.

But most importantly, on Memorial Day we honor the heroes who have laid down their lives in the cause of freedom, resolve that they will forever be remembered by a grateful Nation, and pray that our country may always prove worthy of the sacrifices they have made.

Join us in observing the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Memorial Day 2010: To those who gave all in service to our country, we thank you. We honor you. We remember you.

So you just bought a carbon monoxide detector to put in your home. The most common response would be to plug it into the electrical socket near the ground. Stop right there though. You just made a crucial mistake that many other people make when choosing the location to mount their carbon monoxide detector.

It is known that some companies recommend mounting their units near the floor, but in general it is a potential risk due to the chemical properties of carbon monoxide. The key point that we want to focus on is the specific gravity of CO which is 0.966. Compared to the air we breathe (1.0), carbon monoxide is slightly lighter which means it will rise. Having a carbon monoxide detector mounted near the ground means there is the possibility that it may not detect CO when it is present in your home. Consequently, you will want to mount carbon monoxide detectors on the ceiling the same way you would mount a smoke alarm.

Additionally, here are some other guidelines you should follow when choosing a mounting location. You will want to keep CO detectors out of bathrooms or any other humid areas. You will also want to place them at least 15 feet away from heating or cooking appliances. Placing a CO dectector near a furnace may also set off false alarms since these devices are known to emit a small amount of carbon monoxide upon start-up.

This except from: “The Answer Man”.Belleville News-Democrat. 12 Feb 2007, Final Ed.: C8

The National Fire Protection Association recommends a NFPA 211, Level II inspection

of any fireplace when a home is purchased. Such an inspection, performed by a

certified or otherwise qualified chimney sweep, may reveal problems not apparent to

this inspector and is strongly recommended. A list of qualified Chimney sweeps is

available online at www.csia.org.

Here are a few tips to help you, or your listing clients prepare for a home inspection.

The majority of home inspection preparation rests on the property seller. This is by no means a must, but it may help the smoothness of the home inspection. The more time it takes home inspector to figure out tricks, obstructions, etc. the longer we’ll be at the house.

– Make repairs ahead of time. Even minor blunders can present your home in a less favorable light. Fix the little things like handles, knobs and faucets. Repair major defects (like roofs), or be straightforward about them and adjust the asking price accordingly.

– Thoroughly clean the house. It may seem obvious, but cleaning is often overlooked before an inspection. Inspectors are always looking beyond the mess to the real issues within the home. But an unkempt house gives the impression of uncaring owners and neglected regular maintenance. Additionally, new buyers are likely to accompany the inspector and will feel the same way.

– Have the home ready on time. A home inspection can take several hours, depending on condition. With busy schedules to keep and reports to prepare, home inspectors try their hardest to be on time. Often, inspectors are early. A good rule of thumb is to be ready an hour before the appointment time.

– Leave keys. Leave keys to all locked utility boxes and doors. Inaccessible systems are cause for incomplete inspections and delays. Arrange a place for the inspector to find the keys, or provide them ahead of time. Very common in bank owned properties are the garage door padlocked, check to see prior if you can retrieve the padlock keys.

– Keep utilities connected. If the property is unoccupied, be sure all utilities–electricity, gas, and water are connected and filled enough for appliances to run. The home inspector will need to test heating and cooling systems, plumbing, appliances, faucets, electrical systems and more. Without utilities, required testing cannot be done. The result is an incomplete inspection. Incomplete inspections will delay the release of the home inspection contingency clause, which, in turn, will delay closing. Check with the applicable utility company and make sure the water is turned on in the street prior to having a de-winterization contractor show up to turn the water on in the home.

– Keep pilot lights lit. For liability reasons, home inspectors will not light pilot lights on stoves, furnaces and water heaters. When pilot lights are not lit, inspections are rendered incomplete. Delays ensue.

– Clear workspace around systems. Home inspectors need adequate room to access appliances, electrical panels and heating and cooling units. Remove boxes, stored items and debris from these areas; at least three feet of workspace is recommended. Also, leave applicable remote controls available for testing. I run into this all the time and it causes delays.

– Provide access to additional spaces. Attics, garages, sheds, basements and crawlspaces need to be accessible to the home inspector. Clear away any blockages and make sure doors can be opened (unlock if necessary). This includes accessing inspection hatches for bathtubs, water meters and shutoff valves.

– Remove appliance contents. Dishwashers are subject to the home inspection and will be run. Even if an appliance is not included in the sale, inspectors will run your machine to ensure that the plumbing, venting and electrical supplies are in working order. Also, replace any burnt out lightbulbs throughout the house.  Make sure all refrigerators and freezers in your garage are not plugged into a GFCI outlet.

– Clear exterior clutter and debris. Foundations, outside electrical outlets and faucets are a few of the items inspectors will want to see outside. Remove trash cans, trim branches and brush, dispose of dead limbs and clear an accessible path around the home, especially in winter. Again, the inspection will be easier, but the appearance of your house will improve as well. This just adds to the disclaimers in your inspection report.

– Collect receipts for repairs for your new buyer. Leave receipts and repair invoices for anything you have had fixed in the home. This shows proof of upkeep and answers to many questions a buyer may have.

– Remove pets. If possible, take your pets with you or have them boarded elsewhere for the day. At the very least, secure animals in crates, kennels or leads far away from any area where the inspector will be. Avoid an incomplete inspection, pet loss or liability resulting from nervous pets.

And last but not least, please don’t go behind us turning off water and lights. These are turned on for a reason and will be turned back off when the inspection process is complete.

Spring is here so let’s go over a few quick tips on energy saving and spring cleaning for your home.

Have your entire HVAC system cleaned and serviced.

Make sure your filters are clean and in good shape.

Seal any leaks with insulation, caulking, and weather stripping. If your attic isn’t insulated, be sure to insulate the entrance so the cold/heat doesn’t seep into your house from above.

Have an energy audit to determine your homes energy effeciency. Having upgrades in older homes with newer appliances, windows, insulating materials, etc. can add up in savings.

Replace standard bulbs with energy saving lightbulbs.

Take a peak up in your attic to make sure any rodents or vermin have not set up camp in your attic space. Check for open or loose vents, torn screens or any other accessible openings. The damage can be done in a matter of hours from these unwanted visitors.

Consider investing in a programmable thermostat that fulfills heating/cooling needs around your schedule. You set it so the heat kicks on for a specified amount of time before you arrive home or before you get up in the mornings.

Install ceiling fans and set them clockwise in winter, to help push warmer air down where you can enjoy it. (Counter-clock wise in Summer).

Install a water heater blanket for your unit. Drain and refill the tank yearly in order to prevent sediment build-up.

Set your thermostat to 65F or lower, and wear layers of warm cotton clothing in dark colors that absorb light and heat.

Clean your appliances, such as refrigerator coils, ovens, condensor coils, etc. to maximize efficiency.

There are many websites dedicated to these and other ideas to help maintain your home and increase effeciency.

Hope everyone is enjoying their spring break time!

We have been quite busy as buyers are back in the market to take advantage of the tax breaks.  But don’t forget there are also some really good buys out there and with interests rates at a low, it’s a good time to take advantage of the really good deals to be found.

The door between the garage and the home can be a very important part of fire safety in modern homes. This fact has only been an accepted building technique since the early 80s. If a home was built before that, chances are that the door is not a “fire rated door.”

The garage is a great place for a fire to start. As far as house fires go, the garage is where a vast majority of fires are started. Paint cans, gasoline, natural gas appliances are all things that are usually in garages and are great for burning the house down.

If a fire does start in the garage a proper fire rated door and properly constructed fire wall are the best lines of defense to allow you to make your escape before the fire comes into the home.

There are a few ways to tell if your door has been updated. Most solid-core and metal doors are fire rated. There can also be a little metal tag on the hinge side of the door that will give some more information.