There’s a CATCH! You have to CLOSE on your purchase before December 1st. No, it doesn’t count if you’re under contract by November 30th. You have to close before December 1, 2009.

In case you’ve been under a rock since New Year’s Day, the government will provide an $8,000 tax credit to folks who are buying a home for the first time (the definition of “first-time” is actually fairly loose). Here are a few of the highlights of the available stimulus offer:
• The $8000 tax credit is available only to first-time home buyers.
• The $8000 tax credit is available only when the first-time home buyer is buying a primary residence.
• The $8000 tax credit is available only to first-time home buyers who are buying a primary residence between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009 (provisions expire midnight November 30, 2009).
• The $8000 tax credit does not require repayment.
• The $8000 tax credit is claimed on a tax return and reduces the tax liability. If the credit is more than the tax liability, the unused credit will be issued as a check to the person claiming the credit.
• If you sell the home within 3 years, the entire $8000 tax credit must be repaid.

The Recovery Act’s stimulus credit defines first-time home buyers as a purchaser who has not owned a home in the last three years. That’s a fairly generous way to get folks who have been living in a home for longer than three years to seriously consider moving. Here are the key points in the requirements to qualify for the credit:
• The property sale must close BEFORE December 1, 2009.
• Single buyers with an annual income below $75,000 qualify.
• Couples with income of up to $150,000 may claim the credit.
• Tax credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price, to a maximum of $8000.
• Taxpayer may claim it on their 2008 or 2009 return.
• Taxpayer may file an amended return for 2008 to claim the credit.
• Outstanding tax balances owed to IRS will be deducted from credit.
• This is a true tax credit which does not require repayment.

By all estimates, so far, the Bill has provided a lot of the furious activity we have seen in real estate sales this year. After all, this is supposed to be a “down” market. Our inspection company has seen a steady increase in orders over the last several months in 2009. And, most of the agents whom we talk to are staying unusually busy showing homes.

So, if you are among those folks who think that owning a home is in your future, now might just be a good time to consider buying that home. Uncle Sam wants to help. And we know gobs of professional folks in the real estate industry who are ready and willing to help you find the home of your dreams.

And, as always, we at House Exam Inspection and Consulting stand ready to assist you with your home buying needs, by providing a thorough, detailed inspection and Inspection Report. We’ll tell you what we find that might be of concern. We’ll go over the findings verbally at the end of the inspection and talk to you about how serious anything might be. Then we’ll help you and your Realtor work on a list of repairs you might ask for, even wording to be used, etc. So, join the thousands of our previous Clients who were happy they chose House Exam Inspection and Consulting for their home inspection needs.

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older

homes? Because they are the newest form of home safety equipment.

Actually, this question gets to the bottom line of the reason for the new Standards of Practice for Texas home inspectors: namely, educating the home-buying public regarding home safety. As home building codes have changed, home safety has become more and more of a priority. We know that ground fault and arc fault electrical protection saves lives. So, home inspectors will now list the absence of arc fault and ground fault protection in the home (no matter what age home) as a deficiency which deserves consideration of an upgrade.

So, what is arc fault protection? AFCI protection is a technology which constantly monitors the electrical circuit for overheating. Over the last few years, the arc fault protection has been required only in bedroom circuits, but, beginning with the 2008 National Electric Code, arc fault protection is required on EVERY circuit which does not require ground fault protection. WOW! Everything!? Yep!

If it’s not close to a water or an exterior source, it’s still susceptible to overheating. And, overheating in the circuit is what arc fault protection is designed to monitor. AFCI equipment monitors the circuit and shuts down the power in the circuit when overheating is detected.

Upgrade vs. “In Need of Repair”

Formerly, Texas home inspectors used the phrase “In Need or Repair” to describe an issue we identified in a home which did not meet up to common standards or construction industry standards. After the February 1, 2009 revisions, home inspectors report such issues as “Deficiencies” in the home we are inspecting. So, for example, arc fault protection not present in all required locations would now be reported as a “Deficiency,” not as “In Need of Repair.” This makes sense, because the outlets in required areas are probably working exactly as they should. They are in need of UPGRADING. not repair.

There are lots of similar items and issues which have changed since the new Standards have begun. Stay tuned to our web site for more information, and for sensible explanations of the things you need to know about the changes. We’re comitted to educating the real estate industry and the home-buying public in all sorts of ways.

If you are wondering what difference the water pressure makes, ask yourself if you prefer a lot of pressure when you take a shower, or just a dribble. If the pressure is too low, you have run back and forth in the shower to get wet. If it’s too high … Well, come to think of it, most folks like strong pressure in the shower.

So, what’s the problem? The folks who engineer and manufacture plumbing fixtures and fittings, design those fixtures for optimum performance between 40 and 80 psi (pounds per square inch). If the pressure is too high, the seals and seats and gaskets that make those things work like they are supposed to can (and do) wear out quicker. I was talking to a plumber recently about recording a reading of 110 psi at a recent house. he asked, “Have you ever seen what 110 psi will do to a toilet fill valve?” I did a search of the topic and came across this Chat site: Is my home’s water pressure (90 psi) too high?

Yesterday, February 4, 2009, I tested a house where the pressure was 135+ psi. The Buyer (my Client) was not a happy camper, but after we talked about options, he decided to proceed with the contract and ask the Seller to pay for the plumber to install a pressure reducer at the water meter. It’s reasonable request. That’s what we help our clients to do: figure out what to do next. We’re not trying to scare anyone, or sensationalize about anything we find. We just want to help you make the best decisions on how to proceed.

Call Now: 817-797-2461 | Click Here to Book Online

In the new Property Inspection Report form, instead of reporting that a given item is “in need of repair” (a phrase that has been in wide use for a long time), inspectors will now list deficiencies. A deficiency can be a hazard, or a system or component that is not working properly, or an item that is in need of regular or ongoing maintenance.

“Deficiency” is defined as “A condition that, in the inspector’s reasonable opinion, adversely and materially affects the performance of a system, or component, or constitutes a hazard to life, limb, or property…” The Standards go on to say, “General deficiencies include, but are not limited to inoperability, material distress, water penetration, damage, deterioration, missing parts and unsuitable installation.” Deficiencies in the home are what Clients want to know from home inspectors. When folks are about to make a major purchase like buying a home, they want to know what might be wrong with the house. So, they hire a home inspector.

So, why would the language in the inspection process change? If something is in need of repair, why not say it is “in need of repair”? Well the short answer is: we can, and we will. But, if you think about it, not all the problems inspectors identify in a home inspection require repair. Some things are simply in need of upgrading or updating. Maybe this example will clarify. An electrical outlet in a kitchen of a 1975 home may be working just fine. But, as originally built, it would have had no ground fault protection provided. It was not required then. The electrical outlets don’t “repair,” they need to be upgraded, in order to properly protect the folks who use that kitchen from electrical shock.

At House Exam Inspection and Consulting, we’ve been letting you know about such things for years, way before it was required by the Standards. We serve our Clients and their home buying needs. We let you know what to expect if you buy the house we inspect for you. We’ll be honest and open with you. We work for you, and we don’t apologize for that. Buyers love us because we tell them what we see, and explain it in plain English. Realtors love us, because we don’t scare their clients with what we see. We explain things in a calm and rational way, so that folks have the facts they need to decide.

So, Call NOW (817) 797-2461, or click at the right to Schedule Your Home Inspection.

Some changes are relatively minor. For example, the capacity of a water heater now has to be reported. There is a blank for it on the report. Understand, most companies (such as House Exam Inspection and Consulting) provided this information all along. What’s the difference? Now ALL inspection companies will be required to do so. Why didn’t the other guys do it all along? Hmmmm.

Now, (after February 1, 2009) inspectors will have to tell you what kind of roof covering you have. We did that long ago. Inspectors will now have to tell you how much and what type of insulation is in your attic. If you read any of the Sample Reports provided on this site, you’ll see that we’ve thought you needed to know that all along, and told you how much and what kind.

Don’t misunderstand, we’re glad everybody has to do all this reporting. But, at House Exam Inspection and Consulting, we have been providing service above and beyond the Standards of Practice for a long time. It’s our promise to you, that we will continue to provide you with more information than required, so that you can make the most confident decision possible about that home purchase. With our Reports, hundreds of our Clients have re-negotiated for hundreds of thousands of dollars in costly home repairs before they closed on purchases. Sound good?

Call NOW (817) 797-2461 or click over there on “Schedule Your Home Inspection”

At House Exam Inspection and Consulting, we welcome the improvements to the minimum standards for our industry. Home owners and home buyers should be served by industry professionals who continue to improve their skills and their standards of service. During February, we will be publishing a series of articles on the changes in the Standards, and what consumers and Realtors can expect.

At House Exam Inspection and Consulting, we not only keep up with current Standards, we exceed them. We believe you deserve more than just the minimum. When we get through, you’ll probably know more about the house than the owner. We’ve got your best interests at heart.

So call NOW (817) 797-2461, or Click to Schedule Your Inspection!

What you may not know is that the onboard “Test” button does not actually indicate whether the detector alarm will work in an actual smoke and/or fire condition. That button will test the audible alarm (i.e., Does the noise part work?) and the battery (i.e., Is there enough “juice” in the battery to detect anything?).

The way to test the electro-chemical circuitry in the device is to test it with what some folks call “canned smoke” or actual smoke. We NEVER RECOMMEND the actual smoke method, and neither does the local fire department. The “canned smoke” method is the preferred method. We use it to test a home’s smoke detectors during our inspection; that is, unless the home has a security system. When a home has a security system, there is a distinct chance that the smoke alarms are “hard-wired’ into the security system. More than one home inspector can tell you about the fire department showing up to “put out a fire” that the inspector accidentally announced by testing the smoke detector.

So, what DO WE RECOMMEND?

1. Save the directions for installation of all new detectors, so that you can follow the manufacturer’s recommended instructions for testing over time.

2. If you are going to use the “canned smoke” method, you can purchase this product at most local home improvement stores. Follow the directions for use, and DO NOT OVERUSE the test. Overuse of the canned smoke can actually coat the sensing plates inside the detector. Again, follow the directions on the can.

3. Never take a battery out because the detector is chirping WITHOUT PUTTING A REPLACEMENT BATTERY BACK IN! If you silence the chirping, the chances are very good that you’ll forget to put a new battery in, and you could be tragically sorry.

4. It’s a good idea to change the batteries in your smoke detectors twice a year. Do it on New Year’s Day and July the Fourth. If you’re only going to do it once a year, and you haven’t actually heard the “Low Battery” beep going off already, change it on New Year’s Day. Make it an annual Holiday routine.

5. If you’re moving into a house you just bought, and the house is more than a few years old; if the smoke detectors look old and yellow and dingy; if the person who previously lived there smoked like a chimney; or IF YOU JUST WANT TO BE DILIGENT ABOUT YOUR FAMILY’S SAFETY – Replace the smoke detectors.

6. ALWAYS install new smoke detectors/alarms strictly according to the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and maintenance.

7. Here are the most recent national code recommendations for placement of smoke detectors in your home:

a. in each sleeping room;

b. outside each separate sleeping area, in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping rooms;

c. one each additional story of the dwelling, including basements (but excluding crawlspaces and uninhabitable attics)

d. in dwellings with split levels and without an intervening door between the levels, a smoke detector/alarm installed on the upper level and the adjacent lower level shall suffice, provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level

One more thing, before we leave this subject. Next time your not paying attention to the bacon on the stove or bread in the toaster, and the nearest alarm goes off: Thank your lucky stars that the detector is doing its job. Reward it by allowing it to perform for you. Reward it by giving it a new battery on a routine basis. And reward yourself for taking care of your house — and more importantly, KEEPING YOUR FAMILY SAFE AND SECURE.

We invite your comments on this and our other articles. Please let us know if you have other topics you’d like to hear about in this section. And, remember, “It’ll feel more like home, when you’ve had a House Exam!”

The key to survival from any type of fires is a safe escape. Whereas commercial buildings have official fire exits and regular fire drills, most ordinary residences do not. Thus, during home fires many victims suffer from death or physical injuries because there is no specific fire exit and, usually, no formal training on what to do during a fire.

But this should not be the case. Although fire prevention is still the best measure to combat home fires, you need to prioritize and emphasize safety practices for you and your family to do during an actual fire. As accidents can occur any moment, it is always best to be prepared for any eventuality so that damage can be minimized. And since family safety is a top priority and escape is the key to survival, you should have an effective escape plan firmly established for the entire family to take.

While it is good to start planning for your escape during a fire, you should not overlook having a smoke alarm installed if you still have not done so. A smoke alarm alerts you that a possible fire is building up giving you the chance to escape.

Gather the family together and discuss the steps to follow and pointers to remember when escaping from a home fire.

• Since it may be smoky, get down or stoop while exiting as breathing and seeing may be easier in these positions. Cover your nose as toxic gases may be present in the smoke, and these may affect your mental faculties, or cause you to faint.
• Once you are out of the house, never go back inside for anything. Once out, keep out.

The type of fire may affect the progress of your escape. A gradually growing smoldering fire may progress without detection for a while before it finally flares up into enormous flames and tremendous heat. A swift flaming fire on the other hand allows a little amount of time before the leaping flames and scorching heat intensify. You should remember that in either form of fire, you should stay out once you are out.The following are a few specific tips to remember when escaping from either form of fire.

In a gradual smoldering fire:

This form of fire progresses gradually hence may not be picked up by smoke alarms immediately. But a photoelectric smoke alarm can detect a smoldering fire a few seconds faster than its ionization counterpart. Regardless of your smoke alarm however, be sure to go out as soon as you hear the sound of the alarm.

• If you have an established escape plan, it can significantly lessen the amount of time you spend in exiting your burning home. Thus, safety is more assured.
• As soon as the smoke alarm sounds, leave your home as fast as you can since you cannot predict when a smoldering fire will explode into huge burning flames.
• Smoldering fires generate a great amount of smoke so be sure to keep low while exiting to help you breathe and see better, thus avoiding or minimizing the inhalation of toxic gases which may be present in the smoke.
• Try an alternative escape route like a window or another door if your primary exit is blocked by smoke, flames or heat.

In a swift burning fire:

This type of fire allows limited time for escape. An ionization smoke alarm can detect a flaming fire several seconds faster than a photoelectric one. But these few seconds will surely count in a rapidly sweeping flaming fire which can determine your escape.

• A pre-established fire escape plan can minimize the time you need to get out of your home safely.
• As this fire grows swiftly, leave your home as fast as you can because the flames, heat, and toxic gases can magnify very rapidly.
• Again, use an alternative exit path if your main escape route is blocked by flames, heat or smoke.

Bear in mind too that in any emergency it is vital that your ability to think clearly and focus remains intact. Teach your family not to panic but to concentrate on the task of escaping to safety. It is even advisable that you regularly practice a fire drill in your home to ensure that every family member knows the escape plan.

RJ Smith frequently writes articles in an effect to educate others and raise public awareness on a variety of today’s important current developments. Article about a fire sprinkler.

No, we’re not talking about a collapsed soufflé or overdone pot roast. We mean actual risks to life and limb. When it comes to safety in the kitchen, what should you really be paying attention to? Learn how to avoid a disaster by following these simple kitchen safety tips.

Kitchen Safety Tip #1: Keep a Fire Extinguisher Handy

Most house fires start in the kitchen, especially grease fires. You can avoid this danger by keeping your oven and stove top clean. Unfortunately, accidents can still happen. If you experience a grease fire:

• If your stove catches on fire, turn off the burners or oven, if you can.
• Most importantly, NEVER pour water on a grease fire. Water just moves the grease around, aggravating your grease fire.
• Instead, use a lid or larger pan to cover the grease fire. You can also use baking soda or salt on small grease fires. And you can smother an oven fire by keeping the door closed. Of course, a kitchen fire extinguisher is better. Always use the dry, multipurpose type rated for class A, B and C fires, and check it periodically to make sure it’s fully charged.
• If the fire won’t die or begins to spread, call the fire department and get to safety immediately.
• Not all kitchen fires start when you’re present, so change the batteries in your smoke detector annually, and get a new smoke detector every 10 years.

Kitchen Safety Tip #2: Pay Attention to Handles, Utensils and Sleeves

Always turn pan handles inward toward the center of your stove when you’re cooking. Store utensils in a handy place, so you don’t have to reach across hot burners to grab a spatula to flip a burger or stir a pot. Avoid wearing long, loose sleeves that hang over burners and might catch on handles.

Kitchen Safety Tip #3: Enforce Safety Rules in the Kitchen

Your kitchen is not a playground. While you won’t want to banish your children entirely, it’s always good to take a look at your kitchen from their point of view. Are handles dangling close to highchairs?

Are burner knobs accessible? Even placemats can be hazardous: They will easily scatter cutlery and break glass when pulled on. Older kids can be just as problematic as toddlers, because of their inattention and tendency to dash through rooms.

To maximize safety in the kitchen, supervise your children. If your kids aren’t helping out with tasks that teach them age-appropriate kitchen skills safely, they may belong elsewhere.

Kitchen Safety Tip #4: Treat Sharp Items with Respect

Keep sharp blades out of reach when they’re not in use. Store your knives properly, in knife guards or a butcher block. Never leave knives in a sink full of water, where children, pets or someone washing dishes may encounter them unexpectedly.

Use cutting boards so knives don’t accidentally skid off the counter. Sharp knives cut smoothly and predictably. Get a knife sharpener and use it. And whenever possible, use higher-quality cutlery, because it is less prone to bend or snap. And when it comes to the whirling blades of the disposal, food processor or blender, be cautious. Never reach inside, and always unplug if possible immediately after use.

For more home safety tips or a homeowners insurance policy quote that can protect your home in the event of an accident like a grease fire, visit Nationwide.com.