Top 20 - 2011 inspection photos from house inspector

It is good to review what not to do at times. Hockey pucks are not meant to seal up leaks in the siding and sleds are meant for riding down a hill, not what those people did. I will give credit to the creativity used, but it is usually cheaper to just do it right the first time.
Check out the fine work of some home improvement trainees.

http://www.structuretech1.com/2011/12/top-20-home-inspection-photos-2011/

I do not endorse this business or know these people, but I do know good information when I see it.

Help Seniors Avoid Night Fright

1. Encourage seniors to obtain a routine connection to someone, a person they talk to every day, a machine that checks on them, there are lots of options.

2. At night play soft music which has a calming effect.

3. Install night lights to make it easier for seniors to see when they get up at night.

4. Light the outside of the house and set timers to activate some indoor lights. Older adults feel more secure knowing their house is illuminated.

5. Let your older loved ones know they can call you. Put your number or that of another family member or friend on speed dial.

6. Reassure them the house is secure and rehearse them on the process to make sure their doors and windows are locked.

7. Make sure the interior of the house is safe by installing grab bars and getting rid of throw rugs.

8. Consider climate control but make sure the house isn't too hot or too cold.

9. Encourage a set routine which helps a senior feel less anxious.

10. Hire a caregiver who can provide assistance from a few hours a day to 24 hours, 7 days per week.

I just got an newsletter from my amazing insurance guy. He had tips for lawn mower safety I thought would be good to pass along.

Lawn Mower Safety

Signs of spring are everywhere! And that means it's time to start mowing your lawn again. Before you get the lawn mover out of the garage, take a few moments to review some mower safety tips.

• Fill your gas tank before you start, while the engine is still cold. Wipe up all spills. And never smoke near gasoline.
• Clear the area of rocks, branches, wires, and other objects.
• Dress properly. Slippery shoes and loose or dangling clothing can be dangerous. Eye protection is also important.
• Don't allow children near the mower; you'll prevent the possibility of their getting injured by flying objects.
• Keep your hands and feet away from mower's blades. Never reach under the mower for any reason while the mower is in operation. Make all adjustments with the motor off.
• Just as you shouldn't drink and drive, you shouldn't drink and mow. Don't operate a mower when your reflexes are impaired by any substance.
• Drink plenty of liquids and take occasional breaks while mowing on unseasonably hot days to help avoid heat illness.

Other items to remember if you have an electric power lawn mover:

• Don't use on wet grass.
• Use an extension cord designed for outdoor use and rated for the power needs of your mower.
• Reduce the risk of cutting the cord while you're mowing by starting to mow in the area nearest the electrical outlet, then mow away from the outlet so the power cord will be behind you.

If you do hit a foreign object or have a mower malfunction, remember to turn off the mower and disconnect the power cord before inspecting for damage.

Smoke Detector- Installation and How Many

Installing Smoke Alarms

• Mount smoke alarms in the middle of the ceiling, if possible.
• For wall-mounted units, place them at least 3' (1 m) from any corner and 4-6" (10-15cm) from the ceiling. (If you place them in that dead air space the alarm will not notice the smoke in the room right away, because the smoke will roll past that corner and miss the alarm.)
  
• Do not install smoke alarms near heating or cooling ducts.
• In mobile home units, install smoke alarms on inside walls.

Smoke Alarm Placement

Maintenance

Test smoke alarms every month. For hard to reach units, use a broom handle or stick to press the test button. Replace batteries once a year. Use daylight savings time as your reminder. "Change your clocks... change your batteries." If the low-battery signal begins to chirp, replace battery immediately. Vacuum the outside covers periodically to remove dust, dirt particles and insects.

Nuisance Alarms

If an alarm regularly responds to cooking smoke or shower steam, consider the following:

• Replace the alarm with one that has the silence button feature.
• Move the alarm further away to give cooking smoke or steam a chance to dissipate before reaching the unit.
• If ceiling mounted, move unit to a wall.
• If the unit is the ionization type, replace it with a photoelectric detector. This type of alarm is less sensitive to smaller particles and thus less affected by cooking smoke or small amounts of steam. Packaging and/or owner's manual will indicate type of alarm.

How Many and Where?

For minimum protection, install smoke alarms in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, such as the hallway, and on every level of your home.

For maximum protection, install additional smoke alarms in each living area of your home.

Single Story Home

Two Story Home

Outside Caulk- It may need replacing after only 2 years?

Outside caulk is exposed to the elements and can start to go bad after only two years. It is very important that you inspect around doors and windows. If you see cracking, if parts of it are missing or parts of it are starting to pull away from the area, it's time to clean that up and replace it.

Here is some great info on how to do that.
www.ehow.com/how_115542_replace-caulking-outside.html

Good Luck

Placing a Mailbox Post

I have a client with a leaning mailbox post. I did a little searching on the web and found a lot of bad information about this topic, but there where a couple of very informative sites. Here are some great tips for how to install or fix your mailbox.

This article was informative
http://www.ehow.com/how_4797523_install-mailbox-post-concrete.html

Great tips on regulations and where to find them
http://www.essortment.com/all/installingmailb_tuaj.htm

If you really love a good video, Bob Vila has it.
http://video.bobvila.com/m/21291673/how-to-install-a-new-mailbox-post.htm

I hope I can save you some time if you have to install or repair a mailbox post.

Aging in Place Safety Tips - from design to existing

If you have someone who is going to be aging in place, don't forget about the home repair and upkeep. This article does a great job of outlining all of the things a person needs to keep in mind.

http://www.toolbase.org/Home-Building-Topics/Universal-Design/aging-in-place-checklists